Julia Has a Lot to Thank You For in April
Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. -Marcel Proust
The end of the month seems to be a good time to stop and say thanks. And I find that I have a lot to be thankful for–number one being my wonderful, fun, loyal, and creative readers. I love hearing from you every day. Without you, this blog would just be me talking to myself. I think we can probably all agree– that would just be sad.
To read who Julia is most thankful for this month, click “more” below:
Blogs That Wrote Nice Things About Hooked on Houses in April:
- I was gobsmacked (as the Brits say) when my humble blog was reviewed by The Guardian (a newspaper in the U.K.) this month. Thanks to reporter Johnny Dee who said so many nice things, and who sent so many new readers my way.
- Stephanie at The Written Word, one of my favorite sites for book reviews, wrote a fun post called “My Secret Obsession,” in which she admitted she’s hooked on Hooked on Houses. If you’re hooked on books, check her site out!
- The Real Me Part Eins wrote a post calling Hooked on Houses “one hard-working blog!” It does work hard. Thanks for noticing!
- Mamacita at Big Tall Fresh Air wrote Hooked on Houses - My New Favorite Place. She says, “Hooked on Houses is such a fun place to visit, you’ll have to tear yourself away, I guarantee.” Thanks, Mamacita! That’s my goal! I’m glad to know my evil plan is working.
- The Brazilian design site Ana Claudia Cavalcanti Design de Interior, told her readers about Matthew Perry’s bachelor pad. What a kick to see a Hooked on Houses mention in another language! I’m just going to assume she was saying good things….
- The Irish blog Lenny’s Logbook sent readers here to take a look at the Hollywood Homes we feature. Lenny has a morning show on radio station Red FM 104-106 in Cork, Ireland, and the topic of the day was celebrity homes.
If anyone else wrote a post about Hooked on Houses, let me know. I’m afraid I’m forgetting a few.
Blogrolling:
Many, many thanks to the following blogs who recently added Hooked on Houses to their blogrolls in April, and welcome to all of their readers who stopped by to say hello:
- The Nesting Place
- Restyled Home
- Nesting Instincts
- Today’s Homemaker
- The Inspired Room
- Denim N Daisies
- Adventures in Construction
- A Bunch of Roses
- The Gold Element
- Design Smack
- Southern Hospitality
- Gabby Girl Knits
- The Stylish Nest
- The Amateur Tightwad
- Rabbit Run Cottage
- Daisy Cottage
These are all amazing blogs. Behind every one is an amazing woman. If there are any sites you don’t recognize, go forth and make some new friends!
I’m always so honored when someone considers Hooked on Houses worthy of a mention on their blog. If you added me to your blogroll this month and you’re not on this list, please let me know so I can add your link here, too.
A Special Thanks to Sploggers:
Those of you with blogs of your own know that there are pirate sites (”sploggers”) who will sweep in the minute you publish something and steal your post, inserting your words and photos into a blog full of ads. It’s an annoying, daily event for me, but it’s also kind of funny to see how they mangle things. Usually they give credit to someone else for the post. For example, they’ll write, “Francie wrote an interesting post today…” I’m also occasionally referred to as ”BawldGuy.”
This month, however, these splogger sites have started crediting Jennifer Lopez for my posts instead. For example: “Jennifer Lopez wrote an interesting post called Bizarre Bookshelves today…” And, my favorite: “Jennifer Lopez is on fire! Look at this post she wrote about Kenny Chesney’s House in Malibu!”
I think it’s safe to say I’ve never been mistaken for J. Lo before. So thanks to the sploggers for the compliment. (And please stop referring to me as “BawldGuy.” I’m asking nicely.)
Most of all, thanks to every reader who has encouraged me this month with kind words (like Liz, Daisy, Rhoda, Amy, Mamacita, and Sue!), helped by giving me ideas for posts (like Marie!), pointed out typos before anyone else had a chance to see them (like Maya!), helped me when I needed it (like Irishof!), made me feel better when I was down (like TraceyB and JLB!), made me smile (like Kathy, Melinda, Manuela, and Arlene!), contributed thoughtful and interesting comments (like Janet, Lynn, Courtney, Meredith, Linda, Cindy, and Abbreviated!), and made me laugh (Tori, Tracey, Hairy, Bonnie, Aubrey, gosh, there are too many to list!). I appreciate you all. I hope you’ll all come back in May so we can look at more houses together. I’ll miss you if you don’t! -Julia
Photo at top of post via Ideal Home.
April 29th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Thanks for the shout out! I really enjoy your site too an always look forward to coming back for more!
April 29th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Julia,
I was so touched that you mentioned Michael (irishso) and I on your post today. You really made my day!! I tell as many people as possible about your blog….. I love it!
April 29th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Hahaha! I never knew they were called sploggers. I used to get so irritated at them. Does anyone actually READ those things? What is the point? And thank YOU for all of the incredible things you post daily. I so look forward to seeing the awesome houses that you find.
April 30th, 2008 at 12:46 am
well, aren’t you just the nicest nice blogger ever? and hey, J.Lo’s got nothing on you, girl! I adore your blog, and you too, Julia. Thanks for the mention again of Nesting Instincts. I would have to say you are probably the most entertaining blog I read. xoxo
April 30th, 2008 at 6:40 am
OK, I admit I have never heard of sploggers! I am either terribly low tech or my blog is so under the radar that pirates are not finding me! Guess I should count myself lucky, huh?
