Escape for a Sec

http://escape2000.spaces.live.com/

Here's a new one...a blog from Windows Live Spaces. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised when I click on the URL and started to read through the blog. It's interesting to see how other blog platforms are set up. The writing is well done and has a "real" feel to it. I found the blog very interesting as I read through the archive section and I would encourage a visit to this bloggers "space" and say hello.

Book Of The Month

http://haibooks.blogspot.com/

All the positive things I can say about blogs and blogging are many. I can't find anything positive to say about this particular concept. I guess reviewing a book a month is ok except that in order to keep any kind of readership you would have to add a feed blitz or feedburner on your blog so people can sign up for your feed and get notification when you update your blog each month. Also you will have a problem with Google indexing and ranking...etc because the search engine crawlers look for activity on a blog and once a month updates might not be enough. If you truly enjoy blogging then I'd say start a blog about your life experiences if you lack other ideas.

The Devils of Loundun

http://thedevilsofloudun.blogspot.com/

Move over Bob Vila...there's a new fixer upper in town...well...outta town...well...in France. That's right...this is a unique look into the life of a family (including a little one) who is in the process of renovating a home in France! You can never run out of material in this kind of situation. Great idea for a blog and I think it id coming along nicely...(The blog that is)...(the home too, I'm sure) Keep up the good work! (On the blog)....(and the home) :)

Kinda Fuzzy

http://fuzzynoid.blogspot.com/

We have one of those easy going, regular, "a day in the life" type blogs that are sometimes the most entertaining of all because the posts are straight forward and interesting and not very long. Such is the case with Fuzzynoid. No real bells and whistles other than good content which makes the posts the center of attention which is always a good thing. The only thing I might add is a site meter to see who is stopping by. Nice job my friend.

Rabbit Run Cottage

http://rabbitruncottage.blogspot.com/

It's great when a bloggers personality oozes off the screen and it is clear to see the passion and love she feels for her family and blogging. Rabbit Run is all about the daily happenings in the life and times of Susie Q and her family and it is "blogged" about beautifully. Nice job with the blog Susie and keep up the good work!

Only thing I would add is a site meter (www.sitemeter.com) to the blog to see how many visitors you are getting to your blog. I didn't notice one. Other than that it is great.

What's New At Critique My Blog

Sorry for the slow posting lately...I'm doing my best. It's been a very busy month with my family member who passed away after a few weeks of battling...and then the arrangements and funeral. After that we have to settle estates and if you ever had to go through that you understand the time involved with this. Last Sunday my brother in law was married to his beautiful wife and this weekend my two boys and my wife were in Karate Tournaments. Saturday my youngest took second place in sparing and today my oldest some took 3rd in sparing and my wife took first place in sparing! Next weekend I will have a friend's wedding and that will be it for weddings until October. My suit is getting alot of use lately. Thanks again to all the fantastic blogs that have been submitted for review and they will be given the same attention that I give to all blogs I critique and review, which is why it takes me so long to get to them sometimes. I'd rather pay good attention to your blog and post an honest review instead of just blow through them. Thanks again and as always keep the blog rolling. P.S. I am in 80th place right now for the contest of Best Blog About and Pro Blogger is at 325. I will not give up and I know we can beat him. Well...maybe...please vote if you haven't already. Thanks.

Maryannaville

http://maryannaville.blogspot.com/

Wasting away again in Maryannaville? Maybe that's what Jimmy Buffet would say but I think this blog is well on the path to greatness. With controversial post titles like, "Were Our Pet's Deliberately Poisoned?" and "War criminal admits that Cheney had his eye on Iraq long before 9/11", it's easy to see how interesting a read this blog can be. It's not all controversy though, in an older post you can see the bloggers lighter side with, "The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity". The blog is formatted sharply and has a cool look, that coupled with the fantastic content I'd have to say we have a winner!

Vonage

Once upon a time there used to be one telephone company in the world I think...at least in my world...it was called Bell Telephone. Fast forward to the present and things have changed, and for the better. There is competition out there and one form of that competition is VoIP and one of the leaders is Vonage. There is a fantastic site out there that has a terrific Vonage Forum that offers lots of information about this service. Also on this site are other forums like a Vonage news forum and a Vonage information area. No doubt this is the place to go if you are looking for some current info about Vonage.
This post has been sponsored by the fine folks at www.vonage-forum.com

EVENSTAR

http://evenstar-art.blogspot.com/

Inspirational indeed! This blog is up for best of blog...best inspirational and I can see why. Written with an inspirational flare and wit, this blog is on my top ten list...although my top ten list has grown to a top one hundred list rather quickly, putting this one at least in the top one hundred. A poem that was posted in her recent posts is fantastic and is called, To Risk, and it really hits home for me because I am a risk taker and am grateful that I am. I also dug back to some of her older posts and began to think she was travelling with the Pope at some point until I found out that it was a Pope figurine. Truly worth a look if you want a good read and some inspiration. Great job and keep up the good work!

