happy halloween! facts, trends, quizzes

A few interesting facts...

• Estimates of this year's Halloween spending in the U.S. alone hovers around $5 billion!
• The average adult is said to spend $65 on his/her Halloween expenditures.
• Candy sales in the U.S. alone were estimated last year to be around $2 billion!
• See the articles at cnbc and marketing charts for more information on this consumer-driven holiday.

top Halloween trends:

• dressing up your pet
• theming everyone's costumes in the family/group
• hosting/attending parties and contests
• carving amazing jack-o-lanterns

Fun Halloween quizzes:

• arcamax quiz
• family education
• aol

Technorati tags: halloween, fun facts, holiday spending, trivia

Photo credit: vlad studio

how to dispose of...

The following are all common household items that should be disposed of in ways other than just throwing them out with the regular trash. See below for info.

• batteries: To find more detailed information on properly disposing of batteries, go to the EHSO website (Environment, Health and Safety Online) here. It gives an excellent summary table for the various types of batteries and best ways to dispose of them. Basically, unless it's an alkaline, manganese, or carbon zinc battery, you have to do something else besides just throw it in the trash. To find your nearest drop-off site, consult the RBRC website (Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation Program) here.
• paint: With water-based paint, you'll need to fill a paper bag with absorbent material (kitty litter, sand, saw dust, etc.) and pour the paint into the bag. Allow to dry completely in a well-ventilated area away from children, pets and direct heat, then you can throw it away in the trash. If you only have paint residue in a can to dispose of, remove the lid and let it dry completely, then remove the skin, discard in the trash and recycle the can. To find more information on paint use and disposal (especially oil-based paints), check out paint.org, a very useful, informative site.
• grease: According to eHow.com, follow these steps to dispose of used grease/cooking oil. Allow the grease to cool completely. If the oil can't be reused, strain it into a clean, sealable container (e.g. plastic jars, old coffee cans). If there's only a small amount of grease, you can throw it away in the container. If there's more to discard, take the filled container to the landfill. You can also add the grease to your compost pile, or recycle it by taking it to a restaurant and asking to add your grease to their used grease bin. Most restaurants take these bins to be recycled into other products.
• motor oil: Take your used motor oil to automotive places, which accept it to recycle. Also, most waste haulers offer curbside collection of used motor oil. You can find more information at earth911.com, as well as where your local oil disposal centers are located.

Technorati tags: how to dispose of, throwing away, batteries, paint, grease, oil

Photo credit: Chico, Sustainable blog

spidey senses: alluring webistry

On this pre-Halloween Friday, we thought it appropriate to showcase cobwebs in all their natural beauty. Check out the albums and images below. After viewing these, you question how stringing cotton could have ever come into practice as an accurate decorative rendition of these amazing works of nature.

• creations photos
• wunderground
• weirdomatic
• flickr
• pbase

You can also check out Wikipedia's article on spider webs or SpiderRoom.com for info on how spiders build their webs, as well as instructions on how to collect webs.

Technorati tags: spider webs, cobwebs, spiders

Photo credit: www.weirdomatic.com

healthy halloweening: 10 tips to avoid gaining 10 pounds

With a holiday that has a primary tradition of going door-to-door asking for candy, the health-conscious person cringes at the impending diet disaster. See below for ten tips on staying at least semi-healthy on Halloween.

