So, I'm going to try something new...I am going to try and post a blog entry every single day for one month. Some of them may be pathetically boring, but I'm just going to try it out!
So, what's happening in my life?
Looking at some additional sources of revenue since the bookkeeping biz, while doing relatively well, is still not enough to comfortably pay the bills.
Planning the boyfriend's 33rd birthday!
Trying to figure out inexpensive trips to take so I still get to take advantage of the beautiful summer and have a little bit of a vacation, but not break the bank!
Starting to train for the half marathon I'm running in October. Super excited for it! It's the Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco...motto is "Run Like A Girl" and when you cross the finish line, a firefighter hands you a Tiffany necklace! Oh yeah! I mean, really, what else can a girl ask for? ;)
And, today, specifically, I'm working and looking at making "Chilled Summer Gazpacho with an Herbed Sour Cream" for dinner...now what do I make with it?
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
And another...
Interesting article I found...
Finally, some people are showing signs of having some common sense, here’s a thought for ya…
“Frustrated by the failure to overturn Roe v. Wade, a growing number of antiabortion pastors, conservative academics and activists are setting aside efforts to outlaw abortion and instead are focusing on building social programs and developing other assistance for pregnant women to reduce the number of abortions.
Some of the activists are actually working with abortion rights advocates to push for legislation in Congress that would provide pregnant women with health care, child care and money for education -- services that could encourage them to continue their pregnancies.”
Finally, some people are showing signs of having some common sense, here’s a thought for ya…
Some of the activists are actually working with abortion rights advocates to push for legislation in Congress that would provide pregnant women with health care, child care and money for education -- services that could encourage them to continue their pregnancies.”
So, news flash, for those of you who are anti-choice (or pro-life, however you like to spin it), almost all (if not all) pro-choice people are anti-abortion as well.
We would LOVE to see the number of abortions reduced!
HOWEVER, we will not stand for allowing that option to removed because under abnormal circumstances we may choose that for ourselves as the best option.
So, yes, please, provide services to encourage women to allow their pregnancies to continue to full term, but do NOT tell me what to do with my body.
My choice is to never have an abortion.
That may not be your choice.
And, in all honesty, that is my choice under normal circumstances. I have no idea what I would decide under different (i.e. – rape, endangering my life or the life of the baby, or if I would have become pregnant 15 years ago, etc.) circumstances. A similar response, I would image, that most other people (if they were honest) would also have if faced with a difficult situation.
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye, when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." [Matthew 7:1-5]
Monday, November 17, 2008
HFCS...
So....just because I'm seeing all these commercials around here making parents who are concerned about High Fructose Corn Syrup seem like uninformed idiots, I just want to post the following info about HFCS so there is no confusion:
There are a number of relevant studies published in peer reviewed journals suggesting a link between high fructose diets and adverse health effects. For example, studies on the effect of fructose, as reviewed by Elliot et al.,[1] implicate increased consumption of fructose (due primarily to the increased consumption of sugars but also partly due to the slightly higher fructose content of HFCS as compared to sucrose) in obesity and insulin resistance. Chi-Tang Ho et al. found that soft drinks sweetened with HFCS are up to 10 times richer in harmful carbonyl compounds, such as methylglyoxal, than a diet soft drink control.[2] Carbonyl compounds are elevated in people with diabetes and are blamed for causing diabetic complications such as foot ulcers and eye and nerve damage;[3][4] Furthermore, a study in mice suggests that fructose increases obesity.[5] Large quantities of fructose stimulate the liver to produce triglycerides, promotes glycation of proteins and induces insulin resistance.[6] According to one study, the average American consumes nearly 70 pounds of HFCS per annum, marking HFCS as a major contributor to the rising rates of obesity in the last generation. [7]
A 2007 study also raised concerns of possible liver damage as a result of HFCS in combination with a high fat diet and a sedentary lifestyle.[8]
1. Elliott, Sharon S; Nancy L Keim, Judith S Stern, Karen Teff and Peter J Havel (April 2004). "Fructose, weight gain, and the insulin resistance syndrome1". Am J Clin Nutr. 79 (4): 537–43.
2. Soda Warning? New Study Supports Link Between Diabetes, High-fructose Corn Syrup
3. "Diabetes fears over corn syrup in soda". New Scientist (04 September 2007). Retrieved on 2007-11-17.
4. Theresa Waldron Sugary Sodas High in Diabetes-Linked Compound
5. Jurgens, Hella; et al. (2005). "Consuming Fructose-sweetened Beverages Increases Body Adiposity in Mice" (abstract). Obesity Res 13: 1146–1156. doi:10.1038/oby.2005.136, http://www.obesityresearch.org/cgi/content/abstract/13/7/1146.
6. Faeh D, Minehira K, Schwarz JM, Periasamy R, Park S, Tappy L (July 2005). "Effect of fructose overfeeding and fish oil administration on hepatic de novo lipogenesis and insulin sensitivity in healthy men". DIABETES 54 (7): 1907–1913. doi:10.2337/diabetes.54.7.1907. PMID 15983189, http://diabetes.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/full/54/7/1907.
7. Mariniello, J. Martin (2007-11-28). "Weight Loss — Revealing The Hidden Secrets" (in English), Obesity Factors In Current Society. Retrieved on 28 November 2007.
