Nature MadeSAM-e Complete™**

Hi, I've been unemployed for 8 months and I recently broke up with my boyfriend. I've been feeling blue and crying and decided to give this a shot, took my first pill this morning. I don't want to take prescription drugs. Do you think this will help?

With Suzanne, and now Lori ahead of Brigitte, I am wondering why you decided to list the top 20 alphabetically rather than by who is ahead in the voting (as had been the case until today). I hope this does not indicate your preference of Brigitte who is now the only one of the three still placed at the top of the list.

Thank you for the luck!

One of my favorite parts of being involved in this contest is the opportunity to learn about so many other uplifting bloggers. I bookmarked more new blogs through reading SAM-e profiles, than I did in the proceeding three months!

Round one was exciting and fun; and I couldn't more grateful to be part of Round two. =)

16. Wendy, NH
I watch your video this morning and thought you did an outstanding job. The presentation was straight forward and very imformative. Good Luck.

It is great that these people are putting themselves "out there" for the world to see with the good mood blog contest. My personal favorite is the one who many of us daily readers refer to as "the lady who causes us to spray coffee all over the monitor." Suzanne's natural ability to write about the simple things in life that are new or old experiences to her and bring great memories to many of us readers and make us laugh. We look forward to the "chicken lady" in the early morning because, no matter what the topic is, it is enjoyable while learning .....or just simply being..... keep the "dishrag" ready to clean up your monitor....there is every confidence that she will keep that same good mood blog going with with SAM-e.

Brigitte, you make me laugh and smile. Thanks!

Rachel from MT has hands down the best app video! Creative and down to earth. Every one else seems to be trying to hard. I liked Rachel's because she was herself and you could tell.

this question is for one of the contestants ~ Why are you giving away $100 gift cards in exchange for votes? Personally, I don't think that is ethical. shame on you

Suzanne, WV

I loved your video. You are so lucky to live the life that you do. It's not what you own, or how much you have but the loved ones whom surround you. It's so much easier to live simply and to truly appreciate what you have. You really strive to convey this to your readers through your daily blog and we are so grateful. Good luck Suzanne!

Hi! I came here through Suzanne's blog and really like what you are doing. What a great way to draw on the power of the internet to help us all find a variety of "good mood" help!

I would just like to say that Suzanne from West Virginia is the absolute epitome of a feel good blogger! Every day her blog uplifts and inspires so many people. I start each morning with her, you should too!

I think I would like to try Sam-e. It can't hurt to be a better mood in this stressful world. Go Suzanne you are an inspiration!

This message is for Kristine, who has been unemployed for 8 months and recently broke up with her boyfriend. She posted a question on November 18 and asked for help.

I am a voter, not a finalist, but I want to tell Kristine this: if your doctor suggests that prescription drugs can help, do not be afraid, and please be willing to give them a try. Medication is helpful for many people and if you feel better, you can make better decisions about your life. Take care!

For Kristine, who has been unemployed for 8 months and recently broke up with her boyfriend. Eating right and excercise can help you fell better too! Taking care of yourself will help you feel stronger! Good luck!

I've been following contestant Suzanne McMinns' blog for just over a year now. I enjoy her country living stories and pictures. I've made friends on the forum there,too. Can I just say she's changed my life for the better!

As a long-time devoted reader of Suzanne in WV, I would be thrilled to see this quality website as a new venue for her uplifting writing. Suzanne brings an appreciation and sense of humor to the tasks of daily life. Take note Sam-E...where she goes, her countless readers will follow!

Suzanne, WV
I’ve been following your blog Suzanne for almost a year now and it gets my morning jump started almost every day with a smile. I say ‘almost’ every day because sometimes there’s something a little bittersweet in it too since it’s all about REAL life, not just fluff. I think your motto of “Life in Ordinary Splendor” really sums up the way I want to live too. Enjoying all the good things there are in my day no matter how small with a sense of satisfaction and at times wonder, and facing the obstacles in my life with a can-do attitude. ~ ~ ~ By entering this contest you’ve led me here to investigate SAM-e and vote every day! I just started taking SAM-e this past weekend, so who knows, between SAM-e and Suzanne’s blog and forum, I may be too happy for my friends to deal with!

I start every day by reading Suzanne's blog as it always makes me smile. She brings back so many memories of my childhood that I sometimes think I actually smell my grandmother's bread baking, or hear my mother working in her flower beds.

Thank you!!!

Suzanne

I've been following Suzanne's blog for over a year, and it's the first place I go online each morning. I *know* my day will start with a smile and set my mood for the day when I read her blog. She never fails to have a new post up and ready to read when I get there. The content varies so much too, from her funny goats and loveable dogs and other farm animals, to beautiful pics of her farm and home, with great recipes and how-to posts on various country crafts, and also just showing how real it is... like the post where she admits to not being able to light her new wood stove. It's become a running joke. Overall, she just makes it so easy to identify with her and imagine yourself living her life, even for her readers who are city folks or suburban dwellers, or any of us. She just invites us all to join in the fun and adventure.

I really hope Suzanne wins. She's such a genuine and real person. The joy she finds in life is so contagious. She can't help but put people in a good mood!

You could not find a better writer to represent SAM-e than Suzanne McMinn. Suzanne is an accomplished author who has mastered the art of inspiring others. You have only to log onto her site to witness the huge following of bloggers who look to her each day for inspiration, wit and wisdom. I highly recommend Suzanne McMinn for your blogging position. She would be an invaluable asset.

Suzanne is a great example of how to live well, simply and happily in these uncertain times! She has three children who are growing up and have busy lives that she is involved in, handles the farm and the animals, her home, and still manages to let us in on her life EVERY day with uplifting pictures and REAL stories of "life in ordinary splendor".
She is an accomplished and published writer with a huge and loyal blog following and is the perfect person for the Good Mood Blogger!
Take some time and check out what's happening every day at Chickens in the Road - see for yourself!
www.suzannemcminn.com

I adore Suzanne, I have been following her blog for several years and it has helped me through many rough times. Her outlook on life just makes it impossible to be sad. Suzanne and all of her follwers are like my family now, and I treasure the friendship I find there.

I've been reading Suzanne since she started out on her new journey to live in the crooked little house and her blog has grown from a handful of dedicated readers to hundreds. She has welcomed us into her life and we think of her as our friend. I've never known anyone who has accomplished so much and is so willing to share it all. She has taught herself and all of us so many great things and every day there is something new. This is her life and it feels like we are a part of it. Every day I look forward to her blog. Besides learning so many new things, she does it with such humor and is so caring and giving that you can't wait to hear more. And her photos and stories are highlights to my day! So even though I miss her tiny little intimate blog and we would like to keep her to ourselves, this is a lady that has taught us all to share and one day we are all going to say "we knew her when."

Suzanne is a person that makes others feel as if they are part of her family by writing on her blog every day. Reading Suzanne's blog every morning is what puts a smile on my face for the day.
Suzanne is the epitome of what Sam-e needs in a writer for their company. You could not go wrong by giving Suzanne this writing job because she is such an accomplished writer and such a kind soul.
It seems as if her goal is to make someone smile and share her joy of life with others through her blog. Suzanne has done a fine job in reaching out to people.

Deb

I started reading Suzanne's blog a little over a year ago. As I continued to read and follow Chickens In The Road, I was understanding her subtitle "Life in Ordinary Splendor". This is when my values began changing regarding materialism and what I needed in my life to make me happy. I decided to step back, get off the corporate bandwagon (as that isn't going anywhere very quickly now anyway!), and live my life a little more simply. Making and banking money wasn't making me happy. Family is what makes me happy. Doing simple things for myself by myself is what makes me happy. Suzanne writes her blog every single day. Through it, I can find motivation, and the push to dig deeper into me to bring something new out that has been wanting and waiting. I think she would make Sam-e proud to have her blogging for them everyday.

I think Susanne’s blog already brightens everyone’s day, or completes it if you read it late. (like me) She IS a good mood. Going to her site and getting lost in her posts (seriously, how did I get to the Milking Party? lol). Susanne has taught me to find the extraordinary in the ordinary. And I think we all come there to see what she has turned up next that we would have either missed, or dismissed. She is living the life I want. I’m sure others would agree.

I, too, follow Suzanne in WV's blog daily because of her gifted ability to make even ordinary, mundane chores seem exciting and funny. She's just a wonderful person inside and out, and would be the perfect person for your blogging position. I'll read anywhere she's posting...

My thoughts about Suzanne and her "life in ordinary splendor":

Talk about "natural", there is nothing more natural than this nature girl. We love her and her personal philosophy: "life in ordinary splendor". She is Nature and happiness all rolled into one. We love her "critters", too, because they make us laugh!

Suzanne's good mood and sense of humor is so contagious that EVERY morning for a few years, now, I have started my day with a cup of coffee and Suzanne. I actually look forward to it enough to get my sleepy self out of bed cheerfully. Even if I'm traveling, it is a must, or else my day doesn't feel right - it's missing something. I also follow her articles in the Charleston, WV., "Daily Mail". http://www.dailymail.com/foodandliving/countryliving/200911220412
I will follow her wherever she writes.

I'd hate for you to miss out on this one. She's a dependable pro, not an Appalachian hick. Here is one of her posts that I enjoyed:
http://suzannemcminn.com/blog/2009/10/26/can-this-bread-be-saved/

I have been reading Suzanne McMinn's blog for quite awhile now. She is such an inspiration to me and many others. Reading her blog is a great way to start your day. I love the recipes and I have used many of them. Her stories bring back so many memories. My parents were both raised on a farm not far from Suzanne's and I so love seeing her pictures and reading her stories about life on the farm. Her fans have a great time interacting on her forums. Please check out her blog, she is great!!!

I am also a follower of Suzanne finding her to be bright, and wonderful woman who lives "a life in ordinary splendor". I hope that you will take into account the blogs that these women write, as well as votes. Suzanne has substance, is entertaining, and the best choice.

I have been reading Suzanne McMinn evey morning, and can't imagine a day with out her. To mso many of us she is the one thing that remains constant in our life, she is honest, smart, witty, hard working, has a love for people, animals and the land. Her post always has something for everyone, she brings back memories and teaches us how to create new ones.
I hope the folks at Sam-e take the time to read her posts and see how much we love her, and what she offers her readers every day.
Thank you.

You will not find a more inspiring, yet unassuming blogger than Suzanne. I have NO TIME to read blogs, yet faithfully check in with her every day. I am so thankful I chanced upon her persona; excellent writing, superb photography, genuine inspiration, and most notably HUMILITE avec INTELLIGENCE!

We two girls at www.stickhorsecowgirls.blogspot.com support Suzanne all the way! Suzanne is intelligent, displays good wit and humor and always has something encouraging or something we can relate to! Her blog is real life and we can so relate to her. I think women of all ages can --especially moms who surf the Internet. Her recipes are AWESOME, her photography AMAZING! We LOVE Suzanne McMinn's Chickens in the Road blog!

Brigette rocks as a good mood blogger. I've been watching her blog for years and love the upbeatness without being cheesy. She gets my vote for her youthfulness and fun!

I can only hope, pray and VOTE that "my" Suzanne will this this job.
If there is one person in this world who is positive, honest and an example for others, it is Suzanne.

Seriously the only thing you have to do is visit the blogs of the contestants to see which one should win the Good Mood Blogger. It is OBVIOUS that Suzanne the Chicken Lady from WV... she has a following of people that can't live without her blog with their daily coffee every morning. I've visited several of the others, and Suzanne is a winner hands-down!

Lori is an amazing person, she is always so ready to give, and her posts, especially on Twitter, are always really ulifting. She has a huge following here in the UK, and we are really proud to call ourselves her friends.

I really hope the staff at Sam-E will take a moment (which could well turn into an hours, lol) and read through Suzanne's blog, starting with "The Slanted Little House"... her attitude and great good humor is not only amazing, it is catching. She has helped me through a summer of uncertainty by her example of always looking up. Her wholesome, healthy lifestyle of living is "green" without even trying. Her food recipe are healthy and wholesome, and her attitude inspires joy and beauty (without spending an arm and a leg.) You have the opportunity to have a rare treasure who is an amazingly poignant writer to promote your product for 6 months....

I have been reading Suzanne's blog for almost two years. Her blog is the first one I read and it's her upbeat, happy, daily posts that encouraged me to begin a blog of my own. Not only is she informative but also inspirational.
I believe Suzanne from WV is just what you need for the Good Mood Blog Gig!
Good luck, Suzanne!!!

I have read Suzanne McMinn's daily post every day for as long as I can remember--it is the way I start each and every day. She is honest, sincere, witty, and has an deep love for family, friends, animals,and the land. She works hard and sees beauty in the smallest things.
She shares her passion for creating new memories and reliving many of those we have forgotten about.
She shares her love of cooking and inspires us to do new things. So many of us have been told we cn do this or that--she lets us know we can do anything, and inspires us to do so. The world could use more people like Suzanne who sees the beauty in everyone and everything--and has taught us to do the same.
I am hoping the people at Sam-e will take the time to read some of Suzanne's posts--both present and past so see the kind of person she is, and why we all love her.
Thank you

Suzanne has such a way with words, a wonderful story teller, just an extremely talented lady. I have not missed a day reading her blog in over a year, and it is the only one I read. I feel so blessed to have found her. She adds a special dimension to my life..my husband thinks she's great too.

Suzanne McMinn's blog (chickensintheroad.com) helps me to start each day with a smile and gets me going before I venture out into the corporate world to earn my living.
Suzanne is the epitamy of someone full of character, integrity, honesty, and sincerity. Her writing is always upbeat and humorous or helpful and informative.
She is the type of person who has the rare ability to make you feel you are sitting down for morning coffee with your best friend.
Her readers love her and rally behind her. I think you could not possibly find a more genuine human being to represent your site or one who would be more deserving.
Everyone single person who voted for her would read Sam-E because we would come to see what Suzanne has to say. She would be an awesome marketing tool and Sam-E would be doing something wonderful for one of the most deserving individuals I can think of.
If you came here looking at the candidates, I urge you to check out Suzanne's profile, go to her blog, read the comments....the proof is in the writing...the lady is a true gem.

Reading Suzanne's blog is the first thing I do every morning with my first cup of coffee. She inspires, motivates, and makes me giggle. What better way to start my day!?!?!

Even though I moved to a busy city in South Korea, I still make sure to read Suzanne's blog every day. I love Chickens in the Road and would be sure to read anything she wrote! Suzanne is so inspiring! (And her recipes are AMAZING!)

I've been reading Suzanne McMinn's Chickens in the Road blog for two years. It's how I start my day and it sets the tone for the day and makes me smile even if I have a tough day ahead.

Suzanne's readers come from all over the country (I live in the Chicago suburbs). Indeed, if you look at the map on her site, you'll see that we come from all over the world.

There's just a warm sense of community that emanates from the site, and it all starts with Suzanne. Her sense of humor, her upbeat attitude and her warmth shine through and affect all of us who are regular readers.

During the two years I've been reading her, she's never missed a day of blogging. If I go on vacation, I sit down and read the entries I've missed when I come home. I read her online newspaper articles and subscribe to her newsletter. If she becomes the Sam-e blogger, you can bet I'll be here reading her blog every single day. As others have said before me, Suzanne's daily blog is just a great way to start the day off right. Her writing and her attitude toward life elicits smiles.

Suzanne

Hands down she's your best choice. Only been reading her blog for a couple months but I'm totally hooked. I'd certainly agree the statement 'where ever she writes her readers will follow' I DEFINATELY WILL.

I've been following Suzanne's blog almost from the beginning and she has never failed to entertain-inform-involve-educate-touch-inspire-etc.- her readers every day. She is a best friend to thousands of people who have never met her, and she has the experience and personality to do a great job for you. Like one of the earlier commentors said--"Where Suzanne goes her countless readers will follow"! Check our her blog and see the kind of action she generates.

I don't understand. I posted a comment on the 23rd (yesterday) and it never showed up. I clicked on the link below the comment form: "comment policy" and read there that they will be moderated, which is a good thing. But, now there are comments dated today the 24th, and mine is still not posted. So, I re-submitted it today. Same thing. There was nothing in the policy that I could see about length, but I shortened mine anyway. It still isn't posted. Have I done something wrong?! Other people have comments posted, what is wrong with mine??

@Barbee' - sorry you didn't see your post right away. It is up now. Sorry for any confusion.

-Lisa

Thank you, Lisa.

Suzanne, WV

I stumbled across Suzanne's blog(Chickens in the Road - www.suzannemcminn.com)a little over a year ago. As a daily reader of her site, I have become inspired to reconnect with my roots and try things the "old fashioned" way instead of the quick and convenient way (like putting up my own fresh pumpkin - good thing since their is a canned pumpkin shortage).

SAM-e could not ask for a better blogger to represent your product/company. Her video ROCKED!

No matter what the situation, Suzanne finds the humor and makes the day brighter...such a good writer and photographer. Thanks for brightening our days.

I've got a morning ritual with Suzanne McMinn's blog and my cup of coffee. She gets me in the mood to face everything I have planned and inspires me to create great meals for my family. I sure hope Sam-E will hire her for the job.

Wow I hadn't noticed this page until I followed the link from Suzanne's blog. I've been following Suzanne's, Brigitte's, and Lori's blogs since they're in the top 3. It's a tough call. I like them all and I'm amazed by the people rallying around them. I'm glad I'm not in the judges shoes because I wouldn't know who to pick. Good luck to all of you.

My wife got me hooked on Suzanne's blog last year. She kept talking and laughing about her throughout the day. I had to check it out and have not stopped since. This is truly a unique and wonderful site--"Chickens In the Road. What an amazing sense of humor she has. In the morning it's always: "Have you read Suzanne yet"? It's fun. I hope all of you are discovering her too.

I love Chickens in the Road. It's so real and optimistic. I'd love to see Suzanne win this contest. She really deserves it! And I'd even take the time to learn about your products!

Suzanne in WV is my 'feel good' blog every day.
Love the recipes, pictures and stories about her animals and farm.

My post from the 23rd is also missing.

Sam-e NEEDS Suzanne! Living in WV, on a farm, in the country...that alone is a natural good mood maker! She's witty, very imaginative, reliable, and above all can write stories that I want to, check that, HAVE to read each and every day (getting me to read is a job in itself!) Don't know her personally, but she seems very friendly and down to earth. She is obviously the perfect choice for this gig. You, nor your readers, will be disappointed!

I stumbled upon Brigittes blog and loved it from the first post I read. A wonderful combination of wit and humor and yet serious when it needs to be. I start my day with a chuckle, a laugh or a thought to ponder ... and it always puts me into a good mood.

