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From late November through New Year’s Eve, we can become overtaken with this season of comfort and cheer, celebration and indulgence. We typically arrive at the end of the year with a full belly, large credit card bill, and in addition to warm, cozy feelings of love and camaraderie, some feelings of shame or guilt or “time to get back to work!” Does this sound slightly familiar? I’d be surprised if it didn’t, and if not, you must tell me your secret!

Want to welcome Blue Jays, Cardinals, and other stunning birds to your backyard? The better question is, who doesn't? Birds can bring such wonderful joy to a backyard, especially in the dead of winter, or late fall. The best part is, all the food you need to attract them can be found right in your local supermarket (and won't break the bank). Plus, feeding birds in the colder months helps them store and conserve energy for when they really need it (staying warm and avoiding predators). Here are the foods that will keep them coming back for more.

Not sure what to give the free-thinker in your life?

“Alternative” people can be difficult to buy for considering we tend to gawk at the idea of “buying” presents. Consumerism is at its height during the holidays, but a lot of non-conformists (or anti-consumers) won’t set foot in a shopping mall, and have no interest in gifts from there, either. Here are seven stocking stuffer ideas for the free-thinkers in your family.

As we learned in “What Happens to Food Scraps That are Thrown Away,” our landfills use “dry tomb” pits to contain waste, creating methane gas. But increasing numbers of landfill management companies are using that toxic gas to generate electricity.

Castile soap is one of the simplest, cleanest types of soap available on the market and can be used for a wide variety of things. Originally from the Castile region of Spain, castile soap is made from olive or vegetable oil and sodium or potassium hydroxide (depending on whether it is in bar or liquid form). Popular brands of castile soap include Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile and Kirk’s Original Castile, though many varieties can be found in stores.

Winter Solstice 2016 - Celebrating the Sacred Rebirth of Our Inner Light

 With the holidays already here, our time of celebration may be filled with family, friends, gifts, and…waste? Yes, waste. One of the major contributors to landfill waste is the holiday seasons. With the large amounts of waste that get produced during the holidays, sometimes people can fall into a dangerous cultural mindset and think that its just normal part of the holidays. You want to be weary of this mindset because it’s certainly not healthy for the environment, which means it’s not healthy for you or others inhabiting this planet either.

Aside from the lucky ones that live in 60-degree Decembers, most people are experiencing the sweater layers of winter. While there are definite perks to having a season of rest and renewal, the prolonged cold can also make us lethargic or unmotivated. How can we channel the warmth and activity of summer when it's gray outside?

Before you resort to wearing a full outfit of sewn-together blankets, try these lifestyle hacks to warm up.

Tired of your kid’s TV habit or your little one’s penchant for playing games and apps on your phone? Try sneaking a bit of nature into your kid’s daily routine – to make them love the world around them…

Healing our spirit is just as important as healing physically and mentally. Our spirit can get injured, sick, and tired just like our body and mind can. It is important to know what you can do to help heal yourself in all aspects.

The Indigenous and Native peoples of North America, as well as other those from other regions around the world, used what is referred to as The Four Sacred Medicines. These medicines consist of Tobacco, Sage, Cedar, and Sweet Grass. All of these plants are considered to be spirit medicine.