Friday Follow

Friday Follow: Building Friendships - One Blog At A Time - August 13th

2010-08-13T00:00:00.001-04:00

Welcome to the 10th Friday Follow hosted by our awesome hostesses, Debra from Housewife Eclectic, Carissa from This Little Family, and Mayra from In Lovely Heels. Thank you everyone for being willing to host! Please stop by and see these awesome host/hostesses.

We invite you to join us every Friday to get more blog followers and to find many interesting blogs that you like. This is all about sharing and having fun.

We expect you to be on your honor and to have fun. These are only guidelines to make it more enjoyable for you. Here’s how YOU can join the Friday Follow celebration:

Link up your blog below.. One Link per blog
Grab our Friday Follow button include on your side bar, or post.. grab the linky information if you want it
Follow the Friday-Follow blog and the hostesses in slots 1, 2, & 3 that have volunteered today to host
Follow the blogs you want, leave comment saying you are from Friday Follow – use common courtesy

This list is new each week and closes on Saturday at 11:59pm EST. The links do not carry over. Please link up each week for new participants to find your blogs. It will be visible all week to visit the blogs listed.

Weekend Comment Club

2010-08-06T18:26:00.000-04:00

Thank for hanging in there as we move everything over.
It will take some time before we are 100% back in the swing of things.

Here is the 411 on the Weekend Comment Club

Make sure you have time for the commitment.
Do not sign up just to sign up.
Once you sign up you will need to comment the other participants.
If we get more than 20 participants, you can stop commenting at 20 or comment as many more as you would like to comment.
You have through Monday to comment the others.
You may want to check back each day to see who has recently joined.

How to join.

Sign up on the linky below.
Link us to your site or to a post that you would like to share and IS NOT A GIVEAWAY.
You do not have to write a special post to participate.
Visit the other participants.
When you visit and comment, be sure to mention that you are visiting from the Comment Club. This is how they will know to comment you back!

Have fun.

The Linky Code

Title: Friday Follow: Building Friendship One Blog Hop at a Time August 6

2010-08-05T19:24:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the 10th Friday Follow hosted by our awesome hostesses,

Thank you everyone for being willing to host! Please stop by and see these awesome host/hostesses:

Magee Baby
If the Crown Fits
Busted Plumbing

We invite you to join us every Friday to get more blog followers and to find many interesting blogs that you like. This is all about sharing and having fun.

We expect you to be on your honor and to have fun. These are only guidelines to make it more enjoyable for you. Here’s how YOU can join the Friday Follow celebration:

Link up your blog below.. One Link per blog

Grab our Friday Follow button include on your side bar, or post.. grab the linky information if you want it

Follow the Friday-Follow blog and the hostesses in slots 1, 2, & 3 that have volunteered today to host

Follow the blogs you want, leave comment saying you are from Friday Follow – use common courtesy

If you need more guidelines about following see Friday-Follow.com

This list is new each week and closes on Saturday at 11:59pm EST. The links do not carry over. Please link up each week for new participants to find your blogs. It will be visible all week to visit the blogs listed.

Congratulations to our Three Friday Follow Winners!!!

#7 http://goodgirlgoneredneck.blogspot.com
#8 - http://ourgatorzone.blogspot.com
#9 - http://diaryofachicmommy.com

We also always extend the option of the slot

Each week we will randomly draw from three (3) blogs from the links for the next week’s Friday Follow, and each blog chosen will be placed in the highly coveted number #7, #8, and #9 position on the blog hop. The first blog chosen will also be given the option of doing an interview which will post on Friday-Follow.com on Thursday the next week. We love your participation and want to give back to you! You could be next!

Today's Sponsor is Friday-Follow.com. We are offering 3 advertising spots on our site that will run for one week beginning Thursday, August 13th. Ads normally cost $10. Find out more information.

Have a product to promote? Become a sponsor
Got a meme or to promote? LIST YOUR LINKY!/ See the Linky Listing
Got a giveaway going on? List it here Advertise on our site- learn how here

Also! Join us for our new weekend comment club!

Friday-Follow Giveaway Listing

2010-08-05T16:47:00.000-04:00

This is our Giveaway listing.

THIS IS NOT THE FRIDAY-FOLLOW LINKY!

Check out our linky listing for other linkys’ for giveaways and memes. Please add your giveaways here and your put your Follow links on the follow linky.

