Blogger Spotlight: Veronica Utz

And now for a spotlight that is a fun change from the usual.  Today's blogger is Ronni, and she is a graphic designer!  I always find these kind of professions interesting - mainly because I know NOTHING about it.  So anyone who does online design stuff is pretty much a superhero smarty pants to me.  If you look at her website, you'll find an awesome portfolio of work.  The blog portion of her website is super fun as well!

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Name

Veronica Utz

Location

Philadelphia, PA

Kids

2 very crazy boys (aren't they all!)

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor

Mint chocolate chip

Favorite BAD band (boy bands, one hit wonder, etc)

I listened to Stevie B when I was in high school in the early 90s. Awful stuff but you know I would be belting it out in my car if it came on the radio!

Best place you've ever vacationed

Tough one-I'd have to say my Honeymoon in Rivera Maya mostly because of the circumstances. 10 day vacation before kids. The hubby and I sigh and get glassy eyed when talking about those days of glorious relaxation!

How long have you been blogging?

January of 2011

Why did you choose your blog's name/theme?

My blog is an extension of my business- Veronica Utz Graphic Design and babyBdesigns

Why did you start blogging?

3 reasons:

• Blogging is a great way for designers to not only share the work we have done, but to share the why we did things a certain way. There is a lot of thought behind good design.
• I do a lot of work for businesses and individuals that I am proud to design for and I love to share their stories about what they do and how we designed something to promote them. 
• So much gorgeous art and design in the world! I love to share what I find!!

What are you 3 favorite blog posts?

It's really hard to choose! I chose two of these because they informative and one is sentimental. Please peruse the blog to get an idea of my fabulous clients and my design style.

How To Choose a Graphic Designer

What I Learned in 2011

Memories of Mother

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I hope you enjoyed Ronni's  interview, and are inspired by her creativity and design flair!  To see more Blogger Spotlights, you can check them out here.

Blogger Spotlight: Debi9Kids

Happy Friday!  I have some fun Valentine's Day ideas I will be posting about later today, but I first wanted to share another great Blogger Spotlight with you.


One of the reasons we love bloggers is that we get to hear their story. Debi9Kids has an amazing life story - first, in how she came to be the mother of nine (YES NINE!) kids, as well as the journey through infidelity in her marriage.  Courage, strength and hope are the common threads woven within Debi's blog.  
It speaks to all those who have faced difficulty in our lives and risen above the ashes in victory.


Thanks, Debi, for sharing with us today!

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Name

Debi9kids (this is my "internet" name :)

Location

Central Pennsylvania, in the middle on no where

Kids

9 kids, 3 girls & 6 boys

David- 18, Stephanie- 17, Gabi- 17, Alex- 14, Teddy- 13, Henry- 12, Keith- 10, Emma & Will- 5

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor

Chocolate although it really depends on my mood. (I'd much prefer ice cream with toppings)

Favorite BAD band (boy bands, one hit wonder, etc)

This stumped me. I've never really listened to "boy bands" and any bad bands I listened to when I was younger, I can't stand now. Maybe The Hooters ???

Best place you've ever vacationed :

Teepee camping in the Grand Canyon (although our entire cross country trip was 

awesome!)

How long have you been blogging?

Since 2006

Why did you choose your blog's name/theme?

My blog is called Who Says 8 is Enough because 8 wasn't enough, so we had nine :)

Why did you start blogging?

I started because I was on bedrest while pregnant with my twins and wanted to document it as well as later wanted to share photos and stories with family and friends.

What are you 3 favorite blog posts?

• A Peek Inside Will's World (back story: my son Will is autistic)
• What Infidelity Does to a Woman (back story: in August 2010 I found out my husband was having an affair. We're still married and reconciling.)
• Why I Do What I Do (back story: one of my dear friends lost her twin daughter to cancer and raising awareness is now my mission)

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I always say this, but I truly believe we have so much we can learn from one another. Even more so, sharing our stories help us to connect with others who need encouragement and support in the same areas.   I hope the more you get to know these bloggers through the Spotlight series, you'll find encouragement and support in ways you never knew you needed.

To "meet" all the Bloggers that have been Spotlighted so far, CLICK HERE.

