TypePad Featured Blogs

Aiming for Grace

As the year draws to a close and we prepare resolutions and new starts, we’d like to end our Featured TypePad series for 2007 with one of the more thoughtful blogs we’ve seen so far. Aiming for Grace recounts the day-to-day life of a woman living with diabetes, and her reflections on how living with this chronic illness impacts everyday events as holidays and vacations. Filled with insight and written from an “insider’s” perspective with illustrations to highlight the posts, the posts will make you think, as when the writer discusses areas such as understanding and living life in the face of treatments, food concerns, and activities. Ultimately a very personal comment on the human condition, this is a site that speaks to not just those with a chronic illness, but to everyone.

Happy New Year to all our TypePad customers!

The Cottonwood Institute

Here’s an exciting challenge: Create future community leaders through an exciting blend of adventure, wilderness survival, and environmental service. No, it's not the latest episode of some reality TV show, but the goal of The Cottonwood Institute, a non-profit organization based in Denver – one dedicated to “changing the word one adventure at a time”. That they do, and most successfully, as a new generation of young community leaders who are environmentally aware, civically engaged, and empowered to make a positive impact on their respective communities can attest. Global responsibility starts with us all, of course as the blog’s posts on ways you can change the world on sustainability education and non-profit management point out. For the adventurous among you, never fear – there are great survival tips included here as well (but be sure to read them thoroughly before heading for the Great Outdoors! (And if you’d like to check out the program in more detail, go to their website.

The Cork Dork

Let’s toast 2007 with a taste of the grape – and whether your taste runs to Pinot Noir, Petite Sirah, or Champagne, you’ll find it discussed in The Cork Dork. An oenophile’s delight, the blog samples and discusses brands both popular and little known (to this editor, at least)! Wine not to your taste? Never fear, the author (in real life, a corporate citizen who loves wine and food) posts reviews on beer and cocktails too. Quick tip: Check the Category section for notes on restaurants and travel (to wineries, for example). Here’s a rich, inviting resource for everyone who lives the red and white (and if there’s a blue, you’ll find it here)!

Blogumentary

Put a blog and video camera together and what do you get? Blogumentary, a “videoblog” that tackles issues of the day, both large and small. Using videos (some gathered from YouTube, others from individual posters including the author ), the blog makes liberal use of visuals over words – a powerful example of “one picture being worth a thousand words”. At turns provocative, funny, and thoughtful (all depending on the constantly refreshed content), this blog will have you watching for hours. P.S.: you’ll also see why Minneapolis is a lot more than Mary Tyler Moore!

Messy Christmas

Did the dog tear apart the gifts (or perhaps leave one under the tree)? The cherries jubilee set the drapes on fire? You’ll laugh about it some day – or right now, if you like. Messy Christmas recounts the holiday mishaps, family feuds, and perplexing gift choices that seem to crop up only at Christmastime. Published by the Abundant Life Church in Happy Valley Oregon, the site is filled with posts that will have you laughing from start to finish (and perhaps bring a tear or two). It’s a fun read, and one we thought you enjoy, today of all days. And from all of us at TypePad, Merry Christmas! (Say, do you smell something?)

Seven Fishes

This time of year naturally lends itself to reflection, family, and tradition…and in The Seven Fishes blog; you’ll encounter everything related to Christmas…with an Italian twist (no, you don't have to be Italian to appreciate it)! Inspired by the story of an Italian American family preparing for a traditional Christmas Eve seafood feast, this blog offers observations on Old World celebrations with a New World flavor. For anyone with an appetite, there are tasty posts on food, food, and more food (with lots of yummy pictures). You can also regale yourself with snippets of Italian news, traditions, and culture, all highlighted with video clips and photos. As you settle in to your own traditional Christmas Eve, take a moment to see how others spend the holiday, and wish yourself a Buon Natale!

One Little Word

This is your place to reflect on and celebrate the power of words. One Little Word is in fact a “global challenge blog” that harnesses the creative juices of wordsters from around the world to make something wonderful out of…words! Every week, the authors post a new “word up” and readers are challenged to design layouts, mini-albums, tags, home décor and more from that word. But don't take our, er, word, for it, see what assorted winners made from words such as seek, pure, and go. Part contest, part community gallery, and all exuberant expression, this blog is a wonderful example of the interactive nature of blogs, and will have you reaching for your art supplies before you know it! Intrigued? Read more here.

Boobs On Ice

"When I discovered a very thick area in my breast I called the doctor. The next day I was in her office. A half hour after that I was in the diagnostic radiologist’s." writes Susan Reynolds as she recalls the beginnings of her journey with cancer on her blog, Boobs On Ice. Today, we wanted to support Susan as she goes for surgery and to let our readers know how to donate to the Frozen Pea Fund. The fund is to raise money for Frozen Peas. The Frozen Pea Fund is a campaign to support the American Cancer Society.

Susan’s is inspirational and hopefully, motivational for people to further rally around Frozen Peas' motto: We will not appease cancer.

Life with Monkeys

For anyone who has ever wanted to just pack it up and go live in some exotic locale (and who hasn’t?), Life With Monkeys will show you exactly what it’s like. The author traded “a cushy Southern California beach life for adventure in the jungles of Costa Rica” and got a taste (literally) of Central America, jungle life, and new friends. Of course, life as an ex-pat turns even the once routine into an adventure, as you’ll read in her posts (with lots of photos). This entertaining, exuberant site is a great example of a blog making the world just a little bit smaller and a lot more livable.

Tax Prof Blog

A blog can do many things: entertain, communicate, inform. And in the pages of Tax Prof, you’ll encounter the latter, in the form of rulings, information, opinions – all overseen by Blog Editor Paul Caron, Associate Dean and Professor of Law at the University of Cincinnati College of Law. Primarily a resource for students and those in the legal profession, the blog’s posts cover areas such as megachurches and a “groundbreaking” IRS settlement. Topical categories include articles on areas such as tax news and conferences (among many others). Many of these posts will link you to further reading on the subject at hand, making for a robust network of facts and figures. This is a blog targeted to a specific core audience interested in how the government and the law determine the actions that will affect every taxpayer.

She's a Betty

Who’s a Betty? She’s a woman that loves fashion, all fashion, from vintage to indie to budget, and She’s A Betty has them all – and the best part is, they’re affordable! You want shoes (and who doesn't)? Try them on here. You want a blast from the past? Look at the Vintage collection. You want budget styles? They have ‘em here. And because a true Betty is stylish and hip, there are witty, informative posts on travel, food and drink and more! Photos and posts are accompanied by reviews, facts and figures on the merchandise - everything you need to dress up your holiday is in here, so stop by today!

Cheap Flights

Need to get from point A to point B quickly – and more importantly – cheaply? Then make it a point to check out the Cheap Flights blog, the place to find “the latest news on flights, flying, and airlines in the U.S.A.” Packed with information and updates and savings and deals, this is an invaluable resource for anyone planning to travel (and with the holidays coming up, that pretty much means everyone)! Lots of great tips here, from Flying Fit to hot button topics like airline etiquette (what do you do when someone starts flossing next to you at 30,000 feet?). Of course, there’s lots of stuff on virtually every airline, popular destinations and frequent flyer news. You can vote in assorted traveler polls too, making this one of the more reader-rich blogs we've seen in a while. Step on board!

At Home With the McMuffins

Detailing life and love from across the pond, At Home With the McMuffins are the daily musings of a husband and wife from the United Kingdom. His (and her) takes on being new parents, work, and life in a Victorian neighborhood provide a fascinating glimpse of a life far removed from many of us (although as you’ll read in the posts, some themes are universal)! We may not all live in England, but the beauty of these personal blogs is that they bring us closer together no matter where we live. And check out the Obsessions gallery for products you can sample and buy for your own!

Cherry Flava

Let’s go down south – way down, in fact - to South Africa and to Cherry Flava, a blog dedicated to “hot new trends in business, marketing, and advertising”. And report they do, providing insightful comments infused with a refreshing non-Madison Avenue viewpoint on everything from airline PSAs, to Internet advertising to future Ecommerce trends. This robust site promises lots of entertaining – and thought provoking - reading; a full archive and category section, and videos on current promotions. Trend spotting is a global enterprise with billions of dollars at stake and for those looking for the next big thing, look here. (Planning a trip to Cape Town? Cherry Flava offers ”trend tours” designed to shift your thinking.)

Law Professors Blog Network

Blogs can be entertaining, personal, informative – and in Law Professors case, an invaluable resource for a specific profession. You won’t find a lot of distractions here (such as illustrations or polls); instead there are direct links to posts of interest to those practicing the law, such as debates on the effectiveness of the death penalty and articles about the rights of students in light of the “No Child Left Behind” law. A number of other specialized legal blogs are included such as aviation law, antitrust, and banking (among many others: the whole selection covers virtually all fields). Each contains information, recent articles, rulings and findings, opinions, and comments to create a rich environment for anyone involved in the legal profession.

