Articles Written by Beth Funari

Between scary Sandy, dropping temps and more time in sweaters, boots and yoga pants I don't know about you but I'm craving warm and zesty eats. Warm foods with a little kick are so ideal for this time of year I've been playing around in the kitchen with some slightly spicy dishes. This vegan buffalo dip is a keeper. I used to be a big sissy when it came to spicy foods but over the past few years I've started to add a bit in at a time to develop a tolerance. Little things like making the switch from wimpy mild salsa to medium helped. Sure enough I can now tolerate a bit of hot sauce and spicy bloody mary's (winning!) You can control the heat to suit your taste buds. The vegan buffalo dip is easy to make, plus it doesn't scream "quirky vegan" - making it very carnivore friendly. I plan to whip this up quite a few times this football and holiday season.

People, you know you want to cut down the plastic consumption in your home. Here's a simple tip to head in that direction - nix the plastic hand soap and dish soap bottles! Resuable containers and bottles can be refilled with soap on the reg and they also tend to be more aesthetically pleasing - a bonus if you are into pretty bathroom accessories.

Ladies (and fashion-forward Gents) it's time to treat yourself to something decadent that won't leave you feeling guilty. No I'm not talking about vegan smoothies, today it's all about handbags - specifically Jess Rizzuti's collection.

What makes you happy? How much square footage does one really need to be content? For Tammy Strobel and her husband, Logan, happiness is found within their 128-square-foot home. Strobel's book You Can Buy Happiness (and It's Cheap) chronicles her transition from a standard middle-class lifestyle which included credit card debt, a long commute and living a beyond her means to a significantly downsized or "smartsized" existence. (Find out more about her book & check out the Q & A, after the jump!)

We love our eco-minded celebrities. While we can't (yet) report on Matt Damon's personal thoughts on fracking, we can confirm that he's starring in a new film on fracking this December. The film is said to center around Damon, whose character initially works for a pro-fracking company and eventually wises up and gets a soul... i.e. he becomes the anti-fracking hero. As a refresher, fracking is essentially the procedure of creating fractures in rock, and rock formations by injecting fluid into the ground at high pressure to break the rocks open and release natural gas inside. Why is fracking dangerous?

Autumn leaves are gorgeous , but can add up to quite the mess when they fall. Don't let your yard waste end up in landfills! Here's a few do's and don'ts for this leafy season: Don't use a leaf blower. Leaf blowers may save time, but they release emissions and cause pollution. Do grab a rake! You'll kill two birds with one stone - getting in a good workout, and cleaning up your yard simultaneously. Don't burn your leaves. It's crazy that people still do this - yes it's easy but putting a match to a big pile of leaves produces hydrocarbons that can contain toxic and carcinogenic compounds. Not to mention it's a fire hazard. Read on for more!

Between the underway Eagles season and the Phillies wrapping up their season yesterday afternoon sports are on Philadelphians brains (per standard, this is Philly after all.) A recent NRDC report discussed the National Resources Defense Council's work with national sports organizations and the importance of environmental education for fans. Many teams are actively working towards sustainability within their organizations. So what's happening on Philly fields? Read on for a rundown on the strides Philadelphia teams are making.

When you think of the Midwest you may not immediately think "hip vegan cafes." I certainly didn't. The truth is some of my Midwest dining experiences have been challenging as someone who doesn't eat any meat or poultry. When I found out I would be spending a significant amount of time in Cleveland, Ohio I wondered what a veggie loving lady was to do... Cleveland offers an impressive restaurant scene with big-time restaurateurs like Michael Symon of The Chew and Rocco Whalen each providing several four star restaurants. But, during my time in this city I've noticed that they loooove their pig - and put it on everything from greens to fish.

Did you know that just 16% of Americans know what is going on in science,while 60% know what's happening in sports news. These statistics aren't exactly shocking, but they do demonstrate what the American population is tuned into... and what's slipping through the cracks. With this knowledge in mind national sports organizations and the NRDC (National Resources Defense Council) have joined forces to shed light on the importance of ecological stewardship.