Biannual Blogathon Bash 2013 – It’s Party Time!
I have linked up to the Biannual Blogathon Bash 2013 to tackle my blog to-do list and use the mini-challenges to further advance my blog.
If you are stopping by from the Blogathon…Hello and Welcome to Mom’s Small Victories! I’m Tanya, the writer, photographer, chef, nanny, chauffeur and patient behind this blog (and I use those terms very loosely). My blog is a melting pot of my favorite things to talk about such as books I’ve read, recipes my family enjoyed and hopefully soon, kid-friendly vacations we’ve taken.
So why are these small victories? Well after my oldest son was born, I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), an autoimmune disease where my immune system attacks my joints. As if being a parent was not hard enough, I have been enduring a disease that is painful, frustrating and disabling. I find sharing my experience with RA to be therapeutic and I hope that I provide support and education to those trying to understand this complex disease, RA is not your grandma’s arthritis, folks! But enough of the serious stuff…it’s time to par-tay!
I am excited to be participating in the Blogathon Bash for the first time in 2013. It’s a chance to dedicate time this weekend to accomplishing some of my goals to improve my small space on the internet.
Here are some of the goals I have for this weekend:
* finish moving and scheduling posts from my old blogspot blog to this site
* improve About Me page
* add About Me widget to home page Done!
* add code to my blog button and upload to site Done!
* add picture for signature Done! See below, tell me what you think!
* add reading challenges page Done!
* make sure all recipe and book posts are linked to one of my page tabs Done!
Well that’s just for starters but I have my Wonder Woman mug on hand and I will be ready to go… after work.
Saturday update: I participated in a few mini-challenges hosted by the blogathon. I figure it is a great time to get expert assistance from more experienced bloggers while they are online. I started a blogging binder where I track some of those passwords and design colors I had written down on tiny pieces of paper. I also signed up for Google+ and signed up for the Mom Bloggers Network to accomplish the How to get Paid Blogging Opportunities mini-challenge.
Sunday update: What a fantastic experience the Blogathon has been. While I expected to work on my own to-do list above, I gained so much more by doing the mini-challenges and addressing topics I hadn’t even thought of behind the scenes. Yes, today I completed the Cleaning up Your Back-End challenge and I feel so much better (hee, hee). I spent a lot of time too visiting and talking with a great group of bloggers in the dedicated Facebook group and various Twitter parties. Did I mention I even won an Easy SEO for Beginners book for attending the twitter party last night? Awesome.
I wish I had more time to dedicate to the mini-challenges for Tips for Food Photography and How to Develop Write and Share Recipes. I will have to tackle that another day. The Blogathon was an invaluable resource and I will definitely be signing up for the next one, mark your calendar and join me!
Thanks for stopping by and let me know what some of your goals are or what your suggestions are to improve the awesomeness of my blog. Happy blogging!
How did I not comment here? I think I got all caught up in your other posts.
Love these mini challenge ideas. 😉 looks like you have crossed more off of your list, too. Way to go!
Thanks so much for your continued support Andrea. I’ve been a crazy blogging/reading woman since Blogathon, it really lit a fire under me. I can’t wait for the next one. Of course, now that I finally got that blog button code figured out, I want to change the fall color scheme to more of a winter one on my blog. Always something to be done.
I am trying to go by and visit everyone from the blogathon! (And follow on twitter/pinterest/fb..i’m doing good except on the FB..that always takes me longer!) (i’m xxpollypocket on pinterest and twitter and nicholes.autumn.rain is my fb page)
I hope you accomplished a lot. I didn’t get as much done as i’d have liked, but…there is always next time! 🙂
My post is here http://autumn-rain.net/featured/biannual-blogathon-bash-kick-off-post
I really like the fact you took time to put a picture of your actual handwritten to do list up! 🙂 I hope to see you around!
Thanks Nichole, I still have to through the blogathon lists again and catch everyone. I appreciate you stopping by, commenting and the support on other social media platforms.
I am so bummed that I heard about this blogathon too late to join. My friend was recently diagnosed with RA I’ll have to forward her your site. I like he idea of a blg book, I need to create one.
Thanks Bette, the blogathon was invaluable and worth the time. Please do forward her my site. I just wrote a post about RA Awareness Day so you definitely need to share that post with her. The Rheumatoid Patient Foundation has some Twitter and Facebook chats with doctors that may be helpful. It’s a hard disease to understand and every patient is so different but if any of my posts or resources help her in some small way, I’d be so thrilled. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
You did a great job! Can’t wait for the next one!
Thanks so much Ellen, that’s the most fun I’ve had working so hard at a computer. It’s great watching an idea come to life and knowing that I created it (with a lot of help from the more seasoned bloggers). Still I am proud of my little home on the great big web.
Wonder Woman mug? That’s awesome! Good luck with getting your goals completed, your off to a good start.
Thanks Tony, I hope you join Goodreads, but it is very addictive! The Wonder Woman mug is just the tip of the iceberg in my house of 3 boys and a husband who are superhero and Star Wars fanatics. We have the entire Justice League in our house, but shhh…don’t reveal our secret identity. Thanks for the visit and comment!
Wow – your blog name sure fit in with a post I did today. It really IS the small victories and successes that make us. I can see you’re getting stuff done and I hope you make your full list by the end of the blogathon. After all, you do have that Wonder Woman mug to keep you going!
Hi Jackie,
I love the idea of your Let’s Get Healthy Together idea. That totally fits in with what I need to do to help me deal with RA. I tried to comment on your post, let me know if it didn’t work. I would like to link up after blogathon is done!
I’d love to have you link up! It’s all about inspiring one another 🙂
I applaud you for already having completed items on your list! My blog to-do list is a little longer, and I haven’t crossed anything off yet! You have me inspired to see what I might be able to accomplish with the rest of the weekend.
Good luck with the rest of your list!
Thanks so much, one step at a time against that to-do list! Good luck finding some time to get going on your list. Gonna go check out your list of goals, I love your blog.
Thanks for joining the blogathon, love your blog name! Keep up the good work.
Thanks so much Kathleen for stopping by and the compliment. I have been working hard and having fun. Glad I joined the blogathon this time, and I will be sure to sign up for the next one.
Sounds like you have plenty to keep you busy this weekend in the challenge as well. I did enjoy finding your blog and I am now following it. I look forward to the seeing the changes you talked about. If you would like to see my post Please check it out at: http://mommiespointofview.blogspot.com/2013/01/winter-blogathon-2013-kickoff_26.html
Thanks so much Glenda, yes it’s been a not-so-normal weekend in our household but I have gotten some good hours in. Did you do any of the mini-challenges? I am off to visit you!
How are you doing on your goals? This is so much fun!
Well I have to work today so won’t be blogathoning till later. I hoped to get some blogging work accomplished at lunch but kids were dismissed early from school so actually had to feed them lunch. Ah, such is the life of a mom, unpredictability at its best! Thanks for checking in on me, hope to be back online later.