Creativity isn’t something that just happens – it needs fostering. In fact, everyone has a well of creativity, it’s just about doing the things that help that creative side really develop.

Even the most creative people will tell you that they have moments when they freeze up, and when they do they work hard at pushing through and getting their creativity back.

Wanting to foster more creativity in your own life? Try these 11 ideas for getting your creative side going.

1. Put. Down. The. Phone.

Want to be more creative? Start taking in your surroundings. That of course means putting down your phone. Waiting for the bus? Don’t text, look around you instead. See who’s standing next to you. Think about what color they’re wearing. Look at the trees. Do they have leaves? What shape are they? Being open to the world around you will bring plenty of inspiration.

2. Get off your computer.

Nothing kills creativity like sitting in front of a computer, so if you’re feeling like you’re drained in terms of creativity, step away from the screen. If you need to write or draw, pick up a real pen and paper.

3. Pick a specific moment in your life and write about it.

It doesn’t need to turn into a specific story or essay – just let yourself write the thoughts and memories that come to mind. You want to make your brain work. The other benefit? This practice can actually make you feel happier with your life.

4. Play.

This goes back to #1 and #2, but it also relates to work in general: if you don’t allow yourself time off from working, you don’t give your time to wander. So play.

5. Set aside a specific time every day to write.

Set aside 30 minutes that are solely devoted to free-writing. Julia Cameron in “The Artist’s Way” calls these “morning pages.” They’re not really writing, they’re simply a way to document everything that comes across your mind.

6. Do something just for you.

If you work in a creative industry, there often becomes a certain pressure to only produce when it’s for work. But in order to stay creative, you have to encourage yourself to produce even when it’s not for anyone but yourself. Draw a picture. Paint a landscape. Write a story. And keep it just for yourself.

7. Get active.

Some studies show that exercise helps boost creativity. What better reason do you need to go out for a run or a bike ride?

8. Get rid of distractions.

If you’re wanting to create a space that’s conducive to creativity, make sure it’s one where you’re not bothered. That means phone calls, emails, even visitors. You want to devote time and energy to your creative space, physically and mentally, and that means focusing on what you’re doing 100 percent.

9. Embrace your morning time.

That time before the entire day starts rolling? The golden hour. Don’t check your email right away. Don’t start reading the news. Use that time wisely. Write. Read. Dance. Think.

10. Use your hands.

We so rarely use our hands to do things anymore, and actively using your hands to do something engages your brain in a very different way than our usual tasks. Dig in the garden. Build something. Bake something.

11. Find an accountability partner.

Need to make sure you’re making time to be creative? Have a friend to do it with. Nothing makes us do something like being held accountable. So find someone else that needs to devote a few more hours a week to creative time and make sure you both do it. Better yet: set aside that time to do something creative together.

Related on EcoSalon

37 Inspirational Quotes on Creativity

Creative Ways to Recycle When You Redecorate

5 Creative Reuses for Old Wine Corks

Image: Nanagyei

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Clothes that last for a good long time mean less wear and tear on the environment and serious budget savings. Taking care of good-quality clothes from responsible manufacturers means that you will be able to get maximum value from them over time and use much less energy for washing and drying. Whether its a new dress you want to keep forever, or your vintage or special pieces, the laundry ideas below are key. When it comes to fashion, one of the smartest moves—for your style and your impact—is making it last. Here’s how. 

1. Cold treatment

Being a bit of a germaphobe myself, I always held the notion that we needed to wash clothes in hot water, just like we do our dishes or our hands.  But this is a bit of an urban legend; in countries like Japan and throughout Europe, it is standard practice to wash clothes in cold or room temperature water. Not only is cold wash gentler on your clothing, it consumes much less energy.

image: rwkvisual

2. Hanging ’em out

You know how you habitually have to clean out the lint drawer of your washer machine? Those extras are not a sign of happy clothes. It’s pure evidence that the dryer is taking a piece of your garment for keeps. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be this way. If you are lucky enough to have an outdoor space, line drying your clothes will make your clothes last (almost) forever. Plus, there’s the added bonus of a natural “drier sheet”: The scent of clean, fresh air that beats any laboratory fragrance. If you don’t have an outdoor space to line dry, you can pick up a clothes-drying rack and do it in your bathroom, or DIY your bamboo sticks.

image: Rob Gallop

3. The handy job

Hand washing clothing takes out the machine pressures, replacing the process of washing with the delicate and thoughtful hands of good old human labor. Rather than the aimless whipping around of a washing machine, you can focus of specific areas that might need extra attention. Hand washing your clothing, especially our delicates makes them last significantly longer. If you make it a habit, it won’t add up or be overwhelming and this part of your laundry could even be an enjoyable, meditative routine (try using a bit of lavender oil in your wash and enjoy the aromatherapy).

image: aesop

4. Freeze your jeans

Yes, that’s right—freeze those baby blues because in this case, washing is optional. Some denim experts say it’s the only way to go with a great pair of jeans (that is if you aren’t using them as work-jeans). How to? Fold the jeans nicely, place them in a gallon-sized ziplock bag (or paper bag will work too) and leave them in the freezer for about a week. The freezing temperature kills off any bacteria or living microbes on the jeans (which is what can make them smell). Defrost, hang out in the sun, and voila, fresh jeans! And no washing means you can keep them perfectly broken in.

5. Vodka spray

Avoid washing your clothes by spraying them with one part vodka, two parts water. Don’t worry, your clothes won’t smell like a college bar. The alcohol disinfects the clothing, and vodka’s crystal clear properties won’t stain your garments.

Related on Ecosalon:

Easy Tips to Make Your Clothes Last Longer 

Dry Clean Only? An Eco Expert Tells Us When It’s Safe to Ignore Labels

featured image: batintherain

The post Clothes That Last (Almost) Forever: 5 Ways to Do Laundry Smarter appeared first on EcoSalon.

 

Helpful tips to make life in the kitchen easier and food taste better. 

Mother knows best! When it comes to the kitchen, this idiom couldn’t hold more true. But it’s not only your female superiors who have so graciously passed on their secrets – with the rise of celebrity chefs and the number of Food Network productions, the general public is increasingly more educated on ways to become the master of mealtime making.

Sometimes however, it’s the information that gets lost between the lines that matters most, so we’ve assembled 60 of the most important kitchen tidbits that have stood the test of time and experience. This guide is packed with essential culinary pointers that will not only help you cook better meals but also navigate the kitchen with even greater ease and effectiveness.

Keep your onions in the refrigerator. A chilled onion is easier to chop, and causes fewer tears.

If you switch out seltzer for tap water or milk, you’ll end up with fluffier pancakes, waffles and scrambled eggs.

Want to boost the antioxidant power of your green tea? Add some lemon to it.

If your bananas are black, spotty and on the verge of turning from ripe to rotten, put them in the freezer so you can keep them on hand for a batch of banana bread on a rainy afternoon.

Put a dash of cinnamon or cardamom in your coffee for an extra spice boost.

Wow your guests when it’s time for dessert by adding cinnamon to your whipped cream.

Make your own vanilla sugar by placing a whole vanilla bean in a small jar and filling it with sugar. Screw on the lid and store until you need sugar with just a little extra flavor.

Not sure if your eggs are still good or not? Test their freshness by dissolving 2 teaspoons of salt in a cup of cold water. Place your egg in the water and if it floats it is an old egg, if it sinks, it’s fresh.

If you’re freezing summer’s bounty, spread berries out over a baking pan. Place pan in freezer until the berries are well frozen, then transfer to freezer bags. This keeps the berries individually frozen instead of in one big mass.

Not sure if spaghetti is fully cooked? Pull a noodle out of a pot of simmering water, let the water drip from it for a few seconds, and then chuck it against the nearest kitchen wall. If it adheres to the wall, it’s al dente!

Always keep dough covered with a moist cloth to avoid a dry crust from forming on it.

Never refrigerate tomatoes and citrus fruits. Refrigeration kills their flavors, nutrients, and textures.

Knock on a watermelon to check for signs of hollowness. It is sounds hollow, its ripe. If it doesn’t sound hollow, it’s unripe.

Pour oil into a pan that has already been preheated. This will prevent sticking later on.

Only add vegetables to a saucepan if they begin to sizzle upon impact. To check if the oil is hot enough to add vegetables, flick a few drops of water into the pan – if the oil makes a sizzling sound, it’s ready.

Oil biochemically changes for the worse when cooked. Enjoy extra-virgin oils in their raw state and benefit in both taste and nutrition.

Want to dehydrate without splurging on an expensive dehydrator? Set your oven on its lowest temperature setting and keep the door slightly ajar.

Squeeze lemon juice over half-eaten fruits and prevent them from rotting or turning brown.

Pour some vinegar over defrosting meat to accelerate the thawing process as well as tenderize the meat.

To keep cookies fresh, toss a piece of bread in the cookie jar. The cookies will extract moisture from the bread and retain their softness.

Keep milk fresher for longer by adding a dash of salt into the carton right after opening it for the first time.

Soak almonds in hot water for 20 minutes to make removing their skins easy.

Place dough in the freezer for a few minutes to prevent it from sticking to the rolling pin.

To smoothen the icing on a cake, use a knife dipped in hot water and gently rub it over the top and the sides.

Cut a cheesecake with a wet knife to ensure that the filling doesn’t stick to the knife’s edges and ruin presentation.

To get the most digestive benefit from bananas, wait until they’re browned and spotted – the more spots, the better.

Under-ripe or just ripe bananas can lead to constipation. Overripe bananas have developed their sugars and induce the complete opposite effect.

Ice-creams set faster and better in aluminum containers.

A pinch of soda in your icing will keep it moist and prevent it from cracking on the cake.

Is the salt in your shaker clumping? Put a few grains of rice into the shaker to absorb excess moisture.

Added just a pinch too many of salt to your soup? A raw potato added to the soup white cooking absorbs the extra sodium. Toss a chunk in the pot and let it linger in there until the soup is appealing to your tastes.

Adding a little bit of baking soda to dish water will help to remove pungent odors from utensils and dishes.

The key to smooth dressings, sauces, and gravy is to put all ingredients into a tightly sealed jar and then shake until all lumps and inconsistencies disappear.

Rub hands with dry salt to remove onion and garlic odor.

Add a tablespoon of butter or olive oil to a pot of boiling pasta to stop the water from boiling over the edge of the pan.

Dip fish into scalding water for a minute to scale more easily.

Another way to spread icing more easily on a cake is to sprinkle the top with flour as soon as the cake is removed from the oven.

To make rice as white and fluffy as possible, add approximately 1 teaspoon of lemon juice or vinegar per quart of water while cooking.

If you want to eliminate eggs, try this easy egg replacement: mix one tablespoon ground flaxseeds with three tablespoons warm water. Let sit for a few minutes and substitute for one egg in baking recipes.

Avoid storing onions near potatoes. Doing so will cause the potatoes to spoil sooner.

Forget to bring butter to room temperature for a recipe that calls for it? For a quick fix, fill a glass with hot tap water and let it sit for a few seconds. Empty the water and place the glass upside down over the amount of butter required for the recipe. Wait one minute and the butter should be ready to use!

Don’t have a rolling pin? Use an empty bottle.

In a recipe with both salt and some sort of acid, such as citrus, vinegar, or wine, you can offset one of the flavors by adding more of the other. For example, in a dish with too much vinegar, add salt to balance it out. Likewise, in an over-salted dish, add more vinegar.

Dust raisins, berries, or chocolate chips with flour to prevent them from sinking in while baking in a cake.

Always add sea salt to vegetables before roasting. The salt brings out the juices from the vegetables and gives them a caramelized flavor and deliciously browned appearance.

To prevent egg shells from cracking, add a pinch of salt to the water before hard-boiling.

Place a slice of apple in hardened brown sugar to soften it back up.

When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to the mix to help bring out the corn’s natural sweetness.

Can’t stomach an entire avocado? Mash the remaining flesh and smooth it onto your skin for an impromptu, but highly effective, face and body mask. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes and then wash clean.

To prevent potatoes from budding, place them in a bag with apples.

Brush beaten egg white over pie crust before baking to end up with a deliciously glossy finish.

Store spices in a cool, dark place that is not above the stove. Humidity, light, and heat will cause herbs and spices to lose their flavor.

Boil pasta 1 minute less than the package instructions and cook it the rest of the way in the pan with sauce.

For rich, creamy dressings made healthy, substitute half the mayo with Greek-style yogurt.

For best results when you’re baking, leave butter and eggs at room temperature overnight.

To easily peel a mango, cut a small part of the end off and you will be able to easily stand it up while you peel it.

Don’t like watered down iced coffee? Freeze coffee in an ice cube tray, and use those instead of regular ice cubes.

Put berries on a toothpick or skewer and freeze them for colorful and tasteful additions to spruce up a glass of champagne or sparkling water.

For a milder garlic flavor in dishes, roast garlic in the oven and then freeze the cloves until you are ready to use. Perfect for adding to sauces, mixing with olive oil for a spread and more.

Store bunches of basil in a glass of water so it keeps longer.

Instead of lemon, add cucumber or apple slices to your water.

Image: Sassy Lassies Vintage Life, Aylin Erman

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10 ways to ensure the fish you are eating is sustainably caught and healthy.

One of the most confusing oceans to navigate is that of seafood. First there’s the question of mercury and other contaminants. How do you avoid those? Then comes the issue of a reliable source. Where breeds the healthiest fish, and sustainably so at that? Lastly, and equally as important, how’s the fish supposed to look, feel and smell? All these considerations are quite overwhelming and often end with a frustrating shrug and sigh.

With so much to consider, it can be tricky to get your buck’s worth in terms of your health and the environment. Luckily, we’ve done the research and have put together ten ways you can ensure you are eating the most sustainable fish the world has to offer.

Do Your Homework

Before going to the grocery store, check out the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch for a comprehensive guide to ocean-friendly seafood. According to the organization’s Communications Director Ken Peterson, “Seafood Watch is far and away the source used by consumers and major seafood buyers in North America to shape their seafood buying decisions in ways that promote healthy fisheries and healthy oceans.” The site outlines each fish’s market name, where it is caught and  how it is caught, indicating which variation of a particular fish is the “Best Choice,” a “Good Alternative,” or one to “Avoid.”

Have Your Cake and Eat It Too

Choose seafood that is not only good for you, but also good for the environment. Monterey Bay Aquarium has created a “Super Green” list including seafood with the highest levels of omega-3s and the lowest levels of contaminants as well as a summary of the “Best Choice” ranked fish on the organization’s Seafood Watch. These recommendations apply to women of childbearing age, men and children, so they can be trusted to take everyone into account.

Know How Fish is Caught

Select fish that is caught using methods with lower environmental impact such as hand-lining or potting. The Marine Conservation Society explains the various fish-catching methods and why some are better than others.

Carry a Pocket Guide

Most of us don’t have the time to research when making an impromptu stop at the fish market, so being equipped with a fish list is a way to ensure you always make the most well-informed decision come check-out time. The Environmental Defense Fund has put together the easy-to navigate Pocket Seafood Selector and Pocket Sushi Selector to give you a helping hand.

Choose a Reliable Market

Keep tabs on your local grocery stores and inquire how often each receives its seafood shipments and what the regular turnover is. The higher the rate of seafood turnaround, the more likely the fish you buy is as fresh as can be.

Don’t Buy Fishy Fish

Given that we associate the “fishy” smell with something that has gone putrid, under no circumstances should you purchase fish that smells nasty, acidic, or pungent. Fresh fish has the scent of clean water with a slightly briny or cucumber overtone.

Look Skin Deep and Beyond

On the outside, look at the fish and confirm that it is clean and metallic as opposed to dull or discolored. The eyes should be bright and clear and the gills should bear a vibrant red tone – fish that has gone old bears gills with a faded brick color. On the inside, make sure that if there is liquid on the meat, that it is clear instead of milky. Rotting fish will have milky flesh. Don’t forget to press against the flesh of the fish – if an indentation appears and stays, the fish has gone bad.

Ask Questions

When perusing the seafood section of your grocery store or market, take your assumptions with a grain of salt. Engage in conversation with a salesperson, asking questions that aren’t answered by packaging or labeling, and get the scoop on some of the details that aren’t so readily available. It’s rare to be offered information about how fish is caught, so ask for it! Developing a relationship with seafood personnel is also a great way to get the most comprehensive information time and time again.

Rotate Your Fish

Try to venture outside your repertoire of, say, three types of fish and try your hand at making dishes with other fish deemed the healthiest and most environmentally friendly by the “Super Green” list. Eat sustainably across the board, not just with one type.

