Crocs – Yes or No? 

Imagine this scenario: It's a Sunday afternoon and you're just coming in from gardening, wearing your Crocs. You decide to quickly run to the grocery store. Do you change your shoes or leave on your Crocs? I mean, they're just so easy to wear and super comfortable…and it'll only be a few minutes.

No! The answer is no. You remove the Crocs and put on any other shoe. Flip flops? Awesome. UGG boots? Yes, great. Jelly shoes? Okay, sure. But the Crocs should stay in the privacy of your home.

Let me tell you a little something about America's beloved Crocs shoes. They are boating shoes that were made to be worn outdoors and on boats. Then, I don't know, one day some boater went into Macy's after a sweaty day at sea to buy a pair of Dockers, and every woman dropped her giant sunglasses and exclaimed, "What are those things on your feet?  I must have them!" I think that's how it happened.

Crocs are everywhere and on everyone. People now wear them to errands and parties, make their kids wear them, and even wear them to the gym and work.  People, that is too far! Yes, I understand Crocs shoes are comfortable and light – like walking on rubber clouds, maybe. And, okay, maybe if you are a nurse – especially a nurse on a boat – and spend hours every day on your feet, I can admit that Crocs might be more comfortable… but enough is enough.

What started as a simple awkward-looking rubber clog has somehow morphed into a whole line of Crocs footwear. There are Crocs for every occasion – sandal Crocs, boot Crocs and even high-heeled Crocs. What? I wasn't aware we needed high-heeled Crocs. My mistake.

There's no stopping it now, of course – the Crocs have already been made and sold. But we can try to avoid future Crocs-like fads by keeping the occasion-specific footwear occasion specific. So, let's keep the snowshoes in the snow.

Healthy Pet Food

Humans watch what they eat to stay healthy, but a cat or dog can only watch their food go into a bowl. It’s up to caring pet owners to watch which nutrients their pets are getting from the food they eat.

There are many companies who pride themselves in making pet foods that are high in nutrients to keep pets healthy. For pet owners who want to be more involved in the diet of their pets by making the pet food themselves, the task isn’t that difficult.

Dogs prefer flavors like liver, lamb, beef, fish and cheese. Cats prefer fresh flavors, and they like chicken, liver, fish and turkey. Dogs are able to eat any vegetables, but cats cannot have starchy vegetables, like peas and corn, or onions. Grains, like wheat germ, cooked oatmeal and whole wheat bread, can also be added. For actual dog and cat food recipes, search the Internet or talk to your veterinarian for suggestions. Of course, pet owners should always consult a veterinarian before changing their pet’s diet.

With practice, pet owners will find that making their own pet food is not only healthy for their pets, but it is also inexpensive and fairly easy to do.           

Chicken & Rice for Dogs

Ingredients:

1 cup boiled chicken

½ cup cooked brown rice

½ cup steamed mixed vegetables (carrots, green beans, spinach, potatoes)

4 tablespoons unsalted chicken broth

Boil chicken and add to cooked rice. Steam the vegetables and add the broth, rice and chicken. Simmer for 10 minutes, cool and serve.

Sautéed Liver for Cats

Ingredients:

¼ pound beef liver

½ cup water

1 teaspoon corn oil

Heat the corn oil in a pan. Add the beef liver and fry on both sides until cooked but not dry inside. Add the water to the pan and mix it up with all the brown bits. Grind the liver in a blender with all of the juices from the pan. Cool and serve.

Sometimes the grass really is greener…

…depending on the amount of water, mulch, pesticides, fertilizers, time and money used on the project. But if you are looking for a fun, ecologically friendly way to free yourself from the tyranny of your lawn, consider finding a plant and revitalization project in your area.

Local plants, having adapted to local conditions, are often easier to maintain than foreign imports and are better able to support local animal life. This often translates to a healthier ecosystem. Greater biodiversity helps keep pests under control by encouraging a healthy competition for resources, therefore limiting the overgrowth of any one species.

One example of private and corporate citizens working together to assure conservation is the Chicago Wilderness Habitat Project. Through a combination of data gathering, workshops, volunteer planting and conservation efforts, Chicago Wilderness boasts a networked area of more than 250,000 acres crossing three states (Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana) and several metropolitan areas containing almost 9 million people.

