Good stuff

One of my comments on yesterday's post was from Leigh, who offered up her house in Albuquerque to Mike and me after I lamented about having to shelve our summer vacation. She said, "I'll offer you a free house in ABQ for a week or so! Yes, it's hot in the summer. But great hiking and biking, and beer."  I sent her an email that basically said, "You're sweet, but you'll be sorry when we show up on your doorstep!" She wrote back with more encouragement about coming and even tried to tempt me with a nearby Trader Joe's. The point here isn't that we will or would ever take advantage of such kindness but that such kindness exists, is on this site, even. I told Mike about Leigh's sweet, sweet, sweet offer and he said, "You have the nicest readers on the planet." It's true. I don't get mean, trollish comments. I don't get sanctimonious preaching. I don't get anything above gentle disagreement, and even when that happens it's civil and mature and it makes me think. Those are the best kinds of conflicts.

I've felt something sort of brewing around the Internet as of late, and it moved me to mention (clarify?) something here, on my site: I don't get paid to blog. I don't get paid by any site that I write for (except, ironically, for a fun guest post I wrote yesterday for Work It! Mom, but it wasn't a review, just me offering up my own expertise (ha!) and, also, the BlogHer ads on this site, which bring in enough money each month to cover my water bill). I don't get sent free things to review, even review honestly, so everything I talk about or promote or link to here and on Twitter is because I 1) like it a lot and 2) think you might, too.

I love writing and blogging, and I love being a part of this community. I get to meet such incredible, inspiring people. I get to talk about things that interest me. I get to build a supportive circle of friends for myself. I get to learn things about being a mother, a writer and a woman from others who have done all those things before me (and done them so kick-ass, I'm constantly awed). It's not that any of that is lost if money and compensation get involved (online writers should be paid and paid well), it's simply important to me to build a foundation of how I conduct myself online, so that the people I trust most (you) know I won't ever do a thing to compromise your respect.

Nothing specific happened to spur me to proclaim all this, it's just that if you read here or at MamaPop or BIM or Style Lush (or follow any of those respective Twitter pages), please know anything I write is because I'm passionate about it, and although I wouldn't turn down a paycheck to write about what I love -- you wouldn't either, I suspect -- it's nice to do the writing first, so if the money ever comes, the love for it is already established.

So, with that, some links because I like this stuff and maybe you will too:

*One of the best things I've read this week or ever, maybe, from Jess: "[O]ur reactions to other people are usually reflections of ourselves." I've been struggling a little bit all year with things people have said about my marriage and parenting and while also struggling with my own insecurities as a wife and mother. I logically know that when someone takes something I've done out of love and twists it to resemble something else entirely, it's not really about me, but it still flattens me emotionally and makes me feel like I'm doing this all wrong, no matter how excited Kyle gets to see me or how high he reaches up for me from his crib. I need to remember that most times judgment is more about that person and less about me.

*Jonna's post on Tiger Woods. If this whole media cover-up/uncovering/he slept with HOW many women now? fiasco was a nail, she just took a sledgehammer and hit it on the head.

*The "I Heart Monday" feature on Bliss. I usually want everything listed. She finds the best stuff.

*A Style Lush giveaway for the ladies (or men) who like flowery headbands. I wish I could win. 

Oh, and a picture of Kyle watching TV, so you can judge me and I can practice not caring:

Striped pj tops and printed pj pants: 2010's lead trend!

We head out tonight for a few days in California. I'm less prepared for this trip than our last family vacation, so wish us luck getting there safely and soundly and with our sanity in tact. (It's always nice to go home to San Francisco, and it's even nicer to introduce my son to the place I lived when I was his age.)

Comments

[Manda]

I do think it's interesting how people think that bloggers make all this money (and yes, DOOCE probably does but that's because she has eleventy BILLION sponsors). Gosh wouldn't it be nice to be able to LIVE off our blog money? That would be great. But dinner on me every other month will have to do for now. :)

[Rachel]

It would be nice to LIVE off money made on a blog, but I blog because I like to share my thoughts with others, and I feel like I have a group of close friends out there. It's a great feeling! :)

[Gaby]

Have you ever checked out decor8blog.com? I actually first heard of it through Dooce, but she does a weekly Etsy review, similar to the one you linked to on Bliss (here's this week's: http://decor8blog.com/2009/12/08/etsy-take-five-tuesday-34/)

Plus, she just has some really nice stuff to look at and an international, ex-pat perspective that is pretty sweet. Just thought you might like yet ANOTHER thing to look at online ;)

Safe travels!

[Jess]

I'm so glad that what I wrote resonated with you. I am working on remembering that too. Because even though I KNOW how things are and people who make rude comments are speculating (incorrectly), it's hard not to feel hurt by certain comments.

[Heather]

I hope that you are enjoying San Fran right now. Well, maybe not RIGHT NOW, b/c it's 8:15 AM and there's not enough coffee for that! But enjoy your trip, ma'am!