Quick, What's My Motivation?!

Diet #1 million, take one! (that little graphic is supposed to be animated, oh well)


Ok, first of all, my computer is about to drive me to the edge. It's been having problems off and on for a while now. I will be so glad when my computer geek husband finally decides to fix it. It's like what they say about doctors making the worst patients, computer people are the worst with their own (or own family's) computers.

Aaaaanyway, let me move on while it's working, for now. I just started another diet yesterday. I think I'm doing pretty good so far. I've got to figure out how to get some real walking in though. It is just too hot here to do much. I'd either have to get up at 5 or go after like 10 at night. I may have to figure out something to do inside, I have always wanted a spin bike. A friend of ours is getting rid of their elliptical thing, but I'm afraid if it's too hard I won't stick with it. Or I could just stick a picture of me from about seven years ago on the fridge. It was around then that I lost 50 lbs on my own. It really didn't take that long either, but then trying to win this certain guy helped that along (rolling eyes). Not hubby...that was just before him.

I started ballooning out in high school, and just kept going til around 180. The lowest I got to was 127. I was pretty impressed too. I don't remember exercising much, I just didn't have much of an appetite. Now, of course, I don't have that particular motivation and being 30 now doesn't help either. But, I'm pretty motivated...I think. I'm definitely working on it. I have never been able to get rid of that last 10 lbs after having Ava. Luckily, with her coming so early, I didn't gain as much as I probably would have (like to my high school weight). I have worked on it off and on, but I'm determined to get rid of that plus more now. I would love to get to my goal weight, which I didn't even do when I lost the 50. For my height, I should really be in the one-teens. I know to just set my goals for a reasonable amount at a time. It's just I know my metabolism and my will-power are not where they used to be. I don't have the best genes for it either.

Kevin has just started on his own quest too. He's doing weight watchers again. He's done body for life before also. He lost the most with that, but that is a hard one to stick to. He has actually considered the lap-band thing before. I know I would rather him do that than the gastric bypass for sure. I wish I could get the band, but I guess I'll just be thankful I wouldn't be a candidate for that. I'm kinda doing weight watchers too. I'm trying to convince him we need to go to the meetings. They have one place here. It's at a gym, maybe that's what I should do for exercise. Or maybe I should start by getting up from here!
Wish me luck!

"I'm Meeelllting..."

To quote the wicked witch. The heat here right now (around 90, humidity 65%) is just oppressive, and it's barely June. That means it will only be getting hotter. I used to always dread coming down here to visit family and friends from this time til like November! You walk outside and it just sucks the air right out of you. Opening the front door is like opening the oven door. I don't know, maybe God provides this kind of heat and humidity (that seems to stay at 100%) for the type crops they grow here. There has to be some reason besides just making people miserable. I have always lived in the south, I know heat and humidity, but down here it just seems worse. Maybe because we're closer to the equator, but then it doesn't feel like this on the coast. There's like this suffocating heat belt cinching the middle of the state. I also don't like that it makes me moody (as obvious from my post here). I can see why the national murder rate goes up in the summer.

Squeezin' In A Wordless Wednesday

Thought I'd start this, even though I almost forgot as it is almost Thursday.:)

















I just love these for some reason, maybe it's my artsy side. I'd never even seen these until we moved here and saw them around town. Maybe one day I'll have one.
http://thebottletreeman.com/mambo/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=10&Itemid=26

Sharin' My Pot Pie Recipe Right Quick

I just made this tonight and thought I'd share the recipe that I had actually planned on posting for the Mommyfest potluck, but didn't get back on in time to.
I make it every now and then, as it's pretty quick and easy. I got it somewhere on the internet, but have tweaked it a little, as I do most recipes I find. One day I'm going to try a totally new way and change it to a beef version. I'll post it when I do. Or actually, if you have a good one, let me know!

Chicken Pot Pie
8-10 Chicken tenderloins cooked, chopped into bite-size pieces
1 can Cream of chicken and herb soup
1 can Cream of celery soup
1 150z can Veg-All
1/3 Cup of milk
2 Ready-made pie crusts, room temp.
1 Egg
1 9 in. glass pie dish

Preheat oven to 375.
In a large bowl mix the first five ingredients together.
Press first pie crust evenly into the bottom and sides of dish.
Pour mixture into dish, spreading evenly.
Place second pie crust over top, lightly score the center, and pinch edges together with the bottom crust. (I fold over the edges first all around rather than cutting off the excess.)
Beat one egg in a small bowl, brush it evenly over the top crust (don't forget the edges).
Place dish on a cookie sheet or shallow pan, bake 45min.-1hr., depending on your oven.
You may need to cover loosely with foil if the top is browning too much too quickly.
Allow to cool at least 10min. before cutting.

The egg wash gives it an awesome top crust.

Backsliding Already!

I can't believe how long it's been since my last post! And I claimed I would be keeping up better this time. I didn't even do the end of the mommyfest post. Oh well, I'll try to do better next year. We had a pretty busy week last week, but for the most part, I just haven't had much to blog about. We made a couple of trips to Memphis, the second was pretty fun.

