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Every gal (and lots of guys) love their shoes. In the past decade, we’ve all decided to channel our inner Carrie Bradshaw and have built shoe collections filled with pricey designer kicks and more affordable every day options. Why this huge surge in shoes? Well, they fit no matter how much your weight fluctuates for the most part (excluding pregnancy) and can change the vibe of an outfit in a heartbeat.

General Shoe Blogs

Check out these blogs for picks on the latest and greatest shoes on the market.

1. My Shoes Blog This is the blog to myshoes.com, which is fabulously merchandised making it easy for you to find the shoes you’re looking for. The blog doesn’t push products, just gives you trendy tips and helpful styling advice.

2. El Blog de Patricia Shoe lovers can now read about the infinite world of shoes in Spanish at this blog that tracks the latest trends.

3. Mizz Tissa Shoe Blog Here shoe lovers can gawk at countless celeb photos of high end designer shoes that practically glow.

4. High Heels Blog You’ll go nuts for this shoe blog that allows you to shop the looks you see with just a click.

5. Shoe Bunny Hop on over to this blog that’s packed with celeb pics and everything from Jimmy Choo to Tory Burch. It’s a great site for finding out who wore it when searching out a shoe you spot in a weekly magazine.

6. Miss Meghan American shoe queen Miss Meghan has appeared on various TV shows. Follow her advice on this site.

7. Grand Mademoiselle Shoe Blog While this blogger no longer updates, women with feet at the higher end of the sizing spectrum will appreciate the tips and brands that cater to this demographic.

8. Barking Dog Shoes It’s all about comfort and function at this shoe blog.

9. Lucky Toes Powered by CitySearch, this is the blog to check out to track the hottest shoes styles and where they’re available in your city.

10. A Mom in Red High Heels This site is full of style tips, but the shoe portion of the blog is especially helpful. Aimed at the stylish mom, you’ll learn how to make shoes work for your lifestyle.

11. Only in High Heels You’ll love this blog because it’s stocked with images of celebs in the latest shoes from high end designers (for the most part). See how different shoes work for different styles and use the site for style inspiration.

12. Zoe Hemlines and Heels If the blogs full of designer shoes get boring, you’ll have to head over to this site. Zoe Hemlines and Heels blogs on shoes for what they look like, not the label inside.

13. Bay Area Kicks The go-to blog for all your sneaker needs. Check out rare Air Jordans and retro shoes from the ‘80s.

14. Never Enough Shoes Journal entries regarding shoes that are gorgeous and hideous with hilarious commentary that will make you chuckle.

15. Sea of Shoes You’re probably already familiar with this teen queen blogger, but if you’ve been hiding under a rock for the past year, you’ll want to get to this site stat!

16. The Shoe Diaries Shoe news for everyone from kids to celebs. We love this site because it also tracks shoe charities and events to donate shoes for the needy.

17. Diva Shoe Fetish Check out this site’s picks for the look for less, where an affordable pair of shoes are chosen to mimic the look of high end heels.

18. Fabulous Heels A fabulous mix of high end and affordable shoes for the shoe lover’s delight.

19. A Girl’s Guide to Shoes Like many of us, this blogger lusts after high end shoes, but makes more affordable purchases. See what she’s buying and how she’s wearing them.

20. I Heart Heels We love this site because it’s part diary, part shoe chronicles. You’ll love the blogger’s sweet demeanor that makes it feel you’re chatting shoes with a close girlfriend.

21. Obsessed With Shoes This site pretty much sticks to designer footwear. Whether they’re in the budget or you just love drooling over Italian leather, this is a great site for suggestions and eye candy.

22. Shoeaholics Anonymous This site will keep your secret safe. Peruse an endless amount of designer and moderately-priced shoes, along with clever commentary from the blogger.

23. Solestruck Blog This online shoe boutique does social media right, so it’s no wonder their blog is brilliant and showcases the hottest shoe editorials from all over the globe.

24. High Heeled Art Shoe addicts will love to decorate their space with the brilliant paintings of artist Mark Schwartz, who apprenticed for shoe legend Roger Vivier.

25. Shoe Blog The name says it all. Get updates on the hottest shoes that have just been released with this nifty site.

How-to and Styling Shoe Articles on the Web

Have a pair of shoes and not sure on how to wear them? Learn how to make the most of your shoe wardrobe with these handy articles that preach the message of style.

26. 10 Best Classic Shoes for Work Next time you’re deciding to make a work shoe purchase, check out this guide to make sure they’re a wise investment.

27. How to Buy Shoes for Work If you’re on your feet for an extended period of time, you’ll want to scope out this article for help on how to choose your footwear.

28. How to Wear Knee High Boots to the Office Yes, knee high boots can go there, as long as they’re styled properly.

29. The Best Snow Shoes How to shop for snow shoes and what to look for according to men, women and children.

30. Oprah – 6 Must Have Shoes These shoes will round out your wardrobe so it works for the office, parties and beyond.

31. Shoe Wardrobe Essentials This article covers all types of shoes, even the not-so-stylish types like snow boots.

32. The 10 Essential Shoes From nudes to flats, this is a modern take the shoes you need to own that will get you through every season in style.

33. How to Wear Flats Here are the do’s and dont’s of wearing flats. Find out how to do it without looking dowdy.

34. How to Be Comfortable in High Heels Learn how to make your high heels comfortable, so you can get more use out of them.

35. How to Walk in High Heels The site that’s all things models gives you a video on how to strut your stuff while wearing heels.

36. How to Wear Heels Without Pain Read up on these tips to make your high heels easier to walk in. From gel insoles to buying the correct size, there are many tactics to making heels more comfortable.

37. Great Advice for Wearing Flats Ballet flats continue to rule as the stylish, comfy shoe. Learn how to wear them for work and play.

38. Bonus Essential Shoes After you have your essentials, check out these trendy styles that can go the distance to add serious style power to your wardrobe.

39. Tips for Buying Men’s Shoes Here’s how to shop for men’s shoes, whether they’re for the office or the weekend.

40. 10 Essential Shoes for the Man Are you a guy and stumped on what footwear you need? Read this guide for direction.

41. How to Wear Boots of Varying Heights Boots are coming with various shaft heights these days, so this is your go-to guide on how to wear each type any time of year.

42. How to Wear Gladiator Sandals Gladiator sandals have become a staple for warm weather footwear. Here’s how to make your gladiator sandals look stylish without the fashion victim effect.

43. How to Wear Cowboy Boots Cowboy boots have become a favorite of Hollywood starlets. Here’s tips on how to give them a bohemian twist that looks cool for summer.

44. Who What Wear – Penny Loafers Can the cool gal wear penny loafers? Definitely! Here’s how the trendy set is wearing penny loafers. Comfortable shoes that are classic and can have a modern twist are definitely a great choice.

45. How to Wear Platform Sandals Platforms make a major style impact and can be worn day or night. Here’s tips on how to make platforms work for your lifestyle.

46. 3 Figure Flattering Ways to Wear Ankle Boots Ankle boots can be difficult to wear. Here are a few styling tips that will flatter any body shape and look on-trend doing it.

47. Essential Shoes – Spring Break Vacation What shoes do you need for spring break vacation? Find out here, from wedges to cutout booties.

48. Manual of Style: Shoes Check out these styling tips for the basic shoe styles that every one has in their closet.

49. Rick Steves – Best Walking Shoes The best walking shoes on the market from folks who trek the globe like Rick Steves.

50. Why Black Dress Shoes Are a Must for Anyone’s Wardrobe You may think black shoes are boring, but they’re still a must for everything from job interviews to funerals.

Now you can love your shoes and make sure they work for your lifestyle. No matter where you’re stepping out, you can always pull a look together with fabulous shoes.

With all of the books available to us, it may feel harder than ever to pick out a book that you’re really going to like. And nothing’s worse than buying a book and realizing you hate it within the first 50 pages. Fortunately, there are several excellent book search engines on the Web. They do everything from giving you the best available prices to crafting personalized recommendations. We’ve come up with a list of the 30 best ones. If you visit these 30 best book engines and still can’t find a good book to read this summer, well, maybe you just don’t like books!

Book Recommendations

1. AllReaders AllReaders uses an advanced search engine that allows readers to choose different book characteristics such as theme, setting, plot, and even main character in order to get personalized recommendations.

2. Whichbook.net Whichbook.net uses a “slider-based” method to help you find books that you might like. Simply move the sliders for up to four characteristics and click “go.” Then you’re rewarded with books that match that mix of characteristics.

3. What Should I Read Next? This site is extremely simple. Just enter the name of a book you like, and the site will comb the details of over 70,000 titles for a recommendation.

4. The Book Explorer After you become a member of The Book Explorer, you can add your favorite books to your personal list. Then the site gives you recommendations based on your history.

5. The Book Seer Similar to What Should I Read Next, The Book Seer asks you what you just read, and comes up with two columns of recommendations.

6. LibraryThing LibraryThing is a unique site where members upload the contents of their libraries for others to see. Then you can receive personalized recommendations based on the things that other readers with similar tastes have read.

7. Reader Squared Another social book recommendation website, Reader Squared is interesting because it lets readers use their own words to tag books. Enter in the last book you read and it gives you a recommendation, different from the ones you get on Amazon.

8. Gnooks Based on an engine called “gnod,” Gnooks is a website where you can discover new authors and talk with others about your favorites. The Map of Literature places authors in proximity to each other based on their similarity.

9. Shelfari At Shelfari, create your own virtual bookshelf with all your favorite books. By seeing what other people with similar interests like, you can discover new books and authors easily.

10. Your Next Read Your Next Read uses reader submissions plus Amazon’s book search engine to give you suggestions for your next read. The site also shows you Amazon book reviews for each title you click on, which can be helpful.

11. Book Army Book Army is a UK-based book review and social networking site designed to give you recommendations based on the books you have read so far.

12. Glue Glue is an innovative social media add-on that remembers your preferences for books, music and movies across the Web. Glue delivers a stream of recommendations, which you can respond to. Glue then refines recommendations based on your input.

Book Search Engines & Shopping

13. A9 Search on Amazon A9 Product Search is a powerful product search engine created by Amazon. Since Amazon is the #1 online bookseller, this is a good place to start.

14. BookSearch Are you tired of waiting for that rare book to show up on Amazon? BookSearch has a network of dealers in the U.S., Canada, and Japan ready to find your book.

15. BookFinder.com BookFinder.com allows you to compare the prices on over 150 million books available around the world.

16. Indie Bound Indie Bound is a cool independent bookstore finder where you can find books that aren’t “the norm” at places like Borders and Barnes & Noble.

17. alibris Alibris is a book website that allows used book sellers from around the world to connect with people who are looking for the books they have. They often send coupon codes if you subscribe to their newsletter.

18. AddALL AddALL is a website that allows you to comparison shop all the major online book retailers plus many more. They claim that using their search engine, you’ll find the best prices available online.

19. Powell’s Books The Portland independent bookstore has an excellent website which allows you to search their large collection of off-the-beaten-path books.

Free Books & Ebooks

20. Bibliomania On Bibliomania, you can search the texts of over 2,000 classic books, poetry collections, plays, and short stories. The books on Bibliomania are all available free online, in their complete forms. Read public domain books such as Jane Eyre, Frankenstein, and The Scarlet Pimpernel.

21. Google Book Search Thanks to a recent agreement with authors and publishers, you’ll be able to search the entire contents of many more books with Google Books. Out-of-print books will also be much more accessible and easy to purchase online.

