TypePad Featured Blogs

Mythical Dude

People use TypePad blogs for many things: to showcase talent, communicate with friends and family, and ultimately, to make the world a little smaller. Steve Goodman, author of Mythical Dude does all that and more – from his home in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. This small Asian country is a fascinating mix of cultures, history, art, food and more, and Steven’s posts and pictures bring them to life, as those on the intricacies of Cambodian Chess, photos of friends and neighbors, and street life will show. For those wanting to immerse themselves even more into the subject, Steven provides links to Cambodian photography and art, sites featuring its culture and history, and blogs from those living in the country. For armchair travelers, this is a quick and easy way to get to know people and places outside their familiar borders.

Emerson

In the words of the author (who in turn is inspired by the 19th century writer and poet Ralph Waldo), Emerson is described as “nature, poetry, thoughtfulness, and individuality…and evokes a time when natural history, philosophy, science, and art were still interwoven”. And just like that long-ago Emerson, the present day online namesake ponders issues large and small, offers insight, and inspires discussion on a diverse set of topics, be it downsizing, politics, or aging. Interweaving philosophy, art, and discourse, the author invites responses from readers; indeed, we may not be able to sit by Walden Pond as did the real Emerson, but we can certainly gather by the “shores” of this online spot and discuss the world around us with our peers.

SISU

Politics and…cats? You bet, and mixed quite expertly in the pages of SISU, a blog from the heart of Sissy Willis. Combining thoughts on the world situation and the growing phenomenon of cat blogging, Sissy melds photos and text to create posts such as The Modern Major Pussycat, When Faith is devoid of Reason, and The Unkindest Cut. Given the state of the country and the world today, her opinions are candid, thoughtful and are bound to provoke debate; her humorous takes on dealing with the felines in her life are a burst of humor. Very, very rich in recommended blogs (from cat lovers, politicos, and more), plus reference links, videos and photos of her four legged friends, SISU is a blog that sneaks up on you with little cat feet, settles in, and doesn’t let go.

Well, It's Not Going To Kill You

There are few things a woman can experience that are as frightening, traumatic, and transformative than breast cancer, as Cathy Carey documents in her blog, Well, It’s Not Going To Kill You. Married, 53, and living in the Sonoma wine country north of San Francisco, Cathy’s posts trace her "unexpected journey through breast cancer with a little bit of real life thrown in", including her life BC (before breast cancer) and AC (after breast cancer). Cathy’s moods, emotions, and outlook quite naturally run the gamut, from the bad to the good to everything in between. (Readers: Cathy has placed a New York Times book widget on her blog to provide capsule reviews of current sellers.) As someone who has experienced what this disease can do first hand, Cathy provides an intensely personal viewpoint; associated breast cancer-focused sites give additional information to those who may be grappling with the same issues.

Soule Mama

Coming to you from Portland, Maine, Soule Mama features the daily observations of Amanda Soule, mother of three and partner of Steve. Amanda's also a craftsperson, and her blog features many of her handmade country-inspired textile designs such as handbags and quilts. Taking her inspirations one step further, Amanda believes that families that create and play together “nurture and connect the soul of a family” and become all the stronger for it, a position that is evident in her posts on life, her work, and the blending of both. Parents just emerging from a long cold winter can find a hint or two about helping kids get over their cabin fever and developing closer relationships with them. Intrigued by her ideas? Amanda’s put forth many of them in her new book, The Creative Family: How To Encourage Imagination and Nurture Family Connections, available at Amazon right now!

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.

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)?

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.

Adventures of a Gringa in Rio

Rachel Glickhouse is 23 years old, a recent college graduate, and an American – which explains the who and the why of her entertaining blog, Adventures of a Gringa in Rio. Quite a change from New York, and she details the “adventures, pitfalls, and general loucura” of establishing herself in one of the largest, most exciting cities in South America. Along the way, Rachel posts thoughts on the differences (and similarities) she’s found in life, in food, and social issues, just to name a few. And for those who complain about raccoons in their backyard, count yourself lucky that you don’t have to contend with this. Virtually every aspect of Brazilian life is covered in Rachel’s insightful posts and comprehensive collection of colorful photos, and her blog is an attractive alternative to those of us suffering through yet another winter.