One thing we got to do while there was the movies, and with the closest theater now being an hour away, it was a treat. We went to Peabody Place (a mall-type place in the heart of downtown Memphis) to see the latest Chronicles of Narnia movie. It's usually our favorite theater to go to, or at least it was when we lived on Mud Island (nice area way downtown, like right at the river) about four years ago. Unfortunately, it was a bit depressing this trip. Although it was a Thursday, there weren't many people at all there. Some of the stores had closed, including one restaurant we were planning on going to. We ended up eating at Jillians (a three-level games and food place), which was very good (in spite of one three year-old begging to play games). Which we didn't do a whole lot of this time, just as many as the free card that came with the kids meal allowed. I do hope business picks back up soon, and they're able to get in some new stores and restaurants. It's a great addition to downtown, and would be a shame if it just continued to go in this downward direction.

As for the movie, I know I know this installment is not exactly the best pick for a three year-old. But, we don't normally make it through much of any movie with her, and she really liked the first "lion movie" as she calls it. I didn't realize there would be a bit of violence right at the beginning, but then, I did know there was supposed to be more in this one. She was mostly interested in her little kiddie popcorn tray. She did get antsy as usual, but liked the talking animals and was excited to see the lion again. Believe it or not, we got to see the entire thing. Ava did fall asleep about half way through, which helped.
We really liked the movie. I always say the first of movies with sequels is the best, but this one was just as well done. I would love to read the series, but fear the movies may have ruined the chance to enjoy them. I wish I had read them first. The message was good and strong through the movie. The continuing battle of good and evil that will always be timeless. But also about keeping your faith strong even when others don't agree with you... at first. Aslan reappears to one of them after a while of them being away, but the others don't believe he has come back. That is until towards the end, when his help is provided to them when they need it most. The one he appeared to, at first wanted to just go along with the others, but when she decides to renew her faith in him, she's able to get Narnia the help they need to win back their rightful place there.
I know, don't start a movie review career, hope that wasn't too confusing. I am looking forward to the next one that will be out 2010.
Hope everyone has a nice Memorial Day tomorrow. Try to stay cool, like don't go outside at all around here! That is unless you enjoy turning into molten lava.

Blog Party/My Intro

It's time for the Mommyfest Blog party! It is this week May 12-16. Just click on the link above to join the fun! This will be a great way to meet fellow mommy bloggers from all over. There will even be giveaways and contest prizes! I'm new to it this year, but I am looking forward to the fun!
Me and My Family, The Intro
Hi! I am Amy, 30, a stay-at-home mom who's been married to Kevin for over 6 years. We have been blessed with one, beautiful daughter, Ava, 3. We moved to MS from TN about 2 months ago, and it has been quite a transition. I just recently started this blog to help me through it. In it I post mostly about what we are up to around here, sometimes it's a bit of a rant, but I try to include how God is teaching us through it all, and how His blessings always shine through!
So, please stop by and let me know what you think, your advice on things, or just a hello! I love to discover new blogs to read! Have fun this week, I can't wait to meet you all!

We All Have "Bad" Days

Ugh, we've all got sinus junk at the Jennings residence. Well, Bubu actually doesn't seem to have it as bad, very much a blessing. I just had to use nasal spray again, earlier than I was supposed to, because my head was about to explode. It's been here since the weekend, but mine actually got worse yesterday. I don't know where it came from, but it needs to move on along, quickly.

Also, this morning the car window didn't want to go back up (never thought I'd wish I had manual windows). It's been warning me, but today, it just said ok that's it, no more chances...fix me. So, with my sore little fingers, I just drove to the first auto-type place I could find. They tried, but, of course, couldn't fix it, so they referred me to another place. The other place got it up, but it needs a new switch, which they have to order, of course. For now, because of something he had to keep fixed a certain way, none of them are able to go up or down. Not that we put them down a whole lot anyway, but I just hope the air doesn't go out or end up in a lake.

Theeeen, I was at the store and had all the things in my cart to make this chicken salad I've been wanting to try my hand at, and the only rotisserie chickens they had cooked was lemon-pepper. It would be over an hour for the regular. I just took a deep breath and said I'd have to come back later.
Ok, one more, and that's it I promise. I got back home and took another cold pill and it got stuck. It seem to take forever to get down. They're liquid gels, but they could make them flatter, they're like a football shape. I know, big deal sniffle sniffle, but hey, it hurt... for a while.

But through everything, I know I need to remember the aphorism, I'm too blessed to be stressed. That's why I put bad in quotations. I should be thankful these are microscopic in comparison to the much worse problems of many people out there. And believe me, I am. I should be thankful just to have been awakened today, and that there are blessings to be found even in what we consider problems in our day. I am thankful I have medicine for relief (and that it did go down on its own), that they did finally get the window up (and I met some new, very nice people--that didn't charge me anything), and I wasn't going to make the chicken salad til tomorrow which means I would have had to reheat the chicken to be sure it was safe. Ok, I feel a bit better. Hope you had a good day too.:)