The Kat Files

BOOK NOOK: AUGUST SELECTIONS

August 1, 2013 by katloyacano

Another month has come and gone. I’m in awe with how fast the time is passing. Today is 01 August. My youngest son’s birthday is today, and he is officially 12 years old. The new school year starts in 12 days with my return to the classroom. And, this month my hubby and I celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. Lots to celebrate this month.

In July, I posted the books I planned to read throughout the month. I was a bit ambitious by choosing four books, one of which was 642 pages. I finished two of the four books (Crispin and Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry) and read half of The Historian. I am still working through Practicing the Power of Now. Therefore, I have not chosen a nonfiction selection for August. I will continue reading The Historian and will add two more selections.

I absolutely love Neil Gaiman. I read a book by him (Coraline) while working as a librarian several years ago. Then I read The Graveyard Book which I had purchased at Andrew’s school’s annual book fair. Recently, I discovered he writes graphic novels and is a big deal in the comic book world. He writes adult fiction, as well. For my adult fiction selection this month, I’ve chosen his newest novel, The Ocean at The End of The Lane. Returning to his childhood home to attend a funeral, a middle-aged man takes a walk down memory lane and rediscovers the magic and darkness from when he was a small boy.

The Ocean at The End of The Lane by Neil Gaiman

The children’s literature selection is another summer reading book chosen for grades 5th-8th. I read this book earlier this year, and want to reread it since I will be incorporating it in my classroom throughout the school year. August is a ten-year-old boy who up until now has been home schooled because of a facial deformity. He enters Beecher Prep as a 5th grader and soon experiences what it means to be different. This novel is a wonderful tool for teaching tolerance and acceptance.

Wonder by R. J. Palacio

Time for me to sign off. I have a doctor’s appointment. Of course, I will be taking The Historian along with me. Hope you find time to read something terrific this month. Happiness!

“The reader became the book; and summer night
Was like the conscious being of the book.”

~ Wallace Stevens

Posted in Books/Reading | Tagged acceptance, books, fantasy, fiction, literature, Neil Gaiman, reading, tolerance | Leave a Comment »

BOOK NOOK: JULY SELECTIONS

July 2, 2013 by katloyacano

What does Vlad the Impaler, a peasant boy, an African-American family in the Deep South, and spiritual enlightenment have in common? ME. They all appear in the books I’ve selected to read throughout the month of July. Each month I want to read at least three books from the categories I include on my Reading List 2013: adult fiction, adult nonfiction, and children’s literature. Not all of the books I will be reading each month will come directly off my reading list.

The adult fiction selection is a 642 page debut novel about one woman’s search to uncover the truth about Vlad the Impaler and Dracula; and through that discovery a secret is revealed from her own past.

The Historian by ElizabethKostova

The Historian

There are two choices this month for the children’s literature selection. Both books are required summer reading for 7th/8th graders at the school I’ll be teaching Junior High English this upcoming school year. They are both historical fiction. The first one takes place in fourteenth-century medieval England. Crispin is a thirteen-year-old peasant boy falsely accused of committing a crime, thus causing him to embark on an incredible journey of self-discovery.

Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi

The second one takes place during the Depression in the Mississippi Delta. The Logans are an African-American family coping with the struggles associated with that time and place in history. Excellent story! I fell in love with the Logan family many years ago when I taught the novel to a 6th grade Language Arts class.

Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry by Mildred D. Taylor

The adult nonfiction selection is all about practicing how to be PRESENT until it transforms your life. I am a fan of Tolle’s teachings ever since reading A New Earth. Even though I’ve grown by leaps and bounds in this area of my life, I still struggle with being PRESENT and overcoming EGO. This book is a practical guide to living in the NOW, not the past or the future.

Practicing The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

These are my reading selections for the month of July. Let me know what you’re reading. Happiness!

“Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.” ~ Charles William Eliot

Posted in Books/Reading | Tagged books, enlightenment, historical fiction, reading, Vlad the Impaler | Leave a Comment »

Zombies Killed the Slug

June 26, 2013 by katloyacano

Yep, zombies killed the slug. The slug living inside of me. Apparently, I hit a plateau (or, a serious case of procrastination) in several areas of my life including blogging. My last post was on April Fool’s Day. Where has the time gone? I need to get back to blogging, exercising, eating clean, and completing projects on a more regular basis. I’ve allowed other things, like being a slug, get in the way. And, I’ve missed you my dear readers.

Back to zombies! My hubby, Shelly, her hubby and their two daughters (21 and 10), and I ran the Zombie Run Sunday morning at City Park in New Orleans. I woke up at 3:45AM, got dressed, ate breakfast, and prepared myself for the event scheduled to begin at 7:00AM. Runners affixed three red balloons stamped with a heart to a belt they wore for the race. Runners who crossed the finish line with at least one balloon still attached to their belt survived the race with their brains intact. Sadly, I did NOT survive. The only zombie bait in our group who made it were my hubby and Shelly’s ten-year-old. Regardless of who did or did not survive, we all had a TERRIFIC time running away from zombies.

Back to procrastination! Apparently, I’m not the only one experiencing a plateau. Last week I read two blog posts and an article in Oprah about getting unstuck. Derek Halpern’s video, How to Stop Procrastinating, on Social Triggers was not only entertaining, but confirmed what I had been doing the last couple of months…procrastinating. According to Halpern, “people procrastinate because there is nothing at stake.” He suggests putting something at stake for motivation.

Sunday afternoon Shelly called and asked if I wanted to go to the gym early (5:15AM) Monday morning to take an RPM class. I agreed and put my word at stake by telling her not only would I be there, but I would also pick her up on the way to the gym. As tired as I was Monday morning, there was no way I was not showing up and leaving my BFF in her driveway in the dark waiting for me. We took the class!

Do I think I’m cured of procrastination? No. However, I do think putting something at stake works. So, my dear readers, if you find yourself procrastinating this week, put something at stake and see if it motivates you to take action. Happiness!

“If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them.” ~ Bruce Lee

Posted in Motivation, Positive Living | Tagged motivation, plateaus, positive living, procrastination, zombies | Leave a Comment »

Acceptance! Thanks, Alexander Graham Bell.

April 1, 2013 by katloyacano

“When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.” ~ Alexander Graham Bell

I discovered the above quote this morning, and it spoke to me loudly and clearly. For the last few months since I started my new job, I’ve been looking back longingly upon the closed door. On the surface, I’m grateful to have a job; however, when I delve deeper, I must admit I have not fully accepted some of the changes the job has made in my life. I miss my flexibility. And, by focusing on what I’ve lost by taking this job instead of what I’ve gained has put me in an underlying funk. Sure, it has presented some challenges, but it also has provided some opportunities. So starting today, my goal is to at least “accept” where I’m at on my life journey right NOW, in the present. Not where I was a few months ago or where I think I’ll be in a few months down the road. According to Eckhart Tolle, “Acceptance means: For now, this is what this situation, this moment, requires me to do, and so I do it willingly….Performing an action in the state of acceptance means you are at peace while you do it.” I have to adjust my attitude. Tolle says, “The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation but your thoughts about it.” Whew! I’m happy I spotted the open door before it was too late.

I’m off work today, and that’s no April Fool’s joke. My little guy and I are going to the movies this afternoon to see The Croods. Afterwards, we plan to work out at the gym. He’ll go to the Fit Kids class and I’ll run/walk. Yep, after two weeks of doing absolutely nothing but exercising my jaw, I’m getting back on the program. This morning I pulled out the scale, my food journal & training log, the club’s exercise schedule, as well as my health & fitness goals. The bad news: I weighed in this morning at 138.5 pounds (gained back 12.5 pounds since December). The good news: I’m getting back on track TODAY.

