September 3rd, 2012Top Story24 Projects to Liven Up Your Labor DayBy Adam Dachis
Make Something AwesomeWhile you want to take it easy on your day off, it can be pretty boring if you're just sitting around doing nothing. Here are a few projects to liven up the day. Create Enormous Bubbles with a Super Sized DIY Bubble WandBubble blowing is a fun, outdoor activity for kids and adults alike. When you super-size those bubbles it's much more exciting. Make your own enormous wand for the biggest bubbles you've ever seen. More » Build a DIY Slip 'n Slide for Mega-Sized FunWhy settle for a little Slip 'n Slide when, for around the same price plus a little of your time, you could have a mega-sized-and possibly skull-fracturing-version? More » Build Your Own Outdoor Movie TheaterThere's a certain allure to seeing a movie outside on a nice summer night, whether it's the nostalgia of drive-in movies or seasonal ambience. Recreate the experience with your own outdoor theater. More » DIY Outdoor KitchenWhen the weather is nice it is great to cook outdoors, but that's typically limited to a grill. Using a set of free plans from design firm Studio Mama you can construct an outdoor kitchen that features a gas range, a bucket sink, a chopping station, and storage. More » Turn Wooden Pallets into Patio FurniturePatio furniture-and good furniture in general-can get pretty expensive, especially when it's as enormous as this DIY project. Here's how you can make an outdoor sectional sofa from wooden pallets. More » Stream Music Outdoors with an Amp and Airport Express Built into a Kitchen CartGood music makes a big difference for outside entertaining or barbecuing. This Ikea hack combines a butcher block with an outdoor amp and Apple AirPort Express for easy streaming from a computer indoors to outdoor speakers. More » Turn a Used Wine Bottle into a Stylish, Mosquito-Repelling TorchTake one used wine bottle and turn it into an outdoor torch that will successfully—and stylishly—ward off mosquitos. More » Transform Your DSLR into a Supercharged, Professional Video CameraIf you've got one of Canon's amazing video-capable DSLRs, you know you've got a powerful camera. What you may not know is that you can add some incredible features, for free, with an open-source firmware add-on called Magic Lantern. More » Turn an Old Computer into a Networked Backup, Streaming, or Torrenting Machine with FreeNASNetwork-attached storage (NAS) is a perfect solution for sharing files, backing up your computers, streaming media across your home network, or even torrenting files to a central server. If you have an aging computer lying around, you can turn it into a NAS for for free with the open-source FreeNAS operating system. More » Build a HackintoshBuilding a hackintosh—that is, installing Mac OS X on non-Apple hardware—used to require extremely restricted hardware choices and quite a bit of know-how. Now it's incredibly easy to build your own ultra-powerful Mac and save a ton of money in the process. More » Turn Your Computer into a Retro Game ArcadeWhether you're looking to relive the past or experience the origin of gaming you missed in your youth, your Windows, Mac, or Linux PC can become the retro arcade of your dreams in just a few steps. More » Top 10 Gaming Hacks and DIY ProjectsWe love our games and consoles, but there's a big world that lies beyond the product you pull out of the box. Your console is capable of so much more than you may realize. Here are our top 10 video game hacks and DIY projects to prove it. More » The Boardgame Remix Kit Combines Your Old Games Into New OnesIf you're looking for a way to mix things up for a game night, the Boardgame Remix kit takes classic games—like Monopoly and Clue—and remixes them into fun new ones. More » Upgrade Your Grilling SkillsThe summer's just about over and it may be your last chance for a tasty cookout. Here are a few things worth learning to make yours awesome. Spiral Cut Hot Dogs Before Grilling for Maximum Meaty Goodness and Plenty of Room for ToppingsCooking a hot dog isn't rocket science, but making that hot dog something really special can be trickier than loading it up with toppings. The fine folks at Chow suggest giving your hot dog a quick spiral cut before putting it on the grill. More » The Best Way to Grill Sausages: Poach Them Right on the GrillSausages may seem like the one food you don't need instructions for grilling, but actually much can go wrong. If you want to cook them perfectly, try poaching and grilling at the same time. More » Tips for Getting the Most Flavorful SteaksIf you want the juiciest, most flavorful steak you can cook, look for plenty of fat throughout the meat. Serious Eats' guide to grilling steak says marbling is a more important quality to look for than just the grade of the beef (Prime, Choice, or Select). More » Change Charcoal Grilling Layouts to Improve Heat ControlCreating heat zones and heat-free zones help you avoid burning food by giving hot areas for searing and warm areas for slower more thorough grilling. More » Simple Tips to Grill the Perfect BurgerFor something so simple and easy to make, a good hamburger can be difficult to find. Thankfully, the trick to grilling a delicious and perfectly cooked hamburger isn't a mystery. More » Increase Grilling Flavor By Making Your Own CharcoalUsing charcoal made from apple, mesquite, or other hardwoods can result in added flavor that you won't get with pre-made briquettes. Making your own charcoal is easy and cost effective; definitely worth your time if you have free access to suitable wood. More » Weber's On the Grill Is the Only Grilling Guidebook You NeedWhether you're grilling for Labor Day or just because the weather's nice, Weber's On the Grill is a fantastic sidekick to have along with you. Select what you want to grill and it'll create a grocery list for you, then walk you through the entire process. More » Just Chill OutYou've been working hard. Take a break. Use your day off to relax a little. What Stress Actually Does to You and What You Can Do About ItWe all experience stress, and we all try to come up with ways to cope, but that can be tough when we don't really understand how it works. Here's a look at what stress does to you and what you can do about it. More » A Guide to Meditation for the Rest of UsBelieve it or not, you can improve your concentration and slow down your day-to-day life with meditation without ever uttering the word "chakra." Incense, yoga pants, and annoying dinner conversation are also optional. More » How to Find the Right Style of Yoga for YouYoga offers a host of health benefits, including stress relief and mental clarity, but many people don't think it's for them. There are, however, so many approaches to yoga that you should be able to find a yoga style that fits your needs. More » How to Reboot Your Sleep Cycle and Get the Rest You DeserveNothing can stand in for a good night's sleep. In this post we'll help you reboot your sleeping habits so you get the sleep you need (and deserve). More » Have a great Labor Day! Title image illustrated by Dominick Rabrun. You can find his illustrations on his personal web site, or works in progress on his blog.  |
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