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For a lot of us stretching just isn't a priority. And,  I get that. If you're a gym person then you probably want to get in, get sweaty and get out. If you take fitness classes then you may have noticed that a lot of instructors skip stretching all together. (Some don't believe it's necessary, some expect that you'll do it on your own). In the fitness community stretching has become somewhat of a controversial subject. When I was studying for my Personal Training & Sports Medicine certification I realized that opinions of Fitness Experts are all over the board. So, I've made an effort to study and research the whole stretching she-bang for the past few years. Here's what I've learned - stretching is key - especially for those of us who spend a good portion of the day sitting. However, old school stretching before exercise is not of paramount importance and doesn't necessarily improve athletic importance. Personally I love my weekly yoga class as a way to work in stretching. But I'm an intermittent yogi and when I can't get to class I have to make an effort to carve out stretch time; Or, I feel it. I recently realized the hard way just how bad my body needs that stretch (and I'm not even a "desk worker" most days!) when I woke up feeling like a 90 year-old lady lacking full range of motion in my neck and complaining of creaky joints after a week without stretch time. If you aren't a regular stretcher I urge you to add even just 5-10 minutes into your routine two or three times a week. Do it first thing in the am pre-shower, as a mid-workday break or right before bed - just get it in and your bod will thank you. Click through for 6 reasons you need to stretch.

Want to see a play with an environmental message to follow up on the classic green books you'll be reading to your kids? Greg Romero who brought us Of Plastic Things & Butterfly Wings for last year's Philly Fringe Festival is back at it. Delaware Mudtub and the Mighty Wampum is coming to Plays & Players from March 13-29, 2014. Find out more, after the jump!

Although I’m still a fairly new vegan, I've got the basics down: no cheats, eggs, meats. This new lifestyle means passing up on all those delicious chocolate bars and fresh baked cookies, which at times can be super difficult. Yearning for a sugar fix has fueled me to find substitute snacks. To all my vegan friends out there, I’m happy to say I've discovered a hidden world of unintentionally vegan goodies.  I love kale as much as the next plant-based eater, but sometimes it’s necessary to indulge, yet still tray true to your diet. Here are 5 tasty (and surprisingly) vegan snacks to spoil yourself:

Honest eating and growing local has been Honeygrow’s motto since opening in 2012. The fast-growing food chain honors this slogan every single day as they support local farmers and serve customers. Honeygrow serves fresh and healthy and delicious quality food. With two current locations, Honeygrow is aiming to have two more locations up and running by Spring (Cherry Hill, NJ) and Fall (Radnor, PA) later this year.

It's the most wonderful time of the year! The Philadelphia Flower Show returns tomorrow to the PA Convention Center. Visitors can experience the world's largest indoor flower show in ARTiculture, a mix of horticulture & art from March 1-9, 2014. 22 museums nationwide worked together with exhibitors to symbolize paintings and works of art with lively foliage. Want to check it out? We're giving away a pair of FREE tickets to the Flower Show! Find out how to win free tickets, find out what you NEED to know & check out our special sneak preview for what you'll see, after the jump.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Visit Philadelphia. The opinions and text are all mine. Want to wait until summer to visit Philadelphia? Think again: the Philadelphia Flower Show is officially here, making March the perfect time to stay, whether you're from across the country or live in the suburbs. The Visit Philly Overnight Hotel Package offers a bonus - if you stay any two consecutive nights, your car stays free. Worried about ditching your car to get around town? Find out the best green 3-day Philly agenda, after the jump!

As a marketing major at Temple, I’ve struggled with how to bring “green” into my four short years at the Fox School. Although I know how to take the derivative of an equation, balance the debits and credits in my accounting homework, and create a fierce advertisement, something still felt like something was missing. Now I have found a way I can couple my degree with my passion for the environment with a certificate in sustainability. Find out about certificates and programs in sustainability, after the jump.

I have a confession to make. Deep breath. Here it goes. When I was a small kid,  I used to trap insects in a bug catcher. Then, I read James and the Giant Peach.  James and the Giant Peach is an adventure about a young boy who crosses the Atlantic with his best friends, who just so happen to have many legs and an exoskeleton. My days as a bugnapper were officially over. This experience taught me how important books are in shaping the values of children. However, I’m not the only one who can benefit from the lessons of my transformation. What literature can you use to introduce environmental lessons for your kids? Find out the 6 best children’s books to raise young environmentalists, after the jump!

Need an excuse to dress up and network with some of the area's best greenies? The Sustainable Business Network's fancy pants night out, the SustainaBall, is returning to Philly on April 12, 2014. The Sustainable Business Network helps local businesses with many goals, like to meet their triple bottom line: planet, people & profits. Therefore, helping them for the SustainaBall is like helping 600+ businesses at once!