Flock Together Blog Hop 11/29

Welcome to the Flock Together Tuesday Blog Hop!

No rules! Plus, this week we're going to list each blog as a button. Don't worry - you DON'T NEED to have a button to participate! Linky Tools will create one for you in a couple of easy steps. Simply...

1. Click on "Click here to enter" at the bottom of this post and follow the Linky Tools directions. In step 4, I recommend selecting "Auto Crop" and "From Web."
2. Click through the other blogs and follow of the ones you love in whatever manner you prefer (RSS, GFC, Twitter, Facebook, etc.). Kindly pass on the ones you don't.

If this is all new to you, click here. If your goal is to find friends and gain followers, may I recommend that you also:

• Set a goal to find and follow a minimum number of blogs that interest you.
• Check back throughout the day to visit late entries that just may be your cup of tea.
• Leave a comment if you follow, and follow back those who follow you.

This week's "Fine Feathered Friend" and guest host:

I'm a 38 year old married mum of 4 fab kids who loves to run and if I work hard enough maybe one day I will be good at it. I blog about my life, my family, running, all other exercise, special events, holidays, food, cakes and healthy treats, races I do and my kids do, fashion, shoes, making things from old clothes to make something new, make-up. fun, vintage, ups, downs, my new interest in photography, baking and anything else that happens along the way :)

She truly hits on a wide variety of topics, and I enjoy reading her posts! I hope you will  visit this blog and consider becoming a follower! READ MORE >>

"THIS PICTURE LIED!" & what I'm doing about it

"There's no way I'm that fat fluffy" -my immediate thought when I saw this picture from last week. Apparently what I see in the mirror is not reality.

This isn't new to me. I've been overweight all my life, ranging as an adult from a size 12 to a size 20. I lost weight before meeting my first husband, gained it when he was diagnosed with cancer and later passed, lost it while single again and a newlywed, gained it during two pregnancies, lost it when my children became more independent, and gained it during my third pregnancy.

I've been sensing for quite some time that I need to lose the weight. I miss feeling lighter - something you probably can't understand unless you've been both fat AND being thin(ner). I miss wearing some of my favorite clothes. I miss the ease with which you can find clothes that fit when you're thin. I miss having energy and being able to move with ease, especially when I interact with my children.

SO WHAT TO DO?

1. Follow Nicole's lead. My friend, Nicole, has lost 50 pounds in 3 months without subscribing to any particular program - simply under a doctor's care. I'm going to interview her soon to let you know exactly how she did it. The main points were PORTION CONTROL and WATER.
2. Post the Tattle Ticker. Did you notice the weight loss ticker in the right margin of my main page? I am fairly confident that publishing my weight on this blog will provide a little more inspiration to stick to it :) I got the idea from one of you when I visited your blog. I remember thinking how odd it was that you had done that, but I think I get it now :) One thing to note is that I only set a winter goal. I seem to do better with short and doable goals.
3. Seek God's Help. I can testify that God will take care of the things that concern us when we concern ourselves with seeking Him.

I'm a little bit nervous ablout sharing this with you, but I believe there might be others of you who can understand how I feel. Wanna go on this journey together? I'd love to hear from you.

DIY Teacher Gift Ideas

Teacher Appreciation

It's that time of year...time to find something nice, yet inexpensive and quick to make that will bless those who help shape and develop my children daily. Look what I found on Pinterest!!!

Made soap dispensers like these last year - super easy, inexpensive, and this website (click on the picture and then follow through Pinterest) provides free downloadables!

I'm still deciding. I'd love to hear what you're making or giving this year!

Exciting (at least for me) Changes for Flock Together 11/29

The Flock Together Tuesday Blog Hop will soon celebrate its two month anniversary! It has been so much fun meeting people from across the world as well as finding new friends in my own "backyard." And now...some exciting new changes that I think you'll enjoy!

