April 28, 2008

Take A Guess

This blog is about to approach a milestone in its short time being up and that milestone is that it's due to get its 1000th hit in the near future. So, I thought I would take the opportunity to make this into a contest.

So take a guess.....tell me what day and what time you think the counter at the bottom of the page will read "1000" and in return, I'll send or give (depending on where you live) a prize- I'll even wait to see who the winner is before I pick anything up so the prize will suit you.

The deadline to enter the in the contest by commenting is Wednesday, April 30.

April 27, 2008

Waging War

I am tired of seeing so many billboards, clothes, video games, movies, TV shows, etc. that are, in my very opinionated opinion, socially irresponsible.

Do we really need to see half-dressed women seductively looking at the camera holding a drink all for the sake of getting us to buy that particular beverage? Is it all together appropriate for little girls to wear shirts that declare them "Divas in Training" or for men to wear shirts that say "I like them big and firm"? Do we really need more movies or TV shows about gangsters and sexually active teeenagers. What redeeming qualities do any of these things bring out in the human race?

But what I am really ticked off about today is a gargantuan billboard in our neighborhood promoting a horribe offender of social responsibility- Grandtheft Auto IV. Answer me this: Does it add up to arm our police officers with more powerful weaponry so they can keep our streets safe in what is being called a crime epidemic here in our city only to have a large advertisement of a man holding a machine gun as he personifies the image of a violent criminal in a horrible computer game that is being marketed to the very age group that commit most of the crime?

Did I mention that this billboard is a mere two blocks away from a school? Am I the only one who sees the problem here?

I mean it, I am ****** off. And I am calling my alderman to complain about this. I am waging war against socially irrepsonsible billboards in my neighborhood. Freedom of speech has gone way too far when we are trying to stop violence only to promote it in the form of entertainment.

April 22, 2008

Role Reversal

I just wanted to inform everyone that for the first time since I can ever recall, I am seated at the desk in the den (typing this post) and Simple Guy is seated in the corner of the couch closest to the windows clicking away on his computer. This is a role reversal of great proportions for this means that I, Simple Girl, have finally pulled rank in the Simpleton household.....I have finally been found worthy of sitting at Simple Guy's desk when he is at home. Ah, I am basking in the glow of the desk lamp and am enjoying the view from the comfy desk chair. Asta la vista espresso leather couch....I am movin' on up....at least for tonight.

P.S. Didn't I tell you that it's the simple things in life that delight me the most?

Happy Earth Day!

I used to think Earth Day was for the tree huggers of the world, but I have changed my mind. Earth Day is for everyone because everyone can do something to help our environment. I mentioned some things that I do to be a more responsible steward of the Earth and its resources, but I am still trying to learn more.

I think one of the easiest things we all can do is to stop using plastic bags when we go grocery shopping, run errands, etc. and begin using reusable sacks. Did you know it take 1,000 years for a plastic bag to disintegrate?

Well, however you choose to commemorate it, Happy Earth Day!

April 17, 2008

I Remember When....

  • Stamps were 19 cents
  • Buying gas for $1.01 a gallon seemed a bit pricey
  • Full House and The Cosby Show were on prime time television
  • You actually had to get up to change the channel
  • Boom boxes were totally rad! I had a pink one!
  • CD's were cutting edge- my first one was The Moody Blues
  • Walkmans were the ultimate exercise companions, only to be upstaged by the portable CD players
  • Jazzercise was a movement among women and leotards, leg warmers, and sweat bands were not costume fare, but what people really wore
  • Kool-Aid commercials ran on TV frequently
  • Peach, mauve, and teal were THE colors of choice in home decor- although I never lived in a home that had those colors.....thanks mom!
  • Going to Nordstrom's was the ultimate shopping experience- it still is pretty cool!
  • The Gipper was in office and he was somewhat dreamy to look at (this coming from the girl who had a crush on Abraham Lincoln in grade school!)
  • The Gulf War seemed like the end of the world
  • You could buy a new car for $1500- I only remember that because for a while I thought it was $15.00 and I wanted to buy my mom a new car with my allowance
  • New Kids on the Block were hot and worthy enough for me to miss going out with my friends so I could watch their concert live on TV....by the way, I do not support their getting back together- we do not need more cheesy, lovesick music
  • Starbucks? What's Starbucks?

What do you remember?

April 16, 2008

What Kind of Pie Are You?

I am lemon meringue pie!

I wasn't going to post the results of my pie survey, but the description seemed dead-on, so I figured there must be some truth to the survey results. I was a bit bummed that I was not some kind of chocolate pie....but my mom used to make amazing lemon meringue pies, so I am cool with being lemon meringue.

Here's what the results had to say:
You're the perfect combo of sassy and sweet. You always know how to brighten someone's mood, but you're not overly sappy. In fact, you can be a bit too honest at times. And most people find that refreshing. While you're always true to yourself, you keep things light. That's how people are able to stomach your slightly bitter outlook. Those who like you have well refined tastes.You're complicated - and let's face it - a true enigma. You enjoy defying expectations, and there are many layers to your personality. There's not one easy way to define you.

