Vitamin A: Good for the Eyes, Bad for the Skin?

Hi, Beautiful People

How are you? 

It was a SCORCHER here in MA!  The temperatures were close to 90.  That’s HOT for May weather, but it’s better than being too cold as we’re gearing up for a long weekend

Speaking of the long weekend, Memorial Day generally marks the unofficial beginning of summer.  The temperatures generally stay high and cookouts become the weekend norm.   Beach trips are also a standard affair.  Due to the increased time in the sun, we must be careful about sun safety!! 

I realize I went into this a little with my post on Glenna, but I think it warrants more detail.  Additionally, Erin from The Healthy Apron contacted me after reading the post and asked if I would participate in her Sunscreen Challenge.   I immediately accepted, but then slightly panicked.  Thirty days of spreading sun awareness to others?    It sounded like a bigger challenge than I was ready to take on.

I told myself that I would set out for a week.  Anything is better than nothing and it seemed like a reasonable amount of time to post some quick facts every day.  So, here’s my first entry!

SUNSCREEN CHALLENGE!

I came across Shannon’s blog today and completely sucked in by the topic.  Could your sunscreen actually be accelerating cancer, as opposed to protecting you from it?

Huh?!?  Back up a second! 

Okay, I will.

I’ve heard about “harmful ingredients” in sunscreens before, but never paid too much attention to it or bothered to find out more information.  Shannon’s post made it impossible to ignore any longer, so I read on.

Shannon found her information from the Environmental Working Group (EWG).  EWG consists of a group of researchers that attempts “to use the power of public information to protect public health and the environment.”   While I support any organization whose goal is to educate the public, I am often hesitant of these studies.  I’ve written about this in the past.

The more I thought about this, however, the more I realized that the information on their site is exactly what I had heard in vague description before but never bothered to look into you.  So, I’m sharing it with you!  Below you will find random tidbits about sunscreen and what YOU need to know!

First and foremost, the SPF ratings on all values cannot be trusted.  I don’t think this is some kind of conspiracy nor am I trying to make it out to be.  It’s simply common sense.  A product can market itself as SPF 70, but the truth is, the average person generally wears much less sunscreen than would be needed to ensure SPF 70 coverage.  In addition, the higher the rating, the “safer” people think they are, so they stay out in the sun longer with reapplying.  Again, this is simply common sense.  Be sure to reapply throughout the day and realize that the only REAL protection against the sun’s harmful rays are the shade and clothing.

Don’t get me wrong – I love lying out at the beach too, but you shouldn’t be doing it for HOURS on end.

Secondly, it is within the consumer’s right to understand that the FDA has never actually finalized regulations for sunscreens.  Not only does this lead to consumer confusion, but  also leads to companies claiming their products have SPF 100.  The American Cancer Society only advises using SPF 30.  Again, this is misleading to consumers.  The FDA has actually been trying to finalize regulations since 1978 and has YET to produce a final judgment.

Be aware of Vitamin A in your sunscreen.

Vitamin A:  An FDA cancer study shows that Vitamin A, which is common in a variety of sunscreens, may quicken the growth of skin tumors.  This deadly side effect has been linked to Vitamin A’s exposure to the sun, which is a quality identified as “photocarcinogenic”. 

This study showed that lab animals coated with a Vitamin A-laced cream and exposed to sunlight each day were 21% more likely to develop tumors than those animals that were not exposed to the cream. 

While this is only an initial study, it’s my recommendation to avoid sunscreens with this ingredient.  Obviously, this will cause a huge problem for not only the sunscreen industry, but also the FDA, who cannot seem to regulate the industry to begin with. 

Vitamin A will be called “retinyl palmitate” on the label.

The other major ingredient to avoid would be oxybenzone, which is a synthetic hormone that is easily absorbed through the skin.  Doesn’t that just SOUND scary?  Synthetic hormones?  No, thank you!

The EWG states, “Experts raise concerns about its use in sunscreens for children because of its ability to penetrate the skin and its association with allergic reactions and potential hormone disruption.”  Ick!

Lastly, find YOUR sunscreen on here to determine whether it is recommended by EWG or not.  Sadly, my Banana Boat did NOT score well!  In fact, it contains both Vitamin A AND oxybenzone.    Guess I’ll be in the market for some new sunscreen sometime soon!

