Update

What I would like to say:
Dear loyal readers, I am now on Day 8 of the 30 Day Shred, and it's going marvelously. I can do 50 plank-style push ups without a break and barely even sweat throughout level one's workout. I can't wait to get to level 2 so I can begin to feel challenged. I've dropped 5 lbs so far and see the muscles bulging in arms and the 6-pack starting to form in my abs.. I'm amazing!

What I will tell you because I'm not a big liar:
I stink at keeping resolutions!!

We'll start with the positive - I have not entered a Dirt Cheap store! Even when I have gotten the emails telling me that they just got in a huge shipment of name brand dresses and clothes... Yes, even when I got the email about wall hangings when my walls at home are bare (not because I don't have stuff to hang, just because I'm not sure where everything needs to go). So, yay! I'm going ok one resolution... but THAT'S IT!

The 30 Day Shred.... I really think it can keep its promise to buff me up if I will just stick with it... However, after Day 2 (last week), I had a minor injury (not directly related to The Shred), but it put me out of high impact jumping around (aka cardio) for a couple of days. So, then I got on it again. After Day 5, I woke up yesterday feeling like poop... I think it's just a sinus infection. Anyway, with the headache, sore throat and fever, I just didn't feel like it. And this morning - well, I'm not going to lie - my bed just felt too darn good to get out of it! So, I thought to myself, "Self, we'll just have to make this up this evening." Self agreed and happily hit the snooze button again  on the alarm. Apparently I and self both forgot that we have to be out of town this evening for a JV football game. ARGH! So, it will probably take me no less than 50 days to get through the 30 Day Shred, and I'm not sure how effective it will be when it lacks consistency, but, darnit!, I will make it!

And I love food... perhaps too much... that's all I have to say about that.

Anyway, to leave you all with a laugh for today - this is my son dancing around to a song he made up called "Spidey in his tighty whities." I wish I had hit video instead, but you get the drift. Happy Thursday!

Days 1 & 2 of The Shred

I was so pumped up by my making official the commitment to do the The 30 Day Shred that I went home yesterday after work and completed the first day of workout before heading to church.... I learned several things about myself:

1. Since I had to take pre-measurements and photos to determine if this really works, I was forced to look at the pictures and numbers.... I've been so excited about losing weight, I paid absolutely no attention to the fact that thinner does not equal non-squishy! I am down to college weight, but I am a far cry from college shape! Let's just throw the words muffin top and UADD ("under arm dingle dangle" as termed by my friend Anisa back in the day when it was just something that our grumpy old teachers had to worry about) out there... that should explain the trauma I had to work through before actually beginning the workout.
2. There are several exercises wherein Jillian is adamant that correct form be used. So, I completed the workout in front of a full-length mirror. Since I was the only one at home at this time, and we turn our AC to high temps during the day trying to save on electricity, I decided it was ok to work out in a sports bra and running shorts. This was an eye-opening experience to say the least. Not only did I have terrible form initially on all the exercises, but there's a lot more jiggle to my wiggle than I actually knew about.... Needless to say, when I completed Day 2 this morning, I was fully clothed to save myself the embarassment.
3. I have ZERO upper body strength! You would think carrying around a 30-something pound toddler everyday would leave me with some sort of respectable strength, but nope. I was able to complete 5 standard pushups before I gave into the modified (what I call "girly") pushups. I was only able to complete about 25 of those! Jillian, you have your work cut out for you!
4. Soup cans do not make good weight substitutes... They are too big, and they don't weigh enough. It's not that they didn't give me more of a workout than I could actually handle. It's just that when I'm complaining about how sore I am and how tough the workouts are, and people ask me how much weight I'm using, I want to be able to say "5 lbs." or "10 lbs", not 18.6 fluid ounces of Bacon Potato.
5. I hate squats.
6. Working out at 4:50 pm last night and 4:50 am this morning were 2 completely different experiences!

So, last night at church, stairs were a little difficult and the handbells seemed about 5 lbs heavier than usual. This morning, I was able to make it upstairs to wake up Carter Lane, downstairs in heels was a little more difficult, but I made it. However, my upper body, especially my shoulders, are so sore. So, yeah, Level 1 with modified moves, and I'm halfway to a wreck - I'm out of shape!

