* Announcement *

After some serious thinking, drinking, and blinking... we ladies at "So Many Blogs, So Little Time" have decided to call it quits.

At least for now.

We're all moms. We're wives. We're also taxi drivers, event planners, nursemaids, and the like.

Don't forget about our "real" jobs, too.

Shit happens.

LIFE happens.

Trying to keep up with our home lives, our careers, and also with the blogging world can drag a mama down. School has started, and that means our schedules have become even more hectic, and life has just simply caught up with us.

We've enjoyed running this site for the last 8 months, but there comes a time when life gives you an ultimatum. Decide what your priorities are, and put everything else on the back burner.

We're taking a break.

We might be back. We might not.

Kidmecca's Royal Flush

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Blog Being Reviewed: Kidmecca's Royal Flush
Reviewed By: Naughty Nina

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At First Glance: Nice! I love poker - this should be fun.

Template/Design: It's blogger... but it's customized and pretty cool. Excellent colors, creative header, two columns and everything is neat, tidy and easy to read. You should move your archives (all sixteen of them) to the top underneath your about-me section though.

Content: What content? There's only sixteen posts. And I'm going out on a limb here by accusing buddy of not writing his own material, but I get the total feeling that he reads the Internet news and then copies the articles as his blog posts and then at the very end of each one (sometimes) puts in his itty-bitty two bits about it. Either that or he's a "real" writer for like a newspaper or MSN or something like that... his writing sounds very editorial. See this, this, this ,this - oh, and this and tell me if I'm wrong. If I am, I totally apologize. And then I'll have to just say his writing's not very personal then. Or interesting.

What is the first thing I would change about this blog? Write some quality posts about your life and poker...and in your own words. Wasn't that the whole idea of this blog?

What is the best feature of this blog? The cool template

Rating: 2

Kev's Blog

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Blog Being Reviewed: Kev's Blog
Reviewed By: Naughty Nina

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At First Glance: Beautiful! Soft soothing colors in shades of blue and green. It's simple, clean, classy and has all the makings of love-at-first-glance for me. Dude kind of reminds me of John Mayer.

Template/Design: This is a combo deal - it's a website with a blog sub-site perfectly explained on his "about this blog" tab where the author outlines the long and short of his entire and chronological rationale behind the blog and his whole site in general. It's also an instruction manual of sorts on how-to-read and navigate around the whole thing. Excellent idea, thorough, and the best place to start when you find this site (and I hope everybody does).

Content: After first glance and reading the how-to tab I cruised around the whole joint clicking here and there and found all kinds of goodies and tidbits of this and that. He's got beautiful photo albums of New Zealand - his home. I liked this one for the contrasting scenic beauty and the camera in the reflection. Next stop was his excellent "about me" section...this kid is only 19 (shame on you Nina you're going to hell!). And he's going to save the earth. Or try his darnedest to - I have no doubt about that.

I'm ashamed to admit this, but saving the earth has never been one of my high priorities...I'm more of a decorating it (Pier 1 style) kind of girl. But if you're interested in conservation, environmentalism and tree hugging this is a great spot to visit - written by a very thoughtful and insightful person with an easy on the eyes and brain style (read not stiff, boring or dull at all like the subject material may lead some people (me) to believe it would be).

What is the first thing I would change about this blog? Absolutely nothing - everything about his whole site is great - if the subject is of interest to you.

What is the best feature of this blog? The fact that it's written so well. And by a guy. A young guy. Who loves the earth and animals and people and is taking the time and energy to learn about it, write about and share what he knows with all of us to help him in his efforts in preserving it. I'm proud of you Kev, and want to thank you for what you do because it really benefits all of us.

Rating: My very first 10 rating goes to you buddy boy!

One Old Green Bus

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Blog Being Reviewed: One Old Green Bus
Reviewed By: Lexis Eldorado

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At First Glance: Kewl, a 'we have a dream' blog!

Template/Design: Of course it's green, lol The Template matches the purpose and it's not cluttered.


Content: This blog is all about this families goal to acquire a Old Green Double Decker Bus. Intermingled with the soft and hard ask (giving away the fact I work in Direct Marketing, lol) are stories about the family to get you emotionally involved in their lives and their quest for this bus. Quite interesting.


What is the first thing I would change about this blog?Nothing really. They have a purpose, they talk about the purpose and that's that..

What is the best feature of this blog? That even though they only have $361 dollars towards their $20K dream, I see them before the year is out being a Human Interest story and watch the money come flooding in.

Rating: 6.5I hope this gets you some more hits and maybe some more money.

Charles Thoughts and Blog

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Blog Being Reviewed: Charles Thoughts and Blogs
Reviewed By: Lexis Eldorado

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At First Glance: Why? SIGHHHHHHHH

Template/Design: I feel like I'm back on Space Mountain from my trip to Disney. This is one of the worse templates blogger has to offer! I am bereft of words on this one.

Content: Well, this is your typical blog. Talking about the day to day life. He said that this is a forum for him to talk about his thoughts etc. He didn't say that it had to appeal to me, lol With that, I have noticed that the Philippines community has a very tight and cohesive blog community, I admire that. Like the African American blog community, they too would like to join the mainstream and at minimum be seen as viable bloggers. I appreciate all of them submitting their blogs. I hope that through our sarcasm (which is expected), that they take the bit of advice we do give them. Like this blog needs some....life. Something is missing. I can't put my finger on it. The pictures are nice etc. but it just is not poppin.


What is the first thing I would change about this blog?Burn the template! Write Blogger and tell them to get that shyt off their blog programs, lol Then I would lively up the blog. Nothing wrong with being long winded, but if in your long windedness (is THAT a word), the reader gets wore out, that's not good.

What is the best feature of this blog? The pictures save this from being a replacement for Tylenol PM

Rating: 4

Hush and Listen - PT 2

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Blog Being Reviewed: Hush and Listen
Reviewed By: Lexis Eldorado

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Note: I have never been afraid of a penis and don't intend to start now. I have decided to break rank and review this person's blog.

Disclaimer: If you are inclined to have issues with homosexuality, the expression of such or is someone who can put it aside just enough to gather ammunition to come back and decide you have issues - then don't go to the site! Just read the review and keep it movin!

At First Glance: Hmmmm - stark imagery, typewriter font, intrigued.

Template/Design: I too, am not a fan of the three column template because it can become overwelming and your eyes don't know where to go first. Though it seems based on the volume of readers and the popularity of the site in general that it needs this much room to totally encompass what the blog is about. I think though with a name like Hush. Listen - You're screaming at the reader with all this clutter. We can't relax - so all that stuff at the bottom of each sidebar and the tags and the who's online and all that stuff can be cut - minimalize the movement of the eye and we can Listen.

Content: As I've said before, to review is to step outside of what you might personally believe. Let me start out by saying that yes I was a bit disturbed by the first erotic story, however, some eroticism is dark, sometimes it's about going places that make you uncomfortable. I had to keep reading and looking, and exploring to see if that post was the blog or if this blog just had a post. This is a beautiful blog. The poetry is so full of yearning, it begs you to reach out and touch the screen. I kept feeling like I was being privvy to a level of pride and pain and confusion and joy that I had no business being privvy to. I've never felt like that reading a blog. The pictures only add a visual, sometimes a flash of color to shock you and sometimes they blend into the words delicately, making you look, making you face....them. I was impressed.

What is the first thing I would change about this blog?I would revamp the clutterness of the page itself.

