Tag Archives: blogs

Blog Notes: TV, Personal Finance, Style & Home Remedies

roundup9Blog Notes is a weekly helping of blogs recently reviewed on PR Newswire for Bloggers. Would you like your blog reviewed? Tweet PR Newswire media relations manager Christine Cube at @PRN4Bloggers.

TV Fanatic is a big source for TV news, reviews, spoilers, photos, and information. “Our team of writers and programmers work around the clock to bring readers the latest stories, pics and quotes from the most popular shows on the air,” says the blog. TV Fanatic covers spoilers, exclusives, clips, casting news, and caption contests. Content is overseen by editor-in-chief Matt Richenthal, whose favorite shows include Lost, Modern Family, Friday Night Lights, and Dexter. TV Fanatic is owned and operated by Mediavine Inc., an Internet marketing company that specializes in entertainment-themed sites. It also has 866K likes on Facebook. Read the full review on PR Newswire for Bloggers here.

The word “oblivious” in the name of the financial blog Oblivious Investor might sound like a bad thing. This might imply a lack of knowledge or awareness. But in this blog, being oblivious is not a bad thing at all. The author’s goal is to direct readers’ attention away from day-to-day obsessions of the market. Be oblivious to that, and you’ll be ok. Additionally, if you diversify your portfolio and minimize costs, you’ll be even better off. The Oblivious Investor is written by Mike Piper. He’s married and lives in St. Louis. Read the full review here.

Stylonylon is the whimsical personal style, fashion and lifestyle blog of London freelancer Julia Rebaudo. Rebaudo has written for different media outlets, including Time Out, Elle and The Guardian. She says her blog is a “mixture of beautiful things that have caught my eye, interviews, occasional fashion news (new collections, trend & outfit collages, various edits), outfit posts, photography chat and Instagram pics” with an east London focus. It’s a fairly young blog, started last spring 2012. Already, Stylonylon has built quite a following with roughly 10,000 pageviews monthly, up from 1,000 pageviews just last October. Read the full review here.

fiveRemedies.com is dedicated to helping folks heal naturally with simple home remedies. It’s an interesting site, and it covers a lot of territory. In addition to remedies, other content includes organic living, herbal remedies, alternative medicines, homeopathy, naturopathy, and other forms of alternative and complementary medication. FiveRemedies.com is an online media firm owned by GoodWebDomains. There are no bylines or names attached to the extensive write ups on health issues. But it’s pretty cool what the site has to say about various ailments. Here’s one that I found interesting: Natural remedies for muscle strain and sprain. Read the full review here.

Christine Cube is a media relations manager with PR Newswire and freelance writer. You can follow her at @cpcube or see what’s happening over at @PRN4Bloggers.

Blog Notes: Lifestyle, Gardening, Personal Finance & Travel

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The Bold Blend is written by freelance writer and blogger Barbara Davis, who admits she’s a hopeless coffee addict. Davis is wife to “Mr. Coffee” and mother of two young children (nicknamed Latte and Half-Caff), and she writes about literally everything. The Bold Blend covers a big variety of lifestyle items, including fitness, food, favorite things and product reviews under “fabulous finds.” The blog’s tagline is “living a life full of flavor.” I especially enjoyed the recipes under the food section. Bacon meatloaf? Now that’s something I’m definitely going to have to make at home. Read the full review from PR Newswire for Bloggers here.

As the temperature continues its downward plummet, I find cleaning my flower beds both sad and exciting. Sad because of the obvious — the growing season is over and everything’s turning brown. Exciting because I know what’s to come — I know the bulbs and plants I’ve tucked under that soil and mulch will spring into something heavenly in a few months. A blog like Garden Smackdown keeps me focused on the stuff to look forward to. And, author and blogger Andrew Keys writes in a way that’s real and conversational. What’s not to love? Read the full review here.

