Bloggiesta Wrap Up

And I thought last Bloggiesta! I did a bad job of getting stuff done...
This time around I actually took the weekend off of church obligations, and I think I still got less done than last time...

What I got done -

• Participated in Parajunkee's Friday Follow for the first time
• Found a new meme (Read My Review at A Trillian Books) and wrote a blog post for it
• Cleaned up my blogs I'm following & found a handful of new ones to follow (read my raving "reviews" about them at my Friday Follow post)

That probably took me just under two hours to do, and those are the only things I would consider directly blog-related. I have to say, though, that I loved being able to just be on Saturday. No school (probably not the wisest choice since I had to rush on Sunday evening to get everything done, but it was nice for a change), no church, no running around... And how did I spend my Saturday? Granted, I did try to start out the day blogging, but then my boyfriend's internet decided it hated me (should I count the time I spent trying to fix it as time spent on Bloggiesta!?), so I read. I read for hours, and I don't even read! I know, I know - slam on the breaks and back up, right? A blogger/reviewer/"librarian" who doesn't read? I guess I should really say I don't read from January - May. I used to love reading when I was a kid. My mom would take me to the library and let me pick out ten books to check out; I would take them home and have them all read that day (it's a good thing we lived about four minutes from the library). But then college happened. People tell you to read textbooks you're probably never going to reference again the rest of your life unless you come across a trivia question someday. I don't like being told what to do, especially when it comes to what I have to read. Therefore, the idea of reading for fun when I'm already bogged down with "necessary" reading for school (especially with now five classes and a full time job) makes me want to reach for a paper bag, and basically makes reading unenjoyable for me. Anyway, I read almost an entire book in one day, and unless it's the normal children's books, I don't usually do that. I haven't decided if I'm going to review it on my blog since it's an "adult" book, so I don't really want to count it towards Bloggiesta! time.

Anyway...

What I learned this Bloggiesta!:

• Quit trying to be such a perfectionist - Quality of posts should be better than quantity.
• One post a day when working full time, taking five classes, and...doing other things is something I should feel proud of.
• Quit going back and trying to fill in days that have already passed with new posts. People miss things that way, and it gets too stressful to feel like you have to play catch-up and write new material.
• Don't stop "advertising" your blog if you want more followers.

...Really just the excitement/anticipation of Bloggiesta! got me actively working on my blog again (even if it's not as much as I'd like), so I'm thankful for that. I've started to work on some of those "rainy day" posts, and I'm looking to start the 30 Days of Me challenge sometime soon, just to get me back in the habit of writing on a regular basis. And hopefully next Bloggiesta! I'll really be able to give it my best. If I pass the five classes I'm taking now, I'll be a 4-year graduate!

So, what did you learn this Bloggiesta!? Or do you just have other blogger knowledge/advice to share?

Bloggiesta! 4th Edition

It's baAack!
One of my favorite times of the year...
BLOGGIESTA!

Bloggiesta! is a weekend event (in this case, January 21st - 23rd) for bloggers to help motivate blogging, hosted by Natasha at Maw Books Blog. I have been participating in the event almost since it started (since the second edition), and always really enjoy it. For the first time, this year I have been able to block out most of my schedule for the weekend (though I do still have work today) - I have turned down dates and even requests to help at church, yet I still feel a mild sense of depression over the fact that I was not able to get all my schoolwork turned in before this weekend. 
...Note to self - Task 1 on the to-do list this weekend : Stop trying to be Superwoman.

