Slim Chips: An Evolution

When I was little I went through a paper eating phase and it was weird and wonderful. Well, I can retreat back to my old ways thanks to a joke gone concept gone real life.

Slim Chips

indigestible hardened pieces of flavoured, coloured paper!
Mmmm... sounds tasty. *urp*

Just look at it, nothing says tasty like a bag of spinach colored paper that tastes like... peppermint? Or worse- Sweet Potato! I least favorite food of ALL TIME. Just the though of it turns my tummy, gives me goose bumps and causes me to involuntary dry heave.

I was hoping for Roast Chicken, Dill Pickle or at the very least Ketchup.

I don't do low fat, I don't do paper (anymore-I quit when I was 8) I totally don't think I'm going to do this.

So are YOU going to eat them?

[hat tip to The Consumerist]

Power To The Orange Wellies

They've done it again- they (who ever "they" are) have made fashion strange.

Introducing POWER WELLIES by ORANGE

My Wellies Are Sexy & Eco-Chic

You can dance all night (preferably 12 hours) and keep your phone charged for 1 hour all while looking oh so stylish in these hot and sexy rubber boots. It's the heat from your feet that gives them their power.

Don't get me wrong- I LOVE my rubber boots. I have a few pairs, one ever has a lovely little wedge heal on it (trust me to get high heel rain boots). These Power Wellies are just beastly looking- I'd wear them in the back country (to muck around in the swamp) and that is the last place I want to take my cell phone. Even if I could get reception.

To be honest though I guess these boots were designed to be worn while gallivanting around the mud at the famed Glastonbury Festival

Andrew Pearcey, Head of Sponsorship at Orange UK said: “Orange remain loyal to the green ethos of the Glastonbury Festival and are committed to researching exciting new energy sources that can be used on site to ensure people can stay in touch with their nearest and dearest. The Orange Power Wellies use clean and renewable energy to create valuable electricity ensuring festival goers can text and phone their mates for the duration of the weekend”.

Your Feet Are Hot- and charging my phone.

So all in all, I give them an A for creativity and even an A for effort but the chances that I would find any use for these are so slim I might just have to eat a sandwich.

Can you see a use for them in your life?

[Hat tip to Geeky Gadgets]

Today Is Awesome

Why?

Because the bank was giving away free Cotton Candy, that's why.

Life is gooood.

Happy Friday Everyone-





Images borrowed from Cheeky Kitchen

Up In The Air

Have you seen the movie Up In The Air with George Clooney, Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick? Well I am starting to feel like that might be my life. At least for about a month- by the way, I am not George Clooney (that part if played by a woman we'll call J. Fen), I am that gum shoe girl who kind of just seems like she is tagging along the whole way through.

*enter sarcastic tone here (don't stop till I tell you)*

Over the next little while I am going to be taking off on a jet setter life style as I travel for business (not firing people like in the movie) to all these happening places around the province. Highlights will be:

Red Deer, AB, Canada

Red Deer, home of the Donut Mill.

Strathmore, AB, Canada

Home of Canadian Tire, Marks Work Warehouse and Tim Hortons

Grandeprairie, AB, Canada

They aren't lying about the "Grand" prairie part. It goes on and on and on...

Lloydminster, AB, Canada

Home of the Saskatchewan/Alberta boarder markers

Nisku, AB, Canada

I don't know what this is home too other then many offices in the Oil Industry.

I'm sure a lucky girl, I know. I can hardly wait till June 21st- what better way to ring in the first day of summer then with a nice trip to one of these fabulous places.

*no more sarcastic tone, thank you*

What kinds of places have you traveled for your work?  

Images borrowed from Google Images. I purposely picked images of a more industrial theme- I'm sure these towns have their pretty spots just as some of the beautiful places in the world have their ugly spots.

Meet Chaarlee

My mum said she wasn't going to do it but she did. She brought home a puppy after a trip to see her favorite breeder in the United States. My parents haven't had a puppy in the house for 8 years so they kind of forgot what it's like. Lucky for them, Chaarlee (Yes, Charlie but spelt Chaarlee.) is a doll even though he is built like a tank and tough like one too.

Yes, my ear is a little green.

It's from my tattoo, I'm hard core that way.

This stick is my biggest achievement yet!

With their wild enthusiasm and value for the small things in life, puppies have the ability to put a smile on almost any face. There is a lot that people can learn from animals most importantly the capability to enjoy the simple things in life and acceptance. Vital to any happy existence- I think.

Take a break from your life today and go hug a puppy!

