A few old pictures

I was looking through my desk and found a few old pictures. I wanted to scan some of these to make them "digital." I thought I would share :)


Story time with Mom and J.leigh-Love this one!

3rd birthday

I posted this one because it's a great picture of my sister...NOT of me!

Senior Prom 2001

Senior Trip in Panama City, FL

Pictures from the 4th

Clint and Rob immediately broke out the instruments!

This is basically all we do!

Sarah

We do this a lot too!



Margaret, Annie, and me waiting for the fireworks.


My dad


Sparklers are a must!

Perfect end to a long day!

Survival of the Hatchie, part Two

This past weekend we survived another year down at the Hatchie River Bottoms. I say part two because this was Clint's second year, this was my 25th year. I have been taking part in this family tradition since birth. I usually tell people that aren't aware of our yearly trip down the dusty roads that we are just going to a family reunion. However, I would venture to say that this is not like most family reunions. It's almost like stepping back into time, with the exception of electricity (only lights and fans, no AC), motorcycles and four wheelers, and a water tank. Other than that, we probably celebrate just the way my ancestors did way back in the day. This is camping at it's finest including the two seater outhouse.
I think Clint keeps having a better time each year. Which is totally understandable because it is a man's paradise. Although, the women hold it down pretty well! This year, my dad surprised Clint with his first shotgun. I know nothing about guns (much to my dad's dismay), so all I can tell you is that it's camouflage and 22 inches. That's probably about as much as Clint knew too when my dad put it in his hands. But, after a few rounds of pistol and skeet shooting, I do believe his skills improved. Well, enough to protect us from intruders if need be! He also practiced on the motorcycles to get ready for when my dad gives him the bike that already has his name on it. I have requested that he have a few more lessons before we take it home with us. (I can already see the mother I'm going to be!)
We had a great time and I do have the mosquito bites to prove it...all 56 of them on my legs (you think I'm kidding, but I'm not).
I'll post pictures of our Independence Day weekend soon.

No sugar added and hold the margarine, please!

Last week, I went to the doctor to discuss an infection that I was experiencing. (Nothing big just needed some medications.) The thing I like about this doctor is that she will actually sit down and talk with you. Rare now days, I know! She also is good about giving you somewhat more "natural" alternatives than the regular prescriptions. We got to talking about why I had been having certain issues. Among other things, she said that she has been doing a lot of research about today's average diet and sugar intake. She suggested that I cut back on my sugar and look for more foods with "no sugar added' and that were sweetened only with the natural sugar. (I.E. fruit juice) We also discussed at length about the artificial sweeteners. I've never really been a big fan because I have always heard about the risk associated with their use. But, I will say that I ignored most of these risks because they can aid in weight loss. I know, I sound shallow. Let me explain...

Before my wedding, I wanted to loss weight and get fit. Some of you will roll your eyes. (I got a lot of that.) But hear me out. I do have a point :) So, Clint and I began Weight Watchers and over 5 months I lost a significant amount of weight and felt like I was in great shape. I've always exercised weekly, but I really picked up my pace during those months. I learned how to portion my meals and eat more fruits and veggies. However, the thing I realize now is that I ended up choosing the "low fat, light, fat-free, sugar-free" options over everything else. While some of these products aren't terrible. Most of them take out the fat and replace it with sugar. And I was drinking tons of diet soft drinks. All of these have either Splenda or Aspartame as a sugar replacement. Again, like I said, there is tons of research that speaks to the dangers of aspartame. I didn't even realize how many foods it was in:
(http://www.sweetpoison.com/articles/0706/aspartame_symptoms_submit.html)

Also, we used a lot of spray butter and margarine. I now realize that spray butter is basically chemicals with butter flavor. And that margarine often contains poor-quality, refined, artificially saturated vegetable oil.

So, the question that I asked myself was: Is it more important to loss weight or be healthy (truly healthy)? Of course the answer to me is obvious. Sadly, to others it is not. Anyway, over the past week and a half I have bee doing some research on organic foods. I'm really liking what I've been reading. I keep coming back to this question: What's so wrong with the things people were eating back in the day? Why not just get back to the basics.

I know this is a rambling post. It's really just me getting my thoughts out there. Do I think I will start eating everything organic instantly. No. I don't foresee that occurring. Do I think that I will cut all sugar out of my diet? No, if I want a cookie I'm going to eat a cookie. But,what I will be doing and have been doing is cutting back on the sugars, eating more natural foods (butter, the real deal), and only allowing myself few sodas a week. I would say this is a pretty bold statement coming from the wife of a soda distributor.

I'm not a nutritionist and don't claim to be one. I'm just a girl searching for the road to a healthier way of living.