8. “Supersize Me” Mice Research Offers Grim Warning for America’s Fast Food Consumers
There are a number of relevant studies published in peer reviewed journals suggesting a link between high fructose diets and adverse health effects. For example, studies on the effect of fructose, as reviewed by Elliot et al.,[1] implicate increased consumption of fructose (due primarily to the increased consumption of sugars but also partly due to the slightly higher fructose content of HFCS as compared to sucrose) in obesity and insulin resistance. Chi-Tang Ho et al. found that soft drinks sweetened with HFCS are up to 10 times richer in harmful carbonyl compounds, such as methylglyoxal, than a diet soft drink control.[2] Carbonyl compounds are elevated in people with diabetes and are blamed for causing diabetic complications such as foot ulcers and eye and nerve damage;[3][4] Furthermore, a study in mice suggests that fructose increases obesity.[5] Large quantities of fructose stimulate the liver to produce triglycerides, promotes glycation of proteins and induces insulin resistance.[6] According to one study, the average American consumes nearly 70 pounds of HFCS per annum, marking HFCS as a major contributor to the rising rates of obesity in the last generation. [7]
A 2007 study also raised concerns of possible liver damage as a result of HFCS in combination with a high fat diet and a sedentary lifestyle.[8]
1. Elliott, Sharon S; Nancy L Keim, Judith S Stern, Karen Teff and Peter J Havel (April 2004). "Fructose, weight gain, and the insulin resistance syndrome1". Am J Clin Nutr. 79 (4): 537–43.
2. Soda Warning? New Study Supports Link Between Diabetes, High-fructose Corn Syrup
3. "Diabetes fears over corn syrup in soda". New Scientist (04 September 2007). Retrieved on 2007-11-17.
4. Theresa Waldron Sugary Sodas High in Diabetes-Linked Compound
5. Jurgens, Hella; et al. (2005). "Consuming Fructose-sweetened Beverages Increases Body Adiposity in Mice" (abstract). Obesity Res 13: 1146–1156. doi:10.1038/oby.2005.136, http://www.obesityresearch.org/cgi/content/abstract/13/7/1146.
6. Faeh D, Minehira K, Schwarz JM, Periasamy R, Park S, Tappy L (July 2005). "Effect of fructose overfeeding and fish oil administration on hepatic de novo lipogenesis and insulin sensitivity in healthy men". DIABETES 54 (7): 1907–1913. doi:10.2337/diabetes.54.7.1907. PMID 15983189, http://diabetes.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/full/54/7/1907.
7. Mariniello, J. Martin (2007-11-28). "Weight Loss — Revealing The Hidden Secrets" (in English), Obesity Factors In Current Society. Retrieved on 28 November 2007.
8. “Supersize Me” Mice Research Offers Grim Warning for America’s Fast Food Consumers
Monday, November 10, 2008
THIS is how awesome my city is...
Here is the scene in one area of Seattle right after Obama was declared the winner (and yes, that is Don't Stop Believing blasting from speakers on one building's roof):
And here is the scene in downtown Seattle, mostly around Pike Place Market:
And, as another blogger pointed out, a miracle occurs - a drunken Capitol Hill hipster crowd sings the National Anthem, and means it:
NOT to mention the fireworks throughout the city, and even random "parades" of jubilant people through the smaller neighborhoods, mine own included!
New Bookkeeping Business in Seattle
If you are located in Seattle or surrounding areas and own your own small business or know someone who does, feel free to forward my contact information. I have a new company, Dedicated Balance Bookkeeping, in which I provide full-charge bookkeeping services to a wide variety of small businesses.
Determining profitability, appraising tax position and evaluating budgets are the very elements that Dedicated Balance Bookkeeping helps you bring together. Understanding your position is an absolute necessity to ensure that your business not only remains viable, but grows.
Contact me for rates!
Summer Lutton
summer@dedicatedbalance.com
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Freestyle...
So....
This is a momentous occasion.
That sounds trite.
This is a history-changing occasions.
And those of you who know that I am history major KNOW that I do not take that statement lightly.
I am speechless.
Yet I am filled with so many words I do not know which to throw out there first.
There is so much pride in my country for electing such an amazing person.
There is so much pride in McCain for giving the concession speech that should have been his Republican convention speech because it was so fantastic.
There is SO much pride in that we did NOT let the Republican ticket's pandering to us as women decide our vote. Instead we voted with our heads and hearts.
There is SO much pride in that we FINALLY made a decision that makes the world sit up and take notice.
WE ELECTED A MAN WHO IS HALF BLACK, HAS A MIDDLE NAME OF HUSSEIN, AND UNDERSTANDS THAT THE ECONOMY GROWS NOT FROM TRICKLE DOWN, BUT FROM THE BOTTOM UP.
Yay us.
This is a momentous occasion.
That sounds trite.
This is a history-changing occasions.
And those of you who know that I am history major KNOW that I do not take that statement lightly.
I am speechless.
Yet I am filled with so many words I do not know which to throw out there first.
There is so much pride in my country for electing such an amazing person.
There is so much pride in McCain for giving the concession speech that should have been his Republican convention speech because it was so fantastic.
There is SO much pride in that we did NOT let the Republican ticket's pandering to us as women decide our vote. Instead we voted with our heads and hearts.
There is SO much pride in that we FINALLY made a decision that makes the world sit up and take notice.
WE ELECTED A MAN WHO IS HALF BLACK, HAS A MIDDLE NAME OF HUSSEIN, AND UNDERSTANDS THAT THE ECONOMY GROWS NOT FROM TRICKLE DOWN, BUT FROM THE BOTTOM UP.
Yay us.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
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