tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16354353099351332512024-03-13T07:53:54.543-05:00New Orleans Girl's Lagniappejust a little something extra...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1635435309935133251.post-54751716133438325422014-03-06T11:05:00.000-06:002014-03-06T11:05:54.592-06:00Made to Crave: A Verse That Calls Me to ActionHello!!! I've been so busy lately I haven't written anything in over a year!!!! Between grad school and wedding planning my blog (among other things I enjoy) have fallen by the wayside. As you know, losing weight and being healthy has been something I have constantly had to work on and struggle with. Through Proverbs 31 Ministries I found an online bible study for women having this same issue called Made to Crave!!! This week is our week of #ACTION! Today we're doing a photo hop where we share a verse that calls us to action and gives us encouragement. One that I CONSTANTLY turn to is Philippians 4:6-7<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-my1qBUfNg7Y/UHJU2freijI/AAAAAAAAELw/0SUpzdebkr0/s1600/phil+4+6-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-my1qBUfNg7Y/UHJU2freijI/AAAAAAAAELw/0SUpzdebkr0/s1600/phil+4+6-7.jpg" height="317" width="400" /></a></div>
This verse has given me so much hope and encouragement over the years, and I hope it will do the same for you. Ready. Set. #ACTIONUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1635435309935133251.post-19066915017417669912012-12-19T13:40:00.000-06:002012-12-19T13:40:07.585-06:00Miss Me?Well, as you can imagine it has been an eventful few months. I barely have time to breathe anymore, much less blog or do anything remotely related to leisure. I started grad school in August, as well as a new job, and it was much more overwhelming than I expected. That, along with wedding planning and finding time to <i>somewhat </i>relax, has taken up every second of my life until about a week ago. <br />
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Grad school is amazing. I love it. I have met amazing people, I've made great friends, and I really believe I've found my calling. AND (drum roll please) I got a 4.0 this semester! That's right, straight A's. I guess staying off my blog probably helped, haha. I was unsure at the beginning of the semester. It was a HUGE adjustment, and I had a really difficult time. But, I <u>love</u> school counseling, and I am so thankful for the opportunity to be in this program.<br />
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My job is pretty sweet, too. I started working at a child care center at the end of July as a substitute, which quickly changed to a pretty permanent thing. I was a cook/substitute for a couple of months, and then I moved up to staff-in-charge in October when our director went on maternity leave. I was so excited to get more responsibility, and I've enjoyed it a lot. I LOVE the kids. It's insane. They're so sweet and hilarious, and there is never a shortage of hugs. So, things have been going pretty great. <br />
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I finally have some down time now that finals are over and the holidays are fast approaching. I've been working everyday, but I'll be taking a week off to see my family in Atlanta for Christmas and New Years. It's strange... with the semester being over I find it difficult to know what to do with myself after work each day. I've been able to go to New Orleans a couple of weekends, and for the first time in MONTHS my TiVo is finally cleared. I'm hoping to read a few books (for leisure, finally) before school starts again. It's nice to just be able to breathe.<br />
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Hopefully it won't be 4 months until my next blog post. <br />
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Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1635435309935133251.post-46883205061175903152012-07-06T12:00:00.000-05:002012-07-06T12:00:00.903-05:00My Reduction Surgery- Weeks 2 & 3 Post-OpThe second week of recovery went really well. On Wednesday I drove for the first time. I had to wait an extra week because I drive a stick shift. I was still sore, but it didn't hurt to drive. Soreness and swelling went down a lot, but I started to become VERY sensitive. As the nerves reconnected I was overly sensitive and tender, but it wasn't too bad. I left the house more and started getting back to my regular routine. Toward the middle of the second week I was able to take a normal shower without the handheld shower head. At the beginning of the second week I was also able to start wearing a normal shirt instead of a button-down shirt. At the end of the week my mom and I went shopping! I bought some new shirts, a couple of dresses, and a bathing suit! For the first time in years my bathing suit didn't cost a number that was even close to triple digits! It was so nice to actually enjoy shopping! I didn't have to worry about things looking funny, BUTTON DOWN SHIRTS ACTUALLY CLOSED, and I can wear strapless things! Clothes look so much better. I was so excited!! <span style="background-color: white;">My mom and I also went to a bridal show- which was so much fun! It was nice to get dressed up and go do something! </span><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;">The third week went pretty well too. Unfortunately, I started PMSing. I usually have breast tenderness and swelling, but this time it was multiplied by like 50. It felt similar to how I felt the first week, but it went away after a couple of days. </span><span style="background-color: white;">I could've started buying bras, but I was pretty uncomfortable so I decided to wait a while. I did buy a wireless bra that was really comfortable so I had something to wear under my shirts without my sports bra showing. It's so nice to not have to wear underwire!!!! I've never worn such a comfortable bra. I don't want to ever go back! </span><span style="background-color: white;">The stubborn steri strips FINALLY started to come off a little, but not very much. We went to the sunflower festival- which was beautiful- but I was really sore that day so it </span><span style="background-color: white;">dampened my mood because I was pretty uncomfortable. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;">Which brings us to present-day! Lol! On the 3rd I had my last appointment with my surgeon until September/October! He took the rest of the tape off and put on fresh ones to help smooth the scar. He said he thinks my new size is great for my body size, and he was very happy with the results- as am I!! After 3 weeks I can take the tape off and, gradually over the next 3-6 months, everything with settle more and continue to look more natural. They look great now, and he said soon it will be hard to tell I even had surgery! I am now completely unrestricted! I can lift, exercise, and sleep without worry! It's so nice to be able to sleep on my stomach, and I can't wait to start working out again!! I'll be going back to Louisiana this weekend and get ready to face the real world! I've loved being around family in Atlanta, and I wish I could spend this much time up here more often. Unfortunately, now I have to get a job and get ready for grad school so I won't have the luxury of a month of free vacation anymore! </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;">My fiance and I are having one last <i>hoorah</i> before the craziness starts again- so we're taking a road trip to visit my cousin in Savannah for a night then spend 2 days in Charleston!! I'll also be moving in a month, so the next few weeks are going to be VERY busy. Hopefully I can find time to blog about our California and Charleston trips in the meantime!! </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;">Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes during my recovery! I'm so thankful for my friends and family who have made it such an easy process- and, of course, for my AMAZING surgeon, Dr. Joseph Woods! I could NOT have asked for better! :)</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1635435309935133251.post-12417222316401515662012-07-04T21:34:00.000-05:002012-07-04T21:34:57.709-05:00My Reduction Surgery: First Week Post-OpSo, it's been more than a week, but I've been enjoying this time I've had to relax and, honestly, didn't feel like typing LOL.<br />
Recovery has been great so far. It went much better than I expected. Of course, some days were worse than others- but, overall I was pleasantly surprised.<br />
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The first week was probably the worst. It wasn't terrible, but it was pretty uncomfortable. The worst part, by far, was the drains! They had to be stripped and emptied 3 times a day, and they were gross- not gonna lie. Thank God for my mom who took care of them for me, because I don't know if I could have done them myself. Having them stripped (pulling on the tube to remove clots) didn't necessarily hurt, but I could feel the suction from the drain. The first time we pulled a little to hard on one and it <i>did</i> hurt and I almost passed out. But, this was more because it freaked me out and I was already really anxious about it than because of the pain. I didn't have to take much of the pain medicine. I took one pill the first few nights so I could sleep better, but I was usually just fine with just taking prescription strength Aleve. <br />
The day after surgery was pretty uncomfortable. I had the most soreness that day, so it was pretty uncomfortable to move around. But, getting up and walking around the house periodically actually helped some. I wasn't allowed to bathe until the drains were removed, and the nurse at the hospital told me I could not wear deodorant yet. It was really frustrating and uncomfortable, but I took some sponge baths which helped a little. Over the next few days the swelling and soreness started going down. On Tuesday I finally got to get the drains removed! The doctor was very happy with the results and gave me permission to finally bathe the following day. <b>And get this-</b> when I asked if it was okay to wear deodorant he told me I could've BEEN wearing it. <i>really? </i>LOL I could've died. After he examined me he removed the gauze and, surprisingly, I had virtually NO bruising. I was extremely impressed!!! Then I laid back and breathed deeply as he removed the drains. It was a very <i>strange</i> feeling. It kind of hurt on one side- the side that bothered me when we first pulled too hard- but not for too long. Needless to say I changed into a clean bra and put on deodorant as SOON as I got home. It was such a relief! But, the worst part was mostly over. <br />
The next morning when I woke up I noticed I was really swollen and sore again. It felt really full. From what I understand it was similar to how it feels when you breast feed. When my mom came home I FINALLY took a shower and washed my hair. I have never been so happy to take a shower in my life. It wasn't easy to wash my hair, but it wasn't really painful- just kind of uncomfortable. It took a little longer to do most things, and some things I still needed my mom to do for me, but every day it got a little easier.<br />
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Even the first week was rough I still think it was the best decision I could have made! I am so happy with the results. I immediately felt the difference in a relief in back and neck pain, it was easier to stand up straight (which I still have to remind myself to do LOL), and my confidence was much higher! I'm not self conscious about my breast size any more. I really do not think I could have had a better surgeon! I wish I could've done this sooner! Another update soon!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1635435309935133251.post-40508607450365182662012-06-16T13:04:00.000-05:002012-06-16T13:04:00.904-05:00My Reduction Surgery: Pre-op and the Big Day!First, I'll start with my pre-op appointment that took place on June 4th. It was really simple. They did a little blood work and stuff, but mostly I went to a) pay the balance and b) to meet with the nurse and anesthesiologist to discuss what to expect on the day of surgery. <br/>
The next day I met with my surgeon, Dr. Woods, just to touch base since I hadn't talked to him since my consultation in February. He told me what he was going to do (and, again, what to expect) and told me he was very confident that I was going to have really positive results and that it would be life changing for me! <br/>
