It’s true that the imperative to practice mindfulness might feel like the latest trend in the wellness world, but the reality is that mindfulness is an ancient tradition from the Eastern world. Mindfulness is the practice of being present in the moment and experiencing your ...read more
The concept of sustainability seems almost impossible to practice during the winter holiday season. Whether it’s over the top light displays, TV commercials that seem to normalize gifting a car, or the ubiquitous holiday music that stores start pumping out the minute Halloween ...read more
When the weather turns cold, the smart get cozy. Instead of turning up the thermostat, do your part to contribute less carbon to the environment and toss a throw over your toes. And of course, the socially- and environmentally-conscious among you are going to choose to get cozy ...read more
If you were one of the many volunteering for candidates this past election, you might be feeling somewhat of a letdown. Don’t worry, it’s normal. As a longtime campaign volunteer and community activist, I can tell you that there’s often a period of “what now” after an election ...read more
Kitchen waste is a combination of food waste and packaging waste and it has a large environmental impact. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), roughly one third of the food produced in the world for human consumption every year is lost or ...read more
You’ve heard of hygge, the Danish lifestyle trend of getting cozy? Hygge took the world by storm the last couple of years--it was even shortlisted as the word of the year for 2016 by Oxford Dictionaries--but there’s a new Danish concept that just might supersede the chillness of ...read more
Cooler temperatures and the upcoming holidays makes this the ideal baking time. Many of you might think nothing of turning on the oven to whip up a batch of lemon bars any time of year, but for most of us we don’t pull out our fall baking gear until autumn. There is something ...read more
Pour over coffee is just what it sounds like--coffee that is brewed by pouring water over ground coffee. Things can get more complicated than that, but that’s the method in a nutshell. The pour-over method is preferred by many coffee experts-- and regular coffee drinkers, like ...read more
Not only does copper cookware offer advantages for cooking in the kitchen, like superior heat conductivity for one, but copper also looks great. Copper cookware combines elegance and practicality and it can help to make your kitchen a warm and inviting space--making it the ...read more
Want to take off across the country and see the sites? Your first thoughts are probably of hopping in the car or booking a flight, but think again. Train travel is a low-stress, more economical, and more eco-friendly way to travel. Scenic train tours are also a great way to ...read more
Love the benefits of cast iron cookware but think it’s not in your budget? Think again. Adding cast iron to your kitchen doesn’t have to be a budget-busting expense. There are many affordable choices for building a collection of cast iron cookware. From baking to cooking, these ...read more
Have you found yourself with an overflow of bounty this growing season? Don’t worry, you are not alone. Most of us who take the time to plant a garden or belong to a CSA feel like we are kneedeep in zucchini, squash, tomatoes, peaches and more right about now. Now is the time ...read more
Get your wanderlust on and see the country by visiting these spectacular but lesser-known national parks. Founded in 1916, the National Park Service is one of the greatest American treasures. Currently, there are 59 parks that cover more than 85 million acres. While many of ...read more
You’ve heard of cabins and you’ve of condominiums, cabiminiums are the two married together for the perfect low-key and low-maintenance home or getaway. What is a Cabiminium? Coined by a developer the term cabiminium refers to a cabin-style home in nature, but with all of the ...read more
Everyone knows that an organized office is ideal for productivity and workflow, but did you know that getting organized is also important for your psychological flow as well? While some packrat types claim that they work best with clutter all around them, the reality is that ...read more
While you may not expect there to be common ground amongst birding and cat advocates, the reality is that their agendas are more aligned than you might think when it comes to pet cats. And catios, which are outdoor enclosures for cats, just might put you (and your cat) in their ...read more
You’ve heard of the saying keep it simple? That couldn’t be more on point than in the kitchen. Many of our kitchens are overflowing with kitchen gadgets that we’ve only used once (or even worse--never used at all). Whether you are looking to downsize, get organized, make ...read more
Live large with these outdoor living ideas just in time for spring. Depending on where you live, it’s highly likely that you’ve experiences brutal winter this year, but that’s all over (until next year anyway). Now is it time to get your yard, deck, balcony, back porch, or ...read more
Once synonymous with the 1970s, the art of macramé got a bad rap, but it’s been making a comeback. It’s no longer maligned, but now has a firm footing in boho decor and has even gained in popularity as a DIY craft. In case you weren’t aware, macramé is a form of textile art ...read more
From tumblers, tulip beer glasses, champagne coupes, and more what exactly are the different types of glasses? On a recent episode of the “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” (I am not admitting to watching this, just reporting on it...cough, cough) at least one of the ...read more
Whether you want to grow indoor plants for food or for aesthetics (or both), there are many benefits to adding plants to your home space. Enter: the indoor garden kit. While the research isn’t in complete agreement on just how beneficial indoor plants can be for purifying air ...read more
We live in a fast-paced world in which many of us struggle to find the time to pay the bills on time, eat lunch every day, and remember to schedule our doctor appointments, let alone find the time for thoughtful introspection. But, taking care of ourselves, both outside and ...read more
Whether you plan on visiting some of our amazing National Parks this camping season or your set up in your backyard, get started on your plans with some camping gear must-haves. Camping Gear Faves 1. BioLite PowerLight Bundle This USB-chargeable PowerLight hub not only ...read more
Think solar power for your home isn’t an option? It just may be with Smartflower. For those who are renting or don’t have enough sun exposure on the roof, there just might be a solar solution for powering your home after all. Enter Smartflower POP, billed as the comprehensive ...read more
What could you do with 24-hours of tech-free time? How could it change your life? Get inspired to unplug more by signing onto the National Day of Unplugging pledge this March 3-4, 2017. We live in a hyper-connected world. While this certainly seemed like a good thing at ...read more
