Blog the Recession

*Thanks to all who participated. I'll be posting the winners this week!*

If you haven't noticed, July has been a pretty shitastic month around the blogosphere. Fortunately, I've not fallen prey to what has got to be the result of Bush pissing off Mercury to keep it in retrograde for the whole fucking summer. Unless you count the fact that my husband's libido is currently on strike.

Plus, he's a pilot, and planes need gas, and gas is expensive.

You do the math.

But I seriously find myself twittering a communal "God I'm So Sorry" on a daily basis.

Maybe it's hard to compare frankenvulvas, cut-short vacations, and bush-peeing bladder infections to job loss, sick parents, and the adoption roller coaster.

And then there's cancer (or as she just found out, NOT CANCER!) and loss.

So instead of typing "God I'm so sorry" yet again, I've created Blog the Recession Month.

The premise is simple. If you read blogs, then for the month of August, make the "pledge" to click through from your feed reader. No obligation to leave a hilarious comment or send a long stalkerish email (although both, within reason, are always lovely). Just click through to the blog (not on ads unless you are so led) and if you're feeling generous, click around to their older posts.

Just those extra page views can make a big difference for bloggers who could really use the help, or in my case, where page views don't matter so much, a big fat ego boost.

(Might as well inflate the ego since everything else about me is inflated these days)

(Oh, and I do link up some cool shit in my sidebar so that's worth checking, especially today)

If you feel like hopping on the bandwagon (c'mon, it's fun and I'm a really great driver), then all you need to do is grab a button -- see below, slap it on your blog, and [beg, plead] ask your readers to click through on their feed readers or blogrolls and do the same within a post.

Send me the link to your post and I'll link you up here and enter you to win some *fantastic prizes.

*Nautilus 3-in-1 Car Seat, courtesy of Graco (woo!)

*A new blog header ($90 value - certain platform restrictions apply), courtesy of Ruby & Roja Design

*A lovely handmade blanket "in cool colors," courtesy of Amelia Sprout

*Kid's Backpack - winner's choice, courtesy of Land's End

*Peace Love Mom Tee - winner's choice [use code Motherhood for 10% off orders over $20]

*Zivio Blue Tooth Headset by Joby, courtesy of Motherhood Uncensored

*A handmade set of wooden blocks and a wooden teether, courtesy of Little Alouette (Amy's Etsy Shop)

*$50 Amazon Gift Card

*TEN Paknaks (one to each of 10 winners), courtesy of Pak Nak

*TEN cases of Water (one to each of 10 winners), courtesy of Primo Water

*Basket of mom and baby essentials, courtesy of Johnson & Johnson

*The Rookie Moms Handbook, courtesy of The Rookie Moms (duh)

*Winner's choice of necklace/bracelet/earring set or a watch and earring or bracelet set, courtesy of Cheeky Sweetie.

*$50 Gift Card to Wine.com (you know, for WINE GLASSES PEOPLE - ahem), courtesy of Savvy Mommy

*Fantastic gift basket of homemade goodness, courtesy of Fluid Pudding

*A Wow Wow Wubzy Gift Pack

*Two DVD's: Johnny and the Sprites:Meet the Sprites and My Friends Tigger & Pooh: Friendly Tales compliments of Soy is the New Black and The Full Mommy.

*$50 Gift Certificate to Itty Bitty Lady Bug

*500 free digital camera prints (plus 200 free), courtesy of Snapfish (and HP)

And let's hope August is better for everyone.

