Ultimate Blog Party 2011

Welcome last minute Ultimate Blog Partiers!  I'm Jen, the crazy voice in your head behind Dear Mommy Brain.  A few fun facts about me...  I am an obsessive compulsive, slightly crunchy, real food loving, aspiring frugalista, wanna-be clean freak, struggling intellectual, guilt-ridden working mom fighting through the fog of mommy brain.  Oh, and a procrastinator.  Obviously.

Some things you will read about at Dear Mommy Brain...

Eating.  But don't be expecting anything particularly resembling a recipe.  I do my best to provide a vague outline of what I'm doing, but honestly I don't even know half the time.  I'm a "that looks about right" kinda cook.  And if something turns out well, I'll share it with you.  I'm also a meal planning nazi.  As a working mom, it is absolutely necessary to meal plan for the sake of my sanity, but I don't know why I didn't do it before.  It's made my life like 432% easier.

Simple Savings.  I LOVE saving money, but honestly, I'm over the drugstore game.  It's too much work and Walgreens has just broken my heart too many times.  So I'm always looking for easy ways to satisfy my frugal addiction with readily available, environmentally conscious supplies.  And I like to share these ideas...  Because I'm no hoarder.

Tackling Debt.  Follow me on my journey to clear over $11,000 worth of consumer debt in 12 months.  It's going to be a bloody battle.

Plus, as a bonus, you get to read about all my failed attempts at being a crafty, organized, put-together mom.  **Guaranteed to make you feel better about your life.**

Why do I feel like I'm selling a Life Time Magazine subscription??

So, grab yourself a big Dr Pepper and settle in to stumble through the dizzying world of Dear Mommy Brain.

What I've learned from other bloggers...

I actually started my first blog back in 2007 as a way to stay in touch with family and friends.  And honestly, I had no idea what blogging was all about.  I began each post with something like, "Last weekend we..."  But I was happy with my online journal.  (Which I actually still update on occasion.)  I use it as a way to remember what I did two weeks ago.  Or to document the munchkin's milestones...  Because I have yet to write anything in her baby book.  I'm such a horrible mother.

But my blogging world changed when I found The Pioneer Woman last year.  (I obviously live under a rock to have not known about her earlier.)  I became smitten with her witty banter, beautiful photography, and Ethel Merman impressions.  And I wanted to be like her.  Well, maybe not so much on the impressions...

From there, I began to explore other blogs.  And found an entire world (aka the blogosphere) of people doing the same thing.  It was overwhelming.  There are 516,362 blogs on any subject matter imaginable!  And I thought, "Why couldn't there be 516,363?"

My first attempt was a big bomb.  I never really did believe in the concept and more importantly, I didn't believe in myself.  Who would want to read what I have to say??  What do I know??

A year later, I still can't say that people will want to read what I have to say, but I've definitely learned a few things from trolling the blogosphere.  Wow, that sounds kinda stalker-ish...

1.  I'M NOT ALONE.  It's nice to know that there are people out there that are saying what you're thinking.  When I read Heather's posts at Dooce, I just can't help myself from laughing out loud...  because her words are so true.

2.  BE REAL.  Just like reading a novel, I want to be connected with the characters.  I love reading posts about Kristen's kids (@ The Frugal Girl) or Julia's job (@ Work, Wife, Mom, Life).  I wouldn't be as interested in what they have to say if I didn't see them as real people.

3.  RELAX.  Sure structure is good.  But my last blog was so structured and I was so obsessed about staying "on topic," it lacked any personality.  So, I'm going to try to keep my OCD in check this time. 

4.  EVOLVE.  Honestly, I don't know where this blog will go.  Right now, it's very heavy on cooking.  Which I love.  Preparing delicious, wholesome food is my biggest passion.  But next month, there might be a greater emphasis on frugal living.  Or sewing.  Or parenting.  Or motorcycle maintenance.  Well, probably not that.  But being a mom means wearing many hats, so it's not out of the realm of possiblity that I'd have to perform motorcycle maintenance someday.  If the hubbs ever convinces me to allow him to purchase a motorcycle, that is.