You know me: I just never promote or recommend a product on any of my blogs. But fellow Mommy-Bloggers, I have discovered a website that absolutely rocks, and it's great for homeschoolers and parents as well as your child's teachers.

I am just so EXCITED over this discovery!

Steve Spangler Science takes the experiments into your kitchen or back yard, and encourages your kids to get down and dirty with them. With Steve's advice, freebies, and budget-conscious kits and products, your child will learn that good science doesn't exist within the pages of a dry textbook or even within the four walls of a classroom. Good science is all around us, and when a child is allowed - nay, ENCOURAGED - to make loud noises and blow things up and walk on water and make geysers and create glow-in-the-dark alien goo and lava lamps and potato-shooters (NOT guns!), our children will become enthusiastic and excited and eager to learn more.

I have always believed that a good lesson not only teaches our children something important: it also encourages our children to try and discover MORE and MORE, and to make connections.

I can't begin to tell you how much I am enjoying my discoveries on Steve Spangler Science. And, you can even sign up for a free "Experiment of the Week!" FREE!

Right now, Steve Spangler is running a contest on his blog, and if you enter, you might win TEN DOLLARS' worth of science coolness for your children! It's easy to enter; all you have to do is look at the bees and make a guess.

Bees? Well, you'll just have to go there and check it out. I think it's FANTASTIC.

As parents, we want to help our children think "out of the box," and the kind of science Steve Spangler encourages is perfection plus. Steve's experiments also involve ordinary household things, such as baking soda or cornstarch, that are in the pantry anyway. There isn't much expense with Spangler experiments. It's also good for our children when they see the adults in their lives participating and enjoying.

I've seen Steve Spangler on "Ellen," and he's all over You-Tube. Remember that awesome Mentos/Diet Coke geyser experiment? That's Steve Spangler!

My kids are in their twenties, and my neighbor's children are seven and eleven, and I'm in my, um, anonymous middle years, and I'm not sure who had the most fun doing that in my back yard!

Steve Spangler Science is having a contest! Go enter it right now; maybe you'll win it.

Posted by Mamacita at 6:09 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

This week on Mommybloggers we are featuring the always fun and very adored Marsha of Sweatpants Mom. We have been fans of hers for a very long time and are thrilled to be able to feature her. With a mixture of humor, snark and always honest with her opinions, Sweatpants Mom has become a favored blogger by many in not only the mom blogging community, but in the blogging world in general. It did not take us long to realize that this is one woman we admire and want to share her greatness with you. Though we could gush with our personal opinions of her, we would rather let you hear from her readers and fans. They are the ones that rock her blog with comments and adoration.

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Jamie of Blonde Mom had no hesitation in letting us know how hilarious she thinks Marsha is and how much she admires her writing.

Marsha is one of the funniest bloggers out there. As a mom to two daughters, I can relate to so much of what she writes about. She always makes me laugh!

Jodi of Jodi's World was quick to point out her reasons for loving Marsha. (And we know there are many!)

Why do I love Marsha from Sweatpants Mom? Well, that's easy. She rocks. And she almost always makes me laugh. And I really love to laugh. Her writing style is never preachy, she is a Mom, a very funny Mom, who is muddling through early morning wake up calls and school lunches like the rest of us. Blog on Sweatpants Mom! :)

Contrary of the blog (aptly named) Contrary spills the beans on how, though they may be night and day in some areas, that does not stop her from singing the praises of one of her favorite bloggers.

The thing I like best about SPM ( aka Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!) is that even though I suspect she and I are complete opposites in all the most important matters, I know I would still be perfectly happy spending several hours sipping alcoholic beverages and talking about absolutely everything with her. She's hilarious, irreverent, goofy, kinda weird, a tad snarky, and she doesn't bore me half to death talking about her latest shoe purchase. Which makes her worth her weight in donuts. With sprinkles, even.

Early in her mommyblogging addiction, Mary Tsao realized that she found a funny and adorable blogger in Marsha. She tells us all about her admiration and her reasons that Marsha is a go-to blog when Mary needs a giggle in her day.

I found sweatspants mom and her blog Sweatpants Mom very early on in my mommyblogging addiction. That sweatpants mom is one funny lady! Whenever she posts (which isn't often enough... hint hint!) I get a smile on my face. When I'm having a really rough day, I dig through her archives just for a chuckle. Because c'mon, who can't relate to a mom wearing sweatpants?! Thank goodness I now can read sweatpants mom on Babble's FameCrawler blog. Daily, snarky sweatpants mom! Hurray!

Be sure to stay tuned later today for our fun interview with Marsha aka: Sweatpants Mom. You won't want to miss the fun chat we had with her. In the meantime, if you need your fix of her writing, feel free to visit her blog, but definitely come back later today for her interview. You will enjoy it!

Posted by Jenn Satterwhite at 8:47 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

She had us at "Chardonnay" and kept us with her humor. Today we are delighted to introduce to you the hilarious woman behind the blog Baby On Bored and the very entertaining author of Sippy Cups Are Not for Chardonnay: And Other Things I Had to Learn as a New Mom. Stefanie Wilder-Taylor is always always entertaining and very charming with just enough snark to keep you on your toes. After one conversation with her, you feel as if you are BFFs. Always willing to share her advice, wisdom and humor with friends and strangers alike, she has a way of making everyone around her feel at ease and laugh with her. With Stefanie, what you see is what you get. Trust me, she is that friend who will tell you what you need to hear even if you don't want to hear it and you will love her for it! From the massively complimentary things her readers have to say about her, they obviously love what they are getting when they get to know her. She used to be a TV writer but now she entertains us with her blog, her books and her live show in LA called Nobody Likes A Yappy Skirt. We here at Mommybloggers have come to adore her, but we wanted to give her readers a chance to sing her praises as well.

Marsha of Sweatpants Mom couldn't wait to dish about her immediate adoration of Stefanie.

Baby On Bored was one of the first blogs I’d read. I liked Stefanie immediately because she came across as funny and spontaneous and you could tell she was always going to say what was on her mind, dammit. She also reminded me of that one girlfriend you have that will always be honest with you, that won’t hesitate to tell you that you’ve got bean dip on your chin or that those jeans make your hips look like they could fill the Grand Canyon.

Also, she was just bossy enough to make me a little bit afraid of her. In fact, I remember getting an email from her asking why she wasn’t on my blogroll, and I think I stopped what I was doing and rushed to my computer to put her on there because I was seriously afraid she was going to trace my ISP, come over and kick my ass.

(You know, I just realized that I’m not on her blogroll. Stef, you’d better put me on there after you read this.)

JUST KIDDING, STEF! Really! Okay? Stef? Stef?

When Erin of Queen of Spain decided to share with us her feelings about Stefanie, she had no trouble summing it up with more than one all caps words. (That is passion, people!) Here is what she told us about her experience being around Stefanie.

Stefanie ROCKS! Why? For starters, every single time I've been in a room with her SHE has EVERYONE's attention. I love her for it. AND she puts on this super cool, totally hip show in LA and I sat in the audience and watch her and was STARstruck. Stefanie RULES!!!

Joy of Gingajoy would've made us crush on Stefanie simply from her praise had we not already been in the crushing stage. With her "GO Stefanie" battle cry, this is what she enthusiastically shared with us.

First, I want it to be said that Stephanie is breathtakingly gorgeous, and surely must have some kind of eating disorder in order to be that thin. Either that or it's the liquid diet and the brazenly irresponsible but glamorous life she must surely lead.

Now that I have got that important stuff out of the way, let me say this. Thank Christ for Stephanie. Writers like her are the reason I think the mommyblogosphere is something to be reckoned with. As I watched her go the rounds the second time with Meredith and Dr. Moral Majority, I was struck by how gracefully she held her ground in the face of all this nonsense and reminded us that not everything needs to be turned into a moral issue.

We need voices like this to insightfully and humorously cut-through-the-bullshit. Her blog achieves this, and Sippy Cups Are Not for Chardonnay should be the first thing you buy for any mom-to-be. Parenting has become such an ideological battleground these days. We're surrounded by books. As we delve into the books to find The Answer on how to raise our kids without maiming them for life, what we often end up with is a major guilt trip and more confusion. Someone like Stephanie brings a voice of reason to those new and freaked out mothers surrounded by parenting manuals, "You're doing just fine. Join the gang. Cocktail?" Because we are all doing our best—whether you carry your baby in a sling all day or let your child C.I.O.--we're all doing our best. Sometimes we need reminding of that, and we need to laugh our asses of in the process.

I absolutely remember discovering Baby on Bored and knowing right away that Stefanie was someone I wanted to get to know better. She’s funny, smart, accomplished, and opinionated as all hell – my kind of woman. And she kicked ass on the Today Show like nobody’s business. The fact that she’s so completely likable is pretty much the only thing keeping me from being too envious to read her.

Be sure to visit Stefanie's blog Baby on Bored if you need your fix before this afternoon when we feature the fun and very entertaining interview we had with Stefanie. She took on the serious and the funny with the grace of a pro. You won't want to miss this terrific chat with one hilarious woman!

Posted by Jenn Satterwhite at 8:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Mommybloggers.com is thrilled to introduce a new feature of our site today. We're known for featuring outstanding individual bloggers, which we adore. Yet, there is a whole community of wonderful collaborative sites written by and for blogging parents that deserve kudos. We're kicking off our first collaborative blogging feature with the Silicon Valley Moms Blog.

Just over a year old, SV Moms Blog has already built an impressive readership and reputation as a go-to source for families in the Silicon Valley area. With over 40 fantastic contributors on board, founders Jill Asher, Tekla Nee, Pamela Miller-Hornik and Beth Blecherman have created an amazing site that has received enthusiastic press and attention, from the very first month.

We asked some of their many contributors to share why they love writing for SV Moms:

Thida, blogger at SVM and Water Owl's Movements finds it a safe haven:

I like blogging for Silicon Valley Moms Blog, because I feel any topic I want to blog about is okay. I can blog about American Idol, or my son's tumor. And yeah American Idol relates to my kids because my son is a big fan of Melinda. ;)

It also feels safe and nice to blog there. People read my posts and respond appropriately. Not always agreement but definitely on topic. I've been blogging for over five years. After my son was born and so sick, I had to stop blogging on Blogspot for months, because every time I'd post about my son's feeding issues, I'd get comment spam about dieting. So painful when your child is on a feeding tube.

Also if things get busy or rough and I stop writing posts, after a while, I get these sweet little email nudges from Jill. :) Are you still with us? Yes!

Stephanie fo Adventures In Babywearing, a new SVM contributor and soon to be Chicago Moms blog writer.

Everyone at SVM has been so welcoming and encouraging to us new soon-to-be Chicago Moms bloggers. We are excited to be part of the sister blog to SVMs.

Katie Roper loves the ease of participation:

Jill, Beth, Tekla, and Pamela make it so easy to contribute! They are a joy to work with - giving us just the right amount of both prodding and encouragement. I had always wondered about Blogging, and I'm so glad now I can do it, in a way that fits into my working & parenting schedule.

Jen at One Plus Two likes the local aspect:

I enjoy participating in the SVMoms blog because it offers a local perspective, well balanced in humor and honesty, reflecting personal challenges and rewards to parenting and living in the Silicon Valley. The diversity of voices makes it clear we are all not cut from the same cloth, but it's the fabric that binds us together as we all raise our kids in our community.

Glennia Campbell of The Silent I and Kimchi Mamas is NOT a sucker:

When Jill and Pamela asked if I wanted to write for the SV Moms Blog, I had no idea exactly what that meant, or how a collaborative blog worked. If you haven't had the pleasure of meeting them, just let me say that it is impossible to "just say no" to either one of them and when they team up, they are an unstoppable force of nature.
Ultimately, I guess you could say that I succumbed to peer pressure Next thing you know, the two of them will be egging me on to try Twitter or Facebook some other Web 2.0 crack. I am such a sucker.

I think the appeal of the blog is that we try to show our commonality as women and mothers, as people who think and dream and create. There are times when the blog is controversial and other times when we hit on truths that transcend our differences. There are stories that you can relate to and some things you just can't imagine. To paraphrase Forrest Gump, "[The Silicon Valley Moms Blog] is like a box of chocolates. You just never know what your gonna get." It's been a privilege to be a part of this group.

"I'm so happy to have had the opportunity to blog with SV Moms. It's not only given me something to do with all my free time as a working mommy, I can now fill my days reading other blogs as well. Actually, I am unbelievably impressed with how quickly this has taken off, thanks to the skills of Jill, Pam, Tekla and Beth, and I feel lucky to be part of all these hot mommy bloggers."

Check back with us this afternoon, as we sit down with the founders for a little Q&A! You won't want to miss this one!

Posted by Jenny Lauck at 11:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Mommybloggers is proud to feature the lovely and hilarious Jennster, of Jennster.com. We first met this free-wheeling mommyblogger at BlogHer in 2006, and were instantly drawn in by her infectious laugh and outrageous sense of humor. Okay, well, we were a little scared first, but THEN we were ready to commit to matching tattoos, so great was our admiration. In searching for a photo to run with this entry, we struggled to find one of Jennster alone - this girl knows how to have a good time, and is apparently surrounded with laughter and friends at all time.

With her forthright writing style and irreverent take on everything from wedding plans to parenting, Jennster is a authentic individual. Never mundane, Jennster keeps her readers coming back with hilarious entries and great photographs. We just adore her. And we knew her readers would have plenty to add to our praise -

Mieke thinks Jennster rocks -

What can I say about Jennster? She is one of the very first bloggers I found, and was instantly "hooked". I love her no-nonsense and the way she just puts her feelings out there. I can really relate to a lot of the things she talks about. She is also incredibly hilarious and when she posts pictures you will see what I mean! I love reading her posts! Jennster Rocks!

Jennster is the kind of blogger where you just don't know what you're going to get, but whatever it is, it's awful tasty. She can go from crazy pics of herself at a work party, to thoughtful posts about mothering. She's definitely the queen of the unexpected. And she doesn't use caps. If that's not cool, then I don't know what is.

Mary Tsao of Mom Writes sees Mieke's "rocks" and raises -

Jennster is one of the funniest and most honest bloggers I know. She's just a fun and a nice person and her posts clearly reflect those facts. For some reason, I'm bummed that I never got the chance to live with her in the dorms, even though she's probably ten years younger than I am and I have no idea where she went to school. I just think she would be a really fun roommate. I'm so glad I got the chance to meet her at last year's BlogHer conference. She rocks!

Marsha, the very enthusiastic blogger behind sweatpantsmom gets all up in the spirit with her praise -

How can you NOT like someone who has the balls to put an exclamation point (!) at the end of their name? In fact, before I started reading Jennster!'s blog I was definitely more of a period (.) person, or even a question mark (?)

But her enthusiasm is catching! Her love for her son and her fiancé is apparant in every post she writes!! Even when she writes about having unanatural feelings about her wedding cake, it's with an underlying spirit that just makes you want to hit that exclamation point key!!!!!!!

Love you Jennster!

Beth's praise arrived after we published, but we're adding it in now -

I enjoy reading her blog because of the humor, obviously, about everyday things. something could happen to her that could be really horrible, but she'll put a crazy spin on it and get a laugh out of it. Like recently, she was talking about how she doesn't fit in with the other moms at her kid's school....and I feel the same way! It's nice to know that you're not the only crazy person feeling this way, ya know?

I think she's great.

Be sure to check back later this afternoon as we post our interview with the fantastic Jennster!

Posted by mommybloggers at 11:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

This week, we're excited to introduce you to Erin, author of the hilarious and razor-sharp blog Queen of Spain. Not exactly a shrinking violet, Erin pulls no punches as she takes on everything from child-rearing to sex to politics with her quick wit and insight. A former award-winning journalist in Los Angeles, Erin can also be found at BlogHer, DotMoms and at The Huffington Post.

We love Erin's bold take on her universe. And we're not the only ones. We asked a few of her readers to share why Erin is so special:

Dana Tuszke loves her fearless approach:

Erin is spectacular. I adore her brutal honesty, her fearless approach to motherhood and her devotion to not only her husband and children, but to her friends. She will go to bat for any person she feels has been treated unfairly. Erin isn't afraid to say what she thinks which makes her an excellent writer and journalist. She has taught me to stand up for myself and for what I believe in, regardless of our differences, because our convictions are something that can't be taken from us. Erin truly deserves the title of Queen.

Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah speaks from personal experience:

I've known Erin for about 10 years now and her personality is reflected in her blog. She is completely open to anything and she'll be right there to help you out if you need her. When I have something really hilarious happen to me in the bedroom (you know, the kind of story you can't just tell anybody) she is the one I call first.

Janet from Dancing Through just adores Erin:

Erin just cracks me up with her humor and her honesty about life. I enjoy reading her posts and I really feel like she gets it! She gets life. (Mommyhood, love and humor...etc. all those things we go through on a daily basis) I adore her and her blog.

I love Erin because I found her by "accident" and then couldn't stop reading because she is so talented and funny and real. I don't really believe in accidents, so I feel like I was meant to meet her. I love that she's such a great person, and I love that I was able to help her through her thyroid surgery. I wish there had been more I could do, but I am glad that what little I did was helpful. I love that she tells the truth about how she is feeling, and is open about things some other people might not tell. I love that she makes me feel like I am not alone with things.

Seeing as Erin knows way more about me than practically anyone, it is in my best interests to ensure a positive spin on her personality:

- she shows her boobs, a lot;
- she probably is the World's Hottest Mommyblogger, right after me;
- she is a highly driven Mom, Wife, Friend and Confidante;
- her ability to write in any capacity makes me want to lure her husband away so I can marry her myself;
- she paid me $400 to write this.

What I really love about Erin are her big brass balls when it comes to not censoring her blog. Her in-your-face, honest truths make me applaud her for being so brave. I adore so much about Erin, there's not enough bandwidth to handle it all. She really is one of my best friends.

Posted by mommybloggers at 8:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

This week, Mommybloggers.com is thrilled to be featuring the lovely Jessica of Kerflop. Jessica is the busy mom of three adorable kids, and somehow manages to stay on top of two online businesses - VeryBaby.com and One Stop Diaper Shop, in addition to writing her hilarious entries on Kerflop.

We love Jessica's honest, tongue-in-cheek take on the daily chaos that accompanies life with three kids. From the saga of her hair, to trying to prepare for a home appraisal on super-short notice - Jessica never fails to make us smile.

We're not alone in our admiration for Jessica, either. We asked some of Jessica's many fans to share some thoughts with us...take a look at this glowing praise!

Sunny is inspired by Jessica:

Jessica's not afraid to try something new or challenging, and she's completely honest about being a real person with real faults. It's so inspiring to have a blog like hers to read that is full of interesting stories and great ideas, written with such humor and openness. I love Kerflop!

OMSH loves how Jessica's personality shines through in her writing:

Jessica is a close friend. Many late night phone calls ranting, raving, asking advice, sharing stories, and best yet, laughing our butts off, have cemented my love for her and her blog. When I read her, I can hear her voice - and because it is honest and makes no excuses, it makes me want to read more. And yes, she is JUST that funny, creative, precious, beautiful and bizarre. Don't ya just love a girl with layers?

Jessica is one of the most thoughtful, intelligent and entertaining bloggers I read. I love her ability to tackle tough issues in a fresh way, taking the time and brain power to write quality posts and then respectfully going back and forth in discussion with her readers. If there’s some drama going on in the world, you can count on Jessica to write about it in a way that’s smart, fair and completely original.

Loralee Choate recently spent some time with Jessica, and has authority on the cuteness that is Kerfloppy:

I heart "Kerfloppy".

I first went to Jessica's site on a recommendation from a friend who told me, "There is some mom in Idaho who wrote the funniest post about having to wear a satin teal prom dress with permed hair. You have to try reading her!"

So, I did.

Between seeing her children's Flickr photos labeled as "Spawn" and reading about her horrific realization her newly-cut bangs made her look disturbingly like Jennifer Love Hewitt in "The Ghost Whisperer", I knew Jessica was going to be a "Must read blog". I was right! Since then, I've enjoyed her blog daily and have loved every single morsel she's tossed at us clamoring pigeons of groupie-worship.

It is unfathomable that Jessica could be even funnier, wittier and cuter in person than she is on the Internet, but she is. You can't even get the satisfaction of being petty and hating her guts for it because she's so darn "Likable". She even charmed my geek husband with her vast knowledge of all things "Technical". This is no small feat considering she is a Mac user.

She has the cutest giggle in the Rocky Mountains and can make one mean flow chart. However, Kerfloppy's best attributes are that she is "Real", kind, and generous with her time and talents. It doesn't hurt that she has great hair and is stinking hilarious, either.

All the best, Jessica!

MWAH!

Posted by mommybloggers at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

This Valentine's Day, Mommybloggers is thrilled to feature our dear friend Amanda. Amanda first came to our attention at BlogHer 2005. We'll admit, it was her gorgeous smile and glorious hair that drew us toward her. Once we were caught in her tractor beam, we were delighted to find that she is a mommyblogger after our own hearts. Her writing is open, eloquent and full of love for her husband and children - even on the bad days.

Her wit and poignant stories about raising her two beautiful kiddos can be found at MandaJuice. Amanda also finds time to share her financial know-how and the trials and tribulations of trying to stick to a budget at her ClubMom blog - The Naked Ledger. We adore Amanda's honest, hilarious, and often touching portrayals of her family life.

We put a call out to some of her fans, and they flooded our inbox with praise for Amanda -

Elizabeth Table for Five, who knows a thing or two about good blogging herself, has this to say:

What I like best about Amanda's blog is the way she writes about her children. She celebrates every milestone, no matter how small, and you can feel the depth of her love for them in every post. And she posts lots of photos of them, and they are outrageously adorable! I met Amanda at BlogHer '06, and in person she is just as sweet and cool as she is on her blog.

