Raleigh Christmas Parade-Friday Family Fun Day

It's almost "The most wonderful time of the year!" Start kicking Christmas off a little early this weekend if you are in the Raleigh-Durham area. Check out the ever popular Raleigh Christmas Parade in downtown Raleigh. It begins Saturday, November 20th at about 9:30 am. It lasts approximately 2.5 hours, and the weather forecast is absolutely perfect for a parade. It is boasting the 66th annual parade. Wow!

And how's this for some fame: "Join us for the largest Christmas Parade between Washington, DC and Atlanta." How awesome is that? The parade ends at the state capitol! This parade features all kinds of awesome things you would love in a parade, highlighted by the big fancy balloons you get to experience in something like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Bundle up a little in the am, and then shed the layers as the beautiful day (forecast) unfolds. What a great way to have some family fun, at a great time of year! If you can't make it in person, it is on WRAL-TV from 10am-12pm, and is also re-broadcast on Christmas Day! What a great tradition! Check out the 2010 Raleigh Christmas Parade for more information.

How about you, do you have a favorite Christmas event or Christmas parade? Hope to see you out there this weekend.

Until next Friday Family Fun Day,

Until next Family Friday Fun,
Boulder Mountain Man

Photograph of the parade last year from the website for last years parade.

America Recycles Day

Ok, how did I almost miss 11-15-2010, or whatever year since 1997 is America Recycles Day! Perfect timing, I was just going around the house to gather the recyclables, as tomorrow is trash/recycle day. I am very grateful that about 2 years ago or so, our town in NC delivered a recycle bin. My family and I fill that bin up every 2 weeks, and take it to the curb to be picked up. So in all honesty, I am just doing what I would normally do. I love timing like that!!
I love that Jack Johnson song, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! So appropriate! Find out how you can make some simple changes in your neighborhood, and find out what products are recyclable so you can also be more environmentally friendly.

Check out this awesome website... for some great links & ideas! America Recycles Day

Game Night - Family Friday Fun Day

Tonight, instead of going out or having movie night, have a game night instead! This is a great way for family interaction and a great way to teach the kids how to both win and lose graciously. There are many great options. Board games, card games, strategy games.

Not video games, mind you. We love movies and video games, but there is a lot less interaction with these avenues. A fun way to spend time together at home on the weekend is to have one weekend night as a movie night. The other night or maybe a Saturday afternoon, play some board games. Try it one weekend. We obviously cannot do both every weekend, but it this a great way to have fun a little differently. They say variety is the spice of life.

I find myself wanting to spend a little more time at home instead of constantly being on the run. It seems we just get busier and busier as the children are growing up right under our noses. Have a fireplace? Sit in front of the fire and play the games! Have some hot apple cider or your favorite cup of tea while playing.

What are some of your favorite games to play? There are so many great ones to chose from!

Until next Friday Family Fun Day,

Until next Family Friday Fun,
Boulder Mountain Man

Friday Family Fun Day

This Friday Family Fun Day, we're going local again to the Duke Chapel.
Going to the Duke Chapel is like stepping into another time and another world. This entire area of the Duke University Campus is built European style. They don't build them like this anymore, folks. We have not been in a while, but anytime is a good time to see this amazing architectural masterpiece.

The attention to every detail is absolutely amazing, not just at the chapel, but in the surrounding buildings as well. You could spend hours looking at even the smallest details, because they are so very prevalent throughout this area of campus. I will talk another time about the Sarah P Duke Gardens, which are literally right next door. You truly need a full day to appreciate them both if seeing both the same day. That is the wonderful thing about living near there, you can break it up and take it all in at different times.

If you ever get a chance to hear any kind of music in the chapel, it is simply amazing. One tip, there are many weddings there, so if you are really wanting to see the inside of the chapel, and your aren't from the area, you may want to find out their schedule so you can adjust yours accordingly.

Writing about it is making me long to get back there, as well as the gardens. Being an Architectural Engineering major, I truly appreciate every little detail about all the buildings on this part of campus. These small pictures do not bring this building and those around it justice, you must experience this for yourself!

The weather is supposed to be spectacular this weekend, so whatever you do, try to get out and get some fresh air! Big plans for you? Let me hear from you some of your favorite spots.

Until next Friday Family Fun Day,

Until next Family Friday Fun,
Boulder Mountain Man

Green Acre Farm - Friday Family Fun

This weekend I am letting those of you in the Raleigh-Durham area know about Green Acre Farm in Cary, NC. This is one awesome corn maze. They have all kinds of activities for the entire family.

Included in the $8 entry fee is the corn maze of course, hay rides and bouncy action for the kids. This is a wonderful place to spend a fall day. What is really great about it si the fact that it is so close to Raleigh-Durham. If you don't have the time to go to the "true" country, this is a great way to be in the "country" even though it is surrounded by regular city.

We want to make Green Acre Farms a part of our fall tradition. Check it out today, don't miss it. They are open (I should have posted this earlier) from September to October 31. You can grab your pumpkins there also. You can also get some very nice Christmas trees during that season as well.

You still can get out over the next couple of weeks. Hope you can break away from some of that fun football to get some fresh area.

Until next Family Friday Fun,
Boulder Mountain Man

Harpers Ferry Family Fun Day

This week we're going to Harper's Ferry, West Virginia, Maryland, and Virginia! 3 states in less than an hour's time! This is a very quaint, historically rich town that we really just ended up there one Saturday as we were enjoying a country drive outside of Northern Virginia. It is a peaceful place, with some awesome shops, restaurants, and lots of history.

Anytime of year is great, but if you can do it in the fall when the leaves are changing that is when I recommend the most. It happens to also be the beginning (or end) of the nationally renowned Shenandoah National Park with Skyline Drive as a highlight for the fall! We never did make Skyline Drive, but I have heard it is a must see.

So, if time permits you need to spend 2-3 days in the area taking in the breathtaking scenery and then enjoying the awesome history of our country.

Did you know that President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed legislation creating Harpers Ferry National Monument on June 29, 1944!

How about you, is it fall weather yet in your neck of the woods? Big plans this weekend, or is it time to watch your favorite football team?

Until next Family Friday Fun,
Boulder Mountain Man

NC State "Green" Golfing Green

Today for Family Friday Fun Day, we are in North Carolina, NC State. Of all things to stumble upon in the Going Green World, we have golf courses that are going green! The Lonnie Poole Golf Course at NC State University is an amazing new innovation that takes Reduce, Reuse, Recycle to a new level!

What a great concept: A high class golf course that is environmentally friendly, with further research on how to implement "Green" greens at other resorts! If you are in the Raleigh, NC area to golf, you need to come check this innovative course out. Swing in the Lonnie Poole Golf Course at NC State University today, and enjoy golf at a new level.

Do you like to golf? Let me know how golfing on an environmentally friendly golf course goes for you. It's cooling down in our area, how about yours? It looks like a great weekend for golf!

Until next Family Friday Fun,
Boulder Mountain Man

Car Recycling!

This is a new one I just discovered! You can recycle your car! You can call You Call We Haul to come pick up your clunker. It is a free service, and they do recycle 95% of the vehicles that are turned into their service! The one thing I am not sure about is whether or not you can write this off on your taxes.

I am really glad that this is an option for us, especially in the United States where cars are the dominate source of transportation! It truly is awesome how many ways we can Reduce, Reuse, Recycle in the times we live in. So, look into recycling or donating your car today!

Family Friday Fun -Great Falls Virginia

This weekend, I am going to feature a place that our whole family has some absolutely wonderful memories of some awesome times together in an incredibly beautiful setting. This place is in Great Falls Park, Virginia on the Potomac River. We ended up loving it so much when we lived in that area, we ended up buying a year pass. One of the best things about the year pass was how different it would look in each season.

Great Falls, VA is a small town outside of Washington, D.C. and the park is up the road from the town. When you go to the park, you really have a hard time realizing that you are 15 ish miles up the river from the Nation's Capital, Washington, D.C. It is a park far enough removed from all the hustle and bustle of the area that your really do step into another world.

One of our favorite memories was a time we went over to the park because the area had been receiving a lot of rain, we wanted to see how full the river would be. It was a very impressive sight, as the Potomac had over-run its banks some. It made for some very loud, full, frothy conditions in the river.

It is $5.00 for the car for 3 consecutive days, and only $20 for the year pass. If you are in the D.C. area, any time of year, you need to check this park out. You can also access the park in the next state over, Maryland, just across the river. We have been there during every season, and it is hard to say which is more beautiful. With Fall around the corner, it is a great way to see some awesome fall colors while enjoying the awesome waterfalls.

How about you? Big plans for the weekend? If you are in the D.C. area, and letting everyone else hit the roads, check this awesome park out!

CarolinaMama and the Tigers!





Pictures are by Boulder Mountain Man and Carolina Mama.

Until next Family Friday Fun,
Boulder Mountain Man

Top Ten Simple Ways to Go Green

Check out this awesome resource from Microsoft News Center. This is a great resource to find ways to reduce waste by different avenues of recylcling. One of these links we really do tend to forget about is how to recycle our electronics. Talk about saving some space, let's start recycling these products instead of filling up the landfills with them! This is an awesome resource on helping to recycle more. We use rechargeable batteries as much as possible.

There are several companies such as Energizer that make batteries that will recharge in 15-20 minutes, one kit includes an A/C and car charger! Stay tuned, I have some information on a company that will help you go green while vacationing coming soon!
Remember, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. It is becoming easier to this every day.

What can you do to help reduce your footprint today!?

Ocean Isle Beach, NC

For Family Friday Fun, make it a fun weekend at the beach. Ocean Isle Beach, NC is our favorite place to go in North Carolina.
We love to stay at Ocean Isle Inn, where the awesome staff just recently earned The Gold Star of Excellence Award from the Myrtle Beach Area Hospitality Assoc. for the third year in a row!
At the end of June, things just got even better. June 28th or so, the Ocean Isle Inn was notified by ResortsandLodges.com that we have been recognized as the #1 Atlantic Coast Vacation Destination!
The biggest reason we love Ocean Isle Beach is there are no chains, it is quiet even in peak season because it is so nicely localized.
Calabash is 15 minutes away, so if you are wanting some incredible seafood not as close, it is there for you.
Check at Ocean Isle Inn today at Ocean Isle Beach, school year's coming!

Until next Family Friday Fun,
Boulder Mountain Man

Make it a Movie Night!

For your Family Friday Fun, make it a movie night! We have really enjoyed making that a tradition in our home over the last few months! We all have our favorites, and the Tigers have been loving watching the original Star Wars Trilogy. (I am having them watch the way I had to, the last 3 then the first 3!) I am not, however, torturing them for 3 years in between movies the way we all had to!

Red Box, Netflix, Blockbuster...Awesome options for your movie night. Two weeks ago I surprised them with a night out at the theatre and we saw Disney's Oceans. What a great movie! For the most part, we really enjoy just relaxing around the house, and who can forget the Little Caesar's Pizza that has become a great tradition as well!

So how about it? When do you do your movie nights? Make it a fun night anytime!


Until next Family Friday Fun,
Boulder Mountain Man

Go Brita! A $5 Way to Recycle!

Brita does it again. You need to check out this link to see an amazing event.http://www.filterforgood.com/"FilterForGood partnered with “The Biggest Loser” trainer Bob Harper to show how easy it is to take small steps to help sustain your body, mind and the environment." That is really awesome! There's even a chance to win concert tickets to see Dave Matthews Band or Jack Johnson this summer!

Let's get out and support this! Remember to recycle that water bottle while you're at it! Our family does it both ways! If we have the water bottle to dispose of, we make sure it goes to the recycle bin! Get the word out, let's make a difference.

Friday Family Fun! The Beautiful Blue Ridge!

Today, we're going to Linville Falls, North Carolina! For those of us in the Carolinas, Kentucky, and Virginia that have been roasting forthe summer, it's time to get to the mountains to cool off! There are several places to camp nearby, starting with Linville Falls Trailer Lodge and Campground. They have very reasonable rates!

What a great way to cool off for a couple of days in the mountains near refreshing creeks & waterfalls! A wonderful treat is just down the road, North Carolina's only show cavern, or cave open to the public! Linville Caverns is a great geological wonder, and is very reasonably priced!

