Back to Blogging:: Day 3- What's in a TItle?

I have been running on fumes for a few days now and it finally caught up to me last night! I sat down (once again, verrrry late) and opened up my laptop to schedule a few posts. I was on a site (BlogFrog to be exact) ready to make a comment on a discussion and you know what?

 I FELL ASLEEP! Right then and there! Totally zonked! I don't even know if I actually hit the reply button! I don't think I have ever done that before.

Have you ever been so tired that you just fell asleep like that?

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Day 3 of "Back to Bloggin" is to upload a past post title that I liked and explain why I liked it.


Here is one that I liked Writing:

What? No Stunt Double?

I promised this morning that I would have another post tonight sharing my weekend, but something happened today that had me cracking up ...at myself! If you saw it, you would have certainly been laughing AT me and I would not have blamed you one bit.

As I mentioned, today was my first day of my new job. It's a nice little job that I am very excited about. I was so nervous about making a good impression, that I did not sleep a wink last night and let me tell you, the alarm sounded much, much earlier than I wanted.

After sorting out a few things and having a few gulps of much needed coffee,  I got settled at my new desk and then it happened. I felt like I was in a re-run of the "I Love Lucy Show" only, I was not Lucy.

                                   I was her stand in.

I can hear the director now...

"Ok.  Lucy, I want you to reach over the arm rest of your chair, down into that tote bag and try to grab the bottle of water that is just out of your reach. Good. CUT! Bring in the stunt double...."

Then it is me in the chair and in the next instant, the chair tips, wheels fly out to the side, my feet and the legs of the chair are above my head and I am crashing onto the ground. "CUT! Bring Lucy back in!"

 

Lucy = "Whaaaaaaaaa! Riiiiiiiiiicckkkyyy!!!"

Me = "Ouch! Bpffffftttttttttt....hhahahahahaha!"

That's is correct. I literally fell out of my chair!

I am so glad nobody saw it happen because I would never have lived that one down!

I'm sure that my neighbor in the next office has no clue that there is a comic genius in the works, mere feet away. I'll keep that gem for months from now when I can say "Did I ever tell you what happened on my first day?"

For now, I am finishing my tea and grabbing the heating pad for my sore back.

*In my best Troy McClure voice*: "I'm not a stunt double, but I once played one in an office...you may have seen me in "Musical Chairs For Dummies" or "Stop, Drop and Roll, an Office Worker's Nightmare".

Not to worry stunt doubles, I'm going to keep my day job.


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I had a hard time finding a title of a post that was catchy! I do have a few...but not many. I have to work on that!

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**This week's posts will be done as part of "Get Back To Blogging" through SITS and a sponsored giveaway provided by, Standards of Excellence, Westar Kitchen and Bath, and Florida Builder Appliances. The item(s) up for grabs are "Thelma & Louise", a washer and dryer by Electrolux!

A New Movement: Blog it Forward! Are you in?

Remember the game you used to play as a kid when picking dandelions? You would pick them one at a time, hold the stem firmly in your folded fingers and then place the tip of your thumb just under the flower bud and sing: "Mama had a baby and her head POPped off!" When you came to the word "popped", your thumb would flick the flower head as far as you could.

Morbid song, now that I think about it.This week I have felt like a dandelion! I have so many ideas buzzing around that it is hard to bring them into focus and channel all that energy- if I did, I think my head would pop off!

I have two ideas that are competing with each other to get out there to you. One idea has been dancing around for a while and I finally came to a point where I was ready to give it a go, but then another idea came dashing onto the scene and tapped "Idea" on the shoulder and said "May I cut in?" Even though they arrived to the party separately, they really are two of a kind and I think will complement each other nicely.

My first idea came about in the spring. I wanted to really showcase folks that I like to read and that I thought you would like to read too.  Like most bloggers, I keep a blog roll list on the side bar, but it is starting to get long.  I didn't want anyone to get lost on a list, so I thought highlighting a blog once a month would be a great way for you to get to know other sites out there that maybe you would not have found.

