Call to bloggers: promotion swap!

Hello friends!  I hope many of you have read my post about my upcoming 5K.  My fantastic cousin has Lupus and we are doing this for her.  I would give anything to make a large donation in her name, but the best I can do is try to raise as much money as possible for her.

I created a cute tee that can be purchased here.  There is a portion that goes to TeeSpring to produce the shirts, but the rest of the money will be sent directly to The Lupus Foundation of Minnesota.  I don't get a thing, personally, from your purchase!

I also have a link to my page for our Lupus Walk for Hope team - Nix Lupus.  If anyone would prefer to donate directly, that would be fantastic too!

I really want to spread the word.  The shirts are only on sale less than two more weeks.  If we don't meet our goal of 50 shirts, they won't go to print and no one will be charged.

It would be really sad not to have this money go to such a great cause!

I would love your help!  It would be great if any of you could help mention my post on the subject, share the link to the shirt, or mention something via any social media outlets.

I would be more than happy to return the favor!!!

If you have something you would like me to promote in exchange, I would be more than happy to!  You name it - a giveaway, post, Linky party - anything!

Message below or shoot me an email at KKHsavings (at) gmail (dot) com.

Thank you so much for your help!  I thank you, my cousin thanks you, and all those ouch end by Lupus thank you!
Speaking of the 5K, my non-scale victory this week is that I ran two full miles without stopping!!! To be honest, I ran 1.94 miles - grrr! All I needed to do was coast the stroller down a little hill and I would have had it! Oh well, I ran that thing, and I beat my personal best of just over a mile straight running! I was slower than poo, at a 15 minute mile, but I'm so happy to know that I can run more than half of that 5K.
I suppose this is a scale victory, but I won my second round of DietBets!!! I lost over 6% in four weeks! I love those things, they really keep me motivated. I'm starting another round Monday. If anyone is interested, we have a good group starting in the Fit for Fall game, feel free to join us!!

Don't forget to check out the first ever Tips and Tricks Tuesday! We had some really helpful posts that I love!
Hope everyone is having a great week so far!

Tips and Tricks Tuesday #1

Here it is! The first ever Tips and Tricks Tuesday!

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I know I am forever looking for advice on this weight loss journey.  I also, occasionally, stumble upon some tips and tricks that work for me.  I decided to start this link up as a way to gather, in one place, all those brilliant tips as well as pleas for advice.  This way, we can all benefit.  We can easily view who could is searching for our help and send them some encouragement, and we can share our own fabulous tips and tricks.

So, here's the deal:

• Link up any past posts you have that you think may benefit others in any way - advice, recipes, reviews, workouts, motivation, inspiration, etc...
• Link up any past posts in which you are searching out advice from others - help staying on track, products, workouts, food, motivation, etc...
• Make sure to include the topic of your post in your title (I've noticed "Kristin @ Like a 2-year-old" is a total weight loss blog trend - we're looking for the subject so people know what they're clicking on.)
• Follow your lovely hosts, Kristin and Kristin - let us know and we will gladly follow you back!  Hey, we're all here for the same support, right?
• Place our button somewhere on your blog or link back in your posts - let's gather as much advice from as many people as we can!
• Last, visit as many links as you can - help answer questions from those looking for help and let the others know how much you appreciate them sharing their own tips and tricks.

Each week we will try to feature the most clicked link, as well as others that seem particularly helpful and deserve a little more recognition.

Weekly Goals: I'll try...

Ok, I have to be honest.  I don't know what kind of goals I'll come up with for this week.  To be honest, I and dying for a bit of a cheat week.

My DietBets are almost over, and I lost another 15lbs this round!  Must be my magic number for these things!  I was debating starting a new one on the 26th just so I could feel free to go nuts on Fair food, but I have one starting next Monday, the 19th - Fit for Fall - join in!

Before I get to how I plan to handle this cheat week real-life weight loss week, let's go over last week's goals.

1. Make all efforts to STOP late-night snacking!!  If I want a snack at nightI have to fit it in before 8. I will brush my teeth with the kiddo all week to stop food from entering my mouth at that time.  I bought Silk Iced Latte to slowly sip as my dessert after dinner - and that's it!!!  I did really well with this one!  I drank my soy mild or brushed my teeth and kept away from snacking!

2.  Try again on getting a group together.  Continue to work on organization until I can actually gather the girls.  *sigh* will this one ever happen?  It's looking doubtful... And I get so excited planning it all.

