Bloggy Award

Michigan Raw Food
Michigan Raw Food is all about living a healthy lifestyle and eating healthy food. As the name implies, the blog targets those who live in Michigan but welcomes everyone and anyone who is interested in health.

Visual Aesthetics - 9
The template of Michigan Raw Food makes use of three columns, which makes everything look more organized despite the large amount of content. There are a lot of visual effects to be found in the outermost columns. However, the posts themselves could use more sprucing up.

User Friendliness - 9
Michigan Raw Food is very easy to navigate, especially with the 3-column template. It is a pity that there is no section for categories as that would be very helpful if you want to browse old posts based on the topic. Other than that little thing, this blog is very user friendly.

Reading Enjoyment - 10
I really enjoyed reading most of the posts on Michigan Raw Food. The posts are very varied - from food to beauty treatments to seminars. It provides an easy read for those who want to know more about healthy living.

Useful Info - 10
I think that this is the strongest point of Michigan Raw Food. Though it is a relatively new blog, there is already a lot of information crammed in its pages - information that you can immediately make use of after reading the posts.

Overall Experience - 9
Content-wise, Michigan Raw Food is excellent. Maybe a little more tweaking for the visual and navigation aspect? In any case, I would recommend this blog to health buffs out there.

Some People Are On The Pitch
Some People Are On The Pitch is blog about soccer written from a British perspective. Different aspects of the game are discussed and related news is often reported as well. The bloggers maintain that more than information about soccer, they also want to put a humorous slant to the blog - and this is something that we all can appreciate.

Visual Aesthetics - 10
The visuals of Some People Are On The Pitch are nothing spectacular but they do serve their purpose. The overall look of the blog is very clean, adding to the visual experience of the reader. There is also a smattering of relevant photos within the posts.

User Friendliness - 10
Some People Are On The Pitch is very well organized. Readers will find it very easy to navigate this blog as all the relevant links are located in the right column in an orderly fashion. As for the loading time, there is absolutely no problem at all.

Reading Enjoyment - 10
Some People Are On The Pitch is easy reading for those who are into soccer. Whether the post is about news events or trivia, I am sure that you will find it enjoyable to read.

Useful Info - 10
For the soccer fan, there is definitely a lot of useful information to be found in the pages of Some People Are On The Pitch. I particularly like how they write long and detailed posts about recent and upcoming games.

Overall Experience - 10
This is the perfect easy reading blog for anyone who likes soccer. It actually does not matter what country you come from - the posts are written for everyone. Bookmark it soccer fans!

Bread Cetera
Bread Cetera is a haven for those who love bread and even more so for those who actually make their own bread. This is the blog of a man who calls himself SteveB and he wants to show the average home bread maker how he or she can achieve professional results.

Visual Aesthetics - 10
I have to say that the visuals of Bread Cetera are excellent! I found my mouth watering as I browsed through the various posts. I love bread but I hadn’t realized just how many kinds of bread there are. The blog has three columns, all of which are packed with visual stimulation for the bread lover.

User Friendliness - 10
Bread Cetera is very easy to navigate, with all the necessary information in the middle column. The colors and fonts also blend together well for easy reading. And despite the immense amount of pictures contained in the blog, I did not have any issues with load time.

Reading Enjoyment - 10
How can one not enjoy reading this blog? It’s like saying that you do not enjoy a nice loaf of freshly baked bread! Bread Cetera not only provides visual stimulation but the words are well-crafted to make you want to take a bite.

Useful Info - 10
If you dabble in the kitchen and love to bake, then Bread Cetera is the perfect resource for making bread. There are countless recipes, tips, and advice to be found in the pages of the blog. The posts are easy enough to understand and I think that even I can manage some of the recipes here.

Overall Experience - 10
Perfect score for an excellent blog! Bread Cetera should be in the bookmarks and blogrolls of every person who calls himself or herself a baker.

Cheap Jap
Who says you have to spend tons of money to look good? Certainly not Alexandra, the person behind Cheap Jap. This blog is all about fashion, looking fabulous for less. You can even get money earning tips along the way.

Visual Aesthetics - 10
If the visuals of Cheap Jap is an indication of the advice that you can get from the blog, then you are all set. The template makes use of a denim background and the posts have fashionable pictures scattered all throughout. All the individual elements comes together seamlessly.

User Friendliness - 9
Cheap Jap scores well in this aspect. Navigation is a breeze with the relevant links found in the right column. I would have liked to see a chronological archive section but that’s a minor thing. The pages also load up very quickly you don’t really have to wait to see the content.

