A student again

Today I became an official student again.  I started online classes today at Troy University for my Master of Public Administration program.

Troy's program is ranked in the top 5 Public Administration programs in the country and they offer several specializations to choose from: Public Management, Government Contracting, Justice Administration, Healthcare Administration, Environmental Management, Non-Profit Management, Public Human Resource Management, National Security Affairs, and Education.  I will most likely pursue my specialization in Non-Profit Management.

I am really excited to go back to school, but I am nervous about finding the time to dedicate to school since my schedule is so busy at work and at home.

Save the Date!

Love Filmstrip Scarlet Wedding Save the Date

Find unique birthday party cards & address labels at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

I love the save the date cards  I ordered to announce our wedding!  I can't wait til they get here!

I'm Engaged!

I am so excited to announce that Michael has finally proposed!

Michael and I have been together for just over 2 years and we have a great life together!  We moved in together in April when we bought a house and we quickly expanded our family by adding a second dog, Faraday (I adopted our first dog, Novella, before we started dating).  Faraday and Novella are both shelter dogs and I love them so much!

I have been waiting for Michael to propose for almost a year now and we have been talking about our future wedding for about 6 months.  We know we want to get married outside in the fall.  Now that I finally have my ring, I can start planning!

Michael and I were spending Thanksgiving apart.  I was with my dad's family ( 6 hours from where we live) and Michael was staying home to celebrate with his family at our house on Friday.  Thursday afternoon, just after lunch, I was surprised to see Michael walking up the sidewalk to my grandmother's house.  I ran outside because I was so happy to see him!  As soon as I got outside he fell to one knee (shaking the whole while) and started proposing!  It was so wonderful...and I was so surprised!

I can't wait to spend our life together!

Shoe sale: an addicts joy

Basic black platform heels from  Dillards

Red wedge sandals from Kohls and Navy wedge sandals from Dillards

So in the past couple of weeks I have enjoyed a mass of shoe shopping.  There have been great bargains on shoes at several stores and to top it off I stopped at Dillard's this past weekend and all sale items were an additional 40% off!  A shoe addicts dream!

The recent shoe shopping began with a hunt for the perfect black heals, and quickly a hunt for the elusive red shoes and brown dress flats.  I had a pair of red shoes until earlier this year when the soles disintegrated.  The brown dress flats have been a difficult find for the last several years.


Well the shopping spree uncovered many great finds and lots of super bargains, but still no brown shoes.

Black velvet platform heels with sparkle bows from Dillards

Silver and gemed heels

Coach flats and black patent flats from  Dillards

Red Flats from Belks 

Weight-loss Success (so far)

I have been working diligently to loose the weight I have gained over the last few years.  I had trouble doing it on my own, so I started working with a medical weightless program on August 18th.  I have refused to allow myself to get on the scale since that first appointment.

I have been using a really great food log that the doctor provided me to keep track of my meals / calories, exercise, and water intake.  My goal was to stay between 600 and 1000 calories (preferably closer to 1000) and drink 100 oz of water per day.  Some days this was easier than others, but when I really thought about what I was buying and eating, it wasn't so bad.  Probably the hardest part of the program has been giving up cheese and drinking 100 oz of water per day (on average I have been managing 67 to 84 oz a day).

I will admit, I haven't been exercising like I should.  So far I have walked only 3 times.

On September 13th (the 26th day of my program) I went back to see the doctor for my first follow up visit.  He went over my blood work with me and everything looked good.  Then I got on the scale.  I was so nervous I didn't want to look....after I sat back down, I peeked over at my chart the nurse was holding.....I had lost 10 1/2 lbs!!!!

Now I am working on the 2nd month.  I have been told not to expect as much weight loss this month, but that I should see more inches lost in this cycle of the program.

Here's to hoping for more successes to report!

Medical Weight Loss Program - Day 1

I have been struggling to loose weight for the last two years and haven't been successful with traditional diets and diet programs.  Recently I witnessed a friend loose weight quickly and easily by using a medically managed weight loss program.

A few weeks ago I called Dr. Woody of Bryant, AR and enrolled myself in his weight loss program.  I went for my first visit yesterday.  My first visit included a medical exam and a class about the program and nutrition.

Today was my first day of the program.  I started this morning with my medication and a vitamin, along with 1 cup of cheerios and 1/2 cup of 1% milk.  The vitamin made me a little sick, so I think I am going to start taking it at night instead of in the morning.

My meals today will include 3 small main meals and 2 to 3 snacks in between meals.  I am also attempting to drink 100 oz of water.  I am tracking my water and food in a journal.

So far I have more energy than normal, but I do not feel jittery at all.  I haven't been hungry and I am enjoying my food and the water too.

Today:

• Breakfast: 1 cup Cheerios w/ 1/2 1% milk
• Snack: 1 serving lite applesauce with no sugar added
• Lunch: Salad with balsamic vinaigrette dressing
• Snack: Banana
• Dinner: A sandwich made with lite bread, turkey, mustard, and lettuce
• Snack: Sugar free jello pudding snack

Cornish Game Hens

Earlier this week I decided to cook Cornish game hens for dinner, but I had no idea how to cook them.  I found this recipe on allrecipes.com and it was delicious!  As a side dish I made 3 cheese macaroni using Velveeta shells and cheese and adding shredded monterrey jack and parmesan.  This truly was a delicious meal that I would make again!

Cornish Game Hens with Garlic and Rosemary

Rated: Submitted By: MOONANDBACK Photo By: 4everhungry Prep Time: 20 Minutes Cook Time: 1 Hour Ready In: 1 Hour 20 Minutes Servings: 4

"Lemon- and rosemary-infused, little game hens basted with a wine and garlic broth make any occasion special."

INGREDIENTS:

4 Cornish game hens salt and pepper to taste 1 lemon, quartered 4 sprigs fresh rosemary 3 tablespoons olive oil

24 cloves garlic 1/3 cup white wine 1/3 cup low-sodium chicken broth 4 sprigs fresh rosemary, for garnish

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
2.	Rub hens with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Lightly season hens with salt and pepper. Place 1 lemon wedge and 1 sprig rosemary in cavity of each hen. Arrange in a large, heavy roasting pan, and arrange garlic cloves around hens. Roast in preheated oven for 25 minutes.
3.	Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a mixing bowl, whisk together wine, chicken broth, and remaining 2 tablespoons of oil; pour over hens. Continue roasting about 25 minutes longer, or until hens are golden brown and juices run clear. Baste with pan juices every 10 minutes.
4.	Transfer hens to a platter, pouring any cavity juices into the roasting pan. Tent hens with aluminum foil to keep warm. Transfer pan juices and garlic cloves to a medium saucepan and boil until liquids reduce to a sauce consistency, about 6 minutes. Cut hens in half lengthwise and arrange on plates. Spoon sauce and garlic around hens. Garnish with rosemary sprigs, and serve.

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Printed from Allrecipes.com 8/16/2011