Welcome to Blog2Print's first ever Blogapalooza! Join us as we blog for 24 hours straight on August 17th - one post every hour, for one full day of blogging! Don't forget, the bold bloggers that stick with us for the entire blogathon will receive a Blog2Print book of their postings!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Hour 24 – 10:00AM – 11:00AM

Wow. Just wow. We made it! 24 blog posts in 24 hours.

The only thing left to do now is to take a nap. The keyboard is looking mighty comfy, but before I use it as my pillow, I just want to say:

It's been a lot of fun blogging with everyone this past 24 hours and I've loved reading everyone's posts.

So, from all of us at Blog2Print, thanks for joining us in our first Blogapalooza! 

And for those who've stuck with us for 24 hours, keep your eye out for an email about your blog book!

24 hours down, 0 more to go - Congrats everyone, you did it!

Hour 23 – 9:00AM – 10:00AM

Back in the office - made it just in time to post this: the penultimate post.

And it looks like lots of you made it this far - congratulations! 23 post, in 23 hours - that's a lot of writing (ok, and video posting).

We still have one more post to go before we can pop the champagne. But since it's 9 here, maybe we'll stick to sparkling apple juice.

23 hours done, and only one more hour/post to go!

Hour 22 – 8:00AM – 9:00AM

Lots to do today, and at the top of the list is writing these last few Blogapalooza posts of course.

We've covered a lot over our Blogapalooza posts, and if I've established anything, it's my love of coffee. So it shouldn't be surprising that I'm having a cup or three while I write this.

After a few quick naps (oh the joys/dangers of blogging somewhere comfortable) during Blogapalooza, I'm off to the Blog2Print offices again! I'm certain the subway will give some inspiration for my next post.

22 hours down, and only 2 more hours to go! If you made it this far, you can make it to the end - you can do it!

Hour 21 – 7:00AM – 8:00AM

So now it's not just Blogapalooza bloggers up - the regular world has decided to join us too (at least on the east coast).

While others are getting ready for whatever the day holds for them, we're multitasking here! Getting ready and blogging! We'll be sure to double check we're wearing matching shoes on the way out today...

Hour 21, we're so close to making it! Only 3 hours left. We can do this!

Hour 20 – 6:00AM – 7:00AM

It seems only fitting that we play this song right now! This is one of my favorite songs to play in the morning - in fact it's the first song on my AM playlist.



Enjoy!!

20 Hours down, 4 hours left to go! We're so close!

Hour 19 – 5:00AM – 6:00AM

If you still get the newspaper delivered, then I imagine that it's hitting your door right about now.

Even though I get most of my news through a combination of iPhone apps and reading the news online, I do love reading the actual newspaper now and then.

I mean, how else are you going to get ink smudged fingers?

19 hours down, 5 more to go...home stretch for real guys!

Hour 18 – 4:00 AM – 5:00AM

I think at this time, we need a music break to revive spirits!
Naturally this is just the song to play:



18 hours down, only 6 - yes 6 hours remaining! Here's to everyone making it through Blogapalooza! After that, I know I'm ready.

Hour 17 – 3:00 AM – 4:00AM

What are the sounds of New York at 3 AM? Bus rolling through the streets here, a garbage truck there...but mostly just quiet, like many places at 3AM.

With sounds like that, sometimes it's better to bring your own playlist. I pretty much have one for everything - resting, running, reading, walking, writing, cooking - you name the activity, I have a playlist for it.

But right now iTunes is playing on random - so it sounds like it's time to make a blogging playlist.

Do you have one?

17 hours down and 7 more to go...it's the home stretch! Kind of....

Hour 16 – 2:00AM – 3:00 AM

For those of us still up - insomniacs, students pulling all-nighters, blogapalooza bloggers - it's hour 16!

Now I know I already wrote about my favorite things earlier, but I just thought of another one that I had to include, AND it's something I'm looking forward to tomorrow, I mean, later today.

It's a food truck - and it's a favorite of the Blog2print office. There are lots and lots of food trucks traveling around the city these days and New York Magazine has listed 25 of the best ones.

Now that list is packed with great food trucks, but THE best if you ask me is Wafles & Dinges. And lucky for us, they're going to be in our neighborhood today (at a regular hour of course) selling their wonderful waffles.

