justBeConnected

Inspiring Ideas blog story!

Hi everyone!
I'm Jeanne and I’m thrilled to be guest hostessing this week! I’m relatively new to blogging, so thank you Melba for letting me join this gathering of such talented women! You are all so refreshing to me!

What is my blogging story? I’ve been online forever, just not blogging. I was running a store, designing product, publishing a book, etc. I started my blog - Inspiring Ideas - because after I sold my store I needed an outlet to continue sharing my “Creative Ideas.” I had built an area within my store site that was just free ideas - stuff you can do yourself. So, I decided to continue doing them in a blog! It’s been tremendous fun!

The selling of the store happened after baby #2. I knew I had to make changes. I had to decide what I really wanted to do with that whole 20 minutes I had to myself everyday.  :-)

I must say, this refocusing has been wonderful! And I've "met" so many cool ladies online that have such obvious joy and satisfaction in their work! You are all such an inspiration! My art sketches and ideas that have languished for YEARS are now actually coming to life! I love it. Although my blog is mostly about sharing ideas, I do enjoy reading other blogs that get more personal. And I see how others of you are juggling mommyhood and your own creative passions.

I'll share a little project idea with you next time!

Thanks all!
XOXO
Jeanne

The Beginning of Blogging (for Me anyway)

Hello, Megan here, from Flaming Renaissance, I'll be your host this week (and I'm really very happy about it, it's been a while since I hosted you lovely ladies and gentlemen).

I really enjoyed last week's crown making classes so now I'm a little torn - do I follow the standard format or do I choose to act bravely and branch out on my own? I figure, it can't hurt to at least share my blogging story and give myself a proper introduction to all of you - at least to begin with.

I'm not one to jump on band wagons. For example, no matter what people tell me about Facebook and MySpace I refuse to join - I just don't see the point in them. So, when all the ladies in my preferred forum were talking about these things called blogs I was relatively oblivious. I didn't know what a blog was, but it sure seemed like a waste of time the way they were talking.

Eventually I asked what a blog was, and why would I want one anyway? I pondered blogging for awhile and finally decided, why not? I mean, I could always just stop using it if I didn't like it.

Anyway, it turns out that, what with my talkative nature and my love of teaching, blogging was made for me. I started out on Blogger. I ran a piddly little blog, but wasn't truly attached to it (plus, I didn't really like Blogger.

After a few months of neglecting my blog I decided to try a new blog instead. I set up shop on WordPress; after doing much research into the different hosting options (and determining that FREE was my price limit). I loved blogging on Living Abundantly I talked about what was going on in my life, I vented, I shared things I was teaching or new epiphanies on my journey.

Blogging really helped me to come into my own; I loved talking to all those unknown readers (and the known ones too) and I found myself easily falling into my own voice (despite working as a freelance writer for years I never found my true voice until I had the opportunity to blog).

Flaming Renaissance came to be for my business. Living Abundantly had proven to me that blogging had power; I figured if I wanted to get coaching clients I needed to offer people the opportunity to know more about me and my philosophy on life. Blogging was of course the natural choice.

I decided to call the blog Flaming Renaissance to incorporate a little bit me (the Flaming part don't ya know - I'm a fiery type of girl) and a little bit of my business (Everyday Renaissance) into the blog. I believe that we all have a Personal Renaissance, and what would the blog be except a record of my own Renaissance (or Journey)?

At first I tried to maintain two blogs at once. Each time I had an idea for an entry I'd weigh whether it was personal (Living Abundantly) or more professional (Flaming Renaissance) - not always an easy task. For months I linked back and forth, connecting the blogs and trying to split my posts evenly. Finally, I couldn't stand it any more, some semblance of reason set in and I started blogging exclusively on Flaming Renaissance.

I've had a few moments where posting as dribbled to a stop and my share of hiding from the blog audience, but over all I love every second of it. I can't remember what the ladies' originally told me when I asked them what reason I'd have for blogging, but I'm sure glad I decided to give it a try (don't try and convince me on FaceBook though - I'm holding my ground for that one).

I don't know what I would have done without all the lovely comments and relationships blogging has blessed me with. I know, I'm dull and cliched, but that's my bloggity story.

Blogging - Fighting the power of beige

Hurray I'be been looking forward to being a hostess here for ages, this is such a great little community and such a well designed one, seriously styling.