MyBankTracker is a personal finance blog dedicated to the consumer. It’s written by a team of researchers and writers and was established in 2008, during the height of the economic downturn. “MyBankTracker fills a pressing need for an accurate, transparent and consistent source of banking information,” the blog says. “Our motto, ‘Build your finances, Rebuild the world,’ describes our coverage of an array of topics that affect our financial lives, from banking fees to finance technology to planning for retirement.” Read the full review here.

Travel. It’s something everyone says they want to do more of, but the planning sometimes can be daunting. Blogger Gilad Fili Feldman, an expat in Hong Kong who’s working toward his PhD in management and social psychology, spends his off time globetrotting. Fili follows his passion for travel and blogs about it in Fili’s World Travel. Through his writing, readers get to see far away places and experience different cultures. Mind you, Fili’s not just any travel writer. As a Washington, DC native, I found his itinerary and travel to DC incredibly fascinating. He covered a lot of ground in just five days at the end of 2011. Read the full review here.

Christine Cube is a media relations manager for PR Newswire and freelance writer. You can follow her @cpcube.

Blog Notes: Celebrating Black History Month

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In observance of February’s Black History Month, PR Newswire’s multicultural team profiled some notable blogs. We took a close look at a number of diverse African-American blogs that cover a range of topics, from urban automobiles and travel adventures to beauty and relationships.

BrownGirlsFly is a  self-proclaimed “melanin-infused perspective on travel.” It details the travel adventures of sisters Chelle and Crystal, who worship the chance to experience as many new languages and cultures as they can firsthand. They’ve produced the blog with hopes to “encourage as many people as possible to leave their comfort zones and see the world for themselves.” Read the full review from PR Newswire for Bloggers here.

If you’ve got a great new product for women of color that needs a review, you should consider pitching Gregorie Guillaume, founder of HUEKNEWIT. HUEKNEWIT is a beauty, hair, and skin care blog, highlighting the latest in trends and gifts. It also features a weekly e-newsletter and a “Your Man” section for guys who could use a little help with their fashion or beauty regimen. Read the full review here.

A Black Girl’s Guide to Weight Loss is an extremely popular blog with 108,000+ likes on Facebook, more than 8,000 Twitter followers, and 123,000 email subscribers. It appears many want to know the secret of how Erika Nicole Kendall went from weighing 330 pounds to becoming a personal trainer. Read the full review here.

MadameNoire is an upscale site geared toward black women. Since 2007, MadameNoire has built a solid following, and on Facebook, the site has garnered around 15,000 followers.  Not too shabby. Blog topics include business, love, entertainment, hair, beauty, health and living.  MadameNoire has an edgy yet affectionate tone. It’s clearly geared toward strong, independent women as video sections like “Mommy in Chief” and “She’s the Boss” can attest. Read the full review here.

Welcome to the candy shop of urban automobiles, Automotive Rhythms. Founded by Kitmatni D Rawlins in 2002, Automotive Rhythms hooks up the urban car buying market to manufacturers.   The site is testament to living the lifestyle with sections on fashion, sports and entertainment, and celebrity auto, to name a few. The site also features auto safety, auto care, information on auto shows and reviews. Read the full review here.

Dalia Paratore is PR Newswire’s director of Multicultural Products and Services.

Blog Notes: Random Edition

As you might imagine, I read a lot of blogs. It’s literally my job to find and promote the best blogs out there. And while most of the blogs I profile fit nicely into one category or another, often times there is an overflow of quality sites that don’t necessarily fit into one bundle. That”s not to say they’re not worth reading! They are worth it. But, for whatever reason, they haven’t been profiled here… yet. So with that in mind, I’d like to take a brief tour through some random and also awesome blogs.

August, Interrupted is the story of one brave woman’s fight with cancer. It has all the resolve, courage and inspiration you might expect from such a blog. But, what you might be surprised to find on this blog is humor. But, you’ll certainly find a lot of it. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for stories on oncology and living with cancer. I’d also be prepared to be moved to tears. I was. Check out the full review here.

