Vegmom Moments

NOUNS AND ADJECTIVES AND IRONING

I didn't know what a noun and adjective was until middle school I think.. and possibly later  (you can tell by my writing that grammar was never my strong suit).... But today Veg came home with a note from his teachers showing what he'd been working on.... Nouns and Adjectives?

When I read it out loud he said "Ooh yeah, nouns and adjectives are fun"

How cool that he thinks this stuff is fun...  I hope his joy for learning follows him even after his Montessori Experience comes to an end...

By the way, yesterday he was ironing... Really... I asked if he burnt his fingers?  "No, just my thumb"  ouch!!  I'm 30 something and STILL don't iron.  He's 6 and LOVES it!! .... If he starts wanting to iron his jeans and pillow cases though, I may have a problem with that *wink to SH* (inside joke, sorry)...

I do love that he can learn how to do things that will affect him in real life experiences, and in the same hour be working on Grammar, Long Division, history or what ever his heart desires...

Have I mentioned lately that I love our Montessori School  :-)

EAT AN APPLE

Woke up late... out the door late..... Stuck in traffic.. As in ROAD CLOSED.... wait 30 more minutes... listen to the radio about why the road is closed and Veg hears a commercial about alcohol abuse (thanks radio)...... spend next 30 minutes stuck in traffic talking about "Mommy, what's alcohol".... Lovely....  Arrive at school..... Arrive at work....New office door is locked..... can't get in... walk around trying to find someone to save me from my locked out status.... while walking around I find someone that actually ads 5hrs work to my plate for the day, because, well, they must have thought I needed more....Get in to my office log in to computer.... EMAIL doesn't work......

So here I am posting this, waiting for my Email to come up (which is totally locked like my door was).... and what is one to do when a morning doesn't go quite as planned.....  Be thankful you weren't in that wreck that closed 4 lanes of traffic, be hopeful that the people in the wreck are OK... Be happy that the office door did get open and it wasn't raining while walking a mile from my car.......Be happy that Veg and I had that extra time this morning to talk (even if the topic was undesirable).... Enjoy the silence of no email for a few moments.....

AND EAT AN APPLE!!!  (not sure why, but eating an apple just makes me feel better)

30 DAY CHALLENGE ANOTHER WEEK

Yay.. So we started a new week of the challenge and I'm not sure about everyone else, but I'm still Junk food free.... Although its been tough, this challenge has really kept me in Check...

Sorry I didn't post much over the weekend, we were busy with Festivals, House Chores, Garden and Yard stuff...  So here is some inspirational info..... And its not too late to start if this gets you thinking, Hmmm?!!

Some great side effects that have come from people doing this challenge have been, going to sleep earlier, Some have stopped all sodas, Others have started eating more fruits and veggies....

My only caffeine weakness is Coffee and I haven't had any since the challenge started, so that was a great side effect. But the best part of this whole thing is that people are feeling better.  And it goes to show that what you eat DOES make a difference.  And what our Kids eat, DOES make a difference..... And what we eat, directly relates to what our kids will eat!!

Check out the Disease Proof blog for some great info on all kinds of health categories,and how what we eat can make a big difference in how we live.

So for the inspirational part..... If I add up approximately how much "extra" sugar I'm NOT eating from sweets, that I would be consuming if not on the challenge, it equals at least 650 grams a week.  And remember, I'm Vegetarian and also avoid most dairy foods.  So this is totally Coffee drinks + Veg friendly Snacks....  I'm not even including my regular diet... JUST SWEET SNACKS!!

For those that drink this stuff....Add to that 27 grams per cola beverage, 63 grams for a milkshake,  and this ADDS up really fast!  (not including pasta, bread, rice, etc.)

Now consider how much of that our bodies really need....Maybe 224 per week, or something like that?  According to This post:  Sugar: How Much Should We Eat

So Add up your own Sugar Grams or lack there off, and see what you can adjust?  Or see how much you have already given up... You may surprise your self !!

And the Challenge rolls on!!!

TURN OFF THE TV

With out going off on my TV Tangent, I will just say:

READ THIS!!!

HOW TV AFFECTS YOUR CHILD

CHANGING JOBS

Ha, not me.... *smile*

Veg was balancing some thing on his hand earlier and said "look, wouldn't I make a good waiter?"

---Well yes you would--- I reply!

