Motivation!!!!

Ok, I really needed some motivation to stay on this "healthy" living kick that Joel and I started 2 weeks ago.... for Joel it has come sooo easily! However, I find the cravings for southern home cooked meals, anything sweet and pizza to be uncontrollable!! So, before I broke down and went straight to Cracker Barrel, I confided in Joel, told him he was about to be on his own and I would totally support him ( by eating my suppers earlier before he came home and ate my Ice Cream late at night after he went to bed) Ha! He got irritated with me and told me to get some motivation! I honestly had no idea what he 'ment by it,  but before I could ask he was off to the computer and pulling up old photos from our wedding and shortly there after. He was sooo sweet in saying " back then... you never complained of your arms being "fat", you loved wearing bikini's and you always had clothes to wear." Well, that was enough motivation for me.... I went through all my pictures of when I can honestly say I had no issues with the way I looked, I was happy with the way things fit on me and I really did always have something to wear! So, with out further a-du.... here is my motivation..... 

Seriously..... this is only 12 pounds away!!! I can totally do this!!!! (this is me motivating myself ;) ) I won't lie, it has been hard... but in the end or by June 15th I will look back and be happy that I sacraficed all the brownies and pizza to be on the beach not worrying if my jelly roll is hanging out!

On a side note.... the weekend was great! We had a great time with friends and family, we went to the family land and went fishing and picked dewberries. I would of took adorable pictures of Riley fishing and picking... but I left the camera and video camera at home. Next time I won't be so forgetful... we have a fun week ahead... Joel will be off from work wednesday and thursday, we rarely get daddy time two day's in a row, we plan on working in the yard for most of it, but as long as we're with him it doesn't matter what were doing.

LPGA bound....

This is Riley show off her golfing talent..... my sister gave her those clubs for easter, and we've been having fun ever since! To my amazement Riley has enjoyed putting and driving the ball. (I guess that's the lingo you use to describe hitting the ball) I must mention  Joel is beyond happy as well, he has dreams of Riley being one of these two things: Pro Fisherwoman: hot pink boat and all, or a Pro Golfer..... we'll see, I have a feeling she's a little more girlie. But a man can dream!  

We have a wonderful weekend in store for us, we'll be traveling down south to visit with family and friends. So, I doubt I'll be able to get on the computer..... I will post all our adventures on Monday. See u then.

Oh, on a side note: Joel has lost a total of 4lbs.  and I've lost 3lbs (only 12 to go!) 

Short and Sweet....

Okay so I had a blond moment last night.... I composed my post didn't post it!!!! I never hit the post button and it went into my "inbox". Oh, well.... I didn't have much to say other than dieting and working out really makes one grouchy! 

Today, on the other hand was a wonderful day with hubby and "sweet-thang",we spent the entire day in the yard..... Joel and I built a HUGE flower box (the length of our deck). I will post some pics of our accomplishment in a post later. Riley had a fab. time playing with WORMS!!! I couldn't believe it, she saw one wiggling around, picked it up and walked around with it for at least 30 min. (I sometimes wonder if she's mine?) I still won't pick up a slimy/ wiggly worm! I have video, but I will have to figure out how to upload onto blogger. She was SO, cute!

Speaking of cute, here's a picture of Miss Riley on our patio.... now, I must warn you she dressed herself. I will end the post with her and hopefully I will have the video uploaded for tomorrows post. 

Jess

Day Two...... I'm way out of shape!!!

So, today was my first day of Jillian Michaels "making the cut" diet and 30 day shred workout, and all I can say is "I am way out of shape". I honestly thought that since I walk/run a few times a week I wouldn't be so soar. Boy was I wrong!!!! I am like a bowl of jello, my thighs, arms and abs are feeling the burn!!! (and it was only a 20 minute workout!) I hope as the time progresses I can get through without the feeling that I am about to faint! So, along with the workout comes the "diet" plan.... which really isn't that bad. HA! Who am I kidding, I am the worlds pickiest eater which makes it very hard to eat healthy... I am a junk food junkie, a Pepsi-oholic, and I have a huge sweet tooth (especially for brownies!) . To keep myself held accountable for what I eat, I've decided to write a food journal. I like it so far, it also helps me count the calories I eat in a day, which is really time consuming, but what ever works, right? I found a great website that has hundreds of low calorie recipe's that sound really yummy. http://caloriecount.about.com/ its wonderful.... it has so many healthy options and ways to track your goals, I highly recommend it if you're like me and trying to get into a two piece bikini again! I am hopeing that by June 14th I will be 15 pounds lighter and a whole lot healthier. If any of of you out in "blog land" have any helpful tricks on how to effectively loose a few pounds-help a "sister" out. I am all ears!  

Off to sleep I go to do it all over again.... keep me in your thoughts, I could easily have chocolate with-drawls, ever since I typed "brownies" I have been thinking of Brownies-a-la-mode...... only in my sweet dreams! 