Bike Gang! is the online home for stories relevant to biking, reviews of products, cool pictures and just about everything else two-wheeled. They also review ‘real people’s bikes’ as well as promote information on best practices for road safety. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for anything bike related. I understand they’re friendly to product reviews, too. Check out the full review here.

The Daily is the first “newspapers” for the digital age. It came about with the advent of the tablet reader and it “delivers” once a day. But, unlike most print publications, it updates constantly. But, like most newspapers, it covers just about everything you’d want to know about. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for stories on any topic. They seem to cover it all. Check out the full review here.

ONA Issues is a blog dedicated to the growing cadre of digital journalists. Not surprisingly, this is a growing concern. The world is going digital and so, too, is the news. But, that doesn’t mean that the rigorous ethics of journalism should go the way of the printed paper. This blog is here to keep those standards alive. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for anything to do with social media and journalism. Check out the full review here.

Four Pins is a fashion blog with a  great sense of humor. But, don’t get it twisted. They also have a very good sense of fashion. In fact, I might be checking this site before I go fall clothes shopping. But, this is a blog I’d follow even if I didn’t have clothes to buy. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for stories not just about fashion, but about where fashion intersects with other parts of life. Check out the full review here.

That’s all for now. In the meantime, if there’s a blog I should be reviewing, drop me a line or a note in the comments, and I’ll take a look. Until next time…

Author Tom Hynes is PR Newswire’s manager of blogger relations. And as you may have guessed, he has a twitter account.

Fitness Blogs: Let’s Get Physical!

 

This week my focus is on fitness blogs. And, truthfully, fitness should be everyone’s focus every week. As far as I know, these are the only bodies we get. Treating them well through exercise and care should be everyone’s priority. It stands to reason that other parts of our lives will probably see improvement as a result. Commuting can become easier. Anxiety can be decreased. Weights can even be lifted well into our golden years. So with that in mind, let’s tighten our laces, take a few deep breaths and enjoy this brief tour through some of the best fitness blogs I’ve seen lately.

Tight Laces in 50 Places is the story of one (possibly insane) man’s quest to run a half marathon in all 50 states.  He likes to jog. He wants to see every state in the Union. This is his blog. Call him crazy. (I did.) But, don’t say that it’s not an impressive effort. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for anything that sits at the intersection of jogging and travel. Check out the full review here.

Daily Cup of Yoga is the story of a man learning the daily practice of yoga. And just to be clear, he really began from nothing, having really never tried it only a few years back. Today, he’s not only practiced yoga relentlessly, he’s also read and collected just about everything written on the subject. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for stories surrounding yoga, as well as any products that come along with it. Check out the full review here.

Seacoast Fitness Daly is a blog dedicated to healthy living in coastal New Hampshire, specifically Portsmouth.  But, don’t get it wrong. This site extends way beyond the confines of this one town. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for stories that have to do with exercise. Anything to do with road races, triathlons or other sporting events in New England would probably also work. Check out the full review here.

High Heels & Two Wheels is not only the name of this blog, it’s also what this blogger can be seen sporting most days. That is to say, just because she’s traded in the four wheels of her car for the two wheels of her bicycle, does NOT mean that she’s making her wardrobe suffer. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for stories surrounding biking and fashion. Check out the full review here.

Stumptuous is not technically a women’s weightlifting blog. It’s technically gender neutral. And while I can safely say that a man can also find this blog helpful, it’s definitely geared toward the fairer gender. It’s also worth mentioning that this blog is hilarious. What’s more, it’s a great resource for anyone who wants to feel their best. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for stories on weightlifting. Check out the full review here.

That’s all for now. In the meantime, if there’s a blog I should be reviewing, drop me a line or a note in the comments, and I’ll take a look. Until next time…

Author Tom Hynes is PR Newswire’s manager of blogger relations. And as you may have guessed, he has a twitter account.