Check back today for some fun Valentine's Day treats!

Blogger Spotlight: Caitlin Sigler Knight

Another day, another blogger!  


Caitlin, today's blogger, brings us her unique blog.  She is a language teacher, and her blog focuses on language, culture and (most importantly), raising global awareness.  Quite a change from the ordinary!


Intrigued? Read on!

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Name


Caitlin Knight of Raising Global Kids

Location 


Ardmore, PA in the heart of Philadelphia's Main Line





Kids

Girls, girls and more girls! Three littles and two bigs - we have a 2, 4 and 6 year old, and a 16 and 18 year old (although I didn't give birth to oldest two, tee hee!) People always assume we're a nuclear family, which I love because we're so close, but then I wonder - do they think I was a teenage mother, or do I just look old?





Favorite Ice Cream Flavor


Cookies and cream all the way, baby!


Favorite BAD band (boy bands, one hit wonder, etc) 


I love Green Day - even though I've heard them referred to as the "gag reflex band". I've loved them since Dookie - "Welcome to paradise!"

Best place you've ever vacationed



I have to say I totally fell in love with the Dominican Republic. I went there with my family when I graduated from college way back when and have never been back, but would really love to go again. All these dang kids make it too expensive to travel these days! [;)]


How long have you been blogging? 


Just over a year. I still feel like a newbie. [:)]

Why did you choose your blog's name/theme? 



As a language teacher, I am passionate about other cultures and traditions; I want my children to grow up with a global awareness and appreciation for diversity. I am always on the lookout for ways to bring the world to my kids right here at home - because of the aforementioned financial challenges of traveling the world with a large family - and I love to share our experiences and ideas with my readers.


Why did you start blogging? 


On a very personal level, I started blogging to hold myself more accountable to my ideals in the day to day "drudgery" of parenting small children, working and keeping up with the laundry. It's too easy to lose sight of your purpose when you can't even find time for a shower. Blogging keeps me on track. On the business side of things, it's just smart to be blogging. I don't necessarily try to sell my language classes on my blog, but you don't have to dig very deep to find information about what I do. It all ties in together into a nice neat little bow.

What are you 3 favorite blog posts? 

I love this interview of my daughter after her first theater experience: http://www.raisingglobalkids.com/the-borrowers-at-the-arden-theatre/



There's an important message for families in this one regarding teaching your children the significance of Martin Luther King's work in a real and tangible way:http://www.raisingglobalkids.com/was-your-mlk-day-a-day-off-or-a-day-on/

And my all time favorite vlog with my special little girls. My daughters are so proud to share their lovely locks with a child suffering from medical hair loss. They inspired me so much, I decided to join them! Watch, as we “surprise” you with our donations! :http://www.raisingglobalkids.com/locks-of-love-kids/


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I hope you enjoyed learning more about Caitlin and her blog. Continue to be inspired as I feature more bloggers each week. Click here to see previous Blogger Spotlights!

Blogger Spotlight: Amy from Occupation:Mommy

I am excited to bring you another great Philly blogger who I think many of you will be able to relate to.  Amy has 4 kids, and covers anything and everything on her blog, Occupation:Mommy.  I love that she gives the encouragement to EMBRACE parenthood - which I need encouragement on DAILY. And, really, anyone who still has a shred of sanity while tending to four kids, maintaining a reasonable household AND blogs?  


A+ in my book.


Here is Amy's interview!

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Name

Amy

Location

Philly suburbs

Kids

I have four kids: Audrey, our fifth grader, Georgia, our second grader, Sydney, 4-and-a-half (very important, she tells people all.the.time), and Joel, 20 months.

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor

Mint chocolate chip. Or anything with brownies or cookie dough mixed in it. Thanks, now I'm hungry!

Favorite BAD band (boy bands, one hit wonder, etc)

I only like good bands ;)

Best place you've ever vacationed

We are Disney freaks. My hubby and I had our honeymoon in Disney World, and our oldest has already been there four times! But a few years ago, before I got pregnant with my fourth, my husband and I took a little trip to San Francisco without the kids. It was so much fun to have a couple of days of grown-up time! So I guess my answer would be either somewhere to have fun with the whole family, or else somewhere for just some time with the two of us. That really narrows it down, huh?

