I’ve learned (or more like re-learned) something about myself in the last 10 days. Whenever I don’t really want to do something, I avoid it at all costs. Whether I’m truly trying to avoid it… or in the case of my NaNoWriMo novel, am completely stuck with what I want to do and where I want to take my character next.

Oh well. Inspiration will come to me this weekend. I have much of it dedicated to writing, so it’s going to happen.

Or I’ll finally balance my checkbook again {another thing I’ve been avoiding.}

So anyway… In my effort to avoid writing, I’ve been reading some really good blog posts. So I thought I’d share them… partly so that you could read them, but also so that I don’t forget about them either. That’s how much I liked them. I don’t know if I’ll be doing this every week or what not, but at least you get a glimpse into some of the things that I’ve been reading… and maybe meet a couple new bloggers that you didn’t know previously! {Oh and I’ll try not to include too much here. Um. Yeah.}

The first post moved me to tears – literally – because of the story I’d been following. If you have read anything about Margaret’s wish after losing her brother Jack in the floods a few weeks ago, you know that she really wanted to see Justin Bieber. Well, Margaret will get to do just that. {And maybe even meet him!}

I think God was also speaking {strongly} to me this week as I was drawn to a couple of blog posts about being single. They are 100% completely different from one another – but really showed me that I’m not alone in my feelings. A friend sent me a link to a blog post that drew me in from the first sentence {The thing about being single is that sometimes, it feels like a disease.} The blog post is by Rachel and is called “diagnosis: Single“. I think I have to read this and remind myself of this daily.

The other post I read on this topic made me laugh… almost out loud. Charlotte from My Pixie Blog was syndicated over on BlogHer for her post “What NOT to Say to your Single Friends“. Please read this. Seriously. And then don’t say any of those things to me or anyone you know that’s single ever again. I mean it. {And I’m totally a new follower of Charlotte’s – thanks BlogHer!}

After the things that I had been through earlier this year – and now feeling much more like myself again – I am proud of my friend Amanda for writing about Being strong by admitting you’re weak. If you are struggling with depression or feelings of anxiety and sadness, please talk to someone. Tell them what’s happening, how you are feeling – because if there’s one thing that I learned in the last year… you’re not alone.

A post that I want to remember… and maybe tell everyone in my family about someday} is if you aren’t a scrapbooker – digital or otherwise – to write emails to your child as they grow up. I think this is one of the best ideas that I’ve seen in a long time. And something totally up my alley if I have kids…

…which KLZ over at Taming Insanity totally prepared me by sharing about what REALLY to expect while you are expecting. The information here is priceless. And I have to thank her numerous times for not including anything about labor. Really. I thank you.

So that’s it for the first installment of sharing the posts I love. What are your favorite blog posts this week? Leave them in the comments {don’t worry, I’ll be REALLY careful going through my spam if they don’t post}… can’t wait to read what you love too! Or maybe I should join Liz @bellebeandog for Blog Boycott Day today. Not that I needed any other reason to procrastinate.

I’ve never actually written blog “goals” down before. Yes, there are things that I would like to do and I know what they are in the back of my head… but if you know me and my “shiny things” mind where I only concentrate on what’s happening in the here and now… well, you can see why I haven’t accomplished much of anything as far as organization around here.

So I’m writing things down.

Really.

And I’m going to work on them… in the next 6 months or so.

Really I am.

What… you don’t believe me? {Yeah, I probably wouldn’t either!}

Ok, so here are my 7 goals for my blog in the next 6 months… {because all good things come in 7′s right?!}

