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We love to read about involved grandma’s, like today’s Featured Blogger, Vicki. Vicki can be found at Gram’s Made It, a blog with recipes, patterns, instruction, opinion, and pictures.
How long have you been blogging and why did you start?
I started blogging in September of 2009, so Iโve been blogging just under 2 years. In 2006 I had walked away from a job I had held for 32 years as the Director of Special Events for a local nonprofit fundraising organization. The organization had undergone a management change and there was a definite clash between me and the new management. So I resigned with no idea what I was going to do next. Then for about 2 years after that, I worked part-time as a project manager for an independent business consultant. After I got laid off from that job, I kind of didnโt know what to do with myself. I was over 50 years old and unemployed for the first time since I was 15 years old. Blogging became a way for me to connect with someone outside of my living room where I was spending lots of time alone. When my mom died and we cleaned out her home, I found the journals that I wrote as a teenager. That reminded me that I once dreamed of being a writer. Yet the only writing I had done for the past 30 years had been professional solicitation letters and promotional brochures. Several friends had been encouraging me for years to write about raising my children, particularly about their teenage years. So blogging provided an opportunity to reclaim my dreams of writing. In addition, we had our first granddaughter and I wanted to share stories about her.
It looks like you’ve lost a tremendous amount of weight and have blogged about it. ย Has writing about your weight loss helped in the journey?
I hadย gastric bypass surgeryย in 2006 and subsequently lost 125 pounds. For the first few years I went to monthlyย support group meetings. But, as time passed, the meetings were geared more for patients who were newly post-op and didnโt really meet my needs. I have found that itโs very helpful for me to write about my experiences. Like I said, blogging has become therapy. I have also discovered a fairly large group of other bloggers who write about their own experiences withย weight loss surgeryย and encourage each other. Many of the recipes I share on my blog are โweight loss friendlyโ recipes. Itโs also interesting that I didnโt learn to cook until after I had weight loss surgery. I had to learn to eat healthy and the best way to know what I was eating was to cook it myself. Bloggers have been great resources in learning to cook and to eat healthy.
You have experience as a mother and a grandmother. ย What is one piece of advice you’d give new moms?
My advice for new moms is โฆ take all the help you are offered and, if nobody offers, ask someone. If your mother, mother-in-law, sister, best friend, or neighbor offers to come and cook and clean, put your pride away and take the help. You donโt have to do everything yourself. Everyone needs help the first few weeks.ย Sleep deprivationย alone is formidable. Add to that a new motherโs nervousness and postpartum hormones and youโre going to need some help. Source via phentermineonline.com the phentermine online website.
Let me likewise offer some advice for friends and family of new moms โฆ donโt just take a gift for the new baby, take a casserole. It will be appreciated more than you can imagine.
If you could have one day to yourself, what would you do?
Since Iโm semi-retired I have lots of days to myself, sometimes more than I like. The most perfect days for me are not spent โto myselfโ but rather with my husband, my kids, and my granddaughters. We love to head out into theย Texas Hill Country, visit a few antique stores and craft shops, and then stop for dinner at a winery or one of the German restaurants.
Favorite Posts:
The Sunday Funnies: Having “THE” talk with kids can be funny.
Big Granite Dome or Milestone?ย You’ll love this inspirational story that took place at Enchanted Rock.
The Meatloaf Incident: ย It may have taken 35 years, but she finally made meatloaf like the “nuns” did.
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What a hip Granny! Lots of good stuff to check out.
I love hearing from grandmothers. Not something you get very often!
What a great site — looking forward to reading about her journey!
My mom, also Vicki, will LOVE this site, and I do too! Love to see sassy and wonderful grandmothers!
Love reading about other “not so young” mamas and grandmas, cause I am part of that group!
Can’t wait to read more!
Bernice
Sounds like a very smart woman! Definitely can relate to the community aspect of blogging. There is a supportive group out there for everyone.
Happy Friday to all…going to check out her blog and some of her posts.
Congrats on your weight loss success! I’m at the beginning of my journey, and not brave enough to blog about it yet. Can’t wait to see what other treasures your blog holds!
You look awesome!
What a story! Can’t wait to read through her journey.
It’s so great that you are choosing to take time to empart much needed wisdom to us newer moms. It’s greatly appreciated!
How wonderful that you took up blogging. Looking forward to checking out your blog.
I’m looking forward to visiting!
I’m interested in healthy recipes and surely this blog is an awesome resource. Thank you ๐
Congratulations on being the Featured Blogger!
TGIF!!
