12 Week Summer Weight Loss Challenge & Link Up

I have been a bit quiet on the blog front.  I have been struggling for inspiration.  Well I've found some!

I found a challenge.  A summer weight loss challenge.

I've been keeping up with different blogs on bloglovin and have been drawn to fitness and weight loss blogs.  I have long struggled with my weight and always seem to be wanting to lose weight but never actually doing it!

But I joined a slimming group, and for the past 10 weeks I've weighing in.  My progress has been slow but mainly because I've had a lack of focus.  I've been weighing in, and kinda watching what I'm eating but not really putting in a great deal of effort.  I've been selling myself short.  Soo ......

Challenge Accepted.

Every Friday Caitlin over at Weights and Measure will post three new mini challenges.  I try to complete the challenges and do a post about my week.

I think this is a great way for me to put in the effort and to stay accountable.

The challenge will run for 12 weeks - which takes us right up to the day before my holidays! What perfect motivation.

This week the challenges are

1. Identify three weight loss goals I would like to achieve or work towards over the next 12 weeks
- I'm nearly there with my goals but I think they deserve a post on their own - stay tuned!

2. Drink 2L of water per day - gonna be a tough one for me, especially with my diet coke addiction!

3. Get active - 30mins of activity per day - sure Bailey will help me out with this one.

Caitlin's been so organised there is even a hashtag! #12wkssummerchallenge so I will be tweeting along as well.

Sunday Social - Brought to you by the number two

Here we go again, its Sunday, so I'm being sociable!  A little later than usual but still linking up with the hostess' with the mostestesses - I know it's not even a word! ;-)  It's Ashley & Neely with this week's questions.

This week is sponsored by the number Two.

If you were stuck on an island what are the two material items you would want to have?

Are we talking practical or just crazy wants?
Practical (I'm thinking I could survive for longer if I had these as long as there was food as well of course)
1. A good supply of razors - or else I'd end up like a hairy animal!
2. Music - preferably 80s or cheesy pop would see me through the long days
Crazy Want
1. iPhone - to call home lol
2. a hair dryer - my hair looks greasy if I let it dry naturally

What are the two TV shows you'd watch over and over?

1. Got to be Grey's Anatomy - I am addicted.  Plus sooooooo much happens in each episode I never get tired of it. Drama, medical stuff & hot doctors what more could a girl ask for!

2. My second choice is not so clear cut.  I think at mo I would have to say New Girl - it's my new obsession & seen a few repeats already & still find them funny! It's Jess!

If your house was on fire what two things aside from family, pets, etc would you grab?

Sadly I know I would go for my phone & my laptop - it would be a big loss to me to lose both of these.  My mum did have a house fire, I wasn't in at the time, but everything can be replaced nowadays even photos & memories.

What are your two favourite articles of clothing?

Scarfs! I wear one everyday, even though it doesn't comply with uniform policy.  I need a scarf!

What are your two movies that you saw in the past year would you recommend to us?

This one sticks in my mind.  Use your time wisely.


Not in the last year but also sticks in my mind - had the cinema to myself & loved Michelle's take on Marilyn.

What are your two biggest guilty pleasures?

1. Galaxy minstrels but I don't like labelling chocolate as guilty pleasure so I'd say cheesy 80s music (two in one line, I must really like the number two)
2. Buying yarn because it's pretty even though I have too much already - I do the same with shoes!

Love Mrs Brown xx

Sunday Social

Sunday comes round so quickly these days! That time again where I link up with Ashley & Neely for Sunday Social.

This week the theme to the questions is We're Getting Deep

What is your ideal way to relax?

Walking the dog or meditating
Listening to music also soothes me - weirdly though I have to plan to relax, doesn't happen naturally very often.

Where is your favourite place to be?

By the sea - even on a freezing cold windy day in Scotland I love the beach or my bed!

Who do you consider your biggest role model?

Stumped - not really sure I have one

What does you life look like in 3 years?

Happy.
Maybe a wee kiddie? Oh I've said that out loud now.

If you could go back & change one decision what would it be?

I think if I ponder this one too much I could get quite deep but I think the best answer for me would be Everything happens for a reason.  You may not know the reason now or ever so I don't want to change that big master plan for me!

