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With the kickoff of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada on the 12th of February, here are some fun facts about little things that the competition does to help the earth!
Reducing the Budget: While Beijing’s architectural masterpieces like the Birds Nest stadium and Water Cube were ridiculously cool, China spent over $40 billion on making Beijing ready for the games. Vancouver has only spent around $2 billion, with a lot of it going towards eco-friendly initiatives. Everything they build must have a purpose beyond the games. Instead of building a new stadium, Vancouver is remodeling the 25-year old BC Place Stadium, which will save them millions of dollars. Way to reuse Vancouver!
Transportation: One great step towards reducing the Olympics’ carbon footprint is reducing transportation. With over athletes in the city, the city is opening more lines on the Vancouver Sky Train and has opened the Canada Line rapid transit, which will connect the international airport quickly with downtown. There is also a bunch of hybrid and fuel efficient taxis. All of this will help to reduce traffic congestion with the massive flow of people in the area!
Housing: Every time a city is picked to host the games, one of the main things they have to build is housing for all of the athletes. Vancouver has created the Olympic Village in South East Creek that can hold 10,000 people. It certified with the LEED Gold by the US Green Building Council and half of the condos have green roofs. This means that they will be growing plants on the top of roofs. A set of the condos, called Millennium Water have solar panels on the rooftops to help cut back on energy consumption. After the games are over, the condos will be sustainability-minded apartments. Also, the planning of the Village will have walking paths and easy access to transit services to cut back on driving cars!
New facilities that will have lasting purpose: Of the new buildings being built, all will be converted over to public use after the games. The Hillcrest and Nat Bailey Stadium Park, which are curling rinks for the games, will later be converted to community centers and recreation parks that will include a gymnasium, library, ice hockey rink, curling rinks, and swimming pools. The old Trout Lake community center is being converted to ice rinks for the games and will become a public rink afterwards.
Medals made from recycled materials: The over 1,000 medals awarded at the games this year will be made from recycled circuit boards from old gadgets that would have otherwise ended up in a landfill. They will be made by Teck Resources and the Royal Canadian Mint and will feature Aboriginal art by Corrine Hunt.
Coca –Cola goes Green: One of the main corporate sponsors, Coke, is becoming as eco-friendly as possible during the games. From coolers to uniforms, here are several of the different ways the company is committed to saving the earth:
- The 1,500 coolers will use eKOfresh technology that will nearly eliminate direct greenhouse gases and will help reduce indirect gases.
- Beverages will be delivered from hybrid vehicles from bottling facilities to the venues and once on the venue, only electric carts will be used.
- Recycling bins will be placed throughout all the venues to encourage recycling. They are reaching for nothing less than 100% of all bottles to be recycled.
- They’ve created a PlantBottle, which will be used for water and sparkling beverages.
- All of the staff’s uniforms, literally everything but underwear and shoes, will be made of recycled bottles.
Habitat Island: This island is just off the shores of the southeast Olympic Villages apartments. It’s a tiny island that is about the of a football field. Although man-made, the island is a plant and bird sanctuary that has the hopes of restoring a significant amount of shoreline to the area.
If you want anymore information on Vancouver’s quest for eco-friendly games, visit their website: http://www.vancouver2010.com/sustainability/
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Oh Valentine’s Day, how you creep up at the beginning of every year and put the pressure of finding the perfect way to tell people you love them. Never fear, friends, we have a great idea to simplify your Valentine’s Day – stay in, have some fun, and save yourself some cash!
First thing is first – get the gift now! No really, planning ahead will allow you to find a thoughtful gift that your sweetie will actually like instead of rushing at the last minute to find something that kinda works. It’s ok to stay away from the “typical” chocolates, flowers, and jewelry. Go for a unique gift or check out fair trade chocolate, eco-friendly or organic flowers, and ethical or recycled jewelry. Oh and ladies, don’t forget your man this year – they need to feel the love too!
