Chipmunks. Today is a mind fur-blowing day indeed.
The Daily Post is featuring me in their new(ish) “Blogger Profile” series!
When they contacted me on Halloween, I leapt out of my hard, plastic seat. I was waiting for Chinese take-out with my family, obsessively checking my phone, like any good bloggette who hadn’t had power for a week [thanks to Hurricane Sandy] would do when she realized she had free wi-fi.
I attempted to explain to my parents, sister, niece and nephew why I was so excited.
“It’s WordPress’ blog!”
Blank stares.
“They like me! They really like me!” I tried.
A little drool. Eyelids drooping.
I finally resorted to shamelessness: “This is a BIG. DEAL.”
Babs offered a confused smile. The rest of the family was already back to talking about Dancing with the Stars.
Lackluster familial support understanding aside, I eagerly answered all of The Daily Post’s thought-provoking questions – all except one. There was one question I really didn’t want to answer. Because they wanted me to name my top 5 blogs.
Top 5 blogs? Have you seen my Blogroll? Even that’s incomplete.
I could no sooner name a favorite Hot Pocket variety.
I hate knowing I left so many wonderful bloggers and friends off that list, but it got me thinking:
I’d really like to know which bloggers inspire you. Not just the ones you ‘like’ regularly, or the ones who make you laugh, but the ones who move you. Was there a particular post that really spoke to you? Or caused you to take some sort of real-life action?
I hope you’ll share stories and links in the comments section below, and I look forward to hopefully meeting some new bloggers!
Thank you to Michelle and The Daily Post for making my day week month year, and to you, Chipmunks, a source of never-ending fulfillment and inspiration. I said in the interview that blogging changed my life. And I meant it.
Go Jules Go 
Congrats, Jules!!! That is so very awesome! You’ve hit the big time now, baby. I’m just happy that I know you and that I can bask in the afterglow of your bloggy success. Wait, that sounded . . . dirty. Meh.
So very deserved. You rock, chica!!
Thank you, Misty!!! And listen, we have power now, so if anything brings you to NJ for any reason… I know a good place for (more) LITs.
P.S. – As long as you keep promising to crop out my arms in any pictures. LOL
Hey, your interview was terrific, seriously. Congratulations. Don’t forget me now that you’re big-time.
Oh, hey, Paul! Good to see you! How are the kids? How’s China?
Congratulations! I’m so jealous – I mean HAPPY – for you! Blogs that inspire me? Well, I’d have to say yours of course! 🙂 Also, The Byronic Man and Day by Day the Farm Girl Way are on my short list. Like you I have many more on my blogroll which I need to update with even more talented writers.
Three cheers for B-Man! I’ll have to check out Day to Day Farm Girl – thanks for sharing!
Honestly, I’m not even sure how to handle my blogroll, because there is just SO much bloggy goodness out there.
Thank you so much! 🙂
You’re welcome. 😉
Why Rache. I have no idea what you’re talking about.
Congratulations and I hope you make it big ! 😀
Thank you so much, Sanah! My next goal is to have Korbel or Absolut or Hot Pockets host my next giveaway…in which case, I will be the winner every time.
Great job!
Thank you so much! And nice to meet’cha!
Congrats. We like you. We really do. 🙂
Hee. THANK YOU! And I do believe one Mr. Peppermeister just recommended you (below) as the blogger who inspires him…
Awesome! And, here I thought I was blogger-stalking you two. 🙂 You know, there are some pretty fantastic breweries out here in Nevada. You could road trip it out with Rachel and fam. Just a suggestion …
omg-omg-omg! I just saw these and thought of you. http://www.slapkoolers.com/ Slap Koozies!
Holy chipmunks!!! That’s amazing. I must place my order ASAP. Do you think they offer them by the gross?
They do. I’m betting they even fit on those little wine boxes, too … just sayin’ …
OMG… Rache? Are you seeing this?!
Thank you for opening my eyes – sometimes I think I’m hip to what the world has to offer, and then…
Well, you know, Reno, Nevada … Biggest Little City in the World. It’s super classy here. We know our beer koozies.
I just saw it and it was awesome…CONGRATS!! Very well deserved. Your blog attracted me from the very beginning. Can’t remember exactly what led me here but I’m glad it did. Congrats again! 😀
Lilykins, thank you so much! I’M GLAD IT DID, TOO. 🙂
CONGRATS Jules! There is really nothing better than reading something that makes you laugh out loud. One of my personal favorites is Heath at http://haphillips.wordpress.com What do you want to bet that hyperlink doesn’t even work? Ha!
And many of the bloggers I interact with really do inspire me both through their blogs and through their comments. (As you say, many creative folks are sensitive and need the feedback.) However, I think the folks who inspire me the most are the ones who touch my heart. To be able to write something that’s touching without being schmaltzy is truly a gift. Rollergiraffe, Runningfromhellwithel, Laments and Lullabies, Creative Liar, and She’s A Maineiac all come to mind.
Oh my gosh – I’m going to have to spend some time checking out that blog – just the tagline alone is perfect (“pause at the commas, people”)!
THANK YOU! I couldn’t agree more – pulling off the sentimental stuff without sounding like a Hallmark card is really a gift. Darla and El have that gift, and I’m sure the others you mentioned do, too (more goodness for me to check out! Huzzah!)!
Awesome awesome! And you are all that! I am off to find your interview. I didn’t even know WordPress did that! Holy Shizzlesticks!
Thank you, Renzzz! I really did flip my lid when I got that email. I’ll see your holy shizzlesticks and raise you a holy birthday Freshly Pressage! 😉
I saw this on WordPress before I even read this!!! Imagine in a Barney Stinson voice…”Awwwwwesome!”
I have about 75 blogs in my Google Reader…all of them inspire me to just write. To write something meaningful or to write the nonsense that fills my head most days. I love this community. I’m not the best writer out there, but I’ve felt very welcome in the bloggy world.
Ha! Oh, I’m imagining it all right, Amy – thank you!!! And if you’ve found a home in blogging and the community, I think that proves you’re a great writer 🙂
There’s a young gal, just exploring life, straight out of college who writes vulnerable, thought-provoking and really relatable stuff: http://moneyandaroomofmyown.wordpress.com/
Wow, I just read the most recent one, Louise, and I can already see what you’re saying! Thanks so much for sharing!
Congrats! This is so exciting!!!!
Thank you so much, Tori! I had a tiny, fleeting moment where I thought, “I can play this cool.”
And then… I remembered who I am.
Wow. This is massive! I’ve been blogging since the dark ages of the mid90s when it was all skived HTML from people who knew it…
Of course, I haven’t tried to be creative or entertaining since about 2008. Hrm.
I’m so PROUD of you and HAPPY for you. Tell those nasty chipmunks there’ll be no FUR BLOWING in THIS house!
Thank you soooo much, L! I feel like it’s appropriate to say this is the ‘biggest’ bloggy thing to happen to me, and I still can’t quite believe it!
Oh. And nobody inspires me, not for blogging. I’ve inspired myself over the years but I’m old now and tired. Seriously…I can’t think of anything other than when I first learned about blogging and said, ‘you mean I can post my diatribes and drawrings and ukulele covers where people may ACCIDENTALLY SEE THEM?! I’m in, baby!’
Congratulations! I just read your interview on the WordPress Blog and had to come over. I am so glad they chose you as I now have a hilarious new blog to catch up on!
The chipmunks? They are awesome.
Thank you so much, Kristine! How flattering.
I can tell already that we’re going to get along juuuust fine. 🙂
Loved the interview! Left you a comment there. You totally deserved that feature.
Nina! Thank you – your support means a lot to me, because I know you wouldn’t say it if you didn’t mean it.
Woohoo! Couldn’t happen to a nicer blogger. 😀
Thank you so much, Leanne! It really was such a thrill! I would like to know why now no one else wants to interview me. Jimmy? Conan? I’m waiting.
CONGRATULATIONSSSSS! That’s sooo cool, I’m thrilled for you (and a bit for me too, because, hey! I know YOU! 😉 is kind like a big deal, isn’t it? )
What blog had inspired me lately? http://rockstarronan.com/ No words…
Have a great day 🙂
Wow, okay, I’m going to have to take a look at this in more detail – it looks amazing! Thank you! 🙂
I’m onto you, Jules.
First, I’m nonchalantly checking out the Daily Post when I see an interview of… you!
But that’s not all : a few days ago, I randomly checked out a quirky little shop downtown that sells all kinds of
junkcool gadgets, and they were loaded with ‘stache coasters, ‘stache keychains… ‘staches everywhere ! And this is in Toulouse, France !!!Run, people, run – Jules is taking over the world, one pair of ‘stache glasses at a time !!!
Shhhh…
I paid them good money to interview me. Not sure what it amounts to in euros, though. Probably not enough to buy ‘stache glasses.
Obvs. you inspire me. I agree with your choices in the daily post piece. I would have had trouble just picking five too because I like more than 5.
I’m not even kidding when I say I almost asked them if I had to answer that, and if I did, could I just list The Byronic Man five times, because no one would hold it against me.
Great job my Americano friend!
Of course you inspire me,,,but I also am inspired by Karen over at The Chronicles of a Skinny-Jeans wearing Toronto girl at : http://karenslatte.wordpress.com/
BreezyK over at The Camel Life: http://breezyk.wordpress.com/
and Amber over at: http://wordsbecomesuperfluous.com/
Thank you so much, my Neighbor to the North! I can’t WAIT to check these out 🙂
I would have to say Deb’s The Monster in Your Closet inspires me for sure. Some of her posts stay with me for weeks after I’ve read them.
http://deborah-bryan.com/
And another one I am continuously blown away by is El’s Running from Hell with El blog. http://runningfromhellwithel.com/ Phenomenal writing.
Oooh, DP, those are such great picks for this ‘inspiration’ question. They always move me, too!
Congrats!! That is such an amazing honor! I would be legit dancing!
I seriously had to buy three new pairs of shoes this weekend, there was so much dancing.
I may have also just wanted to buy new boots.
Thank you so much!
Hey, I raised at least one eyebrow when I heard the news. As for a blogger who MOVES me? I’m going to have to say Gingerlea from Fresh Veggies in the Desert. She takes great pictures, she highlights local farm grown food and she’s a pepper-phile. I mean how could you not be moved by pulled pork jalapeno poppers? http://freshveggiesinthedesert.wordpress.com/2012/10/09/pulled-pork-poppers/
I’m blushing — thanks!
I don’t appreciate you using this opportunity to steal the spotlight re: your ability to raise one eyebrow at a time.
Go Jules GO!!!! 🙂
Ha ha! Can I hire you to come say that on my off days?
absolutely, that’ll make em On days. 😉
Congratulations, Jules. You posted some great tips. I hope by now that your power is back on and everything’s OK. By now, may Sandy be just some distant, bad memory.
Thank you so much, and thank you for checking! Our power has been on, uninterrupted since Tuesday afternoon – wooooot!
I recently started following A New Free Life (anewfreelife.wordpress.com) and though I follow a lot of wonderful blogs, I find myself thinking of this lady every day. She has recently left an incredibly abusive husband and in her posts she also shares parts of her unbelievably awful childhood. She metes it out in small doses, and even those are hard to read. What blows me away is the way this woman–who never finished high school–writes, and how strong she is, having gone through so much. She’s truly amazing.
congrats! I will be a new follower! I just love chipmunks! Also, your posts are pretty darn good too! As for what blogger moves me. I’ll have to think on that and get back to you! 🙂
I just subscribed to you blog and I really love your since of humor. I found the interview very interesting. I have been blogging for almost 2 years but just switched to WordPress a couple of months ago. So I find your tips very useful or should I say your experiences. Thanks for the humor. 🙂
OMG!!! HUGS!!!! You rock! You so totally deserve it… and if I was a family member, I would have been jumping up and down and dancing! So I think you should just adopt me into the family ;P At least as a blogging enthusiast to celebrate in all these matters!
