With Thanksgiving just a week away, Girlawhirl knows that there will be many plans made for gift exchanges, gatherings and other holiday events across the table. She's ready with a few ideas and suggestions to scale back this season:

Don't go crazy with gift giving

Girlawhirl intends to suggest that all the adults in her family choose one gift that they really want. Everyone can chip in towards it or they can set up a gift exchange program a la “Secret Santa.” Kids are exempt from the one gift rule, but Girlawhirl's pretty sure that their stacks of gifts aren't going to be as large this year as they have been in the past.

Keep the stocking stuffers to a minimum

This is where Girlawhirl always gets tripped up. She ends up with lots of little things that quite frankly – like a pen in the shape of a candy cane – she's very sure she doesn't need. She's no Scrooge – she's always happy to find chocolate, lip gloss and other goodies she loves in her stocking, but it doesn't have to be overflowing. Just a few fabulous items are all it takes.

Wrapping paper and holiday cards are all going to be recycled

Even if it means using newspaper, Girlawhirl intends to be very careful this year about how much her holiday celebrations stress the environment. She's   trimmed her list of who she intends to send cards out to, and is happy to say that she's found a bunch of resources for eco friendly cards and wrappings. She's even sewn up some pretty pouches out of old fabrics to put gifts into and tie with ribbon or pieces of colorful yarn.

Not every gathering needs to be a food-fest

When one pie will feed her Super Pals or another small gathering, Girlawhirl pledges to resist the urge to bake – or buy – another one. She'll apply the same principal to appetizers, and side dishes and urge her mother to do the same when she prepares their holiday meals. And in keeping with her waste-not-want-not attitude, Girlawhirl will be sure to donate her fair share of holiday help to those whose tables could use a little more food. Whether it's at her local grocery store, or a food drive in her town, or Meals-On-Wheels, she'll find a way to make a difference.