Living Green

The Best Green Thanksgiving Ideas From Around The Web

2009-11-17T13:08:07Z

Can you believe Thanksgiving is just 10 days away?

Luckily for you, it's not too late to make sure that Thanksgiving at your house is as green as it can be.

We've already talked about 12 easy ways to green your Thanksgiving, but check out these other ideas from around the web. I guarantee that you'll find an idea you haven't thought of yet.

]]> The 1st step to having a greener Thanksgiving is to remember what it is we're celebrating. Greenzer reminds us that those first Thanksgivings weren't about the pilgrims celebrating their abundance and bountiful harvest, it was about being thankful for the little that they actually had.

That may ring truer this year than others in the recent past for many people.

The Daily Green

Our friends at the Daily Green have a great collection of green Thanksgiving ideas. Whether you're looking for 9 vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes or why you should be drinking organic wine, they've got you covered...as always.

Earth 911's 8 Green Thanksgiving Tips

Earth911 has some wonderful ways to green your Thanksgiving this year as well. Something unique you'll find there is how to execute efficient "crowd control" and not waste pounds and pounds of food. Check it out:

"At least 28 billion pounds of edible food is wasted each year – more than 100 pounds per person. One of the best ways to reduce your waste this Thanksgiving is to plan ahead for the meal and practicing portion control.

Use Less Stuff created a handy list of approximate per person food and drink portions:

Turkey- 1 pound

Stuffing- ¼ pound

Sweet potato casserole- ¼ pound

Green beans- ¼ pound

Cranberry relish- 3 tablespoons

Pumpkin pie- 1/8 of a 9 inch pie

After the meal, evaluate how many people were present and how much of each dish was consumed. By keeping track each year, you can make a more efficient, less wasteful Thanksgiving meal in the future."

That's a great tip right there!

Save money at Farmer's Markets

Planet Green, as always, has one of the most conclusive guides to greening your Thanksgiving.

They recommend shopping for your non-perishables and staple items at your local Farmer's Market about a week in advance:

"Thanksgiving is a wonderful opportunity to hit up your local farmers' market for organic, locally-sourced produce. Since these traditional recipes typically rely on food that's in season, you can pretty much find everything you need in the way of root vegetables (carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams) as well as specialty items like honey or even beeswax candles to adorn your table."

Go on, mozy on down to your farmer's market. You're going to find the quality much better and prices MUCH lower than your grocery store.

You may even consider sourcing everything in your Thanksgiving meal within 100 miles of your home.

Plan your leftovers

The Alternative Consumer has one of my favorite green Thanksgiving guides this year. I like their suggestion for planning to take home leftovers:

"Avoid plastic wrap. Most plastic wraps contain PVC which quickly winds up in landfills and has been linked to harmful environmental consequences. Use aluminum foil or, even better, send family home with glass or ceramic storage containers that they can return to you after. (The really conscientious may bring their own reusable leftover container, just in case"

Nice! I like the idea of bringing your own reusable leftover containers. If you're the one hosting Thanksgiving this year, why not encourage your friends and family to bring some dishes or containers to tote home the yummy leftovers?

What are some of your favorite ways to green Thanksgiving this year?

Captain Planet Returns To Give the UN What They Probably Deserve

2009-11-13T13:29:17Z

What would happen if the long-absent Captain Planet showed up at the Climate Change Conference in in Copenhagen?

I grew up on Captain Planet and the Planeteers. They were encouraging better uses of our resources way before it was popular to be talking about it.

Check out this hilarious video and see where Captain Planet has been all these years:

]]> Even if you have heard of the Climate Change Conference, it's likely that it still remains rather nebulous for you.

So what exactly is it and what's at stake there?

Our friends at The Daily Green have a VERY helpful run down of what to expect (and hope for) from Copenhagen in December.

From the article:

"Climate experts, scientists and negotiators say that, absent international agreement, the children and grandchildren of those living today will negotiate a world where planetary geo-engineering is a part of daily life, sea-walls defend coastal cities, the world's poor are hammered by drought, floods and famine and our planet is heading toward conditions unseen for the last 100 million years.

