Jillian Michaels 30 Day Dead Shred

Yeah. It's that bad. Which in the long run is good...I guess. lol

I bought this back in January after hearing how great it worked. After the first day I literally could not move without groaning. Let me back up and explain how this works. There are 3 levels and you do each one (they last only about 20 min. I know. I thought that too...) for 10 days before moving to the next level. Supposedly you are supposed to look great and loose 20 lbs.
I FF through a lot of the DVD to see how things worked...pretty basic. Jumping jacks, crunches, lunges...nothing crazy. And it was 20 minutes. I can do anything for 20 minutes. Or not. My heartrate was up after the warm-up and after 10 min I couldn't even catch my breath...even when she is yelling at me encouraging me and reminding me that I don't get a break if I want to see results in a 20 min workout. I knew that this was the best money I had ever spent and I had wasted every dollar I ever spent on gym memberships. I have spent many hours in gyms and never knew my muscles could hurt so bad until this. In less than 20 min.
I did it again the next day and I made it a little farther and did not take as many breaks, but still had a lot of work to do...and also had to add in some time to heal.
When I put the DVD back in a couple of days later, it wouldn't work! I guess it even went on strike because it had worked fine until then. I was thrilled devistated. But there was nothing I could do.
Well, a few months and a new DVD player later, I am finally digging it back out. I have put it off since I am helping Brooke now and have to be able to move, but summer is almost here and from all the reviews I have read, it does work.
If I finish the even the first level of the 30 Day Shred in a month it will be a 30 Day Miracle. ha =)

My Favorite Things (Part 2)

I baked Paula Deen recipes for Abby's bakesale all weekend. I baked Gooey Butter Bars, and two bundt cakes (including one apple cake that deserves it's own post), and a few dozen cookies. I have been using Pam for Baking for a few years now, and if you still grease and flour your pans, you are sooo missing out. A light coat of this, even in a bundt cake pan, will amaze you. Brooke is even impressed with how pretty these cakes turn out since nothing sticks at all and cleaning the pans are a breeze. Get. this. I promise it will be one of your favorite things too! =)

New Beginnings

Over the past couple of months there have been some big changes at the Jones house! Abby started school at Dierks at the end of March. She was very excited about this, mainly because she has wanted to be a cheerleader ever since Kendall started cheering for Mt. Ida and this was her chance...LOL

On her last day at Kirby, her wonderful teacher, Mrs. Mounts did the sweetest thing and sent Abby on an "errand" so her classmates could write her goodbye letters (each page had the students picture along with their note...such a good idea) that she put in a book along with pictures of Abby with her class. The letters were so funny and sweet. The pictures are the ones that are in the book since Mrs. Mounts e-mailed them to me as well.

Abby and Mrs. Mounts

Her class waving bye! Thank you to Mrs. Mounts for making this such a special day that she will have such sweet memories of!



Fast forward to the next Monday....first day at Dierks! She was really excited...I was a nervous wreck! Not only was she starting a new school but just a few days before, the daycare in Dierks called to say they had an opening for Mylee (we had been on a waiting list for several months so I could help Brooke at the farm....definately a full time job), so she started on the same day! Thankfully, Mylee's daycare is WONDERFUL and she loves it and Abby has made all kinds of friends at Dierks. The very first week if we stopped at the grocery or dollar store on the way home there was always someone saying "Hi Abby!" She loves it there and is excited about all the activities that they do. So far her only complaint is that at Kirby they got to go get a drink at the water fountain all at once and at Dierks they have to go two at a time...LOL

Getting ready to go in for the first day!

This past Saturday she took part in her first duty as an Outlaw Cheerleader...bakesale fundraiser!

She sure will make a pretty cheerleader! =)

We love you Abby and are so proud of you!

NeNe

Wanda Lee Risner Langley, age 76 of Camden, wife of the late Doyle R. Langley, died Thursday, April 23, 2009 at home. She was a Baptist.She was preceded in death by her parents, Arlin and Gussie Hargis Risner; brother, Omer D Risner; and sisters, Jessie Snell, Juanita Simmons and Opal Risner.She is survived by her daughter, Gwenda Candler and husband, Steve of Camden; son, David Langley and wife, Eva of Langley; daughter, Janet Cantrell and husband,Thomas of Camden; grandchildren, Morgan Jones and husband, Brooke of Newhope, Michael Langley in USMC and wife, Jessica of Glenwood, Nathan Langley and Rebekah Langley of Langley, Adam Candler of Camden, Andrea Cantrell of Hot Springs and Wesley Cantrell of Camden; brother, Earl Risner of Mena; sister, Brenda Oleta Looney of Magnolia; brother, Roy Risner and wife, Clara of Newhope; great grandchildren, Abigail Johnson, Mylee Jones and Ally Young.A graveside service will be held 2:00 p. m. Saturday, April 25, 2009 at Langley Hall Cemetery in Langley (Pike County). Visitation will be from 6-8 p. m. Friday at the funeral home. Proctor Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. To sign the online guest register, visit http://www.proctorfuneralhome.com/

I cannot even put into words how much I love her and how much my family and I will miss her. My NeNe was a wonderful grandmother. She is my namesake, and Mylee's. I have so many memories of staying weeks in the summer with her in Camden from the time I was Abby's age up until I was 18 and went off to college. She made the best chicken pot pie that I have ever eaten, and I always ate way too much of her yummy Christmas fudge. As a teen, we would watch Days of Our Lives together and at night we would watch Touched by an Angel. And we always made sure we got the count on the noon news in case they called her! We visited a lot, but we mostly just liked being together and had a special connection. I would still crawl in her bed when I was 17. These are just a few of the wonderful memories that have been flooding my mind every day for the past week.

I am very blessed to have such a loving family. Not only do I have great parents, but my dad's sisters, Aunt Gwenda and Aunt Janet are the best ever =) I teach Abby songs that they used to teach me, like when Aunt Janet taught me Row, Row, Row Your Boat, and when Aunt Gwenda sang me Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Dr. Pepper always tastes better out of the Dr. Pepper glass, I can't imagine a Christmas without sausage balls for breakfast, and every time I eat vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup I thank Uncle Steve, even though the scales don't...lol. Uncle Thomas took me to a football game one fall because I wanted to go to one so badly, and when I wanted a big Jr. Food Mart mug in 3rd grade because that year we were allowed to bring water to school and the "cool" kids had them, he got me the biggest neon green one that was the best in the class. Because Aunt Janet took me back and forth to swimming lessons for a week, I know how to swim. I "Rocky Docky" Mylee and I am pretty sure I heard her say "Bug off creep" the other day ;)

Even though I miss NeNe tremendously, and part of me will never be the same, I am so thankful for all the memories we as a family shared at her house. I love my home, but I think if I could bring her house to Newhope I would be perfectly happy because even as an adult I felt so much comfort and love there as soon as I walked through the door. I was so blessed to be her granddaughter.

P.S. Thank you to Adam...you were wonderful that day. Your hugs and support meant more to me than you will ever know. I think you helped all of us girls and I love you for "taking care" of us.