How anonymous are you online?

As a blogger I probably share too much about myself online. Now that I'm a bit older I don't spill my guts on the interwebs quite like I used to, but my face is still plastered all over this blog. 

My friend Fiona recently started a blog (I 100% take credit for inspiring her) and when she posted a picture of me in a blog post this is what it looked like.

Paraffin treatment or cartoon surgery?

I laughed because I look like I came straight out of Who Framed Roger Rabbit. I thought Fiona did it for fun but she did it in case I didn't want my face on her blog. I thought that was very nice of her but assured her that I don't mind my face on her blog. 

I think if I had a government job or worked with kids I would be more careful about posting photos of myself on a blog. One rule I do have is that I never post about clients on my blog. That is absolutely confidential and I could get in big trouble for that. I have come across a couple of blogs where I'm pretty sure if the blogger's employer found the blog, they would be fired. It's not worth it.

Some bloggers share everything. I'm talking semi nude photos of themselves or their children. If someone wants to pose topless and post that online, well that's their business but when I see naked pictures of kids on instagram or on a blog I cringe. There are a lot of creeps on the internet and what might seem like a cute, harmless photo to me and you could be seen and used in a bad way by some internet perv.

The worst is when you're reading a blog and then BAM topless photo. Yikes, I wasn't expecting that. The best part was when a blogger's mother commented on a post with a topless photo of the blogger. I then imagined my mother seeing me like that online and died from embarrassment at the thought of it. 

There are times when I wonder what a blogger looks like *cough cough* Gia and Spark *cough cough*, but I understand why they would want to be semi-anonymous online. There's a lot of crazy people out there! It also gives them an air of mystery. What do they actually look like?

Blogging meme. My blog is the wildcard.....Lieutenant Dan you got new legs!

Abby posted a meme for writers and/or bloggers on her blog and although I rarely do these I thought it might be fun to answer this one. And if you're curious, I put myself in the blogger category not the writers category.

1) What are you currently working on?

I'm not exactly working on any one thing in particular. I'm working on moving my blog in a little bit of a different direction. I plan on posting more about interesting things I find on the internet but I still plan on keeping up with personal blog posts as well.

2) How does your work differ from others in the same genre?

I don't think my blog fits into a certain genre but I feel like I'm not the typical 30 something blogger. This is not a mommy blog or a fashion blog. If I was going to do either they would involve my cat but I don't think he would let me dress him up. My blog is different because I'm different.

3) Why do you write what you write?

I feel like my blog can be all over the place. Most people are consistent in how they write or what they post. I feel like my blog is a wildcard or a box of chocolates - you never know what you're gonna get. Sorry I watched Forest Gump the other night.

4) Describe your writing process.

My blog is what's going on my head. If I find something funny or annoying I'll post it. It's like this tiny bell goes off *ding* "this should go on your blog". Sometimes my friends will suggest when something should go on the blog and I'll post about it because they get me and my blog. I usually write blog posts pretty quickly and don't edit too much except for spelling and grammar. I think it feels more natural that way. Over editing is a thing.

If you answer this meme on your own blog post a link in the comments so I can check it out.

I am the mommy blogger

I am the mommy blogger

Have you heard of me before

Did you see me on instagram

Mopping my self-installed floor

My children are perfect

And let's not forget about dad

He brings me roses and page hits

And never gets mad

I am the mommy blogger

Haven't you heard

Click on this sponsored link

I've got money to earn 

I told Melissa I wrote a poem about mommy bloggers and she wanted to see it so here it is. I do not feel this way about all mommy bloggers and there are some that I like and respect very much.

A plea to all fashion bloggers

I've been noticing a trend lately with fashion bloggers. It's actually close to pandemic levels.

Why are fashion bloggers posing in snow with either no pants, no boots, no coat, no sweater, or all of the above?! I'm talking open toed heels in the snow. Standing in the middle of a frozen lake with no coat on while it's snowing. I just don't get it. It's ok to wear boots. Winter boots! *GASP* I'm sure Tory Burch must make some.

I really hope you don't actually walk around outside in the snow with heels and no coat. You're going to get frostbite on your toes and then you will never be able to paint your toenails with the newest color again. Mani pedi time will be ruined! Toe amputation will not work well for a fashion blogger, unless you plan on starting a fashion blog about how you have no toes and how best to accessorize a toe-less foot.

Now I know that a lot of fashion bloggers photoshop anyways so just pretend you're outside and it's snowing. Just take a look at this photo of me below (it's old but that's ok).

You would never know that I was not outside in the snow. Fireworks really make your photo special, who cares if there aren't any fireworks actually happening. This is for your blog. Every picture must look perfect.

Notice my hands are up in the air because you have to act like you've never seen snow before and are having the best time of your freaking life!!

You might be wondering why you should take advice from me. I'm not a very popular blogger but I have photographic evidence that I would be an amazing fashion blogger. I just don't want anyone stealing my fashion secrets so I tend to keep them to myself. I will share with you a bit of my wisdom because I'm feeling generous today.

Posing by a Christmas tree. Every blog must have the "today we went shopping for a Christmas tree" post. I think it's a rule written down in the blog bible. No one needs to know that this is not my house, that I'm allergic to real pine or that I was probably intoxicated when this was taken. You can photshop out intoxication though right?

It's best to take fashion blogging pictures alone because you don't want anyone upstaging you (unless your hubbie or boyfriend is around as your "my life is perfect" prop)  . If you must have someone else in the picture make sure you are posing better than they are and place yourself in a more prominent location in the photo.

Remember to take multiple photos of the same outfit from every angle. Also make sure the photo does not look staged. You want people to think this is a for real photo.

Make sure your makeup looks perfect. The flash from a camera can really wash you out so double up on your makeup - especially fake tanner. It may seem over the top but your photo will turn out beautiful.

And last but not least - make sure you entitle your blog post something classy but fun like "Whimsical Christmas princess time".

So please fashion bloggers - take my advice and wear some warm clothes and if you can't, photoshop it while you're adding on all those filters.

First snow and the olden days of the intetnets

First snow of the season. Most of it melted by the morning. It will probably be 70 next week because that's how mother nature rolls in New England. She rolls crazy and sometimes I wonder if she's drunk.

One positive about not having a car right now is no shoveling and no clearing my car off. Two things I dislike very much. When I'm old I'm moving to Florida. I can't even handle the cold weather now.

I'm currently reading about the "good old days" of early internet journals. I had a livejournal back in the day and I wish that I had kept in contact with some of people I knew through there. I think I had a blog at diaryland too. I learned html for that crap. I was dedicated.

To all the blogs I read now. Don't stop blogging! I'll be sad and when I'm old and all the youngsters are blogging with their eyeballs or some other weird crap I'll be like "I remember the good old days of blogger and wordpress and using your fingers to type" and then I'll be wondering whatever happened to you guys and then I'll forget what I was sad about because I'll be old and forgetful.

I think it's time to end this post before I get all teary eyed and start feeling old.

p.s. I think one of my old aim names was moonprincess. What?! My best aim name though was killerdustbunnies.