Life and Times of a New Dad

Todd Barrett Lieman is a writer, producer, husband, and as of September 2005, the father of a son, a fact of life that forms the basis of Life and Times of a New Dad,Lieman’sblog on fatherhood. Sports and entertainment writing is Todd’s forte, and his professional talents make for especially insightful and engrossing reading, as his posts on friendships, the passage of time (especially poignant when measured against children), and criticism will attest. (This last is especially meaningful when you’re a professional writer.) The author of a book for expectant fathers, Todd’s posts offer an introspective look at his very special world (there are some wonderful recommended parenting blogs on his site as well).

Leave It Behind

Brian Bailey is the author of Leave It Behind, his collection of thoughts on politics and the web. He loves “thinking new ideas and finding common ground with interesting people”, and his posts on various aspects of the presidential campaign and the march to the White House make for perceptive reading. Brian has some thoughts on how technology can help you  write a better blog, too. Brian’s had some experience in using the web to spread the word: he’s the author of The Blogging Church, a book designed to help people of faith share the story of their church through blogs.

37 Days

What if you had only 37 days left to live? How would you spend them? What would you do? Tough questions…and the subject of 37 Days. Author Patricia Digh is a mother and business consultant and combines the two viewpoints to provide one very positive answer: to let people work more effectively, particularly across cultural differences. Helping people understand the individual and societal costs of exclusion and prejudice is Patricia’s goal, both on the personal and the professional level and can be seen in her Essays such as A is for Advocacy and D is for Dance. These are part of an “Inspirational Alphabet” which can be found in its entirety under her Recent Posts. Along with posts such as Burn Those Jeans and Unpack Your Boxes Patricia urges you to explore, advocate, learn, and perhaps most importantly, create a better world. After all, who knows how long we have left?

Enviromom

Sometimes, great strides are made with baby steps. That’s the approach taken by the authors of Enviromom, a site dedicated to helping people make lifestyle changes for the betterment of the environment. Run by Heather and Renee, best friends, neighbors, and stay-at-home moms, the blog provides tips, articles – and encouragement – to those wishing to make this a better world. And many of those changes begin at home. You’ll see how simple things you can do to change your ways can change the world, as the posts on doing your laundry, recycling, and getting kids involved bear out. (And raising “green kids” is an important them e of this blog – indeed, environmental awareness needs to start at an early age.) Tons of eco-categories and information can be found here; they're filled with posts, links, suggestions, and more – all designed to help you make a positive impact on the world around you.

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!

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.

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!

Rocks In My Dryer

A mommy blog with heart, Rocks In My Dryer contains daily observations on fun and family, from the perspective of an Oklahoma mom. Her 4 kids give her lots of topics to write about, such as crafts and books, and moms of any age (and state) will surely empathize with her takes on marriage! Written with the tongue-in-cheek style of an experienced (and busy) mom, Rocks In My Dryer will leave you laughing — and recognizing yourself more than once.

Confessions of a Pioneer Woman

What kind of gal lives on a cattle ranch with her four kids and a husband she calls The Marlboro Man, lets loose occasionally with Ethel Merman impersonations, and once spilled hot tea on Gary Coleman's lap? Why that would be Ree, the blogger/mom-adventuress who writes Confessions of a Pioneer Woman and revels in posting updates on her daily activities, poetry (some of which even rhymes), and personal mishaps. (See The Humiliation Chronicles.)  This good ole gal’s a barrel of laughs and a lot of fun too: witness her collection of gross-out stories and pioneer pinups. And don't miss this post about her pre-marriage misadventures with Jeremy the Tennis Pro. Thanks for sharing, Rhee!

Dear Daisy Cottage

Dear Daisy Cottage is a love letter devoted to a sweet circa-1922 bungalow in Central Florida. Named after the humble little flower, this cottage has blossomed with the loving care owner Kim has bestowed upon it. Bedecked with thrift-store finds, coats of bright paint, and a growing collection of landscape paintings, this house is a treasure. Of course, what truly makes it a home is Kim's family; her kids and two dogs make regular appearances. And what would a cottage be without the smell of yummy cookies baking? One look through this blog and you’ll want a little Daisy Cottage of your own.

Purls and Pugs

Knit one, pug two… Take a web application developer with an appreciation for the yarn arts and add a adorable pug named Yoda, and you get Purls and Pugs, a blog devoted to all the creative endeavors Amanda Swanson can come up with. An avid knitter, to be sure, she also impressively takes on furniture building, sewing, and maybe a drink recipe or two thrown in for good measure. All of the work, of course, carefully supervised by the omnipresent Yoda. And don’t forget to wish Amanda and Yoda happy "blogversary;" Purls and Pugs turned three on June 6.

