It's been less than one week since I planted my first lettuce seeds, and holy canoli they sprouted.
Look how cute it is!
The lady at Star Nursery told me to water it twice a day, which I didn't think would be enough, considering it's 400 degrees out. But it actually appeared to be a little TOO much, so I cut back a smidge.
WHO CARES?! Look at my friggin' lettuce!
In other related, green-ish news, I'm starting my volunteer work for Vegas Roots. If you haven't visited the website, quit being a bonehead and do it.
I've been saying it for months, and I finally did. I PLANTED a thing. Lettuce, to be exact. If it actually grows, I might pee myself. Within an hour or so, this...
...turned into THIS.
I know. You can't believe it.
I bought the goods at Star Nursery and only had to make two trips. (I was under the impression that I could reuse soil I already had from the Stone Age, but, no. Sorry.)
I can guarantee that once you set foot in this place, you'll be hooked. Even if you're not into gardening.
Ok. That's a lie. BUT LOOK! They have turtles and fish!
It's hard to see, but there's a little baby turtle there from when a mom and dad turtle had sweet, romantic turtle sex. I'm in love.
How can you not like this place? Look at all that green!!!!
Everything is fantastic on the smoothie front. I'm trying this bad boy this week:
It's a variation of something Lauren Conrad pimps. And you know that if a celebrity endorses it, it must be legit.
-1.5 cups almond milk
-.5 cup oatmeal
-.5 cup frozen strawberries
-1 frozen banananana
-1 tablespoon honey
It's nothing to write home about, but it's not bad either. (Maybe I'll stick with her exact recipe next time.) I'm hoping that the oatmeal helps fill me up a little longer so that an hour later, I won't be ready to gnaw on my own foot. I'm also experimenting with breaded zucchini sticks, but I'll include those riveting pictures in my next post.
If you haven't viewed my last blog on how bottled water is the devil dressed in plastic, why? There's even a video. Tomorrow I'll be speaking to our leasing office about why we don't have a recycling service, how we can get it, and how their parents are disappointed in them for destroying the planet. Stay tuned!
Growing up (like many of you, I'm sure), I was encouraged to drink bottled water for reasons of sanitation. Lately, I've delved into this a little deeper. If you know me, then you know that bottled water is something I would never buy unless I absolutely had to -- and I don't. The people consuming about 50 billion bottles a year might disagree with me.
I read a fascinating article from National Geographic on the harm present in buying bottled, and the consequences are alarming. I was perhaps most stunned to learn that it can take up to THREE liters of water to make ONE liter of bottled water. Efficient? Probably not.
Then there's the fact that transporting these bottles and keeping them cold inflicts a pain on the planet all its own. Where do 80% of these recyclables end up? The garbage. When they DO finally break down, all the chemicals and bacteria and toxins and poison go right back into the land and water. Kinda makes these bad boys look less refreshing, eh?
Some can brush aside the environmental impact, which should be terrifying enough on its own. How about the side effects on your health? The idea that bottled is safer might be grossly misrepresented. For instance, the plastic contains toxins like polyethylene terephthalate that can contaminate your body with DEHA and benzylbutyl phthalate, a human carcinogen and hormone disruptor, respectively. That's not even getting into the bacteria present. The chemicals potentially present in each bottle are what have some scientists convinced that tap is the safer option.
Bottled isn't good for your teeth either. Why? Less fluoride, which leads to a greater risk for more cavities. And nearly 50% of parents (at least) are opting for bottled over tap.
Some cities have taken the initiative to do away with bottled water completely (bravo!) like Bundanoon (Australia -- they were the first). Chicago has added a five-cent tax to each bottle, and Seattle and San Fran won't buy water for city use.
I mean, EW. Why would you want to?!
Still, bottled water is a $100-billion-a-year industry (behind pop and beer -- good job, America). And don't think that we're the ones benefiting financially. This water (intended for public use) is being pumped by these companies, bottled, and sold for 2,900 times the price of tap -- right back into their pockets.
