Lifestyle

Nothing's worse than rainy days to damper our clothes (and soul) and shock us into autumn. Take advantage of the rain falling outside and use it to your advantage. I'm talking rain barrels. Even as it's getting cooler. How to Use a Rain Barrel:

I'm a long-time Jack Johnson fan and as the years go by I seem to appreciate him more and more. There is just something about the cute native Hawaiian's soothing voice and sweet often quirky lyrics that makes you want to stop sweating the small stuff, and go make some banana pancakes.  For me and many fellow fans Jack Johnson = mellow. And who couldn't use a little more of that feeling? The fact that he is one of the most environmentally conscious artists around just puts the guy over the top. In Between Dreams and Brushfire Fairytales will probably always be my favorite albums but his latest From Here to Now to You includes some repeat worthy tunes as well. Johnson's green efforts on his last few tours have garnered attention from us and other environmentalists. And it seems like he and his crew (Johnson credits his wife, Kim, for many of the initiatives)  are hoping to make his current 2013 tour the greenest yet. Read on to learn about what Johnson and crew are doing to advocate environmentalism on tour.

Last week I mentioned to ditch the chopsticks when ordering from an Asian restaurant. But we all get the inevitable pair due to missed instructions, habit or a friend's gift. How can you reuse chopsticks?

Whether you take out or dine in/out, many restaurants (especially sushi joints) tend to have disposable flatware and chopsticks for your taking. Rather than using the chopsticks once before pitching, bring your own. I have a handy bamboo ware set (including chopsticks!) that I stash in my purse and take out when eating. Picking up to take home?

Love to prepare food at home but hate draining your time? Raw, Quick & Delicious is a great solution for you. I recently tried out a few recipes during a dinner gathering with a friend. Locavore Dinner Party A Twitter match made in heaven happened when I became friends with Kristy, an up-and-coming food blogger. Lucky for us, Kristy loves to cook and I love to eat. Kristy hosted me at her place to discuss KEEN Digital Summit (co-founded by one of my favorite bloggers, Kristin Luna of Camels & Chocolate) which we're psyched to attend in October. (Bonus: I even won a pair of passes to the conference!) This girl doesn't mess around while cooking. Seriously, just look at this Dill-salmon that was the main course along with an asparagus-based purée. Raw, Quick & Delicious: My creations My first experiment was the Salmon side, Green Beans Amandine. A simple recipe consisting of raw almonds, sea salt, green beans, olive oil & lemon juice (I left out the nutritional yeast...) was easy and a great pairing to our meal. (See recipe below!) Find out more about our dinner party and Raw, Quick & Delicious after the jump!

The toilet flushes... and that's when it gets me. As I'm washing my hands in the bathroom, I see the pile of paper towels overflowing the trashcan. Many places don't have those electronic dryers and with a wave of the motion detector, a magna carter-sized cluster of paper towels comes spitting out. I hate disposables. It haunts me to carelessly use tissues, napkins and paper towels, although my OCD cleanliness sometimes gets the best of me. Where can you find reusable towels while on the go? It's a perfect question for Where Can I Wednesday... So when I found the Jimmy Pocket Towel, I knew I found a hidden gem. Why Jimmy Towel?

Ever feel a little overwhelmed? As I paddleboarded into the massive lake, I felt it: the anxious feeling. Often I have anxiety about upcoming events – although sometimes nothing in particular, I often feel on edge. As I paddled into the lake, I was alone. Although I knew how to balance myself on the board and wasn't worried about falling, I couldn't kick the feeling. Find out how I kicked myself back to serenity, after the jump....

Want to save money on your electric bill? The simple stuff goes a long way.

Being environmentally conscious isn’t just about waste reduction and carbon offsets. Admiring our planet’s aesthetic beauty and complexity plays an important role as well – it gives us a reason to keep it intact. Today, ecotourism in Costa Rica is thriving. Ecotourism continues to be Costa Rica’s largest foreign exchange earner, surpassing other exports such as pineapples, bananas, and coffee. Tourists from around the world travel to Costa Rica to visit the country's many national parks and beaches. It's no wonder – Costa Rica has the largest percentage of protected land in the world. Find out more about Alex's trip (And see the GORGEOUS pics) - after the jump!