The December talks are, in other words, the last, best chance to change course before chaos descends.

...

The diplomatic gathering, from Dec. 7 to 18, has one goal: create an "ambitious global agreement incorporating all the countries of the world" to succeed the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012. It will be the 16th in a line of negotiations extending back 20 years, some more successful than others, all aimed at curbing humanity's appetite for fossil fuel."

So what do you think? Can the UN finally make some headway in global climate policy, or should Captain Planet show up and nuke them all?

[via Ecorazzi]

Does LEED Certification and Optional VIP Seating Make Movie Going Better?

2009-11-11T10:09:11Z

Would uber green features and LEED certification really encourage people to choose the new Majestic 12 movie theater over another one?

One thing is for sure, if the eco-friendliness didn't do the trick, the VIP seating sure would!

Check out some of the 1st impressions people had about this new (and only) LEED registered theater:

Want to see the 21+ VIP theater in action? Don't miss the video after the jump...

]]> As you can see from the responses we caught at the fund raising gala the night before the grand opening, few people seem to know what LEED actually is...but they know it has something to do with living green.

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is a third party certification system that measures the eco-friendliness of a home or commercial development.

Check out our interview with Dale Hurst, Director of Marketing for Carmike Cinemas, and Jeff Pfitzer, Director of Special Projects at River City Company, for even more info about just how eco-friendly the Majestic 12 really is.

But for now, on to the VIP theater...

As you can see, there are several cool features to the VIP theater...the most notable being that they serve alcohol! For that reason, you must be 21 or older to even gain access to the VIP theater.

I love that the Majestic 12 didn't go crazy on the VIP ticket prices either. The price for adult admission in the evening is $15 ($5.50 more than general admission). If you'd rather catch a matinee, the VIP ticket will only cost you $10 ($3 more than general admission matinee).

Apparently the Majestic 12 didn't want to break your pocket book before you even nestled down into the over-sized reclining chairs, equipped with call button for a personal wait staff.

So here's the question: Would the eco-friendliness or the VIP option make you choose this theater over another one if you lived in Chattanooga, TN?

The US's 1st LEED Registered Movie Theater Now Open, and We Were There

2009-11-10T17:19:54Z

It's official, the Majestic 12--which is the 1st LEED registered movie theater in the country--is open for business...and in the small town of Chattanooga, TN.

I was down in Chattanooga for the non-profit gala the night before the grand opening and was able to catch up with the brains behind the project.

Check out this interview with Dale Hurst, Director of Marketing for Carmike Cinemas, and Jeff Pfitzer, Director of Special Projects for River City Company (who are the developers of the theater).

They answer all kinds of questions from, "what the crap is LEED and why does it matter?" to "Why Chattanooga for the 1st LEED registered movie theater in the country?". Good stuff.

]]> The biggest question surrounding the opening of this 12-plex has most definitely been, "...but why Chattanooga?".

If you've ever been to Chattanooga, you'd understand. It's one of the most progressive cities in the south. It's gone through a drastic re-invention over the last 15 years and is now an outdoor mecca filled with beautiful parks, surrounded by mountains, designed to mike biking an easy way to get around, free electric shuttle service downtown, and oh-so-much more!

The theater is LEED registered and will soon receive its anticipated LEED Gold certification (.pdf)...but what is LEED and why does it matter? Jeff Pfitzer gives a GREAT answer in the above video, so check it out.

As our friends at Ecorazzi reported late last month,

"The Carmike Majestic’s green credentials also include use of recycled construction materials, roof-mounted solar energy panels, energy efficient light and water recycling for landscaping and restrooms and a low-pollutant maintenance program."

Check out the video above to see Jeff Pfitzer and Dale Hurst get even further into what makes the Carmike Majestic 12 so eco-friendly...some of the features are obvious, and some are not.

You can also check out Chattanooga Has Fun's video of the ribbon cutting last Friday.

Ticket prices will be pretty standard:

Matinee: $7
Evening, Adult: $9.50
Evening, Child: $7
Super Bargain: $6
VIP, Evening: $15
VIP, Matinee: $10

Stay tuned to our next post that will show you inside the Majestic 12's VIP club and initial reactions by some of the gala goers.

