Week 9: We're cutting it down to 3...

Here were are. Another elimination. The good news is that after today, there's only one more before the finale. The bad news is that someone isn't even going to make it to next week.

In honor of tutorial week, I'm going to give you a tutorial that is FAR less interesting than the ones that the contestants wrote this week.

First, if you haven't, do your own tutorial and link it up in our play at home post for this week.

Then, when you're done with that, check out the sponsors that are providing the prize for the person being eliminated this week: Healthy To Go and snackTAXI.

Finally, put your hand over your eyes. Spread your fingers so you are peaking out between them, and watch the elimination video.

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

Week 9: Will you vote for unicorns, zombies, buffalo wings, or the chupacabra?

This week, the four remaining contestants had to write a tutorial. But there were a few catches. First, we preselected the tutorials for them. Second, they got to choose from the selected tutorials based on their scores from Week 8. The person with the highest score had the first choice.

Here are the posts:

Ice Scream Mama: Buffalo Wings & Chicken Fingers: From Plains to Plate
Martinis and Minivans: Getting Your Zombie To Commit
Pile of Babies: So You Want To Groom A Chupacabra
Crazed in the Kitchen: How To Breed Unicorns

With only four contestants left, it's more important to place your vote for who you want to win, and rally up all the support for them that you can. Share their post, and ask people to vote for them.

Somebody is going to win this!

One of our awesome prize sponsors is Newman's Own Organics. This year, the first runner up will get to choose four items from the Newman's Own Organics line, listed below. And you know, in order to make sure it was going to be a good prize, I had to check it out for myself. They sent me:

Tristan may have been a little excited.

• Salted Pretzel Sticks
• Spelt Pretzels
• Caramel Cups
• Peanut Butter Cups
• Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
• Dark Chocolate Caramel Cups
• Dehydrated Prunes
• Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Vanilla Alphabet Cookies
• Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Dark Chocolate Bar
• Super Dark Chocolate Bar
• Mocha Milk Chocolate Bar
• Milk Chocolate Bar
• Espresso Dark Chocolate Bar
• Orange Dark Chocolate Bar
• Pomegranate Licorice
• Sour Apple Licorice
• Black Licorice
• Strawberry Licorice
• Ginger Hermits
• Fig Newmans
• Chocolate Creme Newman-O's
• Original Newman-O's
• Ginger 'N Creme Ginger O's
• Peppermints
• Wintergreen Mints
• Cinnamon Mints
• Ginger Mints

My first thought was that most of it was probably going to taste gross, because it's 'healthy'. So, I went for the chocolate first. My sister was over, and I broke chunks off of each of the chocolate bars and we tasted them all. I'm a HUGE dark chocolate fan, and both the Dark Chocolate Bar and Super Dark Chocolate Bar were my favs. My sister liked the Milk Chocolate. I discreetly hid the Peanut Butter and Caramel Cups until she was gone... I wasn't about to share those... lol. 

After dinner, we let the kids do a little sampling. They mostly went for the licorice. The Pomegranate Licorice was an awesome twist on something that's usually pretty ordinary. The Sour Apple ones had that sugar-coating all over them, and made their cheeks pucker.

My favorite thing was the Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies. I' m not usually a fan of oatmeal cookies, but these were delish! I was really surprised that the pretzels, especially the spelt pretzels, tasted so... normal. I was also highly amazed when the kids sat and ripped through the bag of prunes... yes, prunes... in one sitting. They ate them like they were fruit snacks or something.

I heard rave reviews about the Hermits from lots of people, but ginger really isn't my thing so I wasn't a fan. The kids liked them though. And the mints... the cinnamon and ginger ones are SPICY!

If I was the Idol hopeful that was winning the prize pack from Newman's Own Organics, and I had to choose my four items from above, it would be: Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies, Pomegranate Licorice, Chocolate Creme Newman-O's, and one of the chocolate bars.

Play-at-Home Link Up: Week 9

This week is tutorial week. We decided that in order to give the contestants equal ground, that we would come up with the tutorials for them, you know, in case someone was lacking creative ability. So we decided that we would give them all tutorials that are completely fake. For example:

1. How to harvest buffalo wings and chicken fingers (to be taken literally as wings from buffalos and fingers from chickens)
2. How to domesticate a zombie
3. How to groom a chupacabra
4. How to breed unicorns.

You are welcome to use one of those, or choose one of your own, fictitious or not. When you are done, link up here, and go comment on two other posts that have been linked up! You might just learn something new!

Farewell from Manderstanding

Cinko’s Farewell Address by Cinko

Well, my fellow brothers and sisters of awesomeness, Cinko’s run in Blogger Idol has ended. Cinko fought the good fight. Cinko was literally the last man standing, facing down the tsunami of estrogen alone, but with the fighting spirit that only a true, bacon loving American man could muster. We should revel in his greatness for his kisses taste like steak and whiskey and his blood smells like cologne.