1. NO MORE RULES. Hoppers will no longer be "required" to follow the host and guest host. HOPEFULLY, all participants will still follow a minimum number each week.
2. BUTTON LINKIES for all! I'm going to try a button linky for the 11/29 hop. That means that folks will click on an image representing your blog to reach you. If you don't have your own button already made, DON'T WORRY! When you link up, Linkytools will locate all of the pictures from your blog and allow you to select which one you want to be your button for the blog. It's really easy to do, and I think you'll really like it!

Hope to see you at the hop on Tuesday!

Flock Together Blog Hop 11/22

Welcome to the Flock Together Tuesday Blog Hop!

To join in, just

1. Follow the host and guest host.

2. Link up your blog.

3. Visit other blogs.

If this is all new to you, click here. If your goal is to find friends and gain followers, may I also recommend:

• Set a goal to find and follow a minimum number of blogs that interest you.
• Check back throughout the day to visit late entries that just may be your cup of tea.
• Leave a comment if you follow, and follow back those who follow you.

This week's "Fine Feathered Friend" and guest host is

Brooke at "Cupcakes & Cucumbers."

I am the photographer behind Brooke Photo Studio, and the images on this blog. I create images for a living that are used by clients to showcase their products, and sold in the stock photography industry. I found that I had lots of images, but not very many stories so I started this blog to tell the stories behind the images.

Not only are Brooke's photographs beautiful, but the stories behind her photographs are also quite interesting, especially the ones about her travel adventures. I enjoy reading her posts, and I hope you will too. Before you link up this week, please visit and become a follower. READ MORE >>

Flock Together Blog Hop 11/15

Welcome to the Flock Together Tuesday Blog Hop!
To join in, just follow the host and guest host, link up, and visit other blogs.
If this is all new to you, click here.

If your goal is to find friends and gain followers, may I recommend that you also...

1. Set a goal to find and follow a minimum number of blogs that interest you. This may be just 1 or 2 if you're super busy, but the more you follow, the more friends you're likely to make!
2. Check back throughout the day to visit late entries. They just may be your cup of tea!
3. Leave a comment if you follow, and follow back those who follow you.

This week's "Fine Feathered Friend" and guest host is Damaris at

I go to Google for everything. I always would Google reviews but sometimes wouldn’t find reviews on products I had or wanted or some of the reviews just seemed a little off or vague. So I decided to make this blog to review products, books, movies, etc. & not only that but it gives me something fun to do while my son is down for a nap — when I can get him to take a nap. Now it’s mostly a place where I can write about life in general.

I enjoy reading her posts, and there's always a wide variety of topics from which to choose. Most of all I love her writing style - relaxed and transparent, just as you would be with a good friend or sister. Before you link up this week, please visit and become a follower. Read More >>

I'm not going to CHURCH - I'm going to WORSHIP!

"It's cold out."   "I'm tired."

"I don't like the songs they sing."

"I went last week."    "I'll go next week."

Ever had these thoughts invade your mind and heart on Sunday morning?

Listen to this humorous song about the subject...

Seriously, giving in to these thoughts takes us down a slippery slope. One Sunday turns into a year of them, and one day you realize you're spiritually "cold" and "tired."

Christians need each other for fellowship. Check out this story about being warm that was in my devotional this morning (page 106 from John Macarthur's The Ultimate Priority)...

One thing that has helped me resist the excuses is to remember that I'm not going to church, I'm going to WORSHIP. Yes, you can and should worship continually, no matter where you are, but as indicated above, corporate worship blesses us. So when I think about excuses as keeping me away from worship, they don't hold as much sway. In fact, I'm better able to see that they originate either from the adversary or from my flesh, and I'm not to serve either one of them!

Go worship with your church family today. If you don't have one, ask God to connect you to the one He has planned for you. I'm praying for you to go get spiritually warm today :)

"Tell Me About Yourself" Award

I was thrilled and honored to find out that my friend Judy from Judy H-J’s Thoughts passed the "Tell Me About Yourself" Award  to me! I am fascinated by the posts Judy does about her beautiful country and culture, and I am moved by the posts she writes about her beloved sister.  I actually chose her as one of the first Fine Feathered Friends for the Flock Together blog hop because I knew those who participated would appreciate being introduced to Judy! If you're not a GFC follower of Judy's blog yet, I hope you'll follow her today.

