Lifestyle

Let's face it - America is a disposable society. But there's one mantra I have when shopping - whether it's key pieces in my wardrobe, shoes, kitchenware or a suitcase:

With twenty days left til Christmas it’s time to get your green gift shopping on! Don’t stress, friends, we have your guide to affordable, eco-friendly items for everyone on your list. Fashionistas: For the fashionable lady who likes to be sustainable while looking cute gift the Jous Jous Eco Friendly Handmade Earring. I love all the colors, but especially the red and green. (See these beauties on the right.) Kids : The tots in your life will have fun with this Green Toys Recycling Truck. And, their parents will be grateful you didn’t gift them something toxic or noisy. Click through for more recommendations!

No one needs a cold slowing them down this busy holiday season. Let's be real - as much fun as the holidays are they can also be a stressful time. And, stress weakens our body's defenses leaving us more susceptible to getting sick. So, how can you boost your immune system naturally this winter? It's one of those solutions that's so simple it's almost stupid. Amp up your vitamin C intake, peeps! And, as with most things in life (with the potential exception of hair color and milk) natural is better. Airborne and emergen-c are great (I turn to them in times of real need - like when traveling. ) However, why use a packaged powder when you can actually gobble down the real stuff?

We received an invite to review Washy Wonder, a tool to "encourage reuse" and be greener. Besides the fact that I keep mixing up the brand name for a place in Chinatown that ends with a "happy ending", this product appalls me. The Washy Wonder is made by polypropylene, or #5 plastics. The point of this "tool" is to wash plastic bags up to 25 to 30 times to save them from the landfill. Let's break this down.

Let's not let Black Friday get all the glory this year. Saturday, November 24th is Small Business Saturday 2012. Celebrate by hitting up local boutiques, vintage shops, independent coffee shops, farmers markets and the like! According to the National Federation of Independent Businesses Small Business Saturday is the most important shopping day for 36% of independent retailers. Using our wallets to show support for local companies will help these businesses grow - in turn fostering the economy. So skip out on Starbucks and Target for a day or two and throw your dollars to the little guys. Philadelphia offers an abundance of options - like Arcadia boutique and One Shot Coffee in Northern Liberties, for example. Readers, any Small Business Saturday 2012 spots you plan on hitting up?

Black Friday is here! Don't feel like dealing with those lines and craziness? Stay cozy on your couch & shop for everyone on your list! Here's 10 of my recommendations that you can purchase online for Black Friday:

Love it or hate it: We're about to be in the chaotic holiday season. The 4th 'R' of achieving green-ness is the one not often discussed: Refuse it. (Find out more, after the jump!)

In the wake of the election there's more to discuss than the presidential race and the party's winners and losers. Though it wasn't on my ballot one thing on my mind this past week has been California's decision to veto Prop 37, the labeling of genetically modified food. These results prompt me to ask the ever articulate question ... huh? Proposition 37, dubbed The California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act would have required food companies, grocers and retailers to label products with genetically modified ingredients as such. This means consumers could pick up any item on their grocer's shelves and make a more informed buying decision.

Do you strip off your clothes before bedtime and throw them straight in the laundry basket? There's a better way to be sustainable with your laundry care. Here's a hint: