Maria Kang - Maria Kang

Life on your terms

June 1, 2017

A couple weeks ago I witnessed my stepdaughter graduate high school. It was a celebratory moment, a time when I saw her genuinely happy and excited about the future. It was hard to believe that ten years earlier, I met a strong-willed, 8-year-old little girl who loved to dance, workout and be incredibly helpful. I love her focus, ambition and independence. While visiting, I also celebrated my other stepdaughter’s 16th birthday. Weeks leading up I was in shock that our…

How I built my stepdaughter’s money cake

May 21, 2017

I surprised my stepdaughter with a money cake for her graduation because she’s been a hard worker her entire life and is leaving for college soon! She knows I can’t gift her with a boring check, so I created this creative money cake to surprise her on her graduation day! This cake can be made with minimal material and within 3-4 hours (depending on how fast you roll money!). Here are my tips: Tips: Do not use super/hot glue on…

Birth of the Belly Ball

February 7, 2017

For years I struggled with bloating, whether it was from my latest sugar binge, upcoming period, love for beer or inability to efficiently process fake sugar, lactose or certain vegetables. The discomfort of a distended belly and internal queasiness often influenced a poor attitude and ultimately my painful day. The only relief I had was when I laid flat on my back, with my body in a relaxed, elongated position and a heavy object was placed on tender areas of…

I’m thankful I lost my wedding ring

December 21, 2016

I lost my engagement ring last week. As we were driving to the employee holiday party, I reached down into my purse where I had left it last and couldn’t find it. I only recently started wearing it again and was in disbelief that something I cared little about months ago, was now frantically taking over my psyche as I tried to recollect all the places I had been the last 48 hours. Could it be Walmart? While grocery shopping?…

Marriage in a Mustard Seed.

November 15, 2016

November 15, 2016 Our first argument was about mustard. Exactly this time in November many moons ago, my boyfriend and I fell in love. We had a long-distance relationship and were excited to plant roots together in the same city. While on our road trip from Mississippi to Sacramento I bought him a cheeseburger at a restaurant. Even though he mentioned he detested the taste of mustard once before, I forgot to request his meal without it. When I realized…

A life lived in limbo…

October 2, 2016

Oct 2, 2016 Months ago I separated from my husband. Every day since, my moods have been volatile, colorful and constantly changing. I’m either up or down, angry or ok, upset or calm, tearful or solemn. Like my life this past year, I feel like I’m just trying to stay above water, trying to hold things together while breaking slowly apart. In these last several months, I began to wail – a deep, weeping cry that travels deep into one’s…

What is Love?

August 21, 2016

August 22, 2016 I write while standing at a life crossroad. I never knew I’d be standing here, re-planning my world and wondering which road would be the wisest to take. I’ve thought about every event that led up to this moment in time – from my own appraisal and past selfishness, to resentments, frustrations, withdrawals and betrayals. I’ve cried nearly each day for a month and have gone through each stage of grief: shock, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, testing…

Testing my Endurance

May 11, 2016

As I ran passed Mile 23, my moistened eyes emotionally grasped that this moment had finally arrived. I was going to complete my first marathon. All the training, early mornings, hours on the treadmill and runs around Laguna Creek and Folsom Lake will have amounted to this single moment in time. At the corner of my eye, I can see my husband, pounding the pavement alongside me, carrying a 20lb backpack, a large camera draped around his neck and a…

Developing My Grit.

April 19, 2016

April 17, 2016 I created this website over ten years ago because I wanted to start telling my story. Since I was little my shyness was perceived as snobby, my confidence was considered arrogant, my honesty was viewed as abrasive and my passion was seen as aggressive. Even if I didn’t have direct contact with a person, I was already judged, misunderstood and criticized based on the limited information they had, whether it’s how I looked or a single altercation…

Living with No Regrets

February 1, 2016

I started my fitness career at 24 hour fitness. It was a new gym, just a few miles away from my parent’s home in Elk Grove, CA. Since I never played a sport, as a non-athlete, I always depended on workout videos and group classes for my fitness regimen. I had my first gym membership at a Racquet club at 14 and began volunteering as an aerobics instructor in my high school class at 16. When this beautiful, state-of-the-art gym…

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