Hiya I'm Jodie, a 23 UK based craftaholic currently masquerading as a marketing assistant for a small firm (for top secret non dull reasons don't you know). I have an original form blog at Blogger where I try to explain to everyone just how many amazing and diverse handmade products there are out there. The blog is tied into my etsy shop and is called Pretty Little Love Objects because that's what I try to create, love tokens in the form of jewellery or paper products that bring a person joy when they receive them. I think everyone shoudl have a multitude of love objects in their life, whether in the form of a journal, a pendant or a wooden sculpture, something that they adore and want to caress and carry with them, something that makes them feel loved just by looking at it.

The large corporations have spent valuable marketing money trying to convince us that not only are they the best option but that they are the only option. Now all good crafters know there is a whole world of quality handmade goods in pretty much every country and countless shop communities on the web but Ms non crafty doesn't necessarily understand this and the chain stores aren't exactly going to bring it to her attention. Sadly although we'd all like to believe that companies care about us (and they certainly spend enough money making cuddly warm adverts to try to convince that they do) they just want to make as much money with as little fuss as possible.

Buying handmade is such an amazing awakening for consumers who have never done it before. Suddenly they relaise that they don't have to walk around in the same skirt all their friends have in a different colour there are other fashiontastic worlds out there and people are making items they will simply have to have right now. Buying handmade is an exclusive experience like dropping into Camden market or a designer store full of one offs but the great thing is that anyone can get the amazing things they desire at an affordable price. People can talk to the designers and to a certain extent verify how well made items will be. When they begin to relise that they can also get custom work that translates their vague imaginings into a masterfully made dress or necklace they're ready to tell the big brands where to go.

So I'm inspired to blog by the fantastic array or crafters and products that are available. I have a pretty good eye for discovering things. I was using Badger Balm when it was just a small unnoticed line in Boots and I pre-empted the current UK love of Modest Mouse. I like to flatter myself that I have a bit of an eye and it thrills me to find fabulous unique items to display at my blog. I also love making crafty connections with sellers out there. I just took part in a swap here and it was great to connect with a fun individual and find out lots of things about them.

That's it for now, I'll be popping back a few times this week and I hope to see lots of fun people pop up in the comments and to keep you all entertained.

My Story

Hello there!

My name is Shauntelle and
I'm your blogging hostess this week. I had all these plans to make pretty posts in keeping with the fact I have a blog devoted to interior decorating, but my network disagreed with me and decided to break down. So my posts are coming from my Blackberry instead...

I know we just met, but may I ask a favor? Imagine I've just greeted you with a big plate of goodies, ok? Brownies, baby cheesecake, and these great tarts I bought at Trader Joe's. And there's homemade lemonade and sweet tea. All for you, so help yourselves, alright? :)

I love to feed people! If I didn't blog about decorating, I'd blog about food. But there are so many good food blogs out there already...that's why I started A Beautiful Abode. See until a couple of years ago, I wanted a pretty home but I thought I couldn't make that dream a reality until we had more money.

So I was trying to make due with hand-me-downs that were so awful, the junkman didn't want them! My living room looked like the landfill threw up. And it made me so depressed! Especially after I turned 30.

One day I had an epiphany- as a one income family of five, our income was always gonna be stretched tight. If I wanted to have an attractive home that I felt good about I'd have to get creative. And that's what I did!

My home has come along way since then and I'm really proud of myself. Along the way, I've developed a passion for design- especially budget decorating. I believe that feeling good about your environment positively influences your life and I began A Beautiful Abode to share inspiration, tips, projects, and resources with others who might be longing for a beautiful home but think they can't achieve it because of their tight budgets.

Beautiful is only three months old, but I get so much satisfaction from the great response it's received-over 10,000 visitors as of last week! If you're interested in design I hope you'll stop by sometime...

'Til next time!

Shauntelle

My Blogging Story; Share Yours~

I haven't been a hostess this year because I thought there might be a week where a Scheduled Hostess would be unable to post and I could fill in for them. This is the week~ Now I get to be a hostess!

  After Maggie was born in the spring of 2004 I was searching for a way to express myself creatively. I was feeling isolated and stifled as a stay at home Mama of two children under two. (Ethan was born in the fall of 2002). As always I had my journals and books to keep me company, but I needed more. My usual trips to the self-help/metaphysical section of the bookstore failed to help me find the comfort in pages that I had so often been content with in the past. I wanted to connect with someone who understood and could validate my feelings of love and longing.

I began reading my old journals. I decided to create a visual book out of copies of my old journals, papers I bought from the local craft store, and scraps from my past I had collected over the years. The result was a 100 page mixed media memoir called Be Alive Believe Be You based on a poem I wrote about my life experience. (you can read a few pages here.)

