Yams vs. Sweet Potatoes

Do you think they are the same thing? I did. Some things have two different names, so I never realized they were different. Not that I have ever really loved them or indulged in them often. Now that I am concerned with sugar intake and juice most vegetables anyway, I though this was interesting.

Here is a quote about the two from a blog I enjoy reading...
 "Sugar is the devil when it comes to belly fat! I advise people to avoid eating more than 5-6 grams of sugar per meal. You want to significantly reduce love handles and belly fat, ditch sugar!

Here is a picture of nutrition facts for yams and sweet potatoes, both considered a quality complex carb. I prefer yams (orange inside) because they have by far less sugar, but still taste really good! Sweet potato's (Yellow inside) have 3 and a half teaspoons of sugar for 1 cup and more water retaining sodium."

So, the moral of the story is they are two different things and when you can, opt for the yams which are orange inside.

Jamie Eason LiveFit 12 Week Trainer

I am currently following a body building program designed by the gorgeous fitness model Jamie Eason. She has a free program called the LiveFit Trainer. It is a 3 month program and I have learned so much about how to properly fuel your body when trying to build lean muscle and lose fat. It has transformed the way I think about dieting and food. I have always heard that you should consider it a lifestyle change instead of a diet and I finally have that mindset. I know that I didn't gain my excess weight quickly and that if done correctly it will not come off quickly.

The program has the mindset of eating the right food more often and never feeling hungry. If you eat every three hours, then your body eventually knows that you are not going to starve it, and it is ok to let go of the fat reserves. Eating this often also speeds up your metabolism.

There is a lot of exercising, especially weight lifting, which I never knew how to do properly before and I am glad to say I love it! Also, muscle burns more calories at rest, turning your system into a fat burning machine. For more information you can find her program here http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/jamie-easons-livefit-phase-1.html  She is adorable, the program is simple to follow with videos, printable menus and exercise guides. I am currently in Phase 2 and am starting to see some muscle definition with a 6 lb loss.

Here is a picture of her... 

Partially Hydrogenated Oils

In my quest to be healthier, I have been taking an ingredient and doing research on it. One of my Facebook friends mentioned Girl Scout Thin Mint Cookies and made a joke that it had crack in it and showed the ingredient label and it had the word crack circled. Someone obviously was having fun with Photoshop but while reading the rest of the ingredients, I come across vegetable oil (palm, partially hydrogenated palm kernel, soybean and cottonseed with TBHQ for freshness).

I did a search on partially hydrogenated oil and this is one of the first links I found. There were several other sites I found in this search that had similar information but this was clear and to the point. http://www.treelight.com/health/nutrition/PartiallyHydrogenatedOils.html

The first line is Consuming partially hydrogenated oils is like inhaling cigarette smoke. They will kill you -- slowly, over time, but as surely as you breathe. And in the meantime, they will make you fat!

 So, instead of Girl Scout Cookies, check the natural food section and maybe you can find a healthier version that is just as tasty. If you would like to make your own thin mints, here is a site with the recipe! http://www.handletheheat.com/2011/01/eat-healthy-homemade-thin-mints.html

Labor Day at McGrail Vineyards

The weekend of September 4 and 5th, we were a vendor at McGrail Vineyards in Livermore, CA. The outskirts of Livermore are filled with rolling hills and one winery after another. It is beautiful. The event was the annual Harvest Wine Celebration going on throughout the area.

About 40 wineries were pouring for the weekend and shuttles transported wine enthusiasts from one to the next. We were amongst several other artists and had a great time. I didn't take any pictures, but here is one of the front lawn and front of the tasting room. We made some great sales, new contacts and enjoyed the Labor Day weekend. They specialize in Cabernet Sauvignon. Here is a link to their site if you are interested in purchasing their wine! http://www.mcgrailvineyards.com/purchase.html

Lampwork Pendants

I do several Art and Wine festivals throughout the year, and am always rethinking my display design. Lately, I have focused my attention and display on my boro glass bead pendants. I make the beads in my glass studio and then use a bail to turn them into a pendant. The result is an easy to wear, durable glass piece. I have been putting them on ribbons for free at my shows and am selling them 10 to 1 over the rest of my jewelry. I love the freedom of being at the torch and being really creative with one bead, and then moving on to a totally different design. It makes the heat more tolerable! Here are a couple...

http://www.etsy.com/listing/80873381/glass-pendant-fuchsia-free-shipping?ref=v1_other_1

http://www.etsy.com/listing/80873163/lime-green-pendant-free-shipping

Stevie Started School!

Stevie is a big Kindergartner now! He is loving it. Fortunately the school is really close to our house. His teacher is Mrs. B and she is really nice and attentive to the kids. He is a little overwhelmed at how many kids there are and the teacher is helping make friends. Tricia is walking him to and from school Monday and Tuesday when I am at work and I take him the rest of the week. He is such a big boy now :)

What is Jello Really???

Do you want to know? You will get the details and probably won't ever eat it again. So, if you are a fan, skip over this article :) http://www.organicauthority.com/foodie-buzz/are-there-pig-hooves-in-my-jell-o-where-gelatin-really-comes-from.html

Exerpt from the article:

“The raw materials used in the production of gelatin are from healthy animals and include cattle bone, cattle hides and fresh, frozen pigskins. In the North American market, these raw materials are basically sourced from government-inspected meat processing facilities.”

Read: the collagen comes from animals in slaughterhouses.

If you have the curiosity (and stomach) to learn the literal process of how gelatin is produced from animals, read on.

1)      Animal carcasses arrive at the processing plant from a nearby slaughterhouse. Rotting parts are discarded; everything else is chopped up.

2)      Animal parts are washed and degreased to get rid of as much fat as possible (yah, I don’t want floating fat in my Jell-O, thanks). Pieces are then roasted to dry out.

3)      Pieces are soaked in a strong acid solution for several days to bring out all the minerals and bacteria from the pieces, and it releases the full collagen content.

4)      Pieces are then boiled again, the gelatin is extracted, and it is flash-heated for sterilization.

5)      Gelatin now passes through machines that press it into sheets, and it is dyed, colored and given any other treatments to make it look and taste like a typical boxed food product.

My goal lately is to be an informed consumer and try to keep unnatural food items out of the mouths of my family. The part that bothers me the most is #3 "soaking in a strong acid solution for several days" doesn't sound healthy to me. I appreciate the aspect of using all of the animal and not wasting though, and that may be enough for some!

~Erin