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Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Who's Ready for the 4th Annual Post-Challenge Road Trip? #atozchallenge


Who's ready for a more leisurely pace than that of April?  I am.  I think of April like Germany's Autobahn. Full speed ahead, look out! Blogger in the fast lane, get OUT OF MY WAY!  This trip, however, is a meandering journey through the list of participants, at your own pace, with your own rules, and very few expectations. Heather, Nicole and I (Tina) invite you to join us!

Tips for the road: you're in charge. Want to visit one new blog a day? Want to visit hundreds of blogs a day? No problem. You're driving. Unless you hitch a ride with a friend, which I think is a good idea. You might want to take turns driving, or playing the tunes. It's really just some friends hanging out and continuing visiting.

Some strategies you might want to try:
Visit all the blogs with your same category
Visit all the blogs whose names intrigue you
Visit all the even (or odd) blogs
Start from where you left off and keep on truckin'...

Whatever you do, don't forget that this trip is a journey, not a destination. Signing up on the linky doesn't mean you're committing to visiting ALL the blogs. All you're saying is, “I ain't done yet.” We'll have some encouraging rah rah posts along the way, and a chance for you to share your best “finds” along the road. Personally, I like those little Mom and Pop cafes that are off the beaten road, and the food is real and so is the atmosphere – so those cool but unknown blogs that need some customers!

Keep track of your finds, give us a holler if you run out of gas or need your tire changed. We're here as your guides – we've journeyed similar roads in the past! Good luck, and drive carefully.

~Tina @ Life is Good




I’m heading up the Road Trip
With A-to-Z Blogs on my mind
And Tina Downey’s with me
Plus Heather G. too, for a gnomy ol’ time.

In our rearview mirrors,
We’d like to see all of you on our Post-Challenge tracks.
The blogging skies couldn’t be any clearer.
So step on your gas pedal and don’t look back.

                                     That is…                                        
Until we tell you to pull over at our rest stops when they’re in sight!

Beep your horns if you’re hitting the road with us to visit those 2014 A-to-Z Challenge blogs that we missed in April!

My playlist for this year’s road trip is topped off with “Speed Demon” by Michael Jackson and “Cruz” by Christina Aguilera as a reminder that we can get our alphabet highway mileage in at whatever pace meets our driving preferences -- and the capacity of our gas tanks. 

~Nicole @ The Madlab Post




Roll down your windows, folks, it's gonna be a beautiful day! There's an empty highway on the horizon and I can't wait to see where it's heading!

I know I missed a TON of amazing blogs during this year's Challenge. We had over 2000 participants, of course I missed some, but now is an opportunity to hit the road and discover all the the blogs still out there, waiting to be found.

I'm in the back seat with Stormy the Weather Gnome. I've got two experienced drivers up front, Tina & Nicole, and they can't wait to get started.

For the Road Trip, Stormy and I are going to try to hit at least 20 blogs a week and tell you about a few of them in each of my posts.

That's the plan anyway, so put on some sunglasses, turn up the radio, set the cruise control, and let's get on the road!

Who's with us?

~Heather @ The Waiting is the Hardest Part

P.S As I was writing my first response comment below, I realized that I left someone out of this post.  I want to give huge props and recognition to him, and an invitation to all of you to visit an amazing blogger, Rob Z Tobor, who writes ...The Slightly Eccentric Diary of Rob Z Tobor...   He has already visited almost all the blogs.  I'm hoping he'll chime in here and let us know exactly how many.  I mean, you have to hit the road somewhere, right?  Chances are he's already visited you ;-)

Monday, May 5, 2014

The Blogging from A to Z April Challenge Reflections Post 2014 #atozchallenge

The A to Z Reflections Post is a post presented on your own blog site giving the A to Z Team, the other Challenge participants, and any other readers your thoughts about this year's April Challenge.

We are looking for feedback about the Challenge. Tell us what you liked and didn't like, what worked and what didn't. If you have suggestions about making future A to Z Challenges better, this is a good time to let us know. You can highlight other bloggers who you felt did an outstanding job or direct us to specific posts that particularly impressed you or that you found to be very helpful.

In other words, we want to know how the A to Z Team did and how the Challenge worked for you. If you'd do it again, tell us why. If you would never consider A to Z again, let us know what would make you feel that way.

Please put up your Reflections post between now and Friday, May 9. AFTER your post has gone live, add the link to the Linky List. Enter the link that goes DIRECTLY to your Reflections post and not your general blog address. The list will be accessible for the remainder of this year. Be sure to grab the badge.

The list is intended for A to Z Reflections posts only. Any links to advertising sites or non-relevant posts will be removed from the list. General links added before you actually post will be removed. And remember that these posts will be directed to a diverse audience of varying ages and sensibilities so please respect others by refraining from posting obscene materials or hurtful attacks upon others. We want a productive interchange of ideas that can lead to positive innovation.

Add your link below AFTER you have posted your reflection post!



Friday, May 2, 2014

Easy Friday #atozchallenge



A Big Thanks!

      Hope everyone is catching up with some rest and relaxation after the conclusion of this fantastic A to Z Challenge of 2014.   It was a good one in my eyes and I wanted to take a moment to thank the incredible crew of co-hosts that we had this year.   So much creative input and active participation from everyone from this blog, to the Facebook page, to the Twitter Chats, and everything else that went on from the A to Z Team.   Be sure to stop by all of their blogs to give your gratitude.

         Here is the A to Z Team with their links:

Arlee Bird: Tossing it Out
Alex J. Cavanaugh: Alex J. Cavanaugh
Stephen Tremp: Author Stephen Tremp
Tina Downey: Life is Good
Damyanti Biswas: Amlokiblogs
Jeremy Hawkins: [Being Retro]
Nicole Ayers: The Madlab Post
M. J. Joachim: M. J. Joachim's Writing Tips
Heather M. Gardner: The Waiting is the Hardest Part
AJ Lauer: Naturally Sweet
Pam Margolis: An Unconventional Librarian - 

         Also at the tab at the top labeled "Co-host Helpers and Assistants (2014)" you'll find the list of the folks who provided invaluable assistance in helping monitor the list and spreading goodwill throughout the blogs.  Be sure to visit these bloggers as well to show your appreciation.

Don't Forget Monday!

         Yes, this coming Monday May 5th  we'll open the list for you to add the link that goes directly to your A to Z Reflections Post.  This is the time when you let your thoughts about April be known and to make suggestions to make next year's Challenge better.  Some of these posts are already up and you can put yours up anytime between now and Friday May 9th when the Linky List will close.  Don't forget to add the link to your Reflections Post when the list opens on Monday.  

A Badge for You

CONGRATULATIONS!


        Most of all we want to thank you the participants.   The part you played in April was the real success of A to Z.   If you finished the 2014 A to Z Challenge be sure to grab the survivor badge to add to your own site.   And be watching the A to Z Blog for more post-Challenge news.  April may be over, but there's still more to come for A to Z.