• Learn more about SEO {Search Engine Optimization} and integrate more of what I learn into my blog. One of my (still) most visited blog posts is “All About Steve” because I used a few good key words there. Tara from “Feels Like Home” is my go to gal… even posting a little bit more about SEO basics this week.
• When I’m talking about products in my blog posts, to start using affiliate links a little bit more. That way, if you *want* to buy something that I’m talking about, you can help me out a little too. {And hopefully make this blog break even someday!} Hopefully I’ll be able to learn a little more about it all from AngEngland in her monetize your site post today.
• Finish putting all of my posts into appropriate categories… and assign tags to them. Might make it easier for me to find things later too.
• Work on getting a collection of pictures together (or free sites) to use more pictures in my posts.
• Re-create my “About Me” page, get rid of the “About the blog” page and create a disclosure / contact info. (All things that Eli | Rose Social told me to work on… and I just haven’t put the time into it.
• Start (and finish) a 365 series on this blog. Whether it’s pictures, Pinterest items, or what not.
• Get a real blogging calendar together. What I’ve been using doesn’t work for me… and have messed up on Wisdom Wednesdays more than once now. (By the way, email me (dutchbeingme (at) gmail (dot) com) if you’d like to be a part of the Wisdom Wednesday series… I’d love to have you!!

Do you have blog goals? Should we work together on this?

• What are your blogging & social media goals? Is there an area you feel is keeping you from achieving these goals that you would like advice on?

I’m taking another stab at posting with the Summer Blog Social today… and sharing a piece of social media that absolutely baffles me. I mean, like I sit there utterly confused ½ the time.

Google+

The newest, latest and greatest social media outlet from the company that {along with Apple} will likely rule the world someday.

And I don’t get it.

Yes, you can post just like to Facebook. And it’s without the annoying algorithm no one knows how to define that limits you from seeing all the posts from your friends. And without the character limitation there (or on twitter). It’s like you can post an entire blog post/rant/thought there.

You can put people in circles to define where you know them from… and how much you really want them to see.

You get all kinds of creeper people adding you to their circles.

And then… when your social media friends add you to their circles, you’re not completely sure it’s them because you’ve never known their full name outside of twitter.

There is one thing I really do like… the hangouts (like group skype). I was able to sit and talk with Sunday a few weeks ago, right before I left on my trip to Tennessee, and got to catch up with her for about an hour (not to mention “meet” her two boys as well.)

I’m still undecided about whether I’ll use it though. Still not sure I see its benefit when everyone I know is on Facebook and not really looking at moving to the Google option.

However, I’ve been told that this is the future of social media.

Is there any redeeming factor with Google Plus that I’m missing? Do you like it? Do you hate it?

Summer Blog Social prompt…
Tell us about an element or two of your blog or social media presence that you are unsure of and would like opinions on.

This week, Liz from Belle, Bean & Chicago Dog and Jessica from Four Plus an Angel are hosting the Summer Blog Social. If you aren’t familiar with it, I encourage you to participate… find new friends and write out some new goals.

Today I decided to write the 5 things I like and 5 things I dislike seeing on blogs when I’m checking them out for the first time. I’d say that I’m taking a little liberty with the prompt… but still covering what really it’s about.

Also I’m looking to you for advice after you read this… what things do you like (and, um… dislike) when you are looking around *my* blog here?

• Pictures. I *love* seeing pictures in blog posts {and yes, I’m totally guilty of not putting more of them in my blog posts!} I think that it helps add a little something to the post itself – or even enhance it if the picture directly applies.
• Social Media Icons in an easy to find place. I love to communicate on twitter… so the faster I can find them (and clearer they are) the better! {Just remember that not everyone knows what each symbol means… including the little twitter bird!)
• Search Box. I especially like this if I remember that you wrote something, but not necessarily when you wrote it. Make sure that it’s up toward the top of the page.
• Favorite or Best posts area. {Another thing I have yet to do.} I *love* seeing this category in the Nav Bar (the bar typically across the top of the page)… it shows what you are proud of and maybe what has resonated most with your readers.
• A well designed header can (and sometimes will) make the difference between someone staying or going. If you want to look serious, make your blog header match who you are. (And you don’t have to spend a lot to do… there are great designers at all price ranges!)