Janet
P.S. Going to see the completed ModVic house today
April 30th, 2008 at 7:40 am
I have to agree, you are the most entertaining blogger!!!
April 30th, 2008 at 7:52 am
You are such a sweet person. Thank you for the thank you.
April 30th, 2008 at 8:14 am
Thanks for the honorable mention! So glad my words were able to cheer you up.
April 30th, 2008 at 9:06 am
Hey Jennifer…err, I mean JULIA!
I’ve never heard of sploggers. How’d you figure that out?
Thanks for the list of new blogs to check out. I already spend entirely too much time on my badonkadonk getting ideas I don’t have time for because I’m on my badonkadonk reading blogs. :o)
April 30th, 2008 at 9:34 am
You guys are all so nice. You’re going to make my head swell up huge and I’ll be impossible to live with now!
Does Blogger not show you guys who is using your links? It just shows up on my Wordpress dashboard. In fact, this post was stolen moments after I posted it, and now a splogger has my story about sploggers on a fake site called “All About Ireland.” Cracked me up.
There’s a lot of talk about it in the Wordpress forums. Apparently these pirates subscribe to your RSS feed so they can suck new content right up (they estimate 20% of RSS subscribers are actually sploggers–can you believe that?).
If you’re on Technorati, you’ll see them listed there, too, if you’re curious about who is stealing your stuff.
Two clues that a site is fake: it’s crammed with ads and the comments are always closed. -Julia
April 30th, 2008 at 10:40 am
lol, I just can’t comprehend the purpose of splogging…do they hope to make money from the ads? Thanks for the heads up about (and tips on how to recognize) it because this country hick/old timer had never heard of it. Thank you for such a great site! I do enjoy the pics and your comments! DH and I are doing some renovations before moving into a different, and nicer, home. Your site has been an inspiration. Thanks so much!
April 30th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Thanks J Lo !
April 30th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Hey, Julia,
Thanks for the shout out. Also, I think it’s nice and friendly of you to e-mail me sometimes when I leave a comment. You do connect to your readers very well. And I love your blog. I check it daily.
April 30th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
I hadn’t heard of sploggers either and can’t imagine what the purpose is.
This is a hard working blog! I can’t imagine posting every day for three months straight. *And* you keep it interesting. Keep up the good work.
April 30th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
What a wonderful post from a beautiful lady! I consider it an honor
to have you on my blogroll! Finding this sweet place was such a delight for me! Congratulations on all your accolades…they are all richly deserved.
Your hard work and creativity is a blessing to us.
Hugs,
Sue
April 30th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
Oh! I also wanted to say that Jennifer Lopez should be so lucky to write as well as you do OR to be as lovely. So there!
Hugs again,
Sue
April 30th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Hey, guess what? I am so back. Does this qualify me as a bog stalker? Hmm…but I have been having the best time reading through your older posts and enjoying all the photos. Where have I been not to have found you earlier? Living with my head buried in sand?
Sheesh. But thanks to Janet, I AM here. And guess what? I just found out you live about 45 minutes from me! Now I know this is a scary thought for you…*grin*
Thank you again for a sweet treat every day. You are a delight!
Hugs,
Sue
April 30th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Well, I’ve never heard of sloggers either! That’s a total new on e on me, so thanks for the info on that. I’ll have to check Dashboard and see what all they tell us on there, if that info is on there I have missed it.
Glad to have met you, Julia! I think I’m really going to enjoy coming back to visit you often. I alway love to find new fun blogs!
Rhoda
April 30th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
I’m so thrilled to make you laugh my friend, you bring a smile to my face every time I stop by!
How did your trip to Ikea go on your birthday? Any new dining room furniture in your future? We are considering a new kitchen table and throwing around the whole square or round question. Any thoughts?
April 30th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
p.s. I am such a rookie, I didn’t even know about sploggers! How do you know when they have pirated your posts?
April 30th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
Thanks for the link love! So far the sploggers are getting my links right… maybe one day I too will be confused with some hot celebrity. That’s got to boost traffic, right?
May 1st, 2008 at 5:21 am
WOW!! The Guardian!!
I can understand why they featured you - you have a beautiful blog
May 1st, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Yay!! You deserve all the kudos - your blog is beyond lovely. Congrats on all the love. Take care and don’t tempt blogger burn out! have a great day
May 2nd, 2008 at 12:49 am
Wow! You’re international! Now you just have to tell us how life is with Marc Anthony.
May 2nd, 2008 at 6:59 am
Mamacita–
Life with Marc is good, but he’s been kind of cranky lately. Last night he shouted at me, saying, “If you call me Marc Anthony one more time, I’m not going to finish hanging the crown molding in the dining room!” Well, I had to counter that by telling him he’d better finish hanging it, or I’d be off to find husband #4.
He calmed down long enough to assemble my new birthday bookshelves from IKEA, at least, and they look fabulous. Thanks for asking! -Jennifer
May 5th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
You are so sweet to thank everybody so thoroughly! Did I tell you that you are one of the first blogs I check when I go online?
Linda