Excited to celebrate the season but worried about how to pull it off while maintaining a sustainable lifestyle? Have no fear, we've got a list of tips that will keep your holiday celebrations greener than the Grinch. Read on, and be sure to share your tips in the comments!

- Use LED Christmas lights. For just a couple dollars more, you could swap your old school lights for the LED version, use 90% less energy and save up to $50 on your energy bills this season (depending on how many lights you're a-stringing). Plus, these babies last for 200,000 hours - which means they'll still be in use when your grandkids are helping you hang them. And no, they don't shine an obnoxious purple-white color. (greenissexy)

- Ship smart. December is one of the most atrocious times of year to ship packages. If you MUST send your gifts via air, boat or truck, be sure to use a carrier that is taking steps to reduce their impact on the environment. ClimateCounts.org grades companies on a scale of 1-100 on their efforts to measure and reduce their impact and support climate legislation. Of the four major shipping companies (UPS, DHL, FedEx and USPS), UPS has the highest marks - 69. (climatecounts.org)

- Have a live Christmas tree. The debate about real versus artificial trees is one that has been discussed for years, even to this day (see Real or Fake Christmas Tree), hasn't yielded a clear winner. One option that will always come out on top is having a live, potted Christmas tree that sits in water and can be re-planeted after the holiday is over. Possibly more maintenance, yes, but is less of a fire hazard, makes your home smell delicious, and can be re-planted (in your own yard or through a tree-planting organization), providing the atmosphere with a generous helping of CO2 for years to come. (WikiHow)

- Just buy less. Gift giving is a sign of thoughtfulness during the holidays, but that doesn't mean you have to shell out half your paycheck for expensive gadgets and cushy sweaters. Handmade gifts are even more sentimental and thoughtful, plus it costs just a fraction of the price of a new item! If you do buy new, try to find local vendors or items made from recycled materials. Another option for consuming less this season is to host a holiday gift swap. Though it may be too late this year, suggest your family draw names at Thanksgiving dinner and set a price limit for gifts. (eartheasy)

therainbowroom

- Make your own ornaments. Spending money on junky plastic ornaments is not very eco-friendly. This year, try trimming your entire tree with your own homemade ornaments and decorations. Imagine the possibilities: popcorn or dried cranberries on strings, used paper scraps cut into snowflakes or other festive shapes, used egg cartons painted with non-toxic paint, melt old crayons down, or even give your old glass ornaments a makeover with a fresh coat of paint! (greenissexy)

- Find wrapping alternatives. Before you dash up to the drugstore and buy that $5 super-roll of glossy snowman print paper, dig around your pad and see what alternatives you can find for wrapping paper - newspaper, old wrapping paper, fabric scraps, calendars, posters, book covers, even paper bags can creatively be used to dress up your gifts. Go easy on the tape, too - that adds up. Often, a fabric ribbon can be maneuvered to hold your gift together. If you must buy paper, avoid metallic and glossy foil papers, as they are difficult to recycle. (eartheasy)

- Recycle your Christmas tree! If using a live-potted tree wasn't an option for you this year, take the extra steps to see that your precious withering tree is recycled. Each year, 50 million Christmas trees are purchased in the U.S. Of those, about 30 million go to the landfill. Ouch. Make it one less by looking up local organizations who are offering mulching services and recycling programs - or, start your own! Earth911 is a great tool for finding recycling opportunities in your neighborhood.

Are you going the extra mile to make your holiday a more sustainable one? What tips would you share for keeping your Christmas/Hannukah/other holiday Earth-friendly?