• Last updated 12/11/12 by Melanie Mayo

In 2003, one of our Mothering community members, Tracy, started the first Holiday Helper thread. Over the years the Holiday Helper program has helped thousands of families and we are proudly continuing the tradition this year.  FAMILIES IN NEED To be eligible, a member’s family must have significant financial need. The member must have been a Mothering member for one year and have posted 500 times. In the interest of privacy and security, Families in Need remain anonymous to the community and are identified by a number. Only the... read more

• Last updated 12/4/12 by Melanie Mayo

by Loralee Leavitt and Elaine Bassett   Candy is a traditional part of Halloween. But since it contains so much sugar, corn syrup, and artificial dye, many parents don’t want their children gorging on Halloween loot. Whether you’re planning a Halloween party, or using up candy after Halloween, these activities will help your children enjoy their Halloween candy without eating it.   Halloween Potions   Halloween’s a perfect time for potions, and kids love to mix and stir. Let them stir their Halloween candies into mad scientist potions. Set out spoons or... read more

• Last updated 10/30/12 by Melanie Mayo

Have a happy Halloween with some naturally minded inspiration.    Creative Candy Crafts Looking for something to do with all of that unwanted Halloween candy? Check out these crafts and activities!   Halloween Costume Contest Enter to win some awesome books by sharing your Halloween pics in the Mothering community.    Healthier Halloween Looking for some tasty treats to replace candy this Halloween? Here are some simple alternatives.   Jack-O-Lantern Cookies Have some sweet and spooky fun with these wholesome Jack-O'-Lantern... read more

• Last updated 10/23/12 by Melanie Mayo

In Texas it’s hard to keep a jack o’ lantern looking fresh for very long. About an hour after carving the flies arrive and the heat starts to melt the pumpkin into a slump. Within a couple of days it’s caving in on itself in a sort of gelatinous lump. Which is really scary, true. But gross. And it dawned on me – the pumpkin isn’t exactly a southern crop. In the name of keeping it local, and celebrating the harvests of our region, AND keeping the flies away, I came up with this little creation; the Texas Ruby Red Grapefruit Jack O’Lantern. It is quick... read more

• Last updated 10/23/12 by Melanie Mayo

  Corey from Green Halloween inspires you to “think outside the candy box” when it comes to treats and treasures for trick-or-treaters. Visit Green Halloween for more links and details on carrying out the tips in this video. Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson are the mother-daughter founders of Green Halloween® and authors of the book, Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family. Stay tuned to learn how easy it is to compost pumpkins, food scraps (including candy), and natural décor. Check out... read more

• Last updated 10/23/12 by Melanie Mayo

  Corey from Green Halloween shares some great tips for greening your home for Halloween with natural, recycled, upcycled and sustainable décor. Visit Green Halloween for more links and details on carrying out the tips in this video. Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson are the mother-daughter founders of Green Halloween® and authors of the book, Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family. Stay tuned for Lynn’s video recipe for truly non-toxic face paints. Check out "Sustainable Season's Greetings"... read more

• Last updated 10/23/12 by Melanie Mayo

Posted by: Haley Reen                 Each year, my family celebrates Halloween with much fanfare. It’s our favorite time of year. We decorate the whole house, even the bathrooms, and put the lights and other outdoor decorations outside as soon as possible, usually the week before October begins. At the end of the month we have a large, family friendly party to celebrate. However, as my children are small and we are a mostly media free and sugar free household, we do things a little differently than most. Here are some of the ways we modify the modern... read more

• Last updated 11/5/12 by Cynthia Mosher

"The Bearers" © Durga Yael Bernhard / durgabernhard.com Poster: $12 Announcing my Mother’s Day 2-for-1 special:  one week only! Order a poster or greeting card of any mother-&-child image by Durga Yael Bernhard and get a second one FREE! See here for details:  http://durgabernhard.com/bookblog Sale ends 5pm Friday, May 4th About Durga Yael Bernhard Durga Yael Bernhard is a fine artist, illustrator, children's book author/illustrator, and mother of three children born at home. She... read more

• Last updated 3/27/13 by Melanie Mayo

Looking for some fun ways to green your Easter this year? Check out these simple ideas that the whole family is sure to love.      Natural Easter Egg Dye Did you know that you can avoid unnatural food coloring and make your eggs beautiful by using natural ingredients? Find out how with this helpful how-to. Also check out this fun video for more tips!       Up-cycled Easter Baskets Looking for a fun family project for Easter? What could be more fun, and special, than homemade Easter baskets? Lynn Colwell from Celebrate... read more

• Last updated 11/9/12 by Melanie Mayo

This accidental idea came to me when I went to Trader Joe’s to buy some flowers for a friend last Easter.  I already had the herb quiche in the car and stopped by the store on my way.  I kept looking for some spring flowers, but mostly there were expensive Easter lilies and orchids left in the flower section.  All of a sudden the herbs got my attention.  I thought for less than the price of the lilies I could buy at least 6 different herbs and a beautiful square basket to put them in.  She could use the herbs for a long time and reuse the basket too.  I was... read more