We have Carter Lane's first real (not counting the Jamboree) football game for the season tonight against Starkville Academy. He says he's excited, but I see nerves. They have a bandit game (7th & 8th grade) beforehand, but he's supposed to get play in the JV game, and I think he's nervous about how much harder they hit in those games than in the bandit games. So, here's to hoping that he comes out of it with no broken bones or permanent damage... and, hey, maybe even a win :)

Summer Resolutions

I don't know why August is always so stressful. Maybe it's because I'm in the Education field, and, even though I work year-round, August just brings a whole pile of new work. Maybe it's because Carter Lane goes back to school and has football practice until at least 6:00 pm (both JV and Varsity since he manages), homework, tests, etc. Maybe it's because it's been 267 degrees this month and the heat makes me exhausted. Maybe, just maybe, it's because I'm just high-strung by nature.. who knows? I have, however, handled the stress ok this time around. However, I have made a few resolutions that I'm posting on here in the hopes of my promising updates will actually hold me accountable to the things that I'm saying.

So, starting sometime  (let's just go ahead and be optimistic and say tomorrow), I will:

• Begin (and work through to completion) the 30 Day Shred
  
  No, I don't think that I will lose up to or anywhere close to 20 lbs in 30 days. However, I am hoping that I can tone up some of the jiggly parts (Or at least convince myself that I have). It's a workout regime composed of 3 levels. I'm supposed to spend 10 days on Level 1 (which I have done before, and it seriously kicks my tail, even with the modified moves) and then 10 days on Level 2, followed by 10 days on Level 3 (that I've read is darn near to awful). I will probably take before and after pictures, but I make no promises to share unless I see some MAJOR results.

• Not enter one of my favorite places for a whole month:
  
  I know a lot of people are not Dirt Cheap fans... It used to give me panic attacks, too, when I walked in and there was no rhymoe nor reason to anything. However, I have found that if you have the time the desire, and a portable container of hand sanitizer, you can actually find some really good stuff. At least 10-15 items in my wardrobe have come from here (I probably shouldn't admit it, but I'm actually proud because I LOVE a good deal.) such as the sweater I'm wearing today (the picture doesn't show how cute it really is.. I love it!) that I purchased for $3:

• Actually finish a Bible study:
  
  I do ok on my quick daily devotional, but I often let Bible Studies fall behind everything else in my life (definitely not something I'm proud of). My church is currently doing the video series and workbook on Lord, Change My Attitude, but I have handbell practice while the study is going on. So, I have just picked up the workbook and am going through it with a couple of friends, and just the first week was amazing and changed the way I thought about my words, actions, and thoughts. I am going to finish this study, and hopefully let it change the way I am rather than just the way I think. I will share some of my thoughts and revelations throughout, but I would recommend anyone looking into this study, just for the little bit that I've already experienced!! (Not to ruin it for you, but the first week is on complaining, and I, first, never realized how much of a complainer I am, and, second, never thought about how it impacts other people and, more importantly, how it impacts my relationship with God. - You're curious now, aren't you?)

• Finally, to NOT gain back all the weight that I lost on Weight Watchers:
  I know that I've talked about it before (multiple times), but Weight Watchers really works when one is dedicated and using will power. However, I am the worst about reaching my goal and then thinking (erroneously) that I can eat like I was eating before WW and still look like I do post WW. Ultimately, I lost a total of 40 lbs on WW just by changing my eating habits ( I understand that you're supposed to mix some exercise in there, too, but I didn't do it... That's why I need to tone - see Resolution numero uno). To give you some perspective, I have found similar pictures of pre-WW Julie and post-WW Julie.
  
  PRE (Obviously)

POST

(So you can kinda see why I would like to not have to go through all of this again. )

Anyway, so those are my resolutions... I truly intend on keeping them! Any words of encouragement or wisdom will be welcomed :)

I hope everyone has a great rest of the week!

What's New?

So, it's been forever since I've posted... Life just gets busy sometimes, ya know?

So, in the last month I've done music for an Emmaus Walk (truly awesome experience... just built on what I learned on my Walk), managed to reach my goal weight for Weight Watchers (and am just 5 lbs from driver's license weight....wooohooo!!), started a new school year, and added to our family (don't get too excited, we just got a new dog).

This is Lil Bit, our new Maltipoo (doesn't shed which means she can hang out in the house without making the boys sneeze like crazy). She's a doll!

This is Trent in his new Buzz Lightyear costume. He adores dressing up as super heroes, policemen, knights, etc... We've gotten a few costume catalogues in the mail recently, and you would think that we were gearing up for Christmas... He spends hours looking through the catalogues, pointing out every costume he needs (not wants, needs!).

