Orange and black might be the traditional colors of Halloween but why can’t a little green fall into the mix? Here are a few simple tips to help make this weekend’s Halloween festivities a shade greener:

- When it comes time to make a jack-o-lantern, find a locally grown and organic pumpkin to carve.

- Make costumes from what you find around the house. Recycle clothes from years past or head to the nearest second hand store and rummage around. Try to convince the kids to trade costumes from last year with …

Tags: costumes , green , Halloween , holiday , kids and green living , lifestyle

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The people in my neighborhood really get into Halloween whether they’ve got their own little ghouls and goblins or not, proving the most fun night of the year is for the kid in all of us. You know, that kid who is addicted to Halloween chocolate!

I’m big on using decor to lift my spirits each fall, ideally with the surfeit of tools and supplies stashed in my green storage bins rather than ready-made plastic junk on the shelves of stores.

I found inspiration in Etsy’s Voter Page for …

Tags: art , costumes , craft , DIY , felt , foam , Halloween , holiday , jewelry , rubber , stamps , upcycle

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Few places in the world are as remote, mysterious and ethereal as Rapa Nui – better known to us as Easter Island.

Rising from the sea 3,600 km west of Chile, this volcanic island is steeped in history. European explorers arrived in 1722 AD to claim first discovery, little realizing they were a thousand years too late. It’s generally agreed that 4th Century Polynesians created the island’s archaeological remains, after enduring a staggering sea journey of over 1,500km eastwards. Today, it’s temperate, breathtakingly gorgeous and as enigmatic as its famous moai (carved stone heads).

One thing it isn’t …

Tags: holiday , luxury , Places , travel

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The global economy is tanking. The U.S. and the UK are in full-blown recession. Other countries are heading that way. We’re all going to have to tighten our belts, hold on hard and ride it out.

Grim economic news is never welcome and I sincerely hope the pain for you and your family is minimal. For the environment, the R-word is slightly more mixed news. On the one hand, people are sometimes less willing to pay extra for green supplies – sales of organic food are falling and farmers …

Tags: airfare , eco tourism , green travel , holiday , planning , vacation

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I’m not a lover of red roses, so it’s a good thing I never receive them. Guess the word is out. Never give her red roses.

I don’t equate scarlet blooms and chunky diamonds with being well loved, despite my mother’s attempts to train me. Court me with orchids and chunky beads and I will purr like cat curled up by a heater vent. But since some of you are traditionalists when it comes to symbols on Valentine’s Day, I shall lead you down the less thorny path of organic …

Tags: chocolates , fair trade , holiday , love , organic flowers , poetry , recycled , Valentines

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Hoppin’ John is a good luck dish traditionally eaten in the South for the New Year. Other good luck accompaniments include greens or cabbage and pork. This vegan version omits the pork, but, nevertheless, magically bestows good luck on all who enjoy it for the New Year.

The dish is rich and benefits from a little vinegar. A few shakes of vinegary hot sauce can do the trick. Pickled jalapenos are also wonderful additions. Though not traditional, I like to serve a bit of sauerkraut as a garnish and double …

Tags: cooking , entertaining , food , holiday , Recipe , vegan , wellness

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Oh Chanukah, Oh Chanukah, come light the LED Menorah! Let’s have a party, we’ll all dance the hora.

Gather round the responsibly harvested table, we’ll give you a treat, dreidels to play with and organic latkes to eat.

That’s the chant I hope members of my tribe will be singing during the upcoming festival of lights.  We can’t compete with Christmas and the surfeit of colorful decorations that line roofs and front lawns…and maybe that’s a good thing. Instead of connecting new, energy-sucking lights, we can turn ours off, light the menorahs …

Tags: chanukah , dining , entertaining , gifts , guide , holiday

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My husband has promised the girls they can have a “yule tree” this year as a non-religious way for half-Jewish kids to bring the splendor of winter indoors. The idea of a yule tree dates back to the folk traditions of the Celtic Druids and Saxons, who collected trees from the woodlands as part of the annual solstice festival.  There was no talk back then of Christmas pines or Chanukah bushes. The spirituality came from the gifts of nature and the symmetry of the seasons.
In creating our own traditions, it’s …

Tags: accessory , ambience , artisan , decor , glass , holiday , metal , seasonal

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There’s no denying it. Holiday parties are fun. Especially parties full of an array of finger foods that can be eaten in one or two bites. But how do you make your party more eco-friendly?

Here are a few tips:

Try to make the foods you serve as low on the food chain as possible. Serve less meat and cheese, and more vegetables and beans. For protein, remember that eggs are less production-intensive than meat or cheese and nuts are always good. When you do use meat and cheese, look …

Tags: cooking , Eating , entertaining , food , holiday , seasonal , wellness

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