Farm eggs vs. factory eggs
An article on MSNBC today states that range free chicken eggs can be far more healthier than eggs from factory bred chickens. In fact, farm fresh eggs can have the following benefits:
- 1/3 less cholesterol
- 1/4 less saturated fat
- 2/3 more vitamin A
- 2 times more omega-3 fatty acids
- 3 times more vitamin E
- 7 times more beta carotene
Plus, the chickens themselves are so friggin’ hilarious. So there you have it.
Tags:chickens, eggs, factory, farm, food, home, organic Filed under food, mass media | Comment (0)Booze News: One in 10 4th graders has tried alcohol
Study Says Young Drinking Underestimated
Tags:none Filed under aa, mass media, recovery | Comment (0)Don’t take the Bridge to Terabithia
I’m just going to come out and say it: Bridge to Terabithia sucked. I won’t ruin the movie for you here (ha ha), but if you want to know why I hated disliked this movie so much then please read on… Continue reading »
The book for boys
Have you heard of the new book “The Dangerous Book for Boys
Max received this book from my grandma as an early birthday present and we’re all fascinated by it. It has everything cool and clever a boy could ever dream of learning about: how to build a tree house, US Navy flag codes, the greatest paper airplanes in the world, how to make a battery, books every boy should read, coin tricks, how to make a periscope, how to play poker, marbles, the game of chess, standard and metric measurements, the Declaration of Independence, famous battles, origin of words, and on and on. It’s an amazing book.
Tags:book, boys, family Filed under books, family | Comment (0)Handmade Nation Preview
YouTube has a preview of the upcoming documentary, Handmade Nation, about the DIY crafting movement. Very cool.
The 100 Books Meme
Bold the ones you’ve read.
Italicize the ones you want to read.
Leave Blank the ones you aren’t interested in.
1. The DaVinci Code (Dan Brown)
2. Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
3. To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
4. Gone With The Wind (Margaret Mitchell)
5. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (Tolkien)
6. The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (Tolkien)
7. The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (Tolkien)
8. Anne of Green Gables (L.M. Montgomery)
9. Outlander (Diana Gabaldon)
10. A Fine Balance (Rohinton Mistry)
11. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Rowling)
12. Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)
13. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Rowling)
14. A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving)
15. Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden)
16. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Rowling)
17. Fall on Your Knees (Ann-Marie MacDonald)
18. The Stand (Stephen King)
19. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Rowling)
20. Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)
21. The Hobbit (Tolkien)
22. The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger)
23. Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)
24. The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold)
25. Life of Pi (Yann Martel)
26. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)
27. Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)
28. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (C. S. Lewis)
29. East of Eden (John Steinbeck)
30. Tuesdays with Morrie (Mitch Albom)
31. Dune (Frank Herbert)
32. The Notebook (Nicholas Sparks)
33. Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand)
34. 1984 (Orwell)
35. The Mists of Avalon (Marion Zimmer Bradley)
36. The Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett)
37. The Power of One (Bryce Courtenay)
38. I Know This Much is True (Wally Lamb)
39. The Red Tent (Anita Diamant)
40. The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)
41. The Clan of the Cave Bear (Jean M. Auel)
42. The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)
43. Confessions of a Shopaholic (Sophie Kinsella)
44. The Five People You Meet In Heaven (Mitch Albom)
45. The Bible
46. Anna Karenina (Tolstoy)
47. The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas)
48. Angela’s Ashes (Frank McCourt)
49. The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck)
