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Snow storms have hit harder than the norm this year - and it's not even February. Naturally, this has folks grumbling about the annoyance of digging their cars out. Further, driving can be tricky - and at times dangerous. What can you do to get around Philly easier during these sometimes treacherous months? This winter consider upping your use of public transportation. Staying out of the driver's seat will give you peace of mind. Plus, you're saving emissions and gas money. (Don't worry - even Julie survived her Low Car Diet run.) Here's a refresh of the public transportation options available to Philadelphia residents:

Greenpeace's Arctic Sunrise has docked in Penn's Landing since Thursday (Jan 27) until February 2nd on their monthlong tour to support East Coast communities fighitng to stop the environmental impact of coal plants in their region. Swing on by to find out more about Greenpeace, their Coal Free Future Campaign and research projects. Free Tour times for the Arctic Sunrise are as follows:

The political science geek-in-me secretly loves watching political speeches, debates and campaigns… even the opposing party’s negative reactions (I’m looking at you, Sarah Palin).  Monday’s State of the Union Address brought me joy similar to the sounds of “Dynamite” by...

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: