Disgusting!!

I'm glad I don't eat at McDonalds!!!!

Half-life of a Happy Meal?

By NESITA KWAN

Updated 6:33 PM CDT, Wed, Sep 29, 2010

Before you take your next bite of that McDonalds burger and fries you might want to take a look at these photos. 

It would appear that Oak Brook-based McDonalds makes an indestructible product.

New York artist Sally Davies wondered what would happen if she simply left a burger and fries on a shelf for six months. So she did  exactly that with a McDonald's Happy Meal.

Davies checked on the food roughly every three days and took a picture each time. Judging from her images, Day One and Day 137 aren't that different.  Wonder if she did a taste test?

Photos: The Indestructible Happy Meal Project

So what is it that preserves this children's meal from the Golden Arches, you might ask.

Food scientists say it's two things: fat, and salt.

The more fat a product contains the less moisture it absorbs, and the less likely the food is to decay because elements like mold have trouble growing. Fifty percent of the calories in McDonald's burgers and fries come from fat.

Salt also prohibits moisture, and the Happy Meal has plenty to spare. One Mickey D's happy meal provides around half the daily recommended intake of sodium for an adult.

In a statement, a spokesman for McDonald's of Canada said its food is "freshly prepared and assembed ... for direct consumption."

"While the variables with regard to factors such as temperature, moisture and exposure to light are endless, it is possible that food items kept under particular conditions will not show any sign of decay or rot over a long period of time.
This natural process is not unique to McDonald’s food.

Another McDonald's spokesperson, quoting a doctor from the University of Georgia, said "no hamburger or fry would look like this months after purchase unless it was tampered with or held frozen."

Source: http://www.nbcchicago.com/around-town/food-drink/sally-davies-photographs-mcdonalds-happy-meals-for-six-months-for-photo-project.html#ixzz112ZSz2bq

I finally updated the book blog

I have posted reviews on the following books:

Denim Apron

Yes folks, I've done it again.... I'm being crafty... hahah!! I made a jean skirt not too long ago so now I decided I needed to make something else. I really like being creative I just don't always have the materials or time to do it but with this Creation Plan, I have days to do these projects that I want to get done. So.... today I decided to make an apron from an old pair of jeans. I didn't realize that I'd finish it all in one afternoon, but I did.
You need a sewing machine, an iron, a pair of jeans, some fun material (about 20" long), and thread to match. Yeah, that's it. Come on! You guys know I'm not talented enough for anything too complicated. ;) I took my fun material and opened it up all the way then folded it long ways and cut along the fold. Then I folded it long ways again and cut along the fold so I ended up with 4 long strips of material.
After that, I laid them across the table face down and folded down a 1/2" on the sides and ironed it. Then folded it in half and ironed it again so it looked like what's pictured below.

Here are my four long strips of material already ironed as described above.

I set those aside and pulled out my jeans. I cut the right leg off just below the pocket and one of the back pockets.

I turned it face down on the table and cut a straight line going up the back of the leg. I then cut out the little arm holes. I folded it in half before cutting so they would be equal.

Once I finished that I pinned the fun material strips to the sides so it doesn't matter that my cutting wasn't very straight. No one can tell. :) After the pinning... I sewed it on the sewing machine. I ended up with this:

I think it turned out pretty cute. I've never owned an apron before so I'm pretty excited! :) I think I may add the other back pocket to the apron. That's why my pocket is off to the side. I kind of like it uncentered anyways, that way the crooked-ness is on purpose. :) haha!

Complaining

A friend of mine heard on the radio that the average person complains SEVENTY times per day. Isn't that insane? So I am going to have a complaining fast. hehe! I like to think that I don't complain that often but I've never really paid that much attention. I have decided that anytime I complain I am going to have to immediately say something positive. Hopefully I will be able to catch myself and eventually I won't complain anymore. I still can't get over that....    70 TIMES/DAY!!!!
So, anyone want to join me in a no complaining fast...?? hehehe!!

North Carolina

Now that I'm on a faster internet connection, let me fill you in on our adventures in the mountains. :)

Here are Collin and Paul in one of the hammocks by the river at the cabin. :)

I told Collin to "strike a pose" and he did. LOL! :) This was on the Graveyard trail... a lot of these pics are from that hike. :)

Ronni and me. My back feels like I did a bunch of push-ups yesterday from carrying her on my back. This is not a very flattering picture of myself but Ronni looks pretty cute! :)

Collin in a crevice. haha!

The family, yes, my eyes were closed in this pic. I'm just not very photogenic. LOL!

