One of the most popular resolutions made at the start of a new year is to lose weight. Gym memberships increase, pantries get cleaned out and people head to the bookstore or Amazon.com for the year’s newest diet. With that in mind, we were very pleased to be able to offer our members the opportunity to review and try a new weight management program from best-selling author, Cynthia Sass.

Sass, whose first book, The Flat Belly Diet – a New York Times best seller, released her second title, Cinch!: Conquer Craving, Drop Pounds And Lose Inches last week, just in time for the New Year.

Cinch!, a 30- or 25- day program, focuses on getting cravings under control and teaches a healthy way of eating that can be continued beyond the thirty days. Our members are finding it very helpful!

From Mom Blog Network – “In my quest to loss 100 I have read countless books, viewed advice found on websites and considered more than my share our diet pills. None of these things ever put it into perspective like Cinch! … This single book has been a solider by my side helping me retrain my brain how to eat, stay on a healthy track and do what works for me in the process.”

From Obsessive Coupon Disorder – “If there’s one thing I especially like about “Cinch” it’s how Sass fortified her chapters with ‘side bars’ on related topics.  This is where her “diet” book becomes more. Sass incorporates mini-history lessons on topics such as: coconut yogurt, soy, chocolate, grapes, frozen vs. fresh, organic farming, emotions in relation to weight and there’s even a superb question-and-answer section.”

From Frugal Plus – ” Did you think you would see a recipe featured in a weight-loss book  for California Chicken Cilantro Burrito Bowl?  I luv cilantro and chicken, and this is one of my favorites!”

Another popular resolution is money management. Between credit card statements reflecting Christmas spending arriving in mail boxes, W-2 forms trickling in and tax forms showing up, this time of year definitely finds people thinking a lot about their money.

It may be that you want to make sure that you support your favorite charities more often this year. GiveBack can help you achieve that goal. It’s quick and easy to sign up and you will be able to direct funds to any charitable organization that has a tax ID.

What are some of your resolutions for 2011? What tools will you use to implement them?

Keonte’ Smith is the blogger at Mommy 2K. She’s mom to one son and godmother to one goddaughter, she lives in Maryland (all her life!) and loves the outdoors. It was wonderful to catch-up with Keonte’ and hear her answers to these questions that we’ve been asking all of our featured members.

1. What do you like most about interacting with brands?

Availability. It’s amazing what social media has done to strengthen the relationship between the consumer and the brand. Now, brands respond almost instantly to any questions or concerns that are presented thanks to sites like Twitter and Facebook. I am even impressed by some of the “real-time” conversations. No more sending an e-mail through a contact form and waiting for a “textbook” response from a customer service representative. The team members behind the brand are more involved, dedicated, and genuine about providing the consumer with the information they need and quickly. It’s nice to know that my opinion and feedback matter. I am viewed as a person instead of a problem.

2. What is one thing you do as a blogger than you feel contributes to the success of your blog?

It’s funny that you ask this question. I lack all of the things that are mentioned (lol), minus the authenticity. While I would love to be more consistent with my posting schedule, am in desperate need of a blog makeover (help me!), have no clue about SEO (do you mean Ne-Yo?), and need to work on interaction with my readers, I strive to be myself.

Everyday, I browse the blogosphere at a plethora (love that word) of blogs. All are different in their own right, but too often I see the same ole blogger. I have fallen into the category of “mommy blogger”, but the truth is I write about my life. It just so happens that most of my life revolves around motherhood. And that, I don’t mind at all. Call it what you want.

I believe I am successful because of my presence. You can find me involved in several groups, involving diverse topics, and an assortment of opinions. I’m almost like a Visa — everywhere you want to be (minus a state where the weather is currently above freezing…geez).

3. What has helped you grow the most as a blogger?

Not to sound too corny, but COMMUNITY is a powerful thing. I started early joining communities and networks, such as this one. I was given opportunities I may not have been able to get on my own. It also helped that I was waiting patiently at every door when these opportunities presented themselves. “Knock-knock…who’s there?…Me, Keonte’” You know how it goes. I didn’t want to miss the chance, or think “what if?” I never had a plan. I just dove right in and tested the waters. I made several online friends and began seeing their faces in some of the same social circles I was in. I haven’t looked back.

