Lifestyle

America Recycles Day is today. Woo, recycling. Recycling is something that was emphasized to me since I was a wee little lady. Let me state for the record: I recycle every product I can and keep waste out of the landfills. But is recognizing America Recycles Day really a celebration and motivator to Americans? Does it further the green 'exhaust' problem? Or is there a dark, greenwashing secret lurking behind that recycle symbol?

We’ve already reviewed how to green your cat adoption and given our feline a chance to chat about his sustainable lifestyle, but what can those with canines do? My good friend Maria has an adorable dog, Baxter. Today, we’ll address how to green your dog to help Maria and Baxter become as sustainable as possible. From the moment you bring home your pup until their old years, here's 8 ways to green your dog:

Whether you're a jewelry whore or you only don an everyday watch you (or your significant other or whoever) probably spent some hard-earned cash on these pieces. Naturally, you want to keep them looking nice and shiny! The majority of jewelry cleaners are filled with harsh chemicals. I found that using household products can be just as effective, and a lot greener. To clean your jewels mix one cup of warm water (not too hot) with 1 tablespoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of baking soda in a bowl and let jewelry sit (one piece at a time) for about 10 minutes. Voila - shine and sparkle restored! As an aside - I once worked in an office where the engaged girls would bring in their toxic jewelry cleaner every Friday and take turns cleaning their engagement rings while talking loudly about their weddings. Um yeah, this made the single girls and dudes) pretty annoyed. Heads up: clean your jewels at home ladies, not the office please ;)   

My favorite part of autumn CSA shares are all the squashes & pumpkins that are abundant. Besides amazing recipes like butternut squash risotto & gnocchi, soups and delish gourds, there's another hidden gem to savor: the seeds. It's so simple to make! Find out how, after the jump.

Happy Halloween from Green Philly Blog and our mascot, Pounce DeLeon.

Hey there, readers! I went to Nashville this past weekend to learn some awesome digital marketing "stuff" at Keen Digital Summit, created by one of my fav bloggers Kristin Luna. Between eating local, trying out the bike share & learning, I didn't have a chance to blog some more awesome green advice. We'll be back tomorrow, and coming soon to the blog: a trial in bike sharing in other cities, which is a preview for Philly! ;-) See ya soon!

Halloween is right around the corner, where most of the population loads up on the dangerous high-fructose corn syrup & sugar-filled candy treats. What can you give out to the neighborhood kids instead of original candy? Here's a few suggestions:

I'm just a little bit addicted to music festivals. My idea of a perfect day is one filled with live music, yummy (preferably local) food, perhaps some cocktails, a few friends and sunshine. From Lollapalooza to Bonnaroo to Firefly, GPB sure knows how to catch the best music festivals out there. Know what will make an eco conscious gal in a blissed-out festival mood feel even better? When she notices all of the green measures being taken to help make the event sustainable.  Last weekend at weekend two of Austin City Limits music festival, I took note. Austin City Limits 2013 Greening Efforts:

Trying to limit the disposables is an easy thing to get into the habit. We've already mentioned how to stash a BYO cutlery in your purse or on the go. Bring in a reusable 'set' for the office: Silverware (knife, spoon, fork), coffee mug & a small dish or bowl in case you need to heat up your lunch. It also comes in handy for the day your office or fav vendor drops off a lunch to enjoy. Readers, do you stash an office eatery set? Any other tricks you have?