Happiness...overrated or underrated?!

The past few weeks has been really difficult for me.  I find myself having a hard time grasping reality while dreaming of life that may not even happen.  I'm a big dreamer that I forget that my feet are planted on the ground and that I need to take my head out of the clouds once in awhile. I don't know if it's the pregnancy or anxiety, but I've been extra emotional lately.  It's so easy for me to put a smile on my face when I'm around others and break down once I'm all alone.

So much has happened since my last blog.  I graduated from college in May of this year. This past June, we found out that we are expecting our second child. The husband is away at school for the next four months.  And I find myself so lost in what to do.  There are just so many changes all at one time.  I like to think that I deal with change pretty good...but sadly I'm not dealing like how I see myself dealing.

I read this quote earlier today and it definitely describes me at the present time. 

"The reason people find it so hard to be happy is that they always see the past better than it was, the present worse than it is, and the future less resolved that it will be." - Marcel Pagnol 

I find myself thinking about when my friends and I lived close to each other that we practically saw each other once or twice during the week and almost every weekend.  I think about all that used to be done before and all the laughs and fun we had.  I feel like right now I'm not embracing the present as I should be.  I see it as just me going through the motions but never really enjoying it.  I think about what I would/could be doing in the future and how it seems so out of reach.

I need to constantly remind myself to enjoy the present, the past is but a memory, and tomorrow is a brand new day.  I need to remember that I am the only person that can control my happiness, everyone and everything are just mere contributors to my happiness.  So here's to me, trying to embrace happiness in every present moment...whether it be when I am alone, with my son, or with family and friends.  Wish me good luck!

 

 

It's been a while!

Hi all! Its been a while since my last post.  I've been so caught up with school and life.  I'm trying to definitely balance everything going on and still be able to put on that smiley face. 

School's got me super stressed out and I've sacrificed a summer so that I could meet my graduation goal...May 2012.  I tired of school, I'm ready to start working again.  So far, some of my classes are great but others are like "are you kidding me?".  Between school and being there for Dame with whatever, it gets pretty overwhelming.  After this semester, I have about a two-week break and than Intersession and Summer classes begin. YAY!?

I've doing pretty good on my weight loss journey, I've lost five pounds thus far.  I haven't been working out lately, but I've been doing pretty good maintaining where I'm at.  It's not at all an end to my journey, I will be back on track come saturday.  I've add the website: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/ to my support circle.  Its a pretty good site where I could keep track of my eating habits, count calories, and track my exercise.  I also could do weigh-ins and show my progress.

Well, thats whats been going on.  I will be back soon! I promise!

5K Family Fun Run

Yesterday, I ran my first 5K.  It has been about 6-7 years since I actually ran hard like that.  I've ran on the treadmill, and a few time around a track, but never pushed myself to really RUN.  The post has a family fun run done every month and its FREE.  So I decided I wanted to try it as a push to getting back into running.  I had two goals in mind going into this run...1. finish the 5K and 2. finish in under 45 minutes.  And I am happy to say I accomplished both goals.

For not running in a long time, I surprised myself.  I started out at a pretty good pace.  Than we came to a steep, long hill and man it was hard.  I walked a few times but mostly ran the entire route.  Towards the end I started to feel the my little breakfast wanting to come out.  At the homestretch, I already had it in my mind that I didn't make my time so I just kept going to finish.

When we got to the track where the finish line was in sight.  Jay kept pushing me to sprint, but legs were in so much pain I wanted to walk across the finish line.  But when I saw the time, it said I was still under 45 minutes.  I couldn't walk, I had to push myself to run across that finish line.

I am happy to say I crossed the finish line at 42:22.  I was and am so proud of myself!

The rest of yesterday and today, my legs are super SORE.  It hurts to walk...ALOT ALOT.  But that just means that I worked muscles that haven't been used in a while. I have a month to train and better myself in the running aspect.  The next Family Fun 5K is April 16 and I can't wait.

here I am after my first 5K run...sweaty & tired!

Productive day...