What is the best feature of this blog? The poetry. It is absolutely haunting.

Rating: 8

Hush & Listen

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Blog Being Reviewed: Hush & Listen
Reviewed By: Diva Dee

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At First Glance: Is that a PENIS I see???

If you're interested, go check it out. Otherwise, I'm removing this one from the blog review list.

Rating: NONE

Pickled Beef

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Blog Being Reviewed: Pickled Beef
Reviewed By: Diva Dee

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At First Glance: Pickled Beef... what the hell kinda title is THAT?

Template/Design: Little did I know how creative this blogger truly is. The answer to her choice of blog titles is here.

Content: This blog is full of snark, sarcasm, and wit. I love Tink, and I couldn't find a single negative thing to say about her writing. Some of my favorites are here, here, this meme, and OH. MY. GAWD. Those were all from the first month of her archives!!!!

You people just need to keep reading. I feel bad that I didn't write a very long review of this blog, but dammit I've got to keep reading if I'm ever going to through all her archives! Her writing is a great combination of Ellen Degeneres (sans lesbian lover) and Erma Bombeck (sans death), and I've enjoyed what I've read so far.

What is the first thing I would change about this blog? I wouldn't change a thing.

What is the best feature of this blog? Definitely the author's sense of humor. I truly feel for Hoop, having to put up with you and all.

Rating:10! ! ! !

Through Our Eyes

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Blog Being Reviewed: Through Our Eyes
Reviewed By: Diva Dee

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At First Glance: This blog no longer exists... thanks for wasting my time.

Hahn At Home

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Blog Being Reviewed: Hahn At Home
Reviewed By: Diva Dee

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At First Glance: OK, I'm cheating on this one-- I'm writing my "At First Glance" after I've already read through her site. I heart her.

Template/Design: It's not obnoxious, it's not cluttered. It's simple, easy to navigate, and it is HER. She stuffed all her buttons and junk down WAY at the bottom below the huge post area. She's given herself plenty of room to write, making it easy to read. The only thing her sidebar is sadly missing is her ARCHIVES. Those are stuck at the bottom of the page with her buttons and her "Read my profile" link... Move that stuff where we can see it, at least above the fold, and this template would be perfection.

*Edited to add*: When she submitted her site to us, she did make note of the fact that the platform she uses to blog does not allow her to move the archives, nor is she able to make changes to the sidebar. Methinks its time to search for a new place to blog, so you can express yourself through your template as well as you do through your writing.

Content: I'm not sure why upon opening her page, her posts are prefaced with "Blogs I Write." Isn't the main page the blog itself? And the posts within are not each called "blogs." They are posts... I guess this is more quirky template stuff, huh? Girl, find a new home for your blog!!!

Moving on-- When I finally got down to reading her posts, I really truly liked what I read. You all gotta give this women props! She is raising three teenage children (who all seem to be wonderful by the way) and she's got a sense of humor to boot.

I found one sentence that sums up what this gal is all about. You can find it in this post, but if you're too lazy to click over, here it is:

I’d find the key to unlock the closed minds of people who think for some reason, I’m not entitled to all the rights they take for granted and enjoy and continue to allow me to be denied those rights.

This gal's a fighter, people. She is a great mother, a great friend, and a great person. She's also a great lesbian who is looking for a great woman to spend her life with. You go girl!

Read her blog. I think you'll agree that she's all that and a bag of chips. *snap*

What is the first thing I would change about this blog? She needs to solicit the help of her children (they always know way TOO much about computers, don't they?) and find a new home for this blog. It will take some work, but in my opinion, is worth it.

What is the best feature of this blog? Her honesty, and willingness to "put it all out there" for us mere strangers to read.

Rating: 9 (I'm blaming the template and design issues on the crappy platform you're using, and so thats not your fault.)

I know where you can find it

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Blog Being Reviewed: I know where you can find it
Reviewed By: Naughty Nina

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At First Glance: The really nice tag line in the header says ”Richer than I you can never be – I had a mother who read to me” OY! That totally put a lump in my throat and got me all verclemped…I must be pms’ing early this month so you’re in luck that I’m feelin’ sappy today.

Once again – first impressions matter A LOT in blogging people – I personally don’t like the header look or the immediate visual. But, I do know right away that she loves children and values nurturing education and peoples lives through reading. This gives a new reader a good tid-bit about what they’re gonna get in this box o’ chocolates. My guess is smooth, sweet and soft centered.

Template/Design: Again, I’m not crazy about the whole look here – it’s not ugly, but it’s not pizazzy enough for me either - and I don’t mean it needs disco balls or twinkly lights or anything like that (wait a minute…of course I mean it does!) but it just needs a little more flavour.

I loves me the two-column template. And this one’s got a great big post area and no distractions for my old-ass eyes to rest on and not go buggy from going side-to-side more than I want to when I read. She has a great “about me” section that tells us a lot about her and her personality and thus what we can expect from her writing - but sadly, it’s way too far down the side bar, as are her archives... under the (insert horrified gasp here) advertising and fluffy stuff. When will people ever learn?

Content: You know… I used to have this horrible habit of pre-judging a blogger by the number of comments they receive on their posts. If they don’t have a lot of comments I would ASSume that they don’t have a lot of readers and if they don’t have a lot of readers then they’re obviously not very good bloggers - was my line of thinking. But now that I’ve been reviewing blogs... I’ve totally changed that thought process.

This author doesn’t get a lot of comments and I have no idea how many readers she has... BUT she should have A DARN LOT OF THEM!

She’s a good writer and just a doll. And I want to be just like her when I’m in my fifties… she’s quirky, and funny and smart and kind. And happy. She knows a lot about a lot of stuff and soaks up what she doesn’t know like a sponge so she can add it to the list of things she does and then write cleverly and creatively about them.

I started with her most recent posts and went backwards and one post after another - I fell in total like with this special lady. If you’re looking for another good read to add to your blog roll, consider this one. She’s a refreshing and lovely person and you’ll get your giggle on, that lump in your throat and the light bulb over your head going too when you read the great variety of things she writes about.

What would I change about this blog: Content wise – nothing! Keep being your beautiful self and doing what you’re doing. It's “neato”.

Cosmetically though, I would change the color scheme to something a little hipper and bling out the décor a bit. Hire a professional decorator and get a better suited-to-you customized template that reflects your great personality, style and love of books. Or check out the links on our site for a free one! Who doesn’t like free? Who doesn’t like awesome? There’s no reason a woman who has love and passion for books, life, travelling and shoes like this lady does should have an unworthy template. And this one is not worthy of her fine self!

I strongly suggest that you move your about-me section up to the top of your left hand side bar too - so it (and the pretty shoe) are right there in our faces when we walk in the front door. Put the archives directly under that, send the fluff n’ stuff down south and you'll have as nice a template as you do a blog.

What is the best feature of this blog?: Definitely the content. Every last bit of it!

Rating: 9 – If you open up a weight watchers restaurant, I’ll change this to a TEN because that’s the best idea I’ve ever heard! Deal?

In the Trenches of Mommyhood

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Blog Being Reviewed: In the Trenches of Mommyhood
Reviewed By: Naughty Nina

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At First Glance: Custom pimped-out header - totally dope. You can tell right off this is a mommy blog with twist(ed) mommy behind it. Love the lampshade... and as a fellow mother who spent a good few years under one, I can totally relate. Excellent "about me" section too... it makes me want to stay. And go out drinking with you because you're obviously not one of "those" moms.

