Even though this little girl is really cute and the tune catchy. I don’t really know if I would like to be an Oscar Meyer Weiner. Frankly, I don’t think so. Despite the lyrics I do not think that every one would be in love with me if I were an Oscar Meyer Weiner. Or, any nitrate laced dog.
When I picture children, I usually picture an Oscar Meir Weiner or at least I hear the commercial tune in my head. The two seem to go hand and hand. Oprah even had a kid on her show who had a gospal version of the jingle. I mean, OMW and kids are as American as apple pie.
I decided to check into the controversy. My summary, I think hot dogs are fine on occaisions but should not be included in a child’s regular diet. Gross!
Luckily we don’t eat a lot of hot dogs at our house. They have always kind of grossed me out. However, I admit I have binged on the Oscar Meyer cheese dogs. Those things rock. Uh-oh, Beatrice.
If you are concerned about Nitrates, childhood cancers, or hot dogs then I suggest you research the topic, too. Here is one of the top articles, here.
Every now and then, we need to step into someone else’s life to put our own silly troubles in perspective.
That’s what readers of Matt Logelin’s blog experience. In 27 hours, Matt Logelin became a new dad and a widower. He reached out online though his blog and found an outpouring of support.
Matt’s 30-year-old wife, Liz, died the day after their daughter, Madeline, was born March 24. Matt found strength after telling their story in a blog, www.mattlogelin.com, entitled “Life and death. All in a 27-hour-period.”
A SouthernMamas reader shared the beautiful and painful blog, in hopes that I would share it with you. Click here to read. You can also read a Star Tribune article here about the Logelin family’s story “Without Liz, but not alone.”
You will definitely hug your children a little tighter after reading Matt’s blog. Please share it with other parents, too.
Crunchy Domestic Goddess is holding a huge giveaway to honor and celebrate both our earth and the mamas who make this planet go ’round. There are many, many delightfully green and crunchy and delicious prizes to be won. (None of them are edible, although that last sentence may have led you to believe otherwise.) The giveaway runs from now through May 11th, so make sure you stop by her place soon to peruse the goodies!
Guess what? I won a Happy Pack from the Rambling Housewife. I can’t tell you how much this brightens my day. Whew hew. A little sunshine for my bucket is WONDERFUL.
I need a surprise as a happy one sounds so delish.
I don’t know what is in the pack. I promise, I don’t. I did not read the post to keep the surprise. Why don’t you skip over there and check it out for me. Please. Pretty please with sugar on top. Go ahead. Take a look-see. Report back. I would love a few hints!
I fall asleep to the sound of waves crashing almost every night. Not because the beach is only feet from my window but because I can hear Beatrice’s sound machine. I wonder if I’ll change the sound to the woods or perhaps the rain so that I don’t feel so surf-deprived. Maybe she is also feeling a little sun burnt and sandy. Huh, I never thought of it.
Speaking of those beach noises on the recording. It’s funny how the sound of seagulls can relax me and repulse me all at the same time. I swear they’re evil. Even more evil are those dirty little kids who throw Cheetos at them or left over loaves of bread. I feel like I am on the set of a horrific movie when they swarm around, caw-caw-cawing, hovering, landing, and letting droppings fly. Evil, I tell you.
Regretful that I have been withholding information from you (me dearest bloggy friends), I have finally decided to share our summer travel plans. I can not keep if from you any longer: we are going to Paris. And, we are taking Beatrice with us! The fun part is that we will stay for almost a month. Even better, we are house swapping.
I can hear your questions now. And, the answer to the first one is non. No, we do not know how to speak French.
THE FOURTH ANNUAL GOLDEN ISLES SKIMBOARD COMPETITION! SUNDAY, JUNE 8 2008!… REGISTER/SIGN IN- 10:A.M. SKIM SKOOL- NOON.. EVENT BEGINS @ HIGH TIDE.. PRIZES AWARDED/JUDGED EVENTS IN- DISTANCE; AIR; 360’s; FREESTYLE; AND THE GOLDEN BROOM FOR THE BEST WIPEOUT.. AWARD CEREMONY FOLLWING EVENT @ GNATS LANDING!