22. Internet Archive Text Archive This is a massive collection of public domain and Creative Commons-licensed works, including Community Books, Project Gutenberg, and many libraries in the U.S. and Canada. Over 2 million books are now available free online.

23. The Online Books Page The University of Pennsylvania librarian began this enormous effort to index and link to the over 35,000 books that are legally available free online. The site is updated continuously.

24. World Public Library The World Public Library is home to over 750,000 PDF eBooks in over 100 different languages. Their site allows you to search by collection or simply by entering the information int othe eBook Finder.

25. ReadPrint ReadPrint is another excellent website where you can read books for free online.

26. Feedbooks Feedbooks is a website where you’ll find thousands of public domain ebooks that you can download to your Kindle, iPhone, iPad, or other mobile device.

27. ComicSeeker If you are a comic book enthusiast, you may already know about this powerful search tool. ComicSeeker gives you the ability to search fifteen major comic book stores.

28. Baen Free Library Science fiction and fantasy readers will appreciate these free, no-strings-attached, ebook versions of titles currently available in stores.

29. Wowio Interesting ebook website which has quite a few ebooks available for free, in addition to ebooks at better prices than you might fons at some other sites. Authors set their own prices and keep 100% of the proceeds.

30. Boocu Boocu is a very simple search engine that allows you to look for ebooks and other digital files on the web. Category search is also available.

With more and more issues surrounding public schools and private schools being too expensive for many families, parents have turned to homeschooling. This involves the teaching of one’s own children at home by a parent or teacher. Once thought of as impossible, the internet is now making the goal of homeschooling more and more obtainable.

In fact, we were able to find 50 EdTech blogs every homeschooler should bookmark. Whether written by a teacher, parent, or both, they have loads of useful information on starting a homeschooling program, lesson plans, finding support, and much more.

EdTech Blogs Every Homeschooler Should Bookmark by a Teacher

These teachers often double as parents and triple as bloggers in homeschooling.

1. Heart of Wisdom Blog : Robin is a homeschooling mother with over 20 years of experience. She encourages homeschoolers to develop a relationship with God and make Bible the focus of the homeschool day. Categories on the blog range on everything from crafts to education to even nutrition. Popular entries include a backspace for the mouth and a Christian’s view of World of Warcraft.

2. Spiritbee : Blogging about homeschooling since 2005, Heather has turned her blog into a popular choice. Tips for how to do it, along with entries on daily life, are often featured. You can also get tidbits on photography, food, nature, and more.

3. Guilt Free Home Schooling : Carolyn Morrison is an eleven year veteran of homeschooling her two children from leaving public school in the elementary grades, through high school graduation, and onto college. GFHS is her attempt to offer help, comfort, and advice to those beginning and continuing homeschooling. Guilt free education with religion in mind is also featured.

4. Notes from a Homeschooling Mom : This blogger is an artist, freelance writer, and homeschooling mom. Topics range on everything from accreditation to whining. The stats on homeschooling were a recent topic of discussion.

5. By Sun and Candlelight : This blogger leads homeschooling for a family of five. Nature, faith, books, and more are also the topic of conversation. Check out the Library Loans section for recommendations to check out from your own public one.

6. Mrs. Hannigan’s Home for Girls : Lisa Russell blogs on everything from childbirth to education. Loads of activities for homeschooler such as Batik and pirate fighting are shared. Images are often part of blog posts.

7. Karen Edmisten : She makes no apologies for the staleness of her blog’s title. However, Karen does take the task of being a homeschooling mother far more seriously. Coffee and Catholicism also come up.

8. Throwing Marshmallows : Stephanie is a liberal minded homeschooling mom who is trying to find a balance. Although her children pull her in two different directions, she chronicles how she keeps the peace. Useful tips on getting started in your own homeschool are helpful.

9. Schola : L. is a secular classical homeschooler chronicling her Odyssean learning adventure via blog. Naming her blog after a term that blends work and education, she also opens with an interesting quote from Oscar Wilde. A plan for Grade Four was the topic of a recent post.

EdTech Blogs Every Homeschooler Should Bookmark by an Expert

These professionals have more than homeschooling on their minds in the below blogs.

10. Here in the Bonny Glen : Melissa Wiley is an author of children’s books who also homeschools. Read about the best of both worlds in her blog. A recent blog entry was on a trip to Laura Ingalls Wilder’s home.

11. Books and Bairns : Mary Grace is a writer and homeschooling mom who asks the question “what could possibly go wrong?” Get the answer with a read. A recent post was on the practice of waiting.

12. Eclectic Education : This blogger is a Christian, homeschooling mom, writer, designer, and scrapbooker. In addition to eclectic educational tips, she also writes about her two sons. Quick tips such as cheap homeschooling and curriculum are not to be missed.

13. Camp Creek Blog : The Top Drawer of this blog includes must read entries such as “Should I Homeschool?” and “White Space.” There are also links to art lessons and other projects. Camping is also a topic of choice.

14. Homeschooling : Beverly was the administrator of a large independent study program while simultaneously owning and operating a homeschool bookstore. She has taught her own children from preschool to high school. Must reads of the blog include homeschooling basics by state and grading by goals.

15. Trivium Academy : Jessica’s profession is banking when she isn’t homeschooling. Choose to read about topics such as art, foreign languages, science, and more. She has recently gone back to work and writes about how it will affect her future.

EdTech Blogs Every Homeschooler Should Bookmark by a Group

Two or more people author these blogs on homeschooling.

16. Homeschool Buzz : The latest news in technology and education for homeschoolers is listed here. Buzz, reviews, and book recommendations are all sections of the blog. With several posts a day, make time for this blog.

17. Dewey’s Treehouse : Mama Squirrel and Mr. Fixit are the bloggers behind this homeschooling family. From Canada, they discuss all aspects of life, including home education. Inspirations are often the topic of posts.

18. Why Homeschool? : Three experts weigh in on why homeschooling can be a better option for children and families than a traditional setting. General issues, educational thoughts, family, and random items are shared. Be sure not to miss the Intro to Homeschooling with more.

19. Suite 101 Homeschooling : Writers from across the web stop here to post information on homeschooling. Related topics include graduation, regulations, homework help, and more. One of the latest posts was on developing a homeschooling support group.

20. The Common Room : A retired Air Force and homeschooling family blogs here. The focus of the blog is education, cooking, crafting, politics, literature, leadership, and other topics. Links to items of interest are also shared.

21. Love 2 Learn : A group of Catholic homeschoolers are the writers behind this blog. Books, children, education, family life, and faith are all discussed. The Picture Book of the Week was the subject of a recent entry.

22. Homeschool Family : Visit here to get tips, materials, curriculum, and experiences from one family to another. Coral leads up the blog and is teacher and mother to three children. Daily life is also written about.

23. Homeschool Hangout Zone : Go outside the textbook with the help of this blog. Sections are divided into math, science, history, English, and social studies. A recent entry was on why lips are red.

24. Radio Free School : This blog is a space for people who eschew factory learning in favor of unschooling, open source learning, community based, learning without school. A weekly show is by, for, and about homeschooling. Over 200 shows are sure to fill hours.

25. The Homeschool Cafe : Three homeschooling mothers stop here to blog. Political issues, education, and general discussion are shared. Links to items of interest are also included.

EdTech Community Blogs Every Homeschooler Should Bookmark

Check out the below to get or join a community of bloggers.

26. HomeschoolBlogger : Click here to get over 20,000 blogs on homeschooling. They feature popular bloggers, top groups, and much more. They even have a section where homeschoolers can get free classes.

27. The Homeschool Lounge : Meet other moms who homeschool on this community. Barbara Frank also includes expert blog entries on the topic. There are currently over 13,000 members.

28. Café Mom : Meet all sorts of other mothers on this massive online social network. There are many of homeschooling moms, along with the more traditional. Everything from conceiving to college are topics of discussion.

29. Homeschool.com : A huge curriculum awaits visitors to this page. Items for those new to homeschooling, as well as for advanced teachers, are offered. Be sure not to miss the forum with more.

30. Parent Community Home : Parents who need help in homeschooling can visit here for tips and blogs. Time4Learning provides loads of products for homeschooling, as well as support. They also have forums for just about every problem imaginable.

31. Homeschool Christian : If Christianity blends with your homeschooling, this is the online community for you. Message boards contain thousands of posts on topics from advice to healthy living.

32. Homeschool Meetup : This site allows people from all over the world to connect who have mutual interests. With a special section for homeschoolers, you can find a meet up group in your area. Simply click on one to learn more.

33. Homeschool Support Groups : Still can’t find what you’re looking for? Then visit here to get homeschool support groups by state. They also list international organizations.

EdTech Blogs Every Homeschooler Should Bookmark by a Site

These sites have special sections for the homeschooler.

34. Heart of the Matter : Enrichment on this site includes homeschooling methods, projects, and support. A recent entry was on 3D presentation ideas. You can also find sections on family, friends, and more.

35. Crosswalk : A popular site, they also have a special section for homeschooling. Choose from how to start to resources and even the option to connect with other homeschoolers. Current entries are on topics such as studying history and five lessons for the parents of college bound children.

36. Home School Heartbeat : This blog is sponsored by the Home School Legal Defense Action. Interviews with experts are often the topic of entries. Goal setting and achieving was the topic of the latest.

37. News and Commentary : Visit here to get a blog from “Home Ed” magazine. Several writers drop in to post on the topic. You can also get sections on resources, editorials, and support groups.

38. Just Enough and Nothing More : Education and parenting collide in a helpful way here. Homeschool Makeover is just one of the reasons to visit, although the plentiful articles help. Technology minded entries such as how to handle video games are also found here.

39. On the Company Porch : Click to get the official blog from “The Old Schoolhouse” magazine. You can also find links to contests and giveaways. Recent posts are on high school homeschooling and children playing.

40. Just for Families : Christianity.com is a leading site among the faith. Homeschoolers, parents, and children can come here to get resources such as Bible stories for kids and items just for parents. There are also quizzes, games, and other fun activities.

41. Homeschool Family : Lifeway helps homeschoolers with entries such as encouragement and more on the homeschool community. They can also help with Sunday school, events, ministry, and more. Be sure not to miss the “Ten Things I’ve Learned the Hard Way” entry.

42. The Homeschool Channel : Get a video blog for homeschooling here. You can also submit your own homeschooling lessons. “Answers in Genesis” is the topic of a recent one.

EdTech Specialized Blogs Every Homeschooler Should Bookmark

A more specific side of homeschooling education is focused on in these blogs.

43. Spunky Homeschool : This mom gets top spots for being parent and homeschooler to six children. With the blog doubling as vacation time, the summer has been full of educational ramblings. Best of the Blog include extreme parenting and outsourcing.

44. Paper Bridges : Monica is a homeschooling mother of four children aged five to twelve. Her blog is dedicated to the importance of books and reading. A standout feature of the blog is recommendations for reading and for staying away from.

45. Homeschool Math Blog : Maria Miller shares math teaching ideas, links, reviews, and more to help teach. Her goal is to help homeschooling mothers help students learn the subject. Quick lessons are often featured in posts.

46. Christian History Blog : Several experts from Christianity Today gather here to write on history with a faith based perspective. Stop by to teach yourself or your homeschooler more about history. A recent entry was on the history of the Annunciation.

