The world is going green.  That’s not a bad thing.  When we respect the environment it respects us.  Besides, the fewer chemicals floating around in the air, the better our bodies feel as well.  For Christmas this year, consider giving some of the folks on your list a less tangible but more sentimental gift.

You know the people in your circle better than anyone. For those who would appreciate an environmentally correct gift there are a few ideas to choose from.  The first is making charitable donations in their names.

Everyone is not as appreciative of donation …

While many people love the holidays, that joy and cheer can quickly turn into stress and dread from all the holiday shopping, traffic jams, tree cutting, and the million other things you have to do this time of year.  If you don’t beat the stress, you’ll get worn down, and it can increase your chances of holiday depression and weight gain.

You can reduce your stress before the holidays even start by making a to-do list.  Write down everything you need to get done and when.  Then – and here’s the hard part – start cutting.

Many …

The kids are home for Christmas break and are bored already.  The weather is cold, wet and nasty.  What do you do?  Keep them busy making something with their hands, instead of you tearing your hair out.  Here are some fun ideas that kids will love.

1. Christmas cards are always a great craft.  Provide the kids supplies like construction paper, card stock, scissors, glue, glitter (the bottles of glitter/glue in one package are a very nice low-mess way to dress up a project), pencils, crayons or markers and old Christmas cards.  Let the kids use …

Christmas is a wonderful time of year for family, fun and faith.  Modern Christmas is a blending of many traditions and customs from all over the world.  No two families celebrate Christmas the same, as each family also has its own traditions passed down to each generation.  The sacred and secular come together at this time of year to make a holiday season that has something for everyone.

Ancient cultures had mid-winter celebrations that tied in with the solstice and with fertility rites.  These usually included a feast because they would slaughter some of their cattle.

By …

Are you one of many who dread the holiday season and the wonderful selections of food that seem to come with it? Even the most diet conscious people have trouble staying away from the many buffet tables during the holiday parties and family get-togethers. While it is ok to splurge every now and then, it is not impossible however to be true to yourself and stick with a diet.

If you plan for your holiday party attendances in advance, you can keep from over-indulging on some of the more fattening choices. You can have fun at …

As the holidays approach, we want to make sure that our homes are prepared for visitors and family.  It brings to mind the spring cleaning frenzy we participate in once winter is over.  Now, we are cleaning out the house to make way for holiday decorations, smells, and warm feelings.  Here are a few ideas to use when deciding how you will clean your home this year.

Chemicals used to clean our homes are harming our health and many don’t even know it.  The cleaning agents rub out soap scum and degrease grime on the stove …

We all like to decorate for Christmas.  It puts the entire family in the festive mood of the season.  Each year, many families purchase new decorations to change the look of our Christmas tree.  This year, why not choose to use some natural decorations for your home?

Natural doesn’t mean decorations that look like nuts and berries.  It refers to using actual nuts and berries as decorations.  Using nature to spruce up the place is safe for the environment.  After the holiday is over, it is easy to dispose of these decorations.  There is no need …

The centerpiece of the living room during the Christmas holiday is the Christmas tree.  The tree is where we place our presents for others.  The twinkling lights reflect the light in our heart for others during the season.  Some people choose to decorate a real tree and others opt for fake trees.  Which is best?

Opinions differ on the subject.  But, real trees are environmentally sound.  They are grown on tree farms and harvested around the holidays in time for Christmas.  People keep the tree watered throughout the Christmas holiday so the tree stays green and …

Who doesn’t want to have a few presents to open on Christmas morning?  Once the gift is open we are left sitting in a pile of paper and plastic tidbits.  These items litter the landfills for hundreds of years because they are not biodegradable.  Here are some ideas for alternative gift wrapping this year.

There are men and women sitting eagerly at the counter waiting to get a hold of our gifts.  They are the department store gift wrappers.  They swaddle our purchases in brightly colored paper, metallic ribbon, and handsome bows.  Obviously they have some …

For many, Christmas has become a commercial holiday.  Instead of being a season of giving, we have bought into the media circus and it has become a season of greed and excess.  This year tailor your shopping to be a bit more responsible in the items that you purchase.

Shopping responsibly doesn’t stop at spending frugally for what we need or want.  It is also a matter of global implication.  By that, we mean that we look at the people behind the products that we invest our monies into.

For example, let’s say that you wanted to …