Tune-In Tuesdays: Earth Day 2010 TV Programs

Reducing energy consumption is a critical step to leading a more eco-friendly lifestyle.  With the average American watching upwards of 30 hours of television each week, one of the easiest ways to start is by simply turning off the TV and spending more time outdoors with friends and family.  Not only will it cut down on your electric bill, being more active could help get you into shape for summer without the need of an expensive gym membership.

The truth of the matter, though, is that many of us will not cut back on our time on the couch.  But that doesn’t mean we can’t learn something while vegging out to the latest episodes of ‘Real Housewives’ or ‘The Office.’

In honor of Earth Day, checkout the series premiere of TREEHUGGER TV (Planet Green) and the second season premiere of THE LAZY ENVIRONMENTALIST (Sundance), both of which air tonight.  For a complete list of eco programming this week, visit tvtango.com.

Click here to visit The Lazy Environmentalist’s website.

Manscaper Monday: Greening Your Grooming Routine

In honor of Earth Day this week, AreYouBeing.com is celebrating with a series of eco-inspired stories. From recycling to reducing energy consumption, being more eco-conscience starts with all of us making small changes that, together, lead to major, positive impacts on our environment.  And if you’re a guy who follows a regular grooming routine, you can start by switching to eco-friendly products.

For our “Manscaper Monday” grooming post we’re spotlighting one of our favorite personal care lines, Lavera.  Voted the “Greenest Beauty Brand in Europe” by OEKO-TEST magazine – the leading consumer report and environmental and health focused organization in Europe – Lavera upholds the highest levels when it comes to eliminating harmful ingredients and reducing contamination caused by outer packaging.

Lavera offers a full range of skin, hair and body products, and they’ve also launched a men’s collection called Lavera Men Care/Men SPA.  The collection covers all the basics including an after shave balm, face wash, moisturizing face cream and shave cream.  Several of these products have been awarded Natural Solutions 2009 Beauty with a Conscience Awards.

While we love the full range, especially the Mango Milk Shampoo – free of harmful sodium lauroyl sulfate and parabens – our favorite product is the Men SPA Cool Lemon After Shave, which is also vegan-friendly.  This refreshing splash features organic aloe vera gel and other nourishing plant extracts to soothe, calm and deliver moisture to irritated skin post-shave.  The most enticing aspect is the delicious aroma of lime, cool mint and mandarin.  Though it sounds fruity, it’s a light aroma – not overbearing – that will help wake you up every morning.

For more info on Lavera, log onto www.lavera.com.  Are you familiar with this brand?  If so, tell us about your favorite products?  If not, what other eco-friendly grooming products do you recommend?

Disclaimer: Samples were received in exchange for editorial review.

Work-It Wednesday: Christine Quinn’s Mac Attack Bann

The great thing about fast-food is that it’s quick, inexpensive and you can “have it your way.”  Well, at least for the time being.

With the obesity epidemic at an all-time high, New York City Council President Christine Quinn is aiming her sights on changing the city’s zoning laws to help minimize the number of fast-food joints in neighborhoods with high obesity rates; a.k.a. poor neighborhoods.

While it would seem that Ms. Quinn is trying to take a proactive approach to curbing fast-food-related obesity, she is overlooking two very important factors.  For starters, residents in these areas depend on these companies for jobs to help support their families.  Second, banning fast food isn’t addressing the larger issue.

If you think about it, there is a very good reason for the correlation between neighborhoods with high obesity rates and low income residents.  With the way the food industry is setup, it is cheaper to feed a family junk food than fresh produce.

For instance, you can walk into almost any grocery or retail store and get two large bags of cookies for about five dollars.  Take the same five dollars to the fruit aisle and you’ll be lucky to come out with a small bag of apples.  When you’re trying to feed a family, it’s not always about getting the right food into their mouths, but more important that they are getting enough so that they’re not hungry.  It’s as simple as that.

So sure, you can ban fast-food in these neighborhoods Ms. Quinn, but until we make reform in our food system, you’re only skimming the surface on a much larger issue.

What are your thoughts?  Do you agree with Ms. Quinn?

Photo Credit: whatyoureallyget.com

Tune-In Tuesdays: Kal Penn Leaves Obama Administration On A High

Pott heads around the world lost their buzz last year after learning that there asteemed icon, Kal Penn – one half of the duo that is Harold & Kumar – had traded in his dime bag for a position as President Obama’s associate director of public engagement.

Well, it must be 4:20 because Mr. Penn is clocking out and returning to the role that made him a cult phenom.  Coming to theatres during the 2011 holiday season, the third installment in the “Harold & Kumar” franchise will reunite Penn (Kumar) with John Cho (Harold) in what EW.com is reporting could be the pairs biggest film yet…a possible 3-D spectacle that will have you trippin’.

I couldn’t be more thrilled, but I’m left with one nagging question.  Is Neil Patrick “Get some p**sy!” Harris going to make another cameo?

Photo Source: darrylthewriter.files.wordpress.com

Monday Manscaper: YON-KA for Men Bronzer Moist

No man should be without a quality face lotion; it’s the cornerstone to any skincare routine.  But before you head out to buy one think about your skin’s needs.  If you have acne you should look for one with an oil-free formula.  If you spend most of your day outdoors, go for a moisturizer with an SPF?  When it comes to my skin, though, I like a moisturizer that goes on smoothly and adds a hint of color to my otherwise pasty-white skin.

If you’re like me, YON-KA for Men Bronzer Moist is a perfect choice.  The anti-aging moisturizer goes above and beyond, providing a gradual tan for a more vibrant skin tone.

