As we reflect on our personal evolution, we may notice how our actions and beliefs have changed over time. One example for me is my approach to end-of-year celebrations, specifically Christmas. Over the years, my end-of-year cards have undergone a transformation, reflecting my shifting focus from cultural traditions to more meaningful and spiritual sentiments such as peace, joy and love. This year, I find myself connecting more with the wonder of nature's cycle and less with the traditional trappings of Christmas.

Creating handmade beeswax luminaries infused with pressed flowers and leaves is a perfect way to honor and celebrate the solstice. These beautiful bowls not only serve as a reminder to shine our inner light during the winter months, but also serve as a way to connect with nature and the cyclical patterns of the seasons. The process of pressing flowers and leaves adds an element of nostalgia and allows us to reflect on the beauty of the past while looking forward to the promise of new growth in the coming year. These luminaries make for a meaningful and mindful DIY project that the entire family can participate in. A beautiful and eco-friendly way to bring the spirit of the solstice into your home.

Creating a felted wool soap cover not only allows for a fun and creative activity, but it also promotes a zero-waste lifestyle. The felted wool provides a perfect home for your soap, allowing you to use every last bit without wasting any small, unusable pieces. Once you've completed the process, the only thing left is a piece of wool that can be added to your compost bin. Here are the steps to create your own felted soap.

Creating natural dyes from everyday items is a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to traditional synthetic dyes. One such method is using avocado pits to create a beautiful pink dye. The process is simple, just save the avocado pits from your summer meals, clean and dry them, and then boil them overnight.

Creating a sense of gratitude is an essential aspect of living a fulfilling life. This simple, yet meaningful, gratitude garland is an easy and fun way to incorporate this practice into your daily routine. Not only does expressing gratitude bring happiness to yourself and those around you, but it also helps to cultivate a deeper appreciation for all that is present in our lives.

To connect with our personal identity, cultural heritage and our connection to the world, we engage in activities that involve both the heart and the hands. These activities allow us to gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and our place in the world. They also foster creativity, self-expression and a sense of community. Find this connection by creating a nature loom.

My oldest son recently created this beautiful nature mandala for an art project. It's a truly unique piece that showcases his creativity and love for nature. He was mindful of not using too many brown leaves from the yard, so he biked around the neighborhood in search of a variety of colorful and different species to use.

The holiday season can be a challenging time for those who strive to live a low-waste lifestyle, especially when it comes to Halloween. The costumes, typically made of synthetic materials, and designed to be used only once, and the endless supply of single-use candy can make it a zero-waster's nightmare. But, it's important to remember that a low-waste lifestyle is not about perfection, it's a journey, and it takes practice.

On our hike under the canopies of fall foliage, we collected beautiful color-filled leaves from the ground. When we got home, we flattened them out by pressing them in a big, heavy book. A few days later, when they were ready, we hand dipped our favorite ones in beeswax to keep them for as long as we could, bringing the spirit of the season inside.