Spread the Word

Tell your friends and family about seafood sustainability and encourage them to apply these tips to their culinary seafood escapades. The best way to share, you ask? Why, only whilst devouring seared salmon over lentils.

Aylin Erman currently resides in Istanbul and is creator of plant-based recipe website GlowKitchen.

Image: tarotastic

The post Pescatarian: 10 Ways to Make Sure You’re Eating the Most Sustainable Fish appeared first on EcoSalon.

ColumnA step-by-step guide to faking it in the food world.

The scene is starting to feel familiar. You’re eating a dessert out of a mason jar and you have spent the last 15 minutes listening to a conversation about the merits of mezcal in cocktails. “I just really can’t stand the taste. Put a drink in front of me and I can definitely tell you if it has it in it or not,” you overhear, and you internally swear for not having a good comeback.

A comeback that was just a little more…in-the-know.

Really, you just want to throw your cucumber and ginger-infused cocktail in that person’s face, but then again, the meal was good, and if you play your cards right, you can probably get someone else to pay for it. Wait for it…”I just love treating my friends to good food,” says another table-mate. You’re finally in the clear.

As much as you cringe at the word “foodie” – and don’t we all? – there are moments where it’s worth pretending you’re one: getting your meal paid for, scoring a date with someone who knows how to cook well, getting directions to a new restaurant scribbled on a napkin, finding someone to solve your dilemma of what to make with your leftover greens.

1. Class Up Your Water

Serve your water in a pitcher and put something in it. Cucumber, apple, blackberries, raspberries, vanilla beans; anything that will add a touch of flavor and show that you’re someone who can make even a glass of water taste unique.

2. Put Almond Meal in a Cake

Start easy and just replace a quarter of a cup or so. When you say “[insert name of cake] Almond Cake” it just sounds more intriguing.

3. Use a Formula

When you get invited to a dinner party and your friends are brainstorming what to make, pick a savory ingredient, like an herb or a cured meat – and a sweet ingredient like fruit – and then nonchalantly suggest putting them together. “Hmm…I don’t know…what about something with sage and blood oranges?”

4. Don’t Wrap Things in Bacon

So cliche. Unless of course it’s artisan. Otherwise opt for prosciutto.

5. Employ Key Expressions

Start with our vocabulary list and pick up lines, then make sure you say “locavore,” “artisan,” and some obscure French ingredient in every single food-related conversation you have and you will be good to go.

6. Befriend a Farmer

When you actually know the name of the guy you bought your eggs from, you will immediately one-up all your food-loving friends, no matter how many restaurants with “&” in the name they have been to lately.

7. Turn Into Food Paparazzi

Forget the ideal lighting, whip out that phone and start Instagramming your food porn. Don’t forget to hashtag your ingredients.

8. Add a Spice

Whatever you were planning on making for dinner, throw in some cardamom, fennel, anise or caraway. Then tweet about it.

9. Eat Kale Chips at Least Once

They’re easy to make and the fact that you haven’t had them yet really is just unacceptable.

10. Stay Current

Keep up to date on the current food trends and news, and find a few that you hate, then pepper your conversation accordingly. Examples: bacon sundaes, cinnamon challenge and bone luging.

11. Keep a Journal

Write down your food musings. Oh wait, on second thought, please don’t.

12. Embrace Olive Oil

Just keep a little travel-sized bottle on hand at all times and next time you’re out for ice cream, drizzle a little on top.

13. Take Your Leftovers to Work in a Mason Jar

Salad looks so much more appetizing when it’s in an individual glass serving.

14. Only buy Americanos From Places That Roast Their Own Coffee

And please be sure to make sure that they’re ethically sourcing their beans. Better yet, find a coffee roaster that delivers by bicycle.

15. Know the Names of Three Food Blogs

And who writes them, what they tend to make and which recipe was recently published that you “just can’t believe you had lived without.”

16. Memorize Specialties

Think of three places you have traveled to, nationally or internationally. Then figure out what their specialty dish is, and even if you’ve never had it, don’t be afraid to ask “have you ever had *** in ***?”

17. Carry a Spork and a Pair of Chopsticks for Eating at Food Carts

Only your own cutlery will do.

18. Make Your Own Wine Labels

The $5 stuff just got so much better, if you printed it with Helvetica, that is.

19. Put Coconut Water Ice Cubes in Your Cocktail

Why go for regular H2O when you can have something that’s the l’eau du jour?

20. Eat Good and Real Food. Always.

Cut the word “foodie” from your vocabulary and appreciate food for food’s sake. Because when all is said and done, it’s just that simple.

Editor’s note: This is the latest installment of Anna Brones’s weekly column at EcoSalon, Foodie Underground, discovering what’s new and different in the underground food movement, from supper clubs to mini markets to the culinary avant garde.

The post Foodie Underground: Quick Fixes to Pretend You’re a Foodie appeared first on EcoSalon.

ColumnHigh fives, ladies, we’re the fixer-upper gender!

In light of the recent release of the Tush Tickler, your guide to “analplay adventures for everybooty,” you might be tempted to think there’s no personal development book under the sun left to be published, what with books being published where the sun don’t shine. You would think wrong. There are mines, rich veins, whole mountaintops of self help publishing left to be penetrated for our betterment. And isn’t that what it’s all about, ladies? Less thinking wrong, less thinking generally, more betterment?