It was love at first read for Jenijen of Not Calm (dot com):

I met Amanda at BlogHer in 2005, and have been reading her ever since. Not only is she a master of the enjoyable-to-read conversational style that I really like in a blog, she takes gorgeous photos. (Course, given her subject matter, you could say she's cheating a little.)

At last summer's BlogHer, I got to talk with her a little bit and discovered that she is very much the way she seems in print: funny, quick-witted, and down-to-earth.

And she's right; you can never talk too much about boobs.

Mary Tsao of Mom Writes appreciates Amanda's honest and affectionate take on motherhood:

I love Amanda because she's so down to earth and honest. She loves her kids and she loves being a mom; that shows clearly in her writing. It shows in real life, too, and I've had the pleasure of meeting Amanda through our participation in BlogHer and other mommyblogging events. I also appreciate the fact that Amanda isn't afraid to reveal the downside of motherhood in her posts when the situation warrants it, and yet she's generally an upbeat person. As a fellow mommyblogger, I can relate to about 99.9% of her posts with the exception of her history with gastric bypass surgery. And that's another thing! She isn't afraid to talk about the fact she's had surgery and how it's changed her life. In so many ways, she's an inspiration to many women bloggers. I hope she knows that! Thanks for featuring Amanda.

JenB of Jenandtonic sums it up perfectly:

Amanda is one of the loveliest people I have ever met. For serious. Before the first BlogHer (’05), we had spoken a bit in chat and email and we both decided to go to the conference. Amanda immediately offered her home and a pick up and delivery to the airport. I ended up staying at the hotel, but she chauffeured me around San Jose and it was like we had known each other forever. We lamented we weren’t neighbours. She let me touch her glorious hair as much as I wanted. She took me shopping! She is smart and witty and friendly and funny and fabulous. I really do wish we were neighbours, somewhere where I could avoid snow.

Check back later this afternoon as we share our recent chat with the lovely Amanda!

Posted by mommybloggers at 11:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

This week we have a fun loving and completely adorable Sarah of Sarah and the Goon Squad. We met Sarah at BlogHer this past summer and have developed our crush in the months that have followed. Sarah lives in the Washington D.C. Metro area with her husband and 2 1/2 year old twins. She used to consider herself a SAHM, but writing for her personal blog Sarah and the Goon Squad, BlogHer, her sports blog Draft Day Suit, Best Bucs Blog, and now Strollerderby she now sees herself as a more of a WAHM. (Though good luck getting her to call herself a writer. She still stumbles on the word. But this woman is an incredible writer! ) She spends way too much time thinking about football, food, and wine.

We here at Mommybloggers are big fans of Sarah's. But, when we told people we were featuring her, there certainly were no shortages of fans eager to praise one of their favorite bloggers. We'll hand the blog over to them now.

Karen Rani of Troll Baby jumped to the front of the line elbowing out other bloggers to sing the praises of Sarah:

Sarah and I met at BlogHer, but I loved her long before that. I read every single post of hers - she's always fun and upbeat. She was so amazingly warm and friendly at BlogHer, and offered to bring me up to Erin (Queen of Spain's') hotel room despite the fact Erin was showering. Sarah is one of those people you automatically feel comfortable and at ease with. I'm sure she was frightened over me spilling my entire PPD story on her, but if she was, she didn't show it. I adore Sarah to pieces, and I can't say enough good things about her.

And since I wrote this while intoxicated, the following is completely warranted: "I LOVE YOU MAN!"

Julie of mothergooosemouse couldn't wait to tell us of her adoration of Sarah with an eager "Heck yeah, I'll tell you about Sarah!":

What I love most about Sarah is that she is just SO. MUCH. FUN. She's exactly who she seems to be: outgoing and friendly, with plenty of snark to make you laugh your arse off. I look forward to causing trouble with her at BlogHer '07.

Not to be left out of the love-fest for one of our beloved bloggers, Cathy of Mayberry Mom jumped right in with her eagerness to talk about Sarah, she exclaimed:

I checked out SATGS after I met Sarah at BlogHer last year, and I've been hooked ever since. Visiting her blog is like dropping by a friend's house, unannounced, and getting both a warm welcome and a cold beer. She's real, funny, and opinionated without being obnoxious--what more could you want in a blogger?

Beth of So the fish said was very excited to bring on her enthusiasm for this amazing blogger when she gave us her heartfelt praise for one of her daily reads:

Sarah has incredibly sexy armpits and the best dual-naked-baby-bottom pictures you have ever seen. She also somehow has the super-human ability to deal with dueling toddler meltdowns with a smile on her face and have both kids happy and eating cheerios in ten seconds flat while carrying on an actual adult conversation the entire time. Oh, wait. Was I supposed to talk about her blog? Sarah is one of my daily must-reads because she is a fabulous writer, viciously funny and just all-around entertaining. Go. Read. You will be glad that you did.

We could go on and on with praise from her fans because there was no shortage of people wanting to tell us of their adoration for her.

Be sure to stay tuned later today for our fun interview with Sarah of Sarah and the Goon Squad. You won't want to miss the fun chat we had with her. In the meantime, if you need your fix of her writing, feel free to visit her blog, but be sure to come back later today for her interview.

Posted by Jenn Satterwhite at 8:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBacks (0)

This week we are thrilled to bring you the always entertaining and very charming Julie of Mothergoosemouse. We adored her at BlogHer and have stalked followed her writing and projects since then. Julie is one of those amazing women where what you see is what you get. There are no false pretenses or phoniness when it comes to this blogger. She is genuinely as nice and as sweet as she appears on her blog. Julie has been blogging for a couple of years now and yet she still continues to amaze us with her stories as we learn more and more about her. Julie is the mother of two girls, living and writing in the wild, wild West. She's the modern reincarnation of a 1950's mom, advocating a return to the lost arts of embroidery, baking, handwritten thank you notes, and turning the cell phone off during dinner. She also likes rap music.

In addition to her own blog, Julie writes for Cool Mom Picks (and was able to go review cars at the Detroit Auto Show!) and contributes to The Soccer Mom Vote. She recently launched Parent Bloggers with Kristen Chase.

We could go on, but we know you would rather hear from her fans and friends.

Izzymom was more than happy to jump in with her praise for Julie:

I always enjoyed Julie's blog but I got to know her better at BlogHer '06. Yes, she's really nice and a great writer. Those are a given. What you may not know about Julie is that she is totally real and honest and loyal and fun and so very cool. LOVE HER!

Amy Davis from The Lovely Mrs. Davis Tells You What to Think couldn't wait to share with us her adoration of Julie:

I love that Julie writes so openly and boldly about some really weighty topics. She's so thoughtful and intelligent in the way she approaches politics and religion, and she stimluates such interesting discussions on these issues. Julie's military background has always intrigued me -- that is what first struck me about her when I first read her blog last spring. But I've kept on reading her because I love her style and her courage, and I admire how comfortable and confident she is in her role as a mother.

Kristin of Motherhood Uncensored took time out of her now very, very busy life with 2 kids to gush to us about her admiration for Julie:

I'm quite certain it was Julie who reached out and commented on my blog first, and ever since then I've been hooked on hers. Sure, it helps that both our daughters have the same nickname (Goose), but really, it's her honest smart writing and unique voice (with just a little bit of sass mixed in) that sold me. Now that we've collaborated on several projects (Her Bad Auction & Parentbloggers), I can truly say she's more than my blogpal. She's my friend.

And of course we have Mrs. Chicky of Chicky Chicky Baby who was thrilled to give us the scoop on how much she adores Julie as she jumped in with immediate praise for her:

I just can't say enough about Julie! She's one of those bloggers that never ceases to amaze me with her intelligence and humor. I know that whatever she writes will be interesting and thought provoking - or grab-your-sides funny - and her posts routinely make me think and oftentimes force me to see an issue from another point of view. Julie forces me out of my comfort zone with a gentle shove, but she's always there in the end with a smile, a kind word or two and a (virtual) nice cold beer.

Now don't forget to check back with us later today when we feature our always fun interview portion with Julie of Mothergoosemouse. If you simply cannot wait that long, go check out her blog now. But, be sure to come hear what she has to say when we put her in the hot seat with our burning questions!

Posted by Jenn Satterwhite at 8:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBacks (0)

This week,we are thrilled to introduce you to the very funny Mel of Stirrup Queens and Sperm Palace Jesters. Mel has only been blogging for a few months, but already she has won a loyal audience. Stirrup Queens is more than a personal blog. Mel is working hard to create a sense of community among infertility bloggers, and to raise the conciousness of the general public towards fertility issues. She has created a one-stop resource for information, personal support from peers and a wealth of source materials. Her warmth and open discussions about her own struggle with infertility, raising her twins and commentary on everything from celebrity adoption to infertility discussed in the pages of Playboy Magazine have her readers enthralled.

When she contacted us about helping to promote National Infertility Awareness Week, we were eager to help out.

According to RESOLVE:

Hidden No More: What Everyone Should Know About Infertility

Infertility affects approximately 10% of the population. Since infertility strikes diverse groups-affecting people from all socioeconomic levels and cutting across all racial, ethnic and religious lines- chances are great that a friend, relative, neighbor or perhaps you are attempting to cope with the medical and emotional aspects of infertility.

Your best friend. Your sister. Your mother. Your neighbor. You. Here at Mommybloggers, we've all been touched by infertility, either directly or indirectly. We want to help the conversation grow, so that no one ever has to feel alone with their frustration and pain.

Mel is also at the head of an effort to help women who have experienced infertility to find one another by wearing Pomegranate Bracelets. We'll get the lowdown on this low-tech movement, and share ways that we all can participate.

These are only a few of the many reasons we admire what Stirrup Queens is all about. We asked some of Mel's readers to share what Stirrup Queens means to them, and we were once again blown away by the praise:

Manuela of Thin Pink Line appreciates Mel's passion, and personal support:

Anyone who takes on the gargantuan task of attempting to raise awareness of issues related to infertility gets a standing ovation from me.... complete with shouts of Brava! and clapping until my hands hurt.

When you add the fact, that in the middle of this effort... Melissa still took the time to reach out to me and offer her support when I lost my baby girl after years of infertility... well... how can I not simply adore her.

Kel appreciates the sense of community:

Mel is fantastic! Her blog has become a place where those of us in the Infertile World can connect and find support. It connects those who have just begun the struggle and those of us who have been on this path for years. Her support and guidance have made this struggle a little bit easier to handle.

Melissa's site has become THE go-to place for anyone suffering from infertility. It's part support group, part place to find great new blogs to read, and part (BIG part) most informative site on infertility issues on the internet.

TeamWinks is in awe of Mel's ability to touch the lives of her readers:

I'm not sure how she manages to find the time to make meaningful connections with so many of us. She has truly been our common thread. She brings big issues to light with humanity and the respect that they deserve. Simply put, she's the kind of woman, we all would love to sit down and have a cup of coffee with!

Tara sums it up beautifully:

I've been reading Melissa's blog since she started it several months ago. She initially drew me in with her questions to the infertility community at large--her way of doing some research for a book she's writing with her husband. But I have remained a faithful reader because she is doing something that, according to the Mommybloggers "About" page, is what blogging is all about. Your about page says "Mommybloggers are making a real difference in this world" and that's exactly what Mel is doing. Mel has written about some very difficult and heartwrenching topics concerning infertility and loss, as well as parenthood after infertility and loss. She has made it her mission to not only educate through her blog, but to also make it a safe place where everyone, no matter where you are on your journey to parenthood, can find advice or a listening ear--an occasionally some funny tales about parenting twins!

Please check back with us later today as we sit down with Mel of Stirrup Queens and Sperm Palace Jesters!

Posted by mommybloggers at 7:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

This week, we're delighted to introduce you to Krisco, the blogger behind Crib Ceiling. From our first read, we've been hooked on Krisco's irreverent look at motherhood. As a recent entry proves - she is a born storyteller, who can take something as humdrum as being STABBED NEAR THE EYE WITH A BALL POINT PEN AT A RESTAURANT and turn it into a charming tale of acceptance, love and tattoos. We love her obvious affection for her family, her willingness to share the sometimes difficult parts of being a mother, and the surprising stories that she effortlessly weaves.

Then again, who wouldn't love her? This is a woman who eschews an "about me" page, but created an "about cribs" page for those mistaken googlers who can't help but stumble onto her blog. That is comic genius, people. And also, another example of Krisco's kindness and generous spirit. We just adore her.

We asked a few of her many fans to share a few thoughts with us on why they love Krisco, and what keeps them coming back to Crib Ceiling:

Renee had this to say:

Krisco's blog was one of the first I started reading back a little over a year ago, when I started blogging myself. I forgot exactly what led me to her blog, but it appealed to me from the beginning. She has two girls like me (although I've recently added a boy to my bunch) and I could identify with many of her stories. Her girls are a bit younger than mine so her stories brought back great memories for me.

Kris' appreciation and deep love of her girls shines through in every post that she writes about them. I feel that she has a special friendship with them that is reflected in her writing. She honestly seems to enjoy her children and her time with them. She recognizes that this time never seems to be quite long enough, especially when work
and volunteering (which she does lots of) is thrown into the mix.

Kris makes me laugh too, which is always a big plus in my book. Oh . . and she helped me loads with a book report my daughter had to do on New Mexico. What beats that?!

Crib Ceiling was one of my favorites from the beginning and remains so. Keep it up, Kris!

Anne of Anne's Asylum loves the fun content that Krisco offers:

I have loved reading Krisco the past year or so…she has great working mom advice, fun weekly stuff (like WFDW), is very fun and always interesting to read.

Plus, she has a great, colorful design which always makes a big difference in wanting to come back to a site!

Mary Tsao of Mom Writes just adores Krisco - and here's why:
Mom Writes ()

I love reading Krisco's blog Crib Ceiling. First, I think the name is the most brilliant thing I've ever come across. Crib Ceiling . I get it! Second, Krisco is just the most honest and caring person and her personality comes across 100% in her writing. She's the kind of blogger whom I really believe I would spend lots of IRL time with, if only she lived closer to me... (hint, hint, Kris! -- the Bay Area is calling!)

Even though I supported Krisco's efforts to return to work earlier this year, I secretly was bummed. Fortunately for me, even though she's now a work-outside-the-home mom, Krisco still finds time to blog. The mommy blogosphere rejoices in her never-ending supply of energy; Krisco is amazing and funny and smart and thoughtful, and I'm happy to have the opportunity to tell you that.

Posted by mommybloggers at 10:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

At long last, we were able to catch up with the fabulous Catherine of Her Bad Mother! We love her style - with her intelligent voice and her quick wit, Catherine captures her readers and keeps them coming back for more. We could go on and on about her community building projects, her explorations of motherhood and feminism, her gorgeous photography and her sincere, yet hilarious take on her world. We just adore Her Bad Mother... and so do her fans!

We put out a call to a few of her readers, and we weren't surprised by the admiration that Catherine inspires. Take a look at what some of her many fans had to say:

Sandra at the Sunshine Scribe appreciates both the writer and the woman:

Catherine is not only a very special blogger and gifted writer but she is also a pretty incredible woman. Her distinct writing voice has an interesting combination of startling intellect and raw emotion ... and who cannot resist a gratuitous Wonderbaby photo! What I love most about her is that she is the queen of all things love-in. From her mother's day mommy blogger tribute project to her recent call to action to write about a cause; she builds community and inspires like no one else I know. And that translates beyond her blog as she became the catalyst enabling so many of the Toronto mommy bloggers to meet in person. I am both a fan of her blog and her writing, but also proud to call her a friend. Congrats HBM. Bad most certainly is the new Good.

Jennster loves Her Bad Mother's ability to provoke a reaction:

her bad mother is one bad SOB! :) i love her because she is like super glue. the super glue that brings and holds the blogging world together. she puts out a call to action and she gets people to respond to her like no one else! she is unlike any other blogger out there, and she's one sexy bitch! i heart her bad mother and you should too!

I don't know that there's anyone better than Catherine to smash the myth that mommybloggers are nothing but fluff writers. Catherine is incapable of writing fluff. She thinks through every angle of every topic that she takes on, always giving her readers new insights. I sincerely admire her intellect and respect her views.

Metro Mama also admires Catherine's ability to rally the troops:

Her Bad Mother is the biggest champion of the blogging community. She likes nothing better than to promote and celebrate the supportive environment that is the blogosphere. She really knows how to rally the troops—from babies and eros, to the politics of blogging, she always lights a fire under her readers. Check out her blog—she’s funny, smart and oh, so articulate. An added bonus—lots of gratuitous WonderBaby photos—you can’t have too many of those.

L of Slackermom appreciates the variety in Catherine's work:

What I really like about reading Catherine is that her differnent dimensions come through on her blog. She has informed academic posts but also hilarious muppet-sational posts. I also admire they way she is interested in making the most of this medium. Initiatives that promote women's voices and build community are just two examples of areas in which she is involved.

-Pierre of MetroDad is in awe:

I’ll never forget the day when Liz (Mom-101) passed me a note in gym class that said, “Dude, u should totally go out with Catherine.� Ok...so that’s not actually true. What really happened was I grabbed a few beers with Liz after BlogHer and she was telling me how one of the great highlights of her trip was meeting and becoming friends with Catherine. I’d stumbled across HBM once or twice before but I went back to read some more. And needless to say, I was blown away by her. She’s an amazing writer, an introspective thinker, a professor in Political Philosophy, an adoring mother, and a wonderful wife. Yeah, she’s from the land of maple syrup and plaid flannel but I still love her. You know those times where you have a thought but just aren’t able to express it intelligently? Well, Catherine manages to do that for me every single time. If you’re not already reading her, you really should be. Go now!

CrankMama loves her for her big brain:

Catherine’s website is new to me but I’m a huge fan. I guess it all starts with the “Bad is the New Good� tagline. With that she communicates her appeal in one quick blurb. HBM gives us all permission to be ourselves as mothers and as women… to be sassy, angry, tired, and still concerned about Machievelli and political theory. The fact that she has a huge brain and is a deep thinker only amplifies her appeal.

Plus, she has a dark and sordid past (according to a comment she made on my site) which I think makes her the fabulously interesting character she is….

Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah loves the high quality of Catherine's writing:

What I love so much about Catherine is that she never dumbs it down for us. She is a brilliant woman and she is perfectly content to let us read her posts with dictionary.com pulled up in another window. Catherine writes long and flowery posts that force the reader up to her level, yet she is down to Earth. She never makes you feel like she is too good to write about about poop, just that she has more important things to say at the time.

The lovely Tracey of Sweetney sums it up brilliantly:

Catherine kept me company during an excruciatingly long wait for a flight out of San Jose after BlogHer this year. During our time together she was, in case you were wondering, a complete gentlewoman, and didn't try anything funny.

Well, *at first.* Heh.

Anyway, what I realized at BlogHer and have had confirmed for me again and again as I read HBM, is that the woman is smart, and funny, and the kind of chick I can totally hang with. She's that rare woman I meet while traveling and thereafter pine for moodily, anguished that she doesn't live more geographically near to me [shakes angry fist at Canada]. Catherine is honest, no-nonsense, thoughtful, and still manages to crack my shit up every time I read HBM.

She is, simply put, awesometastic.

Check back this afternoon for our interview with the awesometasticness that is Catherine of Her Bad Mother.

Posted by mommybloggers at 8:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (15) | TrackBacks (0)

This week we are proud to introduce you to two amazing women who rock the blogosphere. Cooper Munroe and Emily McKhann created their popular blog Been There in November, 2004, and haven't looked back. With insightful entries on everything from parenting to politics, Been There is a treasure trove of fantastic writing.

Cooper is currently a contributing writer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Dot Moms as well as a contributing blogger at MomsRising.org.

In addition to her blogging at Been There and the Been There Clearinghouse, Emily's last book, Living With the End in Mind was featured on numerous television programs, including 20/20 and Oprah.

When Hurricane Katrina struck, Cooper and Emily watched in horror with the rest of the country. Determined to help, they turned their blog into a grassroots clearinghouse for needed goods. News of this effort spread like wildfire, and overnight, their site received a huge flood of traffic. With volunteer help and gumption to spare, Cooper and Emily moved the clearinghouse to a new domain, and kept the flow of goods moving.

With six children and several hundred miles between them, Cooper and Emily are shining examples of how Mommybloggers not only rock the cradle, but can affect real change in the world, right from their own kitchen tables.

We adore their down-to-earth writing styles and sharp, fresh takes on what it means to be a mother in this day and age. We're not the only ones... we put out a call to a few of Been There's fans. Here's what they had to say about this week's guests:

Cynthia Samuels of Don’t Gel Too Soon remarks on Cooper and Emily's knack for capturing the little things:

Emily and Cooper are great writers and observers of life. But they don’t just observe – they have set an example for all of us by acting --- changing and enhancing the lives of so very many people who fell into the path of Hurricane Katrina. Having met Cooper, I can attest to the sincerity and lack of grandiosity behind what they’ve done. Probably their open, caring and pragmatic outreach accounts for their success. Creative, loving, enthusiastic and resourceful, they have proven once and for all that blogs can be so much more than what Guy Kawasaki calls (jokingly) “Someone with nothing to say writing for someone with nothing to do.� I love sharing their thoughts and experiences and have come to love them, too.

Becki Fadel King of Cooking with Whine gets right to the heart of Cooper and Emily's appeal:

I would have responded sooner, but I was having trouble quantifying just what I love about Cooper and Emily. I guess what it boils down to is this: they're women you'd pick for next-door neighbors, the kind that you'd have over for coffee anytime, because you know they wouldn't say anything about your house being a mess. They're smart without being smug, fun without being frivolous, and they don't take their blessings for granted. They seem to have the radical attitude that if anyone is suffering or struggling, we've got to do what we can to help, just because we can. And they somehow manage this without being preachy or self-congratulatory. Part of what makes them so fabulous is that they genuinely don't think they're being fabulous. They're just being themselves.

Oh, and they're damn fine writers, too. Can't forget about that part.

Many of you know Emily and Cooper from the Been There Clearing House, their amazing volunteer project aimed at helping the victims of Hurricane Katrina. What they have accomplished out of the goodness of their hearts is a great testament to the faith and charity of the human spirit. Through no small effort, they mobilized the blogging community and empowered us to not only help people during a time of need but also to make personal connections with some of the victims. I continue to be amazed (and humbled) by their enormous generosity and commitment.

However, anybody who knows Cooper or Emily should not be surprised. I’ve been fans of their blog since the very first day they started. And as anyone who has ever read their site knows, the one thing that immediately strikes you is the fact that they are such good people. I absolutely adore both of them because they’re completely genuine and SO DAMN NICE! Seriously. Cooper and I often e-mail back and forth and I’m always struck by how sincere she is. She even makes an urban cynic like me want to be a better person. We’ve been trying to meet up when she comes up to NYC. I’d love to sit down with her over some coffee and figure out how she manages a career, her volunteer work, and a minivan full of kids! If you’re not reading the writings of these two cool and talented women, you absolutely should be!

Check back later this afternoon as we chat with Cooper and Emily! You won't want to miss this one!

Posted by mommybloggers at 10:45 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Today we are so excited to feature our good friend, Kelly also known among the Internet as Mocha Momma. When we first started reading Kelly's blog, her strength of character and her humor caused us to immediately develop little blog crushes. After meeting her in July, we realized that the level of blog crush was inadequate when it comes to this incredible woman. She is not only smart and funny, she is a woman of strength, character and hilarious stories of life and motherhood. As much as we love her, we would rather you read praise from her fans. They are the ones who want to tell you more about Kelly.

Karen Rani of Troll-Baby sent us praise for Kelly the moment we casually mentioned the amazing Mocha Momma was going to be featured. This fan couldn't even wait to be contacted! When it comes to Kelly, she gushed (and proposed):

Kelly is always interesting, always fun, and can often make me laugh out loud, or tear up. Her daughter's recent move had me crying. Kelly has this way of taking my cold, black heart and twisting it into a pink puffy one. I was lucky enough to meet Kelly at BlogHer and party in her very cool hotel room. She has a way of making the people around her feel important and loved. If anything ever happens to Daren, I am SO MARRYING KELLY. Congrats on your Mommybloggers interview Kelly! Love Karen xo

Heather B. of No Pasa Nada had an amazing gem of praise for our fantastic Kelly as she pontificated on Kelly's awesomeness:

The first time I met the lovely Kelly, we were poolside in San Jose when she called me a 'zygote' in reference to my age. Most people would be put off by such a thing. I smiled and the next day attempted to read as much of her archives as possible. Not only is she absolutely stunning on the outside but as I've learned, she's a beautiful and thoughtful person on the inside as well. Now I want to wrap my arms around her and hug her every time I read something she's written. She's just that freaking awesome.

Sarah of the great blog Sarah and the Goon Squad kept it simple and sweet as to why she adores Kelly when she shared this with us:

Kelly is as cool in real life as she is online. She is such a real person. I aspire to have the same kind of relationship with my daughter that she has with Mallory.

Belinda of Ninja Poodles was more than eager to express her love and support of Kelly with prasie that was unabashed and sincere with honesty that makes you understand why Kelly is so adored:

While I love and support Kelly's blog and its overt fabulosity, even from way back when I was cussing MySpace every time I tried to leave a comment, the things I admire most about her are things that may not be immediately evident from reading MochaMomma. Kelly is real, and she cares, maybe to a fault, about everyone whose life touches hers, and very very many who she will never even meet. She is charming and outgoing, and pours on the schmooze and the flirt, but get her in a one-on-one situation just once, and your wwill quickly learn that Kelly is living proof that it's not ONLY "still" waters that run deep. That's Kelly to me: a deep, powerful, fast-moving, noise-making, life-affirming river. Give her enough time, and she'll carve a Grand Canyon of compassion...with or without anyone's help.

Izzymom gave her adoration of Kelly straight up and honestly. Simply put:

Kelly is a very warm and beautiful lady, inside and out. She deserves to be recognized an outstanding member of the blogworld!

Liz of Mom-101 had the funniest praise we have received for an interviewee before and must be included:

Kelly is smart, she is soulful, she is funny, she is kind, she is wise. The only thing I don't adore about her are her eyes, because they're just the kind of eyes that your college boyfriend lay in bed dreaming about instead of your own. The bastard.

We could keep these praises going for a while seeing as our inbox is still getting the praises for our good friend, Kelly. However, we would rather save the space for you to be able to read the incredible interview we have coming up with her later today.

So, be sure to come back later on this afternoon to grab a cup of mocha java mocha and enjoy a fantastic interview with a wonderful woman, Kelly of Mocha Momma.

Posted by Jenn Satterwhite at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

Mommybloggers: Hi, Stefania! Thanks for joining us!

Stefania: Thank you for having me! I've admired the work you all do for The Mommy Bloggers and all your other 4,562 blogs for a long time now. You are amazing women and such talented writers. Thank you for all the work you do to support and promote women who blog.

Mommybloggers: You amaze us with your prolific blogging – has writing always been a passion for you?

Stefania: I've always loved writing but blogging definitely awakened a new passion in me. I love the immediacy of blogging and the fact that you don't have to be a writing expert in order to blog. I'm not a writer, I'm a blogger, and I say with pride.

Mommybloggers: You've lived around the globe, and have a culturally diverse family – tell us a little bit about your background.

Stefania: I was born in Honolulu, Hawaii to a Korean-American mother and an Italian father. When I was younger we lived in Rome (where my dad still lives today) until I was 4. Then my parents divorced, and my mother and brother I moved back to Hawaii. When I was 11 my family moved to the San Francisco Bay Area where I've pretty much been ever since (though I went to college in Los Angeles and recently did a 16 month stint in Portland, Oregon).

I've worked since I was 14 years old. I didn't have to, but I've always been fiercely independent. I liked the autonomy of working (and still do). Looking back it was probably a good thing. It kept me out of trouble. I've done everything from busing tables to teaching third grade in an inner city school. I was an Art History major (You were right, Mom, I'm not doing anything with it...), but my background is in Marcom, specifically co-marketing/co-branding. I bounced around Silicon Valley doing various marketing jobs for most of the 90's.

Teaching was the hardest job I ever did, but it prepared me for parenting. Marketing is something I never thought I'd have the opportunity to go back to (I was a stay-at-home-mom for three years before I started working again and that's an eternity to be away from the corporate world), but my experience helps me tremendously not only in my blogging but in other projects I am working on. I've learned that every job prepares you for something (hopefully) better down the line.

I live in San Francisco with my daughters (ages 4 and 2) and my husband (our 12 year anniversary is next week!). My husband and I lived in San Francisco for many years before kids and also when our older daughter was born. We moved back to San Francisco from Portland 8 months ago. Our second daughter was born while we were in Portland. We are now experiencing the fun and frustration of trying to raise two girls in an urban environment. (Mostly, it's fun!)

Mommybloggers: We're impressed with your pop-culture savvy and ability to extemporize on everything from breaking news and world events to the latest episode of Rockstar: Supernova. How do you stay so in touch with it all?

Stefania: I am a media junkie and always have been. I read the paper, listen to NPR, subscribe to all kinds of magazines...I cannot get enough information. News headlines flash across my monitor multiple times a day, I've loaded up my Bloglines blogroll with everyone from Arianna Huffington to Perez Hilton. I read BBC news, the Korea Times, CNN World News and other international news sites for a world view. Thank goodness for feed readers like Bloglines! Without Bloglines I couldn't possibly stay as in touch as I try to do. There are always more feeds to add to the blogroll and y'all know that just creates more blog fodder!

Mommybloggers: CityMama is a delightful mash-up of urban parenting, lifestyle commentary, entertainment and food. We particularly love the cheeky attitude you infuse all your entries with. How much of yourself do you bring to your blogs?

Stefania: I bring *most* of myself to my blogs. I am much more reserved in person than I am on my blog which is why I love blogging so much. When I blog I can be the person that most of my close friends and family already know. I can jump right in without wasting time on polite, "getting to know you" formalities. It takes me a little while to warm up to people I don't know well and I've been told that I can be a tough nut to crack. I am definitely more guarded in person. I think this surprises people when they meet me for the first time. Sure, I'm not as "sassy" when I first meet people and I certainly don't swear as much (!!!), but underneath it all, CityMama is me. My blog lets me cut through the B.S. and get to the heart of what I'm thinking and feeling.

Mommybloggers: Is there anything you consider off-limits for blogging?

Stefania: I don't blog about anything that my family or friends might find hurtful. My intention is certainly not to do that. That's a personal choice that I make.

Now that my daughters are getting older, I'm also careful about what I'm sharing about them. While I do view my blog as a sort of baby book at times, I like to keep most of our family experiences private.

Mommybloggers: You've been a professional blogger for a long time. How do you stay motivated?

Stefania: I love blogging. It's so fun! That is my biggest motivation. I have so many interests that I can always find something to write about. I am very thankful that I have the opportunity to write about different topics for different sites and get paid to do it. That helps to keep me motivated as well.

Mommybloggers: We have to ask – what do you think of the term "mommybloggers?" Do you consider yourself a mommyblogger?

Stefania: I don't mind the term "mommybloggers" at all. I definitely consider myself a mommyblogger, but I am also a cultural blogger, a food blogger, an entertainment blogger, a beauty and style blogger, a parenting blogger...Mommyblogger is just one of the hats I wear, and I wear it proudly.

Mommybloggers: You're also a gifted photographer – we love the "Bunny" and "Wallie" photos, as well as your other gorgeous work. How do you capture such wonderful images?

Stefania: Now, I'm laughing. Gifted? Me? You must have me confused with someone else. I definitely love taking pictures, but I think my photography professor would be very irritated with me (she hated photos of children). I haven't touched my "real camera" in years. Hooray for digital cameras! Let's just leave it there.

Mommybloggers: Alright – let's talk about Kimchi Mamas. We're fascinated every time we click over…what inspired you to start this collaboration?

Stefania: I actually didn't start the collaboration. It was Nina of Charlie and Nina's brilliant idea. She approached me and then together we approached all the other Korean (or married to Korean ) mom bloggers that we had reading. It all came together rather quickly. Since I'm experienced with the logistical side of blogging I handled that. I think Nina saw a blog need that was screaming to be filled, and I am so happy that she did.

Being raised Korean and then raising Korean children and talking about it is a concept that is not only new to most Koreans (who, if I many generalize, tend to be private), but also an experience that has been underrepresented in all forms of media. Kimchi Mamas came together in a matter of weeks and the content just started to flow. This is why I love blogging. We couldn't have put together a magazine or newsletter or book in this amount of time. With blogging, if you see a niche—any kind of niche—you can fill it immediately. (AggroQueen anyone?)

I know I'm biased but I think the writing on Kimchi Mamas is so compelling. We represent all aspects of Korean family experience: being raised Korean both in the US and in France, being hapa (half Asian) and those particular cultural experiences, being married to Koreans and adjusting to family life, and what it means to be a Korean adoptee. I feel so honored to be blogging along side such talented women.

Mommybloggers: What do you hope to accomplish with Kimchi Mamas?

Stefania: We've never talked about a mission statement or anything like that. I think we just want to shed light on our particular experiences and make connections with others who might be able to relate. I know that feedback has been extremely positive. I love that I can read through the comments on our posts and see so many similar experiences. If any of the Kimchi Mamas are reading this, perhaps they can comment and add their own particular thoughts on the matter.

Mommybloggers: Tell us about FamilyFood – it is obvious that you love to cook. Where did you get your passion for food? Can we come over for dinner?

Stefania: My passion for food definitely came from my mother. She's an expert Korean cook, an expert Italian cook...just an excellent cook in general. Growing up she made pasta from scratch, canned her own jams, made her own fruit leather and candies, planted amazing gardens and cooked right from them. She was into "slow food" before it became a trendy food movement. She even bakes, which I don't like to do. She taught me everything I know about food and cooking. I remember standing on a stool watching her roll out pie dough or sauteeing duxelles...now my children do the same and nothing makes me prouder.

You can come over for dinner anytime! I love having dinner parties!

Mommybloggers: We admit it. We just can't get enough of you, Stefania! Where else can we find your writing?

Stefania: You are too kind. Really. In addition to blogging CityMama, Family Food and Kimchi Mamas, I'm a Contributing Editor (Books & Entertainment) for BlogHer. You can go there and read my film reviews and movie commentaries which pale in comparison to all the other great writers featured there.

Mommybloggers: We've heard that you've got other, even more ambitious projects in the works. Care to tell us about them?

Stefania: I've just helped to (beta) launch a new website called ParentsConnect. ParentsConnect is a new online community where parents, prospective parents and other caregivers can quickly find and easily share advice, ideas and opinions-- even laughs. At ParentsConnect, parents - who have 'been there, done that' -- are the real experts. The site's key features include personalized home pages that update dynamically, Host Parents (like me!) who help keep discussions lively and blog on the site, and local advice and kid-friendly listings powered by GoCityKids.

What I like about ParentsConnect is that it's for all for ALL parents – as well as grandparents and caregivers – not just moms, and not just those who share one particular philosophy or experience. Along with that, ParentsConnect is for parents of ALL kids. You won't feel ignored on the site if your kids are over 6 – or over 16. And, best of all, there's no walled-off premium content on ParentsConnect. Sign-up is free and members have access to all the content.

ParentsConnect's 20 Host Parents were hired through a nationwide search based on their background, parenting experience, writing ability and enthusiasm for helping other parents get connected to information and to each other. I'm proud to be part of that group and I hope that people enjoy the site! (But keep in mind, this is a beta launch. There is much more to come!)

Mommybloggers: We're thinking the world needs a Stefania podcast or videoblog. Have you thought about branching out to include more media?

Stefania: Oh, no no no. Dear God, no. The world definitely doesn't need that. I haven't seriously thought about branching out. I like the idea of podcasts and am interested in learning more about how to do them, but other than that, no. I'm happy doing what I'm doing. I don't want to write a book or anything like that. I just want to blog. To me, there's nothing better.

Mommybloggers: And here are the questions we subject all of our featured bloggers to (With apologies to Bernard Pivot and Inside the Actors Studio):

1. What is your favorite parent related word? Daughter
2. What is your least favorite parent related word? Nanny (I just hate the way it sounds. I use one myself, but I cannot bring myself to call her that.)
3. What is your favorite creative censored curse word used around children? Shiznit
4. What is your favorite hiding place within your home when you need to get away from it all? Smack in the middle of my bed with my laptop in my lap and the tv on in the background.
5. What hiding place have you been found in too often and can no longer use? My office. It's the most enticing room in the entire house. We may as well call it the playroom now.
6. If Oprah exists, what would you like to hear her say when you arrive at the Oprah Winfrey show when she features the Mommybloggers? It's a tie between: "I didn't know mybestfriendGayle went to your high school!" (She did!) and "I want to apologize for letting Dr. Phil loose into the world. If I'da known he was such a numbnuts, I never would have given him his own show. I'm terribly sorry."

Posted by Jenny Lauck at 1:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

We are proud to introduce you to our friend Stefania Pomponi Butler. Stefania is an unabashed, prolific blogger, with four sites currently featuring her work: CityMama, Family Food, Kimchi Mamas, and Contributing Editor, Arts/Entertainment, BlogHer.

We adore Stefania's take-no-prisoners look at life. With her keen eye for observation, and her sharp wit, Stefania takes on a variety of subject - parenting, urban life, pop culture, cultural identity and world events with equal aplomb. Not one to mince words, she doles out praise and throws down rants that leave her readers nodding admiringly and keeps them coming back for more.

From her eagle-eyed and timely contributions to BlogHer's Arts and Entertainment roundup, to her thought-provoking essays on Korean culture at Kimchi Mamas, we are in awe of Stefania's ability to bring it, day after day. We were delighted to meet her in person, and quickly realized that her City Mama tagline - "Mama ain't raisin' no fool" suits her to a tee. Warm, witty, and well-spoken, Stefania tells it like it is, and we just can't get enough.

We asked a few of her readers to tell us about Stefania's impact - and we were flooded with praise. Take a look:

Charlene Prince Birkeland at crazedparent loves a fellow celebrity gossip pro -

I started reading CityMama when Stefania lived in Portland and was immediately hooked because she 's just this sassy straightshooter. And how lucky am I that of all the places she had to move, she ended up in the Bay Area near me. I met her "in real life" about six months ago and was even more impressed, awed and inspired by her. The best, though, is that I can dish celebrity gossip with her and not feel a single ounce of guilt for admitting what I know...because she knows the same thing!!

Lisa Stone of BlogHer | Surfette finds Stefania fabulous:

Slaps me across the face with her keyboard as she fabulously, unapologetically rolls her eyes at what shouldn't be going on in the world. The reason Stefania's writing is so good, I think, is because she me makes me howl at the same time I'm nodding at my screen and uh-HUHing her. Turns out that Britney and Mel don't need parents anymore -- CityMama's in town and she nails them both. She's prolific on many sites, but I have to give her special kudos for Kimchi Mamas; an important blog that does a brilliant job hosting many voices exploring "what it means to be Korean (or married to one)." I hope she keeps writing after her gorgeous kids turn into models and make her a kazillionaire.

Nonlineargirl found more than a blog - she found a friend:

I started reading Citymama after I had my daughter. I loved that she was writing about in living in a city (at the time, my city) with kids. Her blog-style is very welcoming and friendly, qualities that help explain her strong following. When I met her in person I learned that she is also this way in real life; she offered to put me up if I come to SF to see my sister.

MetroDad brings it on home with his glowing praise:

Stefania is like my long-lost, half-Korean, pop-culture-obsessed, food-loving Seoul sister. Seriously, some day we’re going to find out that our ancestors were best friends who spent their days together critiquing cavemen drawings and trying to find the perfect spice to go with grilled Mastodon. Like many of you, I absolutely love and adore her. She’s an incredibly honest and open writer who captures the highs and lows of life with humor, grace, and dignity. She’s never afraid to speak her mind or share herself with her readers. But, in my opinion, the thing that comes across the most with Stefania is love; her love for her husband, her two adorable daughters, her family, and all of her friends. Her ability to express this love on her site is what makes her special and what keeps me coming back on a daily basis (that, and of course, her weekly critiques of Rockstar Supernova!)

Check back later today to read our interview with the wicked smart Stefania Pomponi Butler - you don't want to miss it!

Posted by Jenny Lauck at 8:10 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

The Mommybloggers are serving up a stellar dish for you this week, served on a lovely paper napkin. Many of you may already be familiar with Sheryl, and for those of us who aren't, we are proud to introduce you to an incredible writer, and a blogger who has the chops.

Sheryl has been writing for her blog Paper Napkin for over two years now. In that time, she has developed a loyal following of readers. We love the humor, honesty, and candor that shines through in her writing. Sherly is a true talent who can write heart melting posts about her love for her children and the wistfulness of watching them grow up, and then she can turn around and give you the straight poop on what's not so pretty about motherhood. She writes about the exhaustion, the boredom, and the guilt of parenting with aplomb. She gives her readers the entire picture, and we love her for it. We could rattle off about a thousand things we admire about Sheryl, but we will put a sock in it, and let her readers get a few words in.

Jess counts the ways she adores Sheryl:

Gosh, I was first introduced to Sheryl by being her "Mystery Blog of the Day." We sort of chatted a bit after that and i became an avid fan of her and her blog. She is honest and forthright. Funny and endearing. And creative! The banners are fab. A Day In The Life is one of my very favourite things to read. I think Sheryl is awesome.

Jay Allen likes the surprise factor:

If the blogosphere had borders, Sheryl would be a national treasure. You can be reading one of her posts and think it's safe to cross the street - when suddenly, out of nowhere, her sardonic self comes barreling down in a semi-trailer and converts you to road pizza. Always a delight to read.

Susan is addicted to Sheryl's "day in the life" series:

Every month, Sheryl hosts the Day in the Life project at Paper Napkin, which is completely addicting. All of the posts (which she links at her site) are fun and interesting, but Sheryl's post always amaze me; she has the ability to describe the minutiae of her day in way that is touching and thought-provoking. Her posts always remind me that the micro and the macro of parenting are deeply intertwined.

Plus, she's really REALLY funny.

Erin finds inspiration in her honesty and ability to balance:

I really enjoy Sheryl's 'Day in the life' meme, as well as her down-to-earth writing style. I love reading how she balances her life, and feel better knowing that there are days when a veteran mom is just as ready to throw in the towel as I am.

I haven't been reading Paper Napkin for very long, but I really like it and look forward to hearing what Sheryl & crew are up to.

Erin garners strength from her posts:

Sheryl has one of my favorite blogs out there. She is honest and down-to-earth about her life, as well as being a talented writer and graphic designer. I always look forward to her beautiful new designs and seeing what's going on with her and her family. She's a great role model as a woman and a mother, and I derive strength from reading about her experiences. And you can tell her I said that!

Stay tuned for an interview with Sheryl later today, and an guest essay tomorrow!

Posted by mommybloggers at 7:09 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Today we are featuring the incomparable Karen Rani of Troll Baby and the brilliantly creative mind behind Troll Baby Graphics whose designs are popping up all over the Internet in recent months. The Mommybloggers had the honor and privilege of meeting Karen Rani in person at BlogHer '06. She can have you sitting on the ground laughing so hard you fear you might wet your pants with laughter (some are rumored to have done just that!) and the next minute crying with the depth of her emotions and observations. She is both sincere and warm in her interactions with anyone she meets. It didn't take long to see why people adore her and want to be around her. She is the real deal! We adore her and would love to hog this praise entry ourselves, but we know you want to hear from her readers and fans. This is what they had to say about the incredible Karen Rani.

Lindsay of Suburban Turmoil was eager to let us know of her adoration as soon as she heard we were featuring her here:

Karen Rani is my hero. She is ultra-thoughtful and kind and she's been such a great friend that I can't believe I've never met her in person. Her blog is stunning because it's everything all rolled into one- the good, the bad, and the wickedly funny. She writes about both hilarity and heartbreak with an openness that I totally admire and adore.

Izzy of Izzymom has no shame when it comes to declaring her undying love for Karen when she excitedly told us:

I love, love, love Karen! She's funny as hell as well as incredibly talented and underneath her sassy, irreverent exterior is someone very sweet. I count her as one the many blog crushes that I developed at BlogHer!

Karl of SecondHand Tryptophan could not wait to share with us the incredible first time he met Karen face to face and how much he adored the time he spent with her and was blown away that she too was a fan of his:

I've only been reading Karen's blog for a short time. In fact, here was my first experience with Karen. I was at BlogHer, hanging out with Chase (Taste the World) and Deb (This is NOT the Life I Pictured) and a few other ladies on the last night.

Karen walked up nearby and Chase wondered aloud, "Is that Karen?" I had heard of "Troll Baby" but didn't know who wrote it.

To answer Chase's question, I walked over to Karen and asked, "Hi, are you Karen?" She answered yes, so I said, "Hi, I'm Karl."

Then she made my head spin. "I know who you are. I'm a fan." OK, my head is still spinning. Huh? You're a fan of ME? First time that's ever happened to me. Anyway, we got to talk for a few minutes and share some laughs and I've been a fan ever since.

Christina of A Mommy Story couldn't have said it better when she shared her reasons for being such a huge fan of Karen's:

Karen is so laid back and realistic, and I appreciate that in her writing. It seems to be her parenting style, also, and I admire such a laid back attitude to parenting. But that's not to say it's lazy at all - it is clear in her writing the fierce love and devotion she has for her family. I love reading not only about her boys (and the "frikken wegos"), but also about the steps she is taking to improve her own health.

Chris of Notes from the Trenches eagerly emailed to share with us (and everyone else) how much she admires Karen when she so perfectly said:

What to say about Karen that probably hasn't already been said?

She has the amazing ability to draw you in with her stories. Whether they are funny or serious I always feel like I am her best friend sharing the moment with her. Her post recently about celebrating her 8th wedding anniversary made me cry because it was so touching and heartfelt.

But a few days earlier she had written her Men Without Hats post which made me howl with laughter. HOWL. I am giggling about it right now as I type this.

When I met karen at Blogher, she was exactly like I expected. Funny, warm, intelligent and gracious. I loved her even more.

The sign of any great blog writer is that they make you want to come back for more. And every day I look forward to reading more.

Julie of mothergoosemouse gushes about the sincerity that is Karen:

Karen is the complete package - hilarious, thoughtful, down to earth. She makes me laugh, and she makes me think. Plus, nobody writes toddler-talk as well as she does.

Jen of Mamaritaville told us how Karen was not only a blogging inspiration but an inspiration in her life:

Karen was one of the first blogs I stumbled upon when I started blogging as A Tight Knit Mom. I didn't really know anything about blogging, but thought it may be fun. Reading her blog helped me to open up to new ideas of blogging. Not just a boring little diary for myself to look back on, but to turn it into a creative outlet, where I can write about anything and everything and be my honest self(something that's now easier to do while I'm blogging than it is in real life sometimes!)

I now have changed my blogging identity to Mamaritaville. I actually spent time thinking about who I was and how I could reflect that in the blog world. I think that if I hadn't started reading Karen's blog and seen how fearless and honest she was, maybe I wouldn't have ever opened myself up to writing the way I do now.

She's an amazing woman, mother, wife, AND blogger. It's all reflected through Troll Baby. And I hope to someday have the loyal followers that she does!

Liz from Mom 101 and Cool Mom Picks came in under the wire, but we could not deny her the chance to praise our amazing Karen when she so exhuberantly said:

When I first started blogging, KAREN RANI was one of those names I saw absolutely everywhere. Blogrolls, comments, forums, articles--there was no avoiding this impressive blogging force, KAREN RANI. I did not think I was nearly important enough to share the same internet as the great KAREN RANI. But then I started reading her. She was funny, approachable, honest and smart. Soon, I wanted to be KAREN RANI. I died my hair like her, bought the same clothes, and tried to get her to move into the Ansonia with me. You might want to keep stiletto heels away from me.

Posted by Jenn Satterwhite at 9:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBacks (0)

To end our week here at Mommybloggers, we are thrilled to bring to you the amazing Izzy of Izzymom as well as Izzy Graphics and Cool Mom Picks! To meet her is to adore her. She has a warmth about her that draws you in immediately. In her own words: "I’m a thirtysomething work-at-home mom of two young children. Married to computer god/music producer. Resident concierge & butler to two cats. I was a graphic designer/corporate slave in my previous life. Now I practice bad housekeeping, wipe butts and work at home as a webmaster & graphic designer (need blog design help?) This gig is definitely a labor of love." By her many fans, she has been called everything from inspiring to funny and passionate. She is the type of blogger you cannot wait to see if she has updated her blog yet and the type of woman you really want to make your personal friend. (We know! We did it ourselves!) Her humor will draw you in, but her honesty and amazing writing will keep you coming back for more. The readers of her blog Izzymom are a very loyal (and gushing) group! Having met her, we could go on for days telling you why we have a crush on her (some of it does have to do with those amazing bangs!), but we would rather let you hear from her other fans themselves.

Kristen from Motherhooduncensored immediately responded when she heard we were featuring Izzymom. With excitement she told us:

Izzy was the first official mommy blogger that visited my blog and blogrolled me. She's not only an amazing blogger, but a great friend as well - always helping me out with crazy logo, candy bar, button requests when I know she's extremely busy running after her crazy adorable children. My favorite thing about Izzy is that she is agendaless and totally free to be and write whatever and however she pleases without feeling the pressure to be or act a certain way. It's refreshing and inspiring.

Mary Tsao of Mom Writes had no problem sharing with us how she feels about Izzy and her rockstar status:

Izzymom is a blogger that I learned about through the BlogHer ad network. She's a great writer and I feel that we have a lot in common. Not a necessity, but a very cool thing indeed. Also, she has the coolest bangs I've ever come across. She's one of the blogging rock stars, for sure. Thanks for featuring her!

Catherine of Her Bad Mother had a hard time keeping her gush level down to a mere leaping and bowing to Izzy in her amazing gushfest to this incredible blogger:

How could I not gush?!

Ah, Izzy, glorious Izzy. When I discovered Izzy’s blog I fell in love with her instantly: she’s smart and funny and passionate and funny and kind – and did I say funny? And passionate? And smart? I read her blog, and I wanted to be her friend, so I stalked her: I left comments on every post with proclamations of my love and admiration. And Izzy, dear Izzy, always responded to my slobbery comments with a funny remark and so I fell further in love. But what’s not to love? That she is a lovely, lovely human being is clear from every one of her posts.

And? She’s gorgeous.

If you are just meeting Izzy for the first time, prepare to fall hopelessly in love.

(gush gush gush gush!!!)

jennster could barely sit still long enough for us to get any intelligible words about Izzy from her, but she managed beautifully to express her adoration:

omgosh! IZZY! what an honor!!!!! i love her! i love izzy so much because even before i met her in person, i was addicted to her blog. she comes across so real and so smart- and so down to earth. she is an extremely talented designer and i adore seeing her "made by izzy" graphics all over blogland. i had the pleasure of getting to meet izzy in person at blogher and she is far more than i ever thought she would be. reading her blog is even more personal to me now that i've met her and realized how freaking awesome she is in real life!!! if you aren't reading izzy's blog, you should be! she is one of the best out there! :)

Barely in under the wire, Sarah of Sarah and the Goon Squad just had to add her two cents about her appreciation for Izzy:

I just started reading IzzyMom a couple of weeks ago when she did her BlogMe interview on "A Mommy Story". I had the privilege of meeting her at BlogHer and besides just being beautiful on the outside she is beautiful on the inside. I love her honesty and the fact that she isn't afraid to laugh at herself.

Kelly of mochamomma had praise we just could not resist adding here at the end. (Complete with an awesome link to a beautiful picture of Izzy!):

Izzy and I met this year at BlogHer and I had only seen her name around on other blogs but she was ON MY LIST of people to read. I could kick myself that it took so long. Have you read this woman? Have you seen her writing? She's quite succint and to the point in her posts with an intellectual air. However, there is nothing about her that says, "Don't approach me." Oh, no no no. She's real. A real woman. A woman with talents we envy and whose looks just about push us over the edge.

I took a picture of at BlogHer of her and it is here on my Flickr account. That picture of her is phenomenal and it's due to her inner beauty, her humility, and the ways she holds herself. She's gorgeous inside and out.

Join us this afternoon as we share our interview with incredible Izzy of Izzymom!

Posted by Jenn Satterwhite at 10:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

We are delighted to introduce you to our first BlogHer scholarship winner, Kathryn of Daring Young Mom. When we received her entry, with a subject line of Pick Me! Pick Me! we admired her forthright approach. Once we began reading, we found ourselves nodding in recognition:

"Blogging has suddenly made me a writer when 8 months ago I was content to think of myself as a mom who puttered with the idea of maybe writing something someday when the kids were all in school. It gives me power and it gives me a reason to reach daily into my Dr Seuss-ridden brain and try to reconcile my life experiences with the world around me.

Being a mother is overwhelming, isolating, invigorating, satisfying and exhausting. It leaves me questioning everything about myself, my abilities, my choices, and my wardrobe. Seriously, why do I dress like this just because I’ve hatched two small people? Reading the blogs of other women from all walks of life gives me a glimpse into the versions of me that could have been, teaches me what I still can become and confirms to me that I made the right choice to pursue the career path I’m on.

...I didn’t wait to start a blog until I had something sublime and life-shattering to share. My first post was about a little fat boy who had suddenly stopped taking a bottle, putting a serious cramp in my hot-date-at-least-once-a-year lifestyle.

...I am a woman by birth, a mother by choice and a blogger by need and sometimes sheer insanity."

We discovered Kathryn not long after she began writing Daring Young Mom, and we've been fans ever since. Kathryn has a warm writing style, and manages to inject humor into any subject. She draws admiring fans with her affectionate portrayals of life as a wife and mother, and despite her sharp wit and good-natured sarcasm, Daring Young Mom is refreshingly always safe for work.

Kathryn reminds us daily that there is an art to enjoying our families, even on rough days. We just adore her writing, and we're not alone. We asked a few of Kathryn's readers to share what they love about The Daring One:

Jeana loves Kathryn's ability to keep her focus on the positive:

The thing I adore about Kathryn is her inate ability to look at the little commonplace realities of life and see the humor in them. The thing that really sets her apart, though, is her ability to do this even in the midst of sorrow, grieving, trials or poopy diapers that leak all over everything. Lots of people have a sense of humor. Some of them even have a good sense of humor. But not many can hold onto it so firmly as Kathryn can, and that's what I love about her. That, and her floating head. But that goes without saying, doesn't it?

I didn't know how sassy and clever Kathryn was until I met her, and then after about 15 minutes with her I wanted to put her in my pocket and take her home with me. And not just because it was nice to have a fellow sober person to hang out with at BlogHer, but because she is just. that. cool.

You have to adore a woman of faith who is very much a member of the real world; she's not about what SHOULD or SHOULDN'T be. She's a part of what IS, in a smart, hilarious, and yes, quiet yet firmly spiritual way. I admire her tremendously.

Janet was delighted to share how Kathryn inspires her:

I think she is one of the funniest women I have ever 'read'. She's honest and thoughtful and puts it all out there. I think that's what makes a great 'journal writer'. I just found her recently and I can't stop checking in to see what she has to say next. I look forward to her newest posts. I have been quite inspired by some fantastic women bloggers and Kathryn is one of them...It makes me want to make my blog better.

Join us this afternoon as we share our interview with wonderful Kathryn of Daring Young Mom.

Posted by Jenny Lauck at 9:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Alice really needs no introduction, but we will go ahead with it anyway.....

The Mommybloggers are exceedingly proud to feature the talented Alice Bradley of Finslippy.

For those of you unfamiliar with her work, we first wonder where you have BEEN for Pete's sake, and then suggest you go to her blog and start reading. Be prepared to cackle with laughter, and then be prepared to wonder where she learned to DO that. The writing. There's magic in it.

We asked a few of her fans what they think. This is what they had to say:

Mary Feels adoration and a wee bit of envy for her:

Alice is one of the best writers in the Blogosphere. She is funny and her quirky self-effacing style is all her own. Even when she is writing about something horrible and personal, I find myself laughing my ass off. Unfortunately, after I laugh my ass off, I usually want to cry and then burn whatever it is I am writing at the moment. Yes, I am a tad envious of the Finslippy's powerful prose, but aren't we all?

Mrs. Kennedy admires the gamut Alice runs when she weaves her tales:

Alice is one of the few writers, Internet or otherwise, who can make me LOL. She always says the unexpected thing; her posts can turn on a dime from laughter to tears. Melissa of Suburban Bliss once said something to the effect of that whenever she saw that Alice had updated Finslippy, her heart skipped a beat. I don't think I can say it any better than that.

She had Jenijen at thrice:

I admire Alice for her double super powers of writing so very well and so very honestly. Last summer at BlogHer we were in the Mommyblogging audience together and she said something (oh shit, I THINK, but maybe I've forgotten the context) about how she didn't want her (mommy)blog to come across as: "Today Henry pooped thrice." And, well, she had me at "thrice!" I've been happily reading ever since. Also, Alice is really cool. The kind of cool that you might go home and secretly try to copy, say fashionwise, but maybe you wouldn't really admit that because it sounds stalkerish even though it totally is not.

Julie can relate to her:

Where do I start? She is AMAZING. I remember quotes from her posts even months after she's published them - that's how much her writing sticks with me. And her stories about moving from Brooklyn to New Jersey have been making me cry (I'm still homesick myself).

Beth appreciates her great work:

It is critically important that you not read Finslippy if there is a sleeping child in the house, because you will certainly wake them up with your snorting and howling. Alice's writing is hilarious, but also a highly-intelligent running commentary on a carefully observed life. Every time I read one of Alice's posts, I find myself wishing that I could have written it, but then I would miss out on the extreme pleasure of reading it and that would be too great a sacrifice to make.

Julie loves Alice's candor:

The thing I love most about Alice's blog is her thoughtful honesty. Most recently, her descriptions of her family's adjustment moving from the city to the 'burbs has really touched me. It isn't easy to be so forthcoming in a blog, especially on one that has as many readers as hers does. I have a tremendous amount of respect for her writing and her willingness to put it all out there.

Tracey doesn't leave much to question:

Beneath Alice's mild-mannered exterior lurks the heart of an asskicking kung-fu master of most righteous storytelling. Don't make her angry. You won't like her when she's angry. Saying I love and admire Alice is like saying the Titanic had a little accident, or that Paris Hilton is mildly repulsive. I adore both the woman and the succulent, juicy nuggets of brilliance she shares with all of us on Finslippy. Alice, you fucking rock. [insert me giving The Goat. HARD.]

Amanda adores her in person and from afar:

Before I met Alice, I thought she was the funniest writer on the web. I mean, did you read that toddler quarterly objectives letter?!? But then I met her and I realized that writing isn’t really what she does best – BEING ALICE is her true talent. She talks EXACTLY how she writes – she’s that brilliant ALL THE TIME. She is the funniest human I’ve ever met.

She makes JenB laugh, among other things:

i love alice with the fire of a thousand suns. she is wicked smart and mind bogglingly funny. like pee a little funny. she can spin a yarn like very few people can. she is a genius talent as a writer and a human being.

Alice, whatever you do, please make sure it involves writing, because we can't get enough.

Posted by mommybloggers at 7:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

When we first stumbled into Surrender, Dorothy, we knew we had found a truly amazing writer. Rita, the blogger behind Surrender, Dorothy, never disappoints. Her no-holds-barred approach to blogging, coupled with her lyrical, detail-rich writing style has garnered her a large, appreciative audience.

We appreciate Rita's honest approach to her subjects, and the affection and respect that she conveys. Although we love her lighthearted looks into mothering a toddler, it is the entries where she rips off the pretty covering and reveals the depths of emotion that swirl beneath the surface - these are the entries that stay with us long after we've left her site.

We put out a call to some of her many fans, and asked them to share their thoughts on Rita's writing. They confirmed what we already know - Surrender, Dorothy is an addictive read. See what else they had to say about our featured guest:

Izzy recently discovered Rita, and was sucked into her tractor-beam:

I became a reader of Rita's through the BlogHer Ad Co-op and I was immediately hooked! There's something about her funny, friendly writing that makes me feel like I've known her for years : )

RachelS of Because I Have To is another recently recruited devotee of Rita's:

I am still fairly new to readig Rita's blog. But, from the very first time I read one of her entries, I identified with her right away. I love her writing style. Her blog is an absolulte joy to read and it's always nice to find another mom that shares you sense of humor and that you have something in common with. I look forward to reading Surrender Dorothy every day.

Mary Tsao of Mom Writes tells us what makes Rita's writing so special to her:

Rita of Surrender, Dorothy is a superb writer. She's sometimes funny and sometimes serious, and she's always readable, likeable, and relate-able, if that is a word. She just has a lot of wisdom and she's able to put it out there in her writing. Oh, and I love this tag line: "I'm a writer with a small child and no other creative outlets." So damn funny! And true! For me, too! Rita is a mommyblogger that I only recently discovered and I'm so glad that I did.

Mir gets all metaphor-ish on us with her glowing praise of Rita:

If Rita were a weaver, she'd be one who sits quietly in the corner, not talking or waving her arms and calling attention to herself, but just ever-so-steadily producing ever-more-intricate fabrics. You might not even notice her. But then when you do finally look over? She's surrounded by mountains of of breathtaking work. I have no idea how she keeps flying below the radar, but when her popularity explodes I am SO taking credit for having discovered her. ;)

Old Blonde One was happy to share why Surrender, Dorothy is a must read:

Rita is one of my favorites as her blog just draws me in to whatever event has happened to her that day. She is very creative in her style of writing as she weaves through her many experiences. The latest one I enjoyed was about the day Little Angel came home dressed in a strange outfit due to the fact that Rita had not sent extra clothes to daycare. She does not mince words; she just tells it as it is! Yes, I can't wait each day to find her next entry.

Cagey, at Rancid Raves, touches on Rita's ability to put herself out there:

Rita, hands down, is one of the most naked mommy bloggers out there! She is not afraid to put herself "out there" and reveal her true self. In particular, she has a special knack for introspection and tackling some of those innermost fears that as a new mother, I have started to discover for myself. It's comforting to know that I am not the only one with the very paranoias that I am afraid to even speak out loud.

Lisa Stone summed it up nicely:

Ahhhhh, Rita. What a writer. She's relentlessly organized, brings a global perspective to everyday events, and makes me pee my pants laughing. Flying monkeys? With one hand tied behind her back.

We love her. Her readers love her, too. Join us this afternoon as we sit down with Rita, and fall in love yourself.

Posted by Jenny Lauck at 9:51 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Mommybloggers.com is pleased to introduce you to Anjali Enjeti-Sydow. This talented writer has an ever-growing portfolio of published work, but we first discovered her through her blog - Life in the hundred acre wood. Anjali captured our hearts with her honest portrayal of life at home with two small daughters. Sometimes hilarious, sometimes poignant, but always intelligent and spot-on, Anjali has a lot to say.

Whether she's taking on The Mommy Wars or mounting a duel-child assult on the local photo studio, Anjali uses her wit and candor to tell us all about it, and we love every word. We asked a few of Anjali's many readers to share their thoughts on Anjali:

Landismom, of the fantastic blog Bumblebee Sweet Potato finds common ground in the Hundred Acre Wood.

I love Anjali's blog. In addition to the fact that she's funny and literate, we've got similar politics. Whether she's discoursing on the bird plague in her backyard, or her husband's 13-hour work days, she's always worth reading.

FFF explains how Anjali really speaks to her:

I was doing some google searching on the recent Linda Hirshman article to see what bloggers were saying about it. I found Anjali's blog and read her post about the article and found it really honest, refreshingly candid, and it made some great points. Her post articulated some of the thoughts swirling around in my head that I couldn't really sort out and it made me think. We had the South Asian fiction interest and the law thing in common so I started to read some of her archives and I feel in love with her little family. She has a really special way of taking an ordinary thing like a trip to the grocery store and making it amusing and relevant. And even better than the little mommy anecdotes is when Anjali shares her thoughts about the world and society in general. She is an excellent writer and her warmth comes through in every post. I could feel the wistfullness as she described where she used to eat lunch when she worked in the city, and felt instantly better when she described her search for mommy mentors. Anjali is an perfect example of a thoughtful, well written blog that may discuss motherhood but is light years beyond a mommy blog that just chronicles a pooping schedule.

Staci Schoff sums it up beautifully

Anjali is one of my favorite bloggers because her writing is smart, funny and honest. Often when I read a post of her's I feel like she wrote exactly what I think, only she did it much better than I could ever hope to do it.

Join us this afternoon as we present our conversation with Anjali - come see what this engaging writer has to say for herself!

Posted by Jenny Lauck at 9:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

We'll admit it - when we first caught a glimpse of the fabled Mrs. Kennedy walking into BlogHer 2005, we poked each other in the arm and blushed furiously. We'd admired her from afar forever, and were a little starstruck when it came time to introduce ourselves.

Luckily for us, Mrs. Kennedy is apparently unfazed by excitable fangirls. She chatted calmly with us, offered brilliant insights during our Mommyblogging session, and sold us magical tshirts, cementing our love for all things Fussy. We're not alone in our admiration - a quick search for "Fussy" on Flickr reveals just how large the Fussy fan base is. Well, that and how many people take photos of crying babies.

Mrs. Kennedy delights her fans with her quick wit, and astute observations. This yoga-centered mother to five-year-old Jackson, wife of the very hot Jack, and doggie-mama to Katie, writes masterfully, engaging readers and drawing them in with equal parts humor and insight. Elegant and understated, Mrs. Kennedy can nevertheless send audiences into gales of laughter with a raised eyebrow. Fussy.org is personal blogging at its best.

