Monthly Archive for April, 2010

The Green Experience

Published on April 23, 2010 in HAYNEEDLE and PATIO & GARDEN. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , .

Now that Earth Day is officially over the hill (Happy 40th, Earth Day!), we think it’s time to make every day a little eco-friendlier.  Our country actually has a green-minded resume that predates Earth Day by 100 years- it started with Arbor Day in 1879. With humble beginnings in Nebraska, Arbor Day gained observance in every state by the 1920s, and our country is a greener, shadier place for it. Once a wind-swept expanse of Sandhills and prairie grass, Nebraska today has three National Forests to prove it. Seriously. There’s are three National Forest in Nebraska. Cool, huh?

Nebraska National Forest

At Hayneedle, we’re trying to rekindle some of that pioneer spirit with something we’re calling “The Green Experience.” Think of it as a little slice of reality Internet where anyone can follow one of Hayneedle’s own, Cayden, as she chronicles her transition to a greener lifetstyle on Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook. Her endeavor began a  few weeks ago with a compost bin and 2,500 worms in her formerly worm-free living space. Follow the “HayneedleGreen” handle on Twitter and check back here for her blog posts.  It’s bound to be messy for her, but ultimately a planet that’s a little cleaner for the rest of us.

Check out what Hayneedle employees are doing to tread a little more lightly.

<!–[if !mso]> <! st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } –> to keep people thinking about our great ball of rock and water beyond April 22, we’re rolling out a little reality Internet that we’ve dubbed “The Green Experience.” Cayden Biddle has volunteered for this voyeuristic social media experiment, which will chronicle her change to a greener lifestyle. It started with a compost bin and 5,000 worms… it’s gonna get messy, folks. Follow the “HayneedleGreen” handle on Twitter and look for features on YouTube and Facebook soon.

Planetary Alignment

Published on April 16, 2010 in HAYNEEDLE, PATIO & GARDEN and SEASONAL & GIFTS. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

While our planet does its part to sustain life no matter what the calendar says, April is the month when we take a little time to consider our role as environmental stewards. For most, the reflection and celebration is encapsulated in Earth Day, which falls on April 22. An increasing number of cities around the world have decided to extend their observance to a full week. “Earth Week,” as its known runs from April 16 to April 22.

Since 2010 marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, we at Hayneedle have decided to extend the celebration even further. Welcome to Earth Month! For 40 days, we’ll be posting tips for on how to tread a little more lightly.

We’re not talking about running out and buying a hybrid or installing windmills and solar panels to get off the grid. Nope, just simple things that anyone can do, things that in the long run will conserve our resources and save you money. Like- here comes a shameless plug for one of our less sexy sites- remembering to change your furnace filter! (Plan to change it on the first day of each season, but check it every month just in case.)

Maybe you’ve seen a few of these tips on our Facebook and Twitter pages. Become a fan or follow us if you haven’t already. Besides staying save-the-planet savvy, fans and followers are usually the first to know about exclusive deals and discounts. So go ahead, hop on the social networking wagon. Just remember to  set your computer to sleep or hibernate when you’re done socializing.

The Random Act of Kindness Sale

Published on April 9, 2010 in FURNITURE, HAYNEEDLE, PATIO & GARDEN and SPORTS & GAMES. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Supposedly it was peace activist Anne Herbert who coined the term “Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty” when she wrote it on a placemat in Sausalito, circa 1983.  The idea, often distilled to “random acts of kindness,” has seeped into media and our psyches, even providing the gist of the movie Pay It Forward, a Kleenex-fest starring Haley Joel Osment as a translucent-skinned sickling with a heart of gold.  So what better name for our weird little 14% off sale, right? It’s a random act of retail kindness, and we did it to make you smile.

Our Random Act of Kindness Sale lasts through April 15. It features 12 of our top stores, all offering 14% off.  Who says consumerism can’t be laced with a little kindness?

Maybe today you’ll be inspired to commit your own senseless act of beauty, whether it’s paying for the latte next in line at the coffee shop, or picking up that piece of litter on the sidewalk instead of walking by, or taping a page of poetry to the wall inside the elevator of your building (our personal favorite).

However it manifests itself, a little kindness goes a long way.

Every Bunny Wins

Published on April 2, 2010 in HAYNEEDLE. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , .

Open expanse of green(ing) grass:  Check.

Pastel plastic eggs spread far and wide:  Check.

Mildly terrifying adult-sized bunny costume:  Check.

A riot of kids, ready to get cracking:  Check.

That was the happy, hoppy scene in the Hayneedle courtyard last Saturday morning thanks to our non-marshmallow peeps on the Activities Committee, who put hours of thought and effort into organizing the Hayneedle Easter Egg Hunt. Giddy kids and smiling parents proved that yet again, the annual eggs-travaganza was a success.

Poached eggs? Looks like Matilda (center) is exceeding the posted limit. Kittrick (wisely leaving the frame) knows when it's time to distance himself from illegal hunting.

Seeing all this fun firsthand made me realize that Easter-ish festivities and springtime fun shouldn’t be confined to just a weekend or two each year. If you have kids and are on the lookout for constructive kid-friendly activities, raising rabbits and chickens is an increasingly popular option. And it’s not hard to see why.

Kids get their pet fix. Parents don’t have to commit to a traditional “house pet” and all the responsibility that entails. In the case of chickens, the whole family gets fresh eggs, year round. As for rabbits, we don’t recommend coney stew, but plenty of warm, fuzzy companionship makes for a satisfying alternative.

With chicken coops and rabbit cages designed in all sizes and price ranges, raising fur and feathers has never been more affordable. If you can picture your children chasing chicks and bunnies across the lawn, these hobbies pretty much sell themselves.

Happy Easter from all of us at Hayneedle!