They say print is dead. This simply isn’t true, because we have women, and as long as we have women, we will think of new books to improve them. Just check out these hot new self help titles for 2012!*

Everything I Need to Know in Life I Learned From My Dental Hygienist. Everything

“Some people say cleanliness is next to godliness. Some people also say pearly whites are next to pearly gates.” – Fox News

Raising Self Esteem by Broadcasting Everything Wrong With Yourself in Social Media

“Stunningly original approach to self help. Guaranteed to be a smash hit. Step aside, 7 Habits of Highly Successful People. Move over, The Secret. Sure to be an instant classic.” – Kirkus Book Reviews

Life Without Contraception in This Country

“A brilliant guide for the suddenly lesbian.” –  San Francisco Chronicle

Just Keep Telling Yourself It’s Not Personal, and Other Coping Techniques for Losers

“Denial is not to be stamped out, but amplified, explains this sage and insightful personal development primer that is the best thing I’ve seen yet at this low paying self help book review job I absolutely adore and vastly prefer to writing my novel.” – Internet Book Reviews Reviews of Books Best Book Reviews Online Internet Resource for Book Reviews Win Free Money, a subsidiary of Demand Media

If You Could Only Be Perfect!

“For the adult child who longs for the odd comfort of daily remonstrations at the hands of a tyrannical parent, this cruel, critical, fault-finding, nagging book is a lifeline nearly as judgmental as Mom herself, and certainly as disappointed as the Baby Jesus. The accompanying photo album for holding embarrassing childhood photographs to show prospective suitors is a thoughtful touch from the publisher, which clearly spared no expense in the creative development and packaging of this timely title. Now, more than ever, we need self-loathing.” – Brigham Young University Press

So He Left You for a 25-Year-Old She Probably Squeaks, and Other Crass Koans to Help You Feel Less Bitter About Being 50 and Divorced with a Credit Rating Shot to Hell Thanks to That Jerk Who Is So Immature Even the Therapist Despises Him Especially After She Slept with Him Because He’s Not Even Good in Bed! I Know!

“The author holds a canny grasp on the marriage zeitgeist, which is to say, the divorce zeitgeist.” – the Guardian

The Art of the Fake Orgasm

“A helpful how-to for pretending to reach climax during sexual intercourse, this delightful guide is full of creative tips for faking orgasm, along with dozens of real stories from women – and men – of all walks of life. This work would have been enhanced by the inclusion of expert insights from health professionals instead of the author’s friends. Still, a useful book for those interested in mastery of fake orgasms.” – Publishers Weekly

Is It Just Me or Does Nonviolent Communication Feel Like Suffocating Inside Sweaty Flannel Sheets?

“That’s not the actual title, but it should be! The NVC Myth: My Years of Suffering Through the Most Annoying Form of Communication on Earth really nails it. I knew exactly what the author meant the second I saw the book. For the stage five clinger not wanting the relationship to end and therefore having difficulty accepting the other party’s lack of interest, NVC must be a thrilling godsend, a therapeutically validated method for maintaining the connection for as long as humanly possible. For the party who isn’t the control freak endowed with epic levels of neurotic insecurity, NVC feels pretty much like you’re still dating the person only this time completely against your will.” – Amazon buyer itsworsethanherpes

How to Stop Beating Yourself Up for Misplacing the Keys for the Seven Millionth Time Today in One Easy Step Which We’ll Just Put in the Title: Anytime You Lose Something It Will Always Be Wherever You Left It, Except if There’s an Earthquake Then It Might Not Be Right Exactly Where You Left It But Probably Still Pretty Close By

“Though the entire contents of the book are on the cover, the intrepid reader or average New Yorker will soon grasp the many layers of this fundamental truism of life resting poetically within a simplistic single line. At once simple and nuanced, by turns pithy and existential, at once hilarious and brutal, by turns banal and profound, at once postmodern and tragic, by turns brisk and solemn, at once boring and random, by turns witty and frank, at once silly and bold, by turns like a girl wrote it and intelligent, at once riveting and poignant, by turns refreshing and compelling, this book is a triumph, an opus, a masterpiece, a tour de force. Deeply present. Deeply personal. Deeply provocative. Deeply shallow, while being deep in a shallow way. A Midwestern sensibility delicately permeates this experimental title, which is paradoxical in a richly ironic sense, reminiscent of the very best early work of Dave Eggars but also the biting disgust of a slightly older, slightly puffier Jonathan Franzen; both quiet like DeLillo and noisy like Safran Foer, if they were beverages. The book for the times, the book of the times, the book and the times.” –  The New York Times Book Review

What To Do About Your Wide Set Cleavage

“Wide set cleavage is a problem most women have, though many simply don’t realize it. This step-by-step guide takes the reader from DIY all the way to surgery, with scaffolding diagrams, resources, and plenty of tips for each stage of the journey to more attractive breasts.” – Allure

We need so much help. So much.

This is the latest installment in your editor’s column, The Insider’s Guide to Life.

*Note: These are not actual books nor actual reviews.

Image: quinn.anya

The post The Insider’s Guide to Life: 10 New Self Help Titles You Don’t Want to Miss appeared first on EcoSalon.

ColumnStipple that fennel emulsion with cold-pressed chervil oil and serve.

The signs are clear.

You can name the five local artisan cheeses served at your neighborhood wine bar, and you have come to accept the fact that one of them comes from more than 100 miles away. At your dinner parties, you inevitably hear “You should start a restaurant!” at least once before the main course is even served. Your liquor cabinet includes various home distilled bottles that verge on being illegal. You’ve eaten at least one dessert or baked good made with butternut squash in the last week. You drizzle olive oil on your ice cream. You scoff at fellow diners who do not instinctively question the origin of their meat, or inquire after the cow’s/chicken’s/salmon’s name.

Yes, the time has come: You’re ready to channel your foodie chops into a full time gig.

