TypePad Featured Blogs

A Wine Story

Marisa D’Vari knows her wine – an expertise due in part to her having hosted the cable TV show, A Taste of Luxury, which featured celebrity chefs and wine makers from around the world. Today, Marisa’s views, opinions, and talents can be observed in her blog, A Wine Story. In these pages, you’ll experience culinary delights and sample some of the world’s best wines, as her journeys through Bordeaux and Languedoc will attest (don't despair Americans, there's a positive review of an American wine from an unexpected source too). In a unique post, Marisa has the chance to sample the “same” wines and views that were likely enjoyed by Thomas Jefferson over 200 years ago. Naturally, the grape is the featured subject here and in addition to reviews on the complexities and nuances of both popular and little known wines, Marisa’s knowledge and experience powers her observations on such diverse topics as Wine Etiquette and Psychology. Related blogs, restaurant reviews, video, and a fun “wine Tarot reading” round out what is one of the more robust, full-bodied sites we’ve sampled in a while.

Pro Hip Hop

Which Hip Hop artists are on the Top 10 Billboard Albums chart? Who won the Conference Beat Battle? Why did Lil Wayne’s ads get rebooted? All the answers, the artists, and the news are found here in Pro Hip Hop, the online roundup of “Hip Hop Marketing and Business News”. Soulja Boy’s Tour Dates? Right here. Snoop Dogg on a soap? Yep. Reviews of The Formula and The In Crowd? All that and more. Pro Hip Hop provides videos, posts, press releases, interviews and more, so that you get the latest and greatest on this distinctive music style; categories include some that you might not expect but are impacted by Hip Hop nonetheless (Politics, Finance, and Race, for example). Rap and Hip Hop have been giving a voice to the young for years and have created new styles of fashion, speech, and art, making the site well worth checking out.

Sailing Round The World

Have we got an adventure for you! Or more accurately, Rosie and Nick do. They’re a couple “that gave up great corporate jobs to fulfill a dream and sail around the world” with a crew of new friends and old. And that’s precisely what they’re doing right now, and you can follow their progress in the pages of Rosie and Nick Sail Round the World, their at-sea, as it happens account of their adventures. Right now they’re in the Pacific, sailing toward the Marquesas Islands (Northeast of Tahiti); past posts and pictures document their trips past the Galapagos Islands, through the Panama Canal, and some of the folks they met along the way. Their journey offers one of the more exciting ways to see the planet; you can download their itinerary and see where they are (and were), look at their photo albums, and share their experience (for most of us, unfortunately, that's probably from a desk in some snowbound city!)

EveryRider

There are few activities as challenging as horse riding. The nature of the sport demands much from the rider and the horse…both must be in peak form and act in concert with each other, a partnership borne of long hours of training and preparation. EveryRider is for “the enthusiast that seeks a better understanding and knowledge of horses and their nature” (and we might add, of riders as well). Riders of every level will find interesting reading on how yoga can make them better able to deal with the strains of being in the saddle, observations on horse psychology, and on gifts for your favorite equine (a holiday post here, but just as suitable). There’s even an inspiring video and post with a decided “horse whisperer” bent to it. Lots of horse blogs abound here too, providing additional insight, observation, and humor.

Made in Brazil

The largest country in South America and only slightly smaller than the United States, Brazil is a fascinating, colorful, cosmopolitan mix of style, culture, music, food, and more – all captured in the pages of Made in Brazil, a site that’s sent to us right from the heart of the Southern Hemisphere. The site “collaborates with the media…to provide up to date news about the latest trends in the country”. With its colorful posts, pictures, and videos, the site all but has you hearing the samba music and smelling the suntan lotion on Copacabana beach. You can taste, see, hear, and experience everything Rio de Janeiro and the rest of the country has to offer (and it's a lot). There are Categories and blogs galore, all of which will provide you with many exciting, interesting hours – the well documented Brazilian appreciation of the body beautiful will see to that!

