Lifestyle

The Decision. Buzzzzzzzz. Christmas Eve 2012, 7:30 AM. My dreams of sugarplums and eggnog were rudely interrupted when I awoke to a mouse slaughter from my electronic "rat zapper". Believe me, I love animals and believe in their rights. However, there is one exception to the rule: pests in my apartment. I can't compromise sanitation for coexistence. After a few 4 AM wakeup calls, culminating with a stare-down with a mouse in my kitchen, I knew I faced a miserable winter unless I did one thing: adopt a predator to solve this problem. Find out more and why you should adopt a shelter animal, after the jump.

All of this snow outside means people rush to treat their sidewalks and driveways. But don't run and buy the nearest rock salt available on your corner store. Common ice melt products and rock salt can become trapped in pets' paws, causing severe irritation and burns. Or, the animals will lick their paws in relief and ingest them, which is even worse and can lead to serious side effects. Even if you have an indoor animal, you'll track some salt in with your shoes in the cold weather. Find out more about choosing safe & pet-friendly ice melt, after the jump!

Get dressed up. Ball drops. Make a list of how to be more awesome in 2014. Did this sound like your December 31st evening? I've (almost) officially given up on New Years resolutions. To be totally honest, I don't know if I keep track of New Years resolutions after January 2nd. Instead, I've moved to throughout-the-year changes. I can even show a few examples to prove it:

Whether you are hosting a festive party over the holidays or offering to clean up after one you attended, there's always the dilemma of dishwasher vs. hand-washing dishes. So which is better for the Earth?

Call me senile, but I was getting a little sentimental. On Sunday, I officially turned 30. "30" wasn't something I had originally feared, but I thought about what this nice, round, even number meant to me. Although I haven't made the 30 under 30 list for Forbes or Inc. magazine, I've learned a few things in my young life that I'll share with you. Read 30 Pieces of Advice from What I've Learned at Age 30, after the jump.

Looking for a unique gift for someone this holiday season? Think Green. But not money. Or 'green' like the environment. Giving a living plant is a great gift to help someone further their gardening, breathe fresh air into their office or home or lift spirits with a mini ecosystem. Have friend with a black thumb? Think low maintenance air plants or terrariums. You can even get craft and make your own succulent terrarium gift.   Readers, what 'green' gifts are you giving?

Although Americans are notoriously lazy, maintaining plants in the house can get difficult. That's why there's a kickstarter created by two UC San Diego Students that is BRILLIANT for those even with a black thumb. EcoQube Aquarium Self Cleaning System EcoQube is a desktop ecosystem that uses plants like Basil, mint and flowers to filter waters for fish. Find out about the EcoQube, after the jump!

Do you feel a shopping hangover between Black Friday and Small Business Saturday? Did you protest all the consumerism of the Holiday season, forfeiting Cyber Monday? There's another day on the horizon aimed to do better for the world. Giving Tuesday, or #GivingTuesday (in 2013 talk) is a day to "give" to nonprofits, designated as the Tuesday following Thanksgiving. According to the official website, it asks for partners to create and commit to a project on #GivingTuesday and spread the word. Here's 6 Ways to Give Back On Giving Tuesday:

We sure do love browsing Instagram for inspiration, cuteness and overall as the alternative to whiny Facebook feeds. And when we start to get a little gloomy about the shorter, colder days of fall - a picture can say 1000 words. Like "there's still hope outside!" Or "Look at the cool things people are doing in Philly." We searched the web to share our favorite Instagram accounts that capture the best of sustainable and healthy living in our city! (And make sure to follow us on Instagram while you're thinking about it.) Find out which are Philly's 10 Best Healthy Living Instagram Accounts, after the jump!