The Underdog Is Ready For School

Have you ever heard of a little village in New York called Fort Plain?  Yeah, me either.  It's a typical small town with hard working Americans, true underdogs, that boasts mom and pop shops and of course a super Walmart. It inhabits nearly 3000 people where the average family makes less than $30,000 a year.  I know we are all excited to see what baby North is going to look like, however our country has suffered a terrible catastrophe that no news stations are reporting, other than it's own.  

After coming from Cuba, my grandparents, along with my mom and aunt, moved to Fort Plain to begin their own American dream.  They lived in a small, muted-green house, adjacent from a running creek.  My mom has told me many times, it was the happiest my grandfather had ever been.  It will always hold a special place in her heart; a proud Fort Plain native.  She has been devastated since learning about the massive flooding which has occurred in this small town.  You see, that same creek that ran across from my mom's childhood home, has overflowed due to severe weather and literally wiped out the town.  Many homes are no longer inhabitable and some have up to 7 feet of water!  87 businesses including, newsstands, ice cream shops, convenience stores, retail shops, and much more have closed.  Financial aid is scarce and local owners would have to come out of pocket to keep their business afloat... literally.  Let's be honest, who has extra money lying around these days in case a flood hits?  Sadly, these 87+ businesses will probably close indefinitely.  (Source: The Business Review)

When my mom learned of the devastating news that occurred in her childhood town, she immediately put on her Super Mom cape and reported for duty.  She contacted the principle at her old elementary school, Harry Hoag Elementary.  As she is telling me this story, she is showing me clippings from the town newspaper of her in the library and continues to describe all the wonderful memories she had while attending Harry Hoag Elementary.  I learned my mom was a "ham" even at an early age.  More importantly, I was really proud my mom wanted to help the children of her old town.  I think being a grandma has really brought out her sensitive side, however I love the humanitarian side even more.  Not that she needed another excuse, but she sprang over to Target and purchased all the cool school supplies any child would love to have on their first day of school: Backpacks, pencils and pens, erasers, folders, lined paper, crayons, pencil holders, etc.  In mama-Graver fashion, these kids won't be receiving ordinary #2 pencils or single color Jansport backpacks.  They will be going back to school in style even if its with mud on their shoes.  The pencil holders are a trendy color and so are the flashy pencils. The backpacks are styled with glittery butterflies, Minnie Mouse, and Spider Man.  They can't be ordinary crayons, they have to be Crayola.  Anything else would just break and nothing is more frustrating than coloring and your crayon breaks to ruin your "within the line" streak.  You know how I feel right?  Moreover, she organized each bag with everything a child would need on their first day back to school.  Not only will it bring a child a smile, it will bring their parent's some relief.

Finally, we know how it feels to survive devastation and at the same time lose everything.  Perhaps, this is my mom's way of making not only the children, but the parent's a little happier for a brief moment.  To forget how ugly it may look outside, and remember how beautiful it can and will be again.  To provide a glimmer of hope in a sparkly new backpack.  I hope this story brings peace to those in Fort Plain, knowing that at least those children will be going back to school with all their supplies and more.
My focus for writing this, was to bring awareness and attention to a town that not many of us knew existed and to bring a glimmer of hope to the under dogs of Fort Plain.  Stay strong!

If you would like information on how you can help the victims of the flood in Fort Plain, please message me on our Facebook page, here.


Sources include:

The Business Review

Wikipedia

What I really meant to say...

"Say what you want to say.   Let the words fall out.  I want to see you be brave." Sara Bareillies

How many times have you left your words unsaid only to find out it's too late?  When was the last time you failed to tell someone how you truly felt, only to find out they were too far gone?  How often do we go through life wishing we had made our voices heard?  When the echo of someones words continue to cut like a knife, don't you wish you had let your true feelings be heard?  That moment in your life, when your one true love walks out the door, only to find yourself still holding on...

What I really meant to say is, why is it so difficult to be honest and say things we meant to say before it's too late?  Why do we bite our tongue?  And yet, lesson after life lesson, we still do it...  

Growing up, I was always the shy girl. I kept to myself and some would probably say I was somewhat of an introvert.  Before you start thinking I had a lip piercing, tattoos, dyed black hair, pale skin, and too much eye liner on, you're wrong.  I was and still am, just your average girl next door.  I just had trouble expressing myself.  I kept all feelings whether it be good, bad, sad, or mean, for the most part, to myself.  In fact, when it came to showing affection, expressing love, or sadness (happy and sad tears), I was always embarrassed to show my feelings.  My family wasn't overly affectionate and we never really said, "I love you."  It wasn't because we didn't mean it or think it, it just wasn't often expressed.  Oddly enough, my father is extremely sensitive.   He cries in most movies and is the type to probably cry during the American Idol finale, and now you know where I get it from.  Moreover, I remember anytime I would cry, my grandfather would always demand I stop.  He'd say, "big girls don't cry" or "I don't like to see you cry," where I would immediately suck it up.  It really wasn't until my first boyfriend, who really broke down my walls and showed me it was okay to have feelings and/or emotions.  To be honest, I really haven't stopped crying since.  All those years of holding in my tears are making up for lost time.  Don't get me started on pregnancy emotions!  I would cry at the sight of a flower.  Oy vey!

During my grandfather's final months, I would sadly avoid him because I didn't want him to see me cry.  I literally could not be in his presence without crying.  I wanted nothing more than to be with him but the pain was too much.  I wasn't used to the man he now was.  I would lie and say I had to work or make up some petty excuse.  I didn't want to make him cry because during those final days, instead of him yelling at me to stop crying, he would ask me to stop because he didn't want to cry.  Truth be told, I never once saw my grandfather cry.  Not one time, ever!  Those few months left, quickly became a couple weeks.  My grandfather decided he did not want to continue the way he was living so he gave up all his treatments and went home.  His doctor said he probably wouldn't live more than a week, and he didn't.   That final week, I went to the house almost everyday.  Sometimes I couldn't even make it past the front door.  It was hard to see such a strong man become so fragile, so quickly.  He was the type of man who was still doing push ups in his hospital room until he physically could no longer do it.  We got that final phone call where it was time to say our goodbyes.  I messaged my brother and asked him to tell me the truth, "Was it time?"  I'll never forget what he said to me, "Tomorrow's never promised."  And just like that, we got up and went to say our goodbyes.  My grandfather made a promise to my grandmother that he would not die at home.  He did not want her to ever have that memory.  When the nurse told us it was time for him to be transported to a hospice facility we all had our time to whisper a little something to him.  Before I walked in the room, I was at a loss for words.  My grandfather laid there so frail and still, like he was already gone.  He reached as much as much as he could to me when I walked in and someone whispered I was there.  He couldn't speak or hardly move.  It was even in that moment, I couldn't get my words out.  I had so much I wanted to say, needed to say, yearned to say and I couldn't muster a proper sentence.  I told him, "I love you more than you will ever know.  Thank you for everything.  I wouldn't be where I was today if it weren't for you."  There was so much more I wanted to say... but couldn't.  Brandon took my place and promised Pop that he would take care of me and never to worry.  I had to leave the room, I didn't want him to hear me cry because at that point it was the kind of cry you can't keep quiet.  Finally, Papi was transported to a hospice care facility where he later died.  Sadly, I left many things unsaid. About 30 minutes after he passed, I laid next to him, smelling him, holding him, feeling him.  I stopped crying and was at total peace.  I began to tell him everything I always wanted to and proceeded to do that for a good ten minutes.  Will he ever truly know what I had to say?  I don't know, that one is up to the believers out there.  What I really meant to say is, it's best to tell those how you feel in the present so when it comes down to it, they already know.

Life passes so quickly.  Take chances.  Be brave.   Give in.  Be honest.  Don't settle.  Tell someone how you feel, good or bad, you both will appreciate it in the end.  Don't hold back.  Ignore fear.  It's okay to have feelings.  It's okay to cry.  Tell that person you love, make them feel it.  Show that person they hurt you and let them know why.  Open up to a stranger.  Be truthful in your voice and never hide it's honesty.  As the clock's hand passes 12 again, don't let another minute go by that you didn't express your feelings because sometimes it's too late.  With each passing day, we are given a second chance to let everyone know how we feel.  Some of us have difficulty expressing ourselves.  I am no exception.  However, you improvise, you find ways.  I have taken my poor grammar skills to the WWW to express myself.  What I really meant to say is, don't hold back because "tomorrow is never promised."

I love you all, my Pink Elephant friends!  :)


                                     

All pictures were borrowed from Google.

Fit Mama Under Construction

Ask and you shall receive...   Advice and a little 411, that is.  I have gotten quite a few messages lately about what I've been doing, eating, etc., since I started this journey of getting in the best shape of my life since Olivia was born.  Bringing another life into the world made me more conscious and aware of the food choices I make and how I should make my health a priority.  Bottom line, I want to live a long life to watch Olivia and my future children do incredible things in this world.  I don't want to miss anything!  I want to be able to run around and play duck, duck, goose without wheezing.  I want my daughter to be proud of her mama.  I am her biggest role model and if I don't want her to be swayed by a fast-food obsessed culture, than I need to be her best form of advertisement.  WE need to be her best example.

Before I began my fitness journey in March, 2013 at 154 pounds.  Sure, this picture is uber embarrassing but it reminds me where I don't want to go back to :)

Almost 3 months into my journey at 137.

My goal.  I am a visual person.  This was me way before I got pregnant.  This picture reminds me of where I want to be.

WHAT I EAT:
I am one GIANT, spoiled, brat!  Since winning the Mommy Makeover contest through U&ME magazine,  I have been eating freshly prepared and portioned foods, that are delivered right to my door, thanks to Fit2Go.  It has been the biggest blessing.  To be honest, I don't know what I'm going to do with myself once I have to start cooking again.  As if my cooking wasn't bad enough, imagine after I've been on a Martha Stewart hiatus.  
I only eat healthy carbs, lots of veggies, lean proteins, a ton of water.  I love everything organic just as much as the next person but I am realistic and I know it's not always possible.  However, I do eat a lot of real foods.  I avoid, fried, processed foods, dairy, alcohol, and soy.  Again, I know it's not always possible to avoid everything but I do my best whenever I can.

COUCH POTATO TURNED GYM RAT:
I don't know when this happened, but I have become a gym rat.  I hated to exercise, let alone, sweat.  Suddenly, I am craving that endorphin high.  I look forward to my workouts.  It is my couple hours to myself, to sweat and have fun.  I also get to hang with my hubby a little bit more (he manages the gym I go to).

Average calories burned during one of my Zumba classes

I do Zumba 3 days a week and strength training/core workouts 2 days a week. This is where the spoiled brat thing comes in again.  Through the contest, the owner and our trainer at Belly -N- Kicks has given us a workout plan to follow.  They have a beautiful studio and are very knowledgeable about nutrition and pre and post pregnancy fitness.  However, I am a total Zumba junkie.  This girl with no rhythm or coordination has managed to find something so fun that it keeps me coming back 3 days a week for more.  It's fast, fun, and a fabulous workout.  In addition, now that Olivia has gone mobile, I'm always chasing after her and that in itself, is a workout.

THINGS I'VE LEARNED ALONG THE WAY:

• It's essential to find a gym buddy, a teammate, to keep each other accountable and motivated. Thanks, to my hubby, sister, Emily, Sarah, my Zumba groupies, Diana, and the #Fucktheplateau group, and everyone else who keeps me motivated along the way 
• If you hate working out like me, it's important to find something you love and have fun with so it keeps you coming back. Kinda like a new boyfriend haha...
• You need a great pair of sneakers.  
• Get a heart rate monitor.  My husband got me a Polar FT4 for all the hard work I've done and to keep me motivated.  It lets me know when I'm burning the most calories and how many calories I've burned, the exercise duration, and much more.  
• Eat organic whenever you can.  Not only is it better for you but the food just tastes so much better.
• Up your veggie intake and eat them raw as much as possible.  When cooking them at certain temperatures it destroys it's nutrients (the main reason for eating them in the first place).
• Drink more water.
• Butter is not evil.  We like KerryGold. Thanks for the referral, Shannon.
• Coconut oil is your BFF and it can be used for flipping everything!
• Soy is not as beneficial as they say.  It is used in pretty much everything because it's cheap.  Red meat contains the highest content of protein, soy has the least.  The body also digests it extremely fast.  Therefore, when you eat soy, it is broken down so fast that you still have to supplement your protein.  Soy is just not enough.  It also spikes your estrogen levels which may increase water retention.
• Avoid dairy when you can.  Try dairy substitutes such as Almond Milk or almond cheese.
• Not all fats are bad.  However, fat is fat, so don't overdue it.
• Eat your super foods!
• Drink lots of water and then have some more ;)
• I take a multi-vitamin, a multi B-vitamin, calcium with magnesium, and fish oil
• Educate yourself on food substitutions: almond flour, apple sauce, Greek yogurt just to name a few.
• Stretch... A LOT!
• The more ripe the fruit, the more sugar.
• I stopped saying, "I'll start on Monday."  I had to just start and I started on a Wednesday.  
• Be organized. Set a goal with a plan and stick with it.  There are several online tools to help keep you on track and maintain your progress.  I use My Fitness Pal on my cell phone (thanks Buck).
• There are no tricks, miracle shakes, or diets.  Get off your ass, watch what you eat, and get moving.  If you don't like what you see, do something about it.  I had to stop whining and just do it.

I've been on this eating right/working out journey for a couple months now.  I love the changes and progress I'm making so far.  Will it get rid of the battle scars on my hips that I acquired while pregnant? Probably not but that's nothing a little Bio Oil can't fix.  Will I ever have a six-pack?  Nope.  Never have and probably never will.  I want to be healthy, look good, and feel good.  I want to increase my energy and stamina.  I want to feel confident with the equipment in the gym and get used to one right foot and one left foot, not just two left feet in Zumba.  What I know for sure is, I'm a fit mama under construction and one step closer to my health and fitness goals than I was yesterday.

Have fun, eat right, and live a long happy life.