While some of the Wilderness areas are officially protected, much is not. It is managed through the efforts of corporate and private citizens who voluntarily take part in the program by encouraging natural species on the land around their work and homes. In addition to providing reserves for several endangered plant and animal species, the Chicago Wilderness is also a working model for how natural diversity can be successfully managed in and around an urban environment for the benefit and enjoyment of everyone.

For more information on the Chicago Wilderness, check out Habitatproject.org

Does your business use office supplies in a very "special" way? If so, we would love to hear about it. Better yet, send us a picture!

We found this interesting use of a stapler in our own office!

How would you caption this:

 
A stapler that jams isn't always a bad thing!

Fitness Water 

Who wants to sip just plain old water when there are plenty of other, more flavorful, vitamin-packed bottled waters out there? They claim to give you energy, oxygen and vitamins, but are they really better for you than tap water?

Many of these fitness waters claim to give you energy. But what we may not realize is that energy comes from calories, and those calories are sugar. Also, be aware that most bottles contain more than one serving. So while the bottle label may claim that the drink only has 10 calories, you are likely to double or triple your caloric intake by consuming the entire bottle. Watch those labels – some fitness waters contain up to 125 calories per serving! That’s nearly the same as a can of soda! So, if you’re looking to lose weight, drinking these kinds of drinks will only slow down or inhibit your progress.

According to the article Vitamin water: Better than plain water? written by Mayo Clinic dietician Katherine Zeratsky, best way to get your vitamins is through fruits and vegetables. “If you’re eating a balanced diet or taking a multi-vitamin, you won’t likely benefit from drinking vitamin water.”

Dr. Larry Cheskin, professor of medicine and director of the Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center, advises people to drink cold tap water in his article, Medical Expert Puts Bottled Fitness Waters to the Test. He says to simply “Refill an empty bottle with it and take a multi-vitamin and eat a good diet.”

The argument in favor of these fitness waters is that many people don’t consume enough plain water because it doesn’t taste like anything. Fitness waters add flavor so drinkers consume more. While the daily recommended intake of water varies for each of us depending on our lifestyle, the number you most often hear is 8 glasses a day.

So, not crazy about plain water and don’t want to go the fitness water route? Jazz plain water up by simply adding a fresh lemon or a squirt of cranberry juice, or try sparkling water.

American Idol 

Yes, I watch American Idol. I tend not to advertise that in mixed company, but I don't care anymore! I love that show and I will hold it in no longer!

I recently made a friend of mine watch American Idol against her will, and during one of the more embarrassing performances she asked me, "Why do you watch this show?"  I turned to her and said, "I do NOT have to explain myself to you!"

But then I started thinking about it... Why DO I like Idol so much? It's not like I have ever listened to or purchased an idol winner’s album. So, it’s more than watching to hear talented singer’s perform and see who wins. It's these four things that make me tune into Idol each week:

The judges

They're an eclectic group and sometimes more entertaining than the contestants themselves. I love when Paula and Simon tell each other to be quiet, or Randy name drops about working with Whitney Houston or talks about being in Journey. The new judge, Kara DioGuardi, is holding her own at the table, but she hasn't been on long enough to reveal any quirks.

The interesting contestants

I was disappointed when the comedian in the sweatband and shiny shirt wasn't voted into the top twelve this season. Okay, maybe he wasn't the best singer, and maybe, during his two-minute performances, he momentarily turned the show into a joke. But at least he was fun to watch.

Guest singers

It's always interesting to see which guests they pull in during the later part of the season and how well the contestants sing the guests’ songs. For example, 17-year olds singing Manilow? Now that's good TV.

Random celebrities in the audience

Remember two years ago during the finale when the camera cut to David Hasselhoff in the audience? And he was crying?  Idol is full of golden audience moments like that. So far this season we've seen Neil Patrick Harris and Ted Dansen sitting together – random!  It's fun to see who else will show up for a split second.

Etsy.com 

It's the biggest, coolest craft fair you wish your neighborhood had – Etsy.com, the place to "Buy, Sell, and Live Homemade." It's like an artisan’s Amazon.com, where buyers can find anything and everything handmade, and sellers can share their art with a global audience.