Here are the rules for receiving this award:

1. I must tell 7 things about myself
2. I must pass it on to 15 other bloggers

Here is some information about me:

1. I have been married to two men who loved Jesus (the ultimate quality I sought in a husband). My first husband died from cancer when he was 26. In the following 7 years, God crafted my second husband and myself to meet, marry, form a family and serve in ministry together.
2. I am an older mama, although I'm not sure that's unusual these days. I had my babies between the ages of 33 and 38. I now have 3 children who, on average, delight me daily and frustrate me weekly ;).
3. I am a working mom, which hopefully explains the make it quick cooking posts on my blog.
4. I love to go to yard sales! I also enjoy shopping at consignment shops.
5. I appreciate a good coupon as much as the next gal, but I'm not an extreme couponer.
6. I am growing increasingly aware that I am too fat fluffy to bless my family and enjoy the life God's given me. So. I'm in the process of changing that.
7. I am not well-traveled, so the biggest kick I get out of blogging is getting to know people from all over the world!

And now the fun part - I hereby pass this award to these great bloggers!

Flock Together Blog Hop 11/8

Welcome to the Flock Together Tuesday Blog Hop! To join in, just follow the host and guest host, link up, and visit other blogs. If this is all new to you, click here.

If your goal is to find friends and gain followers, may I recommend that you also...

1. Set a goal to find and follow a minimum number of blogs that interest you. This may be just 1 or 2 if you're super busy, but the more you follow, the more friends you're likely to make!
2. Check back throughout the day to visit late entries. They just may be your cup of tea!
3. Leave a comment if you follow, and follow back those who follow you.

This week's "Fine Feathered Friend" and guest host is Veronica at

A baby-boomer and SAHM from sunny Malaysia, I'm the proud mother of 2 very active boys. I love John Steinbeck, ramen and am terrified of mice, hence the blog title! I find blogging therapeutic; it allows me to express my thoughts (no matter how dark or silly) and connect with bloggers across the world. My blog is a mixed bag of random thoughts, muses, gripes, quotes, interesting finds, handy housekeeping tips, food, etc .

Veronica always has something interesting posted on her blog. She finds some of the coolest things in cyberspace and presents them with thoughtful commentary! Please visit her and say hello. Read More >>

Crockpot Meatloaf: Quick & easy to prepare!

After telling you that I don't like to cook, I've noticed on more than one occasion evidence to the contrary. For instance...

1. I was recently afforded an opportunity to enjoy shopping at one of the biggest outlet malls in our state. Where did I spend most of my time? At the QVC Outlet store, admiring and trying to talk myself into investing in their BEAUTIFUL Temptations bakeware sets. What was the only purchase I made? Kitchen gadgets and bakeware from the Kitchen Store.
2. There is an inordinate amount (for someone who doesn't like to cook) of cooking posts on my blog.

Maybe I truly do like to cook, but at this stage in my life (which I love) I need to get in and out of the kitchen a.s.a.p. so I can fit in the other things that have to be done too. That's why I appreciate my slow cooker (which almost everyone in the south refers to as a Crockpot) so much. This is a dish I've prepared for lunch today. Enjoy!

Crockpot Meatloaf

Crockpot Meatloaf

2 1/2 pounds ground chuck

3 eggs

1 cup bread crumbs

1 cup milk

2 tsp worcestershire sauce

1 packet dry onion soup mix

Spray the inside of the crock with nonstick spray. Create a strap of aluminum foil (mine was 3 ply, about 3 inches wide, and long enough to reach across the bottom of the crock and up 5 inches on each side) to help remove the meatloaf for serving.

Mix all ingredients together and form a ball. Place in crock and press down as far as possible without touching the sides of the crock. Cook on high 4 hours, or until center is done.