Green Up Your Holiday Party

These days, everyone is seeing "green." Jump on the bandwagon and add environmentally-friendly touches to your next gathering.

• Innovative Invites  Handwrite (or print) invitations on recycled paper or cards. Sites such as recycledpaperstationery.com offer a wonderful selection of textured papers that look stylish and are environmentally conscious. Or opt to email invitations--no paper (or stamps) required!


• Guilt-Free Groceries  Hit the market to do your party shopping with fashionable and eco-friendly EnviroSax in hand. Load wine, cheeses, and other goodies into these reusable bags and feel doubly good about doing hostess duty.


• Progressive Partyware  Serve up apps and dinner with disposable Bambu Veneerware plates and utensils. Not only do they look great, but they're great for Mother Earth. Made of 100% organically grown bamboo, they biodegrade in four to six months and contain no bleaches or dyes.


• Trashy Treasure  Recycle bins are a must. But if they aren't easily accessible, they won't get used. The best option: put attractive (yes, attractive!) bins or baskets in a visible place where guests can deposit empty bottles, cans, and other recyclables. We love the modern and colorful contraption called Binvention. So much cooler than a plastic trashcan!


• P.C. Paper  Wrap gifts and party favors in recycled gift wrap. Check out the hip designs at greenfieldpaper.com.