This week Val is right! It's Dagoba not Dagoba. We are eating chocolate and drinking wine while we're bundled up on the patio.

The Chocolate
Dagoba - Again - No we don't own stock. We just like it. This week we are eating the Lime variety.

The Wine
La Rocca Vineyards. The most widely distributed organic wine in the country (according to Val)Chenin Blanc.

Cherry Pie
Val brought a Wholly Wholesome cherry pie to Thanksgiving. It was a big success.

In the news
About.com - the cardboard box is in the national toy hall of fame. We love the creativity of children.

Charitynavigator.org
Dori got a catalog from Seva Foundation (a Charity gift service). Seva got a two star rating out of four. Charigynavigator.org is a great way to check out different charities.

Lip Balm
Dori's son had a desperate need for some chap stick, but it wasn't easy finding one with out a petroleum base. Finally one was found. Chapstick All Natural. Don't worry we read the ingredients, and it looks good.

"Snow" Covered Pine Cones
Val found this one in Ready Made magazine. Use gum arabic (spray over pine cones) and dust with flour. Because all of the ingredients are biodegradable you can toss the ornaments back in the woods when they are done adorning your home.

Tree Skirt
Also from ready made. Find a festive vintage skirt (the fuller, the better), Remove zipper, cut skirt down the back. Pleat and sew the waistband so it is about 14 inches around. Apply velcro to the opening to allow the skirt to be adjusted to fit the tree. Wrap around the tree and anchor with gifts.

Goodnight Moon
Clement Hurd - the illustrator's cigarette has been air brushed out of newer versions of the book. Let us know your opinion at hip@greenfeet.com

Green Giving - 14 Exceptional Gift Ideas

1. Organic Fair Trade Coffee and Teas - pair it with a recycled glass mug or an electricity free french coffee press.
2. Gift Subscription to the Green Guide - A wonderful source for green home tips, product reviews and environmental health updates. www.greenguide.com
3. Adopt a Tiger. - The Barry Kirshner Wildlife Foundation has a program where you or a friend can be a foster parent to an exotic cat, a coyote or a ring tailed lemur. www.kirshner.org
4. Plant a tree for someone you love. www.sustainableharvest.org - for $40 they plant 100 trees or $150 will plant and help produce an organic garden.
   Or visit the Jewish National Fund at jnf.org. for as little as $10 you can plant trees and green the land of Israel.
5. Purchase the gift of hope at Heifer International . They help families to get training and resources to be self reliant in countries around the world. For $60 you can purchase a flock of chicks, goslings or ducklings for a family. The eggs provide protein, the droppings fertilizer, and they can sell eggs and get other provisions for their household. Check them out at heifer.
6. Make someone's holiday bright with candles. Make sure they are vegetable or beeswax. Also check that the wicks are cotton or paper.
7. Fill your child's stocking with non-toxic toys. Plastic out gasses. Check out these websites for healthy, quality made alternatives: northstartoys.com, ecobaby.com or childsake.com
8. Give a valued possesion. A gift from your heart is a gift that gives forever.
9. Write a letter to your child and place it under the tree. Express why you are proud to have them in your life, why they should be proud of themselves, and even a story that will make them laugh. Date it and sign it. A gift never to be forgotten.
10. Start a family recipe book. Give the book to a few other people, and they can each share a recipe in the following years.
11. Give the gift of cuttings. Find a unique container and share your green thumb with family and friends. Pair it with a gift certificate for gardening lessons if they have a not-so-green thumb.
12. Give the gift of music. Create a complication for that special someone.
13. Interview or video tape the older family members. Find out the family history, about their childhood, and give to your siblings or children.
14. Give the gift of knowledge. A subscription to a great magazine we suggest: Readymade, Plenty, Worthwhile, Real Simple, Utne, or Natural Home and Garden. We feel these offer more than just advertisements.

 

Essential oils How-to
Debunking the myth that essential oils are new-aged. We feel they are economical and practical. If you try them. Please let us know!
Inhalation: You can smell them right from the bottle. Lavender and Vetivir are great for calming a panic attack or even a little extra tension. Hold the oil about six inches away and move it back and forth. Or put a little on a hankie and keep it handy.
Use a diffuser: Use a diffuser to create atmosphere or purify the air.
Use them in massage: Mix about three drops into your favorite massage oil (We suggest jojoba or sesame - a couple of tablespoons). No need for a professional. The hands of your nearest and dearest will work just fine.
Bath: Mix with whole milk to help it disperse in the tub.
A Compress: Put hot water (not boiling) in a bowl. Place ten drops of your favorite essential oil, then soak wash cloth and apply to the affected area.
Neat or directly to the skin. For beginners we suggest lavender and tea tree oil.

Listener Emails
Patricia: She hates wrapping paper - order the bolts of newspaper that are left over at the printers (called end rolls). Just call your local paper to find out what's available in your area. There may be a fee.
Chris: Red White and Blue Podcast (shout out!) - Thanks for the info on Citgo.
Amanda: Top ten ways she has changed her life since listening to More Hip Than Hippie!

• Bought a very expensive piece of Le Creuset cook ware (ouch) and love it (yeah!)
• I am kicking myself for just throwing out an old bottle of lavender, because I figured it went bad.
• I now have three reusable shopping bags that are quite the envy of my fellow shoppers.
• I have looked at hemp clothing online (Still pondering).
• I am going to redo my bathroom next year and I have started researching earth-friendly tile and a low flow toilet.
• I look forward to my walk to work on Monday mornings when I listen to your podcast along side people who think I am clinically insane as I laugh out loud periodically.
• I have always recycled, but now I am a recycling zealot.
• I picked up a packet of organic extra firm tofu in the market. Then I put it back down. It still scares me. Small Steps, you know.
• I smelled vetiver.
• I wrote this email. The first piece of fan mail I have written since I wrote a letter to Simon LeBon of Duran Duran.

And she works at an internet company called organic.com.

 

The Christmas Song! Have a happy holiday!