Topic: Christmas

Holiday Gift Guide: 5 Last Minute Donation Gifts For The Charity Lover In Your Life

Today is Sunday, December 23, and I will be going Christmas shopping in approximately six hours. While I managed to stay on top of school during college and I’m good at keeping up with my work all week, I am admittedly terrible at staying on schedule when it comes to things like holiday gifts. This year, unfortunately, is no exception. However, rather than simply scrambling to exclusively find material gifts, I’ll be getting a couple of ones online that acknowledges the receiver to have a donation in his or her honor. More »

Healthy Travel: Tips For Eating & Communicating Well While On The Road

Being stressed out is a natural part of the holiday season. After all, you’re eating a bit differently, you’re seeing people you don’t normally visit, there’s a whole lot of saving and shopping and spending to do… it’s a recipe for nervous tension. That said, taking a couple of these steps might keep that nervous tension from evolving into anger and outbursts. More »

Fat Santa: Has Mr. Claus Gained Too Much Weight?

Has Santa been eating too many cookies, or is his heaviness simply part of our culture at this point? More »

On The Note Of Justin Bieber’s Hamster Giveaway, Please Do Not Gift People Pets For Christmas (Almost) Ever

In the event you haven’t heard, Justin Bieber decided to give a completely unsuspecting fan his pet hamster. No provocation, no background information checked — just handed over his hamster PAC to an 18-year-old fan identified as Victoria Blair.

“That’s all you,” he says in the grainy video, “You gotta take care of PAC.” The young woman replies through fits of screaming with a confirmation that she will, indeed, take care of the little creature. More »

Health Hack: Christmas Stockings: 5 Suggestions For Healthy Stocking Stuffers

In my family, Christmas stockings are filled with candy. There are a few other trinkets, yes, but where I come from, a stocking is traditionally and primarily candy. Now, I’m not necessarily complaining about this (no one can pry my plastic candy cane filled with Hershey’s kisses away from me) but I’m old enough to acknowledge that starting Christmas morning with a sugar rush isn’t the healthiest thing ever. And that’s why this week’s Health Hack is all about Christmas stockings. At the risk of looking like a healthy-minded grinch, here are a few suggestions to this Christmas tradition just a little bit better for you. More »

Mindful Ways To De-Stress And Get Zen Over the Holidays

When it comes to staying balanced, blissful and zen-like, the holidays can be a recipe for disaster. But that doesn’t mean we have to endure the chaos and equate the Christmas season with stress. Instead, there are some natural (and healthy) holiday stress relievers you can use to keep the Holiday season cheery and bright. More »

It’s A Wrap: 30 Alternative, Eco-Friendly & DIY Gift Wrapping Ideas

Whether you want to go green or just make your gifts stand out under the tree, we’ve got you covered with these DIY, eco-friendly and alternative gift wrapping ideas, from fabric wrapping paper — known in Japan as furushiki — to recycled sheet music, newspaper and vintage map wrapping. More »

Easy Ways To Have A Compassionate, Vegan Holiday

Having a compassionate, vegan holiday doesn’t have to be difficult–and it’s not just for people who already eschew animal products. What better time to think about animals than during a season that is all about peace and kindess. Even if you’re just giving it a test drive for the holidays, or learning to accommodate your vegan friends or family, we have some helpful tips to keep your holiday compassionate and animal-free. More »

A Funny Mistletoe Video To Get You In The Holiday Spirit

If you thought Justin Beiber‘s mistletoe video was great, watch this funny clip of some students at BYU doing a Christmas mistletoe survey–otherwise known as tricking other students into giving them a mistletoe kiss. More »

What We're Reading:

8 Eco-Friendly (And Festive!) Christmas Tree Alternatives

If you want to celebrate an eco-friendly Christmas this year, one of the best things you can do it seek out an alternative Christmas tree. It’s a great year to abstain from killing a tree or buying a plastic one (which, at some point, ends up in a landfill). Take a look at these creative eco-friendly Christmas tree alternatives and be inspired to start a new tradition: More »

Holiday Gift Guide: Organic Clothing For All Your Loved Ones

Whether you’re looking for organic gifts for your partner, pregnant best friend, picky niece, indecisive brother or friends who are brand new parents, you’re sure to find something in here that will fit. More »

Holiday Gift Guide: 25 Healthy & Green Gifts For Under $25

When you’re on the hunt for cheap Christmas gifts (or Hannukah gifts, or white elephant gifts), it’s easy to turn to standards like chocolate, cookies or mall-bought body sprays and candles. Don’t. You can give something unique no matter what your price range, and we found you 25 great Christmas gift ideas to prove it. More »

Deck The Halls With DIY: 10 Upcycled & Handmade Holiday Decorations

Every year, my mother puts out roughly enough Christmas decorations to outfit a trilogy about the North Pole. It’s not totally her fault — as a longtime teacher and girl scout leader, chintzy Christmas decorations just sort of happen — but as a result, I’ve never wanted to accumulate much in the way of holiday paraphernalia. I do, however, like things to look cozy & cheery for the holiday season — that’s why I’m a fan of these homemade, ‘upcycled’ or otherwise DIY decorations. Most of them are ‘green’ in that they don’t require you to buy new stuff (save $$!) and/or may make good use of old stuff that you would otherwise throw out. Plus, making your own holiday decorations a) makes you look cool and b) means you’re not surrounded by lead- and toxin-laden plastics and paint in the shape of Frosty the Snowman. More »

Why The Rockefeller Christmas Tree Is Making Me Sad

New York’s Rockefeller Christmas tree arrived this week, and as it was being pulled down the city streets in preparation for the 80th annual lighting, instead of a sense of joy and excitement, it only elicited a sense of sadness. Here’s why. More »

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