I thought if I could publish my book either on the web or in a more traditional way I would finally get to connect with all my sisters I felt were calling out to me.  In the summer of 2005 my search began for how to publish a book. Every article I read said how it was important to have your own web site. I knew nothing about web sites or code or domain names. When researching host sites I came across information about a blog ~ an online journal. This seemed like a great idea to me and looked much more natural than the static web page that I saw created by many authors.

I chose TypePad because I liked that you could have a custom banner and look of your blog without knowing any code. After 6 months I upgraded to TypePad Pro because I wanted to have more than one blog. I purchased the domain name Be Alive Believe Be You and then mapped that name to my TypePad account. I used a different domain hosting company at first, but their service was horrible so I switched to GoDaddy.  My 5 domains are all with GoDaddy. They have very good customer service. I was intimidated at first by all this~ by little by little I figured it out. and remember you can too! Don't be afraid to ask for help!

In late August 2005 I created my first post and then sent a mass email to everyone I knew about the launch of my blog. This...well...I don't like to say regret, but I definitely would not recommend it. I would slowly and carefully tell the people I want to tell in my real life about my blog. Sometimes I feel I hold back on my blog because so many of my family members read it...I never want to offend anyone, but it is my blog and therefore comes from my perspective.

Soon after I published my first post I began reading other blogs. In most cases I think this happens the other way around~ someone reads blogs, comments, and then finally starts their own blog. But I started reading blogs after I began posting.  Right away I was addicted! I read and commented and it all felt...very natural. 

  I sent out a query letter to Red Wheel Press about publishing my book. I got rejected. Then I created and sent out the cutest mini-book query to Chronicle Books. I got rejected again and cried. I also sent my book to The Oprah Winfrey Show and let my mom and sister read it. 

and then I put my book away. Not because I was giving up but because by this time I had already found what I was looking for. It soon became evident that the community I hoped to find by publishing a book could be found right here through blogging.

The bloggers I have connected with are my teachers, my friends, my support, my loves.

Everything isn't always rosey in my cyber world. There are times bloggers have made me mad, been mean to me, or disappointed me. But I love that! I love the richness, the fullness, the realness of blogging.

I am looking forward to sharing more of my story this week with you.

It is fun to look back and remember how it all began.

I would love for you to share in the comments or in your own post how your blogging journey began. and it would be great fun if you would link to your first post in the comments here!

Here is mine from August 12, 2005 ~ Be A Spark

XO, Melba

My Thoughts on Creativity and Inspiration

I think creativity is spiritual. I absolutely believe that.
F. Murray Abraham

I love being among creative people. People who bounce ideas off of one another. People who have original ideas. People who love to say "what if..." and aren't afraid of experimenting and making mistakes and discovering the secret path to the magical place I call "the zone". People who laugh at life and more importantly, at themselves. The creative soul. The beautiful, amazing, brilliant creative soul. The lights of the world!

I truly believe that creativity is gift from God, who is after all, the very source of creativity. God is pure creativity.

But how does one find inspiration? How does one stay creative? How does one turn it on when they need to because they (unortunately) can't escape to the studio when they feel inspired?

Inspiration is everywhere. I find myself coming up with ideas when I am in the shower or bath, or when I am exercising. We can go to the internet for inspiration. We can go to our magazines for inspiration. We can go to nature for inspiration.

And then you just make a mark. Every painting I begin I write a note, thanking the universe for my creativity. I will write random beautiful and powerful words, which are eventually buried beneath layers of paint and other stuff - but I know they are there. I ALWAYS start a painting that way.

I was recently commissioned to create a painting for a woman to memorialize her trip to Rome, where she fell head over heels in love with David. I felt very intimidated to create a work of art based on one of the greatest works of art ever created by human hands! But I did it. One layer at a time, allowing the process I use above to get me going.

If I am starting a sewing project I will sometimes wrap myself in the fabric and feel it against me. I will let the color absorb into me. I live it. I am thankful for it...I let the pattern dance on me. Sometimes I put on a hat. I don't know why wearing a hat makes me feel more creative - but it does.

I disconnect from my inner critic. She goes away. I never criticize my work while I am working on it. I shut my mind off completely. My hands create the ideas - which aren't really ideas because I don't think about them...they just are. And oh yes, there is always music! My favorite artists to create to are Jack Johnson, Shaun Paul, Holly Williams, Gypsy Soul, Kathryn Priestley and Spencer Lewis to name a few.

