Ivy and Ellie

Tuesday, November 25, 2025

Thriftmas

Thriftmas is a thing on socials where people participate in sustainable Christmas. Thrift and handmade gifts and decorations.

... Here are ideas to do this: 1- Use recyclable wrapping paper- Non-glittery or shiny paper so it can be recycled. Or brown paper decorated by ribbons and drawings. 2- Thrift gifts- Buy second-hand items online or in thrift shops and charity shops. Anything from toys, home decor to clothing. 3- Homemade gifts- Make things yourself to gift. Anything from knitted items, jams to scrapbooks etc... many ideas on Pinterest and YouTube. 4- sustainable decor- Either reuse old decor or get sustainable ones. This means wooden or fabric decor. No plastic cheap ones are probably mass-produced in China. 5- shop local- Shop local and small businesses. Huge businesses aren't sustainable as you think they are. 6-reuse old Christmas clothes- Don't buy Christmas clothes just for one day or week. Either get or make sustainable festive items you can use multiple Christmas or buy red/green items you can re wear throughout the year. 7- no food waste- Eat up all the festive food. Buy enough local produce to feed your guests. But not so excessive that you don't eat it all. 8- less gifts- Buy few gifts not huge piles of gifts. Less is more. Its more sustainable to get a few items than excessive presents. No need to do Christmas eve boxes either. ... by Stephanie

Sunday, November 23, 2025

OC RP -Fiona and Matty

Fiona

Granted, my dad is making up for lost time. Evidently. He shows up, all the time, with lots of little things that I know cost a lot. We have gone out shopping. And yes, I can't believe I miss the ocean so much, even if I am not that far away.

I'm not sure Matty can stand it, but he's right across the hall. It is getting better, even if he wasn't sure he'd like it, but I think he does. He's had some time to have an art party in the basement of the old building. Although I haven't gone to one of them yet, I think Dakota and Frankie have enjoyed abstract art projects with his guidance. Me? I've been busy training for the new job at the hotel and being around my dad. But my place is becoming home. And I love it.

Matty

You may not have noticed, but green is my color. Although, I'm not sure why I'm here. Basically, a technicality. I don't know why I did it, but I have to admit I was thinking about my Great Aunt and I was worried about her, but then I got lost during the whole flood and helped all these people along the way. I've never stayed that focused in a long time, but Fiona says it is possible. I really didn't want to be alone. I just thought we'd be together. I know she's right across the hall and she thinks this is good for me. She even painted these reminders on the shelves. I look at them from time to time. Dakota has been nice to me. You know, wanting to learn how to paint. She even got her friend Frankie involved and um, those two did make me feel like I can actually teach art. It really cracked me up. It turned into a little laughfest. Even Fiona wondered what was so funny. So yeah, the girl does check up on me, after all. I guess I need to get more dishes. Honestly, I can get by on a coffee mug and a bigger coffee mug for cereal. Maybe I need to learn how to cook, too. BTW my couch makes into a bed.

Friday, November 21, 2025

Black Friday started yesterday

These days, even the Lafufus are getting bought up. Don't know if they are just rejects or China's way of helping out with this little Monster from Pop Mart. Here in the states, the going rate for a Labubu is 55 bucks on up, while just a few weeks ago, you could purchase one for about thirty dollars.

Anyway, Christmas is coming, and since my appointments were cancelled yesterday, I made a dent in shopping in the dense fog we've been having. The thick fog stayed around all day and it was a chilly one too.

First, I headed for Target to see about sales. There were a few. But I found that many of the things I used to get for the females in the family, like body spray and lotion, were at least four dollars more than last year.

I splurged on buying clothes from their preschooler line. It was a beautiful selection of sweatshirts, jeans, and sweaters. I find they hardly have anything for real grownups. Although last year I did find some sweaters for us elders, unfortunately, they didn't hold up well to our everlasting winter.

Let's say, I did a lot of browsing. I feel there will be less presents this year. Of course, after finding a few things at Walmart, I went to 5 Below. A part of me, knows there is a lot of dazzling junk, but sometimes I'll find something in the book section or games. Like a travel crossword puzzle game.

Now, to keep checking on prices at Amazon. In recent months, I would order things that took forever to arrive. On certain items, they now have the option to receive them within 4 hours. Of course, you might have to be up by five in the morning, making sure your porch light is on.

The demon hunters of Christmas!