About 18 months ago my daughter became very ill and was hospitalized for 6mos. Four of those months she was in a coma. I was taking care of her 6mo old baby and one of my ways to "stay sane" through such a trying ordeal was to go to Suzanne's blog every single day and live life through her and get some relief for that time I was "visiting". My grandaughter as she got older loved the pictures of all the farm animals. We would look at them and I would teach her there "noises". Loads of fun.
Sam E listen up, where Suzanne goes her loyal leagues of followers will follow. I can honestly say I will be on the SamE site everyday that you have Suzanne writing for you. She may blog about her farm but her message is universal. She has fans from all walks of life. Even babies!!!

It looks like Lori already thinks she has the job. She has started her own blog called the goodmoodblogger using your background and everything and offering money prizes if she is voted to win.
http://goodmoodblogger.com/

This is an interesting contest, but I believe Suzanne is a clear winner - her blogs encourage and cheer even when the world seems gray.

I would like to echo the comments in support of Suzanne McMinn. Her “Chickens in the Road” blog is a joy to read each day because it is about the things that are the most important in life: family, friends, home, the pleasure of doing purposeful and meaningful work, and the rewards that come with making good and effective use of the resources at hand. While the farm and the animals and the recipes are important, the real heart of “Chickens in the Road” is Suzanne’s authentic voice as a writer and her unfailing ability to share with her readers the beauty of “life in ordinary splendor.” For her legion of faithful followers, Suzanne does what a great friend does: she inspires us, she motivates us, she make us laugh, she lifts us up, and she causes us to reflect. Our lives are better because of her. She is a gem.

I write in order to let the people at Sam-e know what a gem they would have in Suzanne McMinn if she were hired to write their Good Mood blog. I learned about Chickens in the Road through a link via another blog about 1 year ago. I found her to be such a charismatic writer that I started going back to read more, to immerse myself in her way of living. She is a delight; cheerful, optimistic and humorous. I have never failed to be uplifted and inspired by her. She teaches, encourages, takes your hand and shows you the way. Hers is the one blog I read daily, before I open my mail. Judging by her columns already published, she would truly be an asset to the Sam-e company as their spokesperson/Good Mood blogger.

I sincerely hope the judges for SAM-e will take lots of time to check out the blogs of the candidates. I have found several of the blogs, and they are all very good, but it still seems to me that ONE is a clear winner. If you start reading Suzanne McMinn's blog from the first entry where she logs her life in WV, beginning with The Slanted Little House.... you'll see what I mean. What an inspiration she is! What a religious following she has! I will love her no matter what, and to her loyal readers, Suzanne will always be a winner!

The only think i hate about this contest is that Rachel from MT hasn't had time to blog as much lately. Her blog always makes me happy and optomistic, and I tend to be a downer. She has such a light and earthy spirit and would make a fantastic addition to the Sam-E team.

suzanne, i have been logging on to chickens in the road for the past eight months. i really dont know what i would do with my mornings if you ended the site. you are a wonderful witty person who allows us to share in all you have.i really think of you as a dear friend. i look forward in coming to sam-e everyday just to get one more chukle. good luck

I have to say that I LOVE Rachel's video and her blog. It is easy to tell that several of the other candidates have a lot of experience, the best equipment, and several other blogging jobs. I'd like to see the "underdog" get recognition for a job well done for once.

VOTE FOR RACHEL! She's down-to-earth and her blog is hilarious!

As a rl friend of Rachel from MT I can tell you that when I saw her video I was shocked at how completely "her" it was. She's a wonderful lady, spunky and smart and fun and creative with the warmest heart in the world. She takes joy in the little things and adores her son. I think she'd be the best possible candidate for the job and throw herself into it wholeheartedly and with great pleasure, relishing every moment of sharing her sense of fun and adventure with others.

I think Brigitte is by far is the best and is really a natural as a video blogger. I think it is obvious how much fun she has. She is funny and comfortable in front of the camera that I did not get with the others who had a problem making eye contact You can really tell making daily videos on her own now for years is her art along with her mood being contagiously funny and uplifting

I had posted a comment last night and it's no longer here. It had nothing inflammatory or against the rules in it. I'm hoping it's not because SAM-e is muffling the voices of those who aren't riding the Chicken Lady bandwagon. That'd be unfortunate.

I've been watching Brigitte's blog for over a year now, and everything she talks about is very interesting, and always adds some brightness and laughter to some otherwise dull days.

Good Luck Brigitte!

I jus tlove the "Chickens In The Road" blog by Suzanne McMinn in WV! I read it every morning! She is an inspiration to all who want to live a happier, simple lifestyle! He blog always puts me in a good mood for the day.

I have been reading and watching Brigitte for a very very long time now and I think it's safe to say that she is clearly the most good-mood-inspiring person you could hope to find, on or off the internet. She talks about a variety of topics that never fail to inform and entertain and her natural ability to be herself on camera is what makes her so appealing to all of her viewers. Aside from this - her recipes and her make-this-out-of-your-clothes tutorials are just plain brilliant and often hilarious! Plus, have you seen Maddy?!

I really hope Brigitte wins this, she deserves it so much. Good luck!

It never fails to amaze me how one person can connect with so many different people. Suzanne McMinn is just that type. Her blog reaches country and city folk alike with witty writings, beautiful photography, yummy recipes and sometimes poignant life stories. You can laugh a lot, cry a little but always learn something and be inspired by her blog. Win or lose this contest, anyone who reads Suzanne comes out a winner!

Hi everyone,

Just a quick note about comments. Your comments are greatly appreciated, and I admire your efforts to support your favorite candidate. That being said, you'll also probably notice that there are quite a few comments being left on this post, and it does take some time to look through and consider everything you'd like to say.

We're doing our best, and we appreciate your patience. Take a second to review the Comment Policy (http://www.sam-e.com/info/comment-policy) if you have any questions.

If you don't see your comment show up immediately, don't fret, it probably just means that it is in moderation. We should have it up in no more than 3 days.

Once again, we appreciate your patience in sorting through all these comments. However, please keep the good words coming! Your Good Mood Gig candidates appreciate the support, too!

Thanks,
Lisa

I’m usually one of those who doesn’t do something like this, but I feel that if there was a time to write a post this was the time. Like most that have posted, I have been following Brigitte for years. All the way back to here The Popcrunch Show and TV Squad Daily days. Thru the years she has hit on thousands of topics with a wide array of interest. Thus as a devote viewer I have recommended her to many others. They then have become as hooked as I have. She is funny, interesting, thoughtful and serious, all depending on the topic of course. What I do enjoy is that she is not afraid to make fun of herself, and not in a cheap laugh way. Thus at night when I’m doing things on my computer it is always a treat to click on her video and have a smile put on my face.

As a good mood blogger you will not find someone better.

I start each day with Suzanne's Chickens In The Road. I can't recall now how I found her, but it isn't important. What is important, at least to me, is how she lifts me up each and every day. I have been an avid fan for well over a year now, and even stayed up all night to catch up on the history of her blog and read the whole story from the beginning. She is awesome and my heart goes out to her because she is so very generous with her kind words, her delicious recipes, and her humorous stories about life in ordinary splendor. I recently had to move back to an urban area after spending years on my own farm in SW Wisconsin and I am so very grateful that Suzanne allows me a peek into her fabulous life, so that I can live "the country life" vicariously through her beautiful blog. All of these candidates are spectacular but only one can win this contest. Best of luck to all of you, and I think of Suzanne as a winner no matter the outcome of this contest! You go girl! Thanks for who you are dear.

Chickens in the Road is the very first site I open every morning...Suzanne's upbeat, cheery blog and pictures just start off my date in the best possible way. It's the best "good news blog" I read. Life, simple and with heart. That's CITR.

I just wanted everyone to know that I think Rachel would be the best choice for this position. She's genuine, down to earth and eternally optimistic. Her blogs would be a fabulous asset to SAM-e and I would look forward to reading them everyday!

Good luck to Suzanne! I read her blog every day and always find something useful or uplifting. If she wins I know she will make us all proud.

I think the term "ordinary splendour" just about sums up what life means to Suzanne. The joy she obtains from simple things and transmits to us, her readers, is what life is all about.

Go, Brigitte, Go!

Vote for Brigitte; she's the best!

Brigitte FTW!

Just a note to say that I've been watching Brigitte Dale's videos on YouTube for over a year and while there are some people whose videos I wait a few days until I'm bored to watch, when a new video from Brigitte pops up I always watch it right away because I know it will be entertaining and leave me with a big smile. She's always funny, sweet and unexpected and is a joy to watch. I hope she gets the opportunity to be the Good Mood Blogger for both selfish reasons (I'd love to see what she comes up with! Even more Brigitte to enjoy!) and unselfish - I think she really deserves the gig.

Amy

I am a huge fan of Brigitte's for years. Her videos never fail to brighten my day and amuse me. She is by far the best choice to win.

I'm an avid voter for Rachel Polson. She's got natural talent and the educational creds to write about mood maintenance or anything else she cared to write about. She's an excellent source of important info about mindset and how to adjust yours. And she NEEDS this at least as much as she WANTS this, which may be true about the other candidates, but frankly I'm pretty sure it isn't AS true as it is for Rachel.

Here's hoping my good friend catches a break in a world where too many things are all about popularity and not so much about merit.

Katie

I have been following Brigitte's blog for more than 2 years.

Coincidentally, these past 2 years have been the a period during which I have been involved in a long and painful divorce procedure that has repeatedly threatened to utterly deplete both my wallet and my spirit... which means I have to resort to anything at my grasp to keep my spirits high.
I am not so shallow that a weekly fix of good humour, great advice, towel burrito/swans, strike pumpkins and a rather generous dose of coffee & cupcakes is all it takes to prevent my soul from crumbling away... but it has definitely played an important role and has been (more often than one would imagine) the high point of an otherwise dark and bleak day.

I hope she wins but, even if she doesn't get the gig, I will still be thankful for the way she has helped make the lives of thousands like me just a little better, one day at a time.

Everyone loves the underdog!

giddy-up little doggie ~run like the wind

I just wanted to second what Sarah said way up there... Rachel by far had the most energetic and natural video.

I have been a fan of Rachel's writing for years. She has a way with words that you don't find every day. Besides that, she has the most kind and giving heart of anyone I have ever seen. She's upbeat, creative, and hilarious. She makes everyone around her a little happier for knowing her. She would be perfect for the Good Mood Gig.

She has been blogging for years, but it's only been in the last year that she has started blogging publically. She may not have the huge amounts of traffic that comes so easily to some of the others, but she has managed to get everyone who knows about her motivated to her cause.

She's a single mom who walked out of an abusive relationship with nothing and has managed to rebuild her life. She doesn't give up, and she never complains. She truly is an inspiration.

I read her blog everyday not only because I know her, but because I love the way she writes. I haven't seen anyone on here that would do a better job, and I know no one deserves this more than she does.

I hope you give her the chance to inspire and uplift the readers of the Good Mood Blog.

Suzanne WV

I have been following Suzanne's blog for about 6 months or so. Her blog is a wonderful place to read about the wonderful life she lives and is definitely a place to go to get in a good mood when things are not going so well. I love how she talks for her animals and she has some really awesome animals. If you want a new recipe, it's right there waiting for you in her blog. She is an amazing person.

Hello, I am one of Suzanne's faithful followers. She has an awesome blog and is a real inspiration in my life. I check her blog every day, and I think her genuine spirit and hard work ethic really show through. Her posts are new every day, and that keeps things fresh and interesting for her followers. I just wanted you to know you have a real gem in the batch of finalists!

I've been watching Brigitte for well over a year now - maybe two - and I can't imagine how she could not win this. Even if she doesn't, she certainly deserves to - no offense, Suzanne! So, I'm Team Brigitte all the way!

Just curious where my comment from last night went. Did it get taken down because I didn't vote for one of your top three? Why are there comments from today up already if you are up to 3 days behind on moderating? How is anyone else supposed to win if their comments don't get put on here? Maybe if everyone gave out $100 gift cards like Lori they would have a better chance. Interesting.

My roommate and I have followed the top three bloggers for awhile now and we both enjoy them about equally. Personally though, I think Brigitte Dale is the most consistently funny and charming one of the bunch.

Cheers,
mathew

Once again, I'd like to reiterate the fact that no one's comments are being "taken down". All comments go through a moderation process, and we are working our best to approve comments as quickly as possible.

Again, your patience is appreciated, and please understand that no one is being shown favoritism over another candidate. Please submit comments only once, and don't worry if your comment doesn't appear on the site automatically.

Please refer to our comment policy (http://www.sam-e.com/info/comment-policy) if you have any questions.

Thanks again,
Lisa

I love Brigitte's video Blogs and have followed her for years. She really has way of engaging you with her on filming and making you feel personally involved in her quirky thoughts and also involving her dog
I could always tell how much time she spends filming and getting you involved in her thoughts and sharing some very humorous ideas and thoughts each day. She really is very talented and would be a welcomed addition to this site
I had noticed a bit of paranoia from a few people posts who seem to sense there is some conspiracy going on.
Really?
If your post is missing... post it again and again until it sticks There are so many glitches in software and mistakes happen...

Brigitte Dale.

I am a mahoosive fan of Ms Dale and her beautifully expressed points of view. I discovered Brigitte in a bit of a low patch in life and her charming wit and dry sense of humor, coupled to her delightfully quirky yet pin point acurate observations on the world, left my heart warmed and my laugh muscles excersised. Brigitte so often helped displace the dark clouds of the day and I'm really thankful for that.

Brigitte is clearly 'the good mood blogger' personified and I'm delighted to have discovered her, I don't think it possible to more highly recommend her to you for the job.

I forgot to Add that Brigitte won
Yahoos 2008
"Best Internet Personality"
In the 2008 Yahoo Video Awards last year...

Rachel from Polson Montana! You are very talented. Good luck. If you don't end up with this gig (because some people are doing this dirty) - keep it up! You are talented and belong in the writing business. The sky is your limit girl!

I have to say that Brigitte has this awesome combination of natural good mood, funny/serious and smart videoblogs, she is naturally talented for that! That's why i like the internet, 'cause i find amazing people like Brigitte who spread the good mood everywhere they are! good luck Brigitte!!

I've been reading Suzanne's blog faithfully since I found it about six months ago. I read it before I check my own personal email, that's how much I can't wait to see what she wrote!

From what I know about Suzanne....she writes for a newspaper, she is a published author, she blogs....she has experience and expertise. She attracts a large patchwork of people of all ages from all over. I know you would be very pleased with her as your blogger.

Some candidates are giving out gift cards??? Isn't that buying votes or bribing people? Wow, don't think that embodies the values of this site. I have to say I'm thrilled that the person I'm hoping to win is not stooping to that level.

I equate giving away gift cards to bribing or buying votes. I'm glad that the person I'm voting for is able to get support without stooping to that level.

Hi.

I've eagerly followed Brigitte Dale's blog posts - both written and recorded - for well over two years now.

As a devoted reader and viewer I can say without hesitation that, if Brigitte were to win, she would fit into the role of "Good Mood Blogger" as comfortably as one slips on a favored shirt. I just can't imagine a more suitable title for her!

Good luck to everyone in the contest - there are so many bright, spirited people participating - but my heart and vote are with Brigitte all the way!

Suzanne from WV is by far the most talented writer of your top 20 contestants. Creative, witty, and smart (summa cum laude) her blogs inspire us, her faithful readers, to aspire to greater things, too. How many of us have improved our lives by "living in ordinary splendor"? A multitude of readers will follow Suzanne wherever she is blogging, as she is that phenomenal. Thanks for your time.

I think Brigitte is the best choice. She's funny, entertaining and her videos cheer you up. Even after a really bad day at work.

Meep,
Joe

I've been reading Rachel's blog..I love it! Rachel, you are truely amazing. Good luck! You will be the best person for the good mood blog, if you don't get it then sam-e is the one missing out! Rachel from MT is down to earth, real, LOYAL, hilarious, TRUE, whole hearted, PERFECT and such an amazing wonderful writer. GO RACHEL!!!

I agree with Sarah, who posted about Rachel from MT way up on the page. My girlfriend and I just started reading her blog after seeing her on Sam-e. She has the most REAL TRUE votes, doesn't have to bribe other people into voting for her so she can win. She's pulled in almost 3,000 votes HONESTLY, TRUETHFULLY, with out bribing people... Said that the top 3 have to cheat their way.

Brigitte, CA

I think I've been watching Brigitte's videos on youtube for almost a year now. I'm not sure how I stumbled upon her videos, but I'm glad I did. As an artist her videos have evolved first from her take on pop culture to a personal reflection on life and all that it entails.

Brigitte manages to do this with a great sense of humour (I'm Canadian, so that's why there is a 'u' in there and yes she does make me laugh), honesty, and kindness that radiates through her videos. I have no doubt that these traits would prove beneficial to the good mood blog. I can't think of anyone who deserves to win this job as much as she does.

I realized that this contest has made me (probably a lot of others) examine just why I love reading Suzanne McMinn's Chickens in the Road every day. Whether a person is from the country, the city or...anywhere in the world, reading Suzanne's message every day makes me ever aware that no matter how stressed a person is, there is beauty in the world and there are simple things that connect all of us, things that all of us, rich or poor, can take pleasure in. I leave the blog feeling less daunted by whatever I have to do or face that day.

Go Brigitte! She's the best, because she's talented, quirky and fun. She makes me smile on a weekly basis, it's fantastic. She should win because she's experienced, well known and more international than other applicants (I come from Australia), which would help bring a wider variety of people to this site. So I will keep voting team Brigitte!

I've been viewing Brigitte Dale's blog for a couple of years now, and so many of them are humorous, quirky, and insightful that I haven't had the heart to remove old ones from iTunes, so I have a couple of hundred on my two computers, plus the latest few on my iPod Touch, so I can get in a good mood on the go!!! William in Santa Barbara

Yeah Brigitte..It is good to see you ahead and I look forward to you sharing your contagious views with others and also seeing funny you are daily

Well I posted on Monday and never saw my post up. I don't understand why all posts can't be up for at least one day. Some don't get shown at all and others say up forever. :(

Hi all!

In case you might have not seen my earlier comments, please note that I am not removing anyone's comments. When you post a comment, it will show up as being submitted, but no comments are automatically published. EVERY COMMENT goes through a moderation process, no matter what appears to happen after you submit your comment.

I encourage you to make comments, but please remember that though things might get overlooked from time to time-- that doesn't mean anyone's comment is more important than anyone else's, however.

Please be patient, we are working our hardest on this, and we are trying to be as fair as possible. If your comment is eligible to be published, then it will be, but no one's comments are being taken down.

Thank you again for your support of the candidates, for your comments, and of course, for your patience.

Happy Thanksgiving!
-Lisa

Thanks, Lisa :)

I didn't know sam-e before Brigitte announced she was one of the contestant for the good mood blog gig.

I must me the atypical european guy who would have never stomped here unless by following Brigitte :).

But I like to be fair too, so I watched entirely all the 20 videos ... so I could say a lot of things now,
but the wiser thing to do is to make no comments on the other 19, nice try, good luck to everyone.

Brigitte is still my favorite, it's not only about her skills on writing, making videos, blogging etc.
I just love her personality, even if she would blog only once a year I would put a special mark
on my calendar to not miss it (because it is really worth it).

The way she can take any little thing in life and make it an interesting subject that put a smile on your face
is more than talent, it is that unique, so off course you want to read/watch/listen/... to anything she put out there
as much as you can.

Proudly a Brigitte addict :).

oh and happy thanksgiving to all the americans
~~zwetan (a guy from London)

I would like to reiterate my support for Suzanne McMinn. A very strong point of hers is that of universal appeal. She is not JUST for people under the age of 30, but does appeal to ages 10-99. I think this is a VERY important factor in choosing a worthy SAM-e candidate.

Hi everybody!!!

I just want to tell that brigitte's blog is awsome!!! She gives so much laughs when you need it too. And also, she has a dog that gives her extra points! Ha, she's a great blogger and hope she win!!!!

GO BRIGITTE!!!

Hello,

I have been following Jannis Paulk. She is an amazing writer. She is such an inspiration to me. Talent she has, and she would be the best one for the job. She has a way about her that is sincere and truly remarkable. My vote is for JANNIS PAULK and I truly hope she wins. Sam-E would have a valuable asset if Jannis won.

I wasn't sure if it was okay for the applicants to chime in, but I just had to say thank you to the folks who spoke up on my behalf. No matter how this thing ends, I am grateful for the love and support I have received from family, friends, and complete strangers. This whole experience has been amazing and challenging, and I feel very lucky to have this chance to go for a dream.

Thank you for all your kind words (and votes, votes are nice too)!

-Rachel

Suzanne McMinn and her Chickens In The Road website is such a lift every morning when I log on to her site. She writes a daily story, everyday including weekends and holidays. She had time to wish her bloggers a Happy Thanksgiving. Suzanne's audience is international. I've read bloggers entries from China, Australia, Canada, and many other countries. She truly is international. She is faithful everyday to write her entertaining blogs and we, her audience, adore her. If you are looking for someone who is reliable to write everyday; has the following to draw international audiences to your site; and is just plain downright bubbly and inspiring, you've found it in Suzanne McMinn.

My choice for Good Mood Blogger is Brigitte Dale. She's sweet, talented, charming, intelligent...the entire package. I think Brigitte should win the Good Mood Blogger contest!

I have been taking SAM-e for a while now and have been following this “good mood blogger” thing. It seems to me that there are a lot of mean spirited comments on this page regarding the different finalists. Not positive at all. If defending the person you want to win, causes you to be negative and over judgmental, I think you are missing the point of the site. I hope whoever wins this, does not take their cue from this type of blogging.

Wendy~

I appreciate that you took the time to ask about my intentions. It hadn't occurred to me before that my "contest within a contest" might appear to be unethical since I am not compensating anyone for voting; but rather planning to share the abundance if I win.

There are two main reasons so many people wanted this opportunity:

1. It represents hope and optimism in a time when they couldn't be more valuable.

2. It compensates far more than most blogging positions--and for such a small time commitment.

If I win, it would just plain feel good to give some of that back, especially since readers make a blog.

I hadn't spent too much time on this page until tonight, but I'm glad I read through all these beautiful recommendations.

There are some amazing people in the running for this job--men and women who clearly make a significant difference in people's lives. That alone puts me in a good mood.

Wishing you all well,
Lori

I also enjoyed Rachel's video. I'm writing as there may be more people like me who are not so savy on the computer. I have yet to find any blog or writings of hers. I find this very unfortunate as I think this would help her in the voting aspect of this job.

Jannis,

I'm just thrilled that you are sharing yourself with the world! Sam-e could not have a more energetic, intelligent, and genuine person on their team. GOOD LUCK!!!

All my best wishes for your success! v

Rachel from Polson, MT has one of the best blogs "Strained Peas and Other messes" I have ever read. I am a consistent voter for her visiting daily. I have watched all the videos, and I have to say she is the most genuine, and down to earth. I know her personally to have a very strong work ethic, and a passion for life. She has made it to the top 20 in the same way she does everything, with honesty and integrity. She has not bribed anyone to vote for her. Every one of her votes has been acheived honestly. If the Sam-e company wants someone who is honest and full of integrity she is the only choice. Leave the others behind and choose someone who will represent your company with the ethics that your company is known for. I am voting for Rachel today and every day.

Are you looking for a video blogger or a written blogger? I think that makes a difference in who will be chosen. I have been encouraged by Suzanne's blog for almost a year now. She is very real in her writing.

I have been a big fan of Suzanne's since before even starting my own blog. I feel good every time I visit her site. Have learned much from her too. I'm from the 'big harsh' City and wish I could live where she lives.

Suzanne has our attention in a simple and unique way. Every day is something new with her joy for life. I have learned so much from her. Whether you choose her or not for your writer do yourself a favor and look into her index of stories. She'll make you happy..She has such a work ethic too. Amazing is all I can say.

brigitte videos makes me laugh. i hope she wins :)

Donna,

Very good point! I know some people have found my blog affter watching the video, but to make things easier, here is the link:

http://mamajade.wordpress.com

Keep in mind that this is a blog I set up specifically to be an attachment parenting blog, so some of the things I have written are with that audience in mind.

Thank you for your support!

Rachel

Wendy NH seems to not only speak about but also show how to easily present information that is useful. The bloggers I like are the ones who listen to my comments and feedback. They are the ones who give information that people listen to.

Brigitte makes me smile. I can't wait to see what she'll Tweet or get that magical message that tells me a new video is ready. She's kind of like a tiny ray of sunshine that bursts forth from my phone. A new outlet for her creativity will only make me smile more, and that's always good with me.

Are you looking for someone who writes about one very narrow boring subject and has a limited audience, or someone who touches on a wide variety of topics and reaches a large spectrum of people? I think that makes a difference in who will be chosen. I have been encouraged by Brigitte's vlog for almost 3 years now. She is very awesome in everything she does.

Brigitte,
I absolutely love your mannerisms and quirky sense of humor. Your video actually did leave me with a little smile on my face. From the sunshine lighting effect to the cheesy background music - I enjoyed all 88 seconds. I hope to read your blogs for the next few months on here. Good Luck!

After viewing all the videos, reading up on several contestants' blogs and even stumbling upon youtube channels - I think it is safe to say that I find Brigitte Dale the most entertaining and uplifting. She's adorable in everything she seems to do. What charisma!

Brigitte can always make me smile and always knows how to point out the little things that always end up making me happy. I would love to read or watch a post from her every day because she always makes me smile.

Been following Brigitte for 3 years and just love her blog. She have allwas but me in a good mood.

I've been following Brigitte since the days when she wrote a column in the Journal Star newspaper.

I looked forward to each week's dose of wit and enthusiasm and to the comments her readers left - Brigitte's column always spawned a lively discussion because she presented topics in a way that made people rethink their points of view.

I look forward to getting a daily installment of Brigitte's writing again soon, and to the fun community that follows along with her work wherever she goes.

I love brigitte so so so very much! Her videos always always make my day a little brighter. :)

Please check out Brigitte Dale's YouTube channel. Chances are, you will subscribe.

I love keeping up with Brigitte's daily Videos and also her Daily blog.
I think I would also be called a Brigitte addict and have been following her now for about 3 years

She also has all ages of men and women following her which I do not think the others can say that they also have as many male following them as Brigitte does.
She has a special gift of making me smile and laugh each day with what she thinks about and I know others who follow her feel the same way

I have been reading Suzanne McMinn's blog Chickens in the Road for a couple of months now. I have to say that I look forward to reading her posts every day. She faithful to making her posts and she is always answering questions of those who may ask one in their comments.

I realize that Suzanne is a little behind in the votes at the moment. I do hope that the Judges will take into account that Suzanne actually writes her blog on a daily basis. The key word there is "Writes" She is a very talented and gifted writer. Her writing style is uplifting and I always leave her blog with a smile on my face. I actually call my mom who doesn't have internet services and read her what Suzanne wrote for the day! Suzanne's recipes and her crafts are extremely well thought out. She never fails to show every detail to them. After reading her instructions along with seeing her wonderful photography skills, I know that if I try I will succeed in making her recipes and crafts items. In a time of economic downfall Suzanne shows us the readers how to craft something from basically nothing and it comes out so beautiful! You have got to look at her fall wreath she made with corn husks.

I did take a look at Bridgetts blog since she is leading in the votes. I couldn't find anything that she had actually written. I didn't care for the video's that I watched. I'm sorry but I just don't get it. The video of her combing her dog didn't even look like she was a dog owner to me. Seriously, she looked as though she was discusted to be touching all of that dog's fur! I did get a laugh at the herb that she showed at the end of one of her videos as that poor herb looked as though it was near death! lol

Also in comparing the blog of Suzanne to Bridgetts I also noted that Bridgett does not get many comments at all on her video posts.

So there you have it, I'm a true die hard fan of Suzanne McMinn! Judges if you are looking for a true Good Mood "Writer" than Suzanne is the girl you want to hire!

Suzanne McMinn inspires me, and if you look at the traffic rankings at Alexa.com, you'll see that I'm not alone. Her blog has an impressive following, people who keep coming back. I truly believe this is because people know that they'll find something of substance and a warm, joyous and often humorous message in her daily post.

Thank you for providing us with the opportunity to share our thoughts here!

This contest is what brought me here and allowed me to find all of the enjoyable blogs. I enjoy Brigitte's video blog but my choices for internet service are dial up or satellite, which restricts users daily usage. Plus Brigitte's blog only entertains me for a few minutes each day.
Suzanne's blog on the other hand, loads quickly on dial up and doesn't infringe greatly on my satellite usage limits. It can also entertain me for several hours each day. Each blog entry leads me to another blog entry or a recipe I need to try or a craft that is begging me to give it a go. I have to pick Suzanne's blog as the most entertaining and user friendly.

I just wanted to say i ABSOLUTELY LOVE BRIGITTE.

she always brightens my day =)

and hopefully she will get chosen for this, so she can brighten the days of others too =)

Go Brigitte Gooooooo!!!

A lot of good vibe, so there could be more good vibe for everyone in the world.

Go Brigitte Gooooooo!!!

Wow! Congratulations, over 7000 votes in less than 24 hours, that should put you in aa good mood!

Wow! Congratulations Lori, over 7000 votes in less than 24 hours! That should put you in a good mood!

I once again would like to show my support for Brigitte. And just say how very talented she is. I have been watching her videos for over a year, and she is funny, intelligent, and always talks about interesting things. Her videos always put a smile on my face, no matter how my day has been. I am someone who does not often comment, and would not if I didn't think very highly of her.

Good Luck Brigitte!

Maybe the top 3 could all do it for a while and then you could see who sustains a meaningful blog with bloggers who interact and write meaningful posts and aren't just hitting the vote button every day and in multiple formats. I for one have no doubt Suzanne would show how much of a true following that she has and always will have.

Seems odd that Mary, NC has surged by everyone yet there is not one comment of support here

My vote is for Brigitte - she is cute and funny! Not to mention, her milkshake brings all the boys to the yard. She would teach you, but she would have to charge.

-k0

I would also query Mary's surge of votes, considering her video on youtube has only had 574 views and is only rated 2 and a half stars.

Yeah, something is weird here. Brigitte was well in the lead, and then all of a sudden Mary from NC jumped way up literally overnight. Somethings up, for sure. That's really a shame cuz Brigitte is far and away the best for the job.

Definitely something fishy going on with Mary, NC. She wasn't even top 5 and then today she gets thousands and thousands of votes??

Im a big fan of Brigitte Dale. I stumbled upon her videos a little over a year ago and I've been hooked ever since.

She has a bubbly and quirky personality. Plus she presents her videos in an organized and fun way.

SHERY

Tried to post this the other day but it must have got lost in the shuffle. Go to Alexa.com, the site that tracks website traffic. Plug in suzannemcminn.com. Suzanne brings in the readers and has a consistent record. She'll bring readers to the Sam-e blog.

I just looked at Alexa.com and compared the 3 top candidates over a 6 month period(excluding Mary because of her suspicious jump in votes). Looks like Suzanne has had way more consistent traffic/page views which just confirms why I and so many others love her blog so much!

Anyone that has read Chickens in The Road by Suzanne McMinn simply cannot miss one post. Have followed her from the start and her humorous telling about the farm animals, pets, recipes, how to can, make jam, etc., farm life experiences and her kids make you feel like you are part of the family. You definitly feel good every day reading her blog. She deserves to win. She is a wonderful and interesting person. How in the world have some of the contendees votes jumped 20,000? Seems impossible.

Voting Update: Thank you all for sharing your concerned comments! We are very aware of the most recent voting situation and are currently investigating the issue. This will be corrected today. Thanks again!

Suzanne McMinn is such a gift. Her's is such an inspirational, fun, informative, happy, delightful place (blog) to visit each day. What a quality person she is. Her insight and goodness needs to be seen far more widely. She is pure joy!

Brigitte Dale is not just a video blogger - if you read her essay you can see all the places she's been published as a writer, like comedycentral.com. As far as the alexa.com argument about traffic - Brigitte Dale's website isn't the main place her writing and videos are published, she's worked for several large companies and that content stays on their websites - so that's not an accurate way to measure her readership at all. If you compare YouTube and Twitter subscribers to other finalists, you can see this for yourself.

Whether or not Suzanne McMinn is your choice for your "Good Mood Blogger" - She is always the blogger that makes my mood good! She is a down to earth, funny, positive person that you can relate to. Plus she shares her farm with us (without us having to do the work!) You would not be disappointed in a "Good Mood Blogger" if you had Suzanne working for your company!

Well while you're checking Mary, seems like Lori and Brigitte are doing the same thing - come on people does integrity mean nothing anymore.

Did that enormous jump in votes for the NC blogger indicate the use of an IP address anonymizer and auto vote software? There is no other rational reason for that big change. It's just not right.

Suzanne has helped to brighten my days. The company I worked for closed it's doors after 33 years of business, and things in Oklahoma have been very bleak. I read the uplifting blogs from Suzanne and I remember to be strong, positive and helpful to others. Those are the traits that seem to help everyone. All of us can use a lighthearted thoughtful message from Suzanne, she is a great resource!!!

Suzanne McMinn has been building her writing credits for years. She is the author of more than two dozen novels and writes a column for a major newspaper. Many of us first discovered Suzanne through her books and then followed her to her blog and her column. The number of her fans has been steadily growing for years and continues to grow, which accounts for why she has so many readers visiting her blog every day (and yes, consistent traffic/page views).

I found Suzanne's blog about 4 months ago through a state bloggers groups and I've been hooked ever since. Her blog is the first thing I read every morning, without fail. Though, I too am in West Virginia, I live in the city. She takes me back to the peace and quiet of my grandparents farm. Seeing her daily photos of the farm and animals and reading about her life in "Ordinary Slendor" is what I need every morning to help me get motivated.

Suzanne is an inspiration. She's a single mom, raising three kids in the mountains during these hard times ... and teaching us ALL how to find the Good in even the simplest things.

After reading the other comments here I visited alexa.com just to see the traffic. Suzanne's blog has consistent readers far above any of the others.

We'll follow where Suzanne leads... along with her fluffy-butted staff!

Rachel's blog is the only blog I read regularly. It's very down-to-earth and insightful. I can relate to it, and it's also extremely funny. I definitely think that Rachel is the very best candidate for this job.

Suzanne is amazing. It is never about her. She is always concerned that Others are entertained, helped, shown, taught, loved... We feel her love. I will never miss one of her blogs, and have read all her past ones.
I only have a certain amount of time to spend on the internet. She is the One I read and am bored by the others.

I have been reading Suzanne's Chickens in the Road blog for a long time. That is the first thing I do every morning. She has a loyal following, you will not be disappointed at all if you choose her to be your good-mood blogger. Suzanne always puts smile a to my face. Please give Suzanne this chance.

Hi Brigitte,

I've been a huge fan of yours for years now. Your videos and blog posts always manage to put a smile on my face. I've got my fingers crossed. This gig would be perfect for you!

Esther

I've read Suzanne's journal for close to a year now, and I never miss a day. She faces adversity and even the littlest frustrations (like keeping a fire going in her cantankerous wood stove, or dealing with a neighbor she calls the Ornery Angel) with humor. She writes about living a life I'm sure many of us have dreamed of having but can only live vicariously, through Suzanne's writings.

Suzanne has been through some pretty rough times, but she handles those times with grace and laughter. I'm sure there have been times she's wanted to toss an aggressive rooster in the stew pot or be able to order a pizza for delivery, but instead she comes up with alternative solutions and then tells us about them. She lives a real life, one that is full of uncertainty and fears and concerns about her children and the future, but she never lets those pesky annoyances get in the way of living.

Suzanne consistently ensures her journal is updated at the same time every day. Reading Chickens in the Road is like sitting on the porch, chatting and laughing with a really good friend. I hope she wins this contest. She gives us so much, and she deserves something good herself.

Thank you Myrna and Celia for telling us about Alexa.com. I checked it out. I see what you mean about the ratings. I am so proud of Suzanne and her work! I wish her well.

I was a "blog-stalker" over on Suzanne's Chickens in the Road blog for several months before I signed up for her monthly newsletter last spring! Whatever she's in the middle of, she's willing to share it with her readers.

For me, grabbing a cup of coffee and sitting down to read her blog, is like running next door and having coffee with my best friend.....only, we too live out in the country, so in a sense Suzanne is my "next door neighbor!"

Suzanne's daily posts remind me to have fun and enjoy each day, regardless of the problems or situations that may arise. Sometimes, her post on crafts or canning remind me that I too can do that or at the very least, they give me the courage to try!

Suzanne embraces life and lives it to the fullest. She is forever looking on the bright side or "turning lemons into lemonade". She brings a lot of "sunshine" in my life and I am thrilled she now has the opportunity to do so for so many others! She will bless their socks off!

I have been a follower of Brigitte for years. How I found her I’m not quite sure, but since I have I have been hooked.

Reading the comments of people supporting their favorite has been very interesting. They have been giving so many reasons why their person should be selected as well as why others should not. I find this to be rather amusing. I would certainly hope the person selected will be based on their presentation, both in writing and in video presentation. Arguments on how one person’s form of blogging over another form seems ridicules as each of the candidates appear to be able to blog in what ever form that would be necessary for the job.

As for my selection, Brigitte, she has proven that she can write as well as she can video log. I thing that in today’s world many people would rather watch a video than read a blog as we have become rather lazy and watching is much easier than reading, and of course the visual effects make for major entertainment as well. Brigitte handles both forms as professionally and anyone in this contest. Her writing is as interesting and witty as her video blogs are informative and entertaining. Actually I believe that she is better at it than anyone in this contest. As everyone, I hope the judges look at all the issues, which I’m sure they will and decide on the very best candidate. My hope that I will be reading a SAM-e blog one day and watching a SAM-e video blog the next, by Brigitte of course.

