Now that Thanksgiving is over my mind immediately jumps right over to Christmas. As I have gotten older my view of the holidays in general have changed, and Christmas is no different. Where it used to be more about material things, now I appreciate handmade or homemade gifts instead. Let’s face it, we all have more than enough of most things and more of something doesn’t do anything, but make our footprints bigger and give us more stuff to have to keep up with. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather not. Why not make the holidays a little simpler, and a lot more heartfelt. Isn’t that what the season is all about?

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Is it really Thanksgiving already? Boy, this year’s gone by fast. At any rate, Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays because it means family, football, and most importantly, food. Any excuse to stuff my face is welcome in my book.

Here are some ways to enjoy your Turkey Day responsibly: Read more…

When Libuse Binder’s new book, Ten Ways to Change the World in your Twenties arrived, I was excited to crack it open and see what it had to offer. As a self-professed realistic idealist, a book with both big ideas and small details appeals to me.

The organization of the book is unlike any I have seen before – ten chapters (the “ten ways” in which we can “change the world”) are filled with a myriad of actions and ideas to implement that relate to each of the chapters. Each action has a rating scale based on time, money, and lifestyle impact required to complete the action. For example, moving to an organic farm for an internship is cheap, but a gigantic lifestyle impact. This is incredibly helpful in your twenties – a decade of life that arguably sees more change and transition than any other. A graduating college student is able to make much greater lifestyle changes than those twenty-somethings who are married and/or parents. And a career-oriented twenty-something who wants to contribute to a better world, but doesn’t have much time can use the rating scales to find a perfect fit. Read more…

Mmm. Coconut.

People, if there are two things I love in life they are freebies and coconut.

Okay. That’s not completely true, but it’s not completely untrue either, and you can’t prove anything so just roll with it please. I LOVE COCONUT AND FREE THINGS.

Ahem. Anyway, the lovely people at Desert Essence Organics sent me samples of their new Coconut Shampoo and Conditioner. And not those baby trial-sized samples, either, but full bottles. Bonus points! Also, very convenient, since I had just run out of both the day before and they saved me a trip to Whole Foods.

Both the Shampoo and Conditioner were thick and creamy, which is important to me because I have thick hair and I like to feel like my hair products are really doing their job by coating themselves in my hair in a luxurious fashion. Afterwards when I went to style my hair it felt healthy and strong, there were hardly any of my trademark frizzies, and I really enjoyed the scent of tropical beaches wafting around me with the warmth of the blow dryer.

It wasn’t until halfway through the day that I realized I could potentially get tired of smelling coconut. The smell was still delicious, but it definitely lasted much longer and was stronger than most scents I use. If you’re sensitive to smells I would test this one out with a trial size before you buy the full bottles. But for $8.99 (and they’re 25% off that right now if you check them out!), the cost is relatively cheap compared to most of the organic shampoos I usually buy at Whole Foods.

Overall, I give this shampoo/conditioner combo an A-. If only they had Pineapple Conditioner to go with the Coconut Shampoo, I could be doing it up pina colada style.

Holiday shopping for kids can be so much fun, but with all the lead warnings and safety recalls, it can also be a little daunting.  And with all the plastic and packaging that go along with kids’ toys, it can be very wasteful too.  Here are a few low plastic/low waste gift ideas that will make you feel good about what you give to your little loved ones.

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I joked to a friend recently that I have really strong opinions about mostly pointless things. It came up in the context of a small diatribe about proper concert etiquette, which, if you ask me, is far from pointless; basic consideration for others when in a public place is one of the few things that separate us from the animals, after all. Still, I may get a bit worked up when most people would least expect it, and I could perhaps stand to save my energy for the greater, more noble battles in life.

One killjoy-esque battle I do think is justified is the one against these ridiculous monstrosities:

Image courtesy Franco Folini

I haven’t been much of a regular barfly for several years now, but I still see one of these gas guzzling beasts ferrying a drunken troupe of bachelors or bachelorettes around nearly every time I head out for a night downtown. Every time I spot one, I cringe and have to resist the urge to chastise the riders with a likely ill-received “What would Al Gore say about this?!?” Surely there are more fun, more environmentally sound modes of transport for a night on the town than the likes of the Hummer limo, no?

Yes! Enter the PedalPub:

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Ever since I heard that many world leaders, including President Obama, were planning on crafting a global climate change treaty to be debuted in Copenhagen next month, I’ve been really interested to hear what that treaty would say. Getting 192 big players to agree on emissions restrictions and other regulations that would curb global warming is not an easy task.

Well, it turns out I’ll have to wait a little longer, because the decision has been put on hold. Read more…

Like many of you, I am dreading looking forward to the upcoming holidays. Who doesn’t like the chance to get together with people we’d never associate with if we weren’t related by blood? Actually, Mr. Dingo and I play our holidays pretty low key. We simply stay home and avoid the madness. Thanksgiving? We’re thankful 365 days of the year. We don’t need no stinkin’ holiday! Christmas? We want peace and love every day of the year. We don’t need no stinkin’ holiday! New Year’s Eve? We get drunk, dress like idiots, and are too loud every day of the year. We don’t need no stinkin’ holiday!  And best of all?  Sanctimony and self-righteousness has no carbon footprint and keep you warm during the long, cold winter months. So, turn off that heater and turn up the judgmental snark. That rosy glow you feel? That’s environmentalism at work, folks: you’ve just saved 35 acres of rain forest by staying home, turning down the heat, and basking in the warm, cackling glow of your inner judge and jury.

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Image credit: Origins.com

I spend most of my day staring at a computer, and that often causes dark circles under my eyes. Sometimes I’ll catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror and can’t believe how tired I look, even if I got plenty of sleep the night before. So a few weeks ago, I went into an Origins store to see if they had anything that could help.

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The following is a guest post by the beautiful Sarah P. from Seattle, WA.

My husband jokes that I have a lady who survived the Great Depression living inside of me.

Yes, it’s true. I am a thrifty, recycle and reuse kind of girl with a penchant for innovation. So it’s sweetly fitting to write about Nicole Miller’s new venture The Field House. Inspired by the turn of the century general store, The Field House hopes to revive that early 1900 spirit of sustainability, creativity and local community. Here you can support local artisans while buying basics of soap, in-season vegetables, and nuts still housed in their shells. You can also purchase your not-so- basic afghans, woolen blankets that carry on Native American folk art traditions, and dishware with insect themes. Get your “glamor on” while perusing the many perfumes, candles, stylish jeans and flannels that are fashionable and still have the essence of the Victorian period. If you’re in need of a snack, The Field House can also help you out with a simple cup of soup or small sandwiches which are priced and portioned to treat both your stomach and wallet well.

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