--

Blog the Recession Month Participants (make sure you write a post, dudes, and email me!):

3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires

3 Giraffes

3 P's in a Pod

5 Minutes for Mom

A Box of Chocolates

A Daily Dose of Toni

A Girl and Her Life

A Mommy Story

Adventures in Babywearing

Adventures in Juggling

All Because Two People Fell in Love

Amanda: A Stay at Home Mom's Point of View

Amelia Sprout

Assertagirl

Auguries of Innocence

Baby Making 501

Barren Albion

Barren Mare

Bird Brain

Bird on a Wire

Blogaversary

Boogers & Burps

Bunny Money

Breaking Waves

Cara Mama

Carma Sez

Chaos Theory

Cheaper Than Therapy

Cheeky Sweetie

Cheese Party

Cherish This

Chic Shopper Chick

Charming & Delightful

Compost Happens

Cool Zebras

Cynical Dad

Diary of a Mad Liberal Mommy

Dirt & Noise

Domestic Extraordinaire

Don't Gel Too Soon

Doobleh-Vay

Dutch Blitz

eRamblings

Esmon

Fabulous Running Mommy

Following in My Shoes

Freak Parade

From Dates to Diapers

From Here to There and Everywhere

From the Planet of Janet

Glossy Veneer

Growing a Baby in Seattle

Gwendomama

Havoc & Mayhem

Herb of Grace

HouseholdSix Scrappin' & Bloggin'

I Should Be Folding Laundry

I Still Hate Pickles

If I Could Escape

Illahee's Blog

I'm Beautiful Like Me

Issa's Crazy World

It's All For the Best

Just Another SAHM

Just Beth

Just Enjoying Life

K is for Kindergarten

Karen Sugarpants

Karma Rack Up

Knitting Without Needles

Life: The Ongoing Education

Life Candy

Life in the Lapadula House

Life is Like Champagne

Life Decanted

Life Goes On

Life With Ollie

Liza Was Here

Loralee's Looney Tunes

Mad Mad Mama

Major Bedhead

Mamasita Jr

Mama K NJ

Maternal Mirth

Mental Rush Hour

Middle Georgia Mommy

Mom Dot

Mom, Ink

Mom 101

Mom of 2 Dancers

Mom to the Screaming Masses

Mommy & the Marine

Momma Crafter

Mommy Cracked

Mommy Daddy Blog

Mommy Musings

Mommy Needs Therapy

Mommy Wizdom

Mommy's Got Green

Morningside Mom

Mothergoosemouse

Motherhood Gone Mad

Mrs. Mogul

My Good Earth

My Life as a Hot Fessional

My Life for the World to See

My Sweet Babboo

My Quest for Sanity

Natural Moms Talk Radio

Not a DIY Life

Not Just a Working Mom

Not Your Typical Mommy

Notes from the Cookie Jar

Notes from the Sleep Deprived

Now I Know What Love Is

Occasional Rambling

One in 36 Million

One Mom Five Kids

One Ping Only

One Plus Two

Overflowing Brain

PARENTise

Party of Five

Peculiar Momma

Putting the Fun in Dysfunctional

Ramblings of a Texas Housewife

Rebecca is Fabulous

Red Cup Mom

Reflection

Rhi in Pink

Ride the Waves of Life

Rimarama

Run DMT

Sacred & the Profane

Sarah & The Goon Squad

Savvy Mommy

Scarlett Threads

Scientific Nature of the Whammy

Seeking Sanity

Simpson's Paradox

Slackermama

Smock Lady

Sometimes I Wonder...

Soy is the New Black

Sparklie Sunshine

Sparks & Butterflies

Spookiez Spot

Star Knits

Stay At Aum Mom

Stop Screaming I'm Driving!

Superdumb Supervillain

Tales from the Dad Side

Taste Like Crazy

Tara's View of the World

Temporarily Me

The Angel Forever

The Dana Files

The Duck Pond

The Edge of Insanity

The Frugal Momma

The Land of Ren

The Life of a Bosom Buddy

The Life of a Home Mom

The Light's On, But No One's Home

The Poopie Patrol

The Tales of AJU5

This Full House

Those Corwins

Thotlady

ThreeSeven

Thrifty Wench

Tiny Mantras

Unexpected Bliss

Unwellness

VHM Princess

Wandering the Academy

Welcome to Twinseltown

What Was I Thinking?

What's That Smell?

