Sad, but true: our thoughts and feelings are deceptive. Think things are going well? They might not be. Feel like you’re not making any progress? You could be completely wrong. That’s why finding external assessment tools is crucial.

For example, say one of your goals is to be fit and healthy. How will you determine whether you’re getting closer to where you want to be? You could try tracking your diet on a site like PhotoCalorie. You could track your workouts using Fitocracy, or on an online training log, tracking the number of hours you work out, or at the actual numbers you can hit. If you need to hit a certain competition weight, obviously your scale is your best friend. Otherwise, you could track your body fat percentage, or look at which clothes you fit in. Another option is to take photographs each month to see how your body is changing.

I’m not saying everybody needs to track every single thing. This can get time-consuming, frustrating and difficult to stick with. But if you don’t use any assessment tools at all, though, runs you the risk of thinking you’re doing great when you’re not, and then realizing you can’t lift nearly as much as you used to and have gained more fat than you’d thought.

Money is another area you may want to track well. Use Mint.com to keep track of your debt, investments, etc. and check your credit score regularly. If you’re a freelancer, invoicing software such as Freshbooks can also help you track the amount of hours you work, your pay per hour, your expenses (and income minus expenses), how long it takes clients to pay you, etc. Or you can create your own spreadsheets in Excel. If you’re a blogger or internet marketer, you probably already regularly check your Google Analytics, and you can pick a few specific areas to track as well. Heck, even something like cleaning can be tracked by looking at before/after photos of your office or bedroom, the amount of boxes you need to sort through, etc.

If you’re at a maintenance level, you may not need to monitor as obsessively as you would if you have a very specific goal to accomplish within a short period of time. But taking a look at your numbers once or twice a month certainly can’t hurt.

I use some of the tools above to regularly track my monthly income (amount invoiced and amount collected), hours I train (and in what), and a few other areas. I also review key events (good and bad) each month, and adjust my own strategy accordingly.

What are your favorite assessment tools?

Welcome to this week’s variety hour, where I corral all my favorite posts from the interwebz and put them all in one place, divided by topic, for your convenience. We’ve got 13 great posts this week; check ‘em out.

Social Media Ethics

• Be Careful What You Tweet, Pin Or Check Into: Someone’s Watching. I’m totally cool with people knowing that U.S. Bank always makes my deposits mysteriously disappear (and won’t respond to phone calls), that Comcast gets my bill wrong every single month, and that I am happily giving up my foursquare mayorship at Oxendale’s because they refuse to take my check since it’s from a different zip code (even though my real address, as indicated on my driver’s license, tells a different story.) But apparently tweeting this or commenting about it publicly means I may get advertising tailored specifically to me. Read this Adwords piece about social retargeting for more deets.

• Is President Barack Obama Using Unethical Marketing Tactics? Clay Collins takes a look.

• Teachers’ Message To Parents: “We Don’t Suck, You Suck.” For disgruntled teachers everywhere.

• The Trouble With Brain Scans. Are these studies legit, or not? Vaughan Bell takes a look.

• Worry Like a Jewish Mother. Marjorie Ingall, who you may remember from her Sassy magazine days, writes this brilliant parody with “simple guidelines for making moms neurotic, from Marge Simpson’s favorite magazine, Fretful Mother.”

Health and Wellness

• 25 Ways To Make Time For Fitness. Think you don’t have time to stay in shape? Here’s some strategies to consider.

• Let’s Be Less Productive. There’s an idea!

• Top 8 Most Common Reactions to Your Grain-Free Diet And How to Respond is a great post on Mark’s Daily Apple.

• Getting Older Can Make You Happier. Something to look forward to.

• Where’s All The Internet Money? Good question, huh?

• Neil Gaiman Gives Graduates 10 Essential Tips For Working In the Arts. Pretty interesting video, with some pertinent advice for freelancers. (Here’s a Venn diagram based on this speech posted on another site.) I would ignore the part about 2 out of 3, though!

• Fifteen Activities For Writers About To Give Up. I’ve done too many of these myself.

Song of the Month

• Y’all Motherfuckers Need Jesus: A brilliant rendition of the Goddamn Gallows tune. I actually prefer this to the original.

Enjoy!

Let’s face it. No matter how long we’ve been in the biz (any biz), none of us are completely immune to starf*cking. We all have those dream clients, coaches or companies which we’d absolutely die to work with. We’d spend hours trying to decide what to wear to our first meeting. We’d strategically namedrop key names or studies.  And we’d unapologetically run around the house squealing if we got the call from them.

How this plays out depends on the situation. Dream coach? We’d sit at their feet, taking notes at all times (or afterwards, if this is more appropriate), and even spend hours defending their honor on douchey forums on the internet. Dream client? We’d bring cupcakes to meetings and make way more follow-up phone calls than are necessary just to secure the gig, even when something is starting to feel a bit weird…and everyone else can call US back, thank you very much.

The stories are different for each situation, but they’re always pretty similar–you put time, energy, heart, soul, blood, sweat, tears, love, passion and oh-so-much attention into a wannabe project, while realizing that what you’re giving has the potential to far outweigh what you get back out of the thing. Whether you’re poring through obscure texts to come up with the appropriate material to grill someone you want to train or study with, doing way more research than is warranted to come up with good questions to ask, or spending many hours meditating on what you can possibly offer the too-good-to-be-true client, there’s always a lot of potential risks and rewards in this type of scenario. Let’s take a look at some of them.

Access

The dream: Being able to actually talk to this person everyone is dying to get ahold of is not only an ego boost, and could even help develop your career. How could it not? They are masterful in their approach, and full of infinite wisdom.

The reality: You may have direct access to your rockstar, but that doesn’t mean you’re going to get much time from them. They will likely  be helping you help them, and may not have any desire to actually help you with your career–unless it directly helps them. This is normal. If you hired someone, wouldn’t you find them needy and annoying if they needed your blessing or wanted your advice on every little thing? If you’re coaching someone on something specific, would you want to help with everything else going on in their lives? And if you’ve got tons of responsibilities and are pressed for time, would you really dole out hours of attention just for the asking?

What to find out: How much direction are you going to get on this project? And is it going to help you get to where you need to go? If not, would you still be interested? And is there another way to get what you need?

Tips: A lot of this totally depends on the situation. If you’re paying a rockstar coach, you can expect guidance. If you’re working at said coach’s gym at the front desk, they’re not going to offer you free personal training. In a business situation, it depends on how big of a rockstar the person is and how many resources they have at their disposal, as well as the way they want to run things. Ask up front if they’re planning on helping you with your own professional development or expect you to hit the ground running. Then you’ll at least be doing your part to make sure you’re all on the same page. And here’s a news flash: your rockstar may not be the best person for you to work with at this time.

Platform

The dream: You don’t have any fans, but your rockstar does, and you can totally leverage this. Not only will people suddenly listen to everything you have to say because you are working with this person, but you’ll have instant access to the same platform they have so that you’ll suddenly have an audience for all of your hidden gems and brilliant ideas. Fame and fortune will follow.

The reality: Sometimes, you may give this person some great ideas which they use, without giving you any credit at all. This can be done in a totally legitimate way, like if you’re a ghostwriter, or if it’s an idea they believe they co-created with you as their student/client, or it can be done in a slimy way, which we all probably have stories about. Sometimes they try to give you credit, but it doesn’t stick. (I recently saw a brilliant guest post on a fitness blog. It was written by an intern, but all the commenters assumed the gym owner had written for it and gave him props for it, rather than interacting with the writer.) Sometimes it just isn’t appropriate to the situation for you to get credit. I recently passed on a fascinating study I found to a rockstar writer, and saw it quoted in a column he wrote for *the biggest newspaper I know.* Yes, I felt a twinge of jealousy about her platform (and money she got for the piece which I could’ve easily written), but a plug for me in the piece would be highly inappropriate–and it wasn’t my research. After about 45 seconds, I decided I was glad the information was out there for the world to read, but that may not always be the case in each situation… just something to be aware of.  Another thought: your rockstar spent years of their own time building their audience… this is never something they are required to share with you, and their people may be different than your people, anyway.

What to find out: What is the climate of the place you’ll be working like? Try to be as clearheaded and objective about this assessment as possible, hopefully by speaking to an uninterested party. And what are your expectations? Check to see how realistic they are by looking at people in your position from your rockstar’s past, if at all possible.

Tips: Why are you even doing this? Is it primarily for the love of the game, for money, for career advancement or for access to expertise? All are equally valid options, but being clear going into the thing is crucial.

Credibility

The dream: By working with this rockstar, everyone will know that you really have truly made it. They will offer you book deals, large amounts of cash, and countless opportunities.

The reality: This is unlikely…and any fame and fortune you get by association can disappear as quickly as you get it. In fact, it can be even worse. We all have heard stories of people leaving a company or other situation on bad terms, and it’s not the rockstar who usually gets the blame for it. Any professional worth their salt would at least attempt to keep what actually happened on the down low, which probably won’t do wonders for abating speculation. And don’t forget, rockstars come and go. Yours could be yesterday’s news, so make sure you legitimately like what they do and stand for.

What to find out: Honestly, it’s kind of best not to ask about potential perks by association when going into the deal… but if you do get too carried away with imaginings, pull the reign on your fantasy world by looking at other people in the role you’re contemplating and where they are now.

Tips: Just realize going into the thing that any opportunities you get by being associated to a rockstar can disappear as quickly as they came.

Dreaminess

The dream: This rockstar is the greatest person of all time! Everything they say is gold. They totally walk on water, and I would totally die to help them create miracles.

The reality: Rockstars are, well, rockstars! They can be dynamic and charismatic and charming and amazing. They may have an incredible level of knowledge and expertise. They can also be self-absorbed, scattered, confused, and incredibly hard to deal with, making everyone around them crazy trying to hit a moving target and meet unspoken expectations. Your rockstar might be completely unethical in some way, which could make you rethink the industry itself (and put you in a bind since you don’t want to speak negatively of them). Your rockstar might not have the knowledge base you’d hoped for. And if you’re lucky enough to get regular feedback on your work, when said feedback is negative, it REALLY stings and can even affect how you view yourself as an artist/writer/athlete/[insert word here].

What to find out: If possible, try to determine what those people are really like. You can speak with both raving fans and disgruntled people who were former raving fans. And there’s sneakier ways to look into things… but try to do your due diligence.

Tips: Lower your expectations. Even superstars are human! And make sure you have a solid sense of yourself and your identity going into the deal, so that if things don’t work out, you’re not left picking up the pieces of your long-lost dreams.

Compromise?

The dream: This is SUCH a great opportunity, that I’m totally going to go against my better judgement/drop my rates/pay  more than I can afford/work with this person even though they seem ridiculously high maintenance/make a lot of compromises which feel kind of icky/drop everything to do what I can to land it.

The reality: No matter how amazing you think this opportunity is, doing too much for too little will leave you feeling resentful.

What to find out: What is expected, and what is offered? How does this compare to similar opportunities on the market? Are there other similar options? (People hate asking that one in the heat of the moment, but…) Is this a temporary deal?

Tips: This is when talking the whole thing out with several trusted mentors, advisors or friends is crucial. Explain why you’re in love with the opportunity and why the other ones aren’t as good, what options you have, what your best and worst-case scenarios are and all that, and ask for their opinion. And then listen–really listen–to what they have to say. Another tip: if you are hoping a certain situation is temporary (i.e. you’re paying more than you want, getting less pay than you need, living somewhere overpriced for this opportunity, etc.), make sure to put it in writing, even if it’s just for yourself. And mark your calendar to check back on what you were originally hoping. Paying more than you can afford for an educational opportunity may work for a short period of time, but if it becomes a long-term thing, you’ll need to reassess–so make sure you have processes in place for you to do that.

Comments?

Any experiences working with rockstars I’ve missed , or that you wish to elaborate on? Leave ‘em in the comments.

Having always considered this a health and fitness-related blog, I was a bit surprised when I put my URL into Wordle, and found that the most common words had to do with writing, family, business and food…along with names of women I don’t recognize, and even a handful of words related to motherhood (moms, parenting, kids, etc.) which made me scratch my head.

Nonetheless, here’s the most oft-used words on this blog. Wordle, by the way, is pretty fun and easy to use. You can enter random text or a blog URL, or even use deli.c.ious. Check it out on Wordle.net.

(A larger version is available here.)

I just joined Fitocracy, and thought you might be interested, too. It is a free website which allows you to track your workouts in real time. You earn points for your workouts, can join various forums, and can follow your friends, too. You can even connect Fitocracy to existing Facebook, twitter or RunKeeper accounts. Plus, there’s a cool (and free) iPhone app, so you can log your workouts in real time.

The exercise selection needs some development, and I’m still trying to figure out the rhyme and reason behind the way points are awarded. But bottom line, it looks really cool and is free (though there is a paid option which offers special features for $5/month.)

I’d love to have more people join me on Fitocracy, so if you’re interested in using a social game to improve your fitness, track your workouts, and hopefully have some fun in the process, consider checking it out–and make sure to follow me! Just search for “yaelwrites.”

The acid-alkaline theory comes up on a fairly regular basis, so I thought I’d link to a free article I wrote for the Performance Menu’s 64th issue.

“The acid-alkaline theory states that eating too much acidic food robs minerals from the bones, but it’s since been discovered that blood acidity is actually buffered by corrective measures in the urinary and respiratory systems. Because blood is normally slightly alkaline (7.4) and metabolism is acidic, the alkalinity of the blood is maintained by CO2 exhalation and by urinating (average urine pH is 5.9). So basically, if your pH is too acid or too alkaline, your body will compensate for it. You’ll breath out more or less CO2, or your urine will dump out either hydrogen or bicarbonate ions to maintain the proper pH level. ‘There is no requirement for food or minerals to balance the acid,’ Bergner stated.”

Read the whole piece here.

May 25th is Geek Pride Day, the 35th anniversary of the release of the first Star Wars film, Towel Day (for Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy fans) and Glorious 25 May (for fans of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld).

Unfortunately, I have no local friends (that I know of) to LARP or play AD&D with. Instead, I will be celebrating by reading science and tech blogs on Wired.com, looking through my comic book collection, and perhaps re-watching some sci-fi favorites. Feel free to join in!

Want to rank your geekdom? Take the Geek Test online.

Modis is hosting the Geekstakes 2012 sweepstakes, and giving out prizes from Thinkgeek each day through June 1st. Just visit the Modis Facebook page and click on the “Geekstakes” tab to enter. (In the interest of true geekdom, though, I’ll let you find it yourself.