Make Your Own PC or Server From an Empty Whiskey Bottle

2009-11-04T18:44:52Z

"The fun doesn't end when the whiskey runs dry," is what my old pappy used to tell me.

Ok, so I don't really have an old pappy, but does that make the statement any less true?

Nope.

We've already shown you 4 awesome DIY ideas for empty wine bottles, but take a look at this project that will help you conceal a home server or PC in an empty whiskey bottle!

]]> For me, one of the most fun and rewarding ways to live greener is to repurpose something. I love finding ways to reuse items and give them a new life as something else.

Always keep in mind the 3 R's: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle...and in that order.

For this crafty DIY project, Jason Marton of MetkuMods shows how he used an empty whiskey bottle to make a home server or PC blend in with your dry bar...but of course you could just tackle this project yourself because of the 100's of cool points you'll earn from your friends.

Check out Jason's post to find out how to put it all together, but as for the materials, he used:

1.5 liter Ballantine's bottle

3.5" SBC board

Intel P3 733EB processor

256MB notebook RAM

40GB notebook HDD

60W mini-ITX PSU

44 pin mini-IDE cable

The cool thing about making your own PC or server is that you can include any ports, hardware, or connectors that you need. It's the ultimate must-make DIY project for the techy crowd.

Would you consider making your own computer or server from an empty whiskey (or other alcohol of your choice) bottle? If not, how about volunteering to empty the bottles for your friends who want to tackle this project?

Yeah, that's what I though...

[via LifeHacker]

Schwarzenegger Drops the Eff Bomb In A Secret Code To Cali Legislature

2009-10-30T17:45:27Z

Arnold Schwarzenegger has been imposing his will all over the California legislature. Check out this letter where he said, "eff you", to the state assembly in secret code.

Read on for the rest of the story...

]]> Ok, so the Governator probably didn't send that code on purpose, but just like Ecorazzi, I think it's still pretty funny.

Oh and just in case you were wondering, yes, this is a real letter that Arnold actually did send. My friend Shea Gunther of MNN says,

"The Governator sent a shock wave of amused incredulity through the news cycle yesterday with a note he wrote explaining his veto on a fairly non-controversial bill affecting local financing issues in San Francisco."

So what other not-so-funny shadiness has the tree trunkenator been up to? He by-passed all kinds of inspections and red tape to close a deal that would bring a new NFL stadium to southern California...to a community that doesn't even want it!

Hmmm, seems like something smells rotten in the state of California. Maybe it's no wonder that California's finances are on the verge of implosion.

At any rate, enjoy the Governator's big "oops" from above and have a safe and happy halloween!

5 Great Recycling Bins To Make Living Green Easier

2009-10-27T16:26:26Z

"Recycle or die, bitch!"

That's the sticker that a guy I used to be acquainted with had stuck on his trash can.

It was there not only as an ever-so-subtle instruction to his guests, but also as a reminder to himself.

So why don't many of us recycle?

Simple, it's the same reason we don't make lots of simple changes that will help us live greener...it's not convenient.

Let's be honest, you'd have to be incredibly passionate about something to let it inspire you to go out of your way in an age where everyone is already over-scheduled.

Even though recycling is incredibly important (but it shouldn't be confused with foreplay), few of us would consider ourselves so passionate about it.

Well check out these 5 awesome recycling bin systems that may just help recycling fit right into your daily routine.

]]> #1: The Best Stackable Bins. Period. (pictured above)

These are about the best all around recycling bins that I think you can buy. You can order the set of 3 18 gallon bins from Home Depot for $29.98 + shipping.

Features:

Stack neatly with or without the lids

Easy access front flap lid, stays open when desired

Easy to clean, just rinse with mild soap and water

Each unit size is: 24'' wide x 18.25'' deep x 17'' high

Some good friends of mine actually have this set. They actually say that no matter how much stuff, including glass, you put in the bins they just never seem to feel heavy. They also have great handle grips in various places around the bin the angled lip makes it easy to dump them into the big bins at the recycling center.