Keep it real. Unrealistic expectations and over the top plans can really fizzle if they don’t come to fruition. Let’s be realistic people, going out to dinner on Valentine’s day never seems to be as wonderful as you hoped it would be. Restaurants are crowded, the servers are grumpy about working, and it’s difficult to put out the vibe with hundreds of strangers around you. Make dinner at home, heck try cooking together for some more time together. Not sure what to make? Here’s what we think makes for a laid-back evening with your sweetie, friends or family:
German Cheddar and Beer Fondue
Image: Food Network
A simple recipe from Rachael Ray at the Food Network that is fun to eat – I mean come on people, we’re talking about cheesy delicious fondue! Pair it with a tasty salad to get your veggies and add a course.
Serves 4
Ingredients:
1 sack, 10 ounces, 2 1/2 cups, shredded sharp Cheddar, available on dairy aisle
1/4 to 1/3 pound, 4 to 6 ounces, Gruyere, shredded
1 rounded tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 cup German lager beer (or your favorite beer!)
2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard
A few drops hot sauce
A few drops Worcestershire sauce
For Serving:
1 1/2 pounds cubed or thick sliced and browned wursts: knock, brat or brot, etc.
1 package mini party franks (recommended: Boars Head)
1 head cauliflower, separated into florets
1 small jar mini Gherkin pickles, drained
1 small jar pickled onions, available on vegetable aisle
1 small, round loaf rye, pumpernickel or sour dough bread, cubed
Directions:
Combine cheeses in a bowl with flour. Add beer to a small pot and bring up to a bubble over medium heat. Reduce the heat to simmer and add cheese in handfuls. Stir constantly, melting the cheese in batches. Stir in a figure-eight pattern with wooden spoon. When the cheese has been incorporated fully, stir in the mustard, hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Transfer fondue to warm fondue pot.
In a large skillet, bring 2-inches of water to a boil and blanch the cauliflower for 2 to 3 minutes, drain and arrange around the fondue pot.
In the same pan, bring the cooking water back to a boil and add the mini franks and sliced wursts. Cook, uncovered until all the liquid has evaporated. Add 1 tablespoon butter to the pan to crisp the casings. Pile wursts and dogs near fondue. Complete the dipping selections with dishes of pickles, onions and cubed bread.
Flourless Chocolate Cake with Dark Chocolate Glaze
Image: Whole Foods
Make this recipe from Whole Foods ahead of time and save yourself some stress the night of Valentine’s dinner. So simple and so delicious!
Serves 12
Ingredients:
12 ounces bittersweet chocolate chips or bittersweet chocolate, roughly chopped
1 cup (2 sticks) plus 3 tablespoons butter, cut into chunks
1 1/4 cups sugar
6 eggs
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon milk
1 tablespoon honey
1/4 teaspoon gluten-free vanilla extract
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray a 9-inch springform pan with nonstick cooking spray, then line the bottom with a circle of parchment paper. Spray the paper with cooking spray, too, then set the pan aside.
Place two-thirds (8 ounces) of the chocolate and 1 cup (2 sticks) of the butter in a medium saucepan over medium low heat. Stirring often, melt chocolate with butter until completely blended. Remove from heat and transfer to a large bowl. (Alternatively, you may use your microwave to melt the butter with the chocolate, if desired). Add sugar and mix well. Add eggs one at a time, whisking well after each addition. Sift cocoa into bowl and stir until just blended.
Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until cake has risen and top has formed a thin crust. The cake should be just firm in the center when done. Cool for 10 minutes, then invert onto a plate, removing sides of springform pan. Remove and discard parchment paper and set cake aside to cool completely.
Meanwhile, make the chocolate glaze. Melt remaining 4 ounces chocolate and 3 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan over medium low heat, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat, then stir in milk, honey and vanilla. Set aside to cool slightly.
When cake has cooled, pour glaze onto the center. Using a spatula or the back of a spoon, very gently smooth glaze along the top and sides of the cake. Chill cake, uncovered, for 30 to 60 minutes before serving to set the glaze and make the cake easier to slice.
Now crack open your favorite bottle of organic wine, pop open a beer, or go all out and do champagne! Rent a movie and enjoy eachother’s company without the stress of a big Valentine’s Day to do!
