Mermaids Make a Difference

Mermaids Make a Difference: We Love to be Green!

Around here, “being green” is about more than a pretty color! It’s so very important to Mermaid Cottages that we do our very best to take care of our environment, and we do everything we can to bring on the green. Being green isn’t as difficult as it seems. It is really just a lot of little actions that add up to big benefits when they become habits. We do a lot of those little things to reap the green benefits around here!

There are literally loads of ways to be a better steward of our Earth. What does Mermaid Cottages do to stay green? Well install Compact Fluorescent light bulbs in all of our homes to save on electricity and use Lo-flow water-saving devices in all bathrooms and outdoor showers. We keep all our cleaning products eco-friendly, which is better for you and your for legged family, too. We even conduct energy audits for all our homes to see where we might be able to save more energy. Mermaid Cottages even takes pride in making our outdoor living spaces as green as possible by planting drought resistant and local plants to help conserve water!

We invite our guests to join our green efforts during their stay, and maybe even take the good habits home with them! Here are just a few ways you can make your stay with Mermaid Cottages a little greener:

It's easier than you think!

Save Electricity
– Slay “Vampire Power” by turning off all lights, TVs, DVDs & computers when not in use
– Use the outdoor clothesline to dry your clothes (they smell good too!)
– Open the windows turn on the ceiling fans and enjoy the ocean breezes!
– Use Cold water, not Hot, in the washing machine
– Draw your curtains/blinds during the heat of the day

Save Fuel and Drive Less
– Walk, ride bikes, rent scooters or electric cars!
– Save gas and have more fun – Tybee is better enjoyed moving SLOW!

Recycle
– Glass, plastic, cans, newspapers: use the home’s green recycling container

Reduce, Reuse
– Take reusable bags during your trip to the grocery store
– Use Dish Cloths and cloth napkins and less paper products

Conserve Water
– While brushing teeth, turn water off, and use a cup of water to cleanse mouth of
toothpaste
– Use dishwasher only when completely full with dirty dishes
– Take shorter showers with tepid water

Make being green part of your every day routine, Y'all!

And that’s just getting started! It’s not just Earth friendly to be green…it’s even fun! Once you start thinking of ways to conserve, reduce, reuse, and recycle, the ideas just start flowing. So we invite you to join Mermaid Cottages in our efforts to be a little greener. Maybe even take the habits home as a way of keeping your Tybee State-of-Mind!

 

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Welcome Knight, Our Newest Sponsored Guide Dog!

Sandy and Knight!

Everyone at Mermaid Cottages is excited about the news! December 3rd, our good friend Sandy picked up our newest guide dog sponsor, Knight! That’s right, the same special little guy you all helped to name. Isn’t he just the most precious little thing? There’s nothing cuter than an eight month old black lab puppy!

Knight got his name thanks to everyone voting in our Name That Puppy Poll on our Mermaid Cottages Facebook Page. We received so many wonderful names (and reasons for those names) that a poll just seemed like the best way to choose the perfect fit, and boy did you guys come through! Knight won with 62% on the vote! Knight was submitted by Rob S. from Florida in honor of a good friend that passed unexpectedly November 23 at the young age of 36. Albert Knight, Jr. gave of himself each year by participating in the Relay for Life. He continued giving after his passing through organ donation and even a donation to Locks of Love. Since childhood, Al enjoyed spending much of his time at the beach and always lived life to the fullest, as if each day was his last. And now, his name will be carried on and his memory honored through the life of Knight, our newest sponsored guide dog!

Knight seems to be making himself right at home!

Sandy tells us Knight seems to be a very sweet and calm puppy so far. He really enjoys the company of his new friends, Aldo and Tony. Aldo (on the left above) is also a guide dog, and Tony (on the right) is Sandy’s big, beautiful Golden Retriever. Tony is about 105 lbs. to Knight’s about ten, so we ought to really be able to watch Knight’s growth when he sits next to Tony! Cuteness overload!

We are so proud to welcome Knight into the Mermaid Cottages family. We just know he will live up to his name and grow up to do wonderful things as a guide dog! Remember, every time you stay with Mermaid Cottages or purchase our Beach Bum Biscuits, you help us sponsor a service or guide dog through The Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind and  Southeastern Guide Dogs’ Puppy Sponsorship Program, so thank you for helping us help others!

Welcome Knight, Our Newest Sponsored Guide Dog! Read More »

Name That Puppy Poll!

Well, submissions are now closed! We have really enjoyed going through all the name submissions for our newest Guide Dog sponsor pup. It was difficult, to say the least, but we have come up with our top six favorite names, and now we need your help!

Today is the day! Head on over to our Name That Puppy Poll on our Official Mermaid Cottages Facebook Page and vote for your favorite name now! Here are the names, and why they were submitted:

Curry– in memory of Chris D.’s grandfather, father, and brother, who all served in the military

Scout– in honor of Connie D.’s parents, always supportive of the Scouts and “because a good scout helps people.”

Deen– in honor of Paula Deen and family and all they do for the community.

Knight– in honor of Al Knight who passed and helped many through organ donation and donation to Locks of Love.

Kevin– in memory of Kevin Pape who was killed in service to our country in Afghanistan.

Drum– in memory of Miss Sylvia, Tybee treasure and percussionist extraordinaire.

The poll will be open for voting until November 30 at 5 p.m., so don’t wait! Sandy, our good friend and puppy care taker, is picking up the newest addition to the Mermaid Cottages Sponsored Guide Dog family December 1st, and we really want her to have something to call the little guy when she gets there.

Vote now, and tell your friends to vote as well! We can’t wait to know our newest’s addition’s name!

Name That Puppy Poll! Read More »

How’s Your Penmanship?

I’m gonna sit right down and write myself a letter…and pretend that it came from you…

…and I’m gonna write it on a Mermaid Cottages Note Card  from the new collection by the fabulous Fifi Flowers!  There’s the new cottage collection and the always wonderful pet collection and Fifi’s wonderful, whimsical calendars to mark off the days until your next visit to Mermaid Cottages and Tybee Island. …

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Home For The Holidays!

Sweet Baby Scout, photo by Folds & Ghiloni PhotographyGREETINGS FROM HISTORIC TYBEE ISLAND, GEORGIA – YOUR “HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS”

Have you ever stopped to check where some of the products you purchase are actually manufactured?

This year, Mermaid Cottages would like to spotlight products and services created and produced here in America.  And, with the 2nd Annual Support Small Business Day approaching on November 26th,  we would especially like to encourage support of America’s small businesses.  Each of us has the power to affect change and take an active part in creating jobs and stimulating our economy.  If everyone pledged to “shop small” and made just one purchase from any of America’s small businesses, the impact would be huge!  Support of America’s small businesses boosts local economy and helps preserve neighborhoods.  So, MADE IN AMERICA and SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS are our mottos for this holiday season.  And, what better way to spend the holidays than a “Mermaid Cottages for the holidays” vacation?  An opportunity to support both MADE IN AMERICA and one of America’s small businesses; an all-American holiday celebration on historic Tybee Island!  Tybee Island is home to a host of small businesses including Mermaid Cottages. …

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