Search for "New year"
Be a Super Mom (or Dad): Reinstate Family Meals
Blog | by Tovah Paglaro | May 11, 2012
A mother of three reflects about the central place that family meals should take in our lives.
"Fast Fashion" Isn't Just Trendy and Glamorous: It Has Consequences
Blog | by Addison Del Mastro | May 12, 2013
Bangladesh is a heartbreaking reminder of the flip side of conscious consumption—and why we need to do better.
7 Ways to Build Sane and Sustainable Money Habits
Blog | by Edna Rienzi | October 19, 2016
Help your kids stay on track with money management by having a clear, values-based plan.
Going Screen-Free at Home: It’s Not as Hard as You Think
Blog | by Edna Rienzi | April 12, 2013
When a mother of three opted to enforce strict television rules in her home, she discovered that life was actually easier and less stressful.
Vance Packard: Unsung Leader of the Environmental Movement
Blog | by Addison Del Mastro | August 15, 2013
Packard wasn't the first to write against excessive consumption. But he was the first to coin the term by which we all know it today.
The Gift of Connecting with the Past
Blog | by Moira Silva | December 7, 2018
New Dreamer Moira Silva shares the experience of creating a truly meaningful gift for her family: the gift of interviewing her great aunt.
Embracing Letting Go: Unintentional and Intentional Simplifying
Blog | by Lisa Luken | December 28, 2015
Lisa Lukin realized that her unfulfilling life was only going to change if she intentionally created a new path. Here's her story.
Real Celebration: Emet’s Meaningful Coming of Age Story
Blog | 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.
Give What Matters—Your Loved Ones Will Appreciate It
Blog | by Edna Rienzi | September 2, 2015
Read an excerpt from Rachel Macy Stafford's (also know as the Hands Free Mama) beautifully written new book, and learn how her daughter Natalie taught her to let go of societal expectations and her perfectionist tendencies and give the gifts that really matter in life.
How We Started a Holiday Share Faire to Build Local Resilience and Create Community
Blog | by Rani Jayakumar | November 17, 2017
Learn how one California group is boosting local resilience and strengthening community ties by sharing stuff, skills, memories, and stories.
Replacing the Value of "More" with "Enough
Blog | by Rob Dietz and Dan O'Neill | October 11, 2013
How can we overcome the dominance of consumer culture in America? Here are some ideas for getting the transition under way.
A Craigslist for Saving the Planet? Check.
Blog | by Steve Seeger | July 17, 2017
Steve's Weave is a place for greensters to get together to publicize events, projects, services, jobs, and more.
The Benefits—and Joy—of "Making Do" With What You Have
Blog | by Bea Echeverria | December 14, 2017
After moving to the U.S. from Spain, New Dreamer Bea Echevarria realized that "making do" wasn’t a coveted value for everyone. But there are many good reasons it should be.
Our 35 Favorite Gifts on SoKind Registry
Blog | by Edna Rienzi | July 16, 2017
At SoKind, you can register for anything you can imagine. Here are some of our favorite quirky and creative gift ideas from users.
Why Gift At All? Top 3 Reasons Why People Should Still Use Registries
Blog | 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.