McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets Are Gross

29 Jan

This blog almost made me puke.

The things I do to bring you guys info and entertainment…

Sooo….this chic named Stacey Irvine, a 17 year old in Britain has been scarfing down McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets all her life. No fruits. No veggies. Just nuggets.

While my 7 and 3 year old sons would enjoy the thought of this, it is actually disgusting and not good for you.

Stacey was rushed to a British hospital bc she collapsed and was struggling to breathe.

Upon examination, doctors learned since the age of 2, Stacey has never eaten fruits or veggies, only fast food fried chicken nuggets.

WTH?!

Ok, I know babies don’t come with a manual, but come on parents, THIS IS NOT GOOD!

Stacey’s mom said she tried to get her daughter to eat other foods. Stacey said once she started eating nuggets, she “loved them so much they were all I would eat.”

So, what’s in these yummy nuggets Stacey and so many others scarf down daily:

A study determined McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets are “stripped down to the bone, and then ‘ground up’ into a chicken mash, then combined with a variety of stabilizers and preservatives, pressed into familiar shapes, breaded and deep fried, freeze dried, and then shipped to a McDonald’s near you.”

Do you like cosmetic products and Silly Putty? Great, because one of the stabilizers and preservatives you are eating is dimethylpolysiloxane, a form of silicone used to make cosmetice products and Silly Pully.

YUM-OH! Let’s break out the BBQ sauce!!!

Parenting isn’t easy.

We are often trying to spread ourselves thin finding enough time in the day to get things done.

But COME ON…we have to do better than letting a fast food chain feed our kids on a regular basis.

Do my kids eat McDonald’s? Yes. But not on a regular basis.  I also make sure they eat fruits, veggies, and healthy home cooked meals in addition to the crushed eyeballs/tendons/preservatives nuggets they get at McDonald’s.

I remember growing up, an outing to a fast food joint was a TREAT. It was a reward for doing something really great like getting an “A” on a report or my mom getting a promotion.

Fast food was not the answer to dinner EVERY NIGHT.

Just like we are conscious about who our kids play with, how much tv they watch, their grades in school, their safety in public, what activities of play they do…we should also be responsible about what foods we feed them regularly.

If you have young kids, start them on good eating habits NOW. It will make your life and theirs much easier and healthier.

P. S- Someone please tell me Chick Fil-A doesn’t do any of this crap to their chicken, bc I GETS DOWN at Chick Fil-A!!!!

Get It Together Demi Moore

25 Jan

I’m gonna need Demi Moore to get it together.

We all know that Demi is going through a separation with cheater hubbie of 6 years, Ashton Kutcher.

Kutcher faced allegations of cheating on his wife on their 6 year Wedding Anniversary while he was on a trip in San Diego.

After all the published reports and photos, Demi released this statement:

“It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I have decided to end my six-year marriage to Ashton. As a woman, a mother and a wife there are certain values and vows that I hold sacred, and it is in this spirit that I have chosen to move forward with my life. This is a trying time for me and my family, and so I would ask for the same compassion and privacy that you would give to anyone going through a similar situation.”

After issuing that statement back in November, Demi has been pretty low key.

However, she was recently hospitalized for “exhaustion”. Reports say she had an epileptic seizure and is being treated for anorexia and substance abuse.

Close friends say stress from her relationship woes brought all this on.

YIKES!!! :(

Break-ups are bad, I get it. But, it’s all about perspective.

If you sit around, mope, and decide to be miserable, guess what…YOU WILL BE MISERABLE.

I went through a similar situation and I don’t think I ever cried one single tear.

I realized I was ALIVE and I chose to LIVE.

I chose happiness.

I greeted the chance at a new beginning with open arms.

I am happier than I’ve ever been. I’m more free than a sample at the grocery store.

Don’t get me wrong, there were sad moments, but I refused to let someone else’s actions define me and my future.

I realize everyone handles breakups differently, but like anything else, it’s a choice.

Just like someone chooses to cheat on you.

