December 2011
94 posts
A True Gift: Holiday Volunteering for Those in...
I can usually describe the holidays in one word: BUSY. With divorced parents and stepfamilies that extend across five states, the holidays turn into marathons of food, forced merriment and kind-of-meaningless gifts. Still, as I’ve gotten older and (questionably) wiser, things seem to have quieted down a little.
This year, we’ll join tens of thousands of people who volunteer to...
Wanna Save Orangutans? Eat Like Them
Empathy is a key component to being human—we see someone else experiencing something and our empathy mirror neurons kick in and, as far as the brain is concerned, we’re experiencing the same thing, too. And it’s even more amplified if the situation is recreated for us, like say, being an orangutan? Singapore chef Andre Chiang wants to make you feel like one of the endangered gentle...
Navy Purchases 450,000 Gallons of Chicken-Fat Fuel...
Making its largest purchase of biofuel in history, the United States military’s Defense Logistics Agency bought 450,000 gallons of fuel made from chicken fat and algae for use in Navy war games, according to officials. http://dlvr.it/10Dsfg
'Superfood Cuisine' Cookbook Makes Superfoods Easy
Julie Morris looks like the kind of person you’d want to ask what her diet secret is. Piercing blue eyes aside, she glows and giggles like she’s tapped into a pretty big secret—and she is: it’s called Superfoods. Author of the stunning cookbook _Superfood Cuisine_, Morris is one of the leading experts on superfoods—both their nutritional and culinary values.
READ THE...
DIY Scents Smell A Lot Like Christmas
Holiday aromas are everywhere we go this season: in department stores, grocery stores, malls and especially craft stores. Pine, ginger, cinnamon, citrus and spice seem to fill the air this time of year, inviting us into that cozy spirit. Unfortunately, it often takes a load of artificial candles, sprays and chemicals to actually produce those intoxicating aromas. Instead, recreate holiday...
Boost Your Energy Levels AND Get Healthier at the...
If there’s one thing most of us can agree on it’s that we could all use a bit more energy these days. Regardless of where we find ourselves in the ol’ lifecycle, and no matter how healthy or active we tend to be, the world is moving fast, and keeping up can be, well, exhausting. Needing an energy boost doesn’t mean there’s necessarily any serious health issue,...
Say Cheese: Study Finds Eating Cheese May be...
A new study published in the recent issue of the_ American Journal of Clinical Nutrition_ found that consuming cheese did not increase LDL cholesterol levels and may even lower them compared with butter consumption. http://dlvr.it/104gt4
Party, Please! Vegan 'Sausage' Stuffed Mushrooms
There’s something inherently awesome about stuffing food into other food. Maybe we started doing it back in our hunter-gatherer days when the pickings were slim, or perhaps it just developed as a tool in doubling our yumm. But whatever the reason, it certainly works. The mushroom certainly was born to be stuffed. It takes entertaining up an _ooh-aah_ notch even though - just between us -...
6 Fun Holiday Stress Busters You've Yet to Try
Does the holiday hassle have you reaching for another glass of wine, smearing chocolate on your celery or muttering a mantra through clenched teeth? The season of Santa doesn’t have to be a painful – try these fun holiday stress busters that are guaranteed to give you greater perspective, a moment of peace or a belly full of laughs.
READ THE REST… http://dlvr.it/104gsx
Sweater Shmeater! 9 FUN Ways to Keep Warm this...
Does anyone really love winter? Oh sure, you skiers might rejoice over the first powder as it prowls down to Earth, but what about when it’s negative 10 degrees Fahrenheit on a Monday morning and your car is iced up? And little else can rival the aggravation of a drafty house that’s supposed to protect us from the elements. Enough with the Snuggies and leg warmers… isn’t there...
Organic Authority's Conscious Gift Guide
Don’t fret if you missed Organic Authority’s Green-is-the-new-Black-Friday deals! We know you’re going to love our latest Conscious Gift Guide recommendations for everyone on your holiday list. Whether shopping for someone else or for yourself, there’s something for everyone to stay healthy and happy well into the New Year while decreasing your impact on the planet, too....
McDonald’s Finds Loophole in SF’s Efforts to...
Don’t ever say that clowns aren’t clever. After San Francisco passed a ban aimed to prevent McDonald’s and other fast-food chains from giving toys away with kids’ meals that do not meet the city’s nutritional standards, the chain has simply started charging a nominal fee for them instead. http://dlvr.it/zyGYX
5 Homemade Christmas Stocking Projects, Recycled...
This holiday season, are you hanging your stockings from the chimney with care? If you’re making your own stockings from recycled materials, you sure are! Get crafty with Santa this year, and surprise him with a chimney lined with handmade stockings you created yourself—and all with recycled materials from your household. Here are five fabulous tutorials for DIY stockings made from recycled...
Do It Yourself: Yogurt
Yogurt has quickly made its way to the top with regards to trendy, healthy foods. With dozens of varieties — Greek style, drinkable, soy — and an endless list of flavors, from strawberry and lemon to key lime pie, yogurt is a mainstay in the hearts and refrigerators of many Americans. As a snack or an ingredient, yogurt is a must-have… but you can save both time and money by...
M&M or GMO? Mars Aims to Genetically Modified 70...
The Mars chocolate company has funded research aiming to genetically modify as much as 70 percent of the global cocoa supply, according to the Cacao Genome Database website. http://dlvr.it/zr50k
On or Off? Shoes at The Front Door
Ready or not, the holiday season is here. And if you plan to host get-togethers and parties this season that means a lot of dirty shoes traipsing through your house. What’s a germ-a-phobe to do?
You could ask guests to remove their shoes at the front door. But… is that polite? This classic etiquette question can raise some seriously heated debate in the footwear (or lack there of)...
7 Ultra Chic DIY Holiday Wreaths
This holiday season, decorate your house in a handmade wreath that’s all-natural. You can make these with found, foraged and farmed items around town—talk about decking the halls with sustainable spirit! Here are our top seven picks for DIY all-natural holiday wreaths.
READ THE REST… http://dlvr.it/zr4zd
Folk Medicine Gets A Bump from Science: 3 Plants...
New research coming out of London’s Kingston University and published in a recent issue of the Journal of Inflammation points to a number of health benefits in using folkloric remedies including witch hazel, rose and white tea. http://dlvr.it/zmln9
Go Bananas for This DIY Facial
During the winter most of your skin can hibernate from the harsh, cold air by hiding under layers of clothes, scarves, mittens and hats. But unless you think you can pull off the robber-chic look with a full-face mask, the delicate skin on your face usually takes the full damaging effects of bitter winds, stabbing cold temperatures, and dried out air.
READ THE REST…...
How to Get Through Your First DIY Holiday Gifting...
Get creative this holiday season with homemade gifts that utilize the best of recycled, refurbished and refound items. It’s not only an economical way to spread your Christmas cheer to more people, it’s also a way to give personalized touches for each and every person on your list. Embrace your inner “Martha” this year by getting crafty with your gifts—all done with a green thumb. Here’s our...
