So, this weekend Chris and I were talking in the car on our way to run some errands on Saturday. He asked me if I had heard about the bill that Obama passed last week. I said no, did it have something to do with gay marriage since it has been plastered all over Facebook and such? He said..well that is why the media and everyone is focusing so much on it…the president passed a bill this week that is protecting food companies from having to label that their food is genetically modified. Then he was like, you know how you wanted to switch to more clean eating…well I am officially on board.
You can Google it for yourself, and form your own opinions. This portion of the article is quite concerning.
“The provision would strip federal courts of the authority to halt the sale and planting of an illegal, potentially hazardous GE crop while the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) assesses those potential hazards,” explains a letter to the House that has been signed by dozens of food businesses and retailers, as well as interest groups and agencies representing family farmers. “Further, it would compel USDA to allow continued planting of that same crop upon request, even if in the course of its assessment the Department finds that it poses previously unrecognized risks.”
Now, I realize that we have been modifying food for awhile now. I am sure there have been studies done that conclude that there is no harmful side effects in some cases. However, there are also studies to prove there can be harmful effects, and more importantly, unrecognized risks. This is not OK. We have the right to know that a food was modified or not. Now, whether or not you care and are willing to take that risk is your own right as well. It seems that the reason they are allowing this is because if people know that something is modified, they may try to find an alternative and therefore, not buy certain products. Well, duh. But now you don’t even have to let people know this? Granted, you can’t just trust food labels in general. If it says “natural” it may not really be natural, maybe only a certain percentage of what is in the package in natural.
It seems abundantly clear to me that the people in our country care more about what Kim Kardashian is going to name her baby, or when Lindsay Lohan will end up in rehab again…but we need to be paying attention to more important things like what is in the food you are feeding to your kids.
There are so many things that we know can cause cancer, or have other harmful outcomes. It would be very hard to completely avoid everything, but it is important to remember everything is OK in MODERATION.
With that being said. I am really going to start focusing more on clean eating. We have really been better the last few months about purchasing less processed foods and such. There are so many different routes that you can go with this. For me it is more about a lifestyle change than a diet. I want to be sure that the route I chose is something that we can maintain as much as possible.
There is clean eating, paleo, gluten free….so many different options that you can choose from. I am sure they all have their own benefits and disadvantages.
I have started doing some research. In the beginning I was just trying to figure out the differences between them all.
It seems that paleo is not only gluten free but also grain free. Clean eating lets you have limited dairy, while paleo does not. I am thinking…I don’t want to completely eliminate cheese, as my love goes way deep!
I know there are a lot of you that have been switching over to a healthier, cleaner lifestyle. What information is out there that you found most helpful? What made you decide to choose which life style to follow? It can get confusing at times.
What are you currently struggling or grappling with in your life?
Linking up with Lauren and Kalyn for another week of Coffee and Conversation.
There are many things that I tend to struggle with in life. Don’t we all? I think the thing that I am currently struggling with the most is what I want to do with my career. What do I want to be when I grow up? I have posted about this before, and have mentioned things time and again because it is a constant struggle in my mind.
I have my BBA in Real Estate, and while I enjoy the Real Estate industry, I haven’t found my niche that I am really passionate about. So now I wonder, have I chosen the wrong field? What else would I do? Currently I am doing some GIS research, which I love and find fascinating. However, I also am an executive assistant, and that I do not enjoy. Most of my days lately have been spent booking trips, running errands, printing documents, getting documents signed, etc. I want to get back to real work again that means something. Not doing things other people do not want to do or don’t have time to do. I didn’t go to college to book someone’s flight or run their car to get an oil change. I let it frustrate me most days, and it isn’t healthy.
While I am very VERY thankful to have a job, I want to have a career. Somewhere that I stay for years and retire at. Somewhere I can move up and build at. Somewhere that I am doing things that actually matter.