Beginning September 1, I will start a new feature called "MGB, Blogger of the Month"! As the title suggests, the blogger of the month will be highlighted for an entire month sharing a guest post or two and will also have a spot on my sidebar-giving you a chance to get to know them and visit their site. I had a button created just for this occasion and have been in contact with our first honoree! I am so excited!

My second idea came about just the other day while participating in a live blog chat with Darren Rowse, author of ProBlogger. He was hosting a live chat to wrap up his 31DBBB Challenge with the SITS and BlogFrog participants. As Darren was answering questions, we came across one that was asking about promoting your blog and getting people to come and read it. Darren had some great suggestions, but one in particular caught my attention. He said something along the lines of: Promote OTHERS and in turn you will be promoted. I thought: Hmm. Like Karma. What goes around comes around. And then I typed into the chat box what popped into my head: "Blog it Forward!" The buzz was instant and then I thought....I think others would want to do this too.

I posted "A New Movement: Blog it Forward! Are you in?" on Twitter and on the SITS Community page on Blog Frog. The response has been phenomenal!

What is it?  Blog it Forward is like Pay it Forward. Do a kind gesture for someone else, with no expectation of anything in return, and it will help you some day. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. Some day.

For example: Maybe you have advertisers emailing you to review products, or giveaways, or what not and you cannot for whatever reason say yes. When you reply with "no", refer them to another blog who would love the opportunity to say "yes".

Another example might be that a blog has been trying to get followers or comments. Maybe suggest to one or two of your followers to "friend" that blog and become an active participant.

How will you Blog it Forward?

I'm going to start with my Blog of the Month idea and also feature Blog it Forward. 

If you are not on BlogFrog and would like to participate, please leave your information in the comments section or you can email me directly.

Let me know how you have done "Blog it Forward!" and I will share your story. Maybe it will inspire someone else!

Dream a Little Dream

I have discovered so many great blogs and people during this 31DBBB Challenge! One site is written by Sandi of Deva Coaching. What I love about her site is that she fully lives up to her tag line: "Asking the Right Questions at the Right Time". I have found that I will read her post and go off and mull it over for a while, then come back and read it again. She makes me think and I like that very much.

She has posted a challenge on BlogFrog asking us to share our dream with her. Sandi posed these questions:

What if you gave yourself permission to really consider that dream?

What if it wasn't a pipe dream, but a dream you could begin taking action on?

What if you had the right kind of support to make this happen?

I've never really given myself permission to dream. I always felt that dreams were forever to be "what if" moments far away and unreachable. The closest I came to fulfilling a childhood dream came this past winter when I entered a contest for a chance to write/blog about the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. I shared my Olympic Dream
in a post and realized that the only way to get to the games would be through written word rather than athletic abilities. I was not chosen to go to Vancouver and ended up writing about the Olympics from my family room chair. Far away and unreachable.

This challenge has opened the door so to speak. What if I did give myself permission to dream? What would I want to do?

 My daughter asked me what I was writing about as I prepared my post and I told her about this question. She immediately said "Mom, you have to write books. Funny books that tell your stories."

Could it be that others can see what path you should be on before you do? Because she hit the nail on the head.

My dream is to become a published writer and be successful enough to support my family in the process. My dream is to grow this blog, my cooking blog and all the passions in my life and create paid published pieces from them.

Boy, if this came to fruition, it really would be a dream come true.

They Link Me, They Really Link Me!

I feel like Sally Field excepting her Oscar as she exclaimed "You like me, You really like me!"

As I have mentioned, I am working my way through daily assigned tasks with the SITS and ProBlogger's "Build a Better Blog in 31 Days" (aka: 31DBBB) Challenge. I am so glad that I have signed up to do this because it has allowed me to move out of my comfort zone and put faith in the blogging community to help me grow as a blogger and I have to say I have not been disappointed! The support from folks that have come by to visit from this community has been wonderful! I wish I could express how grateful I am to receive constructive feedback, techie advice and kind words of encouragement. To all of these wonderful ladies (and gents too!) :

I love you man!

