Family

Christmas is getting ever nearer, and things might be feeling chaotic. However it’s never a bad time to pause and enjoy the people around you. Christmas is a time for celebrating time with family and friends after all. When you get a break from working, shopping or catching up on sleep, try some of these fun family activities!

Festive Baking

Baking is a great way to get everyone involved. It might create a bit of a mess, but it will also create some lovely sweet treats. Gingerbread men, Christmas pudding, trifles, fudge, and chocolate cake – the list goes on. The Food Network has got 101 great recipe ideas for you and the family to get stuck into here.

Christmas Films

Something more relaxing (and requires a lot less tidying up) would be to gather the family and watch a movie! Everyone could choose their favourite festive film, and pitch why theirs should be watched. Or, take turns and watch one every few days or each week leading up to the big day. Everybody has his or her own opinion when it comes to the best Christmas film ever. To make it easier, here’s Rotten Tomatoes list of the 25 best Christmas films ever.

Get Festive with Firemizer and Firebuilder

To add that extra bit of festivity, cosy up by the fire with a Firemizer. It helps your solid fuel last over a third longer without emitting any harmful air pollutants or creosote. If you need to get your fire started, there’s nothing better than a Firebuilder. Simply break one of the corrugated-cardboard bricks in half, light the corners and watch your fire go. No need for kindling or lighter fluid!

Decorating the House

If you read our post last week’s about DIY decorations, you might find time this week to put them up! Like baking, this is a simple activity that everyone can get involved with – get all hands on deck. Hang the tinsel, frost the windows, get the lights plugged in and fancy up the tree. Christmas is rapidly approaching, so before the big rush begins, get everyone helping and have the house party-ready!

December

It’s the last month of the year, but though we should be winding down, December is the busiest of all! If you’re organised, you might already have the Christmas decorations up and the presents already bought. If, like most people, you simply haven’t had time, fear not – we’re here to give you some simple DIY tips.

Decorations

Dust off the decoration box and get the tinsel and baubles at the ready; it’s time to get festive! We all have decorations acquired over the years, some we’ve become attached to, but you can always find new additions. Instead of spending valuable present money, why not try your hand at making your own? These can range from frosty window décor, to hand-painted baubles, to a lovely wreath for the front door. Or, what could be better than personalised stockings to hang above the fire? Check out these great DIY decorations here. And, if you’re struggling to get the fire beneath roaring, why not try a Firebuilder? One box can start you 10 perfect fires, without the need for kindling or any chemicals!

Presents

If you’re stuck for presents to buy for the person who has everything, why not make something yourself? It’s an easy way to guarantee no doubles on Christmas day, and it’s something they can cherish forever. Family picture key chains, hand-painted coffee mugs, wood-carved wine and beer carriers – the list is endless. Dodoburd have you covered with 65 amazing ideas here.

Once the big day arrives, you’ll want to get the fire going to keep the home nice and cosy all day. This means no running to grab extra wood from the store, so throw a Firemizer underneath your solid fuel to keep it burning 38% longer. Air pollutants are reduced by 72%, and creosote in the chimney is reduced by 52%. This means an easier journey for Santa down the chimney too!

National Tree Week

We’ve already had International Day of Forests, Earth Hour and Recycle Awareness Week – now it’s time for National Tree Week! Between 24^th November and 2^nd December, the Tree Council hold this week to for communities to improve their local treescape. With the help of various environmental organisations, local authorities, schools and community groups, National Tree Week gets everyone helping.

What’s so great about trees?

Trees provide so much to our everyday lives that mostly goes unnoticed, despite providing valuable habits, materials and especially oxygen. We get food from trees, fuel, building materials, clean polluted air, prevent flooding and conserve energy. Therefore, what’s not to love about trees?

The aim is for everybody to get their hands dirty planting a million trees, but there’s plenty more to do. Each community will offer something different, from historic tree walks, talks hosted by conservationists, or tree charter and dressing events. Pauline Buchanan Black, Director-General of The Tree Council, says “Whichever way people choose to mark the occasion, National Tree Week is a great time for individuals, communities and families across the UK to recognise and celebrate the value of trees.”

