Lifestyle

As housing costs and rents in cities like New York and San Francisco continue their upward trend, more people are looking to downsize and reduce spending. The growing movement of people building and living in tiny houses has influenced developers in larger cities to consider building tiny apartments for single tenants. In New York, the city had to waive current zoning laws that require apartments to be at least 400 square feet to allow the construction of My Micro NY, the first apartment complex of its kind. Featuring studio apartments between 260 and 360 square feet, My Micro NY offers amenities such as large windows, storage units, and common living spaces. Units will have nine foot ceilings, kitchenettes, and wheelchair-accessible bathrooms. Rents will be set between $2,000 and $3,00...

Xeriscaping, also known as drought tolerant landscaping, is gaining ground in states such as California and Arizona, especially as water bills have residents looking for relief. Landscapers in those areas are working hard to demonstrate that xeriscaping, while focusing on less thirsty plants, needn’t be dull or dry itself. When some people think of desert landscaping, “they picture in their minds rock, gravel and cactus,” Melanie Mackenzie, a landscape designer, told a reporter for the Visalia Times-Delta at the recent Spring Fest Home and Patio Show. “And that’s just not it.” Mackenzie, along with numerous other exhibitors at the California show, are part of the growing movement demonstrating that xeriscaping can include lush vegetation and flowers, as well as prickly cacti. The messag...

Low testosterone, or "low T," is gaining more awareness as the controversy over its exact nature and proper treatment gains traction as well. According to U.S. News and World Report, low testosterone is a serious medical condition that affects 6% of adult men. However, patients should be wary of certain purported "treatments" that some claim are harmful. Low testosterone is simply defined as having an unusually low level of the hormone, which would be considered lower than 250 to 300 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dl). Such levels indicate the patient is at risk for serious medical ailments such as lowered libido, decreased strength and energy, increased body fat levels, sleep problems, depression, and osteoporosis. There are also reports of a causal correlation between low T and lowere...

Many people who seek a cosmetic surgery procedure ask for the most-envied features of today's most famous celebrities. From Angelina Jolie's signature pout to Beyoncé's radiant glow, it's certainly not uncommon for someone to want to look like his or her favorite modern-day stars. But the fact that one woman recently spent $30,000 on plastic surgery procedures to look just like 90s Baywatch babe Pamela Anderson might have you thinking it's 1995, not 2015. According to In Touch Weekly, 28-year-old Carolyn Anderson, a native of Liverpool, England, said she has dedicated two decades to transforming her look through various procedures, inspired by her dad pointing out her resemblance to Anderson when she was just 10. Anderson -- who isn't related to her idol, despite their shared last...

Electronic cigarette users on San Francisco's Bay Area Rapid Transit system are out of luck if they're hoping to vape during their commutes. On Thursday, Feb. 12, the BART directors voted unanimously to ban the devices on all of their trains and in all BART stations. The measure was backed by the American Lung Association and other health groups on the grounds that the secondhand vapors and particle pollution from the e-cigs can harm other passengers. BART directors made the decision to ban use of the devices after getting many complaints from other riders about secondhand vapors, according to BART spokesman Taylor Huckaby. Vaping, or using an Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS), has caught on in recent years as a smokeless alternative to tobacco cigarettes. Devices range from s...

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...

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...