What's an easy art form that anyone can do? (We do mean everyone—can't draw a straight line? Can't draw a decent circle? No problem!)

Graffiti.

No, really. Kids have the right idea when they draw on walls. It's a form of expression that dates back thousands of years (have a look at the gorgeous, powerful and amazing images from the caves at Lascaux and you'll know what we mean) and it's long been a powerful form of expression. Sure, you're probably not needing to chronicle the deeds of the clan on stone these days, or to imbue the spirits of animals more permanently into your home, but you can use the basic technique to create some wonderful, colorful, easy-to-change homemade art that expresses your mood perfectly.

Faux frames. Collect several paper-based items you'd like to display. This could be kids' artwork, playbills, souvenir menus, and of course photos. Affix to the wall and draw frames around them with a black marker, covering an entire wall. Seal with a gloss medium.

Want more art wall ideas but can't bear the thought of drawing on your walls? No problem:

Fabric panels. At an art store, get some wooden frame pieces made for making canvases. Build your frame. Stretch your fabric over the frame and staple with a staple gun. (Could this be any easier?) Variations: make a triptych, or make several in coordinating colors/patterns to fill an entire wall. 

DIY canvas art. Using premade canvases, paint them in easy designs (you can do stripes, right?) or use them as a foundation for collage. Ideas here.

Paper panels. Use up old wrapping paper and styrofoam pieces to create stunning paper wall panels.

(Photo credit:john_a_ward, flickr)

Easy and simple—that's the way homemade cuisine should be. At my house, we like to cut to the chase and get out of the kitchen. After all, the good stuff's over at the table, right?

So when The New York Times'  Well blog picked up Fit Sugar's riff on handy-dandy kitchen gizmos for health nuts, we sat up and took notice. What we found, though, was more flash than function. Do any of these gadgets really perform? Most Well readers seemed dubious, as well.

Get a load of these comments:

• "We got a chopper a while ago and it didn’t save much time, didn’t cut everything well so we had to post-process the food, and eventually it got tossed."
• "You need a plastic container specifically to store avocados? Who knew?"
• "A gadget to stir the oil into your natural peanut butter. What sucker would waste money on THAT? The one born every minute."
• "Who would buy a garlic peeler when all the fun comes from smashing it against the cutting board with a chef’s knife?"

Lest you think we're going to abandon you gadgetless on the rocks, dear reader, never fear—Super Eco has the kitchen tool you need! The centerpiece of any healthy kitchen (beyond a great set of knives, of course) is a steamer. No, we're not talking about one of those flimsy little spiraling discs that fits inside another saucepan. What you need is a perforated-bottom steamer saucepan that fits down on top of another saucepan, something like a double boiler. No more twee little baskets—this workhorse will have your veggies (fresh or frozen) ready in just minutes.

What do you think—do you use any kitchen gadgets that help you eat healthier?

(Photo credit:gokoroko, stock.xchng)

Ditch the cheap hollow chocolate bunnies; this year Easter goes green! Thrifty green Easter bunnies (and moms and dads) know these tricks for a greener Easter basket:

1. Reuse the basket. Get a high-quality wooden basket and it will last for years.

2. Use real grass. About a week before Bunny Day (April 12 this year), line the inside of your basket with plastic wrap. Add organic soil. Soak a handful of wheatberries for a few hours and sprinkle a thick layer of them on top of the soil. Keep moist. When they sprout, place in sunlight.

3. Reuse refillables. These adorable German papier-mâché nesting eggs will last through multiple kids and multiple years of use. (Give your old multi-colored plastic ones away, or make them into bath toys.)

4. Dye natural. Go natural in dyeing your organic cage-free eggs with beets, onion skins, red cabbage, and spinach. Instructions here.

5. Give green gifts. Great idea for kids? Watering can, kid-sized gardening gloves, and packets of seeds.

6. Homemade is filled with heart. Do you knit? Sew? Craft? Homemade toys—even the ones not actually made by you, like from Eco Etsy—are appreciated by kids.

7. Think small. A token is pretty much all you need. It's the experience, not the toys and candy, that make an Easter basket fun.

8. Chocolate? A must. Especially when it's organic, high cocoa content, and fair trade. How can you resist? (get some for yourself while you're at it)

Need more green Easter ideas? Have a look here.

(Photo credit:jmurawski, flickr)