Transportation Blogs: Going Places

This week my focus is on transportation blogs. I like to make a big deal out of the fact that I bike to work. But, there’s also a metrocard in my pocket. Ditto a zipcar membership card. Truthfully, everyone benefits from a variety of transportation alternatives, just as everyone will benefit from continued innovation in the sector.  Things are by no means perfect. There is still a tremendous amount of work to be done. Luckily, there are a lot of great blogs on which to read all about those efforts. So with that in mind, let’s take a look at our maps, remember our transfers and enjoy this brief tour through some of the best transportation blogs I’ve seen lately.

The Transport Politic is a great resource if, like me, you’re a big transit nerd. It’s probably also enjoyable if you’re not. (But, how would I know?) The site is a great resource for what’s coming in the world of mass transportation, but also a great place to discover what’s already in place. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for stories surrounding transit policy. Anything to do with government funding and infrastructure might also work. Check out the full review here.

I particularly like the blog Bike Commuters, because I am one.  That’s how I get to work. It’s how I get most places. This blog is a great resource for all the products and know-how any bike commuter (or aspiring bike commuter) could ever need. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for stories surrounding bike commuting. Products and gear related to biking would probably work, too. Check out the full review here.

The Transit Wire is a blog dedicated to bringing information on transportation projects throughout the world. One great thing about this blog is that they don’t necessarily espouse any particular opinions. Rather, they provide information, and they provide a great deal of it. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for stories on mass transportation systems and, specifically, the user experience therein. Check out the full review here.

Human Transit is a personal blog written by a bona fide transit professional. This isn’t about forcing the reader to share his values, however. This is about providing perspective and clarity on a pretty vital issue. All of this is done by citing various examples and case studies from all around the world. And it is done well.  If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for stories around specific transit plans. Stories that highlight how transportation affects city life would probably also work. Check out the full review here.

Half Mile Circles refers to the distance most people are willing to walk before opting for an automobile. This blog maintains that cities and the people who plan them ought to put as much important and cool stuff in that radius as possible. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for anything to do with transportation in urban settings. Stories surrounding the medical benefits of walking might also work. Check out the full review here.

That’s all for now. In the meantime, if there’s a blog I should be reviewing, drop me a line or a note in the comments, and I’ll take a look. Until next time…

Author Tom Hynes is PR Newswire’s manager of blogger relations. And as you may have guessed, he has a twitter3030 account.

Beverage Blogs: Bottoms Up!

This week my focus is on beverage blogs. Like most of you, I drink beverages every single day. They are LITERALLY necessary to my existence, or at least water is. But, they’re also delicious, invigorating and complex.  What’s more, beverages are big business.  After all, people are always going to need something to drink. Whether it’s a craft beer or a Colombian coffee, thirsts will probably never be fully quenched. So with that in mind, let’s grab some cups, pour a drink of our choice, and enjoy this brief roundup of some of the best beverage blogs I’ve seen lately.

Alcademics is more than likely the best liquor blog out there. Put another way, it’s top shelf. Camper English is an authority on the subject and every post showcases his unique perspective and unmatched knowledge. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for stories around liquor or spirits. Stories around specific cocktails will work, but so too will pieces about the liquor industry as a whole. Check out the full review here.

Dr. Vino is actually a doctor. He has a Ph. D. He’s also an expert on wine. He’s written a couple of books on the subject, not to mention a LOT of blog posts. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for anything to do with wine and the industry surrounding it. Stories that also have to do with international affairs and economics might work here, too. Check out the full review here.

Blog About Beer is just what it sounds like. What you might not be able to glean from the name is the excitement, enthusiasm and all around love for all things hops, barley, water and wheat that this blog exudes. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for stories about craft beers. Any product that helps individuals brew their own beers at home might also work. Check out the full review here.

Dear Coffee, I Love You is a blog dedicated to the popular caffeinated beverage, yes. But, it’s a lot more than that. It’s also a blog about the products that accompany cups of joe. It’s also about the distance people will travel to sample great coffee. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for stories that intersect coffee with either travel, design or humor. Check out the full review here.