How do I find out what’s happening around me?

Futhermore, the Tree Council has a national newsletter, and local events are found at the Near You Map on their website. There are also lots of helpful posters, tips and ideas of ways you can get involved this year. Find out more at their website, here.

Get Recycling Awareness Week:

From Monday 12^th until Sunday 18^th November, it’s Recycle Awareness Week! Started by Planet Ark in 1996, Recycle Awareness Week takes place to put a focus on the environmental benefits of recycling. It promotes kerbside, industrial and community-recycling initiatives meaning everyone can get in on the action. By giving people the tools to help manage their materials responsibly, we can dramatically reduce the levels of waste.

Schools and Workplaces

First of all, teaching children the important benefits of recycling is the best way of continuing this tradition and protecting our environment. For example, recycling games and ‘junk to funk’ projects get young minds engaged and find purpose for waste products. Introducing new recycling initiatives at work or even just refining the current ones allow workplaces to reduce their waste levels. Furthermore, joining cartridge-recycling programs and buying recycled office products are the best places to start.

What are the statistics?

Statistics show that recycling in the UK is actually down for the first time since monitoring began. Recycling has been on a steep incline since 2000/2001 where it was at 11.2%. As of 2017, it sits at 43.7%, a massive improvement reflecting the shift in social attitudes towards recycling. We know that if we want to protect our planet, recycling waste and cutting down on harmful plastics is crucial.

Firemizer and Firebuilder are both recyclable products. Firemizer helps reduce your solid fuel usage as well as reducing air pollutants caused by burning by 72%. Made from corrugated cardboard, Firebuilder helps you start the perfect fire every time without the need for any nasty chemicals like kerosene.

Guy Fawkes Night

With the distant sky lighting up and the smell of smoke in the air, we know it’s finally bonfire night! Remember remember the 5^th of November – gunpowder, treason and plot. Some think that the fireworks and bonfires on Guy Fawkes Night are to celebrate his attempt to attack British parliament. However, the tradition actually comes from bonfires the people of London started to celebrate King James I surviving the plot. Whilst it’s great to witness some fireworks and enjoy a hot chocolate, fire safety is more important than ever. The Firemizer team is here to give you some simple safety tips to make sure everyone enjoys the night safely.

Did you know?

Did you know that three sparklers held together produce the same heat as a blowtorch? Or that fireworks can travel speeds of up to the 150mph? Or, until 1959, it was actually illegal not to celebrate bonfire night? If you’re starting a bonfire, one box of Firebuilder can start you up to 10 perfect fires!

Firework safety:

Fireworks might be very beautiful to watch, but if not handled properly, they can be incredibly dangerous. Always make sure the firework is properly stood with no flammable materials or plants around it. Maintain a safe distance after lighting it, and make sure everyone else is a suitable distance away – especially children. In recent years, just under 1000 injuries throughout October and November were caused by fireworks. Half of those were children, injured by fireworks or not handling sparklers correctly.

Sparkler safety:

Sparklers might seem less dangerous than fireworks, but misuse of them can lead to some nasty injuries. Before lighting them, always make sure it’s not too windy and anyone holding them is wearing gloves. Keep each individual sparkler away from any others, holding it at the base away from yourself. Always ensure there’s a bucket of water to dispose of sparklers when finished, as they can stay incredible hot for a long time after the spark has gone out.

Pet safety:

We know the loud noises around the 5^th are fireworks, but pets don’t and can be easily spooked by them. If a pet is scared and hides, don’t try to prise them out as this could distress them further. For dogs, ensure they’ve been properly walked during the day and that smaller pets have everything they could need for the evening. Closing windows and curtains can reduce the noise, and turning on the TV can distract them further.

Here’s a great link with more safety tips and ways to enjoy the evening.