Cinko would like send out a heaping helping of thanks to everyone involved in Blogger Idol, right down to every last judge. Without this competition, Cinko would have not had to push himself to write out of his comfort zone. Cinko always thought that the American Idol contestants getting along with each other was fake until now. Going through this experience has made Cinko truly appreciate the bonds and friendships he has made with everyone associated with Blogger Idol. Last, but certainly not least, Cinko would like to thank all of the people that voted for Manderstanding each week and had to endure the relentless bombardment of posts and texts to “vote early and vote awesome.” Cinko says to each and every single one of you; you’ll be in Cinko’s heart, yes, you’ll be in Cinko’s heart. From this day on, now and forever more. You’ll be in Cinko’s heart, no matter what they say. You’ll be in Cinko’s heart, always.

Looking into the future, Cinko sees beautiful things: bacon wrapped unicorns, zombie ducks, a manifesto of awesomeness and bigger and better things coming from Manderstanding. He knows that in his heart, his manly, bearded heart, that despite being the fourth loser, he will rise from the ashes of defeat like the mighty platypus and spread his greatness all over the world. Cinko will endure. Cinko will move forward. Cinko will survive. Cinko shall go on to the end. Cinko shall fight in France, Cinko shall fight on the seas and oceans, Cinko shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, Cinko shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. Cinko shall fight on the beaches, Cinko shall fight on the landing grounds, Cinko shall fight in the fields and in the streets, Cinko shall fight in the hills; Cinko shall never surrender.

Remember Cinko fondly. Remember him whilst you are shopping on Black Friday. Remember him when you are smoking legalized marijuana. Remember him for his fondness for seagulls, zombie chickens, and awesomesexual dinosaurs. Remember Cinko for he is breathtaking, tremendous and remarkable. Let Cinko’s light shine upon the world in all its glory and with all his modesty, yea verily. Amen.

In finale, don’t cry for Cinko, Blogger Idol, for Cinko’s ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is. From this day to the ending of the world (31 days), but we in it shall be remembered, we few, we happy few, we band of brothers. For he (or she) who sheds his (or her) blood with Cinko, shall be Cinko’s brother (or sister). Wherever there is justice, you will find him. Wherever there is suffering, he will be there. Wherever liberty is threatened, you will find … CINKO!!!

Hugs and Kisses,
The Magnanimous, Cinko IV of Concord

-Manderstanding

Week 8 Elimination: From Five to Four

Well, friends, this is it: We're about to find out who makes the Blogger Idol 2012 Top 4!  That's almost as special as the top three.  Which you won't find out about until TWO WEEKS from now.  Did you get that?  Yeah, here at Blogger Idol, we respect family time and all that Thanksgiving jazz, so we'll be taking next week off and giving our contestants a much needed break.  But we hope to see our faithful audience back here when Week 9 voting starts on November 27th.

So, this week our Fab Five ranted and raved.  And they did a darn good job.  Breastfeeding, Black Friday, online exploitation - they pulled all the stops!  But, alas, we've got to say goodbye to one more. 

This week's winner will receive:

Small Concept

Small Concept was born of a love for children and an obsession for tiny tot style. Modern fashion. Cool Styles. Hip Graphics. Great quality – in everything for your little ones – kid’s apparel, nursery furniture, toys, maternity and more. Winner will receive a gift code.

Sogno Coffee Company

Is it your dream to find that perfect cup of coffee? But among the thousands of chain coffeehouses and the dizzying array of trendy brands, where do you start? Actually, it's simple. At Sogno Coffeehouse, they know it all starts with the beans. Truth is, many people have not had the pleasure of enjoying a real quality coffee. No matter the price, brand, or packaging, it all comes down to the beans. Sogno roasts only the finest Arabica beans in their one of a kind, custom-built roaster. The product is unrivaled: the aroma, the body, and that very first sip... it's like un sogno, a dream. Prize package includes two 8oz bags of your choice.

Thanks to all who played along this week.  Who knew ranting could be so fun, right?  Don't forget to join us next time for the play-at-home fun.

Before I go, I must give a shout out to our guest judge, Conversate is not a word and other abuses of the English language.  When I was typing that just now, I was tempted to shorten it to "Conversate," but  then I decided calling this phenomenal judge and English language defender by a non-word was just too ironic.  And not in a good way. 

Enjoy the elimination video and a Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Love, The Spaghetti Westerner.

P.S. Does anyone actually ever "enjoy" elimination videos? 

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

Week 8 Voting!

This week, the contestants stepped up onto their soapbox, and ranted about something they're passionate about. But did their passion show through? Did they take it to far? We'll let you be the judge! Go read the assignments, and come back and vote for your favorite!

Manderstanding - Black Friday Rule
Crazed in the Kitchen - Don't Tell Me What To Feed My Baby!
Ice Scream Mama - You can't win them all... and that's okay.
Martinis and Minivans - The "N" Word
Pile of Babies - Exploitation Goes Viral

Farewell from Dad and Buried

I have no one to blame but myself.

Actually, that’s not true. I have many of you to blame. 

Well, again, that's not totally true either. The people I have to blame likely aren't reading this.

