Hello, everyone!
I just cannot believe it’s Thursday already! This summer is just flying by, and while I’ve been enjoying it, I’m not too keen on how fast it’s going. Seriously, how are we already half way through July??
Anyway, for today’s Thursday Thoughts, I’ve compiled a number of links over the last few weeks that I’ve really enjoyed reading. They’re pretty random, but I hope you all will find them as interesting as I do!
1. Smitten by Britain is a new to me site, but I’m in love with it already. (I was so tempted to say I was smitten with it…) This particular article, Eat Your Way Around the U.K., was especially interesting. I think due to stereotypes, people in the States get a bad idea of food from the U.K. Not to say that things like haggis are totally stomach-able (in my world), but many of the other dishes listed sound downright delicious! It’s also a good list to bookmark/Pin for future trips. 🙂
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2. About a week ago, Lillian wrote a great blog post on the dangers of the “un-clean” world we live in. She outlines things from food to household cleaners, and included some really helpful links. One was to the Environmental Working Group. Through the EWG’s site you can search by category (so, cosmetics or children’s products, for example) to see what “rating” the items you use every day get. I was appalled (and frankly, freaked out) to see that my make up gets horrible grades, as do most of my cleaning products. Even more frightening was the list of exactly what those harmful chemicals can do to you. I guess the biggest thing that struck me after reading Lillian’s article and looking through the EWG site was that being “clean” isn’t just good for the earth – it really impacts our own health.
3. All right, before I share this next link, just know that I’m not trying to get all righteous or political or whatever. I just found this graphic and the accompanying comments on “the Millenials” to be very interesting, and for the most part, truthful. I can’t help but wonder if people growing up in my generation or the next one feel some sort of guilt for simply being part of the times.
4. If you’re familiar with buzzfeed.com, you will know that many of the pages they post are funny, sarcastic, and sometimes crude. A lot of times, I’m totally ok with it, and laugh my head off (like with this cat attacks page I shared a while back). However, with 28 Favorite Books That Are a Huge Red Flag, I was not laughing. I’ve read a lot of the books in that list, and loved them, and I don’t think I’m off my rocker. And anyway, if people are reading, no matter what they are reading, it is a good thing. I still can’t tell whether or not the author was being serious. Or whether or not he actually read all of those books. Either way, I’m about ready to punch him.
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5. Here is a response from Muggle Net to the above link. Pretty much sums up my thoughts, too.
6. Meghan shared this link a few days ago, but I’ve seen it elsewhere a few times, so I thought it would be worth sharing: 10 Things Americans Eat That Are Banned Elsewhere. It is just so scary to me to think of what we’re putting in our bodies, usually unknowingly. Not cool.
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7. Finally, I’ll end on a funny note. If you’re a blogger, you’re probably very aware of the crazy search engine terms that bring people to your site. I haven’t ever done a post on it, but I know a lot of you have, and I love them all. Linda is an Irish expat living in Latvia, and she blogs over at Expat Eye on Latvia. So many of her posts are hilarious, and offer quite an amusing view into what it is like living there, but this one, Don’t Ask Google, Ask Me, had me laughing out loud the other day. While the terms themselves are funny (and actually a bit disturbing), her responses to them are the best. I highly suggest you check this out if you’re in need of a laugh.
Anyway, that’s all I have for you all right now! I’m going to be on vacation for the next week or so, but I have guest posts lined up, and I’ll know you’ll like them all!
Enjoy the rest of your week, and have a great weekend, everyone! 🙂
Liv Lives Life 
Thanks for the shameless plug 😉
No problem!
Luv this – thanks for sharing all these blogger links!
Sure! I’m glad you enjoyed them!
Omg totally bookmarking that first link..
I know! So many good things there!
Hahaha google search terms are SO funny. I love looking at the random ways people have stumbled on my blog!
Me too! Mine are usually pretty tame, but some of them are just so bizarre. Good for a laugh, though. 🙂
Yeah, that article about the books was obnoxious. I’ve also read quite a few of them, and have to say I don’t think I’m a weirdo for liking Harry Potter and Pride and Prejudice.
Definitely not weird. Those are some of my favorite books, too!
Ooh, can’t wait to show my Brit husband Smitten by Britain to see what he laughs at- I love it of course 🙂 And the expat blog looks cool, too- thanks!
Have a wonderful vacation!
I hope he enjoyed it! I’m glad you like it too. 🙂
These links are great, thanks for sharing them. I especially loved the one about the things we eat that are banned elsewhere. I never new about the papaya one!
No problem! Yes, that is a really good one. I had no idea about the papaya, either. Crazy.
Thanks for sharing these links. There all pretty awesome. Hope you have a great Friday and start to the weekend.
Of course! I hope you’re having a great weekend, too!
I ❤ Muggle Net and I definitely do NOT ❤ the person who wrote that buzzfeed article. A lot of the commenters thought they were being sarcastic but I'm not so sure… I guess if he really hates those books than fine, but he was very rude to those who do love the. Namely- me! I love Harry Potter, Pride and Prejudice, The Catcher in the Rye, The Giver, and The Chronicles of Narnia. Basically some of the best books of all time!!
Thanks for sharing that link to Lillian's post on cleaning products. I realized that I was reacting to a lot of the cleaning products that we were using at home so I started buying Whole Food's 365 shampoo and soap and Seventh Generation's laundry detergent, cleaning spray and dish washing liquid. They have some great scents I'm sure, but I just chose to buy the scentless versions because in addition to chemicals things like perfumes, candles and fabric softener really irritate me. I can't even walk down the aisle at the grocery store without sneezing and getting watery eyes… I can't believe I used to clean/wear the stuff everyday too.
Hope you are having fun on vacation Olivia! I sent you my guest post last night so let me know if you got it 🙂 Also, in case you didn't see, you won the giveaway on my blog. Send me your address whenever you get the chance so I can ship out your package!!
I’m not too sure about the sarcasm, either. Hopefully that was all it was…but if so, it was really badly delivered! We have the same exact taste in books. 🙂
Recently, I’ve had to switch to all-natural lotions because every time I apply them, they burn. I’ve also had the same problem with laundry detergent. It affects my eyes, throat, breathing, and skin. So annoying. And I always hold my breath when walking down that aisle!
Thanks so much, I am. 🙂 And yay!! I just sent you an email. I’m so excited, thanks again!
Thanks for this round up! Scary what crap goes in our make up isn’t it!?! I need to pay way more attention to this sort of thing! And the ten foods banned elsewhere ekk! Horrible.
It really is! I know, I need to pay more attention, too. Glad you enjoyed the links!
I’ve read almost half those books so you’re not alone. I guess we can be coo coo for cocoa puffs together (not that we’d ever eat those now!).
Thanks for the shout out too, my dear. Much appreciated.
Haha yes indeed. Coo coo is the way to go, I guess! And no problem, thanks for sharing that!
i usually love buzzfeed and i always love reading so i’m super curious to read that list of red flag books. thanks for sharing!