Bloggy Award

BULLy the BEAR
BULLy the BEAR is “la papillion’s” blog. In it, he shares his experiences and knowledge about the stock market. He is happy to tell all – from his humble beginnings as a newbie to his successful endeavors today.

Visual Aesthetics – 7
BULLy the BEAR makes use of a dark theme – white text on black background. It has a lot of potential in terms of visual stimulation . However, I think that the colors and other visual elements do not exactly blend well for now. For one, the header could be customized for more impact. The blog posts can also be “prettified” a bit more to provide a more pleasant viewing experience. The more recent posts are better in this regard – it’s the older posts that can use some sprucing up. In addition to this, the chat box and other images at the top of the page could be repositioned.

User Friendliness – 9
With regard to browsing, BULLy the BEAR is perfect. All of the necessary links can be found either in the right column or the top of the page. There are no issues with load times.

I suggest larger (or bolder) fonts for easier reading. The small thin font is not really easy on the eyes.

Reading Enjoyment – 10
I am not into finances and the stock market. I am pretty sure, though, that those who are into these topics will find the posts of BULLy the BEAR quite enjoyable to read. One thing that struck me is that the blogger injects his personal experiences and thoughts in a very open manner – a definite plus for the reading experience!

Useful Info – 10
There is definitely a LOT of useful information to be found in BULLy the BEAR. There is even a page dedicated to newbies who might be asking the most basic of questions. Practical information that can be understood with little effort – that’s what this blog has to offer.

Overall Experience - 8
I’d like to think of BULLy the BEAR as money matters presented in a personal way. It looks and feels more authentic than other stock market how-tos out there. If you’re looking for this kind of blog, then BULLy the BEAR comes highly recommended.

Lady Loves Pinstripes
Lady Loves Pinstripes is Kate Conroy’s baby. She calls herself a “cute chick who knows sports,” and based on what she writes about, she sure does know what she’s about!

Visual Aesthetics – 10
Lady Loves Pinstripes looks very nice! The custom header is a mixture of pretty and kick butt – a theme that I observe all throughout the blog. The posts are peppered with relevant images that surely serve as eye candy for those who love sports.

User Friendliness – 10
Lady Loves Pinstripes is very easy to navigate – all the relevant links are found easily, either at the top of the page or in the right column. There are also no problems with load time.

Reading Enjoyment – 10
Anyone who loves sports will thoroughly enjoy reading what Kate has to say. The theme is predominantly baseball, so baseball fans will have a blast for sure.

Useful Info – 10
Trivia, stats, and all sorts of other useful information about sports can be found in the pages of Lady Loves Pinstripes. Kate also shares her own opinions, making for a lively read.

Overall Experience - 10

Here is a Gold Bloggy Award Winner!
Lady Loves Pinstripes is a great example of a sports fan’s blog. Being a “chick” myself, I’m quite proud to showcase Kate’s work!

The Reyes Report
The Reyes Report is the blog of Jorge Reyes, who aims to provide thought-provoking commentaries on the hottest issues of today. He also aims to offer a venue for interesting discussion for like minded individuals.

Visual Aesthetics – 7
The Reyes Report has a very simple look, which is actually easy on the eyes. The header is customized, giving the blog it’s own look;and there are relevant images in the posts. I feel, however, that the blog’s overall aesthetics could use more work. There is a lot of space wasted and it gives off an “empty feeling.” More so, the images in the posts could be placed in such a way as to break up the long chunks of text every now and then. A little tweaking of the visual elements and things should be much better.

User Friendliness – 8
This blog loads up really quickly and you will not have to wait just to read a post. I also like how the fonts make it easy for the user to read.

Some suggestions: The archives could be placed at a more accessible location. I also looked for an About Me page but couldn’t find any. It would be really interesting to know more about the person behind the commentaries. Last, the Snap previews can get bothersome after a while. Maybe they can be lessened.

Reading Enjoyment – 10
It is always interesting to read the take of other people on important issues. I enjoyed reading The Reyes Report as the issues are definitely relevant. Not everyone may have the same point of view as the blogger, but that’s where a good discussion starts!

Useful Info – 10
Reading The Reyes Report is much like talking to a colleague or a friend about what you just read in the newspaper. It’s reading someone’s opinions and thoughts and then having a discussion. While some may not consider that as practical information, I think it is always useful to know and talk about what’s happening around you.

Overall Experience - 8
Content-wise, The Reyes Report has a lot going for it. People who want to exercise their discussion powers, this blog could be for you!

Alan W. King’s Blog
“Not just another Wordpress Blog!” That’s the tagline of Alan W. King’s Blog, and I agree with that 100 percent! Alan W. King is a prolific poet and a writer, and while not everyone might have heard of him, his blog is an excellent way to discover the talent within this man.