Happy Doggies

The blog’s full name is Happy Doggies Make Happy Humans - and anyone who has ever played, run, swum, or simply loved a four-legged furball can attest to that. Run by Kaye Swafford (the human) and Krystal Swafford (the dog – specifically, a West Highland Terrier/Poodle mix), the site posts tips, articles, and events dedicated to “keeping eco dogs and their humans healthy and happy”. To that end, there are environmentally-focused posts that impact humans, animals, and the entire planet. Lots of recommended Eco Dog Products such as earth-friendly shampoos, books on raising healthy happy dogs, and Categories ranging from ASPCA to Wellness (this last with an interesting post on how head massages can make your pet – and you - happier and healthier). A tail wagging delight, Happy Doggies shows us how those who benefit from the green revolution don’t always have two legs.

Tricotine

How do you want your life to be? If you’re the author of Tricotine, the answer’s easy (if a bit busy): be a stay at home mom with 2 kids and maintain interests in knitting, fitness, photography, low carb lifestyle, and blogging. You can follow them in posts covering her first footrace, weekend snapshots, healthy baking, and knitting. As you can imagine, all these activities keep her on the go, but she manages to keep us abreast of her life with humor, insight, and passion. In addition to her photo galleries, the site’s also rich in fun interactive "activities" that will keep you entertained:a music player loaded with the author's favorite sounds, a language translator to help you learn another tongue, and an "exercise ticker" showing her workout progress and time remaining till her next race.

Something About Parenting

There’s Something About Parenting, indeed: it’s hard! And fun, heartwarming, challenging, and inspiring, too. Mike Leonen is a full-time husband and stay-at-home father of two sons, living in Seattle, and learning the ins and outs of being a dad every day. His observations on raising growing kids, lessons learned from his children, and the daily interactions that occur in his family are fun to read. Mike’s photo albums will acquaint you with his kids and his artistic impressions of life and other subjects. And on that note, Mike also illustrates his posts with original artwork, and much of it is available for sale.

We Love Gifts

Everyone loves gifts – and here’s a spot that makes it almost as fun to shop for them as receive them. We Love Gifts is a UK-based blog that “brings you unique gift ideas…for yourself, friends, girlfriend…pets and anyone else you know”. And they do! Collected here are fun products like a retro-twist Easter Jar, chocolate-filled hens eggs, and –wives rejoice – the LavNav, a device that tells you whether the seat is up or down (and lights up when you get near it). Lots of Categories here too, from Baby Gifts to Romantic Gifts, covering virtually every occasion and family member, such as the Donkey Bag for stylish girls. Fun, funky, retro and just plain cool, this is a shopping site that will have you coming back time and again!

Eyes on Trade

Eyes on Trade is a blog “by the staff of Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch and is a space for interested parties to share information about globalization and trade issues”. In addition to “straightforward” discussions on the subject such as NAFTA, the blog’s authors also provide insight and analysis on the issue of trade and global warming and youth. Taking center stage, naturally, are the elections and politics and how they intersect with trade issues. The authors cull news sources, government documents, and offer their own takes on an issue that affects us all; the blog itself is resource-rich in suggested reading for those wanting to learn more.

Art and Ghosts

Who are Tilly, Belinda, and Stella? They’re some of the people (?) you’ll meet in Art and Ghosts. “Louise” is an artist and her unique vision results in a blog filled with her fanciful creations. Inspired by children and the world around them, Louise’s inspiration takes wing in her designs, and are reflected in posts such as The Strangest Little Girls in the World, The Orchard Twins, and Marionettes. Whimsical, imaginative, and delightful, Louise’s designs will add a touch of serendipity to your home and are available for sale through her store. Intrigued by her style? Check out her recommended books, blogs, and recordings too.