He says "Maybe I could be in the military for a while and then be a waiter"

I told him that he could be Anything he wanted...

"Can I change my mind?". He asked!

---Of course...---

"Cool, so I can be a fireman, military person, waiter and inventor"

---Yup, you sure could---

"Great, unless I'm dead by then"

---What?---

Does this happen just in my house? Perfectly normal conversation and then WHAMMY!!

RANGER RICK MAGAZINE

So the one day that I get a comment on my blog from a Senior Editor of anything, let alone the coolest magazine in the world... and I post about being grumpy...  Surely I could have come up with some thing better...

So I wanted to Pause and explain a funny about the Subscription... Veg received it for a gift from our friend at Christmas Time... He didn't understand the full concept of getting one every month.  We read it cover to cover, and looked at EVERY amazing Picture again and again, did all the activities in the back, laughed at the jokes... and we read it AGAIN each day until he finally had enough...

Just then (a month later) a new one came in the mail...  Veg saw something in the mailbox with his name on it and was sooo excited... He thought our friend snuck it in the box while he was at school.  He couldn't figure out how the postman would have known to bring him the magazine.

The same thing happened, we read cover to cover...Again and Again, did some of the activities... and he found his favorite part being the Cartoons... He even got his first Cliff Hanger, where he had to wait a month for the ending to a story...

A month passes and a new one arrives..."Mom Mom Mom, Look our friend came to our house again and brought me another Ranger Rick..."

He still, all these Editions later, will NOT believe that the Magazine is coming from the Mailman.. But at this point, I don't care :-)

This has become our "Family Reading Time"  (which is different then bed time reading, by the way) 

I think if Veg ever outgrows these, I will continue to subscribe because I'll need to keep up with his little smarty self.  I've ordered the subscription for another friend to pass the love...

Seriously, check it out.....RANGER RICK MAGAZINE

Thank you to our friend again for getting us started... And by the way the Binoculars stay in the car, and were perfect for viewing some Cranes that were nesting up in a tree by the lake.... 

And Thanks to all those that put this magazine together... It truly is helping this Mom teach more about wildlife and environment without it being at all like learning.

THANK YOU!!!

NEW OFFICE BLUES

I had to move in to our new office today and while I normally take office moves in good stride (I've had plenty)...this one has left me grumpy..

Further drive, traffic galore, I have hives all over my face and a fever blister that even my strongest home remedy won't dissolve.

I get lost trying to drive to find food (but I did find a very yummy veggie sandwich).. And of course the perks of our old office that I will miss so much.

Not sure why I even liked that old office, but I sure never took the perks for granted. And now they will be missed.

And the people at my new office are so nice and welcoming. I even needed some custom things fixed and didn't ask but they came by and fixed, just by looking in and noticing a problem.

So I really have no reason to be grumpy, but I am!!

So there!!

READING IS FUN

So I've posted some in the past about my guy seeing letters/words upside down or backwards and how reading has been a struggle for him.  Taking his teacher's lead (since my way wasn't working so good) we let them tell us what to do... which was NOTHING....

They said that sounding words, Writing words, Spelling and Reading aren't all the same thing.... Taking each in stages,  and eventually his mind would click and all the parts would come together...  But has to be on HIS time... he was sooo frustrated though that I continued to worry for him.

Since going in to the Elementary room at school (with the 6-10 year olds) he's made TONS of progress...and he is writing mostly cursive now which they said would help him keep his letters in the correct order.  And I'm amazed as usual at how right they were.

Lately at night he is asking to read to me... instead of the other way around...

And tonight he said "This reading is Fun"

Ah... Success!!!  His brain has clicked.... There is no stopping him now....

I'M NOT SMARTER THEN A 6 YEAR OLD...

Our little family got out to our fav. veggie restaurant and walk tonight.... Veg was in a rare mood of both wanting to exercise and wanting to talk... OK maybe not so rare.   But tonight the conversation was soo fun.. OK maybe thats not rare either....

Veg said something that I can't remember now that we were both shocked he knew...  So Hubby says, "OK Mr. Smarty, what kind of tree is that?"

"A Willow"  Veg replies...

We walk a little further and Hubby says "look at those pretty roses"

"Those aren't Roses silly, their Tulips"... we hear from the peanut gallery

"Hey, there's a duck"  I say...

"Thats a Mallard" he replies

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU DON'T KNOW?  My Hubby yelps....

