Make your holidays Green!

Happy Monday everyone! This cold, rainy weather in San Diego has put me in the holiday spirit. This year, for the first time ever I've decided to send E-cards as our holiday cards (with the exception of a few grandmas who don't have email addresses:). Not only does this eliminate waste...it's a whole lot cheaper, and just as effective. Along with this simple, Eco-friendly solution, there are hundreds of other ways to GREEN your holidays. Here are some of my personal faves:

Happy Hanukkah! Check out these cool menorahs I found- The first one is made from 100%Recycled Glass by Vertige Glass. They also do Christmas Trees! And for you techies out there, check out this battery powered LED Motherboard menorah offered at Fredflare.com. This Eco-menorah brings new meaning to The Festival of Lights!

And for those traditionalists who still like to burn candles...you too can be nice to the earth with with these 100% beeswax, hand dipped, Hanukkah candles from The Jewish Museum. These natural candles are paraffin and toxin free, so they require no petroleum products, and will burn slowly with little smoke or odor. Now that’s bright!

And one of my favorite Hanukkah traditions...chocolate coins, or Gelt. Try these fair-trade chocolates from Divine Chocolate. They are even stamped with fair trade messages. Now you don't need to feel guilty eating gelt.

There are so many ways to Green your Christmas, but I want to focus on one amazing company here in San Diego. Adopt a Christmas Tree, founded by Christine McDannell of Cleanology, offers live potted trees that are delivered by singing, dancing elves.

Once the holidays are over, they will pick up your tree too! We all know it’s a lot of fun to have a tree to decorate your home for the holidays, but it’s also comforting to know that the little tree in your living room will have a long life ahead of it. It won’t end up as mulch or in a landfill, but planted back into the earth immediately after the holidays. With almost a dozen different types and sizes of trees, there's something for everyone. Now your family can share the fragrant smell and festive look of a live tree in your living room–without feeling guilty?

If you're like most people I know, you'll probably go to your fair share of holiday parties this year...which means you'll most likely be celebrating with cocktails and wine. This year, how about choosing wines that are produced responsibly. Whole Foods has created this helpful list of the Top 10 Wines that are not only nice to the earth, but also nice to your wallet.

And now you can ring in the New Year in Organic fashion with these delicious organic champagnes & ciders. First off we have Blanquette de Limoux Brut. Considered the world's first sparkling wine, this vegan and organically sourced wine dates as far back as 1531 and can be yours for $34. Next up, try this biodynamic cider - 03 Eric Bordelet Normandy Sydre Doux. This sparkling cider explodes with ripe, freshly crushed apple notes and is only $13/bottle. And lastly, Reggiano Secco Solo. This $12/bottle biodynamic sparkling red holds an opaque ruby color over an effervescent texture. Find these, and other organic champagnes and ciders at The Daily Green.

So raise a glass to old friends and new beginnings, and make your holidays a sustainable celebration! And if your New Year's resolution includes "Going Green", check out 10 ways to Go Green and Save Green, presented by The Worldwide Institute. I hope you all have a wonderfully Green holiday season! xoxo Carlee