I'm dreaming of a Green Christmas!!!

Yep, you read that right! What is a "green Christmas"???  Well, to my family, it means that we are actively trying not to be consumers of the latest and greatest gadget, electronic, fad, etc..  The rules are gifts are to be homemade, reused/gifted, and/or second-hand from thrift/consignment stores or ebay/craig's list/freecycle.  We're putting the 3 Rs to work this winter.....reduce, reuse, recycle!!!  In turn, we will lessen our carbon footprint and stretch a few dollars during the rough economic time.  Oh, and no Christmas cards!!!  I've decided that greeting cards in general are a waste of money and resources.  (Sorry USPS! oh, and Hallmark!!!)  Through life we keep collecting things.  Those things start to clutter our lives.  Is all the stuff doing us any good stashed in a closet, a drawer or attic?  I challenge you to take a look at the inventory of your home and family.   Would having Grandma's punch bowl mean more than getting the latest IPod?  Why do we fall for the marketing convincing us that we "need" all these things in our life to be happy in the first place.  The only one it makes happy is the stockholders of those corporations.  *steps off soapbox*  :)  Have a blessed day!