You choose how you let that affect you.

Demi Moore is beautiful, smart, and talented.

She has so many wonderful things going on  in her life….3 beautiful daughters, career, family, friends…I really hope Demi gets over this tough place she is in.

I’ve always admired her for her G.I Jane spirit and how she moved on after her split with ex-hubbie Bruce Willis. (Remember folks, Demi went badass bald before Brittney!).

I hope she finds her strength and happiness again.

Wishing Demi and her family the best.

Stop Bullying Kyle Williams

23 Jan

According to the U.S. Department of Eduation, 160,000 children a day stay home from school because they are afraid of being bullied.

There have been more and more cases of bullying in schools.

Today, kids are dealing with bullying on another level. There is cyber bullying (twitter, Facebook, email), sports bullying, gay bullying…the list goes on and on.

Bullying has always been prevelant in schools, but it just seems like it’s escalating.

There is no excuse for bullying with kids.

There definitely is no excuse for bullying among adults.

I never realized that bullying in sports existed until recently.

I am an avid college football fan and understand how it sucks when your team loses. However, I usually watch with my sons so I try to be cautious how I express my frustration.

In the NFC Championship Game between the NY Giants and the San Francisco 49ers, Kyle Williams of the 49ers fumbled 2 punt returns.

The Giants ultimately won the game in overtime.

Both fumbles resulted in the Giants scoring afterward. Many irate 49er fans blamed Williams for the loss. (Educated sports fans know one or 2 plays does not determine winning a game…hello…a football game lasts like 3 hours!)

These idiots fans took to Twitter and Facebook to express their ignorance frustration.

Kyle Williams has been trending nonstop on Twitter since the end of the game, and it’s not for his cool tattoos.

Some went above and beyond criticism and issued death threats and flat out hate towards Kyle Williams.

@KyleWilliams_10. I hope you, youre wife, kids and family die, you deserve it(@javpasquel)

@KyleWilliams_10 you should jump off the golden gate bridge for that one. #fired(@KillaKlips)

@KyleWilliams_10 HOPE U RUN n2 A BULLET DA WAY U RAN INTO DAT BALL FUCKN DUMMY OR HOPE U DROP YA 1ST BORN LIKE U DROP DAT BALL U FUCKN IDIOT (@Markymeagain)

you fucking suck and I hope you get cut! @KyleWilliams_10 (@tomidontplaydat)

Im on you all day @KyleWilliams_10 fuckin choked… Damn loser(@Mr_Coo_Coo502)

I hope you die in your sleep tonight @KyleWilliams_10 (@ComptonAssDeezy)

WHOA! Throw the ole “Sticks and Stones” adage out the window.

Death threats and hate hurt!

Cyber bullying gives cowards an easy outlet to say things hiding behind their keyboard.

What kind of message is this sending our kids? As adults, we need to be the example.

It was nice to see some of his teammates step up and express their support.

As a pro athlete, you expect criticism. However, the threats against Kyle Williams cross the line.

He’s not super human. He’s a man with feelings. I’m sure he’s beating himself up for his own performance.

The concept with Kyle is no different from a 7 year old being laughed at for his freckles, the middle schooler whose lunch money is taken, or the child who is ridiculed for being picked last.

All this needs to stop!

Parents, we have got to take a stand on bullying, and it starts with the example we set.

Bullying has gone beyond Yo Mama jokes and fist fights. Kids are being taunted, rejected, excluded and hurt to the point of committing suicide.

Please take it seriously.

Talk to your kids,  look for warning signs, and take action.