#2: Folding Recycling Bags

These next bins aren't bins at all, they're bags. This set of 3 industrial strength bags for $16 from Gaiam are the system that I employ at my house.

Features:

Waterproof

Color and graphics coded

Veclro tabs keep bags in a nice and neat row

Can be expanded by purchasing additional single bags for $6 each

Each bag measures 12'' wide x 12'' deep x 18'' high

#3: DIY Under Counter Recycling Bins

This is a simple and space saving recycling system from the incredible Michelle Kaufmann. You can set up this system with any containers of your choice and use Michelle's print out sorting graphics and video instructions to get it just right

#4: Stylish and Modern Recycling Bins

This recycling system from Target can be yours for $89.99. If you don't have a garage or outdoor space to put larger bins like the ones featured above, this may be a good option. It's aesthetically pleasing enough for any decor and you wouldn't mind leaving it sitting out beside your trash can in your kitchen.

Features:

Keep Kitchen Trash Tidy with this Step-Bullet Recycling Sorter

Includes Color Sticker Pad, Pull-Out Inner Bins

Ideal for Composting Vegetables, Fruit, and Garden Waste

Made of Stainless Steel

Pop-Up Lid

Pedal-Operated Opening

Integrated Handle

Easy to Clean

Rectangle Shape

24'' x 13'' x 19"

#5: Stackable OR Under Counter Bins With a Slim Profile

Like the one from Target, these recycling bins from Taylor Gifts are a little on the pricey side. They retail for $39.98 EACH. If you find yourself needing to fit your recycling system into a seriosly small space, that price may be worth it.

Features:

2 deposit options: small circular opening or top ild

Color-coded dial to label each bins' contents

Fits beneath most counter tops

17.5'' x 10.25'' x 18.5''

If you don't currently have a recycling system in place, which one of these options would work best for you and why?

If you do already have a system that works, would you care to share the details of your set up in the comments?

Is The Planet Fighting Against Our Fight Against Climate Change?

2009-10-26T16:39:49Z

Is the planet fighting against our fight to save it?

The Daily Show's Aasif Mandvi finds out the hard way that this just might be the case.

Doing what The Daily Show does so well, this video educates about climate change, but manages to entertain as well.

Do yourself a favor and watch this hilarious video. It reminds me a lot of a famous George Carlin bit.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Our Dead Planet

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Health Care Crisis

Source: Ecorazzi

Make Your Own Swine Flu Vaccine...It's Not Any More Toxic Than The Real One

2009-10-23T16:43:51Z

Who wants to go stand in line and wait for their swine flu vaccine? The toxic ingredients you need to make your own are easy attainable for just about anyone.

Here's how to make it:

]]> What an eye opener eh?

Want to discover another little gem of information? Just about the only thing that differs between the swine flue vaccine and any other vaccine is the virus it contains. Yikes.

That makes you wonder about all of those vaccines that children are required to get before they can go to school, doesn't it?

So what are some more of the dangerous ingredients that are used in the swine flu? The Associated Content drops a new one on us,

The worst of the Swine Flu Vaccine ingredients is Squalene was also known as Fruends Adjuvant, and when it was first discovered and tested on animals, it was found to be a devastating adjuvant. It was then declared unsafe for injection into humans and was banned until Desert Storm. According to statistics, some 25% of those who received the vaccine containing Squalene developed Desert Storm Syndrome, which is a serious and severe autoimmune disorder.

One of the best articles I've found on the swine flu vaccine ingredients is from Remixx World. This post is updated constantly with new information and new findings as they are discovered...and not just for the h1n1 vaccine in the US, but the UK's and Canda's vaccines as well.

So what do you think? Have you already gotten the swine flu vaccine or do you plan to? Does this information change your mind at all?

If you're looking for natural alternatives to the swine flu vaccine, you can always let Mother Nature kick the swine flu in the ass with the flora filled face mask.

Fun and Simple DIY Diffused Party Light Project

2009-10-22T16:34:56Z

So you're throwing a party or hunting for last second Halloween decorations and you realize that your venue looks a little drab.

