Eat Healthy for Free! (Kinda,..)

I just found out that NBC is creating a cool new show about opening 'America's Next Great Restaurant.' Aptly named 'America's Next Great Restaurant' one of the judges on the show is the founder of Chipotle Restaurant. I love Chipotle. Why? Because they are YUMMY. They are FAST. They serve BEER. And they are healthy - trying to serve organic food as much as they can - someday the market will actually support their endeavors so you don't have to be faced with a placard apologizing that their chicken that day isn't free range because they ran out. We'll get there, folks.

As an advertising campaign (this is genius, in my mind) they are offering a buy one get one if you watch their 90 minute promo. I'm a big lover of the Food Network and all their crazy food shows because I could never be that creative. And I am a big lover of the Food Truck culture - bringing eclectic, yummy food to the masses. Our only food truck where we live is the Kool Kactus, but I can deal with that. They are great. Not only do they have the best fish tacos ever, but yummy spinach enchiladas. I know, sounds gross, eh? But don't knock it til you've tried it.

Okay, I'm running out of time, gotta get ready for a full day of preschool fun that involves sushi, ballet, tap, and tumble bus, all before noon.

Go here to learn more about the offer.

You are Where Live

I posted here about a great new app my company created that can be used by - yes ADULTS and children alike - (ask your child to help you out, it is 21st century technology,..)

Okay, even if you haven't honed your skills on that app, here is an even simpler one and one that you can play with and fret about for hours on end,...

Because, just like we are what we eat (and today I am a stack of Thin Mint cookies, thanks a lot evil girl scouts,..) we are also where we live.

Did you know that where you live has an effect on whether or not you have a heart attack? Just listen to Bill Davenhall, one of the people I get to work with, as he addressed a TED conference (cool innovative conferences that have people like THE NAKED CHEF and last only a few minutes each, for those with Adult onset ADD, like myself.):




And it is perhaps not the fault of childhood innoculations, but instead where you live, that is attributable to autism. Here is one of many articles,.. and another,...

And while you should weigh every opinion and fact, it is always best to be equipped with the most information possible, right?

That's where this fun little app comes in handy - it's free and can help you find out what toxic chemicals and other risk factors are knocking at your door. Then, it goes a step further and helps you save and keep track fo this information so you can bring it up at your next doctor's visit. I use this as frequently as my iPhone migraine headache and blood pressure logs.

Let's see what wonderfulness I am harboring due to my place history. And I am the perfect person for this, since I have lived in a lot of places in my 40-ish years. This map is not including outside of the U.S.



So, go here and map out your place history.

Fun blog from a friend

Who says kids can't help your social life? And who says that social media doesn't keep the friend fires burning? I feel so much richer being connected, even in a technology sort of way - to many people I have no time to bond with in reality. Perhaps that sounds lonely, or condescending, or robotic - but with five kids, a job, a house, a husband, and the need to sleep and perhaps work out every now and then, I rarely even call my mother on a regular basis. (sorry Mom!)

Any hoo - I met this fun lady when our now 11 year olds were in a preschool together - it was a 'teach the parent' school that was wonderful and the expectation was that we would attend, learn with our child, and help teach the class as the year went on. We attended required parent seminars every Wednesday - which as sooo nice because it meant you got to sit down for an hour without your kid (God knows I love every one of 'em - kids I mean!) and eat yummy snacks, because our instructor had heard that if people eat while learning, they retain that information for a longer time. I have applied this in my work life, and while I don't know if this is scientifically true, it has helped me win friends and influence people - do not belittle the power of a home baked chocolate chip cookie!

Here is the link to her blog - I am constantly learning from her - and I hope you will too!
http://shuttfamilysimplelife.blogspot.com/

It's all fun and games until an app gets you arrested,..

I was exiting the pizza party - which hubby craftily scheduled to combine all three of the basketball teams he is coaching so we wouldn't have to eat pizza for the next week at individual parties - and my iPhone came alive of its own volition.

Granted, after taking care of two preschoolers who were feeling a bit under the weather all day, and trying not to strangle the 9 year old while he attempted fractions/spelling words/multiplications tables, and then taking the 14 year old to orthodontist and physical therapy appointments all before said party, I was a little tired.

I had just checked my iphone calendar hearing hubby would be scarce on Wednesday evening. After, I threw the phone back in my purse. Leaned over to strap preschoolers into their seats. Threw purse on middle console and hoisted myself into the big SUV.

As I was turning on the car, I heard talking and some weird '70's music - you know, the chuckah chuckah wow wow kind of thing. I looked at 14 year old and asked, "what is that?"

He shrugged.

I realize it's coming from the bowels of my purse, so I dive in to find my phone lit up and having a little party. I look at the screen, which is somehow on Youtube and looks like a newscast. I exit out, only to come to the screen that shows the category of video I was watching.

Turkey Porn.

I kid you not. I don't know what that is, but seeing the p*** word with four of my five children under the age of 18 in the car, I quickly exited out of youtube so fast, it would make your fingers bleed. And then I yelled at my 14 year old, who was laughing so hard at this point, he could barely breathe.

"What were you doing with my phone?!?"

"Nothing! Why would I use your phone when I have one of my own?"

"I don't know!?! Maybe because you didn't want to search for turkey p*** on your own phone!"

I find myself looking out the rear view mirror, knowing the sherrif's department is just across the street and wondering how long it'll take the officers to come and take me away in handcuffs for insidious behavior.

The 9 year old pipes up - "What's turkey corn?"

I'm think quickly - "It's corn that turkeys eat."

To which he says, "Ewwwww,.." (I don't know why this would be gross, but as I'm sweating right now and trying to change the subject, I don't worry about it.)

Then I say: "I know, it is kind of fowl!" Hahahahaha.

I then try and change the subject. "So,.. what kind of icecream does everyone want tonight???"

We listen to the three year old repeating "Turkey corn! Turkey corn! Turkey corn!" for the three hour drive home. The drive is only a mile? Well, let's just say it felt like three hours.