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not cupcakes!!!

i just read an article that people are trying to ban cupcakes from school! what is wrong with people? i don't usually get on my high horse...but, come on!!! CUPCAKES??? it's because everyone is so worried that kids are getting overweight, not excercising...what bothers me is that people want to regulate it....why do we have to have a law for everything? why don't we just be in control of ourselves and if we think that the cupcake has too much sugar...then, don't eat it! no one is forcing you...it just drives me crazy!!!! why do we have to have laws for so many dumb things? and i realize that people do stupid things...so, they ban cupcakes, but, how many of those parents are out drinking? or smoking?i think it's funny, that in the article, bakers from "across the atlantic" as they put it, are "perplexed" that we are having this problem...i totally agree...i'm very perplexed... i understand that we want our children healthy..but, one cupcake will not hurt you...it's better than eating a whole cake!

Here are the 2 articles:

Should cupcakes be banned?

I love cupcakes. LOVE them! I never really cared about them until I became pregnant, at which point, during my third trimester, I developed a craving for them. This turned into an obsession, which, once the baby was born, put cupcakes squarely into my life where they belonged.

My son is 6 months old, so I wouldn't be aware of the alarming -- and growing -- trend of banning cupcakes in schools. I get where the banners are coming from. Cupcakes are bad for you. They're made of sugar and butter and all those delicious things that I think it would ultimately sad to deprive our kids of.

But, I get where the banners are coming from. Start kids with sweets now and they could end up as obese kids soon enough, and obese adults later.

Still, I agree with the sentiment of a recent New York Times article. In it cupcakes are likened to apple pie. Some consider them to be the new definition of Americana.

Reading this article I thought about all the opportunities I had to eat cupcakes when I was growing up. Most of the time I declined them -- after all, even at a young age I knew they were bad for me, full of sugar and butter. They became the enemy. Well, frenemy -- special occasions merited a bite or two.

My grandmother never made cupcakes. She made pies, the old edible ideal of Americana. Reading about cupcakes made me wish she had.

What's interesting to me is that in the article the banning of cupcakes from classrooms is discussed, but so is the backlash. I think it's a pretty sweet fight.



Ideas & Trends
Don’t Even Think of Touching That Cupcake

By SARAH KERSHAW
Published: September 23, 2007
THE cupcake is at something of a crossroads. Edible icon of Americana, frosted symbol of comfort and innocence, it may not have faced such an identity crisis since first appearing in cookbooks sometime in the 18th century.

Mario Zucca
As we know, cupcakes have had a whopping resurgence: they are retro-food chic, the thing to eat for people in the know.

But cupcakes have also recently been marched to the front lines of the fat wars, banned from a growing number of classroom birthday parties because of their sugar, fat and “empty calories,” a poster food of the child obesity crisis. This was clear when children returned to school this month to a tightening of regulations, federal and state, on what can be served up between the bells.

And it has led some to wonder whether emotional value, on occasion, might legitimately outweigh nutritional value.

Schools trying to bring parents to the table in efforts to root out fat and sugar have faced what Marion Nestle, a professor of nutrition at New York University who strongly supports limiting sweets in schools, calls “the cupcake problem.”

When included on lists of treats that parents are discouraged or forbidden to send to school — and when those policies are, say, put to a vote at the P.T.A. — “cupcakes are deal breakers,” Professor Nestle said. “It sounds like a joke, but it’s a very serious problem on a number of levels. You have to control it.”

While the merits of banning goodie bags filled with Reese’s and Skittles seem obvious — especially at a time when the risk of childhood diabetes is high for American children — many parents draw the line at cupcakes.

This could have something to do with the fact that in the modern age, the cupcake may be more American than apple pie — “because nobody is baking apple pies,” Professor Nestle explained.

The confection is so powerfully embedded in the national consciousness — and palate — that its future is quite possibly the only cause to unite Texas Republicans and at least some left-wing foodies behind a singular mission: keep the cupcake safe from harm.

“I think the wholesale banning of parents’ bringing cupcakes as a legal issue is over the top,” said Rachel Kramer Bussel, a former sex columnist for The Village Voice who founded the Web site “Cupcakes Take the Cake” three years ago.

