Taking a hiatus

First, let's all wish the hubby a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Like fine wine, he gets better with time! I know that's cheesy, but it's true, with time comes life experience and wisdom…and wine does taste good with cheese! We're going to our very favorite authentic Szechuan restaurant. Mmm....our favorite dish is the "husband and wife".

I've been giving blogging platforms a lot of thought lately. Even though Blogger has served me well, hosting my site for free (I had to pay for my own domain), I've had issues with it.

Say no to just like

I've done it so many times. The click of a "like" on Facebook, on a blog post, on Instagram, etc. It's so easy. It's so fast. But after some thought, I'm starting to say no to just "like". Read on for my three reasons:

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Time to blog

On Laura's guest post, a reader (Henry) commented: I really respect people with blogs and how they have something creative to write and asks:

Reader question: How do you find the time to take pictures and blog?

Why create a Facebook fanpage?

Hope everyone had a great weekend! Before I created a Facebook fanpage (Expandng Blog) (would love it if you "liked" it!), I provided a link from this blog to my personal Facebook page. But it wasn't working out, so here are 4 reasons I created a Facebook fanpage.

She learns

I’m so happy to have one of my “BBBs” (see what that stands for in her post!) guest-post for me today. I joined Blogelina’s Facebook “Blogging Buddy Groups” and Laura was there. Her blog wasn’t even officially up yet, but I knew I wanted to support her right away. From her blog I knew she was a crafty and loved sharing recipes. But through our interaction, I’ve also learned that she has a HUGE heart. And reading her post below, I’ve also learned that is quite FUNNY too! Read on to see what Laura’s learned about blogging, what she wants to learn, and what she wish she knew before she started blogging.

*Laura is a mom of two kids, two dogs and one cat and blogs at World of Laura B.*

She's celebrating

Whether you're a blogger or not, I'm sure you'd appreciate exciting blog milestones like 30,000 pageviews! But not mine. Tania from MauiShopGirl celebrated 30,000 pageviews earlier this month and I'm excited for her to share her blogging experiences right here.

It’s been so wonderful getting to know, Tania, through our blogs and instagram (mauishopgirl). We share a love of photography and petite fashion blogs ;). Hope you’ll love reading her blogging journey as much as I have! Find out where her passion for writing came from, why it was put aside for a bit, and how she got her groove back by blogging.

*Tania resides in Maui and currently blogs at MauiShopGirl. Join with me to celebrate her successes by reaching 30,000 pageviews earlier this month!*

She beats blogger's block

For this last full week in May, I'm featuring 3 bloggers. Tuesday was Kristin of Mondays with Mac, who shared her tips for better blogging. Yesterday was Lou of LouLouLoves, who shared her blogging experience and secrets!! Secrets no more ;).

Today's guest post is by Jen of JenKakio. I met Jen through another blogger friend. I think Jen’s a real sweet girl and have enjoyed interacting with her on her blog and on instagram (jen808). Read on for her tips on fighting blogger’s block, which I can certainly relate to! I also think her tips are great for any type of "block" -- writers', photographers', etc.!

*Jen is a full-time college student from Hawai’i and currently blogs at JenKakio.*

She writes

For this last full week in May, I'm featuring 3 bloggers. Yesterday was Kristin of Mondays with Mac, who shared her tips for better blogging.

Today's guest post is by Lou (as I'll call her) of LouLouLoves. I came across LouLouLoves during a blog carnival/hop. love her blog because it’s beautifully designed, and she’s just the kind of person you’d like to hang out with on a Saturday afternoon. Read on to see what’s she’s learned about blogging, what she wants to learn, and her blogging secrets! You definitely want to stick around until the end of this post!

*Lou is a working-mom from Sweden and has a daughter nicknamed “Bubba” and one on the way. She blogs at LouLouLoves.*

She loves

Hello, wonderful people! I want to thank all of my guest-posters from last week, Nilsa, Kat, and Mandi. And I want to thank all of YOU for your support by leaving thoughtful comments for each of them. From my own experience, I know that guest posts don't always receive a lot of comments, so both I and each guest-poster truly appreciates your time! For the last full week in May, I'm featuring 3 more bloggers. Hope you'll stick around and be as kind to them as you were last week :).

Today's guest post is by Kristin of Mondays with Mac. I’ll be honest and say that Kristin is not a person I’d meet in my daily life. I spend most, if not all, of my time in the suburbs of D.C. where I work and live with conservative types. So, to have met Kristin and to read her journey as a mother at Mondays with Mac: a gay fairytale for the digital age, reminds me that being a mother is being a mother, no matter the race, ethnicity, beliefs, or type of family. Read why Kristin calls her blog a pre-teen, what her blogging tips and tricks are, why she, like me, doesn’t like CAPTCHA codes, and why the love for her son overflows into her blog.

* Kristin is a mom to a beautiful baby boy named “Mac” and blogs at Mondays with Mac.*

She gives

This week, I'm featuring bloggers and their blogging experiences. I've got bloggers who've been blogging for years, and some who've just started. Whether you blog or are thinking about starting a blog, hope you enjoy their stories and share your thoughts in the comments!