1. Don't buy candy until the last minute. This way, you won't break into your stash and eat it before the holiday.
2. Buy lowfat candy like: candy corn, licorice, gummy stuff, sweet tarts, gum, lollipops. Another option is buying candy you don't like for your trick-or-treaters so that you aren't tempted to endulge.
3. Avoid candy altogether by passing out healthy alternatives (e.g. snack-sized pretzels, small packs of nuts, individually-wrapped rice krispie treats, fruit snacks), or going for a non-edible item like stickers, silly putty, pencils, temporary tattoos, etc.
4. Walk, walk, dance! Halloween is a great time to visit your neighbors, attend parades and go dancing! Enjoy all of the activities lined up for the holiday to burn some extra calories while having tons-o-fun!
5. Don't completely deny yourself! If you really want that mini Snickers, go for it! Just don't eat three of them. Sating our cravings is important because otherwise, you eat more of what you don't want to try and satisfy yourself, then usually end up succumbing to the original craving anyway.
6. If you attend a party, don't make the eating the main part of your agenda. Stay away from the snack table. There's so much more to Halloween besides the edibles! Concentrate instead on the costumes, games, dancing and socializing.
7. Prepare for the holiday by being healthy beforehand. Don't start in on the snacking the week prior. Stick with your normal diet and exercise routine and only splurge on the day-of.
8. Don't keep around all the candy afterwards! Give it away by including a few pieces with Halloween cards or make a small gift dish filled with candy and send out to friends and coworkers.
9. Host a Halloween party! That way, you're in control of the menu and activities. Plus, you'll be so busy running around hosting, you won't eat out of boredom.
10. Stay hydrated! This is always applicable to staying healthy and controlling cravings. Many times when you feel hungry, in reality, you're simply thirsty.

If you're interested, check out the CalorieKing's Calorie Counter, a database with all the nutritional info on possible Halloween snacks.

Technorati tags: healthy halloween, halloween, dieting on halloween

Photo credit: www.hometowncandy.com

pumpkin carving: tricks and safety tips

Halloween is just around the corner! One of the most popular traditions of this holiday is pumpkin carving or creating a Jack-O-Lantern. See below for a few tips on carving safely, as well as a few general reminders on carving a great pumpkin! For further Halloween safety tips, see the Halloween Safety Guide. For further pumpkin carving tips, see Pumpkin Carving 101.

• A neat affect can be achieved by inserting a small cup of water with a bit of dry ice in it so that your Jack-O-Lantern has fog coming out of its mouth. However, if you do this, be sure to use thick insulating gloves when handling the dry ice so you don't get burnt. Also, make sure the dry ice isn't too accessible so that no one injures themselves by touching or ingesting it!
• Remember that pumpkin selection is key! You should have your carving goal in mind before selecting to ensure you get the best shape, size, etc. Also, before you begin carving, be sure to inspect the pumpkin to determine which is the best side!
• Instead of a candle, opt for a battery-powered light. Visit PumpkinLights.com to see the variety! This way, no one will get burnt, no fires will be started, and you can get your pumpkin to glow a variety of colors rather than just white!
• Even though kids always want to help with pumpkin carving, small children probably should be limited to helping clean out the pumpkin and draw on the face. Also, instead of a sharp knife to do the carving, many kits are available that come with tiny plastic saws instead. However, these obviously cut and could potentially injure someone too, so still take precautions!
• Finally, check out this pumpkin carving site for some excellent ideas! Remember, you don't have to make just the traditional Jack-O-Lantern: CarvingPumpkins.com. The new carvings are truly that: carvings. Intricate patterns and a myriad of themes abound!

Technorati tags: pumpkin carving, halloween safety, halloween

Photo credit: www.carvingpumpkins.com

get ready to rumble (fish): tips on aquarium keeping

We've all seen the rows of small glass bowls with Betta splendens (AKA Siamese Fighting Fish) in the pet stores. However, those conditions are meant for short-term display only, and no respectable fish owner should continue to keep their B. splendens in such a tiny living space. See below for some general tips on keeping aquariums habitable for your pet fish, along with informational links. Maintaining a good aquarium can improve your fish's lifespan by years!

• In terms of tank size, bigger is better. Water and temperature are steadier in a bigger tank. Also, most aquarium owners tend to overcrowd their pet fish in a too-small tank. Consider the number and size of your fish. The ratio should be about 8 liters of water (a little over 2 gallons) per fish if the fish is of a typical "pet size" (fairly small).
• Be sure to do research when deciding on tank mates! You don't want one of your fish to kill and/or eat the other, do you?
• The art of water maintenance is a science. Look to The First Tank Guide for the lowdown on how to cycle your water with a minimum of fuss.
• The room where you set up your aquarium (sunlight exposure, insulation, etc.) is important. Most fish need a very definite temperature range, which calls for most tanks to have a heater.
• Don't try to breed your fish unless you know what you're doing. Some mating rituals can leave one or the other dead, or the resulting offspring will overcrowd the tank or be devoured. Again, research is key!
• Bottomline: each species of fish is different, and fish are pets just like any other animal. Research what you're getting into beforehand. The worst thing to do is make an impulse buy at your local pet store!