5 Things I’m not so fond of when finding a new blog…

• Excerpts only on the home page. Going to the home page of the blog and only seeing excerpts is my biggest pet peeve. I’ve already arrived at your blog, let me read your latest post without having to click around. I get distracted easily. You will lose me. (And don’t get me started about excerpts in the RSS feed for my google reader. Unfollow, every.single.time.)
• Cluttered columns. Especially too many blog buttons. If you aren’t participating in something actively… or going to that conference… remove the button. The cleaner your columns are – and even a little “white” (blank) space, the easier it is for me to read.
• The “Category Cloud”. I think it’s a waste of space – not to mention a mess – to show what you blog about most being bigger and lesser blogged items smaller. What I (and others) want to see might only have been categorized once making it much harder to locate.
• Disclosure Policy located in the Nav Bar. This is one of my biggest annoyances. Yes, if blogging is your job, you should have a disclosure policy. But it doesn’t need to be front and center. Put a link to it at the bottom of your contact page or in your footer.
• Not having an “About Me” introduction (snippet or box) on your home page. It’s your space… and I’m there to learn about YOU – give me a reason to get to know you! {And yes, again… totally guilty. Working on it.}

So that’s what I like and dislike… what about you? Anything here you really like or dislike?

The prompt from Summer Blog Social…

• When you visit a blog, what areas – besides the main post – do you check out? Do you visit the Nav Bar pages? Look at the sidebars? Check for a list of categories or tags? Talk about the elements of a website that are most important to you.

You are never gonna guess. I have a BFF. Her name is Shell and she can be found at Things I Can’t Say… and let me speak from personal opinion, she is a great friend.

And not only because I’m her featured BFF today.

It’s because she’s an awesome friend that I got to meet!!!

Here’s Shell, me and Ashley

So now head on over to check out my BFF post today.

This really isn’t an April Fool’s joke either!

I started out this blog to document the struggles, triumphs and things I was learning in my weight loss journey… and about myself during that time as well.

But somewhere along the line it changed. I learned about myself and what I could do.

And then it became all about me.

A place where I could share the writings I was doing, feelings I was experiencing – happiness, sadness, fears and excitement – all in the safe confines of only having a few family members and friends reading it.

Then I joined SITS and went to BloggyBootCamps – where I learned that I could dream about doing something much greater than what I am doing right now.

So all the way home last weekend from Philadelphia, I dreamed.

I dreamed of this becoming a place that I can inspire others to accomplish great things. A place that can share about the world travels that I *will* have… and a place that maybe someday I can share a little more about the family I am destined to have. A place where dreams are fulfilled.

I blog because I am a writer with lots of dreams and aspirations. I blog because my voice is original (just as is everyone else’s voice in this place we call the internet). I blog for comments {seriously honest here folks!}. I blog to keep my friends and family updated with my life. I blog in the hopes of inspiring others.

Really I guess you could say I blog because I seem to learn more about myself than I thought I ever would – and it has grown me into a much more confident woman than who I was when I launched this nearly 3 years ago.

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By posting about “Why I Blog” with SITS Back to Blogging week, I am eligible to win a turquoise washer and dryer from Standards of Excellance, Westar Kitchen and Bath, and Florida Builder Appliances. Thank you so much for this amazing opportunity!

For those of you that have followed my weight loss journey (or have read about it), you know that a definitive point in my journey to lose the weight was when my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. I learned about the disease, studied it and immersed myself in the data. And I made the decision that I had to lose the weight to decrease my risk for diagnosis.

And it changed my life.

At the same time it changed my mom’s.
*For those wondering, my mom is now in remission w/ no signs of cancer. A Breast Cancer survivor!

Through this research, I learned of a woman whose desire in life is to rid the world of this terrible disease. Because it took the life of her sister Susan.

That woman is Nancy Brinker.

Nancy began the Susan G. Komen Foundation in 1982 after her sister (the namesake of the foundation) passed away and now raises millions of dollars each year and continually finds new ways to support those fighting the disease, to look for new leading-edge research and really simply put, to find the cure.

Two years ago, I had the privilege to train and walk through the streets in and around Chicago in the Breast Cancer 3-Day after raising more than $6000 to find a cure. This was my heart and soul that summer.

