Giveaway: Under 200 Entries; Less than 24 hours Left!

Recently I reviewed Google+ for Dummies. For a chance to win your own copy, please use the Rafflecopter entry form below. This giveaway ends on January 31, 2012 (12:01 a.m. EST 2/1/12) and is open to US  residents only.  Winner will be notified via email on February 1, 2012 and will have 48 hours to respond. If they do not respond, another winner will be selected under the same conditions.

I received this book free from the publisher in order to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR 255.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Flock Together Blog Hop 1/31

Welcome to my "no rules" button blog hop! To participate, simply...

1. Link up: 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. Find new friends: Click through the blogs and follow the ones you love (Google+, RSS, GFC, Twitter, Facebook, e-mail, etc.). Kindly pass by the ones you don't.

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

Brooke at Blueberry Squash.

 I am currently a photographer, but my first love was history. I earned my first college degree in history back in 2002, and took away a lifetime love of reading, research, and learning. Everything I do in life is researched, and having a child is the biggest milestone in my life so far so extra work has gone into the planning, and will continue into the future as life progresses.I found myself with notebooks, and documents full of notes as I discovered all the things involved in becoming a parent and thought I would create a place to share them with other people out there looking for information.  From that idea this blog was born. This blog serves as my fun project to share what I find and a colorful bookmark list that I use often to revisit research done in the past. 

I first met Brooke through her Cupcakes and Cucumbers blog, which was named a Fine Feathered Friend in the  early days of Flock Together. Her photographs are beautiful and interesting, but the stories behind them are moreso! It thrilled me to find out that she's having a baby, and the concept behind this blog is quite innovative. I hope you'll follow her blog and this research project!

Would you like to be a "Fine Feathered Friend" and guest host? Click here to find out how! It's free and easy.

Need a little help?

• 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 might be just your cup of tea! Leave a comment if you follow, and consider following back those who follow you.
• If you see empty boxes with red x's instead of pictures in the linky, try clearing your cache (Go to Tools > Internet Options > Under the General tab and Browsing History section, click "Delete"> check Temporary Internet Files > Delete > then refresh or reload Mom's Best Nest).

"Nicole's Method" Weight Update #2

Beginning Weight/Date: 201 lbs on November 26, 2011

Current weight: 194

Current amount lost: 7 pounds


Last week's challenge: Emotional Eating

Last week I noticed a pattern in my progress or lack thereof. I followed the guidelines easily and successfully on the weekend and experienced a dramatic loss. Then, with pressures at work and being without "good" groceries (it got pushed back by almost a week), I gained what I'd lost! Thankfully by the end of the week, I had a net loss of 1 pound, but it's discouraging to move two steps forward, one step back!

Last week's success: Not eating after 6 p.m.

While not perfect at it, I am doing fairly well with this. There's at least one day of my normal week on which I'm almost certain to miss supper because I'm away from 4:15 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. On that day and any others like it, I just accept that I won't be able to eat supper. Surprisingly, missing a meal does not kill me! And breaking the cycle of eating after the kids go to bed has been easier than I thought.


What I'm learning:

1. Man-sized portions are for men, not (most) women. Although I've struggled with my weight ever since I can remember, my mama has always been petite. I can't remember her ever struggling with her weight until later in life, and I still wouldn't call it much of a struggle. Only in my late 20's did I realize that she actually eats differently than I do: tiny portions all day long. She sometimes commented that restaurants served "man-sized" portions , and she frequently ate only half her meal. Now I understand that if I eat man-sized portions, I'll probably become man-sized ;)  

2. The answer to not gaining when I'm stressed is to rely on God, and I don't know why this is such a struggle for me. No matter, His mercies are new every day, and I'm so thankful for the opportunity to start anew!

Song for Sunday: Holy Spirit Rain Down

My 1st Giveaway Update: Less than 200 entries and only 4 Days Left!

Recently I reviewed Google+ for Dummies. For a chance to win your own copy, please use the Rafflecopter entry form below. This giveaway ends on January 31, 2012 (12:01 a.m. EST 2/1/12) and is open to US  residents only.  Winner will be notified via email on February 1, 2012 and will have 48 hours to respond. If they do not respond, another winner will be selected under the same conditions.

I received this book free from the publisher in order to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR 255.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

I'm featured today! Come blog hop with us!

Welcome to the Friendly Friday Blog Hop! I am so excited to be hosting and I hope that you will link up with me! Please read the blog host's information about this fun hop from the Clumsy Coquette:

<a border="0" href="http://www.theclumsycoquette.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa437/clumsycoquette/FriendlyFriday-1.jpg"></a>

The Rules:

1. You MUST follow me on Google Friend Connect, Google +  Facebook or Twitter and you MUST follow the Featured Blogger.
2. Link up your blog name and URL on my linky. Please don't link to a specifict post.
3. Grab the Friendly Friday button and put it on your blog or in a post.
4. Go to as many blogs as you want and follow them. If someone follows you from the hop, please follow them back.

Want to be a featured Blogger?
I am going to start hosting a weekly featured blogger! I am so excited. If you'd like to be featured, please let me know in a comment below. I will randomly select someone each week. If you are picked, you will be given the code to host this hop on your page that week.


Featured Blogger

I am a Christ-follower who is so very thankful for God's faithfulness in my life. I'm the wife of a wonderful man who is also a pastor and a mom to three beautiful children and one fur baby. It is my heart's desire to serve God well in the roles in which He's placed me. Welcome to a place where imperfect moms can share ways to best build our nests through our faith, relationships, mothering, and homemaking. Not perfection, just our best!

Tuesday Giveaway hop!!!

I am now hosting a giveaway hop every Tuesday!! Come back and link up. (No giveaways on this linky please!)

Have a Boxer? Please advise!

Meet our new fur baby! We found him, wet and cold, on our back porch last Saturday. I took him to the vet, and his owner was found, via his microchip. I delivered him home only to find out, to my joy, that he needed a new home! After praying about the situation (we'd never had an "inside" dog), my husband felt that he was meant to be ours, and we brought him home to our house.

I can't tell you how cool this dog is, but I'll certainly try...

• Boxer (I grew up with this breed in my home, and they have my heart)
• neutered (making him very cool and calm) My husband says he has "peace like a river :)
• microchipped
• crate-trained (Good thing! Been there, done that, and was a miserable failure at it)
• SWWWWWEEEET personality (The vet said he was an outlier - boxers are sweet tempered anyway, but he is extraordinarily so)

We do need to train a little, though, and I am out of practice. I haven't had a Boxer in 20 years! He needs to learn how to be pleasant on a leash, and he needs to learn not to jump on us. I realize that we're the ones that really need the training :) No matter, if you have any boxer advice, I'd appreciate hearing it.

Flock Together Blog Hop 1/24

Welcome to my "no rules" button blog hop! To participate, simply...

1. Link up: 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. Find new friends: Click through the blogs and follow the ones you love (Google+, RSS, GFC, Twitter, Facebook, e-mail, etc.). Kindly pass by the ones you don't.

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

Just one lucky lady who is married to her best friend. A full time stay at home mom with three rowdy little girls a parakeet and a dog! I am a part time dental billing and coding specialist. I love to create and decorate on a dime! I cook. I clean. I love! I am a eager student learning from life's curious wisdom!

I really enjoy following Loressa's blog. She's a dedicated mom and is madly in love with her husband. Her posts on cooking, parenting and money-saving tips are always useful, and I leave her blog eager to follow up on them. Please take a moment to stop by her place and see what you think!

Would you like to be a "Fine Feathered Friend" and guest host? Click here to find out how! It's free and easy.

Need a little help?

• 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 might be just your cup of tea! Leave a comment if you follow, and consider following back those who follow you.
• If you see empty boxes with red x's instead of pictures in the linky, try clearing your cache (Go to Tools > Internet Options > Under the General tab and Browsing History section, click "Delete"> check Temporary Internet Files > Delete > then refresh or reload Mom's Best Nest).

"Nicole's Method" Weight Update: Week 1

In December, I began following the same guidelines that my friend Nicole has used to lose over 50 pounds in 3 months.  Though I can't say that I was totally committed during the holiday season, I think I'm back on track now! To add even more incentive to stay on track, I shall post weekly about my progress. Since this is the first weekly post, we'll call this "week 1."

Current weight:195

Current amount lost: 6 pounds

This week's challenge: Water!
While I did switch over to water as my drink of choice, it turns out that I hadn't been drinking as much as Nicole does. So, I've made it my goal to drink one glass in the early a.m. (sort of like what others do with coffee), one before lunch, one during lunch, one in the afternoon/before supper, one during supper, and one after supper. Since doing this, my rate of weight loss has increased dramatically.

This week's success: Water :)
Having developed a taste for lemon in my water, I bought a bag of lemons, sliced them up and put them in the refrigerator. Now, everytime I drink a glass of water, I squeeze the juice from a slice (not half - the whole thing!) and toss it in the glass. I've even done this to a bottle of water. I can't tell if it's the flavor or the appearance, but it's definitely helping!

This week's insight: Judy Halliday, author of Thin Within, wrote about how we tend to think "This is my body, I can do with it as I please." (see pages 110-111 below) Christians have been "bought with a high price. Therefore glorify God in your body" 1 Corinthians 6:20. Remembering this helps me stay on track!

Song for Sunday: Everlasting God

Giveaway: "Google+ for Dummies" Portable Edition

After reading my post about needing "Google+ for Dummies," the folks at Wiley Publishing, publishers of the "For Dummies" books,  sent me a copy of that very book to review. They're also providing a copy for you to win!

For years, the "For Dummies" books have helped me navigate new technologies and software. They always make technical and perhaps intimidating information easy to understand in a concise and comfortable manner. This book is no different. Published in November 2011, this 144 page paperback book is a "portable edition," written to cover "just enough and yet allow for some flexibilty for when the service does change" and costs only $7.99 (ARV). 

The chapters address:

• Leaping into Google+
• Boggling over Circles and Privacy
• Posting to Google+
• Hanging Out with Friends
• Finding Content with Sparks
• Gaming with Google+
• Abiding by Social Network Etiquette
• Using Google+ on Mobile Devices
• Using Google+ Photos
• Liberating (Exporting and Backing Up) Your G+ Data
• Ten 3rd Party Applications You Can Use Right Now

What I liked (a lot!)...
In addition to the concise text, icons point out the most important information at a glance.  The author provides information on topics of particular interest to bloggers, like how to populate your circles, both by finding people yourself and by making yourself more likely to be found. He also offers cool tech tricks too, like how to format the text in your posts with bold, italics, strike-through, etc. I appreciated finally finding the answers to questions like...

• What's a +1 and how's it different from a Facebook "like?"
• What's the difference between following and circling?
• Why can't I see the streams of some people I have in my circles?
• What's a hangout?

An unexpected bonus was the author's recommendations for what to post. Bloggers are usually keen on increasing followers and growing their blogs. I intend to apply many of his recommendations, and I look forward to seeing great results.

Thoughout the book, the author compares and contrasts Google+ and Facebook, which is helpful to those of us who are fairly familiar with FB. He even provides lots of information about little-known Facebook features, so one gets a sense that this resource is a "2 for 1," providing the reader information about Google+ AND Facebook.

What I didn't like (but couldn't be helped)...
Following their steps was easy, and they were usually dead-on when telling me what to expect, which was surprising considering the rapidly changing nature of social media. On rare occasions, there were subtle differences in the verbage in the text and that which Google+ has decided to use now. For example, the text reads "follow the recommendations on the right side of the page," while (at present) Google+ lists "Suggestions" in that same spot. Also, the book was written prior to Google+ pages being available, so it doesn't include information specific to that topic. Nonetheless, there was still a wealth of helpful information to make it well worth $7.99 (MSRP).

The bottom line...
This book is is a great value. For under $8, it provides a resource that not only acclimates one to Google+ but also helps optimize its features!

The Giveaway...
For a chance to win your own copy of this great resource, please use the Rafflecopter entry form below. This giveaway ends on January 31, 2012 (12:01 a.m. EST 2/1/12) and is open to US  residents only.  Winner will be notified via email on February 1, 2012 and will have 48 hours to respond. If they do not respond, another winner will be selected under the same conditions.

I received this book free from the publisher in order to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR 255.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Flock Together Blog Hop 1/17

Welcome to my "no rules" button blog hop! To participate, simply...

1. Link up: 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. Find new friends: Click through the blogs and follow the ones you love (Google+, RSS, GFC, Twitter, Facebook, e-mail, etc.). Kindly pass by the ones you don't.

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

We're a family of 3 living every day to the fullest and embracing every adventure that comes our way and basically loving life! Come and follow my blog and I'll follow back!

Recipes, crafts and giveaways - what more could you want in a bloggie friend? How about blog posts that are transparent and fun? I hope you'll check out her blog and consider following. I'm really glad I did! READ MORE>>

Song for Sunday: I Stand Amazed

Exposure for your blog...free and easy

Each week I'll use random.org to select a blog to visit, looking for one who has re-posted the blog hop on their blog (see directions below). Voila! That blog will become next week's Fine Feathered Friend, featured on the Flock Together Blog Hop's post, along with a brief introduction and their button. If I am unable to find one, I'll select someone who has posted the Flock Together Button on their blog. Here are directions: 


Place the blog hop on YOUR blog too. 

