1.  A divot. Yep, as in the chunk of grass you replace when golfing. This costume involves rolling around in the dirt, wearing neutral clothing, and then affixing a small amount of grass (from your garden or the plant store) to a hat on your head. Bizarre, yes. But charming, and waste-free.

2. Your favorite TV character. Our favorite is above, but that costume is particularly height- and body-type specific. For more versatile ideas, put on some fake glasses, blue jeans, and a button-up and call yourself Liz Lemon. Go Michael Kors in a black blazer, jeans, and black T-shirt. Be Blair Waldorf in a headband and preppy dress. Invoke anyone from Lost in a dirty old pair of jeans or cargos with a ripped T-shirt and some bronzer on your face.

3. Rewear your costume from last year, but be dead this time. If you were Snow White last year, be zombie Snow White this year by adding some blood and tears. If you were a football player, be a dead one on a rampage, etcetera. To achieve the "undead" look easily and affordably, grab a bit of flour or pale mineral makeup to whiten your face. Maybe toss a little in your hair for a grey streak or two. If you have any dark lipstick or black eyeliner around the house, use that on your lips. For fake blood, combine corn syrup with a little red and a little blue food coloring, a drop of milk, and mix.

4. A Nerd. This is especially easy for hipsters. Hike up your pants, tuck in your white button up or plaid shirt, throw a bunch of pens in the shirt pocket, slick your hair back, tape up some thick rimmed glasses, and wear a back pack. 

5. Mother Nature. If you don't have a long flowy dress or skirt in your closet, you can easily find one at a thrift store or borrow one from a friend. Think earth tones, blues, and greens. Adorn the skirt with flowers or leaves. You can use glue, safety pins, a needle and thread. Braid your hair and add a head wreath or flowers.  You can carry stuffed animals with you, or even glue a fake bird to your shoulder. Get weird! 

6. A hobo. For those who live in colder climates, this is the ultimate in warmth and convenience. Layer on the sweats and worn-in clothes—the messier and dirtier, the better. Smudge a bit of soot from the fireplace or dark eyeshadow on your cheeks and mess up your hair. Grab a stick and tie an old pillow case to the end of it. Toss that over your shoulder and you're done. 

7. A Tree. The base of your costume can be a green or brown t-shirt, long sleeved shirt or sweatshirt; green or brown leggings, sweats, or pants; or a green or brown long dress.  Then just gather leaves that have fallen and glue or safety-pin them to your clothes. You can use as many or as few as you want.

8. A cavewoman (or man). You can make your own costume after a quick visit to the fabric store or with the help of an old blanket or sheet. Take some soft material and cut a one-sleeved cave woman dress; securing with large safety pins. You can go barefoot and smudge some black make-up on your cheeks.

Tip for cheaters: If you can't bring yourself to make or improvise a costume for yourself, you have another option: Rent one. You shouldn't wait until the last minute to secure yours, so go next week if you can and pick one that you like. Many stores offer fast, easy, and often beautifully made pieces.

 

On the hunt for new bedding, one is presented with exhaustive (and exhausting) options. Sateen or jersey? Is there a difference between the 300- and 800-threadcount comforter? What is pima cotton? And how on earth can you choose a mattress after lying on it for five minutes at Sleepy's? Throw sustainability and organics in the mix and it's more confounding that ever. 

And yet we spend a third of our lives sleeping, so there's a reason these can be hard decisions to make. It's also why we should all give a little more thought to chemicals involved in the production of our beds and linens. Cotton farming occupies only 3 percent of farm land, and yet accounts for about 25 percent of worldwide insecticides use and over 10 percent of pesticide use. To help break it down, it takes about a quarter pound of chemicals to produce one cotton T-shirt. So, think of all the chemicals going into a set of sheets and a blanket, and then consider these guidelines to make your bedroom shopping trip a little greener.

1. The next time you shop for sheets, go organic. Organic cotton farming leaves no chemical residue on the finished material, so they are safe for you to cuddle up in at night. This is good for the planet and for you. 

