Locks of Love

After a good friend came back from traveling Europe and told me about this, I decided it was definitely a breakfast-worthy conversation. I've heard of wishing wells, love letters, anonymous flowers, and even graffiti as creative outlets for professing love, but padlocks affixed to public bridges? Classier than vandalism, more personal than a coin, bolder than a note—and BAM! You have a solid equation for love... or superstition. At this point, all that really matters is- what a cool destination spot!

Paris’s Pont de l'Archevêché: A Famous Love Bridge

Unbeknownst to me, this concept isn't new or unique to Europe. There are plenty of other notable places around the world with love-lock sites as well. Prague (Czech Rep.), Vrnjačka Banja (Serbia), Rome (Italy), Seoul (South Korea), Taichung (Taiwan), all have impressive public padlock structures. Even a few spots in the U.S. are catching on to this artsy PDA trend- Cabrillo Bridge in San Diego, and the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. Couples around the globe show up to these particular sites to secure a little lasting luck in their relationships.

With all this bountiful romantic faith, what’s not to love?

Apparently, there actually lies some controversy around these seemingly innocent lock displays:

1. Structural safety concerns over the metal locks blocking views and adding weight
2. Degradation of public property
3. Being an aesthetic eyesore in the face of nature

Oh right, the vicious dark side to padlocks. How could I forget? Despite the controversy however, I am a fan of these eccentric little PDA creations.

Keep going strong love bridges of the world!

A New ‘BOGO”

Hooray- [insert large business name here] is having another Buy One, Get One free sale!! (otherwise known as ‘BOGO’). Now we can all accumulate useless items TWICE AS FAST! Okay, I’m not really all that cynical. But there has been a recent surge in thoughtful companies putting a twist on the BOGO concept. Instead of buying one and getting another free, this post is about:

Buying One, Giving One Free

Perhaps the most recognizable, flagship company for this effort is Tom’s shoes. If you’re unfamiliar with the Tom’s model, for every shoe purchase you make from them, they in turn donate a pair of shoes to a child in need. Along with this company, there are plenty of others out there doing the same thing. And, if you’re a conscious consumer as am I, you too may be interested in seeking out businesses that utilize this “big picture” vision as a way to bring greater meaning to capitalism. So, here’s a list of several awesome ‘BOGO’ operations to check out!

- BoGo Light~ a solar powered flashlight company that donates solar powered lights to families who would ordinarily be reliant on kerosene and candles.

-One World Futbol~ this company markets a nearly indestructible soccer ball and promises to give one to a less fortunate community with each purchase. 

- Warby Parker~ selling their glasses online, each Warby Parker purchase you make ensures that someone elsewhere in need too will receive a pair.

- Smile Squared~ need a new toothbrush? Your order not only provides one to a deserving child as well, but they also practice exemplary environmental awareness with their products and packaging being biodegradable. 

Overall, these laudable ‘one for one’ companies, are fueling a positive trend of using profits and growth for greater good. Next time you’re looking for a nice excuse to shop without buyer’s remorse, consider checking out these creative, feel-good business models instead!  


Here's one useful link that features some of the aforementioned brands and more: http://mashable.com/2010/11/07/buy-one-give-one/

Zero Waste

I've chosen to start with a quick, inside summary entitled: "Things I Have Learned Because I Work 40 Hours a Week at a Grocery Store"

A) Some people are incredibly demanding, rude, and gigantic Negative Nancies
B) Many people mistake small talk for a chance to complain, gripe, and/or state the complete obvious
C) Humans are unbelievably wasteful creatures

All venting aside, let's talk about WASTE!

Ever think about all that packaging that goes into making your grocery products look so attention-grabbing and wholesomely untouched by the outside world? Well it's about time you do because apparently, we careless American humans discard 570 MILLION POUNDS of food packaging waste, per day.

That's the weight equivalent of over 700 Jetliners fully loaded and ready of take off [don't worry, I did the proper math] every day-- just within the U.S.

So, what's a hopelessly wasteful species to do?? Here's a new trend to consider:

GOING WASTE FREE (aka: Zero Waste)

Several major companies have been lauded for their zero waste efforts. These companies all sustain a 90% or higher recycling rate, generating little to no waste at all!

Zero Waste Shining Stars:
Honda
Pillsbury
Hewlett-Packard
In.gredients grocery

What are ways individuals can cut back on waste?
-buying from farmers' markets (which requires minimal packaging)
-using reusable grocery/shopping bags
-not automatically wrapping EVERYTHING in plastic (try throwing several of your produce items into the same bag)
-limiting consumption of single-use products (just think of all those extra bottles and wrappers..)


So, next time you go to the store and the clerk automatically puts your single box of toothpaste in a plastic bag, think to yourself, "does my toothpaste really need to be bottled, boxed, AND bagged?"         no.




*Watch this video for a cool intro into going waste-free from a grocery store perspective:
http://www.goodlifer.com/2013/02/in-gredients-a-zero-waste-food-store-in-austin-texas

Other sources:
http://re-nourish.com/?l=articles_detail&id=120

The Definition of Bad-Ass

We've all had those rare moments of extreme confidence, strutting around on a particularly uplifting day thinking, "Wow, I really am something else. Just look at me, I could accomplish anything, because I am totally bad ass." NO, you're not.You want to know why you're not? Because you have never been a ONE ARMED DRUMMER FOR AN AWESOMELY FAMOUS HARD ROCK BAND. 