Enjoy the day.

Every May, I participate in Michelle Rafter’s blogging challenge, where a group of bloggers diligently blog every single day for a month. Blogathon manager Jan Udlock painstakingly compiled each and every blogger participating in this year’s blogging challenge, which Michelle posted. Here they are–all 250 of them! (I put asterisks next to health, wellness, food, and fitness-related blogs.)

A

Abra Cole – The Magical Miss, The pursuit of photography and pie.

Akanksha Garg - Smiling Mystic Cloud, A mirror that reflects the experiences of life.

Alana Mautone - Ramblin’ With AM, Living in upstate New York.

Aleksandra Milcic Radovanovic - Linguist Blog, Writing about translation and applied linguistics.

Alison Preston Baldyga – Lady Moxie, On a constant search for wellness.

Amanda Steinhaus – Ms. Panda’s Blog, Poetry, children’s stories, playwriting and more.

Andria – Find me Frugal(er) , Helping people cut costs and save money without taking it all too seriously.

Angela Aboulnaja - DMV Art, A comprehensive view into the art scene in DC, Maryland and Virginia.

Anna Murphy – Murphy Baby, Wife and mama to baby Ronan. Recorded words because I never want to forget what this feels like.

Annabelle – Shopping Detox, Where retro style meets personal finance.

Anne Noble – Mac’s Musings, My hopefully intelligent and coherent ramblings.

Anne Wainscott-Sargent – The Writing Well, Celebrating excellence in writing and storytelling.

Annette Gendler - Memoir, Writing & Life, Writing, teaching and publishing memoir and creative nonfiction.

Annie Logue - Ann Logue, Financial and current events, from author of four Dummies books on investing.

Anyes - Far Away in the Sunshine, Stories of a woman pursuing her creative dreams.

Ariel -Nuestro Contrapunto, A husband and wife writing about theology, literature, culture, actuality and more.

Aron Mturi -Aron Creativity, International celebrity news, current affairs, music and articles, especially from East Africa.

Aundra Weissert – Chestertown Fit for Life, Adventures in homesteading and personal fitness.

Ayesha Usman – Mommy First, Juggling a professional career and motherhood.

B

Barb Freda - Babette Feasts, Feast with me.

Barbara McDowell Whitt – WCHS, MPHS and Park College…Diary Writing 1960-1965, An Iowa farm
girl’s view of high school and college life in the 1960s.

Beth – Chasing My Joy, My journey to becoming an Ironman.

Beth Zare – Beth Zare, Personal thoughts about life.

Bill Lascher – Lascher at Large, Telling the true story of a young foreign correspondent’s adventures during World
War II.

Billie Noakes – The Billie Gram, Observations about life from a freelance writer and storyteller with a slightly bent sense of humor.

Brian Mann – Brian P. Mann, Rants, raves…that’s about it.

C

Cariann McCready – Unionvale Mom’s Spot, Rural life with family, food, crafts and books.

Carolina -Sew Carolina Knits, Running, quilting and knitting.

Carrie Schmeck – Bizzi Writer, Business copywriting that makes a difference.

Cathleen McCarthy – Save on Cities, Travel, entertainment and family fun along the Northeast Corridor: Boston, NYC, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington DC.

Cathy Canaceli – Periwinkle Confessions, It’s fun to be a godly girl.

Cathy Morton – Cathy’s Voice Now, Mother, grandmother and alcoholic/addict in long term recovery.

Caylie Price – Better Business Better Life, Blast your business to success, live the life you want!

Cheryl Wright – Cheryl Wright, Life, writing, interior design and more.

Chris Lowe – Blue Oregon, Contributing blogger at Oregon Progressive.

Christianne Cook – A Day in my Mind

Christina - Lazy Bones Running, Ramblings from an obsessed runner.

Christine Calvin - Inspired Life, Whatever strikes my fancy.

Christine Heinrichs - Poultry Bookstore, Information on heritage breed poultry.

Claudia Neely – Social Skills Success, Teaching parents of special needs teens, pre-teens and young adults how to mainstream their kids into successful peer groups and more.

Cody Ray – The Home of Challenge Pissing, Movies, music and whatever else I think is cool.

Connie Ong – Unbirthday Escapades, A look at memories past and present.

Cristina Santiestevan – Outlaw Garden, Breaking the rules by growing vegetables even when HOA says no.

Cynthia Pelcher – Cynthia Banessa, Sharing gardening, crafts and dishes.

D

Daisy – Compost Happens, Taking care of family, garden and coffee.

Dania Bianchi – The Health Nut, Health reports and news for the average mom; and Dania Bianchi, Content marketing for small businesses.

Danielle – Porridge Report, Digital doses for the modern family as seen by a distracted mother and writer.

Daphne – My Distant Husband, We are together; yet, living apart.

Darlene Peltz - Everything Relationships, Exploring ways to improve how we talk, treat and deal with each other.

Darling Sookie – Darling Sookie, Fictional telepathic barmaid who tweets too much and enjoys being a role player.

David Allen – Mac 20Q, Mac technology blog.

Dayle Fraschilla - I Shall Be a Toad, Everything that means anything to me.

Debbie Kaplan – Frisco Kids, Your guide to kid-friendly events and trips around the San Francisco Bay area.

Discorunner – Discorunner, Running, biking, swimming, and blogging in the nation’s capital.

Don Gonzalez – Joe Catholic, Where men can get to know, share and defend their Catholic faith.

Doña Bumgarner - Aubergine, Musings of a midlife mama.

Dylan Fogle – East Nashville Jugglers Club, Experience juggling.

E F

Ed Borasky – Borasky Research, Computational and data journalism.

Ejila Makangu – Ejimak, French-English translator

Elise Ventura – Skipping Stones, Current events, atheism, pop culture and more.

Elizabeth King Humphrey – The Write Elizabeth, A round-up of reading, writing, editing and parenting.

Elyse Grau - My Garden to Table, Growing what you eat, eating what you grow.

Emily Taylor – Southerners in So Cal, A Southern girl in surfer country.

Estelle Sobel Erasmus - Musings On Motherhood, Midlife and Other Forms of Madness, My transformative journey through motherhood.

Eva Schweber – Tech Whisperer, Helping you select, use and integrate your gadgets.

G

Gabryyl Pierce -Gabryyl Pierce, Writer of words, purveyor of awesome.

Glenneth Redd - Let’s Talk and Walk, Getting healthy through walking, better eating and having fun.

Gloria Marie – Gloria Marie, Inspiration for creatives and other people who desire to live an incredible life.

H

Harry Marks - Curious Rat, A technology blog combatting stupidity from wherever it comes.

Heather Craik – Shades of a Dream, Writing, marketing and design in business.

Heather Williams – This Blog Will Give You Cancer, “I love talking about nothing. It is the only thing I know anything about.” – Oscar Wilde.

Hillah Culman – The One Ingredient, Cooking with one main ingredient.

Holan Kerrick – Gadget Girl Tips, Tips, tricks and humorous stories about technology for the everyday person.

Holly Swanson - State College Mom, Being a mom, Penn State, and whatever else I deem blog-worthy.

J

J. Audrey Miller – Romance in the Writing, Romance and writing: a perfect match.

J9 – J9 Style, Channel Your Inner Fabulous.

Jackie Dishner - Bike with Jackie, Your guide to inspiration, encouragement, quirky stories, laughs and life-changing adventures.

Jackson Zeiner – Word Waves, A blog about literature in its various forms and how it’s changing.

Jan Roberts Culpepper – Simply Jan, A simple look at a not-so-simple life.

Jan Udlock – Imperfect Mom, Professional writer, parenting expert, mom of five.

Jane Boursaw - Reel Life with Jane, Syndicated family movie and TV reviews.

Jane Neff Rollins – Kitchen Sink Genealogy, Family history of all 4 branches of my family.

Javier Cabral – The Glutster, Food, angst, punk rock and a really fast metabolism.

Jeannette Vancio – Charity Heart, Encouragement for lovers and dreamers.

Jenn - Wordzopolis, Financial services marketing.

Jenn Maxwell – Jenn Maxwell, Writer, designer, dreamer.

Jenni Derryberry Mann - Mamahhh, Navigating the labyrinth of motherhood one breath at a time.

Jennie Phipps – Detroit on the Cheap, Living well is the best revenge.

Jennifer Eckert – Pregnant at Forty, Pregnant for the first time at 40.

Jennifer Fink – Blogging About Boys, All about boys.

Jennifer Patrick - Still Living the Dream, Raising two young kids in my 40s.

Jennifer Walker - My Morning Chocolate, Delicious inspiration for people who wake up thinking about food.

Jennifer Willis - Jennifer Willis, Journalist, writer, author, and essayist.

Jessica – Pink Rose, Gen-Y writer who loves to garden, craft and write.

Jessica Quinn - Northern Front, The sweet life in Northern BC.

Joan Lambert Bailey - Popcorn Homestead, Exploring Japan one vegetable at a time.

Joanna Yuen – Slow-poke Posts, Fiction writing.

Joe Wilcox – Queer Joe, Adventures in finding my passion…knitting.

Jodi Rosenberg – 100 Smile Challenge, Simple ideas to help you find more smiles in your life.

Jodi Torpey – Write Better Faster, Changing the way you think about your business writing – one reader at a time.

Joel Whitaker – Catholic Faith and Fitness, Helping Catholics become spiritual, financially and physically fit.

Joelle Pittman – MEM to LAX, Southern girl bouncing between Memphis and Los Angeles.

John Beck – And a Little Wine, Book lover, baseball fanatic, life enthusiast.

Jon Bell - On Mount Hood, All things Mount Hood.

Jovette Gadson – Honey Suga Sweet, Creative expressions from the soul.

Juan Luis Cornejo – Cornejo Sports, Soccer and more.

Judy Downing - Flights of Fantasy, Thoughts about becoming a better writer, with an emphasis on fantasy and science fiction; andWriter in Charge, Exploring today’s publishing choices.

Julia Biggs - Aunty JuJu’s Perspective, My thoughts for now.

Julie Farrar – Traveling Through, Traveling through the second half of my life.

K

Karen C. – The Vegetable Garden, Simply organically.

Kat Hasenauer - Sports Girl Kat, Balancing life as sportswriter and educational administrator.

Kate Megill - Teaching what is Good, Teaching younger women according to the Titus 2 model.

Kate Reilly – Polkadot Suitcase, Finding fun through creative living.

Kathryn - Kathryn’s Cards, Making cards for Operation Write Home.

Kathryn Lance - KL and Her Books, Writing and related matters, from a long-time fiction and nonfiction writer and editor.

Katie Morell – Katie Morell , Full-time freelance writer specializing in business, travel and human interest topics.

Katie Jett Walls – Woah Baby, The weird and wonderful of expecting and becoming parents.

Katrina Hutchesson – Kat’s Place – My Life, My life and our family.

Katy Manck - Books YA Love, Recommending young adult books beyond the bestsellers.

Kellyn Christison - Journalism 111, A blog for my multimedia journalism class.

Kimberly LoSavioe - Blogging w/Gypsy @ Gypsy’s Treasures, A blogging and WordPress designing mom.

Kirsten Doyle - Running for Autism, Runner, writer and special needs mom trying to make sense of life.

Kirsten Oge – Puppy Paws and Dirty Noses, First time mom and housewife.

Kyle Yasumiishi – Kyle Yasumiishi, Student journalist blogging about the future of journalism.

L

Laura – Word Grrls, Creative writing inspiration.

Laura – Not Just 9 to 5, Changing focus while I work into a freelance writing career.

Laura Finger – Boat Jumpers, Keeping entrepreneurs in their right minds.

Laura Orsini - Marcie Brock, Book Marketing Maven, Marketing advice for self-publishing authors.

Laura Tokie – In My Little Town, All about family on the fly.

Leah Ingram – Suddenly Frugal, How to live more on less money; and Philly on the Cheap, Deals, discounts and living on the cheap in the Philadelphia area.

Lenore Skomal - Gut Check: Making simple sense out of life, Daily blogger for Erie Times-News.

Leslie – The Chic Adventurer, Beauty and chicness can exist anywhere.

Liberty Montano - Liberty’s Yarn, Helping make stuff free of crap and drama.

Lindsay – With a Little Love and Luck, Fight stigma and kick postpartum depression’s butt.

Lisa Carter - Intralingo, The art and business of literary translation.

Lisa Jaffe Hubbell - Land Guppy, Writing about good food, good books, and good times.

Lise Capitan – Lise Capitan, A translator talks about work, language and translation.

Liz Sheffield - Motherlogue, A mother talks about mothering, writing and life.

M

Mammy Mohamed – T-Mark, News and fashion.

Margarita Tartakovsky – Margarita Tartakovsky, Language, life and fashionable pursuits.

Margin Fades – Margin Fades The joy of movement. Words. Food and movement.

Maria Gajewski – Changing River Consultants, Helping you help others.

Mariann L. Dyson – 4 Writer Mom, Penning a novel while single-handedly raising four children.

Marianne - D is for Dovey, Quilt-making, reading, gardening and life in west central Florida.

Marie-Louise – Muse Translation, Musings from a freelance French to English translator.

Marijke Vroomen Durning – Med Health Writer, Health news from a nurse turned writer.

Mark Connolly – Spiritual Advocate, You know, like the Paraclete.

Mark Wahlton – Save the Jumble, Meandering through the ADD-addled mind.

Marvin Kirkland – Impermanent Insanity Writes, Writing and mental illness.

Mary Lebeau – Raising Waltons, Passing down old-fashion values in a 21st century world.

Masa – Hearting Handmade, DIY, eco-friendly, vintage, creativity and giveaways.

Matthew J. Perry – Sharing the Pants A husband and wife blog about women winning bread, men making homes, both raising kids and coping with cultural shifts.

Megan Wollenberg – Army Wife Writes, The ups and downs of PCS-ing to Italy.

Melinda Copp – Life List, Nature and nature writing.

Melinda McGuire – Melinda McGuire Writes, Writing with a Southern Slant.

Melissa Luznicky Garrett – Someday When I’m Famous, Author of adult and young adult novels.

Melissa Lindberg - Get Creative with the Good Idea Girl, Parenting, party planning and holiday celebrations.

Melissa Miller Young – Zen Life Solutions, Providing positive and healthy information and Word Miller, Making your marketing efforts and message shine.

