May 22, 2023

10 Eco-Friendly Ways to Enjoy This Memorial Day

May 22, 2023/ Kelly Pemberton

Memorial Day is an important day in the United States, observed on the last Monday in May. This federal holiday honors those who have died while serving in the armed forces. The origins of Memorial Day go back to the end of the Civil War period, when in 1865, formerly enslaved people in Charleston, South Carolina paid their respects to fallen Union soldiers who were buried in Confederate prison camps. These soldiers were re-interred as gratitude for helping bring about the end of slavery. On this first Memorial Day, 2,800 African-American children led a parade as 10,000 people celebrated the services rendered by the military.

December 15, 2018

5 Sustainable Steps You Can Take to Create a More Eco-Friendly Christmas This Season

December 15, 2018/ Kelly Pemberton

Guest post by Hannah Bullimore

With Christmas fast approaching there are plenty of details to consider. From planning a busy schedule to buying gifts and keeping your guests happy, you may be feeling the stress and strain of the season.

So how do you manage all of this and have a stylish and elegant home throughout the holidays without being overwhelmed by all the stuff that goes with them?

October 22, 2016

Happy Green Halloween: staying healthy and sane during the (month-long) candy rush

October 22, 2016/ Kelly Pemberton

Halloween, the Day of the Dead, is a little over a week away, and as usual, I am wondering how to manage the annual candy rush. It makes me anxious, and I am otherwise one of the least anxious people you could meet. That’s because, in our neighborhood, Halloween is a VERY BIG DEAL.

May 19, 2016

10 Eco-Friendly Ways to Celebrate this Memorial Day

May 19, 2016/ Kelly Pemberton

Memorial Day is coming in a little more than a week from now. if you’re preparing to fire up the grill, attend a parade, visit a cemetery or memorial, or get out and say welcome to the unofficial start of summer (here’s hoping you’ll have plenty of sunshine to enjoy), you’ll be joining the majority of over 300 million Americans who will be observing the holiday this year.

Memorial Day wouldn’t be quite complete without the usual round of recommendations and suggestions for how to enjoy the long weekend. This year, we’re joining the chorus and adding our voices with 10 fun, eco-friendly, and off-the-beaten track ways to celebrate this Memorial Day.

April 30, 2016

Do We Really Need Earth Day Anymore?

April 30, 2016/ Kelly Pemberton

Somehow, this past Earth Day felt different. I’m not sure why, but somehow it struck me as strange that neither of my kids’ schools mentioned it in announcements, let alone did anything special to commemorate the day. While the news cycle in the US was dominated by the ongoing war in Ukraine and the presidential election in France, the omission of anything more than brief mentions of Earth Day in the major media outlets, and even the online ones I regularly consult, felt odd.

Whether or not people were actually thinking much about Earth Day and its significance, there is one thing that made this Earth Day important, and perhaps different than any previous Earth Day. But it also underscores the main reason why the largest secular holiday in the world has become obsolete.