Two interesting blog posts pertaining to health & fitness: Fool Proof Diet Reboot by Yvette Quantz of Food Therapy and The 38 Best Methods of Successful Exercisers by Leo Babauta of zenhabits.

Whatever the day brings, approach it with the right attitude. In my opinion, this is easier said than done. Remember, I just discovered the open door today. However, strive for acceptance of the situation and don’t let your thoughts about the situation dictate how you will feel. Happiness!

“Breaking old habits and forming new ones always takes time, but it is worth it in the end.” ~ Joyce Meyer

Posted in Health and Fitness, Motivation, Positive Living | Tagged acceptance, attitude, Eckhart Tolle, goals, habits, happiness, health & fitness, inspiration, motivation, roadblocks | Leave a Comment »

Home Sweet Home: Goals for My Home

March 30, 2013 by katloyacano

When setting goals for this year, I listed a few for my home. After work, I spend the majority of my time at home. The goals for my home deal with simplicity and preparation for a home makeover. I would like for my family and I to develop a way of living which embraces minimalism. My list of goals includes:

Minimize stuff: I want to spend the next nine months going through my house, room by room, purging STUFF. The goal is to donate, trash, use, or organize the stuff. Then minimize what is brought in the house from that point.

Make Repairs/Finish Unfinished Projects: My hubby loves projects, especially when it involves building something. And, he is awesome at planning the projects and starting them; however, he is NOT so awesome at completing them.

Learn to Paint like a PRO: I have always wanted to learn how to paint properly. I would like to take a class at Lowe’s or Home Depot and learn how to paint the rooms in my house like a professional. Sometimes, just painting a room is all that is needed to spruce it up.

Bookcases: This year I plan to hire my Daddy to build my bookcases. As most of my friends know, I’m a bookaholic. I love books and plan to purge my collection; however, I will still have oodles of books that need to be placed on shelves instead of piles. I’m hoping this project can be started over the summer after Barry finishes building his deck.

Redecorate Plan: If the first four goals get accomplished, I want to create a redecorating plan for 2014. It will not be anything elaborate because the main goal is simplicity. It will concentrate on the inside of the house.

Purchases: My hubby and I need a new bed with a headboard. We also need curtains in our bedroom to block out the light caused by a neighbor living behind us. The light he installed in his backyard is so bright it illuminates our entire bedroom, and I can’t sleep. We now have sheets tacked over our blinds. They are not the most attractive window treatments.

Since I have a couple of days off from work, I will start in my bedroom and work my way to my master bathroom and closet. Barry will be working on his deck; however, if it rains, I will suggest he start working on his closet, as well. The main hurdle for me will be eliminating the attachment I have to some of this stuff. This will be a wonderful opportunity to practice the power of NOW. Happiness!

“Have nothing in your homes that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” ~ William Morris

Posted in Home, Positive Living | Tagged diy, goals, home, makeovers, minimalism, projects, simplicity, stuff | Leave a Comment »

376

March 29, 2013 by katloyacano

I have good news and bad news. The GOOD NEWS: I reached one of my Health & Fitness resolutions which was to run a 5K. On Saturday, 16 March, I ran the Hammond Rotary Shamrock Run. The start and finish were on SLU’s campus. Despite the temps being in the forties, it was a gorgeous sunshiny “perfect for a run” day. I had set three goals for myself: finish the race, run the entire way, and complete in 30 minutes. I accomplished ALL three goals. Actually, I surpassed one goal by finishing the race in 28:55. I’m SUPER proud of myself. My hubby and Comet tagged along to cheer me on throughout the race course.

The BAD NEWS: I have NOT exercised since the race. I could give you my list of excuses, but I won’t. Frankly, I wanted to take a break. I’ll be back on track Monday, 1 April.

There are three upcoming races I plan to run:

Holy Ghost Parish Spirit Run (20 April)
Mi5Ke Run (11 May)
Zombie Run (23 June)

My hubby and I are already registered for the Zombie Run.

