Monday, June 28, 2010

Pear Kale Smoothie

I am on a huge smoothie kick and have been inventing new flavors.  Today's was especially yummy:

3 pears, peeled and sliced
4 leaves of kale, de-stemmed
4 oz. yoplus vanilla yogurt (gluten free + extra fiber - what more could I ask?)
However much orange juice was left in the container (maybe a cup?)

Blend until a beautiful pear green color that you would want to paint your kitchen walls with, then enjoy!

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

A User’s Guide to the Universe: Surviving the Perils of Black Holes, Time Paradoxes, and Quantam Uncertainty By Dave Goldberg and Jeff Blomquist

A User’s Guide to the Universe is the authors’ attempt to educate liberal arts people like me about science and physics.  They get brownie points for trying, but it may be that I am a lost cause.  The book jacket calls the book a “plain-English, plain-hilarious handbook (that) ushers you through all of the major discoveries of modern physics”.  The authors take basic questions (can I build a time machine; what happened before the Big Bang) and bring the answers down to the level of mere mortals.

I enjoyed the book for the first chapter or so.  The authors are amusing and I was able to hang in there with them for a while.  But not for long.   On the one hand, I hesitate to blame them, as I have to say I lost interest when I couldn’t follow them anymore.  On the other, their jokes got old, the analogies stopped working, and I stopped caring.

So, do you read the book or not?  If you really want to learn more about physics in a non-threatening way, go for it.  But be warned, the authors’ style can wear you down, and in the end, perhaps some things don’t need to be understood.  Isn’t that why we have physicists?

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Amazing Art

This art is amazing!  You have to see it - there is no way I can do it justice with words.  So just go now.  I said NOW!

http://www.petercallesen.com/index/A4PAPERCUT_000.htm 

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Gluten Free Discoveries

Some of you may know that I have to follow a gluten free diet.  Not fun if you are a bread kind of gal like me.  However, I am working on finding yummy yet gluten free things.  Here are the latest favorites:

Enjoy Life Cinnamon Crunch Granola and Cranapple Crunch Granola.  Wonderful mixed in with Yoplait YoPlus yogurt (also gluten free).  A nice, filling breakfast.

Betty Crocker GF brownie mix.  Not low cal or anything, but my kids love them.  A little denser than regular box brownies.

You may now continue to eat.


If I Could Ask God Anything: Awesome Bible Answers for Curious Kids!

If I Could Ask God Anything:  Awesome Bible Answers for Curious Kids!
By Kathryn Slattery
If I Could Ask God Anything is described as a “unique kid-friendly book jam-packed with clear, fresh answers to important questions about God, faith, prayer, and Christianity in language that children can understand.”   Both my eleven year old daughter and I read this book and agree – the author gives clear, non-condescending answers to questions ALL of us have had, not just kids.  Questions on topics ranging from God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit to the Bible, Christianity and Prayer and continuing on to what it means to believe and act as a Christian are all addressed.
Recognizing that even as Christians we can have varying beliefs (among denominations, churches and even families), I was a little worried at first whether the book would answer questions according to my church beliefs.  With the exception of one or two answers, I thought the author handled questions beautifully.  I am not going to discuss my disagreements with the author, as everyone will likely have a different opinion, and those few disagreements for me did not negate how much I enjoyed the book.  I recommend this book for families looking for information to back up answers to their children’s or their own questions.  I also recommend that the adults read it first or with their children, so they can be prepared to further discuss the issues.  That is simply part of responsible parenting in the church!