The Texas Legislature agreed, in spirit, when it passed the “Safe Cupcake Amendment,” in 2005, in response to new federal child nutrition guidelines and lobbying from parents outraged by the schoolroom siege on cupcakes.

After the amendment passed, a blogger on Homesick Texan wrote: “i don’t think it necessarily warrants all the hubbub, or the intervention of legislature to intervene on behalf of the cupcake. ... but then, another part of me is screaming ‘CUPCAKES!!!’ because they just make people happy.”

Hillary Clinton perhaps was aware of this when on David Letterman’s show recently she listed as No. 9 of her Top 10 campaign promises, “Each year on my birthday everyone gets a cupcake.”

As Ms. Kramer Bussel, who organizes monthly cupcake meet-ups in New York City, said, “If you bring cupcakes to a party, you are so popular.”

Until the late 1990s, the cupcake often shared the mental dessert pantry with canned peaches and ambrosia; it was nostalgia food, mom-in-an-apron food, happy food.

But then cupcakes took a very chic turn. Trend-setting bakeries like Magnolia, the Greenwich Village cupcake empire, arrived on the scene; by 2005, a parody music video on “Saturday Night Live,” which was later viewed more than five million times on YouTube, included the lyrics, “Let’s hit up Magnolia and mack on some cupcakes.”

And now the new cupcake, having drifted so far from Betty Crocker, is facing fierce competition from the retro cupcake, which is the new, new cupcake that is really the old cupcake.

Americans still find time to whip up some batter and slide a tray in the oven. It’s easy, and the appeal is multifaceted. Cupcakes are portable, cute and relatively inexpensive. They are also “feminine and girlie,” Ms. Kramer Bussel said, so the majority of cupcake bakers and fans are women.

Cupcake is a term of endearment, but it can also be a rather mean-spirited word. “Cupcake teams” in sports are said to be soft and easily crushed. As food, though, cupcakes are democratic; everyone gets one. And they are libertarian; individual and independent compared with communal cakes, which may not have enough slices for everyone.

Across the Atlantic, where cupcakes have become increasingly popular in the last few years, some bakers said they were perplexed by word of an American cupcake crackdown.

“Over here people think it’s a bit like this innocent cake,” said Jemma Wilson, owner of Crumbs and Doilies, a new cupcake bakery in London. “And it seems more dignified and civilized to eat one portion, unless you kind of eat 10, which obviously happens a lot.”

A sub-debate within the cupcake debate has revolved around whether the meaning of cupcakes has been lost — and it’s not pretty.

Can the cupcake loyalist support the sale of a chocolate Guinness cupcake with green-tea cream-cheese frosting? Has the cupcake been stolen from the people by the baking aristocracy?

For a sense of how charged the subject is, consider what happened in July, when Magnolia Bakery, having vaulted to fad status by an appearance on “Sex and the City,” was briefly shut down by the city health department for not having enough sinks at its Greenwich Village establishment.

“At last!” said a blogger posting on Eater.com. “We neighbors get relief from cupcakistas who don’t realize Duncan Hines makes better-tasting cupcakes.”

After a long debate thread, another blogger wrote, “You people need to go back to the suburbs ... Seriously, bunch of grown up New York City residents obsessing over a cupcake shop. I miss the gunfire and crackheads.”

hometeaching and visiting teaching

i just wanted to say i have great home teachers and visiting teachers....it's a great program...i have to admit, i'm not a great visiting teacher....i'll say hi through my blog...but, bev and dick are the greatest...they are good friends...i know they care...they are diligent....and we have alot of fun together...i told them we have to go to the shooting range next month....that will be fun....anyway...give a hand to great friends..... this little video is NOT my home/visitng teachers at all...more me!....but, it's very cute if you haven't seen it....

Click To Play

projects

how the fireplace looked
after it was ripped apart

as most of you know....i Love projects....especially if they around my house....today a new one was started...i've had a problem with my fireplace for awhile...it was really ugly, then we tried to fix it up and it looked much better...but, now we're going to make it great...actually, it's not "we", it's lynn who has great ideas and is very talented at putting them into reality....

the star garden

for the fans of "sara's quilt" and "these is my words"...there is a new book out called "the star garden"...can't wait to read it....

