Y’all sure know how to make a girl blush 🙂 Reading your comments is the highlight of my day. I am glad you all enjoyed the little trip down memory lane. I replied to all of the comments – did you know that you can reply to your comments through your email now with WordPress? I just hit “reply” in my inbox, but instead of sending an email, it sends it directly to your comment box on my post – cool!! I am going to start doing this more often – right as the comments come in!
What happens when a girl gets her blogging mojo back? A full day of eats, of course! I don’t think I’ve blogged all three meals since BlogHer. I have to give kudos to those of you who do it every day – it takes dedication! Muy impressivo.
I woke up at 5:45 am this morning and was hit with the writing bug. As I mentioned in my last post, I don’t know where this newest “project” is going to end up, but I like the way it’s making me feel. I enjoyed a mug of Coffee Cocoa while relishing my furiously typing fingers (ha, I am SUCH a dork!).
As per usual, I headed to the gym for a morning sweat session and did 20 minutes on the stationary bike. I love that workout. It’s such a wake-up call! I came back, showered and made the usual.
Are you tired of this combination yet? ‘Cause I’m not 😉
Then it was off to work I went. I was lucky enough to have Papa Bender as a walking buddy this morning. My family stayed in Chicago with me for the weekend and left this afternoon, so PB was nice enough to escort me to the office. Twas fun!
I spent the morning catching up on everything I had missed. I snacked on a new Jocolat flavor.
It was pretty good. I think I like the Larabars best, but it was still fun to try something new.
Lunch was phenomenal. One of my co-workers recently told me about the Butternut Squash & Apple soup from Au Bon Pain, and I am now obsessed! It has a hint of maple syrup and a touch of cream…and a whole lotta awesome. I highly recommend it!
This is actually a picture of last week’s lunch 🙂 But you get the idea – it looked the same today, promise!
The rest of the afternoon went by in a blur. One of the things I love most about my new job is that I am always kept busy. No such thing as “boring” while I’m in the office. The days go by lightning fast and I have no idea what happened. I sort of love it.
When I got home, I made one of my latest favorites for dinner.
I cooked up 1 whole egg + 2 egg whites with some spinach on the stove until the greens had wilted. I then stuffed the “goods” in a whole wheat pita and added a big handful of chickpeas, 2 tbsp. salsa and a sprinkle of Goya. It is seriously filling. Must be all that fiber 😉
Currently, I am further indulging my fiber needs with a HONEYCRISP!! I know these are big in blogland and as everyone else will tell you, they are worth the $$. So juicy and fresh – they scream fall.
Also…
GO PACKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That is all. Yes, I am from Minnesota. Yes, I live in Chicago. Yes, I am a cheesehead at heart.
Bobby and I are arch rivals tonight. Bring it on, Bob.
Around-the-Blogosphere
- Did you see that Gourmet, Cookie and Modern Bride are closing? So sad 🙁
- CHECK IT OUT: The New FTC Guidelines
This is a big deal as both a blogger and also in my line of work. Here are some of the key points:
- The post of a blogger who “receives cash or in-kind payment to review a product is considered an endorsement”
- The rules require bloggers and endorsers to clearly disclose any freebies or payments they get from companies for reviewing their products or face penalties that include up to $11,000 in fines per violation
- The rules do not say how bloggers must clarify or disclose any conflicts of interest (e.g. in each post, in an overall site disclaimer, etc.)
- The disclosure goes beyond blogs to celebrity endorsers – including comments on talk shows, blog posts and on social media as well as in traditional advertisements
- If a company’s advertisement refers corporate-sponsored research findings, the advertisement must share and disclose the connection between the company and the research organization (e.g. who paid for the research)
- The rules also affect advertisements/endorsements where the “results not typical” tagline used to appear; now advertisements will be required to say what results consumers can “generally expect”
- The rules take effect December 1
Thoughts on the new guidelines? How will it impact the way you blog/read blogs?
Please share your opinions – I’d love to hear them!
Abrazos,
Those blog rules sound scary! Ahh it kind of makes me scared what I say!
Aw, don’t be scared. Blogging is still going to be blogging – we just have to be a little more aware of our interaction with brands. It’s amazing how what we say (no matter how many people see it) can have an impact, no?