Natasha's list of suggested things to do during Bloggiesta! weekend:

• Write reviews.
• Write backup posts for a rainy day.
• Write that great post idea from three months back.
• Work on series posts.
• Write guest posts.
• Put out invitations for guest posts.
• Conduct and edit author interviews.
• Create template posts for your future reads (ie: title, images, linking, tags, etc,) so you can open up, write review and post without being bogged down with technicalities
• Clean up your tags, archives, books reviewed list, etc.
• Create a text file (or Google Doc) of cheat sheets (html codes, post url’s, etc)
• Improve your blog template, clean up sidebars, add a favicon, install those plugins that you’ve been meaning to do.
• Add or edit your about me page, review policy, disclosure policy, privacy policy, create landing pages (for example – an about me for Twitter readers page) or any other pages you might have.
• Any bloggy type housekeeping that you’ve been neglecting.
• Clean up and update your challenge lists.  Link up your posts with hosts.
• Make sure all of your social network profiles are up to date.  Be consistent in those profiles with color scheme, images, etc.
• Go get a gravatar.
• Visit the Blogging Tips group on the Book Blogs Ning and find ways to improve your blog.
• Work on any specialized projects that you may have going.
• Clean out and organize your feed reader and blog subscriptions.
• Create an elevator pitch.
• Make business cards.
• Find a blogging buddy.
• Analyze and re-evaulate your blog.
• Back up your blog.
• Learn more about blogging, read great articles, get inspired.
• Make sure you have properly copyrighted your blog and know what to do when somebody reposts your material.
• Brainstorm blogging topics.
• Manage your feedreader.
• Help other bloggers, answer questions, share your expertise (let’s face it – this is the best part of Bloggiesta!)
• The sky’s the limit!

For more information and if YOU would like to sign up for this fourth edition of Bloggiesta! click here.

Bloggiesta Wrap Up

I feel rather loser-ish that I only spent two and a half hours on my blog this weekend, but I somehow managed to pass 200 followers and get two awards, so that made me feel a little better.

This was my original to-do list (major kudos to anyone who actually managed to finish their list):

• Participate in the Book Blogger Hop at Crazy for Books
• Visit the other blogs participating in Bloggiesta!
• Attempt to make some sort of block scheduling for my time
• Finish Geography & Ancient Greece homework
• Write paper on gender in Greek Classics
• Bake cookies
• Participate in as many mini-challenges as possible
• Finish blogging about my Cincinnati trip (Technically, I got this done this afternoon, though, so I did not count this towards Bloggiesta! time)
• Catch up on "Top Ten Picks" from Jill at Random Ramblings
• Catch up on MizB's Friday Finds (Should Be Reading)
• Catch up on everything else I've had almost ready, but never wrote down
• NOT PULL MY HAIR OUT OVER THIS LIST!

I did manage to get my blog in at the "Hop" - though I don't consider it full participation unless I actually visit the other blogs and do a post. I also managed to visit all the other Bloggiesta! blogs that signed up before me and commented on most of them! I baked a bunch of cookies for the bake sale with some awesome company, and I only have about 450 words left to go on my paper. Oh, and my hair is still in tact.

Since I've reflected on my Bloggiesta! to-do list, I would like to also reflect on my 2010 New Years resolutions I made for the last Bloggiesta!

Blog-related resolutions:

• Update my blog MUCH more often than last year. Last year I started my blog in January, had one post in January, one in June, one in September, one in October, then in November and December I finally kept up with my blog. I'm a full time student, have a full time job, and drive to the other side of the state at least two weekends a month, so it certainly won't be Bloggiesta! every weekend, but I want to try to update at the very least once a week. (Well, things change, I don't have a reason to drive to the other side of the state anymore so I guess I have less of an excuse for missing posts, but I think I've only missed one or two weeks - for the most part, I've at least been able to get up a Daily Dose)
• Complete the two reading challenges I've signed up for and determine whether or not I'd be able to handle more next year. (Somewhere along the lines I picked up a third reading challenge. I wouldn't expect to have finished them by June, and I'm making it really difficult on myself to consider the challenges "complete" at all, since in order to count them towards the book count, I'm making myself review the books. On the other hand, since I will definitely not be taking summer classes next year, I think I'll be able to handle two or three challenges next year, as long as I can stay motivated to blog at the same time.) 
• Get 50 followers. (202 followers and it's only June!? You guys are AWESOME!)