Wheeler's Writings

Whirlwind

Wisconsin Mommy

*If you happen to have fantastic prizes (jobs and money are greatly appreciated), feel free to drop me an email and we'll talk.

**Pssst. PBN is giving away 8 Gift Cards with our Blog Blast with Couponers this weekend. Mark your calendar! And it's open to Canadians!

[Thanks to motherbumper and Trista for the buttons!]

--

<a href="http://motherhooduncensored.typepad.com/motherhood_uncensored/2008/07/blog-the-recess.html"><img src="http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j29/coolmompicks/blogthercessionpig.jpg"></a>

<a href="http://motherhooduncensored.typepad.com/motherhood_uncensored/2008/07/blog-the-recess.html"><img src="http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j29/coolmompicks/blogtherecession1.jpg"></a>

<a href="http://motherhooduncensored.typepad.com/motherhood_uncensored/2008/07/blog-the-recess.html"><img src="http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j29/coolmompicks/blogtherecession3.jpg"></a>

<a href="http://motherhooduncensored.typepad.com/motherhood_uncensored/2008/07/blog-the-recess.html"><img src="http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j29/coolmompicks/blogtherecession4.jpg"></a>

Comments

[HeatherY]

If it's still on, I'm in!

[Lisa (the girls' moma)]

It's still August. It counts. I'm in.

[Emily]

Oh, I am such a procrastinator.

http://emma4168.blogspot.com/2008/08/attention-my-2-readers.html

[bridge]

http://ridethewavesoflife.blogspot.com/2008/08/blog-recession.html
I'm late, but in.

[TwoLittleDucks]

I'm in too!! Fantastic idea!!

http://twolittleducks.wordpress.com/

[Mel]

Okay, so I finally got my blog up and running (woot!). Trying to visit everyone at least once this month, finding a lot of good reads -- I'm sure I'll be back after the month is over too!

[The Frugal Momma]

I've been trying to click through all my feeds & on adsense if its there.

[Caryn Bailey]

I just blogged! What a great idea...

http://rockinmama.net/2008/08/18/blogging-for-a-cause/

[Jess]

I added a link to here in my Feed Signature. So whenever someone reads my posts through a feed reader, they get a little reminder to click out.

[Kathy]

I just posted a link on my blog...anyone else robbing Peter to pay Paul????

[Jenny, Bloggess]

This awesomeness was featured on BS Sunday on the Houston Chronicle Online: http://tinyurl.com/6c2w4u

[VDog]

Linked up in my sidebar, but haven't posted about it yet.

You know me, always a day (or five) late and a dollar (or seven) short.

[Sheena @ Mommy Daddy Blog]

Button *check*
Post *check*
http://mommydaddyblog.com/2008/08/13/show-a-blogger-some-love/

[Dy-Anne]

I just wanted to say that THIS WAS SUPER GREAT!!!!

I just checked my stats and in the last month I have already doubled my previous earnings (they aren't much but they are double what I had gotten in the past year or so)

I hope that the people who read my blog through this keep up with it and I know I have found a few that are my new favorites.

[Alyson, the 3 P's Mama]

Late but present and accounted for!

http://threepsinapod.blogspot.com/2008/08/blogging-recession-bloggers-can-rule.html

[flickrlovr]

I'm super slow, but I'm in!

[Dawn]

Man, I am so late.

http://kaiseralex.com/2008/08/12/little-things-mean-a-lot/

[Caroline]

Like others, I have been going through every blog listed above to blog the recession. Its taking FOREVER but I am determined about this one. Again, great, fabulous, brilliant idea.

[SmockLady]

I sent you an email, but posting here too.
Here's mine: http://thesmocklady.com/blog/blog-the-recession_931/

[Belinda]

http://careerasamum.blogspot.com/2008/08/blog-recession.html

Count me in! I am up for it!!

[Belinda]

I am up for it!!

http://careerasamum.blogspot.com/2008/08/blog-recession.html

[Pablo Solis]

great idea! Count me in - every little bit counts you know. I grabbed an image & am on the bandwagon.

Please ad me to the list of participants
my blog is at http://dreamscapes.psolis.com

[Sarah]

Thanks for doing this!

[ilinap]

Here's my post. Love the idea, especially for us newbies! http://www.dirtandnoise.com/2008/08/i-feel-just-like-sally-field.html

[Kelly]

Adding the badge now but already posted! :)

http://mommyandthemarine.com/?p=711

[D.M. Wright]

Count me, too!

http://dmwrightbooks.wordpress.com/2008/08/06/pssstpass-it-on/

[D.M. Wright]

Count me, too!

http://dmwrightbooks.wordpress.com/2008/08/06/pssstpass-it-on/

[SparklieSunShine]

http://sparkliesunshine.net/2008/08/11/blog-the-recession/

Am I too late?

[Christy]

GREAT IDEA! I'm totally in...hopefully it'll catch on faster than the flu! =) I'm such a dork. I know. Get to clickin'!

[misguided mommy]

Here is my link I'm clickin

http://wilddreemer.blogspot.com/2008/08/click-over-here.html

[Mommy Niri]

See I need to learn from you how to build traffic. This is such a great idea.

[Motherhood Uncensored]

Make sure you email me with your linky dink as I might miss it if it's in these comments!

[Gina]

posted the button ..Cheers to you.

[Nadine Owens Burton]

I added the little piggy to my blog today.

Here is my link

http://blog.owensburton.com

Happy blogging to everyone!!!

[Carrie]

Sorry, that link was wacky. Here's the real one:

http://www.stopscreamingimdriving.com/2008/08/recession-schmession.html

Again, thanks Kristen! Every little bit helps!

[Carrie]

Thanks for doing this Kristen! You rock!

Here's mine:

http://www.stopscreamingimdriving.com/2008/08/recession-shemession.html

[Rightmyer Rants]

I'm blogging away! I've already left a few comments and I'm on my way to visit more.

I've added your post about the Blog Recession to my site! Sweet!

[Amanda]

I blogged. thanks

http://www.mommymandy.com/2008/08/blog-recession.html

[Lisa]

Great idea,
I just jumped into the pig pen. Better late than never and I really wanted wanted of those cute pigs on my blog.
Here's my post
http://iteachkinderkids.blogspot.com/2008_08_01_archive.html#8350467208446223546

[Jerri Ann]

Hey, I'm in, I posted earlier but you probably just missed me...

http://www.momecentric.com/?p=292

http://www.momecentric.com/?p=287

[bri]

Here's mine. Great idea!
http://www.unwellness.com/unwellness/2008/08/blog-the-recess.html

[Rachel L]

Hi -- there's a link to this on my blog:

http://followinginmyshoes.blogspot.com/2008/08/blog-recession.html

[Assertagirl]

I included a shout-out and link on my recent post...and the little piggy's in my sidebar.

I pretty much use my reader as a jumping point to new posts, but I'm glad to see so many more people will be doing this too!

[Michelle]

Here is my blog entry!

[Caroline]

Just making sure you got my post. IE is acting up on me so I am not sure my first attempt went through!

http://morningsidemom.wordpress.com/2008/08/07/getting-a-little-giving-a-little/

You've written a wonderful post and I'm thinking you should expect so much good blogger karma in your future! :)

[Caroline]

Here's my post.
http://morningsidemom.wordpress.com/2008/08/07/getting-a-little-giving-a-little/

And in the spirit of this post, I am taking a few days off from my own posting to go on a click-thru-blogs-othon.

This post is absoultely a wonderful wonderful idea. You will acheive such good blogger karma for this!

[One Mom, Five Kids]

I blogged ya! Great idea!

http://www.onemomfivekids.blogspot.com

[ree]

I blogged it!

http://hotfessional.com/2008/08/07/stuff-and-such/

What a great thing to do.

[B. Mare]

Late to the party as usual, but I brought cheese doodles. What? No takers for cheese doodles?