Seems like the perfect post-Blogapalooza treat! Food trucks - one trend I'm happy to support.

16 hours down, only 8 more to go!

Hour 15 – 1:00AM – 2:00AM

Usually I'm drifting off to sleep now (ok probably sound asleep), but not tonight! Tonight, I'm blogging the night away with you fab bloggers.

So I'm checking twitter less frequently now that it's late in the night/early in the morning. But I'm still here blogging!

I can't be the only one who's excited for the movie about Facebook, The Social Network. Here is it's trailer for you to enjoy!



15 hours down, 9 hours more to go!

Hour 14 – 12:00AM – 1:00AM

Here in the city that never sleeps, we’re just getting started! And if you believe that, the Brooklyn Bridge is priced just right for you. 

We accept PayPal :)

I think it's time to bust out the coffee – 14 hours down, only 10 to go.

Hey look - it's August 18th!

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Hour 13 11:00 PM – 12:00 AM

Well, this is the time that I usually look in my closet to find my dancing shoes, because in Manhattan it’s just about time to go out! Which I do. On a week night. In my dreams.

Tonight, though, we’re staying in here in solidarity with all of our Blogapalooza bloggers. But if you listen closely, you might hear the thump of “Telephone” or "Alejandro" in the background…

(How did I make it to hour 13 without a single Gaga reference?)

13 hours down, just 11 to go!

Hour 12 – 10:00 PM – 11:00PM

I love the show Chopped and lucky me, it's up right now on the Food Network! If I was presented with a random basket of ingredients and told to cook a delicious meal, I'd probably just scratch my head for 30 minutes.

If you need me, I'll be the one watching in awe as chefs come up with absolutely creative dishes!

We're halfway there you guys! 12 hours down, 12 more to go!

Hour 11 – 9:00PM – 10:00PM

The later it gets, the more impressed I am with everyone’s blog posts/blogging stamina!

Now that I’ve successfully cleared dinner from the keyboard, we're on for hour 11! That means we're almost halfway through!

Remember, this is a blogathon not a sprint so let's pace ourselves...

Right now, I'm imagining that I'm blogging in a room featured on Design*Sponge. If only. If only.

11 down, 13 hours to go you guys...

Hour 10 – 8:00 PM – 9:00PM

So for us east-coasters, it's around dinner time. Between dinner and blogging, I thought it was the perfect time for an "inspired-by post."

Back at hour 6, the wonderful blogger Angel posted a poem about Blogapalooza and gave us the idea for this post. We're not so great at rhyming, so we opted for a haiku. Yes, a haiku (or two).

When blogging for a
day at Blogapalooza
Bring your ideas!

And one more topical one -

Eating dinner while
blogging means food will get in
your keyboard. That's gross.

10 down, 14 more to go!

Hour 9 – 7:00PM – 8:00PM

With all of you seasoned bloggers posting up storm, at hour 9, I feel a little like this guy:


I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...
Keep up the blogging everyone. We can so do this!

9 down, 15 more to go...

Hour 8 – 6:00PM – 7:00PM

I don't think Blogapalooza would be complete without a (very) brief list of my favorite things. In no particular order, I present to you....

- The New York City skyline, hello-oooo Empire State Building!

 

- Coffee. Let me repeat that, COFFEE. All versions of it (excluding decaf)
- Cake Wrecks: Love this site for a good laugh and a smile 
- Finding new music 
- The iPhone: I'll admit it. I've drank the iPhone kool-aid. Love it!
- And finally, when it comes to Blogapalooza, all of you dedicated bloggers posting through out the day are definitely my favorite! You guys have some serious blogging chops.


8 down, 16 more hours to go...

Hour 7 – 5:00PM – 6:00PM

So we're several posts into Blogapalooza and the topic of inspiration seems appropriate right now.

Some people turn to favorite famous quotes, others turn to friends and family. When it comes to what happens next on Blog2Print and our blog books, we turn to you guys - to the bloggers. We take your suggestions and from them, we give you our new features and updates.

As for inspiration of the next post, that's another story...

7 hours down, count 'em 17 more to go. Stay strong!

