1. Make your menu a green one. Shop for ingredients and supplies at your local farmer's market. By doing this, you are saving tons of gas used to ship goods around the world. Opt for organic or biodynamic products that do not use chemicals during production and support sustainable farming. Grilling out? Look for grass-fed steaks and burgers. Finally, offer vegetarian options. If your guests are as environmentally-friendly as you are, there is a chance they might be choosing a vegetarian lifestyle.

2. Be smart about your waste. Clearly label a container to put recyclables and put it in plain sight. Use as much reusable tableware as possible and cut down on the trash you produce. Offer smaller portions so there is less chance of wasting food, and instead of distributing buffet style, serve the food to your guests and save the leftovers.

3. Consider your decor options. Swap out the balloons for paper decorations (better yet, make it recycled paper). For instance, make pom-poms out of paper streamers instead. (it would make for a good family project too!) Balloons aren't biodegradable and will stay longer in our landfills than paper.

4. Take the party outside. It's summertime. The sun is shining and the trees are greener than ever, what are you doing inside? Take your party out into the natural light and save on electricity. Does anyone know how to play an instrument? Play it live and keep the ipods and stereos off.

5. Go for a green clean-up. Use organic cleaning products for clean-up. Some good products to use are: Goo Gone All-Natural Grill Cleaner, Planet Earth's Grill and Oven Cleaner, and Seventh Generation Cleaning Products.