Just a point of interest, using alexa.com does not take into acount other internet site used by a blogger. Example, Brigitte Dale uses brigittedale.com, as well as being featured on abcfamily.com, youtube.com, tvsquid.com and various other sites. Thus you can not compare the results of one user, one site to one user various sites. You are not comparing apples to apples as your own Suzanne might say.

I love reading Suzanne's daily blog. She reminds me that everyday events such as cooking, gardening, watching the animals and just being with family are fulfilling events. Often, her stories about the animals on the farm make me smile. She reminds me that I can find the extraordinary in the ordinary--I just have to pay attention. Thank you Suzanne!

Re: the person who said, "using alexa.com does not take into acount other internet site used by a blogger," interesting comment, but I respectfully beg to disagree. When you find a blogger you love to read, you'll follow them anywhere. So, if you love reading them in one place, you'll show up on their main blog looking for more. That was my point (that all of Suzanne's fans have converged on her blog even if they originally discovered her through reading her books). We read her wherever she writes and if she was writing on ten different blogs, we'd read her on ten different blogs. That's why Suzanne's traffic figures/page counts on alexa.com are large. She's an inspiring writer (and a fun writer)!

Looking at the top 3 contestants' number of votes and views of their video is interesting. Here are the stats as of Thru. 3rd, Dec. at 3:00 CST.

Brigette, CA -- 45,701 votes -- 10,021 views -- 4.6 votes/view
Lori, CA -- 34,877 votes -- 2,880 views -- 12.1 votes/view
Suzanne, WV -- 27,196 votes -- 5563 views -- 4.9 votes/view
Susan, MS -- 7,602 votes -- 1330 views -- 5.7 votes/view

I added the 4th place contestant to illustrate the huge gap between top 3 and the rest in number of votes. Either Lori's voters don't like to watch videos or the ones that do like to vote a lot.

The comments truly are fascinating. Of course, most of us making comments have a favorite already.

For those of us who support our favorite blogger Suzanne McMinn, we understand that the selection will be made by the Sam-e folks using whatever criteria they wish to use. One would hope that they look at all the information available, including the vast difference between "writing" for video or twitter in comparison to doing a full column, with pics, every day, year in and year out.

Hang in there, Suzanne! We love you, and know exactly who Sam-e should easily see as the most qualified, proven candidate!

I was on vacation for almost 2 weeks and without email access! Good in some ways, awful that I missed my daily 'Chickens in the Road' fix! Suzanne is a blast to read, and I believe she is truly a "what you see (read) is what you get" kind of gal - a natural. What a great fit for Sam-e! I stumbled on her a few months ago - don't even remember how anymore - just so very grateful that I did. What a blessing she is to so many of us! Best of luck Suzanne!!

I love Brigette Dale. If I need a smile I just watch a couple of her vblogs and I know one will come to my face.

Angela. Nice post. Very classy.

Brigitte has discussed just about any topic you can think of. From pop culture and politics, to weird news and interesting how-tos. She's even touched on the topics of chickens and pies. So she can do what your candidate does, and much much more. She's not locked into a small niche. In fact, I'm not really sure how "Good Mood" equates to "chickens and pies". Seeing that content (of your candidate) on this site won't jive for a great many. On the other hand, Brigitte can easily write or make videos about a number of topics that are related to good moods. Topics "the rest of us" can enjoy.

Perhaps if we went back to the economic system of Little House on the Prairie, where chickens and pies were a form of currency (actually they probably still are in WV), then maybe I could see your candidate's blog being of some use to the rest of us 97% of the country. While the hicks learn about goats, and the shut-in wives read those romance novels, the rest of the general population can enjoy the wide variety of content that Miss Brigitte Dale puts out.

And yes, Brigitte does write. She has a number of blog entries on her site (making soup, discussing relationships, etc). I'm sorry you weren't able to find them. She has also posted countless entries on other sites throughout the years. The simple fact is Brigitte continues to evolve with technology. She realizes that video is the "it" medium. If tomorrow they introduced hologram blogs (hlogs, if you will), I'm sure she'd be on the leading edge of that movement. So yes, while she is a very talented writer, she understands the ever-changing world of "new media".

To be honest, I can't imagine how Sam-e could see hiring a writer who's locked into one subject and one medium would be more beneficial than hiring a new media content producer that can intellectually discuss just about any subject in virtually any medium. I would think Sam-e wants to hire someone who won't just bring their built-in audience with them (Brigitte has close to 9000 subscribers on YouTube and over 3000 on Twitter alone) but instead someone who will also be able to attract new followers from a wide array of people.

I'm sorry, but Brigitte is the best candidate for this job.

Hi! I've been perusing different sites of those contesting for Good News Blogger. I must say that I am STILL in Suzanne McMinn's court. Even more after checking out the competition. I'm a babyboomer who could never relate to those single chicks, but my 24 yr. old daughter and 34 yr. old daughter both LOVE Suzanne's blog! Suzanne is a LOT younger than me, but she's lived and experienced a lot more than some of her competition! We can ALL find something interesting and fun and uplifting there! Her writing and humor are amazing, but her occasional serious post can really touch my heart! She is SO dependable. Sam-e would never regret giving her the job! I'm absolutely confident of that!

Go Brigitte....
You are really ahead this lap....
and for such a sweet soul with a wonderful sense of humor along with just being an incredible human being It is obvious to me why you are ahead right now

I would also like to add that writing along with also video blogging daily both take huge amounts of time and it takes a skilled individual to send out consistent work like you do......
and you do both .... consistently... even when you are sick

Sharing Your trips,tips... and also love how you have brought your loving companion Maddy into the videos. I love her typing and interacting on the videos She is really getting to be quite the ham
You have a gift that you do very well and will continue to be recognized for that work. I hope you win
Go Brigitte....

I forgot to add that I just noticed today quite a few of your followers are adding support by sending you video blogs on you tube for this contest
It is so sweet to see how much you influence people besides me. I think for everyone in this contest just your support from the people who are supporting you is worth more then anything else I have seen in a long time

brigitte's a gem .. maybe the folks at SMc's are disappointed that they're contestant is behind...

Wow. There are some mean people on this "good mood" site. I just wanted to say that I don't think that Suzanne, Brigitte, or Lori are doing anything unethical. They all have diverse followings and have worked hard to earn their votes. While my vote is for Lori, I commend all three bloggers for their efforts. Seriously, people-try being nice for a change (or take some Sam-E).

Brigitte Dale is fantastic. I been following her since she was part of tv squad daily. She never fails to lighten your mood or put a smile on your face. Brigitte definitely should be your choice for Good Mood Blogger.

Peggy: This is about reading a writers blog, not about trying to search for someone on abcfamily or elsewhere. Suzanne had articles in newspapers, other blogs, and she's a published author. Comparing blog to blog is more than appropriate.

I notice Mary, NC has lost 40,000+ votes. I'm assuming they found something fishy. I'm glad sam-e is paying attention.

I think people need to keep in mind that these votes only count for 20%. Sam-e is going to look at the total package and I'm sure they have a demographic of the audience they want to reach. My hope is that they want someone who has experienced life and had their ups and downs. Suzanne is an inspiration to me. She's lived all over the U.S. She's a mother. She's been through divorce and heartache. She has, through her life experiences, found the true path to living in Ordinary Splendor. Whether she gets this job or not, she is my Good Mood Blogger.

I just got back from a work related trip to a couple places in Europe. At each stop, I would seek out an internet connection. My first 2 tasks were 1) Catch up on Email 2) Catch up on Chickens in the Road.

And sometimes, they weren't in that order.

I have only recently found Suzanne McMinn's website (http://suzannemcminn.com/blog/) and have quickly fallen in love. She demonstrates such a fluid and lyrical style that it is easy to become attached, while her professional abilities cannot be overlooked. Her ability to create a feeling of warmth, candor, and ease creates the sensation of having coffee with a friend-something we all crave when being inspired. After all, who can inspire us better than those who KNOW us? Oh, and Suzanne KNOWS. She is clear, confident, and fallible - a difficult and necessary combination. During such an economic downturn, it is important to have a person that demonstrates self-sufficiency, resilience and contentment like Suzanne. I absolutely look forward to following her on Sam-e.

In my opinion, Suzanne would be perfect for this job. I find her to be upbeat, funny, optimistic and just plain friendly. I am a professional business woman who takes pleasure in Suzanne's writing and living style. I love reading about her life, so very different than mine, and I enjoy seeing her joy in the simple things in life. Beautiful woman and beautiful writing style. She would be an asset to your organization.

I hope that you folks at SAM-e are reflecting on the reasons behind the strong support for Suzanne McMinn in this competition. She is such a natural choice to be your "good mood blogger." Every day, she makes a difference in people's lives through her writing and photography--uplifting, amusing, motivating, inspiring, giving food for thought, reminding her readers of the beauty found in the rhythms of everyday life. Earlier this year Suzanne posted a wonderful video clip of her ducks and chickens going out into the world in the morning, full of the sheer unadulterated joy of greeting a new day. Suzanne's writing and photos remind her readers that the same joy is there for the taking each day. If that isn't the job description of a "good mood blogger," I don't know what is. I hope you will consider the person and the authentic life behind the blog as you make your final decision.

I'm sure glad the judges are basing their decision on more than just votes.

If you go down the list of things they are looking for, I think you will find that Rachel is the best for the job. She's entertaining, creative, funny, has experience working with social media, and can write on many different topics. She can use different tones based on what the audience requires, and it is always I interesting. Not only that, the girl has some serious work ethics that you don't find just anywhere.

I'm sure some of the other candidates would do an okay job. But I think Sam-e would be missing out if they didn't pick her for this job.

She may not be in the lead with votes, but she kicked everybody's ass on her application.

I would like to know how Brigette went from votes in the 20 thousands to 45+ thousand in an afternoon. The same goes for Mary.

My day is started with a cup of coffee and reading Suzanne's blog each and every day. She is someone that I can relate to even though I am considerably older than her. She displays humor and inspiration in her writings and I know I can count on her sharing a new recipe or some homespun craft. Reading her blog each day brings so many wonderful memories to me and as well as the ability to learn something new. I sincerely hope you will consider giving the position to Suzanne and I agree with so many comments, she will not disappoint you and her readers.

I, too, am a baby bloomer and a Sam-e user. I am also a big fan of Suzanne McMinn's!

For several months now, I have followed her journey into the homesteading life! And just like the animals we own and enjoy, I also enjoy the antics of her fur babies. Because of Suzanne's cheery attitude, I didn't get too upset when our own baby goats got out of their pen and ended up on the grandkids' trampoline! After all, kids just wanta have fun...right?

My oldest daughter recommended Chickens in the Road, saying "Mom, you'll love it." And her daughter, my oldest granddaughter, is also a Chickens in the Road kind of "chick." It is fun to call Gabby and ask her what she thought about Suzanne's daily farm photo. Suzanne's blog gives me a way to connect with both my daughter and my granddaughter...besides talking about the state of the world we live in. Maybe Clover should run for office!

Ive been following Suzannes site for about a year now.I happened upon her site by searching for how to make your own dough enhancer.I get up every morning around 4am.Hers is the first thing I read when I go on line. Not only does she lift my spirits every morning, but she is my teacher of sorts. Ive learned so many things this past year from her.She has so much to offer!!! Shes human wears her heart on her sleeve!! Shes alowed us in her life about her trials acomplishments, Graduations, Birthdays,Sending your son into the military. Even has opened her home up to her fans in the fall(sorry couldnt go Maines to far to drive!)Suzannes should win this. She deservse this!!!Thank You suzanne for letting us be a part of your life everyday!!

Suzanne, WV

Suzanne's blog is the first thing I look for in the morning, well after my coffee that is, but. As someone who grew up in the country and ran as fast as she could to get away from it, I would now give anything to be back on acres of land around my family and being home. Instead I'm stuck in suburbia. I get to live my wanted to vicariously through Suzanne. Whether she's teaching me to can or gathering eggs, it always transports me to another time and place and that's a good thing. I believe she's the perfect addition to the Sam-e family.

Suzanne from Walton WV is my first stop every day because she always starts my day off right.

Here is someone who has gone through some rough times - and still is - yet manages to maintain a wonderful attitude.

Even though her lifestyle could not be farther from mine, except for the poverty, I love reading about how she goes every day with a smile and brings a smile to others.

I started reading Suzanne's blog a few month's ago and I now grab my coffee in the morning and head to her site and usually get "lost" reading older posts, recipes and craft ideas. Her life stories are genuine, extremely funny and always inspiring. She deals with unpleasant or difficult topics as well, always positive that things will work out. She's a natural for the Good Mood blog.

I have been completely and totally in love with Suzanne McMinn's blog since the day I discovered it. She makes me smile every day with her ideas and insights. She reminds me to appreciate the blessings that I have and to look around me at the beauty that is everywhere. Sam-e could not find anyone that would be a better ambassador than Suzanne!

I have been reading Suzanne McMinn's blog for a couple of years now. I start my day every morning with it. It's more important than my morning coffee. I look forward to her every day and am always wishing for more. Good Luck Suzanne!

I just wanted to throw out a little more support for Suzanne. I have been reading her blog for several years and must say that I check her blog first thing each morning right along with my email and Facebook! She is a single Mom raising three teens, struggling to make ends meet, but you would never know that reading her blog. The tales she tells of the animals on her farm, her farming experiences, and her decorating and gift ideas are priceless. And have you looked at her recipes? She even plans a gathering each year for her readers. I haven't been able to attend because I don't live near WV, but that just shows what kind of person she is. She genuinely cares about her readers. I don't think you would regret making a place for her on your staff.

Suzanne McMinn would be an absolute asset to your website. I spend no more than half an hour on the internet a day but could not conceive of not looking at Chickens in the Road blog and links where she sends me. She appeals to all ages and if she would be willing to write for your company I take that as a great endorsement for your product and would read your page everyday also. Thank you

I start each day with Suzanne and all her farm critters. Reading her blog each morning helps begin my day on a postive, thoughtful,or more often than not...Funny... way!

Suzanne from West Virginia is my jump-start to feeling good each morning. I depend on her to lift me up, to make me appreciate what I have because she so appreciates what she has! I go to her Chickens in the Road blog before I even check my email every single morning because it makes me FEEL good. Very good. I've used many of her recipes, I've read the sagas of her kids, her animals, her home and every day, I go back for more because she makes me feel GOOD.
The very best thing I can say about this amazing woman is that she is friendship-worthy. If I lived next door to her, she would be my friend because I truly like her...morals, standards, humility, care and concern, compassion and love shines from her each and every day. As I said, an amazing woman!
You couldn't find a better 'spokesperson' for your products in the feel-good department!
carol langille

Clearly Suzanne McMinn is the best choice for the Same-E good mood blogger. Hands down she is the best writer. Reading her blog is my morning wake up and keeps me in a good mood all day.

I have been reading Suzanne's blog for quite a while. We (she let's us in her life with her wonderful writing) survived living in the slanted little house. We got our farmhouse built. Finally. We got ourselves and the children moved in. We started to unpack, and were stopped by the utter beauty from every window. We learned not to be horribly afraid of driving through creeks to get our children to school and back. We fell in love with goats, and mourned the passing of one. We learned to live in somewhat harmony with a lady down the road. We didn't hatch chicks. We did hatch chicks. We got a giant puppy. More animals. A garden. We cooked. We have sewn. We have made some lovely cornhusk dollies. We have lived each day with the knowledge that there in the West Virginia hills, is peace and contentment and family, and what more is there? Although I live in Illinois, I am also a resident of Suzanne's home and her heart. There is not a better feeling in the world than that.

Suzanne's blog is about the real things in life. Caring for your family. Taking kids to practice, delivering their forgotten homework to school, or helping Cousin Georgia make pumpkin butter. Making your own soup instead of opening a can of someone else's. Being happy with what you have instead of agonizing over what you don't. Knowing that it's better to have a few good friends instead of numerous phony hangers-on.

Judges: Puh-leeeeeeze pick Suzanne? I just love her, and I know that all of her faithful readers will follow her here, just to read more of her posts - they're addictive!

And Lisa, I feel for you. I moderated comments and votes for a huge Kellogg contest a few months back, and it was crazy. Keep up the good work! :)

I look forward to Suzanne's perspective each morning. I'm not a blog writer and I only follow a few blog writers. However, Suzanne's honest, open writing style is encouraging and refreshing. At least twice a week, I share her words and pictures with my family. And considering that includes 2 teenage boys, and they always enjoy her perspective, that's saying something! Her ability to set the mood for my day is much appreciated.

Suzanne is splendiferous. Chickens in the Road and coffee.

I have been following Suzanne's blog for quite a few years. I linked up to her from The Pioneer Woman Blog. I will wholeheartedly agree, she is real, she is honest! If one did a google of the others running for this position, an enlightenment might incur. I find real joy, real truth, and compassion in her blogs! She gets it, in more ways than one!

Suzanne WV

I absolutely love Suzanne's blog, Chickens in the Road, and have been a regular reader for I guess over two years now. She blogs every day, takes the most fantastic pictures, and is as far as i am concerned, the epitome of a "good mood blogger". Even when things go wrong, she is still upbeat. If you take the time to read back through her blog, I think that you will agree.

I have been reading Suzanne, WV's blog for a few months now, and in my opinion, she is perfect for this job. She is an inspiration to me each and every morning. I come to my computer with my coffee, click her link and she never lets me down! She has the experience and dedication it takes to make people want to read what she writes. I find myself reading her daily post and wishing it was time for the next one! Just from reading the replies on her blog, it is obvious that she has MANY dedicated readers and followers and if she is chosen as the SAM-E good mood blogger, I will, without a doubt, have another awesome Suzanne post to read each morning!

Suzanne, I think is the most motivating. She was a city girl moving home to her roots and I have watched her journey and let me tell you - she is highly motivating...a hardworker and is highly dedicated to her readers. You've got my vote! You go girl.
marissa michigan

I am 75 years old man, retired and disabled. I subscribe to a lot of writers. The first one I read everyday is Suzzanne from WV. She is a great writer, photographer, cook, and encourager.

I just want to tell you that I read Suzanne every day wherever she posts. If she becomes your Good Mood Blogger you will have a new loyal follower in me. And I don't even use your products. But I have friends who might. She is a tremendously positive person. The reason I love her blog is that she is always uplifting. She doesn't use sarcasm and snarky comments to maintain a large, equally snarky readership. She just puts her own positive spin on life out there and people are drawn to her. I hope she is selected.

Mary

SAM-e will find a winner in Suzanne McMinn. She is down-to-earth and expresses her love for people and nature in an uplifting and easily readable manner. Chickens in the Road is her life story, real and captivating in its simplicity. My day starts with Suzanne and I am always smiling when I leave the computer! She is the person you need.

Suzanne McMinn and her Chickens In The Road website is one of the most creative and upbeat blogs on the Internet. I am a crusty old man (73) living in Grover, MO and shared little with Suzanne other than roots to the Mountain State; however, the twists and turns of her fresh daily Chickens In The Road postings are now a must read right after my daily devotional.