Now let’s talk about food because eating a healthy, balanced diet can help the body fight off all of this scariness!

Breakfast:  A standard Green Monster. 

Guess what?  I HATED this.  I have no idea why.  It tasted fine.  I think I just have an aversion to GM’s now.  We’re officially going to go on a little break.  “It’s not you, it’s me…”

Lunch:  Ham and laughing cow with mustard on a flatout, a little purple, a little orange.

Snack: Almonds & Kiwi = Love

Haha..doesn’t that kiwi look so funny?

Dinner:  Veggie Enchiladas!  Sadly, I forgot to buy a tomato for topping the dish with as I did last time.  They were still super cheesy and delicious though!  I love this recipe   I added more onions and it was BOMB.  Love, love, love.

And, I’m out for the night!  Same place, same time tomorrow, my lovelies!

Question of the Day:  Are you generally hot or cold?

I am always freezing when I’m awake, but as soon as I catch some shut-eye, I turn into a ball of heat.  I’m actually surprised I haven’t set my bed on fire.  It’s the strangest thing!

Food, Inc. and Chicken and Pesto Pasta Salad

Happy Monday to my favorite people on the planet!! 

How are you today?!?  It was quite dreary today in MA.  Thank goodness I was super busy at work.  Generally, days like this make me feel lazy and sleepy.  Not today though – I was way too busy.

I even went into work early.  Can you believe it?  Why the dedication?  Because, my friends, I am going on VACATION starting Thursday.  I’m actually not “going” anywhere other than  on a mental break   I feel relaxed just thinking of it.  You see – the last time I was on a “mental” break from all things work, it was during the Holiday Season and I was struck with swine flu.  As you can imagine, this didn’t turn out to be the relaxing time I had hoped for, so I’m trying it again!

Now, so many things to talk about today, so we must get moving!

First, I want to clarify that I was not manic last night over cake and dips.  Haha!  After posting it, I realized it sounded as though I was all depressed over my food choices.  That actually wasn’t the case.  Eating sugar and calorie-laden foods simply makes me lethargic and I couldn’t think of a darn thing to blog about!  All I wanted was my couch and relaxation, so I opted out of blogging.  That’s all, my friends.  No crazy, guilty eating going on here.  Promise!

Before I delve into the meat (no pun intended) of this post, I have a confession: I opted out of yoga for a 5 mile run this morning.  Mr. KD gave me his blessing and it felt amazing!  I am starting to see a real improvement in my speed and endurance.  Dare I say that I’m actually enjoying running?  I’ve been zoning out on my runs and just rocking it.  It feels SO good!

Sadly, I returned home to the biggest blood blister on my toe.  Ewwwww.  I’m hoping it heals nicely and doesn’t cause me unnecessary grief throughout the week.

I’ll post my food at the end of the post to lighten the mood

Let’s talk about something interesting now!  I finally got around to watching Food, Inc. this weekend.  I DVRed it and decided to take the plunge this weekend.  I’ve wanted to see it for a long time, but have also been very afraid to do so.  I finally bit the bullet and pressed “play” Saturday afternoon just as Mr. KD was returning from some errands.  We were both glued to the TV.

I put a lot of thought into writing an informative post in conclusion to my viewing.  Truthfully, I couldn’t do it justice.  I just think you should see it.  Now.  In fact, every American should.

While I won’t go into specifics, I do want to share some of my thoughts on it.  In fact, I’d like you to consider these ten points as reasons you should see this NOW.  Have I mentioned that?

1. The most surprising thing about this movie was the human element of it.  I got teary-eyed TWICE and it had nothing to do with animals.  While Mr. KD didn’t shed any tears, he was also extremely moved.
2. It was not PETA-esque.  I thought I’d be in for an informative session, but I thought the movie would drive home its points with gruesome, slaughterhouse footage.  This wasn’t the case.  Sure, there are some scenes that would be a bit much to take if you have a weak stomach.  But, it wasn’t over-the-top.  The footage was only used when relevant.
3. I am not naïve enough to think the FDA is 100% honest with us at all times.  However, I was genuinely disheartened and saddened over what little power the “good” people in government actually have.  The fact that the head of the FDA is a former CEO of an industrialized food giant really struck a chord with me.  I had never even thought about it before. 
4. I’m also not naïve enough to realize that this is a biography and extremely one-sided.  Now, I’d like someone to create a documentary starring Tyson, Smithfield and National Beef, so I can hear what they have to say.  After all, if you believe anything on this film, they have a lot of explaining to do.
5. Point # 3 got me thinking about past presidential elections.  NO ONE is talking about the food we eat.  NO ONE.  I don’t even remember this ever being on a political platform.  I demand it be on the next.
6. Pork will now become a luxury meat in the KD household.  Mr. KD and I agreed that we will splurge on the organic pork for special occasions. Unlike beef and chicken, the price of the “good” stuff is very expensive (as in it could break our budget, opposed to simply being pricier).
7. I’ve always thought movies like this (anti-mainstream) were meant to scare society and create a sort of conspiracy theory filled with half-truths.  I’ve also viewed the folks that produce such films as “radicals”.  This was different for me.  I’m a very realistic person.  The reality of capitalism is more…faster.  We’ve seen Enron plummet and Bernie Madoff go to jail.  Do we really think the CEO’s of food conglomerates are any less greedy?  The faster they can produce, the more money they have in their pockets.  They aren’t considering anything but.  I believe this to be the cold-hard facts.  You may be asking how it’s possible to make a chicken grow faster for mass production.  My response is simple: Watch the movie.
8. The movie, as a whole, can be a bit overwhelming.  To hear a lot of the information for the first time left me with a sense of sadness and mistrust in just about everything.  It appears that so much of what we consider “food” is actually something that man altered in some way.  Obviously, the basic nature of a recipe is to take certain foods and alter them into a finished product.  I’m not talking about that kind of altering.  I’m talking about genetically engineering foods and animals to be other than what nature intended.  Frankly, it doesn’t sit well with me.  It was the first time I thought about our food industry as a whole and had a frank talk with myself.  Let’s just say it included the word “cancer” a few times.  Again, I’ve always thought folks that talked like this were “crazy”, but now I’m not so sure.  The Western diet may be killing us all slowly.
9. I loved the segment on Stonyfield and Wal-Mart.  The great thing about it was this: Wal-Mart’s blatant desire to sell Stonyfield was simply in direct correlation to consumer demand.  Again, these companies aren’t worried about the health of your kids.  They’re worried about the bottom line.  But, if we demand products such as Stonyfield, Wal-Mart is happy to oblige.  They just want us to walk through the door.  This means we can change the way things are.  We simply have to work together and demand better for our health.
10. At the risk of alienating my animal-lover friends and receiving hate mail, I’d like to make it clear that I don’t feel guilty eating meat.  This movie didn’t change that.  I simply want to send this message to portray that I’m not advocating you see this to make you feel guilty about being an omnivore.  I simply want you to see it for your health.  However, I’m certainly not an advocate for animal cruelty either.  I believe all animals should be allowed to live as the animals they are, i.e. in their natural environment with the proper food.

 Now that I’ve given you reasons to see the movie, I want to leave you with how my new outlook on food will affect this blog.  I realize other health bloggers have watched this movie and actually sworn themselves into vegetarianism for good.  Truth be told, I’ve been considering going vegetarian for quite some time.  As I explained to Mr. KD, meat is generally a means to an end for me.  Sure, I enjoy chicken, but I eat it because it “goes” with potato and veggies.  There are very few meats that I eat simply for the meat.  Considering how few and far between these are (and, they’re generally very unhealthy), I don’t think it would be a huge sacrifice for me to opt out of meat.

 However, I have a better chance of meeting Michael Jackson than convincing Mr. KD to give up meat.  This is completely fine.  Meat makes him happy and I’m okay with that.  So, I plan to continue serving and eating meat in my own home.  The majority of our meals will center around chicken and lean beef with the occasional pork loin/chop as a “specialty.”  I know that I will never buy Tyson, Perdue, Smithfield and National Beef products again.  Seriously.  To show you how serious I am, I present you with the Smithfield pork loin in my freezer.  It’s brand new.   Mr. KD and I mutually decided to toss it.  No thanks.  Not interested.

 For now, I plan to continue eating turkey because I’m not sure if this industry is different, i.e. no need for mass production (or at least I don’t think).  It must be a lot smaller than these other industries, so I’m hoping there is greater control around it.  I’ll continue to enjoy turkey until I hear otherwise (Anyone know more about this?).