Mena Grazie - Preternatural Post, News and information for role players, fictional characters and legendary creatures.

Michal Karni – Lights Along the Way, Writing practice from Jewish sources.

Michelle – Team Tori, Six-year-old rock star fighting neurofibromatosis.

Michelle Mahoney – Intuitive Tarot, Learn the cards today.

Michelle Rafter - Word Count: Freelancing in the digital age, News, tips and advice for self-employed writers.

Mikaela D’Eigh - La Belle Dame de Merci, Reflections on art of all mediums.

Mimi - Wife, Writer, Mom, All Blessings, Writer and parent to 5 special needs children.

Mridu Khullar Relph - Mridu Khullar Relph, Thoughts on writing and life from a female freelancer in India.

N

Nancy Kopp - Writer Grannys World, My tips and encouragement for writers.

Natalie – Fluent Historian, Languages, history and Russia.

Nicky LaMarco – Freelance Writing 4 Beginners, Freelance writing for beginners.

Noelle – Sustainably Happy, Happiness: one day at a time.

O P

Paola – Research and Kitchen, A concoction of ethnographic and food studies.

Patricia Ann C Perkowski – Spiritual Lives of Women, Nurturing moms, nurturing the future.

Patrick McGraw – PFM Reports, Mostly true stories from home and on the road.

Patti Goldenson – Sometimes Sideways, A place to talk about feeling sideways, cry about it, laugh about it and let it go.

Patty Core – Daily Nutrition Plus, Proactive health and wellness information.

Peggy Crippen - Military Move HQ, Information for military families changing duty stations.

Peggy Noonan – Alt Med for You, Alternative medicine news and how-to information.

Pia Savage – Courting Destiny, A blog about everything and nothing.

R

Rachel Ward – A Discount Ticket To Everywhere, What I’m reading, re-reading, reading to my children and translating.

Rashida – Books, Bass and Beauty, Dedicated to educating, entertaining, and empowering today’s Black woman.

Rebecca Koffman – Walking Portland, Walking in Portland and beyond.

Reeti Roy – The Magic Ink Stand, All things quirky, personal and confessional.

Rhonda Booker - Mygr8reads, Books I like to read, and my writing practice.

Robin – A Word, A Bird, New blogger.

Ron Dere – Just There, Crisscross of neurons in ASCII.

Ronda Levine - Not Quite Ally McBeal, Just another girl with a theme song.

Rose Medlock -  SGV East Food Swap, Create community by exchanging homemade and homegrown goods.

Rossandra White – Rossandra White, A former bushbaby’s take on writing and appreciating life.

Ruth Terry – Ruth Writes, Changing the world…one word at a time.

 S

Samuel Slate – Irrational Handbook, Humor, gaming, speculation and fiction.

Sandra Hume – Little House Travel, Everything Little House fans and their families should know about traveling to places Laura Ingalls Wilder called home.

Sara Carbaugh - Your Creative Ally, Online marketing tips, tutorials, and motivational posts.

Sara Lancaster - No 2 Pen, Showcasing examples of sharp website content.

Sarah - Animals Help Heal, Different ways animals can be used in healing.

Sarah E. Ludwig - Parenting by Trial and Error, The learning curve in raising kids.

Sarah Moon – Clear Eyes, Full Shelves, Multi-genre blog for readers.

Sarah Morgan – Sarah Morgan, Jumping puddles in the rain.

Sharon C. Jenkins – The Authorpreneurship Project, Equipping authors to better handle the business side of writing.

Sheela Kangal - Skangal Works, Just another playwright climbing social media.

Sheila Callahan – Sheila Callahan, What’s on my mind.

Silja Hurskainen – Silja Hurskainen, A Finnish freelance writer and blogger living in Estonia.

Sita Henderson -  Sita’s Sanctum , A journey of faith filtered through the Word of God.

Sona Charaipotra – Sona Charaipotra, Writing and balancing first-time parenthood.

Sonal Garg – Sonal Garg, Creating something every day.

Stephanie Smith - Information Central:  Gardening Questions Answered, Your vegetable questions answered.

Stephanie Vozza – Five Minute Mom’s Club, Simplify, simplify, simplify. Then organize.

Sue Ann Bowling -The Homecoming Blog  Official blog for the book, Homecoming.

Sun Hee Yoon – Fiery Memoir, Daily struggles in motherhood, and the ups and downs of being a housewife.

Susie Klein – Recovering Church Lady, Pleasing God is simply not as hard as you think.

Suzanne – The Tales of Missus P, Little adventures of me.

T

T.A. Barnhart – t.a. barnhart , A progressive voice from the Pacific Northwest.

Taasmom - Mommy Dearest, A mommy’s moments.

Tammy Ellingson – Mama Can Dance, A dancing mama who still grooves to her own beat.

Tara L. Daves – Occupation, Shmoccupation, Adventures in the world of unemployment.

Tara Phillips – Two Hands and a Road Map, Making poor blogging choices since 2010.

Tatyanna Wilkinson – Smart Girl, Wise Woman, Blog, forum and workshops for young women 18 to 24.

Tere Scott - Teachable Scotts Tots Homeschool, Parenting and homeschooling; and Elephant Ears Learning, Homeschooling resources and tips.

Tia Bach – Depression Cookies, A mother and daughter’s journey in writing, and much more.

Tina Armstrong-Ogbonna -Teena News, My opinions on news and events.

TJ Whelan – Moonlight and Shadows, Musings of a Texas moonbaby.

Tracey Arial - Arial View, Exploring the world through words.

Tracey V. – Never Switching to Decaf, Ramblings about life, family, cooking and photography.

Traci - A Purple Paintbrush, Making and sharing art.

V

Valerie Lakey – Blue Skies, Seeing life in a positive light.

Van Waffle - Speed River Journal, An urban naturalist’s progress.

Vanessa Geneva Ahern - Hudson Valley Good Stuff, Where to eat, play and re-charge your spirit in the Hudson Valley.

Veronica Armstrong – Veronica Armstrong, Eye candy, inspiration, kids, life and happiness.

Veronica Del Bianco - The Eco Niche, A blog that celebrates nature, good food, and learning something new.

Victoria Musgrave -Victoria Musgrave Communications, A communications consultant working with health care organizations and entrepreneurs.

Vivian Tran – Stem Favorites, Not all those who linger are lost.

W X Y Z

Walter L. Johnson II - Communications Careers Corner, Your guide to advice on careers in communications and media.

Yael Grauer - Yael Writes, Freelance writing services.

and fitness related blogs.)

A

Abra Cole – The Magical Miss, The pursuit of photography and pie.

Akanksha Garg - Smiling Mystic Cloud, A mirror that reflects the experiences of life.

Alana Mautone - Ramblin’ With AM, Living in upstate New York.

Aleksandra Milcic Radovanovic - Linguist Blog, Writing about translation and applied linguistics.

*Alison Preston Baldyga – Lady Moxie, On a constant search for wellness.

Amanda Steinhaus – Ms. Panda’s Blog, Poetry, children’s stories, playwriting and more.

Andria – Find me Frugal(er) , Helping people cut costs and save money without taking it all too seriously.

Angela Aboulnaja - DMV Art, A comprehensive view into the art scene in DC, Maryland and Virginia.