I just thought this was pretty and took a picture.

Of course we had to find a cache while on the trail, right?

We made it to upper falls so the kids removed their shoes and played. Well, they both ended up sitting right in the water but that was fine... we were hot and hiked a long time to get there. :)

Here's everyone having a picnic at the falls. We made this trip with the Monsons and the Haymonds. Paul, Ronni and I did not make it in this pic but we were there too! :)

Collin wanted to hike to the top of the falls so here is Collin (and some unknown man) at the falls. :) We met the others back at the trailhead. :) Paul and Ronni waited for us at the bottom though. Collin just really wanted to see the top of the falls. :)

The end of the hike.... I think Paul was tired. What do you think? The last bit of the trail were stairs and uphill climbs and he carried Ronni back through that. haha! Poor guy! :)

This is The Devil's Courthouse. Here's an explanation about it. Collin thought the legend about the giant was awesome! :)

After we went home and rested a bit we decided it was time to play in the river by the cabins (remember, we only had one full day to spend here so we were trying to fill it up).

Ronni was yelling "Cheese!!" at me. LOL! She looks angry but really she was posing for the camera.

Collin playing on some rocks.
However, the fun quickly ended. Kaden wasn't feeling well and didn't want to play in the water so Traci and Kaden decided to head back to the cabin. Tami offered to help them cross the swift moving part of the river while I watched the other three kids playing on the rocks. Unfortunately, as they were crossing the swift part a tree branch was disturbed. Well, the unfortunate part was that this particular tree branch happened to be the home of a bee's nest. I was trying to get a picture of them crossing the river and as I was looking in my camera I noticed the moms were slapping themselves in the head and swinging their heads around. Then they both started screaming and Tami ran back towards us while Traci and Kaden ran the other way. The bees had attacked. It was a bit scary. Traci was stung several times, Kaden once, and Tami once. The rest of us were okay. We had to wait for the bees to calm down and then we crossed back over somewhere else. Here is a pic of the unfriendly bees' nest.

That was the end of that day. This morning we had to be out of their by 10am so we didn't do much but we did decide to drive the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway. It was beautiful and I was able to see WHY the Smokey Mountains are really called The Smokey Mountains.

Aren't the mountains beautiful? I think that Paul may need to find a job in the mountains if nothing here works out. :) We ALL absolutely LOVED the mountains. :)

Welcome to Alcove!! :)

Day one at our cabin at the mountains has been fun so far! :) We arrived around 4pm, then the Monson's around 6 and the Haymond's got here close to 8. It's nice! Our little part of the cabin is a studio but super cozy. We love it. There's even a light that simulates a wood stove. We're using it for the nightlight for the kids. :)

Here are the kids on the front porch. hehe! Yes, Collin's shirt is backwards. He dressed himself and we've told him several times but he just says that he wants it that way. LOL!

Here is what we found at the bottom of the mountain.... not quite the bottom but a little ways down. There are also hammocks set up along the edge of it. Isn't it beautiful? I anticipate going swimming in there tomorrow. :) Well, it's bedtime which means the parents are going to hang out int he living room. YAY!!

Update on my Zipadee Doodah Day. :)

Well, my hair definitely didn't do what I wanted it to. I wore the same outfit that I've worn many times. I didn't discover that I've lost weight with out trying -- in fact, I've been trying. :) hehe! Collin woke up to discover that sometime during the night he wet his bed, we ran late for playgroup today and the kids ran around all day in mis-matched outfits and Ronni's hair didn't get done, then Ronni threw a temper tantrum b/c she had enough sugary drinks this morning and I gave her water so I put her down for nap early. She needed it. ;) During her nap I made 4 batches of muffins for our trip to the mountains this weekend (I'm responsible for one of the breakfasts. ;) Then my teenage "daughter" came home from school. After we had all snacked on some of the muffins I took the younger to kids to the Haymonds while I went visiting teaching. And, just before I left to go my V.T. called me to inform me of some bad news in her family and she was going to have to cancel so I went alone. It's okay... it was still fun! =D Then, I went back to pick up my kiddos and the house I had left them at was dark and empty. Ak!! haha! My kids were gone. It was okay though b/c they went over to a neighbor's house who is from church and my kids played with their kids. ;) My children were filthy but totally had fun! :) I haven't had a chance to pack for tomorrow and Paul didn't buy everything on the list this morning when he went to the store but today still felt like a great day! :) I can't wait for another one tomorrow!! It'll be even better b/c WE'RE GOING TO A CABIN IN THE MOUNTAINS!!! :)