I was also invited to become a part of a small group Bible Study (what a blessing!), and we're going through James McDonald's Lord, Change My Attitude (my toes are so sore from being stepped on over and over). So, while I am making a conscious attempt to refrain from complaining (never realized how much I actually complain, it was scary!), I will say that we are trying not to melt and that, while I am not a huge fan of my arms (thank you, UADD), I have never been a bigger fan of dressy tops without sleeves :).

I hope everyone's August has started out well!

Great Weekend!

The bad thing about a long weekend is that right when you get used to spending all the time with your family, it's time to go back to work again, but we had a great weekend!

Friday night, Carter Lane went with his Gran (Ronnie's mom) to see his cousins. So, I cheated and just ordered pizza for supper. We let Trent sit at the coffee table to eat his pizza. So, he pulled his little chair up to it, and was trying his best to pull the coffee table closer to him. It was just a little too heavy, and his hands slipped. About that time, he exclaimed, "D**n!" I looked at him all crazy and asked what he said. He looked up at me with those big brown eyes, and said, "Aww, you know, Mom... just telling you what a beaver lives in." At that point, my three-year-old had me.. All I could say was, "Ok, well let's call it a Beaver House from now on..."

Saturday morning, we went got up to make pancakes and eggs for breakfast. After eating, we went out to the garden to see if there were any veggies ready for the picking. I gather some squash while Trent played in the dirt. Then, I spotted an eggplant that was ready. So, I went to pick it. Just in case you didn't know (and I keep forgetting), eggplants stems have these little thorns on them. So, I yelled "Ouch!" to which my darling little man replied, "You dummy!" Now, I can't think of one rational explanation for why he would be calling me a dummy. So, I said, "Excuse me?" Without missing a beat, Trent said, "I was talking to this stupid tomato plant that keeps getting in my way."

Now, it's not the fact that he's saying inappropriate things that has me worried... most kids at his age start doing that kind of thing. It's the fact that he can rationalize it all right there on the spot. I have a feeling we're in for it with this child...

Saturday evening, we headed to Ronnie's parents' house to play with the cousins (Ronnie's sister's children). The celebration lasted all the way to Sunday night. We had a great time!!

There was lots of Ping Pong to be played!

 

Trent and his boy cousins ready to celebrate!

Carter Lane started with sparklers but quickly moved on to bigger explosions

 

Trent wa happy just playing in the dirt all day

 

Ronnie trying to show the kids how it's done

 

Trent really liked the Party Poppers

 

All the cousins before everyone started playing after church

 

My fam :) (Everyone's even almost smiling!)

Yesterday, Trent and I went to my mom and step-dad's house to visit, and then we went to see Toy Story 3 (which was good but had some parts that were a little intense for a 3-year-old.) We had a great time together, though! Trent even got some new shoes, which he kept calling his "fly kicks"... I have no idea...

Trent and his Memaw

Trent and PawPaw

Trent after the weekend of festivities... He said "Even Batman gets tired, Mama"

Happy Independence Day!

In our nation right now, there are natural disasters, man-made tragedies, and nation-wide debates and disagreements. On this Independence Day, while we are far from a perfect country, it is necessary to realize that we have people willing to provide assistance through the natural disasters, volunteers and scientists fighting to stop and right the man-made tragedies, and soldiers and their families sacrificing in order that we have the right to state our opinions.

So, on Sunday, I will be thanking God that I can worship Him freely in the morning, spend time with my family in the afternoon, and put my children to bed in the evening without having to fear what lingers outside the doors of our house.

Thank you, God, for our land. Thank you, forefathers, for our liberty. And thank you, soldiers and veterans, for the protection of both.

Everyone have a happy and safe 4th of July!

Good news, Mississippi!

When I heard that someone from Starkville, my hometown, was going to be on MTV's the Real World, I was really curious... so, I had to watch. I found that it was Jemmye, who is actually from Aberdeen, and just lives in Starkville:

She starts off by giving a disclaimer to the effect of just because she's from a small town in Mississippi doesn't mean that she's a conservative Christian "good girl". I am so glad that she went ahead and took it upon herself to break all the stereotypes for Mississippi... because when people think of our state, the first things they think of are our politics and morals, right?

