I didn’t intend to post today.
Actually, quite the opposite. I planned on not posting at ALL today to finish up on a few projects (work wise) and to get around to some personal projects here at home…like painting pumpkins to go on my front porch.
As I mentioned yesterday, I’ve slightly struggled with blogging validation and worth in the last couple of weeks. Just wondering, with baby boy’s impending arrival and my business, where I want to take my blog in the coming months, etc. Who I want to continue to be as a writer/blogger and what is in store.
Then I got up this morning, after making my biggest boy pancakes, and flopped down with my coffee to peruse my reader. I happened upon Alison’s latest post about making lists and why she doesn’t worry about whether she’s the top somethingoranother blogger from a particular site. I laughed because as much as I hate those things, I think most of us, as writers, DO love the thought of making those kinds of lists.
And while, we may not sit around and dwell on what we can do to become the next Babble Top 100 Blogger, I’m pretty sure most of us wouldn’t turn it down.
But when I started thinking about those lists and most of the names that fall on them, I realized that for the most part, about 80% of the sites that DO make that list, are sites I have no interest in reading. Sites who have reached a turning point and share more information about big name products and sponsors than they do about their lives.
Keep in mind when you read that above statement that I said most of those sites…not all of them. Some of them are quality reads.
So….I started thinking.
Why not create my own list?
Why not create a list put together by me of the REAL Top Bloggers out there. The ones whose words I can’t get enough of. The ones I stay up late at night reading and laughing and crying with. The ones whose families feel like friends rather than strangers I’ve never met. The ones who don’t make the lists because they haven’t reached bloggy stardom yet…but SHOULD be on said lists because they are awesome?
And then I though, heck. I can’t make that list on my own. 100 Bloggers?! 100 different sites?! Surely I don’t have that many in my reader…do I?
So that’s where YOU are going to come in.
Between now and October 20 I’ll be searching the interwebs high and low for the best reads out there. Nothing based on site design, or how many clicks per day or how many sponsors you have. Just content. Strictly and solely content based only. The sites that stir emotions and bring about real feelings. The bloggers that YOU feel like you could sit down and drink coffee with (or tea…or wine).
You can add your nominations to my Facebook Page, send them to me in an email, or tweet them to me on Twitter.
After all of the names have been gathered, I’ll be in contact with each blogger who made the list for information (I mean, if we’re going to do this, let’s do it right!) about their site, photos and social links.
So, get those wheels turning and shoot me some names!
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Latest posts by Courtney (see all)
- Five Months - May 15, 2013
- Finding Validation - May 1, 2013
- The Skinny on Getting Skinny - April 18, 2013
Hey Courtney,
I am a recent follower via Alison’s blog.
I too was also inspired by Alison’s blog. She is truly one of my favorite reads every time.
I think this is a great idea. I will get cracking on this and nominate some lovely blogs that deserve some love. Thanks for this.
Alma recently posted..The Making of a Home
Twitter: momdiggity
says:
LOVE this idea! I’m going to send you a list!!!!
kk @ the mom diggity recently posted..creating community
Twitter: sarahmhalstead
says:
What a great idea!
Sarah recently posted..Update on the Boys
What a great idea, love it
Great idea!! I will have to think about some blogs to send you!!
Mandy@a sorta fairytale recently posted..40% off ad space today & tomorrow!
Twitter: tips_homfront
says:
This is a great idea!
Kate recently posted..Unusual Tips for Hurricane Preparedness
Twitter: DailySugarMama
says:
I thought of a few right away… I’ll send those to you soon!
Laura recently posted..When God Surprises Us
Great idea, I have a long list!
Jessica recently posted..The Voice
Twitter: AlisonSWLee
says:
Yay!
xo
(Sending you my list. Would it be weird if I put you on it? Heh)
Alison recently posted..Of Lists and Not Making Them
I just had a friend ask me what blogs she “must” follow. I gave her a list. I will send them your way.
Kyla@ Mommy’s Weird recently posted..My First Bra…
Twitter: JenAnnHall
says:
Sounds great! Can we nominate ourselves?
just JENNIFER recently posted..My Cat’s Six Word Memoir
Twitter: KalleyC
says:
I read her post this morning too and I agree with your thoughts about who ends up making it on the other lists. I’m going to send you a list of blogs that I totally think should make it on the list, and I’m going to be spreading the word as well.
KalleyC recently posted..Blind Love
Hello! I am a new follower of Alison’s blog. I am a newbie in the world of blogosphere. And I find your post so true, hahaha! Sometimes most of the blogs included in these kids of lists are not what I would normally read. And this is a great idea.
Ma. Teresa Grech Q. Racal recently posted..Mommy Find: Artzooka Kit
Twitter: hookdandhappy
says:
I love this idea. And I loved the post that inspired it.
You better include yourself on the list!
Carolyn recently posted..Please Be My Friend!
This is such a great idea! I have so many blogs to nominate!
I am going to make a list right now.
Mirjam recently posted..Picnic in the park
Love this idea! I’ll have to think about my list!
Meagan recently posted..Preschool Bento – Week 2
Great idea! I’ll have to send you a few of my favorites too!
Kimberly recently posted..Essence Of Now
I think this is a fantastic idea! I can’t wait to see the list!
This is a lovely idea. I, too, have gotten caught up in the list thing. I want to be on someone’s list of wonderful.
But for this project I’ll be compiling my favorites who deserves awesome recognition.