But before you go scoping out the latest empty warehouse space and decorate it with minimalist salvaged furniture and soy tea lights, take some time to focus on your menu. Foodie Underground has put together a foolproof guide to help you along your way to launching a successful business, one that’s sure to get you plenty of write-ups in the blogosphere and, more importantly, tweets from food nerds.

Aperitif

Bourbon, bitters and definitely something infused, preferably with bacon.

Champagne and elderflower.

Appetizers

Choose either a dynamic or intentionally plain name for this section of the menu. Anything in French will do, or simple phrases like “small plates.” Then make sure to have at least two of the following:

Wilted bitter greens.

Some type of carb with crust cut off.

A basket of bread studded with as much farmhouse cheddar or bacon as possible. Rosemary is so 2005.

Goat cheese. Preferably on beets, but other roots will do in a pinch. Think parsnips or rutabaga.

Braised greens on brioche. Both are on foodie menus everywhere, but in such an inventive pairing? Sure to get you a write up.

Main course

May also be referred to as “Mains.”

Creamy polenta. Garnish with bacon.

Roasted [free range chicken or alternatively, any extremely tiny poultry] with heirloom [insert root vegetable] atop fennel [emulsion, sauce, or stew]. Garnish with bacon.

Pan-fried offal seared in duck fat. Garnish with bacon.

Cured [insert pig part] with medium-rare [insert fatty pig part] and grapes.

Something Scandinavian would be nice, like pickled [anything] with an aquavit, lingonberry, dill sauce, but call it glaze.

Something French, that includes at least two prepositions written in italics.

Something soulful. Mashed fingerling potatoes with macaroni and cheese is a great start as long as you garnish with bacon.

Something that inspires the diner to use the word “locavore” in a sentence.

Dessert

Caramelized fruit with toasted hazelnuts drizzled in olive oil.

Hand-cranked ice cream flavored with a savory ingredient. Think black tea, coriander or bacon.

Anything baked in a ramekin.

Creme brulee with locally grown lavender, seasoned with bee pollen.

Cappuccino, as long as it is shade grown and isn’t – whatever you do – wet.

Other tips

Get a logo in Helvetica.

Accept cash only. Plastic would simply ruin the authenticity of the experience.

Hand write your menu. Or choose a typewriter font.

Stick to lowercase letters, or all caps, but make sure it’s one or the other.

Serve your booze in Mason Jars, your water in old wine bottles, and if you’re going for a more upscale feel, your housemade seltzer in bottles that close with a wire clasp.

Hang up some art, preferably a framed typography poster.

Paint your back wall in chalkboard paint and write up the day’s specials in cursive.

Have some pink Himalayan salt somewhere, ideally as a votive candle holder.

And when you’re finally open for business, be sure to let us know, because there’s nothing we love more than spending an evening in a low lit restaurant that’s painfully hip. We’ll bring cash, we promise.

Editor’s note: This is the latest installment of Anna Brones’s weekly column at EcoSalon, Foodie Underground, discovering what’s new and different in the underground food movement, from supper clubs to mini markets to the culinary avant garde.

Images: Anna Brones

The post Foodie Underground: Formulating the Foolproof Foodie Menu appeared first on EcoSalon.

On letting go of your dreams.

Louise* and Lance* were best friends. Just friends, never so much as smooched. They were roommates, they got drunk at concerts together, they slept in the same tent, exchanged great Christmas presents. Lance dated other people. Louise was in love with Lance. Plain as day, we all could see it. Well, maybe someday Lance will get it.

Twelve years went by. New partners and holidays came and went. It was good n’ truly time for Louise to lay down the torch. She decided make a pitch. This is the crescendo of all romantic comedies where the protagonist decides to go for it:

It is 4 a.m. and we’ve all been dancing at a fabulous wedding. Louise and Lance are slow dancing as the DJ starts packing up. There is a small audience of us in the corner table balancing Stella bottles and wearing neckties around our heads. “Oh…my…I think she’s going for it,” one of the cast says. We lean in to gawk, trying to read their lips.

Sure enough, with heart in hand and Cabernet courage, Louise makes her overture. Do you think we could make a go of it? Lance listened. He’s a great guy. He listened softly. And softly he said: “If it were going to happen, it would have happened by now.”

Truth bomb. Gently dropped.

If it were going to happen, it would have happened by now.

Even destiny has an expiry date. This is such primal wisdom. I’m all for relentless dreaming and fierce faith. But if you’re spending an overly long time trying to wish, hammer, hope, push and ploy things into form, maybe it’s time to point your dream in another direction. If a crop isn’t growing, the farmer doesn’t keep wasting water and fertilizer on it. He yanks it out, tills the soil and plants a whole new kind of seed.

Let ’em go. Kill the project. Shut down a division. And take that same longing for love, or creative fulfillment, or phat cash and face forward!

Here’s the key dance move:

Hold on to the core desire of the dream – that feeling you want to feel when the dream is realized, but shift to a wholly new target. Change directions and a new form of satisfaction could be right around the corner.

…just like it was for Louise. She got on with her life. And fell in love with someone who fell crazy in love with her – easy breezy and right away.

*names have been changed to protect the identity of the temporarily heartbroken.

Editor’s Note: Danielle LaPorte is the creator of WhiteHotTruth.com, which has been called “the best place on-line for kick-ass spirituality.” She is the author of The Fire Starter Sessions: A Digital Experience for Entrepreneurs, an inspirational speaker, former think tank exec, and news show commentator. You can read all of Danielle’s EcoSalon guest articles here, and find her on Twitter @daniellelaporte.