3.  Meal plan and use up ALL the things I bought at the farmer's market.  Nailed it!  We had roasted zucchini, steamed mixed beans, cauliflower, broccoli, and I even gave my first go at Saag - pretty tasty and impressive!

Goals for this week:

As I said, I get pretty strict when I'm doing DietBets, I probably should scale that back when I start nearing goal.  It wouldn't be so bad if I didn't crave some cheats, and I'll probably work those things into my diet I a healthy way once I can keep myself from going crazy.

1. Keep tracking!  I have logged into MyFitnessPal for almost 30 days straight and I don't want to beak that streak.  Plus, it will help keep me conscious of when/if I go over my cals this week.
2. Bump up the fitness!  The Lupus 5K is only a month away and I need to get to running!  (I would be so grateful to anyone who would buy a cute Nix Lupus T-Shirt, donate to the Nix Lupus team, or could spread this message around via their blog, social media, or what have you. Seriously, check out the shirt - it would make a great workout tee or you could make it into a tank!)
   
   
   
   
   
3. Keep planning healthy meals.  If they're planned, I'll be able to fill myself on the good stuff instead of all the snacks/chocolate I've been craving.
4. So nervous, but I'm starting a link up.  It's a place to share advice as well as ask for advice, so we can help each other all in one place.  That will be up and running tomorrow - fingers crossed that I did everything right!  Please come and link up with your tips and tricks and inquiries for help!

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Does anyone else ever feel like they need a break to slow it down and indulge in a controlled way? Or are you at a point where you can work it into your life without ruining a week or a day... Or don't you even crave like that anymore???

Linking up with these fine ladies too

Friday weigh-in - what a roller coaster ride of weigh-ins!

Ho-ly Cow! These past 4 weeks have been crazy!

I lost 8lbs in the first week, gained one in the second week, back down a pound and a half, and now... Down 6.6 pounds!!! I'd say I've ben pretty consistent with eating and exercise, too.

That's nuts! I'm going to take some time to review MyFitnessPal and see what was going on. If I can recognize any patterns, I might be able to figure out the patterns. Although, I think I'll probably just find that this weight loss thing is strange... I'm not quite knowledgable enough about nutrition and fitness to figure out what is happening.

I'm in Jess' Skinny Jean Fit Camp, where I get exercise advice and a lot of support. I may have to reach our to the trainer and nutritionist to check out my food and activity and give me some advice. That makes me nervous, because I know I wasn't picture-perfect. I had days where I was way under my calories, days where I filled those extra cals with junk, and days where I just struggled. It scares me a bit to ask them to give it to me straight.

"Oh well. Get over it, that's why you joined." Right?

Bah! Enough with that - I lost SIX AND A HALF POUNDS this week! Happy Dance!

The good news is this puts me way ahead for my DietBets. I thought I'be cutting it close this time, but I was at my goal before this six pounds! At least I have a little wiggle room, and I almost lost as much as my last round of bets - 15 pounds. Happy!

Have a good weekend all!

5K, fundraising, and NSVs

Boy, I was having a hard time with easting this past week! I was really struggling with nighttime snacking and constantly craving snack foods. I am happy to say I pushed through it this week and have been committed to brushing my teeth with my kiddo at 8:00.

My other big NSV...

I'll be completing my first-ever 5K at the Lupus Walk for Hope and 5K! Now, I've only run a tiny bit over 1 mile straight, but who says I have to run the whole thing? I'm going to give it my best shot and see how far I can go. I committed to this idea nearly 6 months ago and I finally registered today.

We have a team - 'Nix Lupus' - in honor of my amazing cousin, Nickie, who was diagnosed with Lupus within the past year, possibly two. She is a 22-year-old woman with the most infectious bubbly and funny personality ever.  It is so hard to see her act as if everything is alright, when we know that she is in constant pain.

A little blurb from the Lupus Foundation of Minnesota about the disease:

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease where the immune system turns against parts of the body it’s designed to protect. This leads to inflammation and can affect many different body systems, including joints, blood cells and organs.


I am so happy to spread awareness about this disease that I knew nothing about until a couple short years ago, and to raise money to help find a cure. This is why I was so excited to run into an opportunity to design a t-shirt to raise awareness and money for Lupus.

I came across a company called TeeSpring. They offer anyone the opportunity to create a campaign, by designing a t-shirt to sell, to raise money for themselves or a particular cause. No money is needed upfront, and the shirt only goes to print once a specified goal is reached. I have placed a goal of 50 shirts on my campaign. I believe that would only give the Lupus Foundation of Minnesota around $200, so I would definitely like to sell more! The campaign is only 3 weeks long, though, so I don't have much time!

