Today we are profiling another blogger in the “Day In My Not-So-Hip Life” series!

And this week we are taking a gander into the life of Dumb Mom from Parenting by Dummies.  Now, I want to take this moment to set the record straight about this little lady… she is way smarter than she appears.

Savvy, even.

But I don’t think she wants anyone to know that so shhhhh…..  Keep it between the two of us, k?

Also, she lives near me.  Like, within 10 minutes.  Which is amazing.  Because I love to see her in real life.  Except for the fact that she is gorgeous.  Which makes me hate her at the same time.  Yeah, I’m such a woman like that.

Anyway, here is the coolness that is the life of Dumb Mom:

Tags: a day in my not so hip life, a day in the life of a blogger, dumb mom, parenting by dummies

Hello everyone, I am Dumb Mom (yes, THE Dumb Mom), and I’m here representing the bestes blog eva parenting BY dummies.

I have been an active member of the blogging community since December, 2008, which means I am coming up on my 18 month blog-a-versary.

I have experienced some success with my blog (you know stuff that matters like followers, traffic, comments, Google page rank), but nothing to really write home about (not that I have to since my mother stalks my blog shamelessly).

But, I haven’t gotten to the point where I feel accomplished or truly successful as a blogger (aka the point at which the money begins to roll in).

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t live in Crazy Blogger Delisuionalville so I know that I’m not likely to be the next Dooce (no PPD ravings here) or the next Pioneer Woman (no sexy cowboy hubby either), but you know, I kinda would like to be a respected member of the blogging community.

And, I’m sorta sick of waiting for my content to make it happen for me.

Plus, I don’t know anybody (‘cause you know, blogging, like real life, is a lot about who you know), at least not anybody who likes me wants to let me ride their coattails to the top support my “brand”.

So I came up with a new plan.

A plan to ensure blog-world domination in as little as 6 weeks.

A genius plan really.

To eliminate to competition and make people like me catapult me to the top.

Buying blogs!

That’s right people, B-U-Y-I-N-G them.

I figured that one of the main obstacles standing in the way of my become-a-popular-blogger-so-people-will-pay-me plan is that the market is becoming a bit saturated.

It’s getting too hard to have a blog.

Now you have to worry about annoyingly time consuming junk like personal branding, SEO, building a blog community, and other stuff I’ll let you know about when I figure out what it is.

And.  You need a niche.

A niche that is supported by good content.

I don’t have a niche (unless you call being a suckit mom who is strangely funny a niche), or time to think about my brand, or brains to master SEO.

So, I’m taking the easy way out…MONEY.

It may not be able to buy you love (which I’m not sure I agree with) but it can buy you blogs, because everyone needs it and most of us like it (which is more than I can say for my blog).

So the other night when I sat down to do my figuring, I figured that what I need to do is get some cash, find some in-the-market-for-some-cash bloggers, and give it to them to to go away let me be the creative director on their sites.

Basically they post about me and me related material and all is well.

And, guess what?!

It worked!

I’ve turned 12 of them so far!

So instead of reading about Mama B’s peanut butter life, or Angie’s Seven Clowns, or Jen’s Hipness, or KMama’s Daily Dribbles, or Marf Mom’s Marfan, or When SHE became her mom, or Being a former Fatty, or how HER Life Gone Awry, or Amy’s B Hole, or Supah’s Adventures, or Faemom’s Faeness?, or Chicken Nugget’s Wisdom, or even Sunday’s Extreme Parenthood, you get to read about moi.

Before they sign off for good for the duration of their written-in-blood contracts they have each written one last post for you here: parenting BY dummies.

I urge you to give them a chance to explain why they’ve sold you out to The Man (The Man being ME) succumbed to the Dumb.

Come on over and say adios to your beloved bloggers.  MWAHAHAHA!!!

P.S. I am currently not on the hunt for other blogs to dominate as I have run into a bit of an issue with my blog-world-domination budget plan.  #therecessionisruiningeverything

APRIL FOOL’S Y’ALL!

Tags: parenting by dummies, world blog domination

Let’s give a big welcome to another  Momz Share participant for the first quarter!   Go visit her blog and laugh hysterically!

Name and Name of Blog: Amanda of parenting BY dummies

Other ventures? http://thenagainphotography.com

Twitter name: @thenagainphoto

Tell us a little bit about your blog: parenting BY dummies is a guide to parenting by someone who has tried everything you don’t want to do.  Well, actually it’s less of a guide and more of a warning.  Written by a photo loving, talkaholic, SAHM of 3 boys known affectionately to her readers as Dumb Mom, parenting BY dummies is a mostly happy, always chaotic, semi disorganized, but 100% honest blog about motherhood, boyhood, and awesomeness.  Emphasis on the awesomeness.  Dumb Mom’s partner in crime, Dumb Dad, rarely shows up on the blog as the consensus is that he’s cute but has next to nothing constructive to contribute.  P.S. Enjoying some laughs at my expense is both expected and encouraged.