Time to step back in time and have some quiet time in the mountains with your family! For those of you who do the old-fashioned tent camping, this is a great time of year to spend some time outdoors, day and night! Can't wait to get there!

Until next Family Friday Fun,
Boulder Mountain Man

Wholesome, Cruelty-free Body Products

I have had the privilege of checking out an American company that actually makes its natural products right here in our great country. Their new line of product has something to offer the 2-10 year old crowd who don't want the label of "baby" products for the bathtub. It's a new way to do a time old tradition, take a bubble bath!

The Smith & Vandiver Corporation out of California was founded in 1979 by Alida Stevens. To this day, they have been "crafting wholesome, cruelty-free body products that feel luxurious while being safe for everyone and respecting Mother Nature. The company strives to use the best sustainable and environmental practices throughout all aspects of the business, while making the best natural and organic bath, body, skincare and children’s products made in the U.S."

My boys loved the dinosaur eggs that hatched while in the tub! What a great concept. They also really enjoy the Dino-Bubbles for the ever loved bubble bath. The Tigers quite often ask for a bath with the Dinosaurs now, so if we have the time, it's a go!

As you know by my blog, I am all about "Going Green" whenever possible. Here's a short bit from Smith & Vandiver Corporation: "“In addition to protecting their skin, we want to protect their future as well. As with all our products, we are very committed to the environment, utilizing biodegradable and recycled materials whenever possible.” This totally resonates with my families commitment to "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!"

Just couple of the awesome features includes:
o Sulfate-free and non-toxic to small livers
o Phalate-free certified natural fragrance
o Paraben and formaldehyde free

Bubbles and Bath Fizzies are available at grocery, chain drug, and mass-market retailers, specialty stores and natural stores all across the country. You just cannot go wrong with a company like this, making some high quality products right here that leave as little a footprint as possible. Check out the Smith & Vandiver Corporation today. We need to be supporting companies like this to make a brighter tomorrow for the next generation.

Family Friday Fun Day

This weekend we are heading to Sunset Crater Volcano outside of Flagstaff, AZ. Hiking a volcano, with the option to camp out as well!

For $5 dollars, yes $5, you can enter this park for 7 days if you just need to keep coming back. Explore a volcano while getting some awesome exercise as you hike along a real volcano! There are camping facilities as well, along with 2 other awesome parks nearby. Count me in, as long as no one is blowing their top! Have a fantastic, safe, 4th of July weekend!

What are plans? Traditions for the 4th? I know we always get the fireworks in, ever since the Tigers were about 3 years old. You? Picnic? Grill Out? God Bless America!

Until next Family Friday Fun,
Boulder Mountain Man

Friday Family Fun - Battleship U.S.S. North Carolina

Happy Friday one week later! Hope you have had a stellar week as I have. It is amazing to me how quickly the time can go. It was just Tuesday when I started thinking about my fun place to be and thought to myself, no problem, Friday's 3 days away! Then I blinked, and whalla, it was Friday yet again.

I am projecting a couple of weeks into the future, for those of you close to the North Carolina coast who may not have plans for the 4th of July celebration yet. This week we're heading to Wilmington, NC to the U.S.S. North Carolina Battleship Museum.

Here's the event:
Battleship NORTH CAROLINA proudly presents the 2010 4th of July Celebration. At 9:05pm the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA hosts the 14th Annual "BATTLESHIP BLAST" fireworks spectacular. Bring the entire family and enjoy an explosive evening! Primary viewing for the fireworks will be from Downtown Wilmington. The entire Battleship complex on Eagles Island will be closed at 6:00pm and all vehicles will be required to leave by 6:30pm. Therefore, come early and visit the equally impressive Battleship NORTH CAROLINA before the activities in the evening. There are sponsorship opportunities available. Please call 910-251-5797 for information.

What a great idea! I must do that some year, but not this one. Just wanted to let you all know that it is there! There are ship museums throughout the country, so there is probably potential at many of these awesome places for some great history & a spectacular show over the water!! Happy B-Day early, the great U.S.A!!

What are some of your favorite museums? How about your favorite traditions for Independence Day?

Until next Family Friday Fun,
Boulder Mountain Man

Race For The Cure!

