The other day I cleaned out my reader and twitter. It was long overdue. I’d skip over way too many blogs when they updated and basically it was just taking up space. Since it kind of ties in to my cleaning the house of my internet life, why not blog about it? I know there is a thread going on the 20SB forums about this but not everyone uses the forums so I thought I’d post about it here too. It should make for an interesting discussion!

I’m going to add this as a note before: don’t get all offended if you see something you might do in this post or comments. That doesn’t mean no one likes your blog or you or whatever. We are talking generally here and not pointing fingers. In the end – it’s all about content. Don’t get your internet panties all in a twist!

What makes you click that unsubscribe button? Or click away when you come across a new blog? Or unfollow on twitter? What turns you off?

Let’s hear it.

Mine:

• Partial feeds. I probably love you and your blog but the partial feed thing kills me! You can say I’m lazy but I’d rather read through my reader and if I have a comment, then I’ll click over.
• Even worse – no feed. I hate when I try to add something to my reader and am unable to because you have no feed. FeedBurner is your friend. Burn, baby, burn!
• LOLspeak. I know we all use it occasionally, but if your whole blog is all OMGWTFLOLZBBQ!@?  Well, that can be hard to read unless you are in 8th grade where that is spoke fluently.
• Excessive emoticons. ‘Nuff said.
• Light text on dark backgrounds. It’s way too hard on the eyes. Seriously, my glasses could be coke bottles and that makes it just harder!
• Cluttered blog design. If you have gifs, glittery blinkys, tons of images all of your blog, it is definitely hard to read because I’m too freaking distracted by the rainbow that vomited to tell me how much you luv you have 4 ur gurlz or whatever.
• Hard to navigate blogs. Plain and simple.
• If your blog is ugly or boring. Not everyone wants a custom design or can afford one or even cares. I just think it’s nice to have something on it, whether design or something in your sidebars that shows some personality. Something that shows you. If I come across a blog for the first time that has nothing, I’m more than likely going to click away.
• Blogs that talk shit all the time, are constantly negative or feel the need to attack others to get attention. LAME.
• Twitter peeve: Don’t twitter your whole story in a flutter of tweets. It’s called microblogging for a reason. Hit up your real blog for that.
• Trying to hard. Don’t force it. Some people just have a way with words and can make anything sound beautiful. Others don’t. Don’t force it. Don’t try so hard to move your readers to tears or be super deep. It’s obvious when you’re forcing the words.

Overall, remember content is key. If you have great content, people will come back. Everyone has different tastes too. Some people might love your blog, some people might hate it. Don’t take it personal.

Always, have fun with it though.

I didn’t even know he was going to be on but he made an appearance and hi, I love him so here are his skits.

Oh yeah and Beyonce is in one. She is annoying as shit but the skit was good. Sorry Ben and Chris, don’t hate me. Paul Rudd too, but I don’t hate him. He is adorable.

In Twitter news:

• You know that Twitterank thing going around yesterday, were you one of the ones who fell in to that like me? Some people are saying it’s a scam, some aren’t. Whatever – change your password! Better to be safe than sorry.
• If you really want your twitter graded, go check out Twitter Grader. I got a 95.7! It’s definitely NOT a scam.
• Oh hey, you should follow me since I’m not really writing real entries at the moment and apparently not blogging much means Twittering like a madwoman.

Nothing in life is free? WRONG. I have some giveaways and contests for you and they are good ones!

• Two amazing etsy sellers are giving away two fantastic prints to anyone who would like them. Seriously, for free. All you have to do is email them with your address. See the prints here and check out their reasoning for doing this. I’ve already gotten the confirmation for mine!
• Jess at Jess Writes is giving away a $25 Starbucks giftcard. She is fab and you all are coffee addicts I’m sure so go check out how to win. It’s super easy!
• Jenn is giving away a bunch of super awesome stuff and is teaching you about Social Networking safety all at the same time over at Must Love Geek.
• Who’s Your Dachshund has a great giveaway for a copy of Wiener Takes All: A Dogumentary.
• I’m giving away an awesome bag from Save Our Home etsy shop over here.