"No, not much" Veg says...

Then he finds a nickle.... Instead of saying "This is a Nickle" like normal people.....he says... "Look, I found 5 cents, did you know that 5 pennies make 5 cents, and 10 pennies make 10 cents, and 100 pennies make a dollar?"

Ha... Finally, we knew something that he did... which was quickly squashed when we arrive home to find his new Ranger Rick Magazine in the mail box.  He opens to the first page and says "OOOH, LOOK  A TAPIR!"

Umm?  What's a Tapir?... Well apparently its an animal in the Rhino family... Seriously, HOW DOES HE KNOW THIS STUFF???? 

HOW LONG DOES BEING MARRIED LAST?

Veg is really on this Married kick!  Today on our way in to school, he said:

"So if get married, I'm supposed to be married for all my days on this earth to that person"

Well yes, that is the goal...  He then asks "HOW" one goes about getting married.  We talked about the process a tad, and he asked "AGAIN" how me and his Dad got married..

I told him that a Judge married us at a courthouse and he says "Ooh, Judges are cool" ..... here I am at age 6 planting the seeds for him NOT having a wedding... Yay... I may actually get out of planning another party, how cool is that! 

OK, back on topic.... So he then says...

"What if a person wanted to get Unmarried because they changed their mind"

Wowsers.... no how do I answer this one??  So I explained that there is a court process they would have to go through, and that its no fun at all.  And why its so important to find that special person that you have NO doubt of spending the rest of your life with...  And when you are much older you will be able to make those decisions for yourself.

So he says... "My Goodness, that means Grandma has seen a lot of judges in her day"

HAHA... I about choked.... "Well yes she has" I reply....

He said he got mad at the girl he is going to marry the other day... and I asked if he was still going to marry her... And he said "Of course, just because you argue doesn't mean your not going to be married"

Hmmmm..... so he has learned something from me and his Dad :-)

And then he asked more questions about me and his Dad.... I finally said

"Yup, were stuck together for all of our days.... whether we argue, or change, or get upset, we are still together... We made a commitment to eachother, we said our vows, we love each other no matter what happens and we work through things that don't go our way.   We communicate and use our words (sometimes too much) and always end up better because of it"

He replies with..  "Yeah, your right Mom, except the glue part?"

<WHAT?>

"You aren't really stuck together with glue because then you couldn't be driving me to school while Daddy went to work"

Sheww... At least we are all on the same page now.... Until next time....

SPEAKING THE TRUTH

This morning I was bending over to grab something off the floor and my sweet sweet angel boy says:

"Mom your Butt sure is Fat"

Why Thank you!! 

Isn't that funny, I was just saying the same thing about myself in the post yesterday... Not only did he read my mind but he spoke the truth....

Of course the faster that filter can get installed on his mouth the faster this world will be a safer place from what comes out of his mouth.....  Does anyone know when the filter comes?  I was thinking 6 was a good age for that, but apparently not so much!

THINGS I WILL ONLY DO ONCE

So a friend just told me she was going to take a Spinning class AGAIN after being in pain from doing it the first time.... I have taken a SPINNING class, and for those of you that don't know what this is.....I can tell you in two sylables  TOR-TURE.....

Think --Riding a bike, but not going anywhere, up hill (not real hills) and down hill (not real hills) while pouring sweat, in a stinky room with everyone else pouring sweat, as fast as you can without stopping... Stand up, then sit down...over and over again... Your but bones on fire and your muscles (if you have any) unable to move for a week... You do this for an hour and then you pay the person that did this to you....

I can say this is one of those things that I would only do ONCE!!

Adding to that list of things I would only do once would be:

1. Birth... (enuf said)
2. 1/2 Marathon (what the heck was I thinkin')
3. Riding Horseback on a mountain (Horses like to walk close to the edge.... I am not a close to the edge kind of gal)
4. Riding a 4 wheeler up/down a mountain....  Yeah, amazing I'm still alive after that one...

See a pattern here??  Everything on my list requires massive pain in the Rear... And outside of the Birth, I've got nothing to show for it but a bigger rear...  As for the Birth... Well I have a great thing to show for that one, but still a bigger rear....

I'm sure I can add to this list if I think hard enough, but right now I must Sit on my Rear and get some work done..

Hope your day is a great one!!

HOW MUCH DO YOU WEIGH?