I have attended a few local blogger events as well, but no major conferences. That is on my list of “to-dos”. I believe I have a promising future in blogging if I can expand my knowledge by attending a conference. Besides, I want to meet all the wonderful people I chat with on a daily basis. They are my inspiration.

4. In what ways have social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook helped you as blogger? Have they hindered you at all?

Twitter has been a great help to me as a blogger. I am able to promote my post, stay up-to-date on the latest news in the world and blogosphere, and network. I can also find great businesses and promotions in my area. I’m all about the local events. I love supporting them when I can. That leads me back to the whole COMMUNITY thing.

I use Facebook differently than I use Twitter. I interact more with people I know IRL (in real life) on Facebook. Most of them aren’t hip to Twitter, or have a strong dislike for birds, either one. I post my blog posts to my wall so that I can combine my virtual world with my real world. I want people to see inside my daily life. It’s fun to keep in touch.

5. Who are the mentors in your life? And who has been a key guide for you as you’ve built your business?

The obvious answer is my mother. She is a hardworker. She raised me as a single parent, but I never felt our struggles. I contribute much of wonderful childhood to the support of great family. I have a lot of strong women to look up to.

Although I’ve never met her, I also love Oprah. She would be more of a role model. It may seem like the easy answer, but there is no denying that she is the ultimate business woman. I’ve always had an admiration for those who came from nothing and create a whole lot of something from it.

I lack the ability to follow-through on my dreams, but I am working on that now. Watch-out world, I may just give Oprah a run for her money (can you say “big shoes to fill?”).

6. As a mom and a businesswoman, we know you are hardworking and loving it. When you do get a chance to pamper yourself, what do you do first?

As a mom, I rarely use the words “me”, “myself”, or “I”. For some reason I fall at the bottom of the priority list. Lucky for me, I am not super needy. I am rather simple. When I get the chance to pamper myself, I just like to enjoy a cocktail with friends via T.G.I.Friday’s (classy aren’t I?). I may get my eyebrows waxed, go window shopping, or splurge on a milkshake (such a risk-taker). I don’t go all out. No trips to the spa with waxing, manicures, and pedicures. I don’t even know the last time I’ve gone (judge me later). I float through life on simplicity. I love to shop, but I won’t die if I can’t purchase the latest designer sweater. To me, pampering is doing something for yourself that make you feel great. And sometimes having the freedom to decide is incentive enough.

Jenny is a stay-at-home mom of two children with another one on the way. She co-authors the blog, Mommin’ It Up with her cousin, Emily. While reading through her “100 Thing About Me” list, I learned Jenny is not short for Jennifer, she is just Jenny, she can do a “wicked Jan Brady impression”, and that she drinks a glass of chocolate milk each morning! Here are a few more things that we learned about Jenny, the blogger.

1. What do you like most about interacting with brands?

I love sharing things that work for me with my readers. Whether it’s the perfect pair of jeans, technology that makes my life easier, or an awesome new toy or activity for my kids. I love passing that along and making it a win-win-win for the brand, my readers, and myself.

2. What is one thing you do as a blogger than you feel contributes to the success of your blog?

I think the fun interaction between my blogging partner, Emily and myself, gives our readers something to look forward to. And we both have a commitment to being real and authentic, to sharing the pretty and the ugly with our readers. We believe sharing the hard stories of life & motherhood is where we and our readers grow the most.

3. What has helped you grow the most as a blogger?

Consistency in posting has helped me get better as a writer. Practice makes perfect as they say! And my readers really motivate me to grow. I WANT to be good for them. I have a strong desire to produce good content, to entertain, and to share solutions with them. And they’ve given me so much back, feedback, that has helped me to grow.

4. In what ways have social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook helped you as blogger? Have they hindered you at all?

Twitter and Facebook have been a huge help in connecting me with readers and peers. As well as helping me to answer random questions like, “What should I make for dinner?” and allowing me to vent once in awhile.

