Favorites On A Friday: Blogger Style

I don't discriminate when it comes to Friday.

Bring on the weekend!

And don't let the door hit you on the way out, work week.

When it comes to sharing some of my favorite things, I keep a few lists handy so I don't forget to discuss them on the blog. While I hope my suggestions help someone out, I also write about them so I can refer to them later on. My memory has faded since having E (WHY does that happen?!?) so writing things down is a necessity!

I really try to keep my favorites themed, if possible, and today's topic focuses on all things blogger related. Bentley, Like the Car has been around for almost seven years - SEVEN YEARS! It started off as a creative outlet where I could dump all the random thoughts circulating in my brain and then I took a sabbatical  (minus the pay part) while I was pregnant and during the first year of E's life. Since one of my goals was jumping back into the blogging world, I felt like it was an ideal time to share some of my beloved blogger things with you!

Followers App

Fellow blogger and real life friend, Lindsay, wrote a fabulous post about growing your following on Instagram. She has worked her tail off expanding her brand in the online community so I was excited that she divulged a few of her secrets! 

One of the tips she had fully supported of my disdain for those who play the follow/unfollow game on Insta. Following her suggestion, I downloaded the Followers app and haven't looked back. It's perfect for tracking your activity on the Instagram platform and I love the feeling of vindication when I unfollow the bigger influencers who attempt to play the game with me.

And for your enjoyment, a picture of Lindsay and I from yesterday:

See? I told you we knew each other in real life! #twin

iPad Keyboard

Here at our casa, we have one laptop for the entire family. E is too young to fight for computer time, but J and I have run into times where we both needed to use it. Instead of purchasing another computer, I decided to try a keyboard for my iPad.

It was an excellent idea for a fraction of the cost of a new computer! I wasn't sure I would like it at first, but it has grown on me. It's the perfect solution: I can type out my posts while J uses the computer and quickly go back to insert any graphics or photos when he is done (or from my iPad if I am really pushed for time). 

Instagram Loop

Do you follow me on Instagram? If so, then hopefully you saw and participated in the Building your Mom Tribe loop that I co-hosted with a few other mamas.

I was really excited that a spot opened up to co-host with Ally! When I participated in the loop a few weeks ago, I sent her a DM and asked that she keep me in mind when she picked her hosts for the next loop.

Bloggers, do not be afraid to take this approach. 

If you stumble across something that interests you, take the initiative. It can lead to connections with other bloggers, readers, and hopefully gain some exposure for your brand as well. If you are interested in getting a group together for something like this, please keep me in mind! 

Blog Linking

Here and there, I tell stories about parenting my vibracious toddler, E.

One of my recent posts discussed the number that ALL parents need, which I shared in a linkup party. A few days later, I received an email from Laura who said she was going to link up to my blog in her own Friday Favorites. This was cool for numerous reasons. First, someone I didn't know in real life ACTUALLY read my post and secondly, she found me through a linkup party.

Raise your hand if you don't know what a linkup party is.

Link Party

Until recently, my hand would be raised. I swear they were not around (or at least as popular as they are now), when I began this journey a few years ago.

So what is a link party?

It's when a host or group of blogger hosts insert code into their blog to group all their blog posts together give other bloggers a chance to link their blog to the party.

Sometimes the host(s) will pick a detailed theme like Most Embarrassing Moment or something less specific such as Tuesday Talk. Each link party is a way to connect with other bloggers and showcase your content. It can lead to new connections and a future shout out, link or even feature on another blog. Even better, it will help you find new sites to add to your reading list!

That's enough about my favorite blogger things, but I would love to hear what your preferred blogging tools or tricks are! Do you have anything to add or is there something you loathe? I want to hear ALL about it.

Have a wonderful Friday, everyone! Our little family has a semi-unusual,"first time for everything" weekend planned.

I hope to share all the details with you on Monday so see ya then!

*Linking up for Friday Favorites with Momprofessionals, Smidge of This, Cup of Tea, and Meet @ the Barre

Confessions - 4.27.17 -

Who is ready for the weekend?!

These last few weeks have been tumultuous - so much so that I started keeping a "confessions" note in my phone.

