When did you start blogging and why?

Back when my oldest daughter was a newborn, I sought out other mamas on the internet - my real-life friends were not having children yet, and I needed a community. I quickly found support and friendship via message boards - friendships that have endured to this day. But as my childen got a little bit older, and I got comfortable with the day-to-day challenges of mothering, I began to outgrow some facets of the discussion boards.

Several of the other mamas from my favorite discussion board began blogging, and after admiring their efforts for a few months, I took the leap. On July 13, 2004, I started Three Kid Circus, and well, I never looked back. Hey, wait a minute. I just passed my two-year bloggiversary!

*putting on party hat, inserting blower into mouth*

So, where was I? Ah yes. After blogging in relative obscurity for a year, I had the honor of being one of the panelists for the first Mommyblogging discussion at BlogHer 2005. Mommybloggers.com is an outgrowth of the passionate response Jenn, Meghan and I heard from the women at the conference - both the positive and the negative.

In June of 2006, I joined the ClubMom blogging team as "BigSlice." Big Slice of Life, Small Slice of Cheesecake documents my attempts to lose 50 pounds. I'm losing v e r y s l o w l y. Nonetheless, it has been a fantastic exercise is accepting myself, appreciating who I am, and what I have to work with, and moving forward.

*toot, toot*

How do you use blogging to build friendships?

Blogging allows me to do the one thing that makes my heart pitter-patter the most - talk uninterrupted. With my three little monkeys, it often feels like I'm never going to finish a sentence, let alone a thought. For a glory-hound and self-important ass like myself, this has proven extraordinarily painful. I have things I want, nay, need to share with the world. Blogging has given me a place to shout my shopping lists and recount my days.

As self-centered as that sounds, it is this drivel that has brought me wonderful friends. Friends who tell me I'm funny, or that they feel the same way at the end of a rough day. Who doesn't love that? Not only that, but through Mommybloggers, we've had the chance to interview and feature some of the brightest talent out there, and it has been really inspiring.

How would you describe your writing style?

Wordy. Descriptive. Humorous.

Okay, I just cracked myself up. because how wordy and descriptive is a single word sentence?

What don’t you write about? Anything considered a no-no in your book?

I generally don't blog about politics, religion or family members without their permission.

How do you feel about meeting bloggers in real life? Are you nervous? Will you have great expectations? What do you home to take away from the BlogHer experience?

BlogHer 2005 was such a positive experience for me. For the first time, I realized that I am part of a larger community that is changing perceptions, making a real difference, and telling our own stories, day by day. It was incredibly moving. To be able to visit with some of the women who I read, and to swap war stories with new friends was just incredible. I can't wait.

So soon we’re going to meet each other at BlogHer. Important question. How do you party?

Obnoxiously. The undiluted Jenny away from her family experience includes lots of squealing and jumping, plenty of cocktails and laughing. I'm immature in a way that I can't even express. You'll just have to see it to believe it.

Have you written anything controversial?

You know, I really haven't. I think that sharing opinions can be controversial, because there is always someone who has another view of any topic. Don't get me wrong, I have very strong opinions about politics, religion, feminism - I just don't usually write about them. There are other writers who are a thousand times more eloquent than I'll ever be.

Are you and your blogging persona the same person?

Well, yes and no. My blogging persona is calmer, and more reflective. In reality, I approach life like a bull in a china shop.