Articles Written by Beth Funari

Whether you're a jewelry whore or you only don an everyday watch you (or your significant other or whoever) probably spent some hard-earned cash on these pieces. Naturally, you want to keep them looking nice and shiny! The majority of jewelry cleaners are filled with harsh chemicals. I found that using household products can be just as effective, and a lot greener. To clean your jewels mix one cup of warm water (not too hot) with 1 tablespoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of baking soda in a bowl and let jewelry sit (one piece at a time) for about 10 minutes. Voila - shine and sparkle restored! As an aside - I once worked in an office where the engaged girls would bring in their toxic jewelry cleaner every Friday and take turns cleaning their engagement rings while talking loudly about their weddings. Um yeah, this made the single girls and dudes) pretty annoyed. Heads up: clean your jewels at home ladies, not the office please ;)   

Last weekend (while Julie was in Nashville with her digital marketing hat on) I was preparing my game face for a friend's game night party, and contemplating appetizers. I knew I wanted to experiment a little in the kitchen and create a new recipe to bring over. I narrowed it down to a dip for easy portability. I decided  I wanted it to be seasonal, and then zoned in on autumn fruits and veggies ... and unsurprisingly arrived at pumpkin. Yes, I'm a little pumpkin obsessed this season.  This pumpkin pie dip is on the sweet side but can easily be served as an app or a healthyish dessert. The pumpkin taste isn't too overwhelming but this dip definitely screams fall and festive. This recipe did not photograph so well, but I'm telling you it's no problem because once you taste it you just won't give a damn. Fresh is almost always best but I was in a time crunch so I used canned pumpkin I had on hand. The ingredient list is pretty short and all you need is a good hand mixer (or a strong bicep, and a spoon). I served it with sweet potato cinnamon crackers, apple slices and carrot sticks. It would also be delish with graham crackers or cinnamon pita chips. My team may have lost in an epic battle of Taboo but my pumpkin pie dip was a hit! If your friends like pumpkin even a little bit this will definitely go over well at your next soiree.

I'm just a little bit addicted to music festivals. My idea of a perfect day is one filled with live music, yummy (preferably local) food, perhaps some cocktails, a few friends and sunshine. From Lollapalooza to Bonnaroo to Firefly, GPB sure knows how to catch the best music festivals out there. Know what will make an eco conscious gal in a blissed-out festival mood feel even better? When she notices all of the green measures being taken to help make the event sustainable.  Last weekend at weekend two of Austin City Limits music festival, I took note. Austin City Limits 2013 Greening Efforts:

I'm a long-time Jack Johnson fan and as the years go by I seem to appreciate him more and more. There is just something about the cute native Hawaiian's soothing voice and sweet often quirky lyrics that makes you want to stop sweating the small stuff, and go make some banana pancakes.  For me and many fellow fans Jack Johnson = mellow. And who couldn't use a little more of that feeling? The fact that he is one of the most environmentally conscious artists around just puts the guy over the top. In Between Dreams and Brushfire Fairytales will probably always be my favorite albums but his latest From Here to Now to You includes some repeat worthy tunes as well. Johnson's green efforts on his last few tours have garnered attention from us and other environmentalists. And it seems like he and his crew (Johnson credits his wife, Kim, for many of the initiatives)  are hoping to make his current 2013 tour the greenest yet. Read on to learn about what Johnson and crew are doing to advocate environmentalism on tour.

Pumpkin season is in full swing... pumpkin lattes, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin beer... it's here! Word is Starbucks is celebrating their 10-year anniversary of the pumpkin latte but I'm still feeling cold beverages during these mild fall days. So I set out to make a cold treat that made use of the glorious orange squash-like fruit. The fact that it's a bit healthier and much lower in sugar than a pumpkin latte is just icing on (the pumpkin) cake. It happens to be vegan but you could un-veganize (creating our own words today) if you wish to use cow's milk. Read on for the recipe!

Disgusted by GMOs? Uh, who isn't right? The "frankenfood" found in supermarkets these days is downright scary. Well, one month from today you'll have a chance to publicly show your opposition. March Against Monsanto Philadelphia takes place on Saturday October 12th at 2pm. The March Against Monsanto group advocates labeling GMO foods as such. Monsanto (and the FDA) maintain labeling food that contains genetically modified ingredients isn't necessary. And the public is forced to ask why? What are they so afraid of?  After researching and reading about GMOs for the past few years I must say ignorance is not bliss, my friends.

Mason jars made a huge comeback over the past few years. You see them on many a foodie blog, they are all over pinterest, and cafes & gastro-pubs alike often serve whimsical cocktails in these glass jars. A few things that make mason jars so great: 1. They're easy to clean 2. Portability 3. High versatility (see below) 4. They're reusable! With proper care these babies could last for decades. Click through for five fun ways to use mason jars.

I don't like all these back-to-school commercials. I'm annoyed with the "looks for Fall" emails from my favorite fashion sites flooding my inbox. I love summer, longer days and the slightly slower pace that comes with it. Don't get me wrong - I adore Fall too. I'm.just.not.ready. However, seasons do change and cooler weather is coming so I'll buck up and find things to get excited about. One Fall activity high on my list? Running and racing outdoors! I find the crispness of Fall ideal running weather. And, I always get pumped this time of year for fun Fall races. I like to run a 5k at the end of the summer or beginning of Fall to ease me back into running (which I often take a hiatus from when it's sweltering outside). Whether you're a seasoned runner or just getting into races the 5k is a really manageable distance.  If walking is more your thing- no worries - almost all 5ks welcome walkers as well. Read on for two Philadelphia 5ks worth signing up for...

When I took my first sip of this perfected chocolate kale smoothie I experienced a moment of pure smoothie bliss. I say perfected because even though smoothies are supposed to be easy, peasy it's not always a breeze to figure out the perfect mouth satisfying ratio of ingredients. I played around with this combo until I felt like I had a winner I'd want to make over and over. No matter, this chocolate kale smoothie happens to be vegan but can certainly be customized based on what you have on hand. I will, however, share with you my exact recipe in case you're type-A like me when it comes to smoothies! And, please don't be put off by the kale or the color. The kale is barely detected in this combo ; Yet, you still get your daily greens in! Win-win. This recipe makes for a  good snack, post workout "shake", meal accompaniment or very healthy dessert.