Howcast

Beer for Breakfast

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 11:14:51 -0500

Doughnut bacon maple ale? There isn’t really much to say here except WHY AREN’T YOU MAKING BEER FLAVORS LIKE THIS YET?!

Don’t be intimidated by brewing your first batch of frothy goodness — it’s actually quite simple.

Just Another Manic Cyber Monday

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 09:49:57 -0500

Got through Black Friday unscathed, did you? Mazel tov! Now it’s time to prepare for round 2 of the holiday savings season: Cyber Monday. Of course, the best way to snag major deals is to stay ahead of the competition.

But for all you working guys and gals out there, there’s no need to call in sick when you can do all your online shopping at work…and not get caught by your boss!

It's Black Friday and We So Excited

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 08:38:55 -0500

The Super Bowl of shopping events is nigh, and we’re here to walk you through the impending bedlam. Seriously, gang — Black Friday has gotten so bananas that it warrants its own survival guide. But don’t let the madness keep you from scoring some sweet ass deals!

God speed and good luck, brave shopper.

From Ukraine with No Love

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:00:00 -0500

They call them mail-order brides for a reason. As in, your wife is sent to you; you don’t come to her — otherwise, this happens:

Ex-gubernatorial candidate Cary Dolego of Arizona traveled all the way to Ukraine in search of love, only to be stood up by his supposed future wife. The victim of an Internet dating scam, he ended up hungry and suffering of pneumonia in a Ukrainian homeless shelter.

Learn from this poor sap’s mistakes and become familiar with the pleasures and pitfalls of online dating. But if you’re really bent on going the mail-order-bride route, please get the facts first.

source: www.foxnews.com

Get a Roommate...Your Life Depends on It

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 17:56:30 -0500

Dealing with a roommate may be a drag, but single life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be either. A new study revealed that if you’re under 65, living alone can result in a 21% increase of your risk of dying of all causes. All the same, if you make it on your own until the great old age of 80, you actually have a 14% lower risk of dying.

If you’re aiming to stick around for a while, it’d be wise to roomie up.

source: blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/

Thanksgiving 101

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 12:39:34 -0500

Here’s a thought: How about spending less time in the kitchen and more time with your family this Thanksgiving?

We just blew your mind with our crazy logic, didn’t we?

This year, be thankful for quick and easy Thanksgiving tips from your good friends at Howcast:

Bowser Beer: Giving New Meaning to the Expression "Hair of the Dog"

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 10:38:52 -0500

Sometimes after long day, all you want to do is plop down on the couch and drink a nice, cold beer. But has it ever occurred to you that your dog might want a beer, too? Enter Bowser Beer: an alcohol, carbonation, and hops-free beer for pups! And while the idea of alcohol-free beer just sounds blasphemous to us, we hear dogs really dig it.

In case, your pooch has a taste for other human treats, check out how to indulge their cravings without giving them a major tummy ache.

image via mlive.com

Let Your Dress Do the Talking

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 10:59:35 -0500

For ladies who know what they want, flirting can feel like a waste of time. This e-dress helps you cut to the chase: The more a man sends your heart racing, the more transparent it becomes! Not a frock for the faint of heart, this dress says, “Come hither” like no other ensemble.

If transparent dresses just aren’t your thing (and we can understand why they wouldn’t be), find out how to flirt and get your guy.

source: fastcompany.com
image via studioroosegaarde.net

Postal Penmanship

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 13:18:44 -0500

Ever have trouble reading your own chicken scratch? Imagine how postal service workers must feel. While the addresses on most envelopes these days are machine-read, the only way to read truly messy handwriting is to send it to an actual person. At the U.S. Postal Service’s “Remote Encoding Center,” 1,900 clerks are responsible for deciphering the nation’s most illegible handwriting.

While these master “code breakers” may be “the last vestige of human intelligence versus machine intelligence in the sorting race,” we’re pretty sure they wouldn’t mind if you made their lives easier and neatened up your handwriting.

source: online.wsj.com
image via Flickr: “you’ve got mail” by wheat_in_your_hair

All the Single Ladies, Put Your Pens Up

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 12:14:00 -0500

For all those who still listen to “Single Ladies” on repeat (don’t worry, you’re not alone), there’s a new way to cope. Beth Griffenhagen’s Haiku for the Single Girl recounts the trials and tribulations of being alone in New York City — in 17-syllable, all-too-true installments. Our personal favorite?