Showcase of C.Mom

2010-08-03T11:00:00.000-04:00

Webster's Dictionary defines a dream as:
1) a series of thoughts, images, or emotions occurring during sleep
2) an experience of waking life having the characteristics of a dream
3) something notable for its beauty, excellence, or enjoyable quality
4) a strongly desired goal or purpose

Most of us have had dreams in our life both in the sleeping sense and the strongly desired goal. Some people can even be characterized as "dreamers"- people whose visions and goals are so high that they seem unattainable. Some reach their aspirations, some do not.

For me, having a dream is an important part of who I am. I have always set goals- some of them short term, some of them lofty. I come from a family of dreamers. My great grandparents dreamed of escaping the nightmare that awaited them as Jews in Italy. My grandfather dreamed of building his own sailboat. My grandmother dreamed of writing a memoir. My mom dreams of leading groups of people on cooking tours through Italy. My dad dreams of being a conductor at the Metropolitan Opera House or using his boat to cross the Atlantic Ocean (These are the dreams that I think my parents have. I could be wrong. Oh wait, I am rarely wrong.) :)

My dreams... I dreamed as a young girl of becoming a news reporter (I would still love this) or an astronaut (hard to do when science is not your forte') --and then of becoming a teacher (phew, I was able to do this one!). I dreamed later on about becoming a mom (a bit challenging, but I can check the done box there too). I dreamed of running a marathon (also challenging- and also done).

The key to each of those dreams was family, love, and passion. My grandmother's memoir could not have been published had it not been for the love of her family. My dream of running a marathon would not have come true had it not been for the encouraging voice of my parents as I recounted the miserable training runs round and round a lake, in tears.

My current dreams? Becoming a published is one, running a faster marathon is another (I might just settle for running a faster half marathon). Neither one of these dreams is going to be accomplished easily.

The key to a dream I think is the feeling that despite all obstacles, you can be successful. There are so many potential road blocks on the path to any dream: family, finances, skills, you name....it can be a little bump or a huge mountain to overcome. For me, the key to my dreams has been my family and friends. Sometimes a dream can be accomplished without the help of others, but in many (and I would argue) most cases, lofty dreams require the support of those around you. You need a shoulder to cry on when things are not going your way, or a sounding board to problem solve with.

I am a strong believer in the idea that things happen for a reason, so maybe the bumps, mountains, or obstacles are designed to make us want our dream even more. Maybe they help distinguish between dreams that are real and dreams that are more about fanciful wishes. Maybe, but in all honesty, crying as I circled the lake on those early Sunday mornings, did not feel all that good. I am not sure that the tears made me stronger. What made me stronger was me. My belief in myself propelled me to go back each Sunday. Sometimes, the answer is simple.

As Jean Kwok writes in Girl in Translation, it is as simple as taking "a deep breath" and taking the step.

By C.Mom

Showcase of Kerri's Klutter

2010-08-02T11:54:00.000-04:00

I Have A Blog

A lady where I work asked me what I like to do for fun.

It's one of those questions that should be easy to answer.

Easy for most but I didn't know what to say.

So, I did what all people do when faced with a seemingly unanswerable question.

I repeated the question out loud, changing it of course to apply to myself.

What do I like to do for fun?

I like to read I blurted out.

She smiled at me.

And write I added. I have a blog.

She shrank back. You have a blog?

Yeah I replied. Does that surprise you?

She hesitated. Carefully wording her reply before hand.

It does. Because. You're so quiet.

The last three words spewed forth as if being quiet were an unfortunate disease I was ridden with.

She waited for me to say something in response but I refused to defend myself to her.

Well, that's cool she said. You blog.

Yep.

I went back to filing and she walked away.

Immediately I started forming a blog post in my head.

Because that's what I do now when something like this happens.

Who says stuff like that? I wrote on the blank page behind my eyes.

Did you just judge me? Was the look of bewilderment for real?

Well, lady from work. Welcome to the Klutter.

Haven't you heard?

If you don't have anything nice to say, go home and blog about it.

That's what I do for fun.

Weekend Comment Club!

2010-07-30T21:11:00.000-04:00

Here is the 411 on the Weekend Comment Club

Make sure you have time for the commitment.

Do not sign up just to sign up.

Once you sign up you will need to comment the other participants.

If we get more than 20 participants, you can stop commenting at 20 or comment as many more as you would like to comment.

You have through Monday to comment the others.

You may want to check back each day to see who has recently joined.

How to join.

Link us to your site or to a post that you would like to share and IS NOT A GIVEAWAY.

You do not have to write a special post to participate.

Visit the other participants.

When you visit and comment, be sure to mention that you are visiting from the Comment Club. This is how they will know to comment you back!

Have fun.

Auto Draft

2010-07-29T16:44:00.000-04:00

Giveaway Linky for July 30th

2010-07-29T12:16:00.000-04:00

This is our Giveaway listing. THIS IS NOT THE FRIDAY-FOLLOW LINKY!

Check out our linky listing for other linkys’ for giveaways and memes. Please add your giveaways here and your put your Follow links on the follow linky.

The Friday Follow Interview with the Semi-Slacker Mom

2010-07-29T11:37:00.000-04:00

This week’s interview feature is Semi-Slacker Mom from Semi Slacker Mom!. Feel free to read her feature and be sure to check her blog out!

Ian - When did you start blogging and link up your first post.
Semi-Slacker Mom - July 22, 2008 (2 years ago!) My 1st post was Why I'm a semi-slacker mom...

I - When you started blogging, what were some of your goals?
SSM - When I first started, I just did it to entertain my "in real life" friends & family & keep up with the things I was supposed to be scrapbooking. I was very naive about the whole blogging world. I didn't even read other blogs until I started doing it myself. I have recently set a goal to get more comments, I have lots of followers but I only average about 20 comments per post & the comments really mean a lot to me.

I - Have you reached any of your blogging goals?
SSM - I would have to say that I have exceeded my original goals. Not only do pretty much everyone I know "in real life" read, but so do their friends. And that's not even counting my blog friends. However, since my IRL friends aren't bloggers, they don't comment. So I'm still working on that goal.

I - If you knew then what you know now, what would you do differently in regards to blogging?
SSM - I guess the only thing I would do would be to get involved with other bloggers & groups sooner. I have learned so many things from other bloggers.

I - List and give a brief description of three of your favorite blogs
SSM - Some of my most favorite blogs are not because of the blog itside but the person who writes it. And since I'm a rebel, I'm going to link to a few of my blog besties.

http://thingsicantsay-shell.blogspot.com/

http://pinkgreenandsouthern.blogspot.com/

http://thehortonfamily.blogspot.com//

http://therothreport.blogspot.com/

http://aliasblogger.blogspot.com/

I - What are some things you'd like to share about yourself?
SSM - I'm a SAHM, but I don't cook very much, my house is always a wreck. June Cleaver I am not. I call myself a Semi-Slacker Mom because I'm not June Cleaver, but I am very involved in my children's lives & activities. I'm from the South & I sometimes refer to myself as a "Preppy Redneck".

I - What makes you unique?
SSM - I am the orginial "Semi-Slacker Mom".

I - Give the best piece of advice anyone's ever given you.
SSM - Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind. --Dr. Seuss

Thanks for reading and be sure to check out What Would Semi-Slacker Mom Do?!

Showcase of Terri from That's What She Said

2010-07-27T07:14:00.000-04:00

I’m so excited to be hosting Friday Follow me! Thanks to everyone for participating this week!

I’m fairly new to the world of blogging. In fact, I had never really explored the blog world prior to April of this year. Now I’m hooked! What started as a diversion, while I was home healing a ruptured achilles, has now turned into a passion. I returned to work just a week ago, and I’m already suffering from blog-withdrawl! Thank goodness for weekends!!

I truly appreciate all the wonderful blogs I’ve discovered and the friendly, helpful bloggers who have been guiding me along the way.

Although my blog’s emphasis is re-discovering the woman inside the mom, with a focus on all things pampering and green, I find that some of my favorite posts are the ones about my “furry child”. Feel free to follow along his blog adventure via the following links. I’d love to hear about your “furry kids”!

http://tsue-thatswhatshesaid.blogspot.com/2010/04/im-so-proud-of-my-furry-child.html

http://tsue-thatswhatshesaid.blogspot.com/2010/06/who-wears-furry-pants-in-this-family.html

http://tsue-thatswhatshesaid.blogspot.com/2010/07/oh-great-now-weve-done-it.html

Thanks for your time!
Enjoy your day, save the worrying for tomorrow.
Terri (tsue1136)
That’s What She Said

Showcase of Shell from Things I Can't Say

2010-07-26T07:14:00.000-04:00

I thought I would do something a little different for my feature over here on Friday Follow. I’m Shell, and I blog over at Things I Can’t Say, an anonymous blog where I talk about parenting, family, marriage, friendship, and whatever else comes to mind. But, I saw this fun “tag” floating around on a few blogs and I thought that this would be a good time to try it so that you could get to know a little about me.

