8/20/09

One of the greenest gifts is no real gift at all: gift cards. If you have difficulty choosing a gift for someone who is impossible to shop for, avoid choosing the wrong gift -- which may go unused or eventually be thrown away -- and let them choose. A gift card is a green choice since the recipient can pick and choose exactly what he needs or wants. Tip: Unused gift cards can also be traded online at Gift Card BuyBack for cash: www.giftcardbuyback.com.

8/19/09

Even if you're more of a shake-and-bake type of a cook, that doesn't mean your instant brownies and cupcakes can't be organic, too. Organic foods have become so accessible that they're a cinch to make. Look for organic instant boxed mixes the next time you need to bake a sweet treat; they often feature higher-quality ingredients that just might fool others into thinking you made the chocolate cupcakes from scratch.

8/18/09

Rummage through your closet and collect those unwanted plastic and wooden hangers. Take those flimsy dry cleaner ones to your local cleaners; they'll reuse them. Drop off the wooden and plastic ones either at a local shelter or at a thrift store like Goodwill or the Salvation Army.