Articles Written by Beth Funari

The bad news: Philadelphia was named the most stressed city for women in Self magazine's December issue. The good news: we have eco-friendly ways to relax and de-stress! Self cites an average 32 minute one-way commute and a 12% unemployment rate as some of the reasons for Philly topping the list. Ladies, you deserve better!Stress is a fact of life and some of the factors that contribute to the feeling can't be helped; But that doesn't mean we shouldn't be taking steps to relax. Of course it's also the holiday season - a time that lends itself to feeling frazzled and fried. Whether you can get your R & R in now or in January these tips will help. Click through for 5 ways to de-stress (and help get Philly off that downer list):

With twenty days left til Christmas it’s time to get your green gift shopping on! Don’t stress, friends, we have your guide to affordable, eco-friendly items for everyone on your list. Fashionistas: For the fashionable lady who likes to be sustainable while looking cute gift the Jous Jous Eco Friendly Handmade Earring. I love all the colors, but especially the red and green. (See these beauties on the right.) Kids : The tots in your life will have fun with this Green Toys Recycling Truck. And, their parents will be grateful you didn’t gift them something toxic or noisy. Click through for more recommendations!

No one needs a cold slowing them down this busy holiday season. Let's be real - as much fun as the holidays are they can also be a stressful time. And, stress weakens our body's defenses leaving us more susceptible to getting sick. So, how can you boost your immune system naturally this winter? It's one of those solutions that's so simple it's almost stupid. Amp up your vitamin C intake, peeps! And, as with most things in life (with the potential exception of hair color and milk) natural is better. Airborne and emergen-c are great (I turn to them in times of real need - like when traveling. ) However, why use a packaged powder when you can actually gobble down the real stuff?

This year why not take a break from gifting traditional department store sweaters and ties? A refreshing alternative is available in the form of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Holiday Pop Up Store. PHS has taken over a storefront in a prime retail location in Chesnut Hill. The 400 square-foot space will be transformed into a holiday shopping haven, adorned with birch wood and green garland, accented with touches of glitter and mercury glass, and offering exceptional gifts for the garden, design, culinary, and Flower Show enthusiasts on your holiday list.

Let's not let Black Friday get all the glory this year. Saturday, November 24th is Small Business Saturday 2012. Celebrate by hitting up local boutiques, vintage shops, independent coffee shops, farmers markets and the like! According to the National Federation of Independent Businesses Small Business Saturday is the most important shopping day for 36% of independent retailers. Using our wallets to show support for local companies will help these businesses grow - in turn fostering the economy. So skip out on Starbucks and Target for a day or two and throw your dollars to the little guys. Philadelphia offers an abundance of options - like Arcadia boutique and One Shot Coffee in Northern Liberties, for example. Readers, any Small Business Saturday 2012 spots you plan on hitting up?

I come from a big family - my parents are both one of eight and I have a zillion cousins (60+) Picture the Irish Catholic/Italian version of the my big fat greek wedding family and you're close to an image of our typical holiday. But, this Thanksgiving marks a first. As we recently moved and aren't a bus trip away from my family anymore my husband and I decided to tackle Thanksgiving on our own. Essentially this means me. He has a lot of good qualities and talents but cooking isn't among them ;) I'm feeling totally liberated and excited at the prospect of being 100% in control of my Thanksgiving feast for the first time in my life. My husband isn't a vegetarian by any means but he'll literally eat anything I put in front of him (alas one of those good qualities I referred to above.) Essentially I have full reign to go crazy with the vegetarian and meatless sides that I consider the best part of the holiday. As a non meat-eater I like the idea of a centerpiece dish - like a tofurky for example - but to be honest I don't go ga ga over faux meats. I find them very hit or miss. And, why does the bird or "bird" get all the attention. anyway? Load me up with side dishes and I'm a happy girl! That said click through for a run down of some of the vegetarian Thanksgiving side recipes that will be making an appearance at our Thanksgiving this year.

Today is national America Recycles Day. Of course at GPB we pretty much think everyday should be recycle day. Nonetheless, I'm grateful for a holiday that commemorates the cause. America Recycles Day has been celebrated since 1997. AmericaRecycles.org encourages people and organizations to host events and activities that foster recycling education among colleagues, friends, neighbors and kids on or around this day. Yesterday Mayor Nutter announced that Philadelphia will celebrate America Recycles Day at several locations throughout the city. Here's a rundown on some of the events: (Find out how YOU can celebrate and more about this great day, after the jump):

In the wake of the election there's more to discuss than the presidential race and the party's winners and losers. Though it wasn't on my ballot one thing on my mind this past week has been California's decision to veto Prop 37, the labeling of genetically modified food. These results prompt me to ask the ever articulate question ... huh? Proposition 37, dubbed The California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act would have required food companies, grocers and retailers to label products with genetically modified ingredients as such. This means consumers could pick up any item on their grocer's shelves and make a more informed buying decision.

You know when you stumble across a new term or concept that seems to come completely out of nowwhere...And then all of a sudden this foreign word keeps popping up? Maybe it's all the new-agey e-newsletters I receive but that's what's happening with me and the term "Earthing." My first thought was wow people love adding "ing" to nouns and creating a new verb; My second was I need to know what this is all about. So what the heck is earthing?