What is you biggest accomplishment in life thus far?

This is a funny one for me as recovering from depression you need to learn to accept lots of little accomplishments along the way.  I used to say getting my degree but honestly there was days (not so long ago) when my biggest accomplishment was getting dressed.  My fire & glass walk has also got to be high up the list.

Enjoy what's left of your Sunday,

Love Mrs Brown xx

Pay it Forward - For the love of Snail Mail

Cover of Pay it Forward

Pay it Forward - what a lovely film.  For those who haven't seen it - you should! A boy tries to change the world for the better.

Pay it Forward is all about passing it on.  Instead or paying "back" someone for a good deed they instead do a good deed for 3 more people & so on & so on.  Spreading the good deeds around for all to enjoy & benefit. Watch the movie it could bring a tear to a glass eye - my description is some what lacking but you hopefully get the idea.

I first came across this in blogging land on Ashley's blog It Is What You Make It.  I was a little too late to become one of her lucky 5 but then I came across it again on Rebecca's blog Happiness is Taylor Made & was very lucky to sneak into her lucky 5!

Here I am holding up my side of the bargain, the catch so to speak.  I am Paying it Forward.

So this is all about Snail Mail - who doesn't still love a wee letter landing on their door mat!

The details:
The first 5 people to comment with their email will receive from me, sometime in this calendar year a letter or card and a surprise gift from me! There will likely be no warning, it will happen when the mood strikes me. 

The catch? 

Those five people must make the same offer on their Blog (or Facebook status if you don't have a blog)

I am happy to post internationally! Don't hold back on the comments, I don't mind admitting I'm terrified I won't get 5 but I am putting it out there anyway!!

Love Mrs Brown xx

Week of 3s - Sunday Social

Happy Sunday!

My first Sunday Social in our new home. I want to get a blogging schedule going & Sunday Social gives me a chance each week to post & answer some great questions so you can get to know me a little better.

This week is the week of 3s.

Top 3 favourite kinds of food

1. Italian foods - pasta, pizza, garlic, gelato
2. Bread - I have a weakness for freshly baked bread & we got a bread maker for Xmas so be making our own now!

3. Mexican - this love affair started in America - tacos, chilli, chipotle!

First 3 things you do in the morning

1. Switch off my alarmS (I need a few snoozes!) on my phone, I also check for any messages or tweets

2. Say good morning to my Bailey Boy

3. Go to the loo!

Last 3 things you do at night

1. Take my night time tablets

2. Get washed & changed for bed

3. Check my alarm is set for the morning then roll over & sleep ..... that's the plan anyway!

3 TV Shows you NEVER miss

1. Eastenders

2. Greys Anatomy (although now wait & get all on DVD)

3. RiverCity - a Scottish soap, just love the accents & humour of it!

3 Places you want to visit

This one is easy - we have these 3 places drawn into this picture

1. Florida
2. New Zealand
3. Canada

3 people you can always count on

1. My hubby
2. My doggy - yes he counts
3. Myself - I'm stronger than I look!

Enjoy your Sunday! 

Love Mrs Brown xx

First Ever Sunday Social

My First Sunday Social

It's about getting together, getting to know some new people & being sociable.

So here's some answers to this weeks questions so you can start getting to know me a bit better.

1. Do you plan to change any of your eating habits in the new year?

YES! Recently my eating habits have been slipping so I wanna get things back on track with eating decent foods instead of snacking on rubbish! Moving into our new home I plan on putting our new kitchen which is double the size of our present kitchen to good use! I also have a new bread maker & new food processor so they will definitely be influencing my food choices in the coming months.

2. Any workout tips to get us back in shape after the Holidays?

My tip would be "Work Out".  Just do something.  If you want to see a change in your body, you have to change what you do with it! I have tried many workouts & it really is true if you do something you enjoy you are more likely to stick at it! My fave at the moment is Zumba at my local class.  I also wrote about a review about Nike Fuelband.

3. Favourite thing you did over the Holidays?

We played the game we got our nieces for Xmas - Don't Say It!  All the family round the table playing games is great.  Best part was a 5 year old trying to describe a Goat. The clue was it goes "Grrrr" We were all stumped! It was such fun & a lovely memory of the girls understanding the game quicker than the Grandparents!

