So You Want To Be Famous..

Hello Abby Gabbers!! Boy, do I ever have some exciting news to share with you!! My humble, silly, often awkward blog has been accepted into the Blogher Publishing Network!!


Yes, that is a video of me dancing to The Pointer Sisters. You're welcome.

For those who don't know, BlogHer is a website dedicated to supporting women who blog. And it's MASSIVE. Founded in 2005, it reaches no less than 40 million people per MONTH. The social media aspects of being involved with Blogher alone could help increase a small blog's traffic by a lot. And the best part? It's all by women, for women, and about women. 

The Blogher Publishing Network will give me the opportunity to make a little cash while continuing to bring you the silliness that is Abby Gabs. Here's what it will mean for you: there will be a couple of new ad spaces added to the site.

That's it.  There will be no major changes to the content of Abby Gabs, you won't be bombarded every day with reviews and giveaways (though there may be one occasionally.) It'll just be a couple of ads, some change in my pocket, and the potential to grow my readership in a way that, as of right now, seems unimaginable to me.

Down the road, I'm hoping Blogher might approach me to be featured on their site. I've also joined the Blogher Book Club (SQUEEE!) and if they choose me to review a book, I'll do that here, as well. (In Abby Gabs fashion. With pictures and humor and stuff.)

And so, in celebration of being embraced by the BlogHer community, I've decided to thank my readers (current and future) with a little Abby Gabs fun. 

Here's the thing, kids. I'm trying to reach 100 fans on my Facebook Fan Page. As I'm writing this, I'm hovering around 60 fans, so I've got a few slots left to fill. And what's better for motivating people to click "Like" than a friendly little giveaway? 

Cash and Prizes

For my 75th friend, I will draw you a customized portrait, which you can use freely for your Facebook or Twitter profile picture, Christmas cards, or t-shirts. It will be similar to the one I recently drew of myself:

For my 99th friend, (because it sucks to think you're going to win the grand prize but you are actually right on the cusp of losing), I will draw TWO customized portraits. One of you, and one of a friend/spouse/pet/Congressman/landmark. Because two is better than the price of one. (Or, you can opt of one portrait featuring two people. Your choice. Because I'm flexible like that.)

And for my 100th friend, you will be forever immortalized here on Abby Gabs in a classic (completely fictional) tale of our friendship, with portraits included in the post. There will be drawing and photoshopping involved, so be prepared to see yourself as Thor or Martha Stewart, depending on the story line we agree upon. (Author's Note: If I've never met you in my whole life, there will be liberties taken to make the blog interesting and fun for everyone.)

For those who would rather see themselves as Neil Armstrong/Al Roker/Cat Woman/POTUS, you can similarly opt out of the drawn portrait and choose a Photoshopped portrait of yourself instead. The choices are endless. Here are a couple of examples of what you can expect:

My husband, as Superman.

My friend, Heather, as Wonder Woman.

But wait, there's more!!!

I don't want to leave out my current Facebook fans, so, each and every one of you will also be entered to win a customized portrait as well. Once I reach 100 fans, I will do a random drawing including everyone (except those who already won stuff. What? Don't be greedy.) So, that gives you some incentive to spread the word!! Because the sooner I get to 100 fans, the sooner you guys get your drawings!!!

Thanks in advance for your support as I move forward with the Blogher Publishing Network!! I can't wait to see what the future holds!

A Reason to Celebrate (In Two Parts)

There are moments in every blogger's life that are celebration-worthy. It may be reaching 100 readers, or a validating comment that makes your writer's soul soar, or writing that all-auspicious 250th post. And readers, yesterday I had one of those moments. And today I'd like to share it with you.


A little over a week ago, I shared my sadness at the lack of Donnie Wahlberg's social media activity of late. As usual, it was a tongue-in-cheek account of what it's like to be an uber-fan of someone you only get to interact with on the web. In the post, I mentioned that my summer has thus far been saved by daily doses of Donnie deliciousness thanks to fan-site  ThoseWahlbergMen.com. They've been on the web for over 10 years, and are 100% Donnie-approved. (He's done videos endorsing the site. Seriously.) While I haven't gotten to enjoy daily tweets, videos, and pictures posted by the man himself, the ladies over at TWM thrill me daily with photos like this one:

(on the set of Blue Bloods)

Well, I rarely write a glowing review about something (or someone) that I love without sharing. So, I reached out to TWM via Twitter and let them know about the blog. I was expecting a thank-you (cuz these ladies are pure class), I was hoping for a laugh. But what I couldn't have dreamed for was this:

Now, Abby Gabs has been shared by friends and family and husbands alike over the last year and a half. But this may be the first time in my blog's history that it's been shared to such a large and diverse audience. TWM's Facebook page has 4,791 fans. And we all have one major thing in common---our unending infatuation adoration of Mark and/or Donnie Wahlberg.

My first reaction, when seeing the shared link, was to giddily think to myself, "OMG! I might gain some new readers from this!!! Hooray for me!"


Then my Uber-And-Slightly-Crazed-Donnie-Fan took over, and I was all like...

When I regained consciousness, I jumped into mega-thank-you mode, and began the celebration by telling EVERYONE I KNOW what TWM had done for me. As the congratulations started rolling in, I got another awesome surprise from a fellow Block Head (the nickname given to die-hard New Kids fans.) Meet Selena:

Isn't she lovely, ya'll?

Selena reached out to let me know that she's working hard to raise money for a foundation that's close to my heart--The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. And, like a true Donnie girl, she knows the best way to rake in cash hand-over-fist: by offering a contest where the winner gets some swag with a half-naked Donnie on it. 


Uh, yeah. I'm all in. *insert stupid-excited grin*


Here's how it works:


Point your browser to Selena's Page on the Susan G. Komen website, click on the "Donate to Selena" button, and make a donation of at least $5. When you do that, you'll be automatically entered to win a 2013 Donnie Wahlberg wall calendar AND an awesome DDUB t-shirt, both from ThoseWahlbergMen.com.

Here's what your shirt will look like. You'll have to
work at not drooling on the front while wearing the shirt.
Good luck with that.

Selena will announce the winner on August 1, 2012. She says she'll send the prizes any where in the world, so don't hesitate to enter!! You'll be donating to an amazing and worthy cause, helping a terrific gal out in the process, and let's not forget the hotness that is the grand prize. I know I'LL be entering. Won't you join me?


In the meantime, I'll be camped out in front of my computer, checking my blog stats like the criminally insane, and watching for the all important "click" that may come from the man himself. There may be cruellers and coffee involved. Like a full-blown cop-style stakeout. Except with no guns.


Except for Donnie's. 

Oh, man. That was bad.