We had another excellent range of blogs and topics to discuss this week.  Did you miss any of the the thought or fun?

Week In Review, June 20, 2009

• Who said school is boring?  Karen Braun wouldn’t say that–she’s putting the “spunk” in homeschooling and providing some excellent news, commentary, and related resources at Spunky Homeschool.
• For even more fun, stop by Valerie’s Frugal Family Fun Blog.  As you might have guessed from the name, not only does she have excellent suggestions for new fun and entertainment, but they won’t break the bank, either!
• Nona Nita might enjoy some of those frugal family-friendly activities as she enjoys her time with her grandchildren, although it’s obvious from her enlightened grandparenting blog that she has plenty of great ideas all her own!  You can see them at Nona Nita’s Grandparenting Blog.
• Taking a break from the blog reviews, next we started up a discussion of our own, inspired by Karen Braun.  Chime in the fun and tell us what your blog pet peeves are!
• Our final stop of the week was to a deeply insightful and resourceful blog for personal development and change.  The Change Blog has what it takes to help you change your life for once, for all, and for good!

And of course, there were more greats last week, so be sure to stop in and check out last week’s Recap Review if you haven’t already!

Mary Ward
Do You Digg It!
Blog Review Team
Do You Digg It! © 2012

Where to Find The Change Blog:
Blog URL: http://www.thechangeblog.com/
Category: Personal Development

The Change Blog

They say that in life change is inevitable; so best to be in the seat of control to capitalize upon it. This is a blog that can help.

The Change Blog – Why You Should Go

For Peter, the developer and original writer of the Change Blog, the catalyst for changing his life for the better came when he learned he’d be a father. That spurred in him a deep-seated dedication to change and personal development. As he did, he began chronicling his experience through his blog, in part to sort his own thoughts and in part to share and help others on similar paths.

Over time, this deeply insightful blog grew into a multi-authored blog for change and personal development, with a much deserved following. Today, it is a highly respected (again, deservedly so) resource for people who want to make the best of their lives and effect positive change for positive living.

Summing Up The Change Blog

Peter and his colleagues have built an excellent blog resource full of informed, thoughtful posts for positive personal change. This is a blog that will help you sort out what needs doing, center yourself and help you develop into the person you really want to be.

Go here to check out The Change Blog.

Mary Ward
Do You Digg It!
Blog Review Team
Do You Digg It! © 2012

Category: Do You Digg It

Today we’ll take just a short break from our blog reviews to chat a little on the topic of blogging. Please feel free to chime in any time…

About Blog Pet Peeves

I came across a funny thing the other day when I reviewed the Spunky Homeschool blog. If you visited there and read the ‘About’ page, you noticed that Karen Braun said she had the page because ‘LaShawn’ said she needed one. Further on you learn that somewhere along the line LaShawn made a post, much like this one I would assume, laying out the things about blogs and blogging that bug her—her blogging pet peeves.

I felt a connection with this anonymous LaShawn as soon as I read that, because that is probably my biggest pet peeve about blogs, too! I am always disappointed (and maybe a little annoyed on my grumpier days) when I am reviewing or researching a blog and there is no way for me to learn more about it and the writer.

What A Quick About Page Can Do

Now, it doesn’t take much to make me happy, and your ‘About’ page does not need to be long. Just a quick snippet letting readers know a little about the topic of your blog and perhaps your angle or perspective, and then a little about something about you will suffice. You do not even need to reveal your real name; there are good reasons to remain anonymous as a blogger. People look to this page just to find out if this is a blog that, in general, covers a topic of interest to them. It’s a summary of your time blogging and your posts that is a resource for new readers, and also for committed readers who want to know you and your blog a little bit better.

If you do not have an ‘About‘ page or a profile page, you should consider taking a moment to post one. I think as bloggers we take for granted that the topic and nature of our blog is obvious on any given day, but that’s really not the case. Besides that, we all have those days when we stray a bit from the norm and get a little off-topic, and you want to ensure that a busy visitor can easily find out what your blog is really about.

So there. I’ve aired my peeves, now tell me yours. What is your blogging pet peeve(s)?

Mary Ward
Do You Digg It!
Blog Review Team
Do You Digg It! © 2012

Where to Find Nona Nita’s Grandparenting Blog:
Blog URL: http://blog.nonanitasnook.com/
Category: Parenting, Grandparenting, Lifestyles

Nona Nita’s Grandparenting Blog

Talk to any grandparent and they will tell you that having grandchildren is one of the most precious gifts of all. However, connecting with children born generations apart can often prove a challenge. Nona Nita is aiming to change that.