BOO! with mouse ears

boo!
fearless gav
kel and owen

what better way to spend the day....kelly and jeff and the boys went to disneyland to see the halloween decor, so i drove down to meet them...we did alot of the fun rides...saw the darling decorations...gavin rode with me on the matterhorn! my own kids never rode the scary rides until they were about 8, he's 2.....he's a big kid, he raises his arms as we go...we went on pirates...the jungle cruise...it was a nice day...wished you all were here with us...especially you kerry.... (by the way, these pictures and video were all taken on my phone...they turned out pretty good!)

last chapters

have i mentioned that i love to read? it is my all time favorite past time...sometimes one that i get carried away with...sooo, i read alot of books...i just finished a really good book...it was a good story, very exciting..made you think etc. etc....and then i came to the last page....and it was the LAST page!!! it wasn't over yet in my mind....i really hate that in an author....you read a book that's 300, 500 or even 700 pages long.....they drag the story out forever with details...and then wham, bam....it's over without explaining anything...in my book...(and im not mentioning the title because i don't want to reck it if you read it)...there were about 3 different storylines that were not resolved..they just were sort of left, which makes me want to finish the story for her...why do authors do that? it can drive you crazy......i feel like writing the author and complaining.....maybe i will.....

marriage meme

dad, mom, tom and me
terry, tom, grandpa russell
josh, micah, amy, gabi, me, abby, jamie, and ty
tom and me dancing
tom and me

i was tagged by kel and as i have been in the anniversary mode, i thought i would tell about my romance with tom...

where did you meet your husband?

i was in college at the university of utah, working at the canyon racquet club...everyday the "u's" tennis team would practice there...i made friends with a couple of them....the coach told the boys i was "off limits" because my dad owned the club..and i was a good mormon girl....i'm sure that was just the challenge tom needed...

First date?

we would talk everyday and then one night he asked me out...he was very nervous because he had never dated a mormon girl before...he had a jeep...it was early april...he called before the date, he was worried because the doors were off...he was worried that it would be too cold...anyway, we saw "all the presidents men"..it was a very fun date...from then on we dated...my parents weren't happy as he wasn't a mormon...he started coming to church....i kept telling him we were only friends...we couldn't get married...he would say fine...he didn't want to get married...but, then at the end of july...he said..it's too bad we can't get married...we would have great kids...that about killed me...i knew he was right...

where was the first kiss?

first kiss wasn't for about 6 weeks...i had really started thinking.."what's with this guy?" and then he kissed me on my forehead...that was really romantic to me...he later said he was so nervous to do that..

Was the courthsip long/short?

we dated from april to december before getting engaged...during that time i went to europe for a month...then when school started, he started taking the missionary discussions...he got baptized at the end of october...

where did you get engaged?

i knew that we were going to get engaged sometime soon, because in november, tom invited my dad to lunch and had the big talk where he asked for my hand...so when it actually happend, for about a week he kept teasing me that he had something for me...and never did, one night we were going to the "u" basketball game, he came to my house and we were in the front entryway, he said,'i've got something for you...and i said no you don't, then he pulled the ring out and asked me ..i was screaming...my family was in the kitchen...so we went to show them...it was exciting...later, he said he was to excited to wait.. we got engaged in the early part of december...BUT, then we were engaged until september when we got married...we waited until he could go through the temple...which we were able to do early because of a special letter from pres. kimball..

where did you get married?

we were married in the salt lake temple... the wedding was beautiful..as i said in my earlier blog..i cried all the way through it...it was such a happy, emotional time..

How did the reception go?

the reception was fantastic...we had it at my house in the back yard...the yard was gorgeous..the night was great...we had dancing and just alot of fun..i felt like a fairy princess...