With a mission to re-focus on the handmade craftsmanship of people versus machine, Etsy is bringing back that old-time feel of the marketplace, where people made a living with their hands and their craft, and sold directly to the public. But, aside from the idealism of living homemade, Etsy is just plain cool.

Founded in 2005 by three guys (Rob Kalin, Chris Maguire and Haim Schoppik) with a vision of a different kind of economy, Etsy has since become a community marketplace of more than  100,000 online shops all over the world. These shops sell anything you can imagine – and even things you can't – from jewelry, clothing, pottery, paper goods and furniture, to even wedding bouquets. The selling policy is strict – if it's not made by the seller themselves, it's not allowed on Etsy. Crafting supplies and vintage items, however, are also allowed, in support of the handmade and recycling revolution.

For a buyer, Etsy is the perfect place to find one-of-a-kind items – items that are made, it seems, just for you. In this unique marketplace, buyers can put a face to their purchases. They have direct communication with both the maker and the seller – because it's the same person. Each item sold has a story, unlike the anonymous mass-produced items that line store shelves today. And, they're reasonably priced and shipped to your door.

If you're looking for something specific and totally custom made, you can post a request on Etsy's "Alchemy" forum. Then, sellers bid on the item to make it.

It's a whole community – an entire world of incredibly talented, eclectic artists – right in your browser and ready to sell directly to you. Let the handmade movement march on.

GPS Devices

Fold up the old maps. Toss out the piles of MapQuest directions you’ve printed out. Start traveling the roads in a whole new way with the help of a GPS navigation device!

To the first-time buyer, all GPS receivers may look alluring with their bright lights and fancy buttons, but there are real differences you need to know about before making a purchase. Screen size is important (the bigger, the better!) but even more important is the screen resolution (240x320 pixels is good…272x480 pixels is even sharper). Some models are ready to go right out of the box – others may require you to first register software or copy data from a DVD to a media card.

There’s a lot to consider before buying, but perhaps the biggest difference in today’s vast array of available GPS devices are their prices – models range anywhere from about $150 to more than $1,000. If you’re only using your GPS for short trips around town, you’re probably OK with a less expensive model with fewer bells and whistles. If, on the other hand, you’re constantly driving to new (and unfamiliar) places, you might want to consider a higher priced model with enhanced features and capabilities.

Since prices vary to such a large extent, here are 3 of the GPS models on Quill.com to fit budgets both small and large:

Less than $200 – Tomtom ONE 130 GPS

Slim and lightweight, this GPS features a full-size touchscreen, crystal clear 3D graphics and turn-by-turn spoken instructions.  This model also features a foldable, EasyPort mount that lets you take it with you from car to car, and includes Tomtom’s Map Share technology so you can instantly modify street names, street direction, and Points of Interest on your own device. Switch on and go right out of the box – no activation, no monthly fees!

Less than $300 – Garmin nuvi 255W

A widescreen 4.3” display lets you easily view map details and driving directions in bright, brilliant 3D clarity. Text-to-speech feature speaks street names and “Where Am I?” feature lets you quickly and easily locate the nearest hospitals, police stations and gas stations. Pre-loaded with City Navigator NT – includes detailed maps of the lower 48 states plus Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

Less than $500 – Magellan Maestro 4350 GPS

One-touch interface lets you access your favorite routes, searches and applications with just a single tap of the screen. Features a widescreen 4.3” anti-glare display, built-in AAA travel information, text-to-speech, and built-in FM transmitter. Also includes the Magellan TrafficKit (subscription required) for real-time traffic updates and suggested alternative routes.

Digital Cameras

How many megapixels do I need? What’s the difference between digital zoom and optical zoom? If you’re about to buy your first digital camera, it’s easy to become confused by the overwhelming number of models currently on the market.

Following are some tips you can use to help you choose a new camera that’s just right for you…and just right for your office budget, too!

What’s the right number of megapixels?

