Flock Together Blog Hop 11/29

Originally published in 2011 as part of a weekly blog hop — a kind of online meet-and-greet where everyone shared a post and wandered from blog to blog.

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!