This week’s Meet & Greet Blogger is Chelsea from Someday I’ll Learn.

Your Name: Chelsea Day

Where do you blog? Tell us a little about you: I’m a marketing consultant and new mom living in San Diego with my husband. I run the family blog Someday I’ll Learn, which is all about tackling domestic life…one day at a time!

How did you decide what to name your blog?: When we settled down just out of college, I was pretty clueless about domestic issues and frequently found myself declaring, “Someday I’ll learn!” Now, I’m having fun learning new things daily.

What are your favorite things?

• Crème brûlée

• My son’s laugh
• Red-eye coffee
• Mod podge
• The color yellow

What are you least favorite things?

• Porcelain dolls
• Freeway overpasses (I always feel like I’ll just go careening off!)
• Blood
• Poor grammar
• Dishes

When and why did you start blogging?: I moved to San Diego in 2009 and didn’t know anyone. I spent a lot of time browsing other blogs and felt the urge to create one for our own family. It’s been an incredible experience and I’ve actually made friends with quite a few bloggers in real life as a result.

What do you blog about?: Someday I’ll Learn offers personal insights and shortcuts for cooking, cleaning, parenting, organization and more. I aim to simplify life for other busy parents with helpful tips and a healthy dose of reality.

What does your family think of your blog? Do they read it?: My family has been incredibly supportive, and most of them read the blog every day. My husband, Nate, is a contributor. Everyone loves his sense of humor!

When do you find the time to blog?: Good question. Uhhh…I don’t sleep a whole lot.

What is your favorite blog post ever?: I Have PTSD is the most personal post I’ve written. It was difficult, but I’m proud of myself for putting it out there and being a voice of encouragement for other people to share their own stories.

What has been your biggest blogging challenge?: Staying authentic and true to my own voice while working with brands to monetize the blog. Someday I’ll Learn has transformed from a little family blog into an at-home job, but it’s still a space for my own personal reflections. Balancing those interests and keeping my priorities straight takes conscious effort.

What advice would you give a new blogger?: Make friends! I’ve found so many supportive people in the blogosphere. It can be isolating initially to sit at home and put your ideas out there without a ton of feedback. Join blogging groups and converse with other people.

What widget or feature could you not live without?: LinkWithin I love being reminded of past, related posts that I had completely forgotten about!

What are your favorite blogs to read?:

The Mama Mary Show

Heather Drive

Mommy Loves Coffee

Ooph

Where can we find you?:

Facebook

Twitter

Google+

Feed/Email

Your Name: Amy

Where do you blog? Mi Savings Mama

How did you decide on what to name your blog.  It was suppose to start off as a Money Savings Blog and I live in Michigan, So it was only fitting to have it MI (for Michigan) and Savings.  When I went to wordpress, I then had to find a different name because misavings.com was already taken.

When and why did you start blogging? I started blogging over a year ago.  It was my out from daily life.  My husband played video games at night and I needed something to keep my self occupied, so I started a blog.

What do you blog about? I started blogging about savings and then realized that you can save money by using coupons, but you can also save money by just buying the right product.  So I started doing Reviews on my blog.

What does your family think of your blog? Do they read it? My family really doesnt read it – Most of the time.  They do support me in doing it – and my friends make sure to keep me on track when it comes to posting.

When do you find the time to blog? Finding time is the Hardest thing for me to do.  I work 2 jobs plus I am a mom, So it tends to be later at night after the lil guy goes to bed.

What is your favorite item you ever reviewed? My favorite Review Item was Flip Flop Wines.  Not because it is wine, but because of the great people I had helping me review it!

What brand or product would you really like to work with/review? I would really love to review a Dyson.  I have wanted one for years.  That is my “holy Grail” of reviews.  I would also love to work with KitchenAid on reviewing one of their mixers!

What has been your biggest blogging challenge, how did you overcome it? I transferred my own blog from blogger to word press.  That was probably one of the biggest Techy Challenges that I have faced.

