WEIGHT LOSS Blogger Prize Package Giveaway

Eat This! 365 Reasons to Stop Dieting - Mary McHugh

No, this is not what I'll be giving out to my weight loss blog winners... but it's a cute book and I thought it was worth mentioning. I will most likely be quoting this book often.

#3 - Marilyn Monroe was a size 12.

When did 1 become the new "in" size? What ever happened to being healthy? That's what I want... I want to be healthy. For me, that means losing about 50lbs. I'm currently lacking the motivation to lose that weight (my gym membership resumes March 1st, talk to me then), so I'm living vicariously through other blogs for now.

Are you a blogger that is trying to lose weight? I'm offering 3 lucky bloggers a surprise PRIZE PACKAGE for reaching their weight loss goals. Wait, not even for reaching their goals.. for reaching their milestone! That means, if you have 50lbs to lose, I'll send you a motivational prize pack once you've lost 25lbs!!

#14 - They say TV adds 10 pounds, so just by not being on TV, you lose 10 pounds!

Please email me (sadielankford(at)ymail(dot)com) your weight loss story. Even if you haven't started yet, as long as you are going to blog about it... you can enter!! That is the only requirement - that you are trying to lose weight, and you're blogging about it. I guess that makes 2 requirements. Whatever lol.

I have TWO more spots for weight loss bloggers - you will also be linked on my side bar for the duration of your weight loss. That means not only will I be linking you while you are working towards your halfway point (and your prize package), I will continue to link you until your journey is complete!! Can you really beat that??

Last day to enter is February 28th. At midnight (CST), I will stop accepting entries. I will choose two bloggers on February 29th and announce them on my blog that day.

I will blog about you and your weight loss journey often, so be sure you're comfortable with that before you email me. (sadielankford(at)ymail(dot)com)

OWOH Winners

So, the time has come to announce the winners for the OWOH giveaway!! :)

Drum roll please....

The winner of the tutu is Birgit



and

The winner of the hand made oatmeal soaps is Carapace!



CONGRATS! I sent an email to both winners this morning. (Please contact me by 2/18/2010 with your address to receive your prizes!)

Also, I am still looking for two lucky bloggers to win a prize pack for losing weight!! Check out this post for details and email me (tutus[AT]nelliebugs[DOT]com) your story to be considered. I have already chosen one lucky blogger!! When she reaches her first milestone of 25lbs, she will receive a prize package from none other than.. the lovely.. ME!! :) Prizes will be chosen from the website as well as from craft stores or my personal stash, just depending on the likes of the recipient. :)

So, again, please email me your story if you'd like to be one of my featured dieting bloggers!! I will be putting a link in my sidebar to each of the blogs, so that means more readers for you as well! :)

I might blog again later.. just been really busy lately! I think it's about time for another craft project/tutorial, what do you think?? Any ideas??

Last chance to enter, plus PRIZES for three bloggers!!

TOMORROW is the last day to enter my OWOH giveaway. I will be announcing the winner on February 15th.

Please click HERE to enter my giveaway!!! (Do not comment on this post for entries, as they won't count -- but you can comment just because you love me..)

I am giving away a set of home made oatmeal soaps, as well as a tutu! Did I mention that I have NINE tutus to make before tomorrow morning at 10am? NINE!!! And Rachel (who is a major help in making them) is leaving for work in about an hour. Soooo, I'm on my own today! With three kids, no less. *Sigh* That's what I get for procrastinating. Okay, so I really didn't procrastinate, I've just been really busy! I did get all my bows made, carded, tagged, and inventoried! Go me! :)

I might blog again later, depending how much work I get done - I might want to brag about it a little! lol

Oh, and before I forget, if you have a blog and you're trying to lose weight (and posting about it on your blog), please email me! I am going to give prizes to THREE bloggers that are trying to lose weight -- they will get the prize when they reach a halfway point to their goal! The prizes could include soaps, a knitted hat (or even a mohawk hat if you're cool like that), or even a custom patchwork scarf!! EMAIL ME! :) sadielankford@ymail.com

Working on some goals

#4 - Complete 100 swaps -- 22/100 completed. I am currently in like 6 swaps as well. Honestly, it's a bit overwhelming right now. I haven't joined any new swaps in at least a week, and won't be joining any more for at least two more weeks. Too much going on.

#15 - Make spreadsheet for tutus -- I made a spreadsheet on the computer, but I wasn't happy with it. I'm now inventorying everything on regular wide ruled loose leaf paper and keeping it in a binder with my receipts for expenses/income.

#16 - Add 20 items to ETSY shop -- 7/20 completed

#18 - Add 10 tutu designs to website - 2/10 completed, plus I redid ALL of the inventory numbers and added more Allie Clips!