BevReview.com is a blog dedicated to the beverage industry. If there’s a new flavor, a new brand or even a new ingredient, you’ll read about it here. But the site is by no means flat. This blog also has a sense of humor, as well as a sense of the industry’s historical context.  If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for stories that deal with non-alcoholic beverages. Stories about individual products will work. But, so will stories about the larger market in general. Check out the full review here.

That’s all for now. In the meantime, if there’s a blog I should be reviewing, drop me a line or a note in the comments, and I’ll take a look. Until next time…

Author Tom Hynes is PR Newswire’s manager of blogger relations. And as you may have guessed, he has a twitter30 account.

Design Blog: Everything In Its Right Place

This week my focus is on design blogs. Thoughtful design is more than just good-looking. It’s more than just cool. It can shape the way we live our lives. It can promote tranquility and peace of mind. It often can extend to our homes, our travel, our food and even our family life. It can be professionally done, or it can be done yourself. And it doesn’t have to cost a fortune either. So with that in mind, let’s draw up some plans, consider the space, and enjoy this brief tour through some of the best design blogs I’ve seen lately.

The Frugal Materialist proves that you can have an expensive look to your living space without actually spending too much money. Focusing on creativity, ingenuity and good, old-fashioned bargains, this blog shows tons of inspiring projects that will make your house beautiful, while leaving your bank account intact.  If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for stories that showcase home design ideas with a focus on frugality and do it yourself. Check out the full review here.

Chaotically Creative is a blog written by a mother and daughter team, who recognize that families make you busy. At times, things can be hectic. But, it doesn’t mean our lives can’t have order as well as creativity. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for home design projects that don’t take too much time. Stories that also intersect with mothers and family might also work. Check out the full review here.

Unconsumption is actually one of my favorite blogs. The site consistently features alternative uses for what might otherwise be considered junk or trash. Furthermore, the site promotes a new way of thinking. Anyone can practice unconsumption. And this site can help show the way. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for economically sustainable design. Anything that inspires creative reuse would probably work here, too. Check out the full review here.

Retro Renovation is a blog focused on mid-century housing design aesthetics.  The thinking is that the modern look isn’t always the best look. And this blog puts that thinking to work in literally every room in the house. Plus, the good news is that as time goes by, only more and more styles become retro! If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for stories that highlight classic housing looks. Check out the full review here.

Cool Hunting probably casts the widest net of all these blogs. It’s a design blog, yes. But, they also cover tech, travel, culture, food, style, art and just about everything else where “cool” design shows up. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for stories that highlight the best of design. Where it happens hardly matters. If it’s good, it will probably show up here. Check out the full review here.

That’s all for now. In the meantime, if there’s a blog I should be reviewing, drop me a line or a note in the comments, and I’ll take a look. Until next time…

Author Tom Hynes is PR Newswire’s manager of blogger relations. And as you may have guessed, he has a twitter303030 account.

Wedding Blogs: Unveiled

This week my focus is on wedding blogs. And, while I have no immediate plans to walk down the aisle myself, I do attend about four or five of these things a year.  People tell me it’s that time of my life. But, more than likely, weddings will always be a part of my life.  They may come in many different shapes and sizes, but they all represent on of our larger cultural institution. And as such, there are a great number of blogs dealing with the subject from a host of different perspectives and points of view.  So with that in mind, let’s cut the cake, reach for that bouquet, and enjoy this brief tour of some of the best wedding blogs I’ve seen.

The Best Gay Wedding Blog Ever! is, well, at the very least the best gay wedding blog I’ve ever seen. The truth is the gay wedding market is only going to grow and grow. Luckily, there are blogs like this one to help guide the way down the aisle. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for stories on same-sex marriages. Stories about marriage in general would probably work, too. Check out the full review here.