Template/Design: This is a three column template - not usually my thang (we like two). BUT... this one's ok because it's fairly neet and tidy and she keeps all her fluff n' junk (awards, pats on the back, props to her peeps etc) down at the bottom where it belongs...out of site. Unfortunately though, that's where her archives are too so I had to scrolling through FOUR - count em' FOUR - separate blogrolls and then yack up tonight's dinner when I ran into all the love she's got goin on down there - just to find her history.


Content: This chick is my kind of mom. She's not perfect, not pretentious and not Martha Stewart - she's real and she writes that way. Any woman who can laugh about, with and totally AT the expense of her children is a winner in my book. What good are they if you can’t mock them I say. She agrees whole heartedly. See what I mean?

What is the one thing I would change about this blog? Not a darn thing about the writing, she's awesome. As far as her side bar goes... combine all your blogrolls into one, do a little maintenance too(get rid of the ones you don't read anymore - you don't seriously read them all do you?). And get those archives or as you so cutely put them your "Skrew the baby books" up at the top so we can find them and read your works of literary art.

What is the best feature of this blog? Her posts are very enjoyable - she loves and appreciates her friends, her family and her kids...while finding a great way to write about the humor, the fun and the fears of raising them. Good times.

Rating: 9 - Nina likes.

*WILD CARD* Will Write For Chocolate

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Blog Being Reviewed: Will Write For Chocolate
Reviewed By: Diva Dee

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At First Glance: Back to school memories flood my mind when I see the notebook paper blog design. Haven't we reviewed someone else using this design?

Template/Design: It's cute, and definitely goes with your title. The right margin of the sidebar needs to be fixed, because your text is butted right up against the edge. It's a pretty minor tweak though.

One question... what is all the mumbo jumbo at the bottom of your page? Is that supposed to be there? Comments, "Terms You Need to Know" (which should be moved to your sidebar anwyays.)

Content: Oh. Mah. GAWD. She's worried about getting published... hell girl, I'd just publish a book of your blog posts. I was laughing so much as I read through these posts. I've gotten such a kick out of reading about your neighbor's scary PJs. I waited for each new post to see what new pajamas I'd hear about next. Oh, and the chocolate consumption re-cap? LOVE IT.

I could spend all day directing you to all of her great posts. So let's just make it easy. Start at her first post, and keep reading. She's just that good.

What is the first thing I would change about this blog? The lined paper template doesn't work well. I see the theme you were going for, but your text doesn't always line up properly with the lines.

What is best feature of this blog? That I've gotten out of an afternoon of work-- because I sat and read through her archives. Every single post.

Rating: 10 Yes, even with a few minor quirks someone can still get a 10. Go read her site NOW!

P.S. I found a couple templates you might like: This one or this one.

This Crazy Thing Called Life

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Blog Being Reviewed: This Crazy Thing Called Life
Reviewed By: Diva Dee

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At First Glance:I don't hate the template, so you're off to a good start.

Template/Design: YAY for you! You found a free template that isn't fugly, and you made it your own. They've got some great templates on there, and they are EASY to install. I do think that the color scheme is a tad bit depressing for the mood you're trying to convey in your writing. One thing I would change is maybe try and change the font of your title, and move the title down a bit. It doesn't mesh well with the graphic. Again, like the previous blog I reviewed, you might want to look into stepping out of the rigid Blogger box and find a better widget or tool for your archives. Also, maybe try changing your font in your posts to black. About the only color thats going to show up on a gray post body is black.

On a positive note, she's included her picture, a little short blurb about herself. (Note to self: Diva, give this gal a high-five because we share the same pet peeve.) Her blogroll is short and sweet, and there's NO clutter. I like it!

Content: Here's my biggest gripe about this blog. The posts have no date on them. When I first clicked on the site, I wasn't sure when the last time was that she blogged. Is that post from 3 months ago, or is it from 3 minutes ago? No way of knowing that. Obviously, it will show my what month its from in the archives, but no more detail than that, I'm afraid.

Moving on. Can we say balls of steel? Girl, you are one tough cookie!

I am trying to go through the archives and see just what this gal is all about, but I'm having a hard time keeping track of who people are... Ms. DIA, M&M, PnB... gah! Can you at least just make up a name or sumpthin'??? And who died? I feel like I'm watching a soap opera and don't know who anyone is or what they are talking about. Catch me up, girl! Let's go have coffee!

In reading through the posts, I got the feeling that sometimes she was posting just because she felt like she "should." Whether you post twice a day, or twice a month, write what you want when you want to. Don't feel obligated to check in with us... hell, we wouldn't know it anyways since there's no dates on anything, right?!?!?! To be honest, after reading through several of the archived posts, I'm not seeing anything that's really compelling me to stick around. I certainly don't hate her writing, but it's not a blog I'd come back to read regularly. Maybe it was the color scheme or something, but I just had this melancholy feeling the entire time I was reading.

I did manage to find this one nugget of pure gold... I am drooling over this HOT SPECIMEN OF MAN right here... Wow! This alone made my day today!

What is the first thing I would change about this blog? Fix the things in your template that I mentioned above and keep on writing about your life.

What is the best feature of this blog? She seems like someone I could be good friends with. She's got a lot of potential in her posts, and I think she needs to find that one niche that she can call her own.

Rating: 6.5 My dear, I'm coming back to check on you sometime... just to see how things are going.

Life: The Ongoing Education

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Blog Being Reviewed: Life: The Ongoing Education
Reviewed By: Diva Dee

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At First Glance: This one's a snoozer.

Template/Design: I promise to stay awake through this review, even though the template is a boring, albeit calming and relaxing shade of ---

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

OK, Miss Lara David. Here's the deal. Your writing (which I will get to in a moment) is superb. However, if I was just a random blog visitor skimming through blogs, I would have passed this one by. There's nothing attention-grabbing on your main page that makes me want to see what this blog is all about. I know that the new Blogger is very standard, strict, conforming. We all have experienced it. You need to make your page more YOU. Whether it means scoping the internet for a new template, or trying to tweak the one you're already using, it doesn't matter. Even a free template can jazz up your site a bit. You've got important things to say, and I will be the first to shout from the rooftops that your blog needs to be out there for more people to read.
Some minor tweaks I would do? Move your archives up higher in your sidebar. Consider using a pull-down menu for your archives, or some other way or rolling them up a bit. Also, IF you are going to continue using the new Blogger, you might try out their "label cloud" instead of listing your categories/labels in your sidebar. It tends to get quite lengthy.

Content: Diva Dee Followers Readers, here's your assignment. I've made a list of some posts for you to read. Please take a few moments and read through them.

I'll still be here when you return.

Ups & Downs
Because Sometimes Life Kicks Your Ass
Getting Pampered (and I don't mean the diapers)
How Much "I" is TMI?
Not Going Back

Tick, tock. Tick, tock.

Done? Good.

She's a writer. I found dozens of posts that could be considered for the "Perfect Post Awards"... not just the ONE she was awarded so far. She speaks from the heart, and I admire her for that. No subject is off limits to her, and I feel connected to her. Struggling as she struggles, laughing as she laughs, and getting pissed off when she is pissed off. And I'm just a stranger who read through some of her archives. This is a blogger we need to get to know more. Even though she realizes her worth is not determined by the comments she receives and the volume of traffic to her site, we still need to go give her some love.

Go visit her. Add her to your blogroll. I DID.

What is the first thing I would change about this blog? My dear blogger Lara David, I love your blog. I would love it more if your template wasn't so boring.

What is the best feature of this blog? In case you haven't already figured it out, it's her writing, people!

Rating: 9 (If you're interested in some help with finding a free template, let me know. I'd be happy to help.)

Random Acts of Sass

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Blog Being Reviewed: Sassy Belle - Random Acts of Sass
Reviewed By: Naughty Nina

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At First Glance: Ooohh I like. Simple, chic and perfectly uncluttered.

Template/Design: Hallelujah, praise the Lord - it’s not another shitty standard blogger template! This one’s Wordpress with multiple pages that have everything neatly tucked away in it’s place where it all belongs. It’s not super fancy or anything (I like a little bling myself –some Kapow!) but it’s clean, calm and soothing and not full of junk.

For some reason there’s no archives on the archives tab (unless I’m just stupid and couldn’t figure it out). I tried using the “previous post” option at the bottom of the page – which drove me completely crazy … until I discovered the “Sasification” section at the side bar which was perfect – it’s a crap load of cool categories to click on and poke around for related posts.

Content: At first… it was just ok. But I persevered, pressed on and dug. And dug. And dug. I read one post after another and before I knew it I’d sat for two hours reading just about every one. And ended up totally in like with this girl and wishing I knew her for real. I say girl because she’s young (I’m guessing early twenties), idealistic, doesn’t appear jaded by anything (yet) and wishes the world were pure and shiny and sparkly. And she’d save it single handedly if she could.

She has a beautiful heart with a cheeky twist and I wish there were more people in the world like her. She has wicked-ass taste in men too - she loves herself some Anderson Cooper (in an admiring kind of way). As do I (but in a more than a friend kind of way).

What is the one thing I would change about this blog? I think the archives aren’t working properly (or they weren’t for me anyway).

What is the best feature of this blog? The variety in her posts - it's a potpourri of random goodness.

Rating: 8 - I heart her. Spend some time poking around her site and you will too.

Don't Procrastinate

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Blog Being Reviewed: Create - Don’t Procrastinate
Reviewed By: Naughty Nina

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At First Glance: Looks like someone likes herself some Martha Stewart.

Template/Design: I actually don’t mind this template – that’s new and refreshing huh?

Don’t get all excited, it’s nothing special really - but the author does have a crafty looking custom header that reflects her love for scrap-booking. It’s a very neat and tidy two column template with lots of room on the one side for posts and the other junk is neatly arranged (of course it’s in the wrong order though) on the other. Archives should go at the top so people can go poking around in your past.

Content: There’s just no easy way to tell you this nice Australian lady, but your blog is kind of boring. And I can’t even find a creative way to write that… kind of like you not finding a creative way to tell us what you do every day, why you blog or why you scrap book.

I know nothing about scrap-booking (case in point - I got one out of fifteen right on her Scrap IQ Quiz) but the posts she writes on the subject don’t make it sound remotely interesting so I doubt I ever will.

But that’s not what her entire blog is about… her other posts are boring too. They’re basically just her day to day stuff and more often than not she grasps for things to write about – and I could care less what the weather is like, how many things she has on her to-do list or what she did at work today. Either her life is boring as hell or she’s not tapping into her left brain to find a creative way to write about it.

I say why bother then… she says – and I quote: “I love words, I love communicating ideas. I think this is why I like blogging so much. While it frustrates me when people ignore or don’t understand my message, putting it all into a blog helps because at least I have got it all out”.

Lady, that is a perfect reason to keep a diary and that’s what this blog is… it’s a diary of your life - for yourself. I can’t see how it’s interesting to anybody else though or why you wanted it reviewed – sorry.

What is the one thing I would change about this blog? Nothing I guess, if the author just wants to write a diary and random boring scrap-booky posts. If she wants an awesome blog that people will flock to and love she’s going to have to get a life… or find the interesting and creative things in the one she’s already living and write about them.

What is the best feature of this blog?: It’s not overly cluttered and full of crap. Just full of meh. I do like the way the author posts and frames all her pictures though if that's any consolation... and if I thought for a second after giving her this crappy review that she'd tell me how to do it - I'd ask her.

Rating: 4.5 - she has potential to be a good writer, she just has to dig a bit deeper to find it.
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**WILDCARD**Prunella de Ville

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Blog Being Reviewed: Prunella de Ville

Reviewed By: Lexis Eldorado

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I interrupt this blog review to make an announcement

I have not been reviewing blogs on this site for that long and already I was starting to get antsy. Where were the good blogs?! When was I going to have a Blogasm at my computer...well people (cue the singing virgins please!!)

On Thursday, August 9th 2007 I have been elevated to heaven!






At First Glance: I thought my mom would get a few laughs out of this, but it made her more curious than ever. Now she wants me to take her to a sex shop so she can examine the Jack Rabbits. And she asked me, "Do you think it's easier for black men to hit the vagina walls because they are said to have bigger penises?" YEP this is the one ya'll!


Template/Design: There are few times, ok no times this puke pink moves me, but as you read the blog, you see how this template fits right in.


Content: Ever seen my name is Earl? Ever Seen Married With Children? Ever seen Mama's Family? Well their second cousin through inbreeding marriage runs amok on this blog! Yes there is an art to picture word combos, she has it. This blog is full of the funniest original content I've seen in awhile. Her use of celebrities and pictures adds so much life to her scathing commentary.


What is the first thing I would change about this blog?I would erase it and come up with it myself, lol

What is the best feature of this blog? That probably most people woudl think this is stupid as shit - which in my heart I believe is what makes it so brillant - to purposely be stupid as shit, actually takes great genius.


Rating: 11

Now everyone run over so you can come back and prove my point, lol lol

**WILD CARD** One Gal's Musings

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Blog Being Reviewed: One Gal's Musings
Reviewed By: Lexis Eldorado

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At First Glance: SIGH, Original templates are becoming few and far between, thank God this is my favorite Blogger Template. There's something about this green that makes pictures pop.

Template/Design: I like how crisp the template seems. Everything is so neat. Like all your socks lined up in the drawer. Sidebar is HEAVEN.

Content: According to the Dictionary, the defination of Musing is: Deep in thought; contemplative. This leads me to start looking for that randomness that comes at you on this planet and her contemplative thought about it; that's what I got!! At this point in the art that is blogging, the genre is oversaturated and it gets harder and harder to find a persons life that interests you (as evident by the bullshit folks submit here), so I sighed that after my haitus and my first foray into our wild card forum, I spun the bottle and landed on a winner. Musings is NOT a manifesto dammit!! It's short bursts of cerebral fluid that leaks out on paper for us to absorb. She does that. I'm enamoured with her 'balls' to speak about her job, from her job and about her coworkers from her desk, lol


What is the first thing I would change about this blog? hope the google ad rolls over, I was taken aback by my ad which spoke of Cat Urine Behavior, lol lol


What is the best feature of this blog? The correct application of musing!!!!!!!!!!


Rating: 9


EXTRA:

In a special category just for this person - I am giving her 10 in the category of Best Incorporation and Use of Meme's in a blog!!

These bad boys creep up on you and you almost don't even know they are meme's. Who are these creatures that find these things?! Take me to your leader! I am switching back into the real me and systematically copy every last one of them onto my own blog, lol

2 Blog or Not 2 Blog

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Blog Being Reviewed: 2 Blog or not 2 Blog
Reviewed By: Lexis Eldorado

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At First Glance: Who the hell can we contact over at Wordpress to stop the clinical look?! Ok, you wanna try to make other blog sites look like Myspace with all the bells and whistles but DAYUM can you give us something more than this!!?! Once again the actual template I am not going to review because it ain't even his fault.