50. She’s Come Undone (Wally Lamb)
51. The Poisonwood Bible (Barbara Kingsolver)
52. A Tale of Two Cities (Dickens)
53. Ender’s Game (Orson Scott Card)
54. Great Expectations (Dickens)
55. The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald)
56. The Stone Angel (Margaret Laurence)
57. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Rowling)
58. The Thorn Birds (Colleen McCullough)
59. The Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Atwood)
60. The Time Traveller’s Wife (Audrew Niffenegger)
61. Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)
62. The Fountainhead (Ayn Rand)
63. War and Peace (Tolstoy)
64. Interview With The Vampire (Anne Rice)
65. Fifth Business (Robertson Davis)
66. One Hundred Years Of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)
67. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (Ann Brashares)
68. Catch-22 (Joseph Heller)
69. Les Miserables (Hugo)
70. The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)
71. Bridget Jones’ Diary (Fielding)
72. Love in the Time of Cholera (Marquez)
73. Shogun (James Clavell)
74. The English Patient (Michael Ondaatje)
75. The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett)
76. The Summer Tree (Guy Gavriel Kay)
77. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith)
78. The World According to Garp (John Irving)
79. The Diviners (Margaret Laurence)
80. Charlotte’s Web (E.B. White)
81. Not Wanted On The Voyage (Timothy Findley)
82. Of Mice And Men (Steinbeck)
83. Rebecca (Daphne DuMaurier)
84. Wizard’s First Rule (Terry Goodkind)
85. Emma (Jane Austen)
86. Watership Down(Richard Adams)
87. Brave New World (Aldous Huxley)
88. The Stone Diaries (Carol Shields)
89. Blindness (Jose Saramago)
90. Kane and Abel (Jeffrey Archer)
91. In The Skin Of A Lion (Ondaatje)
92. Lord of the Flies (Golding)
93. The Good Earth (Pearl S. Buck)
94. The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd)
95. The Bourne Identity (Robert Ludlum)
96. The Outsiders (S.E. Hinton)
97. White Oleander (Janet Fitch)
98. A Woman of Substance (Barbara Taylor Bradford)
99. The Celestine Prophecy (James Redfield)
100. Ulysses (James Joyce)
Fox News — tool of the right?
Even if you’re not a flaming liberal like me, you might find the blog post at No Quarter titled Fox News, Crazy Right Wing Propaganda (originally posted on Pottersville) fairly interesting (or even entertaining, if you’re weird…like me).
Oh, hey, while I’m showing my bleeding heart to ya why don’t you mosey (ack, mosey?) on over here and sign the petition demanding that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales take off his ass hat and resign. Come on…you know you want to!
HBO’s Addiction Project
The Addiction Project is produced by HBO in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). To get help, find out more about addiction, or read information about the documentary please the visit the HBO: Addiction website.
Love Mail
Look at the goodies I got in today’s mail: the premiere issue of Craft (oh yes…I can’t wait to dig into this puppy), At Knit’s End by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (a freebie sent to me from a Bookmooch angel), and a lovely little Japanese craft book I bought on eBay (feltimaking, mascots…cute stuff). I [heart] the mailman.
The Last Knit - YouTube video
OMG…this is so funny! As an obsessed knitter, I’m not sure what the message is, but I love it!
You’ll laugh, you’ll cry…and, if you knit, you’ll relate.
Tags:humor, knitting, video, yarn, youtube Filed under entertainment, general | Comment (0)My First Japanese Craft Book
Hello Kitty, ISBN 4939459612402,
Oh, yeah, baby, I’m doing the happy dance. I know, I’m crazy….trading one addiction for another…blah, blah, blah. It doesn’t get any cooler than Hello Kitty and Japanese craft books…you’re just jealous.
Tags:book, books, craft, crafty, hello kitty, japanese, japanese craft book Filed under Japanese craft book, books, crafts, general | Comment (1)
Out of control rant - “Dear Mr. President”
I have had enough of this fucking war and the death and hate. I love this country and am as patriotic as they come, but it’s not okay anymore to send our children, wives, mothers, lovers, husband, and fathers off to die. It’s not okay, dammit. How do we fix this mess? How?
