Last Updated on December 5, 2025 by Daily News Staff

Reduce, Reuse, Rejoice: 5 Holiday Hacks for Eco-Friendly Celebrations

(Family Features) Holiday celebrations bring joy, laughter and lasting memories – but they can also leave behind a sleigh full of waste. From food scraps and empty bottles to wrapping paper and decorations, the season can leave your home full of items that could be reused or recycled. In fact, household waste increases nearly 25% between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, according to survey results from the Center for Biological Diversity. That’s a lot of leftovers, garland and glass that could be kept out of landfills. To help you cut down on trash and embrace a joyful, less-waste holiday season, the experts at CalRecycle offer these five holiday hacks to help you save cash and protect the planet.

1. Plan Meals to Waste Less and Save More

• Shop your pantry first to avoid buying what you already have.
• Buy only what you need and prepare recipes based on guest count.
• Choose local ingredients from sources like farmers markets that minimize packaging.
• Send guests home with leftovers in reusable containers or freeze extras for future meals.

2. Recycle Food Scraps

• Not all food can be saved, but it doesn’t have to go in the trash.
• Compost fruit and vegetable trimmings, eggshells, coffee grounds and plate scrapings. Trashed food makes climate pollution in landfills. Recycle it in your green bin instead.
• Most California communities now offer green bin composting. Learn what goes in the green bin by visiting the Curb Your Food Scraps page on RecyclingReimaginedCA.com.
• Set out a clearly labeled “food scraps” bin next to your trash, as well as a recycling bin for bottles, cans and other containers so everyone can participate.

3. Eat, Drink and Be Eco-Friendly

• Use reusable plates, cups and utensils instead of disposable options.
• Decorate with items you can use year after year or make compostable decor from natural materials.
• Collect empty wine, liquor, juice or other California Redemption Value (CRV)-eligible containers and cash them in once the party is over.
• Serve water in reusable pitchers or carafes instead of single-use plastic bottles.

4. Give Greener Gifts

• Choose experiences over stuff, like tickets to events, museum or club memberships, registrations for classes or shared adventures.
• Wrap gifts in fabric, scarves or reusable tins. Or use recyclable paper without glitter or foil.
• Personalize presents with homemade crafts, baked goods or services that reduce packaging.
• Prioritize gifts from local and sustainable businesses that are committed to ethical sourcing, minimal packaging and recycled materials.

5. Sort Holiday Waste the Right Way

• After the celebrations, check local recycling rules for how to properly dispose of:
  • Batteries
  • Holiday lights
  • Christmas trees
• Drop off CRV-eligible beverage containers, such as wine and spirit containers, at your nearest recycling site for cash back.
• Donate unwanted gifts or gently used holiday items to local charities or thrift stores.

Make this season joyful and sustainable by finding more tips and recycling locations near you at RecyclingReimaginedCA.com.   Photo courtesy of Shutterstock SOURCE: CalRecycle

Our Lifestyle section on STM Daily News is a hub of inspiration and practical information, offering a range of articles that touch on various aspects of daily life. From tips on family finances to guides for maintaining health and wellness, we strive to empower our readers with knowledge and resources to enhance their lifestyles. Whether you’re seeking outdoor activity ideas, fashion trends, or travel recommendations, our lifestyle section has got you covered. Visit us today at https://stmdailynews.com/category/lifestyle/ and embark on a journey of discovery and self-improvement.

Last Updated on December 3, 2025 by Daily News Staff

(Family Features) Creating trendy ensembles when you just want to stay warm can be a challenge, but this season’s hottest looks make it easy to keep cozy while dressing up or down. Whether you’re aiming for style for a holiday celebration or planning an evening out to shop and take in the holiday lights, this season’s trends have you covered.

Stylish layers and updates to winter wardrobe staples are two keys to nailing this season’s on-trend looks, according to acclaimed American fashion designer Brandon Maxwell, who is collaborating with Walmart as creative director for Free Assembly and Scoop, the retailer’s exclusive, elevated fashion brands.

“Like many people across the country who live in a small town, Walmart was the destination for everything where I grew up, including holiday fashion,” Maxwell said. “When I first teamed up with Walmart, I was excited to bring the joy of fashion to people across the country. Everyone deserves to enjoy their holidays in clothing they love. This year, we are proud to offer the biggest trends in holiday fashion, from cozy outwear to glamorous party looks.”

Maxwell offers these tips for creating the perfect affordable look, no matter where your plans take you this winter:

Metallic Shine: Metallic sweater sets, like a boxy crewneck and matching mini skirt in a glitzy gold shade, are must-have pieces for the holidays. Wear the show-stopping set with matching gold earrings and platform sandals for a head-turning party look.