What do you do?

Grab an old string of Christmas lights and a package of ping-pong balls and make some incredibly awesome diffused party lights!

]]> It's no secret that we have a serious obsession with simple and creative lighting ideas. Some of the best lighting ideas we've ever talked about are:

$2 LED Shoji Lanterns

Reusing wine bottles to make tiki torches or twinkle lamps

Make your own SunJar for $11

Of course we've talked about lots of other DIY lighting ideas, but those are just some of our favorites. One more thing is also for sure, that this DIY diffused party light Instructable that came to us via LifeHacker is soon to appear on that list!

What you'll need for this project:

A string of Christmas lights
A ping-pong ball for each light on the string
Drill and drill bit
Hot glue and glue gun
C-clamp, vice grip, adjustable wrench, bench vice, or some other device suitable for holding onto the ping-pong balls while drilling

Hit up the actual Instructable for detailed tips and instructions, but it's really as simple as drilling a hole in the ping-pong balls and then hot gluing them onto the individual lights.

It's obviously great to reuse some old Christmas lights you have lying around for this project, but if you want to make it even greener and more energy efficient, snag some LED Christmas lights instead.

Using LED Christmas lights will also be safer since they give off almost no heat. I've go to wonder if regular old incandescent mini lights are going to give off enough heat to melt the ping-pong balls after a while.

How to Find LED Christmas Lights for Cheap

If you purchase your LED Christmas lights from a box store or online retailer like HolidayLEDs.com or LEDChristmasLights.com, you're going to spend around $20 for a string of 50 mini lights.

Instead, you can consistently find twice the LED mini lights for half the price on eBay. As a matter of fact, I just saw a string of 100 multi-color LED mini lights for a Buy-It-Now price of $9.99 with free shipping. Just go to eBay and search for "LED Christmas Lights".

So there you go, a great energy efficient DIY project and a money saving tip all rolled into one...and just for you!

What's a fun DIY lighting tip that you've found?

9 Creative Pumpkin Recipes For Fall Festivities

2009-10-20T18:10:36Z

Looking for a fun and creative pumpkin recipe to enjoy with the cool fall weather and the changing color of the leaves? Me too!

Of course you have the quintessential pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread recipes, but those get tired and old after a couple of times. Try some of these creative pumpkin recipes to switch it up a little bit this fall...

]]> The great thing about many pumpkin recipes is that if they're not already vegetarian (and many times, vegan) friendly, they're easy to convert.

The only ingredient you're likely to see that would disrupt the vegetarian qualification of a pumpkin recipe is good ole' butter. The easy fix for that is to substitute Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Sticks.

Boom. Problem solved. Keep on cooking...

Now for the recipes...

BPA-free pumpkin pie

I know, I know, I said that we weren't going to use the tired old pumpkin pie recipe...But this isn't your standard recipe. This one isn't going to give you cancer. Mother Nature Network says,

Since the hormone-disrupting chemical known as BPA is found in nearly all canned food in the US, skip the canned ingredients this holiday season and use these eco-friendly alternatives. For Thanksgiving, we made this recipe from Diamond Organics, substituting fresh, homemade pumpkin puree for canned.

Check out MNN's article for a great idea on how to get around the ever-nasty canned evaporated milk too.

Mocha pumpkin cheesecake

This one comes via my friends at The Daily Green. Check out their post for all the detailed how-to, but here's what you'll need:

5 tablespoons butter, divided
1 1/2 cups finely crushed chocolate graham crackers
3 tablespoons finely ground coffee beans
3 packages (8 ounces each) Neufchatel or Cream Cheese, softened
1 cup organic sugar
5 large organic eggs
2 cups cooked pumpkin puree or 1 can (16 ounces) solid pack pumpkin
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted
4 tablespoons hot strong coffee
chocolate-covered coffee beans or chocolate-covered raisins

Once again (and henceforth), substitute the Earth Balance Vegan Butter Sticks for the butter and this recipe will be much better for you too.

Ridiculously good pumpkin spice cookies

This one comes from the ever awesome Derek Markham and his blog Natural Papa.

