Lifestyle

The results of the latest University of Michigan Energy Survey, released Jan. 26, suggest that Americans are equally concerned about the environmental impacts of their energy sources and their affordability. This marks the first-year result of the study, which has been carried out quarterly. It examines consumer attitudes toward the affordability, reliability and environmental impact of energy, as well as their individual concerns. “This new survey is unique in how it examines personal concerns about energy as consumers view it in their everyday lives,” survey director John DeCicco, a research professor at the U-M Energy Institute, said in a statement. “This careful approach differs from surveys that prompt consumers for their responses on the often politically driven energy debates ...

Winter has settled over the country in full and unforgiving force, and many Americans are looking for any way possible to keep the cold out and the heat in. When it comes to making your home more energy efficient, the answer may be as simple as a new set of drapes. In fact, in addition to making a home more comfortable and saving homeowners on utilities, NJ.com reports that certain types of drapes are actually eligible for the same energy efficiency federal tax credits as installing a solar water heater or adding attic insulation. According to the U.S. Department of Energy's website, Energy.gov, window coverings can play a role in reducing heat loss in a home by 25% when installed properly. The Department of Energy advises that homeowners should hang blinds or shades as closely to the wi...

The marriage of Denver Broncos player Eric Decker and country singer Jessie James brought their gorgeous rural venue, Castle Cliff Estates, into the national spotlight. But other brides who booked the venue won't be able to get the fairy-tale ending they envisioned. According to Catherine Chase-Groos, who owns the estate in the hills of Douglas County, CO, bookings soared after the celebrity wedding. But the 40 brides who already booked the venue for 2015 will have to be married elsewhere. After the Decker wedding, several neighbors filed complaints against Castle Cliff Estates, arguing that the property is zoned as agricultural land and is not permitted to be used as an event venue. Castle Cliff Estates is located on a horse farm. The complaints resulted in Chase-Groos being approached...

Still have a risque selfie from an ex-significant other saved to your phone or computer? In 13 states, posting it online could come with huge penalties and even a prison sentence. In recent years, the popularity of "revenge porn" has grown at alarming rates. This is defined as any sexually explicit material posted online without the consent of the person depicted within -- often the poster's former wife or girlfriend. The most famous example of a revenge porn website is the now-defunct IsAnyoneUp.com, but these images can also be found on sub-Reddits or on Tor networks in the deep web. Hunter Moore, who founded IsAnyoneUp.com, was charged with hacking rather than publishing the images themselves. Currently, there is no federal law against publishing revenge porn. “The patchwork of semi...

In a time where many people run away from marriage, one Baton Rouge resident did the exact opposite. He, quite literally, ran towards it. Ben Randow, 41, proposed to his fiance at the Louisiana Half Marathon in Baton Rouge on January 18th. Randow, a chef, lagged behind his girlfriend, Davina Witte, as they were both approaching the finish line. Witte, 39, noticed that Randow was fidgeting with his running belt. "We were holding hands, and he stopped short," she said. The couple has run many races together, and always make a habit of holding hands as they're about to finish a race. Randow usually finishes the race before her, so he goes back to Witte's position and crosses the finish line with her, hand-in-hand. This time, however, Randow went one step further -- as it were. After the t...

Home-grown vegetables are never a bad thing -- but for many American homeowners who live in urban areas, starting up a garden hasn't really been a feasible option. Until now. Recently, more and more homeowners have been taking advantage of the patio planter -- a raised container filled with soil that can produce a bountiful harvest of veggies year-round and is never more than a few steps away from the kitchen. According to a December 9 Mother Nature Network article, raised patio planters can either be pre-bought, or you can make one yourself. Their elevated surface makes gardening easier for people with back or joint problems, who would otherwise have trouble bending down. Patio planters allow homeowners to extend their gardening season. Because the planter's soil warms up fast...

When he's not dodging comparisons to fellow teen heartthrob Justin Bieber, opening up for Taylor Swift on tour, or featuring on decidedly mediocre collaborations with Pitbull, 18-year-old Austin Mahone loves customizing his Range Rover with vinyl car wraps. According to January 20 Auto Evolution article, Mahone has been wrapping his Range Rover in countless custom colors and designs since getting the car when he was just 16. So far, it's been wrapped bright red, with red-on-black rims to offset the look, and "a weird dinosaur-like look" created with black and white strips, the article reports, among several other color and pattern schemes. And Mahone is far from the only celebrity who loves custom-wrapping his car to his tastes. Chris Brown wrapped his Lamborghini in Tupac lyrics, while F...

Boy Scouts across America aren't going to be camping much until the summer, but some of them may not even have the equipment to do it. There has been an odd string of thefts of Boy Scout camping gear across the country in the last few weeks. One of the first thefts took place in North Richland Hills, TX. CBS affiliate DFW reported that Boy Scout Troop 179 discovered that a trailer with all of their camping gear inside had been stolen over New Year's weekend. The camping equipment belonging to a Boy Scout troop in Billings, MT has been stolen in a few different instances of theft over the last month, according to the Great Falls Tribune. A trailer with roughly $10,000 worth of camping gear and other equipment was stolen from its storage place at Billings Stake Center of the Church of Jesu...

Interior designers and anyone with a penchant for interior decorating can rejoice this January, when new area rugs will feature the 2015 Color of the Year. According to Home Accents Today, Oriental Weavers, an area rug manufacturer, has a partnership with color institute Pantone. The partnership allows Oriental Weavers to design and manufacture area rugs featuring the Color of the Year months before the official announcement of what the color is. The two companies have partnered since 2013. The Color of the Year for 2015 is Marsala. Pantone describes Marsala as a "naturally robust and earthy wine red" which compliments many skin tones, is appealing to both men and women, and is the right balance of dramatic and grounding. “We are extremely proud of our new Pantone Universe rugs fe...

The latest cosmetic trend across the country -- and even in countries across the globe -- is to achieve the absolute whitest teeth that a little bit of money, hydrogen peroxide, and some DIY creativity can buy. In fact, Americans alone spend about $1.4 billion annually on teeth whitening products and treatments, which is 300% more than what the country spent on teeth whitening products in 1996. This trend, dubbed "bleachorexia" by dentists today, isn't just becoming extremely expensive; it's actually causing some serious dental problems for countless patients who have become obsessed with whitening their teeth. Similar to other obsessions about one's physical appearance, "bleachorexia" appears to be more of a psychological obsessive disorder, sometimes requiring invention by a dental pr...