Eco-conscious consumers can find plenty of options for packaging and shipping this holiday season.

You've voted with your dollar by purchasing "green" gifts this holiday season. Don't undo all your good deeds with styrofoam packaging and carbon-spewing shippers! Dori and Val unwrap the greenest options for packing your presents and getting them to Grandma's house, whether it's across town or around the world. Also, the holidays are officially here as Greenfeet kicks off the annual Pick A Present promotion!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: In the name of fairness, we're trying Budweiser American Ale from Anheuser-Busch. They're now owned outright by InBev, the Belgian company who apparently thinks Yanks will fall for this crap.

Chocolate: For the poor confused vegan chocoholic, there's Tropical Source Raspberry Dark Chocolate by SunSpire. Dairy-free and gluten-free, it's actually quite tasty.

Finds:

• For the birdies. Hey golfers, turns out there's more than one way to go for the green! Dixon Earth's eco-friendly golf balls improve the environment while improving your game. Don't forget the biodegradable tees!
• Mapquest. Say hello to someone on the other side of the globe with World Atlas notecards. Recycled vintage maps are fashioned into a set of 6 cards and envelopes.

• The Decider. The Bush administration bows out with a flurry of last minute rules. See W ease restrictions on factory farms, mine waste, power plant emissions, and drilling in Alaska's Bristol Bay, among others. Don't let the doorknob hit you on the way out.
• Sign of the Times. The first eco-friendly billboard in NY's Times Square will light up next month, using only wind and sun power. Energy savings: $12,000 a month(!).
• Barack Star. President-elect Obama has begun making weekly addresses to Americans via YouTube and his website, Change.gov. Listen to one at the end of this show.

Time to polish the silver! Avoid icky chemical cleansers with a simple paste of baking soda and water on a sponge. Or cover the silver surface with white toothpaste, work it into a foam under warm water, and rinse tarnish away. Minty fresh!

You've voted with your dollar by purchasing "green" gifts this holiday season. Don't undo all your good deeds with styrofoam packaging and carbon-spewing shippers! Dori and Val unwrap the greenest options for packing your presents and getting them to Grandma's house.

• Packaging. When packing boxes, try to reuse paper, bubble wrap and other materials when possible. Or get biodegradable packing peanuts and leave no waste.
• Ground shipping takes a little longer, but generates just an eighth of the carbon emissions of air transport. Starting next year, UPS helps clear the air with hydraulic hybrid vehicles.
• The US Postal Service manages the largest civilian fleet of alternative fuel vehicles in the nation. Order their free envelopes and boxes that are certified green.
• International shipping gets greener with First Global Xpress. The company puts packages on a direct flight to the destination city, without stops at out-of-the-way hubs.
• Shipping rebates of up to $500 are available at FreeShipping.com, for a small monthly fee. Online shoppers can choose from over 1000 merchants.
• Carbon offsets have come a long way, and TerraPass has several excellent programs. Greenfeet purchases carbon offsets for every order shipped, without passing the cost to the customer.

• Lacy in NorCal rides green on her 2-dogpowered Xtracycle. Thanks for the blog mention!
• Jenny in Ontario, Canada (eh!) carried homemade lunch bags to school before they were cool! Her crafty mom made them from old jackets.
• Shayna shares the Green & Clean Mom Holiday Gift Guide. Check out picks from our pal Sommer!
• Ted in Michigan, aka our Beer Bitch, wants to invent a foldable take-out pouch for food, like the ChicoBag. It better carry beer too!
• Cindy in SoCal is living the green life part-time in Canada. She reviewed a beer for us...well, she tried! Thanks for the attempt, eh!

**200th Episode Alert!** We've booked Ken Grossman, founder of Sierra Nevada Brewery, as our special guest! Send us your questions for Ken! (Of course we'll ask him for his porn star name!) Post your thoughts, carbon-free! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and tracking numbers at our MHTH forum! Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for holiday gift-giving! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Don't forget to vote for us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1.530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.