Good Saturday mornin’ to ya! I hope everyone has fun plans for this gorgeous Labor Day weekend. I certainly can’t complain about the weather forecast. I have mum planting and car shopping and barbecuing in my plans. What about YOU?
Meanwhile, here are some links to inform and entertain you!
Why the French Don’t Get Fat — Dr. Mercola. You will have to register to read this article, but please take the time to do so. This is SO enlightening.
5 Tips for Back to School Nutrition — Daily Diner. There are some great tips in here. I particularly like #3, as hard as would be for me to implement (and for financial reasons, I probably wouldn’t go that far) but I try not to make the junk turn into the forbidden fruit. That’s only going to make them want it more.
Homemade Applesauce — Tidy Brown Wren. I am SO trying this! Who’s going apple picking with me?
Make Way for Our Fearless Leader — Such the Spot. I’m not sure what I think about this “address” and the subsequent lesson plans. I’d be interested in your thoughts.
What to Wear: Purple Trend — Wardrobe 911. I love purple, and I’m loving that middle dress. I think I may need to try that on. Hmmm…
I’ve lived in France. And while I do agree with his article in a general sense… well, let me put it this way — you know what most women I saw at the cafes were eating for breakfast? An espresso and a cigarette. We’d be stick-thin, too. (Not a pastry in sight, believe me. Those seemed to be reserved for, well, I’m not sure who. But I rarely saw them actually being eaten.)
And they do walk EVERYWHERE (which he only briefly mentioned).
Interesting. And LOL about the espresso and a cigarette.
That purple dress is gorgeous… and makes me want to go shopping!
I agree with Moriah – since I don’t smoke, I’m trying to walk more (and avoid pastry).
I love purple too, and I think you’d look gorgeous in that purple dress!
I made a homemade applesauce last year using a recipe from The Crockpot Lady. It was really good! Then she also had a recipe for applesauce chicken that was a little spicy but also very good.
The President is giving a speech about education and the importance of setting goals and staying in school. I think that’s quite a fine thing for kids to hear. I just hope they pay attention and listen!
I saw the espresso and cigarette thing when I was in Paris, too, however for the most part I do not believe what I saw was real French life. We were too close to the touristy spots. Everything was cheap and imported and the food was awful. If I ever go back to France I will hit the countryside or something. In any event, I did think the article was interesting – it was kind of a super brief recap of one of my favorite books, The Fat Fallacy.
I did an applesauce head to head one time, comparing two different recipes: http://kitchenkungfu.wordpress.com/2008/09/07/applesauce-brawl-to-the-finish/
As far as the President’s address, I don’t have a problem with the speech per se, but the following “curriculum” I take serious issue with. I mean, making kids write a letter about what Obama has inspired them to do, etc., is really creepy. I don’t care who you are, kids should not be writing about how inspirational you are unless it’s 100% their choice and their idea to do it. Read your history, folks. NOT what we want here.
I live on apple butter made in the crock pot during the fall. I’ll have to try the applesauce!!
Oh I love love love purple! Went to a University with colors purple and gold, had deep purple bridesmaids dresses at my wedding, have purple faux painted walls in my master bath. I’ll be hanging with the purple this fall for sure, in moderation of course! I like the dress too. Not sure I could pull that one off though :-/ I’m an A-line girl.
Obama…yeah I’ve been pondering this one all week. I agree with your friend’s post and agree with a previous commenter…creepy! Not sure whether the speech will be live for the rest of the folks. If it is not real sure whether our little academy will be tuning in or not. I can assure you our conversation will be different than the “suggested” lesson plans for the schools.
Thanks for sharing the links. Have a great weekend.
Thanks for the shout out!
I dont mind the presidents address, I welcome any discourse between myself/husband and our kids. I find that it’s the events/opinions/actions/news/etc that are contrary to our views/beliefs that give us the best conversations.
I just bought a purple shirt for the first time last night. So glad I am part of the fashion trend!
I must disagree with Moriah. I too lived in France, and for over 5 years. During the entire time and I lived with French people and French families. I also worked in French companies, taught at French Universities, and received my MBA at a French school. So let’s just say I was completely immersed (and I was not in Paris, which has a lot of tourist areas…).
Though it is true overall the French smoke more than Americans — it is much less than we believe, and it is not why they are thin.
I saw them eating those pastries — yes I did. They DO eat them. There are bakeries on every corner in France and they sure as heck wouldn’t stay open for business if they weren’t making money.
But there are many differences:
1) The pastries are not the size of a football (like here in the US). They are real, ‘normal’ sizes.
2) They’re not loaded with tons of sugar & high fructose corn syrup (like here in the US)
3) They know when to stop when they are full. They’re not going to eat 3 or 4 pastries (like I see way too often here). They have one, truly enjoy it, and don’t feel guilty about it.
The MAIN difference I saw and experienced between the French is that they have a healthy relationship with food.
I saw French women eating many “bad” foods, and not just once in a blue moon…but not on a daily basis either. They clearly understand the meaning of “balance and moderation” which for some reason has become blurred here in the U.S.
I will agree that they do walk a LOT. A lot more than here in the US….but then again, most cultures walk a lot more than we do
So smoking is not the reason they are thin. And if you look at statistics, the French LIVE LONGER than we Americans. They also have lower rates of heart disease and diabetes, and have 3 times FEWER heart attacks than Americans. So if they were smoking so much, how the heck are they living so long and so well?
So clearly it’s not the smoking
I LOVE purple. Especially deep, dark, rich purples. I would totally wear that trench coat – and those peep toe heels would love awesome with designer jeans.
Purple: I like it when you’re in style. I really, really do.