Losing Weight

I have struggled to lose weight for a while now. My youngest daughter is turning ten in November and I still have never lost all the weight from that pregnancy. I weight 147 lbs when I got pregnant (I am 5’6”) and I got as low as 160 lbs (from 202 lbs when I delivered) but that is as low as I’ve gotten. Last year, I started gaining weight at an amazing rate and when to the doctor to find out what the heck. My hormone levels were fine and my thyroid was fine and there was no apparent reason for the weight gain, other than turning 40 and apparently, my metabolism went wonky. I switched my diet around and started losing weight this past June which I am excited about. I am now considering a colonix to see if that does anything with regard to the stomach weight and bloated feeling. I’ve stepped up my time on the treadmill, I do jumping jacks at work and march with my knees high when I have to walk to the copier. It’s the little things really. If a colonix helps, all the better!

Mildly Irritated

Sometimes, I find myself irritated at the slightest provocation.

Grocery shopping with my kids.

Barking dogs next door.

The kids watching television with it turned up so loud I cannot hear myself think.

Cleaning the bathroom.

Ya know, the little things.

Today though, it was a big thing. And I am more that mildly irritated. I am borderline angry. I'm going to finish up a few things and run on the treadmill until I feel better.

Are you covered?

I often worry about my husband working for the department of corrections. I worry that one day, all hell with break loose at work and he will be hurt or worse, dead. When those thoughts invade my mind, I mentally assess where we stand with regard to life insurance and do we have enough? Are we paying a decent life insurance rate and getting our money’s worth? Can we use our life insurance as an investment opportunity if needed?

Hopefully, I will not have to answer any of these questions anytime in the hear future. But, since I am thinking about it now, I should probably take a look at our policies and make sure we are on the right track. You should too.

Online Masters Degree from Gonzaga University

I started back to school in January of this year, pursuing my Masters degree in Psychology. The decision to go back to school was easy for me, as I have always felt the education was the key to success. The only hesitation I had was finding a program that would allow me to continue working full-time and supporting my family while I went back to school to further my education. While searching my options, I found only a few programs that offered Masters degrees online that would also allow me to continue working and pursue my education at the same time.

Gonzaga University is ranked as one of the nation’s best universities by the Princeton Review and Forbes Magazine, as well as being ranked the number three university in the West by US News and World Report. Further, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance ranked Gonzaga University a best value among private universities.

Many people (and top ranked schools) look down upon online degrees, feeling that online programs somehow are less quality than the traditional - get up, go to class, listen to an instructor drone on and on, go home, do your homework, lather, rinse, repeat - type of classes. Gonzaga University has taken a different view of online degrees, believing that online schooling allows experienced professionals the opportunity to advanced their educations while continuing to work and support their families and take care of their obligations.

Bravo Gonzaga University for recognizing that the pursuit of education is for everyone and not just for those people lucky enough to be able to go to school full time without the need of a full time 9 to 5 job. Thank you Gonzaga University for offering several of your Masters degrees online and allowing the working class to further educate themselves and broaden their horizons, while maintaining the status quo.

Order Fulfillment - a reality

I had been considering starting a web based business, selling products. The thing that stops me dead in my tracks, and makes me worry the most, is my ability to provide order fulfillment in a timely manner that both guarantees shipment as well as tracking and accuracy of delivery. I also think that if I'm going to do it, I want to do it right with branded delivery boxes and packaging as well as branded invoices and shipping labels. I know it can be done, and my goal is to eventually stop working for someone else and make my own money, the only delay I see is myself. And sometimes, that is the biggest hurdle to get across.

Cutting Corners and Saving Dollars

I have been sticking very close to my budget these days. We have a girls weekend planned in just over two weeks. Then next month, we have a family trip to Cabo San Lucas planned. I want to have all the extra spending money I can wrap my little fingers around.

In the meantime, I've tried to cut back in areas where I feel that we spend a little too much. Like groceries that we do not need, like twinkies and potato chips, soda and bottled juices. I have been able to trip a good amount from the grocery bill. It helps that the kids are back in school too.

