Simplify the Holidays

Last month, SoKind celebrated a big milestone — its one-year anniversary! As a gift to you, we've gathered our favorite tips for hosting birthday celebrations that focus on more fun and less stuff...more joy and less stress...and more love and less waste. Read on for celebration inspiration and practical tips.

Learn how one Charlottesville resident organized an unforgettable party around soup, designed to celebrate, honor, and support the diverse strands of her community.

Our newest guide provides inspiration and practical tips for you to plan special celebrations that reduce waste and expense, emphasize meaning over material goods, and strengthen relationships. With specific sections on: The Year-End Holidays, Birthday Parties, Baby Showers, and Community-Building Celebrations.

An alternative gift catalog for those who want to wrap their holidays in more of what matters—meaning, connection, and joy—and less of what doesn’t (stuff, stress, and waste). Categories include gifts for kids, spouses/partners, parents/grandparents, young adults, new parents, and the whole family.

SoKind allows you to create fully customizable wish lists focused less on "stuff" and more on family, fun, and friends. Or, create a GiveList—rather than requesting gifts, you can offer loved ones meaningful gifts that align with your values and skills!

Give gifts of time, experience, and memories—not more stuff! New Dream's Printable Coupon Book is an easy-to-use template that you can print out, customize, and give to family and friends of all ages.

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

These five do-it-yourself decoration ideas will help you put your family and home in the Halloween spirit—without spending a ton of money.

New Dream's Guinevere Higgins outlines four ways you can think more deeply about your Thanksgiving holiday and create a more authentic and meaningful experience for your family and friends.

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

Rather than making a typical wish list of items to receive this holiday, why not create a list of gifts you want to give to your family and friends? We've made it easy for you to create your own "GiveList" on SoKind, our alternative gift registry!

Alternative Gift Fairs are a way to promote the gift-giving tradition of the holiday season without the wastefulness and commercialization of conventional shopping. Our resources include a step-by-step guide (including a timeline) to hosting a meaningful event that celebrates your values and supports important charities this holiday season.