Winter is slowly fading away and we are beginning to see signs of spring here in the UK. It’s a time of changing seasons, fresh starts and new beginnings. Admittedly, this is a challenging and concerning time with the COVID-19 outbreak. I hope and pray you and yours are well.
Welcome to the Hearth and Soul Link Party.
Whether your blog posts are old or new, as long as they are about things that feed the soul, they are welcome here at The Hearth and Soul Link Party. Things that feed the soul may include (but are not limited to) recipes, decorating, crafts, family, home, DIY, organization, travel, book reviews, the arts and self improvement.
What’s New
It’s my husband’s birthday and our 29th wedding anniversary on Monday. Our son and his partner are joining us for to celebrate. I’m very excited that we can all be together. It’s different for us to be home at this time of year, but it’s a nice change to be able to be all together. Plus we are getting to see all the lovely spring flowers coming into bloom, one of my favourite parts of the changing seasons.
My husband requested my tried and tested Mocha Cake with a Twist recipe for his birthday cake. (The post desperately needs some new photographs, but the recipe is yummy!) This time, I made it as a layer cake with a coffee buttercream frosting. I made a few tweaks to the recipe as well, so I may blog the new version. It is so delicious, I would be happy to have an excuse to make it again!
I’ve also shared some of my healthy eating hints and tips. (I admit, this is a bit of a change of topic after a mention of cake, but hey, it’s all about balance!)
Featured On The Blog
Nearly 3 years ago I worked with my personal trainer and lost over 30 pounds as part of the changing seasons of my life. I’ve kept it off for all this time, and still work with her to further improve my fitness and strength. A big part of the journey was changing how I eat. Don’t miss these 5 Healthy Eating Tips that may help you too. They are easy, fuss free and very rewarding.
Incidentally, although I mention my 30 pound weight loss, please know that I only stepped on the scales once or twice during that whole journey. I judged my progress on how my clothes fit and how I felt – and I still do. I really do feel the scales are not our friends. While they may be useful when someone has a great deal of weight to lose, for many of us, they can be soul destroying. As well as discussing why I feel this way, I also share some other (more encouraging!) ways to effectively track your weight loss.
Thank you all for visiting and sharing your wonderful content! I look forward to seeing what you will share each week.
Changing Seasons Featured Posts
Changing seasons featured posts include (from top left, clockwise):-
With Spring comes Easter, and Lisa of Fresh Vintage By Lisa has a sweet Vintage Inspired Easter Vignette to inspire your Easter decor.
Carol of Comfort Spring is decorating as well. She shared a lovely Spring Coastal Picture Ledge, perfect for sharing pretty artwork and prints.
Celebrate the changing seasons with these 15 Pretty Tiered Trays from Katie at The Organized Dream.
Kathi of Oak Hill Homestead offers ideas to help us start fresh for the changing seasons with 25 Products to Stop Buying at the Store. I won’t be able to implement all of Kathi’s suggestions but there are definitely a few I hope to embrace.
One of the most popular ways to cope with a crisis this side of the pond is to make a cup of tea – and it’s even better if you have a treat to go alongside it. Erin of A Big Green House offers sweet inspiration with these light, fluffy, Whipping Cream Scones.
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The Hearth and Soul Link Party
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Please take care, friends. Wishing you a safe and healthy week!
Comments & Reviews
Happy birthday to your husband and happy anniversary to you both!
I’m enjoying signs of spring here, too–daffodils blooming, more daylight. I look forward to reading your healthy tips.
Thank you so much, Barbara!
Happy birthday to your husband and happy anniversary to you both! I look forward to reading your healthy eating tips. Your weight loss journey is inspiring!!
Thank you so much, Michelle!
Birthday and anniversary wishes, April 🙂
Your eating and wellness habits sound great and will help you stave off so many viruses and colds – good for you!
Thank you, Rachelle. I think healthy eating can help with so many things 🙂
You have such a good point about focusing on how you feel rather than the numbers on the scale! I rarely weigh myself but pay attention to how my clothes fit. A change like your waist getting larger while hips get smaller can indicate a health problem even if your total weight remains stable.
Two weeks ago, it seemed that my jeans were looser, and when I thought about it I had not been as hungry as usual…and then I realized that, because I was researching an article on seaweed and making many different recipes with seaweed in order to get photos, I had been eating seaweed at least once a day! Seaweed is known to be very satiating yet low-calorie, so that explains how I had lost a bit of weight! Moderation is best.
Thank you, Becca. I was interested to hear about your experience with seaweed! I’ve heard such good things about it. It is in one of the greens mixes I use, but perhaps I need to include it even more.
Happy birthday to your husband and Happy Anniversary to you both! Your chocolate mocha cake looks fabulous.
I am worried about this new virus, and I’m praying a good treatment and vaccine can be found soon. We canceled going on a cruise in June because of it
Your weight loss story sounds very interesting –I will be back to read it later
Thank you, Pat. I agree, the new virus is worrying. I’m praying about it too. It’s a shame you had to cancel your cruise, but I can totally understand why you would! Take care and stay well.