Tags:democracy, fed up, iraq war, lyrics, pink, president bush, rant Filed under entertainment, mass media, politics | Comments (2)“Dear Mr. President”
Pink (featuring the Indigo Girls)Dear Mr. President
Come take a walk with me
Let’s pretend we’re just two people and
You’re not better than me
I’d like to ask you some questions if we can speak honestlyWhat do you feel when you see all the homeless on the street
Who do you pray for at night before you go to sleep
What do you feel when you look in the mirror
Are you proudHow do you sleep while the rest of us cry
How do you dream when a mother has no chance to say goodbye
How do you walk with your head held high
Can you even look me in the eye
And tell me whyDear Mr. President
Were you a lonely boy
Are you a lonely boy
Are you a lonely boy
How can you say
No child is left behind
We’re not dumb and we’re not blind
They’re all sitting in your cells
While you pave the road to hellWhat kind of father would take his own daughter’s rights away
And what kind of father might hate his own daughter if she were gay
I can only imagine what the first lady has to say
You’ve come a long way from whiskey and cocaineHow do you sleep while the rest of us cry
How do you dream when a mother has no chance to say goodbye
How do you walk with your head held high
Can you even look me in the eyeLet me tell you bout hard work
Minimum wage with a baby on the way
Let me tell you bout hard work
Rebuilding your house after the bombs took them away
Let me tell you bout hard work
Building a bed out of a cardboard box
Let me tell you bout hard work
Hard work
Hard work
You don’t know nothing bout hard work
Hard work
Hard work
OhHow do you sleep at night
How do you walk with your head held high
Dear Mr. President
You’d never take a walk with me
Would you
Thursday Thirteen: 13 things about Superman Returns
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Thirteen Things about Superman Returns I took Max to see Superman Returns for his 9th birthday. I took the afternoon off of work, and with two other moms, loaded up a couple cars with kids and went off to the air conditioned movie theater to see the new super hero movie. These are my simplistic and superficial impressions of the movie and the movie going experience (I’ll try not to give anything important away:
Links to other Thursday Thirteens! |
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
Global Warming: An Inconvenient Truth
Eloquently weaves the science of global warming with Al Gore’s personal history and lifelong commitment to reversing the effects of global climate change. A longtime advocate for the environment, Gore presents a wide array of facts and information in a thoughtful and compelling way. The film is not a story of despair but rather a rallying cry.
Ok, yes, everyone that knows me is aware that I’ve been madly in love with Al Gore (yes, my husband knows, too) since I read “Earth in the Balance
Learn more about Al’s movie by watching the trailer, or reading a review or visiting the website.
And have a fantastic Earth Day!
Tags:Al Gore, An Inconvenient Truth, conservation, Earth in the Balance, environment, global warming, movie Filed under entertainment, environment, family, general, mass media, politics | Comments (3)Real Simple’s “Special” Family, uh not so simple
“Get it all done with time to spare: smart solutions for busy parents.“
I was really looking forward to this special issue. I love Real Simple. I love all the little lifehacks, tips, and product reviews in every issue. Honestly, though, I was a little disappointed and just slightly offended by this issue. Yes, it was chock full of awesome ideas for organizing families and family time. But, really, the whole idea of SuperMom is bullshit and so last century. We can’t do everything. And trying to do everything is exactly how I ended up in rehab. To do everything on our lists we need to re-prioritize and make the fucking list shorter. SHORTER.
Every “organized” mom featured in the mag was either a stay-at-home mom (which is awesome for them, but I can’t really relate) or is able to rearrange work schedules so they are at home. Obviously, the had the bucks, too. Which leads me to one of my big fat pet peeves: how do normal, every day peeps get to care about the environment, have thriving families, and have healthy work lives and stay sane and not break the bank? Hmmmm?
Tags:family, lifehacks, organizing, parenting, Real Simple, super mom, tips Filed under WTF?!, environment, family, general, mass media, woman stuff | Comment (1)Recovery on TV
Maybe it’s because I’m in [tag]recovery[/tag] or maybe it’s because I watch too much [tag]TV[/tag], but have you noticed that a lot of programs are featuring storylines relating to [tag]AA[/tag] or [tag]alcoholism[/tag]?