On our way home from school tonight Veg mentioned how he was shorter then other kids... I explained how his Uncle used to be short too, but he sprouted up at some point to be taller then everyone in our family... 

We did the whole shpeal about people coming in all shapes and sizes, and there is no telling how tall he will be when he is all grown up.  One of his friends weighs 10 more pounds then him, so we talked about those differences as well.  And that everyone is different. 

Like me and his Dad are different sizes too.... He asks how much his Dad weighs... and I told him... didn't think any thing of that one... Guys say their weight all the time... Its natural.... He then asks how much I weigh.... 

<Over 100> I say

"How much over 100"

<Plenty over 100>

"How much is plenty"

<More then 100>

"So like 300>

<NOOOO>

"Well how much do you weigh?"

And it was sooo funny because I've never cared to talk about this before... But for once in all his days, I didn't want to give him an answer.... Knowing it would be the topic of his next dinner conversation with whomever he next ate dinner with and that he would be talking about it on the playground, and to the waitress and to a stranger at the park.... I can hear it already....

"Hi my name is Veg I live at........in...... and I'm 6 years old...my Mom works at...... and I goto..... school, and my Mom weighs ......pounds, and by the way, did you know red dye comes from dead bugs, and hot dogs have intestines in them"

And so I didn't tell him how much I weighed, and he finally was happy with me saying over 100.....

Yes Mom... I'm already hearing you say "Paybacks"  *smile*

30 DAY JUNK FOOD CHALLENGE ROLLS ON

 

Stop eating Desserts?  How hard is that??  Apparently it is harder then I thought.  And I didn't realize I ate that much.

When there is chocolate on your desk, Soy Ice Cream in your Freezer, cookies around every corner, Starbucks in route to every where I go, Festivals Galore this time of year, snacks in the car for Veg, snacks in my Bag for Veg, Dessert at our favorite restaurants and local coffee shop......  Those little stinkin' graham crackers that I put in Veg's lunch box, tiny vegan choco chips in our drawer....  You get the idea...

Junk food is EVERY WHERE!!!!   A Nibble here a Dabble there a handful of this and a smidgin of that......

BUT NOT FOR 30 days...... Alas..... I am still Junk Food Free........

Here is a no junk food lunch for your viewing pleasure:

The chips are Vegan Brown Rice baked Chips with Salsa like Seasoning and no bad stuff.  Notice only a serving instead of a bag full.   I love these lunchboxes  You can't possibly go over board on the servings because the buckets are just the right size.  

And while today is Earth Day, I must plug the best part of those lunchboxes.  They leave ZERO Waste!!!

While your enjoying NO JUNK FOOD for this 30 days, maybe add some thing else for Earth Day...  Think about what example your setting for your kids with your own habits.   Good or Bad?  What can you change or teach that will help them reduce the waste, recycle and reuse? 

On that note, I shall sign off..... Turn off this PC, turn off all the lights that I don't need on.....Take a piece of cardboard I found to my recycle bin, turn off my air and open the windows....  Then I shall munch on some carrots because I'm hungry and its too early for lunch.....

Have a great Day!

FUN GOING GROCERY SHOPPING?

Is it just me or does anyone else's hubby think that if we go to the grocery store without kids that we went to an amusement park and had tons of fun.??

The only time besides work that I normally get "alone" time is when I go to the grocery store... For the last couple years when I come home tired and warn out from multi-store visits and gassing up the car, etc.  I get home and Hubby says "Did you have fun?" with great enthusiasm, while I'm carrying in all the groceries and breathing heavily up the stairs and dreading all the stuff I have to put away... he'll say from the couch "Did you have fun?"

Yeah, last time I looked the grocery store turned in to a theme park and I had so much fun that I couldn't stand leaving.... HELLO, its a grocery store!!

But today I have to admit.... It was fun :-)  I met a friend up there, both of us without kids, and we talked and gabbed, isle after isle.... Some isles we didn't even need anything but we were there, so we walked.... And it was fun....

If only it could be like that all the time... Then when Hubby says "Did you have fun?"  I could say "as a matter of fact, I did!!"

DINNER CONVERSATION

Due to some unforeseen circumstances tonight, we ended up going to a wonderful dinner with some friends.  Not that I was happy about the circumstances for my friend, but it was nice seeing them and dinner was really good.