Creativity is not a commodity - it is ever plentiful, ever unique, ever perfect. It is the pure expression of our individual souls. Maybe that is why creative people share so freely among one another. We share ideas. We share techniques. We share knowledge. We share ourselves.

I am honored to be the guest hostess this week among such creative souls.

The creative energy flows among us like a bright, glistening meandering river.

Mmmmmmmmmmm...drink up. Dive in.

=============================================>>

Tomorrow I will post my favorite links for inspiration and hope that they inspire you too!

In-Joy -

Cheryl

cherylol.typepad.com
elleoelle.com

Pat's Blogging Story

I'm Pat Sloan.  What is the core of 'me'? Well I like... no let's say... I LOVE to blog! 

Thank you Melba for creating a community blog.. this is so awesome! I enjoy reading the guest's post, your comments, and hearing from other creative people.

It's inspirational and motivating to hear why YOU blog and I love feeling connected to you.

So... why do I blog? I had to REALLY think about this!

I didn't start out as a writer, although I did 'write' in a sense. I worked for 20+ years in computers.. writing code. Old ancient code now.. code only those of who started a hundred years ago still remember. I wrote. It was English like. (later I wrote reports and employee reviews... sigh....)

But really I make stuff. My deep down desire is always to make stuff. So 'making' code worked for awhile. But in the end I was meant to make things for a living. And I always wanted to work for myself. I'd only been working about 2 years when I was trying to figure out how to work for myself (but it took about 22 until I did!)

Now I'm a designer of quilt books, quilt fabric, quilt patterns. I have a webstore. I travel. I teach. I lecture. I blog.

At some point I wanted to connect to more quilters, more often. So 5+yrs ago I started a yahoo group as there were no blogs that I knew of.  I still have this wonderful group at yahoo. (see it HERE)

The group concept is not for everyone. And I wanted to put photos with my words. And I wanted to chat with people who wouldn't join a group. And I wanted 'different' kind of chat than what I did on my quilt group.  Like chatting on decorating, trips, gardens, food...

So I started to blog. I'm crazy for blogs with photos, the more photos the better. I'm SUPER visual. So this is a fairly long post for me... hehe!

I use typepad ... well.. because I pay a fee and if it's broken they fix it.. pretty fast. I learned my lessons from having the 'free' service... you get what you pay for!

Has blogging changed my life? Such an interesting question. Life evolves doesn't it? I can't think of one person or one situation that has not changed during the course of things.. even it's only just a little bit.

So I would say blogging did not change my life.

My life changes.. changes fast at times.. changes slow at times. Starting to blog was a change that happened when it happened. It's good. I do it because I enjoy it. That's my biggest reason.

Do you have a blog? Put it in the comments!! I am ALWAYS looking at others work and I'd love to see yours...

so "Pretty Please with a cherry on Top"... put your blog addy in the comment so I can visit you.

This week I'm excited to chat with you about creativity.. that is my passion. That everyone who WANTS to do something creative, SHOULD. I'm all about throwing out theories and 'can't do ideas'.... I'm all about living your life as you want to live it. I'm all about doing it... can't wait to hear what you think!

Do you have a specific 'something' you want me to chat about? Put it in the comment or email me at pat@patsloan.com

Here is where you can check out what I do... what my crazy life is like
My blog - http://patsloan.typepad.com
My website - http://www.QuiltersHome.com
My Yahoo group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Pat-Sloan-Quilts/
Read 7 little know things about me - I was tagged recently CLICK HERE
My Second Life blog (oh yes.. I ADORE second life!) CLICK HERE
Don't know what Second Life it?  Read my SL post on my RL blog
CLICK HERE

photos - First is me at Blarney Castle in Ireland, Second is my book on the Ireland trip, Third is my newest fabric line.

I don't remember why . . . . . .

 

As I've been thinking about my blogging history, I have to be honest and admit . . . . I don't really remember why I started blogging, or how I first became aware of the blogging community.   But for whatever reason, or how I got connected in the first place, I'm sure glad I did!  It seems that I've been blogging for a year or so now, and it has been amazing to me how many wonderful, gracious, and generous people I have "met" through the connections that are made out here in the blogosphere.   One thing I do remember, is having been involved with several online communities of people with shared interests.  Isn't that the way we all start out?  Through my work as a designer and seamstress, I first connected with design groups for boutique children's clothing.  That is something that I"ve been doing for a very long time    :o)    and suddenly discovered that there is a huge community of other women who love to design and create children's clothing.  I was hooked!