Arlie G

Another Suzanne supporter, here. If you are looking for an established, caring, talented writer who has helped, not just entertained her readers, by blogging for the purpose of connecting and sharing with others, then Suzanne McMinn is the person SAM-e needs.

The large and loyal following "Chickens in the Road" has isn't going to hurt SAM-e either.

I truly feel that Suzanne McMinn would be such an asset to the SAM-e family. If you take some time to read her blog, make sure you also check out the comments section. Suzanne's is one of the few blogs I read where the commenters are SO nice, both to each other and to Suzanne.

Suzanne's voice, talents, and advice are so timely right now, and she has done so much to remind us what is really important in life.

I truly feel that Suzanne McMinn would be such an asset to the SAM-e family. If you take some time to read her blog, make sure you also check out the comments section. Suzanne's is one of the few blogs I read where the commenters are SO nice, both to each other and to Suzanne.

Suzanne's voice, talents, and advice are so timely right now, and she has done so much to remind us what is really important in life.

Beginning my day with Chickens in the Road one of my favorite things. Suzanne brings the idyllic to my little cubicle, and I spend the rest of the day smiling privately over fluffy chicken butts. Even when she broaches a serious matter, she does it in an uplifting and touching way, and she is always unfailingly happy, gracious and grateful for her wonderful blessings. She is IDEAL to be the Sam-E Good Mood Blogger.

I would also like to say my vote is for Suzanne McMinn. I read her blog every day. She teaches me so much and her attitude is great. I feel I know her personally just from the way she writes to her readers. I love to read about her animals -- the good and the bad. I think she would be the perfect candidate for the SAM-e good mood blogger.

My morning is not complete until I have read Suzanne's Chickens in the Road blog. Every day I look forward to seeing what great recipe she has, what Clover the goat did that was funny, whether one of the mean roosters is going to attack her or if there is another lovely craft I never thought of making. I have looked at all your candidates - and while I may be biased - Suzanne blows everyone out of the water. Evidence enough can be proven by just reading a couple of her blog posts. She would make an excellent representative of Sam-e!!

I am so voting for my favorite blog person in the whole WWW....Suzanne....It's so amazing that all you have to do is say Suzanne and everyone knows who you are talking about....

Goooooooooo Suzanne.

I read Chickens in the Road daily because Suzanne McGinn has the right touch in her writing. She is highly addictive! I enjoy her realistic and homespun ideas and thoughts on life. She gives me the encouragement I need to lead a simple and fruitful life. Vote for her and make her the SAM-e blogger...you won't be sorry!

I've been a blog reader since 1998 and read many a blogs. I have never come across a blog as informative and exciting as Suzanne from WV. The informative part is all the recipes that are excellent and so easy to make plus one learns all about farm life. The Exciting is each day she posts new photo's of her many farm animals or whatever catches her eye. Her photo's are so life like... almost to reach out an touch them.

Also I'd never heard of Sam-E till I came across her blog and after reading all about the product I went out and bought some. At my age >66 which I'm proud to admit :)..... I need all the help I can get to just make it through the day. I've been on Sam-E for 2 weeks now and I have noticed a big difference in my overall attitude and get up an go...More pep, better outlook etc etc. I even put up my Christmas tree when I had decided a month ago not to. But good ole Sam-E put me in the mood and it's now all decorated and looking beautiful in my living room. Thank you for making this product available.

But back to Suzanne and her winning. Please just take the time to read over her blog and you'll see what I mean about her holding your interest. You won't be bored, believe me. Also life is getting shorter for me so I just won't read any blog it's gotta be a good one cause there's just to many out there. Suzanne's is not only good it's by far the best on the Internet. Now that's my opinion folks, so don't get to mad at me. I'm sure your blogs are good also, but I happen to feel hers rates the top star of blogging. She'd be perfect as the author of the Good Mood Blog. PLEASE pick her.

Suzanne is the best candidate for the job. Her writing is uplifting and brings a smile to my face. No matter what life throws at her, she manages to remain positive and roll with the punches. I never miss reading her blog, Chickens in the Road. It's usually the first place I go each day, no matter how busy I am with work and grad school. You can't go wrong if you choose Suzanne as your good mood blogger.

Just wanted to put another kudos out there for Rachel and the fabulous job she does. Here's hoping that she's as much in consideration as any of the top vote getters because she deserves it hands-down. Good luck Rachel! Couldn't be a better candidate!

Suzanne McMinn was my inspiration for changing my life. Her post, "A Treatise on Happiness" made me realize just how miserable I was in my life and that I needed to change it. I had to make some hard decisions, but in the end, they have been completely worth it. Suzanne is a courageous, strong, and incredibly unselfish woman who has the ability to make you smile no matter what your mood. I never miss a blog post. I've shared her blog with others because of the happiness and joy it brings me, and I want my friends and family to experience the same. Suzanne would be the perfect candidate for this job, and she has proven that she has a loyal readership.

Suzanne, God bless you!

Seriously, if I want to be put in a good mood I search out Brigitte's latest offerings. She appeals to a wide audience because she blogs about the everyday things that she notices about the world around her. She makes interesting observations and places an emphasis on things that others see only as the mundane or usual ... and makes them unusual and worthy of further thought.

I've been voting for Suzanne McMinn, because even when she writes about tragic situations, she still manages to make you feel uplifted. (See "A Small Treatise on Kindness" http://suzannemcminn.com/blog/2009/09/15/a-small-treatise-on-kindness/). Like so many others, for me, a day without Chickens just isn't the same.

What has become increasingly clear to me over the course of this contest is what a diverse group of people Suzanne McMinn appeals to. Her readers are men and women, young and old, city and country. And yet, we all have one thing in common. We smile after we read Suzanne's blog.

I love Chicago and city life, so what I take away from Suzanne’s blog may be different from what other people take away. To me, even though she’s writing about her struggles to make a life in the country with cheer and anticipation for each new day, she’s really writing about self-sufficiency and being independent, about being strong and learning what your strengths are (and celebrating those strengths.

She’s about the pioneer spirit that can apply to anything challenging we meet in life (jobs, staying ahead of the latest technology, making a family work in an ever changing world or yes, building a totally unique farm from scratch with almost no money but a lot of creativity, ingenuity, guts and spirit). She's lived in the city; she's lived in the country; she's traveled all over the place; she connects with other people.

I can’t tell you how many times Suzanne has wanted to learn something and has sought out and found an expert to help her. That “I can do it” spirit is inspiring, no matter what a person’s lifestyle may be. What more could one ask of a good mood blogger than someone who sends each unique visitor away feeling positive and hopeful about life? Every single day, seven days a week.

I am rooting for Suzanne from WV. I check in with several blogs but her's is my favorite. One of the reasons I really enjoy her blog is her ideas and recipes are clearly presented and they actually turn out great if you try them at home. Go Suzanne!

Suzanne from WV has changed my life - well, at least her blog has changed my life! I discovered her blog several months ago. She is so inspiring EVERY DAY. Every day is full of new things to try new ideas to challenge thinking and complete and total inspiration. Every day she inspires and teaches. And...she is very humble. She's real and genuine and that is why she has so many followers. We all feel like we know her personally. She SO deserves this job.

Every morning, I grab my cup of tea and head for the computer so I can get my "Chickens" fix. Whether a quip about her life in the rural WV countryside, her growing kids, her gains and losses on the farm or her amazing recipes and tips, this is my "feel good wake up call" every morning. My family knows that until I've had my little dose of Suzanne's sunshine I'm just not right. This site is something my grandkids love as well. The animals, the farm, the stories are all really good stuff.
She's a keeper and SAM e should know that. Thanks for letting me comment. Linda in New Mexico

I start each and every day with a dash of Suzanne McMinn @ chickens in the road. She is a faithful blogger that always lets you see the lighter side of life outside of money. My family does not make a ton of cash like alot of people. With Suzanne, that is ok. She helps out the rich the poor and the people in the middle with her charming blogs and hilarious photos. She has something for everyone. Recipes, things to do, things she has attempted (like the taming of mean rooster. Read her blog to find out more)and her love of life. With everything that she does in life she still finds the time to make sure she has a quality post for everyone to read every morning. Suzanne is what most people strive to become, remembered. If she gets this job, you will not be dissappointed.

It would be a very sad day for me if there really was cheating goin on with the voting. I hope that all is resolved and a truthful ending will prevail. I also seen the massive jump in vote numbers and was very perplexed. What is going on, and will there be eliminations, or deductions?

I love Suzanne's blog and her message. She walks the walk on a simple, productive and satisfying life. I think you would be more than happy with her work and the words she would use to convey the helpfulness of
sam-e.

P.S. I have been taking sam-e for well over 14 years and love what it does for my piece of mind and my overall health. There are far more health benefits from it than just a good mood.

I am also a fan of Suzanne's blog. Each day she shows how open and honest she is, and how she is living each day with humor and determination. I am able to enjoy some of the things through her that I couldn't possibly do each day in my own life and that makes me happy!

Suzanne's blog is my third read every a.m., first is the news (real news junkie) second is the comics, have to have them after the news for balance you understand. Then best of all I get to chickens in the road. Love the animals and receipes even like the crafts even though that not me. So I vote every day. Her's to her winning!

Go Rachel Go!! Rachel Polson is the one you want to help you bring a sense of joy to your life, no matter how impossible you may think that is. She's brilliant, she's funny, and she's got a way with words that makes her message accessible to everyone who reads her. VOTE FOR RACHEL!!!

There are only two blogs that I read faithfully every day, my daughter's and Suzanne McMinn's. Suzanne is a gifted writer. She makes every day start on a positive note for me. I love her sense of humor - she makes me laugh every day. I think she would be a fantastic spokesperson for SAM-e.

People who are saying Brigitte Dale is a video blogger and not a writer must have not even tried to check the facts before saying that. I became a fan of her advice column in the newspaper years ago, and have loved her writing as much as her videos, which she writes herself, ever since then. and if you look on her website there are lots of writing examples. Also, her website was redirected to abc family while she was blogging for them so she's only had a personal blog up for a couple months - of course alexa's traffic won't reflect all those thousands of readers on abc or the other companies she writes for! The top contenders are all talented, I like all of their blogs, but Brigitte is my favorite writer. I don't see why we need to be spreading lies.

I discovered Brigitte Dale about a year ago and ended up going back and watching almost all of her videos. She's so funny without being saccharine. She's always on point and topical without being trendy. And, most importantly, she's just plain real. Most of her videos are just her looking into the camera and talking. A lot of people couldn't pull that off, but she manages to make it entertaining and interesting.
This is not to say that she doesn't have some major video editing skills as well she just doesn't have to depend on them to make her videos fun.

Also, Brigitte's been doing a video everyday since she was named a finalist including yesterday when she could hardly talk. Talk about commitment!
Good luck Brig!

Myrna. Lish. Et al.

I think the biggest impact on those Alexa numbers is that up until a couple months ago, Brigitte's site was auto-forwarding to ABCFamily. And it had been that way for the previous year. You can see the Alexa graph flatlines before mid-August (when her site came back online). I'm guessing part of her deal with them was to siphon her traffic to their site. So obviously the numbers were nothing to scoff at. But ABCFamily took it over for a year and there was no BrigitteDale site up until late Fall '09.

So essentially, she's only been building traffic back up on her personal site for the past three months. The one constant way of knowing where Brigitte is, has been through her YouTube page. She has 9000 subscribers. Does your candidate have 9000 unique visitors to her site everyday? I kinda doubt it.

Here's an easy comparison. Brigitte has over 3000 followers on Twitter. Your candidate has under 450. Pretty simple. Brigitte has 10,000 views on her application video. Your favorite has 5,500.

So continue to compare Alexa rankings if you wish. Until you can factor in YouTube, Twitter, the hits she got on ABCFamily for a whole year, and anything else Brigitte's done, your argument is completely flawed.

I've been a faithful follower of Brigitte's ever since she wrote for the Journal Star in Lincoln. She always has a unique point of view on things, whether she's writing about relationships, science, pop culture or the world around her. She writes with great insight and humor. Good luck Brigitte!

A lot of people (especially the ones in the Suzanne camp) tend to accuse the Brigitte Dale supporters like myself of cheating the voting system, but I also think the Suzanne supporters are doing the same means of cheating and fraudulent voting themselves as well.

I do hope that Brigitte wins, but by means of legitimate voting - not bots and macros like what I think the supporters of Suzanne and a few others are doing... :/

Anyway, Brigitte is a very charming and wonderful young lady, and her video blogs are entertaining and informative and they always make me smile. She would be the perfect person to become the Good Mood Blogger, in my opinion.

Suzanne McMinn is the best person for the job of Good Mood Blogger! She fits the job description just perfect. Suzanne is a true writer. Suzanne also have the best blog I've ever read! If I want to watch a video I would just turn on the television and watch something on there. I look forward to what Suzanne has to offer her readers and myself every day.

*´¨)
¸.*´¸.**´¨) ¸.**´¨)
(¸.*´ (¸.*´* VOTE FOR SUZANNE MCMINN *

As much as i'm sure these comments are appreciated, i think everyone needs to relax and think about what this whole competition is all about...good mood! It's important that we focus on leaving positive, heart-felt comments on here and forget about attacking. I fully support Brigitte. I've been watching her videos for a few months and there is something about her that simply makes you wish you were her friend. She's so open and her kindness draws people to her, even through the internet. She's so easy to relate to and she has a special talent of making people laugh and feel joy just by listening to her talk about pretty much anything. You can always tell how much she enjoys life and how grateful she is for the little things. I have no doubt that she would be wonderful as the good mood blogger.

All the luck in the world Brigitte!!!

I'm sure that each and every contestant in the group would be a fantastic person for the job, but my vote goes to Suzanne. It's been a tough few years at my household, and it seems as though I'd given up the things that truly made me happy. A friend of mine that I quilt with told me about Suzanne's blog, and since that day I've been hooked. Her genuine, honest words make me laugh, and have helped inspire me to go back to the simple things in life...and guess what...not only am I happier, but it's had a trickle down effect on my family, as well. I admire her determination, her sense of humor, and her desire to interact in the lives of her readers. Good luck, Suzanne!

I totally agree with Triddy, this is about being in a good mood. People should not be attacking other candidates, they should be presenting their views on the person they suppport. Again I agree with Triddy on his take of Brigitte, he is right on. I might add that Brigitte is a breath of fresh air. She can talk on any topic and draw you in even if the topic may not be something you would be interested in. She is funny, witty, smart, well I'm not going to keep going on with that, but she presents herself in a manner that puts a smile on your face. When reading her blog or watching her video you tend to go over them a few times as they are that enjoyable. Brigitte "is" the "good mood" in the "good mood blogger"!

I found Suzanne's Chickens in the Road blog through your contest. It is now the first thing I read every day. Her heart and spirit come through so wonderfully. Thank you Suzanne, and I hope Sam-E is smart enough to realize you are a good mood person.

I do believe that it is time for this competition to be over. The SAM-e folks surely have heard, seen and read enough to make their final decision. The mean-spirited "my finalist is better than your finalist" sniping that has begun to appear over the past couple of days is doing no one any good, and it definitely does NOT put me in a good mood.

After the "good mood blogger" starts, will folks need to subscribe to the blog like they do for your SAM-e Newsletter or will it be part of your SAM-e Newsletter?

I've been voting for Brigitte Dale just about everyday. She's very different from the other bloggers / vloggers that I follow but she has an enormous amount of talent when it comes to presenting something that's funny, entertaining and yet personal.

I'm about the least likely person to follow a Good Mood Blog but Brigitte has an uncanny knack for putting me in a good mood. Wether it be day to day observations or a new baking recipe, I've enjoyed every minute of her work so far.

She has the wit, talent and charm that I would personally consider the exact combination for this opportunity, I really do hope for her success in this competition. Some extra Brigitte is always a good thing. ^_^

it ha been interesting following this contest. i learned about it from "chickens in the road". i have been interested enough in this contest to check out the blogs of the leading contestants and a few of the others.
all of the blogs have something to offer. i personally favor suzanne mcminn for the good mood blogger because she offers a realistic yet uplifting view of everyday life. she handles what life throws at her with humility, humor, and with love. she shares her passion for learning, for stretching past one's comfort zone, and for living and loving the best one can.
Her blog is a treat for the eyes and for the soul. what a great way to start the day!

it ha been interesting following this contest. i learned about it from "chickens in the road". i have been interested enough in this contest to check out the blogs of the leading contestants and a few of the others.
all of the blogs have something to offer. i personally favor suzanne mcminn for the good mood blogger because she offers a realistic yet uplifting view of everyday life. she handles what life throws at her with humility, humor, and with love. she shares her passion for learning, for stretching past one's comfort zone, and for living and loving the best one can.
Her blog is a treat for the eyes and for the soul. what a great way to start the day!

Suzanne (WVa)!

I lost my internet connection for a day and was miserable without my Chickens in the Road fix!

I look forward to both her consistent Blog entries and to sharing with her other loyal followers on her forum. I wouldn't want to start my day without reading her amusing entries or the camaraderie found on the forum there.

Always something to smile about, always something to learn. A cup of coffee and a mouse click on Suzanne's site is how I start every morning. :)

Hi again.

I think the recent trend in defensive (dare I say hostile?) comments should be put to a halt!

This is, after all, a contest to find a "Good Mood" blogger. Please try to keep that in mind when you're posting. =/

Having said that, I still stand by Brigitte (cannot stress this enough - she is "Good Mood" personified!), her videos and her writing wholeheartedly!

Her writing reflects her personality perfectly. No matter the subject - be it a dreary day, her dog Maddy, or simple nostalgia - I come away with a smile on my face, inspired. Improved, even.

Not to embarrass Brigitte, but I must say I'm deeply grateful she's around.

I personally am not pointing fingers, it is not my style. All I know is that there is a debate over validity. Why anyone would feel the need to cheat is beyond me. All I want in a good mood blogger is someone is instills good feelings and a feeling of well being in everyone. To lift up the spirits of the masses and brings a daily smile to you in any way shape or form. Be it a small poem from a child next door made just for you or how to basically make something out of nothing with no major cost. Life is more than fighting and accusations. Everyone please remember that as YOU are voting to choose who you want to represent the blogging world and brighten the day for many. Pick wisely and enjoy lifes simple pleasures.

I have been a follower of Suzannes blog for a very long time, and have become to know a lot of her readers through her blog, many of which have left support comments on this site. They are all wonderful and compassionate people that have one thing in common, we enjoy our daily blog from Suzanne.
I am so proud to be amoung a group that has nice things to say about our friend, and each other and refrains from name calling etc. That is so not needed.
Who ever wins this blog will reresent the folks at SAM-e, and hopefully they will make a good decision on content and character.
Thank you

Whoa whoa whoa!