Louise Bourgeois: spiderwoman

Louise Bourgeois has been regarded by some as one of the worlds most important artists although she never gained recognition until her 70's when New York's Museum of Modern Art put on a retrospective of Bourgeois' work.

It has been said that Bourgeois sculptures incorporate a sense of vulnerability and fragility. Her works are often viewed to have a sense of sexuality to them, which she believed is a large part of both vulnerability and fragility

Her most famous work is a gigantic spider made of stainless steel and marble which stands outside of the Tate Modern in London which she titled Mamam- after her mother. Her mother who was an industrious tapestry restorer, always spinning her own web. For Bourgeois, the spider was a symbol of strength and feminine independence and the perfect metaphor for how she viewed her mother.

And I believe it is the perfect metaphor for Louise Bourgeois, the "spiderwoman". Who outlived many men who shared homage in her industry, who excelled in what she did after the death of her husband and who lived a full life till May 31, 2010 when she passes away suddenly from a heart attack. She was 93.

There is no greater inspiration to me then that.

"Art is a guarantee of sanity. That is the most important thing I have said."

Louise Bourgeois

December 25, 1911- May 31, 2010

Confessions: i hate glee

I do like Quinn's long eyelashes

I'm sorry. I had to say it, I tried I really did... but I just can't. I hate Glee. I watched the first 13 episodes and then they lost me. I am not and won't ever be a Gleek. Originally, it was the razor sharp writing and tongue in cheek humor. Irony around every corner and enduring side show characters. Most of those characters still exist (I have a major soft spot for the talent of Chris Colfer who plays Kurt Hummel and Jane Lynch who plays Sue Sylvester)but are finding themselves is redundant, predictable situations. It's like watching cold honey pour.

*sigh*

I have to admit though, I caught last weeks episode where they focused on Lady Gaga. The highlight aside from Kurt's solo was the rebirth of Beth by KISS.

Video from YouTube Beth by KISS (live)

I'd forgotten how much I love that simple little power ballad. I love it so much that Saturday night i was up till the wee hours listening to it and downloading other such ballads from long ago rockers. It's my latest Music Obsession. Beth, you are never going to be the same I'm afraid.

Glee- just don't mess with my Eagles, Zeppelin and Supertramp. The rest is fair game.

Thank you.

Nurses

I've spent a lot of time at the hospital this last week so much so that when I walk in through the front door the smell of soup and disinfectant kind of smells like home. Familiar and expected. I don't mind it. People always talk about how they hate the smell of hospitals but I don't mind it. I personally don't mind hospitals one bit.

Emergency was the worst though. It was frantic, emotional and yellow. Families wringing their hands around curtained off beds, anxious to find out what was next. Patients with breathing masks and tubes some with scared eyes, some with vacant eyes. Doctors and nurses with millions of missions on a list running from one bed to another making sure that things stayed as stable as possible. Their 3 missed breaks the last thing on their mind as they whisk the next patient off for a CT Scan.

The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) was it's own bubble. Walking past the chaos of emergency with paramedics lined up along the wall waiting for the next bed to be open for their injured bird and through the heavy doors to a natural lit area of light cool colors and soft spoken nurses. It's the ideal place to regroup and heal. There is a steady hum of life saving machinery but it adds to the calm like white nose. Special attention is found here with assigned nurses who give you individual care.

It was shocking to see the hospital unit on floor 6 after being in ICU for 4 days. It was a combination of emergency and ICU. Special nurses and yellow walls. Clam but active. Families sitting throughout the day with their ill loved ones.

I've watched the different people coming and going from the hospital keeping my eyes open for familiar faces. The woman who sat holding her husbands hand with tears in her eye as she waits for emergency staff to hook him up to another machine. The family with the young boy who paced back and forth waiting for a sick relative to stabilize. The man who couldn't speak English and tried so desperately to understand what the doctors were saying about his wife. The elderly man who had no one there.

With all the inconsistency and uncertainty I experienced watching a love one fight to stabilise their vitals,  the one thing that never did changed were the nurses. Sure, there were different faces every day but they all were kind with soft eyes. Empathetic and caring as they nursed the sick back to health. Keeping a positive attitude as they talked to families and patients. It takes a special person to work successfully with the ill- a very special person. It takes a very special person to be in the business of savings lives because for most of us, we are in the business of ourselves.

