When I began blogging in January, it was mostly to keep in touch with my family in Texas. I spent a couple of months cracking myself up in my own little cyberspace cubicle before I realized there was a whole community of bloggers out there who actually talked to one another.
I really wanted to sit at that lunch table in the cafeteria.
I conquered my shyness and reached out to one blogger, then another. I threw myself at the mercy of the Twitterverse, met a few hundred like-minded souls and was surprised to find myself absolutely in love with the blog world.
It couldn’t have come at a better time, as I had just ended a very important friendship with someone who had been given full access to my life and had hurt me badly. I was in danger of shutting down again, of putting up walls and retreating into myself.
I credit the relationship I have with these bloggers with keeping this stay-at-home mom sane over the last half year. There are a few in particular who have inspired, entertained and enthralled me on a daily basis, and to you guys, I want to say, “Thank you. I’ll always save you a seat at the lunch table, even if you bring tuna fish.”
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Iris @ The Bearded Iris
Iris is my own personal Blogger Idol, and her blog is my favorite to read. She takes huge risks with her humor, pushing the envelope in the overshare/gross category until even I cringe a little bit. But she does it with such class that you sort of feel like the Queen of England just farted on your leg. It’s an amazing sensation. One day, when I’m all out of ideas during arts and crafts time, Iris’s Pootorial will save my ass.
Jacqui @ ChickTuition
This one pink chick is always there for me. If I’m in a mood, she’s got a great pithy saying to pull me out of my funk. Her blog design is a strikingly beautiful home for the close-knit community she’s built there. You’ll find awesome conversations in her comment section, where it’s also a race to be first to comment with the correct trivia answer each time. Even when her heart is breaking, she’s still there to support us all. I have mad love for the Chick.
Jessica @ My Time As Mom
At first, I was kind of scared of Jessica. She’s a networking badass, seems to know just about everyone, and is always branching out in her effort to make her blog the very best it can be. I always feel like a slacker next to her, but she pushes me to be better. She manages to keep up with a large community and makes it look effortless. Along with her BFFs Elena of Mommy is in Timeout and Kate of Mommy Monologues, she created a blog meme called Vlogtalk, which has caught like wildfire. I’m still too uncomfortable with video to participate, but one day I’ll grow a pair and link up.
Jen @ Jen Has a Pen
I found Jen when I linked up for #SeniorHottie with a whole bunch of folks over at A Belle, A Bean and a Chicago Dog. I had a blast with this link up and followed a bunch of folks because of it, but I remember reading Jen’s blog and developing the biggest blog crush on her. Her writing is honest and funny, her photos are spectacular, and she’s just an all-around great friend.
Rach @ Life With Baby Donut
Rach is probably my polar opposite when it comes to emotion. I hate asking for help and would rather struggle through things on my own, but she is brave enough to speak up and say, look, I’m having a rough go of things, can you lend an ear? She has a sincere, open heart and it shows in all of her blog posts. This week, she’s going to be home alone with her baby daughter for the first time in awhile, and if you’d go love on her for a bit, I’d greatly appreciate it! I need her happy and sane when I go to visit her in Texas one day.
Elizabeth @ Flourish in Progress
Elizabeth’s blog is gorgeous. It’s simple, clean, and amazingly effective. She’s a true blog star, combining personal stories with humorous observations about the world around her. The photos she chooses for her blog entries are perfect compliments for the story, and her headlines could stand alone as paragons of humor.
Leighann @ Multitasking Mumma
My sassy partner in snark, Leighann writes about whatever strikes her fancy. She recently redesigned her blog, and it’s beautiful. I think if her any time I see anything peacock related. She holds a special place in my heart for being the first person to ever ask me to guest post, something I fretted over the entire time I wrote said post. Maybe it was because I was writing about vibrators, but I think it was because I just didn’t want to let her down.
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For whatever reason you blog, and however you might label yourself: Mommy-blogger, Daddy-blogger, Hell-No-I-Don’t-Have-Kids-Look-At-All-My-Nice-Things-Blogger, I implore you to seek and find your community soon, if you haven’t already. Finding your “people” will surely help you grow as a blogger, but more importantly, it will transform every post from words on a screen to an intimate conversation over drinks with friends you can’t imagine living without.
www.mamamash.com
Judges Comments:
"Its great to see that you've found a great group to have at your lunch table. It is truly amazing that people we've never met can be our friends! Great blogs, thank you for sharing. :)"
Erica, from Good Job Momma
"It looks like you have some quality bloggers in your network. I'll admit that Iris's blog has a style that I'd love to see more of, considering how hard I laughed when I read it.
Good job."
Allison Duncan, from SVALLIE.NET: The Nerd Connection
"Once again, I add 5 more blogs to my list. I am loving this assignment and loving the blogs the contestants are sharing. This is a great and diverse list. Good job and thanks for giving me even more to add to my reader."
The Dude, from The Daddyyo Blog
Judges Comments:
"Its great to see that you've found a great group to have at your lunch table. It is truly amazing that people we've never met can be our friends! Great blogs, thank you for sharing. :)"
Erica, from Good Job Momma
"It looks like you have some quality bloggers in your network. I'll admit that Iris's blog has a style that I'd love to see more of, considering how hard I laughed when I read it.
Good job."
Allison Duncan, from SVALLIE.NET: The Nerd Connection
"Once again, I add 5 more blogs to my list. I am loving this assignment and loving the blogs the contestants are sharing. This is a great and diverse list. Good job and thanks for giving me even more to add to my reader."
The Dude, from The Daddyyo Blog