one click (or clip) away from free

My soccermom-ish tendencies, as I like to call them, astound me by the day as I find myself doing things I never thought I would do. Point and case: rambling on and on about the thrill of saving money with coupons.

Coupon clipping isn’t too soccermom-ish, is it?

I like discounts. Even more than discounts, I like free things. If you were asked, “Would you like to get this at a discount, or would you like it for free?” of course you would say, “For free!” Who wouldn’t? It doesn’t get any better than free. (Unless of course the seller decides for some unknown reason to pay you. If you learn how to pull off this bargaining trick, let me in on it.)

All this to say, it’s not that hard to find discounts or, yes, sometimes even freebies by searching online and in magazines, newspapers, etc. I’m still new at it, and saved more than $15 at the grocery store this week alone. Oh, yea. (One free bag of wheat flour? I’ll take it!)

the challenge

Start a blog about your money-saving tactics and excursions. Give insider advice on saving money for just about anything. Review coupon websites, tell us the best coupon magazines to subscribe to, lead us to the best stores. What’s the deal with Groupon? How do you double coupons? Is it worth it to join a library coupon swap group?

possible blog names

• CouponMe
• CoupForChicks
• GreyCoupon (maybe if your last name is Grey, or Mustard)
• GetYourCoupOn

summer, meet my bucket list

the summer bucket list

Tomorrow is the first official day of summer. Summer, ahh. A great time for swimming, tanning, reading, playing, yardsaling, taking trips, and . . . bucket-listing.

Summer is one of those rare times of the year when you just might have enough time to do some of those things you never have time to do during the other three seasons of the year. So celebrate by starting a blog that documents your undertakings to check off the items on your bucket list.

example blog

Bucket List Publications

 

becoming a blog contributor: shameless cheating

Tell me, dear readers, what’s better than a blog by a great blogger? A blog by great bloggers!

If you’re like me, you know there are too many great ideas to make a blog about and only so little time. I can’t make all the blogs. You can’t make all the blogs. But bloggers the world over are still making blogs, and we can’t let them have all the fun without us.

Becoming a contributor for a not-your-own blog is a great way to get to write about those things you’re still passionate about but that don’t mesh with the atmosphere of your blog. Shameless cheating for (former?) compulsive blog creators like me? I think so.

So show some love to my friend Anthony’s new contributor-oriented blog: fiction/nonfiction. 

P.S. I will be contributing there. Plug yourself in somewhere, too!

blog posts without any pictures

Right now, I’m camera-less. It’s torturous, nearly. Beautiful summer sunset, new items to sell on eBay, the heightening lettuce in my first garden – I can’t snap shots of any of them. What’s a (at-least-I-pretend-to-be-a) photographer to do? Remind me never to lose my camera again.

But really, it is a time of confession. When I first started blogging, I had my own camera. For a few months. I was always on the lookout for blog-worthy photos to complement my posts. Then I lost it (Take this sentence in every meaning possible.). Ever since, it’s been downhill. Yes, I borrowed my housemate’s camera, but it’s not the same. And recently, I feel increasingly guilty that I haven’t returned it to her yet. I probably should . . .

This all leads me to a little preachiness on the importance of having excellent pictures to go along with your blog posts. I really can’t say enough about it. Honestly, every time I write one of those “the challenge” sections, I end up saying something to the effect of “Include pictures of your _______.” (Fill in the blank with whatever random concept I’m telling you to start a blog about.)

I could say some pithy quote about pictures being worth a 1000 words, but honestly my reasoning is just that people like to look at pictures. Even as adults, we’d rather feast our eyes on books, webpages, instruction manuals, etc. that are filled with illustrations rather than settle for dry, word-only content.

So there you have it. What, did you expect me to include a picture or something?

example blog: hamsterdiaries

In my recent post “fish [and other adorable pets] are friends,” I advocated starting a blog about your pet. Fellow blogger hamsterdiaries liked the post, and thus I was introduced to the epitome of an amazing blog about a pet, a Syrian hamster to be exact.