It's not hard to see why we adore Eden. Nor is it surprising that we're not the only ones - take a look at what a few of her many fans had to say about the fabulous Mrs. Kennedy:

The irrepressible Brandon reveals the depth of his love for Fussy.

Ever since I read that her dog temporarily lost the ability to blink on the right side AND has to wear underwear once a month, I’ve felt a deep bond with Eden, because I also once lost the ability to blink my right eye and I wear underwear on a regular basis. Fussy is a constant read because the woman can flat out write humor. In fact, I’m pretty sure she could take any topic in the world and reduce you to helpless fits of laughter. If I were ever to get an STD, I’d want Mrs. Kennedy to write the diagnosis.

Mrs. Kennedy is an incredible writer. She takes everyday minutiae and spins it into art. I don't know how she does it. I thought it was all the yoga, but then I read the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali and Hatha Yoga Pradipika, and those guys weren't HALF as funny as Eden is on her worst day. Also, she's hot.

Amanda touches on the hotness, and a few other admirable points:

Eden Kennedy is just oozes sophistication. Maybe it’s her hair or her absolute hotness or that she’s just one of the craftiest writers on the web, but she is hands-down the coolest Mommy Blogger I’ve ever met. And when she does that thing where she narrates the photos, I pee my post-partum pants a little bit from laughing so hard.

Tracey sums it up brilliantly:

Eden is, rightly, a personal hero to any blogger -- man or woman (mommy or otherwise) -- worth their salt. She's brilliant, witty, and always chock full o' understated insight into any thing she directs her lovely blue-eyed gaze at. She's a great writer, PERIOD, and well-deserving of all the attention and love she's garnered. Plus she's got the best blog-based t-shirt series on the interweb, hands-down. In short, I love love love (x infinity, dude!) this woman.

Be sure to check back later this afternoon as we present our interview with Mrs. Kennedy.

Posted by mommybloggers at 12:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

The Mommybloggers are proud to introduce our next featured blogger (who really needs no introduction at all), Jen B from Jen and Tonic. There are a hundred words we could use to describe Jen: talented, honest, sensitive, creative, funny, lovely, and tender-hearted. Those are just a few. We could really go on and on, but thought we would share the thoughts of some of her loyal readers instead.

Jess is downright smitten:

It’s about time the mighty JenB got some attention. What took so long? It’s cause she’s Canadian right?

Jen is hands down the nicest blogging hot mama out there. She is honest, funny, engaging and caring. I check in every day, no matter what my feedburner says, to see what she’s up to. Once I heard her voice on my answering machine and I swooned.

JenB is just lovely.

Miss Zoot finds solidarity with Jen's honest writing style:

Jen has always rocked my mommy-blogging socks and I would love to be able to be as open about parenting and the joys and struggles as she is. She conveys so many of the things I feel so many times in ways that actually make SENSE. I like to just echo a "What she said!" to so many of her entries.

Karianna sings her praises:

JenB is the perfect combination of intelligent, friendly, humble, and honest. Her candid descriptions of balancing her mental health with mommy-hood, plus her familial relations with Biomom to her seemingly-ever-grinning husband Mark. Of course the photos of her gorgeous garden and sensational Charlotte help keep me coming back to both her blog and flickr sites. It has been a tricky year for Jen: a beloved aunt’s passing on the serious side, and the Edmonton Oiler’s eventual loss of the cup on the more lighthearted. Jen was the first blogger I met in “real life� and she gave me a spectacular hug, though I wasn’t farted on. It is no wonder that JenB is a favorite of Bloggers everywhere, but what clinches the deal is that she is accessible in the midst of all her fame! She is open about her insecurities, and yet completely rises above them to be the amazing strong woman who we appreciate so much. Hail Canadian Death-Candy!

Amanda feels very comfortable in Jen's presence:

JenB is like the best friend you always wish you’d been lucky enough to have. And when you fart in front of her, you know she’s laughing with you, not at you.

Mrs. Kennedy just plain old loves her. LOVES her:

I love JenB. LOVE HER. She is funny and smart and makes me laugh and she sends me candy in the mail. She writes great lists, her post about the Oscars from this year alone is worth reading again and again ("Keanu Reeves = sack of hammers"). Did I mention how much I love her? She's Canadian, you know.

Emily loves the way she makes the days better:

Jen is just the sweetest Canadian that I have never met. She always cracks me up and makes me think and our chats about sex are highlights in my boring work day! I heart Jen and Tonic!

Belinda admires Jen's honesty:

JenB is an amazing friend, but beyond that, a compelling blogger because of her complete and total honestly and candor. What you see is what you get with Jen, and I can't even count the number of times that I have found insight or empathy or humor for a situation that I am myself facing, within one of her fantastic posts.

Quite simply, Jen is totally worthy of our love! ;-) And if you read her blog and don't check out her Flickr.com sets, you're not getting the "whole picture," so to speak. I do love her photographs!

Sarah is a little sweet on her:

Jen once sent me a care package full of bubble bath and candy unavailable to us poor U.S. saps. Which is fitting, since she is a pocketful of sugar day in and day out.

Sweetney loves her honesty and goodness:

Jen keeps it real, man. She is one of my favoritest people on the planet, and one of the funniest women I've ever met. She's genuine and honest; one of those rare people who are truly GOOD, without a mean bone in her body. If you read her, you can't help but feel connected to her, and if you meet her, you can't help but love her.

Alice adores her strength and vulnerability:

When I think of Jen, a whole bunch of adjectives come to mind: compelling, spontaneous, hilarious, brilliant, vulnerable. Most of all I think "naked," with all the messiness and delight that that implies. Sometimes I just want to run up to Canada and wrap her up in an afghan. But then her next post shows just how strong she really is, and I think, Canada's far, and my crocheting skills are not what they were. I love Jen!

Her readers really do say it best.

Stay tuned for more from Jen B, including an interview later today, and an essay tomorrow!

Posted by Meghan Townsend at 9:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBacks (0)

This week, the mommybloggers are pleased as punch to feature the unstoppable, irrepressable, Jenijen from Not calm dot com. Jen is mother to four beautiful children. Her writing offers up truckloads of truths about motherhood. She is honest and straightforward about the great and not-so-great aspects of parenting. Not being one to complain, Jen writes candidly about the joys and tribulations of burning the candle at both ends. She mentions the occasional lack of sleep, nonstop work, and sheer chaos of raising four young children (and several non-human creatures), but those things are far from her main point. Those things are sidebars. What Jen emphasizes, are the joyful moments that tend to occur in the everyday. Jen lives in the present, and makes being quintessentially not calm look like a joyful place full of wonderment and meaning. The mommybloggers must point out a warning here: Anyone who might be in the midst of considering whether or not to go ahead and have another child would likely be nudged into the “go for it� category after reading her blog. The woman is a goddess.

We could go on and on and on about Jen. Instead, we thought we would give her readers a crack at it:

Jennifer admires her present presence:

You know what I love about jenijen? She has all these kids and she never says that they keep her from doing anything. She never complains that she misses her life pre-kids. She has this great family and lives in the Now, not the past. She relishes the beauty of what life brings her no matter how messy.

Mary loves he way Jen has always surprised her:

I remember first seeing Jenijen at the mommyblogging session at BlogHer '05. I thought she was one of those young, hip moms with one kid. Then I found out she's one of those young, hip moms with four kids! And I just about fell off my rocker, because this woman has the youthful look of a twelve-year old, and I mean that in the nicest possible way. I don't know if it's the smooth complexion or the braids, but she's definitely one of the cool moms out here in the suburban mother jungle.

From reading Not calm dot com (love that blog name!), it's obvious to me that Jenijen loves her kids and loves her sweet husband. And when I read about what she's been through with her fourth child who was a preemie, I could just weep. But Jenijen is a strong woman, and I'm sure she can be the meanest mama bear you've ever seen, if she needed to fight for one of her kids.

I also had the pleasure of meeting Jenijen in person this year and hanging out with her at WoolfCamp and WoolfCamplet. She's just the nicest person. Exactly as you imagine she is after you've read her blog, and exactly what I imagine when I hear the word "mother."

Dixie loves getting glimpses into Jen’s world:

I don't have kids myself so through the stories that Jen tells about her family, I'm able to feel what it's like to be a mom - all the pressure, all the joy, all the hectic hours and all the happy moments. Jen doesn't make being a mom look easy; Jen makes it look real. If I were a mom I'd want to be a mom like her.

Posted by Meghan Townsend at 8:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Mommybloggers.com is proud to introduce you to Chris, author of the blog formerly known as The Big Yellow House. Since 2004, Chris has kept her readers laughing with her quick wit and ability to tell it like it really is. As the mother of a large family, Chris has plenty of material, and she never disappoints. From kids "helping" with home renovations, to stories from the Little League bleachers, this busy mom shares her day to day adventures with her lucky readers. Her entries are full of life, and even on the rough days, you can feel her love and warmth for her family flowing.

We love her ability to capture those little triumphs and tragedies of parenting, and to make them significant. Her comedic timing is fantastic, yet she also writes movingly about more weighty matters. Chris gives a real world glimpse into the life of a big, happy family. Rather than painting a picture of sainted motherhood, Chris is the type of mom you wish lived next door. We just adore her. But don't take our words for it. We invited some of her readers to share what they love about Chris:

Sheryl marvels at her sanity:

Chris is so funny, and such a great writer. She's really an inspiration, because she has twice as many kids as I do, and is still sane! Plus she's very down to earth, and it's comforting to read a blog that tells it like it is. I'd love to tell you more wonderful things about Chris, but my 5 year-old informs me that my 3 year-old just stuck marshmallows in the toaster.

TBG sees Chris as a role model:

I have read Chris at the big yellow house from the beginning. I enjoy her take on her children and her life as a mother. She is a great role model on what I would like to be someday, I have always dreamed of a big family and in our 2.5 family society it is nice to see someone who has decided to have lots of children and loves it. She is an all around beautiful person. I will continue to read about her family as long as she posts.

Jamie shares how Chris inspires her:

I just started reading Chris's blog. Not only am I in awe of her amazing mothering abilities (I can barely manage two kids) but she eloquently expresses her feelings on motherhood. One day she has me laughing and the next day I am moved to tears by her posts and her beautiful photography!

Ben is intimidated, but only a little:

Chris is simply awesome. A wonderful sense of humor, dedication to her family, and keen insite into how things really work. I love reading her blog and I'm more than a little intimidated by her ability to handle such a big gang of people.

Jody, of and baby makes 6! explained why she keeps coming back for more:

I started reading Chris blog a few months after she started writing. I was immediatley drawn to her wit and daily tales of her (then) 6 children.

Why do I enjoy reading her so much? She is engaging, funny, serious, gifted, and beautiful inside and out. Some days she has me wiping away a tear, others laughing out loud, causing my kids and husband to gather round the computer to see what made me laugh so hard.

I recently have been going through a very tough time. My 48 yo husband had a stroke, and I was devastated. Although we have never met in real life, Chris picked up the phone and called me. With 7 kids at home, she took time away from them to call me and offer a shoulder to cry on.

To sum it up, she is genuine.

Tori appreciates the laughs, and the perspective:

Chris cracks me up. I thought I had it tough with 4 kids but she trumps me and remains funny and humble at the same time. I am quite a new reader to her site but come away chuckling and yet full of her energy that just exudes from the page!
Thanks for your insights Chris.

Chris has attracted a huge following - we invite you to join us this afternoon as we feature our interview with the very funny Chris.

Posted by Jenny Lauck at 10:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

The Mommybloggers are proud to feature Susie Sunshine, from Underpaid kept woman. Susie is a perfect blend of domestic goddess and smart-alec. She is the kind of person you want to be seated next to at a bad play, because she would make you laugh uncontrollably at the most inappropriate times with her side-splitting remarks.

Susie is gifted with a Martha-Stewart like knack for all things crafty, except unlike Martha, you would actually want to stop by her house unannounced, for a glass of wine. Even if your kids were slightly stinky and poorly behaved, and even if you hadn't yet had a chance to shower yourself, and had peanut butter in your hair. I don't think Susie would even notice. Her writing is real, laid back, and screamingly funny. What comes through is a remarkable sense of humor, and love for her family. We just can't say enough wonderful things about her, so we'll go ahead and offer you the comments of some of her readers:

She was a true inspiration to Lucinda:

Susie Sunshine's blog is extra special to me, because she is basically my Dooce. I knew nothing about blogging when I started out, so when I happened across her website, I knew I had struck mommyblogging gold. I have basically acted as Susie Sunshine's token deranged fan for the last year, commenting like mad, attaining VIP status on her site meter, even barfing once in her honor until she finally gave in and agreed to be my friend. Frankly, I believe that for her it was a coin toss between that and calling the FBI.

I'm pretty certain that Susie Sunshine will one day be a household name, seen in shopping malls and on magazine covers and cereal boxes from Topeka to Toronto to Tokyo. And when that happens, I will proudly tell anyone who'll listen, "I stalked her when."

Badger admits she shouldn't like her, but just can't help it:

Susie Sunshine is someone I should hate. For one thing, she is very pretty. (Yes, you are too, Susie! Shut up!) For another, she is the kind of mom who actually BAKES things and makes all those complicated craft projects from the parenting magazines (the ones requiring materials that I've told my kids aren't available in our state)(what? was that wrong?). And she manages to do all this while raising four boys, which is three more than I've proven myself able to handle.

Fortunately she also drinks like a fish and cusses like a sailor, which is what keeps me coming back for more. Well, that and the fact that she makes me laugh until I pee.

Blackbird of Say La Vee counts the ways:

As for Susie - well, what CAN I say? She leads me to believe that I could parent an additional boy. She can vividly and engagingly describe a puking virus like no other blogger... and she has incredible Crayola skills. She's the envy of many, the paragon of dozens and writes about neither exercising nor dieting nor sleeping through the night -- all of which have me clicking for updates far more than I care to admit. Susie is a mommyblogger with an intellect and an attitude (who also seems to be thin and attractive, DAMN).

Leah makes reading her blog a priority:

Susie is a great choice for a feature! She was one of the first sites I started reading right around the time I started my own site, and she is one of the few sites I have in my "Priority 1" folder on Bloglines, meaning that I'll drop just about anything else I'm doing to read a new entry. One of the things I consistently enjoy is that she manages to be snarky and loving at the same time. I doubt anyone would accuse her of being sappy, but she's brought me close to tears on a number of occasions just by discussing her adorable family. She has also made me cry with laughter, though. Perhaps you should just be sure to read her site with kleenex readily available... Oh, and if you have a chance to meet her in person, definitely do it. Especially if you feed her margaritas, but she's awesomely fun even without any assistance from liquor.

Jen admires her gifts for multitasking:

Susie is amazing because while we were on the phone last week she managed to strip wet sheets, clean up and comfort a damp child, remake the bed, and chase a couple of joyriders off her street without ever breaking the stream of conversation OR setting down her margarita. That, my friends, takes the same kind of skill Susie employs on her website every day.

Irene finds Susie inspiring:

Susie Sunshine is not only a brilliant writer whose wit and intelligent sense of humor can make you laugh until you can physically locate your vocal cords, she's also a kind and generous soul who never fails to inspire me. There's a sense of comfortingly feel-good and grace in her writing that I believe is unique. Reading her blog makes motherhood a little like venturing into Disneyland on a rainy day. You know you can make the best out of it or spend the rest of the day complaining. Susie always makes me want to cling on to what's good and great about my life. I truly, absolutely, completely adore this woman.

Angie clearly adores Susie:

Susie Sunshine is fake. Go on. Ask her. She will tell you it is true. She is really Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. She is! Ha! Who am I kidding? She is June Cleaver with a margarita. What can I tell you about Susie? I could tell you she is the girl next door; she really is a woman you instantly want to make friends with (-unless you are the PTA president prior to her reign); she greets the world with a not-too-brainy-but-I've-got-the-funny attitude which is so misleading because the woman is Mrs. Brilliant, but you would already know those things.

Let's see ... All of that Bobbi Brown makeup she buys? She doesn't need it. No! She doesn't! She is in her mid thirties, mother of a teenager and three other boys, and she is drop dead gorgeous wearing 1950's era wiggle dresses and aprons for her husband. Need I say more?
O'kay. More ...She wrote the Kotex letter that so many women have taken and posted as their own work. That is a battle that will be fought for years to come. She should change her tag line to read "Home of the Original Kotex Letter".
Or something.
Susie's blog is the first blog I ever read and wished the writer lived in my neighborhood. More importantly wished she lived right next door to me. Immediately I wanted to make friends with this woman who cleaned and tended children and gave household tips and wrote with such comedic light on the every day mundane tasks of being a wife and mother. Then she answered a comment I left by email. Email! This woman I had an innocent crush on sent me an email which was sweet and funny (-again with the funny) and marked the beginning of a lovely friendship.

To put it simply - I love, Susie. She makes being a wife and mother look easy because she isn't afraid to stand back and have a good laugh at herself.

Be sure to stop by Mommybloggers later today to see for yourself what these fans are talking about.

Posted by mommybloggers at 6:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Today at Mommybloggers, we are thrilled to bring you the amazing WonderMom. Kris is one of those bloggers you come across and you feel as if you have met a true friend. She is open and honest as she shares her stories in a way that her readers feel as if they are sitting down with her sharing a cup of coffee and listening to a good friend tell them about her life. We love the way Kris has of taking anything life hands her and showing the positve side of it. She writes the type of blog that is uplifting simply because of the amazing personality of its author. Kris is the real deal and one of the many reasons we love reading her. (Not to mention her generosity in her giveaways!)

It was no surprise to us that her readers had no problem coming to us with praise for this wonderful blogger, WonderMom.

Devra Renner, of Parentopia and Co-author "Mommy Guilt: Learn to Worry Less, Focus on What Matters Most and Raise Happier Kids" was more than thrilled to share with us why she is so enamored of Kris:

What we love about Kris's blog is her positive attitude about life. Even when she is talking about stuff that is upsetting or annoying, she still gives her blog a positive, but not Pollyanna, voice. I read her blog and want to support it because Kris personifies the many of the principles of the Mommy Guilt-free philosophy! Yay Kris!

Julie of Mothergoosemouse was thrilled to share with us why she adores Kris so much. Even as a newer reader to Kris' blog, you can see why her admiration is building:

I'm one of Kris's newest readers, and I'm kicking myself for having not found her sooner. She's an honest, straightforward writer who also sings the praises of others. She's helping create a true community in the blogosphere.

Lucinda of Suburban Turmoil, never at a loss for words, sums up eagerly why she so enjoys the writings that Kris has on her blog and was more than happy to share with us why she is a loyal reader of Kris' (even if she is envious of the free loot she receives):

Kris's writing voice is like the calm in the mommyblogging storm. She has a peace about her that really shines through in her writing- and I can't believe she has anything resembling peace with three young children to care for! Kris also impresses me with her knowledge of current events and her ability to get free stuff. I am green with Kris-envy!

Stacy Quarty totally admires Kris and her ability to keep it real and let us know we are not alone out there. She was thrilled to share a few words of praise with us about the amazing WonderMom:

You’d think to read one person’s minute-by-minute journal of a day would be quite tedious and boring. Not with Kris. This Wonder Mom’s A Day in My Life post is vivid, quirky and humorous. But most of all, it’s a candid slice of life that most of us (semi-sane) Moms can relate to. Kris, in this and all of her writing, let us know that we’re not alone; we are a kinship of modern moms and we will survive.

Check back later today and read our interview with the incredible Kris of WonderMom!

Posted by mommybloggers at 8:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBacks (0)

This week on Mommybloggers, we are thrilled to introduce you to the incomparable blogger, Kristen of Motherhood Uncensored. Personally, we totally have a crush on her. She is smart, funny and will tell it like it is! If you want to get insight or just a laugh, go visit Kristen because you will find both. She is one of those bloggers that rises above and shows everyone that mommybloggers can rock the Internet.

Kristen is also the co-editor of the fantastic Cool Mom Picks - a fresh and funny source of insider tips on the best products for parenting. But enough of our gushing. Let's let some of her readers tell you what they think of the wonderful Uncensored Kristen.

Lucinda of Suburan Turmoil thinks Kristen is a wonderful choice to feature and was more than happy to tell us how much she adores her:

Kristen is a talented writer who makes me feel like I'm her best girlfriend meeting her for coffee every time I read her blog. She is refreshingly honest without being self-pitying. She has a knack for choosing topics that make mothers think. She is unapologetic about her opinions and best of all, she is hilarious. Beyond all of that, Kristen is a good blog friend, quick to compliment others and to send nice e-mails to show that she cares. Congratulations, Kristen! You deserve this honor!

Hillary Cannon of "...I Drank What?" loves Kristen. In fact, in her words, let's let her count the ways:

Oh my gosh!! HOW do I love Kristen...let me count the ways!

Kristen has long been a "real life" idol of mine, who has recently moved into the realm of blog idol. She is an incredibly strong, independent, positive woman who truly sets a great example for other women. She is always
growing, learning, expanding her horizons, her interests and her success and I SO admire her for the ability to be in constant forward (and upward) motion. She has retained her own individualty and her own interests while
embracing motherhood with a grace I can only hope to imitate when I become a mother. I am always interested in what Kristen has to say, and will be looking forward to reading her on your site as well. Congratulations on your
excellent taste and on discovering such an incrediible talent!

Catherine From Her Bad Mother

The obvious things to say about Kristen are that she is smart and cool and wickedly funny. What is also worth – most worth – saying, however, is that she accomplishes, through her blog and through her online interaction with other parents, something that I would have once upon a time thought impossible: she demonstrates daily that in addition to being smart and cool and funny, she is a good soul. That the Kristen of Motherhood Uncensored is lovable beyond measure is obvious; what is extraordinary is that she is able to make you feel/believe/KNOW that if or when you ever meet her in real life, you’ll find an immeasurably lovable whole person. Who you’re gonna want to have as a good friend.

