Russian designer Yuriy Dmitriev recently unveiled the Electrolux Bio-Robot Refrigerator. The invention promises to revolutionize the appliance world since it does not require energy for cooling products. Instead, the odorless, non-sticky biopolymer gel cools food through luminescence. Objects are placed into the strong gel, creating a separate pod for each item. The objects are kept cool thanks to the transformation of invisible infrared radiation into visible light. The gel absorbs heat energy and radiates it in a different range of wavelengths (SCIENCE!). The Bio-Robot refrigerator is four times smaller than the average conventional refrigerator and can be hung horizontally, vertically, or (most impressively) on the ceiling. The fridge is completely silent, has no moving parts, and, even if it never comes to market, is an impressive stab at innovating a product that hasn’t changed in decades. Not to mention that pressing your hands into that goo looks supremely satisfying.

A few weeks ago, an article making the Facebook rounds caught my eye. In it, author Laura Vanderkam asks “Are you as busy as you think?” Now. To hear me answer that the way I’d like to, you’d think I was giving the President a run for his money in the overburdened schedules department. I always feel busy, often without respite. And the truth is, I am busy. At least in recent years, I haven’t come face-to-face with a block of time I couldn’t fill, but it’s how we choose to use that time, and how we talk about it that matters. For starters, according to Vanderkam it’s our perception of what we’re busy with that could use some work. Most American sleep more and work less than they believe they do. And, we also fill those remaining hours with tasks that may not be in line with our true priorities. To get a better handle on what really fills our days, she suggest three simple things: keeping a time log to help really understand exactly where the time goes, to be honest about how we want to fill that time and to change the way we speak, reminding ourselves that our priorities should dictate our schedules, and not the other way around. For me, it all comes back to a quote by David Allen, (author of this insightful book on the subject): “You can do anything, but not everything.” We have to choose. It seems simple, but in reality proves difficult to put into practice. Do you agree? Do you feel like your days are packed with no escape? Let’s chat!

UPDATE: FRIDAY NIGHT, 9 PM — We’re up! Thanks again for all your patient this week. You might notice some bugs along the way and we will be continuing to improve things. Again, we love you’re feedback and will definitely take it into consideration. Change is good! Honestly!

Hi Everyone! We just wanted to give you a quick heads-up that soon (hopefully this week!) we’ll be unveiling an updated Shelterrific design. The biggest change will be on the mainpage, which instead of having one long scroll, will be featuring a “what’s new” carousel on top with (you guessed it) the newest posts. On the rest of the page you will be able to browse recent posts based on subject. There will be also be a new navigation bar that will allow you to easily dive into the category you are looking for, like decorating or cooking.

Like all new things, it may take some time to get used to — but hopefully the new color scheme, bigger photos and navigation will become a part of your routine that you will grow to love. Also, we’ll be featuring a different Etsy artist each month on the hedder.

As always, we’ll be counting on you to tell us what you think and give us feedback. Thanks in advance for your patience if things get a little bumpy with publishing this week. We are super excited for our new look and hope you will be too! –

The Shelterrific Crew

Here’s something I never thought I would confess: I just spent three hours on Purina’s website. That’s right. Forget Reddit. Move along, Facebook. Time’s up, Pinterest. My hard-to-capture Internet attention has been captivated by Purina’s site petcentric.com. If you too are a fan of anipals, a similar fate awaits you. The purveyors of kibble have created a fun, stylized breed library for both cats and dogs. Almost everyone is represented here in delightful, colorful animation. Click on your favorite breed and you’ll be greeted with an mini cartoon of a representative of the breed welcoming you with facts about themselves in their hysterically over-the-top voice (if you only have time for one, check out the German Shepherd). Besides sheer entertainment value, the website’s main goal is breed education. Purina (just like me!) encourages you to adopt your anipal! Use the Friend Fetcher to honestly evaluate how much time and money you will have to devote to your dog or cat, if they should be kid/other pet-friendly, and several other factors. –Katie D.

