Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution

Once upon a time, long, long ago...I wrote the last post on my blog. I have news for you. KEY DRUMROLL HERE. I'm back.

I'd like to premiere my re-blogging with a post about Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. Over the last two years, I've had an intense interest in the food industry and the effect it has on our nation's health. I'm constantly learning about genetically modified crops, food labeling and large-scale food production. As you might have guessed, I jumped at the opportunity to watch Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution on ABC. 

In case you aren't familiar with the show, it documents chef Jamie Oliver and his attempt to bring healthier habits to Huntington, West Virginia. During the filming he attempted to establish a new school lunch program that serves fresh produce, while eliminating overly processed food. He visited families and opened a local kitchen to educate locals about healthy cooking habits. 

To sign a petition supporting healthier food in schools, visit Jamie's site.

I would love to see what we could change in this country (and around the world) if we only tried. With a virtual world around us, it seems that getting people to collaborate and rally together should be easy. How can design help support and challenge the issues you are passionate about?

An easier way to have ketchup on your fries!

Original image and article can be found here.

For all of you who have struggled with ketchup packets in the car, the solution is finally here. The old design from the 1960's has been replaced with Heinz's new packet, which allows consumers to dip or squeeze. Not to mention it holds much more ketchup than before.

You all must understand that this is a "monumental" event in my life. I can't eat fries without ketchup...the greasy delicious-ness just isn't the same without it. I have struggled and squeezed ketchup onto napkins my entire life when I'm in the car. What about you? How do you dip? 

If you love music

If you love music and you haven't discovered Apple's lala.com yet, check it out. In essence it is a musical social networking site, but I thought that wikipedia (the most reliable source EVER, wink, wink) described it nicely.

The service allows trade-enabled members to legally create online shareable "playlists" (formerly known as "radio stations") of their own uploaded music which can play full length songs for other registered Lala members, purchase mp3s, stream music on a one-time basis or as inexpensively purchased "web songs," buy new CDs from the Lala store mail for $1 per trade plus 75¢ postage, leave blurbs on other members' pages, and participate in the community forums. New members can upload their own music, create playlists, purchase MP3s and web songs, buy new CDs at the Lala store, leave blurbs, and can change their personal account settings to activate trading privileges and also be able to trade CDs and use the community forums. -Wikipedia.org

If you would like to be my music friend, I go by the name Heidi M. and my e-mail address is heidi.miller.design@gmail.com! It doesn't take long to register, and you have the ability to listen to an entire album before purchasing anything. Since I just joined, I haven't bought anything yet, but you can look at what I've been sampling at the very least. 

Pantone Shoes

All design nerds: J Crew has Pantone shoes. Let's hope they come out with a larger variety of colors soon. Check it out.

Colorstrology

Today, with the help of Pantone and Michele Bernhardt, I found out what my birth color is. Below is my birth color and my personality traits as determined by the month and date I was born. Check yours out at Colorstrology.

My color: green-blue slate

Traits: complex, quickwitted and expressive

Perceptive and intellectually gifted, you can read people quite easily. You often know just what to say or do in order to give people what they want. You are expressive and funny and people like it when you entertain them. It is important for you to discover your own wants and needs. Being outdoors is one of the ways that you can relax and remember who you really are. Your personal color gives you the strength to move through the complexities of life. Wearing, mediating or surrounding yourself with the color green-blue slate reminds you to take care of yourself as you interact with others.