Comments on Conversion Diary: 7 Quick Takes Friday (vol. 59)

I didn't play along this week, but I finally got h...

2009-11-29T14:02:56.513-06:00

I didn't play along this week, but I finally got home and decided to read your Quick Takes.

Re: Advent Calendars.

There's an online one from Veggie Tales at their site, and it usually starts December 1. Each day, Larry gives you another silly saying. (Big Idea has a new Christmas Veggie DVD about St. Nicholas, by the way! I'm so excited, and I don't even know if my girls would be.)

I'm doing my Jesse Tree stuff again (just set it up to go every day at midnight, beginning Dec. 1), but it's not interactive unless you make ornaments and hang them up yourself. ;) I did paper ones our first year, by the way, and we started using our Christmas tree as our Jesse Tree last year, which works better than the stupid stick in cement in a pot setup I tried two years ago.

Finally, if you're looking for some activities for Advent, Catholic Mom and Domestic Church have some really good stuff, too. (At Domestic Church, look for "Fridge Art" for various activities, categorized into age groups! I love catagories!!)

God bless, Jen, and have a blessed Advent!

I really appreciate the call for Advent celebratio...

2009-11-29T09:32:48.523-06:00

I really appreciate the call for Advent celebration stuff . . . my little one is just about to the age where I can do this stuff with her. I linked to this on my weekly roundup and since I'm a big nerd, I pulled out the links, too. :>) Thanks, and blessings!

My first time. Done :)

2009-11-26T18:35:21.386-06:00

My first time. Done :)

Usborne Books makes a great interactive advent boo...

2009-11-23T12:07:13.812-06:00

Usborne Books makes a great interactive advent book:

http://www.myubam.com/ecommerce/details.asp?sid=W2190&gid=88763467&title=Advent+Nativity+Book&sqlwhere=submit%3Dsearch%26search%3Dadvent

Hope that's helpful!

To the commenter who called aspartame an excitotox...

2009-11-23T10:00:49.620-06:00

To the commenter who called aspartame an excitotoxin and "poison, pure and simple":

I have to say that this position is full of misinformation and based on pseudoscience. Here are the facts:

The body breaks a portion of aspartaMe consumed into aspartaTe, which is another word for aspartic acid. Aspartic acid is one of the 20 amino acids used by the body to build proteins, and it literally is present in every cell of the body. In a stroke, glutamic acid and aspartic acid already in the brain play a role in further brain cell death, and this is what is meant by the term "excitotoxin." There are several key facts that explain why this is not a concern with aspartame consumption:

First, aspartate (aspartic acid) does not cross the blood-brain barrier uncontrollably. It has to be brought in via "active transport," which means that cells have to actively spend energy to bring it in.

Second, the problems experienced by some people due to aspartame sensitivity are not due to aspartate excitotoxicity. The methanol in aspartame is a more likely culprit. (Aspartame is a compound made of methanol, phenylalanine, and aspartic acid.)

By no means am I declaring aspartame "safe." It's the subject of ongoing scientific research, with some (but by no means all) experts suspecting it plays a role in certain neurological problems, at least in some people. But as I said before, the dose makes the poison. Just because a substance is toxic at a certain dose does not mean it is dangerous at a lower dose. Here is one journal article that is an example of how the dose matters with aspartame: In a study on toxicity in red blood cells, "low concentrations" had no effect, but "high or abuse concentrations" had a negative effect.

I highly recommend any of these Advent calendars!!...

2009-11-22T21:56:56.362-06:00

I highly recommend any of these Advent calendars!!

http://www.angeluspress.org/oscatalog/advanced_search_result2.php?PHPSESSID=&keywords=advent+calendar&x=0&y=0

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1557255415/...

2009-11-22T18:55:41.912-06:00

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1557255415/ref=nosim/explorefaitho-20

Highly recommended for Advent meditations

Your no 7, great! You always make me laugh with on...

2009-11-22T09:39:20.604-06:00

Your no 7, great! You always make me laugh with one of your over sincere posts.

Liturgy of the Hours

Last year, we started doing a Jesse tree. The kid...

2009-11-21T21:35:12.001-06:00

Last year, we started doing a Jesse tree. The kids loved it. We used the one listed below, which was great because it was crafty, yet didn't require too much thought on my end. I just had to follow a pattern.

http://www.leafletonline.com/catalog/ProductDetails/ProductDetails.aspx?pid={99fba255-c7ac-49aa-81c6-f91c41c6267f}&pname=Jesse+Tree+Banner+Kit&Referer=QUICK_SEARCH&Alias=jesse%20tree&ptct=BS-SR&CTitle=&

Other Goodwill thing - Elizabeth, just wanted to l...

2009-11-21T19:46:02.884-06:00

Other Goodwill thing - Elizabeth, just wanted to let you know, I work at Goodwill!!

It's not that I don't donate things, I just like to see them be used by someone who can't afford to buy it, even at a secondhand store. I know that at Goodwill, we aren't allowed to accept donations of many baby/children's things such as cribs, bassinettes, playpens, strollers, carseats, etc.
I have seen some very beautiful and still functional things donated that are sent straight to the dumpster because of liability issues. I have personally given away changing tables and high chairs that I know would have been landfill had I taken them in to donate to Goodwill.

So.... also, I am a massive procrastinator, and it's easiest for me to put things up on Freecycle as I'm cleaning my house and have people pick them up that day/evening. I know if they sit around and I think, "I will take them to Goodwill or Salvation Army," they will be sitting there for a month or more.

At any rate, particularly enjoyed this Friday Jennifer. Good job! Jog in jeans, you may set a trend.

Thank you! That makes sense, maybe next week. :)

2009-11-21T18:48:53.912-06:00

Thank you! That makes sense, maybe next week. :)

Young Mom - Just popping in real quick and wanted ...

2009-11-21T16:32:08.189-06:00

Young Mom - Just popping in real quick and wanted to answer your question: I think the easiest thing to do is to right-click on it, save it to your computer, and then use your blogging platform's regular process for adding pictures to your post. Sorry for the inconvenience -- one of these days I'll make it easier. :)

Oh, and Marie -

I'm sure you have heard this, but the reason they put three different kinds of sweeteners in is because if it were all one of those it would be the first ingredient...

I hadn't heard that. THAT IS SO SNEAKY!!

Anyway, thanks for the comments, everyone! :)

Just a note about Goodwill. They do sell some of t...

2009-11-21T15:09:41.208-06:00

Just a note about Goodwill. They do sell some of the clothes and other items that are donated -- but that's part of their service. The money raised through the sales is used to fund job training programs for disabled and untrained workers. I think there are also ways that those in need can "shop" in the stores for free. No, I don't work for them. But my daughter's Brownie troop is doing a clothing drive for them and they had the programs explained to them.

Maybe I am a bit dumb, but I couldn't figure out h...

2009-11-21T14:50:05.513-06:00

Maybe I am a bit dumb, but I couldn't figure out how to get the picture mclinky thing to post on my blog. I'm kind of new at this, can anyone help me out?

Haha...jogging in jeans...you crack me up. You kn...

2009-11-21T12:40:21.626-06:00

Haha...jogging in jeans...you crack me up. You know the Duggars...w/ the 19 kids? Well, the boys only wear long pants, NEVER shorts, so they jog in jeans all the time! Well, are in you Austin or San Antonio, I can't remember. My husband is Army and we were stationed at Ft. Hood 2 years ago, but now we are heading BACK down to good ole Texas. I'm looking forward to warmER weather (currently in NY) and wearing more skirts & dresses & trying out some petticoats that Betty Beguiles was writing about!

Hey there Jennifer - not sure if you've heard of F...