I started reading Jackie Warner’s current fitness book called 10 Pounds in 10 Days. I don’t believe I will lose ten pounds in ten days; however, I do believe it will motivate me to finally drop the holiday weight.

Getting back on track can be tough, especially if you are not living in the NOW. I wish I could master living in the NOW. It seems like such a simple concept; however, it’s a very difficult thing to do. I may have to consider rereading A New Earth or The Power of Now again. In the meantime, I’ll have to do my best. Happiness!

“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have. Make the NOW the primary focus of your life.” ~ Eckhart Tolle

Posted in Books/Reading, Health and Fitness, Motivation | Tagged 5K, books, Eckhart Tolle, exercise, goals, Jackie Warner, motivation, reading, resolutions, running, the NOW | 3 Comments »

Spring Forward!

March 9, 2013 by katloyacano

Don’t forget to set your clocks forward one hour before going to bed tonight. Daylight Saving Time is FINALLY here (rock music plays with confetti spewing everywhere)! I’m just a little excited thinking about everything I plan to accomplish in the upcoming months.

For the past ten days, I have been setting my clock 5 minutes earlier each day so I can get up earlier in the mornings (even weekends). Today, I woke up at 4:30AM. Hopefully, by Saturday (16 March), I’ll be up at 4:00AM. Before it got cold, I was getting up at 4:00AM. This allowed me the time to run/workout before my day got started. I didn’t have to worry about unexpected stuff happening in the afternoons, getting out of work late, or shutting down because it got dark early interfering with me exercising. Also, the weather is warming up which means I’m able to run outside more often. Soon, I’ll be enjoying my early morning runs again. I can’t wait! I’m already energized just thinking about it.

Mon frere, Moonius Maximus and I completed the Healthier Lifestyle 8-Week Challenge. My week #8 total was 156 points. I earned 156 points for making healthy choices and 0 points for weight loss. Our points for exercise were doubled this week. My final weigh-in was 134 pounds. Moonius Maximus earned 92 points. He earned 92 for making healthy choices and 5 points for maintaining his weight loss. His final weigh-in was 184 pounds. Despite the fact that neither one of us reached our initial weight loss goals (Kat: 125 pounds/Moonius: 175), we are not treating ourselves as failures. Moonius won the challenge of losing the most weight. I won the challenge of earning the most points for healthy choices. Both of us have developed better habits because of the challenge and will continue striving for a healthier lifestyle.

Now, it is time for me to lace up my running shoes and head over to the gym for my run on the treadmill. I have plenty to do today, and I want to start my day off on the right foot, so to speak. Wishing my readers a SUPER weekend. Happiness!

“Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success. When you do a thing, do it with all your might. Put your whole soul into it. Stamp it with your own personality. Be active, be energetic, be enthusiastic and faithful, and you will accomplish your object. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Posted in Health and Fitness, Healthier Lifestyle 8-Week Challenge, Motivation | Tagged challenges, daylight saving time, exercise, goals, healthy living, weight loss | Leave a Comment »

Health & Fitness Goals 2013

February 26, 2013 by katloyacano

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to think about different areas of my life (health & fitness, home, acting, family, finances) and wrote down a few goals I’d like to work on in each of these areas this year and beyond. One would think after losing weight, exercising on a regular basis, and eating clean 90% of the time there wouldn’t be a need for more health and fitness goals. This couldn’t be further from the truth for me. While I like routine, I also like variety. And, I like challenges. My challenge has been to drop the 7 pounds I gained from the Christmas holidays. Unfortunately, I haven’t been too successful. Not sure exactly why. However, I have my suspicions it has something to do with the weather and getting dark early. Daylight savings time is just around the corner (10 March), and spring isn’t far behind. I’m hoping the combination of warmer weather and longer daylight hours is the answer to shedding these unwanted pounds.

This is my list of Health & Fitness resolutions:

Continue to exercise on a regular basis (shoot for 5 days a week).
Try new classes/exercises to challenge muscles and keep it fresh.
Run a 5K.
Run a 5K with zombies in it. (June 2013)
Continue to eat clean, and shoot for 95% of the time. More veggies and 8 glasses a water each day.
Try new recipes even though cooking is not my favorite thing (shoot for 3 new recipes a month).
Make the time to prep food/plan meals ahead of time (shoot for 3 days a week).
When the weather gets nicer, walk my dog (Comet aka Tooty) on a more regular basis (shoot for 4 times a week).

On Saturday, I registered for the Hammond Rotary 5K Shamrock Run being held on the SLU Campus on Saturday, 16 March. Of course, my main goal is to finish; however, I want to run the entire race in 30 minutes. Pray for good weather.

Here is an interesting blog post from Leo Babauta of zenhabits about health & fitness: Create the Habits of Being Lean, in 7 Years

Healthier Lifestyle 8-Week Challenge Update

My week #7 total was 169 points. I earned 169 points for making healthy choices and 0 points for weight loss. Our points for not eating after 9PM was doubled this week. According to my scale Monday, I gained 3.5 pounds (REALLY!) which makes my weight 135.5 pounds. I weighed myself again this morning with 133 pounds. Still a pound gain! I want to kick that scale to the curb. Moonius Maximus earned 105 points. He earned 100 for making healthy choices and 5 points for maintaining his weight loss. His weight is still 184 pounds. We have one more week to complete this challenge. Moonius and I will NOT give up. We are determined to finish this challenge with a positive attitude. Happiness!

“It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.” ~ Andy Warhol

Posted in Health and Fitness, Healthier Lifestyle 8-Week Challenge, Motivation | Tagged challenges, exercise, goals, healthy living, nutrition, resolutions, weight loss | Leave a Comment »

Trying Something New

February 21, 2013 by katloyacano

I’m on Day 9 of the North Cypress 14-Day Challenge, and I’m actually having a terrific time. This challenge, like the T-Shirt Challenge, has given me the opportunity to try new classes. On the first day of the challenge, I let Shelly talk me into taking a P.U.R.E. class. Intense! The class reminds me of the Insanity DVD program/Jackie Warner’s Power Circuits. You go through a series of stations led by personal trainers. Each station has a different exercise that is performed for about a minute or two depending on the exercise. I left the class thinking “I’ll never take that class again.” WRONG! I took it again Monday night, as well as last night. On Friday evening I had my training session with a personal trainer. One trainer session is included in the challenge. My trainer worked me hard. My body felt it the next day. After my run on Saturday morning, I took a Barre class with Shelly who had just finished a spin class. The Barre class is a combination of principles of ballet, Pilates, and yoga. It targets the core, hips, thighs, buttocks, and arms. Out of all of the classes I have tried since joining North Cypress, this is my least favorite. In all fairness, I plan on taking the class again; however, it will be on a day or night separate from any other activity and not after a trainer session. Shelly and I both went into that class sore AND after just working out for 45 minutes. Also, Shelly had her trainer session on Friday morning. We’re NUTS! I was stiff, sore, and uncomfortable. It even hurt to sit. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to walk Sunday morning. I did take Sunday as a rest day. Alas, Shelly and I prevailed, and we are both back at it for another week of the challenge.

In addition to new classes, I’m trying new foods. I’ve added raw spinach to my salads. I’ve incorporated balsamic vinegar into a few of my meals (salads/pasta). The eating plan calls for Caramel Corn Rice Cakes by Quaker Oats. One rice cake is 0 fat grams; 50 calories, 3g of sugar, and 1g of protein. They are pretty good. The plan calls for spreading some Almond Butter on it; however, I’ve been eating them plain or with peanut butter. I haven’t tried Almond butter, yet. It is something I plan to try very soon.

For anyone interested in the Meal Plan for the 14-Day Challenge: Meal Plan (This is 1,550 calories per day.)

For anyone interested in the Workout Plan for the 14-Day Challenge: Workout Plan

Healthier Lifestyle 8-Week Challenge Update

My week #6 total was 156 points. I earned 181 points for making healthy choices and 0 points for weight loss. Our points for no sweets or sugary treats were doubled this week. I lost 2.5 pounds (YAY!) which makes my weight 132 pounds; however, I earned 0 points for weight loss because my lowest weight was 131.5 pounds. Moonius Maximus earned 112 points. He earned 107 for making healthy choices and 5 points for maintaining his weight loss. His weight is still 184 pounds. We have two more weeks to complete this challenge.

Recently, I had the opportunity to write down some goals for different areas of my life. I’m hoping to write a post or two about them soon. Some of the goals are for 2013 while others are something I would like to accomplish in the future. Every day brings opportunity. Sometimes, the opportunities enrich the journey you’re presently on. Sometimes, the opportunities open new doors and lead you in another direction…a direction that may bring you more fulfillment, define your purpose, or just make your life flow smoothly. Whatever the day brings, be PRESENT so you don’t miss the opportunities. Happiness!

“You know. Life’s short. If you don’t try new things, you’ll never know what you’re best at. And you can only make time for new things by quitting the things you know don’t work for you.” ~Meg Cabot, Teen Idol

Posted in Health and Fitness, Healthier Lifestyle 8-Week Challenge, Motivation | Tagged challenges, exercise, goals, healthy living, motivation, nutrition, trying new things, weight loss | Leave a Comment »

Commitment

February 12, 2013 by katloyacano

Tomorrow, I will start a 14-Day Challenge sponsored by my health club. The timing is perfect since tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. It will also coincide with the last three weeks of the Healthier Lifestyle 8-Week Challenge I’m doing with Moonius Maximus. The 14-Day Challenge is not much different from the program I was following by Jackie Warner. You need to eat clean and exercise regularly. There are NO treat meals/sugary treats for 14 days. Since the Christmas holidays, I have been abusing sugar again and my weight is slowly creeping back up. Unacceptable! I need to not only make the commitment to lose the holiday weight, but also to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Healthier Lifestyle 8-Week Challenge Update

My week #5 total was 104 points. I earned 104 points for making healthy choices and 0 points for weight loss. Our points to eat three vegetable servings daily were doubled this week. I lost 0 pounds and gained 1.5 pounds which makes my weight 134.5 pounds. No excuses. I’m backsliding and NOT proud of it. Moonius Maximus earned 139 points. He earned 134 for making healthy choices and 5 points for maintaining his weight loss. His weight is still 184 pounds. We have three more weeks to complete this challenge. I MUST be committed these last three weeks. Happiness!

“At the moment of commitment the entire universe conspires to assist you.” ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Posted in Health and Fitness, Healthier Lifestyle 8-Week Challenge, Motivation | Tagged challenges, commitment, exercise, healthy living, motivation, weight loss | Leave a Comment »

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Positive Living

"Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behaviors. Keep your behaviors positive because your behaviors become your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny." ~Gandhi
Run/Walk Schedule

Week #1: Walk 30 minutes a day, at least three times a week.

Week #2: Continue week-one workout but pick up the pace, pump your arms. Break a sweat!

Week #3: Walk 10 minutes. Run 1 minute. Walk 2 minutes (repeat this 3-minute session 5 times). Walk 10 minutes.

Week #4: Walk 10 minutes. Run 2 minutes. Walk 1 minute (repeat this 3-minute session 5 times). Walk 10 minutes.

Week #5: Repeat Week #1 due to setback.
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The Kat Files

Finding Adventure in Everyday Life

BOOK NOOK: AUGUST SELECTIONS

BOOK NOOK: JULY SELECTIONS

Zombies Killed the Slug

Acceptance! Thanks, Alexander Graham Bell.

Home Sweet Home: Goals for My Home

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Spring Forward!

Health & Fitness Goals 2013

Trying Something New

Commitment

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