Reading Enjoyment - 10
For someone whose strongest suit is not fashion, this kind of blog provides an entertaining read. Although I could not relate to the passion for the clothes and accessories, I had fun reading the lighthearted material found in Cheap Jap.

Useful Info - 10
Definitely a veritable treasure trove of useful information on fashion - that’s how I want to describe Cheap Jap. There is a lot of information to be had here, all of them practical, especially for those who put a premium on their appearance without necessarily paying an arm and a leg for it.

Overall Experience - 10
Cheap Jap is a very good blog both in terms of text and visual content. There is never a dull moment as you browse through the posts, which seem to provide something new all the time.

Health Care Articles
It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out what Health Care Articles is all about. In this blog’s pages, you can read a lot on different health issues, which are presented in a very informational manner.

Visual Aesthetics - 8
Health Care Articles makes use of a three-column template which does not contain too many colors. In one way, this makes for a very neat look. However, it does leave one with a feeling that something else is needed for that extra visual “oomph.”

User Friendliness - 10
Having three columns in a blog makes for a lot of space to put content in. This also makes it easy for the readers to navigate the blog since the links are easier to spot, especially with the categories lumped together. I didn’t have any problems with load time as well.

Reading Enjoyment - 9
I enjoy reading health articles so I found myself spending a reasonable amount of time browsing through the posts in Health Care Articles. I did notice a few typos here and there but they didn’t really take away much from the reading experience.

Useful Info - 10
Perhaps the strongest point of Health Care Articles is in the information that it contains. Though there are not that many posts as of yet, what you can find in Health Care Articles is very useful. From allergies to health food to avoiding pain - you can expect to garner practical information from this blog.

Overall Experience - 9
If you are looking for easy reading on health topics, Health Care Articles is a good place start. It may not be much in terms of the visuals but the content will make up for that.

Ashin Mettacara
Ashin Mettacara is the blog of a Buddhist monk who is from Burma. He blogs because he wants to spread the word about what is really happening in his country. The plight of the Burmese people used to be a focal point in international affairs but lately, it has been overshadowed by other issues. This blog intends to keep the world aware that Burma is still in a state of disarray and they still need the help of the outside world.

Visual Aesthetics - 9
Ashin Mettacara is a very simple blog in terms of the visuals. Apart from the header, which is also stark, there isn’t much by way of visual effects. The pictures and videos contained within the site do add to the visual experience, though.

User Friendliness - 9
There is a lot of content to be found in Ashin Mettacara. They are easy on the eyes of the reader but navigation is a little bit hard as there are no sections for the chronological archives or categories. You can navigate the blog by clicking on the menu items below the header although you won’t find them arranged by category. The news and other links on the left column help a lot if you are looking for additional information.

Reading Enjoyment - 10
I wouldn’t use the term “enjoy” in its strictest sense for Ashin Mettacara for how can you enjoy reading about the plight of a whole nation? However, you will definitely find yourself reading, reading, and reading some more. Ashin Mettacara is relatively well written to provide the necessary information on what is going on in Burma.

Useful Info - 10
Ashin Mettacara’s strongest point is in the information that it offers. Seeing the real situation in Burma, from an insider’s point of view, is something else. If you are not aware of their situation, then this blog will certainly open your eyes. And if you already know some things about Burma, you will appreciate the stark honesty that can be found within the posts.

Overall Experience - 9
Ashin Mettacara is a political and social blog that is worth reading over and over again. I admire Ashin Mettacara for having the courage to spread the news to the rest of the world, knowing that he might get in trouble for doing so. I strongly encourage you to support him in any way you can, even if it’s only by reading his blog.

Petticoats And Pistols
Petticoats And Pistols is the joint venture of a group of Western romance writers. They offer insights, info, and trivia on everything Western.

Visual Aesthetics - 10
The visuals of Petticoats And Pistols is as Western as Western can get! From the brown color scheme to the photos and other graphics, you will certainly feel that Western ambiance. The posts themselves are scattered with relevant photos, giving you Western eye candy.

User Friendliness - 10
Petticoats And Pistols is very well-organized and neat. The template makes use of two columns, the left one containing all the relevant links. From archives to categories to more info on the authors, you can find them all here. They even have links to their guest bloggers, making it easier for readers to find specific posts.

Reading Enjoyment - 10
I am a big Western fan but although I am not really into Western romance novels, I found myself enjoying most of the posts, especially those which featured trivia such as Western terms. These bloggers are excellent writers and they know how to engage their readers.