Being Bullied

  • Comes home with damaged or missing clothing or other belongings
  • Reports losing items such as books, electronics, clothing, or jewelry
  • Has unexplained injuries
  • Complains frequently of headaches, stomachaches, or feeling sick
  • Has trouble sleeping or has frequent bad dreams
  • Has changes in eating habits
  • Hurts themselves
  • Are very hungry after school from not eating their lunch
  • Runs away from home
  • Loses interest in visiting or talking with friends
  • Is afraid of going to school or other activities with peers
  • Loses interest in school work or begins to do poorly in school
  • Appears sad, moody, angry, anxious or depressed when they come home
  • Talks about suicide
  • Feels helpless
  • Often feels like they are not good enough
  • Blames themselves for their problems
  • Suddenly has fewer friends
  • Avoids certain places
  • Acts differently than usual

Bullying Others

  • Becomes violent with others
  • Gets into physical or verbal  fights with others
  • Gets sent to the principal’s office or detention a lot
  • Has extra money or new belongings that cannot be explained
  • Is quick to blame others
  • Will not accept responsibility for their actions
  • Has friends who bully others
  • Needs to win or be best at everything
Speak2Inspire.com has great apparel to show support of anti-bullying as well as some good motivational and leadership info for kids.

Here are some other sites to help you and your child:

StopBulling.gov

NoBully.com

PositiveCoach.org

BullyingStatistics.org

StandTogether.tv

AntiBullying.net

366 Random Acts Of Kindness

20 Jan

It’s amazing how much parenthood can make you see things in a different light.

For me, being a mom gave me my forgotten voice back.

Motherhood innately made me wanna be a strong, intelligent role model for kids.

It also inspired me to write and share my journey on this lovely blog that you enjoy so much :)

Parenthood also inspired 30 year old Chicago sales rep Ryan Garcia.

Ryan has vowed to do 366 random acts of kindness…that’s something for every day of 2012 (ok, slow people, this year is a Leap year, hence 366 days).

“It was a New Year’s resolution. I have a newborn daughter who is 4-months-old, and I just want to set a great example for her. So every day this year, I’m going to do a different random act of kindness.”

He is blogging about his journey.

Here’s his list of kind acts done so far:

366 RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS: THE LIST SO FAR

DAY 1: Gave a hard-working StreetWise vendor money for groceries

DAY 2: Sent a letter to a soldier in Afghanistan

DAY 3: Donate eye glasses

DAY 4: Help promote someone who is trying to help others

DAY 5: Let everyone go first, EVERYONE

DAY 6: Read a book to my daughter/Donated a book to children

DAY 7: Donated blood and a bone marrow sample

DAY 8: Told a joke

DAY 9: Signed a petition to stop using ‘The R Word’ (and dedicated myself to stop using it)

DAY 10: Compliment 25 strangers

DAY 11: Mentored a child in need

DAY 12: Wrote a thank you letter to a former teacher

DAY 13: Helped a senior citizen shovel snow

DAY 14: Delivered care packages to the homeless

DAY 15: Sent condolences to the parents of a fallen soldier

DAY 16: Participated in Martin Luther King Jr Day service activities

DAY 17: Gave away free hugs to whomever wanted one

DAY 18: Helped someone see his favourite team

Day 19: Bought Girl Scout Cookies

Day 20: Bought a stranger breakfast

After reading his list, I’m feeling like a slight underachiever. Hmm…the kindest thing I’ve done this year was prolly check my mail in a tank top and not flick off my neighbor for staring at my boobs.

I’ve got to do better!

Ryan hopes to inspire others.

“It’s just to spread kindness. Maybe someone will see this and they’ll do something nice for their neighbor.” 

I applaud Ryan’s efforts. We need more dads and human beings dedicated to goodness like this.

Check out his blog and send him acts of kindness ideas:  366randomacts.org.

You can follow him on twitter: @366RandomActs (lets help him get his followers up…he has 174 now)

facebook: www.facebook.com/366RandomActsOfKindness).

Because Ryan is such a standup guy, 10 cents will be donated to charity for every Like and Follow.

Ryan, if Oprah were still on the air, you would definitely be sitting next to her for an episode.

Hats off to you!!! Keep up the great work!

I’m sure you’ve already made your daughter very proud :-)

You can see a video clip here.

GA Mom Lets 10 Year Old Son Get A Tattoo

19 Jan

I am all for tats, but not for kids.