And nifty, sounds like an awesome blogger ๐ I’m off to check her out now!
your speak wisdom gram! as a mother of 2 under two and one more on the way, all I can say is whoever is willing to help, LET THEM COME FORTH!! Bring me a casserole! yes! and if you really feel sorry for me, and wish to fold my laundry or run a vacuum, I promise I will not be too proud…and if you want to take my kids for the afternoon, I will willingly oblige.
Gram your weight loss is a true inspiration!
I really love her advice to moms… take help when it is offered! With six kids now, one a son with Hyposensitivity Disorder, I find that it really takes “a village” to raise the latter! Thank heavens for wonderful friends and neighbors who offer support, and understanding that my son is not a hellian by choice! Also, for all the talk about Mommy Bloggers… I think that this wonderful lady is pioneering the “Grammy Bloggers” niche! Congrats to her!
Happy SITS day!
I struggle with my weight. Menopause is no fun and my menopause middle reminds me daily. Giggle. Hugs and happy Friday
Congrats on making a positive change in your life and I’m excited to see these recipes!
Happy SITS day to one of my all-time favorite fellow grandma bloggers! You rock, Vicki! You and your family are a beautiful bunch, inside and out!
Your advice to new moms is spot on. I found it crazy-hard to ask for help and even to accept it when it was offered. If I become a mom again in the future, I will definitely learn from my mistakes and accept help!
I’m looking forward to reading your blog! Congrats on being featured here!
I love reading blogs by an older generation. They have such a different perspective.
Looks like an interesting read!
Thanks for the introduction. With Blogger down I have a bit more time to tour her blog. ๐ Heading over there now! Enjoy your SITS day!
Way to go on the weight loss! Thanks for sharing your story!
I love reading gram blogs. I think they’re so much better than mom blogs because they offer a perspective us moms haven’t even fathomed yet ๐
What a lovely family! TGIF….
Great perspective from somebody who has already been there, done that. I bet she could teach all women a few things, new moms, seasoned moms, and grandmoms as well. She also has had an amazing weight loss journey. Definitely have to go learn more about her!
Amazing Blog! Have a great Friday everyone!
Wow! Her weight loss is so inspiring!
What a lovely story. If Blogger doesn’t get up and running SOON she should get a SITS day do-over!!!
I”m with Amy on this one: Vicki should get a SITS Day do-over since Blogger went bonkers!
What a beautiful story!
What a beautiful family. Can’t wait for grandkids of my own someday:)
Congrats on your SITS day- Will visit after Blogger resolves issues…you look like an awesome Grannie:)
congrats on your SITS day!
Can’t wait to go check it out ๐ I hope Blogger cooperates soon!
Off to read the feature:-)
Lools like a blog that’s inspirational! Can’t wait to check it out ๐
Way to go on the weight loss! I love seeing success stories, they are SO inspiring for the rest of us.
Reading a really greatly inspiring book, Awaken the Giant Within by Anthony Robbins. Definitely check it out. It was published back in 1990, but man this guy is good!
FRIDAY!! Enjoy the weekend my sitstahs!
Blogger is still down… Will try to give her some comment love later this afternoon.
(loved reading about her son and the “sex” talk! How funny!!
Excited to read the Sunday Funnies!!!
Has anyone else noticed that blogger isn’t working? I can’t visit my Invisible Friends for the second day in a row and leave a comment! Including the SITS featured blogger!
Blogger isn’t working for me either. It is SO annoying! I have been trying to comment on this wonderful blog, among many others, all day!
The Hill Country rocks!
Vicki’s perfect day sounds alot like mine! It’s nice to see a FB closer to my age! Ha! (No offense to you younger gals. It’s just that I am closer to being a grandmother than a new mother these days.)
There must be a terrible mistake, because Vicki doesn’t look like a Grandma!
I can so relate to the sleep depravation. I cried on my daughters head because I just didn’t know what to do anymore – I was exhausted, she was fed, winded and changed and still crying (not colic) and I just couldn’t anymore, so I howled too and then had to laugh becuase I was splashing her with my tears. I then realised that all I wanted was someone to watch her for just 10 minutes so I could bath!!!
(Not that I didn’t bath!!! Just that it would have been nice to bath without feeling like I was in bath-tryouts for the olympics… you know… in and out at speed)
oh yes! I’ve been to this blog before. It’s wonderful! ๐ Happy Friday everyone!
Looks like a blog that will be full of advice on a variety of topics, and funny too. I just read the post about having ‘the talk’ with your son. Hilarious!