Tuesday, I featured Nilsa of SoMi Speaks. Wednesday, I featured Kat of Vodka and Soda. Today, I'm featuring Mandi from Sweet Tiny Blessings. I met Mandi on a blog carnival/blog hop event. Her post about older kids being bullies/over-bearing at the play gym around her infant instantly made me a new follower of her blog, Sweet Tiny Blessings, since I could see myself relating to her. Read why Mandi started blogging, how she grew her community of sponsors and readers, and what she’s looking forward to for her blog.

* Mandi is a stay-at-home to a beautiful girl named Baby C and blogs at Sweet Tiny Blessings.*

She's resourceful

This week, I'm featuring bloggers and their blogging experiences. I've got bloggers who've been blogging for years, and some who've just started. Whether you blog or are thinking about starting a blog, hope you enjoy their stories and share your thoughts in the comments! Thanks to everyone who left such sweet and DETAILED comments on yesterday's post. You put a smile on my face, and probably on Nilsa's too! THANKS for the support, and hope you'll show the same love to Kat of Vodka and Soda.

I don’t know about you, but when I started blogging, it was mostly a personal documentary about pregnancy (now, raising a toddler). I wrote mostly for people I knew, and now, to people I’ve met online too. However, Kat had a specific vision when she started DreamyBabies. Read why Kat started DreamyBabies, how her site grew, how she was able to help other parents, and also why she moved on.

* Kat is a mom to a beautiful 3-year old girl named Kayla and currently blogs at Vodka and Soda.*

She blogs

This week, I'm featuring bloggers and their blogging experiences. I've got bloggers who've been blogging for years, and some who've just started. Whether you blog or are thinking about starting a blog, hope you enjoy their stories and share your thoughts in the comments!

Today’s guest post is from Nilsa of SoMi Speaks. She’s been blogging since 2007 (whoa!). I call her a veteran blogger, and you’ll see why below. Her post has headings (*wink*)! Read why she calls herself a “life blogger”, why she doesn’t blog anonymously (not that there’s anything wrong with that!), how her blog and “real life” intersect, and her “lessons learned”.

* Nilsa is a working-mom to a beautiful 18-month old named Gavin and currently blogs at SoMi Speaks.*

What I think about blog awards

Hope you had a great weekend! Today's topic: Blog awards.

April in review & readers spotlight

I really can't believe it's the end of April already! I know, I know, I say that at the end of every month ;). It's really exciting to have all of you on my blogging journey! I love seeing readership grow, as well as the number of comments/discussions we can have about parenting, photography, and everything else! Thanks for your support!

A quick "thanks" and "wow"!

I wanted to write a quick "thanks" to everyone to left a comment telling me how they get their toddler to sit and eat during mealtimes. I will certainly try many of them, always remembering that every child and every day is different of course!

Advice on my blogs

Hope everyone had a good weekend!

Jas at AdamAlexMommy recently posted a few blogging tips she learned from a conference. So many great tips. One tip she shared on her Facebook page -- it was something like use the same "name" on different social media/domains so it's easier to track you -- has been on my mind a bit. I was thinking that maybe I should merge my two blogs together and move to WordPress...

March in review & readers spotlight

Why is it that as we get older, time just seems to go by faster??? Good-bye, March! Hello, April! Let's take a walk down memory lane….

What I learned from reading 100 blogs

I mentioned in my "Why I blog" post that I was participating in Blogelina's "100 comment" event. Well, I finished reading all 100 137 blogs and tried to leave specific comments on each and not just "great post". It was challenging, but I through the experience I got to read a lot of great blogs and met new people.

It was great to see the variety of blogs represented:

• Faith
• Couponing, deals, etc.
• Crafting
• Homeschooling: A Living Home School got me thinking with their reasons for homeschooling
• Parenting
• And only one site about fashion -- I could hardly believe it! Maybe because people are drawn to fashion blogs like moths to a light. But in a good way. Not in the *zaaaap poof!* way.

Celebrate a blogversary, give to charity

One of my bestes bloggie friends, Nilsa from SoMi Speaks, is celebrating her 5 year blogversary! Will someone please tell me is it spelled blogversary, blogiversary, or what? Besides giving away something to readers, she's also generously giving to a charity nominated by a reader. How generous is she?! So, the more you enter (comment, share, blog), the more money will go to charity! Now that's a special giveaway. Check it by clicking right here!

I *am* surprised!

Last night around 11:54pm, I was ready for bed, but as always, needed to check Facebook and Twitter just one last time. What do I find but a new post by one of my bestes bloggy friends, fashion blogger Jasmine of AdamAlexMommy.

AdamAlexMommy: New Blog Post- C if U just got surprised by AdamAlexMommy w a prize- adamalexmommy.com/2012/03/surpri… #fashionblogger #surprise #thankyou

— AdamAlexMommy.com (@AdamAlexMommy) March 2, 2012

A surprise?! I was intrigued...