Fall in Ontario is soooo beautiful!
This is definitely my favourite time of the year!
Dinner tonight was rather festive for both Fall and Halloween. Mervin made another appearance…
Eric made a delicious Sweet + Sour Stir-fry for dinner. He knew I was super busy so he took the reins and made his specialty!
It was delicious. Carrots, peppers, onion, zucchini, tomato, no salt added sweet and sour sauce, minced garlic, and pepper.
He served it over top of the Red Lentil Soup. Most of the broth was gone, so it was basically a thick protein-base that paired well with veggies. This soup is so versatile! Almost like a little black dress!!!
Dessert was my new Empower Glo Bar.
Regarding the poll- there was a tie between Ignite and Invigorate. I did a tie breaker on Twitter and just as I was about to officially name it, I was hit with Empower for a name. It was a gut instinct and I knew I had to go with it!! I am definitely going to keep Ignite and Invigorate on the list though. If there is one thing I have learned in the past year, it is listen to the little voice! So, Empower it is.
Variety Pack Sale Tomorrow
Stay tuned tomorrow for the new release of Empower in a delicious new variety pack. I will be having a sale for the first 20 orders tomorrow!
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Cellphone ban now in effect for Ontario drivers!
Staring today it is now illegal for Ontario drivers to use cellphones, Blackberries, and other handheld devices while driving a car.
"Under the province-wide ban, drivers are forbidden from talking, texting or emailing on their portable phones while behind the wheel of their vehicle. The law, which came into affect today, is aimed at protecting drivers from distractions that take their eyes off the road for a long period of time.
The new law also forbids drivers from operating entertainment products such as portable DVD players and laptops.
However, iPods and GPS units are still permitted as long as they are mounted to a dashboard or "another accessible place in the vehicle," Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation states on its website.
Other exceptions to the rules are:
- Drivers can use cell phones to dial 911 if they have an emergency
- Phones can be used behind the wheel if the driver safely pulls off the road or is parked
- Hands-free devices, such as headsets and phones plugged into the vehicle’s sound system, can also be used
- Emergency workers like paramedics will be able to use hand-held phones for the next three years for work purposes"
[Source]
Personally, I am SO happy this is finally a law!!!! I have witnessed so many drivers almost get into an accident because they were either using a handheld cell phone or they were texting while driving. When I was commuting to Toronto I would see at least 5-10 drivers a day texting while driving. I think texting while driving is much more dangerous than talking on a cellphone.
Drivers caught talking on a handheld device or texting can face a fine up to $500 CAD. They aren’t messing around here!!
I need to check if my old Blackberry has a speaker phone…At first I was thinking: yikes, how am I going to talk in the car? But speaker phones and headsets make it so easy now! Plus, they don’t hurt the neck. ;) I think it will be a small sacrifice in comparison to the lives it will hopefully save.
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Do you support the ban of handheld devices while driving? Are they banned in YOUR city?
There are similar bans in the following areas: Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, California and New York, according to the Ontario government.
"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense."
–– Ralph Waldo Emerson
Haha lentils ARE one of the LBD equivalents in foodland! I love that.
YES YES absolutely support bans on cell phone use while driving. I know from using my cell WAY TOO MUCH while driving that it can so easily be the cause of an accident; i’ve had SO many close calls because I wasn’t paying attention.
We have a cell phone ban in California that prohibits driving and phones without hands-free sets. Although people kicked their cell phone habits temporarily right after the law went into effect, it seems like people are back to their old ways. I see people driving and talking/texting all the time. Sigh.
I agree wholeheartedly with the banning of handheld devices…I actually wrote a paper on it, and did a speech on it during school. The reaction time of a person on a handheld device is worse than someone is drunk. It’s nice to know that that prohibits people from texting while driving, too.
I love the ban. I lived in NY for many years and got used to my hands-free earpiece for my long drives. It is good and safer and doesn’t give me a crick in my neck.
BTW I love the title Empower. It really fits.
I am so happy that the ban is getting passed in more and more cities. I live in Arizona where cellphone is not completely banned although I think texting while driving is. I’m glad that being on the road will be safer.
Our state (NY) has had that ban in place for a while. It’s amazing how many people ignore it though. You can use a bluetooth headset while driving, so you can still talk to people. I think overall it’s a good idea.
I love the name Empower!
I hate cell phones while driving! I wish they’d be banned everywhere!
I am so glad to see this finally coming to fruition! I hope this will encourage other provinces and countries to follow suit. I recall reading some statistic that said people who drove while on the phone were more dangerous that drunk drivers – what a scary piece of information!
Love the new bar too! :)
-K
My state (Washington) already has a handheld device law, and I think it is necessary. Too many people drive and text, which is so unsafe.
Empower is a great name! They banned texting while driving in Minnesota but not talking on your phone. I think that will be next.
What gorgeous scenery Angela! Our seasonal peak was a couple of weeks ago, and we’ve been having insane amounts of rain lately, so it’s taken all the colorful leaves off the trees. It IS beautiful while it lasts! :)
The texting ban was just recently passed in my city. I definitely think it’s a good idea!
xxoo
Heather
Driving while using a cellphone is banned in Connecticut and I am so thankful for it! It doesn’t seem to be enforced to well though; I always see people using them. I think that texting or talking on the cell while driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving.
I read an article that said it didn’t matteer in many cases if the person was holding a phone and talking or using a hands free device – they were cognitively devoted to something else and so scanned the road less and had slower reaction times! But texting – oh man, I’ve almost got into some bad situtation texting – that should DEFINITELY be banned!
I need to order myself some Glo Bar pronto! They always look so good :)
I just did a review on my blog about a cooking class I went to this past weekend. The woman left her job as a lawyer to pursue her passion in cooking, which reminded me of you. You should check it out if you have time!
I love that we have the ban here in California. It bugs me when I still see people texting while driving, it’s just so dangerous!
We have only banned it in school zones here in Tx, but we should everywhere. People cant multi-task and drivers and pedestrians are being injured from ppl not paying attention.
Can’t wait for the new variety pack! I’ve been patiently waiting for a time when the stars align – aka lots of bars are available and I actually have money so I can order some :)
Hi Angela, Why have I not tried some of these glow bars yet?! That new bar looks so yummy!!
Cell phones are still allowed here in BC, but I am not sure for how much longer. I admit I am a drive chatter so I will be hooking it up to my car! I can’t be without contact while stuck in downtown traffic :)
This is just about to become banned in New Zealand which I fully support 110%!!! I’m 15 and two weeks ago I had my first driving lesson. Whilst I was driving, I was concentrating SO HARD and was taking into account all of the things and distractions around me, I immediately said to my Boyfriend “How do people text and drive at the same time??!?! How can they possibly concentrate on driving carefully??”. So I’m so glad this is finally illegal. I think it will make a huge difference as far as distraction related road accidents are concerned.
I live in Belgium and we currently do have a law that forbids the use of a cell phone while driving (I think we’ve had it for more than three years now) but they’re debating that also the use of headsets, bluetooth, … will be forbidden! Reason is that they claim is distracts the drivers attention. I think this is a little bit ridiculous, then they should also forbid to have noisy children in the back seat :-)