It all depends on what you’re going to use the camera for. If you’re only going to use your pictures for posting on the Web or sending in an e-mail, you shouldn’t need more than 2 megapixels. If you want large printouts of your photos, than you should get a camera with 5 megapixels or more – you’ll be able to capture all the fine details you’re looking for.

What about a zoom lens?

You’ll most definitely want a camera with decent optical zoom (as opposed to digital zoom). Here’s why: optical zoom physically moves the camera lenses to “zoom” in on your subject – digital zoom only averages and magnifies the image within the camera’s microchip resulting in lower picture quality. Many experts recommend getting at least 3x optical zoom in any camera you buy.

Battery life

Often, this is the feature that digital camera buyers overlook. Make sure you find out how long the batteries in your camera will last so you don’t run out of power during your photo shoot. If you’re using a camera that runs on disposable batteries, AA lithium, CRV2 and AA Oxyride batteries offer longer life than standard alkaline batteries.

Now that you have some basic knowledge about what to look for in a digital camera, it’s time to start shopping. Start by checking out the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-H50 (packed with user friendly features) and the Canon PowerShot SD870IS with its 3” pure color LCD screen…or take a step up to the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi with its full array of advanced features and technological advances!

Less gas more, emissions?

With warmer days fast approaching, have the open roads begun to beckon? Looking at the high cost of gas and insurance, it would only be natural to wonder if a scooter might be a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to enjoy the summer months than an automobile. If the thought has crossed your mind, you aren’t alone.

According to a Retail Sales Report released by the Motorcycle Industry Council, scooter sales increased 41% in 2008, and some dealers said they could have sold more if they hadn’t been limited by availability. With its small size and cheaper-than-a car price tag, you might think a scooter is a great way to go green, but the facts on these motorbikes may surprise you.

According to the California Air Resources Board, the average motorbike is 10 times more polluting per mile than a passenger car, light truck, or SUV. The reason? Although a motorbike uses less gas per mile than a four-wheeled vehicle (and thus theoretically contributes less carbon dioxide), it has a much higher emission rate for nitrogen oxides, which creates smog. According to recent studies, motorcycles and scooters – which represent only 1% of the vehicle miles traveled in California – contribute 10% of the smog-creating pollution.

Since bikes are lighter, they are generally not equipped with catalytic converters, which reduce these pollutants. Many bikes also use a two-stroke engine which burns an almost 50% fuel/oil mix, contributing more to the exhaust. Although the EPA is tightening emissions standards across the country in 2010, two-wheel standards will still be more lenient than emissions for four-wheel vehicles since they are generally tested longer and at higher speeds.

To make your scooter as green as possible, consider the following:

·         The faster you drive, the higher the emissions. Take the back road, slow down, and enjoy the view

·         Consider an electric scooter that can be recharged from renewable energy sources

·         If you’re buying a scooter that uses gas, avoid the two-stroke engine and look for a model with a 3-way catalytic converter

Whatever your reason for getting a scooter – economic, environmental, or just for fun – they are still motor vehicles and will be subject to insurance, licensing, and safety standards. Always wear a helmet and protective clothing, and seriously consider taking a motorcycle training course. You might even make new friends for those back country drives!

Off-the-wall design ideas

Are you looking for a quick way to update your room, basement or entire living space? Painting interior walls may be the fastest and most inexpensive way to change the appearance of a room. Adding a splash of color or a pleasant pattern can spark that warm, inviting feeling again. 

One of the most important steps before starting a painting project is the preparation.

• Clean the wall, baseboard and ceiling surfaces with household cleaner, hot water and a sponge several hours before beginning to paint
• Remove all nails, smooth spackle across nail holes and let the spackle dry; once dry, sand the spackle with fine sandpaper until wall surface is smooth
• Protect the room—don't just stop with covering the floors: protect doorknobs, electric switches, faucets and other items that you want to keep paint-free with aluminum foil; crimp and fold the foil to fit the shape of the objects
• Be sure to choose the correct type of paint for the room; moisture-heavy rooms, such as bathrooms or kitchens, require mildew-resistant satin or semi-gloss paint that can easily be cleaned
• Buy quality paints, brushes and rollers—cheap paint does not cover well, which could require additional coats, and cheap brushes loose their bristles and can get stuck to the surface, creating an unsightly finish
• Use painter’s tape to create crisp lines and stripes, and to avoid getting paint on unwanted areas

Once you have finished painting, you can create the look of wallpaper using stencils. Stencils can either be purchased or made using a piece of poster board. Find patterns on the internet or create freehand designs. To create a larger stencil to balance the scale of your room, tape 2 pieces of poster board together.