Here's my post:
http://barrenmare.typepad.com/barrenmare/2008/08/softies.html

[fitatforyplus]

I am a newborn to the blog world and am in awe by everything I have found. It is like an entire secret world exists and the portal to this new dimension has just been opened for me to enter. Look Out, Here I come!!
BTW, I grabbed the piggy, posted a comment on "Fabulous Running Mommy's Blog" and was tipped off to this movement by Run DMT.
Please link my wordpress blog so I, too, can begin to feel the love.

[Caroline]

What an amazing idea. I know you have a ga-billion comments here but I posted about blogger karma and I really think this is exactly what I was talking about. Bloggers taking care of bloggers. You rock. I am gonna spread the word and the button is up on my blog.

[Whitney]

This is a wonderful idea! I am putting a blog the recession pig on my website right now!

[caramama]

I finally got up my post and the pic on the sidebar.

Here it is: http://caramamamia.blogspot.com/2008/08/theres-recession-ah-blog-it.html

[Liz@thisfullhouse]

Better late, than never, yes?

http://www.thisfullhouse.com/this_full_house/2008/08/blog-the-recess.html

[St Paul Slim]

Crap, let me try that again. Sorry for the double

http://www.gomom.com/forum/miscellany/your-latin-lesson-today-august-7-2008

[St Paul Slim]

you are linked: http://www.gomom.com/forum/miscellany/your-latin-lesson-today-august-7-2008, and I just want to add that I'm raising a glass of really cheap wine to you right now.

[Karen Sugarpants]

Done and here: http://karensugarpants.com/2008/08/06/i-scratch-your-back-you-scratch-lisas/

[Peggy]

Oops, here's my link --
http://thehouseofkent.blogspot.com

[Peggy]

Greetings from Texas via Notes from the Cookie Jar. Cool button!

[kirsty815]

What a great idea! Here's mine

http://kirsty815.wordpress.com/2008/08/06/everybodys-doing-it-are-you/

Now I gotta go got some clicking to do.

[MamasitaJr.]

This is the mother of all good ideas in the blogosphere. Wow. I'm so in!

http://greeneyedme247.wordpress.com/

[JTR]

This is a great suggestion but try doing that on a slow dial up internet connection (yes- there are still a lot of us out there). With all the ads, widgets, banners, photo backgrounds etc on blogs these days it is downright painful to surf the 'old' way and not throught the rss feeds. I have had to stop reading certain blogs I loved because of it. If blogs want more readers please try implementing a format that is user friendly to the masses and not just the elite. (I am not talking about this blog in particular. It actually loaded fairly well for me especially for a first time visit.) Thank you for letting me get that off my chest.

[Vicky]

I'm in! http://themummychronicles.blogspot.com/2008/08/bbc-disappoints.html

[DeniseRMT]

Brilliant idea! Mommy bloggers unite! Show some love and share the wealth! :-)

[Jerri Ann]

Count me in...

http://www.momecentric.com/?p=292

[Karen]

Awesome idea -- I've just posted mine! Thanks!

http://crunchiemummy.wordpress.com/2008/08/05/help-a-blogging-momma-out/

[Sammanthia]

Post finished... I'm all over this shit. I do love me some widgets.

Oh, and I get to help, too.

http://www.browerfamilyof5.wordpress.com

[Nenette]

I'm loving this... now that I've made my post, I'm visiting everyone's sites!

[WhyMommy]

What a great idea! Whoo-hoo!

[Mojo]

Oh what the hell... I never did know what was good for me.
Is this what you meant?
http://mojo11.blogspot.com/2008/08/one-of-these-things-is-not-like-others.html

[Mojo]

Something tells me that being the owner of a Y-chromosome and grown children probably means I'm disqualified... In fact, I probably shouldn't even be looking at this. And yet... it's so strangely compelling...

[Tina]

I did it not sure if it's right but I tried.

