The Soaring Swine was nominated for the Blogger Recognition Award two weeks ago, tomorrow!

If you haven’t heard of it before, it is a small “award” that bloggers receive that shows that all of their hard work is paying off. No, we don’t actually win anything, but getting nominated for the award is very encouraging and also gives you the chance to connect with other bloggers.

So I want to say a huge THANK YOU to Shelby Dowden over at Simply Shelby for nominating me. She’s a sweet and big-hearted lady, and relatively new to the blogging scene, aged roughly three months. I definitely recommend checking out her blog for some awesome content - she specializes in lifestyle and beauty blogging.

So, How exactly does this all work?

Well after you're nominated, similar to the other awards I've received, you write a post thanking the person before you, showcase their blog and link back. Depending on the award, you answer the questions or in this case explain how you got started, give advice to new bloggers, and thennnnn!

Nominate other bloggers!

The above blogs spoke to me in some way, shape or form if it was a particular post, the graphics or their writing style. I didn't order you in any particular way, but I enjoyed reading and learning about you all in and looked at your topics in a special new way. I look forward to reading future posts by each of you! Thanks for participating in the Blogger Recognition Award.

How The Soaring Swine Took Flight

Well, this is a little redundant, but for those of you just now tuning in, I was a lot heavier than I currently am. I mean, I've fluctuated since i was about ten years old but in 2013, I was the biggest I'd ever been. Working at Starbucks from about 2005 until I moved to Ventura in 2012 and receiving their free pastries was great for my wallet - but NOT for my waistline. Or my stamina when ascending stairs to my apartment!

Like I stated in my first ever blog post, The Final Straw, what I saw was a wake-up call... You have this image in your head of how you look and what your body feels like, and it take something like my photo did for me to truly wake you up. It was then that I decided to make life changes. I told myself that when I started this journey, I would not let it slip through my fingers again. I would do whatever it took to finally be happy with what stood in front of me in the mirror.

Ironically, as I'm writing this, it motivates me further to grow and better myself

I love when that happens... Any way! That was what sparked the weight loss, but the real achievement and motivation to write was over coffee one day, sitting in my HOT 600 sq.ft apartment in the sweltering San Fernando Valley. I received a *random* Facebook message from an old friend from elementary school; she was impressed and motivated by me and my posted progress photos.

That was another motivational tool - to have some accountability. I was motivated by my friends Jessica, Jamie and their achievements, so to have someone look up to me like that added fuel to the already moving train. It became a circle. A revolving, healthy circle. One which is so much more rewarding than anything I could have ever imagined.

Advice to new bloggers?

Honestly, I'm still learning myself. I don't know what will work for you, but I know what works for me right now. There's so much information out there at our fingertips and readily available - I'm definitely a sponge and will try new things. If you look at my first month or two of blogging, the style and graphics have evolved. Significantly, lol.

I would say be open to change (Those who know me KNOW I couldn't have just said that)... Buuuut I did! I mean it, it's changing so much everyday, it's terribly difficult to keep up, but if you're open to change and if you're open to constructive criticisms, with a hint of discretion, you'll find what makes you comfortable.

I'm just glad I have this project - and you guys, my Piggie Posse! It makes me accountable and helps me attribute meaning to my life and who I am.