Remember how Seth Godin recommended that you Google Yourself? Well, I did last night. I realized that I made the Grady News. Wow. That kind of makes me feel good. And, I didn’t even know. Cool, huh. Now, the question is. How in the world did they find the information to publish?
Linsay…yew. hew. ut. hum. Are you behind this? P.S. Lins I SO, SO, SO dig your myspace music. John Mayer’s on my mom crush list. And, YOU are on my favorites list. Hurry home! P.S.S. I love this picture of you.
It looks like Hwy. 301 and the bypass is proposed for a large grocery store chain. Interesting. Hmm…I hope it is Whole Foods. Or, maybe a Kroger. Yes. Yes. Yes. This news makes ME do a happy dance! Mid-step, I had to stop and think “oh, this is simply a proposal.” Ah. Yeah. Rats. The good news is that someone is promoting our little area. I guess it is good news. Growth = Good = Questionable
I found this on a Dr. Sears newsletter. I think I may have a little burnout. Since the information is helpful to me, I thought it may be helpful to you. So, here it is:
Avoiding Mommy Burnout
Burnout is a state of emotional exhaustion. A mother feels burned out when she has been out of balance for too long. With so much energy draining out of her, she reaches a point where she feels she has nothing left to give. Yet baby continues to need mom, and mom needs to go on coping. Moms can become unhappy, angry, and most of all tired. This can often lead to questioning mom’s ability to care for baby and blaming herself for not enjoying motherhood.
Click here to read more about mommy burnout and some easy to follow tips on how to avoid it.
Even our bank is green. This is so great. And, so convenient. As far as I know the only other place in town to recycle your bags is Wal-mart. I can never remember to take them there.
This is perfect. Love it.
Facts about Plastic Bags:
Introduced just over 25 years ago, the ugly truth about our plastic bag addiction is that society’s consumption rate is now estimated at well over 500,000,000,000 (that’s 500 billion) plastic bags annually, or almost 1 million per minute.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. goes through 100 billion plastic shopping bags annually. An estimated 12 million barrels of oil is required to make that many plastic bags.
Four out of five grocery bags in the US are now plastic.
Plastic bags cause over 100,000 sea turtle and other marine animal deaths every year when animals mistake them for food.
“Napkins make a huge difference. … We use 2,200 of them a year, per person on average. Six a day. So if we all gave up one napkin a day, we could save a billion pounds of paper waste … from going to landfills a year.”
It was pretty neat to see the bikers start the Statesboro leg of the Tour of Georgia. Although I expected them to be apace, I was impressed by their speed.
They were SO fast!
Beatrice loved all the people and festivities as I was happy that we decided to walk downtown vs. watching it from our front lawn.
To me, there are three things we all should do every day. We should do this every day of our lives. Number one is laugh. You should laugh every day. Number two is think. You should spend some time in thought. And Number three is, you should have your emotions moved to tears, could be happiness or joy. But think about it. If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that’s a full day. That’s a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you’re going to have something special.
The quote is from a speech given by Jim Valvano at the 1993 ESPY Awards. He passed away from cancer less than two months after giving this speech.
I have so got to get off my rump and taxi my sewing machine back to my house. I would love to do little projects like this easy sleeper bag.
Directions From:
Give an orphaned pillowcase a new home — over your shoulder.
1. Trim 1/4 inch off the closed end, and cut the case in half on the diagonal. Turn the fabric of each of the four diagonal cut edges over by 1/4 inch, twice; pin, and hem.
2. Place one pillowcase half inside the other, lining up bottom edges; pin, and sew at front where fabrics overlap. Repeat on other side. Turn fabric inside out, and hem case’s cut bottom. Trim with pinking shears. Turn case right side out, tie top ends into a knot, and you have a carefree summer bag.
For better pictures, the orginial article and the directions, clickhere.
Thisis coming right by our house today. Can you believe it?
Statesboro?
Georgia?
Yes, I am serious. The race actually comes down OUR street. Apparently it is a warm up for the Tour De France. It’s a pretty big deal. Isn’t this exciting.
Chalk it up to another reason I love our little house. College Cottage is so much fun. It has seen so much in it’s life – and by default. It can’t help but to quietly sit back and watch. It is right in the middle of everything.