The thing is, I don’t know what that is. What is it that I would enjoy doing? Work is called work for a reason, it isn’t called fun…so I do not have unrealistic expectations….I just know that there has to be something out there for me to do that I enjoy and can grow in.
Do you have a job/career that you love? How did you decide that is what you wanted to do and how did you get started in it? Sometimes I feel that I am so behind in this stage of my life. That I am the only person who hasn’t gotten their crap together yet!
I am going to be 30 years old this summer, it is time to figure out my big girl job.
Well, it is officially April. I am just wondering how many of you fools are in the blogging world this morning causing a ruckus. Ain’t nobody got time for ‘dat!
So this weekend was pack full of fun. I kept waking up last night and thinking that it was going to be Sunday today and I didn’t have to work. Perhaps my mind is playing fools on me. Needless to say, when reality stuck this morning when my alarm went off, I was a sad Nadine.
Friday night Chris and I had a date night. We went to Five for dinner. If you live in the Birmingham and you haven’t been to Five…then shame on you! They have the best burgers ever and the shrimp queso is to die for! Also they have Black Forty Truck Stop Honey on tap and well….its basically the best beer ever. We got there at just the right time, 5 minutes before the crowd, so we scored an awesome patio table.
Saturday we woke up and had breakfast, then headed out for the day. We needed to run some errands and shop for out door furniture. We haven’t found the perfect set yet, but we saw some stuff we liked and will be thinking about. Next weekend it is supposed to be sunny and in the 70’s…we need to make a decision ASAP! We had Frontera for lunch and Chinese take out for dinner.
Sunday was Easter, and what screams Easter morning more than Waffle House for breakfast!
We may or may not start a tradition with that! After breakfast, we headed over to Chris’s parents house to spend time with the family and have Easter lunch.
Lunch consisted of ham, mac and cheese, pineapple casserole, sweet potato casserole, deviled eggs, potato salad, rolls and green beans. They had ice cream sandwich cake for desert.
Chad and Chris may or may not have played with our nephews toys more than our nephew!
Everyone loves bubbles.
Now that I consumed about 234,685 calories in the past 3 days, I may need to fast for a week!
I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend. I am going to go drag my feet until I have to leave for work.
Linking up with Joy again for the Friday Five. If you haven’t checked out Joy’s blog yet, you need to head on over there right now!
This Friday I am going to show some product love. I am not being paid by any of these companies, these are just things that I have discovered the last few weeks that I am loving.
1. Eat Smart Asian Salad Kit – This has been a new favorite of mine the last 2 weeks. I bought the first bag because I needed to make some coleslaw and couldn’t find the regular coleslaw mix by Fresh Express. I bought a few bags because I couldn’t remember how many bags I needed for my recipe. I ended up with an extra one, and so glad I did!!! I tried it for dinner one night and yum yum yummy! The dressing is addicting. I found this at Publix in the produce section where the bagged broccoli and baby carrots are. This week it was on sale for $1 a bag!!!
2. Fage Total 0% Blueberry Acai Greek Yogurt – I am going to be honest with you all. I am not a huge fan of greek yogurt. I have tried lots of different kinds and I just don’t understand what all the hype is about. And um…it is not a sour cream replacement in my book. However, I bought this at Target a few weeks ago, and it has been growing on me. I actually really like it now, and don’t cringe with the first bite. I think the key is to having the fruit separate and I mix it in when I am ready. I know everything loves Chobani, but the fruit on the bottom sort of freaks me out. If you are skeptical and haven’t liked others…give this a try.
3. Elf Bronzer – I don’t know if you have ever tried any of the elf products, but I am amazed at how awesome they are, especially because of the price. I am sort of a product snob, especially when it comes to what I put on my face. Most of my make up comes from Sephora or Ulta, and my skin care comes from Beauticontrol. I ran out of lip gloss one day and decided to try a new color. I chose elf because it was $1. I figured if I didn’t like the color, it was $1. Not really going to break the bank. I now have every elf lip gloss color I can find at Target. Every color looks great, and it lasts about as well as any other lip gloss I have bought. I saw this Bronzer last weekend and it too was just $1. I figured, eh why not? I need a little sun on my face. I love it It gives just a little color, and doesn’t leave me looking like an Oompa Loompa. I also bought the bronzer brush for $1, and it works pretty good for the purpose!