5. Who are the mentors in your life? And who has been a key guide for you as you’ve built your business?

My parents are my biggest mentors. They really did an amazing job of raising three kids, and if my husband and I do half as well as they did we will consider ourselves a smashing success as parents. As far as business goes, Emily and I look to our good friend Andrea Deckard at Savings Lifestyle.com as our business mentor. She always has answers to our business-related questions for us!

6. As a mom and a businesswoman, we know you are hardworking and loving it. When you do get a chance to pamper yourself, what do you do first?

I know this sounds cliche, but I cherish time to READ. Getting in bed with a good book is the way I usually “pamper” myself. If I had unlimited funds, though, I’d get a massage every week!

The past three weeks have been full of excitement and anticipation. Over 500 of our members entered our BlissDom ’11 giveaway contest! There were 1300+ comments, hundreds of tweets on Twitter and posts on Facebook all spreading the word not only about the BlissDom contest but also about One2One Network. Thank you all for your participation!

We are pleased to announce to the winners of our three prizes!

• 2nd Place Prize of one full conference ticket including Wisdom Workshop pass is Dede of Real Moms, Real Kids and @SuperMomMom on Twitter!
• 1st Place Prize of one full conference ticket + 2 nights in the Opryland Hotel is Amy of Coffee With the Mrs. and @TheMrsC on Twitter!
• Grand Prize of one full conference ticket + 3 nights in the Opryland Hotel & airfare up to $500 is Stephanie of The Candid Pastor’s Wife and @StephaniePete on Twitter!

Congratulations DeDe, Amy & Stephanie!

But wait! There’s more!

Don’t forget, there is yet another chance to win a BlissDom ’11 conference pass ($349 value) or a $350 Visa Gift Card from One2One Network! Be sure to sign into your One2One account and join the GiveBack blog posting campaign today! You have until December 15th to submit your post! It could be an early holiday present for you!!

This week we get to know Jennifer Leet, the blogger behind the site, The Dirty T-Shirt. Jennifer is a homeschooling mom of three. She started blogging to update family about her children but quickly found a passion and talent that turned into a business. While she mainly does reviews and giveaways, you can still find Jen posting about her life, whether it’s her SlimFast weight loss journey or keeping those family members in the know about the kids! Be sure to take a minute to check-out Jen’s site and see what she’s up to today!

1. What do you like most about interacting with brands?

I take my interaction with brands very seriously as I like to be viewed as a professional woman. Because of that I love when brands actually take the time to get to know me and that true working relationships can be formed. For me that is the core of my interaction with brands and I love it!

2. What is one thing you do as a blogger than you feel contributes to the success of your blog?

I have a very clear posting schedule and minus a few things popping up here and there I like sticking to it, it keeps me on track and on top of all my work. I also believe that an eye catching site is important and strive to bring that to all my readers.

3. What has helped you grow the most as a blogger?

The thing that has helped me grow as a blogger is listening to others who are leaders in the field, learning from their mistakes and accomplishments and applying that to myself. I can take criticism and turn it into something positive.

4. In what ways have social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook helped you as blogger? Have they hindered you at all?

I love that Facebook and Twitter are around and they help me greatly as a blogger, the only time I feel that either of those is a hindrance is when you are judged by stats, I don’t suffer in that department but I do not like being compared to anyone, I am me and proud of that fact, I don’t like being considered a number. I understand it, just don’t like it too much.

5. Who are the mentors in your life? And who has been a key guide for you as you’ve built your business?

Mentors in my life…that is a tricky one. In my blogging life I would like to bring attention to two women whose opinions and work ethics are admired by me and they are Lori Falcon and Jennifer James. Both are smart, work savvy women who get things done and they are the two women I first virtually met when I stepped into the blogging world and I have learned so much from them. They and my husband are key guides as I build up on my knowledge in business.

6. As a mom and a businesswoman, we know you are hardworking and loving it. When you do get a chance to pamper yourself, what do you do first?

There is a chance to pamper myself??? Where? How? I kid! I do not get a lot of time to do that but when I do I like to take the opportunity for a massage, and laying by a pool soaking up the sun.