11. Screen Play
The Story:
Here at TenMania, we love everything that has to do with technology. We also love romance, family life, and children, so a combination between these two contrasting elements has made us jump with joy. Jeana Lee Tahnk of Screen Play (a blog hosted on Parenting Magazine) is an inventive mother who writes insighftul reviews of modern gadgets for the family. Her story is not very different from that of previous mommy bloggers: she has a husband, a daughter, a kindergarten-aged son, a dog, and a pretty good life overall. Unlike most stay-at-home moms she has an impressive career as a writer, communications strategist, and PR. Jeana has writen for Huffington Post, Cool Mom Techn, Mashable and many more, which is pretty incredible.
Motto: “We’re experiencing just the beginning of the kind of innovation that’s in our future and I look forward to exploring it with you!
The Blog:
As we already mentioned, Jeana doesn’t own a blog per-say, but her column on Parenting is pretty popular. She has realized the role that technology plays in our lives, and she has decided not to ignore or run away from it, but rather to raise awereness and teach her children how to use it correctly. In the mean-time she also writes great reviews, and advises mommies what type of gadgets they should be using in their household. Considering that she usually inserts her personal opinions and experiences in the reviews, we can safely say that most of her recommandations are accurate and helpful. In terms of writing style, she prefers easily to digest bits of information to interminable articles that nobody has time to read.
Fans and Followers:
Jeanna may not have the tens of thousands of followers that you have probably become used to in the previous examples, but she has still managed to create a great community that trusts her advice.
Social Metrics:
Twitter Followers: 4.800
12. DIY Inspired
The Story:
Another example of accomplished mommy is Dinah. She may have spent more than ten years of her life studying, working and being awesome, but she finally decided to become a stay-at-home mom. This decision was also influenced by her strong desire to craft stuff. Dinah loves to decorate, repurpose, create and give meaning to the objects around her. She is well-aware that certain DYI projects may be too costly . Like many mothers before her, she has found a whole new meaning to life after having had her beautiful baby girl, Mia. Although she states that the decision of becoming a full stay-at-home mommy was difficult, she seems not to have regretted it even for one second. We are happy that Dinah wants to share her discoveries and projects with us.
“I started this blog to simply test and challenge myself to start new projects, share my inspirations, and hopefully inspire a few others along the way.“
The Blog:
Dinah shares great projects with audience from all over the world, and her main goal is to simplify the world that we live in, especially the world that busy mommies live in. She doesn’t waste her time with boring articles, and she usually prefers to keep it short and simple. From her blog, DIY Inspired, you can pull out a lot of great information like Making a Secret Book safe, and other. You should definitely check out her blog during Christmas season because she posts various decoration ideas on a budget, and the explanations are very simple. The blog is divided between the Crafts & DIY, Trash and Treasure, Party Ideas, Popular Projects and Videos categories. The videos in particular can be very helpful, and the overall design of the blog is great.
Blog Metrics:
D.A.: 46
P.R.: 4
Alexa Rank: 211.000
Fans and Followers:
Pinterest: aprox. 4500 followers
Youtube: 100 subscribers
Twitter: 12.000 followers
13. Lady Goo Goo Gaga
The Story:
A long, long time ago, Lady Goo Goo Gaga used to spend her days smoking cigarettes, and worrying about the latest fashion. She would usually think about the best way to assort her outfits with the next pair of shoes, but much has happened since then. Babies. Babies happened. She has forfeited high-heels for flip-flops, and now spends most of her time caring for her two boys. Unfortunately, having children 18 months apart from each other in age have made her let go of herself for quite some time (I’m pointing this article out because I find it hilarious, and also because I am sure many ladies can relate to it). There is no doubt that she loves her children very much, nor is there a doubt that she is a talented writer. She rocks in the writing department!
The Blog:
Lady Goo Goo Gaga writes what she wants, and she writes like nobody else. Check her blog and find out. Enough said.
Blog Metrics: WordPress blog
Social Metrics:
Facebook Followers: 1300 fans
14. Chase the Star
The Story:
Barbara is the owner of Chase the Star, a mommy blog focused on DYI projects and home renovations. Her story is an interesting one indeed, especially considering that she has had quite a bumpy road so far. When she was still young, she went through an unexpected divorce. She was reborn in the November 2003, when she reunited with the love of her life. Barbara soon found out that her new boyfriend (soon-to-be-husband) also experienced some “unforeseen” circumstances, that eventually led him, and his two children back to the Lord. Barbara was so in love with him that she decided to leave her life in Miami, and run to Orange County with him. She frequently mentioned that “God had a plan” with her, and she was right. Soon after the marriage, she got pregnant with Chase. The road may have been difficult for Barbara, but she was determined to make it work. In the end, everything turned out great, the stars aligned and they lived happily ever after!:)
One thing has always remained true though: “We have God, and we have each other, so we have it all. Every single failure has been a lesson learned or opened the door to something better, I wouldn’t change a single thing.”