Guffly loves any excuse for a celebrating and is your source for stylish products and unique gifts that ease your shopping conscience by being eco friendly or fair trade. The website features one new Daily Guff at an extra affordable price each weekday. Guffly features creative goods ranging from personal accessories, home goods, clothing, office & desk accessories, to pet accessories. The team happens to think that making stylish and modern purchasing decisions doesn’t have to mean using excess resources, filling up landfills, or relying on unfair labor. Check Guffly out at http://guffly.com/
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February is the month of love and we just love our Guffly customers to pieces. Since our December Get 5 promo was so popular we thought we would introduce a new promotion this month! For the entire month of February EVERYTHING SHIPS FOR FREE from www.guffly.com! That’s right, from the Daily Guff to the Top Guffs – we’re shipping everything for nothing, nadda, zilch!
So shop til you drop from the comfort of your own home, the coffee shop, or wherever you find yourself cruisin’ the interwebs. It’s a great time to get gifts for Valentine’s Day, upcoming birthdays, anniversary gifts, or self-gifting! We hope you enjoy the free shipping on all the eco friendly products at Guffly!
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Oh snap! Guffly is spreading the green love around to our awesome Facebook fans. On Tuesday February 9, we are going to randomly select one Facebook fan of Guffly to win one of our favorite eco friendly products, the Cupid’s Travel Kit!
Cupid's Travel Kit
The kit includes a 2oz personal lubricant, 2oz love oil of your choice,and cocoa mint body dessert – yum yum! All the products included in this set are made with mainly organic and vegan ingredients, so you don’t have to worry about your goods being contaminated with chemicals, dyes, and other mojo-killing substances.
So get over to Guffly’s Facebook page and become a fan now! You’ll get updates about the Daily Guff, promotions, interesting news and random fun. If you happen to already be a fan, no worries – we love you too…you’re already eligible!
Rules:
Enter the giveaway starting Thursday February 4, 2010 by becoming a fan of Guffly on Facebook. There is no purchase necessary to enter. All Facebook fans 18 years and older, US residents are eligible to win. The giveaway ends on Tuesday February 9, 2010 at 4:00pm EST. You must be a Fan of Guffly on Facebook prior to this deadline to be eligible.
One winner will be randomly selected on February 9, 2010. A member of the Guffly team will notify the winner via the winner’s Facebook account. The selected winner has 24 hours to respond. If the winner is not eligible, rejects the prize, or does not respond, Guffly will randomly select another winner from the fan base.
Assuming the winner responds promptly with shipping information Guffly will have the prize to you by Sunday, February 14, 2010 – just in time for Valentine’s Day!
The giveaway has ended and the winner has been selected and notified…stay tuned! Thanks and welcome to all our new Facebook fans!
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Regardless of your team’s colors, going green for your Super Bowl party this year is a definite win. Simple changes to any party can benefit the Earth, from the invitations to the beverages there are greener alternatives than your average fare. You and your may even enjoy the eco-friendly options more than the standard fare! So get out there and throw the ultimate party with all the fixing’s with these great green party tips:
Invite the crowd – keep it simple and forget about those crazy paper invitations. A simple email will suffice (it IS football after all, isn’t it?!) or if you’re feeling fancy opt for the popular Evite option. Just enter the details, add email addresses and send it off. The added bonus is you will save on stamps too which means the Post Office isn’t giving off carbon emissions to deliver those envelopes!
Stock up on munchies – there is the typical football game fare and many of it can be more eco-friendly and healthier (you don’t have to tell anyone that part). Organic chicken wings with a natural, homemade sauce are just as finger licking good as the soggy ones you can carry out. Chili’s ingredients lend themselves to going organic and you can opt for grass fed beef as an added touch. Top it with organic onions, cheese, sour cream, tortilla chips, whatever sounds good! If you cannot find an organic option, shopping local also makes a big difference. Buying from your local famer’s market is usually less expensive and can get you fresher products that haven’t traveled hundreds of miles, which is just gross anyway.
Quench the thirst – it’s football folks and the main ingredient in football enjoyment is a delicious beverage. While you may have old standby beers, don’t be afraid to step out and try some of the organic beer on the market. If that’s not going to work for you opt for a local brewery’s ale – you might just like it! Try a growler or keg (go big or go home!) and have guests use pint glasses that can be washed and not thrown out. There are also many organic or local liquors, wines, and juices out there. Skip the soda and add sparkling water to some 100% fruit juice for a refreshing, non-alcoholic drink.