Visual Aesthetics – 10
The overall look of the blog is very very sleek. With a black background and white text, you really can’t go wrong. Add the plethora of relevant images contained in each post and you have a perfect visual experience. Oh, and don’t forget the header, which makes me feel sad yet comforted at the same time. Don’t ask me why.

User Friendliness – 9
Alan W. King’s Blog is very easy to navigate. All the relevant links are easily found in the right column. In spite of the number of photos, I didn’t have any issues with load time. The only thing that I had problems with is the font size. I love the font, but the small white text is not very friendly to my disadvantaged eyesight. Maybe make them a bit bigger for those who may not have perfect vision like me?

Reading Enjoyment – 10
Prior to reading Alan W. King’s submission e-mail, I had never heard about this man. In spite of this, I found myself hooked on his posts. His writing style is easy to follow and his choice of topics very interesting. From amusing male issues (see The B.B. Blues) to snippets about the Big O (I have to read this again!) – you’ll really enjoy reading this blog.

Useful Info – 10
INSIGHTFUL is the word I would use to describe Alan W. King’s Blog. It is a veritable treasure trove of ideas taken from life, from poems, movies, etc.; and for those who are on the lookout for something to read/watch/listen to, you just might discover something new in Alan W. King’s Blog.

Overall Experience - 9
I have six words for you: Click on the blog link NOW.

A Singaporean Stockmarket Investor
A Singaporean Stockmarket Investor is the blog of AK71, whose aim is to secure a financial future for himself. In his blog, he shares his experience in trying to grow his wealth and create a steady (passive) stream of income.

Visual Aesthetics – 8
The color scheme of A Singaporean Stockmarket Investor is quite pleasant – various hues of green. First impression: the blog looks stark. If you think about it though, the simplicity matches the central idea of the blog. I suggest a more striking header, though, as well as a few more images here and there. Another suggestion is to balance out the contents of the columns, as most columns have lots of content while the third column has too much “white space.”

User Friendliness – 10
A Singaporean Stockmarket Investor is very very easy to navigate. The four-column structure makes it easy to find relevant links – both within the blog and outside of it. Load times were not a problem either.

Reading Enjoyment – 10
I have to be honest and say I didn’t really find myself enjoying the posts, but I cannot take this against the blogger; after all, I have no inclination towards stocks whatsoever. Going through the content, however, I am pretty sure that like minded people will find the blog quite enjoyable to read.

Useful Info – 10
As ignorant as I am when it comes to investing, I was able to pick up tidbits of information from A Singaporean Stockmarket Investor. I can just imagine how useful this blog will be to those who actually need information on the Singaporean stockmarket. From the blogger’s favorite companies to his strategies, you will find a lot in this blog.

Overall Experience – 9
A Singaporean Stockmarket Investor has loads of content that many will find useful. If you are into investing and the stockmarket, then you ought to bookmark this blog. If, however, you are not, then I suggest passing up on this one.

Dollar Bin Horror
Dollar Bin Horror is the blog for horror fans “on a budget.” Rhonny Reaper is the person behind the blog, and she promises to bring the ultimate horror movies and books to the forefront. Even better, she chooses to share entertainment material that will NOT break the bank!

Visual Aesthetics – 10
Dollar Bin Horror’s look is perfect for the theme. The background is black, splattered with splotches of red. The header is customized – a mixture of gore and a dollar bill. The font is in bright red as well, blending well with the rest of the blog’s looks. You will not find a lack for images all throughout the blog. In fact, they serve to whet your appetite for more gory stuff.

User Friendliness – 8
There are no problems regarding load time when you browse through the pages of Dollar Bin Horror. I do have two points to bring up, though. One, the shade of red used for the font makes it a bit hard on the eyes. Maybe a darker and bolder red might be better. Then again, it could just be my eyes! Two, the archives and categories sections could be placed in a more accessible location. The blog has a lot of content and one will have to scroll down a lot to find these two navigational tools.

Reading Enjoyment – 10
If you’re into horror flicks and stories, then Dollar Bin Horror will provide you with all the enjoyment that you crave. Rhonny writes in a very conversational manner, making you feel as if you were talking to a friend who just watched or read the story. I am not into horror, but reading her posts kinda got me interested.

Useful Info – 10
This blog definitely gets a perfect score in this regard. Dollar Bin Horror dishes out information on horror movies and books that you may not even have heard of – I know I hadn’t heard of most of the stuff she talked about. The next time you find yourself yearning for something of this nature, you know where to go!

Overall Experience – 9
Dollar Bin Horror is a great resource for the horror fan. Whether you’re looking for books to read or movies to watch, Rhonny will point you in the right direction.

Imagination Soup
Imagination Soup is the blog of education expert Melissa Taylor. She has all sorts of credentials to back her up, being a mother, teacher, and writer at the top of the list. In her blog, she aims to provide parents with ideas to encourage their children to keep on learning.

