On the sixth day…

December 20, 2008

Why not invest in a brighter future this holiday by choosing to purchase holdings in a socially responsible investment fund! I know we all want to retire at age fifty so we are still young enough to hike and play the banjo and paint and/or just eat bon-bons on the beach if we want. But […]

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On the Fifth Day… Shop Preston Plaza

December 19, 2008

Feel not the pull of cheap, red and white, big box Target this season! Instead go to the one stop shop, Preston Plaza, for all your local, green holiday gift needs. Integral Yoga Buy a gift certificate or great local produce for tonight’s mealShenandoah Joe Coffee Before the shopping begins, you must partake of their […]

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On Giving…

December 17, 2008

The best portion of a good wo/man’s life [are] his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love. ~William Wordsworth Today I followed my own advice (it’s possible!) and I gave the gift of time (see day four in previous blog). Instead of buying golden rings (FIVE GOLDEN RINGS – Everyone’s favorite verse to bolt […]

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On the Fourth Day… an easy, earthy craft for the birds

December 16, 2008

Instead of a plateful of refined sugar cookies this year, think beyond the belly (do we really need another sweet temptation this season?) in favor of a plateful of decorative and tastey bird treats. Easy Ornament for your outside tree (prep time: 15-25 minutes): 1. Take a piece of Mission Home sandwhich bread (or other […]

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On the third day… another green gift-giving idea!

December 14, 2008

Tip #3: Giving of your time. When making your list and checking it twice, Betty encourages you to ever expand your definition of gift-giving to include the gift of your time and service. (My what?! Who has more time at this time of year, right?) Aye, there’s the rub. Simplifying and re-thinking the holidays without […]

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On the second day of Christmas…a Bettier way to send gifts

December 11, 2008

Welcome to the second installment of Betty’s green holiday ideas! Today Betty brings you ideas for greener packing for those of you who will be sending gifts this holiday season. Sure it’s what’s inside that counts, but don’t forget to eco-fy the outside. Reuse *Save the boxes and polystyrene packing peanuts or foam wrapping or […]

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On the first day of Christmas her true love gave to Betty…

December 8, 2008

A copy of Unplug the Christmas Machine in a local apple tree… Welcome to the first in a series of Betty blogs dedicated to helping you make this giving season the greeniest yet (or at least greener than the last). Our motto will be LESS (AND LOCAL) IS MORE when it comes to the holidays. […]

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Farm-fresh food for ALL: you can help this Friday

December 2, 2008

Check out Betty’s interview with UVA student, Mark Parlette, and the inspiring work he has done in this community to help lower-income families gain access to fresh, local food called Charlottesville Community Food Project. The fundraising event is on Betty’s event page: This Friday, December 5th, 6-8, Enoteca, (silent auction of local artist’s work and […]

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Betty’s version of Cyber Monday

December 1, 2008

Imagine my surprise this morning when I walked into Cville Coffee to catch up on work, when the smiling face of a CBS reporter asked me if I was going to participate in Cyber Monday. It was the first I had heard of it (I promise I don’t live under a rock), but I quickly […]

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The Christmas Wrap…

November 28, 2008

(This article appears in the December issue of Abode and can also be viewed at Abode) Let’s face it. The holiday season can be Mother Earth’s worst nightmare, from the plastic toys made overseas to the copious amounts of paper products. This season Betty helps you think outside the holiday box with creative and green […]

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