Most surprising or coolest thing that has happened as a result of your blogging? That people read it.  I’m still surprised/flabbergasted/confused that people come to my blog and read it and act like they like it.  Now that my followers list is growing to a more respectable number, I’m starting to think people do a lot of pressure following of my blog.  Like, they get there and see that I have like 500 followers and think, “Oooh, she must be good, all these people like her, I better like her too!”.  And, I’m totally fine with that.  I mean that’s what I do so I totally get it.  I guess that’s just my I-wanna-be-a-cool-kid-high-school-dork talking, but whatever.  As long as you come visit parenting BY dummies from time to time and praise me shamelessly, I mean leave a comment, I don’t care what got you over there.  Even if you’re like the jerkwad that keeps searching for “teen boys tight jeans” and landing on my I-hate-teen-clothing-trends-because-I’m-too-old-to-pull-them-off post, I’m okay with that, but I do hope you find something else you enjoy as well and possibly think about getting some help.

Aside from blogging, what would you name as some of your passions? Photography.  It’s pretty much the only other thing I like to do because it makes me feel all special (it’s not “just the camera” I swear it’s not) and creative and it gets me outta the house.  Plus, it makes people super happy to see nice photos of themselves and their kids and I kinda like that.  Making people happy is sorta my thing.

We all love to discover new blogs.  Name two of your favs!

Knitter Mama:  She’s all relaxed and zen and the total opposite of me and my parenting style that she makes me feel calm and centered when I read it.  Plus, she’s #1′s godmother so I love her IRL too!

Blog Baby:  Hilarious!  Plus Blog Baby and her brother are shamefully cute.  It’s an honest and open blog written by a Canadian photog mom.  Even though she’s going through some tough things right now she’s still keeping it real and I love that about her.

Tags: Momz Share, Momz Share participant, Momz Share profile, parenting by dummies

This might come as a tremendous surprise to you but I had a night out on the town this past Friday.  I know. Truly amazing… an ACTUAL girl’s night out.  No one is more surprised than me.

I met up with a group of inspiring mom bloggers from across the great state of Maryland.  We convened in Baltimore (Inner Harbor) at La Tasca.  Now, I’ve been to La Tasca a time or two and was thoroughly familiar with their fabulous tapas and Sangria. But this time we were treated like royalty by Santana (manager) and Brad (waiter extraordinaire). The food was, of course, delish!

It was so nice to get to know the ladies BEHIND the blogs.  Some things surprised me and some exceeded my imaginations.  All in all, I had a terrific time surrounded by inspiring women and made some new friends.  Can’t ask for a better girl’s night out than that, can you? (Unless you have a driver and are thereby free to consume vast amounts of Sangria.)

So without further adieu, let me introduce you to the gals: (Be sure to check out their blogs and give them a shout out on Twitter) From left: Safire from Living in Maryland (@safirecat), Parenting by Dummies (@thenagainphoto),  Lara from Chicken Nuggets of Wisdom (@dipaolamomma), Joanne of Barely Domestic (@BarelyDomestic), Mary from Pajamas and Coffee (@marymac), Moi, Scarymommy from Scary Mommy (@scarymommy) and Lolli of Better in Bulk (@1momof5).

Different styles, different voices but all will make you smile and are worth your time.

Not only was I treated to some fabulous conversation but we also received treats at this meetup!  A big thank you to all of the businesses who gave made us feel like a million bucks: Dunkin Donuts (@dunkindonuts) for hooking us up with gift cards, travel mugs and t-shirts! (Seriously. Coffee heaven for me. Ohmygosh! Thanks MaryMac for torturing them into submission getting the donation!) We also got some great stuff from Shaklee by Clean Mama (@AboutShaklee), Piggy Paint (@PiggyPaint)  and WAT-AAH! (@WAT AAH).  And a big shoutout to Lara from Chicken Nuggets of Wisdom for spearheading the treats as well as organizing this little meetup.  She is a true cheerleader, not to mention Tapas connoisseur.

My hometown of Frederick also came through IN A BIG WAY for the Maryland Mom Bloggers. Muchos gracias to: Candlelight Ghost Tours of Frederick, Dancing Bear Toys & Gifts (@dbeartoys), Maryland Ensemble Theatre FUNCompany (@mdensemble), Author Kristin Kish Whyte – “One More Minute” children’s book  (My neighbor!) and Maryland Life Magazine (@marylandlife).

Did I feel like a queen?  Why, yes. I did.  Was I inspired? Of course!  In the end I discovered that we are all moms who desperately love our children seeking to connect with one another out there in the blogosphere.  See, we are not so different after all.

Tags: barely domestic, better in bulk, Chicken Nuggets of Wisdom, living in maryland, maryland mom bloggers, mom bloggers, pajamas and coffee, parenting by dummies, scary mommy