Greening up your holiday

Thanks to all the great greenies who took part in the recent Green for the Holidays Giveaway!  Today I'd like to share some of those entries along with a few other ways to make your celebrations more environmentally friendly.

One of the easiest ways to go green when your doing your holiday shopping is to bring along those reusable bags that you take to the grocery store.  Using your own bag when Christmas shopping has the potential to keep so many needless plastic bags from winding up in the wastestream! You could even wrap your gifts using a reusable bag, that way it's 2 gifts in one!

Speaking of bags.... do you have any of those gift bags and boxes you've saved from last year?  Why not reuse those for the gifts your giving out this year?  Don't forget to save them for next year too!

Or make your own wrapping paper from recycled paper bags.  I've done this in the past using potatoes to make simple christmas shaped stamps like a tree or a star. Or try this.... use the inside of a cleaned potato chip bag for wrapping paper.  The foil side makes for a pretty package.

How about skipping the wrapping paper all together?  A lot us are making homemade goodies like fudge and cookies to give out for Christmas this year.  You could bypass the wrapping paper and instead distribute these treats in reusable tins or baskets.

Repurpose last years Christmas cards into this years gift tags.  All you need is a hole punch and some pretty ribbon!

Another thing a lot of you are doing this year is changing over from old fashioned lights to energy efficient LED Christmas lights.  They burn cooler, last longer and are very pretty.  And put them on a timer for even more energy savings.

Some of you suggested buying used and saving the difference.  Second hand gifts and thrift store treasures can be great gifts that not only save you money, but also save the planet!

Others suggested handmade gifts for your green holiday.  I'm a real fan of handmade gifts.  I think they come from the heart and show how much you really care for the recipient!  It's also a great opportunity for us to teach our children that this holiday and the gift giving is not about the cost of the gift, but the value of the love behind the presents.

Thanks for all these great ways to go green this holiday! When we all do our small part we really can change the big picture. 
Merry Christmas!