For the holiday table, mix and
match settings of plates, glasses, linens and cutlery. “Use the real thing,” Eisen- berg recommends, “and recruit guests to help wash up afterwards.” She recalls that while growing up, her mother supplemented her silverware with grandmother’s for large holiday dinners. Save your own energy (and sanity)
by asking family and friends to bring an appetizer, side dish or dessert. The hostess can assign a dish and correspond- ing recipe or use a potluck approach, says Eisenberg. Leftovers go home in non-plastic, reusable containers.
Gift Giving Many families enjoy giving traditional gifts to children at certain ages, like dollhouses or train sets. Re-imagine these and, when possible, buy local to save energy and support area business- es, suggests Eisenberg. Cintia Gonzalez, an Australian
mom, crafted a dollhouse from an old suitcase, inventively using black chalk- board paint for the exterior, wooden shelves as floors and fast food ketchup cups as lampshades (
Tinyurl.com/ UpcycleDollhouse). Another mom transformed a discarded coffee table into a painted train table for her boys. Upcycle paint chip cards into colorful gift tags, suggests Seo. Plus, use gift wraps that become part of the gift itself, such as placemats swaddling a bottle of wine, fabric to encase quilt- ing supplies or sheet music enveloping concert tickets. As a general rule, “Give experi-
ences, not gifts,” counsels Eisenberg. “Giving loved ones experiences reduces wrapping paper, ribbon and packaging and is an easy way to be a bit more personal over the holidays. Your teenage niece may love a spa day, complete with hair styling, while your favorite aunt and uncle may be thrilled to attend a local wine tasting. If you think a young child can tolerate a few less presents in exchange for a pass to an ice show or dance class, go for it.” “It’s the holiday experience that
counts,” counsels Seo. “It’s what makes memories.”
Claire O’Neil is a freelance writer from Kansas City, MO.
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