Golden Gate Garden

Northern California is the home of many rare and wonderful things (including TypePad!) so it’s nice to feature Golden Gate Garden, a blog that celebrates the beauty of the Bay Area. Author Pam Pierce teaches gardening and horticulture, and her talents are evident in posts such as shell bean succotash (complete with recipe), fall and winter greens and year round vegetable gardening. (Sometimes, however, you have to get your hands dirty, as her post on pests bears out.) Whether you plant for food or beauty and regardless of your level of expertise, you’ll appreciate Pam’s great gardening advice (applicable to areas outside San Francisco, as well). Dig in!

Rodrigo Sepulveda Schulz

Internet entrepreneur, consultant, and venture capitalist Rodrigo Sepulveda Schulz uses his blog to post about what’s current in the business world. Blogging from Paris, Rodrigo adds his insights to such as collaborative tech, ecommerce, and mobility. Lots of personal insights and examples combined with videos and live feeds provide for an insider’s look into the business side of tech.

MobiTV

Like to watch TV? Got your cell phone? Then you're all set to kick back and watch your favorite shows like The Office, Bionic Woman, sports, news and more! The innovators at MobiTV specialize in TV on the go and provide an uncensored glimpse into the fast-moving world of entertainment through their candid blog, Untethered.  Get the latest information on which phones make great watching and on the content you crave, find out about live events like a signing with Latin music star, Jenni Rivera.  MobiTV CEO Charlie Nooney is totally down to earth, as you’ll hear in his candid, refreshing interview.  Where’s the best place to watch MobiTV? For lots of people, anywhere they want: waiting in a line at the store, at work, and even —ahem—in the bathroom.

The Passionate Cook

“Tis the season – to eat! And here’s a tasty little blog that will whet your appetite for all things culinary. The Passionate Cook serves up recipes, tips, reviews, and more that chefs of all levels will love to taste. In addition to the main foodie posts, such as the one on a certain guilty pleasure, the blog is very user-friendly. Check the sidebars for a recipe index for food groups (such as bread, desserts, and barbeques) that are placed into neatly organized categories, read favorite food blogs from around the world and check out the author’s recommended cookbooks. Back to the food: start with spicy pear chutney, bite into some figs and finish up with a Bostini Cream Pie. This is obviously a labor of love from someone who knows and loves food, and there’s lots more to see (and smell and taste), so pull up a chair and dig in – you’ll keep coming back for more!

Creature Comforts

It’s always nice to give “airplay” to the non-boxed, original, and downright delightful craftspeople (and TypePad customers) out there, and Creature Comforts is one of the best. Featuring “design for all creatures great and small”, this blog showcases items such as fabulous fabric, ornaments, even faux cookie cutters. There’s a plethora of whimsical, nature-based, and world-fusion designs to be found here, and we’ve just scratched the surface. To make things easier, you can peruse the holiday gift guide. (And if you’re watching your wallet, there’s a wonderful Chic For Chic section too!) So instead of jamming into a store aisles and standing in line this month, pop online and enjoy the holiday!

Paper Pleasing Ideas

We’ve always been partial to those who take their passion and talents and put them to work, and Paper Pleasing Ideas, details the works of a paper crafting Canadian artist. This is one of the decorative arts that turn a simple material into wonderful creations, limited only by the imagination. No lack of that here, as those looking for Christmas inspiration will see in Holiday Seat Treats, the Package Packin’ Penguin (actually, a whimsical stamp designed by the author), and the Sleigh Trio cards all beautifully photographed. Of course card crafting and its related activities are a year-long enterprise, so there are plenty of other non-holiday oriented categories to check out, from Altered 3D projects to video tutorials. There are more blogs (for Shop-O-Holics or just for pleasure) too. Enjoy!

Geek and Poke

Giggle at gigabytes? Laugh at product launches? You will, in the pages of Geek and Poke, a comic strip detailing the wired and wacky world of technology. Anyone who has ever labored over a project timeline, worked in the tech business or just wondered what it’s like  will get a kick from these cartoons. (To give you a taste, we’ve linked to the first in a series of cartoons; once there, just click to read the rest of the series.) It’s not all laughs, though – there’s a neat slideshow with some wonderful photos, graphics , and a cool “geo counter” (actually a live traffic counter) that shows where everyone is posting from (all over the world). This is a fun site that will have you smiling every time you turn on your computer!

Gena Bella Photography

Terilyn Brown is a photographer who goes "beyond the camera" in Gena Bella Photography. How does she achieve her vision? By catching "the look, the mood, the light…the little dreams unfolding right before my eyes" and her travel and portrait shots bear this philosophy out. Terilyn brings a special "eye" to her photographs that 's evident in her work - even in a selection of special handcrafted photo jewelry that combines exquisite designs and compelling photos that are sure to delight anyone who wears it. Terilyn lives in Texas and loves to travel "with camera in hand", so you may end up in her sights someday (although appointments are recommended!)