Any way you hack it, coughing is no fun. But the conventional cough medicines sold over the counter can be intensely loopy, causing you to feel like a drunk and drowsy zombie. However, you can conquer a cough without resorting to bright purple syrups with dissociative hallucinogens like dextromethorphan in their lists of active ingredients. Just consider that Vicks VapoRub has recently been linked to pediatric respiratory problems, and switching to natural cough cures will bring peace of mind along with relief.

“Brothers, come quickly! I’m drinking stars!" That’s what the monk screamed throughout the Benedictine abbey after he tasted his new discovery - Champagne. The monk’s name? Dom Pérignon.

And now: Dom’s bubbly secret is a beloved drink of celebration all over the world. This effervescent alcohol is the most popular refreshment for making merry, and it is easy to see why:

It would be really nice if we could all stick to healthful eating through the holidays... but who are we fooling? Temptation arrives on the hour, every hour – whether it be Grandma's famous pie, office Christmas cupcakes, holiday party cocktails, homemade cookies from the neighbor, or OA's very own Organic Cranberry Tea Spice Cake – our sugar intake is bound to spike. Sure, we can be discerning about our indulgence – and should be – but a sugar overdose can happen to the best of us.

A new ten-year study from The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University shows that children who eat meals with their families frequently (five times per week or more) are half as likely to try marijuana or smoke cigarettes as their friends who rarely get to sit down and dine with the fam.

Environmentalism doesn't have to mean you're hunting down whaling boats in the Antarctic or living in trees or being Al Gore-esque (well... you know what we mean). Modernity provides us an unlimited amount of opportunities to explore the greatest — and greenest — human potential in accessible and creative ways.

Make no bones about it: The holidays inevitably result in a gigantic turkey carcass that you’re stuck staring at, wondering how to use up. In the past, it was Mom’s job to make the most of those leftovers, but times have changed, and it’s now up to you to step up to the (holiday) plate. Here’s the painless way to make the most of those leftover bones, including a few nifty uses you definitely haven’t thought of yet.

Eat, drink and be merry... and you will feel it in the morning. Along with holiday cheer often comes too many cocktails - but this is no season to wallow in bed and feel miserable. Follow these guidelines and cure your holiday hangover faster than you can say, "Who wants some nog?"

Welcome back handmade expert, Brittni Mehlhoff!

Believe it or not, on average, we spend roughly one-third of our lives sleeping. One-third! That’s a heck of a lot of time. So, it makes sense to invest in quality, cozy (and beautiful) bedding and accessories if you’re going to be spending all that time in one spot. Right?

As a host/ess, one of the most stressful facets to throwing a party is making sure your booze repertoire never runs dry. There is always that one guy or gal (or two or three...) that thinks it’s Spring Break circa 1999 and chugs drinks all night long. Try these tricks for stretching out your organic libations and making them last until your last guest tips their glass to you.

Keeping a good house can also mean keeping a vegan house, at least according to the folks at Good Housekeeping Magazine who have announced the forthcoming release of a cookbook, Simple Vegan!: Delicious Meat-Free, Dairy-Free Recipes Every Family Will Love, due in stores in March 2011.

One of the best (albeit tricky) parts of Christmas shopping is finding fun and useful gifts to stuff those stockings with - that aren't just superfluous filler gifts that is. In addition to our Do-It-Yourself recipes for making your own bath salts and soaps, here are a few all-natural ideas for your family and friends.

If you're scrambling - as many of us are - to come up with some thoughtful, organic present substance come tomorrow, there's still time to whip up one, two or all of our Do-It-Yourself Holiday Gift Ideas. That said, these need not be relegated to Christmas. Whip them up as the perfect gifts all year long... especially for yourself.

In our series of handmade gifts that take price, time and effort into consideration - whilst not skimping on thoughtfulness - comes something so sublimely sweet you'll want to rub it all over your body. And by all means, please do! This brown sugar body scrub and polish creates a sumptuous take-the-spa-home experience... and can make the perfect gift for couples with instructions on how to lovingly give your partner a sexy scrub down... not that they'll need them.