Without the Susan G. Komen Foundation, I would have missed out on the experience and fun of peeing in port-a-potty’s for 3 days… showering en-masse in trailers (yes they really have those!)… sleeping in a pink tent in a field of pink tents… and watching with heartfelt emotion as the final walker came into camp and the celebrations that all had arrived could begin.

And I dedicated every step I took for my mom.

And speaking of my mom, she tops the list of women I admire. She has been such an amazing role model… not only through the months that she was in cancer treatment… but through her whole life. A life that she dedicated to focusing on her family and being there for us when we needed her. A life that provided the safety and comfort of loving arms that gave us hugs when we were sad or happy. A lifetime of memories of vacations, camping trips and day trips to various places that made us all want to learn more about the world around us. She is truly a blessing to me.

Next year I hope to walk in the Breast Cancer 3-Day event again. To raise money and find a cure to Breast Cancer once and for all. In honor of my mom, my aunt and friends that are now survivors… and in memory of my grandmother that passed away during my freshman year of college after battling the disease off and on for (I think) 15+ years.

I want to rub shoulders with people that have been affected by the disease, those that know someone that has been affected or that person that just wants to walk because it’s the right thing to do. And maybe by walking a few thousand steps, we’ll be one more step closer to finding a cure so no other women have to go through the treatments that so many others have gone through.

The bonds that walking in this event brings is unremarkable. All because Nancy Brinker made the decision to honor her sister’s request to find a cure.

We will find a cure.

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By posting about the woman that inspires me with SITS Back to Blogging week, I am eligible to win a turquoise washer and dryer from Standards of Excellance, Westar Kitchen and Bath, and Florida Builder Appliances. Thank you so much for that amazing opportunity!

This post is also part of…

Of all of the “challenges” this week during this SITS Back to Blogging event…. today’s seemed the most daunting to me. I’m not entirely sure why…

And by the way – because I’m writing along with these challenges each day, I am eligible to win a new turquoise washer and dryer (known as “Thelma & Louise” in the SITS community… and will be what I call them if I am *so* lucky as to win them) from Standards of Excellance, Westar Kitchen and Bath, and Florida Builder Appliances.

Today’s challenge is to re-upload a post with a title that you are particularly proud of and explain why.

The problem is that I couldn’t figure out which title I was proud of for a while… until I really looked through them last night. And then I remembered the “series” (even though none of the posts had anything to do with each other) that I did early this year by using lyrics from songs as the titles for my posts.

One of these titles “Oh, Oh girl don’t play the fool…“ received a comment because “Mrs Divine D” recognized the lyric as from Paula Abdul’s “Coldhearted”. The post was about the targeted marketing on Facebook… and well, specifically who I was told to stop dating (not that it’s worked… but at least that Facebook ad team tried.)

The other post title that I’m proud of in that series is “Sometimes you feel like a nut…“ because I shared how I felt as I shared my weight loss story the night before in one of the few times I’ve done public speaking. And it’s kind of fitting that I thought to share this post as well because the other night (as some of you may have seen me tweet) I’ve decided to really take control of some things in my life… and one of these things is to get better and more comfortable as a public speaker. Really what this means is that I’m going to try to take a class in it soon! Hopefully.

Because I wanted to share both of these links (and I didn’t want this to be a million page long), I didn’t include the posts here… so I hope that you go back to enjoy them.

And maybe someday I’ll bring back the “Lyrics for Titles” again… that was kinda fun.

This week I am participating with SITS Back to Blogging week long event. By participating in this, I am eligible to win a new turquoise washer and dryer (affectionately known as “Thelma & Louise”) from Standards of Excellance, Westar Kitchen and Bath, and Florida Builder Appliances.

Today’s challenge is to re-upload a post you wish more people had read and explain why it was important to you.

The post I chose is from a year ago. It’s only part of the original post – if you want to read the whole thing feel free to click through. (The text not shown doesn’t apply to what I’m saying below, which is why I left it out.)