Nancy of Mom/ Ma'am/ Me jumped up to share with us how cool it would be to gush about Kristen, seeing as she is one of her favorites:

I love Kristen's blog because I never quite know what I'm going to find when I click over to read it each day. It seems like she's willing to tackle almost any topic, and her mix of excellent storytelling and humor makes me hold my breath until I'm finished reading (and then I expel my breath in a fit of laughter and/or tears!) Kristen keeps it real, and that keeps me coming back for more.

We love her. Her readers love her. Check back later today to read Kristen's interview and fall in love, too!

Posted by mommybloggers at 8:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (11) | TrackBacks (0)

This week on Mommybloggers, we are delighted to introduce you to Asha Dornfest. Asha's writing can be found all over the internet, with essays on Mothers Movement Online, Hip Mama, Literary Mama, Mamazine and more. Her talent for spinning gold from her observations on motherhood is truly a gift. Always articulate, Asha never fails to give readers food for thought.

Asha is also the founder and editor of the collaborative blog, Parent Hacks. Asha engages her readers, and invites them to share. We love the spirit and passion that Asha brings to her writing, whether she's giving helpful tips on managing crayons or analyzing some of the serious issues facing mothers, both online and off.

We absolutely adore Asha, and we were thrilled to get the chance to sit down with her and learn more about this talented writer. We asked a few of her readers to share their thoughts on Asha, and the praise brought a smile to our faces.

Stu Mark appreciates the level playing field that Asha has created:

Asha is righteous and redoubtable. Her support and encouragement make Parent Hacks a great place to hang out. As a Father/HomeMaker, it is difficult to find a place in the Mommy world. Asha treats me like any other mommy, even if I am not equipped with a vagina. Right on!

Mir is just green with jealousy over the innovative ideas at Parent Hacks:

I love parent hacks enough to hate it a little for coming up with all sorts of brilliant things that I should have thought of (and would've, too, if it hadn't been for those meddling kids... or something). I just never know what I'm going to find there. Asha offers up the most fascinating and useful little gems with just enough commentary. But, God, if it turns out she's PRETTY, too? I'm gonna have to hate her. Just a little. I'm sorry.

Lucinda was happy to share her thoughts on Asha:

I really admire Asha for coming up with the idea for Parent Hacks. It is obvious from the site's popularity that parents are desperate for a definitive manual on childrearing. Perhaps Asha will write it some day... But I have to admit that my favorite writing by Asha can be found at Literary Mama. There she writes with eloquence and passion about the careful balance we "mommy bloggers" must maintain between writing for ourselves and respecting our children's and spouse's privacy. I wish more bloggers thought as carefully as Asha about how their writing might affect their family when it is read days, or even years, later.

Congratulations, Asha! You are totally deserving of this Mommybloggers lovefest!

Check back later today to enjoy our interview with the prolific Asha Dornfest. You won't want to miss it!

Posted by mommybloggers at 9:42 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Photo © Krystyn Jones

This week, Mommybloggers.com is thrilled to introduce you to one of our favorite writers. Elaine is a Southern California hot mama with a rare talent for capturing those little moments in life with clarity and beauty. Her personal blog - Wannabe Hippie, is an intimate journal, reflecting her journey as a creative, energetic mother of two young daughters. Featuring her expressive writing and beautiful photography, every visit to Wannabe Hippie is noteworthy.

Elaine glows with a positivity and generosity that draws people to her. Her sense of humor sparkles as she recounts the triumphs and disasters that fill her days. She writes with genuine affection and respect for herself and her subjects, while maintaining an edge. Countless readers have fallen in love with Elaine, her husband Mark, and beautiful daughters Lily and Anya. In addition to her offerings at Wannabe Hippie, Elaine also writes for the fantastic group blog Mama Says Om. We just can't get enough Elaine.

There's magic to be found at Wannabe Hippie - but don't take our word for it. We put a call out to some of Elaine's admirers, and we weren't at all surprised at the flood of loving responses we received.

Vanessa Adams was delighted to share her thoughts with us:

Elaine is great! I've been reading her blog for over a year, now, and I'm absolutely in love with her and her family. She has such a zest for life and the most precious way of writing about her life with Mark, Lilly, and Anya. When she gave birth to Anya, at home! in water! and posted the photos from the birth, I felt as if I was being allowed to be part of her family. She is one of my blogger buddies whom I'd love to meet some day. Mommy Bloggers is very lucky to have Elaine writing for them.

I've never met Elaine, but she never ceases to amaze me with stories of humor, silliness and beauty -- okay, and sometimes bodily fluids! She sees kindness and beauty in people and is living the life of a true Wannabe Hippie.

Christina, another Mama Says Om mama, values the wisdom and humor that Elaine brings to her writing:

Elaine is an amazing mama, writer, artist, and all-round wonder-woman with a brilliant sense of humor and an incredibly down to earth and thought provoking way of seeing and writing about her world. She's someone Iturn to for insight, for humor, for wisdom, or just for beautifully constructed sentences.

Krystyn Jones,Co-founder and creator of Mama Says Om, writes eloquently about her relationship with Elaine:

Elaine is my inner peace, my mama instinct, my naughty giggle, my primal scream. I am totally and completely in love with her and I'm not just saying that because I know she'll read this.

Elaine lets her readers glimpse into her life openly without hesitation. From your first visit to Wannabe Hippie you feel like you've known her forever. She manages to write on a level that most people can relate to, all the while making you giggle with her snarkiness, and sometimes even making you teary eyed with her frankness and humility. For this reason, she's not just one of my favorite people in the world, but she's one of my favorite bloggers.

Mama C-ta has been influenced by Elaine's mad parenting skills:

I came across Elaine's site, Wannabe Hippie during my pregnancy. I never knew she would turn out to be such a positive influence on my parenting. Everyday I am impressed by her creativity and the love she has and shows for her family. She has helped me see different options I have when it comes to making some tough parenting decisions. Elaine was a big influence in getting me to make the switch to cloth diapers. She's been an invaluable resource on all kinds of parenting topics and she has been a big supporter in helping me overcome some issues I have after a less than ideal birth. Elaine has really helped me indirectly see things more clear which has made me a better mother. And for that, I am very thankful to have stumbled upon Wannabe Hippie.

Elaine - I know her in person as well as through her blog. She draws me in with her writing and creativity. She is hella funny, yet incredibly deep. We have, in many ways, lived parallel lives this past year or so, but even beyond the surface similarities, she speaks to me when she writes as a mother. Reading Elaine's blog helps me to grow in my own mothering path. Thanks, mama, you're an awesome friend!

We've shared a few of the reasons that we feel Elaine is special. You've heard from some of her many fans. Please check back later this afternoon as we chat with the dynamic Elaine of Wannabe Hippie.

Posted by mommybloggers at 8:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBacks (0)

Here at Mommybloggers.com, we've all had those days. You know which ones. THOSE days. We are delighted to introduce you to the wonderful Carmen of Mom To The Screaming Masses, who manages to inject honesty and humor into any situation, even THOSE days...and brings it all to life in her blog.

A former ballet dancer, Carmen juggles the needs of her large family with the help of her local, drive-through Starbucks, iPod and ever-present laptop. Whether taking on coaching her daughter's soccer team with two toddlers in tow, or squeezing in work on a novel while managing drop-offs and pick-ups in her 15 passenger van, Carmen gives readers a glimpse into the real life of a busy mom.

We love Carmen's wit and obvious love for her family. We've learned not to drink anything while reading, for fear of spitting coffee at the monitor as we cheer Carmen on through her adventures. Whether she's taking on her insurance company, balancing the emotions of her preteens, shopping for a new bra or recounting her latest adventure at the grocery store, we're always entertained.

We put out a call to some of her readers to see if they would share what makes Carmen so special. We were delighted with the responses. Carmen is one admired blogger. But don't just take our word for it...see for yourself:

Jaime, who writes the fantastic blog Selkie shares her admiration for Carmen:

Whenever I feel tempted to complain about my life with four sons, whenever I despair of getting all their socks paired, I can consider Carmen, who has 50% *more* socks to deal with and still seems to manage with aplomb. I love the window Carmen's blog offers into life in a large family. She is real about the difficulties and frustrations of life with six kids, but she makes me wish I could stop by for a cup of coffee (or maybe it would be a white mocha) and a chance to chat.

The lovely Mary of Owlhaven is mom to 8, and appreciates the honesty in Carmen's day-to-day accounting of life:

Carmen's blog is great because she keeps it real. I can recognize my life in her blog. I'm not the only one who forgets to restock my van with extra clothes for the preschoolers! It's comforting to know there are other moms out there beating their heads against the same stuff I am.

Kelsey of Holy Mama! is inspired by Carmen's example:

I'm so glad you asked! Carmen is one of my favorites. Why? ( Have you read her the last few Wednesdays? )

She has a lot of kids. They say and do funny things. She writes funny stuff about the things she and her kids say and do. And? Even better? She will take pictures and also tell you the reality of what it is like when you dump coffee on your kid's head or need to go shopping with too many kids. She tells you how she stays organized in a way that will crack you up and inspire you all at once. She brings humor to the less than glamorous side of motherhood. And I, for one, adore that.

Annika of Through the Looking Glass kept it short and sweet:

Where to start about Carmen? She is, simply, amazing. She's an inspiration, always taking life in stride and making it funny.

Dollymama tells us why she is an avid fan:

I've been an avid fan of Carmen, Mom to the Screaming Masses, for as long as I've been a part of the blogosphere. I loved it that she dared to tell us that her kids scream. Carmen and I both have six children in the same basic age range, so I can appreciate and identify with a lot that she has to say. Her humor and whit make her blog shine!

Chris, of The Big Yellow House goes off on a momentary tangent but recovers nicely to sum up Carmen's appeal:

I lurve Carmen. She never fails to take an experience and make it funny.

When I came across her blog I felt immediately like I had met a kindred spirit. Someone who has lots of children, loves having lots of children, and feels comfortable enough admitting that it is hard and sometimes overwhelming work mothering a huge crew. But at the end of the day, being immensely thankful and grateful for each and every one of them.

Well maybe not thankful for every one of them every single day.

Just kidding. Maybe not.

What do I love about Carmen. She doesn't grow her own wheat, harvest it, grind it, and then bake all her food from scratch. Nor does she keep goats and turn their milk into organic cheese. Neither does she grow her own cotton and spin it into thread and then weave it into material from which she sews her family matching clothing. So many large families you hear about seem to do all those things. And I always felt wholly inadequate and frankly like a freak among the already freakish, because I would rather poke my eyeballs out with a butter knife than do any of those things.

Oh wait, I was supposed to write about Carmen, not myself. Ahem.

She is funny and writes with honesty. She is organized. She lets her children eat ice cream in her van and paint with pudding inside her house. That gets an A on the mommy report card for sure.

She likes good music, good coffee and has a fabulous sense of humor. And when I meet her at Blogher I fully intend on stalking her and forcing her to hang out with me. That hump you'll see on her back... that will be me.

Be sure to check back later today to read our interview with the funny and really quite organized Carmen of Mom To The Screaming Masses.

Posted by mommybloggers at 1:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

This week, we have the pleasure of featuring the irrepressible Amy Storch of Amalah.com. Amy has been keeping her readers alternately riveted and in stitches for over two years. Profiled last year in The Washintonian, Amalah.com has also garnered a mention on Dave Barry's site. With her mad haiku skills, foodie husband, her adorable dog with the easily mispronounced name (Ceiba = 'say-bah') and possibly the most beautiful baby on the planet, Amy inspires loyalty and admiration from her readers by keeping it real.

Amy writes with such a perfectly balanced sense of snark, one would think she went to blogging culinary college to perfect the recipe. She hasn't shared her secret, but after careful analysis, we suspect it breaks down something like this: A tablespoon of irreverence, a cup of off-the wall, a dash of heartbreak, and a gallon of natural storytelling talent. Stir, then plate it with flair. Garnish with side-splitting self-deprecation, honesty, and sprinkle with an eye for fashion and an encyclopedic knowledge of hair-care products. Then buckle your seat-belt and dig in. The woman is a master.

We love reading Amalah.com because Amy writes from the heart. There are so many people who can see themselves in her stories. Her ability to laugh at herself, as well as others, while maintaining a sense of personal honesty keeps us coming back for more.

We could go on and on about our admiration for Amy. Instead, we asked some of her readers to tell us why they enjoy Amalah, and we were blown away. Amy is, without a doubt, a superstar. Take a look at some of the feedback we've received:

Jessica has this to say about Amy:

Amalah was my first experience with the world of blog...I found her through Snarkywood, where I thought her comments were so clever and I knew it was meant for me to love when she mentioned an obsession (albeit a small one) with Coach bags. Now, it's the first site I check when I hit that slow spell at work. Through her site, I've found all my other favorite blogs. I love her sense of humor and how it shines through even the most hair-pulling days. I totally stalked the archives at first and totally got busted cracking up at work. I just think she is so creative, talented, well-spoken, together (that whole randomly falling thing doesn't count), witty, clever..oh, and gorgeous, of course. I am a couple years younger at 25 and it's so awesome to know a) we do stay cool, even as we take on careers, husbands, etc. b)there are things about having a baby I should be terrified of and yicked out by and c) when I "grow up" I want to live next door to Amy, Jason and the tallest baby ever....

Amy, thank you for making me laugh every day and being someone to look up to...oh and must'nt forget the Advice Smackdown, how else would I have found the right moisturizer??? You are a black-belt badass chick!!"

Lauren, who is hysterically funny, found a kindred spirit in Amy:

"Amy brings the funny, and then some. When I used to contribute to Snarkywood, I would sometimes come onto the scene after Amy had already put in her comments to the photos we were snarking, and I would literally sit there with my jaw on the floor. She can make ANYTHING funny (ie JOAN RIVERS).

Amy's quick wit is a constant source of entertainment to everyone around her, and I really admire that. She's genuine, and has the ability to snark without taking the easy road and being mean-spirited.

A couple of years ago we used to do a blogging "soap opera" via cartoon called The Bold & The Blogalicious - we had nothing to work with but a template, and we would take turns alternating the story lines. In those days, when it was my turn, and she'd send me what she had done, I'd sometimes have to lay my head down on my desk from all of the laughter. And it was a real challenge to keep up with her. We never really did it to entertain others, just ourselves, and we amused the crap out of each other.

Amy just *gets* what's funny, without even trying. She'll find the fun in any situation, and she'll make you bust a gut in the process."

Boozie added her thoughts on Amy's talents:

"Amalah is a very talented writer; not because of the quality, but because when I read her posts, I can actually "hear" her telling the story. She is a real person with a real life, with real insecurities and real neuroses. But she's able to laugh at herself, in a public forum, and allow others to relate on a variety of levels. I think people find comfort in that; in seeing there is actually someone else out there like them. I, for instance, can't relate to any of her posts about Noah, but I can certainly understand anything that has to do with drinking, falling, and having hangovers.

Diana respects Amy's lighthearted approach:

"Aside from being a wonderful writer and mother, Amy is a fantastically funny friend. I know that when stupid things go on in my life, that Amy will be there to help make fun of the people that are acting like fools. I also love her because she and I write much better story lines for Gilmore Girls than anything the Pallidino's are currently shoving down our throats."

Rock Star Mommy puts the haters in their place:

"Amy's son and my son were born just weeks apart. So, when something is going on and I feel like I'm seriously going to lose my mind, I just go to Amy's site and, more frequently than not, she's going through the same thing. Then she makes me laugh at her, thereby laughing at myself and making me feel a little less crazy.

She's also the kind of fabulous that most people want to be, what with her clothes, shoes, Coach bags, and Sephora products.

Because she is so popular, so beautiful, and so fabulous, a lot of people hate on her. But that's just because they only wish they could be as popular, beautiful, and fabulous. Amy is the Sienna of the blogosphere"

HeatherB knows the Amy behind the blog:

"I started reading Amy's blog about a month before she had Noah and quickly read through the archives and found her positively witty and charming. Not only in her words but in real life as well. She also enjoys the same things I do: wine, swearing and an intense love for Coach bags and if that's not a reason to love her, then I don't know what is. I have the fortune of babysitting for Noah and at times some parents and their children can be a handful, but it seriously has been a pleasure getting to know Amy in this capacity. She's a very funny person and humble about her success in the blogosphere and most importantly a wonderful mother. The latter of course being her greatest success of all."

Linda adds her endorsement:

"Last summer, I perceived blogging to be the internet version of watching someone's home movies and so I was about as uninterested as could be. A friend, however, dragged me in and said "No, no... that's NOT it. Give it a shot!" At first, I came across many 'home movies' types of blogs and ~ yawn ~ I was not impressed. Then I found Amy's blog and have been hooked ever since. The girl puts out some FUNNY stuff, and who doesn't like to laugh? At the same time, she is fabulously flawed, sharing her wonderful but imperfect self with us, the issues around pregnancy and child birth and being a new mother and returning to work. We've all been there. Amy gives us a chance to learn from her, to learn along with her, and maybe even occasionally to part with a pearl of wisdom to help her learn from us. She's not better than us or worse than us - she's merely ONE of us and we identify with her and her issues and struggles and worries. Only they're SO much more amusing coming out of her mouth than ours. Great blog! Definitely a must-check-daily place on the net."

Tracey thinks Amy is the cat's meow:

Amy is the snarkiest of the snarkiest, and so i naturally fell in love with her immediately. there are in fact times when i feel she may be out snarking me, but her loveliness is such that rather than making me want to kill her, her snarking supremacy instead fills me with feelings of adoration and awe. Amy is one f***ing rad beeyatch.

Miss Zoot just loves Amy:

"Amy, both with her site and her friendship, was able to keep me focused during my struggle get pregnant and kept me sane during my pregnancy. She has the ability to make me laugh on even my darkest days and can talk me out of my bitchy moods when I'm feeling the need to rage on the internet. She is great writer and an even better friend."

You've heard from us. You've heard from some of her bazillion admirers. Check back later this afternoon as we chat with Amy of Amalah.com, and hear from the Queen of Everything herself!

Posted by mommybloggers at 6:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Today at Mommybloggers, we are thrilled to turn our high beams on the one and only Yvonne Marie of Joy Unexpected. Yvonne has been titillating the World Wide Web since 2002. So cool that she answers to a single letter, Y’s blog is a look into the life of this awesome woman, yet readers can find a little bit of themselves in every post she writes.

Y is side splittingly funny, yet effortlessly manages to pack an emotional punch. Whether she’s ranting about her Jerry Springer-worthy neighbors, or sharing stories about life with her husband, her pre-teen boys and her baby girl, her entries always stick with you. Her self-deprecating humor allows her to share some of her embarrassing moments with her tongue firmly planted in her cheek. Y occasionally details her struggles with depression and weight loss, intermixed with the hilarity of life with her husband and children and memories from her past, woven together with her wonderful photography and hilarious drawings.

We love reading Joy Unexpected, because Y is a true original. She’s real people, warm, funny, beautiful, and honest. Y calls ‘em like she sees ‘em, and we love her straight-shooting style and humorous outlook on life. From her "Germican" wedding to her love for "The Nies," Y breaks it all down for readers to enjoy. We asked some of Y’s friends and readers to tell us more about the amazing Y, and we were moved by the outpouring of love we received in our inbox.

Chris was delighted to tell us why she keeps coming back for more -

i've been reading yvonne for roughly a half year, and i haven't missed an entry since i found her blog. her honesty, her humor, and her willingness to share make her a good read. she rides an emotional rollercoaster that's familiar to many of us. i totally adore her kids- i think the photos she takes are wonderful! the boys ARE handsome and the tiny queen is just too cute to be true. and Y, my fat pants could swallow yours ANY day of the week!

Sarcastic Journalist stepped away from her babymoon to send a little love -

I began reading Y when we were both pregnant with our daughters. Eventually, the relationship went from blog reading to emails to phone calls. Y is a good friend, someone that I know I can call or email when I'm feeling down or just want to talk. She's a great writer, a wonderful mom and has a great sense of humor. I'm very glad that we've become friends. She's a wonderful person.

Melly offered both glowing praise and veiled threats -

I honestly do not know how I would have made it through the past few years if it wasn't for Yvonne. She has definitely been one of the major women in my life who have helped shaped what kind of mom I want to be. Fun, but firm. The way she is with her children, is the way I aim to be with mine. I love her for her humor, her wit, and her heart. We are a great pair, because she reminds me to see the good in people, and I remind her that if someone were to ever harm her in any way, they would have to deal with me.

Ben has been a fan forever, and was happy to share the love -

She was one of the first bloggers I "met" way back when I started, and I have always been fascinated by her honesty and her sense of humor, and marvelled at how she has grown and changed over the past couple of years.

She also appreciates a good joke, and I love teasing and joking with her. I can't wait to meet her someday.

Mindy Roberts broke all previous records for length of praise quotes, so great is her love for "The Y" -

I honestly don't even know where to begin with Yvonne. From the moment we started reading each other we were all, do I stalk, do I not stalk, will it seem creepy, how much do I care if it does, what's she going to do about it, well I can take her anyway, nah, she'd probably enjoy that… you now, like that.

Our friendship began with an IM out of nowhere, and within a dozen lines we were calling each other the foulest names, and if that doesn't spell true love, what does?

Also? She is the only person I know who had more square yardage of unnecessary decoration happening on her wedding dress. The veil, the neckline… it almost makes you want to forgive me for the three-foot bow I had on my ass. At least I didn't have the guts to put on the Wedding Cake Tableau: A River Runs Through It. (And Under A Bridge.)

