How to Bring Your Favorite Holiday Market to Your Home

When I studied abroad in London some years ago, I made it my mission to seek out the very best Christmas market—and trust me, there were a lot to choose from. I found that Londoners really treasure the quintessentially warm-and-fuzzy holiday, something…

When I studied abroad in London some years ago, I made it my mission to seek out the very best Christmas market—and trust me, there were a lot to choose from. I found that Londoners really treasure the quintessentially warm-and-fuzzy holiday, something I knew I could get behind as a student far away from home. Even before I could celebrate a Thanksgiving abroad (with fellow American roommates, of course) I had already checked off five Christmas markets.

I started with the largest, the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland—truly an extravaganza in itself, it consists of several different markets, restaurants, rides, and ice shows. Without a doubt, the most magical part was the live music that rang throughout the park amid thrilling screams from carnival riders. Winter at Southbank Centre (my favorite!) introduced me to a more classic market with wooden chalets, a thick wintery forest of evergreens, and a German-style beer lodge. Across the way, Christmas by the River overlooked the stunning Tower Bridge and had something that I learned was a staple at every market—decadent food and warm (mostly boozy) drinks.

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Still Throwing Away Gift Wrap? Here’s How to Reuse It Instead.

Many people save used gift supplies, but my mom is really dedicated to this practice. She has an entire closet devoted to recycled gift bags and accessories, and if we’re being honest, she probably still has a Barney and Friends bag in there. Kind of a…

Many people save used gift supplies, but my mom is really dedicated to this practice. She has an entire closet devoted to recycled gift bags and accessories, and if we’re being honest, she probably still has a Barney and Friends bag in there. Kind of a tough one to reuse, I know.

Becoming an excessive reuser is generational, says Amanda Walker, DIY and lifestyle blogger behind Dwell Aware. Like me, she got the trait from her mom, and now at parties when people bring out the big black trash bag to throw away gift supplies, she always offers to take it all home.

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7 Ways to Reduce Waste When Packing & Moving

For many, this year has forced a decision to move homes—a need to downsize, a desire to escape from cities to the suburbs, or a yearning to move closer to family. As a newly minted college graduate, I recently decided to move out of my tiny Boston apar…

For many, this year has forced a decision to move homes—a need to downsize, a desire to escape from cities to the suburbs, or a yearning to move closer to family. As a newly minted college graduate, I recently decided to move out of my tiny Boston apartment back home to South Florida. It wasn’t until I actually began packing up that I realized I’ve never moved out of a fully stocked apartment before.

Standard practices of packing and moving have traditionally involved a slew of eco-unfriendly purchases. According to the EPA, paper and cardboard—trusty helpers during a move—were the largest component of municipal solid waste in 2017, while 69.9 percent of plastic containers and packaging in the same period were landfilled. Knowing what I did, one of my first questions to myself was: How can I make this move both efficient and more sustainable?

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