New Jersey Moms Blog launch party

A mini Blogher conference, that’s exactly what it was. Or what I imagine a women’s mini blogging conference would be like, because it’s not like I’ve actually been to anything remotely bloggy before. It was a micro-conference. (Ha. I’m so clever. Feel free to use that.)

I met Emily, Liz, Fiona, Suezette, Stacey, Lynnette, Amber, Jill, Vanessa, Lois, and Jennifer, all for the first time after following them on Twitter and reading their personal blogs and posts on New Jersey Moms Blog. Mary Fran and Kristie, both of the new Philly Moms Blog, were there too. So much fun putting names to real, living persons with personalities beyond the computer screen.

I LOVED IT!!

Sorry to shout, but oh my goodness, that’s exactly how excited I was walking into that party Saturday night. To talk blogging this, blogging that and not have to stop and translate to the odd person out (Ahem. Husband: I am referring to YOU.) To chat with a group of women that share a common interest, a passion, and maybe a complete craziness for living a portion of life online for anyone to Google.

Such a happy feeling.*

We wasted no time jumping right into it. We discussed blogging, Twitter, podcasting, Blogher scandalous behavior and what that mega conference is really like. We talked about evil trolls lurking in comments, finding advertising, getting paid, Martha Stewart, emails from Silicon Valley Mom Blog competitors, swag bags, and blogging just for the joy of writing and creativity.

When we weren’t talking shop, we talked about overcrowding in public schools, home schooling, property taxes, and medical insurance. We ate pasta, chocolates, scallops wrapped in bacon and salad. Some of us had soda, some of us had wine. And we even had a bit of pampering with professional masseuses in the house (or photo gallery, I should say.)

I think the only thing we didn’t talk about was the girls that didn’t make it. We missed you, friends! Next time!

Now without further ado: a few pictures:

From Left to right: Shannon, (astute readers will remember she’s my blog designer), Emily, Suezette. No idea who that chick is on the right, she must be a party crasher.

Vanessa, Liz, Melissa and Jennifer

Stacey, Lynette, Lois

Such a fun time! Thanks to our party sponsors and goody bag contributors: Graco, Suave and Stop and Shop.

Friends, if you ever get a chance to contribute to Silicon Valley Moms Blog in your state or city, seize the opportunity. There is fun and fulfillment in the Lone Ranger blog gig, but seriously, this group thing - Wow!

I believe there is power in community. We write our posts, keep our own blogs, Twitter our own unique lives, but when it comes down to it, we are all moms, and in this special sisterhood that comes from blogging. We have our differences, yet this new way of communicating, via blogs, brings us together. I believe my life is  enriched because of these friendships with women I probably would never have met if not for the New Jersey Moms Blog.

Sniff, sniff. I’m getting a wee bit teary.

I love you, gals, and I’m glad the Lord has placed each of you in my life.

Sob.

*Monica goes in search of tissue to mop up keyboard, but gets distracted by chocolate.*

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Actually, I was estatic just to find the place after getting lost in a monsoon-like rain storm. Google maps, why do you hate me so? Don’t ask me about how long it took me to get home, I’m too ashamed of my poor navigaton skills. Note to self: must acquire sattelite map app for cell, ASAP.

Twitter writing contest at Copyblogger

Because I love you guys, I had to let you know about this: write and tweet a Haiku for your chance to win a MacBook Air. All the rules can be found at this post over at Copyblogger. Have fun with it; I’ll be looking for your entries.

My latest at Homeschool Bliss

For those of you interested, my latest post at Homeschool Bliss is up. It’s about that much feared and misunderstood “S” word: socialization. It’s the first in a series of how to find social opportunities for the home educated student.

Go check it out, and if any of my non-home educating readers have questions relating to the subject of home schooling, feel free to ask me. The comments are open to all inquiries.