 When dining out, I am going to search for non-meat and seafood items first.  Generally, seafood items have a place of origin listed on the menu, i.e. Atlantic cod, Maine lobster, etc.  If my fish is coming from the ocean, I’m satisfied.  Many restaurants are now starting to advertise grass-fed beef and free-range, organic chicken.  This is great!  If I see this, I will definitely order meat without issue.  And, I am NOT swearing off restaurant meat completely.  I am simply stating that I’m going to try and choose another option first. (BTW – the verdict is still out on my thoughts related to bacon.  I’ve always thought it was horrible for me and should be eaten infrequently.  Not sure why this would change after viewing the movie, but we’ll see)

 When at friends’ or relatives’ houses, I will also try to fill up on non-meat options.  This blog – and my mantra – is that everything is fine in moderation.  If I eat a piece of chicken over someone’s house, I’m not going to grill the host over the origin of the meat.  I already know I’ll be having it on Friday at Mr. KD’s parents’ house and I’m not worried about it.  I believe in living a healthy lifestyle without it defining who I am to other people (in a negative light).  I want to be able to walk into a party and eat whatever is offered, as opposed to being a difficult guest.  However, I’ll tell you one thing: Cheeseburgers will not be my first option at family BBQs.  Rather, potato salad, green salad and pasta salads will be my first options.

 I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’m going vegetarian where I can.  I hope that you can understand how this fits into the blog’s philosophy.  I don’t think that veggies and grains are “pretentious” foods, so I can eat them without feeling as if I’m eating an alternative diet of sorts.  Plus, I still plan to eat plenty of meat at home.  I’m just not so sure I want it when I’m out.  If I do eat meat elsewhere, I’m not going to sweat it.  I simply don’t want it to be my norm anymore.

I envision this being tough when ordering takeout.  I love buffalo chicken pizza and chicken and broccoli from Chinese restaurants.  But, if there’s a problem with meat anywhere, I think it’s safe to say it’d be in cheap foods such as the ones mentioned here.  I am going to have to find new favorites!  It could actually be fun

I realize that this decision may seem a bit rash.  Truly, I don’t think it is.  As I stated before, I’ve been tossing around the idea of going vegetarian for some time now.  This will help me get a small taste of what it would be like.  I could hate it and I could love it.  I guess we’ll find out.

 At least it’ll give us something interesting to chat about on the blog, right?!? 

I know you are just DYING to see what I ate today since I didn’t post yesterday.  Aren’t you?!?  Mm hmm.  I could tell

Breakfast:

1 cup Kashi puffs, handful walnuts, ~ tbsp raisins, ~ tbsp dried cherries with 1 cup almond milk.  On the side, I enjoyed some grapes.

Lunch:  The last two veggie enchiladas (so sad to see them go…sniff) and a side salad with spinach, arugula and caramelized onions.  I topped off the salad with some light raspberry vinaigrette because I was overdoing it with the balsamic.

Snack:  Juicy! 

Don’t you love that plate?  My mom bought it for me this weekend and I’m obsessed with it.  So cute!  My mom’s pretty much a rock star.  She picks out the cutest gifts! 

For dinner, I had an extraordinary chicken salad pasta planned.  However, I ran into a problem when I couldn’t find the recipe I intended to use   After about 10 minutes, I got frustrated and decided to give it a go on my own!  I know the original wasn’t this straight-forward and was a little fancier, but beggars can’t be choosers, my friends!

Chicken and Pesto Pasta Salad (Serves 6)

 Ingredients:

• 8 oz whole wheat penne
• 1 crown broccoli, chopped
• 1 red pepper, chopped and seeded
• ½ small red onion, chopped
• Homemade Pesto Sauce based on this recipe.
• 4 organic, free-range chicken breasts, cooked and chopped into small pieces
• ½ cup feta cheese

 Directions:

 Cook pasta according to directions.  In the last 3 minutes of cooking, add the broccoli.  Toss the pasta and broccoli with the remainder of the ingredients.  Serve hot or cold.

Simple, yet effective.  This dish is also super nutritious based on all of the spinach in the pesto!  Check out how green the sauce is!

I love knowing I just ate cauliflower, spinach, basil, pepper and onion all in one meal.  So many veggies make me happy

Yum, yum, yum!

Now, I am OFF to cheer on the Bruins!!

Question of the day:  Have you seen Food, Inc?  What were your thoughts?  If you haven’t, would you like to see it?

