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| Basil, Green Beans, Red and Purple Tomatoes, and Cucumbers |
While hanging out at my mom’s house earlier this week she happily took me on a tour of her beautiful garden. She was too cute, sharing her gardening routine with me. I enjoyed our time together and was delighted to bring home a basket full of garden goods. There’s nothing better than garden fresh goods, especially garden fresh tomatoes — oh my goodness!
So far I’ve made an Asian Sesame Cucumber Salad (so fresh and light) and a Caprese Salad (an Italian Classic kicked up by the garden fresh basil and tomatoes) . Up next, I’ll do something with the green beans.
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| The blacker the berry the sweeter the juice |
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Chrisetta Mosley
I am a product – and now a survivor – of childhood obesity. As a child, my family always told me that my extra weight was merely baby fat and I’d eventually grow out of it. I never did. Instead, my childhood is filled with memories of not being able to ride a bike, flattening its training wheels from being over the recommended weight, and avoiding P.E. classes by any means necessary. For years, I wore my fatness like a wounded soldier wears a Purple Heart - with pride. I owned the look. I dressed it up. I worked the room. There wasn't a skinny girl who intimidated me. I made sure my hair was laid just right. Nails polished. Outfits coordinated to the tee. Accessories to compliment every outfit. But everyone has a breaking point, and mine came in the spring of 2004 when I tipped the scale at nearly 400 pounds 388 to be exact. I was MISERABLE trapped inside of that body. I no longer wore my Purple Heart with pride. Rather, I was ashamed and frightened. Ashamed that I had allowed food to become my everything – frightened I would die because of it. Drastic times called for drastic measures... Today, I’m bound and determined to live a better, healthier, active lifestyle. I realize I’m no longer a passenger in my life, I’m the driver. I’m overcoming my inhibitions and I’m slowly but surely saying farewell to my old childhood nemesis, obesity. For once and for all, Farewell Fatso!