skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Today I learned about 2 things that caught my attention:
First, Kickstarter: a new way to fund & follow creativity. Genius. Basically, it's a site that helps fund different creative projects. Click on the "Learn more!" link on the top of the home page. It gives a pretty simple description of how it works.
Second, the GMO Film Project. After Haiti was devastated by earthquakes, America sent all kinds of help, including 475 tons of hybrid genetically modified seeds to starving farmers. But instead of planting these seeds, the farmers burned them in protest. What do they know that we don't? Here's a little summary of what the film hopes to document:
Today in the United States, by the simple act of feeding ourselves, we unwittingly participate in the largest experiment ever conducted on human beings. Massive agro-chemical companies like Monsanto (Agent Orange) and Dow (Napalm) are feeding us genetically-modified food, GMOs, that have never been fully tested and aren't labeled. This small handful of corporations is tightening their grip on the world's food supply—buying, modifying, and patenting seeds to ensure total control over everything we eat.
As Eric & I continue to grow up & actually pay attention to what's going on in the world around us, we become increasingly angry/aware of the stuff that our food is made of. Call me a paranoid hippie if you want (although if you do, I doubt that you've ever met any real hippies), but I think there's a reason people are getting these crazy diseases and dying so young. If you knew how to prevent that, wouldn't you want to?
For most of my life, I've trusted whoever is in charge of putting food out there for us to buy to make sure that it's safe. But the more research I do, the more I learn that it's not. Corporations can make a lot of money if they make their products with things like Red #3 & Acesulfame-K. And silly us, we believe that if it's on the grocery store shelf, or on the menu at Applebee's, then it's passed some kind of test and won't do us any harm. I can't think of anyone who would knowingly drink poison, yet in a way we are doing that every day.
I'll get off of my little soap box now (isn't that all a blog is?), but I urge you to take a look at what you're eating. After all, you're relying on it to keep you alive.
File this one under super-healthy/impress your friends/couldn't be easier. (What? You don't have a file for that?) The recipe below serves 6, but I usually half it. I've found that the measurements are pretty flexible. For example - I half the recipe, but I still use the entire can of tomatoes (because what am I supposed to do with the other half?), and it comes out fine. Lilly loves it leftover for lunch, and I can't say that I blame her. It's got to be better than the smooshed up peas the other babies at daycare are eating.
Mediterranean Tilapia | Serves 6
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tbs. minced garlic
1 (14-oz.) can diced italian-seasoned tomatoes
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp. salt
2 1/2 lbs. tilapia fillets
10 oz. baby spinach leaves
In a large skillet, heat the oil & garlic over medium heat for 2 minutes, or until fragrant. Add the tomatoes (with juice), broth, pepper & salt. Bring to a boil. (photo 1) Reduce the heat to a brisk simmer. Cook for 8 minutes, or until the mixture thickens. Place the fish in the pan. Press lightly to submerge it in the sauce. (photo 2) Cover & cook for about 8 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily. Remove the fish to pasta bowls. Add the spinach to the skillet. (photo 3) Increase the heat to high. Cook, stirring occasionaly, for 2 minutes, or until the spinach is wilted. (photo 4) Spoon over the reserved fish. Enjoy!
Who's jumping on the giant round balloon bandwagon? Me, that's who! And I couldn't be more excited about it. I just ordered a few of these beauties in bubblegum pink for Lilly's 1st birthday. Not exactly sure where we'll find room for them, but in the words of Tim Gunn: we'll make it work.
We've spent the last three Thursday nights at Utica Square picnicking and listening to music with our cousin Rusty and his teacher friends. There's always a pretty big crowd (with the exception of opera night - booooring), so it's good to get there a little early. Common sense would tell you that the stores extend their shopping hours during the event, but they don't. So if you're planning on checking out Anthropologie's latest offerings while you've got someone to watch your baby, you're out of luck. Hypothetically speaking, of course.
We had an action-packed Memorial Day weekend. We watched some soccer, grilled some burgers, fried some fish, went to the zoo (ugh - it was hot), took Lilly swimming for the fist time (brr - it was cold), and had an impromptu dance party. All in all, it was a pretty good time.
Aaaaaand we're back (cue cheesy news anchor voice). As my brother so lovingly pointed out, it's been a whole year since I've blogged. That's all I'm saying about that. Now on to the post...
Today Lilly got her first pair of TOMS, and they are so. freaking. adorable. And thanks to her, some other little cutie in Zimbabwe or some place has shoes to call her own. Just like that. One for One. What a great company.
Our little girl is growing like a weed. Did I mention we're having a girl? I have a lot of catching up to do on here. Anyway, here are a couple of ultrasound pics from my last visit that show her cute little face. They were taken at 27 weeks and 6 days along. I'm at 29 weeks now and just getting some momentum on the nursery. I'll post more on that once it's a little farther along.
