I am a mommy blogger

I am a mom blogger.

I am a mommy blogger.

I am a mom that blogs.

I find none of those terms degrading. I love being a mom. A wife. If you want, you can call me a wife blogger too. I blog about my husband as much as my daughter. If it were not for them, I would not have a blog.  Or content.

Its very fitting that I can term myself after my family.

I blog reviews. I blog giveaways on occasion. I blog about my husband, my daughter, my opinions. I vlog. I vlog with friends. I dance. I twitter. I youtube. I sometimes facebook. I most definitely forum chat. Basically, I socialize.

When you have only one child and she is at school, you get lots of free time. It’s awesome.

I have no niche because my niche is…well…me. That’s the beauty of purchasing my own hosting and putting my little picture on the top there. It’s all Trisha, all the time. If I wanted to sit here and pick my nose and eat it, I am sure someone would watch.

Admit it. You would.

I sell ads on my site. I sell advertorials under my promotional side. I write product opinions for public relations. I am a brand ambassador for very specific brands. I’m a writer for several websites. I am paid for that writing. Someone has to provide for those bon-bons I get to eat all day for being a stay at home mom, right?

I will be a published author in October. I am speaking at a conference in September. I feel guilty for none of it.

Now here is the fun part.

I don’t care if someone thinks I need to spell out all of my dealings on line every time I write a post. I don’t. In fact, I am highly opposed to the ‘blog police’ trying to regulate who says what and why and how and if you dont follow some “A-list” bloggy rule, you get ostracized and attacked.  I am not trying to be A-list. I’m trying to be ME. And “me” is not that good at following a crowd.

Isn’t it kinda obvious?

I will, out of personal ethics, notify my readers that I received a product as part of a review blog post, but other than that, if you see my name on a company,  a graphic listed on my site, or a link in a post, chances are its a mutually beneficial relationship. That may or may not mean I was compensated or otherwise bartered with for that company.

And yes, I believe gift cards, trips, and products can be a very fair bargain for blog space, if you feel the time you invested is worth what you are being offered. Its a crappy economy. Even doctors are bartering. You know what YOUR worth is. I can assure you that regardless of dealings that other bloggers have, it has not affected my contractual agreements. I receive what I give out and in no way, shape, or form feel that I am ever being taken advantage of.

Regardless, its according to my terms. Not some terms that some random person I have never met decided I should have.

In fact, I think I’ll just sit by and wait for the FTC to show up, if they ever do, with some real rules before I’m bending over for social networking divas. And if they do, I am quite sure none of it will apply to me as I am not out to deceive anyone as it is. Basically, its a bunch of hokey drummed up controversy for inflammatory networkers with no real ending that will actually affect most review and giveaway bloggers.

Yes, I am willing to put $100 on that.

You know what I think? I think there are women out there so incredibly jealous of other successful women online that they find a way to berate and belittle them by trying to undermine their success by making them feel inadequate and devalued. By forcing them to pick apart their online relationships and corporate sponsorships into tiny details and put it on display for prying eyes so others can be jealous and they can feel guilty for their hard work. I am sorry but you cant back me into that corner.

There are companies I love: Frigidaire, Gymboree, Apple (this also falls into one I hate on occasion. I love the MAC. I hate the iPod), Walmart (and yes, I LOOOOOOOVE Walmart), Sams Club, Outback Steak House, VH1, MTv, The Childrens Place, Shabby Apple, Kristens Custom Creations, Tide, and shockingly, Disney World.

Am I being told to say that? No. Do I have relationships with some or all of those companies? Yes. Do I need to disclose that to you? Not really. Because telling you which ones I have a formal relationship and ‘disclosing’ it, would not define whether or not my words were organic or not. You believe that I love those companies when I say it, or you don’t.

If you don’t trust me, you don’t come here. Its just that simple.

Trisha, you’re freaking brilliant.

And Newsflash. I like to be talked about. I would imagine most bloggers like to be talked about. I like links and I like my name being used. I do not care if its negative or positive because people show up.  This is a blog. There are thousands of blogs. You send them. I’ll  keep them. I am happy to be differentiated and even if you talk hateraide about me, you have made me important.

It helps sell ads. My new veneers thank you.

So does that  Tahiti trip I  always wanted, cute  new shoes  and of course  the Christmas presents (oops, did I just say Christmas instead of “winter”, nope, dont feel bad for that either) I need to buy.  It also allows me to stay at home with my child without too many sacrifices.

None of which I feel guilty or the least bit upset about. Why? Let me wrap it up in a neat little box, red bow, and simple sentence.

Cause this is my blog. So suck it.

~Trisha

Cant read? Watch it in a blog. Yep. I said it in text and in video.

So you could see my pretty face and rolling eyes. It holds more charm this way, dont you think?

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