Holy guacamole!

It's definitely been awhile since I posted so I figured I'd grace ya'll with a nice long post of what all has been happening lately.


I finished my capstone course and paper (well, the paper's not completely finished--just have to make some adjustments and then it's done) but the presentation is done and it went splendidly! Kyle was doting on me after the presentation about how proud he was of me and how my paper definitely sparked most of the discussions in the room. Most of the questions were directed at me or some part of my paper. I loved it! I was nervous as hell though! When I started presenting, I felt like I was either going to crack up laughing or start crying. It was weird! But I got through it and it was an awesome feeling to finish my Master's. We went out to dinner afterwards and now I'm able to relax with nothing floating over my head, with the exception of finalizing my paper and submitting a hard copy to the Bilingual/ESL department at BSU.


Kyle has still been truckin' along on night shift and he gets depressed so easily because he's never awake for the sunshine. He's upset that he can't spend enough time with me but it's okay. That's just how life is sometimes and he'll advance someday so that he can get on a regular work schedule. I think that's also one of the (many) reasons we're holding off so long on having babies because it'd be so hard on both of us for him to be switching from days to nights. His coworker, James and his wife, have a baby and it's difficult for them to see each other and to have equal help with the baby. They're lucky that Lily is such a good baby! I can't imagine otherwise.


On the weightloss front, I've been kinda struggling with it. Frustrations with work exhaustion and not wanting to exercise as much as I used to are the factors. Unfortunately with work exhaustion/stress, I also tend to eat more. I've been recognizing this problem for awhile but I just seem to recognize the problem and then just push it aside and continue on. I've been trying so hard and my weight seems to not go anywhere except for either the same or a little higher. I had to pay last weekend at the meeting because I had exceeded my "goal" weight. The good thing though is that I only technically have to weigh in once a month even though I had to pay this time. I have time to get my weight lower before the next weigh-in next weekend. It's spring break this coming week so I better behave--I can do it. People sometimes say that it's harder to lose weight when you're staying at home because food is always available. Well, I sorta agree with that but at the same time, I believe it's sometimes harder to not eat more when you're working. Sure, when I'm at work, I only have the food that's available for me in my lunch sack but by the end of the day, I'm so hungry and tired that when I come home, I'm an eating machine and will look for anything to eat. I mean, I make the right choices about food (most of the time) because we hardly keep any junk food in the house, except for the occasionaly cookie dough in the fridge, but for the most part, we're pretty well behaved in our grocery habits. However, with that said, I tend to eat too much of the good stuff--past my full point. That's not good. Anyway, I think summer and break times from school are a little easier for me because 1.) I'm not as stressed and tired and hungry; and 2.) I have more time for exercise and more energy for it. I've got a running schedule that I have to follow now because a good friend of mine from work and I are going to run a 1/2 marathon together near the end of May in Seattle. This is her first one and she said that I inspired her to do it so she wants to do it with me. We're all paid up and so there's no turning back. I gotta do it for myself and for her! This'll be my 3rd 1/2 marathon and then I'm running another one on June 19th. Oh holy cow! What have I done????? Well, at least I'll be starting out the summer well-exercised! ha! The one thing I have to watch out for though for myself is workout burnout. I did that to myself right after my first 1/2 marathon and it wasn't pretty. I did not want to set foot in the gym ever again because I had exercised so much before the race that I had gotten completely bored! It was a terrible feeling! I'm taking it easy now and enjoying Zumba class (now that there is a cute, new little Latina girl teaching the class). She's got so much energy and she's so coordinated and knows what she's doing--that makes all the difference! I'm loving it again right now. It gives me something to look forward to in between my running days. I've been bummed though lately because the weather's been iffy. One day it's beautiful (and that happens to be a day where I can't get outside due to school obligations) and then the next day where I have the opportunity to get out, it's windy and cloudy and cold. I hate that point here in Idaho when it's starting to turn into spring and it does this shizophrenic thing between extremely nice days and windy, crappy days. I can't wait til it becomes more constant springtime.


In other news, the Knitwitz are doing a great job! We're just knitting away! We've gotten several hats made and donated, as well as scarves and blankets (they were crocheted by a boy and donated)! We're going to make tie-dye tshirts after spring break sometime when the weather decides to behave. I'll take them outside and we'll dye our shirts! I can't wait! My senior hat project for myself is coming along. I've made about 7 or 8 already and have about 4 or 5 left to make. About 3 or 4 of them have to be black though because that's what those kids wanted. I asked them and was like, "Are you sure you just want all black? It's so boring of a color!" hahahaha...It is so boring to knit just all one color. I like to mix it up and but at least one other color in there or use that mult-colored yarn so that every loop or row that I make on the hat is a surprise! :)


Last night I made a healthy cheesecake. Found the recipe in one of my exercise magazines. It's a chocolate swirl cheesecake and it's awesome! I just tried a little piece and I was skeptical at first but it actually is pretty tasty! Here's the recipe:

Chocolate Cheesecake
(makes 14 servings--really? If you cut it into TINY pieces, I guess)

1/2 c. crushed graham crackers
2 tbsp. butter, melted
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
3/4 c. fat-free milk
2 8-oz pkgs. reduced fat cream cheese, softened
1 8-oz pkg. fat free cream cheese, softened
8oz. fat free sour cream
1/3 c. sugar (I used Splenda)
2 tsp. vanilla
4oz. bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled

Chocolate curls

1. In a bowl, stir together the graham crackers and butter. Press the mixture into the bottom of an 8-inch springform pan. Chill while preparing the filling.

2. In a saucepan, sprinkle the gelatin over the milk; let stand for 5 minutes. Stir over low heat until the gelatin is dissolved. Remove from heat; cool for 15 minutes.

3. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheeses with a mixer until smooth. Beat in the sour cream, sugar and vanilla; gradually beat in the gelatin mixture. Divide the cream cheese mixture in half; gradually stir the melted chocolate into one half.

4. Spread half of the chocolate mixture on the crust. Spoon half of the remaining cream cheese mixture onto the chocolate mixture in small mounds; swirl them together with a butter knife.

5. Spread the remaining chocolate mixture on top. Spoon on the remaining cream cheese mixture, and swirl again. Cover; chill for 6 hours or until set.

6. Loosen the cake from the pan with a knife before removing the side of the pan. Cut the cake into wedges; top with chocolate curls.

Nutrition (for 1 slice): 216 cal, 17 g carbohydrates, 13 g fat (7 g saturated), 1 g fiber

I used a plain pie pan instead of a springform and it worked out okay, I think. I was able to get the slice out of the pan without any problems really but I better get a springform just in case I make this again and see how much it changes (if it does at all).

Well, I hope this entry was enough for ya'll. I'm pretty tired and have a pounding headache. I think I might go take a nap now to get my spring break started out right. :) We're leaving for Reno, Nevada on Sunday morning to take a short trip and get out of the house. I'm sure there'll be pictures in store.

One step closer...

I just posted my almost final draft to the discussion board so EVERYBODY can read it now. The people that will read it will be in attendance to the capstone presentation on this coming Tuesday afternoon, 3-6pm. I'm nervous but I did just get back from meeting a classmate to discuss details about how we should present. It was basically for moral support. We've found out though that we probably shouldn't even glance at each other, else we start laughing hysterically. That would not be good...funny, yes, but not good. Anyway, Kyle will be in attendance as well. He might be bored out of his gourd before it's over with but he'll be there to support me--AND take me out to dinner after all is said and done. After I jump this hurdle, I will have pretty much completed my Master's with the glorious Boise State University (good riddens! I can't wait to run far, far away from that campus and its professors!).

Graduation is May 15th from 10-12pm at the Taco Bell Arena. I'm guessing it'll be inside since the arena is...well, indoors. That'll be nice. It'll also be excellent to have Mommy and Daddy there! :) YAY!