I’ve come to realize that my job…is the hardest and most rewarding one I’ve ever had.

I’ve come to realize that when I’m driving…I leave on whatever kids’ movie or cd was playing last, even if there are no kids in the van.

I’ve come to realize that I need…motivation to get through all my to-do lists.

I’ve come to realize that I have lost…my keys, my purse, and my blackberry about 20 times a day.

I’ve come to realize that I hate…ketchup, mean people, and my mommy tummy.

I’ve come to realize that money…doesn’t solve all problems, but it sure can help.

I’ve come to realize that certain people…will never learn.

I’ve come to realize that my siblingss…live too far away.

I’ve come to realize that my cell phone…is my lifeline- thank God I get it back tomorrow, after being without for almost a week!

I’ve come to realize that when I woke up this morning…I should be thankful to my mil for the peace in my house, since she kept my boys overnight.

I’ve come to realize that my first love is…my husband or maybe reading. ;)

I’ve come to realize that right now I am thinking about…eating some more birthday cake!

I’ve come to realize that today…was made better by a sparkling t-shirt, good food, and a nap.

I’ve come to realize that my best friend…is the most amazing person ever and I’m very lucky to have her in my life.

I’ve come to realize that what I really want to do…is figure out how to have balance in my life.

I’ve come to realize that my children…give the best hugs, even when they are all sticky and dirty.

I’ve come to realize that life…is always changing.

Weekend Comment Club!

2010-07-23T19:06:00.000-04:00

We had some followers respond to our survey that they wanted a better opportunity to get to know other bloggers beyond the Google Friend Connect inspired follow.

Here is the 411 on the Weekend Comment Club

Make sure you have time for the commitment.

Do not sign up just to sign up.

Once you sign up you will need to comment the other participants.

If we get more than 20 participants, you can stop commenting at 20 or comment as many more as you would like to comment.

You have through Monday to comment the others.

You may want to check back each day to see who has recently joined.

How to join.

Link us to your site or to a post that you would like to share and IS NOT A GIVEAWAY.

You do not have to write a special post to participate.

Visit the other participants.

When you visit and comment, be sure to mention that you are visiting from the Comment Club. This is how they will know to comment you back!

Have fun.

Reminder- this is not intended to be used to list contests. Links going directly to a contest will be deleted. thanks!

Friday Follow: Building Friendships One blog at a Time - July 23rd

2010-07-22T20:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the 9th Friday Follow hosted by our awesome hostesses, Shell from Things I Can't Say, Terri from That's What She Said, Tami from Hearts Make Families, Harriet from Harriet and Friends, and Ian from The Daily Dose of Reality. Thank you everyone for being willing to host! Please stop by and see these awesome host/hostesses.

We invite you to join us every Friday to get more blog followers and to find many interesting blogs that you like. This is all about sharing and having fun.

We expect you to be on your honor and to have fun. These are only guidelines to make it more enjoyable for you. Here’s how YOU can join the Friday Follow celebration:

Link up your blog below.. One Link per blog

Grab our Friday Follow button include on your side bar, or post.. grab the linky information if you want it

Follow the Friday-Follow blog and the hostesses in slots 1, 2, & 3 that have volunteered today to host

Follow the blogs you want, leave comment saying you are from Friday Follow – use common courtesy

Congratulations to our Three Friday Follow Winners!!!

#7 - Confessions of a Semi-Slacker Mom
#8 - Crouching Mother, Hidden Toddler
#9 - Creative Flair

One of our participants will win a dvd of Secrets of the Mountain, the first installment in this series. Be sure to enter their contest to win an iPad.

Want to advertise on our site and be seen by thousands of people? If you sign upTODAYAdvertising is $5 per spot. You must sign up today to qualify. This offer expires at midnight CST. Ads normally cost $10. Find out more information.

Have a product to promote? Become a sponsor
Got a meme or to promote? LIST YOUR LINKY!/ See the Linky Listing
Got a giveaway going on? List it here

Advertise on our site- learn how here

Also! Join us for our new weekend comment club!