2. Think outside the usual material. There are great natural fibers you can try like linen, silk, jersey, and flannel. Online shopping is great when it comes to bedding because of the great selection and with standard bed sizes, fit isn't a concern. 

3. Be a little flexible with colors. Synthetic dyes offer a wide range of colors, but they are just that—synthetic. There is a range of colors offered in organic bedding, but they may not be as easy to find or as vast as the non-organic sheets you find in most stores. You can always get a little help from the internet. Or you can opt for a more neutral hue and spice up the room with paint or other colorful accessories. 

4. If have a little Martha in you, make your own duvet cover or pillow cases. For the duvet cover, take two organic flat sheets or blankets and sew them together to create your own duvet for a fraction of the cost. All you need for the pillow cases is some great organic material from the fabric store and a simple pillow pattern.  

5. When choosing a new mattress, do your research. Most conventional mattresses are chemical havens. They are often made with synthetic materials like polyester, a plastic that emits gasses, and then they are covered in formaldehyde-based finishes for stain resistant convenience. Many also contain a fire retardant, which is a whole other set of chemicals.  So, opt for natural fibers. They are sometimes more expensive, but arguably a worthwhile investment that will last you a decade or longer.

6. Get a good pillow. Fortunately, there are several options in the eco-friendly department when it comes to pillows. If you prefer firm, look at organic cotton. For a bit of spring, try wool. If you are concerned with proper alignment, look at natural latex foam pillows. There are several more options out there one of which should suit your particular needs. 

7. Buy a pillow protector. This may just seem like an extra pillowcase, but a pillow protector will extend the life of your pillow and help to relieve dust mite allergies. Extending the life of our products creates less waste.  

Do you have any great natural-bedroom tips to share?

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, one in six Americans moves each year, which is roughly 5.1 million people. The average eight-room house requires more than 100 boxes to move. Then you need tape, markers, labels, bubble wrap, styrofoam peanuts, paper, dollies, a truck (or several), the gas to fill them, and a bunch of manpower. This adds up financially and environmentally. So whether you are just moving a few blocks away or hauling your life across the country, here are a few easy ideas to help make your move easy, economical, and environmentally-friendly.

Illustrations by Brianna Harden.
 

Grill with gas. This has been an ongoing debate for many, but according to the Environmental Impact Assessment Review, grilling with gas is better for the environment than using charcoal.  The review states that the overall footprint of charcoal is almost three times that of propane. Charcoal's production is not efficient and it's also a contributor of "black carbon" which is a soot that floats in the upper atmosphere and to the arctic where it absorbs heat from the sun and melts the ice upon which it settles. So, this Fourth of July, opt for a propane grill as the greener choice.  

Between graduations, birthdays, weddings, showers, and Hallmark holidays like Father's Day, summers have become high season for gift-giving. But if you consider that during the Christmas alone, more than 8,000 tons of wrapping paper and almost two billion cards are thrown out every year, it's worth giving a little thought to how to do it in a less wasteful way. Here are a few ideas—from reusable wrapping to creative and home-made gifts—to get you started.

Think outside the box. There is no need to buy rolls of wrapping paper, bows, boxes, and gift tags. Keep a box in your closet for tissue paper, small paper bags, ribbon, string, boxes, or anything decorative that you acquire, either from shops or when receivng a gift yourself. You can even use newspaper, cloth napkins, or cute reusable grocery bags. For an added flourish, use some leftover ribbon to tie a flower from your garden to the parcel.

Skip the cards. Instead, just write a little note directly on the wrapping. If you're using cloth or you just really, really want to include a written message, skip the envelope and fold the paper to keep your message private. Use stationary that is made from recycled paper or that can be composted or planted.

Donate. If you don't know what to get or are on a time crunch, a thoughtfully chosen donation in someone's name can be a lovely gift. (You don't need to state the amount if you don't feel comfortable.)

Read through the registry. If the couple or person is registered, look through their list and try to find an item that is sustainably made or organic. If possible, purchase the item from the store and wrap it yourself to avoid the extra packaging (and footprint) involved in shipping.