This battle's gotten kinda snippy in a hurry. I think everyone needs to calm down a little, refocus, and provide comments as to why their choice is the best, not why someone else shouldn't get the job.

Now obviously Sue has a very loyal (and vocal) following. I definitely can applaud that. But if one Sam-e applicant tells their supporters to come and leave comments on this blog (while other applicants fail to), does that make the only one that did, the obvious choice for the job?

Is Lori automatically out of the running, because she's failed to tell her people to leave a comment here? Somehow, I'm thinking she's still a very strong choice in the judges eyes. What about the rest of the finalists? What happens if one applicant's fans have more time to leave comments than another's? Should this somehow be counted as a "vote" when voting is already taking place?

Now, I'm not sure there's anything on this blog post that says "Leave a comment here in support of your choice and we'll use it in our decision". So why has this been chosen as the place to wage war? Did I miss something?

I do notice in the "Terms and Conditions" that it says something about testimonials from friends or former employers, but if you actually read it, it's talking about them being a part of the application VIDEO. I've read nothing on this entire site that says "Leave a testimonial and it will help your choice win the Good Mood Blogger contest."

So while leaving a comment should be a positive thing, as I suppose the finalists who read them may feel good seeing how they affect their readers/watchers, let's not get carried away with how much we think we're playing a part in the outcome.

Last year was the hardest year of my life. I came across a Brigitte Dale video blog on the ABC family website one day. It was her "say sorry" video. I really enjoyed it and posted it on my facebook page and sent it to a few friends because i enjoyed it so much. then i slowly started to watch a few blogs and then discovered all her blogs on youtube and i literally spent days watching old video blogs about old celebrity news just because i enjoyed her so much. I have watched EVERY SINGLE video blog she has on youtube (over 400) and frequently re-watch them and have all the ones available on itunes saved to my computer. I frequently post her blogs on facebook to share them with friends. One blog i also had many frieds watch "build a breakup" together and everyone laughed hysterically and thoroughly enjoyed it.
The point is that Brigitte Dale and her thoughts, opinions, and good mood-ness has changed my life and gave me something to look forward to when I had nothing to look forward too. I will be heart broken if she doesnt win this competition because I really think she deserves it AND because i want nothing more than to have more video blogs of hers to put me in a good mood :) <3
Brigitte is truely talented, unique, and special and I am always excited and happy when she has a new video blog for me to watch.

Go, Rachel, go!!!

And no matter what happens, keep writing! You're just getting started, and look at you go! It's clear to me after reading your blog and your essay that you're doing what you were meant to do, so keep it up.

I look forward to reading more from you. Good luck!

One more thing...

As for the pointing of fingers and the accusing of cheating, well, I'm not going to participate. Maybe jumps in numbers are because of increased campaigning for votes, perhaps there really is something questionable happening (I sure hope not). But whatever is going on, I'm sure the folks at Sam-e are all over it, and they don't need pages of biting comments about it. That's not what this site--or this contest--is about.

I wish everyone luck in their life. Just because I don't happen to like someone's blog doesn't mean I wish them ill.

(and one more time... Go, Rachel!)

If you'll look at Lisa's (of Nature Made) comment on 11/25, she clearly says that the comments here are appreciated and to keep them coming.

I love Bridgette! I have seriously never seen anyone who makes people smile more than she can. I've been watching her videos and reading her blogs for awhile now. The whole Good Mood gig is perfect for her. I'm not saying other candidates aren't as wonderful of course! But I'm just going by what I've experienced. I've also gotten the chance to read Suzanne's blogs on her website. They're very enjoyable and home friendly. Something my mom would probably get into lol. But ofcourse, I'm going to have to stick with Bridgette. She inspires me to just enjoy life.

I put my vote in for Suzanne - her recipes are the best!

Brigitte Dale.

I've followed her for I don't know how long. 3? Maybe 4 years? I've been there through all of it. The Lincoln Journal-Star. The Pop Crunch Show. TV Squad Daily. Catty Girls Podcast. YouTube. ABCFamily. And her personal blog.

Brigitte is a guaranteed "Good Mood". She's so real, intelligent, witty, charmingly modest, and talented. She's pretty much the most adorable thing going on the interweb. Sometimes she can't help but laugh at her own jokes or something ridiculous she's just said, and isn't able to fully edit out the part where she wipes a bit a spittle off of her lip. It's hilarious and I crack up every time it happens. She's just a regular girl from Nebraska, who doesn't take herself too seriously, and I enjoy that so much about her.

I challenge anyone to go watch her videos and not be in a "Good Mood" afterward.

I have been a faithful reader of Suzanne McMinn's delightful Chickens in the Road blog for almost two years. She shared her struggles with the cold, old house she first moved into in WV and the delight of building her new house and acquiring her chickens, goats, chickens, pigs and dogs. I have laughed at the antics of her giant puppy and crazy rooster and cried when she shared the loss of beloved animals. And, I have learned how to make Grandmother Bread and all its variations and to make jam and can foods. I am looking forward to the second series of homemade Christmas gifts and goodies such as the corn husk angels she made this week. She has shown us that the good things of life do not come with big price tags, but from love and care. She may or may not be your pick for Sam-E blogger, but if you want to connect with wholesome, natural living, Suzanne McMinn's Chickens in the Road is a worthy destination.

Life without Suzanne in WV would be like life without SAM-e. As a country person stuck in a big city job, I find myself feeling a bit down each morning until I get a chance to check in with Suzanne and her blog.
Suzanne and SAM-e have the same goal: to help us find the natural joy in our own lives.

Hmmm. I guess maybe I should talk about Brigitte's qualifications and not just her ability to laugh at herself.

Along with all of her personality traits that make her perfect for this job, is the fact that she's very creative and talented in the area of emerging media. She's not only written articles and blogs, but Brigitte was doing video blogs and YouTube shows long before many others were. She was named 2008's "Best Internet Personality" by Yahoo! She was the keynote speaker at an expo that featured a collection of the "next generation Internet personalities". She's shown the ability to attract a strong audience no matter where she is, or what she's talking about.

But even through all of her success and achievement, she stays the same sweet, unassuming Midwestern girl. She would be a great asset for Sam-e, and I think she's more than qualified for this job.

Through all my years of enjoying Brigitte's contribution to the webosphere, I never really participated. I never subscribed. I never commented. I never emailed. I never tried to interact or give back. That is, until now. I've voted for Brigitte just about every day to win this contest. Why? Because not only are her videos entertaining, but she's an inspiration. She's just a girl from Nebraska who moved to the big city, trying to live out her dream. The least I could do, for making all of her awesome videos, is to help her achieve that.

Go get'um Brig.

Ok, just one more post. Actually a re-post. I'd like to point out something that was added by "JD" above. Here's a breakdown of the ratio of votes compared to application video views...

Brigette, CA -- 45,701 votes -- 10,021 views -- 4.6 votes/view
Lori, CA -- 34,877 votes -- 2,880 views -- 12.1 votes/view
Suzanne, WV -- 27,196 votes -- 5563 views -- 4.9 votes/view
Susan, MS -- 7,602 votes -- 1330 views -- 5.7 votes/view

There is nothing out-of-the-ordinary about the number of votes Brigitte has. Her vote total is right inline with the the amount of actual fans she has. Apparently sour grapes have led to people casting aspersions about the legitimacy of her vote count. C'mon people.

She's been brilliantly marketing herself through daily videos since the finals started. Just totaling the views from those videos alone comes out to over 36K. Add in her followers on Twitter and Facebook, who may not have watched all the videos but voted (because it takes 2 seconds) and you can easily find 47K votes.

First thing I do every morning is grab my coffee and head to Chickens In The Road. Suzanne brightens my day and definitely puts me in a good mood - never fails. She is a great writer and a wonderful person. Best blog ever. She is perfect for the SAM-e
position. She writes each and every day, 7 days a week - something I count on. I have learned much from her the past 2 years and feel she is someone I have known forever. I hope Suzanne gets the job.

Brigitte is funny, entertaining, interesting, uplifting, intelligent, observant, appealing and a bloody good breath of fresh air.There is no competition in our opinion.

Brigitte, CA

I've been following Brigitte's blogs and video blogs for quite a while, and she never fails to put a smile on my face. She's talented, witty, creative, wholesome -- and she has always been family-friendly (nice clean humor). Her excellent entry video is just a small sample of what she would do as the SAM-e Good Mood Blogger. Good luck Brigitte!

go brigitte!! i've been following brigitte for years, both in her video blogs and a blog and weekly article she used to write. she's the best. always sweet, funny, and filled with unique insights and ideas :) she is like sunshine!

Brigitte writes really good blogs, you can read them on her web site. She'd be perfect for Sam-e. I'd look forward to reading a new one everyday.

Its too bad there can't be 3 winners because I'm sure each of the top 3 have something important to contribute. I do have my favorite...Suzanne of WV. I can identify with her more than the other two. She's a mom and has to tend to all those "mom" things like so many of us. She's a strong person emotionally and is an inspiration to those of us who sometimes feel helpless and overwhelmed. She's not afraid to admit if she doesn't know how to do something and will dig in her heels and learn how to manage. Suzanne is just pure and natural. She loves to be involved and creative with what nature has given us and most people can afford that. I think her message to everyone is that the peace and tranquility is there for the taking...whether its settling back in an old rocker on your front porch, tending your garden or snuggling down with a good book or movie while the aroma of home baked bread is coming from the oven. Its whatever makes YOU feel good. Her gentle reminders that happiness is all around you, just reach out and caress it ....sinks in and makes a lot of sense. Suzanne gets through to me and I think she affects all her readers the same way. Once you've experienced her lifestyle, her personality, her humor, not to mention the excellent recipes and the cutest pets and farm animals ever....you don't want to leave. Very healing indeed. Well done, Suzanne... we all love you.

I've been watching and reading Bridget Dale for years now. She is simply the most upbeat, positive person I've had the fortune to experience. She is completely genuine, and fantastic.

She has a massive network of friends on different sites who support her. So it does not surprise me she is doing as well as she is. I have seen strange things though on others for instance the other day I saw someone go from 5k to 45k, and a few others go from 30k to 40k.

While Bridget just has been harnessing her network of actual viewers and friends.

Please support this most wonderful woman. I would love to see even more of her. And I think the rest of you would as well, once you got a chance! Try her website http://brigittedale.com/blog/

i am writing this in earnest to convey quite sincerely my admiration for all the participants. with the utmost and rather considerably deliberate attention to brigitte dale.
a genuinely loyal, supportive, faithful, forthright, honest, trustworthy, magnanimous and compassionately determined individual.
her eyes have depth, purity and clarity inspiring our immediate confidence and trust with ease.
her advice is profound, simple in it's eloquence and often original. with a countenance that is impeccable and ineffably beautiful -somehow clearly relating empathically how facing pain and sorrow with courage and integrity through lighthearted mirth, joy and laughter will heal and mend the heart and soul. making every moment in the presence of such beings -an opportunity for gratitude for the blessing that we call life in existence in our world.

I have been reading Suzanne for a while now. It is my favorite blog. I feel as though I know Suzanne. She never misses a day posting and her posts are always interesting and uplifting and really inspiring. I have started canning again because of her blog. I really admire how she saves money and makes things at home and well....I really want her to win this contest. I think she deserves it.

Brigitte is by far my favorite. I love her vlogs :) She never fails to make me smile!

WOW!!! I just love Brigitte from California!!!! Her blogs are just great. The editing that she does on her video blogs makes you ask for more. And I have asked for more..... she is just amazing at taking a point of view, and helps you completely look at in a cheerful way!!! Go Brigitte!!! She totally deserves to win this, and have this opportunity to share with everyone all the delight that she has!!!!

Suzanne, WV
SAM-e, you couldn't go wrong by hiring Suzanne for your blog. I've enjoyed reading her Chickens in the Road blog for the last year and she is just an amazing, warm, uplifting person. Her sense of humor can lift anyone out of the doldrums. Go Suzanne!!!

Suzanne

I discovered Suzanne McMinn's blog "Chickens in the Road" in the summer of 2008. I was hooked from the first day! Now it's the first place I go online every morning. The great thing is that there is new content on a daily basis at a set time. I'd love to read another blog site with her inspirational writing!

According to your website, you are searching for a good mood blogger to take on the duty of writing a daily blog post about his or her good mood. I read that statement to mean you’re looking for someone who can write for SAM-e, not creates videos for SAM-e or post on Twitter for SAM-e or on Facebook for SAM-e. If you’re looking for a mature, intelligent, multi-talented, professional writer who knows how to put people in a good mood, I can definitely recommend Suzanne McMinn for the job.

I’ve been following Suzanne’s blog for more than two years now and have become quite addicted to her writing, her humor, her compassion, and her talents as have so many other members of my family and friends. It doesn’t matter whether Suzanne is writing about her farm, the animals, recipes, neighbors, her kids, her parents, her cousins, the history of her ancestors and the area where she lives, her kids sports activities, their schools & classwork, her travels, her newspaper articles, the slanted little house, the construction of the “new” farm house, her encounters with ornery angel and her giant puppy’s romance with ornery angel’s rat dog when Giant Puppy came into heat the first time, or her and her kids ride to town on the turnip truck in search of cell phones, she makes it all so entertaining because she KNOWS how to write. After following her for so long, I firmly believe she could take any subject and make it interesting to her audience.

In reading about her, I’ve learned she had a passion for reading and writing at a very young age and made the decision then to pursue a career as a writer. She graduated with a BA in English and a minor in history then later went back to school and earned a teaching certificate through a masters program and is certified to teach both English/language arts and history/social studies. And not to embarrass Suzanne, but for those new readers of hers who appreciate intelligence, I might mention summa cum laude as well. (In other words, she ain’t no dummy, but then you already knew that didn’t you.)

Suzanne is not only a mature writer but is one with much experience. I haven’t had an opportunity to read any of her books, but I believe she has written more than 25 romance novels in the past which I feel is an excellent background for the type of writing she does now. I’ve found myself asking numerous times “how does she do that—how can she make the simplest, ugliest things so beautiful and romantic just by writing about them". It’s her ability to bring passion and compassion into everything she does and writes about which puts smiles on faces and makes people feel good. In addition to her experience writing novels, newspaper articles, blogs, etc., she is experienced as a teacher. As so many of her readers have mentioned, she teaches them new things every day but she has also taught classes and held seminars for other writers and taught English/language arts to 7th graders so it’s only natural that her teaching abilities carry through to her blog writing.

She can connect through her life experiences with a wide range of individuals whether they are young, old or in-between, parents, single parents, military spouses, PKs (preachers kids), writers, teachers, farmers, want-to-be farmers, animal lovers, gardeners, historians, genealogists, photographers, seamstresses, crafters, builders, artists, cooks, bakers, and I could go on and on but I could never cover all of the things that she has experienced, researched, and written about. So in closing I’ll just reiterate what others have already said: Suzanne would be an excellent writer for the SAM-e Good Mood Blog and you can rest assured that if she is your final candidate her readers will follow.

Thank you for giving us an opportunity to comment about our favorite candidates.

brigette - well she's infectious, in every way, you can't deny the positivity, that she exudes.

This is such an awesome opportunity you are offering. I know Sam-e is a good product and I recommend it often to my counseling clients. I also recommend Susanne McMinn's blog as a wonderful thing to read.; I hope she wins because she would be a perfect representative for the Sam-e way of life.

There is something definitely fishy with Lori's numbers. In a little under a day and a half she's added 10,000 votes while her video has only been viewed 3,000 times. I realize not everyone who votes watches the video at least once, but it's not a stretch to say most do. If your favorite blogger posts that they are in a contest and to vote at this link and you see a video of them when you click the link, you probably watch it. That means 3,000 people voting once per day is only 3,000 votes. Even if you say it's a little over a day so they could vote twice, that's only 6,000 votes--and that's if every single person that has watched it votes.

As a comparison, the other top two candidates only increased by a little over 2,000 votes and they both have double or triple the video views. There is either some automation or someone is saying "go here and click the vote button" as a requirement for something.

Brigitte for the win! A friend told me about her, so I Googled and proceeded to watch all the videos on her site.. then looked her up on iTunes. And then when I realised that my computer memory was running out (rubbish laptop) I decided I would subscribe to her on youtube instead.. I don't quite grasp Twitter yet, but as soon as I get an account Brigitte will be the first I'll 'follow'. Why? She is Good Mood personified! I've had true Laugh Out Loud moments watching her videos (check out Build a Breakup) & reading her blog. She is charming, witty and funny. I hope to see more of her!

The reason I take the extra five minutes out of my day to read and vote for Bridgette Dale is that first I always leave the blog in a better mood than it found me. But the more important aspect of the why's is that she has the morality of the mid west and the hipness of the west coast. It makes her a caring and sincere person and a role modelof inspiration not just for the young ,but for the young at heart. In these days, a person has to be ahead of their time and know where things are headed and that is what California has done to the girl with a really good set of values and morales from Nebraska. She is a little of the old and a little of the new,which adds up in a good humanly way.That is why her base of support, is so large and growing daily.She is truly a beam of light, and just what the doctor ordered for all of us 8 too 80 to start off the day's role in a realy super "Good Mood" ... If some one took the time to read this thanks..LOL ,John

O.K. 40700 votes at 10:00 am on Friday - 50800 votes 10:00 am on Saturday. Another reason Lori should not be taken seriously.

Suzanne McMinn should get the job as a Good Mood blogger simply because she is the most qualified. Her experiences in teaching, writing, living all across the country and having many varied life experiences is part of it. Her ability to look at the simple things in life (which most take for granted) and find joy and greatness in them, and present them to others in her unique way makes her gifted indeed. Whether in her words, photos, or videos, Suzanne makes the mundane superb. One commenter here referred to her superficially as "chickens and pies" but she is so much more than that. I do hope the people in charge of this contest look at the candidates in the totality of what they can bring to the table. They will see that Suzanne is the most accomplished and gifted.

Going to Suzanne's blog is like visiting a real time friend. You stick your head in the door and yell "Anybody home?" and next thing you know you're plopping yourself down in front of a warm open fireplace, taking off your shoes and wiggling your toes while basking in the warmth of home and Spirit.
I think she works hard at anything no matter the obstacles. She's 'walked her talk' in real time and cares enough to share her experiences with others to help them walk their path.

I'm in a good mood! I just finished reading Suzanne's blog post! Plus it is snowing outside! I'm on top of the world!

*´¨)
¸.*´¸.**´¨) ¸.**´¨)
(¸.*´ (¸.*´* VOTE FOR SUZANNE MCMINN *

I seriously doubt Lori got 20,000 votes in less than 48 hours without something fishy going on.

Suzanne McMinn's blog is the most uplifting and inspirational blog I've ever read. She has improved my mood, my cooking skills and my faith that it truly is possible to do more with less. She leads the simple life while reaching out to people she'll never meet, changing lives for the good. Thank you Suzanne!! I hope she is chosen by SamE.

