The Blog Cafe

I'm so excited for this I can't hold it in any longer...

I'm joining together with my super fun, cute and talented big sister JoLyn and our very talented friend Tracy for a new kind of blogging experience. Oh yes, trust me, it will be an experience and you're going to find a brand new reason to love Monday mornings.

We've realized that one of the great things about blogging is becoming part of a wonderful virtual community of friends. Sometimes it feels like we're sitting around a table at a local cafe talking and laughing and having a great time getting to know each other better.

But in reality, we're sitting at home, in front of our computer screens, leaving comments on each other's blogs. We're in countries all over the world, from Norway to Australia, and all across the U.S. But we're still talking and laughing and getting to know each other better, just as well as if we really were sitting around that table together.

Last week, we had a virtual get-together at JoLyn's place over Molten Chocolate Cake. It was so much fun, we decided to make it a regular event--and we hope you will join us!

We're calling it "The Blog Cafe," and here's how it works:

Every Monday, we're going to gather at somebody's blog for some food, fun, and great conversation. Each week, we will have a different blogger act as host for our virtual get-together. When you are the host, you will choose what we're "eating", (ice cream, cake, pizza, salads... and since it's virtual... so are the calories!!) where we're "meeting", (Luke's Diner, Jimmy's Drive In, The Cheesecake Factory, oh, sorry about the drooling) and you'll get us started on a topic of conversation. We hope you'll share some photos of where you're taking us and what we're having--give us a taste of the local fare and maybe give us a peek of the world in your neck of the woods!

Then the rest of us--anyone and everyone is welcome--will pop in for a visit sometime throughout the day and leave a comment. We'll share our thoughts and insights on the topic you've chosen, and we'll all get to know each other better!

A few questions:

• How will I know where we're gathering each week? Jenny (yes that's me.)and Tracy (in Norway! how cool is that?) and JoLyn (my sister!) are our coordinators--visit our blogs each Monday morning, and we'll give you the blog address of where we're meeting up. We'll post at 12:01 our own local times, so hopefully wherever you are in the world, you can join us sometime during your Monday!
  
• How can I have a turn as the host? Send an email to theblogcafe@yahoo.com. We'll get you on the list and give you a hosting date! Can you hardly wait? Now admit it... you are already thinking of a place you can take us!
  
• Who is invited? EVERYONE! We hope you'll feel welcome to join us anytime. You don't have to sign up to play along. Just join us when you can. If you miss a week or if you're new, you are always welcome. The fun is all about getting to know new friends!
• Do I have to meet at a certain time? No! We are not having a set meeting time. Just pop in anytime during your Monday, read the post and the previous comments, and make a comment of your own. If you'd like, check back later and follow the conversation throughout the day. You can even comment more than once if you want.
  

The Rules
We just have one rule--and we'll rely on our weekly hosts to make sure it's followed: we want to keep our conversations positive and uplifting. If you're looking for sarcastic, snide, or snarky conversation, you won't find it here. And that goes for criticism of other commenters. Those kind of comments will be deleted. In the words of Woody, "Play Nice!" Also, many of us write family blogs, so please keep comments and topics clean and family friendly.

We're looking forward to seeing you on Monday April 19, 2010 as we kick of "The Blog Cafe" We'll be starting at JoLyn's a year of happy, followed the next Monday here, with me Jenny-Jenny and week three at Tracy's Pink Purl.

I can't wait to see you for treats and talk on Mondays!

I'm thinking about where I might take you... maybe we'll get ice cream and wander through the tulips...Or maybe we'll head up to Canada for some Chinese...Hmmm, I'm not sure. I guess you'll just have to come back
for my day on April 26th to find out.

And don't forget to tell your friends--We want everyone to feel welcome at "The Blog Cafe"!

Grab a button for your blog!

When you install this button on your blog,
please link it to our Blog Cafe page
so your followers will be able to join us!

http://www.ayearofhappy.com/the-blog-cafe.html