47. The History of the (Whole) World : Susan charts her progress in writing, revising, sending to the editor, and doing the entire thing again to chronicle the history of the world. A good stop to see the inside world of editing, along with history.

48. Learning Vocabulary Can be Fun : Increase your homeschooler’s vocabulary with a visit to this blog. Games, lessons, and more are featured. One of the latest posts was on building vocabulary in context.

49. Homeschool Entrepreneur : Run a business while running a school with the help of this blog. Teaching the business side of homeschooling is a huge topic with posts on games to teach entrepreneurship and money lessons for children. You can also get help with freebies, growing wealth, and teaching.

50. Homeschool2College : If your homeschooler is leaving the nest for college, this is the blog for you. Linda Weaver recounts her adventures of homeschooling their two girls until they went to college. Although the journey ended in 2007, archives dating back for years show you what to expect.

No matter what the age of your child or their educational needs, the above 50 EdTech blogs every homeschooler should bookmark can give you loads of help on when, why, and how to homeschool.

Exorbitant cell phone charges often make travelers hesitant to bring their phones with them on vacation overseas. Clearly, leaving it at home could be dangerous and inconvenient, which is why it is helpful to instead find downloads that allow travelers save some money while abroad. Whether you need to call home or want to use your cell phone to keep other aspects of travel cheap, check out the following list of sensible downloads and apps for various phones.

Downloads for Making Cheap Calls Home

1. Truphone : This download allows iPhone users to make international calls no matter where they are. If you are traveling abroad and need to call home, this download allows you to use any nearby Wi-Fi services to complete the call instead of collecting huge roaming fees.

2. MyGlobalTalk : This software can be downloaded to your phone, and once you dial an international number that would normally cost extra on most phone plans, it will reroute the call so that it costs much less than usual to complete. It works on the iPhone, BlackBerry, Android, and various other cell phones.

3. iCall : This is another download that allows iPhone users to take advantage of nearby Wi-Fi hot spots rather than using a regular cellular connection. You can call from anywhere with this software, as long as you have internet available nearby. You can even switch from a regular cell connection to Wi-Fi in the middle of a phone call, just in case you forget to use the download initially.

4. Fring : If you are interested in making international calls or using Windows Live Messenger and other ways to keep in touch with friends while traveling, you should check out Fring for iPhone. This download allows users to go to Skype, Google Talk, and more to talk much more cheaply than a simple call from overseas would be.

5. Skype for iPhone : Normally you would have to find a computer to use Skype, which is a much cheaper option for making international phone calls than just using a cell phone. However, now you can download it on your iPhone. Until the end of 2010, you can even make calls through the 3G network to other Skype numbers for free.

6. EQO : Once you download this software onto your BlackBerry, you can place international calls for 90% cheaper than they usually are. Say goodbye to typical high roaming charges while traveling, and relish the ability to also use chat programs for cheaper than usual.

7. WebMessenger : If you own a BlackBerry, Palm, Pocket PC, or similar phone, you can use this download to make cheap calls. This free download allows you to use Skype without having to get out your laptop and find a connection, making it easy to use once you get it on your phone.

8. Nimbuzz : You can use this download to find your friends on a map and call them through the internet rather than your normal calling minutes. This means you can get out of paying the high international calling rates that most companies charge. Once you buy credits, you can also use this app to chat with your friends using AIM, MSN, and more.

Phone Downloads to Make Traveling Cheaper

9. Currency : Exchanging currency can be stressful, but if you have this iPhone app available, it is much easier. Know exactly how much you will be getting when you exchange one currency for another. Using this app can help you avoid getting ripped off on currency exchange while overseas.

10. iRail European Rail Timetables :
Before you give up on using the rail where you are traveling and hail a taxi instead, use this iPhone app. It allows you to keep track of trains in and around Europe and the UK so that you do not waste your money by buying a ticket for a train you will miss.

11. International Dialing Codes : If you are traveling overseas and intend to meet with friends or family members when you arrive at your destination, you might have trouble calling them from your cell phone. Not everyone remembers to find out the international codes, and not knowing them could force you to hail a cab or get a hotel room instead of being picked up for free and brought to your host’s home, so it is definitely worth the download.

12. Wi-Fi Finder App for iPhone : If you need to find Wi-Fi in order to use downloads that allow cheap international calls, use this helpful app to locate one fast. Unlike many similar apps, this one finds hot spots in more than 140 countries, so you should be covered no matter where you are.

13. Simultravel GPS : International travel often includes staying at hotels, but if you have not planned ahead, it can get expensive booking a room at the first hotel you see. Stay within your budget by using this BlackBerry app to find hotels near you, and compare their prices before you decide.

14. Google Maps Mobile : This app is free and works on the BlackBerry, Android, iPhone, and more. Rather than purchase a map for each country you are heading to, install this on your phone. It not only tells you where to go, but also knows where you are already, much like GPS that you do not have to pay for. Don’t waste your time getting lost, or your money buying various maps. Use this free app instead.

15. Worldmate Live for Blackberry : This app combines the abilities of various other downloads, allowing you to travel while as prepared as possible. It keeps track of flight details, rental car information, exchange rates, and more. Rather than wasting time and money during your precious travel time trying to keep track of all your plans, let this app do the work for you. Missing a flight, paying more than you expected for a rental car, and other travel mistakes can ensure that you end up broke by the end of the trip, so use all the help you can get.

Whether you’re picking up a guitar for the first time or revisiting a teenage hobby, these links provide free resources for teaching yourself how to play the guitar, as well as improving your technique and learning to read music.

Basic Guitar Lessons

Start with the basics by picking up these guitar tabs that will help you hone your skills.

1. Basic Scales Getting comfortable with basic scales will allow a beginner guitar player to understand what they’re doing when they tackle difficult tabs.

2. Babysteps – The Beginners Guide to Guitar – Part 1 From posture to strumming, this is the perfect starting point for beginners.

3. Babysteps – The Beginners Guide to Guitar – Part 2 The second part of this beginner lesson goes into rhythm and single and multiple chords.

4. Tuning Your Guitar If you aren’t tuned, you may as well put the guitar down. Learn the art of tuning here.

5. Harmonizing Melodies Learn how to harmonize for a sweet sound.

6. Scales, Keys and Progressions Learn the fundamentals of making a song sound like a song.

7. Guide to Tab Notation Get a simple lesson in how to read tablature.

8. Bass Tab Template Create your own bass tabs using this template.

9. Guitar Tab Template When the time comes for you to write your own music, just this tab template for easy reading.

10. Musical Intervals Use this lesson to teach you how to recognize intervals.

11. Major vs. Minor Get the skinny on major and minor chords.

12. Speed Kills Like this lesson explains, we all want to play fast, but we have to walk before we can run.

13. Exercises for Beginners Smart guitar exercises you can practice to improve your skills.

14. Guitar Crash Course An overview of guitar playing for beginners.

15. Basic Scales A good guitar player needs to know basic scales for practicing and warming up.

16. Improve Your Stretching Stretching can be difficult in the beginning, so practice these techniques to improve your guitar game.

17. Bass Exercises for Beginners If the bass is your weapon of choice, these exercises will help you turn into Flea.

18. Tabs: Terms and Techniques Learn the definitions you’ll need to keep you in tune with reading tabs.

19. Time Signatures If you want to read and play music, it’s probably a good idea if you know the time signature of a song.

20. Intro to Reading and Playing Sheet Learn how to read sheet music, which will come in handy when creating your own work.

21. Finger-Picking and Arpeggios Without these skills your guitar playing is doomed. Learn how to pick like a pro!

22. Vibrato Techniques for Beginners For rock lovers, mastering vibrato techniques are a must.

23. Playing by Ear: Tips & Tricks Learn how to master the art of playing by ear.

24. Parts of an Electric Guitar For those that go electric, learn the components of your guitar.

25. Tuning Your Guitar by Ear Get a lesson on how to make your guitar sound its best, only using your ears.

26. A Short Beginners Guide to GuitarA quick lesson in what you need to know before touching your guitar.

Lessons for Intermediate and Advanced Guitar Players

If you know the basics and are looking to improve, check out these links for free tips and practice exercises.

27. Advanced Jazz Guitar Chords If jazz music is your love, take your playing to the next level with these chords.

28. Warm Up Game Guitar players of all levels need a proper warm up exercise.

29. How to Program the Subconscious Mind for Effortless Guitar Playing Get comfortable with guitar playing so you look effortless when you’re on stage (or, you know, in your basement).

30. Finger Picking Practice Finger picking lessons for those who play acoustic guitar.

31. Wide Fingering Playing chords that are close together can be easy, but here’s how to master those that are further apart with ease.

32. Tips for Playing Your Own Solos As your playing progresses, you may want to write your own solos. Here’s how to make them work.

33. Learning to Sweep What it is and how to practice.

34. Guitar Power Chords Learn how to rock out with power chords at this site.

35. All You Need to Know About Harmonics From the simple to the difficult, this lesson explains the different types of harmonics so anyone can learn.

36. Harmonix: Theory and Practice This is a quick lesson in music theory, leading to harmonics.

37. Writing Tips III A writing lesson that covers licks and solos, incorporating vibrato and slides.

38. Writing Tips II This writing lesson focuses on coming up with your own riffs.

39. Finger Nubbing Check out this lesson on how to improve your finger nubbing technique.

40. Hendrix Rhythym Spice A look at the unique way Jimmy Hendrix played.

41. 10 Guitar Speed Puzzles Practice makes perfect and these speed puzzles will improve your guitar playing.

42. Metal Techniques Rock out while playing metal the right way with the help of these techniques.

43. Keeping Rhythm During Your Solos If you’re in a band (or want to be), here’s a lesson on how to keep rhythm during solos.

44. Getting Those Barre Chords Down Barre chords can help improve your sound, making it sound rich and together.

45. Improving Your Fretting Hand Get your fretting hand going with this innovative technique.

46. Simple Box Patterns These box pattern exercises will help you increase speed.

47. Left Hand Techniques Whether you’re a lefty or just want to play with both hands, this lesson will help you tremendously.

48. Tremolo Picking You definitely need to be an advanced guitar player to pick up the tremolo technique, which is done in unusually fast time signatures.

49. Ayushyeda – About Vodka This online magazine has an extensive section on vodka, explaining the distilling process and different types of popular vodka fusions.

50. Finger-Style Workout For those who play with their fingers, learn a few exercises here.

51. Two-Handed Tapping Learn this technique to improve your rhythm and speed when playing guitar.

52. Writing Lyrics You’re bound to want to crank out a song or two of your own. Learn how to come up with lyrics that work for you.

Videos on How to Play Guitar

Need to see it to believe it? Check out these videos to get a feel for techniques that will make you a better guitar player.

53. How to Play Guitar for Beginners: Playing Exercise You’ll get a simple how-to with visuals on how to get started playing guitar.

54. How to Play Guitar for Beginners: Major Scales Described as the backbone to guitar playing, here you’ll learn major scales.

55. Beginner Blues For those who want to play the blues, check out this easy-to-follow video.

56. Tuning Your Guitar by Ear Here’s a video version of tuning your guitar just by listening.

57. Alternate Picking for Beginners Watch this informative video for a new picking pattern that will increase your speed.

58. Guitar Tablature for Beginners Learn how to study and understand guitar tablature with this video.

59. How to Play Acoustic Guitar – Basic Finger Picking Finger picking is sometimes easier learned with a visual aid like this video.

