Every year I feel like Christmas comes out of nowhere! Since I very strongly fear malls, I prefer not to buy things people don’t need, and my timing is terrible, I have gotten pretty good at last-minute homemade gift ideas.

Here are some of my favorites:

1. Cookies. Best “wrapped” in a cute jar or on a nice plate the recipient can reuse.

2. Jewelry. From friendship bracelets to trendy beads to macrame, these are my go-to.

3. Homemade hot chocolate mix. I’m a sucker for just about any food in a jar. (See also, dinner in a jar.)

4. Luxurious body butter.

5. A favorite, freezer-friendly meal. It’s hard to beat the thoughtfulness and enjoyment that comes from being able to heat up a quick, lovingly made meal in a pinch.

6. Candles. I made these last year and they were a big hit. I like unscented best, and they burn really well in a smaller jar.

7. Knit or crochet a scarf. The closer it is to Christmas, the bigger the needle/hook to finish in time.

8. A makeup bag or pouch.

9. A heat pack. Shamelessly on my wish-list for this year.

10. Custom bobby pins. Or these gemstone bobby pins.

11. Origami ornaments. I’m tempted to attempt to make these for myself… even though I don’t have a tree.

12. A modern tote.

13. Clever art! I wish I was this crafty.

14. An iPad stand. Gorgeous.

I recently moved into a place with hardwood floors. When I rolled up with my car full of my stuff, the house was dirty. I don’t mean lightly dusty, I mean clean-the-floor-three-times-before-the mop-comes-away-clean dirty. I made hardwood floor cleaner to make the task easier, and it was so great I ended up using it for everything from washing my walls to taking the residue from a sticker off a window.

Hello magic cleaner.

I used so much of it that I had to run out and buy more ingredients the first day.

The recipe is simple, inexpensive, and safe for real wood floors and every other surface that can be mopped or whipped.

Homemade hardwood floor cleaner recipe

1 cup water
1 cup vinegar
1 cup rubbing alcohol
2-3 drops castile or dish soap
5 drops of essential oil (optional)

Pour all of your ingredients into a spray bottle (or two if they are small), give it a gentle shake to incorporate, and have at it.

For best results, wet a microfiber cloth or mop head with hot water and wring out until it’s just damp. Lightly spray the floor every few feet to keep the mop moist and moving easily. A little goes a long way.

Looking for other great uses? Windows, counters, fridges, coffee tables, stubborn stickers… you can use it for just about anything. The only thing I don’t recommend is showering with it (or accidentally breathing it in deeply).

Handmade goods should be filled with love, not toxins. That’s why I wrote a piece for Rodale’s new magazine, Organic Life, on the best eco-friendly fabric options, what to look for, and where to find them.

Check the piece out and let me know what you think! What are your favorite eco-friendly fabrics for crafting?

As a journalist, I think my addiction to magazines is completely justifiable (let’s just go with it). One of my favorites is Runner’s World, but it seems like in every issue there is an article telling me that my shoes are too old and that I need a new pair. Now maybe if you run marathons or are training for an Ironman seasonal shoes are a good idea (or if you live somewhere where you really need winter shoes), but for most runners it’s a constant struggle to decide when to get new shoes.

Everyone has a different estimate of when you need new shoes (every 3 months, every 100 miles, every 500 miles…etc.), but instead of sticking to a strict number, I am just trying to make mine last as long as I can.

Ways to make running shoes last

1. Give it a rest. Have shoes specifically for running. I know they are the most comfortable shoes you own, but wearing them all day, every day will wear them out quickly and make them less supportive (or if you are running in minimalist shoes, less protective).

2. Spray them down. I spritz my shoes (all of them, not just my running shoes) after every wear to keep the smell under control. With only two ingredients, the recipe is easy and effective. My running shoes could be used as a stink bomb if I don’t keep on top of frequently spraying them.

3. Wash them. Toss your shoes in the washer on a cold, gentle cycle and leave them out to dry (no dryer!). I use a full scoop of my homemade laundry soap and spray them down with vinegar before they go in. They don’t smell at all when they come out – it’s great. I wash my barefoot shoes once a week because I don’t wear them with socks, but my other shoes get washed as needed. They come out looking like new and they won’t clear a room anymore.

4. It’s all about form. If you are dragging your feet or running with poor form your shoes will wear unevenly and leave you with unstable shoes that need to be frequently replaced. A local running shop can look at your form and make sure you are running the best you can and fit you for the right shoe for your gait.

Ditch the dirty chocolate, the toxic flowers, and the wasteful balloons. This Valentine’s Day instead of trying to show your love and appreciation with stuff, try these sustainable tips.

1. Just say it. Do you need the balloon or the bear with “I love you” written on it? Isn’t actually saying it better? Leave the cheesy card in the store and put it in your words instead.

2. Desperate to put it in writing? Make a card. Even a carefully crafted (handmade! not from a template) electronic card can melt his or her heart. Write a poem, make a list of favorite memories, why you love them, or whatever you can think of.

3. Stay in. Dinner out on Valentine’s Day is expensive and crowded. Plus, making dinner says more than paying for the check. Take the time to make your Valentine’s favorite dish or cook together.

4. If you can’t give up the chocolate, go fair trade and organic. Many top chocolate companies contribute to slavery, deforestation, pesticide use, and child labor. Some of my favorites are Theo, Divine Chocolate, Taza Chocolate, Madecasse, and Nicobella (yummy vegan truffles).

5. Buy a single organic flower. No need for a full bundle. Better yet, pick on from your yard.

6. Turn off the TV and spend time with each other. Save the energy and reconnect instead.

Still hunting for more? Check out last year’s ideas or my adorable Valentine from my roommate.

Did you know most cleaning products sold in the average store qualify for hazardous waste disposal? How about the amount of chemicals you ingest or inhale from these products on a daily or weekly basis? Every day we are exposed to hundreds, if not thousands of chemicals in our own homes that have been linked with cancer and other health problems.

One of my least favorite things about Christmas is the waste created. The garbage cans full of wrapping paper after Christmas are frightening. This year instead of finding cloth wrapping or buying a reusable vessel to put my gifts in, I reused the packing that came in one of the boxes from an online order and some old scraps of yarn I had to make sustainable gift wrap.

The wrapping didn’t cost me anything and kept waste out of my trash (or recycling) can. Not only that, but they will be easily recycled or composted when they are done, and I have plans for them after they are no longer gift wrap, so that won’t be for a while.