Anna Murphy – Murphy Baby, Wife and mama to baby Ronan. Recorded words because I never want to forget what this feels like.

Annabelle – Shopping Detox, Where retro style meets personal finance.

Anne Noble – Mac’s Musings, My hopefully intelligent and coherent ramblings.

Anne Wainscott-Sargent – The Writing Well, Celebrating excellence in writing and storytelling.

Annette Gendler - Memoir, Writing & Life, Writing, teaching and publishing memoir and creative nonfiction.

Annie Logue - Ann Logue, Financial and current events, from author of four Dummies books on investing.

Anyes - Far Away in the Sunshine, Stories of a woman pursuing her creative dreams.

Ariel -Nuestro Contrapunto, A husband and wife writing about theology, literature, culture, actuality and more.

Aron Mturi -Aron Creativity, International celebrity news, current affairs, music and articles, especially from East Africa.

*Aundra Weissert – Chestertown Fit for Life, Adventures in homesteading and personal fitness.

Ayesha Usman – Mommy First, Juggling a professional career and motherhood.

B

Barb Freda - Babette Feasts, Feast with me.

Barbara McDowell Whitt – WCHS, MPHS and Park College…Diary Writing 1960-1965, An Iowa farm
girl’s view of high school and college life in the 1960s.

Beth – Chasing My Joy, My journey to becoming an Ironman.

Beth Zare – Beth Zare, Personal thoughts about life.

Bill Lascher – Lascher at Large, Telling the true story of a young foreign correspondent’s adventures during World
War II.

Billie Noakes – The Billie Gram, Observations about life from a freelance writer and storyteller with a slightly bent sense of humor.

Brian Mann – Brian P. Mann, Rants, raves…that’s about it.

C

Cariann McCready – Unionvale Mom’s Spot, Rural life with family, food, crafts and books.

Carolina -Sew Carolina Knits, Running, quilting and knitting.

Carrie Schmeck – Bizzi Writer, Business copywriting that makes a difference.

Cathleen McCarthy – Save on Cities, Travel, entertainment and family fun along the Northeast Corridor: Boston, NYC, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington DC.

Cathy Canaceli – Periwinkle Confessions, It’s fun to be a godly girl.

Cathy Morton – Cathy’s Voice Now, Mother, grandmother and alcoholic/addict in long term recovery.

Caylie Price – Better Business Better Life, Blast your business to success, live the life you want!

Cheryl Wright – Cheryl Wright, Life, writing, interior design and more.

Chris Lowe – Blue Oregon, Contributing blogger at Oregon Progressive.

Christianne Cook – A Day in my Mind

Christina - Lazy Bones Running, Ramblings from an obsessed runner.

Christine Calvin - Inspired Life, Whatever strikes my fancy.

Christine Heinrichs - Poultry Bookstore, Information on heritage breed poultry.

Claudia Neely – Social Skills Success, Teaching parents of special needs teens, pre-teens and young adults how to mainstream their kids into successful peer groups and more.

Cody Ray – The Home of Challenge Pissing, Movies, music and whatever else I think is cool.

Connie Ong – Unbirthday Escapades, A look at memories past and present.

*Cristina Santiestevan – Outlaw Garden, Breaking the rules by growing vegetables even when HOA says no.

Cynthia Pelcher – Cynthia Banessa, Sharing gardening, crafts and dishes.

D

Daisy – Compost Happens, Taking care of family, garden and coffee.

Dania Bianchi – The Health Nut, Health reports and news for the average mom; and Dania Bianchi, Content marketing for small businesses.

Danielle – Porridge Report, Digital doses for the modern family as seen by a distracted mother and writer.

Daphne – My Distant Husband, We are together; yet, living apart.

Darlene Peltz - Everything Relationships, Exploring ways to improve how we talk, treat and deal with each other.

Darling Sookie – Darling Sookie, Fictional telepathic barmaid who tweets too much and enjoys being a role player.

David Allen – Mac 20Q, Mac technology blog.

Dayle Fraschilla - I Shall Be a Toad, Everything that means anything to me.

Debbie Kaplan – Frisco Kids, Your guide to kid-friendly events and trips around the San Francisco Bay area.

*Discorunner – Discorunner, Running, biking, swimming, and blogging in the nation’s capital.

Don Gonzalez – Joe Catholic, Where men can get to know, share and defend their Catholic faith.

Doña Bumgarner - Aubergine, Musings of a midlife mama.

Dylan Fogle – East Nashville Jugglers Club, Experience juggling.

E F

Ed Borasky – Borasky Research, Computational and data journalism.

Ejila Makangu – Ejimak, French-English translator

Elise Ventura – Skipping Stones, Current events, atheism, pop culture and more.

Elizabeth King Humphrey – The Write Elizabeth, A round-up of reading, writing, editing and parenting.

*Elyse Grau - My Garden to Table, Growing what you eat, eating what you grow.

Emily Taylor – Southerners in So Cal, A Southern girl in surfer country.

Estelle Sobel Erasmus - Musings On Motherhood, Midlife and Other Forms of Madness, My transformative journey through motherhood.

Eva Schweber – Tech Whisperer, Helping you select, use and integrate your gadgets.

G

Gabryyl Pierce -Gabryyl Pierce, Writer of words, purveyor of awesome.

*Glenneth Redd - Let’s Talk and Walk, Getting healthy through walking, better eating and having fun.

Gloria Marie – Gloria Marie, Inspiration for creatives and other people who desire to live an incredible life.

H

Harry Marks - Curious Rat, A technology blog combatting stupidity from wherever it comes.

Heather Craik – Shades of a Dream, Writing, marketing and design in business.

Heather Williams – This Blog Will Give You Cancer, “I love talking about nothing. It is the only thing I know anything about.” – Oscar Wilde.

*Hillah Culman – The One Ingredient, Cooking with one main ingredient.

Holan Kerrick – Gadget Girl Tips, Tips, tricks and humorous stories about technology for the everyday person.

Holly Swanson - State College Mom, Being a mom, Penn State, and whatever else I deem blog-worthy.

J

J. Audrey Miller – Romance in the Writing, Romance and writing: a perfect match.

J9 – J9 Style, Channel Your Inner Fabulous.

Jackie Dishner - Bike with Jackie, Your guide to inspiration, encouragement, quirky stories, laughs and life-changing adventures.

Jackson Zeiner – Word Waves, A blog about literature in its various forms and how it’s changing.

Jan Roberts Culpepper – Simply Jan, A simple look at a not-so-simple life.

Jan Udlock – Imperfect Mom, Professional writer, parenting expert, mom of five.

Jane Boursaw - Reel Life with Jane, Syndicated family movie and TV reviews.

Jane Neff Rollins – Kitchen Sink Genealogy, Family history of all 4 branches of my family.

Javier Cabral – The Glutster, Food, angst, punk rock and a really fast metabolism.

Jeannette Vancio – Charity Heart, Encouragement for lovers and dreamers.

Jenn - Wordzopolis, Financial services marketing.

Jenn Maxwell – Jenn Maxwell, Writer, designer, dreamer.

Jenni Derryberry Mann - Mamahhh, Navigating the labyrinth of motherhood one breath at a time.

Jennie Phipps – Detroit on the Cheap, Living well is the best revenge.

Jennifer Eckert – Pregnant at Forty, Pregnant for the first time at 40.