A few days later was the day of surgery!!! Because I was going to have post-operative drains I wasn't going to be able to take a shower or wash my own hair or anything for about 5 days. So, the night before, I washed my hair and put it up, and then I woke up at 4 the next morning to take my last shower for a while using the special soap they requested. My surgery was at 7:30 in the morning, so me, my fiance, and my mom got to the hospital for 5:30. They gave me an IV, and Dr. Woods did the markings, and then I was off to the OR!!! I wasn't really nervous until I told my mom and fiance goodbye and they started wheeling me down the hall. Then the nerve REALLY hit me. Thankfully, the nurses there calmed me down and helped me keep my mind off of everything. The anesthesiologist came in and gave me a sedative (or something) that was going to make me a little sleepy. HA!! I was out in less than a minute LOL. I knocked out before they even gave me the anesthesia. The next thing I knew I woke up in recovery, and I didn't even realize that any time had passed (it had been 4 hours). I woke up pretty easily, of course I was a little groggy at first. I stayed in recovery a little over an hour because they had to wait for an empty outpatient room, but I felt pretty good. I had some slight pain, for which they gave me a pain pill, but mostly I felt fine. My mouth was dry and my throat was scratchy from the breathing tube, and all I could taste was plastic. After a little while in outpatient I got up and went to the bathroom, and then they let me go home!!! It took a little longer than usual to do everything, but they said I was doing great. I couldn't eat much the first day, but I didn't really need the narcotic pain medicine until I went to sleep. I took naproxen sodium most of the day, and I had to take a little medicine for nausea. I wasn't groggy at all from the anesthesia thankfully. At 7:00 we had to empty my drains, and I'm not gonna lie- it was not pleasant. I was really anxious, and it was a little painful the first time so I got pretty lightheaded and nauseous. I laid down for a little while, but then I felt fine. I slept on the recliner in the living room so I could stay elevated (even though Dr. Woods told me I didn't need to) and it helped to keep me from turning in the night. I feel so blessed to have had Will and my mom by my side taking care of me and making sure I had everything I needed. It really made recovery a lot easier :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1635435309935133251.post-87127092885876685742012-06-15T12:29:00.001-05:002012-06-15T12:31:49.863-05:00A Quick UpdateHello fellow Bloggers!!!!!!<br/>
Sorry I've been MIA the past couple of months. Everything has been so crazy I haven't had time to breathe. As you know, I got engaged to the best man in the world! Then two of my friends and I went to Destin for a week for spring break- and it was AMAZING!!! I also graduated on May 18 from LSU with a Bachelor Degree in Child and Family Studies. The day following graduation we had our engagement party, and Will (fiance) and I also went to California for a week! As soon as I got back from California I had to come straight to Atlanta, where I have been since June 3, because I had breast reduction surgery on June 8!!! Along with all of this my Dad and the family have moved back to Louisiana, so I got in some QT with them before I left, too. It's hard to believe how much has happened in such a short amount of time, but it has all been great!! I'll fill you in on my spring break trip, our California trip, and I plan on writing a weekly (maybe a little more often tho, since I have lots of free time now) update on how recovery from surgery is going. Thanks for all of the well wishes I have received!!!<br/>
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It feels good to be back!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1635435309935133251.post-9440508567774965462012-03-25T10:34:00.001-05:002012-03-25T10:34:50.922-05:00We're Engaged!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DSopxRBEsn4/T284Ai9QAHI/AAAAAAAAAwU/GAyUQ1rJhtg/s1600/photo%2B%252813%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="263" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DSopxRBEsn4/T284Ai9QAHI/AAAAAAAAAwU/GAyUQ1rJhtg/s320/photo%2B%252813%2529.JPG" /></a></div>
<center> Isn't it beautiful!? The setting it is in is all fleur de lis!!! It's perfect and I could not be happier!! </center>
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Here's how he proposed:
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Unfortunately, Will and I only see each other once a week. So, while he was on his way up here Friday night after he got off work, he called me and asked me if I still had the scrapbook I started making for our first anniversary. (Of course I still had it!) Then he mentioned he had something to add to it. When he got here he pulled out the Blockbuster receipt me and my best friend wrote my name and number on when we met. I could not BELIEVE he still had it after 3 and a half years!!!! It was the sweetest thing! Then, we started looking through the scrapbook, and when we got to the poem he wrote me on our first anniversary he read it out loud (You really just can't get sweeter than this). Then, he asked me where I kept the scrapbook, and told him I kept it in a box in my closet with all of our cards and the letters he sent me. He asked me to show him, which I did, and then he said something was missing from the scrapbook. I asked, "what?" and he said, "pictures from the baptism." I asked if we had any pictures together from that, and he said he didn't know. Then he said there was something else missing (what else could be missing? I put everything we have in there! LOL). So, I asked, "what?" again, and he knelt down and said, "moments like this." Then he repeated the last line from the poem he wrote me- "One year isn't enough, let's make it forever." and he told me how much he loved me and asked me to marry him!!!!!! It was so beautiful and, of course, I was in tears before he could even ask!!! <br/>
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I feel like the luckiest girl in the whole world! We probably won't be getting married for 2 years, because I have to finish grad school first, but I know it will fly by!!! I can't wait until May when all of my family is in town and we can celebrate together!!! <br/>
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This weekend has been the best of my life so far! I finished English (finally), the Hunger Games movie premiered (which was amazing- go see it!), and, of course, getting engaged was the ICING on the cake!!!!!! We want to thank everyone for the well wishes, love, and support, and we are so excited! Here's to the next step in our wonderful journey together!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1635435309935133251.post-54658209549457536892012-03-18T00:08:00.001-05:002012-03-18T00:08:36.963-05:00Green Blend AwardMy wonderful mom at <a href="http://www.oldbackporch.com/">Old Back Porch</a> honored me with another award this week!!!