Mark your calendars for next year: The Susan G. Komen 5K in Raleigh, NC is a very moving, fun & awesome family time. My wife CarolinaMama ran it, the Tigers & I were logistical and moral support! I am not a runner, so if I am to do this sort of thing, I will have to walk it. My boys are definitely ready to run it, they will smoke their parents!

One of the runners on a team CarolinaMama helped put together was pretty hot & sweaty, and mentioning it was hard to catch your breath that morning because of the humidity. I commented that there is a reason that I am the support crew!! It was awesome, I held 3 bags for some team members, and the Tigers held our bags!

So well organized, a lot to do. They had a kid's zone that was awesome. Lots to do for the entire family. A record breaking 25,000 people participated in the race!! Awesome Research Triangle of NC area! Let's keep up the good work supporting this awesome cause!

How about you, do you like running 5k's? What are favorite things to do on a weekend?

Frito Lay Father's Day Giveaway!

Most of us are familiar with Frito Lay company and their products. Here are a couple of tips about these products that we all love and have known as part of the party for years:

Pair your favorite chips with nutrient-rich dips such as veggie-packed salsa or guacamole. Try serving a simple and better-for-you dip below at your Father's Day grill out! This recipe is from the Registered Dietitians of Teaspoon Communications.

There are a now a few companies that produce and sell compostable and biodegradable plates, utensils, cups and serving ware! Just Google “biodegradable utensils” and you’ll get a variety of companies to choose from – all for around the same price as the disposable tableware you find in your local grocery store!!

Mediterranean Dip: A European twist on a Mexican favorite! Pair with Tostitos Scoops tortilla chips for less than 170 calories, 9% of your daily fiber needs and a yummy way to sneak in 5 veggies!

Enjoy the magic:

Ingredients:
· 1 cup canned corn, drained and rinsed

· ½ cup roasted red peppers, chopped

· 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

· Salt to taste


Directions:
Mix corn, chopped peppers and balsamic vinegar together in a small bowl. Refrigerate
for 30 minutes (or longer). Serve with Tostitos Scoops tortilla chips. Makes 8 appetizer servings

Nutrition analysis: 27 calories per 2 oz. serving, 0.3g fat per 2 oz. serving, 123 mg sodium per 2 oz. serving, 5.5 g carbohydrate per 2 oz. serving, 0.7 g fiber per 2 oz. serving, 0.8 g protein per 2 oz. serving.

Here's hoping you learned something new today, and here's 2 ways to enter!
Tweet it out on Twitter or leave a comment below! The contest closes Friday at 10 PM, EST.

Friday Family Fun Day (ALL READY?!)

Another week has gone by. I am thinking today (Thursday), oh, it's only Wednesday, plenty of time for our next fun-filled location! Whoa, where does that time go?! So without further ado, we are traveling to Washington D.C.'s Udvar-Hazy Center this weekend. This is part of the National Aerospace Museum located in Sterling, VA right next to Dulles Airport.

You will need at least half a day to take in all the sights. The Boeing Hangar has a huge collection of planes from the oldest to some of the very latest aircraft. I'm talking from gliding to one of the Space Shuttles, the Enterprise (actually in a hangar of its own!) Parking is $15 per car, but admission is free! This really is a bargain for all the displays and activities that you can participate in. For those of you who live really close, parking is free after 4pm. This really rocks for their extended hours during the summer months.

One of my favorites was going in to a mock control tower that overlooks the runways of Dulles Int'l Airport, and you see how operations are run at an ATC (Air Traffic Control) Tower at many of the airports of the world. Be sure to check into it today if you are in the Washington, D.C. area! Get out and enjoy history at its' finest!

How about you, big plans for the weekend? What are your favorite things to do on the weekend? Father's Day is one weekend away!! Big plans for that? Let me hear from you!

Friday Family Fun Again! Pilot Mountain, NC

Happy Friday to all! For those of you in the central North Carolina area, check out this fun-filled park. Pilot Mountain is an easily accessible park with a lot to offer. Hiking & horseback trails, canoeing and cycling are just a few of the activities one can do here.

Want to camp for the weekend? That is an option, along with a good many options for those like me who want to make a day trip of it. It is a very doable day trip from the Raleigh-Durham area, Greensboro and Winston-Salem areas of North Carolina.