- Grey’s Anatomy - Dr. Webber’s sponsor shows up as a patient and holds a meeting in her room
- Desperate Housewives - Bree is sliding down that slippery slope
- The L Word - Kit is in recovery
- The Sopranos - Christopher takes his sponsor to a funeral
Updated: March 31, 2006:
- Without a Trace - one of the characters is addicted prescription painkillers
- Surreal Life - 3 of the celebs are sober…not sure if that qualifies as “recovery”
From Debra:
- West Wing - Leo (the actor John Spencer was a recovering alcoholic who asked that every character he played also be in recovery).
- ER - Abby is in recovery (along with Carter).
[tags]media, addiction[/tags]
Tags:none Filed under aa, general, mass media, recovery | Comments (2)Virtues
When I was pregnant with my first child, my mom bought me a really cool book, “The Family Virtues Guide
Fast forward several years later, throw in a geographic, some rehab, and a total restructuring of my psyche, and viola! Out comes the book of virtues at the perfect place in time. Yesterday, we had our first Family Virtues Meeting. We kept it brief and chose “Loving” as this week’s virtue. Throughout the week we will look for ways to illustrate the concept. Hopefully, it will begin to build a framework for understanding the different values we try to throw at our kids. I’ll let you know how it goes.
For more information on the Virtues Project see their website.
[tags]loving, virtues, family, virtues project, “The Family Virtues Guide”, parenting, Linda Kavelin Popov[/tags]
Tags:none Filed under books, family, general, spirituality | Comment (1)I do believe
I have fairly eclectic tastes in music. I have never been a a country music fan, although I have always loved some of the legends of that genre of music. One of my secret favorites is [tag]The Highwaymen[/tag], a country supergroup of sorts that included the talents of [tag]Waylon Jennings[/tag], [tag]Kris Kristofferson[/tag], [tag]Johnny Cash[/tag], and [tag]Willie Nelson[/tag]. Their lyrics and melodies are simple, yet often profound observations of life and how it is or should be lived. One song that really speaks to me is a soft ballad about god called “I do believe.” And since I believe that most of these men have battled [tag]addiction[/tag] in one form or another, it means all that much more.
I Do Believe
Written by Waylon Jennings
In my own way I’m a believer
In my own way right or wrong
I don’t talk too much about it
It’s something I keep working on
I don’t have too much to build on
My faith has never been that strongThere’s a man there in that building
He’s a holy man, they say
He keeps talking about tomorrow
While I keep struggling with today
He preaches hellfire and brimstone
And heaven seems so far awayI do believe in a higher power
One that loves us one and all
Not someone to solve my problems
Or to catch me when I fall
He gave us all a mind to think with
And to know what’s right or wrong
He is that inner spirit
That keeps us strongIn my own way I’m a believer
But not in voices I can’t hear
I believe in a loving Father
One I never have to fear
That I should live life at its fullest
Just as long as I am here
[tags]spirituality, outlaw country, music[/tags]
Tags:none Filed under entertainment, general, spirituality | Comment (0)I Hope You Dance
I am not a big fan of country music, but I’m riveted by Lee Ann Womack’s words every time I hear this song or read the lyrics. I was reminded of her song the other night while watching my daughter twirl and dance to Christmas music. My son was in a funk and refused to dance with us, but eventually got up and joined in the fun…a little, anyway.
Tags:none Filed under entertainment, family, general | Comments (2)I Hope You Dance
I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
GOD forbid love ever leave you empty handed,
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.I hope you dance….I hope you dance.
I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance,
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin’ might mean takin’ chances but they’re worth takin’,
Lovin’ might be a mistake but it’s worth makin’,
Don’t let some hell bent heart leave you bitter,
When you come close to sellin’ out reconsider,
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.I hope you dance….I hope you dance.
I hope you dance….I hope you dance.
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along,
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone.)I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.Dance….I hope you dance.
I hope you dance….I hope you dance.
I hope you dance….I hope you dance..
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone)