Photo credit: Hamsterdiaries

Hamsterdiaries has a great “purpose statement,” if you will, on the “About the Blog” page, and I just had to share what this blogger wrote, in case you need more direction for starting your own pet blog:

As I recently got a new hamster, Dexter, I thought why not share the experience and problems that occur with these pets on this blog and share with other readers and owners!
I know so many little tricks and ideas for troubled owners to try on problem hamsters and wanted a place to share all the information as well as videos and photos!

On this blog I will:

– share pictures, videos and experiences from my own hamsters life.

– share tips on training, care and taming Syrian hamsters

– answer questions or worries from new hamster owners*!

– post new toys/products etc designed for hamsters and let you know if they’re any good!

Photo credit: Hamsterdiaries

Genius! I would have never thought of writing product reviews or sharing tips for training. That’s why I can’t write all the blogs; I need your help. So blog on!

“fish [and other adorable pets] are friends”

“Fish are friends, not food.” We remember when the indecisive shark in Finding Nemo said this, and it was a bit hard for him to live up to the deep truth he spoke. But not for us. Fish are our friends! They can be the most genial of friends, undemanding and pleasantly reserved (Communication barriers don’t have to be viewed as all that bad.).

Click if you want this one.

But they aren’t our only friends. No, there all the other adorable pets we’ve grown so fond of in our many years of pet ownership. Perhaps you are the well-seasoned “cat woman” of your neighborhood, housing a range of 10-20 animals (mostly cats) on any given day. Or maybe you’re the more well-rounded owner of a few normal pets mixed in with the occasional exotic creature like a lizard or tarantula. Or perhaps you are the less experienced, naive individual with limited pet access in your life’s history.

Wherever you fall in the pet-keeping range, perhaps you are considering getting a new pet soon? I myself must admit that I’ve given it some consideration. Lots of consideration. Okay, I admit to browsing the “Pets” page on Craigslist every few . . . days (Maybe hours, but let’s not get technical.).

Puppies. Kittens. Bunnies. Chinchillas (Really?). Ferrets. Iguanas. Who can resist browsing these pet posts and photos?

the challenge

Get a new pet. It could be one you’ve never had before, or an old favorite. Start a blog about your time with and care for this pet. Have the frequent photo opp. Pose funny pictures. Share stories and adventures.

Please tell me why this picture was a result when I searched for “turtle eating lettuce.” Someone didn’t get the memo about fish being friends.

possible blog names

• TheDoInDog
• MyTurtleIsFasterThanYours
• AlfredTheHamster
• WannaIquana

branching out, blogging on

Dear fellow bloggers and blog readers,

There comes a time in every blogger’s life when he or she feels stuck in a blogging rut. All the posts are the same, only slightly different. As a result, blog posts get fewer and far between-er (Is it correct to say that? Oh well.). Such has been the course of events for this blogger.

So I have to ask myself: Why? When I first began writing on Startablogabout, I tried to limit myself from posting every half hour, for the sake of all the blog readers that might get tired of blog update emails inundating their inboxes. It was mere compassion, really.

Today, I feel … not short of ideas, but short of a sort of blogging-inspiration. Now, you must know, dear bloggers, how many times I have fought the urge to abandon ship and start a new blog. Remember my confession from day one? It has been quite difficult. It’s been as hard as telling yourself not to open the cabinet and eat those delicious chocolate chip cookies stored within.

But dear bloggers, I won’t give up if you won’t give up! I know that this is just the common human experience that we all face in the blogosphere. Instead of starting a new blog, I will try to find some ways to revamp this one. I’ll branch out.

It’s time to branch out.