KD’s Top 10 Tips for Fabulousness & Recipe!

Happy Friday, my friends! 

You guys know I love you, right?  Seriously!  I really do.  I genuinely appreciate every one of you taking time from your busy day to hop on over here and read what I’m ranting about.  And, boy, have I been ranting lately! 

I’ve been blogging for two full months now and I feel as though my readers have become my “friends”.  Yes, it’s cheesy, but it’s true!  I’m thankful for each and every one of you.  So, give yourself a big hug for me  

Since I’ve been on a semi-political rampage lately, I wanted to scale things back a bit today and create a fun post!  It’s my desire in life to help all people feel confident, healthy, loved and secure.  But, since the majority (perhaps only?) of people that read this blog are women, I thought I’d dedicate this post to my fellow chicas! 

I am by no means an expert on self-confidence, but I certainly have a few tricks up my sleeve to make me feel my best at all times.  Just for fun, I thought I’d share them with you!  

I can just feel your excitement through the computer screen   

I present to you…. 

The KD No Bull List to Feeling Fabulous 

1)      Incorporate exercise into your life on most days.  I’m not advocating it for weight loss or even health on this post.  It will simply make you feel BETTER and MORE CONFIDENT.  There’s nothing more beautiful than a strong, healthy bod.  So, figure out your favorite exercise and get moving! 

2)      Drink water.  Yes, you’ve heard it before.  And, you will hear it again.  I don’t even think it’s necessary to go into more detail here.  Just do it. 

3)      Wear your makeup.  RELAX!!  I’m not saying you have to get dolled up everyday like an 80’s cover girl.  I’m simply supporting using minimal makeup to enhance your natural beauty.  There’s a reason all makeover shows include a makeup artist.  A few strokes of blush and mascara can change your entire appearance and help you look “fresh”.  You’re simply worth the time! 

4)      Wear clothes that fit.  Seriously, people.  We’re all guilty of holding on to our “fat” or “skinny” jeans.  Guess what?  They don’t do us any good.  In fact, they only have us focused on a time period other than the present.  Concentrate on the now and dress your beautiful body in something that compliments it RIGHT NOW! 

5)      Buy fun accessories.  Let’s face it, ladies.  Clothes are expensive.  My favorite way to create “new” outfits is through the use of various accessories.  A chunky necklace or stand-out earrings can make a boring, I’ve-worn-this-a-million-times outfit into something fabulous! 

6)      Buy the majority of your clothing in neutral colors.  People often ask me if I ever wear the same thing twice, which makes me chuckle.  I wear the same things over and over!!  However, I own a ton of black, gray, brown and tan clothing (tops and pants).  This allows me to mix-and-match easily with a few standout items (think bright yellow and red) from my closet.  Coupled with all of the accessories listed in number 5 and the possibilities are endless! 

7)      Buy a bra that fits.  I know.  This is kind of bold topic.  Oprah told us all to do it way back when, so I finally listened to her after losing my college weight.  I marched into Victoria’s Secret and asked to be fit for my proper size.  I’ll never forget the look on the women’s face after giving me my true size.  It was a mix of disgust, disbelief and pity.  It was a look I never want to see again!  So, I listened to her advice and spent more money on undergarments than I care to admit.  Let’s just say I instantly became a new woman and completely forgot about the money spent! 

8)      Eat mini meals, consisting of nutritious food, throughout the day and limit the crap.  You guys have seen the way I eat.  I enjoy chocolate more than the average person.  If I could live inside a pecan pie, I’d do it. I use way too much ketchup and think French fries are one of the world’s greatest foods.  But, I also know how I feel after eating all of these things in excess.  It’s pretty, um, nasty.  It’s definitely not a confidence booster.  Listen to your body and how you feel after certain meals.  We are each our own person and what works for some (high protein, low carb) will not work for another!  There’s nothing better than feeling energetic and strong after a meal, as opposed to overstuffed and lethargic! 

9)      Laugh.  A lot.  I laugh all day, everyday.  No one looks good with a scowl on their face!  Laughing always helps you feel better.  So, think of something funny that’s happened and just start giggling.  See?  Didn’t that feel good? 