1 cup cooked pumpkin (cut in half, scoop out seeds, place cut side down on baking sheet and bake at 350 until soft. Peel and mash or blend the pumpkin.)
1/2 cup coconut oil (or butter, or even olive oil)
3/4 cup unrefined sugar (or maple syrup or honey)
Egg replacement equivalent for 2 eggs
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

When you head over to Derek's post for the more detailed instructions and variation ideas, be sure to thank him...he's been experimenting with this recipe for years to get it just right! Thanks for sharing it with us Derek!

Pumpkin seed brittle

We're going back to The Daily Green for another great pumpkin recipe with this one. Here's what you'll need:

7 1/4 ounces hulled pumpkin seeds (these are the green ones)
1 teaspoon vegetable oil, plus additional for coating spatula
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 pound 6 ounces granulated sugar
12 ounces water
2 teaspoons kosher salt

Once again, hit The Daily Green's post for the detailed preparation instructions.

Pumpkin patch pancakes

Who says that scrumptious desserts should get all of the pumpkin fun? The World Wildlife Federation has a great recipe for pumpkin patch pancakes to share! Check it out:

2 cups flour
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup canned pumpkin (editor's note: or the pumpkin puree we talked about above)
1 3/4 cups milk or soy milk
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
nonstick cooking spray
whipped cream or whipped topping substitute

Thanks WWF! This is a great recipe! Yummmm.

Spicy Santa Fe pumpkin chowder

This unique pumpkin recipe idea comes from the ultimate eco-chick, Starre Vartan, at Greenopia.

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon red curry paste
1 15-oz can pumpkin (or squash--or homemade pumpkin puree)
1 15-oz can
Muir Glen Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes with Green Chiles
1 heaping cup roasted corn kernels
1/2 cup Frontera Jalapeno- Cilantro Salsa
1 cup light broth
1 14-oz. can coconut milk
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Chopped cilantro, to taste- dried or fresh
1 teaspoon raw agave nectar
Juice from 1 fresh lime

At Greenopia's article, you won't only find the more detailed directions, you'll find 2 more creative pumpkin recipes: Pepita fettucini with spinach and cranberries & Pumpkin bread pudding. Don't miss out on those!

Roasted pumpkin seeds

We're going back to Mother Nature Network one more time to find out how to turn the seeds from your jack-o-lantern into a toasty treat!

Separate the pumpkin seeds from the pulp while it’s all still wet. Once the pulp and the seeds dry, it’s more difficult to separate them.

Rinse the pumpkin seeds under cold water to remove any remaining pulp stuck to them.

Toss the seeds in a small amount of olive oil or other healthy oil (like canola).

Sprinkle with salt or other seasonings (see suggestions below).

Bake at 325°F for 25 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes or so.

Allow to cool. Store in an airtight container.

Seasoning suggestions:

1/4 tsp salt, 1/16 tsp garlic salt, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce for each cup of seeds
1 tablespoon of seafood season (like Old Bay) for each cup of seeds
1/8 cup sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper for each cup of seeds
Tabasco sauce and salt – adjust to your taste
Italian seasonings, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper – adjust to your taste
Pumpkin pie seasoning – adjust to your taste

Pumpkin ravioli with broth and beans

One of my favorite food and recipes blog, Herbivoracious, came up with this one:

1 sugar pumpkin, about 3 pounds, halved, seeds and pulp removed
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 small white onion, finely diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon chili flakes
3 leaves fresh sage, chiffonade or 1 teaspoon dried
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup grated parmesan or romano cheese
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
2 eggs, beaten
salt to taste
optional: a bit of cinnamon, clove, or smoked paprika

I love how detailed all of their recipes and instructions are at Herbavoracious. Check out their post on this one for all the details.

Chocolate chip pumpkin muffins

Why is there no link for this recipe? Because it's coming right out of my wife's cookbook. It's SOOOO complicated. Are you ready?

1 bag of dark chocolate chips
1 box of spice cake mix
1 can small can of pumpkin or homemade pumpkin puree

See, I warned you...VERY complicated!

