Pyaahhhh!

I'm Free I'm Free I'M FREEEEEE

Bachelor's Degree?   Check
All A's for the final semester?   Check
Nice long vacation to California for the holidays? Check Check Check!!

Also, I'm getting really pumped about grad school. The classes are going to be super intensive, but I'm ready to make it count. In the mean time, I plan on reading my early Christmas present/new best friend, The Clinical Dietitians Essential Pocket Guide, while in transit to California, where I will proceed to pop the bubblies and bask in the warm winter sun.

*commence happy dance here.*



Holiday Treats

I'm going to my Nana's house for Thanksgiving this year. She usually has all the traditional foods: turkey, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and gravy, etc. So I am bringing a dessert! I thought I would share it with you! Almond raspberry thumbprint cookies are usually a Christmas thing, but I figure, if they're delicious it doesn't matter.

The recipe is actually from my Nana. And also, I got this cute little recipe box from half priced books! Kind of an early Christmas present for myself :)

I like this one because it uses all the basic ingredients. Its pretty straight forward, the only one missing in the picture is water.

And the finished product... The glaze didn't drizzle very evenly but besides that I'm quite happy with how they turned out! I like to make them small and miniature, I just think they are cuter that way, but because of that, I ended up with thirty something. Oops! Well, better to have too many cookies than too few, right?

Accepted!

I did it! It looks like this girl will be staying in Oklahoma another year! :)

And I have to say... I couldn't be happier!

November 6....November 6...November 6!!!

So that’s the big day when I find out whether or not I get accepted into the internship!
November the 6th at 6pm, to be precise.
I've done all that I can, and now its just a game of waiting and seeing.


I am dying with anticip..................

...

...pation!!



<< That’s right, a rocky horror picture show reference. 'Tis the season >>

A State of a Fair

Last night I experienced the Oklahoma City fair! It was amazing! We held butterflies, bought nick nacks made from around the state (I found home-made soaps and headbands), Tommy won a stuffed animal for me from one of the games, we ate candied apples, rode the farris wheel, and saw hatching chicks, baby cows and bee hives! I wish I took more pictures but I was busy taking it all in!

 This was Tommy's first time to ride a farris wheel and he is deathly afraid of heights, which is why he looks like we're on the fastest roller coaster ever! And here is the veiw from the top, of the whole fair.

Successful day trip! 

Football, festivities and fall-fun!!

This Saturday my Dad and I are going to the OU game!! I can't wait! Whenever we go to a game, it’s a whole ordeal! There are shopping adventures, sightseeing, and trying new restaurants. Here we are last year...!

Dad and I tried some "strawberry banana" smoothies at some hippie restaurant.
These are our reactions.....

"Here goes nothin'.."

"This is a smoothie?!"

These are the delicious boritos we ate!

And us right before the game! It was so much fun!!

Also recently, I became part of the Guinnes Book of World Records!! Okay, it's not as intense as it may sound... UCO hosted the biggest game of duck, duck, goose ever recorded. There were over 1,600 people there! I even got a shirt for being one of the first 1500!...

All I can say is, I'm glad I wasn't picked!!

Blury, but see the shirts?!!!

Graduate or Bust!

Monday marks the beginning of the last semester of my undergraduate program!!! That means only four months until my degree! SO HAPPY! This is also a very busy four months... I need to apply to grad school, apply to dietetic internships, and hopefully get some dietetic experience by volunteering at clinics around the city. Applying to the dietetic internship is quite a process. There is a nationwide matching system called the DICAS. Whenever the word DICAS is spoken, it’s as if the sky turns black, smoke rises, and you hear a faint dun dun dunnnn, in the background. So basically, I have until September to finish my application to the DICAS, then you select your three top choices for programs, and the internship directors choose their top choices. Then they are all matched on D-day, quite like rush. The master list is posted, and you find out where you were put. (A decision that will ultimately alter the course of your career/life/future in general) Best case scenario, I am accepted to the master’s program at UCO, and also accepted into the UCO internship program. That would be amazing!

So needless to say, I’m nervous…and anxious and excited.
Lets get this show on the road!

Girls Getaway

So I spent a few days with the most amazing friend, Sam!!! We ran errands, had dinners, went out, stayed in, relaxed in the pool, and just had a great time.

First of all, Adam made us some tunes!!!! One cd of the 80's, two cd's from the 90's, and one from Today! I LOVED them! I'm still listening to them in my car, daily...

 Next, Sam and I painted the town red!! (and green....and yellow too.) We we offered quite a few free drinks and as you can see we couldn't keep up. (don't worry we didn't keep them all.)

 This was the only pic we took while out that night, but I think it pretty well reflects our moods :)

 THIS lovely lady is Ginna. She is such a spark of life!! I absolutely love her :)

 And this is the fire on the road that sent us back to Tulsa for the last night, instead of heading to Fayettville.

 I have to say, I'm glad we ended up staying in Tulsa, we had a blast! We got to see Devon, and also Ginna! Glad we didn't miss out!! But also, I can't wait to make a trip to Fayettville sometime to see the infamous Dixon street!
I had such a wonderful time!!!

New Things

Well, I went on vacation to Las Vegas for girls trip with Kirstie and our Mom for a weekend, and then spent the following week in California! Here are some special moments...

Enjoyed champagne

 Swam in the pools

 Got some sun

 Had sister time!

 Kirstie now ownes a beautiful bag

 6 hours of girl chatter from LAS to CAL

 Deep desire to steal this cat

 and a special little girls birthday party!

I had a really wonderful time seeing everyone I missed so much, and loved every minute! I'm looking forward to girls' weekend becoming an annual event!