Yes, I have been eliminated from the Blogger Idol competition after making the final 6. I'm sorry. I know this is hard to take. It's okay. You'll get over it. Eventually. 

The toughest thing for me to come to terms with is why I got the axe. I obviously wasn’t eliminated because the judges didn’t like me; they didn’t always get me, but get real: everyone likes me. And I clearly wasn’t eliminated because my writing wasn’t good enough; don’t make me laugh: my writing is fucking phenomenal. The problem is, so was the competition's. And sure, the assignments never quite seemed to hit my sweet spot, but that’s one of the challenges of Blogger Idol, so that's a non-starter. 

The real issue here is that I might have been able to linger for another week or two if I had any friends, because I was eliminated because no one voted for me! EVER! I realize I am yelling this into the wind, since those people that didn’t vote for me certainly aren’t ever going to read this, but I am entitled to a rant! I wanted to win the Samsung Galaxy tablet. And I wanted to represent for all the so-called Dad Bloggers out there. Instead, I’ve accomplished neither. Thanks to you.

It's not all bad, though. I’ve made some new friends in the bloggerverse, and I’ve learned some new things about myself (mostly that I don’t have enough friends in the bloggerverse). I think that by making the final six (by the skin of my teeth, it seems), I may be asked back to judge next year. In which case I can only hope that all those assholes out there that couldn't be bothered to click a button next to the name "Dad and Buried" enter the competition themselves so I can take a big dump all over their entries every week. 

It's been fun, thanks for reading my posts (all three of you), and good luck to the remaining contestants.

-Dad and Buried

Week 8 Play-at-Home Link Up

This is SOAPBOX week. Get on your soapbox, and blog about something you are passionate about. Rant. Rave. This is similar to the Hot Topic week, but it can be about anything. It doesn't have to be about something in the news at all. The key here, is to go outside your comfort zone, and say things that you probably wouldn't say out loud, or on your blog normally. Be completely honest and raw.

When you're done, post your link here, and go comment on two of the other posts that are linked up. And feel free to post it on our facebook page as well, along with any other awesome posts you write!

Week 7 Elimination: Who will make it to the Top 5?

Whew...The Spaghetti Westerner here.  It's good to be back after a two-week hiatus! I was buried in flour and sugar, baking 300 cookies and a wedding cake.  Not nearly as exciting as this Blogger Idol stuff.

I, for one, cannot believe it's already November.  And I can't believe we're this far into Blogger Idol.  Where has the time gone?  We're already at the point where we get to start handing out prizes.  I hate seeing people get eliminated from this competition (even though I know it has to happen), but at least now they get something in exchange for all their hard work.

This week's winner (see how I'm spinning this whole being eliminated thing...) will receive:

GIANTmicrobes

Founded in 2002, the mission at GIANTmicrobes Inc. is to produce unique and interesting gifts for children and adults alike. Whether your interest is educational, medical, or just plain entertainment, they are your number one source for all things microbial! The winner will receive their choice of one giant Gigantic plush toy.

Boogie Wipes

Boogie Wipes® are the first ever saline nose wipe. They are a great solution for kids’ sore, red, runny noses. Boogie Wipes are made with natural saline to dissolve boogies (mucus) caused by the common cold, allergies or otherwise booger-filled kid moments. Winner will receive two 90 count canisters and several individual packages of Boogie Wipes.

I also want to thank our guest judge, Red Vines and Red Wine.  I've loved getting to meet all of our guest judges this season.  They're awesome.

Alright...so who will it be?  Who's moving on, and whose journey toward the Blogger Idol crown ends today?  Let's find out...

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

Week 7 Voting Has Begun!

It's hard to believe we're already halfway through season two of Blogger Idol!  Just six contestants remain out of our original Top 13.  The good news is that each contestant from here on out gets a prize. You know...thanks to our awesome sponsors and supporters.

This week our contestants wrote about choices that changed their lives.  It's hard to know where any of these bloggers would have ended up if they'd taken the other path, but we're glad they ended up right where they are: Here at Blogger Idol.

So read them now, and pick your favorite.

Manderstanding: My Chosen Path
Pile of Babies: The Devil I Don't Know
Martinis and Minivans: It Was Time to Choose Me
Dad and Buried: French Exit
Crazed in the Kitchen: Home is Where the Heart Is
Ice Scream Mama: The Beginning...The End

The closer we get to the end, the more important each vote is to make sure your contestant stays in the race! Vote Now!

Week 7 Play-at-Home Link Up

Every decision we make changes the outcome of our life. This week's assignment theme is "There once was a chance I didn't take...". You have to write about a chance that you regret not taking, or a chance that you had, that you didn't take, that may have turned your life in a totally different direction.

If you are having trouble thinking of an idea, try thinking on a smaller scale, instead of a larger one. What if you never would have broken up with that boyfriend in high school? What if you never would have had your first child? What if you would have kept your mouth shut during that arguement, and not told someone how you really feel?

When you are all done, post your link here! If you post, make sure you go back and read, and comment on two posts, with suggestions about how they can do better!