Veg was a little WOUND up to say the least and very excited to see this duo.  In fact he was so excited that he couldn't sit still nor stop talking for a total of 90 minutes.  (driving + eating) 

While Hubby and my friend were talking at the dinner table and my mind wandered to hearing the Boys' conversation....  Poor Kiddo....  Not mine, but the one he was talking to.

The other boy mentioned that he drinks a certain soda, and Veg goes on to say it has high fructose corn syrup and other yuck in it.  Friend says.. "Well I like it"  and Veg says "you must like Yuck then".....  I tried to intervene but it was too late.

My Vegman didn't stop.... It turned in to red food dye coming from dead beetles and other colors coming from train coal, and chemicals like rocket fuel found in our foods, and the stuff that they store dead bodies in (formaldehyde) in some ingredients, and lotion from cow's udders, and oh that peperoni comes from Dead pigs..... IT DIDN'T STOP... 

I looked at my friend and said "I'm sorry in advance for anything that comes from this conversation".... 

The other boy looks over at me with his mouth still open wide and says "How does he know all this gross stuff?"..... 

Before I had a chance to answer, Veg replied with "My Mom told me".....

Ha, NICE!!!   Thankfully the food arrived.....  I realize the filter is still not installed on his mouth, but food is the next best thing.... Where there is eating, there is silence.... Temporary Filter installed!

30 DAY CHALLENGE THE WEEKEND

Well, we hit our first weekend.... Hope everyone is still enjoying a junk free 30 days...  Or less, Or More *smile*
I'm still on bored and it seems each day gets easier.  Fruit choices are soo plentiful at the grocery stores, and I'm finding some good whole grains and beanie dishes to curb my appetite for snacks.   As for Chocolate frozen coffee drinks... I'm sticking with Unsweet Tea or Soy Chai and that is doing the trick.

As for exercise, the Vegman and I entered another 5K today... But it was one of those mornings that we should have stayed home...  When I asked him at the 1/2 mile, why he was coming out if he was so tired and "COULDN'T WALK" he said because he loves to exercise and needed fresh air.

OK FINE... we could have done that by the house and saved us $40.... And not in front of 100 people, and being the last ones through the finish line... Put it this way.. We hit the 1st mile at 17 minutes and then he didn't want to move anymore... Dude...We have like 2 more to go...  Needless to say it was a SLOW morning, but he did finish and we got cool shirts. 

I was getting the horrible Mom look from other parents that couldn't believe I was pushing him to walk... What they didn't know is that, this is the same kid who ran a 13 minute mile the week before, and the same kid that got me up at 6AM to make sure we weren't late to the one today....  I'm sorry, but if your going to wake me up at 6AM because you want to join a race THAT BADLY... the least you can do is WALK IT!    I stopped asking to run after the first water stop because I realized that wasn't happening.    But walking would be good...

So yes, I get the bad Mom award for the day.  But made up for it (I think) at the kids festival, where I stood by for at least 4hrs, while he did craft after craft and Montessori lesson after lesson.

It was a busy day!!  But an Outdoorsy Day and a Non-Junk Food one!! 

Hope your day is a GREAT one too

PEAS AND TOOTHPICKS

Who needs building blocks or expensive erector sets when you have Toothpicks and Peas lying around?

How cool is this time-taker??...

NAMES OF THINGS

Do you ever wonder why things have the names that they do?

Like why is this a Redbud?  There is no RED on it?  

Pink Bud would be much more fitting, don't ya think?

I THINK WE HAVE VEGGIES

Trying to get my mind off the ducks, I stepped down to the garden tonight after work and saw some green things....  I think we may have Carrots and Onions?

 

Could it be??

Real live green things growing in our Clay Garden?  Before the month of May even arrives and still the threat of Frost?

Could it be?? Real Veggies???  I dunno?

POOR DUCKS

When I first took this picture it was a happy and hopeful picture.... While driving through a parking lot I saw Momma Duck and her babies waddling along....  I pulled over in my car, far enough away to not disturb her and tried to zoom in as far as my little camera would go....  I planned to name this post "OUT OF PLACE"

Regarding the ducks not in their correct environment... they should have been in near a lake, a pond, a body of water.  NOT in the parking lot of a shopping center.  But what cute spring site in the middle of concrete jungle....

I was hopeful that the ducks would continue on their journey before rush hour hit and they'd find a safe destination... I was hopeful, that is until....