Jennifer Fink – Blogging About Boys, All about boys.

Jennifer Patrick - Still Living the Dream, Raising two young kids in my 40s.

Jennifer Walker - My Morning Chocolate, Delicious inspiration for people who wake up thinking about food.

Jennifer Willis - Jennifer Willis, Journalist, writer, author, and essayist.

Jessica – Pink Rose, Gen-Y writer who loves to garden, craft and write.

Jessica Quinn - Northern Front, The sweet life in Northern BC.

*Joan Lambert Bailey - Popcorn Homestead, Exploring Japan one vegetable at a time.

Joanna Yuen – Slow-poke Posts, Fiction writing.

Joe Wilcox – Queer Joe, Adventures in finding my passion…knitting.

Jodi Rosenberg – 100 Smile Challenge, Simple ideas to help you find more smiles in your life.

Jodi Torpey – Write Better Faster, Changing the way you think about your business writing – one reader at a time.

*Joel Whitaker – Catholic Faith and Fitness, Helping Catholics become spiritual, financially and physically fit.

Joelle Pittman – MEM to LAX, Southern girl bouncing between Memphis and Los Angeles.

John Beck – And a Little Wine, Book lover, baseball fanatic, life enthusiast.

Jon Bell - On Mount Hood, All things Mount Hood.

Jovette Gadson – Honey Suga Sweet, Creative expressions from the soul.

Juan Luis Cornejo – Cornejo Sports, Soccer and more.

Judy Downing - Flights of Fantasy, Thoughts about becoming a better writer, with an emphasis on fantasy and science fiction; andWriter in Charge, Exploring today’s publishing choices.

Julia Biggs - Aunty JuJu’s Perspective, My thoughts for now.

Julie Farrar – Traveling Through, Traveling through the second half of my life.

K

*Karen C. – The Vegetable Garden, Simply organically.

*Kat Hasenauer - Sports Girl Kat, Balancing life as sportswriter and educational administrator.

Kate Megill - Teaching what is Good, Teaching younger women according to the Titus 2 model.

Kate Reilly – Polkadot Suitcase, Finding fun through creative living.

Kathryn - Kathryn’s Cards, Making cards for Operation Write Home.

Kathryn Lance - KL and Her Books, Writing and related matters, from a long-time fiction and nonfiction writer and editor.

Katie Morell – Katie Morell , Full-time freelance writer specializing in business, travel and human interest topics.

Katie Jett Walls – Woah Baby, The weird and wonderful of expecting and becoming parents.

Katrina Hutchesson – Kat’s Place – My Life, My life and our family.

Katy Manck - Books YA Love, Recommending young adult books beyond the bestsellers.

Kellyn Christison - Journalism 111, A blog for my multimedia journalism class.

Kimberly LoSavioe - Blogging w/Gypsy @ Gypsy’s Treasures, A blogging and WordPress designing mom.

Kirsten Doyle - Running for Autism, Runner, writer and special needs mom trying to make sense of life.

Kirsten Oge – Puppy Paws and Dirty Noses, First time mom and housewife.

Kyle Yasumiishi – Kyle Yasumiishi, Student journalist blogging about the future of journalism.

L

Laura – Word Grrls, Creative writing inspiration.

Laura – Not Just 9 to 5, Changing focus while I work into a freelance writing career.

Laura Finger – Boat Jumpers, Keeping entrepreneurs in their right minds.

Laura Orsini - Marcie Brock, Book Marketing Maven, Marketing advice for self-publishing authors.

Laura Tokie – In My Little Town, All about family on the fly.

Leah Ingram – Suddenly Frugal, How to live more on less money; and Philly on the Cheap, Deals, discounts and living on the cheap in the Philadelphia area.

Lenore Skomal - Gut Check: Making simple sense out of life, Daily blogger for Erie Times-News.

Leslie – The Chic Adventurer, Beauty and chicness can exist anywhere.

Liberty Montano - Liberty’s Yarn, Helping make stuff free of crap and drama.

Lindsay – With a Little Love and Luck, Fight stigma and kick postpartum depression’s butt.

Lisa Carter - Intralingo, The art and business of literary translation.

Lisa Jaffe Hubbell - Land Guppy, Writing about good food, good books, and good times.

Lise Capitan – Lise Capitan, A translator talks about work, language and translation.

Liz Sheffield - Motherlogue, A mother talks about mothering, writing and life.

M

Mammy Mohamed – T-Mark, News and fashion.

Margarita Tartakovsky – Margarita Tartakovsky, Language, life and fashionable pursuits.

Margin Fades – Margin Fades The joy of movement. Words. Food and movement.

Maria Gajewski – Changing River Consultants, Helping you help others.

Mariann L. Dyson – 4 Writer Mom, Penning a novel while single-handedly raising four children.

Marianne - D is for Dovey, Quilt-making, reading, gardening and life in west central Florida.

Marie-Louise – Muse Translation, Musings from a freelance French to English translator.

*Marijke Vroomen Durning – Med Health Writer, Health news from a nurse turned writer.

Mark Connolly – Spiritual Advocate, You know, like the Paraclete.

Mark Wahlton – Save the Jumble, Meandering through the ADD-addled mind.

Marvin Kirkland – Impermanent Insanity Writes, Writing and mental illness.

Mary Lebeau – Raising Waltons, Passing down old-fashion values in a 21st century world.

Masa – Hearting Handmade, DIY, eco-friendly, vintage, creativity and giveaways.

Matthew J. Perry – Sharing the Pants A husband and wife blog about women winning bread, men making homes, both raising kids and coping with cultural shifts.

Megan Wollenberg – Army Wife Writes, The ups and downs of PCS-ing to Italy.

Melinda Copp – Life List, Nature and nature writing.

Melinda McGuire – Melinda McGuire Writes, Writing with a Southern Slant.

Melissa Luznicky Garrett – Someday When I’m Famous, Author of adult and young adult novels.

Melissa Lindberg - Get Creative with the Good Idea Girl, Parenting, party planning and holiday celebrations.

Melissa Miller Young – Zen Life Solutions, Providing positive and healthy information and Word Miller, Making your marketing efforts and message shine.

Mena Grazie - Preternatural Post, News and information for role players, fictional characters and legendary creatures.

Michal Karni – Lights Along the Way, Writing practice from Jewish sources.

Michelle – Team Tori, Six-year-old rock star fighting neurofibromatosis.

Michelle Mahoney – Intuitive Tarot, Learn the cards today.

Michelle Rafter - Word Count: Freelancing in the digital age, News, tips and advice for self-employed writers.

Mikaela D’Eigh - La Belle Dame de Merci, Reflections on art of all mediums.

Mimi - Wife, Writer, Mom, All Blessings, Writer and parent to 5 special needs children.

Mridu Khullar Relph - Mridu Khullar Relph, Thoughts on writing and life from a female freelancer in India.

N

Nancy Kopp - Writer Grannys World, My tips and encouragement for writers.

Natalie – Fluent Historian, Languages, history and Russia.

Nicky LaMarco – Freelance Writing 4 Beginners, Freelance writing for beginners.

Noelle – Sustainably Happy, Happiness: one day at a time.

O P

*Paola – Research and Kitchen, A concoction of ethnographic and food studies.

Patricia Ann C Perkowski – Spiritual Lives of Women, Nurturing moms, nurturing the future.

