Milk is Evil

Milk campaigns targeted at children & athletes spew out this FALSE information & it really fires me up!  

So, yesterday I got in a semi-heated debate with a friend of mine who is convinced that milk is some sort of life source.  He asked me why I considered milk the "devil's drink" & there we so many points I wanted to make, I didn't know where to begin…

Think about it for a second… 

What other animal on earth drinks milk from another species, besides human beings?  
What other animal on earth drinks milk after maturity has been reached, besides human beings?
Cows weigh THOUSANDS of pounds & calves drink fat filled milk to reach this weight… why are we drinking something that is intended to make you gain weight RAPIDLY?  

There is an amazing blog called eatingforenergy.com that talks about pasteurization, growth hormones, antibiotics & other disgusting problems with milk.  Some of my favorite points:

The Unnatural “Beefing Up” of Dairy Cows – Hormones and Antibiotics

"Fifty years ago an average cow produced 2,000 pounds of milk per year. Today the top producers produce about 50,000 pounds! How is this accomplished? Drugs, antibiotics, growth hormones, forced feeding plans and specialized breeding – that’s how."
"The most recent unnatural addition to dairy cows is bovine growth hormone or BGH. This genetically engineered drug is supposed to stimulate milk production without “supposedly” affecting the quality of the milk itself! Rrright….(in the voice of Dr. Evil from Austin Powers)"
"Many countries have banned BGH because of safety concerns. Any substance added to a dairy cow’s body comes out in the milk. I don’t know how you feel, but I don’t want genetically engineered hormones coming into my body!"
"BGH causes a dramatic increase (50 to 70 %) in mastitis (udder infections) in the dairy cows’ udders, because of the constant production of milk. This in turn requires antibiotic therapy to cure the mastitis, and then the residues of the antibiotics appear in the milk we drink."
"Over 50 % of all the antibiotics produced in North America are mixed directly into animal feed. Ideally, antibiotics should be used in farming only when necessary to treat infections."
"However, due to the unhealthy conditions of factory-farmed animals, and the poor, dirty conditions they are raised under, they are fed a constant supply of antibiotics from birth until death."
"We then, are unknowingly consuming far more antibiotics than we intend to, by drinking commercial milk. This fact may be part of the reasons that more and more people are becoming resistant to prescribed antibiotics."
"Milk alone contains traces of up to 80 different antibiotics! Since lactating mammals excrete toxins through the milk, this would include antibiotics, pesticides, chemicals, and growth hormones.?

The Problem with Pasteurization

"Raw milk sours naturally, but pasteurized milk turns putrid and thus manufactueres must remove the slime and pus from pasteurized milk through centrifugal clarification." 
"Furthermore, inspection of dairy herds for disease is not even required for pasteurized milk."
"To hit home the problem with pasteurization, calves (baby cows) fed pasteurized milk die before maturity!"

http://eatingforenergy.ca/blog/143/milk-dairy-products-pasteurization/

Fashion Inspiration…

Ashley Tisdale

Cheryl Cole & Cher Llyod

AnnaLynne McCord

Lauren Conrad

Jessica Alba

Recent buys…

Aqua Faux Fur "Chubby" from Bloomingdales.com

I've been looking for the PERFECT leapord jacket that I could dress up or down & I think i found it!  Pair this cozy jacket with jeans & a plain t, or wear it over your fancy holiday dress for a statement.  PLUS… got it on sale & everything from AQUA is amazing. 

MinkPink Silky Sheer Blouse  

This MINKPINK top is perfect for work, Sunday church, or a dinner date with the boy.  Just sheer enough to be sexy, but not still look effortless.   Pair with denim & chunky belt, or slim black pants to make it work appropriate.

J Brand Martini Flare Denim

Until recently, i've been an avid skinny jean fan, but these are so flattering & look good with fitted sweaters for the cold weather!  J Brand flatters almost all body types & these jeans will look good on everyone!  

Dolce Vita Velvet Mini

I splurged on this dress because it's so different & cozy!  The velvet has amazing egyption-style detailing & the back slit makes for a unexpected sexiness to this scoop neck long sleeved number.  I emagine it with black tights & pumps for the winter weather.  