Cobb County, Ga., mother Chuntera Napier was charged with misdemeanor child cruelty for allowing her 10 year old son, Gaquan Napier, to get a tattoo.

I can respect the fact that he wanted to honor the memory of his brother, Malik who died in a car accident, but aren’t there other ways???

Chuntera said,

“My son came to me and said, ‘Mom, I want to get a tattoo with Malik on it, rest in peace. What do I say to a child who wants to remember his brother?”

Umm…how bout tell him NO, and when he’s 18 he can, right now, he can draw a picture to express his feelings.

In Georgia it is illegal for kids under 18 to get a tat.

“it shall be unlawful for any person to tattoo the body of any person under the age of 18, except for a physician or osteopath…”

Ms. Napier said “I always thought if a parent gives consent, then it’s fine. How can somebody else say it’s not OK? He’s my child, and I have a right to say what I want for my child.”

And what kind of tattoo place is tatting up a lil kid? Hmm….sounds like some kinda bootleg job. Lil man might wanna get that tat checked! IJS

Support Your Child’s College Choice

17 Jan

If you’re a fan of college football, you prolly know National Signing Day is right around the corner.

The days leading up til the first Wednesday in February are very exciting.

Until you actually sign a National Letter of Intent to play a sport at a college, you have merely made a verbal commitment.

This year has been interesting for college football.

Two of the nation’s top high school players have made decisions putting their MOMS in the news.

We’ve seen the excitement of high school star safety, Landon Collins verbally committing to a school against his mother’s approval.

Now, college football is talking about Gunner Kiel and his mom.

The nation’s top QB originally committed to his home state school, Indiana. After a visit to LSU, he changed his mind and verbally committed to the mighty LSU Tigers. However, it is being reported that Gunner will not be playing ball at LSU. He will be attending Notre Dame.

According to recruiting expert Michael Scarborough,

“He wants to come to LSU, but his mother (Aleta Kiel) got very emotional Monday and did not want her son to leave. He plans to enroll in classes at Notre Dame on Tuesday.

Scarborough goes on to say, ”What has been relayed to me is that he wants to come to LSU, but his parents want him at Notre Dame because it is closer to home.”

Ok moms, I get it…we love our boys.

 I love LSU and SEC football, but I’ve always said I wouldn’t want my sons to play football in college because I couldn’t watch them get hurt. Yes, selfish and worrisome, I know.

I’m a mom. That’s what we do.

I am a mom first and a sports fan second.

However, if they choose to play football or any sport, I’ve made a verbal commitment to step back and allow them to make their own choices despite my personal feelings.

No guilt trips,bad attitude,  passive aggressive comments, silent treatment…just love and support for their decision.

Afterall, isn’t this what we spend 18 years trying to teach our children?

We raise them and instill values and beliefs in them hoping to make them fine young men. Then we send them out into the world, let them grow on their own, and learn from their choices?

As moms, we should support our children and their decisions. It’s a part of life. THEIR life.

They are choosing a COLLEGE, not a CRIME.

It’s not about us. We have lived our life.

As our boys grow, our role in their life will change.

Going off to college is part of the process of these high school boys growing into men.

Let your children GROW.

Let your children GEAUX.

So what if you don’t like it…it’s your child’s choice, life, and dream.

As a LSU fan, I was disappointed to hear Gunner would not be a Tiger (P.S the name Gunner Kiel ROCKS!).

But I understand. He’s a 18 year old kid. Kids change their mind.

This is one of the biggest decisions he will make in his life. He has to do what’s best for himself.

(Plus LSU has one of my faaaave quarterbacks, Zack Mettenberger. Can’t wait to see him play! We also have 3 other QBs: Stephen Rivers, Jared Foster, and Jerrard Randle. Don’t worry Tiger fans, LSU will be fine in the QB department).

Best wishes to all the high school players on National Signing Day (especially our new Tigers!!!)

Golden Globe Dresses 2012

15 Jan

Last year at the Golden Globes, the mommies didn’t quite have it together.

This year, THEY SHOWED UP!!!!