Patrick McGraw – PFM Reports, Mostly true stories from home and on the road.

Patti Goldenson – Sometimes Sideways, A place to talk about feeling sideways, cry about it, laugh about it and let it go.

*Patty Core – Daily Nutrition Plus, Proactive health and wellness information.

Peggy Crippen - Military Move HQ, Information for military families changing duty stations.

*Peggy Noonan – Alt Med for You, Alternative medicine news and how-to information.

Pia Savage – Courting Destiny, A blog about everything and nothing.

R

Rachel Ward – A Discount Ticket To Everywhere, What I’m reading, re-reading, reading to my children and translating.

Rashida – Books, Bass and Beauty, Dedicated to educating, entertaining, and empowering today’s Black woman.

*Rebecca Koffman – Walking Portland, Walking in Portland and beyond.

Reeti Roy – The Magic Ink Stand, All things quirky, personal and confessional.

Rhonda Booker - Mygr8reads, Books I like to read, and my writing practice.

Robin – A Word, A Bird, New blogger.

Ron Dere – Just There, Crisscross of neurons in ASCII.

Ronda Levine - Not Quite Ally McBeal, Just another girl with a theme song.

*Rose Medlock -  SGV East Food Swap, Create community by exchanging homemade and homegrown goods.

Rossandra White – Rossandra White, A former bushbaby’s take on writing and appreciating life.

Ruth Terry – Ruth Writes, Changing the world…one word at a time.

 S

Samuel Slate – Irrational Handbook, Humor, gaming, speculation and fiction.

Sandra Hume – Little House Travel, Everything Little House fans and their families should know about traveling to places Laura Ingalls Wilder called home.

Sara Carbaugh - Your Creative Ally, Online marketing tips, tutorials, and motivational posts.

Sara Lancaster - No 2 Pen, Showcasing examples of sharp website content.

Sarah - Animals Help Heal, Different ways animals can be used in healing.

Sarah E. Ludwig - Parenting by Trial and Error, The learning curve in raising kids.

Sarah Moon – Clear Eyes, Full Shelves, Multi-genre blog for readers.

Sarah Morgan – Sarah Morgan, Jumping puddles in the rain.

Sharon C. Jenkins – The Authorpreneurship Project, Equipping authors to better handle the business side of writing.

Sheela Kangal - Skangal Works, Just another playwright climbing social media.

Sheila Callahan – Sheila Callahan, What’s on my mind.

Silja Hurskainen – Silja Hurskainen, A Finnish freelance writer and blogger living in Estonia.

Sita Henderson -  Sita’s Sanctum , A journey of faith filtered through the Word of God.

Sona Charaipotra – Sona Charaipotra, Writing and balancing first-time parenthood.

Sonal Garg – Sonal Garg, Creating something every day.

*Stephanie Smith - Information Central:  Gardening Questions Answered, Your vegetable questions answered.

Stephanie Vozza – Five Minute Mom’s Club, Simplify, simplify, simplify. Then organize.

Sue Ann Bowling -The Homecoming Blog  Official blog for the book, Homecoming.

Sun Hee Yoon – Fiery Memoir, Daily struggles in motherhood, and the ups and downs of being a housewife.

Susie Klein – Recovering Church Lady, Pleasing God is simply not as hard as you think.

Suzanne – The Tales of Missus P, Little adventures of me.

T

T.A. Barnhart – t.a. barnhart , A progressive voice from the Pacific Northwest.

Taasmom - Mommy Dearest, A mommy’s moments.

Tammy Ellingson – Mama Can Dance, A dancing mama who still grooves to her own beat.

Tara L. Daves – Occupation, Shmoccupation, Adventures in the world of unemployment.

Tara Phillips – Two Hands and a Road Map, Making poor blogging choices since 2010.

Tatyanna Wilkinson – Smart Girl, Wise Woman, Blog, forum and workshops for young women 18 to 24.

Tere Scott - Teachable Scotts Tots Homeschool, Parenting and homeschooling; and Elephant Ears Learning, Homeschooling resources and tips.

Tia Bach – Depression Cookies, A mother and daughter’s journey in writing, and much more.

Tina Armstrong-Ogbonna -Teena News, My opinions on news and events.

TJ Whelan – Moonlight and Shadows, Musings of a Texas moonbaby.

Tracey Arial - Arial View, Exploring the world through words.

Tracey V. – Never Switching to Decaf, Ramblings about life, family, cooking and photography.

Traci - A Purple Paintbrush, Making and sharing art.

V

Valerie Lakey – Blue Skies, Seeing life in a positive light.

Van Waffle - Speed River Journal, An urban naturalist’s progress.

Vanessa Geneva Ahern - Hudson Valley Good Stuff, Where to eat, play and re-charge your spirit in the Hudson Valley.

Veronica Armstrong – Veronica Armstrong, Eye candy, inspiration, kids, life and happiness.

*Veronica Del Bianco - The Eco Niche, A blog that celebrates nature, good food, and learning something new.

Victoria Musgrave -Victoria Musgrave Communications, A communications consultant working with health care organizations and entrepreneurs.

Vivian Tran – Stem Favorites, Not all those who linger are lost.

W X Y Z

Walter L. Johnson II - Communications Careers Corner, Your guide to advice on careers in communications and media.

*Yael Grauer - Yael Writes, Freelance writing services (& making healthy living accessible)

To celebrate the upcoming two-year anniversary of this blog, I wanted to revisit my very first video post from May 2010.

When I visited Parque Nacional de Cahuita in Costa Rica, I was hoping to see wildlife. But I never dreamed I’d get to see two species of monkeys so up close. Perhaps the cutest was seeing a monkey carrying a baby on her back. And here’s a capuchin monkey I caught on video.

Welcome, friends, to this week’s Variety Hour! It is a day early, because I’m planning on participating in the Blogathon’s theme day tomorrow–and I already linked to some self-promoting posts on Friday, so this is a super short edition. Still, you should be able to find something in here which you enjoy.

Science

• How To Read A Scientific Study. An oldie but goodie by the fabulous Krista Scott-Dixon.

• Replication studies: Bad Copy. Speaking of which… A fascinating piece in Nature magazine about why some studies are poorly designed.

News & Commentary

• Father of 30 kids by 11 Women Can’t Pay Child Support. No shit?

• Saving Aesha. “She came to America after the Taliban hacked off her nose and ears, a symbol of the oppression of women in Afghanistan. Since then, she’s been passed around by well-meaning strangers, showcased like a star and shielded like a fragile child. The fairy-tale ending everyone hoped for has remained elusive,” CNN.com reports.

• It’s Time For Dharun Ravi to Apologize. Yes. Yes, it is.

Health & Fitness 

• Weight Room Workouts For Cyclists. It’s warm out now, and many of us are dusting our bikes off. Check out this older series by Eric Cressey to see what you can do to supplement your rides. There’s also a Part 2 and Part 3.

• Sugar Makes You Stupid: Study Shows High Fructose Corn Syrup Sabotages Learning, Memory
•  Alliance BJJ–What Really Works in Tournaments? Geek out on these charts and stats to figure out what the most high-percentage moves in BJJ are.

Freelance

• Freelance Freedom 259: Sleep Deprivation. This cartoon is totally about me.

• Six Ways To Defend Your Blog Copyright. Great tips from Ron Doyle.