Non-blog-related resolutions:

• Clear out my e-mail. (I have successfully knocked my work and personal Inboxes down to 2-6 e-mails each)
• Put at least $12,000 in my CD. (This wound up as an epic fail...)
• Take a class on effective communication. (I'll have to attempt this in the second half of the year - all of the ones I have looked at have not fit in with my work schedule)
• Convince my parents to put up our Christmas village. (I have a completely valid excuse for this one - It's not Christmastime yet.)
• Buy more long-sleeved shirts. The past week and a half have made me realize that even in South Florida, apparently having only five on hand just aren't going to cut it. (I think I actually wound up getting rid of some - oops. I still have time, though!)

This week I finish my Gender & Society in Ancient Greece class, so hopefully next week I'll have a little extra time for blogging. Thank you for bearing with me - you guys are great!

Bloggiesta! Is Back!

I learned something today! Bloggiesta! is NOT just in January, as I stated in my last Bloggiesta! introduction. 

I'm guessing (?) Bloggiesta! is a bi-annual event for bloggers to help motivate...well...blogging! Hosted by the lovely Natasha at Maw Books Blog. Guess when Bloggiesta! is? This weekend! - June 11th - 13th. (For more information and/or to sign up click here.) I actually didn't miss the first day this time around - Hooray!

The mascot of Bloggiesta! is Pedro, which stands for Plan, Edit, Develop, Review, Organize.

All the other bloggers I've seen participating so far have put a "to-do" list in their introduction post. I'm warning you now, full time work + summer classes + church + somewhat of a social life = a very boring list.

• 
  
  Participate in the Book Blogger Hop at Crazy for Books
• 
  
  Visit the other blogs participating in Bloggiesta!
• 
  
  Attempt to make some sort of block scheduling for my time
• 
  
  Finish Geography & Ancient Greece homework
• 
  
  Write paper on gender in Greek Classics
• 
  
  Bake cookies (Recipe can be found here - I modify it slightly; ask if you want the "secret")
• 
  
  Participate in as many mini-challenges as possible
• 
  
  Finish blogging about my Cincinnati trip
• 
  
  Catch up on "Top Ten Picks" from Jill at Random Ramblings
• 
  
  Catch up on MizB's Friday Finds (Should Be Reading)
• 
  
  Catch up on everything else I've had almost ready, but never wrote down
• 
  
  NOT PULL MY HAIR OUT OVER THIS LIST!

Bloggiesta! - La Meta!

La meta. La linea final. Call it what you want, I don't speak Spanish. Either way, the end of Bloggiesta! is here.

Actually, it's been here, I just haven't had the chance to blog about it yet today.

So, what was I able to accomplish? After about seven hours:

• 
  
  Became a member of Kidlitosphere.
  
  
  
• 
  
  Started Comment Challenge 2010, and I'm actually ahead of schedule! -insert shock here-
  
  
  
• 
  
  Completed the New Years resolutions mini-challenge.
  
  
  
• 
  
  Completed the blog label/tag mini-challenge.
  
  
  
• 
  
  Completed the dead links mini-challenge. (I didn't have any - that was easy)
  
  
  
• 
  
  Completed the back-up-your-blog mini-challenge. I didn't even know this was possible until I saw this challenge, so big thanks to Jackie at Farm Lane Books. Click here to find out how to do this if you are a blogger using either Blogger or Wordpress.
  
  
  
• 
  
  Completed the copyright mini-challenge (though I'm not sure my blog is legally copy-written - if that's even a word).
  
  
  
• 
  
  Joined The Bloggie Cult as a "mentee" (thanks to Kristen's mini-challenge over at Bookworming in the 21st Century).
  
  
  
• 
  
  Posted a couple of reviews.
  
  
  

and last but not least, drumroll, please...:

• 
  
  3 new followers. Woo-hoo! This may not seem like much, but to go from four to seven in one weekend is quite a jump, and gets me really excited! Please help me continue this upward climb.
  
  
  

You can click here to see all of my posts from the Bloggiesta! weekend.

Blog Label Mini-Challenge

I have gone to blogs where the authors have seemingly endless label lists. Beth at Beth Fish Reads has created a mini-challenge for Bloggiesta! to encourage bloggers to clean up or get optimal use out of their label(/tag if you use Wordpress) lists. Beth has a lot of great suggestions in her mini-challenge post - to see these suggestions, or to take part in her mini-challenge, click here.