Here's the design. I found this quote on Pinterest and thought it completely represented my cousin specifically, as well as all the women and men dealing with this disease.

Now I just have to spread the word and get this baby sold.

So here is my plea. Help me spread the word!! The saying makes it the perfect workout tee, or you could fashion it into a tank - imagine the possibilities!

I feel like so little is known about Lupus and the effect it has on those whose lives are touched by it. Imagine your own immune system attacking itself and having pain in your joints or constantly ending up with fluid in your lungs...(or any of the other symptoms involved). We need to get some help and some answers.

I would be so grateful to anyone who could spread this message around via their blog, social media, or what have you.

Here is the link to the Nix Lupus T-Shirt and the Nix Lupus team for donations.

Thank you!!!

**TeeSpring was nice enough to offer me this campaign (for my other blog space Exploring Domesticity, after I had already decided to set up a design to raise some money, all opinions are my own, made up prior to compensation**

Weekly goals! Make it a good one!

Goals set last week:

1. Keep up with those quick and easy workouts, I have no excuse for not fitting them in. 

Nailed it! I've been keeping up with my 300s whenever I have a few moments and adding some new ab workouts.  I even brought the hula hoop in so I could keep moving while watching Extreme Weight Loss,

2. Make an effort again to organize a fitness social event.

Womp womp...I didn't even give this a decent shot.  I left a message for one person and never really pushed it.

3. Create a plan for said fitness social event - circuit workout, healthy snack and drink, something to make it fun and more than just a workout. Feel free to let me know if you want a copy sent to you - it would keep me accountable for this goal!

I do have a pretty awesome plan for when I finally do gather up a crew!  It's something!

My DietBet ends at the end of this week.  I need to get down to business!!  I've made my goal of 8lbs for the month, but I need to shave off at least one more to make up for clothing and holding the camera during my final weigh-in....  Fingers crossed!!!

Goals for this week:

1. Make all efforts to STOP late-night snacking!!  If I want a snack at nightI have to fit it in before 8. I will brush my teeth with the kiddo all week to stop food from entering my mouth at that time.  I bought Silk Iced Latte to slowly sip as my dessert after dinner - and that's it!!!

2.  Try again on getting a group together.  Continue to work on organization until I can actually gather the girls.

3.  Meal plan and use up ALL the things I bought at the farmer's market.



By the way... I know there have to be many of you, like myself, who need help every so often. I often have questions, need advice and, occasionally, run into some great tips that work for me that I'd love to share. It'd be great to be able to look for guidance and share helpful hints all in one place, so I will be starting Tips & Tricks Tuesday. Kristin, from Seeing Less of Kristin, has graciously offered to co-host! Once I get the button fixed up to include her, I think we'll see the party pop up next week! Exciting! You are all invited to come and link up old posts you think others would find helpful and link up any posts you have where advice is needed!!

Linking up with these ladies again this week too!

Weigh-in, nighttime snacking, and one active lady

Weigh-in day yesterday. I'm down one pound...

Don't get me wrong, I'm so happy to see the scale to down, but I was hoping for more... I have been bumping up my exercise and staying under my calories. It seems like I've been doing things right.

I haven't been doing my best, though.

I have been staying under my calories, but I've sunk back into my nighttime snacking problem. I've been wasting all my hard work after 10pm. Yuck!

I need to get back to brushing my teeth with the kiddo and writing about my awesome day, instead of eating!




Even though I was a little bummed about the scale, I had an amazing day yesterday activity-wise.

While the kiddos were napping, I watched a little Extreme Weight Loss for motivation and got a pretty great workout in. I did abs, grabbed the hula hoop for a bit (I can do it again!), and did my 300s.

2YO woke up while I was doing my 300s and wanted to get in on the action.

He did some wall push-ups...

Some squats...

And some jumping jacks, but I couldn't get a good picture of that for anything!


When the little lady woke up we went for a walk/run a little over a mile to the park. We played around at the park and walked back. I actually managed to get in over 10,000 steps! I always struggle with that.

When we got home we spent the rest of the afternoon outside playing, and didn't come in until dinner.

Yummy Fajita Pasta! I would have taken a nice picture of my bowl, but Hubby was late and I spent dinner time frantically cutting up food and keeping up with my kiddos with the big appetites. Guess it was a hit!

We spent most of the day outside today too. If I can get those nighttime snacking cravings back under control, I should be good!