There is a six-mile woodland corridor that connects the two sections of the park that can be ridden on horseback or the old-fashioned walking method of transportation. In other words, hiking!

What do you enjoy on the weekends? Big plans for this one?
Let me hear from you.
Let's get out, get fit, and enjoy the outdoors in a number of different ways!

Until next Family Friday Fun,
Boulder Mountain Man

Brita Helping Me Go Green?!

Using a Brita water pitcher or system (2 gallon system find out what ours is), one filter saves 330 plastic water bottles. In the US alone, we threw away enough water bottles in one year to stretch across the earth 109 times!! I had never really thought about the Brita that we use as helping with the environment. We just love the cold, fresh water that comes out of it. Now that it is warming up again, I think I refill our 2 gallon container w/ filter almost once a day!!
A couple of things on that:
1) Make sure these plastic water bottles are going to the recycle bin.
2) Get some reusable water bottles from your local sporting goods stores.
Polar Bear makes a great one that is insulated and keeps the liquid cooler for longer!

We have taught the Tigers that their is nothing to quench that thirst like water. Even in the winter time, I refill our 2 gallon dispencer once ever 2 to 2.5 days! So let's start doing a very small, easy changeover to help reduce some of those water bottles going in the trash! Got to run, I need to refill my Brita dispenser:)

Awesome Company to Go Green With

Brame Specialty Company is a company that I have discovered while staying at Ocean Isle Inn. Check out this family owned/run business that is in the business of supplying more environmentally products to a large customer base in the Carolina's and Virginia. This company is a wonderful example of being responsible, yet building a profitable business that is all about leaving less of a footprint.

Ocean Isle Inn uses a variety of Brame Specialty products . The other fantastic thing about Brame is they donate a portion of their proceeds to the Sea Turtle Hospital Topsail Beach, NC! This is a great partnership, and I just wanted to let you know about an awesome place to stay and a fantastic company!

Brame Specialty Company has been in business for 86 years, started by one man in one house!! Check this awesome company out today, and get on down to Ocean Isle Inn at Ocean Isle Beach, NC today! Ocean Isle Beach is a great place to go anytime of year!

Use Your Sunscreen!

Warning, warning. We have a red alert at our place. We have the red not enough sunscreen blues! I feel so badly for one of my Tigers, as he really got red out at the pool today. You really have to be constantly vigilant when it comes to using sunscreen! What really gets me is the fact that we have already had an extended weekend at the beach with no sunburn!

Remember, all it takes is once! Another quick reminder about cloudy days: The UV rays still get through the clouds! We all got just a little too much, with a little too little on the coverage! The sunscreen of choice for our family is anything 30-50 spf, in the spray bottle! It is a little pricier, but worth every penny. It really helps get full coverage.

Another trick we use which really works well and helps save a little sunscreen are the long sleeve rash guards. We use Lands' End rash guards.
Any kind will do. These things are awesome! For the beach and the pool, you really get a lot of coverage with those beauties!
(It's also great for those of who do wish to be modest in public!)

Just a quick, friendly reminder to use that sunscreen (rash guards) at all times, and at all costs! It really is worth it in the short and the long run!

Friday Family Fun

It's Friday Friends! This is my first ever "Friday Family Fun!" post. I thought it would be neat to share ideas that I have about family fun with you on Fridays. Therefore, Welcome to "Friday Family Fun!"


This is one incredible step back in time. The next time CarolinaMama and I take the Tigers back to Colorado, this is on a must do list! We have been enjoying the story of Buffalo Bill's life recently. Buffalo Bill Museum & Grave makes for a great family outing. The history that is discovered at this fun place is really awesome. Bill Cody was certainly one of the pioneers for living in the "Wild West."

There are two ways to get there, I recommend going both routes so as to take advantage of the awesome scenery! The way through Golden is rather steep, winding and narrow. If you're not big on driving those kind of conditions, take the 1-70 route! I really enjoy the 1-70 route because many times there is a live buffalo herd right off the exit on the highway that you can see right up close. If you can handle both, I am always up for going 2 separate routes, especially in the mountains.

How are you celebrating Family Fun?! Do you read history with your children? And I want to know, Have you been to Buffalo Bill's Grave and Museum?!