• Once the stencil is traced and cut out, tape it to the wall using painter's tape, and use a level to make sure the design lines are straight
• Using a foam roller with minimal paint, apply the paint directly over the stencil; don't use too much paint or it could bleed under the stencil
• Once stencil is filled in, carefully remove the stencil from the wall
• Use the stencil around the room, making sure to align and space evenly
• Touch-up any bleeding lines or imperfections with a small brush

Color evokes different emotions, and stencils add unique style to rooms—add a personal touch to your home by finding color that fits your style. Just remember, paint isn’t permanent.  If you don’t enjoy the color or pattern, you can always choose something else.

Die-hard fans

Basketballs, hockey sticks, baseball bats and gloves, golf clubs, and football helmets aren’t just for the sports arena anymore. People have started bringing their love of the game to other aspects of their lives – but have they gone too far? Here’s a selection of five cases, from the more typical to the extreme, where sports themes have taken over.

Interior Design

Sports fans can now show pride for their favorite team throughout their home. Many home improvement stores now carry sports-themed paint so customers can cover their walls in the same colors their favorite teams wear. Professional baseball and football teams, college and university teams, NASCAR drivers, Major League Soccer, U.S. Olympic team, and the Federation of Mexican Fútbol are just some of the color themes that can be brought home with fans.

Baby Showers

If celebrities do it, it must be okay, right? Charlie and Brooke Sheen had a sports-themed baby shower, and if you want one too, Web sites like www.baby-gifts-gift-baskets.com have all the supplies you need from invitations to thank-you notes.

Wedding Bands and Dresses

Wedding rings, a symbol of your love for and commitment to your spouse, are now also a symbol of love for a favorite sport. Wedding bands, like those found at www.aisledash.com, come shaped with miniature football threads, golf ball indents, tire treads, baseball stitching and soccer ball patterns. Women can also show their sports team pride in their wedding dress, too. Showing team colors and an insignia on a wedding dress has become a trend for die-hard fans.

Caskets and Burial Options

Some fans have even made plans to show their team spirit for all of eternity. A company called Eternal Image has signed an agreement with a selection of Major League Baseball teams to design caskets and urns with team colors and insignias. Other sports teams will have their colors and insignia shown on caskets and urns in the future with Eternal Image.

Name Changes

Pittsburgh’s Mayor, Luke Ravenstahl, did what he could to help the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Baltimore Ravens and move on to Super Bowl XLIII – he changed his name. He removed the word “Raven” from his last name and added the word “Steeler,” making his name Luke Steelerstahl.

Printer or Multifunction Machine?

Buying a new printer for your office might seem like a relatively easy task….until you realize the incredible number of options associated with the decision.

Inkjet or laser? Color or monochrome? Do you need two-sided printing, collating capabilities, or an extra-large input tray? What about wireless?

If you’re going to print a lot of black and white pages, a laser printer is your best choice because it’s faster and costs less to print each page. (Inkjet printers initially cost less but because it’s more expensive to print each page, the cost of cartridges can really add up). Many businesses today, however, are now deciding to upgrade to a laser or inkjet multifunction machine because in addition to printing, they can also handle scanning, copying and faxing.

Buying a multifunction machine can save your company money, space…and maybe a little bit of aggravation, too. Here’s how:

• Save money – you could spend many thousands of dollars for a dedicated printer, flatbed scanner, copier and fax machine….compared to only a couple hundred dollars for a reliable multifunction.
  One multifunction machine also consumes less power than three or four separate machines.
• Save space – if things are getting just a bit crowded in your office, a multifunction can consolidate all your necessary office functions into just one machine
• Save some aggravation – having one machine that does it all can also make office life just a little bit easier. You’ll have to download just one driver update (as opposed to separate downloads for different machines) and you’ll only have to purchase ink and toner for just one machine (and not different kinds of ink and toner for each of your machines).  