I can’t wait to try that flavor of Larabar. I love German Chocolate Cake! Did you know that it’s not actually German? It was invented by a man in Texas whose last name was German. Interesting.
PS: Go ‘cats! Fellow NU alum here, class of ’06. 🙂
Woohoo! Go U N-U! Glad to see another Wildcat 🙂
Mmm, I don’t think anyone could get tired of that oatmeal combo! It looks delicious 🙂 The soup looks amazing, and perfect for Fall, too!
Oooh the blog rules are intimidating! I always say when I get a product for free, but I guess I have to look into the whole “site disclaimer” or whatnot.
Hurray for fall! I agree with what you said about the rules – thanks for sharing!
i read that article…kinda crazy to me. but hey, i normally get my products for free and aren’t paid…but wait, does that mean foodbuzz taste tester stuff counts? should look into that!
YAY! Go Pack! Too bad we aren’t doing to hot right now 🙁 Oh well, they will always be the best no matter what!!!
1-Me gusta tu espanol 🙂
2-Your dinner is one of my FAVORITE things to eat. That combo got me through college, and I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of it.
3-The FTC guidelines sound intense–but I think they may be a good thing. First, this does so much to legitimize the blogging community, along with the strong–and clearly impacting–voices behind all of our blogs. Secondly, I think that because our opinions are important–even if just to one another–disclosure is pretty important. As blogging heads more and more in the direction of journalism, I think we, too, should have a code of ethics, of sorts.
Loved seeing all your eats and glad you’re doing well!
XO
Yay for Au Bon Pain lovin’–I am so jealous that you have them in your city. That bread is amazing!
I spy some very thinly sliced apples…just the way I like ’em:)
wow, that dinner? i’m gonna have to get on that 🙂 and that soup sure does sound yummy! i was actually thinking of doing a buttercup apple soup as i have one of those in my apt 😉
the guidelines? i feel like everyone i read always says when have gotten a product from the company… and that they’ve been honest about their review. I haven’t gotten many things to review, but i’ve never been asked to say anything in particular either.
Hey chica. That squash/apple soup sounds awesome! What a perfect lunchy. This rules are craziness! Its blogging!~
You know what today is??? WAHOO!!!!! DATE DAY!!!!
See you tonight 🙂
I like the rules. I think they’re meant to bust some bigger cats and I’m in favor. Most of the bloggers I know reveal that sort of info already, so I don’t think it should be a big deal.
I’m SO sad about Gourmet. 🙁
In particular I really like the rule about being required to post the connection between the company and research organization with corporate-sponsered research. Makes you more aware of where biases could be, right?
And I’m totally breaking out the coffee cocoa this morning. Yum!
Interesting new rules, I will be following them seeing as I don’t have the $11,000 to chalk up if i disobey 😀 SO cute that pops walked u to work i love it!
Wowza, interesting new guidelines!! We shall see.
I loved seeing your full day of eats and its awesome that your new job simply files by- I like being busy at work for the same reason. Who wants to sit around bored all day?
I don’t see the guidelines affecting me all that much as I already follow the disclosure rules but the $11,000 fine is quite a hefty price tag. I guess the FTC means business.
I love that the acronym for Papa Bender is PB- so fitting for blog world.
Hey lady! Good to see you’re still around! That butternut squash soup looks SO good – I may have to go there for lunch later this week!
I already disclose if I am getting something for free or the giveaway is being provided for me. The fine makes me nervous because what if I’m not disclosing enough? I guess time will tell how this all shakes out. I’m still going to blog though!
I, too, am a big fan of the gym bike! It’s so versatile–you can do sprints, hills, high resistance, all from the comfort of the gym (plus no one will steal your bike 🙂 )
Your dinner looks scrumptious. I’ve never thought of putting chickpeas with eggs. I must try it now!
The FTC rules are very thorough, but I definitely agree with their goal: to increase transparency. Since blogging is basically a new journalism form, to maintain its integrity it’s important to minimize shady dealings, in my opinion. Thanks for sharing!
Have a fabulous day Jenn 😉
What happened to our Packers???? I grew up in Wisconsin (near Green Bay) and even though I now live in Minneapolis I am still a huge Packer fan and was sorry to see them loose last night.
