Green Is The New Black
Put up a green image for the holiday season
By Hailee Bland-Walsh

For many green newbies, this holiday season presents the first the challenge to newly avowed promises of less waste and more consciousness. Personally, I wasn't so sure I could keep it up.  Could I save the planet, and look fabulous doing it? 

It wasn't until I saw a seasonally decorated Barney's window in Chicago that I decided to give it my best shot.  With frosted glass and a holiday scene, Barney's was professing, "Gorgeous green gifts, fabulously fair-trade fashion, sensationally sustainable swag, orgasmic organic denim and cashmere, environmentally conscious tchotchkes of all descriptions + philanthropic gestures to warm the cockles of your heart!"  I mean if Barney's can be green, girl, I can be green!

A Holiday Quick List For Green Newbies

When shopping, take your own reusable bags
Chico Bags are compact, brightly colored reusable bags.  The best part is that they fold in to an integrated pouch and can fit in your pocket. reusablebags.com

Charity Choice
Give gift cards that let the recipient choose the charity it goes towards. The hidden benefit to you is its 100% tax deductible. This gift that "gives back" is perfect for those friends and family who have everything. ccgiftcards.com

Giftback
Looking for the perfect gift for holiday party hosts, kids' teachers or employees?  Consider their cookie basket, 10% of sale price is donated to the charity of your choice. giftback.com

Wrap presents in old paper grocery bags
The brown paper provides the perfect backing to inspire even the biggest Grinch to get in to the holiday spirit.  Consider adding red twine, old pinecones and greenery for the perfect "green" wrapping.

Decorate with compact fluorescent twinkle lights
You've switched to fluorescent bulbs for your lamps and overhead lights at home, why not do the same with decorative LED lights. They use as little as 1/160th the energy as traditional Christmas lights, and look just as festive. goodcleantech.com

Get a "reusable" tree this year. 
I know the argument, “fake trees don't have that "smell!" If you have a real tree, try treecycling! earth911.org

Bath and Body Works
Get their fir tree scented oil that can simulate the same familiar smell. bathandbodyworks.com

Reward Barney’s
Barney's New York eco-friendly "Green Christmas" window display introduced Rudolph the Recycling Reindeer, and scenes from the Twelve Green Days of Christmas in the shop fronts, while sales of designer items by Fendi, Marc Jacob's and Edun will give a donation to environmental charities. barneys.com

Support companies committed to green practices.
Let's face it—it's cool to be green.  Companies are rushing to be the next organization to produce products in a more sustainable way.  With only a small amount of checking one can find out how and where products are made. 

In the end we are learning that small changes in old practices can make a huge impact.  So this holiday season give more than a few presents.  Give yourself and others the gift of being green, it’s the new black.