Green Gifts That Give Back

We might be part of the 99% here, but to much of the rest of the world, (and I mean human, animal and vegetable) we're the 1%. If you're feeling scroogy about parting with your dough to truck to the mall and add to the (sarcasm coming....) "lifestyle enhancing' pile of rubble under the tree" this season, you might want to opt for something much greater--the greater good.

I'm often daydreaming of the day I'm a gajillionaire and can set up my own foundations, but until that time (and it IS coming soon), I've tracked down the best ways to donate to the causes that may be close to the hearts of your nearest and dearest, from organizations that support orphans or feed the hungry to those that protect animals. And since donations are welcome in amounts from low to high, you can stay within your budget while making a big impact—and who can put a price on that?

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A TV Guide for Kids on Summer Vacation

As the school days dwindle down to a precious few--ok who am I kidding?--we are on a speeding freight train to Summer Vacation! And no matter if you've got a swanky family getawy planned or are preparing yourself to blow up the kiddie pool, chances are your kids are going to have a lot more free time on their hands (and yours) and will be gratitating toward one screen or another. In this first of our series on kids and screen-time, I'll offer some tips that may help you curb the urge to use the idiot box as a full time babysitter, and embrace it for the good, and sometimes even great, things it has to offer your kids.

For most households in the US, a totally TV free home is not very realistic, and perhaps not too appealing, either. I am right there with (most) of you. I’m no unimommer--but when my kids were really little we were, happily, TV free…so carefully making the transition into welcoming that seductive colorful box is what this is all about. Because you don’t want to end up with a free-for-all gorge on 899 channels, and a bunch of couch potato zombies, I’ll offer you several different approaches to a green and modified TV, (and computer.)

Here’s the abbreviated story of how it went for my family:

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Meat Free Mondays: Lemon Pasta

This fit and frugal dinner is a savory and surprisingly light go—to if you're looking for a serious crowd pleaser tonight—and more good news, if you have any left over (which I sincerely doubt) it's terrific on a bed of leafy greens for a cold lunch tomorrow.

You won't even miss the carne—I promise.

Here's what you'll need:

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