Recent stories:
The Puppy Files: Choosing The Perfect Breed

Blueprint for the Perfect Dog (Art)

The murders are fictional, but if you’re watching American Horror Story, the fact that the series’ ill-historied house is for sale in real life might give you pause. According to this Hollywood Reporter article, the house’s magnificent (Tiffany glass, multiple tiled fireplaces) and creepy (a very questionable basement) features are the real deal: the pilot was shot on location and the house painstakingly replicated for the rest of the season. I’m not even going to ask if the place comes with a maid. — Mary T.

Related:
Do you believe in haunted houses?
What’s your favorite TV decor?

Martha’s Crafts Dept. is showcasing a sunny, bright and cheerful Thanksgiving tablescape we’d like to replicate.

Gorgeous plantable ornaments to deck your tree, at Casa Sugar.

Find out what wine is perfect for your Holiday meal — less than $5 a bottle — at Serious Eats.

A mouthwatering alternative to plain old pies of pumpkin and pecan: Maple walnut pie, at Simply Recipes.

Tour a modern houseboat in Seattle that redefines small space luxury at Contemporist.

Deck your halls with wreaths of velvet — and find out how at Craft!

Spookify your home with some creepy-cute handmade spider sacks with this tutorial at Modern Parents Messy Kids. Via Curbly.

Check out the gorgeous, newly finished floors in Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia cathedral (available for your home too).

CasaSugar spotlights a groundbreaking, innovative home in Maine that generates it’s own energy.

We’d love to cozy up with this modern felted wool patchwork quilt.

Sneak a peek inside the California Design exhibit at LACMA at the New York Times.

Apple pie cookies — at Smitten Kitchen. Yum!

Turn a regular blender into a “magic bullet” with a mason jar! Brilliance, yet again, from Real Simple.

Give your hearth a facelift for fall with these great ideas at CasaSugar.

JennSki snuck a peek inside the new New Hampshire digs of artist Matte Stephens, and it’s as fab as we would expect.

Wine bottle jack-o-lanterns at Instructables. Perfect for more grown-up spooktaculars!

And what’s better to decant that bottle of red than a human heart wine carafe? Via Boing Boing.

More Halloween-y craft fun, from Craft: a cute and festive burlap bunting.

Wild rice burgers: a hearty, satisfying Minnesota favorite — at The Kitchn.

This apartment in Nimes, France manages to make unfinished, de-wallpapered walls look chic and textural — at The Style Files.

Trick out your yoga gear with Finnish style : DIY Marimekko yoga bag, at Always Mod.

Kick autumn in to high gear and celebrate all things apple-y and delicious, at Fresh Home Blog.

Great gates: a modern roundup, at Casa Sugar.

At Bloesem we spotted this playful yet cozy bedding from Dutch design firm Snurk. LOVE.

Good to know: why decorating with salvaged pallets indoors is a bad idea, at Curbly.

NotCot got a sneak peek at what’s new from Dyson, like their new covetable Dyson Hot fan heater.

What could be bad about potatoes cooked with a smoky, paprika-infused tomato sauce? Not eating them right now! Patatas Bravas, at Simply Recipes.

image courtesy of Marie Claire Maison.

As autumn starts to settle in, what could be more comforting than a plate of these short ribs with wine and cream from The Pioneer Woman?

The story of Rya rugs, vintage Scandinavian DIY textiles you can still make today — and still look fresh and on trend. At Retro Renovation.

The coolest treehouse ever, at ModFruGal. Those “things” are lucky — wonder if they’d consider renting it out?

For the love of laminate: The WilsonArt House, a time-capsule of 1960′s fabulousness, at Whorange.

Remodelista has us coveting this cast iron spice grinder from Canoe in Portland.

Whether we like it or not, the holidays are swiftly approaching. CasaSugar is scouting out the hot holiday trends from West Elm’s 2011 collection.

At Fresh Home Ideas, find out how to fabricate a smart slatted bathroom shelf.