Hello All! Its been a busy week, but a productive one.  Yesterday was my most productive, I think.  I worked out, went to school, made a flower headband, cooked dinner, made mini apple turnovers, and made playdough.  Since I've started working out, I've had so much energy, I don't know what to do.

School, or one class, has been really stressing me.  I'm very tempted to drop and take it another time and with another teacher.  Ugh, I just want to be done with it already.  A few more classes, and I can finally walk across that stage.

I've been trying to find a hobby besides baking.  So I tried my hand at hand-sewing fabirc flowers for barrettes or headbands.  And I must say I'm liking it. 

my first flower headband.

I made chicken enchiladas for dinner and I've been craving apple turnovers for some time.  I finally made them yesterday and they were super delish.  Maybe I should be going to school for a pastry chef instead of a social worker...lol!

mini apple turnovers

My son was asking for playdough so he could roll it out like making a pie.  I called my Auntie who works at the CDC to get her recipe but she was still at work.  So of course, we googled it and found a pretty good recipe for homemade playdough.  Dame chose the colors he wanted to color his playdough.  And now we have safe, non-toxic playdough.  Goodness, who knew trying to be frugal was so much fun.



homemade playdough--spring colors

So til next time...more adventures in the kitchen and the craft world...

UBE-licious!

My dear sister-friend has been craving ube-macapuno cake.  She's been on a mission to make it and find a good recipe too.  So I found a blogger, Heart of Mary, who had a real easy recipe for this cake.  I attempted to make it today and it turned out way better than I expected.  I am so proud.  Chiffon cake is very delivate and a bit hard to make...but I made it work.

I'm glad to say that when I brought the cake over to her house, she was sooo HAPPY.  It was exactly what she was craving and not doubt I will be making it again.  The chiffon cake, the frosting, and macapuno strips put together make a slice of heaven.  I love baking and I love the look on my family and friends face when I've satisfied their craving or just baked up something delicious.

Here are some pics that I've taken of the ube cake making process.  I had so much fun making it and more fun sharing it with my lovely sisters.

the ube cake batter

the cakes after they've cooled and halved (need to work on that)

layered, frosted, and decorated (need more practice too)

a slice of deliciousness...(dont mind the frosting, dame was picking at it)





1 week down!

It's been a week since I've started my weight loss journey.  And it has not been easy.  The first two days I had not motivation to work out.  But by the third day, I had forced myself to get moving and have been doing pretty good.  I'm still having trouble with my food intake.  I hate the word "diet" cause I feel so deprived of the yummy goodness of food.  Ugh, couldn't we all just have bodies that could eat anything and not gain any weight? (oh the joys of wishful thinking) I'm not seeing a difference in my weight number, but I do feel a change in my body.  I feel more rejuvenated and I actually sleep better at night.  I can only keep going from here and I am cause I am so determined to CHANGE.  Now if only I can figure out my career path cause as of right now I am so LOST.

Weight Loss Challenge

So I admit I'm obsessed with the weight loss shows that have been on tv. I watch Biggest Loser, Heavy, and I Used to Be Fat. I sit on my couch sometimes with food watching them, saying "I can do that." Yet, I'm not.  I've lost my motivation. 

I give mad props to everyone on those shows for having the courage to show all of themselves on tv.  So to give me that boost of motivation to get back on track, I have decided to show all of myself on my blog.  I may not be as big as some of them on the shows but I do have a long way to go to reach my goal.  I am so disappointed in myself for just giving up on myself.  I want to change for the better.  So here it is...

My name is Ysa and I weigh 180 pounds.  My ultimate weight loss goal is to lose 50 pounds and get back to the weight I was when I graduated high school.  130 was not only how much I weighed when I graduated but it is also the weight I should be for my height.  As of right now, I am OVERWEIGHT!!!  I know I can do this once I start, I just have to figure ways to keep my motivation going cause I could easily lose it. 

I am not only announcing it but posting some pictures.  My thinking is "if I post pics and announce it, than it would keep me going cause I don't want to just post this and not do anything about it."

here I am at 180 lbs.

from the side, I don't look that bad!



Wish me good luck on my weight loss journey. My journey starts today and I know that I can do it. Baby steps, right?