how to simplify your gift listChristmas shopping can be difficult, especially if your list is full of people who already have it all. This year, keep it simple by giving charitable gifts that will help make the world a better place and won't take up …
green your own christmas treeEvery year when I was growing up, the moment we ate the last of the Thanksgiving leftovers, we three kids started to pester my parents to put up our Christmas tree. Usually the deal was that we could put up …
Guilt-Free Carbon UnitsIt was an ordinary Monday morning. I put on my corduroy jacket and walked outside. A flock of robins pecked for worms in our un-raked front yard. Our next-door neighbor walked by with her dog and waved.
the armchair scientistThe founder of The Weather Channel, John Coleman, recently posted a dismissal of global warming on KUSI San Diego's blog. He writes, "I have read dozens of scientific papers. I have talked with numerous scientists. I have studied. I have …
My Big, Fat Green WeddingA wedding is cause for joy and celebration. It is also a time to pause and think about personal values and your environmental footprint as you step into your future life.
clear your hallsThe election is over. After weeks and months of partisan politics, it seems like a good time for a fresh start. And what better way to clear the decks than to wage a full-on purge war in your attic, garage, …
won't you be my neighbor?As we are thinking about the upcoming elections and the changes we want to see in our city, state and world, I think that we should follow Gandhi's famous advice (and my favorite quote): "You must be the change you …
better than lincoln logsMy interest in carpentry and building probably began in the womb, since my father is the ultimate handyman. When I was growing up, he helped me design, construct and build beds for my American Girl Dolls. But it wasn't until …
Music to Set the Spooky MoodSay you have trick-or-treaters coming to your house this year. You have a nice outdoor speaker system and would like to really set the mood for all the little pirates, ballerinas and Harry Potters who come around begging for booty. …
Cocktails That Make You Go ‘Boo!'To scare up a formidable Black Cat, pour 1 ounce vodka and 1 ounce cherry brandy into a highball glass over ice. Fill with equal parts Coke and cranberry juice.
Halloween PartyWhen you're looking for items to decorate your space for Halloween, pick a handful of pieces around which to center the rest of your décor. For my space, I picked skulls. Skulls are easy to find, and the number of …
Sculpting the GourdI have carved pumpkins since I was a child. As kids, my sister and I carved the typical triangles and jagged mouth for a traditional jack-o'-lantern. A few years in a row, we painted the outside of the pumpkin instead …
Fly: Mean, Green HalloweenThis Halloween as you walk through your neighborhood after dark, flashlight in hand, think about what you are using to power that flashlight. If you have not yet made the switch to rechargeable batteries, you can recycle your old batteries …
Fly: SpookingCandlelight Ghost Tour of Cedar Grove Mansion (Vicksburg), Oct. 26-31, 5-10 p.m. $6 adults, $4 children. 601-661-6100.