Until next Family Friday Fun,
Boulder Mountain Man

Cree LED Lighting, LED Lighting Leaders

Cree LED Lighting has really stepped up to the plate in the issue of energy efficiency with new super efficient LED lights for commercial and residential use. Check this exciting press release about one of their awesome new products Cree LED Lighting offers!

This is some really innovative, ground breaking technology well ahead of the competitors. Just one of the incredible features of the new CR6 LED Downlight is that it is designed to last 50,000 hours and features a 5-year warranty! 50,000 hours equates to not having to change your light bulb for up to 20 years! As of May 2010, Cree LED Lighting is introducing this new aspect vital to future residential energy efficiency.

This is some exciting new technology that I am very excited about! Not only am I excited about it, University of Florida has already adapted the CREE LED lighting in the Student Union! Kudos U of F for embracing this awesome and green technology!

Are you going green? Do you use energy efficient lighting?

Soy Good Part 2

Just wanted to follow up on the soy eating. It has really changed my lifestyle for the better. It is a lot healthier than eating the meat products, and in my opinion tastes just as great. CarolinaMama and I have found that Morning Star Farms is a fantastic product that you can find in your local grocery store in the frozen section. Check out all their awesome options for a healthier everyday diet!

Not So New, But So(y) Good

It was great to recently be invited to attend a webinar by Silk Soy Milk about "Going Green for the Health of It" with Terra Wellington. I've got to admit, when I first tried soy in general, I was a little hesitant. But I have got to say I absolutely love soy products now.

When I first married CarolinaMama, she was a vegetarian that would eat dairy and fish. I started eating some soy based products and more fish as a result of her diet. It is now a mainstay habit in our healthy diet around the house. I still do eat meat, but not near as much as I used to!

I have just recently aquired a taste for the Silk Soy milk. Not only does it taste great, but Soy Silk is donating to greater going green causes such as wind farming. You really need to check them out. What a great simple way to eat healthier and go for a greener cause!

Check this recipe out from Silk Soy's awesome website. (They really do have a cool website!)

INGREDIENTS

1 cup flour
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup Silk, any flavor except Light
2 tsp. vinegar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 cup grated zucchini
1/2 cup boiling water
1/2 cup chocolate chips
PREPARATION

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a muffin tin with 12 paper liners.

In a medium bowl whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. In another bowl whisk together Silk, vinegar, vegetable oil, beaten egg, and vanilla until combined. Pour Silk mixture over dry cocoa mixture and stir by hand until all the flour is incorporated. Stir in the zucchini followed by boiling water. The mixture will be thin.

Fill muffin liners 3/4 of the way full, sprinkle with chocolate chips and bake for 13-17 minutes until tops spring back and a tester inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean.

Yields 12 muffins

Preparation Time: 25 minutes
Baking Time: 15 minutes

Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Here's the nutritional information for you:

Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
Nutrition Facts
using Silk Original
Serving Size 1 muffin Servings Per Recipe 12 muffins

Amount per Serving

Calories 196

Protein 3g

Carbohydrates 29g

Fat 8g

Saturated Fat 0g

Cholesterol 18mg

Sodium 216mg

Fiber 2g

So there you have it! A delicious treat, healthier than your average muffin, and supporting our great country in using our renewable resources!

Story Time w/ the Tigers

I have twin sons, which my wife CarlolinaMama refers to as the Tigers. We have Tiger A and Tiger B, whom I spend as much time with as I can.

I have tell this quick story about a precious time I had with my boys reading bedtime Bible stories.
We were reading about the story of Joshua at Jericho. Part of the story reads "Joshua, the son of Nun." As I was reading it,
Tiger A had a just precious observation: "But Dad, he had to be some body's son." I just thought that was too awesome!
Of course I explained how it worked, and he was completely satisfied that Joshua had a daddy, too.

We read our Bible stories almost ever night, it is a good extra scripture time for me as I do attempt to read some in the early am as well!

No More Dependency On Oil

The explosion of the New Orleans Deep Water oil rig has come at key time when the United States is further exploring the idea of more off shore drilling. After the latest environmental catastrophe, again created by our dependency on oil, I am thrilled about a new development that will hopefully change the automobile industry for the better, permanently !!