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CwPzYtXYThE/T2VrJTHOZYI/AAAAAAAAARM/m8llfTk29KY/s1600/green%2Bblend%2Baward.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="198" width="230" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CwPzYtXYThE/T2VrJTHOZYI/AAAAAAAAARM/m8llfTk29KY/s320/green%2Bblend%2Baward.png" /></a></div>
<i><center>Here are the terms and conditions of this award:</center><br/>
1. This award is for any co-blogging friend who has helped you develop your blog in any and all ways. <br/>
2. This award is for any co-blogging friend who has cheered you along in your blog building, craft advancing career. <br/>
3. This award is for any co-blogging friend who always stops by and is kind to you. You can count on them to always be one of the great comments at the end of your post. <br/>
4. This award is to be given to 3 to 5 Blends whom you feel meet the listed requirements. <br/>
5. Create a post with the terms of use and publish your Blends of choice. <br/>
6. Blend of choice may copy the award from your blog and proudly post it on theirs.<br/>
7. Blend of choice may continue the kindness by issuing this award to keep the circle forever growing.<br/>
</i><br/>
The first person I want to give this award to is Alesha at <a href="http://www.fulltimemama.com/">Full Time Mama</a>. She's the first person I started linking up with, and she always has great things to say about my posts! She always takes time to stop by and comment, and it has been a great encouragement to keep blogging!<br/>
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Second, I want to give this award to my fellow New Orleanian, Tricia, at <a href="http://www.nolamommy.com/">Nola Mommy</a>. She is another person who I started linking up with who has really made it fun for me to continue blogging!<br/>
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Finally, I'd like to give this award to the girls at <a href="http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/">Six Sister's Stuff</a> for always making linking up fun! I originally started seeing their stuff on pinterest, and it's been great sharing on their linky every week.<br/>
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These blogs have helped me move my blog a lot further, and I have gotten most of my followers as a result of linking with them. And, I think them for the support and kind words the give on my posts!
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Thanks Mom for honoring me again, and congratulations to my three awardees!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1635435309935133251.post-51121943928462006362012-03-14T23:10:00.001-05:002012-03-14T23:10:41.986-05:00Wordless Wednesday- February freak out continues<center>It's the middle of march- shouldn't it be over by now!? <br />
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Forgive me if I die a little right now.. This is my life for the next 2 weeks and it's murder.<br />
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<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-h7WVhgz4Npw/T2Fpm8cf4GI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/GxHbt2UxFMI/s640/blogger-image-2036428393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-h7WVhgz4Npw/T2Fpm8cf4GI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/GxHbt2UxFMI/s640/blogger-image-2036428393.jpg" /></a></div>
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If you notice, I'm drinking coffee- which NEVER happens. That's how desperate and spent I am. Thank God this month is almost over!</center>
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</center>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1635435309935133251.post-37903493675081754622012-03-13T00:49:00.000-05:002012-03-14T23:07:23.117-05:00Honey Dijon Glazed Salmon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-08Eg4GgwBic/T1bLqkP49GI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/Au9H9Xdoatg/s1600/photo%2B%25289%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="308" width="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-08Eg4GgwBic/T1bLqkP49GI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/Au9H9Xdoatg/s320/photo%2B%25289%2529.JPG" /></a></div>
I have been ridiculously bombarded with school work lately, so it was nice to stumble on an EXTREMELY easy recipe. I mean super easy. Only 3 ingredients!!! It's pretty yummy, too.<br/>
Recipe serves 4 at 3 ounces per serving (easy to cut down to 1 serving) <br/>
Weight Watchers <b>5</b> Points+<br/>
Preheat at 350 degrees <br/>
What you'll need:<br/>
Four 3 oz filets of boneless salmon <br/>
1 1/2 Tbsp Dijon Mustard <br/>
3 Tbsp Pure Honey <br/>
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Mix honey and dijon well. Place salmon a a baking dish or baking sheet. Brush honey and dijon glaze over salmon. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Brush with more glaze and check for doneness<br/>
ENJOY!!!!<br/>
Easy RIGHT?! <br/>
I hope you like it if you try it! PLEASE come back next week for another recipe!
