They’ve got some fresh designs too that coordinate well with other designs in their collection.They also carry note cards and have some gift bags coming soon.

Visit Ecosaurus.

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Facts:

I personally was raised with Christmas – trees, cookies, gifts, the whole darn deal. I liked it and as a kid thought it was mostly fun, but I never loved how hectic it was, and by the time I was in my early 20s I was sick of the whole planning perfect gifts mess.

By the time my son Cedar was born, his dad and I wanted to do something for the winter holiday season, but we couldn’t quite place what that was.

Since Cedar was born we’ve had years with Christmas trees and years without and even years with living trees. Years with big stressful get-togethers and years where we’d just chill with friends. We’ve had MANY years of trying to balance gift giving because we like the less is more idea, but just try getting people on board – it sucks. You say, please do not get me anything, and people just won’t listen.

What’s hard is finding a balance. You could be green by avoiding the winter holiday season altogether but that’s extreme and doesn’t really build any sort of tradition for kids. You could say screw green and have a big ol’ celebration with lots of bling – the other extreme. OR you can find balance. It’s finding a balance that everyone will agree with that’s hard because it’s not just your little household; it’s extended family, friends, co-workers, and more.

This year, I seriously want to make a change. I’ve managed to green up many areas of my life, but finding the perfect (or a good) green Christmas is one area where I could use some help. In a perfect world… we’d find some traditions to keep like organic cookie making day or giving gifts that are all green and homemade and personalized, and ditch the holiday traditions that aren’t working so well – i.e. extended family not listening when we say JUST ONE GIFT! Or maybe deciding to skip the Christmas tree forever.

In order to sort out my own family’s idea of the perfect holiday and to help readers along, I thought we’d get started early this year. It can take some time to plan a fun, meaningful, and still green winter holiday season. To get you (and me) going, following are some useful resources that can help anyone start planning a greener, more meaningful holiday season.

Two useful sites:

• Buy Nothing Christmas – an excellent kick off point. If you want to start practicing early you can ditch Black Friday and join up with Buy Nothing Day.
• The Simple Living Network

Two cool books:

• Green Christmas
• Celebrate Green

I’ve got some more resources coming up as well as some tips for a green and meaningful holiday season. For now you tell me – what are your plans this year for a greener holiday season?

[image via stock.xchng]

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Here’s the break-down, with links if possible so that you can learn more about these topics…

• 3% of you planned to serve organic meals
• 10% of you bought fewer gifts
• 3% of you made recycled decor
• 3% of you skipped the X-mas tree
• 10% of you made homemade gifts
• 1% of you of all vote sent e-cards
• 3% of you are recycling your gift wrap
• 1% of you are using reusable bags instead of gift wrap for gifts
• 6% of you said you’d be trying everything listed to stay green
• 23% of you were going to try most of the things listed.
• 38% of you were going to do at least two green holiday

No one said that they would:

• Use eco-decorations
• Give green gifts
• Send organic flowers

Those three above are the most expensive green holiday tips, so this might be why no one voted on them. Although, if you made homemade gifts, that’s green.

Now how did you do in the long-run? Was your holiday as green as you hoped? Are there things you regret doing? Or on a more positive note, things you’re proud you did this holiday season?

New poll up soon!

[image via stock.xchng]

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Wishing all the tree hugging families out there a very merry, relaxing, and safe day. If it’s not too cold, try to get outside and enjoy some Christmas Day nature.

PS Don’t forget to recycle that wrap – I had to say something! Cheers

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Gorgeous Dew Drop Melody Print on Silken Banana Paper - Semi-sheer banana paper with a festive crinkle and silken threads. Handmade in India.

Adorable Sock Monkey wrap on 40% post-consumer waste recycled paper. 

Moss & Pool Retro Snowflakes – printed on Eco-White, 100% recycled, 30% post-consumer waste, paper. It’s both archival and acid-free.

Flocked Wallpaper Print – beautiful paper in a variety of soft and dramatic colors. Made from recycled cotton rag from the garment industry and flocked with rayon fiber.

Erin Ruth – 60% recycled (30% PCW) wrap printed with soy-based inks. Many designs and colors to choose from.