4. What is something you hope that you accomplish in 2013 that you did not in 2012?

Probably something that is in the air a lot this time of year.  Weight Loss.  I started off well on my journey last year then went a stray gonna make 2013 my year to do it.

5. Name 3 things happening this year you are excited about and why

Moving House - because we've been waiting for this move so long!! Plus the move will open up so many new exciting things for us in 2013.

My 30th Birthday - growing up this year!

Our first BBQ in our new garden - hopefully we'll have some sunshine this summer so we can really enjoy the garden

Blog Awards

"I have nominated you for a blog award."

Probably the best comment you could receive on your blog, right??

I was very excited, I mean me, a blog award! I have only been rambling on here for 6 months - really an award?

Well ........

A lovely wee logo but what does it mean?

I was nominated by Miya Loves a pretty blog following the Life, Loves & Likes of a blooming beauty. She has beautifully outlined the rules of the award.  I have to answer some questions & pass it on. Right.

I was then also nominated by Teaching with a Fashion a fashion loving third grade teacher.  On her blog she explains the origins are a mystery but that Liebster means "favourite" so it's like nominating your favourite blog.

Great.  It's an award nice award from where, who knows but pass it on to your favourite people.

What a lovely idea!!  The cynical me just couldn't rest with that so off to google I go!

1,690,000 results!! 

WOW I'm in good company with this blog award

Okay so the dictionary I looked up said Liebster was German & definitely a word of endearment. 

So ............

I accept!!

Liebster Award Rules

• Thank the person that nominated you
• Write 11 facts about yourself
• Answer 11 questions asked when nominated
• Nominate 11 blogs with less than 200 followers
• Ask them 11 more questions
• Go to the blogger page & let them know you have nominated them!

Kinda like a tag game, or link up but with a pretty button & a massive acceptance speech! 

Bear with me guys - it's for an award.

11 FACTS

1. I am Scottish but was born in Germany ( my dad was in Royal Air Force so based abroad when I was little)
2. I say I am 5ft 3inches but I am really only 5ft 1 (Size really does matter to some girls!)
3. I have 2 tattoos (& want loads more!)
4. I got my tongue pierced when I was 16 years old
5. My eyes are blue
6. I am on the donor register (Useful thing to know guys!)
7. I was a highland dancer for 11 years.
8. I won the Robert Burns Competition at school for singing when I was 11yrs old
9. I have a letters after my name BSc & RD (posh, eh?)
10. I don't really like chocolate - shock horror
11. I love 80s music & cheesy pop

PHEW - that was harder than it looks!

11 Answers to Questions asked by Teaching with a Fashion

Decided you have to go to her blog to find out the questions, more fun having random list of answers!!

1. To be a paediatrician 
2. Yes, I just 'knew' when I met my hubby
3. Would be New Zealand - not been yet
4. Knitting
5. Speak a foreign language
6. Both but better at Singing
7. Dirty Dancing
8. Online
9. Not into Sports
10. My hubby
11. In our new house!!

11 Answers to Questions asked by Miya Loves

1. No
2. I have 3 penalty points on my driving license!
3. Spring
4. Quiet
5. To get back into my Duchess Sating Coast Dress
6. A doggy, called Bailey
7. Learning new things
8. Grey's Anatomy
9. Knitting
10. Scotland 
11. June 2012

Now to ask my 11 questions - I feel a mix of these two is perfect!

1. When did you start your blog?
2. Describe one goal for 2013
3. Do you have any pets?
4. What was your childhood dream?
5. Do you believe in love at first sight?
6. Are you a Dancer or a Singer?
7. What is your favourite movie?
8. Do you prefer online or in store shopping?
9. What is your favourite thing about blogging?
10. What is your favourite hobby?
11. Diet Coke or Pepsi Max?

Now to pass it on, to 11 blogs that deserve a real award! Check these ladies out.

Please note you if you are on my list I think you are a darling, a sweetheart.  Please remember that when you start writing your acceptance speech!!

The Adventures of Ally

The Curved Opinion

Unevenlemming Beauty

A dress is for life

Bringing along OCD

She's Electric

Sunny Days R'Love

ashLeenikol

The Broderie

Share the Love

Tea Tree

DONE!!