Britney Spears and a nation of tabloid media

One of the reasons I like blogging about books is that it gives me an excuse to write about topics I find interesting, adding fuel to my already fired-up opinions. Right now I’m halfway finished with Through the Storm (A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World) by Lynne Spears, mother to the troubled pop-star Britney Spears. (Goody for Thomas Nelson Publishers, they are now on the blogging bandwagon, giving books to bloggers willing to trade links for free products. I’m going to need more bookshelves.)

Back to Britney: I feel bad for this young lady. She’s so young, with her mistakes and slip ups splashed across print and online tabloids. I had my share of screw ups as a twenty-something, what I call my Brainless Acts of Stupidity.

Would you like to know what they were? You would? Okay, do a Google search of my name. Go on, I’ll wait. (Hint: I”m not that muscular gal. What a hoot!)

*Monica goes to get another cup of coffee, checks email and Twitter*

What’s that? You couldn’t find anything on me? Of course not, silly, I’m not famous. No one cared a bit  about the mistakes of an average New Jersey co-ed, so my past isn’t here on the Internet. I was free to be me in private. The story of an average and unknown person won’t sell magazines. My goofiness and mistakes, certainly not as wild and over-the-top as Britney’s, will never be known to the world because everyday girls don’t inspire a media feeding frenzy.

Everyday doesn’t apply to Britney Spears because when you step onto the national stage of American consciousness, folks want to know you - the good, the bad and what you had for breakfast that morning kind of detail. I’m sure I don’t need to laundry list all Britney’s escapades here, they are well documented and well known. The last I heard, Britney Spears was the Number One name submitted to Google search.

This is our society today. We crave the intimate, tawdry details of a life behind the music, sports or movie star. And the wackier the better. The more bizarre, the more press she receives. We - and when I say we, I mean American society as a whole - pay lots of money for this privilege of having a seat front row center to the lives of the famous.

Sad, isn’t it? We are a nation with an appetite to know the sins of the famous. We know more about Michael Jackson, OJ Simpson, Britney and her kid sister Jamie Lynn and many others because of our craving to read scandal and sin.

For those of us who take the name of Christ, I can’t help but think that if we desired holiness and knowledge of the Word of God with the same fervor we do the lives of the famous, we would be all God calls us to be.

But that’s just me. I could be wrong; maybe I need to stop reading books that shine a light on the ugliness of our society.

Stick figure in marker by my 6-year-old boy

Visit 5 Minutes for Mom for more Wordless Wednesday.

A simple question for bloggers

Why do you blog?

That’s it. Nothing fancy. No right or wrong answer. It’s me being curious. So sound off and let me know.

Why?

Soles for Souls: a little giving goes a long way

When I lived in Indonesia, I witnessed quite a few people, especially little kids, going barefoot. That’s not such a big deal if you have nice soft grass to walk in, but this was the city, with it’s dirt, garbage, open sewers and all-around grime. I mean, big rats were on those streets at night, people. Would you let your children run barefoot in those conditions?

Friends, today kicks off an exciting grassroots effort to help others.

It’s called Soles for Souls and it’s simple: get 50,000 pairs of shoes on the feet of those who need them in only 50 days. A five dollar donation buys two pairs of shoes.

I was going to donate $5, then realized I could easily double that amount. It’s not too often I can double the pledge amount when I give to a charity. So I’m in for $10.

Four pairs of shoes for $10. You can’t beat that with a stick.

Wanna help? You don’t have to be a shoe diva (or dude) to donate, just a fan of helping others. Follow the link above in the lovely graphic to do that. And to make this more interesting: if 50 of my readers donate $5 each (or more), I’ll kick in another ten bucks. Just let us know in the comments when you donate. Let’s spur each other on to make a difference in the world.

Five bucks equals two pairs of shoes and it goes to the least of these. If you still need incentive to give, check this out: Soles for Souls is going to select one donor to hand deliver shoes in Mexico. How cool is that? You could be like a Shoe Santa Claus, giving shoes to someone who has never had a pair before.

Don’t think your $5 doesn’t matter, because it does. 50,000 is a lot of people, but if many of us give, we can do it!

If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:17-18