The Ultimate Blog After-Party 2010

All good things must come to an end. It's sad, but true. Over the last week, I have been a party animal.

The good news is that I did not have to get dressed-up in fancy clothes (I wore pajamas). I did not lose any friends from dancing obnoxiously on the bar (I actually gained a few followers on Twitter and my blog). I even witnessed a live concert by the fabulous Chris Mann (He performed a snippet of "Heartless").

With all that being said, there is still more to take from this experience.

5 Minutes for Mom is handing out some wonderful prizes to several lucky participants in the Ultimate Blog Party 2010. The list is amazing. I would be satisfied to win any of them. This is like taking home a swag bag after an amazing party. Holla!

What I enjoyed most about the party, was all the great blogs and people I discovered. With thousands of blogs to visit, I could not possibly mention them all. However, here are three that I can't seem to get out of my mind:

1. Divorced Before 30: A Blogoir: Start with this post and go from there. I promise, you will understand why I could not stop reading. Brilliant and gutsy!

2. Mentally Hilarious: The title says it all. Although not a lot of post, the ones I read gave me a big chuckle.

3. Fashion Fling: Okay, so I did not just discover this blog, but you have to visit. I like shopping so everything on here peeks my interest.

I knew the blogosphere was huge, but I had no idea there were so many hidden gems. Being a blogger for only one year, I know how quickly a blog can consume all your time and energy. This time last year I was participating in my first UBP. In that short time I have learned a lot about myself, and I have also developed wonderful professional and personal relationships.

To outsiders, the Ultimate Blog Party may seem like a joke - just another excuse for bloggers to hog the Twitter trending topics, or yet another way to win a prize. However, if your heart is genuinely in the right place, you will make the best out of this experience and visit new blogs. I did...and I can't tell you what a difference one week makes.

Thank you 5 minutes for Moms for hosting yet another great event.