GIVEAWAY LINKY FOR July22nd Hop

2010-07-22T16:45:00.000-04:00

This is our Giveaway listing.

THIS IS NOT THE FRIDAY-FOLLOW LINKY!

Check out our linky listing for other linkys' for giveaways and memes.

Please add your giveaways here and your put your Follow links on the follow linky.

Thanks!

<a href="http://friday-follow.com" mce_href="http://friday-follow.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i358.photobucket.com/albums/oo22/iamharriet/ff/give.jpg" mce_src="http://i358.photobucket.com/albums/oo22/iamharriet/ff/give.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a>

The Friday Follow Interview with Jen

2010-07-22T06:00:00.000-04:00

This week’s interview feature is Jen from What Would Jen Do?!. Feel free to read her feature and be sure to check her blog out!

Ian - When did you start blogging and link up your first post.

Jen - I started blogging in October of 2001, but not on my What Would Jen Do site, on a self contained journal site that I can't link up to as it's completely private.

I - When you started blogging, what were some of your goals?

J - I started blogging so that I could get out everything that I was thinking while still hiding behind being anonymous. I was at the end of a very rough relationship and needed to vent everything. 9 years later, so much for being anonymous. I didn't count on meeting a lot of people via my blog that would become my friends in real life.

I - Have you reached any of your blogging goals?
J - I definitely have, I have found a very specific support system, which was exactly what I needed.

I - If you knew then what you know now, what would you do differently in regards to blogging?
J - I would have tried harder in the beginning to reach out. Instead I stalked blogs for years and finally within the past few months decided to make myself known to some of these people. I don't know why I stalked them, I guess because I figured they wouldn't have time for me or care about a boring old blogger like myself. I still stalk quite a few blogs tho.....

I - List and give a brief description of three of your favorite blogs
J - PICK ONLY THREE????

http://www.fromiftowhen.com/ From If to When, she's a great writer and she's writes on a variety of topics. I feel like I relate to her and that's important to me when reading a blog. She's such a great writer that she was recently nominated for a national blog award!

http://thegoodyearfamily.blogspot.com/ The Goodyear Family She writes about her day to day life and just like From If to When she writes on a variety of topics. I enjoy reading bloggers who are willing to discuss their ordinary day to day life. Plus we live in the same state and I like to fake stalk her when she says she's going somewhere.

http://thinkingcat.blogspot.com/ Cat's Thoughts. Cat is one of my best friends and relatively new to the blogging world but she's picking up the pace a bit. Even tho I talk to her almost daily, I still like to read what she's got to say. She reads books ALL THE TIME, so if you want to talk books with anyone, she's the girl to go to.

I - What are some things you'd like to share about yourself?
J - I'm an ordinary girl!! I watch A LOT of TV, I love Coach purses and lipgloss. I am totally and utterly obsessed with my husband, tho he hates to hear that kind of mushy stuff. We've been together 8.5 years and have been married 2 years as of July 19th. I have a very dry sense of humor that most people don't understand and mistake it for rudeness. That might explain why I don't have very many friends...... I also love love love horror movies, Zombie movies specifically.

I - What makes you unique?
J - Everything! I'm one of a kind. And I fully believe the classic 1950's housewife is a lost art. I'm going to try and bring it back.

I - Give the best piece of advice anyone's ever given you.
J - Honestly, it sounded really lame at the time, but someone once told me "just because you're in a bad mood in general doesn't mean you have to take it out on me". I was obviously in a bad mood when told this so it just pissed me off more, but the more I thought about it the more I realized it was sound advice. Just because you have PMS or are pissed off at someone or something else doesn't mean you should take that out on the innocent person standing in front of you.

Thanks for reading and be sure to check out What Would Jen Do?!

Weekend Comment Club

2010-07-16T19:50:00.000-04:00

We had some followers respond to our survey that they wanted a better opportunity to get to know other bloggers beyond the Google Friend Connect inspired follow.

Here is the 411 on the Weekend Comment Club

Make sure you have time for the commitment.

Do not sign up just to sign up.

Once you sign up you will need to comment the other participants.

If we get more than 20 participants, you can stop commenting at 20 or comment as many more as you would like to comment.

You have through Monday to comment the others.

You may want to check back each day to see who has recently joined.

How to join.

Link us to your site or to a post that you would like to share and IS NOT A GIVEAWAY.

You do not have to write a special post to participate.

Visit the other participants.

