
I’ve been blogging for skirt! since July of 2008 – four wonderful years. It’s been great. I truly love it. I’ve gotten to express myself through my crazy jumble of words and friends and strangers alike have told me that they like what I do and that many times I’ve brought them to laughter and sometimes to tears. (Which of course is what every writer strives for – well, maybe not every writer – but certainly this one.)
I’ve gotten some opportunities to do some pretty cool things. Spanx invited skirt! to a pre-Oscar gifting suite last year and since the wonderful women who run skirt! are in Georgia and I’m out here in Los Angeles I’m the one who got to go and get the awesome gift bag full of booty. (Yes, pun intended!) I also got to attend a fun press lunch at a chi chi Beverly Hills hotel, have been given earrings, concert tickets, books and even some beer.

But the absolute best thing about blogging for skirt! is the other bloggers I’ve met. Both skirt! bloggers and women with fabulous blogs of their own – Tina, Kim R., Elizabeth, Cheryl, Kim P., Julie, Renee, and Ginger (and many, many others) – mwah, I love, Love, LOVE you ladies. My life is truly better because I’ve had the privilege to read the beautiful words that spill out of your soul and onto my computer screen. I cherish the friendships we have created.
But blogging for skirt!, as wonderful as it has been, has held me back in some ways too. The comfort, security, community and the built-in readership has kept me from starting a blog of my own. But now I think I’m ready. Now I think it’s time.
So with quite a bit of help from the blogging goddess Kim Tracy Prince, I’m jumping in with both feet and starting my own site. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s all mine. Hopefully it will inspire me to write more often. We’ll see.
As you can see my web address is www.charleneaross.wordpress.com. I had to use my middle initial because someone already stole www.charleneross.com even though they aren’t currently using it. (Rude!) And I have the wordpress in my address because I’m too freaking cheap to pay the $18 to get rid of it. Baby steps. One day I’ll pay it. Just not today.
You’ll notice there are a few posts before this. They are just skirt! blogs that I’ve double posted to get my feet wet in this WordPress world. I’ve still got a lot to learn about the “insides” of a website. But hopefully you won’t mind reading my crazy jumble of words while I learn.
My hope is that this site will not be “Look at me, look at me” (though let’s be honest, I do like when people look at me as long as I’ve had time to do my hair and make-up!), but more of a “hey this really cool-funny-ridiculous-happy-terrible-or-mundane thing happened to me and this is how it made me feel – do you ever feel that way too?” As a writer my hope is to connect with people. And to make them laugh. Most of the time my goal is to make people laugh. (And not because I stepped outside without my hair and make-up done!)
Please feel free to leave a comment so I know you’ve stopped by. (And yes, it’s sooo much easier than leaving a comment on skirt!)
And as always, thank you so much for reading.
Good luck in your new “space!” I will be reading! xx
Thank you Mindy! (You’re the best!)
You go, girl!
Awesome! Good luck…happy blogging :0)
Oh I’m going Kim! I’m going! 🙂
I’m cheering and sobbing at the same time. Kick some ass gurlfren! And keep ’em coming!!! Jealous. Thrilled. Inspired. And jealous. :))) ❤ ❤ ❤
If I can do it you can do it Tina! (Why don’t you fly out to LA for a week and I’ll show you how!) 😉
I fell a little bit like a stalker, but I’ll follow you by signing up for the feed. Good luck, I know you will entertain us with your quirky slant on things, as well as move us when we identify with what you are going through. Geez, maybe I should blog about menopausal women who dread the aging process!
Stalk away Susan! (And menopausal women who dread the aging process??? WTF is that?! HA! Sadly, I’m kidding!)
Yay yay yay!!!
I could never successfully leave a comment at skirt! (no offense, I love skirt! and your posts for them…every single one…it was just not easy to support you over there).
So watch me support the hell out of you over here.
Also, what’s your middle name? Inquiring minds want to know.
XOXO
And I’m subscribing right now. And go.
Wait. How do I subscribe?
Yikes.
I am lame. But I love you. Still.
Okay, Julie, I looked in my widgets and found an email subscription box. (See, I am kind of getting the hang of this WordPress thing!)
Julie, darling, I love you so much! My middle name is Angela. And how to subscribe? Uh… uh… I’ll get back to you on that!
SO happy for you.
how to subscribe?
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I just put up a little email widget box Kim. Trying to get the hang of this!
Done!
can’t wait to follow. Xxxx
Ask Alexi on FB. She has an RSS feed, but I have no idea how she did it.
Good luck Charlene! Check out some of my up coming blogs at Capid.org !!! Happy Blogging, Julie Gerns (our kids are in band together!)
Thanks Julie! And yes, I told Chandler to look out for a gorgeous girl named Oliva – that they knew each other back when they were in diapers! 🙂
Your kids are in band together?! Love that! AND love how you go after what you want Charlene A. Ross!!!! Congrats on your blog!
Thanks Jeanne! (And I know – isn’t that funny about band?)
Good for you, Charlene! Hey, as long as I keep getting your blog, I’m totally ok with the move! (As if you needed that…! Ha!) I hope this explodes into everything you ever wanted for your writing!
Thanks so much Sherry! You are too sweet. (Oh, and BTW -me too!) 🙂
YAY CHAY!!! So proud of you for so many reasons. Can’t wait to continue reading your blogtastic accounts of life, love and laughter! (Hmmm, I think I may have to coin that phrase!)
You MIGHT have to coin that phrase. Thanks so much May. Your love and support mean the world to me!
Count me in as a follower!
Yay! Thanks so much Barbara!
You know I will be stocking your new site. Congratulations my dear!
You’d better be my 1st boyfriend! (xoxo Love you Lee!)
Great news, Charlene! Keep making us laugh:)
Thanks so much Lori! I’ll do my best! 🙂
Yay, an easy way to comment! There were so many times I wanted to make comments on your Skirt! blogs and just commented on your Facebook page instead. Anyway, congrats on your new venture and good luck manuevering through it all! Nice blog as usual 🙂
oh my gosh – so excited and proud of you …. i will follow you wherever you post …this is a dream for you – you go – you soar …. all the best charlene!!!
Thank you Laura. You are always so sweet to read and respond to my posts. We’ll see where this goes…
Always a fan, wherever you land. ~h
Thanks so much Heather. (And don’t worry – I will always and forever be a skirt! girl!) 🙂
Congratulations on this big step! Love your writing and your perspective! Best to the fam! xo
Thanks so much Cathy! Best to your fam too! 🙂