How was the honeymoon?

we stayed the first night in slc at the hilton...tom got us the honeymoon suite for free, because he taught the owner tennis...then we flew to california and took the boat to catalina...tom's family has house there and we stayed there for a week of bliss...we hiked, explored the island...walked the town about a million times...since it only has about 3 streets..it was really fun...he showed me all the spots from his childhood days...then ,we went to his parents for a few days...diane's friends gave me a shower..that was very nice...when we got back to salt lake..our apartment was not done yet...tom had worked some more magic and we were staying "rent free"in a new basement apartment from another tennis client...they were such a nice family....the rent was that we would babysit for them and tom taught them tennis...so until the house was done, we went up to stay at my family's cabin in park city...and the honeymoon continued and we had kelly 9 months later!!!

so, that's the story, it's fun to remember those days...so i will tag...Marilee, Audrey and Susan

30 years!!

i was really young 30 years ago...i must have been because i'm still sooooo young....i really was a baby...but, i met my true love and we wanted to be together forever, so on this day 30 years ago we had the most beautiful wedding in the salt lake temple...which i sobbed through...then had a gorgeous reception at my house...what a fun day it was...i loved being the princess that day...tom was a great husband...now don't get me wrong, there were plenty of times that i wanted to strangle him...but, doesn't that just go with being with your one true love? but, he made up for it by being so much fun...he really made me laugh...i think we were good for each other...he lightened me up a bit...and i guess i got him working....or at least kelly did when i was pregnant 2 weeks after the wedding...that's another story...anyway...i'm so glad that i met tom and married him...and i'm so thankful for the promises we have...plus my great family...what a great life i have...i'm glad i knew that he was the one....i just hope that my kids have the same kind of happy marriage that we had...in the words of someone i know, "it's worth it"....

aunts or ANTS!

aunts in the pantry? i wish....no it was ANTS!!!! what a great morning wakeup call...well at least my pantry is nice and clean, and is pretty empty...had to throw alot away...wish the aunts had come and eaten it instead.....

ya gotta have friends

well, i'm into my new life of living with no kids...so far i've kept pretty busy...after getting home from utah...went to the movies, lunch, the grandbabies came up to visit...i've been trying to clean and organize my house etc. etc. etc...but, you have to have friends...i told my college age kids that they needed to go and say hi to the people in their classes...visit with people to meet new friends...it's sort of funny, but, i'm in the same situation..i've had alot of friends move recently...so, i'm trying to put myself "out there"....tonight we went to the "other side" of the stake for this home clothing party...turned out to be alot of fun...saw people we don't usually see...so, i'm trying to make new friends and keep the old....as the song says...so how do you make friends? it's easier when your kids are in sports or school activities...as we get older...the circle seems to narrow...so, as i'm looking for new friends, new activites...tell me yours...i might use them....

to modern mod

marty and me
marty 1962..a fashion queen even then
tom, polly, jo, and marty about 1965?
marty and dee's wedding
jo, mom, polly, and mod

today is my sister marty's birthday...have a wonderful day and year marty...we always called her mod...she is the best sister a girl can have...i'm lucky that she is just a little older so i have always called her for advice on my babies, then my kids, then my teenagers, now my 20 somethings...and now my grandchildren....marty has always led the way...and she does it in great style....aren't i lucky? so thanks for being my big sister...for always being there for me...for your words of wisdom...for the fun times we've had...for never letting me forget that i washed your madame alexander dolls in lotion.......(i was 3)....and like i say...i'll never forget....love you...

labor day fun

today was labor day and a beautiful day it was...russ, kerry, whit, jason, dave and taryn and i went to park city to ride the alpine slide and the alpine coaster...actually, i watched because i wasn't really in the mood...after what turned out to be a pretty looooong wait....the got on the alpine slide...they all had alot of fun except jason scraped his elbow....ouch....so then they went on the coaster which is on a rail type system...they said that was really fun...especially when russ and dave were stopped at the bottom and jason and whit slammed into them...they loved the whiplash...i sat at the bottom and people watched...that's always an amusing activity...i saw alot of really pretty families...seems like a lot of families here are really nice looking...i saw alot of pregnant woman...adding to those beautiful families...there was a fight between a husband and wife...she was mad because no one told her what was going on..then there was the lady that said another ladies dog bit her...she told the restaurant owner...he came and yelled...the dog really touched the ladies pants...anyway...it wiled away the time...then we went to baja cantina...that was pretty good...so, all in all a nice labor day....with not much labor involved...