Today’s Magnificent Mom brings us TV, celebrities and shenanigans from her headquarters in sunny Florida. Amanda Austin tells us what’s up on her site, It’s Blogworthy.
If these questions seem random it’s because they absolutely are. When you’re done listening to what Amanda has to say here, click over to It’s Blogworthy and say hi.
How do you know what’s truly blogworthy?
If I see something and feel giddy as a result, that thing is blogworthy. If I watch a TV show and text my friends more than once with ridiculous quotes from that show (i.e. “The eyes are the nipples of the face” – My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding), it’s blogworthy. Really, though, the essence of It’s Blogworthy is finding the sublimely ridiculous in everyday life. Everything has a story if we look close enough.
What is it about Sonic’s lemonberry slushies that makes them so delicious?
I don’t know. It’s either the real strawberries and lemons or the fact it has enough sugar to send a small child into shock. It’s probably a combination of the two (and they are only a dollar for a large one, so it appeals to my cheapness.)
On a scale of 1-10 how glorious is the flora and fauna at your new office?
Oh, gosh, at least an eight. I would give it a 10, but I walk by it so early in the morning, it’s hard to appreciate how gorgeous it is. Plus, there are way too many med and nursing students milling around. I mean honestly, I understand it’s an 8 a.m. class and you just woke up five minutes ago, but I have a job to get to, so let’s get to getting’, kids. I love to stop and smell the flowers, but only after 11 a.m.
What made you first want to blog?
I love to laugh and I love to make other people laugh. That was the main motivator for blogging in the beginning. Since then, I realize what a wonderful community is out there in the blogosphere, and I’ve met some amazing people. I still gravitate toward things that make me laugh, but blogging has become so much more to me over the years.
You mention that people in West Virginia wear shoes. Are these real shoes or is that a metaphor for something else?
Real, honest-to-God shoes. For some reason, West Virginias have a stereotype of not enjoying shoes – that’s not true for me and I have a whole closet of heels to prove it. However, I’m currently not wearing shoes under my desk at work while I’m typing this, so maybe there is something to that stereotype.
If a litter box is your mortal enemy why do you have four cats?
Oh, wonderful question! I’ve never thought about it. Hm. Well, I like the sound of cats purring and also love when they trick you into taking a couch nap. I think those things outweigh my hatred of litter. My true abhorrence of litter boxes developed after nine glorious months of not being allowed to change the litter while I was pregnant. I still try to get out of it, but my husband is too smart for me.
Speaking as a social media expert, what one or two things could the average blogger (A.K.A. “Me”) do to up their game?
Learn SEO. It’s not rocket science and if you’re really concerned about your stats, it’s a great way to expand your skill-set while seeing an increase in traffic. Also, Twitter. I have been too busy lately to sit and chat on Twitter like I used to, but it’s the single best channel I’ve found to grow my following, meet bloggers, get support and promote my posts. Using Twitter Lists to organize the people I’m following has been helpful, too. I have a whole list of celebrity gossip/news accounts and that’s what I use for my blog. It’s great for so many reasons, and if you’re serious about blogging, jump into Twitter.
The Bachelorette started up again last night. Any other mock-worthy shows this summer?
If you haven’t watched My Big Fat American Wedding, you have to. Like, right now, stop reading this and schedule your DVR. Sister Wives is back on TLC and they are promo-ing trouble in paradise for Cody Brown and his four wives and 17 children (mercy….) Besides that, America’s Got Talent is back with Howard Stern as a judge, so I’m sure there will be some inappropriate things going on there. Summer is the queen of trashy television.
Do you have to take the SAT to get into Blogworthy U? What’s the mascot?
No way. We accept anybody. If you can type on the computer, you can attend It’s Blogworthy U. My mascot the SeaCat: The face of Ryan Seacrest with the body of a cat.
Last summer I drove through West Virginia and saw a sign saying “West Virginia High Tech Corridor” yet I saw no Radio Shack. What constitutes “high tech” in WV?
You know those great big satellite dishes from the 1980s that look like a chair from Ikea, except smaller and dirtier? That’s high-tech. No Radio Shacks, but the electronics department at Walmart is bangin’.
Besides the weekly contribution to the J.R. Reed Show is there anything new for It’s Blogworthy?
Yes, I’m planning a new, unnamed series this summer where I ask bloggers questions about their lives, but force them to put them in the context of a reality TV show. It should be embarrassingly awesome.
Anything I forgot?
Celebrity Roundup. Friday. Be there.
How can you pass up embarrassingly awesome? I can’t. When you’re finished poking around here, head over to It’sBlogworthy.com and tell her I sent you.
There is more great stuff this week including the J.R. Reed Show, a guest post from Leila over at Dont Speak Whinese.
I love it! Thanks so much for hosting me here…your questions made me giggle!