Reflecting on the Holidays

Blog | by New Dream | January 15, 2018

Before you jump ahead to the next thing in your life, we urge you to pause and reflect on your holiday experience.

Is It Wrong to Want to Give Your Children What You Never Had?

Blog | by Kelley Dennings | December 16, 2019

A strong advocate of experiences over gifts, Kelley talks about her own struggles with trying to make holiday memories less about what’s under the tree and more about spending time together.

Christmas Is About Presence, Not Presents

Blog | by Sarah Allison | November 9, 2018

New Dream Youth Fellow Sarah Allison shares her experience and faith-based values around keeping the Christmas holiday focused on transformation and healing.

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.

Give Less, Give More

Blog | by Julie Fathy | November 16, 2016

Mom and simple living expert Julie Fathy explains her "give less" approach to holiday gift giving, which honors the recipient, people, and the planet.

One Last Thought About the Holidays

Blog | by Hanaa | January 5, 2009

ACTION KIT: Step-by-Step: How to Hold an Alternative Gift Fair in Your Community

Resources | by New Dream | October 15, 2013

Here's all the info you need to hold an alternative gift fair in your community, connecting people to charities that are working to make our world a better place.

Challenge Toolkit: Simplify Your Holidays

Custom Pages | March 19, 2018

Tools, Tips, and Technology for Giving and Receiving Experiential Gifts

Blog | by Kelley Dennings | November 13, 2017

This holiday season, New Dream has embarked on a pilot campaign to promote experiential gift giving and receiving as a way to increase happiness and well-being. Check out the variety of resources we've created to help make giving and receiving experiential gifts easy and fun.

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.

Treat Yourself to a Less Wasteful, More Meaningful Halloween

Blog | by Amy Curtis | October 19, 2011

Learn how you can experience a magically spooky Halloween night without all the shopping, sugar, and excess waste.

TIPS: Reader Submissions: How I Simplify the Holidays

Resources | by New Dream | December 20, 2011

We asked our readers for their ideas for simplifying the holidays, and the response was overwhelming! Here are some of our favorite tips.

Outside-the-Box Experiential Gift Ideas