Happy Anniversary & Birthday to your husband! We are kindred spirits, April. I’ve never owned a scale and use my clothes as my barometer/weight guide as well! Have a wonderful week.
Thank you, Suzan! Yes, we do appear to be kindred spirits 🙂 I hope your week is wonderful too!
Happy Anniversary! Hope your husband had a wonderful birthday too. Thanks for hosting each week April. I am so happy you liked my spring picture ledge – thanks for the feature!
Thank you so much, Carol – and it’s my pleasure!
Happy anniversary! I’m sharing links #19 and #22. Thanks for hosting!
Thank you so much, Allyson!
Happy birthday to your husband and Congratulations on your wedding anniversary! Your mocha cake looks amazingly yummy. 🙂
Thank you, Lisa!
Happy Birthday & anniversary. I lived in the UK for 4 year and really miss the early spring compared to here in midwest USA. Congrats on keeping your weight loss off. What a great roll model!
Thank you so much, Pamela! I must admit, one of my favourite things about living in the UK is how early spring can arrive here 🙂
Thank you for hosting! This is what I featured the week of 3-2 to 3-6 on my blog. On Tuesday was Oprah Winfrey’s Deviled Eggs. Wednesday was my grandma’s favorite Egg Salad. Thursday was an Easter Egg Bread Ring. And winding up Egg Week was Part of my Tip Friday series How To Peel Hard Boiled Eggs Hands Free. Enjoy!
Sounds like a delicious week, Marilyn! And I’m very interested to read your article on peeling hard boiled eggs. I like to make devilled eggs and peeling the eggs is sometimes a pain!
I have had a little struggle with my weight as well in the last couple of years. Over 50 is definitely a different animal.
Our bodies can change after 50, that is for sure, Carrie. I find that the healthy eating and exercise makes a huge difference to how I look and feel. I’m 54 now 🙂
Happy Birthday to your husband and that cake looks so yummy. Thanks for hosting and I hope that you have a wonderful week,
Thank you so much, Patrick! I hope you have a wonderful week too 🙂
April
Thank you so much for hosting. I’m thrilled you share my Easter Vignettes!
Happy Birthday to Hubby! Happy Anniversary.- You’ve always looked gorgeous.
I lost 50 LBS 15 years ago and became a trainer and have kept it off. Best thing I ever did! Changed my life.
xo Lisa S
Thank you so much, Lisa – and what a lovely compliment! I really appreciate it 🙂 Well done on your weight loss and keeping it off, as well as becoming a trainer so you can help others. That is fantastic! xo
Happy (belated) birthday to your husband and happy anniversary to you two! That cake sounds delicious. 🙂 Thanks for hosting! I brought by some Tom Yum. Hope you enjoy. 🙂
Thank you, CJ! I’m glad you like the cake too. I look forward to your Tom Yum!
Happy Anniversary.
Thank you, Betty!
Congratulations on losing the weight and keeping it off! I think that’s the hardest part!
Thank you, Michele! Have a wonderful week.
Thank you for the party and feature April! Happy Anniversary!
My pleasure, Erin, and thank you!
Happy anniversary! That cake sounds delicious (especially with coffee buttercream!)
Thank you, Joanne!
Hello April, and happy just about spring to you!!! I hope your husband’s birthday celebration was a fun one. It’s a bummer that now we all have to “stay home” but so important. Hopefully by summer this COVID-19 virus will die off. We can hope! Prayers for everyone’s safety as we go this time’s Black Plague…
(p.s. <3 Hubby's free airline ticket is burning a hole in my pocket… 😉 )
Happily linking a cute shop I visited last fall and will stop by later this week,
Hugs,
Barb 🙂
Happy nearly spring to you, Barb! We really did have a lovely time. I must admit, we are worried about having to stay at home, and all the issues surrounding the COVID-19 virus too. Take care and stay safe! Thank you for all your support 🙂 April xo
Totally agree about ditching the scales. The mantra for too many is, “I’ll be happy when lose….” No! Just no! We need to be happy now wherever we are on our journey.
Michelle
http://mybijoulifeonline.com
Thank you, Michelle! It is so true that we need to be happy now, wherever we may be.
April, happy anniversary! Your cake looks lovely, but I’ll look forward to seeing the layer cake version you made. I am not a fan of the scale because I don’t like it to take over my thoughts. I just go by how my clothes fit. Of course, that doesn’t work for women who wear stretchy clothes! 😀 I’m into nutrition and figure if I take care of my inside, the outside will take care of itself! Another thing that keeps my weight stable is that I hate shopping–I have to stay the same size so I can keep wearing the same clothes! 😀
Thank you so much, Jean! I like your philosophy of ‘if you take care of the inside the outside takes care of itself’. That is so true! Take care and stay well, my friend.