If you can't blog the one you love, honey, blog the one you're with.

Not only do I like writing blogs, but I like reading them, too.

One of my favorite things to do is search for new blogs. This little hobby I've developed, however, has shown me what it is I look for in a blog. (Does anyone else feel a list coming on?)

Sara's Blogging Requirements

1) I'm drawn to blogs written by people I know. The reason for this is two-fold (hahahaha). First of all, if I'm more familiar with the blogger, I'll be more likely to know what he or she is saying or even how he or she is saying it. I love reading a blog and hearing the writer's voice in my head. The second reason is that, well, if I'm friends with the blogger, I might get mentioned in the blog! Woo!

2) Generally, I'm not a person that likes to read about one particular subject. So, if a blog is only about sports or end tables, I'll probably skip it.

3) I do not want the minutes of someone's day (unless your day was really flipping interesting). Few things make my eyes glaze over faster than seeing something like this:

Hey, gurrlz! So, I woke up today around 10:30 (which is sooo late for me!!!!). After I showered and had a blueberry scone (yum!!!), I decided to go to the grocery store. I looked in the fridge and saw I was out of everything! The only thing inside was milk, ketchup and orange juice!! This was serious!! So, I quickly did my makeup and hair and got in the car to go to the Marsh on 26. It was almost noon, so there was A LOT of traffic, but I got there!

And that brings me to my next blog requirement...

4) ...I cannot read crap. You might think this is a totally subjective, not to mention obvious, requirement, but I beg to differ. While I favor good grammar, it's not vital. All I need to know is that the blogger has a brain. Excessive exclamation points lead me to think someone is an idiot. It's not fair, I know, but there it is. I also cannot handle the intentional misspelling of a word for the purpose of trendiness (e.g. gurrlz, lata). Stop that.

5) I usually like travel blogs. I like when people point out differences that are funny, annoying or just plain interesting when compared to what they know. I don't like, however, when the blogger just dumps all over the host country, the culture and the people. There's a right and wrong way to do this.

Good example: Today, I got into my first Chinese cab. About 4 minutes, 9 RMB and a change of pants later, I had reached my destination. Most Chinese taxi drivers move like they're in a car chase scene from The Bourne Identity and I'm pretty sure I saw Matt Damon's life flash before my eyes a few times. I sure as hell got there in a timely manner, though!

Bad example: China's communist ideals completely aggravate the free-thinking capitalist in me. As I go about my day, I see the occupants of this country scurrying about like mindless rats, never questioning, never demanding. Only accepting the sub-par life that has been forced upon them...

Which brings me to my next requirement...

6) ...I don't do the heavy stuff. I don't mind posts about a bad day, a spiritual experience or a serious topic that hits close to home. However, I don't frequent the diatribes masquerading as blogs. I have no interest in lengthy, dense posts about politics or social issues. Woof.

7) I love blogs expressing strong opinions! Keeping #6 in mind, I think it's fantastic when someone goes on a tangent about their love of chipotle mayo or how much they hate it when drivers fail to use their turn signals. Pet peeves are blogging gold.

8) Finally, I like blogs involving food. If there are pictures of food, I am 7 times more likely to read that blog.