April 15, 2008

Silence Interrupted

I have not forgotten about this blog; in fact it's been just the opposite- I have been thinking about it a lot the last few days and just today I opened it to see that, horror of horrors, it's been almost two weeks since I have posted something. Thanks for checking back for those of you who may have given up on me!

It's been an odd past two weeks- filled with the typical ups and downs that is life, but I have been having a harder time weathering the downs of life lately. In the last two weeks:
  • We learned of a death in a family we love dearly and while we did not know the person who passed away, it has not stopped my heart from feeling the pang that comes with death's sting. Knowing how big of a loss this is for this family is hard to comprehend. But the Lord IS good and soverign- for in the midst of pain that came from a loss, He timed it so that the day this grandfather-to-be passed away, his first grandchild was born into the world and now bears the name of his grandpa he will never meet this side of heaven. It brings tears to my eyes each time I think about it.
  • My guy has been working INSANE hours (in the office by 8am and not home until 11pm) and it is taking it's toll on the both of us. I hate seeing him so tired and deprived of doing things he enjoys. But he is a trooper and does a great job of making the best of it. Because he is not home very much during the week, I have been dealing with feelings of isolation and just the old fashioned "blahs." For a few days I could not shake it and it took everything for me just to make the bed and eat something. Those feelings have subsided, but we have a ways to go before normalcy resumes.
  • I have not worked out in two weeks, except for my daily neighborhood walks, and I feel like a lazy loser. Fortunately, I have not been eating outside of my normal realm of foods, but I am tempted to eat sweets so much more when I am not exercising. Why the heck is it so hard to work out?
  • My part-time position at the university has had some bumps and this has caused me some anxiety. I really, really dislike not feeling "in the know" when I am working on something and I dislike even more any feelings of inadequacy that can come when you are still trying to determine the scope of work before you. In the end, I'll be fine- I just need to get past this time of learning and taking things in.....and then I can dazzle them all with my skills!

In all of this, I am still processing and learning about:

  • Consumerism- We live in a consumeristic society and inevitably we all make purchases and aspire for lifestyles that we really do not need because they are so beyond the basics of life. I am just as guilty as the next person in my consumerism, but I am beginning to think more about this and it is causing me to pass on purchasing my third lip gloss when the other two have yet to be used up- that being the smallest example of being a consumer.
  • To Whom Much is Given- Like I stated, we live in a consumeristic society and we do so becase we can. We have more money than most people in the world and yet we buy so dang much that now we have law firms dedicated to helping people file for bankruptcy. I would venture to say that even the poorest in America have more than the richest in some third and fourth world countries. Those who are given much, have much expected of them. If we all stopped thinking about how we could use our money to build up our lives with things and instead used some of our money to help those in need (and by need I mean not having any of the basics like clothes, food, and shelter- I do NOT mean iPods, designer clothes, and spa visits) there would be less need. I could go on and on about this and talk about how I do not think government programs are the solution to ending people's need for the basics of life, but I think I'll save that for another post.
  • Healthy Living: I am learning so much about food and what goes into our bodies when we eat food- things we cannot see or smell, but things that should not be in our bodies! We have switched over to organic meat and dairy to avoid eating things with growth hormones and antibiotics and other nasty things and I now have a list of fruits and veggies that I buy organic so we can avoid taking in pesticides and such. By the way, do not buy produce from Chile- they have no regulations on the amount of pesticides they use and it is a well-known fact that pesticide levels in their produce (strawberries and grapes being the ones that are available now) are much higher than what the States would allow. And I am so excited about our new cleaning products that I'll be using- you can find them here http://www.shaklee.com/homecare1.html Everything is non-toxic and that bodes well for the environment and us!

I think I'll end it here....my fingers are getting tired and now I must turn my attention to the kitchen, where I'll be attempting my first Busy Day Cake! I'll let you know how it turns out.

UPDATE: I just took the Busy Day Cake out of the oven and am now enjoying a slice of it with fresh straberries...YUMMY! It's a must-try recipe for sure!

April 3, 2008

Just Don't Know What to Say....

....or write. That's why I have been so quiet on my blog. My apologies to those of you (my mom and mother-in-love) who frequent this multiple times a day- I am certain that staring at my entry on granola is less than thrilling.

Oh, but I do have something to share....my physician said I have outstanding good cholesterol (the highest it could be!) and very low bad cholesterol. Apparently, even though I am a sucker for anything sweet and have a few pounds to lose, I am extremely healthy and should easily live another 50 or so years if all goes well.

I attribute my good health to 1) genes; 2) eating plenty of raw fruits, vegetables, and nuts; and 3) indulging in chocolate (preferably dark) whenever I please.