A vote for Brigitte, CA

I have never met Brigitte Dale and only know of her from watching her video blogs, but from what I know... I know she is perfect for this job.

Why? There are numerous reasons why Brigitte should win this job. Her appeal stretches from teens to their grandparents. Intelligence, creativity, charm, humor, and her humility are just some of the personality traits Brigitte posses and in my opinion this is why she is popular amongst such a diverse group of people.

Now I ask the judges of this contest, don't you want a blogger with mass appeal? A blogger who appeals to a wide variety of people rather than a specific group (limiting the exposure of Sam-e)?

In 2008 Brigitte Dale was named 'Best Internet Personality' by Yahoo. If Yahoo recognizes her ability to bring in audience I hope the Sam-e judges recognize this as well.

Good Luck Brigitte......
I know How perfect this job fits your personality and really is who you are
You really are a symbol for "Good Mood" You really have all of us laughing with you and your wonderful sense of humor.
Brigitte has always had a written blog and has also excelled in her video blogs which shows her quirky sense of humor
I think that with the written word it is always a way to do some soul searching and a video blog will always generate a definite mood lifting for anyone that watches That she is skilled in both is a benefit for anyone who watches her
I think over the years she has just gotten really better at it along with a great deal of natural charisma to make it more appealing to anyone who watches her She has a way keep everyone's interest enough and gets them hooked on coming back each and every day to hear another installment on Brigitte and what she is sharing which is always funny and always will bring a smile I think if you ever spend time going over her many video blogs you will see how consistent she is and why she has made her living this way for many years

The Sam-e contest is about good mood.

Everyone who is in the top 20 is here for that reason to share their thoughts and their good moods .

Some are at the begging of their blogging Careers and may not have a huge following, as others have years of blogging experience.

I believe everyone in the top 20 should be be applauded for their time and effort they have put into this contest.

Sam-e will choose the style and the type of blogger they believe is best for them.

Voters should compliment their choice and leave the drama out.

Wendy Robertson

I have been following Suzanne McMinn for almost a year now. Right from the start she had me laughing out loud. I told my girlfriends about her and I knew that they would love her. She's the first thing I read in the morning. My daughter in college reads her blog also. We can relate to her in many ways even though we don't live on a farm, grow our own food and are as self sufficent as she is. We live on the Oregon coast and we have always tried to appreciate the beauty around us.I feel that is what comes out of Suzanne's blog - to enjoy the beauty around you where ever you are and yes those simple things in life. She GETS it. Life comes with all sorts of ups and downs and it helps having our friends and family. Reading her blog is my chicken soup for the soul.

The person I have been following for quite awhile now shows me how to live life to the fullest. She teaches how to take something that's kicking her butt and find a way to conquer it.

When life isn't all it's "supposed" to be, she shares about it and makes the best of it. She is continuously finding ways to make her life the life she's dreamed of.

For her, it's not about looking "right", being "relevant" to whatever that days trend is. It's about living a real life, with real people, in a real world, where most of us live....not in the world of using things, people, and technology as stepping-stones on their way to fame and fortune.

She is real. She is natural. She wakes up in the morning and thinks about way to make her life, right where she is, better.

Thanks, Suzanne, for being MY Good Mood Blogger.

you go brigitte... she's the real deal!!!

brava

Good luck to all of the entrants! You've all worked so hard, giving your best in order to win this competition. All of you have wonderful thoughts and ideas about what gives you your zest for life and what puts you in a good mood. But honestly, after reading all of the negative comments about some of the entrants perhaps I should start taking Sam-E, it seems to have put me in such a down mood! But still, good luck everyone.
Suzanne McMinn, I'm so glad you decided to get that wood heater. Think real hard and you'll possibly remember when I asked if you were going to get one when you first started building your home. See ya' with my coffee and bed head hair first thing in the morning on the world wide web!

Wow - looking @ Chris's message. When was that data taken? It was posted as 12/4. It is now just after midnight on Sat (12/5) night (12/6 a.m). Brigitte's & Suzanne's numbers have both been steadily rising at similar rate time difference and all considered. However, look @ Lori's! As I said, it is VERY early a.m. on 12/6 and she now has 53,000+ votes. Up 19,000 votes in less than 2 days - check my math - is that right or does it look really odd? Just sayin.

My votes have been going to Rachel. There has been a lot posted here about how various bloggers have dealt with tough times, have good senses of humor, and lots of traffic on their existent blogs. I don't know the stats on Rachel's readership but because I do know her, I know she's faced tough times and single parenthood. And she keeps up the good mood. Isn't that what this is really about? Give someone with a new voice a chance. Thanks.

Ok, first of all--I hate to say it but I think Sam-e should totally disqualify people who decide to use gift cards and other such bribery to get people to vote. I totally believe it's against the ethics and spirit of the job.

Second, I believe Suzanne of Chickens in the Road TOTALLY embodies this job. Here is a woman who is funny, witty, makes the best of every situation, and does it with almost NO money...and show you how to do it too. Which I think is very timely in this crazy world right now! I hope she gets the job!

I looked at all the entries with an eye to who would put me in a good mood...and Rachel is the winner! She looked genuinely happy, fun and inspiring. If I needed a pick me up I would turn to Rachel's blog at Sam-e! A friendly smile, beautiful scenerey, uplifting music and kind words are what I need.

The other contestants seemed to me to be "professional" bloggers and I think Nature Made could have easily hired a professional writer, but are looking for a new talent with this contest. Rachel is the contestant that would be perfect for the Good Mood Gig!

I'm voting for Brigitte, and I have been every day. I'm not going to argue why she should win, because its obvious. I've looked at the other bloggers and a lot of them have very interesting sites, and all seem like they have a lot of very dedicated followers. I doubt, however, that any of them could bring the versitilty of followers that Brigitte has to this site, and I think in marketing, thats what matters.

I am wondering why Lori would need this job. If she is able to pay $100 gift cards for over 50,000 votes she must be doing very well financially. Strange how this contest has turned from the feel good blog to the depths of human corruption and manipulation. It will be interesting to see how the judges rule on the winner.

I would like to reiterate that the support for Suzanne is from a diverse audience in many ways: economically, geographically, chronologically. Her shared life experiences have shaped her into the kind of person that has wisdom, yet is approachable and exudes two qualities the world seems to have a dearth of: thankfulness and humility. She would be an asset to SAM-e.

I first discovered Brigitte Dale through her writing, on her Nebraska blog. From that very first read (about finding stray pennies) she seemed insightful, inspiring and kind.

Certainly one of her talents is the gift of humor-sometimes droll, sometimes hilarious but never at anyone's expense save her own. Somehow I always leave her page with a smile, but more often with a belly laugh. How does someone turn the subjects of facing adversity or making healthful food choices into joyful laughter? Beats the hell out of me, but she does it every time.
WE

Interesting how Lori got 20,000 votes in a couple days, just enough to put her in first place, and then the votes stopped.

The alphabetical thing has definitely pushed Brigitte Dale ahead. She is cute very cute, but NO SUBSTANCE. Really, take away the cuteness, it is quite ordinary.

its getting really exciting on here, and i can't wait to see the results of who gets chosen,
even though brigitte seems like the optimal canidate =)

Brigitte Dale, I love you.

I would like to say that I have been keeping up with Suzanne for a while now because she has kept me in touch with home. I am over 7,000 miles from home and the everyday things that she keeps up with, the recipes and funny stories are a great comfort. I would love to see her win the Good Mood Blog simply because someone like me who is a little homesick gets a wonderful pick-me-up with her.

hmmmm....really?

http://brigittedale.com/blog/?…..3#comments

spitalul2bad says:
December 7, 2009 at 7:00 am

[..YouTube..] For the last two days I’ve worked my magic through friends, dynamic IPs and proxies to get you over 3000 votes. I really want you to win this. Alex from Romania.

this is an example of what people have expressed concerns about

http://brigittedale.com/blog/?…..3#comments

spitalul2bad says:
December 7, 2009 at 7:00 am

[..YouTube..] For the last two days I’ve worked my magic through friends, dynamic IPs and proxies to get you over 3000 votes. I really want you to win this. Alex from Romania.

Suzanne McMinn's Chickens in the Road blog warms the "Cockles of my Heart!" You know, that deep place that reminds you of your childhood and makes you all warm and fuzzy? The blog is an unassuming look into her back in the boonies West Virgina life. I was so mesmerized by the sheer knowledge at the site I almost missed the sidebar info that also told me she writes paperbacks, a column for the Charleston Daily Newspaper and there's a fascinating interview that was on Public Radio. My favorite thing about the blog, this is HARD since it's chocked full of beautiful photograpy, recipes and crafts, is the daily life on the farm. We can drink in the deliciousness of farm life! She lets the chickens and ducks out of their pen and they run as fast as their little legs can take them straight away down to the meadow where all the bugs are waiting! Her barnyard has real life characters; Nutmeg and Clover the miniature goats,Fanta and Sprite the fainting goats, Pocahontas the miniature donkey, Annabelle who looks just like Mary's Little Lamb,and Giant Puppy.
Regardless of who will win the SamE Good Mood Gig, you will enjoy the journey that brought Suzanne to this West Virginia mountain and it will keep you on the edge of your seat, begging for more! For a boost in your spirits,run...don't walk to ChickensintheRoad.com for a homegrown, down home look into Appalachian farm life!

There's a comment on Brigitte's blog that shows pretty clearly how she's getting some of her votes----in great numbers.

http://brigittedale.com/?p=753#comments

Quote :"For the last two days, I've worked my magic through friends, dynamic IP's and proxies to get you over 3000 votes. I really want you to win this. Alex from Romania."

You know, it's quite sad when people actually BRAG about using dynamic IPs, proxy servers and manufacturing 3000 votes at a time on a contestants site. Sad AND foolish!
brigittedale.com/blog/?p=753&cpage=1#comment-5028
spitalul2bad says:
December 7, 2009 at 7:00 am
[..YouTube..] For the last two days I’ve worked my magic through friends, dynamic IPs and proxies to get you over 3000 votes. I really want you to win this. Alex from Romania.

comment number 5028, if it's still there when you see this.

Hello there!

I would just like to put in my last minute two cents for the lovely Mrs.Dale. everything she does is like sunshine! Since watching her blogs I have noticed an improvement in the way I handle the bad times in my life. Her natural insight and sunny disposition just make it difficult to not see the silver lining. On my worst mood days I can watch a daisytree blog and I genuinely feel better. I have voted nearly every single day for her where I normally wouldn't have participated for others. I genuinely listen to what she has to say because she finds such a brilliant way to tell me! I really think you would be doing your website a service by hiring her.

GO BRIGITTE GO!

Is this really acceptable voting technique? As seen on someone's "blog:"

spitalul2bad says:
December 7, 2009 at 7:00 am
[..YouTube..] For the last two days I’ve worked my magic through friends, dynamic IPs and proxies to get you over 3000 votes. I really want you to win this. Alex from Romania.

hey people calm down.. just cuz someone decided to do that is not brigittes fault. and it also doesnt mean its true. they could be lying cuz they think it'll will make brigitte like them or talk to them or something. taking credit for things you did do? people do that a lot. and 2nd calm down because voting is only a small part of how the winner is determined. then the judges do there thing!

Dear Everyone pointing out that some guy from Romania is playing dirty and implying that Brigitte must have had something to do with it,

Brigitte Dale is a sweet, kind-hearted deserving soul who at EVERY turn of this competition has encouraged her fans to support her through FAIR voting tactics. If she wins this it's because she has a huge group of fans (myself included) that love her work and adore her optimistic, quirky view of life. Not because of one commenter who claims to have cheated. (Which isn't proof of anything, he could claim to be Abraham Lincoln too and would we be taking that seriously?)

Brigitte I hope you win this. If you do, I'm toasting a cupcake in your honor.

To all the contestants, I say good luck and I believe that even applying for this blogging job deserves a huge HOORAY for all of you! :)

ps anyone could have wrote that! ya know like someone whos voting for someone else in this competition!

ugh.. that posted early its supposed to say taking credit for things you didNT do?
sorry for the typo! haha

Brigitte has some pretty nasty followers, if you haven't noticed. See anything like that in comments regarding Suzanne and what she represents on/through her blog ?

Yes people calm down. I have been keeping an eye on everyone's votes and over the last 2 days Brigitte has gotten a little over 5300 votes which is on average the amount of votes she has been getting for that time frame at this stage in the voting. I might add Suzanne has been getting about the same amount of votes. Alex is boasting about nothing.

CHECK out the BLOGS people! You are wanting someone who can BLOG... not bribe with gift cards, not market for votes, not post videos on YouTube! You want a writer, a blogger... and someone with a REAL audience through thick-n-thin. You want someone who writes every single day, someone who is ALWAYS uplifting, and someone who is capable of writing to a diverse audience, someone with real experience... someone who is an inspiration to others BECAUSE she has proven that the nearly impossible can be done. She is living it.... she's living "life in ordinary splendor." READ THE BLOGS and you'll find your winner!

Brigitte really is a ray of sunshine!

The whole Romanian 3000 votes guy things sounds pretty fishy to me. If you were going to cheat because you wanted someone to win, would you really post it in a public forum? Ha. Seems like someone desperate left that comment trying to to make Brigitte look bad.

Hey JE, not to dish on you or anything, but, that was kind of a mean spirited comment you just made!

Hello everyone!

First of all I’d like to applaud the SAM-e initiative for the Good Mood Gig.
I feel there is a strong need for positive stories nowadays.

As you all know the voting ends today.
Luckily the final decision will not be made on the number of votes alone.
That’s why I would like to say a couple of things regarding my favourite blogger.

Last summer I was searching the internet for a plain and simple recipe for home-made bread.
After a while I ended up at a blog with a very homey feeling to it. And best of all: I found my recipe!
I was amazed by the way this lady made me feel like I was right there in her kitchen, watching over her shoulder.

I read a couple of more posts on the blog. I found out she posted every day. Even in the weekends!
The next day my curiosity drew me back to the blog. I started reading her posts every day and I’ve been hooked ever since!

I’m talking about the Chickens in the Road blog of Suzanne McMinn.

Every single day Suzanne knows how to take me along with her daily events/adventures. Her absolutely terrific way of narrating, her beautiful photo’s and her never ending creativity are unsurpassed.
The thing I love most about her blog is that she never fails to brighten my day with her life in ordinary splendor. Her posts inspire me to be thankful, to try to see the positive side of things and to discover new and creative sides within myself.
I’m very glad that Suzanne shares her gift of making something ordinary into something special every day.

Even though I’ve never met Suzanne in person, I believe that this warm, loving, caring and sincere woman deserves to win the Good Mood Gig and become the new good mood blogger.

Sincerely, Capri

I hope Sam-E doesn't find itself getting into any legal problems because people have used other people's identifiable faces in their videos and are offering monthly prizes to the public if they win.

Oh, I guess I should mention that this is part of the Terms and Conditions -

"The results of the Phase II Voting will count as 20% and the Panel’s judging will count as 80% of the applicant’s total score. The applicant with the highest total score will be selected as the Contract Blogger in Pharmavite’s sole discretion."

And!

"Further, each applicant agrees that neither Pharmavite nor Ignite are bound to select the Contract Blogger through the Web Site or through the process described above and may select the Contract Blogger by any process it desires.*"

So lets not get so excited about the votes, Sam-e isn't!

Honestly, if I felt that my choice wasn't doing as well as I had hoped, I could easily go to the blogs owned by those in the lead and make some sort of damaging statement about where their votes were coming from.

Be naive if you'd like. Or throw a tantrum if your sour grapes is getting the best of you. In the end however, the judges will do what they do. If something isn't legit, they'll take care of it. The "hall monitor" wannabes on this blog will have no impact.

As for those who think they, and their choice for this job, are some kind of pious rule-followers, this is from the FAQ...

Q: Is someone looking at the entries? Are they being monitored in case of inappropriate applications or cheaters?

A: Yes. We want to makes sure the voting process is fair and accurate and as possible, so there’s only one vote per IP address allowed per day.

BUT! In flat-out defiance of those rules, we have (at minimum) these two examples...

http://suzannemcminn.com/blog/2009/12/04/the-best-readers-anywhere/#comment-55136

Cindy - 12-4 7:53am
"I’ve been reading and voting (laptop, desktop, and both browsers)but not always posting in comments."

http://suzannemcminn.com/blog/2009/12/02/practicing/#comment-54967

Twigs - 12-2 9:08pm
"Did you know that you can vote more than once a day? It doesn’t seem to be hard and fast. I have been able to vote about once an hour. I just make sure I’ve closed my browser inbetween votings. :) Pass it along people and let’s get Susanne this job!!!!"

So let go of all the finger-pointing. Sam-e and Ignite will pick the person they feel is the best to bring a wider audience to the product they're trying to MARKET.

Good luck to all the applicants.

Chris and all----Comments just like that---pointing out more than one vote a day is possible----are all over Brigitte's blog too. So, you comment here is rather pointless.As far as I can see, neither candidate has advocated multiple voting. And, if comments are being planted, they can be planted anywhere by anyone.

I love this contest. It's been fun to explore the existing blogs and content from the 20 contestents.
My favorite is Brigitte - Her videos and writing are an inspiration to step back, enjoy life, focus on the simple things that make us each happy. Perky, fun and creative. Brigitte definitely puts me in a good mood.

JE..

Exactly my point. But I think it's a few hypocrites that need to be shown that fact. Make sure you're not standing in a house constructed entirely from plate glass before you start launching boulders, ya know?

In the end, the negativity and whining here does not matter. The judges will have much information to pore over, and will select who they think gets them the most eyeballs on their product.

Suzanne is the best blogger. Brigitte is the best vlogger. But the position is a blogger, yes? A writer. That's Suzanne.

Yes, on the marketing comment. That's it, exactly.

And you have to have universal appeal to market well. That's what's so awesome about reading Suzanne's blog. You don't have to live her life (I live in one of the biggest cities in the nation) or even want to live in the country at all to enjoy her story and her posts. Hers is a story of making something positive out of sometimes impossible situations and of sometimes simply getting through an ordinary day in a creative and positive way.

It's why we watch shows like This Old House even when we don't have any intention of tearing an old house apart and rebuilding it from scratch. It's why I read books and watch shows about people who live lives that are different from our own (mountain climbers, famous chefs). My eyes and heart are opened to possibilities, to the sheer joy of shared experiences even if I'm experiencing them vicariously.

Suzanne wasn't born on a farm, and her readers all know that she's learning as she goes. I'm learning along with her, and although I'll never use many of the practical lessons she learns (and shares in vivid imagery step by step), the joie de vivre she exhibits is infectious, she has a great sense of humor, and that's what I take away from reading her blog. You can tell that she enjoys her life and greets each new season with wonder and open arms.

The creativity she puts into her daily life is very energizing. It's hopeful and positive and fun.