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More than 20 pounds gone and on my way!!!!
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This week a verse from a Broadway song came to mind from Flower Drum Song:
<center><i>When I have a brand new hairdo<br/>
With my eyelashes all in curl,<br/>
I float as the clouds on air do,<br/>
I enjoy being a girl!</i><br/></center>
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<center> Isn't being a girl so much fun!? (And so much work! LOL)</center>
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Thanks for stopping by!!!
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1635435309935133251.post-37950374079554559162012-03-06T00:44:00.000-06:002012-03-06T11:54:51.516-06:00Pan-Fried Tilapia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xn_z23J3iek/T1LIEpOnU_I/AAAAAAAAAQc/q-eq3MHeAO0/s1600/photo%2B%25287%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xn_z23J3iek/T1LIEpOnU_I/AAAAAAAAAQc/q-eq3MHeAO0/s320/photo%2B%25287%2529.JPG" /></a></div>
<center> These are two 2 ounce filets, equal to one serving </center><br/><br/>
Well, this week was another tightly-budgeted week so, again, I had to work with what I had (AKA tilapia). This recipe is really easy, and really yummy! I made it a sandwich one day and it was delicious, too! I just serve this with whatever else I have lying around. I did buttery broccoli this week. <br/>
Recipe serves 4 at 4 ounces per serving (easy to cut down to 1 serving) <br/>
Weight Watchers <b>4</b> Points+<br/>
What you'll need:<br/>
2 Tbsp EVOO <br/>
1/8 cup white flour <br/>
1 tsp garlic powder <br/>
1 tsp black pepper <br/>
1 tsp salt <br/>
16 oz tilapia (typically, four 4 ounce filets)<br/>
<br/>
Pat dry tilapia with paper towl. Place flour, salt, pepper, and garlic powder in ziploc bag. Add fish and shake to coat. Heat EVOO over medium heat in skillet until hot. Add filets and pan fry 2 minutes each side or until cooked through.<br/>
ENJOY!!!!<br/>
Like I said, super easy. <br/>
I hope you like it if you try it! PLEASE come back next week for another recipe!
<br/>
<br/>
Almost 20 pounds gone!!
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<br/>
One of my favorite dishes growing up was my mom's stuffed peppers. For me the best part is the stuffing- dirty rice! I LOVE dirty rice. Seriously. I'm gonna marry it. Anyway, This recipe is pretty simple and REALLY yummy. And it's only about <b>6</b> points+ for one stuffed pepper.<br/>
Serves 4; Some rice will be left over (YUM!)<br/>
<b><i>Here's What You'll Need</i></b><br/>
For the Dirty Rice:<br/>
1 Lb ground turkey <br/>
1 onion, chopped <br/>
1 or 2 stalks celery, chopped <br/>
1 small bell pepper chopped (save 4 peppers to stuff) <br/>
1 cup of rice, cooked separately <br/>
salt and pepper to taste <br/>
1/2 cup chopped parsley (optional) <br/>
For the Peppers:<br/>
4 small- medium green peppers <br/>
1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs<br/>
<br/>
<b>Preheat oven to 350 degrees</b><br/>
In a large skillet, brown meat and onion in oil. Add chopped celery and bell pepper and cook until tender- about 15 minutes. Add cooked rice, salt, and pepper. After adding rice, check to be sure there's enough liquid to keep it from burning. If necessary, add a tiny bit of water- maybe a tablespoon or 2. Stir well until everything is blended. Cover and cook over low heat 15-20 minutes. Add parsley and stir again. Let sit, covered, for a few minutes before serving. <br/>
<br/>
For the peppers, cut and empty each pepper. To make them stand easier, slice the bottom very slightly to make it flat. While the dirty rice is cooking boil the peppers until tender. Spoon dirty rice into bell peppers. Stand them in a baking dish and add bread crumbs on top. Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes- until the bread crumbs are brown. <br/>
ENJOY!<br/>
I hope you like this as much as I do. They really are delicious!! And no worries if you forget to boil the peppers, it doesn't change the taste at all- They're just a little harder to cut. I forgot the first time lol. Let me know what you think!! <br/>
<br/>
Almost 20 pounds gone!!