60. Guitar Chords – The Essential Secrets Get a lesson on guitar chords and progression here.

61. Easy Guitar Songs – Heart of Gold Learn this Neil Young hit, which is a perfect song for beginners.

62. How to Play Guitar – The Easy Way Check out this simple video for a few pointers for beginners.

63. How to Play Christmas Songs Learn a few holiday tunes on your guitar to get everyone into the spirit of the season.

64. How to Play You’re Beautiful Woo her with this romantic pop song.

65. How to Play House of the Rising Sun Even young guitar players will feel the soul in this amazing song once they’ve mastered it.

66. How to Play Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door Learn how to play this favorite with this video.

67. How to Play Bad Moon Rising You’ll feel like an old rock star jamming this classic tune.

68. How to Play Sweet Home Alabama Get the party started with this crowd favorite.

69. How to Play Let It Be Every guitar player loves The Beatles. Learn this classic song by watching this instructional video.

70. How to Play Stand By Me This is a great beginner song for those looking for simple songs to conquer.

71. How to Play Hey There Delilah Check out this tutorial on how to play the popular pop song.

73. How to Play Wonderwall Make the girls swoon with this British hit.

74. Barre Chords Barre chords are an essential for guitar players. Learn how to master them with this instructional video.

75. Acoustic Guitar Lessons Hone your acoustic skills with this easy-to-follow video.

76. Spanish Flamenco Guitar Learn a classic flamenco from this video.

77. Spanish Guitar Lessons If you want to get down by playing Spanish guitar, this video will show you how.

Blogs, Websites and Forums on How to Play Guitar

Mix and mingle with fellow guitar players by visiting these blogs and forums.

78. Share My Guitar Billed as a social networking site for guitarists, this site is packed with helpful tips to improve your sound and care for your guitar.

79. Guitarz Learn about various electric guitars and equipment at this blog.

80. Chord Find This interactive site allows you to find a chord, easily!

81. Guitar Noise Get quick lessons and tips from this guitar website.

82. Guitar Player World Get free lessons for metal, blues, jazz and more.

83. Modern Guitars Read interviews with legendary guitarists and pick up tips on how to improve your playing.

84. eHow– Electric Guitar Wiring Learn how to troubleshoot your electric guitar with the various articles at eHow.

85. Chord House Chords for beginners and advanced guitar players.

86. Guitar Lifestyle From guitar factory videos to guitar playing tips from the pros, this blog has it all.

87. Guitar Praise Get chords for progressive Christian music.

88. A Guitar Teacher’s Lesson Notebook You’ll flip for this informative blog with an extensive chord chart for learning nearly every song you could want to learn as a guitar player.

89. Heartwood Guitar Instruction Free chords, sheet music and tabs can be found at this helpful site.

90. Electric Guitar Reviews If you’re in the market for an electric guitar, let this site guide you to the right choice.

91. Guitar Flame Get tabs and suggestions for videos to check out to improve your craft at this site.

92. Classical Guitar Lessons This cooking blog takes you for a journey at this Long Island vodka distillery.

93. Rock Guitar Life For those who play in bands, this blog will be a godsend with tips on how to quickly set up and tear down.

94. I Heart Guitar Blog Lessons, gear reviews and more can be found at this informative blog.

95. Fret Base Get tablature and read reviews on guitars at this site.

96. Graham Choo This a Christian music blog, but everyone can benefit from the thorough lessons.

97. Guitar Tab Universe Get loads of tablature for everything from Tom Petty to Kanye West.

98. Strat Collector Learn everything you need to know about your Strat, and also peruse the for sale section for deals.

99. Premiere Guitar This online magazine offers guitar and equipment reviews and videos to see what suits your needs.

100. Harmony Central Get info on new guitars and guitar-related items as they’re released.

Thanks to the Internet, there are loads of free resources that will make you pick up your guitar and play.

You may have been told that it doesn’t really matter what you major in, because you may not ever get a job that pertains to your major. Case in point: These famous authors didn’t major in writing, or literature, or even journalism. Instead, they enriched their minds taking other, equally challenging classes, and used their experiences to become successful writers. In fact, several of them have won the Pulitzer Prize, considered one of the world’s greatest honors in literature.

1. After growing up in several different Quaker communities as a child, Anne Tyler, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Accidental Tourist and Breathing Lessons, graduated from Duke at the young age of 19 and completed graduate work in Russian Studies at Columbia.

2. Larry Niven, author of “hard,” or extremely technical, science fiction novels set in the “Known Space” universe, is famed for his creation of the “Ringworld” concept. This is the idea of a band approximately the diameter of Earth’s orbit rotating around a star, and has been used in several other science fiction works, including the video game Halo. He has been a prolific writer since the 1960s but didn’t study writing in college. He was a mathematics major at Washburn University in Kansas and also did graduate work in math at UCLA.



The world of Halo was in part inspired by Niven’s work.

3. Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. majored in chemistry and engineering before being sent to fight in World War II. His experience as a POW in a German camp gave him the inspiration for Slaughterhouse-Five, his most famous work. His books and short stories included elements of science fiction and satire.

4. Elizabeth Peters got a degree that you might not expect from a writer; in fact, she earned a Ph. D. in Egyptology from the University of Chicago. This makes perfect sense, though, if you’re familiar with her eighteen Amelia Peabody books, novels that track an early 20th century archaeologist as she solves the mysteries of ancient Egypt. She was named Grand Master at the first Anthony Awards in 1986 and Grand Master at the Edgar Awards in 1998.



Elizabeth Peters could probably translate this.

5. Barbara Kingsolver, Pulitzer Prize-nominated author of The Poisonwood Bible, earned degrees in biology from DePauw University and the University of Arizona.

6.Michael Crichton, bestselling author of thrillers such as The Andromeda Strain, Jurassic Park, and Rising Sun, studied anthropology, and later, medicine at Harvard Medical School. However, he never actually practiced medicine, but spent most of his time teaching and writing until his 2008 death.



He made dinosaurs extra scary…

7. Ursula K. LeGuin graduated as a Phi Beta Kappan from Radcliffe College, where she studied anthropology. Interestingly, her father was a leading anthropologist of the time, and social themes inform most of her works about the world of Earthsea. She has become recently notorious for her resignation from the Authors’ Guild over their settlement with Google Books.



8. J.K. Rowling studied French at the University of Exeter, giving in to her parents’ wishes despite wanting to major in English. She was on a train in Scotland when the inspiration for the Harry Potter series came to her. Her study of a foreign language may have helped her concoct many of the magic spells that Harry learns in his own studies at Hogwarts.



She’s responsible for creating a whole new generation of fantasy lovers.

9. Alexander Solzhenitsyn, the author of The Gulag Archipelago, studied mathematics and physics at the University of Rostov before becoming a writer. His main work exposed the horror of the Soviet forced labor camps that he experienced from 1947 to 1953.



In case we had any doubts, Solzhenitsyn’s work told us that being in a Soviet prison camp was really terrible.

10. Norman Mailer, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of such famous works as The Naked and the Dead, An American Dream, and The Executioner’s Song, majored in aeronautical engineering at Harvard before serving in the U.S. Army during World War II.

11. Robin Cook, writer of medical thrillers such as Outbreak, Vital Signs, and Foreign Body, got a medical degree from the Columbia University School of Medicine. He has continued to practice medicine through the years, and has remained a prolific author into his seventies.



Many people learned about this scary little beast from Dr. Cook.

12. John Grisham majored in accounting at Mississippi State University after deciding his future did not lie in professional baseball. The author of legal thrillers such as The Firm and The Chamber then graduated from The University of Mississippi Law School.



Grisham makes the minutiae of the court system fascinating.

13. Danielle Steel studied literature and fashion design at the Parsons School of Design and New York University before beginning her writing career. Her romance novels have been filmed multiple times, and during the 1980s and 1990s she became the epitome of the “successful, glamorous romance novelist” that many writers wished to emulate.



14. Noted author of dozens of Western-themed novels, Zane Grey, majored in dentistry, graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 1898. He practiced for several years before devoting himself to full-time writing. Six of his books were produced as films.



15. Jean M. Auel, the celebrated author of the Earth’s Children series that began with Clan of the Cave Bear and has sold over 45 million copies worldwide, got a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Portland. While a student, she worked as a circuit board designer, a credit manager, and a technical writer.

Every year the top ranking system puts out their top ten, 100, anywhere in between rankings of universities and institutes of higher education. And every year alumni, professors, and most of all, prospective students scour the rankings in hopes of making the decision of where to get their degree easier. But how much importance should be placed on the rankings? Before you sign the dotted line have a look at the below ten dirty secrets behind the big college rankings.

1. Legacies Get it Twice In a recent report by Dartmouth’s very own staffer, a college is twice as likely to admit legacy applicants, or someone who has had a parent or other family member attend the college previously. George W. Bush and Harrison Frist aside, Dartmouth itself confessed to admitting 29.7 percent of all legacy applicants in comparison to only 12.7 percent of non-legacies. No fluke, it has remained consistent for the five years previous to the report. It gets worse, according to ABC News, Princeton is one of the worst offenders with a legacy acceptance rate of 40 percent, a whopping four times higher than the pool of non-legacy candidates.
2. Your Application is Wanted More than Your Education Daniel Golden is a reporter for “The Wall Street Journal” and author of the book “The Price of Admission: How America’s Ruling Class Buys Its Way into Elite Colleges–and Who Gets Left Outside the Gates” has many things to say on the dirty secrets behind the big college rankings. Among them is “colleges do a lot of marketing to ensure that they bring in a huge number of applications, only to turn down most of them to make room for rich kids.” The preferred students? Those whose parents have made sizeable donations to the university and the few a year who are allowed into financial aid opportunities for low income families. He argues that the losers remain in the middle class.
3. Race Matters At least it does according to the official blog of the Supreme Court of the United States. In an editorial, “the bad news is that the use of racial preferences remains too common. The good news is that such preferences are mostly concentrated in the three areas of contracting, employment, and higher education.” Previous cases are discussed, along with how to fix the system in the entry by Roger Clegg, president and general counsel of the Center for Equal Opportunity.
4. But Which Race? Depends where you go. In 2008, two white students were rejected admission into the University of Texas. They then filed suit, which is still being hammered out in courts. “The Wall Street Journal” has reported a representative for legal affairs for the university as saying “We think it (taking some account of race in admissions) is critical to being able to achieve the diverse institution that we think is important.” Read the article for more.
5. Ivy’s Are the Whitest Having a look at “U.S. News and World Report’s” rankings on the most student diversity, not a single Ivy League school is among them. Many state universities, such as Rutgers and California State University, ranked in the top ten. Joining them are the University of Houston, Polytechnic Institute of New York, Nova Southeastern, and more. You can also search for most diverse colleges in liberal arts, Master’s, and Baccalaureate.
6. And It Is Their Business In the methodology of the same study, students who chose not to answer questions about race and marked “other” were regarded as whites. In a quote from the site, “students who did not identify themselves as members of any demographic group were classified as whites who are non-Hispanic for the purpose of this calculation.” It is unknown which, if any, universities adopt this practice and hw much checking “other” will help or hurt you. Also, if you are a Hispanic of African-American or white origin, there isn’t a box for you to check.
7. Ask Not What You Can do for Your College… While the infamous “U.S. News and World Report” ranks its schools by many factors, such as academic excellence, or how many students actually pass exams, graduate, etc. what if that isn’t your only criteria? Then turn to Washington Monthly. In an alternative to the traditional and stuffy college rankings, they rank schools by their ability to do what is beneficial to both students and society. They also argue that the big colleges aren’t even teaching students properly, as seen in this report.
8. Must Be The Money The very first stock market crash. The internet bubble. The housing market crisis. The higher education collapse. Does the last one not sound familiar? It will according to this expert from HowStuffWorks. Dave Ross reports that the average cost of a four year undergraduate degree has skyrocketed 440 percent, which is four times faster than the rate of inflation. Yet despite this spike, parents and future students still rush to get into an institution of higher education. He owes much of this rise to the availability of federal funds which may or may not have to be repaid. Eerily emulating the tactics that led to the housing market crisis, the loans are accused of tricking naïve students with teaser interest rates that will hugely increase upon graduation and will make it difficult if not impossible to be repaid. The credit/debt bubble, along with the green one, are also discussed.
9. Fake it Till You Make It Think it’s hard to get into Harvard? Ask Adam Wheeler of Milton, Delaware. In 2007 he allegedly made his way onto the prestigious campus as part of a hoax. In addition to the Ivy League education many students study, sweat, and suffer for, he also made off with $45,000 in financial aid, grants, and scholarships courtesy of tax payers, alumni, and fellow students. It was apparently so easy to fake his way into Harvard, Adam would apply for Rhodes and Fulbright scholarships on his phony credentials, which ended up in the undoing of his scheme. He was eventually indicted with 20 crimes which included identity fraud, pretending to hold a degree, and larceny.
10. But Wait! There’s More! From Fastweb, comes an interesting look behind the big college rankings. Key stats, the usual ranking system, and more are discussed. One of the best tips is for students and parents to do research in the area that interests them to ensure their education and dollars go where they are supposed to. An interesting explanation of the alumni giving rate and freshmen year retention rate are also given.