The biggest challenge is sometimes just finding the right words to start a post.  I tend to write the post by starting in the middle, writing the last paragraph and then just sitting there and thinking of how to begin it.

What advice would you give a new blogger? Don’t be afraid to ask for help.  Everyone started as a Newbie at one point in time or another.

And if someone is trying to give you advice – and tell you that you are worth more than you are allowing yourself.  Trust them.  They have been there.

Where can we find you?

Facebook

Twitter

Your Name - Stacie

Where do you blog? Staying-me

How did you decide on what to name your blog? I’m trying to make myself a better wife, mother, and person in general, without changing who I am. So Staying Me (just creating a better version) is what I came up with!

Tell us a little bit about you…. I’m a SAHM of four girls, ages 15, 12, 3, and 18months. I have been married to the Computer Dude for over 13 years, and plan on at least quadrupling that! During the very little free time I get, I enjoy working on one of the unfinished crochet or cross stitch projects I have. Someday I plan on learning to run, but haven’t gotten around to that yet.

Tell us 5 of your favorite things, and 5 of your least favorite things…

Favorite: Piano music, reading, Autumn, chocolate, and learning new things

Least favorite: Traffic, washing dishes, beets, bills, and people that chew food with their mouth open (more of a pet peeve item, isn’t it?)

What do you blog about? I love to bring reviews and giveaways to my readers, but I also like to write about the struggles of being a mom, trying to be healthy, and finding time for myself.

When do you find the time to blog? Now that school has started, my old morning blogging time is gone, so now I blog at night, or during nap time.

What is your favorite item you ever reviewed? Definitely the Chevy Equinox!

What brand or product would you really like to work with/review? Oh, there’s so many! Vera Bradley is probably my current goal.

What has been your biggest blogging challenge, how did you overcome it? Wanting too much too fast was and is my biggest challenge. Still working on being patient and working harder!

What advice would you give a new blogger? Have patience and realistic goals, and don’t give up!

What are your favorite blogs to read? I have a lot of blogs that I read, but these two seem to be the ones that I read EVERY DAY no matter what:

Mod Podge Rocks!

Tip Junkie

Where can we find you? Facebook, Twitter, Email if you’d like to share it, Etc.

Facebook

Twitter

Your Name Sarah

Where do you blog? Sarahs Blog of Fun

How did you decide on what to name your blog? That was tough.  I raked my brain over that for days.  Then I just typed in Sarahs Blog Of Fun, because I couldn’t think of anything else.  I just started my blog to enter giveaways anyway, so why did it matter.  I never would have thought my site would be what it is today!!

Tell us 5 of your favorite things, and 5 of your least favorite things…

5 Favorite Things-

1. Hubby
2. Kids
3. Tea
4. Brownies
5. Free stuff

5 Least Favorite Things-

1. Getting Old
2. Only 24 hours in the day
3. Not working with my Husband anymore (we both worked the same job for 8 years and saw each other all day!!)
4. Greedy people
5. Loosing money in the stock market!!

When and why did you start blogging? I opened my blog in December 2009, but I really didn’t start using it until April 2010.  Like I said above, I only opened it to enter giveaways.  Then when I saw people doing reviews, I figured “Hey, I can do that too!!” Then I started playing games on my site to try to make my blog different.  Now it’s what it is today- HUGE!!!  lol

What do you blog about? You name it, I blog about it.  Family, Deals, Reviews, Giveaways, Funny stories and pictures.  I once wrote a post about doggie dentures!!!

What does your family think of your blog? Do they read it? My Family loves it!!  Hubby, because I get a lot of neat new products he has never heard of or tried, and because I make money off of it now.  With all my hard work over the last year, I won’t have to pay for any christmas presents!!  The same goes for the rest of my family.  My parents love to see what I get, and they love when they get to help review stuff too!!