Don’t fumble – while it may seem easier to go with disposable plates, cups, and utensils think about the impact that has on our planet. Those things, especially the plastic and Styrofoam ones, sit in landfills and omit toxic gases for pretty much eternity. Use dishes, glasses, and silverware that can be washed to cut down on all the full garbage bags. They’re also sturdier for loading your plate up with tasty treats. If you simply must go with the disposable option look for corn based or other biodegradable products, Mother Nature will thank you and so will your great-great-great grandchildren.
Decor-what? – Why do people decorate for Super Bowl parties? While everyone is munching and watching the game or laughing at the halftime show, not one of your guests cares if you add paper footballs to your ceiling or have giant logos on the wall. Minimize waste and save yourself some time by forgoing decorations.
Live it up – have a blast with your friends and enjoy cheering on your team. Hopefully whoever you’re rooting for or have the $5 square on wins. Remember to ensure that your guests have safe rides home after the game. Encourage them to carpool (see that’s green too!) and have a DD. Call a cab or check out companies like The Designate. Everyone wants to go home and go to bed after a fete like this, make sure they get there!
Guffly loves any excuse for a party with friends and is your source for stylish products and unique gifts that ease your shopping conscience by being eco friendly or fair trade. The website features one new Daily Guff at an extra affordable price each weekday. Guffly features creative goods ranging from personal accessories, home goods, clothing, office & desk accessories, to pet accessories. The team happens to think that making stylish and modern purchasing decisions doesn’t have to mean using excess resources, filling up landfills, or relying on unfair labor. Check Guffly out at http://guffly.com/
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In many areas of the country, it is cold, snowy and grey. It can be difficult to find ways to get out of the house – much less be motivated to leave your cozy home! It really doesn’t have to be that way, the winter is a great time to get out, get active and have some fun. There are some incredibly fun options that you can only do in the winter, so don’t miss your chance!
If you like to hike in warmer weather then a great transition is snow shoeing. It’s very similar to simply hiking but you have some fun shoes to help you navigate through the snow easier. Many people say that if you can walk you can go snowshoeing. While it may not be exactly that simple, it won’t be difficult to adjust your walking a little to get into the groove. This activity can allow you to go more places in the winter than you would by just hiking or cross country skiing. It’s a great opportunity to get out, exercise the dog, and get some beautiful winter photos.
Skiing and snowboarding might be the first things that come to mind when you think of winter activities. Both are a great way to get out and burn some calories while having fun with friends. If you’ve never gone before there is equipment that you can rent at most ski resorts or hills. There are generally also lessons taught by professionals. Don’t be intimidated and stay on the slopes that make you feel the most comfortable. Just being at the ski resort can be an experience in and of itself so take some time to look around, enjoy the scenery, and people watch!
The fun part about winter is when cities take advantage of the cold weather and create outdoor ice skating rinks. While you can ice skate year round, there really is something special about skating outside. You keep yourself warm and if it’s located in a downtown area you can admire the skyscrapers are you’re zooming around the rink.
It’s a perfect time to embrace your inner child! Building snow forts, creating mazes, snowman building, and good ol’ snow ball fights are all great ways to use the snow and burn calories at the same time. Even if you don’t have kids to run around with, these can be fun for adults too. Dress warm and enjoy the nature made play material that falls from the sky. Watch out for those icy snowballs and be sure to have some mulled wine, Irish coffees, and hot cocoa ready for when you head back inside.
If you would like to stay close to home it’s easy to feed the birds in your yard, go back inside with some hot cocoa, and enjoy watching the birds from the comfort of your home. During the winter it can be harder for non-migrating birds to find food so not only will they appreciate it but, you will be rewarded with a front row seat to some awesome bird watching.
Guffly is your source for stylish products and unique gifts that ease your shopping conscience by being eco friendly or fair trade. The website features one new Daily Guff at an extra affordable price each and every weekday. Guffly features creative goods ranging from personal accessories, home goods, clothing, office & desk accessories, to pet accessories. The team happens to think that making stylish and modern purchasing decisions doesn’t have to mean using excess resources, filling up landfills, or relying on unfair labor. Check Guffly out at http://guffly.com/