BLOOP BLOOP BLOOP, one by one the little baby ducks fell through that Grate....  There was nothing I could do.. Even had I run over there in time from across the lot they would have already been half gone...  Momma Duck was NOT happy about her lost babies, and I was NOT happy either. 

I walked over after she was a safe distance to see if I could see the babies... Maybe I would get lucky and it would be a small distance, maybe I could find some gloves and pull out little babies and give them back to Momma Duck... BUT NOPE!

It was so far down I couldn't even see them, but I heard them LOUD and clear.  So did Momma Duck... She talked to them and they squacked back....  At the point  I drove away, a few little ducklings had managed not to fall through... And Momma was walking in circles beside herself.  The poor little ducks trying to keep up.

I called everyone from Animal Control, to Wildlife Dept, to the Water Company, to foul rescue/rehab......  But no one would save the baby ducks.... I was soo sad....

Hubby and I went back at lunch time and Momma Duck was gone, but babies were still down there.... He called someone he knows that called someone they know... And supposedly someone is going to come save the baby ducks?  I'll never really know, but I sure hope that is the case.... 

I can still be hopeful right? 

TIP TOE AND WATER

Why is it, that when we have to get out of the shower for some thing we Tip Toe, as if the dripping water from our bodies puddling on the floor will be LESS if we tip toe?

Or am I the only one that does that?

30 DAY JUNK FOOD CHALLENGE DAY 4

Another exciting day... I got a call from NB  who said she is feeling so much better since she started this and its only been 4 days.... Who needs a shirt, that was the best prize ever!! 

My goal is for neither of us to win this bet, and that would mean we both won!  *smile*  As for others...

Maria is doing great... giving up the high fructose and sticking with her plan per her comments... Salads/water seem to be her trick.. 

Our one day at a time Mom even passed up home made Choco chip pancakes... now that is willpower!

One Mom is spending her time outside "Away from the kitchen" to keep her mouth out of trouble...

Several of the Mom's sticking to the challenge are munching on Dried and Fresh fruit to conquer the sweet tooth or yogurt and granola....

Everyone is doing so great!!    30 days will pass in no time, and we'll wonder how we even thought this would be hard!  :-)  

Anyone else want to join the challenge?  Its easy, just leave a comment with an alias keeping your self anonymous and then stop eating junk... That simple!  *smile*  If you choose you can continue to comment and keep us posted on your progress.

Happy No Junk Food Month!

GETTING MARRIED

Veg saw Miss Thing at Gym class tonight.  This just after she blew him all kinds of kisses from the play ground at school as we were leaving...

As the child (mine) is hanging from 200ft (maybe slight exaggeration) in the sky on a bar, he drops one hand to wave to Miss Thing and goes flying down in to the pit... I'm glad there is a pit..

They waved and blew kisses and chatted some while their coaches were trying to say "FOCUS".... They do focus... Just not on the task at hand when they are in the same room.  Seriously I'm not sure how they get anything done at school.

On our way home he tells me again how she will be his wife and they are going to be married.... and then his voice changes and he gets sad to report that she won't be going to his school after this year... (he found out)

*sigh*  they will have to have a long distance relationship....  long distance as in different schools not different states... But they have seen each other every school day for 2 years....His first heartbreak.....  Oh woes me... whats a Mom to do, and he is only 6...  

DAY 3 - STILL NO JUNK

   The No Junk Food challenge continues... And day 3 brought with it some challenges for me at least.. Well and another Mom that has had to stare at a cadbury egg all day... "Don't eat the egg"....  . 

Lets just say without saying too many words that this was the one day of the month where I REALLY WANTED CHOCOLATE!!!!

 Then my Sweet Evil Coworker brought cute little bags of Peanut M&M's to put ON MY DESK inside our group snack bucket.... Is that mean or what???  But I stayed the course....  Day 3 has been Complete and I still don't owe my friend a shirt... and many people are still on track... Such Success!

But while talking to said co-worker (the evil one that left chocolate on my desk), the subject of artificial ingredients and dyes came up...  many made from coal, synthetic, chemical, you get the idea... But the grossest of gross is red dye that comes from dead bugs.... Its true, even the Science Channel has it mentioned in their top 10 strange ingredients... 

So the next time you see the word Carmine or Cochineal listed on your ingredient labels... you will know that the red coloring came from baked or boiled beetles... Yuck! ...

