Down, Not Out

After a few personnel issues at work last week, I finally have a few days off.  While I won’t go into details, the issues at work led to me working all last weekend, as in ten days straight.  That is why I haven’t been online much as of late.  I’m hoping to change that as of now.  There is just so much I need to say.  I want to thank all of you loyal readers who have stuck with me through thick and thin.

Unfortunately this “break” in blogging couldn’t have come a better or worse time.  Let me explain.  It happened to come at a time when I am questioning just what direction in which I’d like to take this blog.  While I haven‘t made any definite decisions, the break was needed and allowed me to clear my head somewhat.  At the same time, as a result of the nearly forced “break,” I was tempted not to resume blogging until I’d made some definite decisions with regards to content.  Long story short:  It became a very convenient excuse not to blog.  I’ve fallen into that trap before and it isn’t pretty.  I do not want Ramblings of a Misguided Blonde to become a ghost town for months on end.  I simply Must. Keep. Going.

Below are a couple of great writing articles/posts I came across this morning via Twitter.  If you haven’t followed me via Twitter yet, please do so.  Just click on the “Follow Me” graphic on the right side of the blog.  You’ll receive all of the latest blog posts – and more!  Oh, and I follow back.

Life is Short. Read with Purpose. « DIY MFA

3 Steps to Reading With Purpose « DIY MFA

Writer Unboxed » The Long Distance Landscape of a Writing Career

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Post 1000!

After nearly seven years @ Ramblings of a Misguided Blonde, I finally hit post 1000.  What have I learned after all this time, after all this idle chat?  I’m not sure.  I just know I have to keep going.  I cherish all of the other bloggers I’ve discovered and conversed with online.  It has certainly changed the way I get news and the way I view the world.  It’s only going to get better.

Sunshine Award

Last Sunday I came home to a pleasant surprise.  Becoming Madame nominated me for the Sunshine Award.  As part of the award, I needed to nominate ten blogs I consider worthy of the award.  You can find all of the information on the award under the page Awards/Appreciation | Ramblings of a Misguided Blonde.  The bloggers I nominated are listed below.  For the reasons why I nominated them, you will have to visit the page Awards/Appreciation.  Enjoy!  These bloggers are amazing.

Following are Ten Bloggers I nominate in no particular order:

• The Collaborative Writer | Demythologizing cultural beliefs about writing, one post at a time
• Childhood Relived
• The Middlest Sister | There are 5 sisters. She’s the middlest.
• Little Cheesehead on the Prairie
• Leeleegirl’s Life
• Ziiplight
• Red Lips and Academics | The (bumpy) transition from student to teacher
• free penny press | my words, your words, their words
• Once A Little Girl
• Tidbits, Kidbits & Kibble

March 1st, 2012 ~

My Favorite Things | Ramblings of a Misguided Blonde

Favorite Pins ~ | Ramblings of a Misguided Blonde

I added a few pages this evening, with many more to come.  I have a lot of ideas for my blog and there are many changes to come.  I’ve had the pleasure of meeting so many wonderful bloggers as of late.  I’m falling head over heels in love with blogging.

Source: marieclaire.fr via Lindsey on Pinterest

Freshly Pressed Love

Image via Wikipedia

I believe I forgot to mention just how much I love Freshly Pressed and WordPress.  This beautiful Saturday morning I discovered the post below on Freshly Pressed.  It is exactly what I need to hear today.

Stop Sabotaging Your Own Success: A Manifesto « When I Have Time by Sara Rosso

I had an earlier version of this post which I lost when Word decided to crash on me.  Unfortunately the recovery version didn’t include the latest paragraph, and I accidently dumped the entire thing.  In the end, it isn’t a bad thing.  I started to discuss precisely why I need to hear the message in the above post today.  It turned out to be incredibly lengthy and much more well-suited for my About Me page.  I may just have to do that in the future.  The gist of the message is this:  I can’t understand why I am now so risk adverse in my career today when I was the EXACT opposite in my academic career at Michigan State University.  I consider my years at MSU extremely successful.  Unfortunately, I have yet to really do much of anything with my “career.”  I’m merely getting by.