Find Accountants

I remember when I had my own business in the pest control industry one of the most important things I had in my arsenal was a good accountant. I was the best at killing bugs, inspecting for termites or catching squirrels, but when it came to the numbers of the business I left them in the hands of the expert. I was very lucky to have a friend who was a CPA and helped me in this area, but most people in business for themselves are not so lucky, they need to find accountants that will help them with what they need. SO where can these folks turn when in need of expert number crunchers? Just Accountants of course! Fill out a form and get up to 4 accountants to offer advice and quotes for service. Whether you are forming a business or need payroll advice, Just Accountants can help. The service is simple and free, so why not get the help you need from the professionals who can offer it. Try it today!
This post was sponsored by the fine folks at Just Accountants.

ALL GROWN UP

http://www.withnowheretogo.blogspot.com/

Here is a refreshingly written blog by a young lady who is 18 from India and there is no two ways about it....young blood brings a fresh and unique approach to blogging. Her blog is titled..."All Grown Up With No Place To Go", and it is a diary of thoughts and opinions written in such a way that it draws you into her life. I love a well written blog with interesting posts that are short and to the point. The blog is captivating and keeps your interest from post to post which is important to outside readers. This is exactly what this young blogger brings to the table and the blog itself is formatted brilliantly. Truly a well done creation and keep up the good work!

PLUS 6

http://www.plus6.com/

New Personal finance and savings blog on the scene "Plus 6" has all the right bells and whistles to help you along the way to riches. As I've said time and time again, I love blogs about money and finance and this one is no different. The blog is simply set up and organized well with a blogroll of information to use a s a reference to other blogs about the same topic. Nice job with this one and look forward to watching it grow.

FRIDAYS WITH SKITTLES!

Do ya'll like short quizzes that ask what you would do IF? Do you like doing the Just A Quickie thing I do on my blog? If you answered yes to either of those, then you'll love the blog I'm reviewing this week!

Just Another Quick Question
Just Another Quick Question a fun blog authored by twin sisters Abigail and Becky. Abigail is a Kindergarten teacher and Becky is new mommy! The idea is, they present you with a theoretical situation then sometimes give you multiple choice answers to choose from. Of course, you're always welcome to come up with your own answer, too!

With the blog being this kind of genre I'll be pointing out some of the questions I've seen there.

Here are some of my favorites:

• BFF? asks what do you do when your BFF (Best Friend Forever) doesn't consider YOU a BFF?
• Cha-Cha-Cha-Charmin? brings up the question for us girls about what we do when Mother Nature calls and we're in the woods.
• Obsessive Compulsive wonders if you are finicky with the way you do things sometimes. (Yes, I am!)
• Vocabulary 101 is where they are trying to come up with 101 ways to use a tissue. Can you think of any not already listed?
• Malfunctions is about something we can relate to.. computer malfunctions.

They have more than just the questions, too. Things from their own lives like financial problems, being scared when a mole becomes suspicious looking, and going through withdrawals when a favorite TV show goes on hiatus, just to name a few.

This is a great blog to bookmark and visit often. In fact, I hope you'll drop by there today! Tell them Skittles and Critique My Blog sent you.

Badge design by: Empress Bee.

Signaleer

http://signaleer.blogspot.com/

I've often said that blogs are a fantastic platform to express emotion or feeling or hobbies. They are also a great way to voice your opinions and in the case of this blog, it is clear to see that this RTO trainer has a lot to say. It is important to keep terror in the front lines of our thoughts because if we forget or get complacent, we will be taken by surprise again, and that is not an option. This blog has a cool feature called, "This Week In Terror History". The blog is set up with a military feel and is formatted nicely. The blog is very well written and gives you a patriotic feeling which is something that we all should have. It bothers me to see and hear sometimes how we as Americans might have lost that feeling by the way we act and talk and it is a tragedy. Blogs like Sarge Charlie and Signaleer are terrific tools in keeping America's message clear. Great job and keep up the good work.