When you visit and comment, be sure to mention that you are visiting from the Comment Club. This is how they will know to comment you back!

Have fun.

Reminder- this is not intended to be used to list contests. Links going directly to a contest will be deleted. thanks!

Automation of Friday-Follow

2010-07-16T07:04:00.000-04:00

For the last several weeks, we have found that running the Friday-Follow has been a lot harder than we expected. We have seen things that we didn't like as well from our hostesses.

We have been discussing the option of making this Friday-Follow automatic where there would not be as much to do with it. For several reasons this has come into our minds:

Hostesses not showing up.

Hostesses using their hostessing as an option to show off their blog hop. I was quite disgusted when I find that we give the html for the Friday Follow blog hop to a hostesses and the first thing on their blog is their blog hop and not ours. Should we limit the hostess that have other blog hops on their posts? I don't know. But it is an honor to host the Friday-Follow. There are requirements and lots of people still waiting in line to host.

As of this week, we will no longer be monitoring the linky itself. It takes to much time, we are expecting that you be on your honor though.

One very frustrated administrator

Friday Follow: Building Friendships One Blog At A Time - July 16th

2010-07-15T20:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the 8th Friday Follow hosted by our awesome hostesses, Heather & Jessica from Saving Money and Living Life, Tami from Hearts Make Families, Harriet from Harriet and Friends, and Ian from The Daily Dose of Reality. Thank you everyone for being willing to host! Please stop by and see these awesome host/hostesses.

We invite you to join us every Friday to get more blog followers and to find many interesting blogs that you like. This is all about sharing and having fun.

We expect you to be on your honor and to have fun. These are only guidelines to make it more enjoyable for you. Here’s how YOU can join the Friday Follow celebration:

Link up your blog below.. One Link per blog

Grab our Friday Follow button include on your side bar, or post.. grab the linky information if you want it

Follow the Friday-Follow blog and the hostesses in slots 1, 2, & 3 that have volunteered today to host

Follow the blogs you want, leave comment saying you are from Friday Follow – use common courtesy

If you need more guidelines about following see Friday-Follow.com
This list is new each week and closes on Saturday at 11:59pm EST. The links do not carry over. Please link up each week for new participants to find your blogs. It will be visible all week to visit the blogs listed.

Congratulations to our Three Friday Follow Winners!!!

#7 - What Would Jen Do
#8 - My Three Bubs
#9 - Toddler Awesome

Each week we will randomly draw from three (3) blogs from the links for the next week’s Friday Follow, and each blog chosen will be placed in the highly coveted number #7, #8, and #9 position on the blog hop. The first blog chosen will also be given the option of doing an interview which will post on Friday-Follow.com on Thursday the next week. We love your participation and want to give back to you! You could be next!

Today's Friday-Follow is sponsored by The Twinners Reviews & Giveaways.

The giveaway prize is a package with assorted Avon goodies (body wash, perfume, etc.) This is for US residents .

Visit our sponsor and check out their reviews and giveaways for the whole family. Everything from jewelry for mom to cloth diapers for baby to soda for dad. As they're nearing 500 Google Friends, they're sponsoring today's Friday Follow to help them get there! The big winner of this week's Friday Follow will win an Avon prize pack containing body wash, jewelry, makeup and lotion. If you like Avon, we KNOW you will love this! Pop on into The Twinners and you'll be treated with some awesome giveaways. Who knows, you might just win!

Want to advertise on our site and be seen by thousands of people? If you sign upTODAY Advertising is $5 per spot. You must sign up today to qualify. This offer expires at midnight CST. Ads normally cost $10. Find out more information.

Have a product to promote? Become a sponsor
Got a meme or to promote? LIST YOUR LINKY!/ See the Linky Listing
Got a giveaway going on? List it here

Advertise on our site- learn how here

Also! Join us for our new weekend comment club!

Thanks so much for your support and Happy Commenting!

GIVEAWAY LINKY!

2010-07-15T08:07:00.000-04:00

This linky is for Giveaways only!

THIS IS NOT OUR Friday-Follow sign-up linky!

This linky also resides on our Giveaway Linky Page.

The Friday Follow Interview with Deanna

2010-07-15T08:01:00.000-04:00

This week’s interview feature is Jessica from Mommy's Sippy Cup!. Feel free to read her feature and be sure to check her blog out!