The Blog:
After having relentlessly tried to sell their condo for seven years, the family finally found a home (soon after the market burnt and prices dropped). Most of the DYI home improvement projects on the blog have been inspired from her adventures with remaking, building, up-cycling and beautifying her own home. As she, herself says, starting this blog was inevitable, considering that her passion for DYI was so strong. Barbara considers that, although there are certain things that are worth purchasing, as long as you can do something yourself it would be a shame to waste money. In other words, she has come up with amazing looking solutions for interiors, bathrooms (Check out these Bathroom Decoration Tricks), decorations, gifts etc, that are also within a budget. So, if you are looking for unique ideas and step-by-step guides for redecorating the home, you should definitely check her blog out.
Blog Metrics:
D.A.: 3
P.R.: 44
Alexa Rank: 187,794
Fans and Followers:
Barbara has inspired tons of mommies all over the world, and her social media metrics speak for themselves:
Chase the Star’s Pinterest boards were selected as The Huffington PostTop 5 Pinners to follow!
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3219+ Followers on Facebook
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5111+ Followers on Pinterest
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1625+ Followers on Twitter
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Averaging 85,000+ page views per month (per Google Analytics)
15. Thrifty Nifty Mommy
The Story:
Janessa is a wife and mommy to a beautiful little girl and boy, with a mind set on business, or at least, fabulous deals. She says that she is always trying out new products, and looking for great deals that don’t strain her wallet. Honestly, all mommies should do this, because there are a lot of freebies out there, waiting to be claimed. She is not only looking for children related products, but also for household items and she has decided to share her findings with other mothers from all over the world. She is especially interested in items that help people live more naturally. Most of the reviews for Thrifty Nifty Mommy were positive, and the blog is a strong network in its own way.
I love trying out all kinds of products, but especially those geared towards living life more naturally.
The Blog:
As you can probably already tell, Thrifty Nifty Mommy is all about finding the best deals available online. Janessa is not alone in this mission, and she has teamed up with many bloggers in order to find great deals. According to Mashable, In December 2012, six new bloggers joined the network, and each of them offers unique insight on different products.
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Ruth writes about cloth diapers and reviews products on Viva Veltoro.
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Amanda writes about homeschooling and recipes on Open Hands.
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Larisha curates guest posts on parenting and provides delicious-looking recipes on We’re Parents?
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Alex mainly reviews products on Mommy’s Craft Obsession.
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Jessica reviews products, hosts giveaways and writes about raising her daughter and autistic son on iHeart Motherhood.
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Megan of writes about her Nutrisystem diet, posts family recipes and offers scrapbooking tips on Housewife On a Mission..
Blog Metrics
P.R.: 4
D.A.: 45
Alexa Rank: 21.292 !!!
Social Metrics:
Facebook Followers: 43.000 fans
Twitter Followers: 16.000
16. Hot Mess Mom
The Story:
These Mommy Bloggers get funnier and funnier. Here is one mother who likes to say things as they are: the Hot Mess Mom. he has named her Husband Seven, which kind of reminds me of Agent 007 (you know, James Bond) and her children Number one, Number Two and Number three. One would be inclined to think that she has named them this way to protect their identity, but it seems that she really enjoys calling them the same way in real life. I can’t believe I didn’t find Hot Mess Mom earlier, but I am really happy to discover it. She has one hell of a personality, unfortunately I am still trying to catch up to the latest posts.
The Blog:
In a recent post, the Hot Mess Mom said that she doesn’t know exactly what type of “business” she is running. Is it a place to sell her merchandise (she has created some interesting items that you can buy), is it a mommy blog, is it a digital journal? What is it? Truth be told, the blog is extremely unique so it could probably not fit into any category described above. What you should know about it is that the posts are excellent. She talks about the things that happen but most mothers are too afraid to voice. She is hilarious and sarcastic, but there are also times when she can make you sob. Her personality is like no other. She is a Trashy Oprah (as someone said in the comments), so go ahead and give her a good read. You will be delighted.
Blog Metrics
P.R.: 3
D.A.: 36
Alexa Rank: 951,652
Social Metrics:
Facebook Followers: 108.400 fans
Twitter Followers: 1840 followers
17. Jolly Mom
Piera Jolly is the woman behind Jolly Mom. She says that although she may not always be “jolly”, she at least tries to be. Her positive outlook on life has inspired numerous mothers and female bloggers everywhere. This incredible woman enjoys the simple things in life: a good cup of coffee, ice cream or Coke Zero. Strangely enough, her husband, Mike, also loves Coke Zero. Their love story is one that stroke at my heartstrings mainly because I am a strong believer in friendship as the fuel of love and lifetime relationships. I also share her mom’s opinion, that she really won the lotto with Mike.
“She’s right. Mike is kind and patient and funny and he gets me. He is everything to me. “
Love stories aside, Jolly is the mother of two, as she likes to say. Her first “baby” is Aries, the chocolate Labrador, and the second one is Lucas, a precious baby boy who is the spitting image of his father. Sometime in 2012, the unexpected happened: the family found out that they will have a “third” child, a little baby girl called Amelia Marie.
The Blog:
Jolly Mom started out as a place to put photos of her son, but it did not take long for Jolly to be enthralled by the blogging world. She sees the blogosphere as a place where she can connect with like-minded mothers, give advice and share her experiences. As a matter of fact, some of her blogging friends turned into real life amigos. I must say that Jolly Mom is one of the best looking mommy blogs I have seen so far. It has a neat and simple design, and the categories are easily navigable.
