11/20/11

For your upcoming Thanksgiving feast, embrace the true spirit of the holiday and think local with your family's big meal of the day. Shop farmers markets for locally grown, seasonal produce and look for locally made baked goods, juices, and even floral bouquets and arrangements for the table. And try to get a fresh, free-range local turkey, preferably from a farm nearby where you know the animals were humanely raised and slaughtered. And lastly, always have several vegetarian options available if you don't know the dietary restrictions of all your guests.

11/19/11

If you have holiday string lights that are burnt out, non-functioning, or just in need of an update, don't replace them; recycle them. Check with your local home improvement store to see if it is collecting holiday lights for recycling. You can also ship your old lights to HolidayLEDs.com's Christmas Light Recycling Program, and it will send you a coupon for 25 percent off new, energy-efficient LED lights. Learn more at HolidayLEDs.com.

11/18/11

If your family is driving to Grandma's house this holiday season, you should keep extra reusable cups in the car to cut down on waste and save money. Instead of buying four individual drinks with four disposable cups, invest in buying a super-sized beverage instead. Then divide the drink into the reusable cups; this will save money and cut down on waste.