A few random things...

I had the best intentions of getting a recipe post up yesterday, but I have been having some issues with the pictures. I should have it up sometime in the very near future though. I am actually hoping to do a recipe post once a week. I have said that before, and it ends up being more like once every other month... but I am actually getting better about taking pictures while I cook. So hopefully I can keep this going.

I have three books I am reading right now. I have never floated between this many books at one time before. I am more of a read-one-book-at-a-time kind of girl, but for some reason I have started three dang books. And by golly, I plan to finish them all in a timely manner too! One of the books I am reading is The Vaccine Book. It is a great un-biased book about the different types of vaccines that are administered to babies/children. I am thinking about doing a blog post for each vaccine that I read about (12 total). I am only on vaccine number two, but it is really interesting and I think that everyone should be more informed about what is being injected into our kids (both good AND bad). Anyway, would anyone actually WANT to read about the vaccine stuff, or is that something you would skip over?




Zachariah and I have been getting on each others nerves lately. I don't really know what to do about it, so I am just dealing. But we have really been pushing each others buttons here recently. I blame the cabin fever. And my mood swings. But for now we will just pretend I am a perfectly patient non-moody mommy. So lets blame the cabin fever. :)

Daniel went to bed before me last night. Since he is an insomniac, that almost NEVER happens. But the night before last Daniel didn't sleep AT ALL. Not a wink. So he was very tired and fell asleep sometime before 9:30. I'm not gonna lie. I really hate it when he falls asleep before I do. I HATE having to lock up the house. I am convinced that I will either forget something or that as I am locking up someone will kick in the door and kill me.

Yes, I realize that I may need some therapy. Leave me alone, I cant help that I watch to much TV! Well, I guess I can. But still.

Alrighty. I think I have done enough damage for now. If you are still reading... well, I'm sorry. :)

Spoons

Preface: The Pioneer Woman blogged about some wooden spoons that a friend gave her as a housewarming gift. I thought the wooden spoons were amazing. They almost made me drool.

That being said, I have never owned a wooden spoon.

Yes, you read correctly. I used to have a hatred for them. But I blame that on my parents for using a darn wooden spoon to spank me when I was younger.

I have become fascinated with wooden spoons over the past few months. I have had a desire to go out and purchase a bundle of them. But I am not sure why I would use them. I mean, I have plastic spoons, metal spoons and silicone spoons (which I LOVE).


So that leaves me wondering... why do I need a wooden spoon? What will it benefit me? Do you have wooden spoons? Do you prefer wooden spoons?

I need feedback. I really want you people to convince me that wooden spoons are amazing. Because I REALLY want to go out and buy some.

And because I have some lurkers who NEVER comment (ahem. you know who you are), here is a poll. But I would still like some specific answers in the comment section.

So there.

What's The Deal?!

Ok, so the comment section of my blog has been neglected. There used to be a time when I would hit some double digits with the comments. If not double digits, I would at least get more than TWO comments! (And I would like to take this time to thank the very few of you who frequent the comment section of my blog. I really do appreciate it.)

So what gives?? I am going to go out and start making new friends if you people dont step it up! :)

Boob Tube

I read an article this week on fostering smart TV habits. The article said that kids who watch more than 10 hours a week of TV are at an increased risk of becoming overweight, acting aggressively, being slower to learn at school, learning to stereotype people based on gender and race, and living in fear of violence and victimization.

I am not sure that I agree with all of that... but I do think that, in general, kids spend to much time in front of the television. Weather its watching TV shows or playing video games. So when I read that article my first thought was, "Geeze! Who would let their kid watch 10 hours of t.v. a week?!" So in order prove to myself that I was a better mother than those people, I made a rough estimate of how much TV I thought Zachariah watched in a week. Those hours added up way too fast.

With me watching my nephew for the past few weeks, it is not hard to come up with two hours spread out through the day that Zachariah will be watching TV. And if he watches two hours each weekday, then that adds up to 10 hours a week. Without even factoring the weekends. Or the extra stressful days where I turn the TV on a little more to save my sanity. And a lot of times he will be playing while watching TV, or in and out of the room during his movie/show. So it isn't like he is a bump on a log... but the TV is still on and available for him to watch.