Nona Nita’s Grandparenting Blog – Why You Should Go

Nona Nita knows children. She has raised two of her own and has made teaching her profession, and has been blessed with grandchildren as well. To Nona, children are a gift to be treasured.

Her blog has been designed to help grandparents remain active in the lives of their grandchildren, despite any hurdles like time and distance. Her goal is to provide resources for grandparents and others in an effort to inspire “enlightened grandparenting” for the modern grandparent to help them better connect and spend quality time with their grandchildren. She describes her blog as a…

“Blog hosted by a grandparent and teacher to share the joys and bumps of modern, enlightened grandparenting. Blog focuses on issues, activities and experiences of interest to grandparenting.”

Summing Up Nona Nita’s Grandparenting Blog

Nona Nita is delivering a high-quality resource to ensure that grandparents have the tools and resources they need to stay connected and involved in the lives of their children and grandchildren. She understands the important place that grandparents hold, and works hard to help them continue to make a difference in the lives of children young and old.

Go here to check out Nona Nita’s Grandparenting Blog.

Mary Ward
Do You Digg It!
Blog Review Team
Do You Digg It! © 2012

Where to Find Frugal Family Fun Blog:
Blog URL: http://www.frugalfamilyfunblog.com/
Category: Parenting, Entertainment

Frugal Family Fun Blog

We’ve featured blogs with frugal topics quite a few times now. Many of them have been frugal living tips or tips for frugal grocery shopping, etc. This blog is a bit different—a place for families to come and learn frugal ways to have fun and stay entertained.

Frugal Family Fun Blog – Why You Should Go

Living on one income as a family in a day and age when dual incomes are the norm is no small feat; but Frugal Fun blog writer Valerie has done it with great success:

“I have learned many strategies for saving money and having fun on a budget, and am grateful for the opportunity to share them with you. Thanks to my penny-pinching techniques, our family has been able to stay out of credit card debt, have an emergency fund to cover several months of living expenses, go on vacations, and stay on track for an early retirement.”

Along the way, she joined a local Mom’s group and became the Activities Coordinator, which put her in the prime spot to man a blog like this; and so, Valerie brought her knowledge, experience, and fun family-friendly activities to her own blog, a top resource for family entertainment and fun activities that won’t break your budget.

Summing Up Frugal Family Fun Blog

Valerie’s Frugal Family Fun blog has many great tips and tricks for staying in budget without giving up the best in life. Enjoy yourself without the morning-after guilt by checking out all the great tips and suggestions here…

Go here to check out Frugal Family Fun Blog.

Mary Ward
Do You Digg It!
Blog Review Team
Do You Digg It! © 2012

Where to Find Spunky Homeschool:
Blog URL: http://www.spunkyhomeschool.blogspot.com/
Category: Parenting, Lifestyles, Education

Spunky Homeschool

The homeschool community, and indeed anyone interested in or researching homeschooling, has benefited greatly from the advent of the Internet as a multi-use platform. This blog is one of those great benefits.

Spunky Homeschool – Why You Should Go

What homeshoolers needed in the past was better resources for information, curriculum, and very importantly, networking. The Internet made a better place for all of that to happen. This blog is one advantageous result.

Spunky Homeschool is maintained by Karen Braun, a homeschooling mother of six who is deeply devoted to her role as a mother and an educator, and also as an advocate of homeschooling. On this blog, she discusses many topics of interest to homeschoolers and prospective homeschoolers (and maybe even a few open-minded opponents). Posts can range from curriculum matters to recent accomplishments and accolades for her homeschooled children, to advocacy through commentary on homeschooling in the news and policy-making.

Summing Up SpunkyHomeschool

Spunky Homeschool is an award-winning blog that has become a first-line resource for information, resources, and insightful commentary. Karen has come to be a highly respected member of the homeschooling community, and an unparalleled resource for a community in need.

Go here to check out Spunky Homeschool.

Mary Ward
Do You Digg It!
Blog Review Team
Do You Digg It! © 2012

We’ve had a quirky, awkward, sketchy, positive kind of a week here at Digg It…and that’s not even all of it!

Week in Review, June 14, 2009

• To kick the week off, we had a little fun at the expense of the celebrity set.  Thank you Snarkstress for dishing the snark so well!
• Checking off our list, we visited the List Maven–a fun place to get things done and have some laughs, list style!
• To find what we’d been missing, we wandered over to the Uncovering The Internet blog, where we were introduced to some of the best and most entertaining of the web (including our next blog review).
• Yes, we can credit Uncovering with pointing us toward Awkward Family Photos, a blog name that says it all.
• On to more intellectual pursuits, we discovered the fascinating world of Egypt, past present, and an eye to the future, at Egypt Then and Now.
• We couldn’t stay away from our humorous mood for long, and so we stepped right back in style to the That’s So Sketch blog.
• And to make sure we got your weekend and new week off on the right foot, we ended our week of reviews at Positively Present, a resonant blog that gets you living well in the here and now for a better and brighter future.