I was truly amazed at the kindness, the comaraderie, the support, and encouragement that I encountered in those first online communities.  But then, of course, just like in any other human relationships, you always encounter others who don't provide the positive input that most groups need to survive.  Consequently, many of the early online groups that I participated in, no longer exist.  But, the overall experience has been so positive and rewarding, that I continue to be involved in several groups of independent artists, book enthusiasts, designers, moms, and adoptive familes.   And since I found JustBeConnected, I've participated in some of the swaps, I've been a hostess for various theme days, and now I get to be part of this weekly project.

When I first began blogging, I simply shared my daily experiences, family funnies, stories about our adoptions, pictures of my children, our yard, our neighborhood, and occasionally I included pictures of some of my art projects.  Then I hit a period of time where I was really struggling with my health, and all of my creative activity came to a complete stop.  For about 6 or 7 months.  Consequently, I lost most of the initial connections I had made through my blog, because what fun is it to keep visiting a blog that isn't being updated!  I was sad, but determined to get re-connected as soon as possible.  So, when I started having more energy and actually felt like chatting, I jumped right back out here and started posting on my own blog, commenting on lots of other blogs, and I even got involved with the weekly art challenges on the Artella website.  The positive responses I received really encouraged me to keep going! 

I came back to JustBeConnected, and Melba graciously invited me to participate again, and that really helped me to find other independent artists.  Through that connection, I discovered Leah at creativeeveryday, and what an inspiration that was for me!  Recently, I've been so focused on my creative ventures that I have been limited on the time I spend chatting with my blogging buddies, but I have found such a gift in this community.  If you are at a place in your life where you need some encouragement and support, please get involved by reaching out to some of us, and you'll find not only that encouragement that you need, but so much inspiration for your creativity. 

I currently have two blogs, mamas*little*treasures and Waiting*for*Grace.  mamas*little*treasures is a (almost!) daily documentation of my design work.  I write eBook patterns for many of my designs, and I have an Etsy Shop where I sell my creations.  I also have my own website.  My other blog, Waiting*for*Grace is devoted to providing information and resources for current or potential adoptive families.  I am also working on a website to accompany that blog.  I am including adoption stories, book reviews, links to agencies and other resource websites, current news on international adoption, adoption funding information, and any other resource information that I can find. 

Blogging has given me a great sense of accomplishment as I provide information and encouragement to other people for whatever their goals might be.  And I have been honored to be included in this community of wonderful people, whom I would never have had the opportunity to meet if it wasn't for blogging!  Happy blogging . . . . and if you don't have your own blog yet, give a shout out and I'll be happy to help you with that!    Nina

Blooming

In 2004, I was a busy mother of three (to a sensitive and thoughtful daughter, an effusive and gentle son, and a then-new bright-eyed baby girl with an aversion to sleep) and I worked as a college reading and writing instructor.  The balance of my life was extremely delicate.  I would pass by my husband as he came in from work on my way out to it...and the demands of grading papers and planning lectures while mopping up spilled juice and singing lullabies kept me stretched thin.  I loved that I was able to be with my children during the day and to have a teaching post I felt respected for, but something key was missing in this carefully constructed life.  ME.

As an undergrad in college, I spent hours combing over poems and dissecting novels with unabashed joy.  I wrote short stories to entertain myself and scribbled poetry on the backs of old receipts and envelopes.  The world of books opened itself to my imagination and liberated me from what had been a challenging (though loving) childhood and adolescence.  One spring morning, I sat beneath the boughs of a dogwood tree in a local park, marveling over the branches swelling with blossoms, and opened a book I'd purchased at the local indie bookstore because I admired the cover, the novel, Banana Rose by Natalie Goldberg.  I fell into the pages of the story and the landscape of New Mexico and by the time I emerged, panting, near the end of the book...the sun was going down and I'd lost an entire day in a writer's mind I almost couldn't bear to part with.  Pedaling my bike home, I wondered if Goldberg had written any other books and was, of course, pleasantly surprised to find Writing Down the Bones, the one she remains best known for.  A tentative seed was planted in my mind--I would study with this teacher and visit that amazing land...and a decade later, I did.