Because of recently traveling for the sweet family getaway to celebrate a BIG anniversary, I have been playing catch up with Days 13-23(today) and completing them, but not necessarily in chronological order.  Today's post (Day 22) is highlighting a special reader or two or three...

I have visited so many great sites that my head is spinning. Some make me cry, some make me laugh, some make me think and others make me learn, but what I am noticing to be the common denominator is: They all have Great Content! So, I will share just a few of the wonderful blogs out there that I am really digging and hope that you will pay them a visit, because they are worth it!

Generating Heat:( a journey back to myself)
Lisa is a dear friend of mine from my favorite sport of speedskating. While taking to the ice in competition, we always encouraged each other and soon became fast (no pun intended) friends. Lisa is a potter (clay) and is currently taking part in an art exhibition all the way in Korea! She is journaling and photographing her experiences each day- including today's post where she shares "I Had Tea With a Monk on A Side of A Mountain"! I mean, how cool is that?! Get lost in her blog: you will find among her lovely photographs and posts that she is not only an artist with her craft, she is with her written word as well.

Making It Work Mom
Heather is a blogging mom that emailed me very early in this challenge asking if I would link a post for her. After reading her stories of being a working mom and trying to balance a hectic family schedule, well, I immediately liked her! Our kids are close in age and we are dealing with some of the same issues, so her take on life makes me laugh right along with her. Her latest post : "Maybe Giselle Should Mind Her Own Business...Just Saying"was very funny, yet very on target. Heather was also kind enough to link back to a post of mine! Thanks Heather!!

Coloring Outside the Lines
Alycia, also known in certain circles as the Crayon Wrangler, has a fantastic sense of humor and her writing is just top notch! I have been more interactive with her via Twitter and Blog Frog, however, her blog also totally ROCKS! She completely surprised me yesterday by leaving a comment on my Facebook Fan Page where she told me that my blog rocked AND on top of that, linked one of my posts for twitter followers to read! If you are thinking of writing a book, be sure to read her post on "Finishing Writing a Novel-A Novel Idea". Where you can double check to make sure that you are writing your character's story!

MultipleMama
Andie surprised me out of the blue (which is a condition of this Day Task 22) with an email letting me know that she linked a comment I left for her and included it in this post: "Messiness Loves Company". I emailed her back with a "Wowza!" I have enjoyed her wit and real life take on motherhood that she shares in her posts and I know you will too!

The Funsucker Chronicles
Cheryl had me laughing the moment I loaded her blog page- it is wicked in more ways than one! When I saw that she had the Wicked Witch as her header picture and that her kids claimed she "sucked the fun out of everything",  I felt a kindred spirit. I have not shared this with her yet, but my sister-in-law used to be pen pals with Margaret Hamilton, aka: Cora the Coffee Lady for Maxwell House, aka The Wicked Witch of The West! Speaking of penpals, I recently learned how long camper's letters to home actually take and invaluable camping advice with her revised post: "Everything I Ever Needed to Know I learned at Summer Camp-Encore Presentation". Although she lost me at "tarantula," (I'm arachnophobic), the rest of her tips are rather helpful! I may hide my Ruby Slippers when I see her, but I will always welcome the Funsucker into the bloghouse!

I wish I could share all the fabulous blogs out there as this is just a small sampling of what I have come across during this challenge! There are many, many more I would love to put in this post...in fact, this task has spurred an idea into action that I have been mulling over and over for months now. Watch for a rolling out of my super-de-duper idea that will be ready by the end of the month. You will love it!

Now, go visit and let me know what you think!

And thanks for the link love; you make me feel like a star!

Timing: For Better or For Worse...

With all the momentum I have gathered for posting during this 31DBBB Challenge I cannot believe that I am about to say I may be taking a few days off!

I have a fantastic excuse though and if you were in my shoes, you would realize that it isn't really an excuse, it is something that just is.

I will be spending time with family and  relatives near and far for the next few days as we gather to celebrate 50 years of wedded bliss between my mother-in-law and father-in-law. I absolutely adore my in-laws and cannot relate to those that tell stories with a roll of the eye. That is not to say I don't chuckle at stories that I hear...but I know that I am in the camp of the lucky few.