I am still trying to incorporate more raw foods into my diet. Tonight, though, I made yummy pork chops. I know, my wonder probably amazes you. How can one thoughtfully ponder, “where does the weight come from?” You must think I have lost my mind. Don’t fret. I am simply having a flare up. It’s my dining amnesia again. I forget the terrible things that I ate yesterday…this morning…and for snack today. Oh boy. Why DO I wonder?
This recipe is for my north of the mason dixon line cousins who read this blog. Come on ya’ll. Eat with the Hulsey’s tonight. Grab a pork chop, a biscuit, and a glass of sweet tea. You are dining southern style!
Pork chop. Pork Chop. Give me little sop.
Makes Brian’s mouth go flippity flop!
When you read that, hon, I hope it makes you smile vs. wanting to shoot me.
Enjoy.
6 thick pork chops
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup white wine, or broth
4 potatoes, thinly sliced
2 large onions, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon dried leaf thyme
1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) minced fresh parsley, divided
2 cups beef broth
1/2 cup soft bread crumbs, tossed with 2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/4 teaspoon dried leaf thyme
Brown pork chops in oil. Increase heat and add wine, scraping up browned bits. Place pork chops in baking pan; pour in pan juices. Top with potatoes, sliced onion, 1 teaspoon thyme, and 3 tablespoons of the parsley. Pour beef broth around sides. Cover tightly with foil and bake at 350° for 30 to 40 minutes. Take out of the oven and sprinkle with buttered bread crumbs and remaining parsley and a little more thyme. Put back in oven and bake for about 5 to 10 minutes longer, until crumbs are lightly browned.
We went to the Earth Day Celebrationhosted by the City of Savannah on Saturday. It was so great! As a representative for redbpower he introduced himself to the Coastal Green Organization while we were there. Here is the fun part, today redbpower was invited to tour the HGTV Green Home.
Do you think we are going? You can bet your bottom dollar on it. We are SO excited. We are so there. We are crazy about the green home dream home.
Here are some creative ways to go organic every day of the year:
1. Get off to a clean start: Take a shower with soaps and shampoos made with organic ingredients. Then, eat an organic breakfast with certified organic orange juice, coffee, fresh fruit, cereal, yogurt and eggs.
2. Create a meal that’s as close to 100% organic as possible. Invite friends and family to enjoy and help cook.
3. Grow your own organic kitchen garden to showcase your green thumb and culinary talents. Then donate your surplus to a local soup kitchen shelter.
4. Go to your local farmers’ market and buy from an organic or sustainable farmer.
5. Volunteer or donate to support organic gardening programs in your community.
6. Start composting for healthy soil. Contact Georgia Organics or your county’s Cooperative Extension office for composting information.
7. Release “beneficial insects” (good bugs which keep away the bad bugs) in your organic garden.
8. Treat yourself (or someone special) to a pair of 100% organic cotton socks or anything made with snuggly organic fleece.
9. Remember your pooch! Give your fur-baby an organic dog wash and treat him or her to an organic doggie biscuit.
10. Enjoy a glass of organic wine (yeah baby!), lemonade or tomato juice.
They announced today that there will be a Silent Disco at Bonnaroo. Interesting. Do you think I could interest Beatrice in a Silent Disco around our house? Do you think I could get all of her toys (the ones with batteries that sing, ping, boink and play music) to chime in?
Are those the voices in your head? No, it’s the world’s freshest wireless dance party and one of Bonnaroo’s top attractions. Stop by the Silent Disco in Centeroo and slip into a pair of Koss Stereophones. Live DJs spin late into the warm Bonnaroo nights, keeping it quiet for the tired and the volume turned up for all you night owls. The Silent Disco is a unique Bonnaroo experience, so don’t forget to stop by and bust a move to the hottest dance beats – broadcast directly into your ears.
Check out the Bonnaroo Blogs, written by staff, partners, and peers, these blogs will be updated on a regular basis and keep you informed from the inside out:
Brian and I lived for THREE years without a headboard. We slept on a frame with, yes I am embarrassed to say, with WHEELS. If I had one ounce of creativity we could have had a headboard like this for 7.00 vs. our bedthat we have now.
Don’t get me wrong I love our bed, but…
I watch the same DIY shows as everyone else. Apparently my mind stays “in” rather than outside of the box.