drug rehab

I've posted about this subject in the past and feel passionately about it because I've know people who had problems with drugs and alcohol and it can be one of the most devastating problems a family will go through. What is great about the Internet in these modern times is the information that is available about these problems and what help is available. One site that is offering just this kind of wonderful information is 1800nodrugs.com. Maybe you are looking for the premiere drug rehab in the country or information about intervention services, whatever the case might be you will find it here. After you go through the drug rehab, you will need information about aftercare that will be important to continue to get support for both he addict and the family. As I said the information is abundant these days and I urge you to look at 1800nodrugs.com for some fantastic information.
This post was sponsored by the fine folks at 1800nodrugs.com

Coffee with MZ Jackson

http://www.coffeewithmzjackson.blogspot.com/

This newbie to the blog world is on the right track with a nice set up and her posts doing what they should...keeping interest. This is a recently submitted blog and decided to review this one as I do a "bump up" every so often and was pleased when I opened this blog. I think it is nicely done and I want to wish you good luck on your novel...let me know when it is in print and I will post the announcement. Keep up the good work.

bid4prizes

How amazing would it be to win an auction for a big ticket item like a television or an ipod for a penny! It's the complete opposite of ebay and alot less expensive! This is possible with a site called bid4prizes. It's a simple as registering and bidding. You can bid online or via cell phone and the ease and use friendliness of Bid4Prizes is fantastic! Another great thing about this prize site that is different from a regular auction is that after you win by bidding the lowest price and win, you get it for free. All you pay for is the shipping! Check out the auction section to see what incredible prizes and products that you can win from this unique and ingenious site. Check out the Faq section of Bid4prizes to get a comprehensive list of questions and answers and then sign up and start to play! It's fun and exciting!
This post has been sponsored by the fine folks at Bid4prizes

Freelance Cynic

http://www.freelancecynic.com/

Self proclaimed young, gay, and British, this blogger has a comical, dark, and interesting perspective on life and what life is all about. Cleverly written and unique to say the least, I found myself entertained and needing to read the next post after next post. Keep up the good work and keep the blog rolling!

Web Messenger

In the old days when AOL was the only kid on the block I remember the excitement and "coolness" of Instant Messaging. It was amazing that I could hold a conversation with someone across the globe via this cool technology. Well today things have changed a little, but that same cool idea is still thriving and people are still communicating by way of web messenger every day.
One cool site that is exploding on the market is KoolIM. This application allows you to stay connected with your favorite instant messenger with just a browser. Check it out today and join the crowd at KoolIM.
This post was sponsored by the fine folks at KoolIM

OUR STORY

http://www.zumfamily.blogspot.com/

Another well organized blog with lots of quality content! I'll never cease to be amazed of how fantastic some of these blogs are and how much time and energy goes into them. Perfect example is this one where the blogger clearly loves her family and with little ones involved you can always count on endless amounts of material to write about. Pictures and writing that keep your interest is what a blog should be about. Nice work and keep it coming!

Sarge Charlie

http://sargecharlie.blogspot.com/

IN the blogosphere there are certain blogs that demand respect. This is one of them. Before I even reviewed this blog I heard of him via other bloggers and would stop by from time to time to see what the buzz was about.You can guess by the title of the blog that it is about a retired Army Sargent who loves America and is posting his opinion about public affairs and all things regarding America all over the blogosphere. His conservative views almost make me want to dub him the Glenn Beck of the blog world with strong opinions and a clear and true love for his Country and you can see that he cares about the direction it goes in. The blog is brilliantly written and sends a strong message...so why not stop by today and say hello to this American blogging icon.

FIGHTING IRISH THOMAS

http://www.fightingirishthomas.net/

Saints be praised and kiss the Blarney Stone! I'm not sure that I've come across an honest to goodness Catholic blog yet...at least not one of this stature. The Author of this blog, Thomas, has a very interesting Bio page where it talks about him being a freelance writer. I get one of the magazines he writes for, the Columbia, because I am a Knight myself. The blog is set up wonderfully and the writing is captivating. Very well done and worth a visit. Great job!

CIGARETTES

http://cigarettestories.blogspot.com/

I've seen it all...a blog dedicated to cigarettes! As much as there has been a push for people to stop smoking and laws past to keep smokers out of public places...etc. There is still an enormous amount of smokers in America and abroad that still light up. Look at the the stock market and you will see the cigarette manufacturers, even with the lawsuits, are still making money hand over fist. I don't smoke myself, but if you do then you would probably get a kick out of this blog.