Remember that when choosing an institute of higher education and how to spend two to eight years of your life, a rating system should not be the deciding or even leading factor in picking one. If you learn nothing else about the ten dirty secrets behind the big college rankings, remember that. Only by researching, visiting, and applying to many colleges will you ensure that you get what you want, while paying what you want.

To check out the traditional ranking systems, have a look at these: U.S. News and World Report has been a leader in big college rankings. Visit them to have a look at top ranked schools in a variety of areas such as up and coming, best undergrad, specialty schools, and more. Another good place to look, especially for business students is America’s Best Colleges from the experts at “Forbes” magazine. A leading feature is the “Best College Buys” for the pocketbook minded. Additionally, you can go straight to the horse’s mouth from The Princeton Review.. They too have rankings based on demographics, politics, and other areas.

Cooking shows are all the rage today. Even the Food Channel enjoys healthy ratings and airs nothing but food 24 hours a day. But as all of this preparing, cooking, and eating is going on, few people stop to consider the science behind it all. Food science ranges on everything from biology to chemistry. But it doesn’t have to be stuffy and boring.

Below, we have gathered 50 fun food science facts every home chef should know. They cover the four food groups, how to get or stay healthy, and even have a few fun facts for the younger chefs in your live.

Fun Food Nutrition Science Facts Every Home Chef Should Know

Check out these food facts to get the most out of your eating.

1. Nutri-Facts : This is a free source for nutrition information on almost six thousand different foods. They have taken the USDA Nutrient Database for Standard Reference and put it into one searchable database. You can also search by food group, diet information, body mass index, and get a calorie intake calculator.

2. Calorie King : Want to know how many calories are in that meal without doing science? Then check out this popular dieting site to look it up. They
have many chain and fast foods available, along with an iPhone app.

3. Nutrition Data : On Nutrition Data, you’ll find detailed nutrition information, plus unique analysis tools that tell you more about how foods affect your
health and make it easier to choose healthy foods. Tools include analyzing a recipe, inputting foods, and getting the best foods by nutrient. You can even create your own personal nutrition page with food science
facts.

4. Nutrition.gov : Get updates on the latest news in nutrition from this federal government sponsored site. It provides easy, online access to information on food science facts and nutrition. Subjects offered include what’s in food, nutrition 101, life stages, and more.

5. Nutrition Facts : The American Heart Association provides this site to help those who need a heart focused diet. Choices range from alcohol to vitamins. They also have cookbooks and other useful tools.

6. Diet Facts : It’s harder to know the food science facts when you are out to a meal. Stop here to get nutrition food facts for 514 different restaurants across the country and world. You can also search by most popular or visit the message boards.

7. Fast Food Explorer : If meals at the drive thru are making your search for food science harder, visit here. Every chain from Arby’s to Wendy’s is
featured, along with nutrition information. You can even sort by fat, carbs, and many others.

8. The Calorie Counter : Because other products such as produce and meats don’t come with labels, stop here. Popular searches here include bananas, eggs, chicken, and many more. You can also search by food group.

Fun Dairy Food Science Facts Every Home Chef Should Know

Get food science facts for all products associated with any kind of milk.

9. Moldy Science Cheese : Learn how cheese is made in this lesson from the Science of Cooking. Learn how
leaving the milk out can be a good thing here. There is also a corresponding webcast with help. Images, links, and more are shared.

10. Cheesecake : Arguably the best dairy products ever, see the true science behind cheesecakes here. Its history and present are discussed. Fun cheesecake fact: it originated in Greece.

11. Science of Ice Cream : A science expert and chef from the Four Seasons shows the science behind ice cream. With a few natural ingredients and elbow grease, ice cream is made. The science of balancing cream, sugar, and stabilizers are also discussed.

12. Butter Chemistry : Learn how cooking and chemistry combine in this video. A few household items such as heavy cream and a beater are all that his needed. The science behind it is also discussed.

13. How to Milk a Cow : An actual dairy farmer shows you how to milk a cow. How to feed and care for a cow is also discussed. Techniques are also shared.

14. Milk Science : Once you have the milk, now what? This video shows you how milk goes from the cow to the grocery shelf. The history going back to Egypt is also discussed.

15. How to Make Almond Milk : If all of this dairy has your lactose intolerant system churning, click here. The guide from Wiki-how will show you the science behind almond milk. Six steps and an instructional video are available.

Fun Bread Food Science Facts Every Home Chef Should Know

Grains, starches, and more make up these food science facts.

16. Bread Science 101 : Learn what all breads have in common by stopping here. Every bread from the thinnest to the thickest is discussed, as well as the science behind them.

17. Gluten Animation : Gluten is one of the key ingredients in most breads. This animation features more on the substance. Simply follow along to learn.

18. Yeast Balloons : Learn the true meaning of rising bread here. Using a balloon and some yeast, you can blow up a balloon. Other items needed include a bottle, water, and sugar.

19. Make Your Own Bread : Bring science into your own kitchen by making your own loaf of bread. Natural News shows you how the healthy way. They let you choose from loads of ingredients, recipes, and more.

20. Science of Yeast : Visit here for a list of food science experiments you can do at home. Six different tests are on yeast, fermentation, and making bread. The main site also has more.

21. Doughnut Science : In this video, learn how doughnuts are made. Originally called “oily cakes,” they used to be fried in pig lard. How they are made, what is in them, and more are discussed.

22. How Potato Chips are Made : One potato in Michigan started it all. See how and how potato chips are made in this entry from the Michigan Department of Agriculture. Related content is also offered.

23. Wheat Science : It is one of the largest cash crops in America. Learn more in this article from Wisegeek. Other topics such as flour, gluten, farina, and more are also available.

24. Bread: A Global Staff of Life : Learn about bread food science facts from all over the world here. The history and present are discussed. Exotic breads are also shared.

Fun Meat Food Science Facts Every Home Chef Should Know

Even if you don’t eat meat, these food science facts are worth a look.

25. Bacon : Often known as the “king of breakfast meats,” bacon’s history dates back centuries. In this short video, experts look at how bacon is efficiently made from pork bellies. Every scientific step from the line to the market is discussed.

26. Chicken Science : This video follows chickens from the factory to the market line. Cutting, boning, and other processing methods are shown. How to cut a chicken properly is also shared.

27. Meat Science : Did you know that meat is a competitive sport? On these teams, players research the science of meat to search for the best cut. The team at Texas A & M has loads more on what they do and how you can do it at home.

28. Hot Dog Science : We’ve all heard the horror stories, but this video shows you the true process that goes into making hot dogs. Science shows that pork, beef, and chicken are used to make them. The video is not as shocking as it sounds.

29. The Science of Cooking Meat : Learn everything about the science of meat from the Science of Cooking. Facts include what it is, how it gets its flavor, color, and tenderness. There is also a food science section on protein.

30. Peanut Butter Science : Listed as a meat for its protein content, there is a science to peanut butter. It was invented in the 1890’s by a doctor looking for a substitute for those who couldn’t chew meat. A fun science fact is that it takes about 1,100 peanuts to make one jar of peanut butter.

31. Fowl Science : Learn the science behind the Thanksgiving staple by stopping here. How turkeys are made, cooked, and nutritional value are shared. There is also a webcast with more fun food science facts every holiday chef should know.

32. Egg Science : Both the food science of eggs, as well as the birds and the bees are featured here. For example, did you know that for eggs to be edible, they cannot be fertilized by a rooster?

33. The Molecular Art of Grilling : Did you know that grilling in itself is a science? Stop by this link to learn more. You can choose from the science behind grilling beef, pork, or fish.

34. Beef Science : Get dozens of scientific facts on beef by clicking here. The Beef Council has science on everything from
the nutritional benefits to preparation. Other sections include shopping, recipes, lean beef, and even a community.

Fun Produce Food Science Facts Every Home Chef Should Know

Fruits and veggies are one of the most important parts to a diet and you can learn more on their science below.

35. Apple Science : Whether an apple a day keeps the doctor away is still up for debate. However, a visit to the University of Illinois shares dozens of facts about the apple. They include well known, along with more obscure, fun food facts.

36. Pineapple Science : Did you know that the juice from a pineapple can act as a painkiller? In this article from The Healthier Life, bromelian is found in many fruits and has been used to treat pain. It can also be used to treat conditions like arthritis and multiple sclerosis.

37. Pomegranate Science : Often thought of as a super fruit, pomegranates have many scientific properties. One such property is the ability to stimulate the uterus to contract, making labor easier for women. It can also lower cholesterol and high blood pressure.

38. Onion Science : Have you always wondered how onions lead to tears? Stop by the Library of Congress to get the facts behind this tear inducing food. The process is taught in four easy steps.

39. The Science of Pickling : A process that dates back to the times of Columbus, learn more about pickling from the Science of Cooking. Different types, processes, and more a shared. Be sure and click on activities to learn how to pickle at home.

40. Ketchup Science : One of the most popular condiments ever, learn more about ketchup here. A video shows you how it is made in the Heinz factory. Over six minutes contains facts, science, and fun.

41. Wine Science : Learn how grapes become one of the worlds most sought after beverages. Expert Jamie Goode wrote a book on how wine goes from the vine to the glass. Chapter overviews, links, articles, and more are available.

42. Mushroom Science : See the medicinal uses and more of mushrooms here. Uses and preparation are shared on all sorts of mushrooms. They also sell extracts and related products.

43. Cranberry Science : It is generally known that cranberry juice can help ward off certain types of infections. However, according to this piece from Science Daily, compounds in cranberries can be antibacterial agents. The site also has related food fact stories.