Jemmye (whose name, I think, already addresses our high scores in literacy), went on to exhibit all the positive things about our state, like how we can make the words "fish tank" stretch into four or five syllable and how we, as Southern women, just become poignantly more loud and annoying as time goes on. Add to this the fact that Jemmye has an obsession with her "stripper heels", can eat a crawfish from a stranger's fingers in a way that is almost X-rated, and has to be right in the middle of all the drama while dressed in as little as possible, and I think we have one fine example of our state on TV.

So, thank you, Jemmye, for clearing the way for all of us in Mississippi... We can hold our heads up high knowing that you are a representative for us.

As for the rest of the cast, for the most part they are the typical dysfunctional mix that guarantees at least a few blow-ups each episode, namely Ryan - the metrosexual emotional roller coaster. However, there is Sahar, who seems extraordinarily normal and well-grounded.... Maybe she's just holding back.

On a completely unrelated note - this really made me laugh today. I want to be this awesome when I'm old!

I don't know which is funnier, the old man or the guy in capris and ankle socks :)

I'm just not that into it....

Before I make someone mad, let me preface this post with the fact that, along with every preteen girl, I absolutely was obsessed with the Twilight saga. I read the books in record time and had difficulty waiting on the new ones to come out. So, yes, I'm a fan.

However, am I the only person not willing to give up my beauty rest in order to be one of the first to see Eclipse? I think every girl and woman I know is going to the midnight showing... They must be showing it in every theater of our tiny little cinema because I know that all the people who have a ticket cannot possible fit into one. (Lane even asked if he could go with a friend... using the excuse that his friend was having to go with his mom and sister and that Lane didn't want his buddy to have to be the only boy - what a sweetheart, right?) Poor guy isn't getting to go, though, because I, being the wicked step-mother, didn't think getting in at 3:00 am and going to 6:45 am football practice mixed well.

Honestly, I'm just not into the movies that much (Glad no one can throw anything at me for saying that)... Throughout the books, I was 100% Team Edward. However, the Edward in my head didn't look like an elf on pot...

 

And the Jacob in my head, sure didn't look like this:

But it's not just about that because... while Taylor Lautner is attractive, I can't get it out of my head that he's Sharkboy

So, to find him "HAWT" is just not possible for me.

It all comes down to the fact that the movies just don't have the certain something that the books did to make you feel like you're part of the story, and that's what I loved most about reading the books.

So, no, I won't be going to the movies at midnight to see what happens with Bella, Jacob, and Edward. I assure you, though, that I will watch the movie... hopefully before it leaves theaters, but after all the screaming teens have seen it (Gosh, I'm getting old).

Who all is going tonight?

Other people's pain

I am not one to laugh at others' pain regularly. However, I can't help it sometimes...



My whole family LOVES Wipeout... Trent really thinks it's hilarious. Though he spends much of the time telling me how "that boy's mama is gonna get on to him!" for every time the announcer says "butt".

I think everyone should at least give Wipeout a try... you all know that your regular shows are off-season right now, anyway :)

Have a great day!

Happy Birthday, Friend!

I've known this girl over 20 years now... We've been acquaintances. We've been school mates. We've been inseparable. We've been completely separated. We've laughed together, cried together, gone our separate ways, and then caught up together.

There are two songs that always remind me of her:

You know, you have those friends who are in your life for a season, and when that season is over, your life is better for knowing them. Well, she's one of those friends who comes into your life and changes the way you see things forever so that, even when she's nowhere near and you haven't talked in a while, you are regularly reminded of her.

There's so much that I can say about her. She's taught me:

• The importance of agreeing to disagree
• How to respect others' beliefs while growing even more in my own
• It's ok to get your heart broken because you won't find your fairy tale if you don't at least put your heart out there.
• Dreams are worth chasing.
• No one should ever settle for anything but hold out for the best.
• Love isn't love unless it consumes you
• Family is more important than any other earthly thing
• There are some risks worth taking, even if they seem impossible.
• Pink is an awesome color
• To laugh at myself more and find humor in everyday life
• Imagination should not be reserved exclusively for children
• True beauty cannot be judged by pictures or magazines but only by those who know everything about you.
• I'm not always right (Ok... so I've learned that from a lot of people, but I'm sure she was one of the first)
• You never truly appreciate anyone until you've spent some time without them
• I had pretty good taste in friends in 1st grade.

So... to my friend whom I miss dearly and will always love:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NINA! I LOVE YOU!

(I like your sneakers)