The Biggest Loser: Blogger Edition {link up}

Hello lovelies!  It's finally here!  The first day of The Biggest Loser: Blogger Edition, brought to you by Ashley, Chelsea and Jenn! 

Our version of The Biggest Loser is a little different than the one you see on TV!  In Blogger Edition, no one gets kicked off, and we aren't just trying to lose weight.  Instead we are creating a place to go when you need a little motivation, when you need to voice your frustration, when you are looking for a healthy recipe, when you are looking for a new workout to try.  This is the healthiest link-up on the net!

So link up with your health goals, your struggles and your triumphs.  Tell us about why it's been hard to lose the weight,  why health and fitness is important for you or what you've learned.    Share your favorite healthy recipe from the week, the fitness fad you are loving and the triumphs you've overcome.  

Then visit all the other ladies who've linked!  leave them some love and together we will create a community of support. This is the year you will meet your health and fitness goals and we're going to help you get there!

PLUS each week you link up, you have a chance to win something fabulous from one of our sponsors! 

So grab a button, link up and enjoy!  This week you can win 2 months free ad space on Oh Wells Instead Of What Ifs!

Want to sponsor The Biggest Loser: Blogger Edition?  Email us! 

  

What's Been Weighing Me Down

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I was a very thin, healthy and athletic kid.  I even had some success with modeling, although, I was always told I should try and lose a few pounds.  I danced during every waking hour that I wasn't at school and I ate crap.  It didn't matter to me because I never gained a pound.  On competition days, I would have my grandmother bring me a Chicken Nuggets Family Meal from McDonalds.  I would put back both large french fries, all 20 nuggets and both cokes and then ask to stop for ice cream on the way home.  But then I got older.  Injuries plagued me and eventually I couldn't keep up with the activity I loved.  Unfortunately my diet didn't change.

I was off to college where I drank a days worth of calories 4 out of 7 nights a week and ate a diet of pasta with cream sauces, fried chicken sandwiches, Ramen Noodles, and anything they served at "Fat Kids" (the name we lovingly called the campus dining hall).  I walked around campus and even managed to fit in a few workout classes for credit, but that was the beginning of my weight struggle. I would crash diet before formals and my weight yo-yo'd a lot.

After college the walking stopped, the required workout classes stopped, and I got a sedentary job behind a desk.  Sure, I have had some success with diets and workout fixations, but in the end, I always gained it all back and more.   I have gained almost 100 pounds since I left for college.  That's 10 pounds a year.  

Even though I don't like to admit it, I know why I keep gaining the weight.  It's not because I can't control what I eat.  It's not because I can't get to the gym.  It's not because I don't know what to do.

It's because in my heart of hearts, I don't believe I deserve it.  I sabotage myself every time I commit to a health or fitness goal.  Those issues are worthy of their own post, but for now let's just say, I crave love from others, but I need to learn how to love myself first.

This year, I am finally saying enough is enough.  I deserve more.  I deserve to be healthy.  I deserve to be happy with the person I see in the mirror and most of all, I deserve the incredible life I have been denying myself.  

I got a Kate Spade Idiom Bracelet for Christmas that says "This is the Year".  Those 4 words have become my mantra.  

This is the year I lose the weight.

This is the year I will learn to be proud of myself.

This is the year I will try new things.

This is the year I will grow my faith.

This is the year I will drink more water and give up soda.

This is the year I will get more involved with my community.

Damn it, this is the year!

Link up with The Biggest Loser: Blogger Edition with me!

I Love to Co-host!

<a href="http://www.peacoatsandplaid.blogspot.com/search/label/gfc%20collective" target="”_blank”"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a268/bre916/BLOG/newhopbutton150_zps0ae6c5c9.jpg"/></a>

Welcome to the weekly "GFC Collective" party :) This is a link up for bloggers who want to gain followers and meet some awesome new bloggy buddies. I have met some pretty neat people by following them with GFC. It's so easy to keep up to date with all of my fav blogs :)

Not sure if this is the blog hop for you? Listen to what other bloggers have to say...

"Just to let you know, your blog hop is the best I've participated in for gaining new friends!!! I couldn't believe the results!! Thank you!"LL

- Danavee, This Vintage Grove

Has the GFC Collective done wonders for your following? Let me know, shoot me an email at peacoatsandplaid(at)gmail(dot)com

Bre @ Peacoats and Plaid

Autumn @ The Busy Bee

Heidi @ Antlers & Roses

and our lovely co-host for the week

Ashley @ Oh Wells Instead of What Ifs

...want to co-host? Email Bre at peacoatsandplaid(at)gmail(dot)com

A Little Housekeeping

A couple of things for you to digest before you start your weekend...

1.  Did you make health resolutions?  Well Jenn, Chelsea and I are going to help you keep them!!  Come visit us every Wednesday and link up to The Biggest Loser: Blogger Edition.  We won't be kicking anyone off, you will get the chance to earn prizes and best of all, it's your chance to share your triumphs, challenges, workouts, recipes, motivation and inspire each other as we all make 2013 the year we keep our health and wellness goals.  So join us Wednesday to share your story!

2.  I did a little guest post on This Won't Hurt A Bit.  If you have a road trip coming out, check out my tips and spend some time getting to know Renee as well!  She's an absolute doll!

3.  The Life: Stylish had a big week!  My first blog makeover went live this week!  Check out the design I did for Kim's blog Slice of Life!  Does your blog need a touch up or even a complete makeover? Check out what The Life: Stylish has to offer!  I'm super affordable and will do everything I can to make your ideas come to life...err screen.