The mommies rocked the Golden Globe Red Carpet!!!!

Here are my top 3 faves:

*My top mark goes to mommy of 2, Jessica Alba.

She had on the most beautiful lilac purple Gucci dress ( I love that shout out to LSU).

In her Red Carpet interview, she mentioned her daughter said she looked like a mermaid. (I love the shout out to her little one).

She recently had her 2nd child, and she was just glowing and radiating beauty.

Her hair, makeup, and jewelry were gorgeous. Her dress so perfectly glamorous for the occasion.

Perfect 10!

*Next up for Golden Globe hottie, is my #1 choice from last year, Sofia Vergara.

Sofia was also my choice from last year’s Emmy’s. OMG…I still remember how beautiful she was.

She is really becoming one of my Red Carpet faves.

She just always gets it right.

She teamed up again with Vera Wang (and her curvy body) for the dress. They’re a great team!

*My final hot mommie at the Golden Globes is mommy of 5,  Angelina Jolie in Atelier Versace.

She has such a commanding presence on the Red Carpet.

She is the only person who makes tats and red lipstick work for a Red Carpet event.

I didn’t looove her dress (it looked kinda weird with that red blob on the top, but she wore it well).

Angelina’s hair (you gotta be HOT to make a bun look good) and makeup looked amazing. Plus she totally rocked her tattoos (and prolly Brad Pitt‘s world before the show).

I really enjoyed seeing her in the interviews. I’ve never heard her talk so much on the Red Carpet.  When she wasn’t talking, she had a Twillight-like glaze on her face like she wanted to cut someone.

Oh Angie…She just exudes natural sexiness. And come one…there is no better accessory than Brad Pitt.

*I have to give a special shout out to Elle MacPherson in Zac Posen.

She is becoming one of my fave mommies.

After 2 kids, her body is still killer, hence her nickname, “The Body”.

Perhaps having a top selling lingerie line inspires her.

Her dress was kinda kooky (what’s with all the tulle???), but she’s so pretty, it didn’t really matter.

At 47 years old, Elle can still work any Red Carpet or runway.

*And my favorite non mommy at the Golden Globes is Charlize Theron in Dior Couture.

OMG…she is definitely one of the sexiest women in Hollywood.

She has such a fresh, clean look.

I love her classic simple beauty.

She’s perfect without trying so hard. She looked stunning!!!

Did I love her dress…no. But when you stand out more than what you’re wearing…you’re doing something right!

*Favorite young person is Modern Family’s Sarah Hyland.

What a beautiful vintage Dolce & Gabana.

I would totally rock this dress!

Such a classic, chic dress for the petite 21 year old. It was a great choice.

She didn’t look like  a little girl playing dress up in mommy’s closet.

She looked like a beautiful young lady with class and style.

MLK Rememberance

15 Jan

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world better.

-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The art of acceptance is the art of making someone who has just done you a small favor wish that he might have done you a greater one.

-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.

-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr was born January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Happy Birthday Dr. King.

Safe Surrender

13 Jan

In Los Angeles, there is a law to protect babies called Safe Surrender.

Safe Surrender allows mothers to give up newborns at any LA county hospital, ER, or fire station.

“The Safe Surrender program was created to give a mother, no matter what the situation, a safe, secure and anonymous way to get her child into safe hands and to protect a baby from abandonment,” Don Knabe (LA County Supervisor)

At first, I was surprised that a law had to be be created to protect these innocent newborns, but then I realized it was necessary alternative to what was happening to many newborn babies.

There were so many tragic stories on the news about babies being abandoned in dumpsters, alleys, parking lots, public bathrooms. Many eventually died because they didn’t get the care newborns need.

Safe Surrender reminds new mothers that there is help for finding a good home for their newborn.

Safe Surrender has saved 89 babies since it began in 2001.

The 1st Safe Surrender baby of 2012 was brought to Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena a few days ago.

The mother gave birth to the boy at home and told paramedics she wanted to surrender the infant. The baby boy will be adopted by a family approved by the Department of Children and Family Services.

