What is this? Two blog posts in one day?

I know. It comes courtesy of some bad Chinese food and a sick day. But it also comes because I had a few announcements to make that kept getting pushed aside for, you know, regular posts.

The devotional
If you missed it, my monthly article was posted at (in)courage yesterday. It’s called “Used to Be,” and if I do say so myself, it’s good stuff. That may be because I collaborated with Holley for this month’s message, but regardless, I hope you read it.

The discounts
Let’s see a show of hands. Who’s going to BlogHer next week? What about Relevant in October?

I was kidding, you know. I can’t see your hands. I would love to know if you’re going, though. Another expensive (though, I’m sure, amazing) trip wasn’t in my budget this year, but I can’t wait to read about my friends’ adventures at these events!

Oh yeah – the discount. As you might recall, I was unaware of the importance of business cards at my first blog conference. No longer a newbie, I am still a procrastinator. And if you’re like me, that might mean you still haven’t crossed “Order business cards” off your to-do list.

That’s where VistaPrint comes in. You can get 250 FREE business cards at VistaPrint. All you pay for is shipping. [And, of course, if you need them by next week, that will cost you more than if you need them in two months.]

Here’s how it works: Visit VistaPrint, choose a design (they have several super cute ones), select the free options of matte paper and a black/white back side, fill out your contact info, select your shipping option – and bam! You can cross that one off your list.

But wait! There’s more!

I know. That’s so annoying, isn’t it? But I really do have another great deal for you that’s relevant to anyone wanting to improve their blogs.

I attended the Savvy Blogging Summit earlier this month, and It. Was. Awesome. The recordings of each Savvy Blogging Summit session are now for sale, and until noon (EST) tomorrow, you can get 50% off the entire package by using the coupon code CHEYENNE.

If you wanted to, but weren’t able to, attend Savvy Blogging – or if you are interested in improving your blog at all, I highly recommend checking out these session recordings. From media kits, photography and SEO to law/accounting, proposal writing and strategic planning, these sessions are packed with great information.

Each session costs $10, or you can get all 12 sessions for $97 (before the 50% discount).

Visit Savvy Blogging to purchase one or all of the session recordings. And just an FYI: if you purchase all, the download time is about 15-30 minutes.

And some announcements
This summer, I’ve been looking at a few of the ways I define or describe myself with my More Than Defined series. Next Friday, August 6, will be the last installment of this series, and I’m inviting you to play along.

For anyone who would like to join me in More Than Defined, I’ll have a link-up next week.

And last, but most exciting to me, you may notice that my site gets a little wonky in the next several days. That’s because I’m movin’ on up to a WordPress site, and Deanna from Design Chicky is in the process of making the magic happen.

I’d like to think it will be a seamless move, but given the hour I spent trying to just access my domain host account, it may be more difficult than I assume.

So, while we’re at it, do YOU have any announcements to make? Tell us what’s going on in your life?

Affiliate links are used in this post, and the image is by altemark.

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“She turned off the TV!”

My new friend (Nony from A Slob Comes Clean) called me out, right there in the pizza buffet line. I think she may have even pointed her finger.

Of course, I’m joking. She said she just got caught up in the excitement of my tiny little rebellious move. The pizza joint we ate dinner in was noisy, and the over-sized flat-screen above our heads didn’t help matters.

So I turned it off.

I know. I am So. Brave. Right?

Or…not.

I might be nervy. Or, sometimes, too big for my britches. But I’m not really brave. I’m really a big scaredy cat.

I mentioned to a co-worker that someone I’d met intimidated me. She said, “What? I can’t believe you would be intimidated by anyone!”

Apparently, I’ve got people snowed. Because while I might put on a brave face and talk tough and stand tall, well, the truth is I’m scared of everything.

{You know, just like Baby: “Me? I’m scared of everything. I’m scared of what I saw, I’m scared of what I did, of who I am, and most of all I’m scared of walking out of this room and never feeling the rest of my whole life the way I feel when I’m with you.”}

This summer, despite my best intentions and grand plans, I’ve been afraid of writing honestly. I started this series, More Than Defined, intending to share and explain some of the specific – and sometimes strange – ways I describe myself.

But some of those things, it turns out, aren’t so easy to write about. And so I’ve stalled. Because I’m a scaredy cat. I’m afraid of what you’ll think. I’m afraid that you’ll disagree with me, or judge me, or stop liking me. I’m afraid…

No more, I say! Next week, I’m going to dig deeper and write more. So consider yourself forewarned.

What are you afraid of? Do you find it difficult to be transparent, either in person or online?

The cat photos are by Eirik Newth. His cats were seeing his new Roomba for the first time.

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