4.  I saw this on Pinterest and I am totally obsessed so, I had to share!

Source

Have a fan-freakin-tastic weekend lovelies!

Hunter Knows What the Ladies Like

So, every time I hear Wanted by Hunter Hayes, I almost cry.  I mentioned yesterday that I am a total sap when it comes to music (among other things) but the thing is, little Hunter hits the nail on the head.  The feeling I love/long for, more than anything, is to feel wanted.




So dear future husband, take note!  If you say or write any of the following to me, I'll melt.  I won't even care that a man child gave you his words to use instead of your own.  And to make it simple, here you go!



You know I'd fall apart without you  
I don't know how you do what you do  
'Cause everything that don't make sense about me 
Makes sense when I'm with you   
Like everything that's green, girl I need you 
But it's more than one and one makes two 
Put aside the math and the logic of it 
You gotta know you're wanted too 
{I was never that good at math anyway}

'Cause I wanna wrap you up 
Wanna kiss your lips 
I wanna make you feel wanted 
And I wanna call you mine 
Wanna hold your hand forever 
Never let you forget it 
Yeah, I wanna make you feel wanted 
{holding hands is just about my favorite thing}

Anyone can tell you you're pretty
(Yeah) You get that all the time, I know you do
 But your beauty's deeper than the makeup
 And I wanna show you what I see tonight 
{It's it funny that we think we are prettiest when we are all done up, but feel prettiest when that special someone tells us we look best without it?}

When I wrap you up 
When I kiss your lips 
I wanna make you feel wanted 
And I wanna call you mine 
Wanna hold your hand forever 
Never let you forget it 
'Cause baby I wanna make you feel wanted 

As good as you make me feel 
I wanna make you feel better 
Better than your fairy tales 
Better than your best dreams 
You're more than everything I need 
You're all I ever wanted 
All I ever wanted 
{This verse really makes me melt.  If the love that is waiting for me is better than all the fairy tales and my best dreams, then I can't wait to be in it.}

And I just wanna wrap you up 
Wanna kiss your lips 
I wanna make you feel wanted 
And I wanna call you mine 
Wanna hold your hand forever 
Never let you forget it 
Yeah, I wanna make you feel wanted 
Yeah, baby I wanna make you feel - Wanted 
'Cause you'll always be wanted
{I want to know I will always be wanted... so far always hasn't happened yet}


Something about this song gives me faith that there is an extraordinary love out there for me.  One that makes me feel wanted.

What songs give you hope?

20 Things to Know About Me

1. Rum makes me cry...always.

2.  Speaking of crying, I am very moved by movies, music, plays and sometimes even commercials.

3.  I have an unhealthy obsession with things that sparkle, specifically chandeliers.

4. If it were work appropriate and socially acceptable, I would only wear flip flops.

5.  I love things that are black and white.  Movies, Accessories, Clothes...

6.  I always read the last two pages of a book before I buy it.

7.  Giant Jenga is my favorite game.

8.  Just like Kym, I drink pickle juice from the jar.

9.  I dip any and all finger foods in ranch.

10. The beach is my happy place, any beach.

11. Even though I work in online communication and live for social media, I refuse to use digital 

planners.  I prefer a hard copy.

12. I had scarlet fever as a kid.

13. You know what they say about girls with big wrists and feet?  Bangles hardly ever fit and 

most shoes have to be purchased full price.

14. I'm cold 95% of the time.

15. I was in a Christian rock music video once.

16. I eat Ramen noodles far more often than any financially stable adult should.

17.  I hate watching the news and don't do it unless forced.  I would rather read about whats going 

on in the world.

18.  Highlighters and post it notes are by far my favorite office supply and I hoard stock up on them.

19.  I don't channel surf.  It drives me crazy to switch back and forth.  I commit to one show at a time.

20.  I just decided I liked cucumbers about 3 months ago.

Only a few hours left to link up with Kym from Travel Babbles and share your 20 things!

Holy Vegas

Vegas did me in.  I don't know if it was the 152 jello shots, the staying out way past my bedtime or the excessive liver damage, but I'm not going to lie to you,  I sound a little like Demi Moore.  My voice is super sexy.  Don't be jealous.

Since I am still trying to get my life back together (and can't get my brain to focus enough to write anything meaningful) I thought I would just overload you all with pictures from my two week vacation.  Enjoy!

1) A gorgeous sunrise welcoming me back to Arizona.  2)  A shameless selfie after I went back to my natural hair color
3) present wrapping on the wild side!  4) The gift of great makeup!  I just love benefit cosmetics and Too Faced! 5) Doing a little design work- and I mean a little.  Sooo behind! 6)The family tree  7)The holiday sweatshirt I wore out to the bars on Christmas night.  One man told me I was too pretty for such an ugly sweatshirt and then asked me to arm wrestle.  I didn't know how to respond, so I got another drink. 8) I gave my sisters all my old dance costumes.  Now they have the best dress up clothes in town.  Mom, you're welcome!  9)  Took my brothers to a basketball game.  It was one of my favorite nights home.  10) Reunited with some of my best friends.  Lauren and I did the usual, Suns game and then drank our sorrows after they lost.  11) Inspiration for my next art project.

And then Vegas happened... 1) This is what 152 Jell-o shots look like in your fridge. 2) Some of my favorite girls, at The Bank.  We're so money!  3.  We found Alan and baby Carlos on the strip after our scavenger hunt. 4) Another shameless selfie.  5) Partying with Lil 'John at Surrender. 6)  The beautiful bride to be! 7) The whole gang.

So there you have it, my life for the last two weeks.  What have you all been up to?  I feel so out of the loop!