*As a great motivator she is offering an entry to a giveaway of a "great bookish prize" (separate from the Bloggiesta! prizes) to those who complete this challenge.

If you scan the label list in the sidebar to the left, you can see my labels. They're pretty self-explanatory, and I don't think the list is overwhelming. If you have any suggestions about labels pertaining to my blog, feel free to comment.

2010 New Years Resolutions

Almost every blog I've looked at since New Years has had a post of New Years resolutions. I used to make resolutions for school when I was younger, but for about 10 years I haven't bothered because I've never kept them for more than the first few months - if that. But now, one of the mini-challenges for this weekend's Bloggiesta! is to write a post with your resolutions (which only means more blogs with resolutions on them).  I've decided to make my list of resolutions very small and basic so I can avoid breaking them:

Blog-related resolutions:

• Update my blog MUCH more often than last year. Last year I started my blog in January, had one post in January, one in June, one in September, one in October, then in November and December I finally kept up with my blog. I'm a full time student, have a full time job, and drive to the other side of the state at least two weekends a month, so it certainly won't be Bloggiesta! every weekend, but I want to try to update at the very least once a week.
• Complete the two reading challenges I've signed up for and determine whether or not I'd be able to handle more next year.
• Get 50 followers. (If you're reading this, you can help with this resolution!)
  

Non-blog-related resolutions:

• Clear out my e-mail. 
• Put at least $12,000 in my CD.
• Take a class on effective communication.
• Convince my parents to put up our Christmas village.
• Buy more long-sleeved shirts. The past week and a half have made me realize that even in South Florida, apparently having only five on hand just aren't going to cut it.
  

Not a long list, I know; but it's eight more resolutions than I had before this challenge. We'll see how it goes.

Review (Product) - RobiComb

I have not been asked by anyone or paid to write this "review". I am not a professional actor - paid or unpaid, or anything else you see/hear in the disclaimer of a law firm commercial. I am writing this post for the sole purpose of trying to help those who come into contact with children.

If you or your patrons, children, family, friends, etc. have lice, I'm sorry.

I was graced with the presence of these pesky bugs shortly after starting my job in the Children's department. I had never really been exposed to the risk since I was homeschooled my entire life, but once I started working at the library, oh how I loved my storytimes for school groups, and oh how they loved and hugged (and spread their little critter friends to) me. I freaked out when I first found out I had bugs, but after my initial reaction, I did what you're supposed to do: I went to the store and bought the shampoo  that came with the plastic combs; I washed my hair, cut it to make it easier to go through, then my mom (God love her) helped me go it with the plastic comb; I took all my clothes and sheets to the laundromat and washed everything in the really hot water. Then, every night for a week I washed my hair every night and went through it with the comb. I bled when I combed too hard over an area that apparently had some sort of mole on it, and I got over-emotional and cried a little towards the end of the week thinking the bugs would never go away. Finally, I couldn't stand it any more, and somehow on a drugstore website, I found RobiComb. I went to the store to pick it up and took it home to do my nightly routine; but, this time when my hair dried, I used the RobiComb on it. I will never forget what I said when I turned it on for the first time: "I would jump off someone's head to commit suicide too, if I had to listen to that."

The RobiComb is an electronic comb that requires one AA battery, and when you turn it on it makes an incredibly annoying, high-pitched whining sound. You brush it through (dry) hair and when it runs over a bug, it makes a sound like a bug zapper, and the whining stops. Just use the tiny brush (included) to brush the dead bug out of the comb, and the annoying noise will resume. You continue going through your hair until you can make it all the way around your head without any interruptions, and do this twice a day. Sometimes if you have several loose hairs that get stuck between the teeth it will stop making the whining noise - just inspect the comb carefully to make sure that's all it is, clean off the comb, and continue.

