HAPPY FALL...AND HOLIDAYS! Ecosaurus has launched its year-end sale!

Ecosaurus is proud to announce the launch of its year-end holiday sale, offering shoppers more than 40 percent savings on purchases of recycled gift wrap, greetings and note cards! Our specials for 2010 include discounted pricing on eco-friendly cards ($7 per box, reg. $12) and green wrapping paper ($4 per roll, reg. $7).

Our goal? To make shopping green and buying local both fun and affordable during these economic times. Our recycled paper goods - which are also 100 percent recyclable, including their packaging - are great for dressing up gifts any time of year. A touch of ribbon renders any gift seasonally specific, as shown in these two photos. Plus, the cards themselves are great for sending or giving as gifts to paper-lovers. To peruse our eco-friendly collection to see what floats your paper boat, please visit www.shopecosaurus.com. PS. Please tell a friend.

Breathe. Celebrate. Inspire. And put recycled magic in someone's mailbox.

You know how sometimes you want to write a letter, but you're having trouble finding the words to get started? Well, with the newly introduced Ecosaurus Interactive Boxed Set, you won't have that problem. This box of recycled greeting cards offers punchy, on-point messages for a myriad of occasions - all you have to do is circle the words or check the boxes that apply (a la Mad Libs). Plus, these cards offer plenty of white space inside for senders who need to spill their guts, offer updates or accommodate extremely large, loopy penmanship. So start your year off "write," order a box today, and use one of these missives to put a little magic in someone's mailbox. www.shopecosaurus.com.

Do a little, do a lot

Today I was ruffling through a stack of old magazines and came across an April 2007 copy of Real Simple. I tore out some cool pictures for crafty purposes and reread a few articles, one of which focused on earth-friendly living. It was a good refresher, and some of the tips struck me as being worth recycling in a blog. Here are four.

1. Get the lint out

Drying clothes costs the average U.S. household $135/year. If your dryer has a full lint filter, it may require up to 30 percent more energy to get the job done.

2. Pick recycled paper products

If every home purchased just one pack of 100-percent-recycled napkins, it would save one million trees! FYI, check out one U.S. manufacturer whose paper products - including Kleenex and Cottonelle - are heading for greener pastures.

3. Tap that...off

A standard faucet used three gallons of water per minute. So go stream-free when you brush or shave. (Yeah, seems like a no-brainer... but I know people who still don't think to go stream-free at the sink!)

4. Consider your computation device

A laptop uses about half the energy of a desktop. Look for models with Energy Star ratings, which require 70 percent less juice than a non-certified option. ~A.F.