Yarnstorm

Do you see it? That collection of domestic treasures gathering on the horizon? That’s the Yarnstorm, Jane Brocket’s blog of creative endeavors and handmade wonders. A mother of three who is working on her first book to be released in October, it’s amazing she finds time to work on her lovely knitting, quilting, and painting projects, let alone blog about them. But luckily for us, she has created a wonderful online space to display her beautifully photographed efforts, and the joy she obviously has in sharing their creation with her family. Family, crafting and blogging – it’s the perfect storm.

HELLOmynameisHeather

Heather Bailey is a mother of two and the creative energy behind Freshcut™, a beautiful line of fabrics she designed. Her blog, HELLOmynameisHeather, is awash in gorgeous fabric projects made with her talented hands. Proving good taste and a knack for style can equal success, many of her designs have been snapped up by celebrities and high-end boutiques and department stores. Just a quick glance through the blog will have the fabricphiles ooohing and aaahing over the lush patterns and the eye-candy photographs. For the more ambitious, Heather has thoughtfully provided free patterns so we can try our hand at creating her wares. Keep an eye on this blog for new fabric designs and projects.

Liquid Paper

Laurie Bertrand has always loved art and design. All the crafts you see on her blog, Liquid Paper, are made and photographed by herself, from the teensy pins to the soft toys to the fabric bags. The photographs alone are colorful works of art, but the masterpieces contained within them are equally worthy of praise. Laurie sees beauty in everything; only in her hands could her trusty Canon Digital Rebel capture the magical beauty of… toast. If there’s art and design to be had, Laurie will find it, make it, and photograph it. Don’t forget to take a look at her Mod Dots shop where some of your favorite items are bound to turn up.

d'Blogala: Art Journals

Book designer Dawn DeVries Sokol doesn't brag about her work. She has dozens of books under her belt but leaves most professional chatter off of her personal blog. d'Blogala: Art Journals is a creative space for sharing  journals. Emphasizing text as art, Dawn's pages include delightful illustrations that express whatever is on her mind from to-do lists to travelogues. At first glance, Lucy the black lab looks like the blog's mascot, but she's really much more of a family member and creative partner to Dawn. If this medium of art inspires you, stay tuned for Dawn's next book, 1,000 Artist Journal Pages, an extensive collection of journal pages from visual journalists and mixed media enthusiasts.

If You Belonged Here

In her blog, If You Belonged Here, Polly Poppins comes across as quirky, obsessed with personality quizzes, a little cranky, and "practically perfect in every way." Meandering through her blog is like taking stroll through the stream of consciousness of a pop psychologist. Wonderfully engaging, often irreverent, and full of helpful hints, you can't help being drawn into her world. How could you not, with gems like, "no one looks good in skinny jeans," "don't underestimate the Force of the buttercream," and, "I'm not judging but you should really eat more fiber." The writing is top-notch, and her narration style is engaging. We bet if you read one post, you'll need to read them all.

Chatiryworld

Katharine makes blogging look fun. Chatiryworld is a virtual quilt of her daily life in Edinburgh. There are threads of Scottish politics, craft projects, travel goals, religious discussions and lots of links to current happenings in the blogosphere. Her life is documented in photos as much as it is in text, and Chatiryworld has a wonderfully involved audience. Don't be surprised if her comments inspire you to take a side, but her humor will delight you at the same time. Katharine just might enjoy blogging as much as chocolate, books, Paris, or her boyfriend — but it didn't make her list of 100 things. She also makes knitting look fun (but don't you dare call this a craft blog). Everyone can learn from her ability to connect with other blogs as an example of how to create your own individual web mediascape.

All About Art

All About Art is Lynne Taetzsch’s unflinching look at her life as a New York-based abstract artist. Author of the memoir, The Bipolar Dementia Art Chronicles, Lynne dips from her palette of doubt, fear, and existential angst to write frankly and engagingly about her ongoing struggle with manic-depression, especially as it relates to the creative process.  She is currently in the midst of A Year of Making Art. Her intent: create something and write about it each day for one year. Though Lynne may be bi-polar, she’s certainly not bi-chromatic. Check out her studies in green, red and orange, and more. Despite its unflagging honesty, or rather, because of it, this blog ultimately uplifts. As Lynne writes in one post: “I know that if I just keep pushing through the gloom, if I keep making art, I will eventually come back out into the light.”