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<br/>
I was very surprised that last week I was given the Versatile Blogger Award!!!<br/>
<br/>
The Rules for The Versatile Blogger Award<br/>
1. Thank the award-giver and link back to them in your post.<br/>
2. Share 7 things about yourself.<br/>
3. Pass this award along to 15 recently discovered blogs you enjoy reading.<br/>
4. Contact your chosen bloggers to let them know about the award.<br/>
<br/>
So, first I want to thank <a href="http://www.oldbackporch.com">The Old Back Porch</a> for honoring me with this!!! It's really a great surprise- especially as a fairly new blogger!<br/>
<br/>
Seven Things You May Not Know About Me:<br/>
1. I have 8 siblings (including 2 step-siblings)<br/>
2. I love singing, and I used to sing in a lot of different choirs for about 10 years before college.<br/>
3. I am a highly organized person- some friends joke that I might be OCD lol <br/>
4. I have been with my boyfriend for 3 and a half years, and they have been the best years of my life! <br/>
5. I used to be outgoing, and as I got older I have gotten more shy- especially in unfamiliar situations. But, once you get to know me I am very talkative! Haha <br/>
6. I drive a car with a manual transmission (which is NO fun in Baton Rouge traffic lol) <br/>
7. I have been enrolled in an independent study English class for an entire year, and I am still not finished! <br/>
<br/>
I'd like to pass the award along to:<br>
<center> <a href="http://maggiemae017.blogspot.com/">After 11</a> <br/> <a href="http://www.natashainoz.com/">Natasha in Oz</a> <br/> <a href="http://bridgetlarsen.blogspot.com/">Fruit Salad</a> <br/> <a href="http://copingwithfrugality.com/">Coping with Frugality</a> <br/> <a href="http://www.chasingoursunshine.com/">Chasing Sunshine</a> <br/><a href="http://www.canyoustayfordinner.com/"> Can You Stay for Dinner?</a> <br/> <a href="http://www.abusynest.com/">A Busy Nest</a> <br/> <a href="http://expectthisnewmoms.blogspot.com/">Expect This</a> <br/> <a href="http://www.nolamommy.com/">NOLA Mommy</a> <br/> <a href="http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/">Six Sister's Stuff</a> <br/> <a href="http://www.fulltimemama.com/">Full Time Mama </a><br/> <a href="http://o-alouette.blogspot.com/">O. Alouette</a> <br/> <a href="http://www.skinnytaste.com/">Skinny Taste</a> <br/> <a href="http://amatchedpair.blogspot.com/">A Matched Pair</a> <br/> <a href="http://www.theletter4.com/">the letter 4 </a></center> <br/>
<br/>
Y'all should definitely check these out!!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1635435309935133251.post-24920216511157808882012-02-25T12:00:00.000-06:002012-02-26T23:19:40.131-06:00ZUMBA!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Okay, I FINALLY tried Zumba. My absolutely wonderful mother got me the Zumba Exhilarate DVD set! I tried it for the first time today and I LOVE it!!!!!<br/>
<br/>
I never look forward to working out- it's always annoying and sometimes painful, and even though I feel better after I hate doing all that "work." THANKFULLY, Zumba is so much fun!!! It's a workout (that's for sure) but the dancing and the music make you forget you're exercising (besides the sweat and the difficulty breathing lol)! <br/>
<br/>
I am not the most coordinated or agile person in the world. And, somehow, I lost the rhythm I used to have in high school (or maybe it was all in my head). But, Zumba is super easy! I don't get ALL the steps quite right, but it doesn't matter if you're having fun with it! It's great cardio and it works EVERYTHING! What I really love is that I can do these DVDs in the privacy of my living room so I don't look like an idiot LOL. I get really self-conscious when I go to workout classes, and this is the first time I've tried Zumba. I usually tire really quickly when I workout, but, surprisingly, this didn't happen with Zumba! In fact, after an hour of learning the moves and 30 minutes of full-out working out I still wanted to keep going! Unfortunately, I can't just stop my life LOL. <br/>
<br/>I look forward to continuing using this and getting better at the moves! This makes me actually want to work out! I can't wait to try some of the harder stuff! If you hate working out like me I definitely think you should try it. I don't know how you could NOT love it!! <br/>
<br/> Here's the link to get the DVDs -> <a href="http://www.zumba.com/shop/category/dvd_s/">http://www.zumba.com/shop/category/dvd_s/</a> <br/><br/>
Also, there's Zumba for Wii, which is a less expensive option. I haven't tried it but I bet it's just as fun! -> <br/> <a href="http://www.zumba.com/en-US/shop/category/video_game/214/">http://www.zumba.com/en-US/shop/category/video_game/214/</a>
<br/><br/>
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<br/>
The thing that brings me more joy than anything is spending time with all of my family together. This weekend I got to do that when I visited my brother in Pensacola for my niece's 3rd birthday. Watching my mom and stepdad push her on the swing outside was one of the best parts of this past weekend, and I wouldn't have traded it for the world!