"A blog hop is a linky list that is SHARED ON MULTIPLE BLOGS. When several blogs put the same linky list code on their blog, the exact same list appears on each blog. Blog visitors can submit their entries on any blog that contains the list. The entries will appear on each blog where the list resides. Blog readers see the same list on each blog, and can "HOP" from blog to blog seeing the same list of links to follow: BLOG HOP!"


Sort of like lily pads, hence the name! Here's how to do it...

1. Begin a post on your blog about the Flock Together Tuesday Blog Hop. Feel free to cut and paste as much or as little from my post if you like, which is usually published at 6 p.m. EST on Mondays.
2. Go to my post and click on "Get the code here..." (found at the bottom)
3. Copy the code in the box.
4. On your post, switch to HTML view/mode ("Edit HTML" for Blogger folks), and paste the code where you want the blog hop to appear.
5. Publish your post.

For my Wordpress friends, I am told that this won't work for you. If you want to be considered, please just publish a post about participating in the hop.

Flock Together Blog Hop 1/10

Welcome to my "no rules" button list! Linky Tools will create a button for you in a couple of easy steps. To participate, 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 blogs and follow the ones you love (Google+, RSS, GFC, Twitter, Facebook, e-mail, etc.). Kindly pass by 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 might be just your cup of tea!
• Leave a comment if you follow, and consider following back those who follow you.

This week's "Fine Feathered Friend" and guest hosts are Mahina and Lucas at

What We're Sayin...

Now that we are married and have our daughter, Ke'alohi, we have decided to set up a blog to post pictures, updates and more. We, along with our two dogs, Duke and Harley, enjoy spending time with our close friends and family. We try to take the dogs to Huntington Dog Beach as often as we can so that Duke and Harley can run wild to their hearts content. Otherwise, you will find all of us at home relaxing while I blog, Lucas fiddles with electronics and Ke'alohi plays with the dogs. So be sure to check back often and leave us comments! We hope you enjoy our blog!
READ MORE>>

 

Song for Sunday: Spiritual

This song is such a great re-focus-er (I make these words up as I go along). Enjoy!

Easy "Baked" Sweet Potatoes

You may want to print this out. It's really complex ;)

Baked Sweet Potatoes

1. Wash them.
2. Wrap them in aluminum foil.
3. Place them in the slow cooker.
4. Cover with slow cooker lid.
5. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours. 

I usually fill the cooker full, serve a few of them at the next meal, and place the rest in the refrigerator to take to work for lunch.

Flock Together Blog Hop 1/3

Welcome! This is a "no rules" button list, but you DON'T NEED 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 blogs and follow the ones you love (Google+, RSS, GFC, Twitter, Facebook, e-mail, etc.). Kindly pass by 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 might be just your cup of tea!
• Leave a comment if you follow, and consider following back those who follow you.

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

Overall this has been a great year! After 2.5 years of changes.... married in 2008, several moves, two pregnancies and new babies in 2009 and 2010..... it has been SO nice to spend 2011 feeling a little more settled in marriage, motherhood and (while we're not our own home) at least we're feeling a little more settled in this apartment since we plan to stay here until we actually get a house of our own! Looking forward to another great year in 2012!!

"K" has a well-stocked blog, full of great images (she loves photography) and even nicer posts. Her writing style is sincere, transparent and compelling. Please check out her lovely blog to see if you agree. I truly believe you'll thank me for introducing the two of you once you begin following her blog! READ MORE>>

My Anti-Resolution for 2012: FROG

http://www.freenaturepictures.com/frog-pictures.php

At this time of year, I often reflect on my walk with Christ during the prior year. There's something invigorating about the new year that inspires us to start anew! The problem with that, for a Christian, is that we are NOT to depend on ourselves to do more, be better, or work harder. Ours is a life of faith in which we are to rely on God. This is the main thing that I need more of in the coming year, as 2011 wasn't my best year to F.R.O.G. (Fully Rely On Christ)!

So why is this the ANTI-resolution? F.R.O.G.means that I DO LESS planning, controlling, thinking, worrying, striving, etc. If I am F.R.O.G.ging, you'll see MORE praying, waiting, praising, reading and memorizing God's word, and trusting. You'll also see peace, joy, confidence!

This isn't always easy to do. I am a "fixer" type by nature. But I know from experience that God's way is always the right way and leads to the greatest satisfaction. I do need to tell you that this has to begin with a personal relationship with Jesus. This is a non-negotiable. And it's not something that will go away if you ignore it. Not accepting Him is the same as rejecting Him. Accepting Him as my Savior was the best thing that ever has or will happen to me! 

So, Happy New Year! I pray God's blessings for you and your family in 2012!