This is for Susan Marquez. I know that any time im feeling down Susans attitude and view on life is always uplifting and inspirational. This is a woman who takes care of her daughter who fell off a six story building in New York as well as managing a household and a job. Stressful but not in her eyes she is just lucky to be here on this Earth and have the gift of life. Keep up the good work Susan.

Susan Marquez is the best blogger and the most dedicated.

I read Rachel's blog today and I laughed out loud. I wish I had found it sooner-I would hve voted for her everyday. I may be a little late participating in this contest, but I have to say that I think Rachel would be an ideal candidate for a good mood blog. I was impressed with how she has everything from serious and educational to inspiring to humorous all in one blog. I think she is very talented, and hope I get to read more from her here in the future!

All,
Please note the following:
Brigitte has over 8,800 subscribers on Youtube alone.
If all of her subscribers voted for 20 days that would mean a total of 176,000 votes. As of last check sam-e shows that she has slightly under 60,000 votes. I am very surprised she didn’t get more votes.

Also Youtube is only one place in cyberspace where she is found.
Her videos also reached people on Gwakk, AOL TV squad daily, twitter, myspace, facebook, ABC’s family, popcrunch, and some more (I can’t remember all right now). She has been in all of these places in cyberspace FOR YEARS!!! Many have been fans for years, I know as I am one of them.

She has been featured on G4S tv more than once as top 10 women of the web, had a podcast and column on Lincoln journalstar’s newspaper, voted as Yahoo!’s 2008 best personality and was even nominated by playboy.

How can anyone doubt her vote count??? I say again I AM VERY SURPRISED SHE DIDN’T GET MORE VOTES!!!

I've not looked at any videos until today - I don't have time for such...and I guess I'm not really interested in them, BUT to give this a fair shot, I looked at some other top contestants (other meaning Suzanne McMinn's of course *-)), and truly I was not interested in their content. Most seemed contrived and inane. Unfortunately, one must weed out using some kind of criteria and viewing videos clinched it for me- Suzanne wins hands down.

I strongly recomend Susan M. I assure you, there's no one more deserving and capable.

I know there are many deserving of this great opportunity, but none more so than Susan of MS. She is such an inspiration to all who know her and many who just hear about her. I have had the pleasure of being in her company for over 10 years and wouldn't trade a minute!

Susan Marquez from Mississippi is by far the best candidate. She is naturally upbeat, her blog is from the heart and realistic and just listening to or watching her makes me happy; if she can deal with what she does and be upbeat, I certainly can and she will inspire me and other's daily as she continues on her journey.

I am so excited to see if Susan can pull this gig! I have never met an individual that has such an amazing attitude! If and when she isn't in a good mood...HUH? she is NEVER that way!
Her video tells it like it is and she personafies the true spirit of Naturemade products. fresh and light in most every situation. WE are lucky to have her blog about this product. YOU are lucky if she is chosen.
Nature-made needs to be something natural? You can bet thatSusan fits the bill. I am honored to have her as a friend. I have learned a good deal regarding the products and I am willing to bet that will amount to higher sales! I look forward to reading Susan's good mood blog. YOU can bet I will read it as will MANY others! Thank you NatureMade!

Susan has walked through the dark halls of life in many ways and still came out carrying her "light". Her light shines through her positive attitude, encouraging words to others and her approach to storms in life. Susan is like the sunshine---always shining, no matter the weather!

There are not enough words to sing the praises of my favorite Southern Belle, Susan M. She is a doll inside and out. Watching her video made me so proud to know her. Everyone loves a Southern accent. It warms the soul. The charm you see is real. I met Susan through her CaringBridge blog about her daughter Nicole. I was drawn to her positive outlook in the most tragic circumstances. Nothing could keep her down! It was amazing to me to sit at home and be comforted by someone I did not know. Each day I thought, “If Susan and Nicole can, I can!”

Through a random set of circumstances, two friends met. And I can tell you, she is the real deal. You will never meet a more warm and positive family. The love and care she has shown others has been adopted by those around her including her children. You simply cannot be in a bad mood if you are going to be in their circle of friends.

Susan’s background in writing makes her uniquely equipped to meet this challenge. When I first read about this gig, it is as though the job description was written just for her. She may not have the most votes, but she is the most deserving of the prize. She never wrote her blog for accolades or attention. It was just her way of facing the days and nights full of fear and circumstances. Susan faces life with the ability to only see the positive. Many times, we would tell her to go sit on the pity potty, that it was ok to do that. But not Susan. She wants to share her attitude of gratitude with everyone. I know the criteria to win is not based on how the money will be used. But, this money will go so far in helping a deserving family be relieved of medical debt so their beautiful daughter can reach her goals. Nothing can stop them, but this will help their cause.

You are so lucky to have Susan if you choose her.

I want to take a minute to highly recommend Susan Marquez. I have only known Susan for a short time, but it is obvious from being around her that she would be your best candidate for the Good Mood Blogger. Also, based on her story concerning her daughter’s rehabilitation,, it probably would have been easy to not have a good mood this pass year, instead she is definitely an inspiration, enthusastic, contagious and no doubt will do the same for your site.

Now that is really mean spirited! Someone is trying to sabotage Brigitte by giving here thousands and thousands of votes in the lasts hours of the contest. I guess if your favorite can’t win then make sure the favorite one won’t win either. Not very nice. I’m sure the judges will take it all into consideration and not let the last hours of votes affect her results.

Suzanne and her followers have really turned me off.

Please - consider ANYONE but her.

The top 2 leaders have had their friends cheating for them. That is how they got so many votes. This note was left to one of them: "For the last two days I’ve worked my magic with dynamic IPs and proxies to get you over 3000 votes. I really want you to win this. Alex from Romania."

I do not want to call names, but this person has 50,000 votes. It is so disgusting that people will cheat to win. They do not deserve it. I hope you will investigate!

Susan M from MS seems like the most experienced both in her life and professional background. She has proven that even in the worst of circumstances, she still prefers to be in a good mood!

Susan from Madison, MS, I love your video! you are such an upbeat and positive person, and so down to earth and natural in the way you present yourself! Best of luck in this competition! Your positive attitude and persistence and strength are inspirational!

I feel a little miffed that voting ended before midnight for those of us in the western states. A little too reminiscent of the days when the polls closed on Eastern Standard time.

Geez, there are some snappy comments in here! I see most a lot of them coming from Suzannes followers. Guys its about a GOOD MOOD blog, nothing to fight and argue about. Don't go around accusing people and trying to point negative things just so the person you're voting for looks good. It makes you look immature. As for the blogger vs vlogger. The top contestants are capable of both.

I have been blogging for a very long time and met up with Kippy on another site we are members of. After a few PM's I decided to look at her blog.

She has this lovely way of sharing her beautiful world with you. Some blogs are very short and some are a page long but she has never failed to make me smile or feel great about life itself. She's the ultimate good mood blogger. We even have a nickname for her - 'FELLE GOOD KIPPY', as that is exactly what she does for us all.

Good luck to everyone, and may the best good mood blogger win (Kippy of course..lol)

Brigitte doesn't need to cheat. She has more than enough fans on her own. Just look at her views and subscribers on YouTube, or her followers on Twitter.

It also doesn't hurt when you have the support of someone on Twitter that, in the final hours, puts out the word to his 1.25 MILLION followers to go vote for you (http://twitter.com/nerdist/status/6411410780).

So really. Drop the accusations already. They're beyond tired, and you just look petty as a result. If the votes are not legit (I'd bet anyone they are), the judges will know about it.

Brigitte is the best one for this job. I've read most of the blogs from the contestants and watched their videos. I think it's plain to everyone that Brigitte is far and away the best "vlogger", but she is also a great blogger. Her writing often goes unnoticed because her videos are so great (watching something is easier than reading, for most people I guess).

No offense to the other contestants in this contest, but I cringe when watching their videos and reading their blogs (with maybe one or two exceptions). I get embarrassed for them. They are trying SO hard to be creative and special... it's very uncomfortable to watch or read. Although I do appreciate the effort and the spirit behind them.

Brigitte is genuine, talented, and a real joy to watch or read. ALWAYS puts me in a good mood. And I think that's what this is all about.

If Brigitte wins this gig, I will even try the SAM-e product and will only buy Nature Made vitamins. If she doesn't, I will have to boycott them : )

Mike,

After reading your comments above, I'm embarrassed too but it's not for the other contestants. I mean, with friends who make statements like that, who needs enemies! That SAM-e product might not be a bad thing to try.

Well put cn101!! I first heard about Brigitte on a segment about women of the web on the G4 network.

I checked out her channel on Youtube and have been a subscriber ever since. Brigitte is timely and consistent and I really look forward to her vlogs.

I only found out about sam-e because of brigitte dale. I've been following her vlogs/blogs for about two years now because they make me smile. I know every body wants to know who's won, and when the judges make their opinion public you can still follow who ever you like. Relax people... it's only another persons opinion....

Interesting.......Suzanne is STILL blogging even after the "marketing" period is over. She had 137 comments from REAL readers from a real blog post today. The other finalists don't have quite the following today ... 8 comments on a blog that is supposed to have hundreds of followers? oh... and some didn't even blog today at all. I'm just sayin......

Suzanne blogs Every day---seven days a week---has for at least two years. She does it because her readers expect it and because she loves it and them. She says and shows that consistently----and even privately.

JE - Yes, Suzanne is a blogger, and a writer. Vloggers rely on the visual, a different art form entirely. Vloggers perform, bloggers write.

There were a 137 comments because she was having a drawing for a book. How many comments are there today (with no giveaway)? 54.

The number of comments is actually irrelevant. Some things draw commentary, while others do not. Some people feel the need to add repetitive, obvious comments to those already said, while others do not. The number of comments is really not a true indication of a person's following. Having said that, I notice you left out how much interaction Suzanne gets on Twitter (zero), versus the amount that Brigitte gets. Could it be because it doesn't support your flawed argument?

Also, different bloggers/vloggers have different schedules, gimmicks/attention getters, or contracts with their employers (or their fans). Brigitte used to do two videos per week with ABCFamily. She made them daily for TV Squad. She wrote a weekly advice column for the Journal-Star. Different jobs calling for different levels of frequency/effort. She'll be just fine blogging (or video blogging if they want) as often as she's required.

Is Suzanna a better candidate because she's still blogging after the contest is over? No. That's how she makes money. You don't think she's still writing daily blogs out of the goodness of her heart do you? The auto-post at midnight is her gimmick. It keeps her readers coming back every day. Why? Because without that steady stream of visitors, she doesn't make any money on her site.

So really, don't act like this is some sort of example of selfless devotion on the part of Suzanne, or that Brigitte just doesn't have the will. Frankly, I'm not sure why some of you are still coming back here just to sling mud at another contestant. Kinda petty if you ask me. If Sam-e wants to attract a large following of old, bitter people, I think they know exactly who to pick.

Last winter I was looking for a recipe online for sourdough bread. That's when I found Chickens In The Road. I am hooked. I spend hours reading her blogs. I am on her site at least three times a week reading her new posts. I hope she gets this job. She should be chosen because she's real. She's been through a lot. She's tough and she has a great sense of humor. She's a great writer.
Thank you,
christin
Calgary, Canada

Brigitte Dale really can always put me in a good mood. I've been watching her videos for about a year and I love them! I always get excited about her videos when I see she has a new one because I've never been let down by one, she's always funny, creative, and optimistic. I always wish that I could have her attitude because it seems to make her very happy.

Chris----your glass house is showing.

All I have to say is, read the entries. They all had to answer 3 questions. The best writer should win. Not the best video maker, not the most popular or the most votes...the best writer. It's clear who the more talented and creative writers are. I hope that's how the judges will make their decision.

JE..

How exactly am I launching an offensive here? I'm simply responding to yours and stefinity's misguided commentary. It seems Suzanne's followers are sore losers. Pretty sour about how the vote turned out. So they feel the need to continue to come back here and leave snide comments about the people that placed in front of her. Why? Who knows really.

And I'm not exactly sure how clearing up lies/half-truths/mistruths is attacking anyone. But I guess you would know. You haven't left a single comment on this blog that wasn't negative, or referred to another applicant (in either a blatant or subtle way) in an accusatory fashion.

So go on, sir or madam. I feel pretty outstanding about my comments here when compared to yours.

Kayue...

Most video bloggers ARE writers. Brigitte started as a writer and eventually took advantage of a new medium in her blogging.

Help me understand your logic here. Newspaper reporters are writers, correct? But you're gonna tell me that reporters on TV or the radio ARE NOT writers, just because they chose a profession where they get paid to read you the news they write??

Oh. Ok.

They're not hiring this person to write a literary masterpiece.

They want someone who will be able to entertain, attract new people to the site, and talk about the subject matter Sam-e relates to. I think people are taking the term "blogger" a bit too literally. I wouldn't be surprised (if Brigitte is hired) that Sam-e asks her to create a couple video blogs per week, in addition to the writing she does on other days.

That is a BENEFIT to Sam-e, to have someone with multiple talents in new media (blogging, vlogging, tweeting, etc). I doubt they are locked into just having someone who will only bang out a 250 word post, 5 days a week. I'm pretty sure they meant that as a baseline requirement, not the maximum.

Asking for a vlogger might have been a bit too ambitious. Hiring Brigitte, they get both in one.

Wow - I didn't know I could come on here and talk about the contest. Here goes:

I own my own business and have bloggers of my own, and there is not a chance I would hire 90% of the people in the top 20 for a "Good Mood" blog. Just because you can get a lot of votes doesn't mean you are a good blogger. Just because thousands of people believe in an idea, doesn't mean it's a good idea. Just because someone has a lot of blogging experience, doesn't mean they are that good.

This contest should have nothing to do with votes. If it didn't, most of these bloggers wouldn't have made the top 20. I couldn't even finish most of these ppls answers because they were that BORING. There are about 2 people worth reading/hiring, one isn't in the top 5 and the other isn't in the top 10 in votng.

Chris -

Brigitte Dale relies a lot on the big eyes, silly sideways glance, softening of her voice, biting of the lip. It's a calculated performance, is all I'm saying. A script of her vlog would be rather feeble. It's her performance that makes it endearing to her followers.

Wow! I've been voting for my candidate faithfully and didn't even know this particular page was here.

I'm disturbed by all the comments I've read by "supporters" of the top three vote getters. I have to wonder if they can inspire such nastiness, how they can be the ideal candidate for a good mood gig.

I also find it interesting and quite questionable that there are only a few with votes in the 10,000's while others seem to be more reasonable numbers. Makes me wonder about the authenticity of the votes.

One can't help but wonder if those with their own blog will really focus on their good mood gig or rather use it as an opportunity to promote their own site. After all, they wasted no time in referring to it in their application process. They used the application process to promote their own blog. I know for a fact that my candidate owns a successful online business, but did not promote it by mentioning it. Seems she is the more ethical candidate. I suppose she should have her followers come here and type her name over and over again, but she's too classy for that. Makes me appreciate her as a candidate all the much more.

I think if the so-called top vote getters receive the gig, I shall surely avoid Sam-e, and it's products as something is just fishy with their standings. I hope I can depend on a such a reputable company to choose someone not in question to represent them.

I, personally, would enjoy seeing someone fresh and new and not so much a seasoned blogger...a diamond in the rough.

Wow Chris, flame on. Take some Sam-e!!!!

To Chris

If they hire Brigitte Dale and she does vlogs, that would stink. They would be changing the contest, AFTER IT'S OVER, to accommodate the skills of one of the contestants. Think of the vloggers that didn't enter. Did you see brigittes entry into the HP life? WAY OUT OFHER LEAGUE. Been following Brigitte since Catty Girl days in Lincoln - not a hiuge fan, but it's her delivery. hte writing, not so much.

I have to agree with Chris and his comment about Sam-e and video blogs. In today’s world people love visuals. Why is the internet so popular? Why are video games selling like crazy? Why are newspapers dying? People are lazy and watching is much easier than reading. Heck it took J K Rawlings to get children and adults to start reading again. So a combination of written blogs and video blogs would be a great way for Sam-e to go, even if they don't pick Brigitte. But then again she is the best at both!

Rather than get into a futile debate about something that is just an opinion. I'd just like to tell the people at Sam-e that in my opinion, Brigitte Dale would be perfect for this job.

Thanks,
Joe

Ingredients:

1 dog
1 couch
1 TV

Steps:

Sit on couch.
Call dog.
Cuddle with dog until done.

Suzanne

I love your ingredients:

I would add a hand made dog treat for one good mood dog.

http://trickytriskuts.webs.com

@Mad Mike,

I hear what you are saying, which is in fact your opinion. Only an opinion. Thus not a fact, so try not to present it as a fact. We all are in business of some sort or other and we all have experience in blogging. Voting is only 20% of the process thus making it a minute part of the process. So chill out, take some Sam-e. It will help you get rid of the Mad Mike and make you just Mike. And be sure to follow the Sam-e blogger when she starts here blog.

Does anyone know when they plan to make their announcement?

Barbee

6-8 weeks

That's 6-8 weeks after the first round of voting ended, which would make it mid to late December. I've heard it should be late this week.

Oh, good, thank you for the quick response.

I'm over 50 years old and take Sam-e primarily for joints and mood due to physical consideration of the need for Sam-e ... I would prefer a Good Mood blogger of an age and experience that would actually speak to my generation and not the young Tweeter social group. Frankly, very few of the contestants did, which truly bemuses me as to where you folks at Nature Made have taken this contest. Do you not realize that you are eclipsing the one age group that has the strongest need and interest in your product? The contest was intense but I'll be back for coupon deals primarily now.

Congratulations Brigitte! :)

Congratulations Brigitte! Well done.

Congratulations Nature Made and Sam-e for a wonderful pick.

Congratulations Brigitte, we all know you will do a great job. I personally can't wait for your first blog. Now you can totally enjoy your holidays!

Wow. I'm amazed that B D. won. I have to agree with the comments by Ruth and Kayue and others. And add my own comment that silly inanity is not alluring.

I will not be purchasing any SAM-e products.

Brigitte WON!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!

IowaCowgirl: Your name says all there is to about why you'd rather have the Chicken Lady as the winner. Unfortunately (for you), you're in a large minority. Props for stepping out to smack the person Sam-e chose though. Very classy.

I never realized that “classy” menopausal romance novel reading pseudo-hippies were such a potent on the interwebs. This has been such an eye opening experience.

IowaCowgirl -
Pete is rather prickley, isn't he? Silly inanity is spot on. I have a theory - I'm from Minnesota (and I will assume you are from Iowa) and perhaps we Midwesterners are not falling over for BD because her vlogs are nothing special, there are LOTS of people like that here. (Remember how everyone loved Fargo??) Well, she's almost 30 and 30+2cute4u = :-( And why did ABC family drop her?

TO Pete:
Not nearly as classy as smacking someone because of where they are from, or calling Suzanne names because of the title of her excellent blog. And what exactly is a "large minority"? 49%? You sound extremely bitter.