NO SHAME. NO BLAME. NO NAMES.

*A distressed parent who is unable or unwilling to care for a baby can legally, confidentially and safely give up a baby within three days of birth

*A parent can bring in a baby anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week so long as the parent gives the baby to someone who works at the hospital or fire station.

*Once the parent(s) has safely turned over the baby, they are free to go.

The California Safely Surrendered Baby Law

In California, the Safely Surrendered Baby Law allows an individual to safely give up an unwanted infant with no fear of arrest or prosecution for abandonment as long as the baby has not been abused or neglected. The law does not require that names be given when  the baby is surrendered. Parents are permitted to bring a baby within 3 days of birth to any designated hospital staff or designated fire station in the County of Los Angeles. The baby  will be placed in a pre-adoptive home while the adoption process gets underway.

Red Tails

11 Jan

Living in LA, I constantly hear buzz about entertainment events going on.

Most of it I ignore, bc it usually is just that…BUZZ.

However, I have a special interest in one upcoming event.

On January 20, the movie Red Tails will be released.

Red Tails is the heroic story of the Tuskegee Airmen, a crew of African American pilots during World War II.

The Tuskegee Airmen were the 1st all black aerial combat unit.

During  a time of intense segregation, these brave young airmen take to the skies to fight for their country.

Father of 3 George Lucas is the Executive Producer.

Father of 2 John Ridley is the writer.

Aside from the amazing story, many people are talking about Red Tails because George Lucas invested $58 million of his own money into this project. His estimated net worth is 3.2 billion.

Red Tails has taken 23 years to make.

On top of the large script content, Georgie said he had a hard time getting Hollywood studios to fund the movie because of the all black cast.

Now that the January 20 release date is around the corner, everyone is getting super excited.

The film focuses on Tuskegee Airmen heroes of World War II and has become one of the only movies to be screened privately for two US presidents prior to its release.

Red Tails star, Terrence Howard was  present at a showing for George H Bush in Houston, Texas.

There will also be a private screening at the White House with President Barack Obama.

Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry are showing their support of the film after hosting a private screening of the film in Dallas.

Oprah said, ”It’s a film about human beings with enormous courage who believed in our country, who wanted to fight for our country, who are really our heroes.”

For me, the biggest endorsement came from Alabama football head coach, Nick Saban.

Coach Saban took his football team to view the movie the night before the BCS Championship game against my beloved #1 ranked LSU Tigers.

After a 21-0 victory over my Tigers (sniff sniff) the media were anxiously awaiting to hear Coach Saban’s winning secret. He surprisingly revealed his team was inspired by Red Tails:

We went to see the move Red Tails last night, which I would reccomend to anybody. But, you know, those guys’ motto was “to the last plane, the bullet, the last man, the minute we fight and we always stay with the mission.” And I think that kind of described the spirit of that group extremely well, but it also describes the spirit of you know the group of players that we have on our team this year. 

I can’t wait to take my sons to see this film to learn about their history and possibly inspire them to reach for greatness!

Red Tails opens in theaters January 20.

Red Tails stars Oscar® winner Cuba Gooding Jr. (Jerry Maguire), Oscar nominee Terrence Howard (Crash), Emmy® winner Bryan Cranston (“Breaking Bad”), Nate Parker (The Secret Life of Bees, The Great Debaters), David Oyelowo (The Last King of Scotland, Rise of the Planet of the Apes), Tristan Wilds (“90210”), Grammy® Award winner Cliff Smith aka Method Man (“The Wire”), Kevin Phillips (Pride), Rick Otto (“The Wire”), Lee Tergesen (Monster), Andre Royo (“Heroes”), Grammy-Award winner Ne-Yo (Stomp the Yard), Elijah Kelley (Hairspray), Marcus T. Paulk (Take the Lead), Leslie Odom Jr. (“Grey’s Anatomy”), Michael B. Jordan (“Friday Night Lights,” Chronicle) and Daniela Ruah (“NCIS”).

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