Sandra Marie

My sister, her name is Sandy. She's creative, humble and caring. One of the most genuine people I have honestly ever met in my life. She's sick. She has been sick for about a year at a rate that didn't really alarm us till a few weeks ago. And then yesterday with blue lips and a lack of oxygen that had the paramedics and emergency staff dancing in circles, she was admitted to the hospital. She stayed over night in emergency and then moved her up to ICU today. It's much nicer in ICU, she has natural light and a larger room. Her bed looks more comfortable. As comfortable as a bed can be when you have tubes and other devices attached to every area of your body. The nurses and doctors have been great the whole time even if they only know so much about what is actually going on with her. Her heart isn't working properly and neither are her lungs. Her poor lungs that even in the midst of all this flutter she still wants to smoke. I had to laugh. She laughed too. At least the best that she could considering.

Things seem to be in limbo right now- will they take a turn for the worst or for the better? I'm not sure. In my own mind I am prepared for the worst and hoping for the best. I know that this is only the beginning as well. Being the baby of a family that is about a generation or two older then me suggests that I might have to go through something like this with most of them if not all of my siblings and family members. Like I've said before I try and make the most of the relationships I have now. It's important to me.

So that's whats going on with me right now- whats going on with you?

 

Image: credited to my sister.

"My Many Sides"  Artist- Sandra Milne

PAC-MAN Turns 30: Google Doodle

Well, I'm sure by now you have all noticed that the Google Doodle today is a Birthday salute to the ever so hungry and motivated PAC-MAN. He's may be 30 now but in the early 80's he was considered state of the art.

This also signifies Google's first ever interactive Google Doodle.

So, stop reading this post and go straight to the Google homepage to insert coin and play. Hurry because I'm sure when the clock strikes midnight the magic will be gone.

Go now.

and Happy Friday!

Image borrowed from Google (duh)

Food Fact #52: Don't Eat Fat Free

It's true- don't do it. It's not worth it... You may think that you are pulling the wool over the fat cow fairy eyes but your not. No-fat items often compensate for fat with large amounts of sugar, salt and other things your bod doesn't need more of PLUS they are highly processed. Eating healthy doesn’t mean cutting fat out of your diet entirely, but rather focusing on “good fats,” such as olive oil, avocado and nuts. Just as there is "good" cholesterol and "bad" cholesterol... the same goes for fat.

So go right a head and reach for the real peanut butter, the real salad dressing and the real whole grain bread. Your best defence is to read the labels and compare. You'll be amazed, so stick with the fat when it comes to prepaired food- it's not going to kill you and if you think it might maybe you are better off not eating it in the first place.

and that's all I have to say about fat!

image borrowed from Google Images

Calgary In Spring

I haven't been posting much recently mostly because the city is in full bloom and I can't get enough of being outside. Here are some pictures I took last week of an area just outside of downtown Calgary called Kensington. Now that I look at them a lot more has come to life, most of the trees in my area have a full dressing of leaves. The air is so deliciously fragrant with blossoms and fresh sap.

Who wouldn't want to live in a little character house #732?

My BFF's 3 legged cat, Tripod.

Down the back lane

I'm not sure what these little faces are but they are everywhere

This one looks like Chewie from Starwars

I'm not sure if this if function or fashion. It all goes so well together

Longer sunlight nights are a delight

Who wants a white picket fence when they can have a periwinkle blue one

This house is adorable

It even comes with a bike on the peak of the roof.

and a Gargoyle tree out front

These little guys have a watchful eye. They even get dressed up in Santa Hats over Christmas.

 

Hello Spring, so lovely to have you join us. It's been too long since I've seen you- hope you stay a while!

What does spring look like in your neighbourhood?

Mini Donut Factory

Dear Santa,

I know it's a bit early but I've been a good girl so far this year (really, I have). Can I pretty please with sugar cinnamon coating on top PLEASE have this for Christmas?

A Mini Donut Factory

(see video below from Think Geek)

Umm- yeah- AWESOME! I make these lovely little jam filled things at Christmas but it takes ALL day to pump out 18 of them. With this I can have donuts anytime! All the time! Where ever there is an electrical outlet.

Imagine the possibilities... I could sell them from my desk at work.

Goodbye Easy Bake Oven hello Mini Donut Factory!

Mmmmm donuts....

Love From,

PS: Santa, I promise to leave you some when Christmas rolls around!

Northern Exposure

BREAKING NEWS: Loose moose involved in wild goose chase through metropolis Calgary. True story. Apparently there was a moose chase going on in the very core of my lovely little city. It was last year that Laura and I had a close encounter of the moose kind  in an older suburb area of the city. Maybe there is a trend going on here. Calgary is THE place to be if you are a young teenage moose- almost like Vegas for boys.