And wow, that is a tough question… I get inspired all the time by fellow bloggers. Ugh. Some people inspire me to be healthy and feel great, others inspire me to get out my comfort zone… and people such as yourself bring out my quirky silly side. How do you choose?!
OMG, OMG, OMG! This is so big, Jules! See what happens when I take a day off! I’m so proud of you – they couldn’t have picked a better blogger to profile. Whoot whoot whoot!
I like your posts! 🙂
Very cool! How did WordPress contact you? I’d be curious to get a look into their selection process. Also, kudos on being one of their recommended Humor blogs as well 🙂
Sorry for the unoriginality, but I’d have to say that my favorite blogger would be Seth Godin. He manages to somehow put out quality content each and every day. I’m a huge fan.
Congrats to you and glad to hear your power is back. Humour can get you through a lot of challenges. I’ve got so many that I really enjoy daily, but for inspiration I’d have to say my friend Alys at Gardening Nirvana. She’s always positive and helpful and supportive, while simultaneously being a mom, wife, sister and getting to boot camp to kick butt. She puts the “Go” in ‘you go girl’.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. This was a fun post to write.
YAY Jules!!!! Congrats!
The bloggers that “insprire” me the most regularly are Ree Drummond~ The Pioneer Woman, Jen from Jen e Sais Quoi, Elizabeth from Flourish in Progress and Heather at Dooce. All for different reasons. The one THING that inspires me the most is caffeine. 🙂
Congrats!!! To be honest i don’t really read many blogs with school on right now but i think the best thing to do is to say that gojulesgo inspires me with her awesomeness, beauty, wit and love for guilty pleasures. Also inspires through competition to receive stache glasses 😀
HUZZAH!!! I would have a hard time answering the Top 5 blogs question, too. (I secretly avoid doing it because I am Cursed. Seriously. Every time I’ve ever had to link to other blogs with one of those silly meme/award things, the named bloggers mysteriously stop blogging forever. Sometimes it takes a week, sometimes it takes a month or two, but I’ve essentially killed off every blog I’ve ever singled out!) Obviously, with a talent/curse like that, I’m not about to tell you how awesome I think you are. You’re just okay in my books, but nothing worth drawing potentially cursed attention to. 😉
I like “Anyway I Digress”. AND now yours. Blog on
This was AMAZING. I know I told you that already. Well deserved. And I am still so blown away by the shout out.
Bloggers that inspire me? Hmmm… I am a big fan of you of course, and Speaker7 is my BBFF and I continually want to rip off her material, so that must be a form of “inspire”. Also inspired (read: envious, exhausted) reading all the great ideas B-Man comes up with in his posts. The man is a comedy machine. And Peg. And DarDar. They both write in a conversational way that seems effortless. Just a few of the many I love.
Also inspired by your energizer bunny approach to blogging. Contest giveaways. Blogher conventions. Vlogging videos. No one deserves success here more than you.
I love Becca from 25tofly.com. I love how supportive she is in the blogging community, and she’s a top campaigner for Bloggers for Movember.
If you’ve never checked her out – you totally should 🙂
Is there a super like button?! This is fantastic news to come back to after a bloggity hiatus 🙂 congrats on this, you deserve it – your blog is most definitely one of the finest ones out there, and I’m not just saying that! After being gone for most of October and maybe part of September? (I can’t remember any more) yours is one of the first ones I’m trying to catch up on. Hopefully your energy to blog will rub off on me a little too hey 😉 keep up the good work – you are at least encouraging and indeed entertaining!
Congrats! WordPress refuses to acknowledge my blogging existence, but I’m glad someone so cool was recognized!