That my friends, is what I have discovered to be-

THE DEFINITION OF BAD-ASS:

Rick Allen- One Armed Drummer for Def Leppard

What?! This guy... THIS GUY... actually played drums with only one arm. I am never going to complain about anything ever again! Until I'm hungry, tired, sick, or disadvantaged in some other menial way. BUT UNTIL THEN, this guy reigns supreme.

Quick Facts
-Rick was 16 when he joined Def Leppard
-At age 21 he had a reckless driving accident; his arm was severed
-Post-accident, a specialized drum set was made for him and he continued on playing with the band

Basically, the guy plays an instrument that requires two arms with just one. No big deal...

?!/!?!!!?!?!! mind still blown. 

Centralia

Always keeping my mind open for potential entry topics, I came across today's blog-able subject while reading A Walk in the Woods- a book about a man hiking the Appalachian Trail. While a personal travel account about true nature is interesting, a random side story about a fifty-year-long underground fire is even better (and certainly makes the cut for cereal box news). Therefore, today's entry is a brief history lesson in:

The Lost Town of Centralia, Pennsylvania

BUT WAIT- despite the words "history" and "lesson" being featured side by side, I promise this post isn't actually boring. To prove this point and to stay true to my use of the word 'brief,' we shall use bullet points and follow your standard story/Sparknote outline: 

• Background: Centralia was a small town developed around the mining industry in the 1860's
• Plot: In 1962, the residual coal mines beneath the town caught fire when a controlled landfill burn went astray, seeping into the underground mining network.
• Event #1 : Smoke began rising from the ground in various parts of the community; paved roads were often warm to the touch. 
• Event #2 : The severity of the situation wasn't realized until 1979 when a local gas station owner pulled a temperature reading of 172 degrees for his underground gas tanks.
•  13 feet below those tanks the temperature was an astounding 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Event #3 : Around this time, adverse health effects began plaguing the community- namely those from high levels of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.  
• Climax: Young boy falls into suddenly appearing 150-foot-deep sinkhole while playing in grandma's backyard and SURVIVES. 
• Details: Boy clings to tree roots and is saved by cousin. Somehow he survives lethal levels of carbon monoxide as well... like a champ.
• Resolution: Federal government evacuates town, and all buildings are demolished. The resulting landscape consists only of paved roads and driveways, and a single church.  

Current update: According to Bill Bryson (author of my book) as well as ever-so-handy Wikipedia, the phenomenal underground fire of Centralia continues to burn today and is expected to do so for up to the next 1000 years. The town also maintains a thriving population of 10.

   

It's a Boy!

So I've never walked through a grocery produce aisle and thought "hey, I wonder if my shopping basket is full of boy or girl veggies?"--until today. After tasting a free sample of eggplant parmesan at Whole Foods Market, I was interestingly informed that chefs often select for quality based of the supposed 'sex' of certain produce items. Which leads to... SEXIST COOKING!

Just kidding.

But really, a few popular plants produce distinct gender differences; so here's how to

 Determine the Sex of Your Produce!

Eggplant- Apparently for these guys, males are better (fewer seeds/less bitter).

Check for maleness by the "belly button" on the bottom of the plant (opposite end from the stem): males have a smaller, more circular 'button' while females often have one in the shape of a line or slit. I was also told that males may be more bulbous shaped, as females are overall more tubular.


Fennel- Again, the male version is more desirable.

Male fennel plants are usually wider and more bulbous as well; females are more slender.

Asparagus- both genders are equally palatable! I just thought it was neat that there was in fact a difference between male and female asparagus.

To distinguish, male asparagus plants would normally be thicker and a bit larger due to the fact that it does not produce seedlings. Thus, it expends no energy on this process and can allot more of its energy to growth.

Midnight Art

So ironically, I decided to start blogging right about the time when my life became as unstable as ever. Hence the unreasonable time lapse since my last entry. But in case anyone out there was wondering, (I like to believe there was at least one perplexed individual [aka family member] who thought, 'hmm I wonder why in the world Audrey has not updated her Cereal Digest in EONS?') I spent a week coaching baton twirling in Richmond, 10 days providing medical aid in Jamaica, 3 days in the Outer Banks, 4 days leading another summer camp, and all the other random days unpacking all my wretched suitcases. BUT, on to what really matters today---

  SLEEPING PILLS!!!

While watching a DVD conference about sleep health earlier, I learned that sleeping pills have an insignificant impact on improving daytime functions. In other words, they help you to technically 'fall asleep,' but with none of the normal benefits. What a wonderful deal! Not... Needless to say, this startled me for several reasons:

1) The major concern over sleep quality stems from the fear of the negative impact it can have on one's performance the next day

AND

2) Countless people must be under the false impression that sleeping aids are what they need in order to cure their functional shortcomings (daytime sleepiness, lack of energy, bad mood, etc.) since they are so heavily relied on.

SO

3) What are sleeping pills doing then if they are not actually aiding in the sleep restoration process?

Well, they're not really solving the problem, that's for sure. In fact, one of the side effects of several hypnotics (sleep medications) is... daytime sleepiness? Interesting.

So here's another perspective that was presented by one of the guest speakers of the Women's Health Virginia Sleep Conference- "Getting Good Zzz's." Maybe the brain's extra alertness during inopportune hours of the night should be harnessed for good use rather than seen as a health burden. A hyperactive mind could potentially be the source of great productivity, creativity, and insight. So maybe next time you're lying awake at night, seething angry huffs of air into your pillow, try going along with your body's natural energy. Brainstorm for a new home project, write a letter to someone, tidy up the kitchen, BLOG! Who knows, you might come up with some pretty good midnight artwork!