I will be trying out some new sorts of posts, instead of always that predictable pattern of 1) Here’s something cool about something. 2) Hey, someone should start a blog about this. 3) They could name it ___________ (insert cheesy titles that I brainstorm). Some new types of posts might include general blogging ideas – such as how to choose a blog name; shoutouts to new blog starters; plugs for some great blogs out there; and, who knows, maybe even something else that’s crazy and unheard of. Any suggestions?

I look forward to branching out and blogging on, dear readers. Thanks for sticking with me!

do it yourself (DIY) projects

How I admire those handy Renaissance men and women who can do things themselves. They can make a lamp out of three toothpicks and a light bulb, a lawnmower out of some pipes and a blade, a glove out of half a spool of thread and a dull needle. It’s miraculous, really. And in consideration of practically impractical people like me, they share these DIY projects on the Internet. Hooray!

Of course, I really enjoy DIY projects for a few reasons. One is that I’d like to consider myself thrifty. Economical is the way to go. So if I can use an old worn out t-shirt to make a trendy scarf instead of having to buy a new scarf, then of course I will. Or if I can use hundreds of egg cartons to improve the sound in a room instead of buying expensive equipment, then of course I will (Even though that means I’ll have to eat a lot of eggs. Good thing there are so many ways to cook them.). And then there’s . . .

Okay, so that’s the main reason that I like DIY, but also, getting to try out fun projects helps me gain skills. Yea, practical skills (After you graduate with an English degree and start looking for jobs, you feel a little impractical.) – like using a heavy duty wire cutter to make a leaf wreath. Sounds skillful, right?

Want a leaf wreath? DIY!

the challenge

Start a blog of DIY projects. Showcase all the things you learn how to do. Share what you already know. Include pictures and easy steps for readers.

possible blog names

• WhyDoIDIY
• LetsDIYtogether
• WireCuttingAndOtherSkills
• DIYorBust

bargains into wares

There’s something I should confess: I am a buyer of books. I glean thrift stores of rare, old, dusty books. You see shelves, I see a deserted island with certain hidden treasure under some lot of ground.

This hobby began a few years ago. I started buying books at thrift stores and reselling them online, namely, on eBay. They may be books on subjects from Indian basket weaving to pipe organ stops – subjects I know little to nothing about. But they are rare finds, small treasures to the discerning eye. I’ve enjoyed finding them, buying them, and turning my bargains into wares.

See some of my recent discoveries:

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the challenge

Start a blog about your bargains into wares. Maybe you buy and sell old cars, books, music, garage sale finds, kitchen appliances, furniture. Whatever your specialty, share your adventures. Maybe this could be a blog that accompanies your eBay or other account and helps potential buyers learn more about your products.

a commentary on Fresh Pressed

Bloggers are like people. Well, in most cases, they are people when you think about it. At least, I like to think so. There are occasional moments when I stumble across those captivating blogs of seemingly larger-than-life people with extraordinary lives. Or, I don’t know, maybe I’m the odd one out. Does everyone just happen to travel to Norway and Cambodia every day, take breathtaking photos, and then upload them to their photo blog for everyone to drool over? (No offense, Casey Arneson. I really just needed an excuse to sneak in a link to your incredible work.) It sure seems like it when you scroll through Fresh Pressed, doesn’t it?

I admit, sometimes Fresh Pressed makes me feel that my life is hypo-ordinary.

Some bloggers have ordinary or perhaps even hypo-ordinary lives, that is lives that are less than ordinary and which can seem to be made a bit more ordinary, at least momentarily, in experiencing the thrill of coining new words (as was recently demonstrated through my use of the word hypo-ordinary). But what makes a blogger’s life or experiences or posts the coveted Fresh-Press-worthy?

the challenge

Start a blog that is a commentary on WordPress’s Freshly Pressed. Make observations about the posts. Why do you think a certain post made it on the homepage? What are some common trends in posts they choose to highlight? Do they refer to pop culture, feature amazing photography, include corny jokes?

possible blog names

• FreshPressMe
• FreshPressDontMess
• BestofFreshPress
• FreshCommentary