Lifestyle

During cold and flu season it's important to be especially diligent about washing our hands.  But are the often touted antibacterial soaps really better when it comes to preventing germs? Some experts say that plain ol regular soap and water do the job just as well. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has made statements that hand washing with regular soap is as effective at removing germs as antibacterial soaps, and they don't necessarily endorse antibacterial soap. So what's the key to cleanliness and germ-fighting?

We lead busy lives and with places like HipCityVeg, it's easy to grab a quick snack or meal out. But what about all those plastic utensils they give for free? Isn't there an alternative to more disposable crap? (Find out, after the jump!)

Are you still staring at the wall, thinking you need to buy a new calendar for 2013? Do you love composting? The Ladies of Manure Calendar may just be the one... This calendar pledges to 'rethink all your waste, even your daily #1's and #2's. The Fertile Earth Foundation made a calendar full of beautiful women, with an end goal (as stated on their website):

After recently downsizing from a 1250 sq-foot trinity with a roommate to a 500 sq foot studio solo mi, I realized I had to make some changes. And not just the ‘there’s someone living with me and now there’s not” changes. From the luxury of having an entire living room, kitchen and ‘dining area’ to half the size, I too had to downsize. My dining room table was large enough to host Thanksgiving dinner. And two couches were more than enough for one of me. Step one was to start selling furniture that I didn't need. Although I wasn't looking to make a ‘profit’, how did I part with things that I could use 'someday'?

You know when you discover a new song, website, or life-hack iPhone app that seriously makes you feel like you've won the lottery? That's how I felt with Cardmunch. Even though I rarely print paper anymore, business cards are a necessity at networking events. I haven't met a 'green' friend who hasn't gone business-card free. It's difficult to remember someone's name, let alone company, etc., to look them up on LinkedIn the next day. Or what if the person isn't on social networks? (Find out my life hack secret, after the jump!)

I tend to geek out a bit over restaurants that specialize in local, organic, homemade and sustainable fare. Though I've learned over the past few years that some aren't so legit. For example, the menu is merely sprinkled with local lettuces and the fish is farm-raised and potentially genetically engineered. My experience at Farmhouse was the real deal.  They are truly a farm to table ( tavern in this case) establishment. Farmhouse makes a big effort to make much of their menu from scratch and source food locally. They change the menu often based on food seasonality but some of the current yummy fare i ncludes ...

Why environmentalists should shut up about "green" & make sustainability the status quo “You’ll be so mad at me,” my friend started our conversation. “I forgot my reusable bag in the car so had to take 3 plastic ones. Double bagged.” “Oh no!” I replied. Although I was slightly disappointed, I tried disguising my inner judgement. “I’m just not green like you.” By our conversation, you’d think I was born designated into this ‘eco-lover’ lifestyle. Just how I was born into a loud and Eastern-European-Irish mutt and whiskey-loving family. Was caring about the earth a genetic combination I was cursed into, just like my abnormally tiny eyes and obnoxiously loud laugh? (Find out more about why we should stop calling it 'green').

So we're in the second week of January and everywhere you turn - news stands, television, the office water-cooler... people are talking about their new year weight loss and health resolutions. I say hats off to the January joiners but I do want to provide them a word of caution - a lot of what you're hearing is good old-fashioned marketing. (How do I know? I'm a marketer and a certified athletic personal trainer and it's my job to pay attention to this stuff.) One thing you may have noticed in recent years is the hype around superfoods. They promise everything from a faster metabolism, hormonal balance, antioxidants, improved mood and even a longer life. In the wake of the new years diet blitz these foods are more popular than ever. Is the hefty price tag on these foods worth it? The short answer: sometimes. Read on for a breakdown of what you're really getting from some of the power foods out there.  And some advice on how to mix them into your diet should you decide these superfoods are for you.

Ah, the holidays of gift giving have come and gone. We drank champagne at Midnight with loved ones and perhaps watched questionable men in dresses dance and sing on New Years Day. Now what? (Find out more, after the jump.)