Day One.....Riley and Me Day

Were ya getting worried? Haha, we'll I am going to go ahead and tell ya... I have no pics ;(. I figured since I gave ya'll a picture over load yesterday I'd spare ya. Today was a great day! Joel headed out fairly early this morning for a day of fishing with "The Guys", which means a day of shopping for Riley and me. We started the day off at Church.... we've been searching for a church for quite some time and I can proudly state we found one!!!! We always heard Pinelake of Jackson was a great place to go....however driving to Madison or Ridgland was just out of the question. So when Pinelake opened their doors in Clinton we were just ecstatic!!! So, after visiting quite a few times and discovering a few friendly faces we've decided it's the place for us!

So, after church Riley and I headed to Jackson to do some retail therapy.... to Sam's Club and Target we go!!! (not what you thought) we'll for those of you that don't know me too well, Sam's and Target are the BEST places to shop, aside from Corner Market (Joel would kill me if I didn't share that). I could literally live in Sam's, on second thought I think one probably could live there. Anyways, with nothing in particular to buy... we took our time and strolled down EVERY aisle.  Oh, how I wish I could be a millionaire.... forget Gucci, Prada, and Tiffany's, give me a Sam's Club and I would buy the store!!! Off to Target we went.... I did however have a few thing to purchase there- Jillian Michael's "Making the Cut" and some shorts for "wild thing". That's what I called her the entire time in Target, I guess the restriction of a buggy was causing her to go stir crazy, but it wasn't bothering me. I was  one of those mom's I used to say I'd never be when "I" had kids.... you know the mom that walks around in her own little world totally oblivious that her child is singing in her loudest voice possible "ittsy bittsy spider" while pulling every shirt off the table and throwing them in the air. Yup that was me! I apologize to those that might of been at the Target in Ridgeland around 2:30, I normally have a very well behaved daughter that politely waves and sits in the buggy playing with her baby doll - HA!

Moving right along... you might be wondering as to why I bought the Jillian Micheal's book, well, Joel and I decided that it was high time to shed our "extra" pounds we have been lugging around for some time now. So, along with the book I also purchased her work-out video. We will see how it goes.... I've never been a fan of exercise, but these last ten pounds have been stubborn and I can't handle them any longer. 

Well for me to say I don't have much to say would be an understatement ! Wow, I think I got a little carried away... so for now I will leave you for some much needed sleep. Talk to ya  soon :)

The last month or so in pictures..... and a commitment !

So... here I am again sitting at the computer looking at my page thinking " why haven't I updated?" I honestly have no excuse, I guess I get caught up reading everyone else's interesting stories and by the time I'm done catching up on everyone else, my mommy time is up! So I am going to make this vow right here for all that reads our blog.... for the next 30 days I am going to post an update.... not because I think I have something interesting to share, but mainly so I can get into the routine to update family and friends (state side and across the ocean) how us "Edards" are doing. But because it's been more than a month since I've posted I think I'll post the most interesting pictures since Valentine's day.... so "WARNING" it'll be long.... enjoy !
Oh, and I'll be seeing you tomorrow....

My attempt to take a "sweet" V-day picture.....


Cookies Riley help make to take to Moms day out...


Riley walking with Lanthea and Kayden on our Girls trip to Mobile... Krystal and Ava were with us too, great times !


Riley, Kayden, and Ava sleeping while Krystal, Lanthea and I shop 'till we dropped at our favorite place.... Old Time Pottery ! What a fun trip!


This is how I found Riley one afternoon.... NAKED in our MSU bucket !

Enjoying a beautiful day at the Jackson St. Patrick's Day parade!



Ra-Ra and Kay-Bug sporting their "green".


Big Joe and Riley tilling our backyard, she's such a big helper....

Riley helping daddy with the boat..... Being the big helper again.....

Riley's first fish !!!! She was soooo excited about it!!! So was Joel, he was also proud that she touched the fish too!

First Easter Egg Hunt.... Lovin' the candy that comes inside them.

Riley's Annual Easter portraits !!! All I can say is I LOVE THEM!!!! Jeanelle is AWESOME!!!


Easter Egg Hunting at Joel's parent's house..... Riley finding her basket from the Easter Bunny.


Showing off her First Barbie Doll !!! (A very big deal in my book, I LOVED barbie growing up)


The Edwards Clan.... or as we like to say "The Edards"


Easter at my mom's/ Omie's.... going thru the eggs.


At Omie's with Mac.... I promise she's not hurting him.... she wanted to make sure he was looking at the camera..... bless his heart.


Riley and Mac playing in Omie's yard.... a great end to a Wonderful holiday weekend.


So, now you're completely caught up.... I will keep you posted..... tomorrow that is.... you now have the next 30 days with me, I hope I don't run you off. Like I said before I have dear friends and family I would love to talk to everyday, but because a DAY is not long enough to talk to them like I should, I need the practice of updating this blog to keep everyone posted. So if you want to join me in this journey "all aboard" it starts today and for the next 30 ! Talk to you in 24! (Hours, that is )