Ian - When did you start blogging and link up your first post.
Jessica - I first started blogging April of 2009, a few months after I was pregnant. I had never heard of the whole blogging world before, and didn't know how addicting it was going to be. I had never even read a blog before! At first it was just family, but when I got my first real follower, I was more than excited! A few months after I started blogging, I learned about SITS, and linked up my very first post. Even then, I didn't know if I was doing it right!

I - When you started blogging, what were some of your goals?
J - I wanted to blog with humor and purpose, to be featured blogger on SITS, to do PR and review products and well as giveaway, have a sponsor for my blog, and to have a decent following. Knowing that my mom isn't the only one reading would be great! :)

I - Have you reached any of your blogging goals?
J - I have actually. I was featured on SITS and felt like I had won the jackpot. Trust me, I talked about it for days!! Which helped my following out a lot. I have done a little PR here and there, and still working on it. I know that is going to take time.

I - If you knew then what you know now, what would you do differently in regards to blogging?
J - I would do everything exactly the same. I started blogging for myself and family to record pictures of family, my pregnancy, and then to add pictures after our baby was born. Besides, I just love to write and blogging has been a tremendous outlet for me. Even if no one was reading, I would keep on writing.

I - List and give a brief description of three of your favorite blogs

J - A daily must read for me is A Daily Scoop of Chaos If you read Jen's blog, then you know how fun it is. She is vloggin, beautiful picture taking, hysterical random blog posts, open and honest queen. She seriously cracks me up a lot.

I also love The Undomestic Mom She just seems so cute and sweet. And I must say that I want to raid her closet! She has the best clothes! She put off her fashion degree to be a SAHM for her sweet baby girl. She has wonderful giveaways for baby and mom.

Baby Steps in High Heels first off, if she can carry a baby graciously while carrying a baby and not falling, you gotta love her! She is a wonderful person who blogs from the heart, mother, worker, has great friends. Sometimes has the help from a little caffeine and wine. Who can argue with that!?!

I - What are some things you'd like to share about yourself?
J - Maybe by the time I am putting in my dentures, I will have this whole parenthood thing figured out. But then I will probably forget it all and not be able to pass it down to own kids. I sometimes use humor to distract things from being too serious, or when I get nervous. It's my defense mechanism. Sometimes it's good, and sometimes it pops out at very wrong times! I love everything about writing and really hoping someday I can publish my first book. Even if my mom is the only one that reads it! :)

I - What makes you unique?
J - I'm a people person and sometimes can fit anywhere. Maybe not a biker bar, but I could for sure drink some beers with them. But I love random things. Billie Holiday while cooking dinner, baking, arts and crafts, to white water rafting and having drinks with my friends. That doesn't necessarily make me unique, I'll say well rounded.

and finally...

I - Give the best piece of advice any one's ever given you.
J- Live your life for you. If what you are doing in life makes you happy, warms your heart, and you enjoy what you are doing, who cares what anyone else thinks. Put your all into it and make the best of it!

Thanks for reading and be sure to check out Mommy's Sippy Cup!

Showcase: A Peek Inside

2010-07-13T20:00:00.000-04:00

As I sit in the dark this morning, the only sounds that I hear is the cars outside on the highway, the computer running, the coffee dripping and my cats running through my house. It's early in the morning, but not too early to be awake. The sun is going to be shining and I am ready to face the day. Another day, unlike any other, but yet a day in my life.

I am a 33 (just today! Happy birthday to me!) year old Christian Wife and Mother. I don't live an extremely exciting life, but it's my life just the same. I love the life that the good Lord has given me and I feel blessed.

A Peek Inside is a blog that I use to explore the ideas that are flipping around in my head. I enjoy writing but will admit that I am not a great writer. Blogging is a great escape for steam that builds up and gains so much pressure that I am sure my head is going to explode into thousands of tiny bits that are impossible for me to round up! I have many ideas bouncing around that I would love to blog about. The problem is time.

A little about myself: I have been married for 11 1/2 years and have had two beautiful children to complete our family. We attend a little church in our town that is the most blessed church I have ever known! They are definitely my family. I am very involved in activities that our church does. Currently I am teaching Sunday school for 1st and 2nd graders, I rotate months to teach Kids church for preschoolers, I help with Vacation Bible School and this year I am teaching the Kindergarteners and 1st graders, I ring bells in the hand bell choir and help with whatever they ask me to help with. I am raising my children to serve the Lord.