Needless to say, I was shocked that its so easy for me to let my toddler watch more than 10 hours of TV in a week. And I am going to try to work on that. But in the meantime, I have made a poll. So participate... because I need to know if there are any other out there like me. :)

Poll Time!

It has come to my attention that SOME PEOPLE are not particularly fond of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. So that leads me to this oh-so-fun poll I have created. I would like to know if I am the only one out there who actually enjoys their music.

So here ya go. Have a fabulous weekend!

Additives

In my book that I am reading, I came across a section about additives. It was scary to say the least. After reading this chapter, I immediately ran to the pantry to check the Nutrition Facts on all of our food. Sure enough 90% of what we eat has at least one of these additives. I promptly picked up the phone and called Daniel to let him know that we are going to die.

Since then I have calmed down a bit... but it doesn't change the fact that we eat some pretty nasty stuff. So I have included a list of additives that Sharon Broer has listed. She claims that she will not buy ANYTHING that has a single one of these additives in it. That's a bit overboard for a food junkie like me... but I am starting to read Nutrition Facts more closely.

Additives

MSG (Monosodium glutamate): Used to intensify meat and spice flavorings

• reported complaints: headache, chest pains, numbness, irritability and depression
• Brain damage and memory loss
• Baby food companies removed this from baby food. (But why was it there to begin with??)
• Listed under other names: hydrolyzed vegetable Potemkin (HVP)
• "Natural Flavorings"
  

Aspartame: Used in NutraSweet and Equal, contains the following ingredients:

• Methanol- a neurological poison that cannot be made nonpoisonous. It can cause headaches, blindness and permanent brain damage.
  
• Aspartic acid- similar to MSG, it has been known to overstimulate neural cells, causing cell death. This is why it is called an "excitotoxin". It literally kills brain cells.
  
• Phenylalaninie- causes permanent brain damage if concentrations are high enough

Nitrites: Used to give that "pretty pink color" to cured meats, bacon, bologna, hot dogs, ham, Vienna sausages, and luncheon meats.

• Nitrites combined with natural stomach acids create nitrosamines, powerful cancer-causing agents.
  
• Baby food manufactures voluntarily removed nitrites from baby food in the early 1970's.
  
• In 1977, Germany banned nitrites and nitrates, except in certain species of fish.
  

Olestra or Olean
These are the "fake fats" introduced in 1996. Preliminary studies found that Olestra caused tumors in laboratory animals. Possible side effects include cramping and loose stools.

Monoglycerides and Diglycerides: Synthetic substances made for emulsifying and defoaming agents.

• Used in bakery products to maintain "softness"
• Used in beverages, ice cream, shortening, margarine. chocolate, whipped toppings and cosmetic creams.
  
• This is on the FDA list of food additives to be studied for possible reproduction effects.

BHA (butylated hudroxyanisole): A preservative used in many products, including beverages, ice cream, baked goods, potato chips, and breakfast cereals.

BHT (butylated hudroxytoluene): a preservative used in the same type of products as BHA.

Aluminum

• Frequently used in food additives, cosmetics, and antacids
• Can aggravated kidney and lung disorders
• Aluminum deposits have been found in the brains of Alzheimer's patients

Aluminum Sulfate

• Used in producing sweet and dill pickles
• Used as an antiseptic, astringent and in detergents and deodorants
  
• Moderately toxic by ingestion and injection
• May affect reproduction

Artificial Flavoring

Hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oil: Used in margarine or Crisco-type products. Very "cheap" oils used in chips, crackers, cereal, peanut butter, snack cakes, bread and many more products.

Other oils to avoid

• Cottonseed oil
• Palm kernel oil
• Corn oil

Recommended oils

• Regular use- virgin. cold pressed olive oil
• Occasional use- good, old fashioned organic butter
  

And now for a poll:

Tunes

So if you haven't already noticed, I have put a play list on my blog. At first I found it annoying to go to different blogs and have music blaring at me. But then once I took control of the volume I rather enjoyed it. So I have compiled a play list of some of my favorite songs. I am nowhere close to being done, so give me some time. But here is the first draft. Let me know what you think!

Also, I have been wanting to do some polls here recently, and what better time to start than now! So here ya go.