44. Lemon Power : This fruit can be used for more than garnishing fish or making a drink. See how lemons can actually be used as a power source in this fun food science fact. All you need is wires, clippers, sandpaper, and a lemon.

Fun Food Science Facts Every Kid Chef Should Know

Get the junior chefs in your home to check out these science facts,

45. Bubble Gum Science : Did you know bubble gum was invented in the United States of America? These and other fun science facts on gum are shared on this five minute video from YouTube.

46. How Much Sugar is in Soda? : If your junior chef loves drinking soda, have them look at this food science fact every kid should know. A scientist shows how to boil the water out of soda leaving only the sugar. What is left will have your kid rethinking about that next can.

47. Chocolate Science : If your child thinks chocolate is made by Oompa Loompas, have them look at this video. It discusses the actual science behind chocolate. Ingredients, baking temperatures, and more are featured.

48. Marshmallow Science : They say light is too fast to measure, but not true in this fun food science fact. It shows how marshmallows can actually be used to measure the speed of light. The simple take home experiment shows you how.

49. Food Experiments : Grab your child or home schooler and try out some of these experiments offered by Homeschooling.com. They have dozens to choose from on everything from cabbage to water. More science is included in chemicals, bubbles, recipes, and more.

50. How Food Works : Finally, visit here to get a simple guide on food science from TLC. The article shows the basics of food, carbs, proteins, fats, and vitamins. They also have food proportion pictures with more learning.

These 50 fun food science facts every home chef should know are for entertainment purposes only. If you are looking to treat a health problem or perform a complex experiment at home, consult a physician or licensed expert.

As one of the least beloved aspects of any graduation ceremony, many dread attendance because of the painfully long, extraordinarily dry speeches. Often driping with overused clichés regarding never giving up, never letting people down, reaching for the stars, achieving dreams, maintaining integrity, and other overused, overly broad “inspirations” that end up dismissed the second the speaker steps away from the podium. Unsurprisingly, more daring types who choose to use their time to go completely against expectations and leave an impact using humor or frank discussions of tough subject matter such as death, cancer, and the dire state of the economy. Because of this, the risk-takers tend to garner a fair amount of attention on YouTube and other corners of the internet. The following commencement speeches, listed in no real particular order, stand as unique and memorable for either their hilarity, bucking of convention, or blunt honesty – sometimes all 3 at once.

1.) 1. Stephen Colbert 2006 Knox Commencement Address

In 2006, Knox College in Galesburg, IL conferred an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts to the titan of truthiness himself, comedian, author, commentator, and all-around awesome individual – Stephen Colbert. Allowing the audience to decide for itself if he adapts the satiric persona he adopts on The Colbert Report, he delivers a hilarious speech spanning 3 videos in total (available here and here). Commenting on drinking games revolving around the Lincoln-Douglas debates, questioning the school’s choice of mascot, and “sausage[s] of knowledge,” deposed Nigerian princes, (and more!), he engages and entertains the crowd and wrings considerable laughter out of a typically dry ceremony. Some parts even involve turning the generic platitudes of the usual commencement addresses up-side down, yet without ever compromising the intention of inspiring. Colbert is realistic enough to dissect the usual tenets of folly and cynicism present in youthful “wisdom” and understands that knowledge comes from experience far beyond the walls of a classroom. This inverts the expected while still keeping with the main point of delivering a commencement speech – a testament to Colbert’s considerable gift with words and concepts and proving that he fully deserved the honorary PhD.

2.) Conan O’Brien at Stuy 06 Graduation (Pt 1 of 2)

New York’s Stuyvescent High School played host to probably the only commencement speech in history that contains the phrases “sweet, sweet coin” and “pompous, self-important jackass.” Conan O’Brien received the honor of delivering their 2006 address, referencing his Harvard colors as visual shorthand for an over-inflated ego and dropping hilarious re-enactments of high school drama stereotypes. His trademark self-deprecation starts seeping into the speech, making it delightful viewing for his legions of fans. O’Brien enjoys subverting the stiff, boring, and utterly, painfully generic clichés regarding reaching for the stars and daring to dream that inspire yawns more than anything else. Instead, his giddily antisocial advice revolves around ostentatious displays of calling Stephen Hawking an “idiot,” burning anyone who questions the existence of a long-distance boyfriend or girlfriend with a “hot drink” to the face, and using diarrhea as an excuse to get out of a class. He does, of course, deliver some positive words on the value of knowledge and hard work as well – just in a way that actually imbues the typically mind-numbingly dull nature of a commencement address with interest and engagement. Now try to imagine Jay Leno up there in front of graduating seniors and keeping their attention by being genuinely funny.

3.) Will Ferrell Harvard Commencement Speech Part 1 of 5

Will Ferrell’s sense of humor may not be to everyone’s taste, of course, but the one thing everyone can agree on when it comes to his 2003 Harvard Class Day commencement address is that he managed to keep his clothes on for once. Beyond that, though, he enters into the auditorium with a bang, dancing enthusiastically to Kool & The Gang’s “Celebration” and dressed in yacht yuppie attire in anticipation of a boat show. What follows is a deliriously enjoyable descent into manic man-child insanity, complete with screamed damnations of Harvard’s ignoring of Ferrell’s application, subsequent crying, and attempts to show the crowd “the real world through [his] eyes.” At the time, he was filming Anchorman – and plenty of Ron Burgundy’s Ted Baxter persona begins to leak through, with some excellent non sequiturs, random tangents, historical inaccuracies, and pseudointellectualism peppering an otherwise boring ceremony with his signature brand of humor. At one point, Ferrell launches into the George W. Bush impersonation that transformed him from sketch comedian to wildly popular movie star. Be sure to watch through until the end for a very special song performance!

4.) Alec Baldwin NYU Graduation Speech

No speech Alec Baldwin can give will come anywhere close to the David Mamet-penned “one scene wonder” from Glengarry Glenn Ross, but the man deserves points for trying. The NYU alumnus spoke to his alma mater in 2010 after failing to appear for the 2006 commencement. Due to the rain, the actor could only whittle his speech down to 5 minutes. The resulting video may not incite nearly as many laughs as the gut-busting hilarity of Stephen Colbert, Conan O’Brien, or Will Ferrell, but few can argue that the man certainly knows how to speak – even when he starts to get a little choked up along the way, he still manages to maintain an air of authority and grace. Alec Baldwin could probably sit and read passages from the truly abysmal Twilight series and make them sound like brilliance on par with A Confederacy of Dunces, so it doesn’t matter if his speech delves into free-floating good times or not. He’s just that good. For his considerable contributions to the field of film, television, and theatre, NYU conferred an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts degree as well.

5.) Eugene Mirman 2009 LHS Commencement Speech

Russian-American comedian Eugene Mirman graduated from Massachusetts-based Lexington High School in 1992, returning again in 2009 to deliver a commencement address to the lucky seniors escaping their “12 years of knowledge prison.” Although he obviously has to tone himself down a little for the younger audience, some excellent snippets of political and social commentary still manage to slip in there – including how Americans try to “hook up” with foreigners when studying abroad, the fact that 18-year-olds can enlist in the military but not drink, and the crumbling economy. Like other comedians on this list, he finds humor in using generic well-wishes and nuggets of ostensible inspiration involving charging into the future and acting as leaders and reaching for the sky and the like. One of the better parts, though, involves him calling out the cliché of firing off “a personal anecdote about perseverance” and following it up with sage advice and song lyrics – which he then proceeds to do with epic hilarity.

6.) Rachel Maddow Commencement Address for Smith College Class of 2010

Smith College chose MSNBC political commentator Rachel Maddow to receive an honorary Doctor of Law degree and speak at its 2010 graduation ceremony. She starts off with a story regarding radical teetotaler Carrie Nation, sprinkling the woman’s “lust” for destroying property (specifically, saloons) with humor. It is not the type of story one expects to hear at a graduation, but Maddow enjoys researching and discussing political corruption past and present – and she is not ashamed to openly call out figures on the left and the right alike in her speech for their embarrassing behaviors. But the bulk of her speech concerns the history of the prohibition movement as a lesson in her belief that “personal triumphs are overrated” – even citing KFC’s salty, disgusting greasewad of shame and woe known as the Double Down as another example. She completely subverts the usual commencement platitudes by discussing how hard work and staying with dreams can frequently come at a considerable cost to the well-being of others, making a case for mindfulness and ethics and NOT living life every day as if it is not the last.

7.) ali g harvard speach part 1

Ignore the irony present in the title and enjoy British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen’s Class Day commencement address as his controversial satirical character Ali G. Never once breaking character, he passes the speech by parodying privileged Caucasians who borrow liberally from African-American and Afro-Caribbean cultures in order to seem cool and exotic without actually showing any real respect for the people and countries who shaped them. Most of Cohen’s work involves holding a mirror up to social stigmas, flaws, hypocrisies, and downright silliness, and he doesn’t reel any of it in to speak with the Harvard Class of 2004. Few would expect an Ivy League school commence speech to involve liberal amounts of porn, drugs, and alcohol references, but the comedian’s intentions remain, as always, satirical commentary rather than a juvenile last resort. As one can probably imagine, he also draws from the typical, hum-drum fare involving chasing dreams and spices it up with discussions of his own academic shortcomings, some of the fringe benefits of working in medicine, a woman’s role in the home, and “ka-nowledge.” It’s funny stuff for those in on the joke and with a love of politically incorrect reflections on how some members of society operate.

8.) Seth MacFarlane’s Harvard Class Day Speech (1 of 4)

Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane knows what people expect of his public appearances, and in 2006 his Harvard Class Day commencement speech came with a few guest stars. As the voice of numerous characters on the cartoon – most notably Peter, Stewie, and Brian Griffin and Glenn Quagmire – he took advantage of this claim to fame and played as all of them (save for the droll little dog) during his time at the microphone. Like he points out, nobody came to hear him spout off the usual inspirational platitudes. They wanted voices. Lots and lots of voices. MacFarlane pokes gentle fun at his own cash cow, Lost, Harvard itself, South Park, religion, Desperate Housewives, and…well…as Family Guy fans know…everything he can get his metaphorical hands on. As a bonus, he throws in a number of in-joke for fans of the show. For his entertaining remarks, the Harvard Class of 2006 declared him an honorary member.

9.) Steve Jobs’ 2005 Stanford Commencement Address

Apple founder and CEO Steve Jobs was invited to deliver the commencement address at Stanford University in 2005. Though not a particularly humorous speech, Jobs does point out the irony that he never actually graduated from college before becoming one of the leading computer technicians and businessmen in the United States. 3 stories from his life form the cornerstone of the address, and while he does slip into the usual “follow your heart” dialogue, much of what Jobs has to say seems far more compelling when one realizes that only the year before he had received a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Knowing this while watching his pleas to the graduates to find something they love, working hard, maintaining productive relationships, and constantly striving for something better adds an extra sense of urgency to his words. He speaks openly about his condition and how death leaves individuals feeling “vulnerable,” which seems morbid in a commencement speech but still serves a higher purpose. The universality of death can becomes an amazing motivator to keep with ones’ own affairs and goals, promoting individual innovation over staunch conformity.