Template/Design: For some reason I like my sidebars on the right, since we read left to right, I like to get into the story and let the sidebar be stuff I notice - not smack in my face first, but that's a personal preference. Just your standard template - so now I'm expecting fireworks in the words or this might go downhill kinda fast. My foot is on the clutch, give it to me mannnn!


Content: First off, the most recent post is about one of my favorite movie series Die Hard - I feel myself being sucked in....I tried to read the about and the 100's etc. but all links lead to a blank page, but I pieced together from reading this person is male (he was singing his balls off at one time, lol) and he's Australian. I equate this writing style to a person who walks the streets with a pen and pad in their hand. He rovingly reports the news in his world and it's not bad. Even a simple post, as if he's about to jump on the train but had to get the thought out - wets your palate in such a way, even if you don't want to, you end up stopping by. I personally liked this kinda vibe.


What is the first thing I would change about this blog? Pay or Barter with someone to add some pizzazz to wack ass wordpress. Switch the side bar.

What is the best feature of this blog? Sometimes we like our blog curtains wide open, we pull up a chair with our popcorn (or lube depending on what you get off on) and just look head on. Sometimes we like to peep over the hedges - this is a delicious peep over the hedges - I think I just grabbed myself, lol

Rating: 8

Blog About Your Blog

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Blog Being Reviewed: Blog About Your Blog
Reviewed By: Lexis Eldorado

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At First Glance: Interesting

Template/Design: Skimming down I realize this is a webzine about blogging. Hmm, that's pretty cool. What I can't believe is that a 'professional' blog has kept their sidebar so clean and to the point!! No excess! No 300 categories. YAYYY! NO ABUNDANCE OF ADS!!!!!!!

Content: I had to come at this from the perspective of being a blogger. Would this blog include anything I can take away and hack into my own blog? Would there be enough information relevant to todays blogging or some smart ass who has decided that they know all about blogging? I have to say this is a very well put together site. There is a buffet of different information available to you without overwelming you. They even do/did blog reviews. There are tips, tricks, information about making your blog better etc. I RECOMMEND THAT FOLKS GO OVER THERE BEFORE THEY SUBMIT THEIR BLOGS HERE! Ya'll know how you all are all about the Messenger and not the message. Maybe if they let you know you suck and add .com on the end, it will go down easier. The site was easy to navigate and I found the writing to be clear and concise without talking 'down' to you.

What is the first thing I would change about this blog? For some reason it looks like CNET to me. Ok, I couldn't find anything - so I just said that, lol


What is the best feature of this blog? That it was not cluttered, I could navigate, understand and come away with something useful. NO EXCESSIVE ADS! YAYYYY!

This is a second review, I say GOOD JOB GETTING IT TOGETHER! Here is your first review In my opinion, you have evolved into a good strong site.

Rating: 10

Here is a very good example of a non-personal blog submitted for review that took the time to give it that personal blog feel. I've seen personal blogs so cluttered and bogged down with awards you give yourself, goggle ads etc. and still remain irrelevant. This clean, crisp understandable information blogzine does well my friend. I'm adding to my blogroll and definately using some of your advice!

Bella's Life On The Island

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Blog Being Reviewed: Bella's Life On The Island
Reviewed By: Diva Dee

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At First Glance: I think I'm going to learn everything I need to know about Pleasure Island. Probably even more than I want to know.

Template/Design: It's a standard Wordpress template. The one thing I do like about WordPress is that the templates are organized. They are neat, tidy, and feel like my house right after the cleaning lady leaves. Just like she folds the end of my toilet paper into a neat point-- have you seen that before?

This template screams "toilet paper corners." It's got tabs at the top, which I like tremendously. Wherever you want to go in this blog, there's probably a tab for it, or an easy-to-find link in the sidebar. A few suggestions though. I would be shortening up the list of categories and moving the "Virtual Brochure" and "Categories" UP the sidebar, and move the "Subscribe" widget DOWN. Other than that, the pic in the header is perfectly in synch with the theme of this blog. She also has a perfectly written description of herself here. Kudos. If I ever want to plan to visit this area of the country, I will surely know where to go for "insider information."

My one complaint about the template is the Amazon.com advertising. Go check for yourself in some of her posts. It tags certain words and links them to something similar on their site. For example, when she signed her name as "Merry Mermaid" a hyperlink is created linking me to "A Merry Mermaid Christmas" book which you can buy for the low, low price of $3.99.

Content: This isn't going to be a blog that you would turn to when you need a laugh, or looking for a good anecdote about poopy diapers. You won't see a post detailing her fantastic weekend at BlogHer either. She is a self-proclaimed tour guide and set this blog up as a travel reference to attract people to one of her favorite areas of the country. I, myself, would definitely buy some of these simply on her recommendation alone.

What is the best feature of this blog? She gives very descriptive reviews of every aspect of this seemingly fabulous location. I'd definitely like to go there sometime!

What is the first thing I would change about this blog? A few minor things about the template, listed above.

Rating: 8 (the Amazon links kept making me think you were directing me somewhere else. Lose those, tweak the template a bit, and you're set. )

WILD CARD

We will be starting something new over here at our homophobic vlog-hating IQ-challenged inexperienced little old site.

We're going to start playing a little game called "WILD CARD." We know that many of you have been waiting FOREVER to get reviewed, and someone submitting their site today might not get reviewed for at least a couple months. If you're like us, we don't like waiting. It's like having your house for sale, and you have to keep it clean "just in case" someone wants to come look at it. You just know someone will be reviewing it SOMEDAY, right?

On that note, starting today, we'll be playing WILD CARD. In addition to the assigned blogs each of us reviewers will do, each of us reviewers will have the opportunity to choose a blog off the waiting list (at random) and do the review. It can happen any day of the week, any time of the day, whenever the mood strikes us.

Hope you catch us on a good day!

Philly Transplant

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Blog Being Reviewed: Philly Transplant
Reviewed By: Diva Dee

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At First Glance: I am totally raising my hand today because I'm ecstatically glad for A/C, and I think the whole Barry Bonds issue is overrated. He's an ass, and he's a cheater. That's all I will say about the subject. Except "GO A-ROD!"

Oh yeah, and my husband has a crush on Jessica Alba so he was happy to see me reviewing this blog today.

Template/Design: Again, a blogger template. Spark Duck, my dahlink, you have such flair and personality in your posts, yet you make do with a standard Blogger template. As far as this one goes, the sidebar seems too wide for my liking. Because its so wide, your links, blogroll, etc don't line up very well.

When your blogroll gets up to about 20 bloggers, it's time to make some changes. It takes up a lot of room in your sidebar, and the font makes it appear even longer. The same goes for your categories, or as the new Blogger likes to call them, LABELS. One place you can go to for help on how to do this is HERE.

Other than that, your blog is neat and tidy, and I am in OCD heaven.

Content: I love you, Sparky Duck. I seriously love you. I think we might even be soul mates. I have never met another blogger that shares so many of the same opinions I do on so many different subjects. Needless to say, you have most definitely found your way onto my blogroll.

For starters, I just bought this movie LAST NIGHT. My answer to this inquiry is YES, YES, YES, YES... If only I would have found your blog sooner, I would have known about this, too. Not only that, but I used to be addicted to this soap opera for YEARS.

