Search for "Happy"
Top 5 Lessons from a SoKind User
Blog | by Evonne Marzouk | August 25, 2014
Evonne Marzouk and her husband didn't need all that much baby gear for their second son. Moreover, they didn't really want a lot of new stuff. But Evonne knew that friends and family wanted to help celebrate the family's newest member. With this in mind, Evonne created a SoKind Registry. In this post, she shares her experiences and the lessons she learned along the way.
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.
New Dream Staff Picks: Books We Love
Blog | by Lisa Mastny | April 11, 2012
New Dream staff share their picks for the most inspirational books they've read on topics of consumerism, parenting, and work-life balance.
10 Great Books to Teach Your Kids About Consumerism
Blog | by New Dream | February 6, 2018
Shara Drew, the director of New Dream's Kids & Commercialism campaign, reviews two recent children’s books that deal with the topic of consumerism in a way that's impactful and fun, and also suggests eight more oldies but goodies.
Why I Stopped Combing Through Chemicals and Took My Hair Care Into My Own Hands
Blog | by Jasmine Curtis | February 18, 2020
Many of the hair and beauty products marketed to Black women—from dyes and relaxers to lipsticks and makeup—pose serious health and environmental risks. Jasmine Curtis wants to change that.
TIPS: Simplify Valentine's Day
Resources | by New Dream | April 14, 2017
Check out our Simplify Valentine's Day resources to help you “reboot” Valentine’s Day into a day focused on kindness and generosity.
Tales from a Tech-free Summer Camp
Blog | by Eli Austin | October 11, 2018
A recent high school grad shares a lesson for young people about the benefits of getting off our devices and out into nature.
Gale Student Resources in Context: How the American Dream Has Changed Over Time
Blog | June 23, 2016
According to a survey from the Center for a New American Dream, 78 percent of people considered personal freedom extremely important in their vision of the American Dream. At the opposite end, 23 percent considered achieving affluence as very important.
Want to Encourage Gifts That Really Matter? Plan an Alternative Gift Fair!
Blog | by Jennifer Oehme Knepper | May 4, 2017
It's never too early to start planning an alternative gift fair. Here's one story about getting it done.
Spirit of Change Magazine: 15 Tips For Commercial-Free, Fun-Filled Family Holidays
Blog | by Shara Drew | December 1, 2017
If you want to make this year’s holidays more meaningful, memorable, and rejuvenating for your family, these 15 tips will help you opt out of the commercial hype and create a truly special celebration for your kids.
Beyond the Lion’s Den: Mapping a More Meaningful Family Holiday
Blog | by Shara Drew | October 12, 2017
New Dream's Shara Drew describes her quest to create a different kind of holiday tradition for her family—one that has nothing to do with "stuff."
The Privilege of a Simple Life
Blog | by Kate Parker | June 10, 2020
The pandemic has shown that the ability to "simplify our lives" is not distributed equally. For those able to simplify, how can we direct this privilege toward better tending to the injustices of the world?
Activism in a Place Where Eco Isn’t the Norm
Blog | by Christine Kane | October 18, 2018
Retiree and New Dreamer Chris Kane shares some of her strategies for being an eco-activist in her adopted home state of Florida.
TIPS: 15 Tips for Commercial-Free, Fun-Filled Family Holidays
Resources | November 1, 2017
If you want to make this year’s holidays more meaningful, memorable, and rejuvenating for your family, these 15 tips will help you opt out of the commercial hype and create a truly special celebration for your kids.
What Is the American Dream? Dueling Dualities in the American Tradition
Blog | by James Gustave Speth | June 27, 2011
The story of the pursuit of happiness in America is a story of its close alliance with capitalism and consumerism. But is there another option?