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What 30 Days on Jenny Craig Taught Me About Losing Weight

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Thank you Jenny Craig for sponsoring this post. -- Get serious about losing weight with Jenny Craig! A few weeks ago I decided to lose weight without dieting by changing my life. I jumpstarted this change with the help of Jenny Craig. I am thankful for the month I participated in the Jenny Craig program as it opened my eyes to a couple of things about being healthy. Jenny Craig members can expect to lose an average of 1-2 pounds per week, which is a healthy range of weight loss. However, I should warn this post won’t necessarily be about weight loss, though I did lose weight over the last month-and-a-half. No, instead ...

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Why I Am Losing Weight Without Dieting

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Thank you Jenny Craig for sponsoring this post. -- Get serious about losing weight with Jenny Craig! As a youth, I never thought to myself, “Man, I hope when I’m 36 years old I’ll struggle with weight issues.” The fact of the matter is that no one wants to stand on the scale and see an obscenely large number staring them back in the face.  But here I am, on the precipice of the rest of my life, and I must ask myself, "Do I want my life to be long and enjoyable, or short and painful?" In my mind, I’ve already made the decision as I want at least one more child, and hear how great grandchildren are and all of that. I want to ...

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How Non-Traditional College Students are Making Ends Meet

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Chances are high that you or someone you know is in a similar situation as I am in: a college student who is earning degrees later in life with a family in tow. As non-traditional students we’re out there seeking educational advancement: degrees, certificates, training, courses, professional development and the like. In the U.S.A, a place where education is viewed as the great equalizer, we’re hungry for bettering ourselves, our families, our vocations, our incomes.  Our group of education-seekers differ from traditional variety in that we started a family prior to finishing our journey for more education. We are the ...

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5 Useful but Overlooked Back to School Items for College Students

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At 36 years of age, I'm still in school, though working on my PhD. Despite plenty of success academically, I still have anxiety dreams before a new school year begins. I dream I didn’t go to class all semester and now need to take a final exam that I cannot read.  I wake up with a bit of fear and stress, but it quickly washes away as I laugh it off and I know I work hard in school, attend my classes, and prepare for all exams, usually achieving good results. Being prepared is good in all aspects of life, but back to school preparation goes beyond simply having a backpack, notebooks, textbooks, pencils, and paper.  I want to ...

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The Best Things about Living in Texas Hill Country

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This post is sponsored by Ozarka Water. All opinions and love for Texas Hill Country are my own. When we looked into places we'd like to move for my PhD, we considered Colorado (my home state), Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan (as my wife is from the Midwest) and our far-fetched choice of Montana.  Texas wasn't even on my list. I held a lot of common misconceptions on the State of Texas, thanks mostly to the proud Texans I met during college, things like: “oh, it’s all dessert except along the Gulf Coast where it’s a billion degrees AND humid”; or “oh, Texas is full of cowboys, hicks, and rednecks and they all have the worst ...

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4 Gifts for Dad That He Wants and Will Remind Him of You

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Getting the perfect gifts for dad can be something of a dilemma.  What do you get the man who has everything?  And by everything, I (of course) mean a wonderful family, great kids, a beautiful and strong wife, and the blessing of the Gospel in his home. The key is to focus your gifts for dad ideas toward items that remind him of how blessed he is. I know, being just such a dad, there is nothing I like more than having reminders of my loving family, who is praying for me at home while I am at work or school for long hours, and can't come home and see them as I'd like. So, here are some fantastic suggestions for gifts for ...

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Fatherhood and Education: Having Your Cake and Eating It Too

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Today I am welcoming a very special guest writer to What's up Fagans? - My husband Joshua. He's the guy behind the scenes, the man I love, and the father of my children. And today he's explaining, in his own words, our family's decision for him to pursue fatherhood and education at the same time, despite the finances, hardships, and sometimes guilt.  I love knowledge of all kinds, and in just about any subject. I really believe that "Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection" (D&C 130:18).  That's why I love the idea of being a lifelong learner. As such, I desire ...

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Weight Loss, Love Gain

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So, I haven't written a post in forever. Those of you who are wondering why I (Joshua) am writing a post, let me just say that I actually started this blog, but Katelyn has taken it over and done wonderfully. I have been present behind the scenes the entire time, and there is a reserve clause in my contract that says "I can come on and write anytime that I like, about anything that I like. I don't typically get a lot of feedback on my posts or a lot of views, but it is nice to get the chance to write for the blog now and then.I wanted to take a moment and tell you about my gross (German) self. As long as I can remember I have ...

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