More tips and tricks for the aquarium beginner can be found here.
For some nifty tanks and accessories, see www.reef-one.com.

Technorati tags: fish tanks, pet fish, aquariums

Photo credit: Eric Isselée

top 10 free e-card sites

With all of the social networks and E-reminders out there, it's becoming easier to remember to pop in a little "Happy Birthday" or "Happy Anniversary" or "Happy Donut Day" (first Friday of June) here and there to your friends and family. When you want something a bit more flashy or entertaining than your standard E-mail or wall posting, however, there's always the tried-and-true E-card. Our favorite upcoming E-card holiday: National Boss Day (October 16, this coming Tuesday). (As long as your boss doesn't bear too close a resemblance to Mr. Burns from The Simpsons.) Check out our list below. They're all cheaper than flowers and less fattening than chocolates.

top 10 free e-card sites:

1. eCardica - Very good, thorough, general site. Also boasts a reminder calendar.
2. Yahoo! Greetings - Another good, general site.
3. Hallmark - The all-time greeting card company takes it to the Net.
4. Yahoo! Kid ECards - What it sounds like: a great selection of E-cards for kids.
5. someEcards - Scathing, sardonic humor. A bit off-beat, very hip with a retro theme to their graphics.
6. Wicked Moon - Fantasy-themed E-cards. Think: dragons, warlocks, unicorns, etc.
7. Einstein eCards - Science and physics-themed E-cards. Some really beautiful images of our world.
8. Sympatico - Specializing in animated/flash E-cards. The music isn't *quite* as grating as many others.
9. DaySpring - Specializes in Christian-themed E-cards.
10. care2 - The sheer number of E-cards on this site makes it worth listing (over 25,000).

Technorati tags: e-cards, free e-cards, top e-card sites

Photo credit: FOX

fyi: salts of the earth

Whether it graces the rim of your margarita glass or coats your driveway to melt ice in the winter, salt obviously has a myriad of uses. However, when it comes to choosing the proper type of salt for a given purpose, we've found that it's a tad bit more complicated than one might originally imagine. Check out the salt entry of the Cook's Thesaurus online. It gives some pointers on the many uses of salt, as well as outlines the various types. A summary of the salts covered are below.