Polite Moose always wait for the walk light to turn green before crossing the street

It's a lovely day to take an early lunch- the boss won't mind.

This is EXACTLY the place you should be standing. In a planter- excellent.

Everything was all a Twitter with the news yesterday- long story short. Moose found self in city. People found moose in city. People took pictures and called authorities. Moose was safely assisted back to the wild. The End. Poor little guy, he must have been a little worried being in this strange ol' city.

That's my que to get the heck out of the city this weekend.

Have a lovely Friday!

Pictures borrowed from The Calgary Herald who borrowed them from their readers

Help Return Noah Kirkman to Canada (a post from Dinner With Julie)

A good friend of mine introduced me to the blogging food genius that is known as Dinner With Julie. Today however it appears that there is something much more serious on her mind:

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Help Return Noah Kirkman to Canada.

By Dinner with Julie

Sorry guys, this post is going to be less about food and more about getting a 12 year old Calgary boy – the nephew of friends and neighours just a few doors down the street – his aunt is someone you may in fact recognize as a regular commenter here – back home. I’ve been shocked and appalled to learn that he has been shuffled between four foster homes for NEARLY TWO YEARS after being taken into custody while visiting his stepdad in Oregon for the summer when he was stopped by police FOR RIDING HIS BIKE WITHOUT A HELMET. IN 2008.

I am completely serious.

Closing in on dinnertime (see, there’s a connection here – and dinner was boring anyway – pita pizzas eaten over the sink), we spent an hour out on the front step chatting with Noah’s aunt and grandma, hearing appalling details about their case. I’m just dumbfounded that Canadian officials aren’t doing more to get him back. It’s crazy that there isn’t more of an uproar over this.

So here’s the story. Noah, who was 10 at the time, went down to visit his stepdad (his mother’s husband, the man who raised him since he was a toddler and is the father of his younger sister) in a small town in Oregon in the summer of 2008. One day, the police stopped him for riding his bike without a helmet. They questioned him (alone) and took him into custody with the reasoning that his Mom, Lisa, had abandoned him by sending him to the states to spend the summer with someone who wasn’t his legal guardian (although he does have parental authority in Canada). His mother’s note giving permission for Noah to be with his father in the US wasn’t enough. His sister already lived there with their dad (they were and are still married), and he went to stay with them while his mom got things in order to move from Montreal back to Calgary.

An Oregon family court gave the Department of Human Services custody of Noah, who in turn was placed in foster care. His family here was told the intention was to have him adopted.

Since then – over the past almost 2 years – he has been through four foster families and three schools. He’s a special needs boy with severe ADHD, and an A student. They tripled his meds, and put him on Zoloft. They say he’s doing fine, so he should probably just stay. (!! He was doing just fine here before he went down for his holiday.) When his family goes down to visit (when they are permitted-last time his mother was denied entry to the US) their visits must be supervised with authorities kept at arms’ length. When they talk on the phone, they aren’t allowed to mention the possibility of him coming back home – there was an uproar when his 7 year old sister asked if he would be home for Christmas.

Noah’s mom and grandparents have been ordered to go through various psychological assessments, evaluations and extensive home studies; all have passed. And yet he still hasn’t been sent home. They have another court date in the US on May 28 but aren’t holding their breath. Perhaps if enough people raised a stink about it someone in a position of power might be inspired to do something?

Of course this all goes against the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, which requires that governments hand over children to their place of usual residence (which would be here) in order to decide the best course of action.

Keep this story in mind if you plan to send your kids to the US to visit friends or relatives who aren’t their legal guardians, even if you send along a letter of permission.

Want to hear more?

You can read the Globe & Mail story here.

You can read the FFWD story here.

You can join the Facebook page here.

You can watch it on CNN.

If you want to do something about it, contact Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Call the media, your alderman, anyone who can do the same. Contact the Minister of Foreign Affairs – Deepak Obhrai is the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and can be reached at (403) 207-3030

And/or email your MP – in Calgary you can contact MP Lee Richardson’s constituency office at (403) 244-1880 or try Rob Anders (403-292-6666)

If you’re in the US, Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoshi has a Citizens’ Representative Message Line: (503) 378-4582

Thanks.

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So that's the story. Can you even begin to imagine? Being the mother. The stepfather. The family. Being Noah. It's such a bazaar situation that it's hard to believe that it's true. But it is... 110%

If you can help in anyway, please do.

Thanks,