Buy what is really wanted. Everyone's been there: In a panic, you grab something—anything—as a gift because you simply don't know what to get. But buying stuff people don't want or need is one of the most wasteful things we can do. Plan for this, and give it some thought. Once you have a good idea, try to get the most sustainably made version of that item.

Give from nature. Plant a tree for someone, or re-pot one of your plants and share it. For new plants, check out your local farmers markets or natural health food store for sustainably grown options. If you have your own food-bearing garden, take some fresh fruit or vegetables and put them in a reusable basket or bag. 

Gift an activity. If your friend is a basketball fan, get them tickets to a game. For foodies, a gift certificate to an organic restaurant would work. For theater buffs, pick a well-reviewed play and get them good seats.

Get your hands dirty. Making something simple like body scrub or bath salts is sustainable, easy, and affordable. For bath salts, mix epson salts with some dried lavender or rosemary. Put them in an old mason jar and you're done. For a scrub, mix 1 cup coarse salt or turbinado sugar with 1/4 cup oil (avocado, almond, jojoba, sesame, or coconut oil are best),  1/8 cup cocoa, and 1/4 tablespoon of an extract you like the smell of. Seal it in a jar and you're done.

Make something edible. Homemade baked goods produce little waste and are always appreciated. If baking isn't your thing, try a flavored simple syrup. It can go on ice cream, in soda water, on pancakes, or in cocktails. To make it, combine one part sugar with one part water and the flavor of your choice. (Vanilla beans, ginger, and mint leaves are favorites.) Combine over heat and bring to a boil, dissolving the sugar. Once it's cool, pour it into a pretty bottle, and tie a ribbon around its neck.

Get involved. Pay attention to what is going on locally and nationwide with energy policy. Recently the House of Representatives passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act. (For a summary of the 964-page document, see Grist's handy primer.) The senate has yet to vote on it, so if you support it, write to your state senator and let him or her know.

Take another look at the products in your bathroom. Avoid ingredients like mineral oil, petrolatum, and paraffin oil, all of which are unsustainable from a sourcing perspective because—you guessed it—they're derived from crude. They are also not the best option for healthy skin. For moisturizers, look for alternatives like shea butter, lanolin, coconut oil, jojoba oil, or cocoa butter. All health food stores carry lotion, deodorant, make-up, and other products formulated without petrochemicals. Stock up.

Check out your cleaning products, too. This issue was discussed a few columns ago but bears repeating: Many household cleaning products are laced with petrochemicals that are as bad for you as they are for the planet. They also perpetuate our dependence on that ingredient, which is being used in all kinds of products that don't need them. Instead, opt for natural alternatives like vinegar, olive oil, and baking soda.

Swap out your candles (and surfboard wax) for soy, beeswax, or coconut palm oil candles. Most wax we use is paraffin wax, a petroleum-based substance. Again, this is an unrenewable resource—and the fumes given off by most candles are also highly toxic. A recent study found that common candles emitted pollutants such as toluene, benzone, and ketones—fancy words for known allergens, reproductive toxicants, and carcinogens.

Choose natural fibers. Synthetic fibers like polyester, acrylic, rayon, and nylon are made from petroleum—as are many waterproofing agents. Printing on T-shirts, too, is often done with petrochemicals. they don't breathe, and are for the most part highly flammable (yikes). 

Avoid plastics like the plague. This should go without saying at this point, but plastics are a no-no. Not only are they damaging to the planet (Pacific Gyre, anyone?), they, too, are also made from petroleum. Carry your own water bottles, coffee bottles, and shopping bags. Try to buy items that are minimally packaged or come in glass. BioBags, a brand sold at many natural food stores, makes a great alternative to the traditional trash bag.

Paint with awareness. According to the EPA, indoor air is considered one of the top five environmental hazards to human health—and the paints and finishes we choose are among the leading culprits. Most paints are petroleum-based and contain additives, petroleum solvents, and chemicals that are toxic to humans. Choose paints that are low VOC or zero VOC and contain plant based dyes and natural minerals like clay and talcum.