Image: Hamed Parham

The post Find a New Target for Your Long-Unfulfilled Dream: A Love Story appeared first on EcoSalon.

He texts but never calls, has a close girl “friend” and still loves mommy more than anyone. Run for the hills, honey.

Dating dealbreakers are a touchy subject. It’s common knowledge that sticking to lists of musts and rules is no way to find a man (or woman). But while we may need to learn to give a little when it comes to our list of dating expectations – no really, he doesn’t have to be tall, dark and handsome…or rich – we resolutely abide by the following list of dealbreakers and dating red flags. As with wardrobes, careers and fights with your mother, it’s much easier to make a list of what you don’t want, and when it comes to men, doing so will certainly help you steer clear of of some serious relationship problems.

1. Is always late. Not 10 minutes it’s hard to get a cab tonight late, but late

Fully unacceptable unless his Prius exploded…the first time. You are a busy woman and you have things to do, and if the man can’t get it together to meet up with you on time, it’s a question of respect. Move on.

2. Has a tramp stamp

Lower back tattoos are bad enough on women, but on a man? If you’re on a first date and he bends over to pick something up and his shirt pulls up just high enough to flash a Chinese character or some other cheesy remnant of his early 20s, run while you still can.

3. Has cut off all communication to family

We are perfectly understanding of strained familial relationships. It is a fact of human existence that all parents are flawed and we are all pissed off about it. No one’s perfect, and sometimes a break with those who are closest is what we need. That’s different from complete and utter disconnect. Zero communication with family members is an indicator of larger issues at hand – the kind of larger issues that you don’t need to be dealing with.

4. Buys you pets without asking you first

Puppies and kittens are cute, but if you come home to one wrapped in a bow you may need to do some reflecting. Owning a pet is a commitment, and if he buys you one to take care of without asking you first, you can expect serious control issues. Don’t let him put a bird on it.

5. Has previously had a sugar mama

Financial support is good while it lasts, and it’s fun to joke about marrying up, but if you’re dating a man whose last girl fully supported him in everything he did without his having to work for it, you’ve got serious trouble on your hands. Treat yourself and your best friend to dinner instead.

6. Smokes cigarettes

It doesn’t matter if he comes with an attractive French accent or a New York City address; cigarettes are just disgusting any way you look at it. Plus, do you want to be stuck caring for someone with lung cancer at the ripe age of 55?

7. Two words: dental hygiene

Brush twice a day, floss at least three times a week, and see the dentist now and then. That’s all we ask.

8. Liberally uses the word “douchebag” and its variants, e.g. douchey, douche

A good tip that a man will spend more time reminiscing about his fraternity glory days and/or expressing only thinly-veiled latent “jokes” (read: desires, see shrink)  for his bro pack than asking you how your day was.

9. Doesn’t read or seem to own actual books

If you can’t have a conversation about what you’re reading – or at the very least the latest New York Times article he recently read online – just think about all the other things you’re not going to be able to talk about. Sure, this might sound pretentious, but you’re a smart, intellectual woman and you need to fuel your brain as much as your lust.

10. Hasn’t broken up with Mommy yet (and probably never will)

Next please. Are we really still stuck on the mommy issue thing? Apparently so, because we keep hearing stories of perfectly nice gentlemen that just can’t seem to break loose and expect a girlfriend to fill the role. Nobody wants a mother-in-law from hell, but even worse is the full-time job you didn’t ask for: mothering your boyfriend. If he wants you to call him on his shit instead of bothering to notice the wafting of said shit himself, move on.

11. Thinks therapy is for losers

Let’s be honest: we could all use some professional help in one way or another. If he can’t see that, it means he’s hiding more emotional baggage than he wants to admit.

12. Inappropriate use of flip flops

Rugged, informed, creative, outdoorsy men who have a love for the good life? Drool. But there’s a time and place for everything. At the beach or brunch in the backyard? Wear those flip flops with pride! But all flip flops all the time, even business meetings and dinners? Put on some damn shoes already.

13. “Forgets” the condoms

Conveniently forgetting condoms is classless and disrespectful and shows that a man isn’t ready to honor your integrity. Plus, an adult man knows better no matter his age, and “forgetting” is just as bad as “but I hate condoms.” Newsflash: who doesn’t hate condoms? That doesn’t mean you don’t get to use them.

14. Suggests you split the tab…when he asked you out.

The right way: “This is my treat, if that’s all right?” Being generous, acknowledging potential it’s-not-all-right leanings. The wrong way: “Let’s split it.” That’s just forcing the answer in his favor. Manipulative and cheap.

15. Doesn’t understand your issue with his having a “best gal pal”

It isn’t your fear that he wants to sleep with her, but the fact that he is emotionally available to her and not you, which is why his repeated rantings about not wanting to sleep with her are so exasperating. Sleeping with you, confiding in her means he is incapable of sexual and emotional intimacy with the same woman and will eventually cheat on whomever he marries.

16. Postures himself wherever he goes

Is your new flame constantly posing for Facebook headshots as he’s having dinner with you and friends, trying to look dashing and throwing out quotes like a famous writer when you just want to hike, standing in the shower doorway naked with a “I-want-to-be-sexy-but-am-uncomfortable” grin? These are all signs that he is so self-absorbed and that you will never get him to be present. Posture at him with the middle finger as you walk away.

17. Uses “via” or “literally” in the same sentence more than once

Men who like to attempt to sound smarter by throwing in these little bon mots are just trying to cover up how clueless they really are. We mean to say they might actually be robots.

