All Grown Up!

While I was away this weekend visiting my college town, I realized how badly I wanted that part of my life back. There's nothing like college life and all the excitement, fun, and crazy times that surround it.

I started to think how ironic it is that when we are kids all we do is want to be an adult. Growing up you mock adults by playing house, store, etc. However when you start to get older and reach an adult stage all you want is to go back to where you once were. Funny how that works!

Complete Yourself

I had a conversation with one of my girlfriends a few weeks ago and it steered towards relationships and being single. I began to tell her that I think many women and many of our mutual friends are in pursuit to find someone that completes them and that if they're not in a relationship than they have no happiness or identity.

I told her how crazy this was and how sad, pathetic and shameful it is for some of these women to think like that. I told her do these women really think that another person is going to make them feel better about themselves and worthwhile... and even if this is so, what if it doesn't work out? Do you go back to your self-loathing state, where you consider yourself to be incomplete?

By no means am I saying that there aren't compatible partners out there that enrich one anothers' lives, but how can someone enrich your life if your dependency of happiness and self-worth is being with someone else.

I told my friend that a person should complete themselves 100% and be happy with who they are as a person and then he or she will truly be complete and content with themselves. Without truly loving yourself can you really expect someone else to do that for you? I think once you do that, your self-confidence will skyrocket and your relationships, not just intimate ones, but all of them will blossom into more than you could have ever of expected.

A Sangria Summer

So, I don't have any particular thoughts today. However, I started thinking that I've only made one pitcher of my sangria this summer. Last summer I probably made at least 7 or 8! Anyways, I thought I would share my recipe.

1 bottle of sweet red wine - Lambrosa (Reunite) is very sweet and cheap
1 cup of cranberry juice
1 lime
1 lemon
1 orange
1/4 cup grenadine
1/2 cup sweet vermouth (optional)

Slice the fruit, add to juices and enjoy your HOT summer day.

Bridezilla or Frugal Friend?

While doing my summer internship last summer, I discovered that most weddings are averaging between $25,000- $30,000. But, what's the average one must spend to be part of the bridal party? Well after the elaborate gown (that you know you will never be able to wear again) the expensive shoes (nobody will even see because your dress hits the floor), alterations, batchelorette party, (which my bride thinks should be a destination event) gifts, hair and make-up.... I'm guessing I'm forking out between 400-500 buckaroos.

Yes, it's a huge cost, a bridesmaid should think about before accepting the request. I love my dear new to be bride and friend very much, but I do feel that some costs could be alleviated and that maybe she doesn't realize how much it's costing us to be a part of her big day.

Most all decisions are in the bag as of now, except for the shoes... which she's looking at a $70 pair (YIKES)... hopefully, I will be able to talk her out of that one!!!

Cancer Link in Popular Snacks

Unless you've been under a rock this past month you should know of the salmonella scare and outbreak in tomatoes and certain peppers, which has been covered all over the news. However, did you know that some popular snacks and junk foods may be linked to cancer?

While watching the news today I was shocked to hear that some large potato chip and french fry companies had been fined for selling products which may contain carcinogenic chemicals.

Many foods containing this harmful chemical acrylamide include potato chips, french fries, breakfast cereals, bread and several other high carb foods that are fried or baked at high temperatures.

Acrylamide has been proven to cause cancer in test animals but hasn't been linked to humans yet.

While looking at different articles on this matter, I found it comical that several quotes from sources outlined basic common sense and diverted away from the main issue of having possible cancer causing snacks consumed by millions of Americans!

Spokesmen and women for the FDA state in the USA Today

"For now, Canady said, "We want to reinforce ... eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. That's the best way to ensure that you're getting adequate nutrition." .... Wow thanks for the inside scoop. I don't know why but I think I've heard something similar to that before.

and it gets better....

"People should be consuming less french fries and potato chips for other reasons — the salt, the calories, the fat — and the government should have been urging that anyway. Here's yet another reason," he said."

It seems to me the government should be thinking about taking these snacks containing high doses of this chemical off the shelf, until we know for sure how much is too much.

I don't know about you but I'm defiantly going to be thinking twice before buying and or consuming another fried or baked high-carb snack.