Kristi recently posted..When The Lights Go Out-A Poem
Twitter: themommymess
says:
I just read Alison’s post for the first time. What a great idea you have here! I love that badge too. The description is hilarious!
adrienne recently posted..I remember.
Twitter: katbiggie
says:
Hi Courtney! I’m a newer blogger but I have definitely come across some blogs that inspire me, make me cry, make me laugh, and challenge me to be a better person! I will email you my list! Thanks!
Alexa recently posted..Captain of My Own Life Boat
Twitter: mommyrachelle
says:
great idea Courtney… It’s hard to continue writing when no one is responding but spam bots! We’re in a transition on my blog that has gotten harder with the addition of a “step” family… how candid can one be about children who aren’t used to exposure?
Rachelle recently posted..Blend to taste [Part 2: a chess match]
Twitter: kellynaturally
says:
Great idea! So many awesome mamas in my reader!!
I nominate…
Lauren @ Hobo Mama: http://www.hobomama.com/
and Dionna @ Code Name Mama: http://codenamemama.com/
and Abbie @ Farmer’s Daughter: http://farmersdaughterct.com/
and Adrienne @ Mommying my Way: http://mommyingmyway.blogspot.com
and Jorje @ Momma Jorje http://www.mommajorje.com/
and Amanda @ Last Mom on Earth http://www.lastmomonearth.com/
and Alicia @ The Soft Landing http://guide.thesoftlanding.com/
and Wendy @ Give Love Create Happiness http://www.givelovecreatehappiness.com/blog.html
and Amanda @ Let’s Take the Metro http://letstakethemetro.blogspot.com/
and Amy @ Presence Parenting http://presenceparenting.com/
and Amy @ AmyWilla.com http://www.amywilla.com/
and Jessika @ Job Description: Mommy http://www.jobdescriptionmommy.com/
and Erika @ Child Organics (who just lost her husband) http://blog.childorganics.com/
and Alicia @ My Baby Sweets http://mybabysweets.blogspot.com/
and Amy @ Anktangle http://www.anktangle.com/
and Betsy @ Honest to Betsy http://honest2betsy.blogspot.com
and Joni Rae @ Tales of a Kitchen Witch http://jonirae.com/
and Amber @ Strocel.com http://www.strocel.com/
and Taryn at Wooly Moss Roots http://woolymossroots.blogspot.com
and Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama http://www.hybridrastamama.com/
and Emily @ http://embrita.blogspot.com/
and Arpita @ Up, Down, & Natural http://www.updownandnatural.com/
and Charise @ I thought I Knew Mama http://www.ithoughtiknewmama.com/
and Kelly @ Becoming Crunchy http://www.becomingcrunchy.com
and Zoie @ Touchstone Z http://touchstonez.com/
and Laura @ A Pug in the Kitchen http://www.puginthekitchen.com/
and Kymberlee @ Our Crazy Corner of the World http://ourcrazycorneroftheworld.blogspot.com/
and Luschka @ Diary of a First Child http://www.diaryofafirstchild.com/
and Mandy @ Living Peacefully with Children http://livingpeacefullywithchildren.com/
and Melissa @ Vibrant Wanderings http://vibrantwanderings.com/
and Shannon @ Pineapples & Artichokes http://maydela.blogspot.com/
and Stefanie @ Very Very Fine http://www.veryveryfine.com/
and Sarah @ Firmly Planted http://www.firmlyplantedblog.blogspot.com/
and Shannon @ The Artful Mama http://theartfulmama.com/
and Sheryl @ Little Snowflakes: http://lilsnowflakes.wordpress.com/
and Laura @ Aha Parenting http://www.ahaparenting.com/
and Christine @ African Babies Don’t Cry http://www.africanbabiesdontcry.com/
and Cynthia @ The Hippie Housewife http://hippiehousewife.blogspot.ca/
and Dulce @ Dulce de Leche http://dulcefamily.blogspot.com/
and Gretchen @ That Mama Gretchen http://www.thatmamagretchen.com/
and Jennifer @ Monkey Butt Junction http://monkeybuttjunction.com/
and Isil @ Smiling Like Sunshine http://www.smilinglikesunshine.com/
and Jennifer @ True Confessions of a Real Mommy http://www.trueconfessionsofarealmommy.blogspot.com/
and Joella @ Fine & Fair http://www.fineandfairblog.com/
and Julia @ A little Bit of it All http://naturallifemom.com/
and Kat @ Mommee Zen http://www.momeeezen.com/
and Laura @ Walden Mommy http://waldenmommyandfamily.blogspot.com/
and Lyndsay @ Our Feminist Playschool http://ourfeministplayschool.ca/
and Melissa @ White Noise http://vosefamily.blogspot.com/
and Moorea @ Mama Lady http://mamalady.wordpress.com/
and Rachel @ Variegated Life http://www.thevariegatedlife.com/
and Rebekah @ Liberated Family http://www.liberatedfamily.com/
and me!
kelly @ Kellynaturally.com http://www.kellynaturally.com/
I could go on!! Thank you so much for allowing “smaller” bloggers to be recognized!
kelly @kellynaturally recently posted..6 Ways to Change Today
Oh my goodness, what a list! Can’t wait to check some of these out!
Twitter: katies_charms
says:
I can’t wait to see the list and discover great blogs to read!
Jenn recently posted..Jennifer Livingston, Her Response to “Fat” Email And Why It Made Me Cry