Now that real life has begun again, it has become apparent how overwhelming it can be at times. As difficult as life can be, it always serves as a reminder of what we still have. My family is so wonderful. My relationship with God is growing. And life is always moving around us...

Summer is lookin' good...

So many exciting events to look forward to now!
First of all, I JUST finished a final for one of my summer classes... so no more 8am classes!!! Kirstie and Adam are flying in tomorrow! Ethan and I will pick them up in Ponca City, see the family, and then bring them to Owasso to celebrate the 4th with lots of friends! I can't wait to spend time with them and see their smiling California faces, anong with everyone else I don't get to see often enough!
Then (!!!) only one week later, I'm flying into Las Vegas for an adventure packed girls weekend with Kirstie and our Mom. But the fun doesn't end there because then I'm following them home to California where I get to linger poolside, for another week! (The beauty of on-line classes, is that you can do them anywhere!)
In August, Dad and I are going on a cruise to Mexico in celebration of my 8th grade graduation! (we've been really busy so its been postponed for a while..) I've never been on a cruise so I'm just eating up stories of all-you-can-eat chocolate bars complete with chocolate fountain, huge pools with slides and ropes, and mexican island adventures! Ahoy!
I feel so lucky for all these amazing oppertunities and time to spend with family/friends.
I am SO READY for these next few months!  Bring  it  on!

Joining the Dark Side!

Before....

During...

 

After...

And now... I'm a brunette!

The Assessment

If you remember, I posted this description about the semester I was about to embark on, a few months ago. And it looked pretty intimidating. Fast forward to today and POW! Domination!

Advanced Nutrition - A
World Food and Culture - A
Institutional Food Mngt. - A
Biochemistry II - B

Also, I included this diagram that very accurately sums up my collegiate career.

Update and photos!

I wanted to make a post including pictures of my apartment, since some people who I love, live to far to visist...

My herbs chillin outside. They usually live on my windowsill in the livingroom.

I was inspired to start a little herb garden after kendra started one of her own!!!

Livingroom redecorated after my roommate moved out. Special thanks to craigslist and ross :)

The tablecloth I got today. It was missing its package, so the lady sold it to me for $7. Boyah!

And my cat! Because I love her too much not to include her

Anddd again...

I am completely in love with my apartment! On another note, tests, classes and real-life all resume on Monday! And I hope I'm ready. :-)

Classes are Over!!!

How I felt as I was leaving my last Final of the semester..

Oh yea...

Fish: Chum or Scum

Tip of the Week #6

We have all heard that fish is one of the healthiest meats you can eat. We have also heard that a lot of them have very high levels of mercury and other toxins. So what is the final verdict? -As long as you are eating the right types of fish, the benefits FAR outweigh the risks! Most fish have the same amount of protein as meat, and offers iron and B12 which help with energy. On top of that a salmon, for example, has ¼ the amount of saturated fat compared ounce for ounce with beef. And how could we talk about fish without mentioning that it’s an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids! I know you have heard all of the benefits there… Reducing inflammation, better brain functioning, cardiovascular health, and protection from heart attack and stroke, just to name a few! Fish is a healthy way to pile up on protein and avoid unhealthy fats! So substitute fish for meat at least twice a week and you’ll be doing yourself a favor healthwise!

Some fish with the highest conc. of omega-3 include salmon, anchovies, halibut, albacore tuna, mussels and oysters! Fish and mammals to keep off your plate due to sky high mercury include golden bass or tilefish, shark, swordfish, king mackerel and dolphin.

Movie suggestion this week: The Cove

Hello Allergy Season!

Tip of the Week # 5

The trees are blooming, cats are shedding, and the air is blowing this wonderful spring mix right in your direction! Well, before you buy that family-size box of allergy pills, try a few foods first.  So basically when your body goes into attack mode, it is because your immune cells release histamines. The inflammation swells your nasal passages and signals a release of fluids, sneezing, and itchy eyes and throat . The foods that may help you are ones that either reduce the inflammation or calm down your immune response. So what’s on the menu for you allergy sufferers? Salmon: The omega 3 helps minimize inflammation. Garlic: (What can’t garlic do…really?) Some studies have found a connection between some antioxidants and a lower incidence of hay fever. Onions: It contains quercetin, an antioxidant that reduces inflammation and helps to prevent the release of histamine. Well, this sounds like a meal to me!

Things to avoid: Red meat contains a great deal of arachidonic acid which induces inflammation. Red wine is a no-go too. Although it has great benefits, the skin of the grapes contains histamines. Try a white. It goes better with your salmon anyway!

Now go soak up some sun!

California once again!!

So I got an oppertunity to go back to California for a week along with my old and great friend Colby!
We stayed at my mom's amazing new house in Tulare. It is surrounded by orchards of orange trees and vinyards of grapes!
The week consisted of swimming pools, hot tubs, new and old family, new and old friends, a little bit of Bakersfield jazz, some wine tasting in Paso Robles, and some very large trees in some very beautiful mountains.
Here are just a few snapshots from the week!

Who: The Von Brauwns ...Destination: The Beach.

The most beautiful landscape.

Biggest. Trees. EVER

You can't read it, but the reason this was so funny is because that little sign

there, says regrowing zone: do not disturb land ...Oops!

St Patricks day at the Padre in Bakersfield

Cute newly weds!

The brother-in-law. Gotta love him :)

Okay..what you don't see in the picture is one or both of them singing the black/yellow song.

in what is only assumed to be an attempt at the voice of big bird.

SO! That was basically the trip! Although, I wish I had taken pictures of Mom's lovely backyard!

And I am back in Oklahoma to seeeee...

FLOWERS!!!

And a very happy boyfriend!

THE END!