why i enjoy blogging....

if you haven't noticed before, i'm becoming quite a fan of listing reasons why i like things.  i think it's fun, and i may make it a weekly post - my weekly list!  i like lots of things, lots of people, lots of places, lots of lots.... so it really won't be too hard to post a weekly like-list.  it just may catch on!

this week i really want to talk about why i like blogging.  i get so excited to blog everyday (even though some days posting simple escapes me due to lack of time) and i really love reading comments left on each post.  so, without further ado.... my top reasons why i enjoy blogging!

1.  blogging is such an outlet of energy.  seriously! i can have so many thoughts spinning through my mind about so many different subjects, things that need to be done, products that i love - i can type it all out so quick and efficiently and my mind will settle and i can relax!  alot of times i wake up in the middle of the night and can't sleep.  if you ever check my time stamp for blog posts, you may very well find some late night posts, comments, tweets, hops.... and then i'm able to fall back asleep!

2.  networking.  i love making new friends to talk with about different things i enjoy - cloth diapers, blogging (of course), raising children, hair bows, winning giveaways.... pretty much all the things that Caleb is tired of hearing me talk about!  i have made some great online pals since i started seriously blogging six short months ago.  i look forward to seeing their comments, their emails, their tweets, their daily encouragements to me!  i have a network of friends that i can ask questions of, some with children amelia's age, some with children older that i can solicit experienced advice from!  i enjoy reading these girls' blogs every day and seeing pictures of their beyond adorable little ones!  while i've never actually met these lovely ladies, i feel like i can count on them for great advice, and a cyber-shoulder to cry on when i'm feeling down.  as often as we move in the Marine Corps, i know that i will live close to each of these ladies at some point and could eventually blossom our online friendship to a "real-life" weekly coffee date relationship!

3.  product reviews and giveaways.  i'm going to be completely honest here, i love the "free" stuff.  while i am technically paying by giving the product a detailed description, review and free advertisement to my readers for the sponsor, it's still a product that i am excited to have in our home that we may not would have had otherwise.  we lived on one income for the first six months after amelia was born, and we pinched hard!  now that i'm working full time as a nanny, we can loosen our belt a little, but not alot.  diapers, toys, clothes, books.... it all adds up fast!!  i am immensly thankful to those companies out there that have sponsored such great reviews and giveaways on my blog and allowing amelia to have some really fun and functional products in her early stages of life!  plus, i love being able to give back to my readers - i always try to push for a giveaway to match with the review so you can win, too!

4.  unlimited cuteness.  i love babies.... i love my baby amelia of course, but i adore those chunky thighs, gummy grins, fluffy butts - i can't get enough!  while i most definitely do not have baby fever whatsoever, i can live vicariously though other blogs with those oh-so-adorable pictures of their little ones!  in addition to all these beautiful baby pictures, have you seen how completely trendy blogging is with custom designs?? i totally jumped on that bandwagon and i adore my blog.  i have favorites out there - from total designs to headers to buttons to post dividers and signatures.  the list is really never-ending.  i chose courtney from not so homemade as my blog designer and was thrilled with her creativity!  i love all the aspects of design for blogging and how they all fall into place together to really express your blog in art.

blogging is alot of fun, a great hobby and it's alot of fun to make connections you never thought you would (post coming on that later!!).  do you have a blog? i'd love to follow and network with you as well - you never know where you will find a friend :)