Through the Opera Glasses - 9 - The Ultimate Blog Party 2009

Blog events really impress me. When I stumble across one, I feel like I've pushed through into a whole new dimension - where fun reigns and where those I've never met before suddenly feel like people I want to get to know.

Come on in, everyone - there's lots and lots of room for everyone at my Through the Opera Glasses Ultimate Blog Party. Since it decided to snow with a vengeance here in Halifax, Nova Scotia, I figured I'd decorate the entrance with an ice sculpture. If you can't beat 'em - join 'em.


Janice and Susan from 5 Minutes For Mom are holding an outrageously impressive week-long party at their blog. How did I find out about it?

Well, this is a great example of how Kim's Blog Improvement Project is working out. For Week 6 - Let's Get Social! I joined Twitter.

One of my new Twitter followers/people I follow is Sandwiched. This tweet showed up on my home page:

"Following a bunch of new people from #ubp09! http://tinyurl.com/c2nbzo" - Sandwiched


From within Twitter, clicking on that tinyurl link brought me straight over to the Ultimate Blog Party.

Now let's look at why Kim started her Blog Improvement Project in the first place:

"The 2009 Blog Improvement Project is a year-long challenge that will consist of twice-monthly activities to improve your blog. Possible topics include goals setting, writing better content, building community with readers, getting more readers, and blog layout and design." - Kim

And look at what Janice and Susan have to say about their blog event:

"The Ultimate Blog Party is about building online friendships.

It’s simple to join the fun and lots of ways you can get involved — from simply reading this post, to publishing your own party post on your blog and signing one of the Mr. Linky link lists.

The focus of the party is for bloggers to build genuine online friends and increase their readership in a fun, organic way.

So, we want YOU to party with us, whether you’re a mom, grandma, a dad or a single gal." - Janice and Susan

Join the Par-tay!

The first thing partiers do is sign up in Mr. Linky. There are several headings to choose from: Family-Friendly Blogs, Not-So-Family-Friendly Blogs, Dad Blogs, Facebook and Twitter.

Next, each party-heartier is asked to visit a minimum of 20 other bloggers/Facebook pages/Twitterers. These are the brand-new-to-me bloggers I visited:

2 Witches Blog
365 Days of Christmas
Blonde Ambition
Daily Mish Mash
From Inmates to Playdates
Girly Girls Beauty Guide
Harvest of Daily Life
Just Add Dots
Ma Vie Folle
Newfies, Orchids and Minis, Oh My!!!
Optimistic Cynicism
Stained Glass Soul
Stepping on Legos
Superdumb Supervillain
Teresa's Treasures
The Art of Random Willy-Nillyness
The Italian Bella Diaries
The Nut House
The Road to Home
What She Really Wants

For my party here at A Piece of My Mind, let's go to my Mr. Dress-up Tickle Trunk and pick out a costume.


Want to be a Can-Can Dancer?
















How about a Regency Gentleman?
















Oh, this one looks gorgeous - a Renaissance Noblewoman.















Ooo - who wants to wear this one? I love this Medieval Knight's costume.


























Now it's time to choose a mask. For the masquerade!









In a few moments, we're all going to gather on the giant inflatable Twister gameboard for some wacky masquerade fun. But first, let's listen to Deborah Kerr sing Getting to Know You from The King and I:



Thank you for coming to my soiree! ((hug)) Be sure to drop by The Ultimate Blog Party headquarters if you want to play along.

Be sure to join me on Thursday for my interview with Ian Lurie, co-author of Web Marketing All-in-One For Dummies.

Janice and Susan - just in case I'm asked which prizes I might like, here goes:

INTL 1 - Blog design
INTL 23 - Blog makeover
INTL 28 - Blog design
INTL 21 - Blog/Web ad pkg
INTL 65 - Business cards
INTL 63 - Earrings
INTL 5 - Hand embroidered journal cover
INTL 61 - $30 Amazon certificate
USC 15 - $20 Amazon certificate
INTL 30 - $15 Amazon certificate
INTL 60 - Secret Confessions of a Clean Freak