A combination of all-natural botanical ingredients including green olive, sandalwood and other essential oils provide anti-aging benefits as this creamy lotion tones, soothes and keeps skin supple for all-day moisture.  At $53 for 1.4 ounces, it is definitely an investment, but one that will impart your skin with a healthy glow.

Disclaimer: Samples were provided in exchange for editorial review.

Friday Fashions: New Designs from Tank Theory

For as long as I can remember I’ve always had an obsession with graphic tees. I have a huge collection, but my favorites include a powder blue shirt featuring a shot of Jesus with the tag, “Jesus Surfs Without A Board,” and my worn-in American Apparel shirt featuring a cartoon horse with the phrase, “Let’s Horse Around.”

Tees are not only comfortable, but they are a great ice breaker. After all, who’d you rather talk to at a party, the guy in the boring polo or the one boldly advertising for you to come over and “Horse Around?” Personally, I’d rather play cowboy!

To feed my obsession I’m always on the lookout for new brands and designers, and I just came across Tank Theory, one of the coolest brands I’ve seen in awhile.

Tank Theory has partnered explicitly with a multitude of independent artists to generate their designs for the Tank Theory Artist Series. The result is raw, eye catching and empowering!  There are dozens upon dozens of styles to choose from and the company even has a T-Shirt of the Month program.

Each month Tank Theory produces one new t-shirt design and prints it in limited quantities, making each new shirt a must-have for the serious graphic tee collector. Below are some of my favorite styles, along with two of the company’s new jackets, perfect for a chilly, spring night.

Are you a fan of graphic tees? What brands do you love?

Thursday Thirst Quencher: Barefoot Moscato Wine

In honor of the holiday weekend it seems befitting to showcase one of Are You Being’s favorite new wines from Barefoot, which is sure to be a happy addition to your Sunday supper.

The new Moscato is sweet, combining a fruity aroma with the juicy flavors of ripened peaches and apricots.  There are subtle hints of lemon and orange that adds a crisp edge to the wine.  For added sweetness I like adding some fresh raspberries or strawberries.

Though my Sunday spread will be a honey baked ham and potato salad, which will be complimented by the wine’s lush flavor, the wine also pairs well with mild cheeses, fresh fruits and spicy Asian dishes.  And if you have a sweet tooth, you can continue sipping this Barefoot Moscato throughout desert.

For more pairing options, check out recipes from Barefoot by clicking here.

Disclaimer: Samples were received in exchange for editorial coverage.

Work-It Wednesday: PumpOne Launches New FitnessBuilder Workout Plans

Tomorrow is April 1st and chances are you haven’t maintained the fitness resolutions you made back in December.  Summer isn’t far away, so today is your chance to get back on track with your fitness routine.  But you don’t need an expensive personal trainer or gym membership to get into the best shape of your life.  You just need some weights and your iPhone.

PumpOne, the leaders in step-by-step, image- and video-based workouts for your PDAs/iPods just added six new fitness plans to their FitnessBuilder database, the most comprehensive fitness database in the world.

According to the company’s website, “FitnessBuilder contains the largest library of exercise images & videos, the most challenging workouts across all disciplines, access to a live personal trainer and a complete set of every fitness tool, calculator and tracking feature available.”

Sound too good to be true?  For a minimal investment of $35 a year you can choose from and/or create more than 650 workouts, pull from 5,600 images and videos, share and receive workouts through the network and ask unlimited fitness questions from PumpOnes fitness advisors.  So now you have no excuse not to workout, unless of course you forget to charge your iPhone.

Disclaimer: Samples were received in exchange for editorial review.

Tuesday Tune-In (Tech & Ent.): iPhone Calls on Verizon

“Can you hear me now?”  After years of consumer demand, the Wall Street Journal reported today that Apple may be developing a version of the iPhone for Verizon. This comes on the heels of Apple’s iPad launch this Saturday, which is one of the most highly anticipated launches in the brands history.

Now that AT&T’s exclusive deal is up, Apple is looking to branch out by creating a new version of the iconic iPhone that works on the CDMA technology standard that Verizon implements. To date, the closest the carrier has come to competing is with their Android-based devices, which have held their own against the iPhone.

This announcement couldn’t come at a better time.  With many AT&T customers complaining about lackluster phone service – I had for less than 30 days and was horrified by the dropped calls and voicemails that didn’t come through for 24-48 hours – Verizon could see a big lift in new clients and sales when the iPhone hits shelves (launch TBD).

According to MarketWatch.com, Apple stocks rose 1.7 while Verizon stocks were up 1.6% in premarket trade.  AT&T, who has been blitzing consumers with ads, featuring Luke Wilson, claiming the carrier has superior coverage to Verizon, saw their stocks fall 1.2%.

What do you think? Do you own an iPhone.  Would you switch from AT&T to Verizon once the new iPhone comes out?

Photo Source: www.engadget.com

Online Promo: 15% Off at Billy Jealousy – TODAY ONLY

For one day only, today, Billy Jealousy is offering 15% off your online purchase when you use the promo code “15OFF” during checkout.

I’ve had the opportunity to try many of the products.  Among my favorite are the HYDROPLANE Super-Slick Shave Cream, named “Best Shave” by Esquire; WHITE KNIGHT Gentle Daily Facial Cleanser, named “Best Facial Cleanser” by Instinct; and ILLICIT Body Wash.

If you’re new to Billy Jealousy and want to start with a sampling, checkout the WANDERLUST Travel Kit.  It contains five products – a body wash, shampoo, cleanser, shave cream and hair gel – all for $36.  Factor in the 15% savings and you’ll be the grooming envy of all your friends.

Disclaimer: Samples were received in exchange for editorial review.