Our friends at Sprig created these awesome Holiday eCards so you can send your Holiday wishes in true green style.

Whose eyes don't light up at the sight of a stuffed stocking on Christmas morning? So this year, why not power that delight with green, eco-friendly gifts that are sure to bring smiles of glee. There are many small green items from small eco-business that need our support this holiday season. I'll play Santa and suggest my Green stocking stuffer list for all ages:

Pharmacopia: Lavender Hand Cream (all natural and organic) with yummy shea butter. The 1.7 oz size fits perfectly in your purse, desk, backpack or car so you can re-apply throughout the day.

To-Go Ware: Organic Bamboo Utensil Set, a fork, knife, spoon and chop sticks wrapped in a holder that ties closed, travels easily, and is a genius way to avoid using plastic utensils when eating on the run.

Ecolips: Tis the season to protect your pucker...Ecolips provides a wide variety of certified organic lip balm. Try their new Pure & Simple line, a 99% organic lip balm that is completely edible in Grape, Coconut and Kiwi-Strawberry. Plus cool accessories such as an Eco Clip (a carabiner clip), an Eco Leash (a neoprene balm holder), an Eco Key Ring (a rubber overcap with key ring) and an Eco Lanyard (a lip balm necklace).

By Debbie Levin

Did you know that Americans increase their garbage by 25% from Thanksgiving to New Years?  That's a lot of garbage -- more than 25 million tons of extra waste, according to the EPA.  But the good news is that there are some simple things we can all do to limit our impact and reduce our overall consumption.

Here's what you need to know to go greener this holiday season:

1. Use Recycled Wrapping Paper - Wrapping paper and shopping bags account for 4 million tons of trash annually in the U.S. Most wrapping paper isn't recyclable because it's made out of materials that are dyed and laminated, contains non-paper additives such as gold and silver coloring, and usually is taped.  You can get recycled wrapping paper from companies such as Fish Lips and Earth Love'n Paper.  Or get creative -- make fabric gift bags, or visit eartheasy.com for other alternatives.
2. Recycle Your Tree - Over 33 million Christmas trees are purchased in North America every year and most of those end up in a landfill or rotting somewhere.  Find out where to recycle your tree by visiting earth911.com. In the top right of the page, enter your location; the site will give you local recycling facilities.
3. Buy Recyclable Christmas Cards - There are 2.65 billion holiday cards sold each year in the U.S. If they are shiny, or contain glitter or other materials, they aren't recyclable. So buy and send cards that are made from recycled materials. And, after the holiday, recycle the non-shiny cards you received.  Another option: Send out e-cards rather than real ones.

As a savvy auntie, I feel especially qualified to cover this topic. Never a mom but nine times an aunt and even more times a FONM (friend of a New Mom), I've shopped for babies, kids and teens more often than I can remember. I know how hard it is to find just the right thing - not too scratchy, not too babyish, "in-the-know" and trendy but not trying too hard...So I've decided that this holiday season, the right thing is the green thing. Bringing kids up to be eco-friendly is a gift they will appreciate forever as you introduce them to the more natural, more sustainable things in life. Here are a few great green gifts to start them on a greener path (all from small eco-companies who need our green during this tough retail season).

Babies and Kids personal care kits:
California Baby: Green moms love these safe, non-toxic, personal care baby soaps, creams, lotions and bubble baths. Baby gift sets can be completely customized and come with a non-toxic bath toy and product samples.

Burt's Bees kits: Try the Baby Bee Getting Started Kit...all SLS and paraban-free creams and lotions made with soothing buttermilk and coconut oils.

Whether it is already on her wish list or not, what woman doesn't want a gift that keeps giving back to her family, her community, her planet and herself? This holiday season surprise her with eco-gifts she'll love and help support economically-challenged green small businesses. In "Buycotting the Holidays", I explained why these companies need our support to survive this tough holiday retail season...so here are some great green gifts for all the women in your life:

Luxurious eco-clothing, bath and bedding: DreamSacks is a one-stop, eco-shop for comfortable and natural fiber products made from silk, soy and sustainable bamboo. On their website, you'll find beautiful sheets, blankets, casual clothing, robes and towels. And for a limited time (Sunday November 23rd - Friday December 5th at midnight), DreamSacks is offering a special coupon just for visitors to this blog. Just enter NBCUGREEN at the website when prompted for the coupon code and get 15% off! Quality and value...a dream solution.

Organic Skin and Personal Care: There are so many great eco-friendly, organic skin care companies in business today...please support them so they will all be here tomorrow. A few of my favorites with special offers this season:

This holiday you have the choice to support economically-challenged green small businesses as you select holiday gifts for the special men in your life. As discussed in "Buycotting the Holidays", I'd like you to show small green companies your green and buy your holiday gifts here:

Green Gifts for Men:
Shower Water Timer: Zwello.com's Blue Star Digital Shower Timer from Ripple Products. They promote water awareness and water conservation thru inventive bath-time products like this easy to use digital shower timer. This is a real clock with a simple, programmable countdown timer. Battery operated, steam proof and water proof.

Men's Grooming Products:
Pangea Organics has many organic personal care products for men (and women) and to celebrate their 7th anniversary their festive holiday gift sets come in plantable boxes to grow a Spruce Tree! Embedded in the gift boxes are spruce seeds which can easily be planted to reforest our planet.

As discussed in "Buycotting the Holidays", this holiday you have the choice to support economically-challenged green small businesses as you prepare for the holidays. With predictions of a poor retail season, small companies who have devoted themselves to being environmentally friendly are at great risk. Show them your green and buy your holiday preparations here this season:

1. Solar Powered Light Emitting Diodes (LED) Holiday String Lights: Light your home this year with self-sustained, energy-conserving, environmentally-friendly Ecolites from Eco Geek Living, Inc.. The lights recharge during the daylight hours and automatically turn on at night while using as little as 1/50^th the amount of energy traditional light bulbs.

Ever wonder what to do with all those beautiful cards you received in holiday seasons past?

If you're anything like me, you save them with the highest hopes of making something, like a beautiful decoupage box that you can give to an unsuspecting friend whose card is the center piece for your design. But in reality, they stay in a box that gathers dust until the next holiday season where you plop some more cards on the pile!

St. Jude's Ranch for Children is here to help. Their Recycled Card Program accepts all occasion cards for a limited time through out the year.

The children participate in making the new cards by removing the fronts and attaching new backs. The result is a beautiful new card made by the children and volunteers that St. Jude can then in their online shop. And for a limited time, as a special thank you to their customers, all recycled card orders will be shipped free.

For more info, go to http://www.stjudesranch.org/help_card.php.

Why It's Good:

These multi-colored bulbs are larger and have a cool retro-style - great for both the tree and your outdoor decorating.

Why It's Green:

LED lights use only 10 percent of the power that traditional ones do. Plus, they'll make your holiday decorating easier - they last about 10 years longer than traditional lights and if one bulb goes out, it doesn't affect the whole strand!

Where To Get It:

www.lowes.com | $19.97

For many years, I've heard the same refrain: "This year, I'm going to cut back on my holiday shopping". And yet this year, I think people really mean it. Our poor global economy, U.S. recession, high unemployment rates and bleak immediate economic outlook all contribute to increased spending scrutiny.

Not just an expense
But it isn't likely that most folks will just boycott the holidays altogether. Holiday gift giving is more than just an expense. It encompasses determining the actual gift recipient list and taking the time to find an appropriate gift. It isn't about how much one spends on the gift. Our time and effort, while valuable, are free. Maybe this is the year to give the gift of time to those on your gift list. Offer to run errands for an elderly person or a night of babysitting to a harried mom.