Bringing Meaning Back

Blog   |   by Edna Rienzi   |   May 30, 2017

New Dream's SoKind registry enables registrants to request meaningful gifts from the heart.

Tips for a Greener, Simpler Halloween

Blog   |   by Lisa Mastny   |   October 11, 2017

Halloween is big business. Avoid the hype and direct your energy, $$$, and creativity toward a greener, simpler holiday.

Challenge Toolkit: Simplify Your Holidays

Custom Pages   |   March 19, 2018

Five Ways to Green Your Thanksgivukkah

Blog   |   by Sarah Baird   |   November 26, 2013

Keep your Thanksgivukkah simple and green with these five easy ideas.

VIDEO: Simplify the Holidays – share this with your loved ones to kickstart a conversation (5 min.)

Videos   |   April 19, 2017

Looking for a friendly way to express your desire to simplify the holidays? Share this video with your loved ones to kickstart a conversation that doesn't leave you feeling like the Grinch.  

The Atlantic: The Joy of No-Gift Christmas

Blog   |   by Joe Pinsker   |   December 13, 2018

Raagini Appadurai, a 26-year-old educator and social-justice advocate living in Toronto, told me that her family—her two sisters, her parents, and herself—made a no-gifts pact this year. “When we remove material purchasing and consumption from the table, we are forced to question what we are bringing to [the holiday] instead—individually and collectively,” she said. 

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.

WEBINAR: Organizing an Alternative Gift Fair – FAQs

Webinars   |   by New Dream   |   June 12, 2018

This FAQ Webinar is a follow-up to New Dream’s previous webinar, “How to Organize an Alternative Gift Fair,” and will answer some of your questions about organizing this type of community event.

Donating Your “Declutter” to Charity

Blog   |   by Dale S. Brown   |   June 27, 2012

Many of us bring unwanted stuff to a drop-off box, donation center, or collection event. But how much of it is actually reused?

The Great Disruption: Why the Climate Crisis Will Bring On the End of Shopping and the Birth of a New World

Blog   |   by admin   |   June 8, 2011

In the coming years, “growth” will mean not quantity of stuff but quality and happiness of life. Yes, there is life after shopping.

Simplify the Holidays! Top 10 SoKind Gift Ideas

Blog   |   by Edna Rienzi   |   December 5, 2013

Simplify your holidays with our top 10 gift ideas for a SoKind holiday wishlist!

Never Too Early for a (Green) Halloween

Blog   |   by Kim   |   June 18, 2009

Experiences Increase Happiness and Well-Being, Research Shows

Blog   |   by Kelley Dennings   |   November 12, 2017

Need some more convincing that experiences increase happiness and well-being? New Dream's Behavior and Social Change Fellow, Kelley Dennings, brings us the research to back up the claim.

My Story: Tips and Tricks for Hosting an Alternative Gift Fair

Blog   |   by Jenn Knepper   |   September 3, 2014

Want to learn how to host an alternative gift fair? Start here.

8 Cheat Codes for Life

Blog   |   by Jake Giessman   |   June 14, 2012

Compared to their video game counterparts, the real "cheat codes" to life are simpler and more powerful.