4. Archer Farms Strawberry Pull Aparts – I used to love fruit snacks when I was little. It was my favorite treat that my mom would surprise me with in my lunch box from time to time. I am not going to lie, I have a bit of a sweet tooth most days. I love this product because it reminds me of fruit snacks, but is only 60 calories and has healthier ingredients than gushers or fruit roll ups! You can find this at Target, of course!
5. Maybelline Clean Express Eye Make Up Remover – I used to only use Lancome eye make up remover, but that stuff is pretty pricey! I switched to Neutrogena eye make up remover about a year ago. It works just as good as Lancome and costs WAY less. Plus you can pick it up just about anywhere. Well I went to Target to get some the other day, and they were out. I noticed the Maybeline one and it had a “new” sign on it, so I figure…ehhh why not. It works pretty good. I think Neutrogena might be a little bit better as far as coming off easier, but I love love LOVE the way the Maybelline one smells. It reminds me of the way the Lancome one smelled, which reminds me of a product that my Grandma used. Call me sentimental I guess. Also, it is on average at least $2 cheaper than Neutrogena. So….if you are needing some new eye make up remover, give it a try! They also have make up wipes as well. I bet they would be good too.
What would Friday be without some awesome music? Whitney knows whats up.
I have been thinking a lot lately. My brain isn’t really being challenged at work, so I have lots of time to ponder things. Now, I don’t have children so some of you may think that I have no right to rant about this. However, I do have 7 nieces and nephews though. And, I am not quite sure how to put this delicately…but society has turned this generation of children into WIMPS!
I mean, seriously. Back in the day there was a thing called “competition.” There were winners and there were losers, and you had to learn how to be both sometimes. I was reading an article about how a school in Boston is going to take away honors night because it will hurt the children that worked hard and didn’t achieve honors status. I am sorry, but its called life you whiny losers. Just because you give something your all doesn’t mean that it’s going to turn out just as you want. You are setting these kids up for some serious disappointment later on in life!
Just because I went to college for 4 years and got good grades doesn’t mean that I am granted an automatic awesome job paying good money when I graduate. I have worked my ass off the last 9 years to get where I am now, and it’s really not much to brag about. But you know what, I did it myself. I didn’t expect to have things handed to me in life.
There was also an article I read a while back about a 5 year old that was suspended from school because she suggested her and her friends have a bubble gun “gun fight.” They said she was making terrorist threats. Are you freaking kidding me?! Really?!? She is 5…and it is a BUBBLE GUN. That is what you are supposed to do with the things. Dear Lord, please help us.
Why is everyone so scared to hurt someone’s feelings, leave a non hard worker behind, and be ridiculous about the dumbest things?!
Some sports groups aren’t keeping score anymore, and at the end of every season all participants get trophies. Umm….that isn’t the point of sports. Some teachers grade in purple instead of red because red is “too harsh” and hurts kids feelings if their paper sucked. Dry it up. That is life.
You are just teaching kids to be ordinary. To just accept that whatever you are doing right now is OK. What happened to extraordinary people? What happened to pushing yourself to be better. I really REALLY do not understand what has happened. When did this change?
I don’t know if Chris and I will have kids. I just know that if we do, I want to push them. I want them to learn all aspects of life. Sometimes bad things happen, and you have to learn how to deal with that along with the good. You have to learn how to be a “good sport.” You also have to learn how to excel. You learn that there are some things you are really good at and some things you aren’t.
To lighten my rant…I thought I would do a little segment I shall call “Back In My Day.”