Sparky Duck, I like your writing style. You don't ramble, you get to your point. As a reader, I still feel like I know exactly what you're trying to say. Does that make sense? You stand firm in your beliefs in everything from politics to what soap opera you watch, and you're just darn interesting to read.

What is the first thing I would change about this blog? Probably spice up the header of your blog. The white background is fine, but give the header a makeover.

What is the best feature of this blog? The writing. I have thoroughly enjoyed digging through your archives, and will continue to do so when I have the time.

Rating: 9... just do some renovation to the template. Other than that, it's all good.

Your Daily Starches

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Blog Being Reviewed: Your Daily Starches
Reviewed By: Diva Dee

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At First Glance: Holy hell, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the template!

Template/Design: Well, of course we love the template! It was designed by Tempation Designs, the same gal that did OURS! I likey. (If you're going to pay for a custom template, check out Tempation Designs. She's got quite a portfolio started up.) I would consider changing your font color to BLACK though. The orange on orangey-peach is a little hard to read.

No "About Me" or mission statement of any sort for this blog, but her Blogger profile sure makes her sound like a cool chick to hang with! She does write about her reasons for starting this blog here. The sidebar is neat and organized, thanks to her blog designer.

However, when you get to the "My Stuff" section, it starts to get a little cluttered. Links to pictures of her cats, a clock in case I forget what time it is, weather pixie, yahoo avatar, and it just keeps going. When she gets tired of putting stuff in her sidebar, she shoves a little more down at the bottom of the page. It's not horrible, but she's also added a little blurb of her own before each item. I'd get rid of that, because the font color you are using is NOT working for me. It's perfectly OK to not give a description for each of those graphics in your sidebar, because quite honestly the only people that will ever use them and/or pay any attention to them will be the blogger herself-- and ME. It's just part of my job, people.

Content: "Holy Facts of Life", I like her. I would like nothing more than to hang out with this gal for the afternoon. She just seems like fun. Although she's only been blogging since January, she's made a niche for herself in the blogging world. I MUST READ MORE! And so should you. Like this post. And I so agree with you on this post here.

What is the first thing I would change about this blog? Maybe clean up your sidebar a bit, but we've seen much worse.

What is the best feature of this blog? She's funny. If you're looking for a light-hearted read, this would be a good choice.

Rating: 9

CokSki Blue

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Blog Being Reviewed: CokSki Blue
Reviewed By: Diva Dee

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Edited 8/8/07: Since it was very clear in the comments section that I should have given this Vlog a "proper" review. Here goes:

At First Glance: Why am I being subjected to this shit? We got a little behind on our reviews, and so I was trying to catch up. I didn't want y'all stuck on our waiting list forever, because we can't pull our heads out of our asses! Now I know why we got behind... my poor cohorts just didn't want to review sites like this one.

I can sum up this blog in two words: YouTube videos.

Template/Design: TOO. FUCKING. BUSY. For now, I won't even worry about the videos, I'll just talk about the template.

We have a chat box, lists, more lists, quotes from readers, and God only knows what else you've got stashed in there. Not one, but TWO blogrolls. One is your "Daily Reads" and I guess the other is just people you feel like linking to? Why does all of this stuff have to be on your home page? I often wonder that about a lot of widgets and gadgets, and other mother-fudgets we see on blogs lately. Why your main page? Put them somewhere else. If we want to click through to read all of it, we can. Show your readers viewers some respect.

Your background is too dark for the black and white font colors you have chosen. Your font is too small, and its overpowered by a large-ass bottle of Coca-Cola shooting wacky crazy things out of it.
Oh wait... I guess there is his first post video. I'm sorry I can't link you to any specific post in his site, because he has neglected to instal any permalinks for me to do so. As far as the video goes, if the music wasn't so loud in the background, you might be able to better understand what he's trying to say. He proceeds to show clips of his cell phone, his video camera, a Coke machine... he indicates he will include jokes, "maybe some pickup lines"... oh JOY. I pretty much quit listening after that.

If you want to have a blog that reaches across the world, and is user-friendly no matter what our nationalty or background, you might want to WRITE IT OUT. Your English is not the easiest to understand, especially on a video camera microphone which is then downloaded into a site such as Blogger. It's not that clear, and quite frankly, isn't going to make many readers (or viewers) stick around.

Oh, and by the way, your Archive-- or *ahem* VIDEO LIBRARY needs to be put somewhere closer to the top of your sidebar. NOT stuck in the middle of chatboxes and Shitter Twitter.

Content: Ah, the video blog... or VLOG. I don't like them, because very few people possess the screen presence, camera capabilities, and the editing experience to be able to pull off a blog like this. Some of the videos I did watch looked like they were captured by Michael J. Fox or my 90-year old grandmother. Shaky camera action, baby. I tried closing my eyes and just listening to the videos, but the sound wasn't all that great, either. Again, I can't link you to any specific posts, because *sigh* no permalinks. Maybe I didn't look hard enough in the vast sea of blue.

What is the first thing I would change about this blog? Um, probably go back in my time machine, scream how much I dislike VLOGS, and tell him not to submit it.

What is the best feature of this blog? That he left the Blogger bar at the top of his template, and its easy for me to click "Next Blog."

Rating: 0 for the number of times I'll be returning.
I didn't find one thing about this blog remotely appealing, but I'll give it a 1 because even this Diva Bitch does have a heart.

Musings of a Chick

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Blog Being Reviewed: Musings of a Chick
Reviewed By: Diva Dee

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At First Glance: Based on the title of this blog, I was expecting something better.

Template/Design: Blogger template. BLAH. But since that seems to be the norm around here, I guess I need to find something else to bitch about. I had to check this site out in IE and in Opera, because in IE, the font is fucking HUGE. Pair that with a sidebar that goes on for miles, and we've got ourselves a monstrosity of a wreck here. I'll admit to being one of those rubberneckers that slows to down to check out an accident on the highway, which is why I feel compelled to stick around this blog. Just because I'm sure blood and fatalities will soon follow.

Why on God's green earth do bloggers feel it necessary to load up your sidebar with all this junk? There's lists, and then lists of lists. Buttons, blinkies, awards (hell, this gal has won awards?) It's too much clutter. Like I tell my kids: "You'd better get this shit cleaned up before your Dad gets home!!!"

Take some pride in your blog, girl! Tidy up around here, and move that shit to somewhere besides your home page. The archives are stuffed so far down in this hell hole of a sidebar, they were nearly impossible to find. I almost wish I hadn't found them at all. There's no "About Me" that I can find, except for describing herself based on a Frank Sinatra song. Sudiegirl, why not try desrcibing yourself in YOUR OWN WORDS?

Content: Oh my, this gal has been blogging for a long time. THREE YEARS? In blog-years, thats like a century. Maybe she should have stopped about 2.9 years ago, though. She has a real knack, though. A knack for quoting other people, linking to articles, and regurgitating news stories. What this blog LACKS is ORIGINAL writing, stuff just written by her. Oh its there, don't get me wrong-- but nothing I would choose to read if given the choice. This blog honestly reads like it was written by an 11-year old kid that forgot to take their Ritalin today. She very rarely gets through a post without going off on a tangent about something totally different.

Ritalin, my friend. Own it, love it. Don't forget to take it.

What is the first thing I would change about this blog? I could dig the knife in a little deeper and say 'Shut the fucker down' but I'll go ahead and be polite and say... Fix the template, and THEN shut the fucker down.