Combine all of the ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix together until they form a thick batter type substance (which will be until you can no longer see any of the spice cake mix in powder form).

Spoon out the batter into muffin tins and bake in the oven for 12 minutes at 350 degrees.

So there you have it. 9 of the best and most creative pumpkin recipes in existence. Which ones are your favorite? Do you have a unique pumpkin recipe of your own? If so please share in the comments...because now we're all hungry!

Death To The [Really Cute] Water Wasting Cats!

2009-10-16T16:31:26Z

I'm pretty positive that cats are the spawn of all evil, and those dirty little buggers are even horrendous water wasters too...just take a look at this:

See, all of that water wasted just to get a drink. It's a cat conspiracy I'm telling you! Just wait, once they use up the fresh water supply and evolution brings them opposable thumbs, they're going to take over the world.

Just kidding (but not about hating cats).

This video is from Jason Mraz's blog and he actually has some pretty cool perspectives on water conservation. Read on to check them out.

]]> First let me back off of all the little water wasting kitties...evil as they may be...because as I've confessed in the past, I have a bad habit of water wasting myself.

If you struggle with wasting water too, there's a cheap little gizmo called the Instant-Off Water Saver that can help you drastically reduce your water wastings. Check it out!

Back to Jason Mraz...

What's one of Jason's favorite tips for saving water? Buy local and organically grown produce. Huh? I thought we were talking about water?

We are. Jason says,

"Not buying organic means you’re adding more pollutants to the water, and putting more toxicity in the air.

I am present to the debate about how certain organics have to be flown-in from around the world. (Most food travels an average of 1300 miles from farm to plate – which is why buying local is highly recommended.) If we keep requesting untainted food, the demand for organics WILL increase, inspiring more and more local produce companies to offer natural food."

He also goes on to talk about bottled water:

"Also, when you absolutely HAVE to buy water, please choose brands that are closest to your home. There is no way that water from Fiji is going to improve your sex life. Get it from the tap, or get it local. Click here to learn about & locate your watershed and see how land activity affects your personal water supply."

Like Jason, we're going to suggest that when drinking from your filtered faucet at home, try not to use 9 gallons of water per drink...like the kitty above. I don't care how cute he is.

What's the easiest way you've found to save on your water usage?

Fighting Climate Change Takes People Change...and More Giant Piano Stairs

2009-10-15T14:24:55Z

We don't really get into the weighty climate change discussion that often around here...nor are we going to today. But since it is Blog Action Day, we will say that one thing is for sure: to stop and reverse climate change, we are going to need people change.

One creative and fun way that Volkswagon's "Fun Theory" initiative is helping people make better choices is to make it fun...hence the name.

They turned a Stockholm staircase into a giant piano and 66% more people took the stairs instead of the adjacent escalator. Check it out:

Who knows, if more staircases were like this, maybe we wouldn't even need escalators and the power that they consume. I'm sure those piano key stairs draw some power, but not nearly what that moving escalator does!

Even if you can't find any stairs turned musical instruments today, do one simple thing and ditch the elevator or escalator and take the stairs. You may even think of some ways to make a regular old staircase more fun. You never know!

4 Sexy DIY Halloween Costumes for Girls

2009-10-14T13:51:19Z

Sure, sure, making awesome Halloween costumes from things you already have around the house is great, but what does Halloween really translate to for us men folk?

Sexy girls in naughty costumes!

Luckily both for the girls who are looking for the perfect adult Halloween costume and for the men who like to oogle them, I'm bringing you 4 of the best sexy DIY Halloween costumes I could find...and the how-to for making them!

]]> From what I hear, being seen in the same exact Halloween costume is as bad as showing up to a cocktail party or formal event and having on the same dress as another woman. Gasp!

By making your own sexy Halloween costume, you're guaranteed to avoid this life-ending scenario. You can make your costume even more unique by putting your own personal spin on any of these ideas!

