The New Dream Blog
In our blog, we feature stories, tips, and commentary from contributors around the world on topics ranging from
consumerism and parenting to how to live a fuller life with less. Enjoy!
Interested in contributing a guest post? Please review our submission guidelines.
Mindful Decluttering: Your Stuff, Their Stuff, Our Stuff
by Pam Holland | May 2, 2016
Decluttering expert Pam Holland believes that tackiing the excess stuff in our lives is key to improving well-being.
Marketing CPG: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness
by Emily Canan | May 2, 2016
The Center for the New American Dream believes that the American Dream is re-emphasizing its focus to “more of what really matters, such as creating a meaningful life, contributing to community and society, valuing nature, and spending time with family and friends.”
Five Meaningful Gift Ideas for Mother’s Day
by Edna Rienzi | April 28, 2016
It’s not always easy to come up with a meaningful gift to show our moms how much they mean to us. Here are five gift ideas they're sure to love.
My Year of Buying Nothing New: 4-Month Update
by Julie Fathy | April 25, 2016
Colorado mom Julie Fathy has found joy in a different kind of life—one with less stuff.
Living the Dream: Brooke Moore, Minimalist and No-Regrets Purger of "Stuff
by Edna Rienzi | March 25, 2016
A few trips to drop off stuff at her local thrift store became the first steps in what would become a beautiful journey to minimalist living.
In Defense of Screen-Free Week
by Edna Rienzi | March 25, 2016
Some have called it "unrealistic," but Screen-Free Week can serve as an important opportunity for families to kick-start new habits.
How a Group of Kids Bagged the Disposable Bag in Boulder, Colorado
by Kate Bailey and Kate Nelson | March 17, 2016
What decades of education and outreach couldn’t accomplish, a group of high school students could.
Six Ways to Make Sure Your Wedding Has a Positive Impact
by Caitlin Frauton | March 16, 2016
Looking for some ways to have an eco-friendly wedding? Caitlin Frauton from DIY Wedding Mentor shares six tips to help you throw a meaningful celebration that positively impacts the environment and your community.
Why the Toys You Choose Matter: 6 Tips for Combating Commercialism and Encouraging Creative Play
by Edna Rienzi | February 29, 2016
Choosing toys and accessories carefully for your children can help them grow up to become smart consumers.
Why Gift At All? Top 3 Reasons Why People Should Still Use Registries
by Edna Rienzi | February 25, 2016
A few years ago, when the New Dream staff started tossing around the idea of creating an alternative gift registry, we weren’t all on board. Most of us had an “ick” sort of feeling when it came to registries. Traditional registries can sometimes come across as a bit tacky or even greedy. Plus, New Dream is an organization dedicated to shifting the ways that people consume—so why were we jumping into an industry dominated by big-box stores hawking more stuff? Wouldn’t we be encouraging people to create more waste and clutter? Read on to learn the top three reasons we were convinced that registries (and gifting) are still important.
Bangor Daily News: Our Problem With Stuff
by Mark W. Anderson | February 24, 2016
Boston College sociologist Juliet Schor explores the issue of stuff in our industrial society; her work among that of others spawned the Center for a New American Dream.
Building a More Connected Community, One Hour at a Time
by Mary Murphy | February 22, 2016
At just one year old, the Silver Spring Timebank is already a proven leader in organizing community sharing events.
Living the Dream: Bea Johnson, Zero Waste Guru
by Edna Rienzi | February 22, 2016
Bea inspires a growing community to live simply and take a stance against needless waste.
Real Celebration: Emet’s Meaningful Coming of Age Story
by Edna Rienzi | February 3, 2016
In the Real Celebrations series, SoKind asks registry users to share a bit about their celebrations. Read about how one family used SoKind to provide long-distance family and friends the opportunity to not only participate in their son's Bar Mitzvah, but to also express themselves through their gifts.