Welcome!
My best friends from SITS have arrived! In case you didn’t know… I do talk about you all the time. I like to read your blogs and LOVE chatting with many of you on twitter. Seriously. I’m a twitter-a-holic. I’m afraid there might be an intervention from my family soon. But I digress…
Some of you visiting today may not be aware of the great online blogging community known as SITS (aka Secret in the Sauce.) Many bloggers come together daily and leave comments on the blogs that others have written. Tiffany and Heather came up with this brilliant idea and have connected so many bloggers. I really can’t wait to meet them (and so many others) at Bloggy Boot Camp later this summer in San Francisco! 
And today is my day!
YAY!!
So I’m going to take a random guess and say that you want to know a little bit more about me and why I write…
First I better say that I’m not from The Netherlands. I’m from a small city called Holland that’s located on the shores of Lake Michigan. This is a beautiful little place in which some of my ancestors founded after leaving the Netherlands looking for a better life. And while many love it here, I would love to have an adventure in a much warmer state that doesn’t receive 100+ inches of {mostly lake-enhanced} snowfall each year.
I started out this blog talking about the struggles that I was having with my weight loss journey – because as so many know, it is not an easy journey. But with the help and support of my family, friends and online community, I achieved my weight goal about 18 months ago after losing more than 150 pounds.
For one day I was a celebrity when I was featured on The Rachael Ray Show last October. I had a fabulous time in New York and wrote about the whole experience. There’s also a link so that you can watch my segment!
I still struggle with keeping the weight off but am trying to find adventure in all that I do. I – just this past week – created a new goal of doing 101 Things in 1001 Days so that I can make the most of these adventures… as well as provide myself some REALLY good blogging material!
Currently I’m on the search for “Mr. Right” and had quite an adventure meeting someone while on a roadtrip a while back. I’ve also tried the online dating thing… and found that you “meet” some interesting people that way.
It has been such a pleasure hosting each of you today – I hope you enjoyed reading some of the things that I’ve shared… and I hope that you come back and visit often. I love meeting new blog friends. And I truly can’t wait to visit each one of your blogs this week as I anticipate my next “Saturday Sevens” feature.
Thanks again for coming by… and have a blessed day everyone!
I can’t believe it is your SITS day. Congrats! And you are going to the San Fran bloggy boot camp. You’re so lucky. I’m planning to go when they come to Chicago in 2011. You should come to that one too. It’s a lot closer than California!
How great that you lost so much weight and then got rewarded to be on Rachel Ray!!! I am currently having to change everything that I eat cuz it turns out that I am allergic to everything. Like wheat, barley, rye, yeast, egg yolk, olive oil, and soy. Like I said everything.
Happy SITS day SITSta!
Ahhhh Happy SITS day to you! I am so amazed by your motivation and success in losing 150 Ibs! You go girl and yes being on the Rachel Ray show absolutely makes you a celebrity! I can’t wait to read more. This look like a great blog and I am abut to become your newest follower. Congrats again
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Stopping by from SITS to wish you a happy SITS day!
HAPPY SITs lady. Congrats on such a big weight loss feat. And wow on being on Rachel Ray. Keep going, I know you can be and do anything you set your sights on. Cheers!
Congrats on your awesome weight loss! That is remarkable that you set and goal and stuck to it and saw wonderful results. Whoo hoo!
You are very inspirational. I can only hope to be as brave as you in the future. Keep being strong and enjoy the ride!
Congrats on your SITS Day. I loved your story about meeting “Mr. Right” on the trip to see your friend. Sometimes you have to do something a little crazy now and again.
Oh, I’d LOVE to read your blog about dating. I started my blog while single (which was where the “Steph and the City” name for it came from) and people seemed to get a thrill out of reading about my dating misadventures. Now I can be the one who reads your tales and says, “I’m SO glad I’m not out there anymore!”
Loving your blog Julie and way to go on losing all that weight and being a celebrity for the day! I think you may well be my new inspiration! Hope that you are having a fabulous SITS day….Enjoy xx
You have a beautiful site! I loved looking at your picture slideshow on your “About You” page. Keep up the great blogging and healthy lifestyle livin’.
Congrationals on being SITS girl of the day! Hooray for you! Your blog looks really fun. I’m off to look around! Have a great day!