Hour 6 – 4:00PM – 5:00 PM

Way to go everyone - it's hour 6! This is the quarter mark, you guys. So take the hands momentarily off the keyboard and give yourself a pat on the back.

So bloggers from across the US have joined us in our blogathon. Some from California, Indiana, North Carolina, Nevada - and more.

But what about us?

We're blogging from New York City - here's a view from our window!


6 hours down, 18 more to go you guys!

Hour 5 – 3:00PM – 4:00PM

I couldn't think of a good blogging-themed version of "99 bottles of beer" but I did succeed in getting that song stuck in my head. And Brittany of Not Your Average Teen did finish it nicely in the comments. Way to go!

So now that I've mentioned that song twice, I dread that you'll have it stuck in your head too. So here's a favorite video of mine. It's nothing new, but definitely makes me smile whenever I watch it.

It's of PS22 Chorus singing Phoenix's Lisztomania - it's a great chorus and they all look so excited to be singing!





5 hours down, 19 hours left...!

A brief note about time differences - if you had any confusion about the start time, don't worry! Post your 24 posts, in 24 hours. The only thing is, you just might finish while I'm sound asleep on my keyboard :)

Hour 4 – 2:00 PM – 3:00PM

How much longer before we start singing “99 Bottles of Beer on the wall”? And what would the blogging version be? I'll spend the rest of this hour trying to come up with one.

Has to be something better than "99 bloggers blogging along..."

4 hours down, 20 hours left…!

Hour 3 – 1:00PM – 2:00PM

No, you don’t have to be crazy to blog once an hour for 24 hours. And today you’d be in good company in our blogathon.

If you like (and have the time!) check out some of the work of the other Blogapalooza participants. Look through the comments in our previous posts, or head to twitter and search for #blogapalooza, to see what the other bloggers have to say - and maybe leave a nice comment to cheer them on. Everybody likes comments after all!

3 hours down, 21 hours left…!

Hour 2 – 12:00PM – 1:00PM

You can’t blog for 24 hours unless you post in the first hour…and it's nice to see so many in our blogathon have done just that. We’re just getting started - there's still a long, long way to go. Here’s hoping all those in Blogapalooza are in it for the long run. 

And I've seen some of you on twitter are already using #blogapalooza when you tweet about your posts - keep it up! We'll be doing the same too.

2 hours down, 22 hours left…!

Hour 1 – 11:00 AM – 12:00PM

And we're off! Blogapalooza has officially started and I can't wait to see what you all write about.

Thinking about what I'd write for the first post for our blogging marathon, I immediately thought about what a marathon runner would do the night before a big run: carbo-loading. And thanks to the wonders of the internet, I now know more about carbo-loading than I probably ever will need in real life.

So if runners eat lots of carbs in the few days before a marathon, what do bloggers do the night before a blogging marathon? Naturally they (or maybe just me) look at a lot of delicious posts from a couple food blogs.

Proud Italian Cook – Yes, she has a giveaway going on for us right now. But more importantly she has tons of seriously delicious recipes - like homemade ravioli or zucchini tomato gratin. I'll gladly eat vicariously through her posts.

Smitten Kitchen – One of my personal favorites. If only everything that came out of my kitchen looked so good! This chocolate cake is probably not something you want to eat before running, but definitely something you’d want to look at before a blogging marathon.

Only two of the many delicious looking food blogs out there (I’m sure you have your own favorites).

1 hour down and 23 hours left of Blogapalooza!

Monday, August 16, 2010

Ready, Set, Blog!


Welcome to Blogapalooza, Blog2Print's first ever blogging marathon!

By now you know the drill: 1 blog post, every hour, for 24 hours. Think you can do it? We certainly do (and we'll be right there posting with you!)

We'll be putting a new post up every hour just like you. And after you've written your blog post of the hour, just leave a comment with a link to it in our post here - that way you'll be able to see what other Blogapalooza participants are writing too!

We'll title each post by the hour so you'll know where to leave your link  (Our first post will be Hour 1 - 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM)

So get comfortable, grab 24 ideas for blog posts, have some coffee on standby for the later hours - and off we go!

Good luck and Happy Blogging!