This mommy blogger has broken down her articles into 8 major categories (I will not be including the blogging category which is pretty much empty, and the free printables). She writes with practicality in mind, and from her blog you can find out how to craft great looking home decorations and stuff for your kids, where to travel, how to educate and connect with children etc. There is also a Reviews category which I strongly suggest that you check out.
“My biggest hope is that I can inspire other moms like so many of you have inspired me. Come join me in living an inspired life.”
Blog Metrics:
D.A.: 50
P.R.: 0
Alexa Rank: 556,421
Social Metrics:
Twitter: 12.500 followers
Facebook: aprox. 2000 fans
Pinterest: 1100 followers
18. Obviously Marvelous
The Story:
Marcie is a 30-something year old mother, wife and owner of Obviously Marvelous, a lifestyle blog that focuses on family life. Oh, and did I mention that she has some epic looking tattoos?(she’s done it all!) She seems to me like one of the most accomplished women in the world, and it is probably her three wonderful children that brought her so much joy. Marcie actually says that she has waited, tried and yearned for them. Not only have they shown her what real unconditional love is, but they are such completely different personalities that it is impossible for life to ever become boring. Makenna Ann, her first born is a princess, a dreamer, and a strong-willed young girl. Maddox Joy, aged seven, has an pure and innocent heart, and James Eric is her husband’s identical twin. Together they spent every day of their life!
The Blog:
Now that we know who MARcie is, let’s see what we can learn from her. Obviously Marvelous is basically a lifestyle blog, from which you can learn everything about everything. We have the generic family, home, entertainment, fashion, health, and food categories, and then we also have a Reviews & Giveaways category that is particularly popular. (as are all giveaways). As far as writing style goes, Mar likes to keep it short, and we love this about it. No time spent on useless blabber, when you can get all the information you need super fast.
Make sure you also check out her 30 day challenge if you want to learn more about her.
D.A.: 44
P.R.: 0
Alexa Rank: 22,347 !!! (that’s amazing)
Social Metrics:
Twitter: 6.900 followers
Facebook: 5.600 fans
4800 subscribers
19. Double Duty Mommy
The Story:
Number 19 on our list is yet another brilliant mommy blog, owned by a truly amazing woman: Jennifer. Not only is she successfully raising two girls: Makenna, the polite 8 year old, and Kendall, the blue-eyed blonde-haired angel, but she has also had an incredible career. (I must confess that Kendall has the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen, the sort of eyes that say I can see your soul.) Anyway, Jennifer used to be a spokesperson for Kolcraft, Excedrin Migraine and U by Kotex in the past, but she has officially become a stay-at-home mom.
Update: After browsing through her instagram photos, I just found out that Jennifer will be having a third child, a boy. She has made the announcement in a recent post. Check it out here. (Congratz!)
The Blog:
Jennifer has a lot of experience with PR companies, brands and marketing, and she has decided to share it with us. A long time ago she became a stay-at-home mom, and her blog focuses on two things: to connect with readers through personal and parenting posts, and to provide information about different products (reviews and giveaways).
I have worked with hundreds of PR companies and brands to connect my readers with some truly great products. My goal is to provide the best of the best to my readers whether it’s baby items, clothing, house hold products, hotels, or deals.
I would definitely trust Jennifer’s opinions if I were a mother, not only because she is writing her reviews on a personal blog (= no hidden motives), but also because she has experience in the field, so her opinion doesn’t rely solely on her own taste. Her articles are usually light and short, which means you will be saving time while learning new things.
Blog Metrics:
P.R.: 2
D.A.: 42
Alexa Rank: 66.588
Social Metrics
Facebook: aprox 7000 fans
Twitter: 8800
Pinterest: 1500
20. Snarky Mommy
The Story:
Certain introductions can simply not be beaten, and whatever I would write would not compare with the brilliant words that Amy wrote herself. So here is the best About page that I have read so far:
“I am Amy S. When I got married, I was already an Amy S. Then I married Josh S. and after much deliberation and gnashing of the teeth, changed my name. Legally, I am Amy S.S. Which sounds all feminist and empowering, but really just makes my initials ASS. We have a son, Jackson, who was born in February 2006; a daughter, Emily, who joined us in January 2008; and a daughter, Maeven, who burst onto the scene in December 2009. I am the Queen of the Incompetent Cervix, which means my cervix wants to expel babies in the second trimester.”
The Blog:
As you can probably imagine, Amy is hilarious. I am a complete sucker for snarky writing, and this blog completely enchanted me. It is one of those blogs where you forget about the time, laugh for hours, and still learn something in the end. There are no categories, just a seemingly infinite list of random mumblings that will make you tear with laughter. I don’t want to tell you more, but here is one of her best articles ever: Gimme a V: Part 2.
Blog Metrics:
P.R. : 3
D.A. : 42
Alexa Rank: 1,137,798
Social Metrics:
Facebook: aprox. 1700 fans
Twitter: aprox 1500 fans