When do you find the time to blog? Well, I have two small kids, a hubby, dog, out of the house job, and some medical issues, so I never know when I am going to be on here.  I at least try for an hour a day.  Somedays I am up all night to get work done!!

What is your favorite blog post ever? Right now I have to say Shampoo Warning- Must Read!! This post has gone wild!!!  I have had over 100,000 people view it.  It’s crazy!!!

What is your favorite item you ever reviewed? I haven’t written about it yet, but it’s an awesome item.  I received a 26 ” Mirror Television for my bathroom.  I am hoping to have it up soon!!!

What brand or product would you really like to work with/review? This is a tough question.  There are a lot of companies I want to work with.  Hoover, Whirl Pool, Omaha Steaks, Ford!!!!  (Hint Hint!!!)

What has been your biggest blogging challenge, how did you overcome it? Learning.  There is sooooo much to learn to do this job.  There is always a new social media site to join, a new paid post site, etc.  I haven’t overcome it, and I hope I never do!!!  Learning all the new things makes my job fun!!!

What is the best advice or knowledge that you have found? Ask questions.  Bloggers are AWESOME people who are more then willing to help you out (me included!!!)  If you don’t understand something, just ask.

What advice would you give a new blogger? Set realistic goals.  Do not think your site is going to make you millions with in a year.  It takes a lot of time and hard work to get to the million mark!!!  Has anyone hit that point yet??  lol

What widget or feature could you not live without? Rafflecopter.  At first I didn’t like it, but now I love it.  It makes writing, and entering giveaways a lot faster.

What are your favorite blogs to read? I have a lot of them!!  These are the ones I read the most.  I have been following them for a long time-

• Simply Stacie
• Hip 2 Save
• Thanks, Mail Carrier
• For The Mommas
• Klippin Krazy

Where can we find you?Facebook, Twitter, Email if you’d like to share it, Etc.

Facebook

Twitter

Your name: Susan Heim

Where do you blog? Susan Heim on Parenting

How did you decide on what to name your blog? Since my name was already linked to parenting through a book I’d written, I wanted to do the same thing with my blog. “Susan Heim on Parenting” is not very creative, but it tells you exactly who I am and what my blog is all about!

Tell us a little bit about you… I’m married and have four sons. Two are in college, and my twins are in second grade. I’m originally from Michigan, but I’ve lived in sunny South Florida for more than twenty years. I work at home as an editor and writer. I love to write parenting books, and I’ve worked with Chicken Soup for the Soul for eleven years.

Tell us 5 of your favorite things, and 5 of your least favorite things…

Favorite things:

• Travel
• Colin Firth
• Jane Austen books (I named one of my sons Austen)
• Coconut-flavored and -scented things
• Warm weather

Least favorite things:

• Big egos
• Public speaking
• Reality TV
• Vegetables
• Frogs

When and why did you start blogging? I started blogging in 2006 when my first parenting book, Oh, Baby! 7 Ways a Baby Will Change Your Life the First Year, was published. I wanted another outlet for providing parents with great information and product reviews.

What do you blog about? I blog about all kinds of issues related to parenting. I try to cover all the bases, from pregnancy through college. I also feature family-friendly product reviews and giveaways.

What does your family think of your blog? Do they read it? I live with five guys — my husband and four sons — and they’re not the least bit interested in what I write. But that’s okay because it gives me the freedom to write about them!

When do you find the time to blog? I write when my seven-year-old twins are at school and after they go to bed. But I’m always checking email and squeezing in work whenever I can.

What is your favorite item you ever reviewed? The NOOK Color Reader’s Tablet from Barnes and Noble

What brand or product would you really like to work with/review? Well, my minivan is seven years old… So, if you’re reading this and you’re looking for bloggers to review cars or vans, I’d LOVE to work with you!

What has been your biggest blogging challenge, and how did you overcome it? I wish I knew more about computer programming and creating graphics. I’ve learned a lot just by trial-and-error and Internet research, but I wish I knew more. Fortunately, my husband is a genius when it comes to computers, so he can usually get me running pretty quickly if my computer crashes.

