11/27/09

If you must hit the malls this Black Friday, do a little recycling when you're there. Bring your old cell phone to a Call2Recycle box. It's a program from the nonprofit Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corp. that will recycle your phone, for free, into new metal products. You'll find these collection boxes in stores like RadioShack, Best Buy and Home Depot or just visit www.call2recycle.org for one of 30,000 drop-off locations nearest you.

11/26/09

Start a new tradition with your Thanksgiving turkey and save the wishbone. Clean the wishbone thoroughly and let it dry. Paint the wishbone using a metallic paint, such as silver. After the paint has dried, attach a small gift tag to it with the date and location of the Thanksgiving feast. Place your "silverplated" wishbones in a pretty dish as a memento of your yearly get-togethers.

11/25/09

If you need to bring a gift to a party, think edible and perishable. Gift-giving is complex: People will either truly love the present or stash it away to never use it again. With a gift of food, the recipients can either enjoy it at their leisure or share it at the party. Wine, cookies, a bag of organic coffee or a bouquet of wildflowers are some good ideas.