Pretty Normal Day, except…

(full version posted September 10, 2009)

For my lunch hour, I had a plan to go pick up the book “Julie & Julia” from the library (which I did) because I saw the movie recently. Of course as I walked over there in the gorgeous sunshine and warm temperatures (finally!) I decided that I would definitely sit in the park to start reading it. As I walked to the park, something profound occurred to me. My birthday is in 3 weeks. I will be 32. Yikes.

Why this hits me so hard today… enough to make me want to cry… sob even… is beyond me (but I was at work, so of course I couldn’t be a blubbering idiot!) I have accomplished so much, and have so much to look forward to… but as I sit in the park – trying to read – all I see around me is couples. And it reminds me again that I have no significant other to wish me a happy birthday this year. No one to surprise me with a party, an improptu lunch visit, or even a card in the mail. I really don’t think I am asking for much… but I feel like I am asking for the world.

I trust that it will happen… but then my mind wanders… what if it doesn’t. What if I don’t ever have a long term relationship? What if I don’t get to have a beautiful wedding… showers, ceremony, honeymoon and all? What if I don’t have someone to travel around the corner or to far away places with? What if I don’t have someone to hug me when times are happy or sad?

What if, what if, what if.

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As I was looking over the blog posts I’ve written last night – I came across this one. It never got any real attention – primarily due to the fact that I hadn’t yet known about the SITSgirls website… and I had broken ties with many of the people in the weight loss support system I once held close.

What is interesting to me in this piece is that I *could* write the exact same piece this same week about my life. Not much has changed in the past year.

But yet everything has changed.

I feel like a COMPLETELY different person – with a COMPLETELY different outlook.

You can read the fear in the words above. You can read the heartbreak. But it’s not like that for me now.

Yes, don’t get me wrong… I’d love to have a significant other in my life. I’d love to have someone that surprises me with flowers. I’d love to have someone to chat with about the dreams that I’ve come up with in the past few days.

But that’s not God’s plan for me right now. And I’m ok with that.

In the same respect, I’m not going to sit idle another year and wait for said man to show up on my doorstep. That ain’t going to happen in my wildest dreams. So I will take action for things in my life – both in my relationships… and in how I want my dream of becoming a writer to play out.

As my 33rd year approaches, I’m feeling empowered. Alive.

And things *WILL* be different this year.

I know it.

This week I am participating with SITS Back to Blogging week long event. As I said last week when I had some crazy dreams again, I’m really going to try to get back to my writing… and while Thelma and Louise are great (and I would LOVE to win them!) that’s really not my main goal in this.

My main goal is to really define who I am (especially now that I’ve gone to 2 Bloggy Boot Camps in a month) and feel inspired, motivated and on fire (for lack of a better word) to change things within my life. But don’t get me wrong… I would still be more than happy to welcome a new washer and dryer (and turquoise ones at that!) from Standards of Excellance, Westar Kitchen and Bath, and Florida Builder Appliances.

Today’s Back to Blogging Challenge is to re-upload the first post you ever wrote on your blog. If interested, re-write that post, showing us a before and after look at the piece.

Here’s my very first blog post…

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It’s been almost 3 years since I started this blog… three years in which I have come so far in my life from what I wrote that very first day. A day when I really didn’t know what i wanted this blog to be about or, really, even know who I was at that point in my life.

In my weight loss journey, I still had about 50 pounds to lose.

But I know now that I had to lose (and gain) so much more than that.

I had to lose friendships of some people that supported me in my weight loss journey online, but have gained stronger friendships of those that support me in my writing. I have lost some (I wish I could say all) of the insecurities that had caused the weight gain, but have gained an incredible confidence that I can do so much more than I ever dreamed possible that cold day in December.

After starting writing here, not only did I discover a love for writing, but a love for the medium in which I need to feed off from on a regular basis to keep my creative juices flowing. I have discovered a love of reading about others journey’s in life, their struggles, heartaches and joys, and learning so much about topics I had no idea about in years past.

And through my blogging, I found a new voice… and many new friends through the SITS girls website. Now connecting with everyone at the bloggy boot camp events both in San Francisco and Philadelphia has solidified these friendships and the things I’ve learned at these events has grown me more as writer and as a person.