What advice would you give a new blogger? Learn as much as you can and then do what is right for you. When I first started blogging, I didn’t know much about it! But I subscribed to a lot of other blogs and studied what they did.  I became proficient at using Twitter and Facebook to bring readers to my blog. But, at the same time, I don’t always follow the crowd. Just because something is new or popular doesn’t mean it’s always best. Many times, I go with my instincts.

What widget or feature could you not live without? I’m a Twitter-aholic. I love Twitter, and it’s been so beneficial in growing my blog.

Where can we find you?

Twitter

Facebook

LinkedIn

Author Site

TwinsTalk

Email

Happy Monday!  It’s time again for Monday’s Meet & Greet and today’s Featured blogger is Laura from Mom Mart. Take some time to get to know her!

Your Name: Laura Andry

Where do you blog?: Mom Mart

How did you decide on what to name your blog?: I am a stay at home mother with two little boys. My husband always jokes around about how certain “jobs” around the house are mine and fall under my job description. I told him I felt like one of those superstores that is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week, and that he could just refer to me as MomMart from now on.

Tell us a little bit about you: I am a stay at home mother with a 5-month-old baby boy and a 2 1/2 -year-old little boy. My boys are 100% boy 100% of the time and I love it! I have been happily married to my best friend going on five years now and couldn’t feel more blessed. I am a Christian and thank the Lord everyday for all the blessings in my life. I am a glass half full type of girl who looks for the humor in every situation. I am an organizational neat freak who loves being crafty and creative. I have been blogging since April 2011 after deciding that I wanted to try my hand at writing. So far, it has been a lot of fun.

Tell us five of your favorite things and five of your least favorite things:

5 Favorite Things:

My family- I love my entire family, they are my best friends. I have a great relationship with my in-laws and truly love spending time with each and every member of my family.

Baby Gear – I am completely addicted!

Vacations where I don’t have to drive - if I have to drive it is not a vacation.

The smell of apples – yummy!

Pedicures- nothing makes me feel more pampered than pretty toes.

5 Least Favorite:

Rude People- I have no idea where manners have vanished to, but they need to make a come back!

Heels – I strongly dislike wearing heels. They hurt my feet

Long lines – really, no need to explain.

Getting lost – I feel incredibly vulnerable when I am lost.

Asking for help – I am stubborn and like to think that I can do anything and everything on my own and I rarely ask for help, even when I need it. It is a big fault of mine.

When and why did you start blogging?: I started seriously blogging in April 2011 after having suffered from mastitis. I had no idea what was wrong with me and I was frightened. I had a hard time finding information about this subject and decided that I would share my experiences with others and put my information out there. I wanted to write and this was what really pushed me to start doing it.

What do you blog about?: I guess it is more accurate to ask me what I don’t blog about. I share my experiences and my perspectives as a stay at home mom. I talk about breastfeeding, potty training, family friendly activities, crafts for kids, blog hops, product reviews, giveaways, and have recently started adding quick and easy recipes. I essentially share my life.

What is your favorite blog post ever?: Potty Training William Continued I think my whole potty training experience is too funny. I laugh every time I think about it.

What is your favorite item you ever reviewed?: My Hoover Vacuum Cleaner!!

What are your favorite blogs to read?:

Mama B

The Baby Guy Gear Guide

There are many many more that I check on a daily basis, but these two I check before I check my own email!

Where can we find you?:

Facebook

Twitter

Thank you for taking the time to get to know me, I look forward to hearing from you and getting to know you too!

This week’s featured blogger is Amy from ‘And the Little Ones too’!  I hope you enjoy learning about her as much as I did!

Where do you blog? And The Little Ones Too

How did you decide on what to name your blog? I wanted something cute but also something that would also cover future kids.

