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Ever wonder what to do with those pesky plastic bags? You’re not alone. “A co-worker of mine has collected plastic bags for the past 3 years. He says we might need them. Well now they are taking up to much...

Calling all brides-to-be, friends of brides and ANYONE who appreciates eye-candy in the form of beautiful dresses. You must check out Terra Amore - a company specializing in sustainable wedding gowns. The line was founded by Jessica Iverson. Iverson was inspired by her green consience and the idea of working with cruelty free fabrics. (Check out their glorious dresses after the jump!)

One of the easiest things to do - yet so often neglected - is turning off the lights in your home. Another? Shut off the faucet when cleaning or brushing your teeth. You can save an average of 30 gallons of water while washing dishes - saving you $$ (that would instead be going down the drain...!)

Our friends at Phillyist highlighted a Grub Street post about a controversy over lion tacos in Arizona and a similar proposition recently in Philly. This scandal of putting lion on the menu ended a chef's meeting his end (pun intended) at South Philly Tap Room. Somehow, I missed this controversy back in September 2008, but started researching how this debacle even happened. Right around the World Cup this year, an Arizona Chef attempted selling lion burgers from a "free-range farm" in Illinois. However, CNN Money & other big wigs decided to investigate (find out more, after the jump!)

Hot Cocoa is the perfect winter treat in my opinion. It brings me back to my childhood and makes the cold seem more bearable I love this vegan twist on a childhood favorite. It’s simple, delicious and comforting. Plus, sometimes it just feels good to make something from "scratch" rather than use a prepackaged food. Tasty Vegan Hot Cocoa Recipe:

Italy decided to start the new year off right by completely banning plastic bags in the country. Italians were using 20 BILLION bags per year - more than 330 per person, and was about 1/5 of the bags used in Europe. However, starting January 1st, retailers were required to distribute biodegradable plastic, cloth or paper bags instead. Italy joins the ranks of Mexico City & San Fran to implement a complete plastic bag ban, which Philadelphia failed to pass in June 2009. (However, retailers with Philly locations like IKEA & Whole Foods have banned plastic bags internally.) Other cities have imposed taxes on plastic bags:

A friend/former colleague tipped me off on the very impressive students at the Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush of Philadelphia. The students created art from only recyclable materials - anything from barbies, tennis balls, or everyday materials like cloth or string. My personal favorite is the dinosaur - See the video here (after the jump):

Are you looking for some new jewelry & bored with your current pieces? Rather than buying new or cheap jewelry, explore recycling options for gold you own! Or, try inquiring with local artisans who can rebuild it into something new. Websites like greenKarat offer recycling options as well as new (to you) pieces!

Did you purchase a new winter coat this season? An upgrade for you is the perfect opportunity to make use of your old duds. One Warm Coat is an organization dedicated to helping others by taking your old coats, jackets, sweaters and mittens of your hands (pun intended) and donating them to people in need. This blurb on their website caught my attention: