About

I’m Yajaira, a 41-year-old working mom from the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. I have 2 sons & 2 daughters, 3 step-sons (that I don’t really talk to very much since their dad and I split in 2020), a Maine Coon named Ruffles and a Mini Golden Cocker Retriever named Bentley Cooper.

I love reading and am obsessed with buying books that I’ll probably never read. I also collect vinyls (which I owe to inheriting my dad’s collection when he passed away in 2013), movies, 80’s things, having a drink on the patio, tending to my succulents and houseplants, coffee, sushi, cooking & baking & EATING (which is quite evident if you scroll through my entries, heh). I’ve recently taken up the Keto lifestyle again. My 2nd Keto stint was as of April 30, 2017, then I gained about 30 lbs due to depression and anxiety that my stupid ex-husband caused. Then I broke my ankle in 6 places and gained another 15 lbs. My third Keto stint was on February 28, 2022, once I was finally able to walk properly got out of my funk. If you’d like to follow my “Keto Journey” you can do so here.

I’ve become quite the poster child for mental health. I was diagnosed with depression and generalized anxiety in February 2019. Then with ADHD in January of 2023, when I started school (yes, you read that correctly–at the ripe ol’ age of 41) and I couldn’t focus. Eenan was diagnosed (we have the same psychiatrist) and when he brought up that he probably inherited it from a parent–well, we knew which parent it was LOL.

I’ve had this website for 21 years. I’ve had my blog 24 years total, but it was named “Illumination” previously, then hosted at the domain of 2 friends before I purchased pixydust.net in November 2002. Although I don’t update as often as I used to when I was a Stay At Home Mom (work, my kids and my daily routines don’t allow much online time anymore!), I don’t plan on shutting it down anytime soon.

This place started out as a collection of bright anime and 80’s .gifs back in the late 90’s and eventually became an online diary, thanks to websites like Livejournal and Scribble.nu (I feel old!). Most of my adult life is documented here (mostly as a journal about my kids and as an emotional outlet–as cliche as that sounds).

These days, aside from this being my journal of sorts, I’ve added a few recipes. It’s hard to live a healthy lifestyle, eat low-carb and low-cholesterol foods and still have an insane sweet tooth! — I’m pretty sure Keto has cured me of my sugar addiction, no joke!! And Hallelujah!

My life’s a balance of family, making time for life-long friends, working, eating and just really trying to focus on being happy and at peace. It’s kind of hard to do so when you’re an Aries with anxiety, ha!

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