Tell us a little bit about you: I am a working mother of 2 boys also helping support my husband through school.

When and why did you start blogging? I started blogging a couple days before my son’s first birthday to help my family keep up with how he was doing. In the past year or so, I began doing more writing and dedicating myself to my blog. I dove into reviewing and loved it right away. I’ve been happy with it ever since.

What does your family think of your blog? Do they read it?: My husband is the only one who reads it regularly. It doesn’t bother me that they don’t read it… much. I know that if I wrote something that I wanted them to read and told them about it, they would check it out.

When do you find the time to blog? I do most of my writing either right before bed after the boys go to sleep or during work. Sometimes its slow where I work and I could write 3 posts in a day and schedule them to keep up with days where there just aren’t any extra hours.

What is your favorite item you ever reviewed? I have 2 favorite items I’ve reviewed. The first is a post I just published last week called Luminess Air and the other favorite is the SodaStream review. There were the 2 I had the most fun with.

What brand or product would you really like to work with/review? I don’t have a specific company I’d LOVE to work with but I’d love to review a car seat. You can only do so much in the stores and I loved Hayden’s convertible seat but I am always on a lookout for a new one.

What advice would you give a new blogger? Reach out to other bloggers and interact with them. I have found that I wouldn’t know as much as I do without the help of other bloggers around.

What widget or feature could you not live without? Commentluv. It makes it so much easier for me to visit other blogs and check out what they write about. Maybe even start following them.

Where can we find you?

Facebook

Twitter

It’s Monday and it’s time to meet another blogger!  This week’s featured blogger is Johanna from Mama Chocolate!

Your Name: Johanna

How did you decide on what to name your blog? I wanted something short and sweet, but unique. As a chocolate enthusiast, Mama Chocolate seemed fitting for me.

Tell us a little bit about you….

I’ve been a busy stay-at-home-mama and wife for about four years now, and God has already blessed me and my husband, John, with two beautiful daughters, Katie (2) and Victoria, (10 months.)

We are Christians and plan on homeschooling our little ones. John and I are both homeschool graduates (and successful, well-balanced adults,) and we’re excited to be passing on that vision on to our children!

We enjoy living out in the sticks and raise kids, sheep, dogs, cats and weeds, (the legal kind).

Like most, our life is hard work, but it’s good, and I love it. I’m living my dream: raising beautiful children with a godly, loving husband, out in the country.

When and why did you start blogging? I had a little private blog for some time to keep family and friends updated before I started Mama Chocolate in July 2010.I had officially become a Giveaway Addict and wanted to share the love by hosting giveaways myself, and I knew that if I posted about recipes and such, it would help me actually try new things.

I expanded on that and hope to bring truly useful information to moms more and more in the future.

What do you blog about? I write about the ins and outs of mothering and homemaking, share recipes, family-related reviews and giveaways, and occasionally brag about my precious girls.

What does your family think of your blog? Do they read it? I finally added my husband to my email subscribers last week so that he would actually read it.

My mom and sisters read it (and tell me they love it, of course, LOL,) and are actually quite accomplished bloggers themselves!

When do you find the time to blog? Early in the morning or late at night are my most productive times. I work on blogging sometimes during the girls naps and now and then during the day.

What is your favorite blog post ever? “Why We Canceled Our Netflix Subscription“

What is your favorite item you ever reviewed? Teething Tots Amber Necklaces

What brand or product would you really like to work with/review? I would love to giveaway an Ergo baby carrier. I love mine and think every mom should have one!

What advice would you give a new blogger? Do not try to do it alone! Do whatever you can to network with other bloggers. There are a lot of nice bloggy people out there who are happy to help you out and there is so much to learn. You can become overwhelmed and discouraged if you’re trying to do it alone.

What are your favorite blogs to read?

Pioneer Woman

Life is Too Short Not to Wear Red Shoes

Enjoying the Small Things

Where can we find you?

Facebook

Twitter