• bamboo salt = parched salt = jukyom = jook yeom: This is made by roasting sea salt in bamboo cylinders plugged with yellow mud. The salt absorbs minerals from the bamboo and mud, which in turn leach the salt of impurities. Look for plastic bags of it in Korean markets.
• black salt = kala namak = sanchal: Look for this in Indian markets, either ground or in lumps. It's more tan than black, and has a very strong, sulfuric flavor.
• curing salt = tinted curing mixture = TCM = Prague Powder #1: This is used to cure meats and fish.   It's usually dyed pink so that it won't be mistaken for ordinary salt. It consists of 93.75% table salt and 6.25% sodium nitrate.
• French sea salt = sel marin: This expensive French salt comes from sea water that's pooled into basins and then evaporated. Unlike most American sea salts, it's unrefined, so it retains more of the minerals that naturally occur in seawater. There are several varieties. Gray salt = grey salt = sel gris gets its color from the clay lining the basins. La fleur de sel (the flower of the salt) is whiter, but has a similar flavor. NOTE: Trendy gourmets swear by the softer, fresher flavor of this salt and that shelling out $5 per small packet is worth it!
• Hawaiian salt = alaea salt = Hawaiian sea salt = 'alaea sea salt: This unrefined sea salt gets its pinkish-brown color from Hawaiian clay, called 'alaea, which is rich in iron oxide. The clay also imparts a subtle flavor to the salt. The salt is expensive, and hard to find on the mainland.
• kosher salt: This salt was developed for the preparation of kosher meats, but many cooks prefer it over table salt. Most kosher salt is flaked, helping it to adhere better, so it's great for lining margarita glasses, making a salt crust on meats/fish. Kosher salt is free of iodine, which can react adversely with certain foods. The only drawback to using kosher salt for pickling or canning is that the grains are coarser and flakier, and can't be packed as tightly into a measuring cup as pickling salt, raising the risk that the salt won't be properly measured. To get around this problem, measure by weight instead of volume. With its large grains, kosher salt isn't a good choice for baking. Look for boxes of it in the spice section of your supermarket.
• pickling salt = canning salt = canning and pickling salt: Lacks the iodine and anti-caking additives that turn pickles dark and the pickling liquid cloudy. Pickling salt is available in large bags or boxes in supermarkets, but it's hard to find in cities. Can also use it just as you would ordinary table salt, though without the anti-caking agents it may get lumpy if exposed to moisture. Don't substitute reduced-sodium salt for pickling salt when making pickles.
• rock salt = ice cream salt = halite = sidewalk salt = land salt: This is the cheap, non-food grade salt that we throw onto icy walkways and use to make ice cream. The salt lowers the freezing point of the ice, which causes it to melt.
• sea salt = bay salt: This salt comes from evaporated sea water, and contains minute amounts of magnesium, calcium, and other minerals. Since the government requires that salt sold for table use in the United States contain at least 97.5% pure salt, these minerals don't amount to much, though some pricey French sea salts have higher concentrations. Some gourmets say that sea salt has a cleaner, saltier flavor compared to table salt. Don't use sea salt for canning or pickling--the trace minerals may discolor the food. It's also not the best choice for baking--the grains are too large.   
• table salt = cooking salt = granular salt: Varieties include iodized salt, which contains the flavorless additive potassium iodide to prevent goiter (an enlargement of the thyroid gland), and non-iodized salt. Some recipes call for non-iodized salt, since iodine can impart a bitter taste and adversely react with certain foods.

Technorati tags: salt, types of salt, salt varieties, cooking

Photo credit: www.foodsubs.com

start 'em out right: healthy practices for kids

Sure, they may spend more hours in front of computer monitors and television screens in a day than you did in a whole month when you were their age. However, kids nowadays are also learning how to lead healthy, balanced lives through everyday practices and habits, from yoga in the classroom to organic meals. Check out the links below for a few of the latest and greatest in kid-healthy programs.

• yoga at school: From kindergarten through fifth grade, students are learning to use deep breathing and basic yoga to cope with stress and better remember their lessons.
• healthy eating: Kidfresh is a company that compiles menus with fresh, all-natural ingredients in kid-friendly sizes.

Also, click here for the American Heart Association's Top Ten Ways to Help Children Develop Healthy Habits.

Technorati tags: childrens health, healthy habits for kids, kids health programs

Photo credit: Denis L Pogostin

a fishy situation: is fish safe to eat?

Like many health issues, whether to eat fish is an ever-evolving, two-sided debate. On one hand, fish contains an abundance of protein, as well as omega-3 fatty acids that protect against coronary artery disease. On the other hand, fish may contain a variety of contaminates (the most commonly known being mercury, which builds up in your system, difficult for your body to expel). CNN has a great article on the matter here. The basic precautions on eating fish are listed below. Please note, however, that in most cases, people don't eat enough fish for it to be a major health concern anyway.

• For children, nursing mothers, pregnant women and women who may become pregnant, avoid eating large game fish (e.g. swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish, shark), which have very high concentrations of mercury, and limit all other fish and shellfish intake to 12 ounces/week. Note: Albacore tuna has higher mercury levels than other types, so intake should be limited to 6 ounces/week.
• In terms of eating fish that you catch locally, check advisories in your area to find out what types and how much are safe. If you can't find the info, limit consumption to 6 ounces/week.

Technorati tags: eating fish, mercury in fish, is fish safe

Photo credit: Maria Gritsai