Bread Crumbs in the Butter

Runner, triathlete and Canadian soccer mom to four kids ages 4 – 10, you’d think the author of Bread Crumbs in the Butter was a superhero. She may be, but she lays no claim to that title. On the contrary, she chronicles her day-to-day life with all the joys, sorrows, triumphs and tragedies that the rest of us mere mortals experience, with that healthy dollop of self-doubt to let us know she’s human just like the rest of us. Just like her, we’re pulled over, scared to give our kids a little freedom, and have bad days. But, hopefully just like her, we have spouses who help with the laundry and kids who adore us. All in all, finding bread crumbs in the butter isn’t really so bad.

between2wheels

Between2wheels concerns itself with biking. More specifically, biking through the idyllic countryside of New Hampshire. Our blogger calls traveling by bicycle “liberating,” and the lyrical descriptions of picturesque road trips reflect that view. Posts range from this whimsical video clip of a bike that niftily folds into a suitcase, to a long travelogue titled, "The Point of a Journey," in which a grueling 70-mile ride is described in detail. For inspiration, read this entry on Jane Tomlinson, who was given six months to live in 2000 and has recently embarked on a 64-day bike ride across America. The writer of between2wheels considers it an "ode to the bicycle" and his "portal for the passion of the activity."  Mission accomplished.

MetroDad

What does a “jaded, cynical” New Yorker, plunged into fatherhood at the age of 35, think about parenting, life, and everything else? Now you know. MetroDad catches us up on the adventures of BossLady, the Peanut, and himself as they navigate 21st-century family life in the urban jungle. Subtitled “poppycock from a cocky pop,” this blog offers an honest look at the joys and travails of caregiving tempestuous tots, not to mention some sage advice. Take for example, an open letter to all toddlers, and note the following tips: Enough with the whining (it almost never pays off), knock off the diva routine  (no breakfast at noon, no ice cream for lunch), and for God's sake, show some gratitude (because there is no clean underwear fairy or magic pop tart machine). Come to think of it, good advice for people of all ages.

Civil War Memory

Kevin Levin teaches and writes about the Civil War. In Civil War Memory, he blogs thoughtfully and knowledgably on a particularly specialized topic: how Americans commemorate and remember the most wrenching conflict the United States has ever endured. There’s much to contemplate here, and Kevin helpfully lists some of his favorite posts, including, "Are you a Civil War buff?" and "Why the Civil War still matters," in which he cites the Southern poet Robert Penn Warren’s admonishment that “slavery... cannot be talked away" in considering the overall war narrative. Of immediate relevance is a post on how an Obama presidency might effect upcoming sesquicentennial (150-year anniversary) events. Other topics of note include Lincoln and Civil War literature. A fine way to delve into perhaps the most consequential period in American history.   

Bruce Reyes-Chow

Bruce Reyes-Chow is a San Franciscan pastor who blogs for a lot of reasons: to share his spiritual musings, to build relationships, and to offer up something positive to those who come across his writings. His blog is a humorous and insightful journey from someone who enjoys sharing his thoughts about theology, family, music, and technology; they all blend together seamlessly in Bruce’s world. And while he hopes readers will find inspiration from his writings, there is a healthy dose of humility (and often good-natured self-deprecation) throughout. With categories such as, “Not Your Momma’s Worship,” “Hey Smart Guy,” and “I Luv My Mac,” you know you’re in for something special at Bruce’s blog.

Yarnmaven

Yarnmaven, aka "The Adventures of a Knitting Naturalist," chronicles the creatures and crafts in the life of Julia, a Master Naturalist from Austin, Texas. We recently ran into Julia at South by Southwest Interactive, where she was organizing a meetup for knitting bloggers who had traveled from near and far to attend the conference. Impressed by her knowledge of both the knitblogging community in her home state and the fauna in her hometown (those bats!), we weren't surprised to find those same enthusiasms well represented on her blog. From recent sightings of baby bluebirds and a local lizard (and waiting for the spring arrival of a grandson!) to playing traffic cop for tortoises to detailing her finished and unfinished objects, we love that Julia is just as open and generous on her blog as she is in person.

