Sometimes, even the best laid plans go awry. Power outages, site crashes, and a few holidays thrown in for good measure...our featured blogger for this week is no stranger to rearranged schedules and slippery footing. We are delighted to introduce you to this week's guest - Mindy Roberts, of The Mommy Blog. We couldn't think of a better way to kick off 2006.

Witty, sarcastic, and always engaging, Mindy chronicles her life, and that of her children. The Mommy Blog is a compelling look into one woman's journey. Mindy tackles the good and the bad with a broad stroke and a sense of humor that give her writing depth and an emotional pull. Besides her obvious, tender love for her children, The Mommy Blog is a place where Mindy reveals some of her fear and disappointment, and talks about her hopes for the future. Readers have laughed and cried along with her, finding inspiration in Mindy's tales of life on the road less travelled.

Known for her wide-ranging vocabulary and sharp insight into matters both personal and global, The Mommy Blog is a showcase for Mindy's unique spin on life. She's quick to highlight other bloggers, and is a staunch ally - with her poise (we assume from her modelling background) and her inner strength (from her tomboyish childhood in Chicago, perhaps) it is always an asset to have Mindy in your corner. We just adore her.

We put out a call to some of Mindy's friends and readers to give us their take on the woman behind The Mommy Blog. We love Mindy... and it seems we're not alone:

Liz Thompson - Fellow Mommy Blogger had her hand raised from the second we asked the question.

The Mommy Blog was one of the first blogs that I started reading and Mindy quickly found her way to my blogroll because, even though I didn't know her in life, I knew she got it! Being a Mommy is one tough gig, but Mindy always managed to put herself out there to the point where a reader always knew, whe was for real.

And, more importantly, Mindy was the very first to leave a comment on my blog -- when I started it nearly three years -- and even though I can't remember exactly what it was (I've got four kids, ya' know!) it was probably along the lines of, "I hear ya', Sistah," because Mindy is what blogging is (in my mind, anyway) all about...and she's not afraid to let her inner-Mommy out, either!

Mindy is a very resilient woman. She has been dealt some lousy hands by life, and still manages to keep her sense of humor and her wits about her. I'm not a mom, but I still appreciate her outlook on life and kids (and read her every day). I wish she and I lived closer so I could go over and have a glass of wine and just spend some time with her. Alas, we're on opposite coasts. I wish her nothing but the best with her kids, her new job, her Mr X, her book and the other important things in life.

We caught up with the fabulous Mr. X and asked him about Mindy's demands for ten-course meals, served in bed. He wisely offered up some glowing praise of her writing, instead:

What makes Mindy's writing so interesting is her ability to write off the top of her head (without rewrites!) on just about any subject. There is no fluff to be found. She's able to speak to everybody which is truly a gift. A huge turn on is Mindy's ability to use her phenomenal vocabulary in a creative way that captivates her readers. Mindy is intelligent, funny, and a wonder to be around. I am a lucky guy!

Ben explained how Mindy bought his loyalty with a t-shirt, while Jenny simmered in jealousy remembering that she, too had sent a screenshot eons ago, and owns no such shirt herself.

Way back in the dark ages, before electricity and broadband changed the internet forever, I was up WAAY past my bed time and drunk and decided I'd start a blog.

I think it was the next day that I stumbled across Mindy's blog. Maybe two days. (remember the drunk part?) Anyway, she was having a contest for whomever came up with a screenshot with her visitor count at some magic number. Despite having just stumbled across her blog minutes earlier, I was the lucky one. And I won - a T-Shirt!! If that isn't enough for everlasting love to bloom right on the spot, I don't know what is.

Then as I read more, and corresponded, and actually tried to catch her on the phone (not recommended for the faint of heart), I grew to truly love Mindy and appreciate everything she does. I'm happy to be "the joker" in her comment section (most people, self included, take life WAY too seriously), but I would go to great lengths to help this amazingly strong and intelligent woman with anything she needed. I'm glad to count her as a friend, even though we have never met in person and probably never will.

Jazzy kept it short and sweet:

Mindy has a great writing style paired with her great sense of humor and always has enjoyable antics of her children.

Jeanne Fitzmaurice, the Founding Gal of Designhergals.com shared how her relationship with The Mommy Blog has been so successful:

Mindy has been a very loyal fan of Design-her Gals and we enjoyed working with her on her newest look of her site. She has been a great support to us as we launched Design-her Gals - was one of the first bloggers to let the "world" know about us and I will always remember that. What ever good comes Mindy's way -- she deserves. And cute and creative on top of it! If I didn't love her so much I would hate her!! LOL.

You've heard a bit from her fans. You've heard a few of the reasons that we love Mindy. Check back later today and read our interview with La Mindy herself. You're just going to love her!