10.) President Obama: Notre Dame Commencement

Frequently lauded for his warm, laid-back, and humorous public speaking acumen, it comes as little surprise that at least one university out there sought out American President Barack Obama for their commencement address. Notre Dame snapped up the honor in 2009 along with an honorary law degree, amidst controversy that he openly addressed towards the beginning of his speech. When an audience member begins interrupting him to protest his pro-choice leanings when it comes to abortion, the President declared that he did not wish to “[shy] away from things that are uncomfortable” and let the man and the audience express themselves before moving on. Surprisingly, he confronts the current dismal state of affairs head-on, not glossing over the fact that the graduates will be inheriting the tough financial, political, and environmental issues left behind by previous generations. He unashamedly shares the whats and whys behind his viewpoints and hopes that the left and the right can find common ground to rebuild America into something more positive and inclusive.

What individuals consider “inspiration,” of course, remains subjective. But the previous videos left a mark on thousands of graduates and viewers who felt like the speakers had something of genuine interest to say. Though many of them stuck with the expected positivity and encouragement, they did so in a way that was so uniquely them that they stood out amongst others who once took to the podium. Rather than falling back on tired old clichés, they took hold of expectations and added their own personal dimensions and quirks – or completely tossed them out the window and delivered rapid-fire awesomeness that left the venue feeling upbeat rather than exhausted with epic boredom.

Nearly everyone is familiar with the paradox of eating right. The healthy foods that the body so sorely needs frequently seem to dip a bit too far into many people’s finances. This perspective does stem from reality of course, but savvy consumers know that things do not always have to be as they seem on the outside. Browse the following blog posts for excellent tips (and recipes!) on how to beat the bulge without compromising cash; and take the extra time to look over the other features on these sites as well! Many of them emphasize eating well, frugal living, and/or personal finance and have plenty to say on a wide variety of related topics of interest to those who want to eat healthy on a very tight budget.

1.) “Healthy Food on an Unhealthy Budget” at Get Rich Slowly

Targeting college students, this posting at Get Rich Slowly has plenty to offer the financially strapped, with suggestions as well as handy links to relevant Metafilter conversations.

2.) “Eating Healthy On A Budget” at catherine-morgan.com

Nurse and blogger Catherine Morgan looks into some of the sociological elements of poor eating habits and how to improve them without breaking the bank.

3.) “Healthy Eating On A Budget” at Dr. Mommy Health Tips

Keep these sensible health tips in mind when grocery shopping, packing lunches, or planning meals to save money without sacrificing quality.

4.) “8 Ways to Eat Healthy on a Budget” at BodySense Blog

Oddly enough, the BodySense Blog only posts 4 out of the titular 8 tips. Either way, though, they still remain effective strategies to consider.

5.) “65 Cheap, Healthy, One-Dish Meals with Good Leftover Potential” at Cheap Healthy Good

The entire Cheap Healthy Good blog stands as an extremely valuable resource for diners on a dime, but this particular article takes economy to a whole new level by purposely allowing for leftovers.

6.) “Plotting the Plot” at 30 Bucks a Week

The entire point of 30 Buck a Week proves that 2 people can eat healthy without spending too much money, and learning how to plant vegetables and herbs only adds to the savings.

7.) “10 Healthy Foods that won’t Break the Bank” at Naturally Earth Friendly

Pop some of these money-saving health foods on a shopping list for a happier, more wholesome peace of mind.

8.) “Hey Bartender!” at BrokeAss Gourmet

Even the budget-strapped can throw a party with healthy foods and partake of alcoholic beverages (such as antioxidant-ridden wine) if they know how to shop properly. Be sure to check out the recipes at BrokeAss Gourmet as well!

9.) “Beans, Beans, Good for Your Dwindling Savings” at A Good American Wife

Enjoy this recipe for a fabulous, protein-packed meal full of vegetables, legumes, and low-sodium broth that will not cause a cash hemorrhage.

10.) “How to Feed Your Family Well on Less” at Student Mum

Be sure to involve spouses and kids in the meal and snack planning process to help bring the family together and teach valuable lessons on budgeting.

11.) “Healthy, frugal eating” at Wise Bread

Philip Brewer’s excellent, comprehensive article offers up some great advice for the cash-strapped concerned about only being able to afford fats and carbohydrates.

12.) “Is Eating Healthy Budget Friendly Or A Wallet Buster?” at The Great Walls of Baltimore

Sometimes, buying healthy foods for a large family seems expensive at first, but there are ways to cut some corners without pumping kids full of too many problematic substances.

13.) “The ‘It’s Too Expensive to Eat Healthy Food’ Debate” at Casual Kitchen

Read about many of the myths surrounding health food and its overall cost with this handy little blog post.

14.) “Feeding Your Family for Less” at Parent Traps

With these common sense tips, parents hoping to ensure a healthy diet for children can learn how to purchase the necessary foods without breaking the bank.

15.) “Save Money on Healthy Organic Foods” at nature moms blog

Families and individuals wanting to stay both healthy and organic would do well to stick with the advice found at nature moms blog.

16.) “Low Calorie Food and Long Term Costs” at The Simple Dollar

High-calorie, heavily processed foods may cost very little initially, but over time the amount of money that goes into medical care definitely makes spending money on fresh fruits, vegetables, and other healthy eats a worthy investment.

17.) “Food Budget Issues” at Mrs. W’s Kitchen

Mrs. W’s Kitchen offers up an incredibly concise blog post dishing out some excellent, workable advice suitable for the cash-strapped concerned about poor dietary intake.

18.) “Untitled” at Frugal Upstate

Jenn Fowler answers a reader question regarding the use of price books and other money-saving measures when grocery shopping. Not every tip relates directly to eating healthy, though many of the comments certainly do!

19.) “A Frugal Healthy Grocery Budget” at gluten free Mommy

In spite of the blog’s title, even those without special dietary needs can benefit from reading this excellent post on keeping meals and wallets happy and healthy. Anyone with gluten allergies or sensitivities should pay particularly close attention, however.

20.) “How to Grow Herbs Indoors” at Chow

Setting up an indoor herb garden may not necessarily be the easiest technique to save money at the grocery store out there, but the extra effort is worth it for budgeted home chefs in the long run.

21.) “Family Finance: How to Save Money on Groceries” at BlogHer

Alanna Kellogg’s common sense tips may veer in a somewhat broad direction, but she still steers her readers down a healthier path.

22.) “The Pasta Queen on eating healthy on a budget” at This Mama Cooks! On a Diet

A straightforward guest post by Jennette Fulda provides some great, level-headed advice for healthy meals that will not dig too far into a bank account.

23.) “Ten Ways to Feed Ten People for Less Than $20” at The Kitchn

Whether a member of a huge family or throwing a party, the home chef gets peace of mind knowing that there are healthy meals out there that will feed a crowd and not cost a pretty penny.

24.) “High Price For Healthy Food” at Mommy Points

Many studies do show that eating healthy does cost more in the short run, and anyone drawing up a food budget would do well to understand the whats and whys behind this very unfortunate phenomenon.

25.) “Losing Weight on a Budget” at $5 Dinners.com

Not everyone who wants to eat healthy is motivated by the desire or need to lose weight, of course, but anyone can benefit from these quick tips and recipes.

26.) “Snack Time: Challenge Your Process” at Mommy Snacks.net

Andrea Deckard’s informative blog posts looks at eating well from a personal finance perspective rather than one that counts calories and carbohydrates.

27.) “Cooking on a budget” at Simply Recipes

Not every money-saving tip offered by Simply Recipes is necessarily healthy, but they can easily be adjusted to suit specific dietary needs.

28.) “Do’s and don’ts for eating well on a budget” at culinate

Reed College student Savannah Naffziger shares everything she has learned about eating, buying, and cooking simple, healthy foods on her extremely limited budget.

29.) “An Apple a Day” at We are what we eat

Learn all about the health benefits of the humble, inexpensive apple, which makes for a fantastic addition to any diet.

30.) “A reader asks: Budget-Friendly meals that are nutritious and delicious” at The Skinny Gourmet

Browse a selection of painless tips and sumptuous recipes appropriate for families who want to consume healthy meals without worrying about dipping too far into the bank account.

31.) “How to save pasta and rice” at CheapEats.ie

Pasta and rice can form cornerstones for many a budget-friendly, healthy diet, and CheapEats.ie hosts some nice pointers on making them stretch even further.

32.) “Rebecca Currie’s Experiment – Living on $1 a Day” at Slashfood

Believe it or not, Rebecca Currie was entirely able to cobble together her own healthy meals as part of the “subsistence living” movement, spending only $1 per day.

33.) “50 Ways to Save Big at the Grocery Store” at Menus4Moms

Menus4Moms provides a bevy of intelligent tips on making wise purchases at the grocery store, and readers can find creative ways to apply some of them to maintaining a healthy diet.

34.) “Taste Test: Cheap But Good Olive Oils” at Serious Eats

Olive oil makes for an incredibly versatile ingredient when it comes to healthy eating, but the financially conscious do not have to shell out ridiculous amounts of money for the imported stuff to enjoy its benefits.

35.) “Don’t Buy Pre-Cut, Pre-Marinated Meat” at The Frugal Foodie

It may save time to buy meat that comes already cut and pre-marinated, but cutting and flavoring meat at home costs less and allows diners to take more control of their own dietary intake.

36.) “Budget-Friendly Foods: Top 5 Healthy Picks” at Healthy Eats

Toby Amidor at Food Network’s Healthy Eats Blog shares the top 5 foods that anyone concerned about both money and body need to keep in their kitchens.

37.) “How to cut down on sugar” at Frugal Cooking

Save both money and internal organs by taking advantage of Frugal Cooking’s great tips on minimizing the intake of excessive refined sugar.

38.) “Lessons I’ve Learned from The Pantry Challenge (Guest Post)” at Money Saving Mom

Pretty much everything at Money Saving Mom benefits families and singles alike when it comes to maintaining a viable budget, but The Pantry Challenge stands as a great strategy for saving more money and eating healthy foods.

39.) “Shop Your Pantry and Give the Gift of Prosperity!” at Frugal Luxuries™

Proselytize the virtues of eating simply, sensibly, and frugally by whipping up sensible food gifts for loved ones.

40.) “Salty Cumin Lassi” at I ? Kale

Enjoy this cheap, easy-to-make, and extremely healthy recipe at any office with access to a water cooler and a fridge.

41.) “High Fiber Diet – It’s Healthy” at Hillbilly Housewife Blog

Many inexpensive foods double as excellent sources of fiber, and this informative little blog post discusses the benefits of this economical element of a healthy diet.

42.) “Three ways to make eating eggs more fun” at Healthy Bites

Economical and nutritious, the budget-strapped may get tired of eating eggs the same way every time they make their way into a meal. Merritt Watts shares a couple of ways to fight the doldrums when cooking.

43.) “Invest a lot of time, make a lot of dough” at Sustainable Pantry

Home chefs with the time to make some multigrain dough for breads and pizzas will appreciate this advice that keeps bodies healthy by taking advantage of economical bulk-cooking practices.

44.) “Save Money on Groceries” at Healthy Eating Made Easy

The “supermarket savvy” would do well to keep these common-sense tips and tricks in mind when it comes to purchasing the healthiest foods possible.

45.) “Benefits of Yogurt” at Frugal Healthy Choices

Yogurt is a cheap and healthy way of acquiring valuable calcium and vitamin D, among other great benefits.

46.) “Try Healthy & Economical Eating this Easter” at The Produce Lady’s Blog

Obviously, the advice found on Brenda Sutton’s blog does not always have to apply to one particular religion’s holiday to be extremely useful to budgeted households concerned about eating right.