Domicile

Some of our favorite people are from Canada. Why is that? Maybe it's 'cause they're so darn nice. Of course, If you're looking for an exception to that silly stereotype, you probably won't find it amongst the writing and images at Domicile, Emira Mears' personal blog about renovating and living in her first house in Vancouver. She offers glimpses into how she chooses to make her house a home, whether it's rebuilding, gardening, cooking, sewing, reading, or getting away from the homestead from time to time. She also is happy to share "general domestic musings." If you appreciate Mears' style and drive, you won't be surprised to learn that she is a partner in a successful web design firm and the co-author of excellent blog and an upcoming book on woman entrepreneurs.

Branch Walks

Branch Clarke quit his restaurant job to walk across the country. Armed with an iPod, MySpace page, and a TypePad blog, he's documenting the trip, examining himself for personal change and raising money for Cancer. Not many people take New Years Resolutions this seriously. Even so, Branch is humble and the first to admit that many people have taken this trek before him. The writing on Branch Walks is compelling, sensitive, and humorous. Sometimes the jokes are subtle, sometimes intentional. It's hard to follow Branch's journey without wanting to ask him a bunch of questions. Thankfully, he's one step ahead of us -- archiving answers on his F.A.Q.. The route from Sandbridge Beach, Virginia, to San Francisco, California, will take six months at 20-30 miles a day. It's clear that his drive, curiosity and faith will get him across -- but how will he handle being a part from Lu?

Attraversiamo: The Weight is Over

Read through the posts in Attraversiamo: The Weight is Over and you may think you're reading the daily diary of  a harried tech worker in the Pacific Northwest. And you are, albeit one who has struggled mightily to come to the point where work, family, and romantic issues are the peaks and valleys of her story. Once, it was all about Marybeth's weight. As someone who was morbidly obese (a condition where someone's weight is likely to cause life-threatening complications), she faced a whole different set of daily challenges. Years ago, Marybeth decided to take action and have surgery to facilitate weight loss. And while these kinds of surgeries offer a good chance at success, there are no guarantees. That said, over four years later, Marybeth has kept off an amazing amount of weight and seems to be coping with the challenges she faces at her healthy weight with the same kind of spirit and determination that she used to approach her surgery. We wish MB and everyone who faces serious medical challenges the best of luck and thank her for sharing her story.

Taylor Made Designs

You can tell that William and Davis's mother loves being a mom by the way she shares photos, craft projects, and snippets of their special days. Lucky for us, she's addicted to graphic design and can't stop thinking in color. Taylor Made Designs taps into her passion for creating logos, gifts, and all things aesthetic. She started blogging to connect with other like-minded folks interested in design, kids, and craft -- and whether she knows it or not, she's become a source of inspiration for other crafters. Come here for ideas on handmade crafts and gifts, to join her in virtual window shopping, or to buy one of her custom journals if you can't make it to Boston for a Taylor Made trunk show. We like that she begins some posts with a quote or motto for the day, and then follows up with making the most of her day.

City of Sound

City of Sound is the personal site of U.K. writer and designer Dan Hill. He's been publishing the site since 2002 and we're proud to say, he's been on TypePad for a good chunk of the last 5 years. You may know Hill from his work for the BBC or, more recently, the eye-openingly gorgeous Monocle magazine, where he is the Director of Web and Broadcast. On his own site, you'll find a smart mix of architecture-, design-, and culture-related commentary, with enough eclectic tangents to keep the most web-weary reader off-balance and intrigued. Take, for instance, Hill's essay on "Design, Archictecture, and Football," where he deftly passes his subject from the World Cup to adaptive design, with a good touch from Alan Partridge. All we can say after a move like that is "Aha!"

Gleaming Lark

Gleaming Lark is the blog of artist Katherine Louise Mitchell, who works in a number of different media. We appreciate the wonderful forms of her collages and paintings, but she also produces fashion and accessories and scupltural pieces. Check out the amazing variety -- from birds to dresses to "tiny treasures." Mitchell's currently part of a show at San Francisco's CELLspace, but if you can't make to SF to see for yourself, peruse the galleries in Gleaming Lark's sidebar or check out the artist's very own Etsy store.