If a multifunction machine is right for your office, here are some recommended models to take a look at:

• Canon ImageCLASS MF4370 Mono Laser Multifunction—Features 2-sided printing, copying, faxing and scanning and includes a 35-page auto document feeder and built-in Ethernet port for network printing. Prints up to 23 ppm with up to 600x600 dpi resolution.
   
• Brother MFC-7840W Mono Laser Multifunction—An ideal choice for wireless networking. Has a 10,000 pages per month duty cycle and prints up to 23 ppm with extra sharp 2400x600 dpi resolution.
  
  
• HP Color LaserJet CM1312 NFI Multifunction—Perfect for creating marketing brochures and other presentation-quality materials that require sharp graphics and attention-getting color. Prints up to 12 ppm (black) and 8 ppm (color). Energy Star® qualified.

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Curb appeal

Curb appeal is the popular buzzword for how good your house and yard look from the street. If your house isn't selling, or if you're preparing to put it on the market, chances are your front yard could use a facelift.  
 

Homeowners address curb appeal by what they can do to make the outside of their home look its best. It is essential when selling the property—first impressions are very important and can sway potential buyers to have positive or negative reactions before entering the home. An inviting home encourages people to visit.

Curb appeal relates to landscaping, exterior color, masonry and entryway, including porches and doors, garage and driveway. Windows say a lot about a home, not only by their appearance and upkeep, but also about their efficiency.

Your house should be welcoming and its appeal easily visible at every angle from the street. Most importantly, it should make you feel proud when you drive up to it—feel something special about your house "that makes you smile when you come home," according to exterior designer Pamela Berstler. Exactly what that something is, depends on the home style and owner, since different people value different things. Curb appeal is a balance between what makes you happy and the style of your neighborhood.

Many sources tout the financial benefits of boosting curb appeal, citing a 1999 Clemson University study showing that consumers valued well-landscaped homes at 11% above the asking price. A 1999 Gallup survey found landscaping could add 7-15% to a home's value. A 2003 SmartMoney magazine article suggested that spending 5% of your home's value on landscaping could yield a return of 150% or more.

Having a plan is important, says landscape designer Jim Riley, because it means there will be consistency to the work you do, even if it’s done in phases. Not all improvements need to involve major and expensive work. "It can be as simple as painting the front door a different color—it’s a quick and easy thing you can do yourself."

Luba Mason
Krazy Love
Sunnyside Records

On her new CD Krazy Love, vocalist Luba Mason premieres eight original songs that explore many kinds of love, from childhood memories of her parents’ home in “This House” to betrayal in both “From Me To You” and “A Summer Night.” Behind her masterful singing, acoustic instruments create an intimate atmosphere, playing soulful Brazilian and jazz rhythms mixed with the raw emotion of folk and pop. Through her interpretations, the songs come alive as personal and heartfelt expressions of real human experience.

The emotional depth of her singing comes in part from her extensive performing experience. She danced and sang in the Tony Award-winning Broadway production of “The Will Roger’s Follies.” In the celebrated revival of “How To Succeed In Business…” she shared the stage with Matthew Broderick as the sexy Hedy LaRue. She played Velma Kelly opposite Brooke Shields’ Roxy Hart in the smash musical, “Chicago,” and she starred in the Broadway production of “Jekyll & Hyde.” Her television credits include guest appearances on “Law & Order,” “NYPD Blue,” “New York Undercover,” and most recently opposite Jeff Goldblum in the psychic detective series, “Raines.” While performing Paul Simon’s “The Capeman,” her husband Latin superstar Ruben Blades – then just her castmate – asked her to sing on his CD Mundo, which won a Grammy Award in 2003.

Krazy Love features guest appearances by Blades and also by world-renowned flutist Hubert Laws. Additionally, Luba’s top-notch band features pianist Renato Neto (Prince’s pianist), bassist Jimmy Haslip (from the Yellowjackets), percussionist Cassio Duarte, Sandro Albert on guitar and Marco Costa on drums. Luba Mason will be featured at this year’s Panama Jazz Festival. Visit www.lubamason.com for more information.