OK, all my internet friends, I can't resist passing on this "health tip" from a publication I subscribe to!

HEALTH TIP: Ice Cream As A Fertility Booster?...

1 in 8 couples has trouble conceiving. But, the fix could be
just the thing that summertime is all about... Ice Cream!

The good folks at Harvard University have found that along
with the usual suspects of increasing fruit and veggie intake,
limiting red meats, adding healthy fats by way of nuts and fish,
and other assorted healthful advice, full fat dairy products
may also boost fertility.

The thing here is that it must be full fat dairy, not low fat
or skim. Evidently, "skinny" dairy products lack the hormones
which hitch a ride on fat molecules - the ones that may aid in
ovulation.

While more research needs to be done, this finding looks
promising. So go ahead and indulge yourself.

--HCP Health Tips

Happy Anniversary to us!

Today is our 22nd anniversary!

Ragamuffintop - week 4

Sorry there was no post for the Ragamuffintop Challenge last week: it all got lost in the shuffle of my niece Joy's wedding! So here we are back again. It was a good week...back on track with my eating and stayed active. Better yet, I didn't totally fall off the bandwagon on our last trip north. Progress is the pair of jeans I'm wearing. Oh...don't worry, there's a smaller pair still waiting for next week!

For those of you, like me, who are interested in such things, this picture was taken with my Macbook Air and Photo Booth. I'm sitting in my living room. Happy Saturday everyone!

A few pics from Jordan and Israel

Kylie is home from her trip to Jordan and Israel! She went with Student Leadership University, an organization she has traveled with every summer. Oh, you should see the hundreds of photos she took. But for just a sampling of her trip:
Kylie is on the left in this photo. The girls are covered in black to go into a Muslim mosque in Jordan.



I can honestly say that this is a picture I never thought I would see: Kylie on a camel. That's her friend Katie behind her. I love saying "Kylie 'n Katie on a camel." Small things entertain me.


This is Jay Strack baptizing Kylie in the Jordan River. I am amazed at how murky it is...you can't even see their legs! No wonder that general Naman from the Old Testament story didn't want to dip into the Jordan river 6 times! I didn't realize that it was a test of faith in more than one way!
That's our girl! I'm so proud of her and all the work she has put into the various levels of Student Leadership University. Now it's time to prepare for Toccoa Falls!

Kylie is home from Jordan and Israel!

So much to write, so many photos to upload, and yet it is too late now. Come back tomorrow! We had a great family weekend with Joy Mathisen's wedding (lovely) and Kylie's return tonight from her Student Leadership University trip to Jordan and Israel. I'll have pictures of both tomorrow, I hope!

New Hampshire Photos

Slow down and enjoy life. It's not only the scenery you miss by going too fast - you also miss the sense of where you are going and why.

Eddie Cantor

US comedian & singer (1892 - 1964)

We are back in Lexington getting ready to go into some business meetings tomorrow. We had a nice couple of days getting the lake house up and running for the summer and hoping for sunny and peaceful days there in the future.

On a personal note, if the Lord brings us to mind in the next few days, please pray for us. Family businesses are never easy. David has the patience of a saint, but even he is being tried by fire these days.

The coolest $100 bill ever

Go check out this collaborative art project called Ten Thousand Cents. Ten thousand individuals digitally drew a small section of a $100 bill. These were then combined into the print of the bill that you see below. Their site is really fun to play with...you can click on any section and see how it was drawn.

Ragamuffintop Challenge - Week 2

I can't believe what a terrible picture that is, or that I haven't posted since last week! I am in New Hampshire right now with David, Jillian and a friend named Holly. I just found some great pictures that I want to share later, but my computer is dying so off to this post as soon as possible! So here is my post for the Ragamuffintop Challenge!

Here is what I accomplished this week

• I went back to the gym and I exercised twice (one shy of my goal for the first week)

• I stayed strictly on our new eating plan, and managed not to cheat at all!

I call that a successful first week. I was also able to wear a new pair of pants that where too tight before our Oregon trip.

Goals for this week:

• More exercise - including several nice walks around the island here in NH or into town when we get back to Lexington.
  
• Same eating plan
• New clothes fitting when I get home to Florida!

So...most boring posts ever, but indulge me a little. The realization I would have to post this kept me honest all week!

Fat Ragamuffintop Week 1

Yes, that's us: one Ragamuffin Top (me) and one pretty decently in shape and definitely cute husband. And we are home from vacation, and ready to take the Ragamuffintop Challenge.

So here is my measurable, concrete goal: two dress sizes. One dress size by August 24 (my nephew's wedding.

Progress this week: I bought a book called the 3-hour-diet (about as long as I can stay on one!) and began using the meal plans. For me, any plan is better than what I do on my own. This one features three meals of 400 calories each, three snacks of 100 calories each, and one 50 calorie snack they try to call dessert. The meal plans are very flexible, interchangeable, and can work with many of the frozen entree's for those days. You know those days.

I went back to the gym. Yes, I did. Finally. Today we just walked on the treadmill, but I'm hoping to get back into some strength training this week as well as 3 days of cardio at least.

That's my plan, and I feel rather exposed posting it, but I think that is the idea!

Portland Wrap-up

The trip to Oregon is a great memory now. We had an amazing time connecting with family and watching Brooks and Amy tie the knot! I thought I'd throw up a few more pictures of our trip for you.


Jillian and Brittne at the wedding. The bridesmaid dresses were beautiful!

This is Brittney's boyfriend Ian. He is 6'6"!!!

These handsome guys are Jeff Hughes, Coutney's boyfriend, Grant Johnson, my nephew who is getting married to Ahnika in Santa Barbara this summer (!), and Collin Vataha, my niece Heather's husband.

All the girls on the Johnson side of the family ended up choosing navy blue dresses for the wedding...without ever talking about it! This is Jillian, Courtney, Heather and Kylie.

David and me at the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding, in downtown Portland.

Debby and Clint the morning before the wedding. They headed off to an Alaskan cruise the next day!

All the kids at California Pizza Kitchen, except Colby who was out of the frame. And this is my cousin Brian and his wife Trudi.

I'm sure I'll have more later, but for now I'm off to the gym! But that's another post....