Then there is the insurance. I've been with the same company for going on ten years now. I get a multicar discount, and a public employee discount, and a faithful customer discount. However, I still do not have what I consider to be cheap insurance and so I decided that tomorrow, I am going to call around and get some quotes. It can't hurt and in this economy, with my husband facing a pay cut and our medical insurance doubling, I need all the savings I can get!

Holy Crappoly

Hi there!

I've been sick. Head cold sick. Then there was the ear infection and sinus infection and finally, today, I feel slightly better and not so tired. Just in time to go back to work.

Yay me.

Can I tell you something else? Statistics and Measurements is the HARDEST class I have ever taken and I am not sure I really get it. Not sure at all.

That's all. Enough whining for now.

Hugs and Kisses,

Stella

Fat Burners - Weight Loss Products

I have been reading a lot lately on weight loss, programs to lose weight, motivation tips and tricks, that exercise leads to over eating and even which are the best exercises to target a person's "problem area." What I have also been reading up on are fat burners. Apparently, there is a new fat burner on the market, lipofuze that incorporates many ingredients that have been patented and/or proven to work to burn fat and make lean muscle. I don't know for sure, but I've been working out since June and I have already lost six pounds. I cannot help but wonder if a fat burning product could speed up my weight loss.

Michael Bublé Meets Madison Square Garden

Following his first #1 Pop album and his third platinum-plus disc, 2007's Grammy® winning Call Me Irresponsible, singing sensation Michael Bublé returns to the stage with the live CD+DVD package Michael Bublé Meets Madison Square Garden. Featuring powerful performances of his hits 'Everything,' 'Home' and 'Feeling Good,' he brings the December 2008 concert at one of the most famous venues in entertainment history home to fans with Michael Bublé Meets Madison Square Garden.

My daughter and I are both huge fans of Michael Bublé. We love his sound and were ecstatic to have the opportunity to preview the Michael Bublé Meets Madison Square Garden CD/DVD live release. In three words:

WE. LOVE. IT!

Don't take my word for it. Hear a snippit for yourself:



If you are giddy with anticipation (like we were) and want your own copy Right. Now or would like other items, click this link and enter the coupon code bublemom15. This code will get you 15% off all the merchandise in the official Michael Bublé store.

Honestly there isn't a better live CD/DVD out there right now in my humble opinion. In fact, it is so good, and I am convinced others will love it too, that I have been authorized to give away five (5) copies of Michael Bublé Meets Madison Square Garden CD/DVD (live), to five lucky winners.

The contest is open to US residents only and runs from today until midnight, September 28th, 2009. To enter, leave a comment (including your email address) here telling me your favorite Michael Bublé song. Earn an extra entry by tweeting or blogging about the contest and leave me a link to the tweet or blog. Good luck!

I have a question

Can someone please explain to me why universal healthcare is so bad? Please be logical and reasonable and avoid speculation. I want simple truths, not fear mongoring and what ifs.

Also, if you live in Canada (or other countries) and read this, what do you think of the current debate? Are the fears justified? Do Canadians practice a "duty to die" policy, where the aged are put into hospice and doped up on pain medication when they've reached the part of life where it is no longer "cost effective" to use healthcare to prolong life?

Moen makes me want to charge up my credit cards!

Long time readers of the dribble I post here regularly will know that the one thing I covet more than four inch stilettos and a butt that fits into skinny jeans is a new kitchen sink and a goose neck, holy crap my pans fit under it! faucet. I have been looking at the very pretty Moen faucet and I find myself with drool escaping from the left corner of my lip as I sit in absolute wonder and amazement that one day, I too will have a beautiful kitchen sink with a very sexy faucet that makes me want to constantly touch it. Laugh all you want, but if you could see the Moen Camerist or Vestige, you would have drool too.

It's My Party and I'll Send Invitations if I Want To!

I love all things invitation. Baby shower, birthday party, graduation, wedding, anniversary party and any other occasion that begs for a pretty or cute or cutting edge invitation seem to be calling my name. In fact, I do not believe that people use party invitations nearly enough these days. I would like to see a push for the good old days of invitations, RSVPs, pretty wrapped presents (not those stuff it all inside bags that are so popular these days) and even dare I say it, calling cards. They just seem so classy to me. In fact, nothing seems classier than a simple, yet elegant thank you card.