DANCE PARTY

http://www.thecdp.net/

The Communist dance party? Not as scary as it sounds. Twenty Five years ago this title would have petrified people and it might have sparked investigations by the FBI. Today it is a mild mannered blog...started in 2004...by someone who is more interested in pop culture and telling stories than political commentary. I combed through some postings from 2004 on up and didn't see anything that suggests that it is a communist threat. What I did find were good stories...writing that kept your interest...and humor. Check it out for yourself and check out the "about page" to get a better understanding. Nice job and keep it rolling.

taylor made boat covers

I fell in love with boating when I was on my first boat rides when I was in the 8th grade. My dad's friend had his own boat that he took out on the Delaware river. I forgot about boating until I was an adult and my wife's friends had a boat that we visited in Ocean City. It actually slept four people and had a kitchen area. I was in love again. I started to research and found that one of the most important things about boating is maintenance and care. That's where I came across the site Boat Cover Advice. This website has fantastic advice about taylor made boat covers and everything else you can imagine with regards to this topic. It is clear to see as I browsed over this site what kind of attention would be needed to be given to a boat and I began to realize that my wife's friend was retired and had alot of time to dedicate to the boat himself. He saved money this way. One thing I was glad to discover was the realization that my loved for boating was great and when I finally did decide I wanted to dedicate the time and energy to this wonderful sport and leisure activity I would have the information and tools I would need to do it the right way!
This post has been sponsored by the good folks at Boat Cover Advice

small and BIG

http://smallandbig.blogspot.com/

Every once in a while I come across a blog that makes me stop and say, "Hmm...that's a really good blog". Not to say the blogs I review in a positive light are not really good, I'm just saying that some blogs make me stop and think for a minute and I like that. This is one of them. It's very organized and well written with a vast array of topics that can keep the interest of a jail prisoner on up to a brain surgeon. Variety is the key. Stop by and say hello and settle in for a good interesting read.

HOW I SAVE MONEY

http://www.howisavemoney.net/

DO I even need to say it? If you are a regular visitor to this blog you know that I love...love...love blogs about money or finance. This one is right up there with the good ones. It was created by a struggling college student and offers really good advice and insight into saving money. The blog is monetized fantastically and the writing and ideas are great. Blogs like this are great because they give you a different way to look at things in regards to saving money and helps you to get different and unique ideas to help you save. I give this blog an "A" +

WEE ALL THE WAY...

http://wheeallthewayhome.blogspot.com/

This blog born in February has the proverbial snowball effect in action here. After her indecisive struggle with which blogging platform to use, I am glad to say it was this one. I have posted before about the negatives of Yahoos platform...and that looked like a consideration from her post. IN the three months this blog has been around it is clear to see the blogger likes to blog with her posts interesting and most importantly...lots of them. Some people complain that they don't know what to write about in their blog and when you see a blog like this where the writing seems to just come to the blogger....it's a good thing. Nice job and keep the blog rolling!

Lazy Iguana

http://lazyiguana.blogspot.com/

This sharp looking blog from the land of Florida is one of those fresh and witty blogs that make you stop and think for a minute. I like the writing and the overall look of the blog is very cool with the sidebar set up with arcade games from when I was little. One thing I noticed and I might have missed it or am looking in the wrong places ( I got in big trouble for this one time), but I didn't notice an archive section. I view my blogs in IE so maybe that is the reason. Aside from that I have no complaints. Stop by and say Hi and enjoy your visit at the Lazy Iguana!

Entertainment Muse

http://musingentertainment.blogspot.com/

Brand spanking new to the blog scene is the Entertainment Muse. Too new to really form an opinion other than the 4 posts I read were good. I would add a site meter (www.sitemeter.com) to keep track of how many are reading your entertainment reviews. Keep the posting regular and you will do fine. I would resubmit in a few months so we can see how you are progressing.

Skittle's Friday Reviews

Just to clear something up. Barb from Skittles Place has asked that the button she uses be exclusive to her her views for the lucky blogger she picks to review. That is not owned or was it created by Critique My Blog. I am in the process of trying to get a similar blog button created and when that happens I will offer it to all blogs critiqued in the past-present-future. Thank you for your understanding and honoring Barb's wishes as it is a way to make the blog stand out.

Teri's Painted Daisie

http://painteddaisies.blogspot.com/

Creativity is oozing from this blog! Blogs can be a way to express feelings, emotions, thoughts, and dreams. They can be a place to take a stand, post an opinion and sell a product. They can also be a place to show off talent and in this case the talent is water color paintings that are out of this world. My uncle was a painter and I have a great appreciation for anything artistic, especially painting. The blog is set up beautifully. Great job...liked it alot.

mortgage interest rates

I follow the market very closely and love to invest. One thing I am very interested in as well is real estate and it amazed me how a year or so ago so many people were jumping in with both feet and taking mortgage interest rates that were basically teaser rates that were going to balloon later on down the line. I think part of the reason for this is that people listen more to television commercials instead of doing the proper research on sites like the mortgage lowdown.
The first thing I do before I make an investment or buy something is go online and research it thoroughly. This mortgage news site gives some top notch information about all things that involve the mortgage business like mortgage interest rates, refinancing, and real estate. No doubt there is a wealth of information on this site and before you buy your should check it out.
This post has been sponsored by the fine folks at Mortgage Lowdown.