I don’t know how I feel about the guidelines, they are trying to parent too much and there will be some stickiness as a result of all of this.
delicoussssss breakfast and dinner! i love the idea of eggs with chickpeas and veggies all wrapped up!!
I didn’t know you were from MN! So cool–but not really, because I don’t like it here haha!
That soup sounds amazing! and how fun to have Papa Bender walk you to work 🙂
I always say when something was a free sample, but I haven’t put up any type of disclaimer. I also haven’t had many samples yet, so I guess I’ll have to think about if I start getting more?
Hope you have a good day Jenn 🙂
I want a honeycrisp now, NOW! it looks so tasty. i always buy fuji or gala but might have to step out and try something new…
it’ll be interesting to see what the ramifications of these guidelines will be. i dont know enough about it to have an eduacted opinion. but i always have lots of uneducated ones! 🙂
Those blogging rules do sound scary. Thanks for posting that — I will be more aware of what I say when working with brands.
I’m from Minnesota too!! I live in Colorado now- I wish we had Au Bon Pain!
yum you meal at Au Bon Pain looks cozy. I’ve never been there. Sad those magazines are going away 🙁 So strange how many of htem have disappeared and they all seem to have been popular ones. The new blogging guidelines seem interesting. Nothing to be scared of but all bloggers/companies need to be made aware of it.
One thing that I love about the chilly temps? The excuse to drink coffee cocoa 🙂
That Au Bon Pain bread?! Divine!
I hate rules, hah! Doesn’t mean that I won’t follow them because I’m a goody-two-shoes and I already do most of that but why are there rules for EVERYTHING!?
Your oats look so pretty!
The blogging guidelines are interesting but I can’t imagine how they can be enforced.
I think the new rules are fair enough. Only time will tell though – I’m interested to see how this plays out once the rules take effect.
I so envy your enthusiasm for the new job! So happy for you though – you deserve it. 🙂
So sad about the Packers:( I am a die hard Bears fan and grew up in Chicago but went to college in Milwaukee and my husband is from near Green Bay, so I was hoping the Packers would pull through:(
Thanks for posting this FTC announcement. Something us bloggers really need to look into and research!
I was totally confused about the whole comment reply through email thing, haha goes to show how much I understand about the internet!
I could seriously eat PB&J or AB&J oats every morning and never get sick of them!
Your coffee cocoa looks like something from a coffeehouse – so pretty with the milky froth and cocoa topping!
As for the blogging rules, I am curious about the disclaimer requirements. I understand transparency for posting a compensated review, and something I already do, as well as disclosing when I’ve received products from a company to try out for my blog (which happens when I post about it on the blog in the review). I am now working on a wording to preface posts that may contain samples from companies, versus posts that contain foods or other items that I picked up at the grocery store or at my local Target or Wal-Mart. I am interested to see what they will require as a disclaimer.
Look at that good lookin’ Hunk of bread! I could eat 10 of those. woo-hoo!
Butternut Squash & Apple soup sounds so good! I can’t wait until it gets cooler in Florida and I can enjoy soup like that!
Honeycrisp apples!!! I tried my first recently after Costco was out of pink ladies. You are so right- honeycrisps taste exactly like fall! Yum.
Great recap on the new rules!
I was just thinking today that I needed to try PB&J in my oats and I think I just might do that tomorrow! Great pics.
The new rules make me nervous but I think for the most part, I say what I pay for and what I got for free. Which isn’t much really, I’m not as hardcore as some other bloggers in hitting up companies for samples (not that there’s anything wrong with that).
Have a great day!
[…] to all who shared your opinions on the new FTC Guidelines. Personally, I also feel that I am already technically “following” them, but it does […]
[…] This morning, I started the day off with some PB&J oats, which I had been thinking about doing for a while but the final push came after seeing them featured on Eating Bender. […]
I’m curious as to how those FTC rules affect those of us not in the US, if they do at all? As most of our blogs are hosted by US based companies, do they apply in any way?
That’s a great question, Marianne. I’m curious myself! Hopefully the FTC can provide some insight – I’ll have to look into it.