I have really thick hair, and it helped me to completely rid myself of these pesky critters in just a few days, as opposed to the time it was taking with the shampoo (and I still don't know if it ever would have worked without the RobiComb), so I'm convinced it could work for anyone. It was so easy and effective, I even told my boyfriend if I had somehow infested him with lice, I'd get them out of his hair with the RobiComb. It's great to have on hand now, just in case my head ever gets a little itchy and I freak out - it's super easy to check just to be sure. Apparently they make a RobiComb Pro now too, but I can't seem to find any available in the U.S. I haven't used this one, so I can't vouch for it, but it looks like the only difference really is that the teeth of the comb are slightly slanted for easier travel through hair.

My Rating:

Any experiences with either of these wonderful Combs? Please let me know; and I wish you a life lice-free.

Review (Book) - Little Honey Bear and the Smiley Moon by Gillian Lobel

I freely admit, the only reason I picked up this book was because I read a critique on MotherReader's blog informing me that this book was full of glitter. I don't think I've read more than one book that has glitter anywhere besides the cover, and with the popularity of glitter around our library, I knew I had to see what the fuss was about.

"Little Honey Bear and his friends set off to visit the moon, but getting there is more difficult than they thought - until Mother Bear shows them how to find it." (inside jacket flap)

You can tell the author isn't from America, because who in the U.S. uses the word "cross" anymore? If you are going to use this book for storytime, I recommend replacing "cross" with "mad", or some other synonym you know the children will understand. If you are reading the book to your own child, or choose not to substitute a word for "cross", be prepared to define the word. I'm certainly willing to try this book for storytime when we read books about winter in a couple weeks; however, I am a little concerned that all the glitter might distract the kids (especially the girls) and I'll have to hear "oOoOo" every time I turn a page, or "awww" when I get to the few pages that have no glitter. After all, I was disappointed when I turned to a page that didn't have glitter.

It is hard to find a lot to critique about this book. I have mixed feelings about the title - sometimes it sounds normal, sometimes it just doesn't roll off the tongue right; the inside jacket flap is misleading - (*spoiler*) Mother Bear doesn't really show Little Honey Bear and his friends how to find anything; and I can't put my finger on it, but something is off about the alignment of the text - some pages just read very choppy as a result of the line breaks.

Amazon recommends this beautifully illustrated book for ages 4 - 8.

My Rating:

*On a side note, the bear and bunny on the cover look really familiar...does anyone else think they've seen these two (or illustrations very similar to them) before?

Comment Challenge 2010

Do you find that you often promise yourself (or others) that you're going to do a better job of keeping up with the blogs you follow? Or yearn for more followers for your own blog? When I worked for Avon, I was told that it takes 21 days to form a habit. Apparently, MotherReader has heard this also. In celebration of Bloggiesta! she has started a challenge: Comment Challenge 2010. Starting today, and running until January 28th, the challenge is to comment on five blogs a day. Bloggers who post 100 comments during this time will be entered to win a prize package (separate from the Bloggiesta! giveaways). For more information on this challenge, or to sign up, see her blog.

I hope this challenge will bring inspiration and smiles to those who I comment on, and also lead people who have never heard of me (a.k.a. all but five people) to my blog so I can get a few more followers too.

Since I'm fairly certain I'll lose any paper I try to keep track on, and I'm absolutely positive I'd forget the number if I just tried to store it in my head, I'll use this post to keep track of how many comments I've left.

Comments left January 8th - 14th: 27

Comments left January 15th - 21st: 24

Comments left January 22nd - 28th: 49

Bloggiesta!

This is more a blogger resource than a librarian resource, but it was started in KidLitosphere, so that should count for something.

Bloggiesta! is held in January (this weekend, in fact) for bloggers to help set the pace (especially for  those who made it a resolution to blog more) for blogging through the new year. There are mini-challenges* for bloggers to complete that will help decide the direction you want your blog to go in, with brainstorming in general.

*Those who keep track of their progress will be eligible for giveaways.

The mascot of Bloggiesta! is Pedro, which stands for Plan, Edit, Develop, Review, Organize.

To sign up, find out about the mini-challenges, or for more information about Bloggiesta!, go here.