How long have you been blogging? 

I started blogging four years ago this month.

Why did you choose your blog's name/theme? 

My blog's name, Occupation: Mommy, comes from all those times in the doctor's office or at the kids' school when I was filling out paperwork that asked for my occupation. I always hated listing "homemaker" because I am not so great at the housekeeping aspect of being a stay-at-home mom. So I started writing "Mommy" on the forms. My goal is to embrace motherhood, encourage mommies, and evade laundry. Because what's really important? The time spent with these little people. The laundry, while essential, will never be done. But far too soon our children will be grown and I want to take advantage of this time.

Why did you start blogging? 

I had been reading blogs for a while, and I finally decided that I wanted to get in on all the fun. It seemed like a great way to meet people while being a stay-at-home mom. I also love that it is a fun way to document my kids' childhoods without the hassle of scrapbooking (which I loved but have nooooo time for). It's a way for me to build a supportive community. 

What are your 3 favorite blog posts?

• Rocking
• What Kind of Mommy Do You Want to Be?
• Disciplining Toddlers

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Fun times!  Amy also runs a review blog, Occupation:Mommy Review, which is a great resource for parents.  To read previous Bloggy Spotlights, you can find them here.

More spotlights to come - and have a great weekend!

Blogger Spotlight: Jamie H

Whew!  It's been a while since I featured a blogger (we'll blame it on the chaos of the holidays and then post-holiday burn out). But, being apart of the Philly Social Media Moms, I'm bursting at the seams with so many great bloggers to share with you.  So I couldn't wait any longer!

I am really impressed with Jaime, today's blogger, and her blog, James and Jax.  She has done something not many people are willing to do: be honest, raw and open about her life as a parent. In particular, she shares her experience with Postpartum Depression, which in turn has become a great light of encouragement and hope to other parents out there.

Read on to learn more about Jaime!

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Name

Jaime H, aka “James”

Location 

New Jersey-born & bred

Kids

I have one son, age 2, aka “Jax.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor

Easy—Breyers Mint Chocolate Chip, hands down! It’s a classic. Runner-up—Ben & Jerry’s Chunky Monkey.

Favorite BAD band (boy bands, one hit wonder, etc)

At the risk of sounding egotistical, I have excellent taste in music! No boy bands or one-hit wonders here! I am one of the few who never loved NKOTB, In Sync, or Backstreet Boys. Sorry. (Note/confession: I did, however, obsess over Madonna & Whitney Houston in the 80s.)

Best place you've ever vacationed

Paris. It’s just my style—laid back, romantic, elegant, classic, stylish. Wait—that isn’t my style at all! Those are qualities I aspire to someday have!

How long have you been blogging?

Since September 2010. I still consider myself a newbie!

Why did you choose your blog's name/theme?

I struggled with coming up with my blog’s name. I had a whole page of scribbled names. It was awful. Finally, I decided on James & Jax because those are my and my son’s nicknames and they flow so well together. As for the theme, see the next question!

Why did you start blogging?

I started blogging as a way to heal from postpartum depression and anxiety through writing. I’ve always found writing to be therapeutic and have spent 26 of my 34 years doing it in one form or another. In fact, I still have my first diary, written when I was 8 years old. Blogging came naturally to me, even though I was terrified to put my thoughts out there in public—especially for family and friends to read! I’m happy to say, though, that blogging through my postpartum depression has been crucial to my recovery and as a bonus, I’ve met a wonderful support network of women who are struggling or recovering! We are a sisterhood!

What are your 3 favorite blog posts? 

I Barely Remember My PPD

Parenting is Just Like College

Conquer Anxiety

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Jaime's blog is a great resource and an inspiration to all Moms, so I hope you'll check in with her regularly!  More bloggers to come - but in case you've missed the past Spotlights, you can read them here.  

Have a great day!

Blogger Spotlight: Mychal B

I am loving these blogger spotlights!  Today's blogger is special, mainly because I've known her for a long time!  Mychal and I went to high school together (GO WARRIORS!), dare I say were in the Marching Band together (TMI?), and though we lost tough after she graduated, we now live, quite literally, 3 minutes from each other. Random, right?  It's been fun to reconnect with Mychal.  I love her blog because it's real, and she tells it like it is!