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<br/>
This past week I got to see my best friend in New Orleans for the first time in over a month, and she was gracious enough to make me dinner. This isn't my recipe but it's super easy and delicious, and I will definitely make it soon! She gave me permission to post it, so here it is!!<br/>
<br/>
It's <b>8</b> Weight Watcher Points+, and it is really filling!<br/>
<b><i>What You'll Need for One Serving</i></b><br/>
3 oz piece of chicken breast (1-2 chicken tenders)<br/>
Cajun seasoning (Tony's is what I use)<br/>
Garlic powder<br/>
Romaine Lettuce<br/>
~2 Tbsp Parmesan Cheese<br/>
a few grape tomatoes<br/>
a few texas toast Caesar croutons (1 serving)<br/>
2 Tbsp Light Caesar Dressing<br/>
<br/>
Lay chicken on a plate and season both sides with cajun seasoning and garlic powder. On a George Foreman grill- grill chicken for about 5 minutes, or until fully cooked. Toss together lettuce, cheese, croutons, and tomatoes. Add chicken and dressing and ENJOY!!<br/>
I love this dish, and I'm not a huge salad fan. It's really good, and it's quick and easy- which is great for someone like me with a very busy schedule! <br/>
I hope you like it!
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<br/>
<br/>
I am a huge Nicholas Sparks fan. <i><b>HUGE.</b></i> And, unfortunately I don't have very much time to read his books during the semester. However, my mom lives in Atlanta (8 hours away) so I try to squeeze in some leisure books during my drive. Audiobooks are a life saver when it comes to road trips, if you ask me.<br/>
<br/>
So, on my last trip back I decided to get Nicholas Sparks' new book- The Best of Me. I always laugh at myself when I get his books for a drive because I always end up crying my eyes out, and I feel ridiculous when I'm driving and bursting into tears at the same time. <br/>
<br/>
Anyway, this book is an unbelievably sweet and romantic story about long-lost lovers who find each other again. I can't really get into it because (A) I'll cry haha and (B) I might accidentally give away the surprise twist. If you're a hopeless romantic like me, though, you will LOVE this- and I mean love it. A love like the kind in this book only happens to a lucky few of us, and this story is so amazing (as well as a little heartbreaking) that you will not be able to stop until it's finished. <br/>
<br/>
So, next time you're at Barnes and Noble PLEASE pick up this book. It is so good, and I know all you hopeless romantics out there will fall in love with it as much as I have. It's simply wonderfulUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1635435309935133251.post-8278202256293288522012-02-15T12:00:00.000-06:002012-02-15T12:00:06.150-06:00Wordless (ish) Wednesday- February Freak-Out<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br/>
My professor was right- for us graduating seniors it is the time for the "February Freak-out" as he calls it. I am SWAMPED with assignments, my internship, filling out countless applications, and getting things ready for graduation! I'm extremely excited but I am freaking out a little bit. I got so behind on English that I am playing catch up while I have tons of other things on my to-do list (as shown in picture #1). Graduation is getting closer tho!!! Another source of my freak out is grad school. I don't know what to expect, how I'm gonna make my schedule work, and I'm just all around nervous. But I know it will be great, and I can't wait to get started. Happy February Freak-Out everyone!!! LOL
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Ok, time to switch it up a bit. Along with tilapia, chicken is a big part of my diet. I eat chicken all the time, so I get bored when it's always the same. I remember getting chicken fries in the cafeteria in grade school and they were sooooo good! But, trying to lose weight does not exactly permit for frequent indulgence in fried foods (too bad, huh?). Thankfully, I found a recipe for BAKED chicken fries that are just as delicious!! They're still not the healthiest thing in the world but they are MUCH better than the real fried stuff.<br/>
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They're 8 Weight Watchers PointsPlus for 4 ounces of chicken. <br/>
<i><b>Here's what you'll need</b></i><br/>
Chicken breast cut into long thin strips (I use tenderloins and just cut them up)<br/>
EVOO<br/>
chicken/poultry seasoning <br/>
1-2 eggs depending on the amount of chicken (I've used egg beaters which still work fine, but fresh eggs work much better) <br/>
Breadcrumbs<br/>
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Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a medium sized bowl add in sliced chicken strips. Mix in EVOO, seasonings, salt and pepper- mix well. Break eggs in a small bowl and beat well. Spread breadcrumbs on a plate. Dip strips in egg then coat generously in breadcrumbs. Place on foil-covered baking sheet (I use nonstick reynolds wrap). Bake 15-20 minutes or until fully cooked and brown.<br/>
ENJOY!<br/>
I usually eat these by themselves, but they're also good with some simple mac and cheese (unfortunately not so great for us dieters) or some buttery broccoli (I used green giant broccoli steam packets). <br/><br/>
Thanks for visiting! I'd love to hear how you liked it!!<br/>
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Almost 18 pounds gone! I should be more than halfway to my goal by May!!!<br/>
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<b>HOLY MOTHER!</b> Let me start off by saying that these books are amazing. I was a little wary at first because they were so popular I was worried they wouldn't live up to the hype. <b><i>Oh, but they did</i></b>. My friend Maggie was gracious enough to let me use her kindle to read these books. I probably should have waited to start them so they wouldn't get in the way of school, but I had no idea how ADDICTING they would be. Once I started I could not put them down!!! These science fiction novels were SO good, I even dare to say they were better than the Twilight saga (and I am a HUGE Twi-hard). It's an action packed story with a little bit of romance, and it has the "Fahrenheit 451 & 1984" feel that I love! (I don't know how to describe those types of books, but I'm sure you've read them and can get where I'm coming from.)