Folded Gingham

http://foldedgingham.typepad.com/

Am I allowed to say that I love Typepad on a Blogger platform? Well I do. The blog formats always look so crisp and organized to me. This blogger has done a fantastic job with her blog with a whole lot to look at and great content to read. Can you ask for anything else? Check out her first post and see how it transformed into a pretty darn good blog. Being crafty always offers lots of material to blog about because if you are that creative you will always find something to write about. Great job and keep the blog rolling!

EDER

http://360.yahoo.com/eder4jesus

It is easy to see you have a passion for blogging and your family. I just have to recommend you investigate some of the other blogging platforms like Blogger, Typepad, or Wordpress. Yahoo is hard to navigate and choppy looking. You'll find more control and ease of use with one of these other services and your creativity and love of your family will shine through even more. Keep up the good work!

Island Writer

http://www.islandwriter.net/

Take me with you! How fantastic is it to live on an island off the coast of Florida? Island living that is a stone throw from Disney! Love it! I share this enthusiasm with your blog and the writing especially. It is easy to see your passion for writing and isn't it wonderful to keep a "virtual" diary or journal these days. On a personal note, I am not a big fan of pink. I find when the font is in pink it is hard on the eyes, but that is just me. All the right bells and whistles on the sidebar and the content is popping so I have to usher your blog on up tot he "A" list. Nice job!

FRIDAY WITH SKITTLES

When I did reviews for that other place I was prevented from choosing family or anyone I had met in person. With this review I'm doing both! I'd like to introduce you all to my daughter-in-law, Carrie.

Asara's Mental Meanderings
Carrie joined our family by marrying my son Billy a little over four years ago and she was a welcome addition indeed! (Of course it helps that she thinks my son is a genius!) She is a wonderful mother to my two grandchildren, 3 year old Andy and 1 year old Emily.

Carrie is a hard worker and her dedication has paid off. She is a very talented singer and dancer. One of the first times I saw her dance was to a song by New Kids On The Block. (She'll love that I said that!) She is also intelligent and was even valedictorian of her high school class!

Find out how she came up with her Asara name by reading this post. It's a name she still uses when playing her favorite game World Of Warcraft on her computer. A good way to find out more interesting things about her is by reading answers to memes. Like in this post where she mentions her four tattoos.. and this one that tells how she got a scar in an unlikely place.

She has been having a struggle trying to decide whether or not to seek out her birth mother. This post about being adopted really shows that.

There is so much more I would like to say and I could go on and on all day. In the interest of time and space I'll just simply add "I love you."

I encourage all of you to go pay her a visit. Tell her Skittles and Critique My Blog sent you!

Badge design by: Empress Bee.

WHAT'S NEW AT CRITIQUE MY BLOG

I want to apologize for the slow response in blog critiques...The past few weeks have been busy with a family member in the hospital who died on Tuesday. The next week will be very sporadic with the blog but will be getting back onto a regular schedule soon. Thank you for your patience.

Don't forget about the one....the only...Friday Skittle's Review! Keep a look out for this favorite feature!

Cozy Reader

http://www.lathemlunacy.blogspot.com/

Let me set the scene for ya...my youngest is sleeping in bed...my wife and oldest son are at Karate...I'm sitting here is the sheer silence of home when suddenly I get blasted with Christian Rock! Another automatic music blog box! I need to take an extra aspirin. I think the bloggers are out to get me. Anyway I want to thank Jane for submitting her blog because it is one of those "pleasure to read" kinda blogs and I was excited to see her little button link for Critique My Blog....How nice is that? The blog itself is full of wonderful content and it gives me a calming feeling when I read through alot of Jane's work. That is really what makes a blog....you can put as many widgets in the world on your sidebar...but when you get right down to it...it's the content...the real meat a potatoes. Loved it.

Mister Hubs

http://misterhubs.blogspot.com/

First off let me say congrats on your 100th Post! I have to say that I never quite came across a blog entry announcing this feat that was quite as expressive and interesting as this post! The way you describe this event shows you have a passion for blogging and that passion is reflected in your traffic already hitting over 15000 visitors. Popularity. The blog itself is set up nicely with some interesting content and a cool and trendy feeling in the style of writing. Liked it alot. Nice job and keep up the good work!