47.) “Tips for Saving Money at the Farmer’s Market” at Organic & Thrifty

Anyone hoping to purchase fresh, local, organic produce would do well to read this incredibly valuable blog’s advice on making money stretch while patronizing the local farmer’s market.

48.) “U.S. Healthy Eating Trends Part 1: Commitment Trumps the Economic Pinch” at NielsenWire

To add a little inspirational boost to an occasionally frustrating day budgeting and grocery shopping, check out Nielsen’s findings on how a down economy does not always put a dent in healthy eating.

49.) “Simplify Your Life with Menu Planning Central” at The Cheap Gourmet

Planning meals ahead of time simplifies and streamlines grocery shopping and places the consumer in a better position to make decisions regarding money and health matters.

50.) “Week 4 – Tuesday – Your Health!” at rebecca’s pocket

Read Rebecca Blood’s lessons on how she stuck with an organic diet without compromising her strict budget.

51.) “Food Stamps: The Economics of Eating Well” at Room for Debate

For those curious about the politics behind healthy eating when it comes to subsisting off food stamps, this revealing blog post at The New York Times looks at multiple sides of the issue.

52.) “Fed Up with School Lunch: The Feds Join The Fray” at Civil Eats

School lunches open up more questions regarding policy, health, and affordability for anyone concerned about what their kids may be ingesting at lunchtime.

53.) “Frugal Foods for Toddlers” at almost frugal food

Younger children especially need to eat a healthy diet in order to facilitate proper growth, and almost frugal food provides some great suggestions for parents wringing their hands over the cost of nutritious eats.

54.) “11 Tips For Eating Healthy On a Budget” at simple mom

Everything the frugal foodie needs to know about eating well without spending too much is right here on this comprehensive blog post.

55.) “Top 3 Ways to Eat More Greens” at The Frugal Connoisseurs Blog: All About

Take advantage of these creative tips on incorporating cheap greens into a daily diet beyond the expected salads and sautés.

56.) “5 Ways to Eat Healthy on a Budget” at Quizzle Wire

Read over more straightforward tips on maintaining a healthy diet during times of lean finances.

57.) “How to manage to prepare healthy meals on a regular basis – The best way to start is to Stock a Healthy Kitchen” at Healthy Food on a Budget

Anyone stymied about starting to build up a kitchen full of healthy, inexpensive foods will very much appreciate this registered dietician’s list of what items they should consider buying.

58.) “Backyard Foraging: Dandelion Greens” at BudgetGourmetKitchen.com

One simple, common plant found in many yards provides a surprising amount of nutrients – and at no cost whatsoever to the consumer!

59.) “5 Ways To Eat Healthy On A Budget” at Mrs. Moneysaver

As the title implies, Dana Adams at Mrs. Moneysavers has some nice, quick tips on eating economically without sacrificing valuable health properties.

60.) “Eating Healthy on a Budget” at ChefMD® Blog

Watch this video blog entry from John La Puma, MD for expert advice regarding the best way to keep on a healthy diet without breaking the bank.

61.) “Eating Healthy on a Budget” at Free from Broke

Free from Broke provides a few handy, general guidelines for buying healthy foods at reasonable prices.

62.) “Cooking Skills – Hands vs. Machines” at Make it from Scratch

Save wear and tear on expensive cookware and machinery by whipping up meals by hand whenever possible. Make it from Scratch also provides an excellent recipe for cheap, homemade mayonnaise to illustrate its main point.

63.) “How to Eat Healthy on a Budget” at Mark’s Daily Apple

Aimed at those who want to stay in shape and lose weight while sticking to a tight budget would do well to check out the useful little tips at Mark’s Daily Apple.

64.) “How to be a foodie without breaking the bank” at Money Tales

Read the intriguing story of Jane, who found a way to keep up with her gourmet, organic, and healthy foodie lifestyle even after financial circumstances slashed away at her funds.

65.) “Conclusion – Eating like a Chowhound on $3 a day” at Chowhound

Read all the lessons learned following the completion of a $3 a day challenge, and be sure to check out the handy money-saving tips in the comments section as well.

66.) “How to Eat Healthy on a Budget” at Buxr

With these quick and easy tips, anyone concerned about how their finances relate to eating well has plenty of information to help them get started.

67.) “Eating Healthy on a Budget” at Couponers United!

Keep these useful little nuggets of advice in mind when grocery shopping and planning healthy meals that will not put a large dent in the ol’ bank account.

68.) “Eating Healthy on a Food Stamp Budget” at Poverty in America

This provocative blog post by Greg Plotkin looks into the struggles faced by those on food stamps when it comes to taking care of their dietary needs on a skeletal budget.

69.) “11 Tips For Eating Healthy on a Budget” at Simply Cooking

Elizabeth Edelman’s straightforward, simple guide to staying healthy in financially lean times makes for a nice resource to check before planning a budget.

70.) “This guy takes hotel room cooking to a whole new level” at The Laid-Off Gourmet

Forego ridiculously expensive room service and learn how to prepare nice, healthy, inexpensive meals right in the hotel room.

71.) “Eating Healthy When You’re Poor: You Can’t” at Dispatch from the Trenches

Read one man’s perspective on the difficulties of maintaining a nutritious dietary intake while living below the poverty level.

72.) “Guest Post: Eating Healthy On a Budget” at The Thrifty Mama

Both the article and the comments offer up some excellent advice for anyone concerned about their health but grapple against an inflexible budget.

73.) “Can You Eat Well on Food Stamps?” at The Green Life

Operated by The Sierra Club, The Green Life blog peeks into the food stamp system and the issues surrounding the program’s difficulties with keeping participants healthy.

74.) “Eating Healthy on a Budget: All About Potatoes” at Belfast Co-op Blog

Potatoes add volume to a diet without causing too many health issues, and this informative blog post discusses their place in the frugal foodie’s pantry.

75.) “4 Healthy Eating Tips for College Freshmen” at Diets in Review.com

Even those who never went or already graduated from college can benefit from a few of the quick tips to be found on this blog posting.

76.) “Make Your Own Yogurt” at Choosy Beggars

Yogurt is an excellent cornerstone of any healthy diet, and making it at home only lets the savings add up.

77.) “Eating a Healthy Diet in College” at Find College Cards

Because college students must thrive on staying healthy and carefully watching their bank accounts, anyone can benefit from advice pertaining to their particular situation.

78.) “To Read Labels Or Not To Read? Part 1” at Sanaa Cooks

Although most of the recipes at Sanaa Cooks bolster an economical, healthy diet, the advice on reading food labels especially helps.

79.) “Nutrition 101: How to Eat Healthy as a College Student” at FederalwayMirror.com

These common sense tips are essential to maintaining a nutritious diet, and stand as especially valuable since the target audience has very little money to begin with.

80.) “Eat Healthy, Cheap” at Money Under 30

Be sure to read the comments section of this post as well. Both the article and the readers share some incredibly valuable tips for saving time without worrying about veering off from a healthy track.

81.) “Saving money on groceries without Top Ramen: Eating sustainably on a budget” at WalletPop

Anyone caring to eat sustainable, healthy foods would do well to read these tips on maintaining certain standards without busting the bank.

82.) “Save a Penny” at Dude, where’s the stove?

This three-part entry on the extremely handy Dude, where’s the stove? blog serves as an incredibly detailed resource for anyone concerned about their blowing their food budget on unhealthy fare.

83.) “Tip #9 – Be kind(er) to your junk mail” at Poor Girl Eats Well

Be sure to read over everything available through Poor Girl Eats Well, of course. But Kimberly Alexandra’s praise of the weeklies that come in the mail reveal some hidden deals that almost always end up in the recycling bin.

84.) “Save on Groceries? Not if it Means Sacrificing these 6 Food Qualities” at 20SomethingFinance

GE Miller refuses to compromise 6 certain elements when it comes to purchasing food, and subsequent articles in the series offer up valuable money-saving tips on keeping an organic, free-range, hormone-free, nutritious, and sometimes vegetarian diet.

85.) “Menus for approximately 2 weeks” at Frugal Abundance

It is entirely possible to keep up with a gluten- and casein-free diet while still sticking to a strict budget, as this extremely useful blog post and its menu suggestions points out.

86.) “Healthy eating on a student budget” at Paging Dr. Gupta

Fans of CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta will appreciate his advice on staying fit and healthy without having to worry about overdrafting.

87.) “Millet Porridge and Other Convenience Foods” at Frugal Cuisine

The ability to stretch certain ingredients and dishes out serves as one of the best ways to avoid spending too much on food, and Frugal Cuisine assists home chefs in finding strategies to get the most out of their healthy purchases.

88.) “Spend less eating healthy food” at Beyond Paycheck to Paycheck

This short, succinct blog post highlights the best ways to consume nutritious foods in the most economically feasible manner possible.

89.) “99.99% Organic” at The 99 Cent Chef

Widely (and rightfully!) respected chef Billy Vasquez blogs some incredible stuff on his little corner of the internet, and this particular post illustrates just how healthily people can eat by hitting up their local discount stores.

90.) “Localvore – Eat Local Foods and Save Money” at debt free adventure

Buying local foods saves money on shipping costs, meaning that the prices for healthy produce comes greatly reduced for the savvy consumer.

91.) “Shape U: Eating Healthy in College” at College Jolt

Read over all the basics of staying on top of a healthy diet while sticking with an incredibly limited budget.

92.) “How Planning Your Meals Will Save You Money” at fivecentnickel.com

Although this fivecentnickel.com blog post focuses more on meal planning rather than pointing out nutritious foods on which to nosh, the advice contained therein still dishes out some great financial advice.

93.) “On Frugality, Grandmothers and Lentil Soup” at Too Many Chefs

Pick up a free recipe for a delectable, healthy soup (eliminate the bacon to keep hearts even healthier) and a nice little rumination on the virtue of frugality.

94.) “A Pound for Pound Review of Dieting Plans” at Dough Roller

Individuals concerned about losing weight on a dieting plan while getting the most bang for their buck would do well to read Dough Roller’s reviews of the most popular companies out there. Many are not nearly as good for the budget as they advertise.

95.) “Part 1: 6 Tips For Saving Money On Groceries” at Money Crashers

Apply Sandy Aquire’s useful, frugal advice to grocery stores and farmers markets to score the best deals possible.

96.) “Eating locally can be a challenge for college students on a meal plan” at The Daily Green

Some tips on keeping local and organic without hemorrhaging cash apply only to college students, but others on a budget can still appreciate the broader, more general ones.

97.) “Home Economics 101” at The Guerilla Gourmet

Review all the basics of keeping house and home both healthy and financially stable with The Guerilla Gourmet, but also make an effort to read the rest of the blog as well!

98.) “New Uses for Old Herbs” at The Economical Epicurean

Learn how to use up herbs that may have passed their prime as a means of saving money and adding flavor without any extra nutritional nastiness.

99.) “Nourishing Portable Food” at Frugal Granola

Read over the recipes on this excellent blog carnival, which showcases healthy, frugal foods for families and individuals on the go.

100.) “Save Money on Groceries” at Survival Tips for the Working Poor

Concerned, heavily budgeted readers must read over this valuable blog post featuring quick tips on how to pinch pennies at the grocery store.

In both times of financial prosperity and times of financial disparity, consumers should learn how to spend their money responsibly. However, doing so does not have to mean sacrificing healthy, wholesome meals at the table or in the lunchbox. Take advantage of what these mindful bloggers have to share when it comes to sticking with a nutritious diet and a paper-thin budget.