2009-11-21T10:47:01.372-06:00

Hey there Jennifer - not sure if you've heard of Freecycle.org but it is a way to give stuff away for free and people will typically come get it. I enjoy meeting the people getting our stuff and using it, as opposed to putting it in a box and sending to goodwill where who knows if they will throw it out or sell it even though they received it for free. Also, you can get free stuff on Freecycle - I recently got jeans (because I lost weight, huzzah), the Ghostbusters movie for my son and even a brand new The Very Hungry Caterpillar book. Just thought I'd pass it along.

We have the magnetic advent calendar from Catholic...

2009-11-21T08:59:00.668-06:00

We have the magnetic advent calendar from Catholic Child cataglog. Here's a link. http://www.catholicchild.com/MAGNETIC-ADVENT-CALENDAR/productinfo/32053/ The pieces may be rather small for your small children, but it does have a bracket on the back so that it can be hung out of reach (take it down to put a piece on, back up after). It also can stand on its own.

Hey Jen, I have included a link to the Advent cale...

2009-11-21T08:12:49.279-06:00

Hey Jen, I have included a link to the Advent calendar we made (and used) last year. The link is to my blog and the picture isn't that great but the calendar worked wonderfully. This year we are making it out of foam and the doors will be like pockets to hold the prayer intentions.
http://theafelskies.blogspot.com/2008/12/marking-time.html

Here's a link for a homemade eggnog that I guarant...

2009-11-21T07:57:21.831-06:00

Here's a link for a homemade eggnog that I guarantee blows away the kind you buy in a carton! (This one is actually good for you, and tastes much better.)

http://kellythekitchenkop.com/2008/12/jeannies-non-alcoholic-eggnog-recipe-easy-nutritious.html

Also, we all LOVE this Advent activity. It's not a big burdensome "have to get this done" thing on my plate (only takes 5 or 10 minutes of my time), and it's fun for the kids. They've heard the same stories for years now as they color, but still love it. The whole story of creation is covered.

http://www.theadventevent.com/

hi! i loved what you said about the eggnog. i boug...

2009-11-21T01:38:21.322-06:00

hi!
i loved what you said about the eggnog.
i bought honey flavored and pumpkin spice and have been adding it to my tea all week long.
but i have moments when i'd like to put it in shot glasses. line them up on the kitchen sink and drink the whole thing.
i really need to read that book on fertility cycles and nutrition.
something about me if off.
thanks for the quick takes.
i needed a bit of a chuckle!

Amen on the diete drinks, no weight loss "program"...

2009-11-20T22:47:01.365-06:00

Amen on the diete drinks, no weight loss "program" ever worked for me as long as I let myself drink diet soda.

Oh, and re: the eggnog, I'm sure you have heard this, but the reason they put three different kinds of sweeteners in is because if it were all one of those it would be the first ingredient. . .

Love your blog...this is my first '7 Quick Takes' ...

2009-11-20T22:16:56.041-06:00

Love your blog...this is my first '7 Quick Takes' although I've been reading yours since it started!

I drink diet drinks even though I increasingly awa...

2009-11-20T20:45:02.016-06:00

I drink diet drinks even though I increasingly aware that 1) I have a psychological addiction to them (that might not count as 'even though') and 2) I'm pretty sure I now have a sugar addiction, if the symptoms are anything to go by. I sometimes quit, but only for a few months at a time. Then, when Lent or whatever is over, as soon as I hit a stressful period I cave again.

Re: diet drinks - Did you know that aspartame bega...

2009-11-20T19:06:02.639-06:00

Re: diet drinks - Did you know that aspartame began its career in a lab developing compounds for chemical warfare? It was going to be a nerve agent when it grew up!

Thanks for the tip concerning soda pops. I may ha...

2009-11-20T18:25:40.791-06:00

Thanks for the tip concerning soda pops. I may have to try a fast from them to see the effects. :)