Lessons from a Garage

Barry Spencer, whose license plate reads CODE GUY, is a computer programmer who has experience starting up software companies. His blog, Lessons from a Garage, is a place where rookies going after similar endeavors can gain virtual mentorship and build confidence. Barry speaks freely about lessons he's learned the hard way, and graciously offers advice that we can all bet he wishes someone had told him before he got started. Both an inventor and a problem solver, Barry's advice on trust and finding venture capital is applicable to all, no matter the enterprise. Make sure to check out his family vacation photos, too, as they are great reminders for all computer-centric folks that life is equally rewarding, if not more so, outside our caves. For those who speak geek, Barry is a two-time winner of Chris Shipley's DemoGod award, and inventor of Reality Fusion video interaction technology.

Where the Hell is Matt?

Good question. Where the Hell is Matt chronicles the adventures Matt Harding, a Seattle video-game writer and designer who has made a name for himself as "that guy who dances on the Internet." Armed with a laptop, camera, and a dubious sense of rhythm, Matt travels the world pausing to dance happy jigs in exotic locales. The result is a series of captivating videos featuring Matt dancing with kangaroos in Australia, Matt dancing with laughing monks in Laos, and Matt dancing with elephants in Botswana (the elephants were not amused). At last count he's been to 55 countries and danced in about 45 of them, and was recently featured boogying amongst screaming Barenaked Ladies fans in their latest music video. Although it would be easy to attach a philosophical message to his efforts, Matt leaves that up to the viewer. "I'm just dancing," he says.

Petrona

Maxine Clarke is a mega-blogger. She authors seven blogs, mostly about her love of books, publishing, and the writing world. Petrona is her personal blog, which shares the life and thoughts of a mother of two living in the South of England. Maxine has been a science journal editor for most of her working life, but in reading Petrona it can seem like she was reborn once she became a blogger. It started as an experiment, but then became substantially meaningful to her, if not her favorite personal pursuit. She is blown away by the power of connection in the international community of bloggers, and is open when pondering the collective blogging life: "Perhaps the effects will be similar to the society-changing effect of mass introduction of TV. This new power, however arises from not only being a mass media like TV but by being an open, interactive system, controlled at the individual's level; enabled by information technology, not a passive recipient of it. I sometimes wonder what Orwell would have made of it all." Petrona will surprise you. As Maxine examines her life and what she's reading and learning, you'll find yourself increasingly pensive. It takes more than a few posts for it to sink in, but the underlying messages are clear -- learn, connect, think for yourself, and grow.

Hedonia

Hedonia is either the food blog of an exceptional person or the personal blog of an exceptional foodie, we're not sure. But instead of worrying about categories, let's just eat! Follow writer Sean Timberlake as he traipses through the restaurants, markets, and food-related emporia of San Francisco. If you can tear yourself away from Sean's mouth-wateringly detailed posts on hearty home-cooked dishes, you'll also find hundreds of categories worth of entries -- from accessories (home of the Popener) all the way down to wine. In fact, Sean seems to accomplish more in a day than most of us could in a week, and judging by the depth and breadth of Hedonia's wonderful content, he gets more cooked in a year than most of us do in a lifetime. So whether you're looking for culinary tips for your own kitchen or just want to live vicariously through Sean's, a trip to Hedonia is a must.

moving on

It's the cruelest thing in the world -- losing a child. It's something that no-one should have to bear, but sadly many parents are forced to endure this circumstance every day. Moving On  is one woman's story of the grief and coping that have followed the loss of her son at 23 weeks. The subject is dark, to be sure, but not every post casts a shadow. Coping with loss is about dealing with survival and there are victories and setbacks alike. We're happy to point readers to Moving On, not just to offer our support and condolences to Jessica and her family, but also to offer the chance for even a single connection that will help someone else deal with a loss and the long road of remembering.

Leave It Behind

Brian Bailey, author of The Blogging Church, offers some powerful inspiration for personal bloggers of all faiths and passions. His TypePad -powered blog, Leave It Behind, acts as  a clearinghouse for information about the book Brian co-wrote with Terry Storch, which is designed to energize, inform, and instruct church staff-members how to get started with blogs. It also presents Bailey's unique point of view on everything from Apple to fatherhood to his very own Letterman-esque Top 10 lists. If you want to learn more about Bailey and his book, look no further than this excellent blog. He and Storch recently posted a 4-minute video "trailer" for the book, which we think is a powerful message for anyone interested in the question "Why should I blog?"

Kimchi Mamas

Kimchi is a traditional vegetable dish served with most Korean