18. Burps or farts to just “break the ice”

Men can do whatever they want in the company of other men, but when they’re around you, expect that they at least act as if they graduated from high school. A pretty walk in the fall with steaming hot mugs of cider, a lively debate on the value of human communication followed by a loud rip? Hardly the scene you want to be part of. Dump the cider, hold your nose and run for your life.

19. Doesn’t understand the term “A little goes a long way” in terms of hair product

Just because the rest of the country is obsessed with the cast of Jersey Shore, does not give your man the right to channel Pauly D. Have you thought about how you’re going to run your fingers through his waxy, stiff hair and have you even considered what he might look like without all the hair taming?

20. Freaks out playing video games. No, the fact that he plays video games

It’s the third date and all is going well. He sweetly invites you back to his place. “Sure,” you think to yourself, “this has been going great, why not?” And then you see it. A living room centered around a big screen TV, with not one, but three different video game contraptions and a variety of games strewn about the floor. And just as quickly as you wanted to start talking about his feelings on the recent uprising in the Middle East or what his favorite place to travel is or whether he prefers organic or local, you realize he’s nesting into his favorite chair and let’s just say he’s pushing the wrong button.

21. Patting of any kind

Whether it’s on the forehead, knee or anywhere else, patting is a nice little indicator of someone thinking you’re “cute and adorable,” and not in the good way. Stay away from the insecure men who have an obsession with undercutting you.

22. Being weird about you making more money than him

It’s 2011. Enough said.

23. Has a filthy vehicle

You haven’t even been to his apartment yet but from the state of his car floor covered in candy wrappers, Coke bottles, chip bags and ATM receipts, you know for sure that not only is he disorganized, he’s a total pig who couldn’t even nice up for your date.

24. He calls you his “old lady”

Nope, never allowed. You’ll never be an equal. Other terms that will follow (if you’re a sucker and stay) will be “ball and chain,”  followed by “The Wife.”

25. He still sports a soul patch…

It’s 2011. Enough said.

Image: JonoMueller

The post 25 Dating Dealbreakers and How to Spot Them appeared first on EcoSalon.

Tips for saving money on gas.

Gas prices are going up, again, and they might not be going down anytime soon. In the short term it’s painful, but in the long term, it may well be a useful reality check. High prices serve as a good motivator for all of us to be mindful of fuel conservation and reduce our own carbon emissions, saving money while we’re at it. Here are 11 ways you can conserve gas on the road, at home, and while you play.

Beware of public transportation. If you have a good public transportation system, by all means, use it. However, the good news is – more people will be using it. The bad news is – more people will be using it. State and federal budgets have been taking a beating, so that means that public transportation systems have had their share of cuts. The American Public Transportation Association has warned Congress that transportation systems could be overloaded if gas prices continue to rise. More funds for public transportation systems are more important now than ever, so start writing your politicians. In the interim, carpooling is another good option, and it goes without saying, drive a car with the best gas mileage that suits your budget and your needs.

Make friends with a mechanic. For those who do not have a public transportation system, no good bike path system, and have to drive – the first step is to make sure your car is in good condition. Correct tire pressure, clean air filters, wheel alignment and good general car maintenance will optimize your gas mileage.

Lose some weight. Get rid of any excess items you are carrying around in your vehicle. Extra weight makes your car work harder and use more gas. Also lose the sports racks, luggage boxes, and any other accessory that creates drag on your car when you aren’t using them.

Learn to (eco)drive. Back to driver’s education class, everyone. Give up your jackrabbit starts, quick braking, variable speeds, and just plain speeding. Embrace the posted speed limit, use cruise control whenever possible, and choose routes that have fewer stops and starts even if they are a little longer distance.

Wear deodorant. Lots of it. Summer is coming, and with it hot temperatures. While late model cars are pretty efficient, running your air conditioning can consume up to 20% more gas, so use the 4-40 rule. When driving under 40 m.p.h, roll down your (four) windows and feel the breeze. Driving over 40 m.p.h. increases the drag on your car (negating any benefit from not using your air conditioning), so roll the windows up and use your air conditioning sparingly. If you really want to avoid any impact on your fuel efficiency, drive with the windows up, the air conditioning off, and use your air vents.

Hone your time management skills. Condense all your errands into one trip on one day, instead of going out multiple days. Also, buy your gas in the early mornings or evenings when it’s cooler. Cooler gas is denser, so you get more for your money (the pump only measures volume).

Cut off ties to activities more than 10 miles away. Find things to do nearby instead. Ones that you can walk or bike to are even better. Learn to love your neighborhood and your town.

Vote for your town to build more bike paths. As much as we need better and extended public transportation, a plan to build more bike paths is a good idea in the long-term, too. Biking or walking is healthier and does more to alleviate carbon emissions than even taking public transportation. Currently, in many places, biking is simply too dangerous to be a good method of transportation. Wider road shoulders and sidewalks, paved bike trails and a refresher course of road rules regarding right-of-way for bicyclists, pedestrians, and drivers are all good ideas.

Let your grass grow. Buck the neighborhood association rules and consider some natural landscaping. If you must have a manicured lawn, take stock of your power tool inventory. Before you get out your power mower, leaf blower, edger, and other gas-driven yard implements, consider replacing them with manual tools. Buy a push mower and use hand clippers, a rake, and a manual edger and you can get a workout, have a beautiful yard, save on gas and lower emissions.

Don’t go into the office. If your work permits it and your boss can be persuaded, work from home when you can.

Rethink your recreation. Gas-powered boats, jet-skis, all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, dirt bikes, and recreational vehicles are all popular forms of entertainment, but it might be time to change how we spend our free time and look for non-gas-powered alternatives. Some of those weekend activities could become prohibitively expensive this summer.

image: Don Hankins

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