We have been "SHAKIN" up the internet, by bloggin' since February 14, 2011. Since this is our baby, we will be celebrating "months"... We are two months "young" today.
Everything continues to exceed our early expectations! We are thrilled - beyond words, humbled and amazed by the fan following that has developed so quickly.
The traffic to DRL increases weekly. At the 16 day mark when "The History of the Blog - Part I" was posted we had over 6,400 views from all over the world. To date, we have over 33,000 views. New countries appear all the time and according to blogger stats come back again and again. The dream of sharing our voice and vision has been received in over 50 countries around the world.
Amazing connections, cross promotions and new departments have been created. More are in the works! (If only there was more time each day!)
The messages of courage and hope that have come out of our "Pink Reaction" that highlights the journeys of the incredible survivors who are part of the Breast Cancer Awareness Body Painting Project (BCABPP). Doris, Ellen and Pamela your dauntless determination in the face of such great challenge, as well as the willingness share your stories, while creating beauty Born From Darkness and Despair, with photographer, Michael D. Colanero, - makes you heroes in the world of survivors! We are honored to have helped to give this project more "voice". Special thanks to Gabby who help us discover this amazing group!
Paranormal Pub has been spooky fun and has quite the following and brought us Robert Rothschild Jr., the ghost hunter. His and Marion's ghost "stories" have been hauntingly good fun! Our Eatery has awakened taste buds around the world and created quite the stir in the kitchen. Deanna at The Unnatural Mother has cross promoted with us, we thank her for her support and promotion of DRL!
John Pasko of the Melbourne Police Department, American Police Hall of Fame, and founder of Families of the Shield, will be a guest writer in the near future as we help to pay tribute to those Police Officers who have made the Ultimate Sacrifice. Stay tuned for tributes to these heroes.
This month we will be inviting our readers to be writers and submit articles for specific feature topics as well as some departments. Encouraging others to find their "write" way to think, dream, act, endure and share. Sports enthusiast - get your game on! We will be opening the Sports Bar very soon! We are now welcoming advertisers to the site and hope our readers will embrace and support them.
Our fabulous writers, Jillian, Marion, Patty, Tony, Jenn, and Robert continue to entertain, evoke passion, curiosity & fear, and just good ol' fun that makes you Wanna Laugh. They help keep everyone tuned in and coming back daily for more! Thank you for sharing your talents with us and the cyberworld. We are not only blest by your prose you write, the laughter & tears you evoke but by the friendships gained along the way! Also, a nod of KUDOS to our friends; Laura, Gary, and "Jay" - your behind the scenes input, inspiration, advice and doses of "sanity" go above and beyond what the words "thank you" can express. All of you - are "the crew" of ROCK STARS here at DRL- we appreciate all the hard work and endless emails, texts, calls, questions, IM chats, and Facebook banter you endure!
Speaking of Facebook... DRL has a fan page and a friend page - both of which are growing by leaps and bounds. Check them out! You will find your favorite authors commenting and posting there!
Many, many thanks to our "fans" & "followers"! You have made over 1,500 comments and we welcome more. Don't be shy! We love to get your input and thoughts. To quote, Jillian, Talk to "us" people! You make every lost hour of sleep, every very chaotic behind the scenes moment, every tech issue, and every "mistake" and typo, every tear and delirious belly laugh endured in this wild and crazy ride of creating this work in progress --- WORTH IT! We are learning and growing each day! We just might be dangerous when we really know what we are doing!!! Ha!
Much gratitude to our families and friends for their amazing support and continued encouragement!
It is our hope that you will continue to be with us here at DRL.
"The place to hang... While you survive the storm".
As you know we have already decided that we will be throwing a party when we hit 100,000 where we can CHEERS to never pulling the plug! ;) (We should be more then half way there by this time next month!) Remember "virtually" everyone's invited!!!
Again, Many Thanks! ;)
Peace & prayers,
XOXOXO,
Barbara & Dawn
PS... Over 30 links built into this post -
Check 'em out to relive the fun, or to get to know us if you are new to hangin' at the lounge!
It's been my pleasure to have been a small part of this. Thanks for having me along on this journey.
ReplyDeletebig hugs to all my family here on DRL - BEST IS YET TO COME!
ReplyDeleteHey Dawn --- THAT'S MY LINE!!! That said... I totally agree! <3
ReplyDeleteI am beyond thankful for al the last 8 weeks has brought us, especially the DRL family and it's family of fans! The BEST IS YET TO COME!!! :)
Love being involved with this amazing Blog !! So proud of you both !! I'm along for the ride !!
ReplyDeleteMuch love to everyone at DRL!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's been my privilege and pleasure to work with the talented people at DRL! I look forward to meeting many new friends in the days to come! Thank you Barb and Dawn for inviting and encouraging me and thanks to all the Lounge gang for being my DRL family!: )
ReplyDeleteIt's an honor to be a part of this with all of you! xoxo
ReplyDeleteAnd, to the family of fans & followers my many thanks!
You have 2 fans Jillian. Where's charlie?
ReplyDeleteJillian - you have many fans!! I have the STATS to prove it!
ReplyDeleteThanks Dawn! I wasn't worried for a NY minute! DRL is here for the long run & so am I!
ReplyDeleteToday, I went to the beachfront with my kids. I found a
ReplyDeletesea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said "You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear." She
placed the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear.
She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is completely off topic but I had to tell someone!
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