Personality Puzzle

It’s 6pm on a Monday night, so you know what that means: we made it through the first day of the week, and I’m in my pajamas and I’ve hit my productivity level for the day.

One thing that has been plaguing me for the week or so that I’ve been “back to bloggin,” is that I’m not really sure I have identified and stayed true to the purpose for which I began this blog.  Ok, so it was never really that clearly defined, but at least I felt as though I was accomplishing something in the beginning, even if it was something to keep my busy instead of snacking.  I consider myself to be a well-read blogger, and I have a few heroes:

• The Hungry Running Girl
• A Bowl Full of Lemons
• Carrots ‘n Cake
• Iowa Girl Eating
• Swanky Dietician
• Cultfit
• Peanut Butter Fingers
• Run, Eat, Repeat
• Crazy Running Legs
• Running Off the Reese’s
• Eat – Watch – Run
• Cuddlebuggery Book Blog

What is it that I admire about these bloggers and their digital offspring?

1. Writing Style – they’re all extremely engaging, creative, and keep my attention long enough for me to want to invest my few minutes of free time on a nightly basis while trying to ignore the ESPN commentary that fill my post-dinner living room air.
2. Personality – You can really gain a sense of whom each of the authors are.  I know who are my loving life and upbeat gals are, and which bloggers to turn to when I need someone to share in my snarky take on mundane, daily life.  I also know who can inspire me to get my tush off the couch and make it to the gym every morning, and some of their own workout routines that I take along with me.
3. A focus – Each blog has a distinct purpose and I can rely on that to stay consistent as I scroll through their photos and gifs.
4. Entertainment – I can Wikipedia the hell out of a topic, but you’re getting the essential information.  In and out; no muss, no fuss.  No fun.  I don’t want to read the same information in the same format that I can find on any ol website, and these guys and gals know how to produce the pizzaz.

So how do I plan on putting these attributes to work in my own blog?  Well that’s the million dollar question that I am asking myself.

Blogger Inventory:

• What is your purpose for writing?

In English, we talk about three different author’s purposes:  to persuade, to entertain, to inform.

So what is my purpose?  I could go the “Inform” route and focus on education.  I am a certified English teacher, but I feel far from experienced enough in the classroom to tell anybody what they should and should not be doing.  I could also change the purpose of my blog to entertain, but I am a total niche sense of humor gal.  Not everyone understands what I find funny.

• What is your blog’s focus?/What type of blog do you want to produce?

I am a floundering blogger right now because I don’t know which direction is shore, so to speak.  I haven’t been consistent in blogging because I am not sure which direction I want to pilot this publication pot.  I have a few ideas here;  I want to stop being a trifecta of topics because it’s way too confusing, mostly for me.  Here are my options: Classroom/Education, Books, or Exercise.  There can be some overlap of course, but I want one main topic.  I am leaning towards Classroom/Education with a side focus of Books.  Quite honestly, those are the real bread and butter topics that consume my life.

• What is your blogging voice/tone?

I can only be myself, which is someone who is brutally honest about my opinions, and sometimes they come off as a playful teasing all the way to snide.  I don’t want to be mean, but I do want to be genuine.  When something is exciting and pleasing to me, I want that to come across as legit and not pretentious.

Whatever I am, whatever I do, I want to be the best.  Even if “Best” is defined as “doing better tomorrow than today.”

So what does this mean?   When all the goop has been cleaned off the walls and all the scraps of papers with scribbles have been uncrumpled and rammed through the shredder, I know that I am an educator at the core of my soul.  Therefore, from this point forward, Fancy Oatmeal shall be known as an emerging educational blog with a twist of book bloggery.

The Spin Class Song

Even though I have never taken a spin class or done much more than toodle around on my 3-speed like it was 1924, I think after watching this video, I may have found myself a new cardio avenue.

I have a feeling a few of my blogging friends will appreciate this as well:  Michelle and Janae

TAG! You’re It!

I was tagged in a bloggery game of fun by the awesome CultFit blog.  Why do I love checking in with them everyday?

MOTIVATION!

HUMOR!

HE RESPONDS TO ME!

We always enjoy reading the terrific work of Amanda over yonder at Fancy Oatmeal.  Why?  She’s real, honest and nice.  Unlike Uncle Mo who recently attended his annual Local Chapter 407 of Visigoth’s meeting this past weekend (Put that into your Google Machine peeps!)

Amanda, Our question to you is:  If Christian Grey had a favorite nursery rhyme?  What would it be and please provide some historical data to back up your findings?!?

The answer to the Christian Grey question????

Round and Round
The playroom they go;
Christian chased the mistress.
First she thought twas all in fun,
Then spank! goes her booty!

TAG!  You’re it!!!!

Now it is my pleasure to present to you three blogs that I absolutely love!

1.  Paula at Eat:Watch:Run

I feel like I want to be Paula when I grow up; she’s so much cooler than I am.  She has a strong, legit voice when it comes to review concerts, movies, and training.  One of my all-time-favorite things to read in Paula’s blog is her weekly recaps of American Horror Story.

My question for Paula:  If you got to choose your next-door neighbor, would it be Constance from American Horror Story or Kristin Stewart’s no-expression, Molly Mopper face?

2.  The Hungry Runner Girl

Talk about a breath of fresh air!  I absolutely love reading HRG every morning over a cup of coffee!  Each blog entry is so fun and light and airy, but yet so full of good info!  If I ever have questions about creating the world’s best, and massive salad from a buffet, I know the blog to turn to for guidance.  Oh!  And the HRG family is expecting a little bundle of joy soon!

My question for the Hungry Runner Girl: If you were asked to create a three-course meal from food you purchased at Costco, what would it be?

3.  Cely at Running Off the Reece’s

From her love of Magnificent Men (all week, but especially on) Mondays, to her snarky, realistic take on training, annoying co-workers who eat your food (WTH???) Cely brings it every post!  She’s honest and there ain’t nothing wrong with a night in with wine, Reece’s and a bitch-face dog.  Sorry Bardot.

Question for Cely: Who do you think you relate more to?  Kate Middleton or Lady Mary from Downton?

Now it’s your turn – I know, “Gee thanks for the chore, jerk.”  If you’ve been tagged, or if you want to participate and have a blog, please return the favor!  Choose three more blogs that you love, give a short synopsis as to why you’re head-over-heels with said blog, and ask the blogger in your heart a question.  Looking forward to see how this goes!!!