Can we be environmentally conscious for the holidays?

Has the holiday madness started for you yet?  Are you shopping like crazy?  Do you like it – or maybe dislike?  Is dislike not strong enough of a word to describe it?  Maybe you enjoy all the hustle and bustle?  You can still have a great holiday season but make it more eco-friendly. Here are some ideas for some different approaches to holiday shopping and celebrating:  Wrapping paper·               Save wrapping paper to use in following years·               Make your own wrapping paper by decorating brown paper you have on hand from brown paper bags·               Save Christmas cards and cut out the words and pictures to use as wrapping paper decorations or for present nametags·               There are companies that sell wrapping paper made from 100% recycled paper.  You could try Green Girl Gift Wrap.  They also donate 10% of their profits to environmental protection. Holiday Cards·               How about an alternative to sending all those holiday cards?  Have you every thought of how much paper that’s used and the amount of energy that goes into making those cards?  ·               Maybe a planned phone call or brief meeting for coffee would be better.  ·               I know email seems to be impersonal but that is an option.  You can even send a picture of the family along with the email and/or use an e-card service on the Internet.  How about a handwritten holiday greeting written on recycled paper?