I will be catching quick computer time here and there, but probably will not post until the weekend.

I am looking forward to sharing some great stories with you!

Going From "You Are Doing It!" to I Did It!

I was out of my saddle, dancing on the pedals. This was steep. My heart rate was not quite maxed, but it was close. I pass a woman wearing a visor walking along side her mountain bike. Her friend just a few feet in front of her was doing the same exact thing. As I turn the pedals over, huffing and puffing, I hear over my right shoulder as I go by, her words of encouragement: "You are doing it!" I think: you know, you are right. I am. I am about to crest a hill that has put the fear of god in me for years. In fact, I have only descended this snotty thing and continued down the road purposely to avoid having to turn around and go back up. I've never climbed it.

You want to know something corny? I cried. It wasn't as bad as I built it up to be. I mean, it wasn't easy, and I let out a gasping "Holy Sh@#!" when reaching the top, but I was really proud of conquering what I thought would be scary. Actually, what scared me was having to get off my bike and walk it up like "visor" lady. One, because I would have been mad at myself for doing so and second; it's really hard to walk in bike shoes with cleat clips on the bottom. 

I talked about the "granny" gear in a previous post and I have to admit, that I did pay her a visit to help me up the hill. I was totally fine with it. For today.

Today is Day 8 of my 31DBBB Challenge and many of the other bloggers that I have been reading and connecting with seem to share that same bit of excitement of making it through the first week. This has been a great opportunity to work through some of the fears and trepidations of being a "new" kid on the block with the help and words of encouragement from seasoned bloggers- who I must say are a wonderfully supportive group!

To the anonymous "visor" woman, who so freely gave me the little "push" through her perfectly timed words to keep going, Thank you.

To everyone reading and leaving comments,Thank you.

To my fellow blogging friends who are part of this fantastic challenge: It may get hard and it may get scary at times, but

We are doing it!

 

"Niche"-a-Whaa?

Day 3 & 4 of #31DBBB Challenge

Day 3 of my blog challenge through SITS was to expand how I market my blog posts. Since I mainly use Facebook and Twitter, I gave Technorati, Stumble Upon and Digg a try. I swam in the FAIL pond for a while; I just couldn't figure them out. Then, I happened to see a chat on the SITS community on Blog Frog discussing a site called Kirsty. Bingo! I linked my last post very easily and took a dip in the YAY pond. Whew! Challenge 3 complete.

Day 4 was asking us to study a blog in our "niche". Overwhelm much? Yeah, that task is like saying "go into a candy store and pick out something sweet." Honestly, I have no clue what "niche" I fit into. Sports? Mommy Blog? Humor? Parenting? All of them? So, I visited a few blogging friends that have been kind enough to leave a comment. All I can say is WOW. So many good sites out there-and I only scratched the surface! What I learned from this task is that I am still such a newbie in the techie world and I  think I need to do some upgrades to my blog. Maybe tabs at the top to organize different posts, create a Facebook fan page (gulp!), create a disclosure statement and a marketing plan. If I want some things off my Blog Bucket List, then I think these should be on my radar.

So what sites did I check out? Here are two that stand out:

Making it Work Mom : A mom like me.

Soldierette : One cool chick.

Heather, from Making it Work Mom actually emailed me (she got a head start on task 5!) and asked if I would link a post for her. When I opened that email, I thought 'why didn't I think of that?!' I read her post and fell in love with her writing style and was quick to become a follower. We seem to have a lot in common; we are both working moms outside the home, have a hectic family life and seem to have the same "battles" with our teenage daughters! I would say that the only thing we may not have in common (yet) is the love of a hockey rink. I spend 3 days a week, 7 months out of the year in a hockey rink for speedskating and she is on the cusp of being a "Hockey Mom".  She will learn to love them too. I am so glad that Heather contacted me. Come to find out, she is now following my blog too! Thanks Heather!

Day 5 is today and we are to "email a blog reader." This will be fun! Are you a reader? Do you follow my blog? If yes, welcome and thanks!! If no, why not? What are you waiting for?! Join in on the fun!

Off to emails!