[Domestic Spaz]

What a GREAT idea! I posted about it here: http://slackermomof3.blogspot.com/2008/08/blog-recession.html

[Sprite's Keeper]

Button added? Check.
Reference posted? Check.
Email? Check.
This is a great idea and I'll spread the word.

[TheAngelForever]

Thank you for the wonderful idea. I sent you an e-mail since I posted about Blog the Recession this morning.

[Mimi]

I want to play! I've posted my entry and put the piggy in my column ! Sounds like another great way to meet some new folks and hook each other up at the same time!

http://plentyofexperiences.blogspot.com/2008/08/yes-im-going-to-blog-recession-too.html

[rachel]

Posted Mine Today!!

http://asouthernfairytale.blogspot.com/2008/08/quit-being-feeder-start-being-reader.html

I'm going to go read everyone who's participating too. Great idea, thank you so much for this.

[bunny]

Linked my post! :)

[Meg]

What a sweet idea! I've jumped on the piggy bandwagon!

www.simpsonsparadox.com

[slackermommy]

Great idea! My post is up:
http://slacker-moms-r-us.com/2008/08/blog-the-recession.html

[Scarlett Threads]

Got my badge up and posted about the party. Can't wait to meet some new blogging friends. Scarlett

[mama k]

I'm in! Blogged you here:
http://mamaknj.blogspot.com/2008/08/blog-recession.html

[Kathryn]

Pure genius. I'm adding my badge now. Count me in!

Seeking Sanity
http://fritterfarmers.blogspot.com

[Heather B]

My post is up! how fun is this?!

http://myquestforsanity.blogspot.com/2008/08/join-blog-recession.html

[Megryansmom]

Hi it's my 1st time here and I've added your button to my shiny new blog, I'll get started on the post soon. This is all new to me.

[Christine - From Dates to Diapers]

I'm all buttoned up and I sent you the link to my post this morning. Now I'm off to spread some love...

Thanks for running with such a great idea!

[Rusti]

I just added the button - and did a little post linking to you :)

http://rustilynsidel.blogspot.com/2008/08/blog-recession.html

my blog is (unfortunately??) private though... so I'll send you an invite in the event that you want to be SURE I actually posted :) or in the crazy event that you might even want to read about my non-exciting life as a cop's wife and soon-to-be mom... although there are quite a few baby related posts in recent weeks... so who knows :)

ANYWAY - I'll stop rambling all over your comments now - I posted and that's what is important!!

[birdie]

http://jbirdbrain.blogspot.com/2008/08/blog-recession.html

I'm in!

[Jill (CDJ)]

Hope I'm not too late to the party. This is such a great idea. Here's my post:

http://charmingdelightful.blogspot.com/2008/08/blog-recession.html

[zchamu]

Here you go... http://www.threeseven.ca/2008/08/blog-recession.html

And I can donate a prize too.... email me at shannon at threeseven dot ca for some cool software!

[starrlife]

Here's the link! I'm going out there and leave a trail of footprints a mile long!
http://starrlife.wordpress.com/2008/08/04/blog-the-recession/

[happyathome]

http://www.lifeislikechampagneblog.com/2008/08/blog-recession.html

Here is my link for the post and the button is goin' up baby! I am all for helping out fellow bloggers!

[starrlife]

Finally got it. Blog post to follow!

[starrlife]

I love the idea but I can't get the button to work- I am such a dweeb!

[tanyetta]

great idea.

[bethany actually]

I'm not blogging it yet, but I added a button to my sidebar! It's a good idea, and I will make a conscious effort to click through to blogs this month.

[Storm]

I'm blogging it here:

http://confessions-of-a-psychotic-housewife.blogspot.com/2008/08/blog-recession.html

[Nicole/wksocmom]

Here's mine - love the idea.
http://notjustaworkingmom.blogspot.com/2008/08/blog-that-recession-baby.html

[tata]

Post is up!

http://www.imnotbeautifullikeyou.com/2008/08/blog-recession.html

[metalia]

This is such a fabulous idea; I'm in! I'll email you once I've posted.