Bicycle cabs in downtown Holguin, Cuba. Taken July 2007.
Go to Paris Parfait and read the essay posted there. Whether you are American, Canadian, French or Moroccan! Go and read for Democracy's sake. Tell every American friend you have to get off the couch on November 4th and vote.
The world needs change. Change occurs when many like minded individuals set their free will on a common task. It's a little piece of paper. It requires an X. Go do it.
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And now something for my fellow Canadians; you know those little carrots, the ones that are called "Baby Cut Carrots" that you buy in 1 lb and 2 lb bags at the grocers? They contain bleach. They are treated with chlorinated water to keep them from drying out, it acts as a preservative. Green & Clean Mom tells you more. Go check it out.
I now buy bagged organic regular sized carrots, and take the time to wash, peel and cut them myself. My kids are worth it. Yours are too.
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A Good Catch, by Jill Lambert, tells Canadians which seafood choices are best for them...and which aren't.
Example; Salmon. Only WILD Pacific Salmon is best. Anything else is usually farmed, and swimming in antibiotics and again, bleach. Mmmm. So, for healthy recipes and the most up to date information on what seafood is okay to feed yourselves, go pick up this book. Oh, and if the package reads FRESH, it isn't. Crazy what food labels can get away with. For example yet again, "Product of Canada" means simply assembled in Canada. As to where the fish was sourced from? or what kind it is? or whether it had three eyes?
Mmmm, yet again.
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My beautiful (real life!) friend Lisa from Ruadh gu brath/Red Heads Forever, joined forces with me to help get my lending team at KIVA off the ground. We are called Shooting Stars, and feel free to join. If you are interested in joining our lending team, send me an email and I will send you an invite in return. All money invested is paid back, and your microloan helps those less fortunate get a great start on a home improvement, or start a small business. For more basic information or to start your own lending team, click on the KIVA badge on my sidebar. (But I'd like to have you on my team :)
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No news on the wedding front. But in the interest of the state of the world economy, and for the fact that we are not profligate spenders by any stretch, we may tone it down and do something completely unconventional. The deeper I look into this, the more I realize that weddings have become another commercialized circus. Much like Valentines' day. (Sorry to those who like Valentines' day.) Why should I buy $500 worth of invitations and $10,000 worth of flowers to impress people I barely see on a regular basis?
This is going to be something I would like to discuss with all of you over the coming weeks. We do know however that we will likely get married sometime in the fall of next year. I prefer September. So does Julian. That is as far as we've gotten.
Guys, it's just that I'd rather spend $40 or $50 thousand on something a little more substantial than one day...and that would be for a modest wedding alone. Do you agree?
Much love til next time....xo
Aloha Blue,
thanks for the great links,and reads.. I copied them to my notepad and will finish them later :)
As for wedding, yep, Mr Dan and I are in the same mindset as you and Julian.
I can't see spending $30K on invites, reheresals, clothing, bits n bobs like our friends just did. I'd rather give the money to Cancer research or something.
It'll be interesting to see what we come up with..
There's dream weddings and nightmare bills..lol..
Im sure no matter what, your will be perfect, because it's you :) xx
peace, Kai. xx
Posted by: Kai | October 27, 2008 at 08:05 AM
Thank you for posting so many helpful things regarding the food we eat. I will not be buying those baby carrots anymore, I will do as you say. Our kids deserve it. It is an exciting time for you girl, with so many plans and projects. I agree a Fall wedding is lovely. We had ours at the end of August 2003. I spent, I kid you not, $500.00. We are too frugal to see wasting money that otherwise could be spent on things we need or a trip on a wedding. We had it at my best friend's house. I could not have been any happier.
Posted by: Yoli | October 27, 2008 at 09:07 AM
Thanks for posting that picture of Holguin.
Posted by: Yoli | October 27, 2008 at 09:08 AM
I think you should get married in Hawaii, and invite all your bloggy friends ;)
I definitely see where you're coming from....I'm the biggest penny pincher ever, and I can't imagine spending that much money on a wedding......especially if it is my money! haha
Posted by: Wayfaring Wanderer | October 27, 2008 at 09:13 AM
Gill, you know how much your Dad and I spent on our wedding..very little.
We are here almost 41 years later, together and as happy as if we had spent a king's ransom. The day is about your marriage, not the 'wedding'. Do what makes you both happy, not what convention dictates, and others expect.
You have always marched to different drummer...don't stop now.
hugs
xx
Posted by: Sheila | October 27, 2008 at 09:23 AM
I agree....a lavish wedding, or even a small expensive event is only good if you have that money to "throw away"...I mean $40,000 is a lot of moolah and would put a a big dent in a house downpayment fund...and this is how I am 'coaching' my kids - buy the house and then get married 'cuz you won't be able to have a big wedding then.
Having said that, I do so love attending these beautiful events.
Posted by: Leslie | October 27, 2008 at 01:28 PM
Oh..those shoes and socks.....yes, I can't help but look down every few moments.....down at your last blog post, that is.
You always have the most amazing words of wisdom.
Posted by: karen cole | October 27, 2008 at 08:00 PM
Hey Blue,
Yup! Just cast my vote!
Thank you for who your are!
Love ya~
Constance
Posted by: rochambeau | October 28, 2008 at 01:57 PM
blog hopping and wanted you to know i love the blog!
Posted by: Audrey Roberts | October 28, 2008 at 11:33 PM
blog hopping and wanted you to know i love the blog!
Posted by: Audrey Roberts | October 28, 2008 at 11:35 PM
Popped over from Soul Aperture. Great blog. And I too wash the organic carrots and peel them and slice them. When I found out that baby carrots were manufactured from the cores of carrots that weren't good enough to sell, I switched over.
Posted by: Kath | October 29, 2008 at 01:57 PM
Thank you, dear Gill, for the nod and the vote of confidence. As you know, the real vote that's important is next Tuesday and we're all hoping the change we deserve will at last come to fruition.
As for weddings, sometimes small and simple is the most romantic. D and I got married at Archbishop Lamy's private chapel in Santa Fe, NM. Only 12 people there and it was very special. Then dinner at Inn of the Anasazi.
The important thing is to do what you and Julian want - not what you think other people expect. After all, it all comes down to you and him and the love you share. That doesn't require lots of money to honour that or to celebrate your love! xoxox
Posted by: Paris Parfait | October 31, 2008 at 04:48 PM