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Name  Mychal B. Location  Kennett Square, PA Kids I have two boys that continue to drive me crazy day after day. At 3 and 5 they have me saying things I never thought I'd say and doing things I never thought I'd do. I am their mother and their referee.  Favorite Ice Cream Flavor?  That changes depending on my mood, but I prefer flavors with chunks of cookie in them. My usual suspects are cookies and cream, mint chocolate chip, and chocolate chip cookie dough, but I have been known to branch out when something strikes my fancy.  Favorite BAD band (boy bands, one hit wonder, etc)  I don't really have a favorite bad band per say, it's more favorite bad songs. Ice Ice Baby anyone?  Best place you've ever vacationed?  Our honeymoon cruse to the Caribbean was probably the best vacation I've ever had, but Maui will always hold a special place in my heart. I've been there probably more than 10 times and could never get tired of it.  How long have you been blogging?  I've been blogging a little more than two years, although not as regularly as I would like. I'm trying to work on that though.  Why did you choose your blog's name/theme?  I chose the name, My Life In Mommyland because I wanted to tell my story. I'm living here in Mommyland, stumbling through each day and this is my life. It's a life I never thought I would have since I'm not really a huge fan of kids and all.  Why did you start blogging?  I started blogging as a form of therapy. My kids do some crazy things and I wanted to share them with the rest of the world. My thought was that if I can make one mother feel less alone out there I'd be doing some good in the world. Before blogging I felt so isolated, I needed to reach out to other mothers and see that their problems are the same as my own.  What are you 3 favorite blog posts?  I like this post because it was the first time I really shared what my husband does. He doesn't have a typical job, in fact there aren't many who do what he does. http://mylifeinmommyland.com/2011/07/my-name-is-mychal-and-im-a-turf-wife/ My little guy, Logan has always been a bold child. This post is from two years ago and it still makes me laugh to think back on that day. http://mylifeinmommyland.com/2009/10/dont-leave-your-child-unattended-even-for-a-second/ One of my more recent posts about Cameron starting Kindergarten. I still can't believe how fast the time has gone. http://mylifeinmommyland.com/2011/09/kindergarten-adventures-part-1/

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Intrigued about what Mychal's husband does?  Or perhaps the mishaps her son had on the bus during his first day of kindergarten?  Head over to My Life in Mommyland and read more!  

I hope you have found new blogs and bloggers to love.  Missed the last few spotlights? Catch up here!

Blogger Spotlight: Carrie from Making Lemonade

Whew!  Took some time off from Spotlighting to take care of some household business. BUT, I'm BACK and ready to inspire you with more bloggers! Today's Blogger, Carrie, has a blog I've really come to love!  Not only do I find great recipes, craft and household ideas from Carrie (SO MANY GREAT IDEAS - seriously, check out Carrie on Pinterest - I'm constantly inspired), but it's been fun to get to  "know" her through her posts (including the traumatic birth of her daughter). The breezy and welcoming design of her blog is echoed in the voice of her writing.  Read more about Carrie and Making Lemonade below!

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Name

Carrie from 

Making Lemonade

Location

Philly 'burbs

Kids 

"Noodle", 3 years old and "Bee", 1 year old

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor

Cake Batter Swirl (from Merrymead, a local dairy farm)

Favorite BAD band

New Kids on the Block.  What can I say?  I grew up in Boston.

Best place you've ever vacationed

We consider the Outer Banks our second home.  We stay south of Nags Head, on Hatteras Island in a village called Avon.  All it takes is one day of being there for us to totally decompress (okay, three days once we had kids and brought them with us).  For sheer amazingness, Maui ranks #1.  We hope to go back someday and relive our honeymoon.  Another place we loved was Telluride, Colorado-- but in the summer because we don't ski.  You MUST see the view from the gondola as you descend into the village.  Takes your breath away.  So, that was three places.  I broke the rules.  ;-)

How long have you been blogging? 

Just over two years.

Why did you choose your blog's name/theme?  