MTS, could you please share a dab of your creativity? Really. I could save a lot of time and a lot of money. Plus, my house would be much cuter and more personal.
01. When my husband smiles
02. Hugs from Beatrice especially when she pats me on the back
03. Phone calls from my girlfriends
04. Cooking
05. Blogging
06. Envelopes in the mail box. I love to get real mail!
07. Clean sheets
08. Playing video games
09. Walks on the beach with just me and Barry (my dog)
10. Meeting interesting new people
11. Summer BBQ’s
12. A stiff cup of coffee with milk and sugar
13. Green smoothies. They make be feel great!
I wish I had taken a picture everyday since she was born. I could make a pretty pretty book like this one from Good Stock. I like the idea of a weekly picture, I can handle that. It is much less pressure than once a day. {I saw Good Stock on Black Eiffel, if you haven’t seen their gorgeous books you must go here!}
I wish I had time to make a few of these. Wouldn’t these be cute to use on my next trip to the grocery store? People would probably laugh me out of the store especially with the condition of my old tees. That is a scary thought.
I do think the bags are cute. Maybe I will tackle this project once I get my sewing machine back.
Oh yes, I can see my fave-dark brown-live-lightly-t’s next carnation. Yes, Live Lightly Tour shirt you have been a blessed soulful T shirt. You shall live on. You will help me save plastic bags from strangling Mother Earth.
If you want to make one, click here for the directions.
Since I have incorporated the Green Smoothies into my diet, I am curious of their nutritional content. Here is what I learned about Kale today:
Kale is considered to be a highly nutritious vegetable, with powerful antioxidant properties and is anti-inflammatory.[1]
Kale is very high in beta carotene, vitamin K, vitamin C, lutein and zeaxanthin and reasonably rich in calcium. Because of its high vitamin K content, patients taking anti-coagulants such as warfarin are encouraged to avoid this food since it increases the vitamin K concentration in the blood which is what the drugs are often attempting to lower. This effectively lowers the effective dose of the drug.
A friend sent me this. It’s cute so I am passing it on:
The Good HusbandJack wakes up with a huge hangover after attending his company’s party. Jack is not normally a drinker, but the drinks didn’t taste like alcohol at all. He didn’t even remember how he got home from the party.
As bad as he was feeling, he wondered if he did something wrong.
Jack had to force himself to open his eyes, and the first thing he sees is a couple of aspirins next to a glass of water on the side table. And, next to them, a single red rose!! Jack sits up and sees his clothing in front of him, all clean and pressed.
He looks around the room and sees that it is in perfect order, spotlessly clean. So is the rest of the house.
He takes the aspirins, cringes when he sees a huge black eye staring back at him in the bathroom mirror. Then he notices a note hanging on the corner of the mirror written in red with little hearts on it and a kiss mark from his wif e in lipstick: ‘Honey, breakfast is on the stove, I left early to get groceries to make you your favorite dinner tonight. I love you, darling! Love, Jillian’
He stumbles to the kitchen and sure enough, there is hot breakfast, steaming hot coffee and the morning newspaper.
His 16 year old son is also at the table, eating. Jack asks, ‘Son, what happened last night?’
‘Well, you came home after 3 A.M., drunk and out of your mind You fell over the coffee table and broke it, and then you puked in the hallway, and got that black eye when you ran into the door.. Confused, he asked his son, ‘So, why is everything in such perfect order and so clean? I have a rose, and breakfast is on the table waiting for me??’
His son replies, ‘Oh THAT…Mom dragged you to the bedroom, and when she tried to take your pants off, you screamed, ‘Leave me alone, I’m married!!’
Broken Coffee Table $239.99
Hot Breakfast $4.20
Two Aspirins $.38
I haven’t succeeded in selling Brian on the whole raw foods “thing” but for now, at least I am committed to incorporating more raw foods into Beatrice’s and I’s diet.
In true green fashion, I requested a blender on freecycle to jump start the new program. It is the first time that I have posted a “wanted” item. Unfortunately, the only offer came from Millen (which is about 30 miles away). That just seems a little much – as I purchased one from Wal-mart today.
Here’s to a healthier diet. May I clink my blender to yours?
The video for James Blunt’s single ‘1973′ is taken from his new album ‘All The Lost Souls’.