Drive less. This is obvious, but not to be forgotten. Take one trip to the grocery store a week instead of four, ride your bike when possible, carpool, take public transportation or walk.

Reduce, reuse, recycle. Remembering that order is important here. First, you need to reduce the amount you consume. When you do decide to buy something, reuse it as much as you can instead of replacing it. That goes for your computer that works just fine, your clothing, your take-out food containers, and so on. Finally, if you can’t reuse something, make sure those things you do consume are recyclable or compostable.

Lower your reliance on electricity. Start with obvious things, like not keeping lights on when you're not home and turning off the TV when you leave the room. Swap out the light bulbs in your home for energy-efficient ones. And unplug appliances when they aren’t in use to curb vampire energy waste. Big offenders are your plasma, your chargers, your computer, and your videogame consoles.

Reduce your daily plastics consumption. Make sure you always have a reusable cloth bag tucked into your purse or laptop bag for on-the-go shopping. Switch out plastic water bottles for a Sigg or a Bobble and get a decent portable coffee mug. Keep these things by the front door of your house or in your car so you don't forget.

Regulate the temperature in your home naturally. Open the windows if it’s warm outside. Throw a sweater on before you turn on the heat. Go for a fan instead of air conditioning. If you reduce your reliance on the thermostat you'll save money and energy—total win-win.

Limit the number of packaged goods you purchase. Opt for fresh, farmer’s market foods without packaging. If you are purchasing produce from the store, just put the items directly in your basket or in a reusable lightweight bag, not in plastic. Choose glass or paper packaging over plastic or Styrofoam, and then reuse them.

Spend and consume thoughtfully. Bring awareness to the unnecessary purchases you make and only buy what you need (or really, really want—but think about it first). Think quality, not quantity.

Water thoughtfully. There are so many simple ways to reduce your water waste. We ran down over a dozen of them in our GOOD Guide to show how easy it can be to wash blue gold down the drain in your bathroom, kitchen and yard: Turn off the tap when you're brushing your teeth; use grey water for your plants; take shorter showers; get a low-flow attachment for your shower.

Steer clear of chemicals. Many chemicals used for agriculture, in cleaning products, and in personal-care products are capable of wreaking havoc on our bodies and our ecosystems (look no further than the suburban hermaphrodite frogs for proof). To limit your contribution to the problem, become a bottle-turner: Check all your labels before you buy, and choose the cleanest, least toxic option available.

Get involved. Depending on your schedule and the amount of time you can commit, you can organize a park or beach cleanup, rally your neighbors to start a community garden, or simply make a donation to a cause you support.

Limit your dry cleaning. Toxic chemicals like perchloroethylene are bad for your body, your clothes, and the planet, and most items that say "dry clean only" can be carefully hand-washed and air-dried. This may take you an extra 10 minutes, but so does a walk to the dry cleaners, and this is way cheaper. If you must dry-clean, go to a legitimate "green" cleaner that uses wet cleaning or carbon dioxide cleaning—not harsh chemicals.

Take out what you don’t wear. If you don't wear it and can't imagine a time when you will, take it out. It will free up space, make things easier to find, and keep your clothes in better condition, which means less washing, maintenance, and spending.

Update what you have. If you are good with a sewing machine, this will be fun; if not, make friends with your tailor. A good tailor can take a dowdy old skirt and turn it into a trendier mini, or slim your old flared blue jeans into pencil leg. Similarly, dresses can become skirts or tops, jackets can become vests, pants can become shorts, and so on.

Recycle. Have a clothing swap with friends. While this may sound a bit girly, guys can have fun with this one too. Add beer to the mix and you're halfway there.

Store. Put your winters clothes in storage bins or, if you're lucky enough to have one, another closet. Keeping your closet seasonal is an easy way to free up some space and is a nice way to refresh what you have without spending any money. Be sure you store your clothes properly. Clean and appropriately fold whatever you are storing; moths like dirty clothes better than clean ones.