Just for some laughs...

I laugh every time I look at this picture :) I took it at a McDonalds in Cape Town, South Africa. I can't imagine that many American kids (or adults) would chose a cup of corn in lieu of a more appealing side, but you never know.

On a more serious note, the racial barrier that is slowly starting to crumble in South Africa is evident...even on a poster advertising a cup of corn that hangs under the glow of the famous golden arches.

Corn...it's what's for dinner.

Make Mom Green this Year

If you read my Earth Day blog, you will know that I absolutely LOVE my Baggu bags. I ordered 6 of them almost two years ago, and I use them all of the time.

Check out what Baggu came up with for a fantastic Mother's Day gift.

Your mom, aunt, grandmother, baby mama, etc will be thrilled when they open their limited edition Mom Baggu bag this Mother's Day. Order now at:
http://baggubag.com/Home/#Shop.

All the other moms will be green with envy.

Surrender

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."

This is from the journal of Jim Elliott written on October 28, 1949. Elliott along with four other missionaries (Nate Saint, Roger Youderian, Ed McCully, and Peter Fleming) were killed by the Aucas ("naked savages") people deep in the jungles of Ecuador in 1956. The men had formed a relationship with the Aucas but were ultimately betrayed by one of them who told the rest of the group that the missionaries' intentions were not honorable.

After the men were killed, Elisabeth Elliott (Jim's wife), Rachel Saint (Nate's sister), and Steve Saint (Nate's son) moved to the rain forest with the tribe. After some time, many of the Aucas became Christians including the ones who had killed the five men. What a testimony to the ultimate power of forgiveness, surrender, and Christ's amazing grace.

Earth movie review

Hello friends! I'm trying something new for this blog-a movie review! I saw Earth last night. Overall, I really liked it. I absolutely love animals and conservation (if you read my Earth Day blog, then you know this), so the movie really appealed to me. Earth is a documentary that tells the story of three animal families and their unique struggle to survive. A few thoughts on the film:

1) There isn't much of a plot which was fine with me. I could look at beautiful animals and amazing aerial photography all day long. If you need a movie with a plot, Earth probably won't be for you.

2) I would advise against taking very small children to see it. While it is rated G, there are a few slightly graphic scenes depicting the demise of an animal. Young children will most likely be very frightened by these parts.

3) I think Disneynature could have used this opportunity to have a bigger/better call to action to promote conservation. The narrator (the lovely James Earl Jones) talks about this a few times, but I think it should have been done more throughout the movie. There is a fine line though because you don't want to go overboard with this and ruin the movie by using it is a soapbox. I think Disneynature just decided to play it safe with Earth.

When you see Earth, they show a preview for Oceans which will premiere on April 22 (Earth Day), 2010. Great idea! Oceans is similar to Earth, but it is set underwater. I already have it on my calendar :) I hope that Disneynature uses Oceans to really stress the importance of conservation. What a powerful platform!

I give Earth 4 out of 5 stars. It is a beautiful and engaging film about the different species of our wonderful planet. Go see it today or tomorrow, and Disneynature will plant a tree for every ticket sold. Together, we can and will make a difference. Let's save our planet from our own destruction. Borrowing the words of Gandhi, "Be the change you wish to see in the world."

This will inspire you :)

"Use every letter you write, every conversation you have, every meeting you attend, to express your fundamental beliefs and dreams. Affirm to others the vision of the world you want. You are a free, immensely powerful source of life and goodness. Affirm it. Spread it. Radiate it. Think day and night about it and you will see a miracle happen: the greatness of your own life."

Dr. Robert Muller-Former Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations

I absolutely love this quote. It inspires me in so many ways. I challenge you to accept Mr. Muller's call to action right now.

Happy Birthday Georgia!

Happy Birthday to my sweet dog Georgia!!! I love you.

You are my sunshine :)

Green is the new black

Happy Earth Day everyone! In honor of this special day, I am offering some tips for Green living. I don't claim to be an expert in the subject; it is just a cause that is very important to me. We only have one Earth, and God has instructed us to take special care of it. So enjoy these tips-you just might learn something.