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If you’re shipping gifts to friends and family, you can keep it green with the following tips:

Do use recycled boxes and heavy envelopes instead of buying new at the post office. Note that some shipping places don’t accept boxes with lots of oddball writing on them. You can fix this quickly with one sheet of plain brown recycled wrap.

Don’t use polystyrene packing peanuts – they work well at protecting gifts, but are a huge eco-problem because they’re made from non-renewable resources.

Do use biodegradable packing peanuts – they dissolve in water and can even be composted. Get some at U-Haul.

Don’t use old newspapers IF your gift might get ink marked. However, shredded newspaper is handy for gifts that are enclosed in a separate gift bag or box.  Shredded newspaper will provide better overall protection than crumpled, but you’ll need lots of it.

Do use this Padding Paper – it’s 100% recyclable and has a, “Honeycomb-embossed corrugated texture that gives it impact-absorbing qualities when wrapped or folded around delicate items.”

Don’t use bubble wrap, if you can help it. If you do want to use it, make sure you send your pal a note about how to reuse bubble wrap.

Do send gifts that don’t need protection. A scarf, for example is an eco friendly gift to send because it takes up less box space and needs no protection. Dishes and baked goods are going to be harder to pack up.

Don’t mail gifts if you don’t have to. If you buy online, you can ship right to the recipient. While you don’t get to pick the packaging, this does cut down on your carbon footprint.

What other ideas do you have for greener shipping and packaging?

[image via stock.xchng]

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This treehouse is easy to put together, and you don’t even need glue or scissors – everything is pre-punched. Young kids can do this with parent help. After building you can decorate with paint, glitter, nature objects, or whatever you like. After decorating, you get to play. This treehouse is big enough to use with tiny dolls (like dollhouse size).

Available at Seasons Natural Toys, a company that I’m a little obsessed with.

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

The Wilson Rebound recycled rubber basketball is made with a rubber cover that consists of 40% recycled scrap rubber. 40%, not the best ever, but way better than nothing; especially if someone on your gift list wants a basketball. Also, so far as balls go, this one is pretty attractive I think. The brown and green is cute, huh?

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The folks from Night Owl Paper Goods posted the code, but then emailed me an even better one. I’m pretty glad about this, because it gives me an excuse to show another cool product from them. Since it’s a nice holiday code, you should know that they have these adorable wooden santa owls cards made from eco-friendly, sustainably harvested yellow birch available. Look:

YOU know you want one.

Here’s the new code they sent me…
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
:: Night Owl Paper Goods Owliday Discount :: www.nightowlpapergoods.com

:: Receive 25% off ALL ORDERS now thru Dec. 31st! :: Coupon Code friend08

:: Share with friends! :: Use over & over! :: It’s easy to be Green & Save Green!
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

AND, heads up, another featured item here at Tree Hugging Family is on sale right now. Remember the B Hive Designs post I did a while back? Maybe not, it’s been a while. Let me jog your memory with some new organic items I adore from the shop… (click on the image to learn more).

Barbara from B Hive Designs says that her lovely items are on sale right now through Dec 7th. 25% OFF all Women’s shirts, plus FREE SHIPPING on everything! That’s a great deal on organic clothing. You can also find B  Hive at Etsy (which rocks – I have a major Etsy crush).

If I see any more green deals soon, before holiday shopping time is up, I’ll throw those your way too. I know for sure that I’ve got details about a great 3R Living code in the The Gigantic Green Holiday December Kick-Off! post

[Images via B Hive Designs & Night Owl Paper Goods]

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

I’ve got a new green holiday poll up. Check it out in the sidebar to your right – about halfway down the page.

I offered some basic choices for greening your holiday season, but of course I never think of everything. This is where you come in; leave an idea of your own, if you have one, so that everyone stopping by can learn even more ways to green their holiday.

I’m planning on leaving this poll up throughout November and December, so by New Year’s we should have oodles of great green holiday ideas.

Go ahead and vote! 

November current events at Tree Hugging Family – themes, reviews, news, and more…

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Tree Hugging Family