#22 - Add more pictures of bows to website - Completed 2/20/2010

#23 - Make 4 mohawk hats (without ear flaps) -- 1.5/4 completed. :)

#41 - Drink at least 3 bottles of water a day -- Working on this one.. drinking at least 1 or 2, haven't made 3 yet.

#44 - Lose 40lbs -- 6/40, all in the past week or two.

#52 - Make pop-up card -- Completed 2/1/2010, forgot to blog about it. The girls and I made pop-up Valentine's with little squiggly hearts for Mammie. We actually lost them and made new cards (not pop-up) yesterday. Not sure if I know where those are, either.. haha

#54 - Write 25 articles for eHow - 1 and 2/25 completed

#56 - Weigh in weekly - FAIL.. haven't been doing that. Will start when the scale goes down a bit.

#58 - Post craigslist ad for tutus at least once a month - 2/12 completed, but people keep flagging them and saying they are "prohibited" or "spam". I think it is other people who sell similar items who are doing this, because I've NEVER had anything flagged before. Sad..

#60 - Teach Gracelynn Sign Language ABCs - she is doing well with almost all of the letters! We will make a video when she has learned how to fingerspell a few words.

#72 - Make something with my button stash - Completed 2/10/2010, will post pictures later, made flower clips with button in the middle

#74 - Make a journal and swap it - Completed 2/4/2010, sent to swapper in Illinois. She sent me a message saying she LOVED it. :)

#79 - Make 10 YouTube videos -- I actually made another video and created a new (business) YouTube Channel 1/10 completed

#97 - Try to stop using shampoo -- This is going well. I am on week 3(?) of no-poo and my hair is amazing, better than it's ever been - HOWEVER, now my scalp is kind of breaking out. I've been using baking soda and lemon juice mixed with water to "wash" my hair once every 4 days or so. Everything has been great (minus a little frizziness), until this week when I started breaking out. Am looking into getting some tea tree oil, heard this helps. Any tips?

#99 - Pay all bills ON TIME -- doing well so far. :)

Well, I guess that's not so bad now that I type it all out. I was feeling as if I wasn't moving forward with much. However, I made like 70 clips and bows this week (even korkers, which I HATE to make). I have four tutus I have to make by tomorrow evening (EEK!) for customers, and at least five by Friday morning (EEK!) to put in the shop. I am corresponding with a woman who makes beautiful boutique hairbows that wants to put her items on my website, and am talking to a few others about link exchanges.

I'm hosting three giveaways currently - two on Cafemom and one on my blog (OWOH). All giveaways end this Friday (busy day!).

This weekend is something I am really looking forward to. For one thing, all of my stuff will be in the shop and I can breathe again. And for two, Rachel and I get a date night because my mom is keeping the kids alllll night! w00t!! :) Next week will be busy, too, but not QUITE as hectic! Hopefully I can continue to get things organized and move forward with my business and my goals.

Leave a comment, let me know you're reading! :)

Living in a fat suit

Do you ever feel like you're living in a fat suit?? I do.

I was sending Rach a text with my new phone (that happens to be a mirror as well.. ugh) and realized I look nothing like me. I mean, gaining weight doesn't happen overnight, but I'm like woah.. I am huge. When did this happen??

I was looking back at pictures when I was 30lbs lighter and I was still big. What the hell was I thinking gaining all of this weight? I know a lot of it has to do with the depression I went through after the surrogacy/adoption, but still.. no excuse. It's been over a year. It needs to stop.

I gained a LOT of weight with my first daughter.. a little with my second.. a little with my third.. and quite a bit with the last (surro) baby. So, that's four pregnancies. I didn't lose hardly any weight after any of them. Seriously, who has time to exercise when they just had a baby? I don't get it. I ate when I could, I slept when I could, and that's about it.

So, anyway, I'm sick of living in the fat suit. I have tried to lose weight by diet and exercise but I just haven't made much progress. At the end of last year, I lost 15lbs. I've gained most of it back. I know I have thyroid issues and it can cause weight gain, but with no insurance I can't go to the doctor and get it fixed. So, I have to fix it myself. I ordered some diet pills (save the lectures), and I am going to see how they work. I've never really tried diet pills before because I've always thought the best way was with healthy food and exercise. Starting in March, our gym membership will open up again (we had to freeze it due to finances) so I know that will help lose some of the weight. The pills will just give me a jump start. I'll post before and after pictures AFTER I have some after pictures. :)

I was going to post some pictures of the new laptop case we made, but I don't have any on this computer. I will post a tutorial later. :) Currently, I'm working on knitted wash cloths for Valentine's Day baskets. They will have a washcloth, some hand-made soaps, and maybe a few pieces of chocolate wrapped up. I'll be sure to post pictures when they're finished!