Julie, Congrats on your SITS day, and I must say, this introductory posting is so inviting! You have a distinct voice, and I want to read more! So… after I get some *work* out of the way, I will return.
Happy SITS day, I look forward to reading more.
Going to go check out some of your other posts.
Happy SITS Day!!
Cheers
- CoconutPalmDesigns
One of my good friends is from Holland! Happy SITS day!
WOW! Look at all these awesome people stopping by your blog! Congrats, Jule!
I am so impressed with your weight loss story! You have lost a whole person! You look really beautiful. I watched your little segment on Rachel Ray. I bet that was such a cool experience! I love your blog! Very inspirational!!!!
Happy SITs Day! I’ll go look around your blog now and watch the Rachel Ray segment. I bet that was fun!!! She seems like she’d be just as nice in person!
I’m going to Boot Camp in SF too! On my way to check out your blog. Happy SITS day!
Happy SITS Day! You must be so excited. I can’t wait to look around your blog and get to know you better.
Happy SITS Day!!! Going to check out your other posts. Congrats !!!
Congratulations!!
happy SITS day! following you now and looking forward to read more. and congrats on the weight loss – that’s quite a feat
Loved reading your blog. Look forward to meeting you in San Fran!
Congrats! You are amazing and an inspiration!
Wow! Rachel Ray….awesome! Congrats on your SITS day!
Hi Julie. Hope your day is GRRReat! I stopped by your site before from the relevant conference attendee page. I’ll be there too! So awesome how God gave you this testimony to share. I love this comment format and want it SO bad. Where oh where can I get it?! Peace out SITSter!!
Happy SITS Day!
You are quite an achiever that is an amazing fete losing that weight I wish you the best with maintaining!
I met my husband online (A true love story) so it can happen!
I hope when you get the chance you will stop by for a visit.
Have a powerful and Positive week!
Congrats on your SITS day and so cool about the Rachel Ray appearance! Let’s be friends on Twitter (@formerlyhot)!
happy sitsday!
Happy SITS day (I’m a little behind in my blog-hopping!), and good luck with all your goals!
Happy SITS day!! I have family who used to live in Holland, MI! I enjoyed reading your posts!
Happy, happy SITS Day!! Off to explore your blog. And sending up some prayers for your Mr. Right – he’s out there.
Wow, congrats on the weight loss! I lost 100 lbs a few years ago after gaining the ‘Freshman 15′
It was hard to get the weight off but I did it! And have been maintaining ever since. Good work. 
Stopping by from SITS!
Happy SITS day!! Major kudos on your weight loss. That’s simply amazing. How cool that you got to be on Rachel Ray.
So many congratulations on being today’s FB on SITS!! Hope you are feeling like a princess! Feel, like I should leave a heartfelt comment, but graduation has taken over my mind.
Much love!!
Wow! Congrats on the website and being on Rachel Ray! Happy SITS Day!
I love to meet a fellow Christ-follower!
I’ll be heading close to Holland this summer for a vacation with the family. I’m looking forward to enjoying Lake Michigan and the other lakes up there.
Congrats on your weight loss. That’s awesome! I admire such a huge committment and accomplishment.
I hope you’ve enjoyed your SITS day!
I love you even when it isn’t your SITS day….but I’m looking forward to going back and reading some of your old posts from before I found you on twitter!
Happy SITS day! I have had fun perusing you blog, and am looking forward to following along and praying for you and your mr. right!
Happy SITS Day. I read your blog about online dating. Very funny. Thanks for giving us such a warm welcome to your blog. Have a great day.
Congratulations on achieving a life – changing weight loss goal. We’re all very proud of you. Plus, it takes a gargantuan effort to keep the weight off. Well done, SIStsah!
That is so cool that you were on The Rachael Ray Show! What an awesome role model you are for your determination and hard work! Congrats!
Happy SITS day!
I love your attitude! I can’t believe that you were on the Rachel Ray show, how cool is that? Your weight loss is amazing!! Thanks for sharing all that with us, it encouraging to everyone.
Happy SITS Day.
Congrats! Happy SITS day! You totally deserve it! I’ll be back to read more!
What an inspiration you are!!! I loved watching the Rachel Ray segment of you. You did such a great job on the show. Happy SITS day to you
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Happy SITS day!! I enjoyed exploring your blog.
Happy SITS day! You rock!