St. Paul Real Estate

Greetings from the middle America (and we mean that almost literally) from Realtor Teresa Boardman and her blog, St. Paul Real Estate. The homeowner’s view from Minnesota is much like the rest of the country these days: challenging, to say the least. No matter where you may be living, if you’re considering buying or selling property, you’re probably facing many of the same issues that Teresa’s clients are, and her posts offer pertinent and valuable information for readers everywhere. Behind in your mortgage payments? You may be tempted to walk away. Better read this first. Considering a “fixer upper”? Consider this. What happened to the grocery store in your new neighborhood? You’ll find out here. There’s also time for a little fun, as her Friday posts can attest. As you might expect, the site is rich in St. Paul, MN listings, facts and figures, photos, and blog, creating a enticing peek into America’s heartland – and perhaps, a reflection of your own neighborhood.

The Virginity Project

There’s a first time for everything. And if you’re Kate Monro, that means combining a love of words and editing text with an innate curiosity to ask people “to reveal their most personal truth – the story of their virginity loss”. The pages of The Virginity Project are filled with their stories and whether the subject is old or young, gay or straight, religious or atheistic, male or female, their tales are humorous, heartwarming, humdrum - the entire spectrum of emotions and experience. The stories come from places such as Denmark, from relatives, from those whose ”first time” came relatively late in life. Kate’s musings on the subject also make fascinating reading. This is obviously an intensely personal subject, and is done with taste and maturity while offering one of the more unique insights into the human psyche that we’ve seen in a while.

Hobie's World

Dogs may not be able to talk, but thanks to TypePad, they have a voice – and in the pages of Hobie's World, you’ll get to know Hobie, an adorable black/white/tan mix living in San Diego. No dog’s life here, the blog is “written” from Hobie’s viewpoint, and offers a dog’s opinions on life, observations about friends and family, posts of daily adventures and more, all accompanied by lots of photos and recommended blogs and links (dog-related, of course). With its unique four-legged approach, this is one of the more intriguing blogs we’ve come across in a while, and as Hobie (OK, his owner), says, “I can make changes whenever I want…(it’s easy) to change colors, layouts, and fonts and try something out.” Wonder if this will start a trend (and if owners should watch what they say around the family pet)?

Economist's View

Mark Thoma works at the Dept. of Economics at the University of Oregon, a position that powers his posts on his blog, Economist's View. Thoma turns his professional eye towards the economic state of business, the country, and the world today – a subject that has taken on increasing importance in this subprime/recession/election year. Gathering his own thoughts and those of others in his profession, Thoma provides his view on the economy and its effect on subjects such as politics, employment, renting vs. owning, and NAFTA. Written in clear, direct language, these are topics and situations that affect us all, and Thoma covers them in detail and provides a wealth of supplemental information with an extensive list of categories, books, blogs, and other reference materials written by experts in the field.

The Thicket

As the presidential campaign winds on (for the Democrats at least), TypePad has been highlighting various political blogs to give you a sense of what the country – and the world – is thinking. This is the latest in the series.

The Thicket is a bipartisan blog about the state legislative institution and federalism written by and for legislative junkies. A number of contributors regularly post news briefs, opinions, and more, making it a place "where questions and debates take root, where introspection, analysis and dialogue flourish". That it does, as you’ll see in coverage of the recent legislative primaries in Texas and Ohio, pending controversial issues, and people in the news. In addition to posts, The Thicket also features state and national blogs, legislative blogs (by state), and a daily poll, creating a robust center of research, news, and insights for those interested in the political process.

Fly Girls

Fly Girls is an array of colors, text, photos, and designs that reflect the author’s desire to share “the things that inspire me “ with her readers, (in order) “to create a train of inspiration”. To that end, Fly Girls is “fabulously creative”, and scrolling through the site is like walking through a wonderful artists’ bazaar in which you can see and experience literally anything, as posts about designers, lettering artists, dancers, and artists bear out. See what we mean? Whatever your creative bent, you’ll likely find it here displayed in posts, pictures, videos, and books. Many of the products shown here are available for purchase – and just maybe, they’ll inspire you to create your own works of art.

Tracy Talks

Tracy Cherry is 38 and the single mother of 2 young sons. And as of December 4, 2007 a recovering patient of gastric bypass surgery, a journey she recounts in the pages of her personal blog, Tracy Talks. Tracy’s decision to change her life for the better ultimately led her to replace eating with writing. As she notes, “ I really needed something that was going to be as quick and easy as…getting a snack”. Tracy’s path before and after the operation literally run the gamut of experience and emotion, as do her thoughts on post-surgical side effects and the seemingly endless road to her goal. Her TypePad blog allows her “to control the content, the order, even the design” and to “let everyone know how I’m doing…without calling everyone individually and answering the same questions all the time”. Recipes, photos, and related weight-loss blogs complete her site, creating a source that is at once personal and inspiring.

The Financial Philosopher

Kent Thune is the founder of a financial planning firm, and as such you might expect him to be like his profession: dedicated to facts and figures, growing profits, graphs and projections. And for a while he was. But thanks to an epiphany inspired by his four-year-old son, Kent has embarked on a new direction, which led him to create The Financial Philosopher his blog that seeks to “apply timeless wisdom and inspiration to investing, personal finance and the economy”. As Kent says, ”the study of philosophy promotes simplicity and moderation, helps realign our priorities; and … allows us to define wealth and happiness for ourselves”. Wise words, and Kent draws upon similar thoughts to post about The Five-Minute Retirement Plan (inspired by Martin Heidegger) Investing (Socrates), and Financial Planning (from The Little Prince’s Antoine de Saint-Exupery). There’s even a thought from homespun philosopher Will Rogers on exercising your brain. Thune’s ability to weave these thoughts (and many others) into the cut and dried world of finance provides some real words of wisdom for those who think that money is everything.

Ideas in Food

Put the cookbook away! Creativity in the kitchen starts with improvisation and experimentation, the keywords of Ideas in Food, from husband and wife chefs Aki Kamozawa and H. Alexander Talbot. Deeply committed to using organic and artisanal food products, the team is constantly experimenting with new techniques and ingredients to provide innovative food, clear flavors, and simple, beautiful presentations. Their ideas range from unexpected uses of Tarragon and Screwpine to flavor food and drink, to a taste of Pistachio Brittle, to a new take on an old favorite. This is a site that encourages new approaches in cooking and video presentations combined with simple instructions make the meals easy to prepare. There are lots of Categories here (and not just for food: Preparation, Delivery, and Approach among others, are covered); recommended blogs, books, and equipment round out your culinary excursions. This is not your mom’s kitchen, but we think you’ll find room for it.

The Green Guy

“It ain’t easy being green”? Sure it is, and The Green Guy will show you how. The blog of Adam Vaughan, a UK resident who writes about green and ethical consumer issues, The Green Guy shows how simple – and how right – a sustainable lifestyle can be. And that such changes start at home, with all of us, beginning with eco furniture, energy savings, and transport. Of course, an eco-friendly lifestyle also starts from the inside, and Adam shows how eating right and looking good take on a whole new meaning. Using TypePad was the natural choice for Adam; he loves the ease of tweaking the design, the simplicity of composing posts and managing comments - an important feature as there are lots of tips, hints, and “green blogs” that round out the site, making it a must for anyone wishing to minimize their carbon footprint.

Accepted Admissions Almanac

Anyone getting ready to apply for college or graduate school knows what they’ll face on the way: taking SATs, writing essays, listing extra-curricular activities…the list is virtually endless. Luckily for today’s student, there’s the Accepted Admissions Almanac, the blog that’s “all about college and graduate school admissions”. One of the web’ s oldest admissions consultancies, Accepted provides tips, guidance, direction, and more in preparing those items that are crucial to the applications procedure. Need pointers on MBA admissions? Check out this. Need help on your resume? Accepted has compiled the pertinent services here. The same for Financial Aid. The site is organized into the categories most likely to be needed by applicants such as Admissions, Interviews, Deadlines, GMATs, and more, making it a vital resource for those heading on the bigger and better things.