What is the best feature of this blog? Um, uh... *tapping my fingers while trying to think of something nice to say...

Sorry, I got nothin.'

Rating: 2

Things Mean A Lot

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Blog Being Reviewed: Things Mean A Lot
Reviewed By: Diva Dee

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At First Glance: Stainless Steel Droppings, Stuff As Dreams Are Made On, Novembrance, and now Things Mean A Lot... did y'all buddy up and submit your site at the same time? My head is spinning from too much knowledge at once. A blonde can only handle so much, ya know!

Template/Design: Finally a blogger that took the time to step away from the standard tired Blogger template, and venture out with a little of their own style. Too bad its the style of a 6 year old trying to dress in mommy's clothes. It's starting to resemble a MySpace page--- BUSY as all get out. Someone temporarily (like moi) stopping by doesn't know where the hell to look first. I have a sinking feeling that this blog would perfectly match the wallpaper and bedding that my daughter just picked out for her room. Hmmmm...

Moving on...the sidebars need to be cleaned up, and this is what I would suggest:

1. Create a separate post/link for your blogroll (or search Google on how to roll it up). 2. All the "reads" needs to be moved somewhere else, too. There is so much text in these sidebars, I am seriously overwhelmed. For example, put a link in the "About Me" section titled "Some of My Favorites." Then link it to ONE post which lists favorite short stories, favorite books, Authors, Music...
3. Change the text body of your posts to white or something lighter and different than the sidebars. Put the focus back on the WRITING.

Content: Her tagline says it all... "A place where I talk about books." Well, I'll be darned! At least she does have a theme, a plan, a guideline to tell us what she's going to be writing about.

Oh yes... the "Read More" link at the bottom of her posts. Joy, joy, joy. Just what I love to see. My mouse having to work even harder for me to read MORE about something I know nothing about, and probably never will.

Lord Have Mercy on my Diva soul... do I see some books that I've ACTUALLY READ? The Color Purple, To Kill A Mockingbird, Bridge to Terabithia-- the vice grip all you literary souls have put on my brain over the last several days is starting to loosen up a bit. I feel like I just gained a few IQ points here!

My dear, the content is good. You are a writer, and you are most definitely well-read. Like I told scary header graphic guy, I will not give you a low score simply because I have not read all of these books, and therefore have no freakin' CLUE what you are talking about. I will give you the benefit of the doubt, as I did with him, that you have read these books, and your opinion isn't full of hooey. IF I was someone more into reading something other than Chick Lit, I would probably love this blog and all the others we've previously reviewed. With that being said...

Rating: 7 - clean up your blog house, girl.

Novembrance

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Blog Being Reviewed: Novembrance
Reviewed By: Diva Dee

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At First Glance: Books. Meh... an intellectual blog.

Template/Design: It's tan, and it has books. Nothing wrong with it, but I think the author needs to breathe a little life into it. The best thing about it as I'm writing this review is the picture of her daughter. What a cutie!

So, the template is decent. Blogger template, but it sounds like this author spends too much time writing to worry something as unimportant as a template. Her sidebar is neat and tidy, and although she has been blogging for a awhile, she has kept her blogroll and categories under control-- meaning they aren't overwhelming my senses and keeping me from either seeing or reading her content.

Content: Wow. I sit here and wonder how this blogger finds the time to do everything? CIA-Nights, homeschooling, and reading--oh GAWD the reading this woman does! I will confess one thing: I love to read, but I feel like an idiot that the books she mentions are titles I've never even heard of before! Where have I been? Probably living under a rock, watching the dreaded TV. At least thats what she would say. She despises TV, with the exception of "Noggin; Mets games; and Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reruns.".

In addition to being a reading fanatic, she knits, she gardens (and I won't even go into what that summer squash looks like to ME), and whew! This gal wears me out. How in the world do you find the time to BLOG, woman?

The content is not my kinda reading, but I couldn't find anything that would make me hate it either. We are just two people with different interests, and I can't fault a gal for that. I did feel like many of her posts read like laundry lists, like she was writing everything she did that day simply because she needed something to post.

What is the first thing I would change about this blog? If it was ME, I would change the template, and spice up the writing a bit. She's a good writer, but nothing grabbed my attention and made me want to stay, either.

What is the best feature of this blog? Her kids seem happy!

Rating: 6

Boobs & Blogs-- A Good Combo! *sticky post*

*Scroll down for current posts.

We received this email from a past reviewee:

Hello ladies,

Awhile back you reviewed my site, Five Second Dance
Party, and I have a huge favor to ask of you. I know that you see a
lot of readers and you get a lot of traffic to your site. I was hoping that you
could help me out. If not, feel free to tell me to bug off, but it can't hurt to
ask, right?

I'm hosting a contest, a third version of a contest, called The
Blog-Off For Breast Cancer and the funds raised are split between the
winner and funding my portion of Seattle's Breast Cancer 3 Day Walk. I'm looking
for some more sites to flog the contest so that I can get as many entrants as
possible- it's a lot of fun and the previous two have been quite big successes.

If not, I completely understand, but if so, all the details are at my site http://fiveseconddanceparty.com
and also on a subdomain I've set up specifically for the contest - www.blog-off.fiveseconddanceparty.com Thank you so much for at least taking the time to read this email and if
you're not willing to help, that's fine, too, I just thought I'd ask!

Thank you girls! -Courtney

If you're interested in blogging for a good cause, be sure to go check out her site.

So a blonde walks into a blog

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Blog Being Reviewed: So a blonde walks into a blog
Reviewed By: Naughty Nina

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At First Glance: Excellent header! Pink writing on black – very chic. Cute character too - with her martini and pink handbag! And the disco ball – awesome!

This is a winning header people, even if it's not your flavor (it's so totally mine though) – you already get a feeling at first glance what kind of person you're going to encounter here… so listen to me now and believe me later, just like size - first impressions matter. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Template/Design:
THE AWESOME: The very informative about me section (so I can get to know her, love her or hate her in under five minutes) and her very pretty photo are exactly where they should be - up at the top where my eyeballs first land! Good on ya girl - I'm stickin' around!

THE GOOD: Her post area is really big and roomy and the soft pink edges keep your eyes focused on the middle section – no distractions from reading the juicy goodness inside.

THE BAD: I don’t like the font size or the too-light pink color of her links. This may sound picky, but it's important - the font is too small and hard to read – and with so much room on the post section it doesn’t need to be – can you make it bigger please so I can come back every day and not get a migraine from squinting? The pink color is awesome but it kind of hurts to look at it against the very white background – it just does goofy things with the eyeballs. A tiny bit darker shade of pink would totally help. Or maybe I just shouldn’t drink and blog.

THE UGLY: The dreaded side bar - Do fuck and fuckety-fuck-fuck mean anything to you? Cus they’re the first words that came to my potty mouth when I saw the sidebar! Gawd, girlfriend work with me will ya - I’m trying to love your blog here.

Your ten most recent posts section – so cutely named “blonde moments” and your archives – are WAY too far down the side bar underneath your vast collection of awards, pictures and other fluffy stuff that I could personally live without. And so should you. But if you must have them to honour your friends, loved ones or to promote your blogger status - at least put them at the bottom where we can go looking for them if we want. Readers are actually looking for your posts… not fluff.

Content: I LOVE this blogger and I want her for my very own best friend cus she’ll never talk about you behind your back, evil-eye your children while you’re not looking or sleep with your boyfriend – she’s cute and warm and kind and loving – it just oozes out of her writing. And it’s genuine - there’s not a fake or shallow bone in her body, you just know it. She’s got a lot of heavy stuff on her plate (work, family, schooling and lots of health issues) but carries it all like a champ, clings to her faith in God and still manages to find some light fun and the joy in the purchase of a new handbag. I heart her.

What is the one thing I would change about this blog? See bad and ugly above, twique it here and there and you’ve got yourself a perfect blogspot.

One wish I have for the author is that she'd stop apologizing for her ranting, raving and/or complainy or sad posts... she has a lot on her mind and her heart and in her life and that's what this blog is for - it's supposed to be her place to get it all out (good and bad) and not be sorry for doing it.

What is the best feature of this blog? I laid it all out under content above – This little blonde beauty is exactly that – a beauty - inside and out. And this is the post that told me that her and I were meant to be bff’s.

Rating: 9
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Everything and Nothing

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Blog Being Reviewed: Everything and Nothing
Reviewed By: Naughty Nina

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At First Glance: Before or after I got totally busted for blogging at work because there’s MUSIC on this blog and my speakers started blaring Savage Garden?

After that? Well Pink & purple are my favourite colors so I'll forgive the damn music. Great big ginormous (but really pretty) banner – so she's still on my good side at this point. Then there’s probably the longest side bar on the entire world wide web – I kid you not - loaded with awards, pictures, ads and other random stuff all in the wrong order – or no order at all – Yuck! Yuck and Holy Shit Yuck!

Oh well, so much for the thought of my very first good first impression. Better luck next time Nina!

Template/Design: Standard blogger two column template – which is totally enough in this case because if there was another one it would be loaded up with the rest of her awards and all the other cutsie things she didn’t have room to put on the first one.

There’s just WAY too much partying going-on on the side bar for me. Her “about me” and “archives” are completely lost somewhere in the middle of it all and I got annoyed (and dizzy) scrolling up and down trying to find them while her butterfly cursor, cute as it is, drove me nuts.

Content: Here’s the thing…this blog is written by a very nice British lady and her daily posts are well, very nice. But they’re a little - meh – dull for me. It could be the difference in culture here as well though as Brits have a different speaking style and carry themselves differently than North Americans. It’s not that she’s overly proper or anything like that but I would have enjoyed a few cuss words here and there and some cheeky humour in some of her posts. That’s just me though - she appears to have a lot of readers by the number of comments she gets so she must have somewhat of a following. She has several kids and a crap load of grandkids, and she travels, so there’s lots of posts about family and her adventures in traveling. Again, they're just - nice. She did write a thoughtful and moving biography of her grandmother and she’s links to it on her site - the intro made me cry, and I love a good cry.

What would I change about this blog: I would totally re-arrange the craziness on the side bar and send ALL those gay awards and pictures packing! That’s just me though… the author is very proud of them and so happy to get them, so she probably won’t remove them and that’s ok.

I would also continue to respond to all your comments as well, but do it at the end of each day in one comment rather than answer each one individually and take up the whole comment section with your own responses. That way your readers can come back the next day and see what you answered to theirs without having to read through the entire lot.

What is the best feature of this blog? The author is a sweet person and writes about her nice happy life – who can argue with or dis that? She’s positive and upbeat and those are great qualities in a world where people would rather just bitch and be negative. She posts nice play-by-plays and pictures from her vacations too – check out the “skinned chicken” towel sculpture she made for her hotel maids on this post… Do you see a chicken? I see double ended vagina. I'm just sayin'.


Rating: 5.5 – Because it’s not crappy, not awesome – it’s just nice.
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Harry McFry Investigates

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Blog Being Reviewed: Harry McFry Investigates

Reviewed By: Chatty Chicka
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At First Glance: The header is kinda cool. This is a "blook"... Did I just make that up, or is it a real word? Anyways, it's a book/blog. 130 chapters thus far, and the author is on vacation for a bit.

Template/Design: I'm not lovin' the design here because there is so much stuff on the 2 sidebars, that it distracts me from the story. I'm not gonna even comment on all the award thingies. I know you love 'em. You know I hate 'em. 'nuff said. Three things I need to comment on as far as the template goes, and then we'll move on. One) The author's "About Me" section is stuck down on the bottom of the 3rd column, far below where I would normally expend any effort looking for it. Two) The archives are filed by WEEK, which only makes them longer, and there's absolutely no need for it. Three) One thing I like is a link at the TOP of the 3rd column directing you to Chapter 1 of the story, in case you are a new reader. I like this.

Content: Here is where I get bogged down, and it's entirely my fault. He's a good writer. Very clear and concise and written in that "hard-boiled detective" fashion reminiscent of Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler. The problem for me is that I do not enjoy hard-boiled detective literature. For detective stories, I like John Sandford, Patricia Cornwell, and F. Paul Wilson. I have to confess I didn't read the whole story. I live by the motto, "So Many Books, So Little Time" and so I don't read stories that I can't get into. That doesn't mean this isn't a good story. I urge you, reader, to go check it out. Never pass up an opportunity to read a good book, or a good "blook", as it were.

What is the first thing I would change about this blog?: I'd switch to a two column template, move the "About Me" section up to the top, choose a different archive setting on your template, and move those blog awards farther down the side bar.

What is the best feature of this blog?: I'm gonna go with the story here. Just because it doesn't interest me doesn't mean it's not a good story. He has some faithful commenters, and lots of subscribers.

Rating: 7, because he's a good writer, with a crappy template.

Stainless Steel Droppings

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Blog Being Reviewed: Stainless Steel Droppings

Reviewed By: Chatty Chicka
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At First Glance: Oh God, who turned out all the fucking lights? Ok, now that my eyes have adjusted, it's not so bad. I kinda dig the header, and people this blog's layout is clean and neat as a whistle! The orange-on-black is hurting my eyes a bit, but my middle name ain't "Forge Bravely Onward" for nothing.

Template/Design: Wow, I do like the design of this blog. But dude? Move the archives UP, UP, UP!! Nobody, and I can't stress this enough, NOBODY wants to hunt for the archives. I personally, will leave a blog immediately if I can't click around easily. Again, the orange-on-black is a bit off-putting, but not so much that I wouldn't read, if I get interested in what you're saying...

Content: Which I'm not, so much. Interested, that is. Not that what you write is not COMPLETELY worthwhile. Because you totally seem to know what the heck you are doing. Let me start over.... This blogger is a reviewer of books, movies, music, comics... And he is GOOD at what he does. I read several reviews for each category, and thoroughly enjoyed what I read. Along the way, he throws in a post or two about something specific and non related to the rest of the blog, or about nothing at all, just yapping. I like those posts best. The reason this blog doesn't hold my interest is, the guy is seriously into science fiction. And I am not so much. I do enjoy Laurell K. Hamilton and Kelley Armstrong, but that's about the extent of my foray into to science fiction.

What is the first thing I would change about this blog?: If I could change anything I wanted, I would make the blog-post background white, the font black, and you still got the black overall background. Much easier on the eyes. Also, I'd move the archives up. Hell, while I'm at it, I'd like him to review some books in other genres, maybe detective fiction, courtroom drama, thrillers, medical mysteries, and just for shits and giggles, a smidgen of romance.

What is the best feature of this blog?: The absolute WEALTH of information on books, movies, music, and of course, if anyone is interested, comics. He works hard at this, folks. And he does an excellent job, methinks.

Rating: 8.5, because the problems with this blog are minor, and he's totally performing a great public service.