10)   Know who your friends are.  In my opinion, this is the biggest trick to feeling good about yourself!  Surround yourself with supportive people, who will help you along your journey.  There’s no need to keep in touch with people who are negative and unsupportive.  THESE FOLKS ARE NOT YOUR FRIENDS!  It took me a long time to realize this and I hope you have (or will) rid yourself of all the negative energy too!  Life is tough enough.  No one needs cranky, unaccommodating people around.   It’s better to have one supportive friend than twenty-five that seem to always put you down.  

I know many of these “tips” are common sense, but I find it refreshing to reiterate these mantras.  It’s easy to forget that we’re all important and beautiful.  We deserve to feel that way at all times!!  Seeing it written by someone else (in a magazine, blog, etc) often helps me, so I thought I’d do the same for you guys.  I just want to remind you that you’re FABULOUS and deserve to be treated as such. 

Heeding my above advice, I got a great workout in this morning!  I rocked out 45 minutes on the ArcTrainer (FYI – the knee is getting better!  Not 100%, but getting there) and then came home to P90’s version of legs and back.  I l-o-v-e this workout.  I enjoy difficult leg workouts because they get my heart pumping and help me feel accomplished!  I can’t wait to run tomorrow.  I’m hoping to feel great! 

Let’s talk about some food now, shall we?!? 

For breakfast, I snacked on a “yogurt delight” (Chobani pomegranate, 2 tbsp granola & Kashi Puffs, ½ tbsp chia seeds) and some egg beaters (not pictured – in the fridge at work). 

 

For lunch, I headed over to the Chateau!!!  Obviously, I got my beloved salad.  I also had a piece of their beloved white bread before the salad came.  

 

Ahhhh – this is HEAVENLY!!!  I ate the entire thing! 

Snack: 

 

Dinner was a creation inspired by Kristin!  And, when I say “inspired”, I mean copied completely! 

Vegetarian Enchiladas

Ingredients: 

• 1 Tablespoon butter
• 1/4 cup onion, minced
• sprinkle garlic salt
• sprinkle of red pepper flakes
• 1 10 oz package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and water squeezed out
• 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese, drained
• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt (could use sour cream)
• 1 1/2 cup shredded cheese
• 8 corn tortillas
• 1 14.5oz can red enchilada sauce

Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat and sauté onion until tender. Add garlic salt, red pepper flakes and spinach. Sauté until spinach is warmed through. 

2. In a separate bowl combined drained cottage cheese and Greek yogurt. Add to spinach mixture, and stir to combine. 

3. Wrap corn tortillas in a paper towel and microwave for 40 seconds, flipping half way through, until pliable. Add 1/4 cup filling to the middle of tortilla, roll and place seam side down in a baking dish. 

4. Pour enchilada sauce over tortillas, top with cheese and bake for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and sauce is bubbling. Enjoy! 

I must have picked up the wrong kind of corn tortilla because our recipe made 12.  So, instead of 2 enchiladas a serving, ours was 3.  What a shame, huh? 

 

Do these pictures need words attached?!?  

 

How about this: So.Good.  As you can see, I decided to veg them up a bit more by adding a tomato and scallions to the top.  Yummy!  

I did eat all three, but I only needed two   I’m not super full, but I know I just slightly overdid it.  No use beating myself up over it though!  They were filled with spinach for Pete’s sake! 

As these babies were cooking, I decided that I couldn’t ignore my sweet tooth anymore.  I have been DYING for something sweet and have been holding off.  I’m all for treats, so I decided to whip up one vegan chocolate chip cookie.  As you guys know, I have a hard time controlling myself around these bite-sized treats (dang you, Estella!), so I only made one, regular size cookie.  The recipe is easy to play with because you use two parts oatmeal to the rest of the ingredients.  So easy! 

I thought I was being clever and decided to cook this in the toaster oven as my enchiladas were cooking.  Unfortunately, since the top of the cookie was so close to the top “burner” of the toaster oven, it got a little crispy.  It’s not too bad, but it’s not going to be as delectable as my usual treats.  

All alone on the cookie rack:

I’m a little too full to think about the cookie right now, but I might be feeling it in a bit.  If not, there’s always tomorrow!

The rest of the night should be interesting.  The Bruins AND Celtics are on.  Mr. KD is a die-hard Bruins fan, while I feel that way about the Celts.  Granted, we are both pretty crazy over each team, but it’ll be interesting who gets the most face time! 

  

Question of the day:  What’s your advice to keep up women’s self-esteems?  Let’s get a good list going here!