Yvonne will think I'm full of shit, but she is an inspiration to those of us who struggle(d) and fail(ed) to make a marriage hum. She has her rants and raves, but in the end, we al know what's gonna happen to that enchilada. I'm so amazed at how much they love each other after all these years. She tells her stories with a raw honestly that grabs my in the gut and leaves me staring at the screen. Half the time I don't even want to comment because I think she can feel the thoughts I'm beaming at her. We're just kooky enough to think things like that. Of course, if her stories don't leave you staring at the screen, her gorgeous smile and shiny, shiny hair will. Bitch.

We only met once, but it went something like this:

Yvonne was just here with us at our hotel in Pasadena, drinking Guinness to our Heineken and Hess Select and scarfing Baked Ruffles out by the pool. EEEEE! She is SO COOL! We were swearing and laughing in the lobby bathroom within minutes of meeting.

Yvonne arrived a couple of hours before we had to go out, so we had just enough time to send Mr. X for refreshments since the bar didn't open till five. *throws cocktail napkin* Personal foul on the hotel for having lame service!

As soon as we met in the lobby we both had to pee like puppies meeting for the first time. We walked down the hall and as Yvonne opened the door to the restroom, she gasped and jumped. I was standing there with that wide-eyed, WHAT JUST HAPPENED look on my face, thinking she'd just walked in on someone.

I whispered, "Was someone in there?"

"No, I fell off my shoes."

"Oh, okay."

Yvonne's reaction to the meeting?

"I love Mr.X. p.s. Wanna make out?"

Yvonne is so admired, and we received so much praise that we couldn’t possibly include it all. We are delighted to have had the chance to get all up in her grill with our Mommybloggers-style interview. Come on back later today and see what Y has to say for herself!

Posted by mommybloggers at 6:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBacks (0)

Faster than a shot of Swiffer fluid, Melanie Lynne Hauser entered the blogosphere in May 2005 and stole our hearts. Originally launched to support her first novel Confessions of Super Mom, Melanie's blog Refrigerator Door has become a fixture on blogrolls everywhere.

Melanie is inspirational to those of us who are still struggling through the toddler years - and a welcome read for those of us who have already raised our families. Her warmth and comic timing shine through as she recounts her day-to-day journey through motherhood and her writing career. Although her first blog entry claimed that Refrigerator Door was not really a blog, but rather a place to share household tips and recipes, Melanie soon abandoned that notion, and began treating readers to wonderful entries sparkling with wit and humor.

Her published works have earned great reviews from critics and readers alike. Publishers Weekly says "Like its title character, this debut novel has a secret identity...it's unexpectedly poignant and packs an emotional punch, despite the cheery veneer..." Another essay, "Shapeshifter" appears in It's a Boy : Women Writers on Raising Sons, edited by Andi Buchanan.

On a more personal level, Melanie has touched our hearts with her thoughful comments and witty suggestions on each of our blogs. We are proud to feature her, and thrilled to call her our friend. We invited a few of her fans to tell us why they love Melanie. We were delighted with the enthusiastic response!

Heather Brewer tells us how Melanie's gift for multi-tasking leaves her in awe:

Melanie is so thoughtful and giving--always looking out for everyone. Her wit is irresistable and her dedication as a writer (and a mother) is truly inspiring. Anybody who can write as well as she, run a household, blog, and still manage to promote her work (while dodging teenagers) has earned my respect and admiration. Besides...she has great hair--who can argue with that??

Melanie's joyful stories help Janie Stafford keep it all in perspective:

I found Melanie through blogging, and I'm so glad I did! Her wit, wisdom and sterling sense of humor about parenting put the FUN back into it by allowing us to find something to laugh about no matter what happens.

Melanie isn't Supermom--not to my mind, anyway--but she IS Everymom. She's down to earth and real and I sort of want to put her in my pocket and carry her around with me. I am totally shipping my kids off to her once they hit the teenage years.

Debra Hamel shared how Melanie has become a 'must read' - even if it takes a while to get to it:

The internet has turned me into a skimmer. In real life I can't do it. I've got this anal-retentive need for completion that tells me that if I haven't read every word of Newsweek, say, then I haven't *really* read it. But nowadays, as I'm slinking around on the web, or combing through my RSS reader, if you haven't hooked me in the first sentence or two, your post is history. So I tend to prefer short posts, the kind you can discard quickly. There is satisfaction to be had, after all, in cleaning out one's Bloglines "in box," heartlessly relegating some poor slob's html-laced prose to the virtual dustbin.

Melanie, however, writes longish posts on her blog. And -- you can see this coming -- I read them anyway. And sometimes, when I don't have time, I actually tell Bloglines to save them for me. It took me weeks to get around to reading her two-part account of that Swiffer party she attended in LA, but I finally did. (And I'm better for it! Who knew Robert Sean Leonard cared so deeply about his carpets?) So what's the attraction? Melanie writes very well, and she's amusing, and she's often self-effacing. When she writes about motherhood (both on her blog and in her book) she's funny, but her humor can be laced with the sadness that is a concomitant of parenthood--the realization that the cycle isn't going to stop just because you'd like your kid to stay three or ten or fifteen forever. Melanie is genuine and seems to have a happy family life behind her, and, well, I find her entirely likeable. And I dare say anyone who spends some time on her blog will come away liking her too.

Margalit Topaz highlights Melanie's talent, and shows why readers are cheering for Melanie:

Wow, what an honor. I love Melanie's blog. I've been reading it for quite some time, first lurking because it seemed scary that she had this way cool book being published, but then as I got to 'know' her I realized that what I like best about her is that she's happy with who and where she is, and she's totally psyched about where life is taking her. The posts that just took me over the edge were the Swiffer LA Stories. Those were so hilarious that I was crying reading them. I loved the post she wrote about her small house and how happy she is there because what she loves is already all there for her. Contentment is so attractive to me. Melanie's one of a few of use 'older' bloggers with grown up kids. Her family life no longer includes much poop, thank goodness, and she's not endlessly pondering which stroller is the better one. She's talking about real family issues, and real life issues. Her struggles writing are familiar to me, and her stories about her teens ring so true. I think she's a bright light amongst so many bloggers that are stuck on the toddler stage. I love toddlers, but I'm not there anymore, which is why Melanie's blog is always such a pleasant and fun read for me. Go Melanie!

Shawn Lea enjoys her humor. And her hair:

Melanie always makes me laugh. And she has cute hair. And when I had a hair-brained idea once (or twice or maybe even three times, I can't remember, or at least I try to forget), she helped out as much as she could without saying, "That's a really hair-brained idea" even once (or twice or three times). And she makes me laugh. And she tells great stories - and I'm not even talking about her books. And she has really cute hair - no matter what color it is. Did I mention she makes me laugh? ;)

There is so much about Melanie that's commendable: her writing is clear, thoughtful, and touching but also humorous; she has the ability to make you laugh and cry, sometimes simultaneously; she's a tireless self-promoter; and she's also extremely supportive and encouraging of other writers as well as of others in the publishing industry. I thought it was amazing that while promoting the release of her book Confessions of Super Mom, she also gave props to Independent Booksellers around the country by featuring them on her blog. She simply is a wonderful role model for aspiring writers. And we are extremely lucky that she gives us the gift of her prose almost daily through her well-written blog entries. Can't wait for book #2, Melanie!

Bethany Hiitola sums up Melanie's appeal:

Melanie not only takes her job as a super mom to the heart, she is super honest. From sharing her last embarrassing moment, to reminding us that we are only human, and taking a step back to tie together big life lessons with the everyday nonsense of parenthood, makes her a must read every day.

We received so much praise for Melanie that we couldn't possibly include it all here. Check back later today for our interview with the fantastic Melanie Lynne Hauser - you won't want to miss it!

Posted by mommybloggers at 9:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

This week's featured guest is known for her quick wit and knack for providing links to sites that are funny, thought-provoking, rage-inspiring or simply bizarre. We are happy to introduce you to a self-proclaimed muthablogga, tracey of sweetney.com. We love tracey's unique view on the world. Outspoken, intelligent, yet charmingly self-effacing, tracey's writing appeals to a wide audience. Through sweetney.com, tracey sends readers on a hilarious treasure hunt. Tracey is an accomplished writer, former university professor, and a published poet. In addition to her fantastic links, sweetney.com also offers thought-provoking essays and rants, and shares glimpses into her life as a 'never lost it' cool mom.

Baltimore is home turf for tracey and her family. Once frustrated by the limited social opportunities for parents who still like to rock, tracey took matters into her own hands. She books local bands and hosts RockNRomp Baltimore, a monthly concert series for parents and kids, in her big backyard.

We admire tracey's style and irreverance as she navigates the wilds of parenting. We know you will love her, too. But don't just take our word for it. We asked some of her friends and readers to share their thoughts on the woman behind sweetney.com. Tracey's fans didn't disappoint.

Styro Kitty took issue with the "mommyblogger" label, but readily acknowledged tracey's transcendent level of coolness.

Tracey is too damn awesome to be considered just a "mommyblogger." The term "mommyblogger" makes me want to puke, however. You should make up a new word for Tracey and it should be something like Awesometastic-kickassticblogger or Blondiewilldestroyyablogger or omgwtfbbqblogger.

Hey, you asked.

Jess shares why sweetney.com is a must-read:

I love sweetney.com because it’s different and exciting and, most importantly, cool. Visiting there, listening in, and occasionally participating in the comments makes me feel like i’m hangin with the cool kids. The links she gives almost daily are always new to me and illuminate my day in some way. Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, sometimes informational – always interesting.

Patrick sums up tracey's appeal in a single word:

you know, i keep trying to think of something substantial to say, but i don't have anything. tracey's cool, that's all. i'm surprised she's so nice to a hood like me. but i'm glad.

Debbie, founder of the RockNRomp concept in DC, is full of praise for her friend:

hmmm. this is difficult! i know tracey from before the sweetney days, so my praise is a little biased. tracey is awesome because she's ridiculously smart and well-read, but is not above appreciating the lowbrow. i love reading sweetney because a lot of the time it feels like we share a brain. tracey writes about things that interest me, things that i want to know more about, things that make me laugh and think, " i totally feel the same way!" so, even if we weren't friends, i'm pretty sure that i'd be a loyal sweetney reader. though i must admit, tracey is the person who turned me onto the whole world of blogging in the first place! huh. so, actually, if we weren't friends i'd probably be totally unaware there was a sweetney.com, but i'd be lucky to find it. such is the awesomeness of tracey's blog, sweetney.com.

Supa, another of our favorite cool Baltimore moms, welcomes the escape from Sesame Street:

Tracey has a real talent for finding the bizarre, the interesting, the brilliant, and the obscure, and she's not stingy in sharing it with us. Her blog should be required reading for parents who yearn to think about something -- anything! -- other than diaper rash and Elmo.

Kate tells us more about tracey's connection with her readers:

Sweetney is on my daily must-read list because of her unique style. She blends funny, concise writing about life in general with fantastic links that are always right up my alley. I love her taste in music as well. She made a compilation CD for anyone who wanted one, and I still listen to it in it's entirety in my car several times per week. Sweetney rocks!

Well I've only been reading Sweetney for a short time - a matter of months. She consistantly brings interesting links and tidbits of things to her readers, and her content certainly isn't geared towards a certain target audience.
She's brought us art, music, comedy links, nerd info, and much more, all delivered in such a way that us geeks get it. Why do I keep coming back? Original, thought-provoking content and links I wouldn't normally stumble across, but I enjoy the majority of them.

Danielle points out that although tracey is a mother, she doesn't fit the mother stereotype.

While I know she is amazing with her daughter, I never think of Tracey as 'just a mother'. She is sarcastic, witty, informed, passionate, and incredibly intelligent - that's what keeps me coming back for more.

We first met tracey at BlogHer2005, and we were impressed with her strong advocacy for mothers who blog. When we put out our request for praise, we were truly overwhelmed with the response. We received so much praise for tracey that we couldn't possibly include it all. You've heard our take. You've heard from her friends and fans. Check back later this afternoon when we put muthablogga tracey of sweetney.com in the hot seat.

Posted by mommybloggers at 4:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (1)

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!

Posted by mommybloggers at 8:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

Mommybloggers.com is honored to introduce you to an incredible writer. This week's featured blogger is full of enthusiasm for writing! Her name is Mary Tsao, and her blog, Mom Writes, is dedicated to celebrating the art of writing. In addition to writing incredibly well herself, Mary recognizes and promotes the work of other talented writers. Mary has a passion for great writing, and a critic's eye for describing what makes the writers she loves so significant in the world of writing and blogging today. She also shares stories about her family, and has recently completed her own novel through the writer's marathon of NaNoWriMo. Mary was able to complete her goal of 50,000 words while raising two beautiful children. With her obvious talent and energy, we at Mommybloggers can't wait to see what develops. We asked some of Mary's readers to share what keeps them coming back for more, and we were delighted with the reponse.

Suzanne was inspired by Mary's prolific writing:

I just happened on Mary's blog a couple of months ago and was interested in her quest to write a novel in 30 days. I've been *working* on one for a least a year and haven't gotten very far. It was exciting to watch her progress and to see her succeed. It was inspirational. Now if only I could choose a month and get started.

Melanie Lynne Hauser admires her taste in literature:

What I like about Mary is that she's talking about good books, reading, in addition to letting us sneak a peek at her life with as a mom. I love to see what she's currently reading, because I'm always looking for the next good book! She's been a tremendous supporter of my own writing, as well as of that of other authors I know and admire.

I love reading Mary Tsao's site, and look forward to it every day. There are a couple things I especiallly like about Mary. First, she writes some great author lecture writeups and book reviews. She is passionate about writing and does a good job conveying whatever is of interest from these events, which I especially appreciate since theyn don't make it to my podunk state. Mary also tells some great and endearing stories about life as a stay at home mom, both the ups and them downs. But finally, and especially, and not to be too obvious about it with a site called Mom Writes, but that mom can write. She tells stories from various eras of her life, and writes essays, that are moving, endearing, and have imagery which stay with me for a very long time. I love reading Mom Writes, and I am happy for Mary that she's getting some well-earned recognition.

Julie was happy to share why she keeps clicking:

One of the reasons I love to read Mary's blog is that she writes about more than just her kids (who are adorable, no doubt). Not only are her posts entertaining, but she makes me think, which is something we all should do more often.

Fridayplaydate offered her praise as well:

Mary has my undying admiration for finishing NaNoWriMo, with two small kids at home. And she has the most beautiful and serene place to write (see the photo she posted--my god it's lovely!). I am envious of her balance of Mom and Writer--it's something I aspire to.

sweatpantsmom was happy to share some thoughts on Mary:

I've only been reading Mary's blog for a short time, but enough to see that she is a thoughtful, sensitive and insightful writer. Not to say that she is a softie, becasue the girl has a bite to her. Which means that she can write about loving her man and adoring her kids but do it in a way that doesn't make you want to slap her. This is a good thing, and why I Ilike Mary!

Prego explained what draws him to Mom Writes, again and again:

Stopping by Mary's "Mom Writes" blog is like popping by unannounced at an old college friend's house, sitting on the front stoop and sipping chianti on a warm afternoon. * All kidding aside, I never met the woman, so it's more like 'Peeping Tom' style... "What's for dinner?" "What makes her tick," and "Are those kids kookier than mine" - (They're not. Drat!)

Mary has developed a loyal following, and we received so much praise that we weren't able to feature it all. Check back later today as we put Mary in the Mommybloggers hot seat. You don't want to miss this one!

Posted by mommybloggers at 8:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

It's Monday. You know what that means here at Mommybloggers...a new featured blogger! This week's blogger is none other than the one and only Mamacita! Insightful. Genuine. Loving. Caring. With her sense of humor and frontier mama, can-do work ethic, she is a true original. From her tales of classroom battles to her fond and often hilarious stories about her friends and family, Mamacita calls it as she sees it...and what a view!

No matter what her topic is, you leave Scheiss Weekly with a smile on your face. We'd like to take credit for finding her on our own, but the truth is, Mamacita found each of us. Her witty comments and genuine interest in our individual blogs led us back to Scheiss Weekly. Once we discovered her writing, it has proven impossible to break free of her tractor beam.

Her many fans were delighted to answer our call for Mamacita testimonials and we were overwhelmed with the response. We wanted to share all of them, but there is no way we could. Without a doubt, our suspicions were confirmed: Mamacita is a well-admired blogger, and with good reason. But enough about what we think about her. This is what a few of her readers had to share with about her:

MommaK decided to cut straight to the proposal:

If I were to pick one word to describe Mamacita it would be wise. She is an amazing "can do it all" woman with a sense of humor to boot and she can cook...Mamacita, will you marry me?

When we asked Scotty, he was thrilled to tell us more:

I would love to talk about Mamacita. She lives right here in my hometown and we have actually met for lunch and dinner a couple of times. Mamacita has ben an inspiration to me in bloggerland. I found her when a friend told me I should check her out because she lived close by. She has been through so much but is still loving and caring and one of the most giving people I know. She offered me free holly from her holly bush and has offered to fix dinner for me and my partner. I read her blog daily because she makes me laugh and makes me strive to be a better parent. She is totally devoted to keep ing her kids happy even though they are grown and I respect her for it! She deserves any recognition she can get!

Mamacita was my eighth grade English teacher and is still one of my closest friends. Mamacita saved my life, both literally and figuratively. Mamacita showed me that I could be more than just another southern Indiana farm boy. Every time I step in front of a class (I teach college), Mamacita is there. I cannot thank her enough.

A new reader, MistressMary, was full of praise :

She is funny, kind, and unapologetically opinionated. Oh, and an excellent writer.

Hula Doula shared how her friendship with Mamacita developed:

When I started blogging a year ago I never realized that I would make such personal contacts. One of those personal contacts is my dear friend Mamacita. When she first started visiting my blog I felt drawn to her comments. A genuine spirit poured from her caring words. I started reading her blog and was hooked. The thing I love about Mamacita is witty playful way with words. Her love for education and her love of reading is contagious. Just ask my 8 year old! When she came for a visit this last year we were blessed to meet the brilliance behind the words. I learned her love for a good cheese burger! She is a gracious and loving person. She is truly a gift.

Chasmyn summed it up nicely, with this glowing praise of Mamacita:

Mamacita is more than a talented, articulate blogger. Mamacita is a generous, loving, compassionate person with great taste in music! And she is someone I consider a friend. She has a great heart, a wonderful sense of humor and a genuine interest in the people in her life - which doesn't just include the people who are physically in her life. It includes her friends in the computer as well. I am so happy to include Mamacita among my friends; my life is truly enriched by her.

These are just a few of the things Mamacita's readers had to say about her. We wish we could feature every comment. But, we know you want to hear from Mamacita herself. Be sure to check back here later today for our interview with her.

Posted by mommybloggers at 5:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Sometimes we like to feature a blogger who is not necesarrily known as a "mommyblogger" yet still falls under the criteria to be a mommyblogger: a mom who blogs. This week the Mommybloggers are featuring none other than one of the women we hold personally responsible for getting the three of us together: Lisa Stone, the co-founder of BlogHer.

In addition to blogging at Surfette, Lisa blogs at Legal Blog Watch and helps keep the wheels in constant motion over at BlogHer.org . Before we came to know her through BlogHer, Lisa was executive producer and editor-in-chief for the original Women.com Networks, where she launched an award-winning Web portal that became a top 30 Web site with 25 million unique visitors and 312 million pageviews per month. She has developed Web coverage with Hearst and Rodale magazines, Gallup, Bloomberg, ABC's Good Morning America, E! Television/Online and HBO's Sex and the City. Lisa is the first Internet journalist awarded a Nieman fellowship (2002). But those are her professional attributes. Even if you take all of those things away, you have an amazing and talented woman who is well loved.

We could certainly gush about our adoration of Lisa, but that would not leave room for other people who adore her to give you their input on this very talented, giving and incredible woman.

We had to limit our good friend Jory Des Jardins when it came to her gush-fest for her friend Lisa. (Trust us, this woman does have a book in there!)

"Lisa is my blogging Big Sister. Since we've met she's both embraced me as a colleague and taken me under her wing. It's a strange and exhilarating sensation you get around her of being nurtured and admired at the same time. It's like having your Mom around, but it's not annoying or stressful. She's also like a big sister because she's a born defender. Once she takes a person or a cause under her wing she fights to the death for it. She's also unfailingly thoughtful. She remembers names, beaus, blog posts of yours she read, like, ages ago, and things that you forgot you told her that will make you look at her like she's crazy when she brings them up.

Lisa's like a really good Mojito--when she knocks you on your ass, you really don't feel it until you stand up and think about it. She gives it to me straight, but painlessly. Only later, I think, "Oh, THAT's what she was telling me." She's unbelievably persuasive. I'm almost at the point where I just don't disagree with her, because I know she'll talk me over to her side. But she's not a bullshitter, let's be clear. Lisa takes great pains to communicate truthfully and meaningfully, with a pinch of humor and self-deprecation.

Some Lisa phrases I've come to adopt after tens of thousands of emails.

(After providing lenghty persuasive argument for something) "...that's my two lira."
(When signing off on a phone call) "Bye friend."
(One I just used earlier, when she wants to clarify her position on something) "I mean, let's be clear..."

I have a book in me about Lisa. Right now it's comprised of a few synapses in my brain, but someday, when they connect, Lordy it'll be good."

The amazing Grace Davis jumped right up to let us know how much she adores Lisa with a great idea of how to ensure we all get some Lisa love.

"Oh, to clone Lisa Stone. The planet would run far more effectively and cheerfully if if we had a Lisa Stone Clone for every organization, conference, dinner party and playgroup. Lisa is a combination of the sheer rugged power of a Caterpillar multi-terrain loader and the soft spoken elegance of Jackie Kennedy Onassis. That, in any one's book, is one hell of a hybrid vehicle and a force to be dealt with in the badass blogosphere and beyond."

Fellow partner in crime at BlogHer Elisa Camahort, had no trouble telling us how she and Lisa were a match made in blogger heaven.

