Are your children aware that a New Hampshire woman, Sarah Josepha Hale, was responsible for Thanksgiving becoming a national holiday? 
Yes, the first Thanksgiving, from which this  holiday of thankfulness originated, took place in Plymouth, MA.
However, it wasn’t celebrated nationally until Sarah Josepha Hale, the editor of “Godey’s Lady’s Book,” decided that Thanksgiving should become a national holiday. She initiated a campaign to have a day in late fall set aside for us to give thanks for our harvests and many blessings.
From 1846 to 1863, she wrote letters to presidents, governors, and any influential people she could think of. Many …read more

It’s the time of year when folks start sending flowers and little treats to friends and family for Thanksgiving. Just a friendly reminder to make sure you send eco-versions of the above items. Look for locally grown organic or VeriFlora Certified flowers when possible, and organic and natural locally made treats as well. If you live in an area that doesn’t cater to eco-friendly living there are some online treats and flowers to consider. Below is a round up of treats and flowers you can send that are lovely and special but won’t sacrifice your eco-footprint quite so much.

Beautiful Sweets …read more

There are some super cute green decor finds out there that allow you to decorate for a green Thanksgiving while one, not spending a ton of cash, and two, not sacrificing your eco-footprint quite so much. Here are some cute ideas…
Hoot worthy bleached eco-friendly coir owl doormat. Printed w/pigment dyes. Coir is woven from coconut husks, and naturally traps dirt, absorbs moisture, and stands up to all kinds of weather extremes. A nice greeting at a doorway this holiday.
Bamboo drink coasters – 100% organically-grown bamboo, non-toxic adhesive, natural food-safe wood oil.
Organic soy candles from Dirt Candles – Dirt makes GMO-free organic …read more

If you are anything like me, you love to have candles all over the house. I don’t always have them lit up; I just like the way they look and the feel that they give to a room. For this project you can use a regular pillar candle, it doesn’t have to be white. It can be any color you choose.
Here is what you will need to get started:

A white pillar candle (again, you can use any color – I used white)
A thanksgiving paper napkin with images
Modge Podge or white glue thinned out with water
Sharp, fine pointed scissors
A paint brush
Rubbing …read more

Thanksgiving isn’t typically a holiday that you think you need to worry about your pets, unlike say, Halloween or the Fourth of July. Though there isn’t much around to scare a pet (unless you have a lot of family ringing the doorbell!), there are hazards readily available that you might not even give a second thought to.

Last year I provided a bunch of tips that included info on feeding dogs bones and table scraps, which many people know about, to lesser known issues like hidden toothpicks and skewers that dogs can easily choke on.
Another thing that occurred to me last …read more

I used to roll my eyes at people who would get depressed during holidays. Seriously, what was there to be depressed about? And then my mother died. It’s not her absence that upsets me the most. It’s been 10 years since she died and I have learned to live with that void. It’s how our family tradition and togetherness died with her.

I don’t blame my father for that. He has a new life now with a wonderful, beautiful wife. And she has her family there. I’m a grownup now. I have husband and a child. And if anything, I should …read more

If you’re setting a fancy table for Thanksgiving, all the better, because you’re likely using real dishes and cloth napkins – both eco-friendly choices. BUT, what about the place cards? Well, you’ve got some options which include making your own or buying some eco-friendly options. Here are some ideas.
Store bought eco-friendly place cards:

If you’re going to purchase route look for non-toxic and recyclable materials and look for products that serve the purpose (or many purposes) for the long haul. I LOVE these Bird Cheese Markers (shown above) from Beehive Kitchenware – yeah they’re cheese holders but if you stick …read more

I know Halloween hasn’t even hit yet, but Thanksgiving is a big event and can take some planning. Luckily, there are some easy ways to green your Thanksgiving.

Look for “USDA organic,” not “Free-range” turkeys. While Free Range may sound good the term means little according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. You’ll have much better luck finding a chemical free bird if you go local – i.e. choose a turkey raised at a local farm. To learn more about labeling read, Unscrambling Organic Eggs, which yes, I know is about eggs, but if you replace the word “egg” with “turkey” …read more

Though we’re not the kind of dog owners that treat our dogs as little people (ie dressing them up or taking them places, etc), we do have fun trying to include them in our “in house” activities if we’re able to, like getting them a new chew toy or doll for the holidays, or making them a special treat on our “treat” holidays (Easter, Valentine’s, etc).

This includes a fun treat made from cooked, leftover turkey that’s perfect for the Thanksgiving weekend. Because we don’t have leftover turkey until after the holiday is over (and don’t want to spend anymore time …read more

Even though Thanksgiving is just over a month away for those of us in the U.S., I like to get an early start on what I plan to serve. Though we live far enough away from extended family that getting together for Thanksgiving doesn’t happen very often, we still put on a big feast for our family of five, including turkey, sides and of course, dessert!

This particular recipe, because it includes rum soaked raisins, may be just a late-night, no kids dessert for me and my husband, but that’s ok. After a day of cooking and standing around an oven …read more