Visual Aesthetics – 10
There is nothing more than one can ask for in terms of visual aesthetics. Imagination Soup is very well designed, with all the elements coming together perfectly to suit the theme. The colors and images are perfect and make for a clean but playful look.

User Friendliness – 10
Browsing Imagination Soup is so easy that you will not get lost at any point. I like how Melissa organizes her posts by categories, making it very convenient for readers to find what they want. There is no archives section, but there really is no need for it in this case as the organization of the content is quite good.

Reading Enjoyment – 10
Parents and teachers will find themselves devouring post after post in this blog. The entries are very well written, in an easy-to-read format. Reading enjoyment? Definitely perfect!

Useful Info – 10
Imagination Soup is a one-stop shop for those who are looking for material on education and learning – the fun way. Each post is loaded with practical information. Once again a perfect score.

Overall Experience - 10

One look at Imagination Soup and you’ll know that this blog is worthy of a Gold Bloggy Award . A closer look will not change your mind. Parents, make it a habit to visit this blog. Your children will be better off because of it!

What Would A Dog Do
What Would A Dog Do is all about man’s best friend. Written and maintained by Dogman2. He describes himself as a dog lover and says that he just wants to share what he knows about this animal. One thing I can say: his passion shines through.

Visual Aesthetics – 9
What Would A Dog Do looks very clean. Black text on a white background – you can’t get any simpler than that. I also love the header and the way the other elements come together visually. The only suggestion I have is to lessen the space between the links in the right column. A little too much white space there!

User Friendliness – 10
What Would A Dog Do is quite easy to look at and to navigate. I also didn’t have any problems with load time. What I would do, however, is to add tags or labels to make it easier to find posts. More so, I would move the archives up higher in the page. It is a bit tedious to keep scrolling down too much.

Reading Enjoyment – 10
Perfect! I am a dog lover and What Would A Dog Do caters to that side of me. Anyone who owns a dog, or would want to own one, will certainly appreciate what Dogman2 has to say.

Useful Info – 10
Another area where What Would A Dog Do gets a perfect score! As I said earlier, Dogman2’s passion really shines through his posts. More than that, he actually writes about things that dog lovers will be able to make use of. Keep it up!

Overall Experience - 9
Content-wise, I have nothing but praise. Just a little tweaking here and there with regard to formatting and you can’t complain about anything else. Dog lovers, bookmarkWhat Would A Dog Do!

Anaheim Signs
Anaheim Sign Company is the business blog of Anaheim Signs, which has been in the business since 1910. The blog aims to provide customers with additional information on the company and about signs in general.

Visual Aesthetics – 6
The blog makes use of a dark-themed template. The background colors are a mixture of black, blue, green, and other hues. It is pleasant enough, but I would have expected more on the visual side from a sign company. More so, there really aren’t any graphic elements that add to the visual experience.

User Friendliness – 6
The blog doesn’t have much content yet, so it is fairly easy to find the posts. However, it would be better to have an archives section for easier browsing. The categories section could also use some work. Another suggestion is to make the fonts a little bigger – they are quite small and the white text on the dark background is hard on the eyes.

Reading Enjoyment – 9
Those who are interested in signs, especially those who are looking for more information about them, will enjoy reading the blog. The only thing lacking really is more posts.

Useful Info – 9
The blog definitely has lots of practical information to offer. The writer knows what he’s talking about, and provides expert advice. Again, my suggestion is to post more frequently and provide extra information on signs.

Overall Experience - 7
The blog Anaheim Sign Company can prove to be a very useful resource in the field. With a little work, this blog will attract more readers in no time.

Never Too Late Guitar
Never Too Late Guitar is the blog of Jeff Singer, who is a beginner at learning the guitar. He created the blog in an effort to share what he knows and what he is learning. In his words, “just because I’m a beginner doesn’t mean I don’t have something to say that can be useful to other beginners, and on the rare occasion, an expert.”

Visual Aesthetics – 10
The visuals of Never Too Late Guitar are excellent! From the unique header to the brown-beige color theme, the blog is simply pleasing to look at. There is no shortage of images within the blog posts themselves. Great work!

User Friendliness – 10
Navigating Never Too Late Guitar is such an easy task. All the relevant links can be found either in the right column or at the top of the blog. Load times are a snap as well.

Reading Enjoyment – 10
I learned guitar when I was a kid, but never really became good at it. Needless to say, I enjoyed myself immensely as I was going through the posts in Never Too Late Guitar. I especially liked the awesome guitar pictures.

Useful Info – 10
There is a LOT – I repeat, a LOT – that you can pick up in this blog. True, Jeff may consider himself a beginner, but he is also right in saying that he has a lot to share with others.

Overall Experience - 10

I’m glad to say that we have another Gold Bloggy Award Winner! Guitar enthusiasts – whether you are a newbie or more experienced – Never Too Late Guitar should be in your bookmarks!