During a year-long workshop series, I met and studied with Natalie Goldberg and fell into a writing sisterhood under which my creativity bloomed like a hothouse flower.  The rugged land of New Mexico spoke to my spirit and calls to me still even now, rooted as I am on the verdant East Coast.  After the series ended, I was adrift--pregnant with words and a wild longing to share them.  It was at this exact moment, I discovered the world of blogging and started my own, Left-handed Trees and Other Lies: Writing from the Roots.  Here, I began to share the story of my unfolding creativity, at first with family and friends, and then with a sweet and supportive community of other blogging-women who have given my sense of writing community a much appreciated extension.  Through re-discovering the writing spark I had all but lost in the maze of early motherhood and teaching, I found ME again. 

For nearly three years now, I have been sharing my story online.  My writing has been published in a variety of magazines and journals, and the web of writing community continues to be woven with each new offering I am fortunate enough to share.  Each time a new piece appears, my blogging friends celebrate with me...and when I recently completed my first novel, their joyful emails flooded my inbox. Things are still incredibly busy and recent rumblings in my personal life have left me a bit shaken and dazed...but, I come back to my blog again and again to take a deep breath and experience the stillness I feel when I'm following close to the heart of what truly matters to me.  This is my blogging story...

--Delia--

www.cdeliascarpitti.com

Journey into Blogging

Today I thought I would tell you how this Modern Goddess ended up in the blogging world and it wasn't due to business.

In August 2005 I moved from Australia to Hong Kong as my then fiance (now husband) had secured a position with an airline based in Hong Kong.  When I moved I wanted to keep family and friends up-to-date with our antics and also tell them about the cultural differences and challenges that I faced.

I started by sending lengthy emails, then I moved to creating newsletters, and then a friend introduced me to blogging.  Most of my family and friends are not computer savvy so I had to introduce the whole blogging thing to them, and to this day most read my blog but very rarely comment.  They tend to send me emails to say they read my blog. LOL!

My first attempt at blogging was with Blogger and about 6 months into blogging and writing about the amazing trips I was experiencing in Asia, I deleted it by accident.  Yep, that's right, I deleted it.  I had heard stories about how one day people's blogs were gone and it was the software glitch, but I actually deleted it myself.  I was horrified that I did it but I deleted the wrong one by accident.  I had meant to delete a test blog.  OPPS!

I begged and pleaded to see if anyone could retreive it but as a free blogging software, I didn't get a response.  So, I notched that up as 'a learning experience' and started a new blog.  This one I've successfully kept and have been writing since August 2006, 12 months into my new life in Hong Kong.

This was about the time that I went into business for myself conducting Goddess Playshops and Mother Blessings.  From there someone suggested I blog for business and I started my business blog... from there I fell in love with blogging.

I love reading the inspiration people offer through their blogs.  I love reading people's stories and I love inspiring others through my business blog.

I have a couple of blogs... some business and some personal.  For Journals for Empowerment, we have two blogs, one for our virtual book tours and one about journaling about journals.

For my own business, The Modern Goddess, I have Goddess News in Hong Kong which is related to my face-to-face workshops and coaching in Hong Kong.  A Modern Goddess Online, is related to my online coaching services.  Modern Goddess Magazine is an online magazine using blogging software and themes.

Another blog I have is called Blog Whammy and it is a program that supports women with online businesses and business blogs.

On a personal note, I have The Path of a Modern Goddess and this allows me to be creative and participate in blogging activities around the world.  Plus I have my family and friends blog which I tend not to share with the world.

So as you can see, I'm a busy blogging bee!

For all of my blogs except for my family and friends one, I use WordPress.  I love WordPress because you can host it yourself or you can have a hosted blog by them, and it's free.  Hosting my business ones myself has allowed me to link it to my website and therefore promote my products and services.  It also helps with the search engine ranking because it is being updated on a regular basis.

I enjoy blogging as it is a creative outlet for myself and I LOVE that I get to connect with so many people world-wide.  It is truly amazing!  I've actually met with some of my blogging buddies and am now being offered opportunities to conduct workshops in other parts of the world.  Blogging for me has opened up SO MANY opportunities; opportunities that I may not have been given if it wasn't for blogging.

As an example I was contacted last week by the company working on the Oprah Webcast for 'A New Earth'.  They want to get the community involved in leading their own discussions based on the book/webcast and they have asked me if I would be interested in leading a group.  What an opportunity!!!

I've actually set up a new blog purely for this opportunity and I'm so excited.

So as you can see... my journey into blogging started small and has grown, grown and grown.  Some days I'm overwhelmed by the task at hand but most day I just do what I can, when I can and enjoy the experience.

Happy Blogging to You!