If you are looking for Menu Plan Monday, it is here or scroll past this post.

First of all I want to say thank you to all of you that stopped by with suggestions to my blog feed addiction. I appreciate all of the advice I received. Over the weekend I carefully weeded through my Bloglines and got my feeds down to a respectable 57!! It wasn’t easy, I enjoyed every single one for different reasons, but the weight that has been lifted off my shoulders is huge!

You see it wasn’t just the unread blogs that were stressing me out, it was all the posts marked “keep new”. This tiny little box is what eventually sent me over the edge. As I would read through Bloglines I would find myself clicking this “keep new” box either to go back and fully read the post later if it looked interesting or so I could come back to it to leave a comment. Except by the time I went back there would be more new posts and then more new posts which all left me so far behind I didn’t know if I was coming or going. In the back of my mind I would know these posts were there and I would feel anxious everytime I opened Bloglines. Do you know what this is called?

After considering my options, I realized it wasn’t enough for me just to reduce the number of blogs I read but I also needed to reduce my mental and visual clutter. To me, Bloglines provided both and so for that reason, Bloglines and I are parting company. I will still keep my blog feeds there for when I’m away from home and want to keep up with the blogs but while I’m at home I will go back to using my Favorites folder. I’ve got it categorized as follows…..Blog Favorites, New Blogs to Review, Organizing Blogs and Weekly Reads.

Today it was like a breath of fresh air going through my blogs listed in my favorites and seeing each of your sites. I miss feeling the essence of who you are through your blog design. I found Bloglines to be much like talking on the phone….visiting without really seeing your “face”. I hate talking on the phone, I would must rather visit in person. So from now on this is what I’m going to do. This is my new system. Doesn’t mean that I won’t change my mind at some point in the future, but for now this feels right and I can feel the tension disappearing already. I’m also not saying you should all give up on Bloglines. I happen to know it works well for many of you. As is the way with organizing, each person needs to develop the system that works best for them.

Since I’m on the topic of blogging anyway, I decided I might as well participate in the blogging meme Chilihead is hosting. At the risk of this already being too long of a post, I’ll try to keep it short.

How did you start blogging?

I started blogging as a way to connect with other moms. I was on maternity leave and feeling isolated. I thought it would be fun. It certainly has been that but so much more as well.

Did you intend to be a blog w/a following? If so, how did you go about it?

No I didn’t expect anyone would read my blog except maybe family and friends. However the more blogs I read and commented on the more readers came my way. Also participating in WFMW helped bring readers my way as well. Then one day a girlfriend suggestion I post my menu plan each week and add a Mr. Linky for others to play along. I had no idea that MPM would become as big as it has. I’ve found so many great blogs myself this way which could help explain the 241 feeds I had in Bloglines! It’s the interaction with others that keeps me going.

What do you hope to achieve or accomplish with your blog? Have you been successful? If not, do you have a plan to achieve those goals?

I hope that my passion for organizing will contribute to others becoming “hooked” along with me. Sharing with others and having others share with me allows me plenty of opportunity for my own needed “fix”. I love when people tell me they are inspired after reading my blog to get organized. That makes me very very happy.

Has the focus of your blog changed since you started blogging? How?

No the focus of my blog has always been organizing although I’m definitely more confident now in my writing than I was when I first started.

What do you know now that you wish you’d known when you started?

How addicted I was going to get to the whole thing….lol.

Do you make money with your blog?

I do make some money through the ads in my sidebar. Unfortunately it’s not enough to pay my grocery bill but I’m working on it. I would love to be invited to participate in Blogads….hint, hint.

Does your immediate or extended family know about your blog? If so, do they read it? If not, why?

Yes I believe my entire family reads my blog but none of them blog themselves. My hubbie only occassionally reads it….he finds it highly amusing that I refer to my blogging friends as great pals that I would definitely meet in real life if I ever had the opportunity.

What two pieces of advice would you give to a new blogger?

1. Set a timer for yourself when blogging, it is amazing how fast time can get away from you!
2. Invest in a great blog design that’s full of your personality. First impressions are important!

If you’d like to participate as well go ahead and then link up over at Chiliheads.