I do homeschool my children which is an adventure in itself. But I love it! I can plan and plan lessons until they are litterally rolling out of my ears! My kids are not old enough for such detailed plans, so I am patiently waiting for the teen years when I can just pile the work on! If you'd like to follow our homeschooling journeys you can read my blog about teaching called Teaching At Home in a Christian Way.

We are a nature-loving family and on nice days you may just find us out at the river or just sitting outside emjoying God's wonderful handy works. And of course, you will hardly every find me without my book that I am reading, sometimes 2, my cats, my coffee and my chapstick. I also design tags and have so much fun doing that. It is another great release for my mind. If you'd like to check those out, you can check out my designs here on my blog DDDesigns. I will take requests if you'd like something!

That's it for now. I am going to go back to my darkened morning, my sweetened coffee and watching the kittens run around in a black, white and brown blur. Enjoy your day!

Danielle Leigh

Showcase: Aunt Crazy

2010-07-13T04:00:00.000-04:00

This post sums up my lilfe...LOL

Hi y'all, I'm Aunt Crazy and YES, I not only answer to it in real life, but I refer to myself as Aunt Crazy quite often. I'm a wife, momma, sister, aunt, employee, and so much more. I posted this on my blog and it just about sums up my life. It does lead people to believe that I am a redneck, but I promise you, I'm so NOT...LOL! I'm just a city girl that married a redneck, living this redneck life.

http://www.auntcrazyhere.com/2009/10/you-might-be-wife-of-redneck-if.html

Aunt Crazy
www.auntcrazyhere.com

Showcase: Crayon Wrangler

2010-07-12T07:58:00.000-04:00

Hi ya'll!! I am The Crayon Wrangler and I am honored to be standing in the spotlight this Friday. Actually this spotlight thing is kind of unnerving with all of you watching me, so I am just going to picture you all standing in your underwear.

I normally vlog for Friday Follow and other posts, but since my darling Scribblers are producing more germs than a petri dish and I now have laryngitis...we are going to skip a vlog because I am not all that good with sign language and silent movies are a thing of the past.

I am a middle aged mom of 3 girls (4yo, 2yo & 6mo) and far from a desperate housewife. I adore being a housewife and all the yoga pants, scrunchie in the hair and scrubbing a toilet stuff that comes with it. I love being able to serve my family in the role of housewife and mom. (Yes, I just went THERE about serving my family, but I promise its not in some weird cultish-domination way) I recently moved to the country and am living my own personal Green Acres. When I am not changing diapers, trying to eat a hot meal, scrubbing crayon from the walls or stationed in the bathroom waiting for hours for potty training success; I am learning to make homemade butter, bread from scratch and making my own sourdough starter. My husband pats me on the head frequently and praises my success with the coveted words from an awesome movie.."That'll do Pig...That'll do"

I have been blogging now for 4 years and love being able to journal my kids, share lessons along the way and hopefully bring you a giggle from time to time. I have been given opportunities through my blogging that I have dreamed were even possible, but my hands-down-without-a-doubt reason I keep blogging is YOU (Seriously...I mean YOU) I love the relationships that I have gained through blogging, the casual interactions of people who you share your life with, who also share their life with you. When I write a post about some frustrating aspects of motherhood, I love to get a comment that says "Been there, Done that and Burned the TShirt". When I do a vlog and show you how to do something new, I love to get a "I am going to try that myself" comment. It means I reached you and we connected. That's just better than cold milk and an Oreo.

I want to thank the FF team for spotlighting me this week and I want to thank you for visiting with me. I hope you will come around my blog and visit more often.

Weekend Comment Club

2010-07-09T19:59:00.000-04:00

We had some followers respond to our survey that they wanted a better opportunity to get to know other bloggers beyond the Google Friend Connect inspired follow.

Here is the 411 on the Weekend Comment Club

Make sure you have time for the commitment.

Do not sign up just to sign up.

Once you sign up you will need to comment the other participants.

If we get more than 20 participants, you can stop commenting at 20 or comment as many more as you would like to comment.

You have through Monday to comment the others.

You may want to check back each day to see who has recently joined.

How to join.

Link us to your site or to a post that you would like to share and IS NOT A GIVEAWAY.

You do not have to write a special post to participate.

Visit the other participants.

When you visit and comment, be sure to mention that you are visiting from the Comment Club. This is how they will know to comment you back!

Have fun.
Where the linky asks for ideas- tell us something about your site.