Layers of Style: Layer festive multicolor patterns in intarsia knits like this Free Assembly fair isle sweater with a plaid puffer jacket for an easy update to winter closet staples like lightly distressed jeans and booties.

Party Perfect: Sophisticated outerwear pieces like a double-breasted coat add a modern touch to classic holiday party looks. Pair with a berry-hued mini dress, black tights and black boots for a look that stands out. For a bit of edge, choose a faux moto jacket layered over a sequin cami top or metallic sweater to complement a faux leather skirt.

Casual Comfort: This season, menswear is all about intentional layering and looks that prioritize both comfort and style. Update vintage-inspired flannels by layering with a quilted puffer pullover and matching them with wintry prints and cargo joggers for a look that’s casual and put together all at once.

Little Lookers: Fashionable little ones can also get decked out this season. Colorful sparkly girl’s dresses from Scoop perfectly complement matching versions for women, ideal for family photos and mommy-and-me moments that make the season extra special. For a more casual event, fair isle sweater dresses in fun shades like lavender can make a classic look oh-so-now.

Find more festive fashion inspiration by visiting Walmart.com.

SOURCE:
Walmart

Last Updated on December 3, 2025 by Daily News Staff

 

The Substitute Teacher Who Wanted Blueprints of Our House

Elementary school memories tend to blend together — cafeteria pizza, playground arguments, the eternal struggle of times tables — but every once in a while, something happens that sticks with you for life. For me, that moment came in the fifth grade during a week when our regular teacher was out, and we cycled through substitute teachers like we were testing models for durability. By midweek, in walked a substitute with a mysterious, slightly intense energy — the kind of vibe that suggested he either meditated at dawn or worked a graveyard shift doing something he couldn’t talk about. We settled into our seats, expecting worksheets or quiet reading time. But nope. He had other plans. “Today,” he announced, “we’re going to draw schematics of our houses.” Schematics. Not drawings. Not little houses with smoke coming out of the chimney. Actual blueprint-style schematics. He wanted the layout of our bedrooms, our parents’ rooms, and where the pets slept. Every detail. Now, to be fair, Highlights Magazine did have a feature that month teaching kids how to draw floor plans. So maybe he was just a bit overenthusiastic about cross-curricular learning. Or maybe — and this is my completely rhetorical adult theory — he worked the graveyard shift as a cat burglar gathering intel between heists. Just moonlighting between blueprints. While the rest of the class tried their best to recreate their actual homes, my imagination sprinted in a totally different direction. The house I drew had:

• A massive master bedroom with an oversized bathroom for my parents
• Separate bedrooms for us kids on the opposite side of the house
• A kitchen placed right in the center like a command center
• And the dog — the true VIP — had a luxurious two-story doghouse

I had basically created a dream home designed by a 10-year-old watching too much Fantasy Homes by the Yard. Later that day, my mom asked the usual question: “So, what did you guys do today?” “We drew schematics of our house,” I said casually. The look on her face was instant and intense. She wasn’t panicked, but there was definitely a “Why does a substitute teacher need to know the exact layout of my home?” expression happening. Parental instincts activated. But then I showed her my diagram. She stared at it. Blinked. Then sighed with massive relief. “This isn’t our house,” she said. “Nope! I made it up,” I replied proudly. Her shoulders relaxed so much she probably lost five pounds of tension in one instant. If the substitute was secretly planning a heist, my masterpiece of misinformation would have sent him to the wrong house entirely. Looking back, the whole moment feels like a sitcom setup — a mysterious substitute collecting “house schematics,” me creating a completely fictional piece of architecture, and my mom going on a full emotional journey in under 30 seconds. Maybe he was just excited about the Highlights Magazine floor-plan activity. Or maybe — just maybe — he moonlighted in cat burglary. We’ll never know. But if he was, I like to think I threw him completely off the scent.

---

Enjoy this story?

Check out more nostalgic and humorous stories on STM Daily News and be sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Our Lifestyle section on STM Daily News is a hub of inspiration and practical information, offering a range of articles that touch on various aspects of daily life. From tips on family finances to guides for maintaining health and wellness, we strive to empower our readers with knowledge and resources to enhance their lifestyles. Whether you’re seeking outdoor activity ideas, fashion trends, or travel recommendations, our lifestyle section has got you covered. Visit us today at https://stmdailynews.com/category/lifestyle/ and embark on a journey of discovery and self-improvement.