The Inspired Bride is a blog for those among us that like to do it our self. The site provides many examples of elegant weddings. But, they also provide the how-to information necessary to recreate it at your own wedding. It’s inspirational, sure. But, it’s also instructional.  If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for stories that center around do-it-yourself weddings. Check out the full review here.

The Budget Savvy Bride believes that weddings can still be fabulous and beautiful without breaking the bank.   In other words, couples can be frugal without looking cheap. With a little creativity, money no longer has to be the determining factor.  If I were to pitch this blog, I’ d look for stories that highlight how couples can save money while planing their weddings. Check out the full review here.

Grooms Advice is a wedding blog geared toward men. I know… That sounds crazy, right? Men take part in most weddings, but I never knew they were given an opinion on how things go down. Well, this informative and funny blog begs to differ. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for wedding stories from the perspective of the groom. Stories about bachelor parties and anything including the word “groomzilla” would probably work, too. Check out the full review here.

Eco-Beautiful Weddings is a blog that believes that a married couple can express their love for one another while still expressing love (and care) for the planet.  Being wasteful isn’t just irresponsible. It’s also unfashionable. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for stories that sit at the intersection of weddings and environmental sustainability. Check out the full review here.

That’s all for now. In the meantime, if there’s a blog I should be reviewing, drop me a line or a note in the comments, and I’ll take a look. Until next time…

Author Tom Hynes is PR Newswire’s manager of blogger relations. And as you may have guessed, he has a twitter account.

Wellness Blogs to Feel Good About

This week my focus is on wellness blogs.  Truthfully, I should probably focus every week on wellness.  Like most people, I try to eat right and exercise regularly. But, like most people, I could probably also stand to spend a little more time on my own upkeep. And this isn’t to say that I need to do more yoga. (Though, certainly that’s a good place to start!) Wellness can extend to every facet of our life. Our jobs, our diets, our commutes, even the way we breathe will all affect the way we feel.  It sounds obvious. Still, it can’t hurt to brush up on what’s being said on the issue. So with that in mind, let’s stretch out our bones, inhales through our nose and enjoy this brief tour through some of the best wellness blogs I’ve seen.

I learned about MindBodyGreen through a yoga instructor. Not surprisingly, this blog writes a lot about the ancient practice. But, really, there is so much more to this blog . Whether it’s diets or relationships or even they way we breathe, this site wants to bring their readers wellness, either on or off the mat. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for stories on meditation, yoga or healthy food options. Check out the full review here.

Corporate Wellness Insights is a blog dedicated to lowering stress levels in the workplace. Whether it’s a chair massage or corporate retreats, these people make a living out of making jobs healthier. And I mean that. This is their blog. But, it’s also what they do for a living.  If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for stories that highlight human resource efforts to increase well-being in the office. Check out the full review here.

Fit B0ttomed Girls is the story of two women who love to stay fit, but who also love to write.  The blog chronicles not only exercise, but also all the other things that go into it. On one post, you can read about new training outfits. And on the next post, you can hear a workout-inspired playlist. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for stories on running. Stories around general fitness and the gear that accompanies it might also work. Check out the full review here.

Ben Does Life is a running blog, sure. But, it’s also an inspiring story of a man who shaved 120 pounds off his body, not to mention the burden of depression. Still, there’s a lot about running (and races and training) on here. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for stories around running, fitness and weight loss. Stories linking exercise to a decrease in anxiety and/or depression might also work. Check out the full review here.

Well+Good may be a blog focused on New York City, but, the insights, tips and wisdom gleaned here can be applied in any city. The site has posts on how to stay healthy and active. There are even posts on cocktails that are actually healthy! If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for stories around exercise or healthy, organic foods in the New York City area. Check out the full review here.

That’s all for now. In the meantime, if there’s a blog I should be reviewing, drop me a line or a note in the comments, and I’ll take a look. Until next time…

Author Tom Hynes is PR Newswire’s manager of blogger relations. And as you may have guessed, he has a twitter account.