Disappointed By The American Dream

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I was told that in America, you can be who you want to be. More importantly, you can purchase whatever you want, whether that be cereal with little to no nutritional value or regular ‘ole almonds. I was lied to. America may specialize in odd specialized products, but it appears that they have neglected the old faithful in the process.

I recently ventured to a Walmart in the great state of Virginia in search of a nutritious snack. Though I found a shelf full of nut varieties that included purple, blueberry almonds, I was unable to locate a simple bag of unsalted roasted almonds. What’s that about, America?

As I live in Canada where variety is generally limited to recognizable flavours, I looked forward to the wonder in store for me in the aisles of an American Walmart. However, this trip left me disappointed. The American dream as I knew it is no more.

The Economical Traveller’s Lament

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A recent wedding had me heading down to the good ‘ole U S of A. I love to seeing new countries and visiting friends that live in other parts of the world. However, I’ve come to realize that there is a difference between exploring a new country and travelling.

Travelling can be great. It allows you to explore foreign culture and take people-watching to a whole new level. The actual process of getting to and from your chosen destination, on the other hand, is draining, especially if you’ve chosen an economical route. After you’ve stepped off your third connecting flight, you start to rethink your priorities. Having lugged around your carry-on from airport to airport all day, all you want to do when you reach the hotel is shower and sleep. Being an economical traveller is exhausting. Continue reading

What’s In a Birthday?

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Why do we celebrate birthdays? So, I survived another year. That’s hardly something I had a hand in. However, I’ve learned that celebrating a birthday has it’s perks. I’ve learned that if you sell your personal information to enough big companies (not just anyone) and sign up for enough loyalty programs, you can walk away with a pile of free stuff on your birthday. I mean, the perks are basically limited to free bagels and coffee, but free is free. I’ve always been a fan of free stuff. I have  a pile of books on my shelf I got for free. I knew I would probably never read them, but I digress. Continue reading

Sugar: Resistance is Futile

donut_1After eating healthy for the past few months, I can now say with confidence that it doesn’t get easier. Eating healthy is not for the faint of heart. No matter how many cups of water and unsweetened green tea you drink, the sugar cravings don’t go away. Although, the frequent trips to the restroom somewhat help to keep your mind somewhere else. I find the only thing that really works to keep your mind off food is to stay busy. The minute you sit down for a breather, you’re thinking about how long until your next cheat meal. Word to the wise, plan your cheat meal carefully. I’ve too often wasted a sweet treat on a cookie that really wasn’t worth it.  Continue reading