Useful Info - 10
If you ever need to do research on writing Westerns, then this blog is the place to visit. You can also find information on their work, which is especially useful if you are into reading Western romance novels.

Overall Experience - 10
Petticoats And Pistols is an excellent resource in every respect. The authors not only use the power of words but combine visuals to provide the best experience to their readers. Highly recommended!

Decompose
Decompose is the blog of Mike Duran, an ordained minister, a writer, and a record holder for the most number of consecutive 3-point shots made in his front yard. His blog is a creative outlet for himself and a venue for others to discover insights about life in general. He describes it best as his “attempt to discern, interpret, challenge, poke fun at, and ultimately enjoy the world we live in.”

Visual Aesthetics - 10
Decompose scores strongly on this point as its individual visual elements come together to create an excellent experience for the reader. I am very much impressed with the header, which is a collage of various people and items that the blog talks about. I think that it really captures the essence of the blog. The posts themselves also contain enough relevant images to break up the long blocks of text.

User Friendliness - 10
Navigating Decompose is a breeze. Links to relevant sections are easily found right below the header. The right column also contains additional links that the reader will find useful - archives, top posts, recent posts, categories, blog roll, and the like. More so, the pages loaded up very quickly.

Reading Enjoyment - 10
I have never been one to enjoy heavy philosophical discussion but I found myself reading through the posts in Decompose. Mike Duran has a way with words that makes complicated ideas easy enough to understand and digest. The topics are very relevant to the modern day Christian who faces various issues in his daily life.

Useful Info - 10
Sometimes I think that written works of philosophy and religion have little practical value. Decompose proves me wrong. This blog is full of philosophical and religious discussion but there is a lot of practical information that one can apply in his daily life.

Overall Experience - 10
Decompose is an excellent blog if you want to stimulate your brain. I have to say that it is not light reading but you will not regret frequenting it as you walk away knowing something more.

Le Cose Amato
Le Cose Amato is a photo blog of all things fashion. I am taking a wild guess that the blog name is in Italian. In an effort to find the English equivalent, I used Babelfish and got “The Things Loved.” Whether or not that is accurate, this blog is indeed full of things that people with great fashion sense will love.

Visual Aesthetics - 10
Le Cose Amato scores perfectly in this regard. From the color scheme (pink and beige background, black and teal text on white) to the header (very vivid graphical representation) to the photos in the posts - everything has been designed so as to provide the reader with the ultimate visual experience.

User Friendliness - 9
It is quite easy to navigate Le Cose Amato since the relevant links are found in the left column. I really like the fact that the sources of the photos are all listed there as well. As for loading time, there was no problem despite the huge amount of pictures. I would have liked a little more info in the blogger’s About Me section, though.

Reading Enjoyment - 10
I am not a big fan of fashion but I found myself going through the posts and enjoying myself. I think that the blogger is highly successful in engaging his readers, not only because of the excellent choice of photos but because of his utilization of other methods to elicit interaction. These include polls and quizzes that are related to the pictures in the post.

Useful Info - 10
To be honest, I do not think that this kind of information will be practical for the average person. However, for people who are into fashion, Le Cose Amato is a goldmine. If you want to be in the know about the latest in the fashion world, then Le Cose Amato is the place to get the information.

Overall Experience - 10
Le Cose Amato has managed to bring together an excellent collection of photographs pertinent to fashionistas. The presentation is excellent, with the blogger’s knowledge shining through. Even if you do not consider yourself a fashionista, you just might learn a thing or two about looking good.

Thoughts From The Front Porch
Thoughts From The Front Porch is the personal blog of a young mother from South Alabama. Jennifer earned a degree in Elementary education and is currently a stay at home mom. She shares her thoughts on various things in life in Thoughts From The Front Porch.

Visual Aesthetics - 9
Thoughts From The Front Porch has a personalized look which is appropriate to the theme of the blog. The header in particular makes you think of something warm and comforting. The posts themselves could use more visuals, though.

User Friendliness - 9
The pages of Thoughts From The Front Porch load up very quickly. Navigation is also quite easy - you can browse using the category section, which can be found in the right column. There is no section for the archives based on the date, though.

Reading Enjoyment - 10
Thoughts From The Front Porch is a joy to read. There are a lot of different stories that I found enjoyable, especially the video posts.

Useful Info - 9
There isn’t much by way of practical information in Thoughts From The Front Porch but the insights and the laughter that you can experience while reading the posts are worth it.

Overall Experience - 9
I encourage you to come visit and enjoy some thoughts from the front porch. You will walk away from the experience happier, trust me.