Last week saw some excellent blog reviews, too; be sure to check out last week’s Recap Review for more fun and interest!

Mary Ward
Do You Digg It!
Blog Review Team
Do You Digg It! © 2012

Where to Find Positively Present:
Blog URL: http://positivelypresent.typepad.com/
Category: Self Improvement, Personal Development

Positively Present

Sometimes a blog just resonates with you, and for me, this blog did. It’s a blog about positivity and living your best life now. Or, as author Dani puts it, “living happily ever after now”.

Positively Present – Why You Should Go

The fact that this blog resonates so clearly with me after having reviewed so many great blogs about personal development and positivity should really say something. This is a blog worth reading.

It’s a bit tough to put your finger on it, but there is just something different enough about Dani’s approach to positive, present living that makes it so resonant. Maybe it’s her practical, real-world application and lessons learned from life; maybe it’s her dedication not only to positivity, but positivity in the PRESENT…not for some time put off and scheduled in the future; or maybe it’s her sincerity and honesty (I mean, are you willing to admit what a bitch you were in high school?). Whatever it is, it’s working, and it will captivate you, too.

…now, assuming you are still in a quandary as to how this post title fits in, here’s a bit in Dani’s own words…

“Positively Present is Dani, a twenty-something who, after years of living under a dark cloud of woe-is-me, has decided this will be the year she focuses on the positive. This will be the year she lives in the present, turning all of her attention toward making her life more positively aware. Dani is a former Eeyore learning to live positively in the present moment. Working hard to embrace the idea of “living happily ever after now,” Positively Present focuses on all things positive — quotes, books, stories, songs, situations, people, blogs, websites, ideas, images, notions, emotions. Anything and everything positive has a home here.”

Summing Up Positively Present

What more can I say? The energy and sincerity of this blog will turn any Eeyore’s tale into one of positive, good living in the here and now.

Go here to check out Positively Present.

Mary Ward
Do You Digg It!
Blog Review Team
Do You Digg It! © 2012

Where to Find That’s So Sketch:
Blog URL: http://www.thatssosketch.com/
Category: Photoblogs, Humor

That’s So Sketch

Awkward photos are not restricted to the family photo album, and this blog proves it. There are enough sketchy photos to go around for more than one blog.

That’s So Sketch – Why You Should Go

That’s So Sketch is a new blog that has just come on the scene. It is bringing to you some of the most humorous photos and videos on the Internet (and some of the most humorously disturbing, too).

On this blog you’ll find a collection of pictures and videos that entertain and boggle the mind in a “What were they thinking?” kind of way. It’s an eye-opening experience that’s worth more than a few laughs.

Have something to share? You are more than welcome to email them through the site and get the word out.

Summing Up That’s So Sketch

That’s So Sketch is self-described as “A New Blog About Anything Sketchy, Shady, or Suspicious.” It’s a blog that’ll raise a few eyebrows and get its fair share of laughs—a place to lighten your day a bit.

Go here to check out That’s So Sketch.

Mary Ward
Do You Digg It!
Blog Review Team
Do You Digg It! © 2012

Where to Find Egypt Then And Now:
Blog URL: http://allaboutegypt.org/
Category: Travel, Personal Interests, History

Egypt Then And Now

Egypt and the Egyptians are a fascinating subject. It seems the world can never get enough of one of its oldest and most accomplished civilizations. Nor can Ben Morales, the writer behind this blog.

Egypt Then And Now – Why You Should Go

Officially, this blog is described as

“The official blog of all-about-egypt.com with current information on modern Egypt and Egyptology news including discoveries, films, documentaries, publications, exhibitions and travel updates.”

That description defines it quite nicely, too. Ben shares an obvious appreciation for the nation and its rich history, as well as its modern culture and attractions. The blog is packed with information for both the world traveler and the at-home enthusiast interested in learning more, one post at a time. Pages on the blog include Modern Egypt, Ancient Egypt, and an Egypt travel FAQ.

Summing Up Egypt Then And Now

Egypt Then and Now is a definite blog destination for anyone who has any interest in history and Egyptian culture. Come explore the marvels of a wondrous nation and a wondrous culture past, present, and future.

Go here to check out Egypt Then And Now.

Mary Ward
Do You Digg It!
Blog Review Team
Do You Digg It! © 2012