I totally dig James Blunt. So British. So laid back. So easy listening. His new album has a seventies flare about it.
”I’m a really nostalgic person,” he says. ”Memories are entirely what shape your present.”
I hear you, Beau. I, too, am a really nostalgic person. I can get lost in the sea of anamnesis. And, I like to see those waves break. Fishing to recapture moments, thoughts, visions, and recollections is a great escape. I like to ride in the boat of reminece more often than time permits. But sometimes, in my subconscious I hop on the baiter and ride – just to visit my old friends, my old moments, my old thoughts, my old places, and old journeys.
Lyrics:
“1973″
Simona
You’re getting older
Your journey’s been
Etched on your skin
Simona
Wish I had known that
What seemed so strong
Has been and gone
[Chorus:]
I would call you up every Saturday night
And we both stayed out ’til the morning light
And we sang, “Here we go again”
And though time goes by
I will always be
In a club with you
In 1973
Singing “Here we go again”
Simona
Wish I was sober
So I could see clearly now
The rain has gone
Simona
I guess it’s over
My memory plays our tune
The same old song
[Chorus x3]
And though time goes by
I will always be
In a club with you
In 1973
[Thanks to Victoria (peaceoutgirl419@aol.com) for these lyrics]
We are definitely going to have to check this out:
Tour de Georgia
One of the largest bicycle races in the world will take place in downtown Statesboro on the morning of April 22nd. This event features the same riders that participate in the Tour de France. To give you an idea of the number of viewers watching this event in person, just imagine the 93,000 seat Stadium at the University of Georgia. Those watching the Tour de Georgia in person will fill that stadium 5-6 times, those watching in Japan, Europe, and other countries through the eyes of the 400+ journalists covering the event, would fill the stadium many more times than that. It is often said that this event in cycling is second only to the Tour de France. Come witness a soon-to-be historical event right here in downtown Statesboro. This is the early years for what will become one of the important annual sporting events in the in the United States. The Masters, The Ryder Cup, The Kentucky Derby, The Daytona 500, ….The Tour de Georgia, it just takes time to truly appreciate what you have. For questions, call the Statesboro Convention & Visitor’s Bureau at 912-489-1869.
I am so happy that Statesboro is doing this. Fresh local veggies sounds GREAT to me. I can’t wait to shop!
Main Street Farmers’ Market
You may have asked “why doesn’t downtown Statesboro have a farmers’ market?” Now Statesboro will be added to the list of towns that have an ongoing farmers’ market. The Market will be held in the parking lot behind Sea Island Bank on East Main Street. It will feature produce and other goods from local farmers and craftspeople. The first market will be held on April 19th from 9AM – 2PM and then again on May 21st. Starting in June it will be expanded to 1st and 3rd Saturdays. To find out more call Main Street Statesboro at 912-764-7227.
Crafters, please save Sat., Apr. 19 for a Craft Supply Sale at Pittman
Park U.M. Church. The sale is from 10:30 – 1:30, and there will be
at least 6 sellers.
Location: The church is in Statesboro at the corner of
Gentilly Dr. & Fair Rd. (Hwy 67).
There’ll be scrapbooking supplies, papers, rubber stamps,
cross-stitch, fabrics, DIY, books, etc. at bargain prices. Tell and
bring your friends!
They say that French is the language of love, so here’s my try at French Lovie. I am going to surprise the hubby with the foreign ring of my affection.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: Less than a minute
Here’s How:
Find the person you love.
Say his or her name.
Say je t’aime.
The j in je is pronounced [zh] like the g in mirage, e is pronounced like the oo in good
t’aime is pronounced [tem] to rhyme with them.
Optional: Follow with ‘my darling’:
- To a woman = ma chérie, pronounced [ma shay ree].
- To a man = mon chéri, pronounced [mo(n) shay ree]. The (n) is nasal.
Optional: To respond to someone who says ‘I love you,’ say Je t’aime aussi (I love you too). Aussi is pronounced ‘oh see.’
Tips:
Practice a few times before you spring it on your sweetheart!
Every now and then, we need to step into someone else’s life to put our own silly troubles in perspective.
hosted by the City of Savannah on Saturday. It was so great! As a representative for 
Flowers Smell So Good.
