Perspective - It's a Bitch

Back before monster I thought I was 'too fat'. I was not comfortable in my own skin, and always wished to be thinner, prettier, more whatever. I wasn't huge, but I wasn't thin. I had hips, a booty, and nice curves.

Fast forward to today - Oh how I wish for my pre-monster body back!!

Everything on my body has shifted and changed. The ONLY good thing that came from the pregnancy (aside from monster himself, of course), is the fact that I actually have boobs now. Yes, the boobie fairy visited me and I am no longer flat-chested. *happy dance* But I would give them up in a heartbeat to have my body go back to what it was before. Heck, there's a lot I would give up in order to rewind my body's history. But alas, that cannot be done.

Now I could sit here, bitching and moaning all day long about how I wish things were different. But the fact of the matter is that things are the way they are and the past cannot be changed. However, hope is not lost. I can push myself to create a new body that I am able to love. Having knowledge of my body past and present will help me to remember to love my body in the future.

I share this to say enjoy where you are in life. You may wish things were different, but always remember things could be much worse. I may not like how my body looks these days, but instead of constantly putting myself down I can use my current state to push myself harder. I am a work in progress, and where I am today is not where I must remain for the rest of my life. All it takes is one step in the right direction...

"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending." ~Maria Robinson

My First Recipe - Pumpkin Bran Muffins

I found a can of organic pumpkin pie mix in my cupboard that I bought a while ago and decided I wanted to use it up. So I thought about what I could make. I was already planning on baking some bran muffins this afternoon/evening. A-ha, a light bulb appeared above my head, I would make pumpkin bran muffins. 

I had used THIS recipe for applesauce bran muffins before. But I wanted to make my pumpkin muffins with less sugar/fat/calories. This is what I came up with:

Pumpkin Bran Muffins 

Ingredients

1 1/4 c whole wheat flour

3/4 c crushed bran cereal
1/4 c + 1 tbsp brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
dash salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 15oz can organic pumpkin pie mix
1 tbsp vanilla
1/2 c egg beaters (whites)
2 tbsp olive oil

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Grease muffin tin with nonstick spray. Fill baking cups 3/4 full. Bake for 15 mins. 

I didn't want to publish this until I had tried them, in case they were terrible. But they turned out amazing!! Definitely will be making these again.

Baby Steps - One Must Crawl Before Running a Marathon

One of my many flaws is that I sometimes dream dreams bigger than I can achieve, at least not as quickly as I'd like to. I get ridiculously excited and dive in head first. Things are going great in the beginning. But soon I begin to feel overwhelmed. I had done too much too quickly, and get burned out. But instead of simply cutting back a bit, which would be the logical thing to do, I find it easier to quit. Why? I'm not exactly sure. But it's what I tend to do and I am aware of it.

So I am attempting to take a different approach to my workout and weight loss efforts this time around. I am sticking my big toe into the water and easing myself back into things. I'm hoping that through taking it slow I can keep myself motivated and stick with it for the long haul.

This is about more than just the weight loss. I am in need of a lifestyle change, a complete overhaul of my day to day. My health suffers, my quality of life suffers, everything about me suffers the longer I allow things to continue. Therefore, I am taking baby steps to get me where I need/desire to be.

Turning Over a New Leaf... Again.

Spring has come again (at least the calendar says so, even if the constant drizzle begs to differ), which means summer is right around the corner. Warmer weather means shorts, tanktops, and swimsuits (UGH). I find myself dreading summer more and more with each passing year. I prefer to wear and am most comfortable in jeans, a hoodie, and flip-flops.

My recent doctor visits have shown me something I'd been pretending wasn't happening - I have been gaining weight. Again. I didn't have struggles with my weight until I was pregnant with monster. I wasn't thin by any means, but I could eat whatever crap I wanted and barely work out without worrying about gaining weight. Heck, I lived on McDonald's, Starbucks, and ramen noodles in college and a couple years after. But now my weight is a constant battle.

After having monster, dealing with post-partum depression, going crazy, and all that jazz, I had decided enough was enough. January of 2009 I began eating healthier and working out. I busted my butt, tons of sweat and tears, and fought my way down 35lbs. A hospital visit threw off my groove, and I had fallen off track. Fast forward to today... I'm back up to the weight I started at in '09 (and hating myself for letting it get out of hand again), and I have dealt with several other medical issues. But enough is enough, and I am ready to begin anew once again.

I know it will be a tough road - I've been there. But I know I can do it - I've done it before. No more excuses. I need to take the time to take care of myself. Not just for swimsuit season (that is simply an added perk). I need to take care of my body. I need to be there for my son, for my husband. But most importantly, I need to do this for ME. I share this all in hopes that blogging about my struggles, venting my frustrations, and celebrating each little accomplishment and milestone will help to keep me accountable.  

"Visualize what you want out of life and think big. Don’t feel undeserving. We're all deserving of living our dreams—some of us realize it and some don't. You’re not doing anyone any favors by living small. Embrace these truths and step up. The world is waiting." -Jillian Michaels


Annnnnd I will end with this nonsensical song, the chorus of which is my current mantra. Enjoy!

 

The Results Are In - Cherry Clafouti

The cherry clafouti was uhh... interesting. It tasted like a mix between crepes and custard. Most everyone who ate some said it was good. It was alright to me. Edible at least. Will I be making it again? I don't think so. There are too many other recipes out there with much more potential. 

Oh well, c'est la vie. You simply cannot win them all.

It's the Little Things that Count the Most

As I sit here, sipping my morning coffee, I begin to reflect on the little things. So I figured I would share some of those things that make my heart happy... 

♥ waking up next to the love of my life

♥ the joy on monster's face as he discovers his Easter goodies

♥ simple yoga stretches that make me feel rejuvenated

♥ the anticipation (on my part and monster's) of today's family get-together

♥ my kitchen herbs that are thriving so far, delicate as they may be

♥ ginormous hugs and a giddy 'Happy Easter' from monster

♥ warm blankets

♥ kisses of all varieties

The list could go on and on... I love my little family and the life we share. Happy Easter (those that celebrate) to all my friends, family, and followers!

Delights of the Dessert Variety - Cherry Clafouti

I absolutely love to bake. Making sweet treats for friends and family to enjoy is like a drug to me. Searching the web, perusing my cookbooks, and ultimately finding something new to experiment with is something I thoroughly enjoy. Of course, if I baked as much as I'd like to, I would be constantly gaining weight at an alarming rate. So I save my goodies for special occasions and get-togethers. Tomorrow is Easter, so I have been searching for the perfect recipe to try out.

I've come up with Cherry Clafouti, which I found HERE. The recipe is pretty simple and straightforward, but it looks absolutely mouth-watering. Mine turned out alright, I suppose -

Lets hope the Taylor Clan finds it to be as tasty as I hope it is. Will report back with details after it has been devoured...

For the Love of Freebies

I love free stuff. Absolutely LOVE it. But I think that is a common sentiment. Those who say they don't like free stuff are either lying or really, really crazy (and not the good kind, mind you). My favorites are full-sized items or free product coupons. But whatever the freebie is, it's more than welcome in my house.

It's especially fun when you sign up for freebies so often that you forget about them. Then when the mail comes it's like Xmas day. You have NO idea what the envelope/box contains, and the excitement is overwhelming (ok, so maybe not quite overwhelming).

For Earth Day this year I got a fun freebie. I brought in a partially used facial cleanser, and the gals at Origins gave me a free, full-size facial product. I used it and for the first time ever, my skin actually -felt- clean after I washed it. Whether or not it dries out my skin like so many other cleansers remains to be seen. But so far, two thumbs up.

Couponing 101 (The Ali T Version)

First off... If you've been watching Extreme Couponing on TLC and it has sparked your interest in couponing and saving money, that's cool. But if you're expecting to do anything like on the show, know right now that it is completely unrealistic. Notice how every cast member says it's their 'biggest haul yet'. Yeah, there's a reason for that - it's NOT normal. People don't coupon like that on a daily, weekly, or even monthly (with few exceptions) basis.

Start off slow. If you dive in head first, you'll get overwhelmed. Remember, you're starting to save money on things for which you'd normally pay full price. So any savings you may have is just that - savings. Begin by getting the Sunday newspaper. Find out which local paper has all the inserts and the best place to acquire it on Sunday. Some dollar stores sell the Sunday paper for only a dollar. And they are generally well stocked.

Learn one local store or drugstore at a time. If you try to learn too much at once, you will likely get confused or again, overwhelmed. Each store has a different coupon policy. Some are simpler than others. Throw in a store loyalty card and you've got a hot mess.

Take it all one day at a time. Couponing is a constant learning process. You win some, you lose some. But deals are constantly cycling. Some cashiers/managers might give you a hard time. That's where knowing the coupon policy inside and out can come in handy. But don't let a bad day or a lost deal discourage you. The more you know, the more you will save. But all in time.