"I really didn't know Lisa at all when we sat down to lunch almost a year ago and started dreaming big about a women's blogging conference. But I know now that there is no one else that would have been the partner that Lisa is. And the friend. Very few people combine her talents for getting shit done with the qualities of a visionary too. Rare combo. Rare person. Shout out to our mutual friend Mike for telling us each that we really had to meet the other!"

When Jeneane Sessum volunteered her praise of Lisa, she had no trouble coming up with the perfect word to summarize this amazing woman.

"When I think of Lisa, the first word that comes to mind is “Tireless.� Whether you’re talking about the work of serious journalism, or conference launching and management for a marginalized online group (women), or motherhood, or good friend, or even make-me-laugh-my-butt-off email buddy, Lisa just doesn’t stop. She’s there, she’s smart, and she’ll tell you what she thinks. Honestly. From my virtual friendship with her, I gather that this is because she REALLY CARES about all of these things, and she really cares about making the world a better place for her child, friends, relatives, readers, colleagues, and fellow human beings. GO LISA GO!"

When volunteering a few words about Lisa, Halley Suitt had no problem sharing her admiration for this incomparable woman.

"Who does not ADORE Lisa?! Lisa Stone is so influential in so many arenas --blogging, media, marketing, conference production --and so terrific as a person, I'm wondering ... is she real?

If not, let's make more of her."

Now, considering the number or women and men who admire Lisa Stone, this entry could go on for pages and pages, but if we did, you would miss our fun interview with her. And we know you don't want to miss out on that one. Come back later today and hear from Lisa herself as we put her in the hot seat.

Posted by mommybloggers at 7:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

And now for something completely different. Featured blogger(s) with a twist. You are seeing a Mommyblogger double header! (Or would it be considered a two-fer?) Not only are we interviewing our first male blogger--daddyblogger-- but also our first blogging couple! Today, Mommybloggers.com is thrilled to turn the spotlight on two wonderful writers: Chris of Rude Cactus, and Beth of So The Fish Said.

If this were high school
Chris and Beth would be voted
the 'Cutest Couple'

Chris is known for his Monday Haiku, his disarming sense of humor, his love and joy for his family, as well as his beautiful photography. Beth charms her readers with stories running the full emotional spectrum, from frustration at her lazy ovaries to her elation after the birth of their daughter. We have crushes on both of them.

We had no problem getting Metro Dad to step up to the plate and tell us all about his rock-star-love-fest with Chris and Beth:

Though I only discovered their blogs about 6 months ago, I’ve rapidly become a huge fan of both Chris and Beth. For me personally, I enjoy reading them because they’re both so amazingly cool and genuinely nice. There’s no faking it. They are simply two of the nicest people you will ever meet in the blogosphere. In a strange way, I find them both to be quite an inspiration. On the one hand, they’re very cool and interesting people. But at the same time, they’re grounded and have such a healthy attitude towards life.

Maybe it’s because I live in a city filled with Type-A neurotics and general insanity but I find Chris and Beth to be two of the coolest cats around. In the finest sense of the phrase, they’re both rock stars in my book.

RockStar Mommy rushed the stage to tell us of her admiration for this hot blogging couple:

Chris and Beth are two of my favorite bloggers, not just for their websites but also for who they are individually and together. They are very grounded, honest, and sincere, which makes them the kind of couple that other married couples look up to because they are the real deal.

Kat cut into this cute-fest dance to tell her how much she loves Chris and Beth's' wit and fun:

Why do I love Chris and Beth so much? Because they are both wonderfully witty in words. It is one thing to be funny in person, but I've never met them and yet they truly make me laugh out loud whenever I read a new entry. Funny, sassy and full of love - they are a daily read for me.

Dawn knitted together the story of how she came to know and love Beth and Chris and have come to call them friends:

Chris and Beth! I love Chris and Beth - they're both awesome people in their own right, and I just know that Mia will grow up to be even more awesome.

I came across Chris's site first, and immediately loved his sense of humor - he's a funny guy, and it comes across well in his writing. But he's not just all about the funny - he also turns out heartfelt and thought-provoking pieces, and does it all well. Plus, he replies to nearly every comment via e-mail - that's got to take a big chunk of time, but he takes the time to make that connection with his readers. Because he's a nice guy - no, really, he is. I've gotten to know him a bit over e-mail, and even had the pleasure of meeting both him and Beth in person once. Even though they were having a horrible week and probably in no mood to entertain Random Internet Strangers Passing Through Town (and I was also running insanely late), we had a wonderful lunch, and I was glad they were able to take the time to hang out with me.

I found Beth's site through Chris's, and also developed a friendship with her over e-mail. Last year, I was looking for a new job, and BOTH of them offered help - resume review, passing on the resume, whatnot - since they work in the same general industry I do. I've also wasted many hours in the past talking to them over IM - Chris has commiserated with me over General Asshattery in the workplace, and Beth has kindly listened to my venting over Stupid Shit That Boys Do.

I really don't know what else I can say about them - they're both awesome, wonderful, caring people. I was so thrilled for them when they announced they were expecting, and now I'm thrilled for Mia and the wonderful life she'll have growing up in the Cactus-Fish household.

Autumn gives an amazing shout-out not only for Chris' Monday Haiku, but about how she has come to really adore these two as bloggers and friends:

I knew Chris first - he and I have both been blogging forever, and I can't even remember when I started reading him regularly, probably back in the days of Haiku Smackdown. He's been a great supporter of my writing and photography, something that Chris rocks at.

Their writing is witty, humorous, and, now that they've have had Mia, adorable. Chris and Beth's love for their new born daughter is abundantly clear. It's also wonderful to hear from both of them - throughout the pregnancy and after - about their fears and concerns as parents. For me, it's been a blessing as a newly married woman to know
those concerns about child-raising aren't mine alone.

They're both friends, who I'm very glad to have in my blog circle.

A.K. loves the gush when it comes to praising the "realness" of this amazing and openly real couple:

I read them both fairly regularly, mostly because they are just real people. I enjoy their humor, their style of writing and thoughts on parenting. I also find it interesting to read both husband and wife; their different takes/perspectives on a situation. And, I really appreciate their responses to comments, it makes it feel more like a blog camaraderie rather than just a voyeur of their lives.

Sara giggled just talking about how easily Beth and Chris can bring a smile to her face:

I read both Chris and Beth's blogs. Both of them are excellent writers and have the ability to make me smile all the way across the other side of the world! I just love their wacky sense of humour, but more than that, I love the warmth and kindness that comes through in their writing.

Now, we at Mommybloggers.com know that once you read their interview later today, you, too, will be standing up to shout out your own praises of this amazing couple. On a more personal note, these two have been so amazing to work with and to chat with while doing this. Even with a tiny baby who is not so much a sleeper, they never once seemed put out but rather were very enthusiastic about playing along. So, remember to come back and hear what they have to say when we put them in the Mommyblogger spotlight interview!

Posted by mommybloggers at 12:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (19) | TrackBacks (0)

Follow a link to Chookooloonks, and you'll find yourself immersed in the colorful, wonderful world of Karen Walrond. In a world of sharp-tongued, sarcastic writers, Karen is a breath of fresh air. Always funny, always charming, her entries are full of warmth and genuine affection for her family and friends.

Based in Trinidad, the world of Chookooloonks seems to be touched by magic. An advocate for adoption, Karen's joy and passion for her family have inspired many. She illustrates her entries with her fantastic photos, and lively anecdotes about her life. Her positive outlook and winning style keep her readers clamoring for more.

We asked some of her readers to share the ways that Chookooloonks, moves them:

Dave in Houston was delighted to share his thoughts:

I was initially attracted to Karen's blog because of her mention of Trinidad. I have spent a bit of time there and my EX is from there. Also, at the time, Karen lived in Houston, as do I. Karen has since moved back to Trinidad.

I enjoy her writing. She is very descriptive and what we call "down-home." Meaning honest and forthright and easy to understand. But ... most of all these days, I love the pictures of her most-beautiful-child-on-Earth, Alex.

Menita was happy to give us her take:

What´s not to love? She is funny, centered, strong, adores her child (laughs with her, not at her), tells wonderful stories, takes amazing pictures. And to top it off, she´s a great writer.

I should hate the woman, but there you go - I adore her site.

Mir revealed her catty side as she told us why she can't get enough Chookooloonks:

Really, what can you say about Karen? I mean, once you get over the fact that she's gorgeous and perfect (bitch!), she's quite likeable.

I don't even remember how I came across Chookooloonks, but I found myself going back again and again. At first I thought it was for the adorable pictures of Alex, the baby I fully planned to kidnap and eat, but eventually I realized that the photography was only the beginning.

Karen paints pictures with her words as clearly as she does with her pictures. She's introspective without being self-absorbed. And she's FUNNY, but lots of people are funny. Karen is also JOYFUL. When I read Chookooloonks, I feel that I'm in the presence of a woman on an exciting journey, and I'm thrilled that I've been allowed to tag along.

Diane, a long-time reader, tells us why she continues to come back for more:

More than a year ago, I first found Chookooloonks through a link on the comments at Dooce.com. Pictures on each blog of their daughters playing with lens caps, even the same day, I think. I found a couple other Good Read blogs by clicking names in comments at Chookooloonks. The Internet is such a wonderful invention!

I stick around because Karen has such a good eye for taking photographs, she writes good stories using correct grammar and spelling (nicely expected from a former lawyer), and because she is so optimistic about
adoption and adores her family. One of my dear friends adopted her daughter from an orphanage overseas,
becoming a single, working mother who earns her salary as a college professor.

There's no one straight-up reason I read Chookooloonks, but I'm really glad to be able to have it in my Bookmarks, and have considered ordering from CafePress just because.....

Check back later today to read our interview with the delightful Karen of Chookooloonks!

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It's Monday. You know what that means here at Mommybloggers. A new featured blogger! This week's blogger is none other than the one and only Busy Mom! Her name says it all. Her writing can be both witty and touching. Her kindness knows no limits. In fact, many bloggers tell us that she is one of the first bloggers they read who made them feel welcomed and appreciated.

Whether she is writing about soccer or singing at work, the Busy Van or life as part of the Sandwich Generation, she has appeal that reaches far and wide. We put a call out for Busy Mom testimonials and were overwhelmed with the response. We wanted to share all of them, but there is no way we could. Without a doubt, our suspicions were confirmed: Busy Mom is definitely a well-loved blogger. An admired woman for sure. But enough about what we think about her. This is what a few of her readers had to share with about her:

Buzz the blogger formerly known as Buzz from Buzzstuff.net was thrilled to come out of the depths on the non-blogging world to praise our beloved Busy Mom. When asked about her, he eagerly replied:

BusyMom is one of the special ones. She is one of those bloggers who can make you feel like you've known her all your life. Funny, insightful, wise, and most importantly to us loyal readers, interesting. What do you like to read when you visit someone's site? Super-secret family stuff? Yeah, she's got that. A funny observation on the state of the world? Yeah, she's got that. A silly joke or two? Yeah, she's got that. Tips on how to get the most out of your shopping dollars at Target? Yep, she's even got that. And on top of all this, she's nice. I mean genuinely nice. And like I said before, I feel like I've known her all my life. And I'm richer for it.

Karen of Four Kids and a Dog immediately raised her hand to tell the mommybloggers of her devotion and adoration of Busy Mom:

BusyMom makes me laugh. I first ran across her when I began my blog last year and surfed BlogExplosion. When I tired of BE, BusyMom was one of the few blogs from there that I kept on my reading list. I can always count on her for something that makes me smile or wonder if she's planted a bug in my house somewhere.

Even though we had to wait until after he went to see Harry Potter, we were very excited to get the scoop on Busy Mom from Solonor , a blogger who has actually experienced his very own in-person Busy Mom sighting. He had this to share with us:

When I finally met her in person last April, I recognized her instantly (and not just from the "soccer mom" sticker on the back of her van). We went to see "Kicking and Screaming", because if there's one thing she doesn't get enough of, it's kicking and screaming. After that, we went to dinner with a couple of my co-workers who thought we must be related (or at least had known each other for years). I think this was mostly because of the deep respect we showed to one another ("Ow! Quit hitting! You started it!").

Busy Mom is exactly the same person in person that she presents to the blogging world in third person. She is funny (and not just looking), and she is one of the bestest people I have ever attempted to call friend.

Lauren of Life is Just Ducky couldn't wait to tell us why she adores Busy Mom:

She never fails to find the positive in any situation. Her outlook on life in general is hilarious. Yet, even when life throws her a fast curve she is right there with her wit and her humor to get through it. I can't tell you how long I have been reading her because I have been reading her for that long. She is a joy to read and I make sure to check her blog at least once a day. In short, she is a great read and I absolutely love reading her blog.

The infamous mommy known in the blogosphere only as cmhl of the ever popular Crouching Mommy, Hidden Laundry shared with us part of the reason she admires Busy Mom and keeps coming back for more:

Busymom is one of my daily reads, if for no other reason than to see if any more trees have fallen on Vanna White! She is an excellent writer, and always humorous and inspiring--- plus, I love her hometown...

A relatively new kid on the block, Scott Goldblatt Home of the Parental Olympian, made a great move when he sought out another parent blogger trying to manage their way through this crazy parental jungle and found Busy Mom. He shares this with us:

Busy Mom, what's to say, except that she's busy, busy, busy - with keeping us entertained at our house on a daily basis. I "met" Busy Mom only a few months ago. While being broken into this game called parenting, I decided to find other bloggers who were in the same situation. There was Busy Mom to save the day. Whether the topic is about her family, current events, humor, or anything else she may come up with (though sometimes there are only 84 of them). Day in and day out, she keeps us laughing. I thank her for that as she is an inspiration.

These are just a few of the things Busy Mom's readers had to say about her. We wish we could feature every comment. But, we know you want to hear from Busy Mom herself. So, be sure to check back here later today for our interview with her. It was fun to to kick back and dish with her. She is has a wit that makes you want to keep coming back for more! So, y'all come on back!

Posted by mommybloggers at 5:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (11) | TrackBacks (0)

This week on Mommybloggers, we are proud to feature Mir of Woulda Coulda Shoulda. With her razor-sharp wit and flair for spinning stories about her daily life into an engaging read, Mir has captured the attention of countless readers. We love her self-deprecating humor and the no-holds-barred look she offers into her life.

We invited several of Mir's admirers to tell us a bit about why they love Mir. We giggled our way through the many comments we received. While we would love to feature all of the comments of praise we received, we decided to feature some of our favorites. Just between you and us, the truth is that if we praise her too much, Mir may stop with the self-deprecating humor and we certainly can't have that. Who doesn't love to read about a haircut gone wrong or a pair of funky boots that just don't fit the bill when it comes to getting Internet approval? We at Mommybloggers love that about her. (But seriously, if you must, you should feel free to tell us and Mir how much you love her anyway. She deserves it!)

Author of the bestselling book "gods in Alabama" Joshilyn Jackson was more than happy to dish about our beloved Mir and had no problem discussing the delicate issue of her mentality:

I read Mir every day---she has more to do with my good morning than my coffee, so small wonder we became friends. She says I like her because when I stand next to her I look tall. And sane. But I submit that her mental illness would fit inside the overhead compartment. It's not like she has so much excess baggage she has to *check* it, you know? The tall thing doesn't hurt though.

When we asked Kira to share a bit about Mir, she was thrilled to be able to gush about her:

Mir is everything you could want in a blog read, of course; funny and insightful and smart and bitingly observant. But more than that, I've been privileged to know her as a friend, and I count her among my very dearest. She has a heart so big and good that it trips her up at times, but blesses everyone she loves. If she only had a penis, I'd totally be marrying her soon. As it is, I'll settle for the friendship of such an extraordinary soul. PS She has a gift for shopping that has to be seen to be believed. I am in awe.

Sheryl was more than happy to share with us her adoration of Mir:

I've been reading Mir since she started her blog a year and a half ago. She's a unique combination of hilarious and philisophical. She can make you snort diet coke through your nose by describing something as mundane as packing lunch for her kids, but sometimes she sneaks up on you and reveals some deep insight that makes you reflect on your own life. And if that weren't enough insentive to read her religiously, how could you reisist the creator of the momune?

Jim Turner jumped at the chance to give us some insight into his friend and co-worker, Mir:

Mir currently works for me at Bloggers For Hire. I recommended Mir to be the writer for a blog client because of her whimsical style and the intelligence she portrays. The client was bowled over by her writing and is very pleased. I knew they would be as soon as they agreed to let her try and after they saw her writing style.

I've read Mir for over a year now and have rejoiced in her peaks and prayed for her during valleys. She is truly a wonderful blogger. She RAWKS!

Karen was excited to dish about Mir and couldn't wait to tell us the real behind the scenes scoop on her friend:

Mir has actually become a very good online friend of mine -- I've been reading her for several months now, and we actually have e-mailed quite a bit in the past. I think what makes Mir so special, in addition to her seering wit and great outlook on life, is that she's so accessible. I've watched other mommy bloggers become quite taken with their newfound fame on the Internet, yet Mir stays refreshingly grounded, and never takes herself too seriously. Coupled with her wry sense of humour (not to mention her fierce love of her children), it would be really hard *not* to be a fan.

We would really love to go on and on with the praise we received about Mir and her writing, but if we did that, we would have to bump her interview. And trust me, you don't want to miss the Mommybloggers interview with Mir. If you think she is funny on her own, wait until you read her answers to asinine questions posed in serious journalistic ways. You, too, will be filling our email inbox with words of praise for Mir.

Posted by mommybloggers at 12:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (34) | TrackBacks (2)

Our first featured blogger here on Mommybloggers is none other than the incomparable Grace Davis of I Am Dr. Laura's Worst Nightmare. Not only is she an amazing writer, but she has done tremendous work with Hurricane Relief through establishing blogs and support for those who suffered through this disaster. (In fact, she will be featured in the NYT November 14th. Check her out!) But rather than having us brag on her, we are going to let others do that for us.

When we tagged a few of Grace's commenters, collegues and friends to tell us a bit of why they love Grace, the response was so generous! Let me tell you something about this woman that we learned: The admiration people have for her crosses any political, social or economic background possible. Grace is loved because....she is Grace! But you don't need us to tell you that. Let a few of her fans tell you!

After interviewing Grace for an article, Pam O'Connell, freelance journalist, former NY Times columnist has this to say about Grace:

"Having interviewed Grace for an article about how people used the Internet to pioneer a new kind of personalized, directed philanthropy following Hurricane Katrina, I can say that I have rarely seen someone who grasped the potential of blogging as a force for good and made it happen in dramatic a fashion as she did. "Mommybloggers" can be an amazing force in this world."

Nina told us:

"As a blogger, Grace is just a joy to read. She's funny and real and easy to relate to. As a human being, Grace is a gem. She has such a huge, generous heart, and when you are with her, she makes you feel like the most beautiful, witty, wonderful person she's ever met. She has a fabulous enthusiasm for life, and for writing, and I feel priveleged to know her. She is a blogging goddess, who takes no crap from anybody, yet is open to a variety of points of view. She is a total rockstar, and I love her to pieces. "

Victoria J. Powell, J.D.,LL. M, the amazing woman who worked so closely with Grace on the Hurricane Katrina relief blog, gave us some great insight on what makes Grace such an amazing woman and blogger. (Not to mention, she revealed a little known secret about our Grace.)

"Hi ladies, I am Victoria Powell, the non-virtual half of the katrina blog Grace graciously created. Not only has she blogged tirelessly for over two months for our Mississippi relief efforts, she has befriended and patiently stood by us--living the tolerance that so many self-proclaimed liberals only preach--I vote republican, wear lipstain, gloss, concealer, blush, eyeshadow, eyeliner & mascara to transport building and medical supplies, and consider Peanut M& M's a vegetable, and she never even hesistated to help me anyway. And, ladies, there is more! Even after she was completely unable to explain to me what a blog is, due mostly to my profound and sustaining ignorance, she kept on blogging my efforts AND those of others here with the same inexplicable deficit--nurture, nature? enviroment? humidity? genetics, brain damage from hairspray and nail glue?--who knows why, but similarly unable to even comprehend the magnitude of the gift. Not that we aren't grateful--we know blogs work, we just don't know how. Her Mississippi constituents call her Amazing Grace. Also, she may appear to be the birkenstock mommyblogger you know and love, but I know she secretly LONGS for a makeover, and owns at least one real Hermes scarf, bless her heart! So, I am sorry to have to report this to you, but if we are to be brutally honest, she is is also, well, fluffy. I hope this doesn't disqualify her from honors she otherwise so richly deserves."

"I love reading her blog, because she is political without being a crank, and her parenting rocks. And of course, how could you not love the creator of the word 'cronemudgeon'? Just not possible." -

Margie kept it simple, sweet and to the point (much like our Grace!)

"Grace is always honest and always full of life and humor."

Donna added:

"Grace Davis is one of the many amazing women I met through last summer's BlogHer conference. Prior to the event, I made it a point to visit the posted blogs of all the participants - "I Am Dr. Laura's Worst Nightmare" was one of the first I read. I was struck by Grace's humor and point of view, and wanted to read more, so I immediately linked to her. I don't think I commented on her blog at all, and I am certain I did not let her know -- but somehow she saw that I had done that and the following day, she left me a warm and welcoming comment thanking me, informing me she was linking back, and inviting me to come find her at BlogHer so we could have a couple of beers and gawk at Dooce together. (Little did I know how prophetic that comment would become!)

I have a bit of a blog crush on Grace. I love this woman, because (a) she hates injustice, (b) is absolutely fearless at pointing out such injustice, (c) she voices her outrage with humor (which makes a better point), and (d) she does more than write about it -- she takes action. If you think blogging is just an exercise in self-absorbtion, visit her site for the victims of Hurricane Katrina and think again."

We could go on and on and repeat to you praise after praise for Grace. However, knowing Grace the way we do, we thought the best way for you to get to know this amazing woman is through her own words. Stayed turned later in the day for our interview featuring Grace Davis of I Am Dr. Laura's Worst Nightmare.

Posted by mommybloggers at 9:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (15) | TrackBacks (2)