How do you give to charity without spending your own money? Easy. Just comment on a couple blogs. Seriously. You do it all day so why not make it count?

• My BFF, Stealthnerd, is giving 5 cents for every comment made and it goes to help pediatric cancer. Go leave some comments!
• Another blogger giving up his hard earned cash for comments is RS27 over at Your Beard is Good. 10 cents per comment for the whole month will be going to The Lukemia and Lymphoma Society. Get to commenting.

Have some extra cash of your own that you can spare for a good cause?

• Rachel at Mom in Real Life is raising money for The Lupus Foundation of America. Find out how to donate here.
• Amanda at Life In Development needs your help to raise money for The Massachusetts Special Olympics. Read more here.

In other news:

• I want a baby Alpaca.
• Yes, I still have a big, steamy crush on a fictional vampire. I’m in love with these photos.
• I haven’t bit my nails in over a week. Yay me.

For a dog who loves playing in her pool, she sure hates baths.

I feel like my world has been flipped upside down.

I don’t know how to act, how to speak, I don’t know what to do right now. How do you scale back? How do you slow down but not stop completely? I’m feeling really lost.

I think I’m not going to be posting on this blog as much for a little while. Not long, because I know I can’t stay away. I just need some time to process and collect my thoughts and feelings. I’ll probably post photos or something so you guys won’t forget about me completely. I’ll still try to comment too.

I’ll still be posting on my other blog and writing for the other blogs I contribute to though.

Send chocolate, wine, Edward and pretty things, plz?

I can use some major distractions and pick me ups right now.

Be back soon.

Apparently another Sex and the City movie is in negotiations. I read about it earlier today here.

I twittered about this nonsense and twitter had much to say:

Personally, I think the first one wasn’t that amazing so I don’t understand why another is needed. I’ll be interested to see if they can get all the girls to sign on again!

What do you think?

P.S. Follow me @jamielovely!

Last night was an amazing night for Americans, for the world. History was made. I couldn’t stop the tears from welling up, I was just so proud of my country.

Obama has a big job to take on but we made the right choice. It’s time to move forward.

YES WE CAN

BA
ROCK
IT.

Wait…what?

Yeah, I know that is a total contradiction or something. Nasty and lovely don’t mix…or do they?

Well, that’s besides the point!

Yesterday I got a comment that made me spit out the water I was drinking. Yes, it was that good.

Just Jinny November 2nd, 2008 at 12:46 pm
I had a dream with you in it last night. Well, you didn’t look like your real self*..but everyone was calling you Jamie Lovely. You were doing an interview with Mr. Jay Manuel (yeah, THAT Mr. Jay) and I was there for some reason.

Anyway, Mr. Jay asked about your top beauty product picks and you were trying very hard to remember the name of a product. It was right there on the tip of your tongue, so I snapped my fingers to try and help you spit it out. I wasn’t trying to be rude, snapping my fingers always helps me when a thought is RIGHT THERE. I was very interested in your answer since I had JUST posted on my blog asking for these very suggestions (thank you for the tea tree oil suggestion, by the way). Anyway, Mr. Jay was very mad at me and told me that ‘People do not snap at Miss Lovely’.

Ha ha. I was properly chastised and didn’t say anything else during the interview.
Very strange. lol. I blame the guacamole I had last night.

Okay seriously? How funny is that? I love it! It was the inspiration for this post and brings me to pose this question:

Have you ever dreamt about a blog friend?

P.S. Obviously, Jinny dreamed of the future svelte 115 pound version of me.
P.P.S. I almost titled this ‘Dreaming of You’ but really how obvious and Selena-ish** would that be?
P.P.P.S. RE: ** – God, I’m so Mexican.

Besides just posting everyday for a month, I was thinking of other things I can do along with NaBloPoMo, something I can see results from – tangible results. I start now and then can see if I can stick with it all month and monitor my progress all the way through.

Good idea?

I think so!

Here are my three things I plan on doing:
1) stop biting my nails
2) stop drinking pop
3) work out. I’ve been slacking and need to get back on track. Elliptical 3 days a week (minimum) and a extra long walk for Edie daily

Are you planning on doing anything to coincide with NaBloPoMo or instead of it?