istock/helovi Food festivals are perfect for serious foodies as well as the less adventurous eaters among us. And every state in the union has at least one food festival worthy of making the trek. We have put together a roundup of the best food festivals from each state--whether ...read more
istock/svetikd The Danes know how to get cozy. It’s pretty much a national pastime. In fact, they have a special word and concept for it. According to VisitDenmark.com, hygge (pronounced hoo-ga) can be translated best as coziness. It’s best articulated as “creating a warm ...read more
Just when you thought you’ve heard everything, you come across something new while surfing the Interwebs. That’s what happened to me last week when I came across wine for cats. Wine.For.Cats. Apollo Peak is a fairly new company that makes and markets what it calls a wine for ...read more
istock/diego_cervo It’s that time of year again when we contemplate our lives and vow to make positive changes. Whether you formally make resolutions or not, consider taking a social media break, or just reduce your time online. Need to be convinced to spend less time on ...read more
Cats don’t only rule the Internet, as anyone with a cat can tell you, cats pretty much rule the world, too. But should cats rule the outdoors or should they be kept inside? Here's the case for keeping cats indoors. Pet ownership is on the rise worldwide, but the number of pet ...read more
Soup is not only an awesome way to warm up when the weather is colder, but nothing else much beats one pot cooking in the kitchen--except for maybe sharing your favorite soup recipes with your friends. Soup is food for your belly, food for the soul, and food for your social ...read more
In case you haven’t heard, coffee brewing using pods is pretty much the worst thing ever. It's bad for you and bad for the environment. And if that’s not enough to sway you away from the Keurig and other pod coffee machines, the method also produces the world’s worst cup of ...read more
Americans love cooking shows. According to a 2010 Harris Poll, as many as eight out of ten adults regularly watch them. But these shows are not created equal. Reality TV cooking shows like “Hell’s Kitchen” and “Top Chef” (even though we love them) are a far cry from the ...read more
The best vegetarian meals are those that are both nourishing and simple to prepare. And there's noting else much simpler than a one-pan meal. It’s as straightforward as one pan + fresh ingredients = dinner for two on any night of the week. The right recipe, though, is the key. ...read more
In case you weren’t aware, podcasts are a thing. In fact, some podcasts can boast about having more listeners and followers than many television shows have viewers these days. The categories of podcasts run the gamut too. From true crime and interview-style shows to podcasts ...read more
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of American adults are not getting enough sleep on a regular basis. The lack of a good night's sleep is a real public health problem. Not only is not getting enough sleep a real drag (no pun ...read more
Despite a higher profile in recent years, the issue of food waste remains a massive global problem. According to Feeding America, the United State’s network of food banks, an estimated 25 to 40 percent of food grown, processed, and transported in the U.S. will never be ...read more
You probably thought your coloring days were in the past. Well, the reality is that adulting is hard, and it apparently stresses most people out. Some turn to yoga and meditation as a way to manage their stress, but those solutions don’t work for all. Enter adult coloring ...read more
Some of us like a glass of wine or a draft beer after a long day at work, while others appreciate a delicious gin martini or a refreshing gin and tonic. And small-batch and artisanal gins are the latest treat. Besides often creating a superior and more unique product, ...read more
Life can sometimes be hard and it can be difficult to keep positive. Negativity breeds negativity, though, so it is important to switch up your mindset whenever you find yourself focusing on the negative stuff. But sometimes it can feel downright challenging to concentrate on ...read more
According to the United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, the number of farmers markets has grown by 180 percent since 2006 to more than 8,000 markets. While there is some evidence that the demand for direct local food sales between farmers and ...read more
In case you hadn't yet heard, this year marks the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. August 25th is the date of the actual National Park Service Centennial, and the National Park Foundation and the National Park Service are hoping to kick off another century of ...read more
There are infinite ways that you can have a better impact on the environment. In fact, making a commitment to be more eco-friendly can sometimes feel overwhelming because there are so many ways to do it. Where do you start, what priorities should you make, when is it okay to ...read more
Planning your next barbecue, picnic, or outdoor dinner party and wondering how to liven things up? With yard games, of course. (Not that a pitcher or two of sangria wouldn’t hurt.) Yard games are fun for all, even for those who don’t imbibe. Playing yard games can give some ...read more
Extreme minimalism is regular minimalism on (anti)steroids. How many pairs of shoes or pants do you need to get through the week? Could you live without having a tablet, a laptop, and a mobile phone? Could you downsize your kitchen to only the base essentials, which don’t ...read more
When one thinks about Airstream's travel trailers the words "small" and "adorable" usually do not come to mind--one of the classic sellers is called the “Land Yacht” after all. But with a recent acquisition, that is all about the change. Earlier this spring, Airstream recently ...read more
If you aren’t making your own kombucha tea yet, why the heck not? It’s tasty, good for you, and cheaper than buying it already prepared. Kombucha, for those not in the know, is a fermented beverage made with sweetened tea and a kombucha culture called a SCOBY (Symbiotic ...read more
Whether you listen in the car, on the bus, while walking, or when you clean the house (like me), podcasts are having a moment right now--especially comedy podcasts. Most people think of the documentary-style podcasts like “Serial” or the podcasts for their favorite NPR shows ...read more
Mason jar meals can keep you away from the vending machine and the fast food lines for lunch. Prepare them over the weekend in bulk to guarantee that you eat well all week long. Make sure to wait until the last minute to add condiments and delicate ingredients for your mason ...read more
Earlier this year, the science world dropped the bombshell that dogs don’t actually like hugs. According to a recent study, it might actually stress them out. This is just another example why cats and the people who love them are superior beings -- especially because we already ...read more