“I walk home alone.
Bag covered in Cheeto dust.
Should this depress me?”

But while we’re sure that writing haikus about datelessness can be pretty exhilarating, we imagine that going on an actual date might be a little more satisfying. Put yourself out there, ladies! And men, don’t chicken out!

image via Facebook

Operation "Inbox Zero" Starts Now

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 14:24:30 -0400

It’s an email age, and to be honest, we’re kinda drowning in it. When you’ve got hundreds of unread emails piling up in your inbox, “Inbox Zero” might sound like an unachievable goal. Meet your savior: the Email Game. It’s exactly what it sounds like: It turns normally daunting email management into a surprisingly fun bit of procrastination.

But if you’re not much of a gamer, there are other ways to optimize your inbox without making it feel like a chore.

Feliz día de los Muertos!

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 11:44:25 -0400

Or, for our non-Spanish speaking peeps, Happy Day of the Dead! The 2-day celebration begins today, and you’re more than welcome to join in the festivities.

Start by learning the history of this sacred holiday and constructing an altar to offer gifts to your deceased loved ones. And what holiday would be complete without a delicious spread of traditional recipes?

What’s Halloween without causing a few bloodcurdling...

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 16:07:28 -0400

What’s Halloween without causing a few bloodcurdling screams? NOTHING. That’s what.

Halloween May Come and Go, but Candy is Forever (Almost)

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 15:45:48 -0400

Let’s be honest, the best part of Halloween is the candy. After you’ve amassed a hoard of sugarcoated confections, you’ve gotta wonder: How long does this stuff actually last?

As it turns out, Halloween goodies hang in there for a pretty long time. Despite a few textural changes (don’t worry about that white stuff that appears on old chocolate — it’s harmless), your sweet treats will be fine to eat for at least 12 months…just in time to restock! So get out there and trick or treat to your heart’s content.

source: www.slate.com
image via Flickr: “Candy Corn” by Kurt and Sybilla

Haunting Hazards

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 12:29:00 -0400

Come on, guys. Haunted house actors may already be “dead,” but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt when you freak out and punch them. And it happens more often than you’d think — that flight-or-flight reaction is one fickle friend, and these tough actors know that all too well.

In a Huffington Post interview, Allen Hopps, a trainer for actors in haunted houses, said, “The problem isn’t the haunted houses or the actors, but the customers. They forget that people are actors and have a flight-or-fight reaction towards the person scaring them, not realizing one might be a 16-year-old girl.”

Don’t let this occupational hazard keep you from making a haunted house of your own. Just think of it this way: If you get socked in the face, you’re obviously doing your scaring right.

source: wwww.huffingtonpost.com
image via Flickr: “Ww1” by stranger3113

49-year-old mom Donna Purnell (aka Alexanderia the Great) enjoys...

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:23:00 -0400

49-year-old mom Donna Purnell (aka Alexanderia the Great) enjoys being bound in chains and padlocks by her husband. Get your mind out of the gutter, people…she’s an escape artist! In these double-dip-recessionary times, the Purnells have taken their penchant for chains and turned it into a living.

In her “Leap of Faith,” this badass mommy straps on 55 lbs. of chains, dives into a pool, and resurfaces in 60 seconds, using only a hairpin to free herself. And then, you know, goes home and cooks dinner for kids. NBD.

Before you go attempting any of this Houdini stuff, consider starting small. Knowing how to escape from handcuffs might come in handy one day.

In Production: Pool Trick Shots with Andy Segal

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:05:00 -0400

Trick shot hotshot Andy Segal showed us exactly why they call him “The Magic Man.” Check out some “shots” (pun totes intended) of our upcoming series with the pool pro!

Eye of the freakin’ tiger with this one.

Who said white balls couldn’t jump?!

Imagine the poor fool who challenges Andy to a regular bar game of pool!

Um…we’re just gonna let Andy explain this shot!

Let the (paper) creatures of the night take flight!

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:19:00 -0400

Let the (paper) creatures of the night take flight!

Whether you want to make Halloween cupcakes that are cute or...

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:27:56 -0400

Whether you want to make Halloween cupcakes that are cute or creepy, these decorating tips will do the trick for your treats.

It’s Christmas in October! Professional singer and actor...

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:30:00 -0400

It’s Christmas in October! Professional singer and actor Paul Sandberg takes us through the classics in our upcoming series “How to Play Christmas Songs.” Check out this behind-the-scenes clip!