Now look at the Science Channel's #3... Yup Gelatin... yum Yum... Animal Skin and bones!  

And now for Good Healthy things to look at... Check out This is Why your Thin for great food ideas and exercise motivation... Even if your not thin (I RAISE MY HAND)... it is a great site to find good healthy ideas.

By the way, my Hubby said he was going to join the challenge but he couldn't because they had Godiva Chocolate at his work today.... Well Phooey on him!  *smile*

Only 26 more days to go...

FRIDGE SHELF WITH SPRING COLORS

I started chopping veggies and washing fruits in bulk to make it easier for grab and go moments....

Doesn't my top shelf look so colorful?  Brocolli Slaw, Romaine, Carrots, Cucumbers, Grapes, Berries...

Nothing says Spring like yummy looking produce!

ANOTHER DAY BEHIND US

While people are munching all around me, cookies at work, pies at home, I stay strong...

While hungry for some chocolate goodness, I stay away from the snack buckets and machines.

Day two contains no junk food..

Breakfast was Oatmeal again, with tea and water from home.

Mid Morning snack was a few grapes.

Lots of water

Lunch was PB&J sandwich, broccoli slaw and rest of grapes and tea.

Afternoon snack (yes I eat a lot)... Tiny orange, and some oat cereal squares.

More water..

Throw in a two mile speed walk...

More Water...

Now its dinner time.. Veggie Hibachi stirfry, cucumber salad and miso soup...

Yummm!! Happy Day Two to all of you!!

30 DAY JUNK FOOD CHALLENGE - DAY 1 ENDS

I'm so excited.... Seems there are many people ready for our challenge... several posting on another board that I'm reading... so I'll keep you all up to date on their progress here... 

We currently have 16 people taking the challenge and everyone made it past day ONE without Dessert/Junk Food... Thats a lot of Goodness!!!

My friend had a great tip:  She is going to bed earlier to avoid the late night sugar cravings!!  BUT WOW, that is good for so many other reasons...   Go NB... how awesome is that!!

Mary from the comments said that she is going to shy away from High Fructose... That is a wonderful thing! 

For those that don't know, not only is High Fructose Corn Syrup not so good for our bodies, but recently the message went out that it contained Mercury...  And by the way, its not so good for the environment either according to this Washington Post Article...   So avoiding this stuff, not only keeps away the calories but does some other good too....

I made this tonight for some munching.... Broccoli Slaw...Easy Crunchy Goodness..... YUM!!  Should last me a couple days...

If you have any tips,  post them in the comments...  Here's for a great day two...  We have one Mom that said she is taking it one day at a time... well she just made it this one day! 

And the challenge rolls on!!

THE BAGEL CONVERSATION

If you know my family personally, you will think this is funny... If NOT then no need to read.... :-)

Veg says "Can I have the last bagel for breakfast tomorrow?"

Hubby doesn't respond

Again Veg says "Can I have the last bagel for breakfast tomorrow?"

Hubby says  "Lets worry about that tomorrow"

Veg will not stop until he gets an answer he is happy with and clearly that was not the right answer.

"Can I, Can I... Please... Please, can I have the last bagel for breakfast tomorrow?"

It continues.... and continues....

Hubby now getting frustrated. shouts, "I could be dead tomorrow, why don't we worry about the bagel in the morning"

With out skipping a beat my intelligent young one says "OK, so if your dead I'll get the bagel, but if your alive in the morning, will you save me the bagel"

"FINE" Hubby says  "You can have the bagel"

"Aw Thanks Dad"......

A few moments later-------  "Mom are there any pancakes left?"

<Yes there are 3 left>

"Cool, I'm going to have those for breakfast tomorrow, Daddy. you can have the bagel"

Ha... peace restored!

30 DAY JUNK FOOD CHALLENGE DAY 1

YAY!!  ITS HERE!!  Monday, the first day of our 30 Day Junk Food Challenge.......  This is what I brought for lunch today... A little bit of sweet and a little bit of Salty... Not sugar or carb free by any means... but no "junk" to keep me challenge compliant!

I also made my self a container of Iced tea and brought a cup of water to the office...  There is still a bucket of snacks on my desk for people who come to visit, but I have the motivation to keep my hands away....

For Breakfast, some natural oatmeal filled my tummy and a glass of Grapefruit juice.....

HAPPY MONDAY EVERY ONE!