But back to the topic at hand:  I just find Freshly Pressed amazing.  You can find Childhood Relived’s Angie Z.’s take on Freshly Pressed here:   I Got Your “Freshly Pressed” Right Here « Childhood Relived.  As a direct result of Freshly Pressed, I’ve discovered some wonderful bloggers.  Those listed below are just a sample.

Childhood Relived
My Pajama Days

The Middlest Sister | There are 5 sisters. She’s the middlest.

I’m just thankful I left Blogger when I did.  Below Dr. Helen discusses her recent move away from Blogger.

Dr. Helen: New Blog at PJ Media

Her new blog is here:  Dr. Helen

Image via CrunchBase

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Pajamas, Pajamas Everywhere

My Pajama Days

Guest Post: Cindy « My Pajama Days

Guest Post: Lily Ruth’s Mama « My Pajama Days

WOW! Women On Writing Blog: BIC or Pajama Day?

I’ve come across some ridiculously good blogs as of late and My Pajama Days appears to be one of the best.  Of course it is through good blogs you discover other great blogs.  That is the case here.  One of my favorite features of My Pajama Days is a separate page highlighting guest posts.  Most appear to have something to do with hanging out in pajamas, which is always a good thing. The guest post by Cindy gets into something more substantial.  It discusses balance.  Balance between developing yourself as an individual, giving to others, as well as balance between family and work.  I love the fact that Emily at My Pajama Days includes her own comments at the top of guest posts.  They are insightful and truly add to the post.

Imagine my surprise when I discovered the latest post over at The Muffin @ WOW! Women On Writing concerned pajamas as well.  I have to admit there is something almost sinful to the entire idea of staying in your pajamas the entire day either reading or writing.  It also happens to be one of my favorite pastimes.

Image by Ramona.Forcella via Flickr

Writing Resources

Image by Vivianna_love via Flickr

WOW! Women On Writing Blog: When Life Gets in the Way of Writing

WOW! Women On Writing Blog: Collecting New Experiences

WOW! Women On Writing Blog: Friday Speak Out!: Reading to Write, Guest Post by Jamie Patterson

WOW! Women On Writing Blog: The Power of Freewriting

WOW! Women On Writing Issue 47: Carving Out Your Writing Niche

How to Turn Your Hobby Into a Writing Niche

There is so much great material on WOW! Women On Writing Blog and WOW! Women On Writing Issue 47, I just had to share.  I would love to carve out my own writing niche.  In fact, I’ve wanted to start a blog focusing on study abroad and what I term study travel for years.  I need to simply start.  I have a lot of advice and experience to offer and the topic endlessly fascinates me.  What am I waiting for again?

WOW! Women On Writing Blog

WOW! Women On Writing Issue 47: Carving Out Your Writing Niche

Reality Check

Image via Wikipedia

WOW! Women On Writing Blog: So Yes, I Blog!

I can understand where this post is coming from.  I first learned about blogging and blogs seven years ago, but there are so many people, especially people who do not write, who still think of blogging as something new, almost a novelty.  It especially boggles my mind when writers, very talented writers at that, still hesitate to jump into the online world.  What are people waiting for?

There are so many days when I wish that I had more time to devote to writing online.  I absolutely love it.  In many ways it there has never been a better time to be a writer.  I hope it only continues to get better.

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Another Interesting Blog: Davert Family Blogs

Image via Wikipedia

Davert Family Blog

I came across this intriguing local family blog a few days ago thanks to an article on mLive (see article below).

The blog is refreshing and entertaining.  I love the stories that Missy shares, as well as her positive attitude.  If more people had a similar outlook, we might get somewhere.  I love that I finally came across another blogger in Bay City!

Meet Your Neighbor: Blogger Missy Davert of Bay City | MLive.com

Another Rambling Blog …

Image via Wikipedia

morningambassador’s posterous – “A million bright ambassadors of morning; inviting and insighting me to rise” Pink Floyd, Echoes

This is one of the most eclectic blogs I’ve ever come across, and that’s coming from me!  I particularly enjoyed the tribute to John Lennon on what would have been his 70th birthday.  The author seems to pour out whatever is in her head onto the page.  I love it.  Then again, that is pretty much my process here.