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<br/>Anyway, they're amazing. I don't know how to describe it without giving the story away so take my advice and READ them. I guarantee you will not stop until the end. I stayed up for hours and neglected school just so I could read them. I had to finish them fast or I would've been behind in school haha. Suzanne Collins did an AMAZING job when she wrote these books, and needless to say, I cannot WAIT for the movies. You won't be disappointed.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1635435309935133251.post-39630169578683809242012-02-10T23:12:00.000-06:002012-02-20T15:56:36.772-06:0052 Card Pickup- Valentine's Day<center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Valentine's day is coming up! As a full time student I don't have a lot of wiggle room in my budget, so I am taking inspiration from my Mom at <a href="http://www.oldbackporch.com/">The Old Back Porch</a> and making a card for Will this Valentine's day. I have always had a love for scrapbooking (although I am not as talented as my mom), so I try to keep a stash of scrapbook supplies around for times like this. <br/><br/>
I just used some black-and-cream polka dot cardstock, Martha Stewart glitter, and some heart tacks. The lettering took a little time, but I love the way it came out! <br/>
Happy Valentine's Day!!! <3
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<br/><center><p><a href="http://kentweakley.com/blog/category/wordless-wednesday/"><img id="WW_KW" src="http://kentweakley.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/WW_KW_125.jpg" alt="WW_KW" name="WW_KW" height="125" width="125" border="0" /></a></p></center>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1635435309935133251.post-83336556700265182232012-02-07T00:59:00.000-06:002012-02-07T00:59:03.765-06:00More Tilapia!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As a broke college student, I am on a very tight budget. Some weeks are easier than others- none of them are terribly hard, though (thanks to my WONDERFUL mother!) However, this week I was on a bit of a tighter budget than usual to make sure I could afford my drive to New Orleans and my valentine's things for Will. So, since I had a lot of frozen tilapia left in my freezer I decided to make it again for dinner to avoid spending money unnecessarily on groceries. <br/>
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I'm a southern girl, and that means I love fried food. Unfortunately, fried food doesn't exactly like me back. The baked tilapia I made last week was delicious! But, I needed to switch it up a bit. Although this is not a Weight Watchers recipe, it is a healthy one that is diet friendly! I got the recipe from the SparkRecipes App on my iPhone (from Sparkpeople.com). It's delicious and only 5 points for a big filet! This <a href="http://www.fulltimemama.com/2012/02/delicious-dish-tuesday-cajun-chicken.html">Delicious Dish Tuesday</a> (as brought to you by Full Time Mama) is Crunchy Oven "Fried" Tilapia!
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<b>Makes 4 servings</b><br/><i>What you'll need:</i><br/>
4 four ounce tilapia filets (1lb)<br/>
3 egg whites (I used egg beaters this time. It worked fine, but regular eggs work better in my opinion)<br/>
1 tbsp garlic powder <br/>
1 tbsp onion powder <br/>
1 tbsp cajun seasoning (Tony's is by FAR my favorite)<br/>
1 tbsp grated parmesan cheese <br/>
1 1/2 cup breadcrumbs<br/>
Fat Free Butter Spray<br/>
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Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In one bowl, whip egg whites until somewhat frothy. In another bowl, combine breadcrumbs, cheese, and seasonings. Dip each filet first in the egg whites and then coat evenly with crumbs. Spray a cookie sheet with butter spray (or use reynold's non-stick foil), then spritz the top of the fish as well. Bake 8-10 minutes on 400 until fish flakes easily with fork.<br/>
Than, Viola! Crispy like the fried stuff without all of the fat and calories!<br/>
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I served this with a simple side of pasta- with just a little bit of butter, olive oil, seasoning and sprinkles of breadcrumbs- and it was delicious! I will definitely be making this regularly!<br/>
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Weight is falling off slowly but surely! Thanks for all the support! <br/>
Let me know how you like it! ;)<br/>
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