1) Start using reusable bags instead of plastic/paper bags. Keep one on you at all times (I always have at least one in my purse) and keep several in your car. I ordered 6 reusable bags from http://baggubag.com/ back in 2007 and absolutely LOVE them. They each hold up to 25 lbs. and are bright, colorful, and fun. They fold up nicely and come with their own carrying case. Being that the average American household uses 1,000 plastic bags per year, consider using reusable bags instead. If you are old school and/or lazy and insist on using plastic bags (shame on you), then at least use them again for something else (trash bag, dog waste bag, etc).

2) Turn the water off while you are brushing your teeth. It kills me when people leave the water running. Only turn it on when you need to rinse.

3) Take shorter showers. Aim for less than 10 minutes; 5 minutes is ideal. I don't claim to take a 5 minute shower (have you seen how thick my hair is?), but I aim to be in and out in 10 minutes or less.

4) For the ladies: don't wash your hair every day. You might cringe at this one. Washing your hair every day is actually bad for your hair especially if you color it. You will save time, money, and water by washing it every other day...or even every 3 days if you dare. You almost have to re-train your hair for this one. Trust me, your hair will adapt, and it will be healthier and shinier. It is a win-win situation.

5) Carpool when you can. This seems like a given to me, but all I see all day long are cars with one person riding in them. I understand that this can't happen all the time. But try to at least carpool when you and your friends are all going to the same place. It will save you time and money. Who doesn't like that?

6) Do not use disposable plates, cups, and utensils when you entertain. Bust out your regular plates and bowls. It will look nicer, and you will be putting less into the landfills. I use a variety of plates, cups, and wine glasses when I have parties. The mix of patterns makes for an interesting and festive tablescape.

7) RECYCLE. I am starting to see this more often which makes me happy. You can choose to throw something in the trash or throw it in the recycling bin. I hope you choose wisely.

8) Donate items you no longer use to the organization of your choice (Salvation Army, Goodwill, etc). I go through my closet at least every three months. If I haven't worn something in the last 12 months, I donate it. Donating items (especially clothes) you no longer use could save something else from buying something new. This is helping the planet. You are also helping someone with less resources who might not be able to afford new items. Again, everyone wins!

9) Keep electronic items that you are not using unplugged. This can include your coffee maker, microwave, hair dryer, and cell phone charger. NO MORE CHARGERS BEING LEFT PLUGGED INTO SOCKETS WHEN NOT IN USE! This just doesn't make sense. It takes one second to plug/un-plug your charger.

10) Be conservative with lights in your home and at work. If you are going to be gone from a room for 15 minutes or longer, turn out the light. Please don't try to give the illusion that you are always at work be leaving your lights on in your office. I witnessed this EVERY day at my last job. It's just silly.

Did you learn something new? If you can try out even just one of these tips, I applaud you. Try all 10, and you get a gold, I mean green star. I could have done a list of 100 Green tips, but who would read that? Expect another list of 10 Green tips soon. Feel free to leave a comment with your favorite Green tip. Let's help each other by sharing information.

I encourage all of you to think about your carbon footprint. This is an important cause friends. Be bold in your steps to be more environmentally friendly. Let's try our best to respect Mother Earth, for it is all we have. Have a wonderful Earth Day!

Lights, camera, action.

What is it about movies that makes us go back for more? I know that for me, it is a sense of escapism. In only an hour and 45 minutes or so, I get to go from being me (single in the city :) to being one of many things. I get to be a blood-sucking vampire (a Cullen of course), a beautiful princess in training, the lovely Carrie Bradshaw, the confused Holly Golightly, and a rebellious mermaid who tries on some legs for size.

For that brief time, I get to be a part of someone else's world. I get to imagine life as a doctor, lawyer, writer, waitress, advertising executive, mother, and wildlife expert. I can swim through the ocean, walk the bush country of Africa, and hail a cab in Manhattan all without leaving the comforts of my apartment. I don't have to worry about trying to find a job because I am focusing on whether or not he will win Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, if Graham and Amanda will end up together, and if Hanna will be found guilty.

I can't ever predict or really know what will happen in my life or the lives of the people around me. But, I can depart from watching a movie knowing if he/she saved the day, if so and so lives, and if love really does conquer all.