Check out the Nissan Leaf, a completely electric car, that you can actually buy at the car dealership soon. It is time to take away the oil industry's grip of power over us. Especially the foreign dependency on oil. This is a huge step in the right direction!

Smart cars are also starting to be seen more in our country. Let's keep up this band wagon, and use the oil for our air travel! Perhaps the prices to fly would come down as there would be more supply for the oil! We could have electric car charge stations instead of gas stations! And no more oil slicks off of our precious coasts! Imagine it!

Earth Day 2010 Follow Up

Had a great time celebrating Earth Day 2010 doing what I would do on any other given day in the year: My Tigers and I went to drop off the recylables at the county landfill!

I also remembered another tip to support a company that is awesome about going green. Scotties facial tissues plants 3 trees for every 1 that they use for their products! You can even pick up some of these tissues at the Dollar Tree, everything's a dollar!

Earth Day 2010

Just a quick word on Earth Day, 2010. I would encourage you to not just make this a one day event, but to create a lifestyle of the 3 Rs. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Who'd have thought I would learn a simple way to go about this from my mother way before going green or recycling was such a big issue. We did it originally to save a little money.

A very simple way to do some reducing and reusing is to wash the plastic baggies a few times and reuse them before throwing them to the trash. It really does work! The great thing is, you will save a few pennies doing that as well.

Another very simple thing we do around the house: I have a paper recyclable bag in the garage and a small trash container upstairs that is dedicated to anything we can throw in our city's recycle bin. This makes it much easier to sort, and really saves on the time factor as well.

Check out some Earth Day activities this year at Envirolink, and see what you can do to start this year! Recycling really can be a fun thing to do if you make it so and keep it simple!

Simple Saving

This afternoon, my Tigers and I will go over to the landfill to recycle a trunk-full of cardboard and newspaper. I get what I can from work because there is no cardboard bin.

Between that and my town's collection every other week, we save 2 trash cans full and 2-3 trunk fulls of a 4 door sedan per month from going in the landfill! This is simple, very little time consumption, and very little money to do this.

I am more motivated than ever after reading this article at Yahoo news. This along with this question: Did you know there is a trash pile of fused plastic and trash the size of Texas floating in the ocean?

Let's just start with the process with us. I'll say it again, probably too many times, "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!" Simple to say, do, and make it a lifestyle! Remember, a lot of littles add up to a lot!!

Starbucks On the House!

Check this out. Starbucks is offering a free cup of Joe! this Thursday, April 15 if you bring in your travel mug! Starbucks is a big proponent in the going green movement.

Every day Starbucks will give you ten cents off of any drink when you bring in your travel mug. It doesn't have to be a Starbucks mug, either. Can you imagine how many trees we could save by using our travel mugs? ! Some of the lower end ones are only $10, many of us Starbucks drinkers will be making up that $10 really quickly.

I love my iced grande tumbler, and do enjoy my hot mug to go also. I use it when ever possible.

If I can't use the iced tumbler, I make sure that the plastic goes to the recycle bin at home. Through the grapevine I have heard that Starbucks might be working on a more earth-friendly straw as well!

Ted's Montana Grill is on the ball with that one with their paper straws that disintegrate within 24 hours! I know Starbucks will figure it out. Let's all work on the reusable, a lot of smalls make a great big difference!

Welcome To Eat This, Recycle That

Welcome to Eat This, Recycle That blog. I am Boulder Mountain Man, as I am a Boulder, Colorado native. Love the great Rocky Mountains, yet North Carolina has truly become home to myself and my family.

We have a passion for healthy living, organic foods, going green, and recycling. These have been a lifestyle of mine and my family's for many years now. I will be sharing ideas and thoughts about simple ways to make your little corner of the world a better place.

Look for engaging topics with my experiences as a father of twin boys, - the Tigers! This is my other passion, along with my wife. Many of you know and enjoy her blog, Carolina Mama. She is a big inspiration for my blogging.

Please introduce yourself by leaving a comment, or feel free to email at bldrmtman@gmail.com Thanks for stopping in, looking forward to sharing with you!

Follow me on Twitter @bouldermtman