When my daughter's umbilical cord ruptured during delivery, it turned everything we knew upside down.  Instead of this perfect world of naps and bottles and playdates, we now how to navigate NICU life, feeding tubes, and dozens of monthly appointments.  Instead of wallowing in it, we tried to find the bright side-- and that got us through quite a few dark days!  Making Lemonade was the natural choice for a blog name, and as for a theme I call it "a lifestyle blog."  Mostly I blog about ways to continue to live a lovely life, but for less.  That means recipes, DIY projects, activities for the kids, great deals, and a healthy dose of humility in a series I call "Mommy Misadventures".

Why did you start blogging?  

I started blogging a month before I knew I was pregnant with my son, baby #2.  I thought it would be a good way to let my creative juices flow during my daughter's naps, keep me on track by getting me out and doing things, and continue to write-- which is a hobby I've never had time to explore.  That entire sentence became a joke when my son was born-- trust me, blogging and DIY projects are rarely what I do when one of them naps!  Instead I've carved out time to blog at night and decompress, connecting with others and managing to post about 1/10 the ideas that are in my head.  What I never expected were the friendships I'd form through blogging; how it's gotten me out of my shell and allowed me to "meet" friends all over the place and share a bit of their culture and daily life experiences as well.

What are you 3 favorite blog posts?

Two Year Ago Today

Mommy Misadventures: The Library

Perfect Summer Cocktail 

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Thanks to Carrie for sharing a bit about her life and her blog.  I hope you are finding new blog friends through these spotlights, and new inspiration as well!  More to come!  Click here to read the previous Blogger Spotlights.

Blogger Spotlight: Kelly Raudenbush

Another great local blogger spotlight for you today!  If any of you have a heart for adoptions, then this blogger is right up your ally.  I was excited to stumble across Kelly and her blog, as we've both been involved with Young Life in the past, and I knew her immediately from her maiden name.  Her blog is inspirational, as well is her non-profit and small business work: all for great causes! 

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I can now officially testify that writing and editing bios for other people is ten times easier (and much more interesting) than writing a bio about myself. But, alas, I'm going to quit being virtually sheepish and just do it. I'm Kelly--though it seems like I am called "mama" way more often than Kelly. We live in Phoenixville, PA -- my husband Mark and me and our crew of 4 kids who often seem like many more. Fortunately for my anal retentive self, we managed to get a good pattern here -- boy (9), girl (7), boy (5), girl (2). We cheated a little though--our youngest was adopted from China at the age of 13 months old.


 I started blogging in 2008 when we were bunkering down for a long wait during our adoption process and I found myself enjoying passing the time stalking adoption bloggers' sites. It took me a while to really get hooked on it though--took me a while to realize I did have some blog-worthy things to say even if I had less than 10 followers. 3 years later, our daughter home now and fully entrenched in the family, a small business, another website for adoptive families, a nonprofit, and a couple hundred followers later, I have realized I have a whole lot to say.


My Boy Girl Boy Girl Boy Girl blog is getting ready for a bit of a renovation. That title is a bit of a mouthful. Saying it, I occasionally add an extra "boy girl" which results in just a wee bit of a panic attack. So, I'm transitioning to a title that sums me up quite well -- I Overthink Everything. My blog pretty much proves that. And, my husband would confirm that as well.


Blog posts I've loved? Oh, there's so many. And, how do I decide when I overthink everything? Guess they'd probably include this one that tells the story of us accepting the referral for our daughter and deciding to move forward to bring her home. This one is simply some mommy thoughts for her first-born daughter. And, this one seems to capture my children's childhoods in simple images. What mama wouldn't love that?


 And, I have to invite you all on over for something special happening now through Christmas--something I'm calling Purposeful Giveaways. I've got some giveaways lined up--like a whole lot of giveaways scheduled. For the first week starting 10/31, there will be one everyday. After that, one giveaway every other day until Christmas. All will be highlighting someone selling something for a purpose, a cause, something worth supporting. This season, I'm thinking I want to shop with purpose -- and that doesn't require any overthinking. Come join me.

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I hope you find Kelly's blog as heart-warming as I do, and can rally with her as she rally's for adoption!  I also hope you are finding new blogs to welcome into your rotation :)


If you missed the past Blogger Spotlights, you can find them here.  


Check back for more Blogger Spotlights later this week!