WILDFOX

I've had a serious addiction to this brand for a couple years… They're so fun & make a simple T or sweatshirt into a statement piece.   Celebs have been caught all over town wearing these duds, as well… 

WILD FOX

Current Readings…

I've read this book a few times before, but it's one I keep going back to when I need some inspiration & insight in my life.  Karen Armstrong is one of my favorite authors because she has a way of explaining such complex subjects in a way that makes sense even to a person with little religious background.  This book makes me have so many lightbulb moments & really changes the way I look at the world…  

Another thing I absolutely love about Karen Armstrong is that she is one of the most well rounded & educated theologians in Eastern & Western religion (it's rare to be so knowledgable about both) & in a discipline that is dominated by atheists & agnostics, she holds firm to her Christian beliefs.  Although most of her work does not persuade her readers to share her own beliefs, in The Case for God, she does explain why religion, even in today's world, is important for living a happy, fulfilling life.  She states that religion is “to help us live creatively, peacefully, and even joyously with realities for which there are no easy explanations".  She also argues that religion helps us live a “compassionate lifestyle that enables us to break out of the prism of selfhood.”  These concepts do not originate from one specific sect, but in fact can be found in most religions.  This is why The Case for God is a good read for anyone on a quest for a deeper meaning or understanding of religion.  

If you're in search for a deeper meaning to your life, or just want a better understanding of the history of religion, I highly recommend trying out Karen Armstrong's work.  

The Hangover from HELL

I barley drink anymore, but when I do, I find that my hangovers are getting exceedingly worse!  I refuse to think that it's because i'm getting old… so I tell myself it's because i'm not doing the proper "conditioning".  

I have, however, learned what makes my horrible headaches & shakes subside… hope they help you get through the next rough morning!

1. Fluids.  I drink electrolyte enhanced water from Trader Joe's (like Smart Water, but 1/2 the price) because the added electrolytes are said to hydrate you more efficiently.   I also LOVE coconut water, chock full of potassium & electrolytes & tastes super yummy.  

2.  Milk Thistle.  Milk thistle capsules are found in any local health food store.  Said to help your liver process toxins more quickly, try to remember to take a few capsules at the beginning of your night, before you go to bed, and a couple in the morning.  

3.  Sweat it out.  Although the idea of hitting the gym may be nauseating, it really is the best way to cure a hangover.  Just be sure to drink plenty of water, and muster up the energy to do some cardio.  My workout of choice happens to be spin, but anything that gets your legs moving & your blood flowing.  

4.  Eat HEALTHY.  I know that a lot of people say greasy food is the hangover cure, but whenever I eat fast food or lots of fat & processed food, I feel completely gross.  Add that to a head-pounding hangover, & you quadruple your day-after-dilema.  

DIY Christmas Decor

This year, I wanted to give expected Christmas decorations a touch of something unexpected… I'm a fan of contemporary decor & clean lines, so when i saw this chandelier at Ikea, I knew it would be perfect for a DIY Christmas wreath project…. 

Ikea LED Chandelier: $29.99

 Picture of the chandelier on it's side.

Tools needed: 

• Ikea LED chandelier (2 sizes available)

• Hot glue gun & glue sticks

• Clear Christmas-tree bulbs

*for my large wreath i used 15 packs of bulbs (6 in each pack)  

*I purchased the bulbs at Big Lots for only $3 a pack!!

Clear thread or fishing line

The process… 

• First, hot glue the metal tops of the bulbs to the glass bulb so that you don't have accidents later on.  

• Starting on the inside of the wreath, tie bulbs to frame with fishing line.

• Make sure you tie the blubs to the "front" or only one side of the wreath so when you hang your finished wreath, there's a flat side to hang against the wall.  

• Cut the ends of the fishing line after you've tied the bulbs into the wreath.  

• Continue with outside edge of frame & then cross bars in the frame.  For my wreath, I had 3 or 4 rows of bulbs around the entire wreath.

Finished product!  

I hung my wreath over a mirror for the extra effect & attached it with the same clear fishing line.  I hid the power cord along the edge of the mirror's frame to plug in the LED lights.  

Tip:  Save a pack of bulbs until after you hang your wreath, so you can step back & decide if a spot on your wreath is looking a little bare.    

I've already gotten A LOT of compliments on this wreath!  The Christmas trees on the side are 3 foot faux trees, which i stuck glittery faux gardenia flowers & leaves in & wrapped the bottoms in burlap!  

Total Cost for wreath:  $75 (I saw a similar wreath at Rodger's Gardens a few days ago for $500!!)  

xoxo Shauna