Family Reads

Lori and Brian are the parents of 12 year-old Ben. Avid readers all, the parents are naturally interested in what books will capture the imagination and attention of their son – a quest that forms the center of Family Reads, a blog “packed with reviews of the best books, ideas, and inspiration for making reading a truly wonderful part of your family life”. Highlighting “dependably delightful books for kids”, Family Reads examines, discusses, and critiques books aimed at young readers, such as Newbury Medal winner Walk Two Moons and thoughts on what makes a great Fairy Tale (with a review of the popular Sisters Grimm book). Naturally, books take center stage here, and along with the posts, you’ll find reviews, recommendations, and insights on books for children of virtually all ages, covering categories from Adventure to Suspense (yes, you can order the books covered here). This is a wonderful online bookstore and library all rolled into one, and will be a big help in encouraging your kids to read.

Michael Stein

Michael Stein is an Internet Strategist who empowers nonprofits to use the online medium for communications, fundraising, and advocacy. His blog, Internet Strategy for the Nonprofit Sector, is a wonderful resource for those working in that field. Its pages are filled with invaluable observations, tips, strategies, and more, all designed to maximize a nonprofit’s performance; as Michael says, TypePad is the "easiest and most powerful blogging platform I've used...it's been a lifesaver for me and lets me truly enjoy using the Web to connect with people". Recent posts have discussed how different technologies can make a difference in an organization’s reach and success, case studies that cover the use of popular online sites for advocacy and fundraising, and his thoughts on the value of email. Michael has authored three books on nonprofits and technology; his posts are both insightful and informative and nonprofits everywhere (and their employees) should find this fascinating and valuable reading.

The (new) Legal Writer

Raymond Ward is an appellate lawyer living in New Orleans, and the author of The (new) Legal Writer, “a collection of resources for lawyers and other writers”. Inspired to take up blogging by a fellow attorney (and TypePad customer), Raymond enjoys the fact that his TypePad package gives him three separate blogs. The (new) Legal Writer allows him to write posts that will interest anyone interested in the fine points and nuances of writing on the job, such as how to write for a client, when to use the passive voice, and when emotion should come into play in preparing documents. There’s a library of categories and associated posts in the sidebar, including legal blogs, links to books and grammar, and more.

Skin Library

Here’s a trivia question for you: what’s the largest organ in your body? It’s your skin, and as Skin Library will tell you, “your most personal and precious possession” – a thought befitting this information packed, skin care blog. Expert dermatologists offer advice, treatment news, and answer questions about skin care, including adult acne (a growing problem in today’s stress-filled, fast food environment), the care and treatment of men's skin and on the opposite side, skincare during pregnancy. And since the road to beautiful skin can’t start early enough, there are lots of tips about “sun proofing” your skin (and that of your kids). You can ask the experts your skin questions and buy products designed to help you attain what we were all born with: healthy, young-looking skin.

TripCart

So you have a vacation coming up and a couple of kids asking “are we there yet”? and you haven’t even started packing! That’s when you need TripCart, “the best place on the web to find things to do in the United States”. A tall order, since this is one big country, but TripCart lists destinations, activities, reviews, and resources to help you plan your getaway. Categories? You got ‘em, from A (Adventure) to W (Weblogs). Winter vacation ideas quite naturally head the list now, and you’ll find lots of great ski vacation ideas listed here along with a comprehensive list of Nature Park destinations; other ideas include roller coaster vacations for the kids, shopping for the wife, and Hawaii for everyone. This is just the tip of the iceberg – Alaska’s here too, of course – and with the planning and reservation capabilities, you’ll be able to answer, “yes, we’re there!” at the click of your mouse.

humankind media

This is a blog about healing the world. Authors Liz and Chris believe that we all feel a longing to ease suffering in the world – and that “for the first time in history (we can) connect as one global community to make that impossible thing happen”. humankind media relays all the ways we can accomplish that goal, from the small to the global. The posts describe the efforts of individuals to change the world for the better and offer challenges to us to do the same, such as ending poverty and disease and aiding children around the world. Lots of resources here (such as books, links, and guest blogs) to help you connect with the organizations that will help start you on your way to building a better world.