I confess

... that when I fly somewhere I feel extremely skinny when the seatbelt buckles without me adjusting the belt from the person who sat there before. #itsthelittlethings

... that I had to give a presentation for our entire company at our annual meeting and was extremely nervous. About an hour after it was finished, I received an email from one of my coworkers (who I rarely get to chat with and barely know) saying what a good job I did. The two minutes he took to compose that email meant SO much to me. #goodpeoplestillexist

... that as someone who ADORES Starbucks, I could not care less about the Unicorn Frappuccino. It sounds disgusting and yet, what an awesome marketing ploy! The marketer inside me regrets not thinking of something similar. #butIaintfallingforit

... that no man should mess with a woman's parking spot. My husband was working on his car for a few days and took up the ENTIRE garage, eliminating my parking spot.  #peoplecouldattackmeifIparkoutside

... that I felt vindicated when someone tried to pull the follow/unfollow game with me on Insta and I unfollowed them. #yougetwhatyoudeserve

*Linking up with Sparkles and Lattes, See You In A Porridge, and Home of Malones 

Whole 30: Round Five Results

Another round has come and gone on my Whole 30 journey.

While each round presents a new list of challenges and achievements, this one was particularly testing. During these thirty days, I was faced with a trip to Auburn for A-Day, tornadoes, a less than twenty-four hour work trip to Chicago, and my daughter's T&A surgery complete with a slumber party in the hospital for the night. Needless to say, it would have been very easy to fall off the wagon. 

But I didn't. 

I'm not sure how or why I didn't, but I somehow managed to remain strong. The biggest challenge was traveling out of town for work. Thankfully, my coworker was understanding and I was able to chow down on fruit and nuts as needed. I'm just glad it was a short trip!

Let's discuss what everyone wants to know...the results. 

For this round I did something different. I purchased a body composition scale prior to starting (our old scale was having issues) and decided to take before and after measurements using my new toy. Please note, that I am not obsessed with the scale so not weighing myself during the round was very easy for me. Also note, that I had been working out for a few months, but due to the craziness of my schedule I couldn't go to the gym for the last two weeks of this round. 

The Balance High Accuracy Body Fat Scale measures six metrics such as weight, BMI, body fat, muscle mass, hydration, and bone density. You can set up an individual profile with your gender and height to assist the scale with its computations. 

After round five of Whole 30 my stats changed as follows:

• Weight: -9 lbs. 
• BMI: -1.6%
• Body Fat: +7.4% 
• Muscle: -8.9%
• Water: -7.7%
• Bone Density: No change

NSV:

• No post-lunch fog
• Clearer skin (although I did break out near the end)
• Better sleep, BUT I did start taking my sleeping aid again (due to the added stress near the end)
• More energy

Initially, I was very happy because I lost 9 lbs. I also decreased my BMI, which I thought was good. However, out of the 9 lbs. lost it appears that 8.9 of that number was muscle that disappeared and that is disheartening. Equally disgusting was the increase in body fat. Sigh.

I know that I wasn't able to maintain my workout schedule and that will be changing starting this week - assuming things calm down in the planner. I wasn't as concerned about the water since that will increase again and was relieved that bone density showed no change. 

What now?

The plan moving forward is to keep to Whole 30 during the week and as much as possible on the weekend until vacation. I may jump on the scale before vacation to see how I'm adjusting. Following vacation, I will probably attempt another round to see how my body composition is using the same metrics. 

My clothes are looser and I noticed a difference so I absolutely do not think this last round was a bust. I do wish that I had used the same metrics in my previous rounds. 

Don't forget, I've written a few Whole 30 related posts for you:

Why I Started Whole 30

Round One Week One Meal Planning

Round One Week Two Meal Planning

Round One Weeks Three & Four Meal Planning

Round One Results

Whole 30 Recipe Index

Whole 30 Food Processor Fun

How to Survive Whole 30

Meal Planning & Grocery Shopper

Whole 30 Meal Plan: Week One

Whole 30 Meal Plan: Week Two

Whole 30 Meal Plan: Week Three

Whole 30 Meal Plan: Week Four

Whole 30: Round Two, Three, and Four Results

If you're interested in trying this, I highly suggest reading It Starts With Food, The founder of Whole 30 talks about all the nitty gritty details behind this plan and why clean eating is ideal for your health. 

For all you Whole 30ers, I'm curious - has anyone else had strange results like this? It really makes me regret not measuring these different aspects sooner. 

*Linking up with Lindsay's Sweet World 

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