Follower of the Month: JAM

Each month, I feature one of my followers as the "Follower of the Month". This gives me a chance to get to know my readers a little better. These posts go up the first Saturday of the month.

This month's follower is Leslie, better known as JAM, from JAM's Own Reality. JAM's blog is written in a short and sweet manner that makes you feel like you're having a conversation with a friend. She loves to gossip about celebrities and tell stories about her kids. Her adorable nephews often make an appearance in her blog as well. Above all, JAM is the life of the party over at VGNO.

So, pour yourself a drink and get to know JAM:

1. What’s your name?

My real name is Leslie but I’m also known in the blog world at JAM (short for Just A Mom). I’ll answer to both!

2. Tell us a little about you.

I’ve been married to my best friend for 29 years. We’ve got two kids. A daughter who is 25 and a son who just turned 13. Having them born over a decade apart has made it kind of like raising two “only” children. My son was just starting kindergarten when my daughter left for college. My husband has his own business and I help him at his office with bookkeeping. It’s just enough to keep me busy when I’m not blogging!

3. When did you start blogging and why?

I just celebrated my two year Blogiversary last month.

Back in 2008, my sister told me that she was going to start a blog. I had no idea what a “blog” was. I went to the library, checked out a book called “The It Girl’s Guide to Blogging With Moxie”. I read it, and the rest is history…

4. Tell us a little bit about your blog.

My blog is called “JAM’s Own Reality”. It’s my own day to day happenings. I enjoy documenting what’s going on in my life. I’ll throw in some reviews and giveaways every once in a while. Just because I think they are fun to do and I’ve met some really great bloggers that way.

I live in a beautiful area of Northern California. In less than a two hour drive I can be anywhere from the gorgeous vineyards of Napa Valley, to shopping and dining in San Francisco’s Union Square to walking along the beautiful beaches of Monterey. And when I go, I like to bring my blog readers along for the ride.

5. Has blogging changed your outlook on life at all?

It has reminded and reinforced my feelings that as women we are more alike than we are different. I have found through blogging that age, location or life’s circumstances do not matter, we are a wonderful support system for each other.

6. Link us to 1 - 3 of your favorite posts from your own blog(s)

I think my favorite blog post is always my last blog post! But I’ll go ahead and pick out three that were kind of fun to do and my readers seemed to enjoy.

VGNO. Virtual Daydreaming (and everyone’s invited!)

The Streets Of San Francisco

Celebrating my 2^nd year Blogiversary

7. Link us to 1 - 3 of your favorite fellow bloggers

NieNie Dialogues

Stephanie Nielson inspires me every day. She is facing some unimaginable difficulties right now, but with the love of her family and her incredible spirit, she is getting through it one day at a time. And she is taking us with her on that journey.

The Tales of a Fairy Grandmother

A lot of times, finding a blog that you enjoy is just about finding another blogger who you can relate to. Someone you like checking in with and seeing how they are doing. Jamie is one of those bloggers. She’s an Arizona mom/grandmother who enjoys being with her husband and family. She’s one of those bloggers who I wished was my next door neighbor!

The Ungourmet

Kim calls her blog the Ungourmet, but it’s definitely Gourmet in my book! This blog is a truly scrumptious one. I’m not much of a cook, but her recipes are always easy to follow and delicious. She always accompanies her recipes with beautiful pictures that make your mouth water just looking at them.

Kim is another one of those bloggers who I wished lived next door to me. (Actually I think my life would be complete if I had Jamie living on one side of me and Kim on the other!)

8. How did you come to be a follower of mine and why do you follow me?

I met you on February 27, 2009. Hahaha, does it amaze you that I know that exact date? It’s another reason I love blogging. You can look back at old posts and it helps jog your memory!

You and I had both linked up to Ann’s Virtual Girl’s Night Out Blog Carnival. You stopped by and commented on my “VGNO. Virtual Daydreaming” post that is linked above in #6. We were both blog hopping and I met you and Emma that night!

I follow you because I like to follow all of my VGNO girlfriends! I know you have been through some difficult times in the last few years and I like to check in with you and see how you are doing. I was so happy to see that your word for this year was “Thrive”. You have taught me that sometimes life throws some pretty difficult stuff our way. And it is our incredible inner spirit that keeps us going and helps us not only to survive the difficulties, but to THRIVE despite them!

9. What, if anything, have you gained from reading from my blog?

I am reminded how fragile life can be. How we should never take any one of our days for granted or the people that are in it. I have seen how you have been working through your grief over the last year. I admire your strength.

10. Tell me the truth, you're going to brag to all your bloggy friends that you were my follower of the month, aren't you? ;)

Heck yeah, come on over. I’m already talking about you!

~*~*~

Thank you for being my Follower of the Month, JAM! I enjoyed getting to know you a little bit more and I hope you had fun.

Please head on over to JAM's blog and say hello!

If you are visiting here from JAM's blog, please leave a comment to let me know you were here, and so I can come meet you too!