The 4 Sexiest DIY Halloween Costumes A Girl Could Want

#1: Sexy Pirate Girl Costume

This awesome DIY costume idea comes from Threadbanger. All you need is:

an old pair of leather pants
a button down shirt
a roll of ribbon
a rotary cutter
some dental floss
a leather needle
your sewing machine
some pins
a body form (or a cooperative friend)
a bowl
and your scissors

#2: Sexy Bunny Costume

The next 3 costumes all come from the crafty and talented GiannyL. Her videos are super simple and straightforward...and sexy by their own right. The first one of her costumes we'll look at is a sexy bunny costume. Here's what you'll need:

A T-shirt
Shirt
Ribbon
Black leggings
A headband
A bow tie
Buttons
Furry cloth
Cardboard

#3: Sexy Witch Costume

This one also requires NO SEWING! I can hear a big "woo hoo!" from all of you needle and thread challenged. GiannyL doesn't give a materials list for this one, but from the best I can tell you'll need:

an old sweater
scissors
a hot glue gun & hot glue
some sort of crafting foam (maybe someone can tell me exactly what that is)
a bucket
black dye
a belt
a broom

#4: Catwoman Costume

GiannyL also left out the materials list on this WAY sexy Catwoman costume, but here's what it looks like you'll need from the video:

a pair of old black stretchy pants
scissors
a black leotard or one piece swimsuit
a pair of old black faux leather pants
needle and thread, or a sewing machine, for just a LITTLE bit of sewing

So there you have it. 4 easy, simple, and sexy DIY Halloween costumes. If you want to tackle a little more involved costume, check out Threadbanger's Sweeney Todd inspired costume.

If you've got a great idea for sexy Halloween costume (or even a creative idea to modify one of the costumes listed here), please drop it in the comments!

3 Halloween Costumes You Can Make From Things You Already Have at Home

2009-10-12T17:45:23Z

Did you need the defibrillator to recover from sticker shop after shopping for this year's Halloween costume?

Well how about making your own costume?

You don't have to be as lame as just putting on a leather jacket and slicking your hair back to say that you're a greaser. No, no, no...there are some truly amazing DIY Halloween costume ideas floating around out there.

...and many of them can be made from little more than cardboard and other things that you already have lying around your house.

Check out these 3 ideas that
you'd NEVER guess are homemade.

]]> So besides saving some serious money, why would you want to make your own Halloween costume?

How about the fact that most Halloween costumes contain loads and loads of toxic chemicals, only get 1 use and are then discarded, and travel thousands of miles from the manufacturer to your door.

Now THAT is scary!

But hey, just because you make your own costume doesn't mean you have to look like a cheapskate.

3 DIY Halloween Costumes (That Don't Suck) You Can Make From Things You Already Have

The Quintessential Mummy Costume

Check out the awesome Instructable for how to make your own mummy costume from the awesome and crafty folks at Thread Banger. All you need is:

White sheets (2)
White pants/jeans
White long sleeve shirt (preferably turtleneck)
Box of 100 tea bags
Some 3-5 gallon buckets
Seam ripper
Sewing machine
Scissors

Spartan Warrior from the Movie 300

If you've got the body to rock some skimpy Spartan armor (or lack thereof), here's how to make a 300 costume from almost only cardboard! Here's what you'll need:

PART I:

Cardboard - 3-5 larger boxes should do
Hot glue gun and glue
A box cutter or razor blade

PART II:

Fiberglass sheets/matting (optional)
Fiberglass Resin (optional)
Bondo or another type of filler with hardener (optional)
Sandpaper - 100, 350, and 600 grits (optional)
Spray paint - a black or gray base-coat , a Black Lacquer (optional), a Gold, a Bronze and a copper

You'll only need the fiberglass, resin, bondo, and sandpaper if you want to use some fiberglass to add a more finished look and strength to your costume.

If you decided to go that route, use caution when working with and sanding the fiberglass.

Halo Master Chief (with weapons)

And now for the pièce de résistance, an incredibly detailed Halo Master Chief costume, again made almost entirely from cardboard. You can see the finished product of this project at the top of this post.

A word of warning on this one...you're going to need a good bit of time and patience...but look at the wonderful result!

Have you made an awesome Halloween costume in the past? Have you seen some other great DIY costume ideas? If so, please share them in the comments.