We are super excited about what is coming up this week – BlissDom in Nashville! We are pumped about being a conference sponsor and we’re really looking forward to meeting and greeting new and existing members! And y’all? I saw a mock-up of what our booth is going to look like and I can’t wait for everyone to see it!

No, we won't be using a Polaroid camera! But we can fan you if you want that windblown look!

Speaking of our booth…we love offering our members cool perks and we’re bringing that philosophy to BlissDom! All BlissDom attendees are invited to come by our booth for some exciting perks. We’ll have a photographer on-site doing headshots – perfect for updating your social media avatars and blog bios! We’ll also be giving away some super fun prizes! New members will get an additional chance at special prizes! So, if you’re not yet an O2O member or if you have friends who are not members be sure to come by and join us!

Weren’t those business card holders in your Prep For Bliss boxes totally fabulous? We’ve got ours loaded up and we’re ready to network! You’re also going to find another helpful item from us your swag bags, so be sure to look for it!

Tell us, what are you most looking forward to about BlissDom?

Spotify users were given free accounts with very little restrictions, you just had to tolerate their ads that ran after every 3-4 songs. But the free status wasn’t meant to last. After six months, according to the Spotify terms, a free account would have severe limitations. Only 10 hours of streaming a month broken into 2.5 hours a week plus limitations how many times you could listen to a song.  It looks like all those perks that everyone are used to may no longer be available unless you upgrade to a paid subscription. However, so far, those free subscriptions are still running they way always have. Case in point, my six months should have been up on January 14, but here we are a month a bit later and Spotify has yet to restrict my access.

At some point though, Spotify will reign in it’s content and when that happens, you can either upgrade to a $5 or $10 a month subscription or you can take your ears elsewhere. Here are a few suggestions for other services that are still free…sort of.

Rdio

Rdio is a free music player with no ads. The catch? They don’t tell you how long you can listen before you’re cut off! From the people behind Skype, Rdio is very similar to Spotify. A large track library (12 million), desktop app, on-demand music, playlists that can be made and then shared on social networks. So what happens when your time runs out? Upgrade, baby! $5 for unlimited streaming, $10 for unlimited plus mobile access, and for $18 you can get two unlimited accounts, one for you and one for a family member. Or you can wait and use something else until the next month rolls around and your free time resets.

(Another ad free but limited play option is MOGFreePlay. It is similar to Rdio and Spotify BUT, it’s not yet available in the U.S.!)

Grooveshark

Grooveshark has many of the same features as Spotify such as social sharing (you actually have more sharing options on Grooveshark than on Spotify) and the ability to create, share and subscribe to playlists. It’s actually the best alternative to Spotify because of the similarity of it’s features. The drawbacks though are a track library that is only half of what Spotify has (7 million tracks verses the 15 million on Spotify), user uploaded content which means inconsistent playback quality, and their desktop application is only available with premium accounts. Yes, they have premium accounts, too. Grooveshark Plus for $6/months means no ads, Grooveshark Anywhere for $9/month means no ads, access to the desktop app, and the ability to use Grooveshark on your smartphone.

Pandora

Many people swear by Pandora as their online music player of choice. It’s the “Music Genome Project” that can intuitively figure out what kind of music you like based on the music you’re already listening to and an algorithm of thumbs up/down ratios. Simply pick an artist that you like and then let Pandora work its magic. It’s free, with ads and certain limitations or, of course, you can pay $36/year for no ads and a few more perks including access to their desktop app. Pandora is not terribly social (you can share on Facebook and Twitter but it’s not an automatic update) and has less than 1 million songs in it’s library. You can’t choose want you want to listen to, it chooses for you but you can follow the stations of others or pre-defined stations. One particularly unique perk is the inclusion of lyrics, when available, on the playback page.

YouTube

Yes, it’s kind of clunky. You have to search through a lot user uploaded content to find what you want. But, it’s always free, there are no listening limitations (expect maybe your own bandwidth), you can create playlists, you can share socially, and you can even watch the video if you want!

So, with this information in hand, if/when your Spotify account is restricted, what will you do? Will you upgrade or will you find another way to listen to your favorites for free?

O2O: “As a BlissDom Community Leader, what do you hope to give to those you come into contact with during the conference?”

Christine: “The love for collaboration. I seriously think bloggers who collaborate (with those “bigger” and “smaller” than themselves) are way more successful and fulfilled.”

I’m known for…always having a smile on my face and overusing exclamation points!!!!!

I’m working on…a spring cleaning project for bloggers with HUGE giveaways (i.e. appliances)!

10 years from now I…hope I feel even better than I do today.

I’m currently addicted to…Crossfit. Trying to work off my 8 week old baby weight!

I find joy…in my family. I just love hanging out with them!

My secret ambition…is to memorize multiple books of the Bible.

I can’t do without…my amazing husband.

I’m most creative…when I collaborate with others. Anyone want to collaborate?!?

I admire…my mom because of her hard work ethic and doing an amazing job raising me as a single parent.

When I grow up…I’ll finally know what I want to be.

PC or Mac?…Mac all the way!!!

iPhone or Droid? Droid…only because my carrier didn’t have the iPhone when I upgraded. When it’s time to update I’ll be switching for sure.

Coffee or Tea? Coffee…and then MORE coffee!

Peanut butter – crunchy or smooth? Freshly ground almond butter

Three words my friends would use to describe me are: Cheerful, Starter, Helpful

Where to find Christine on the Internet:
Blog – i Dream of Clean
Twitter
Facebook
Google+
Pinterest

O2O: “As a Community Leader, what do you hope to give to those you come into contact with during the conference?”

Bridget: “My hope is to share with others that they can take beautiful pictures, too! With only a few changes to what you’re already doing, you can have more beautiful pictures (and you don’t even have to have a fancy-pants camera)!”

Be sure to check out Bridget’s post, Photography Tips I Learned the Hard Way, where she shares several of those changes you can make to get better photos!

I’m known for…staying busy and taking pictures of everything

I’m working on…expanding my photography business and learning more about business and marketing

10 years from now…my children will be 11, 13, 15, and 17. Oof. I’ll probably be in the car shuttling them to and from activities.

I’m currently addicted to…instagram. (@IveyLeagueMama)

I find joy…in the little things – like coloring with my children or holding hands with my husband or playing a game with family and friends.

My secret ambition…is a secret. Although it may or may not involve words and images.

I can’t do without…support from my family, especially my husband. (Dang it, I’m gettin’ all mushy.)

I’m most creative…after midnight.

I admire…my mama. She is wise and funny and kind.

When I grow up…I want to be Mary Poppins.

PC or Mac? I’m a Mac wanna be.

iPhone or Droid? iPhone

Coffee or Tea? Tea

Peanut butter – crunchy or smooth? Smooth…unless I’m making pb cookies.

Three words my friends would use to describe me are: engaging, artsy, vivacious

Where to find Bridget on the Internet:
Blog
Twitter
Facebook
Google+
Flickr
Pinterest

Super Bowl Sunday is just around the corner! Even if your team isn’t playing or you’re one of the many who just watch for the commercials, it’s still an opportune time to do a little partying. If you’re staying home, you can anticipate the evening by planning some fun dishes to eat before, during and after the game. We’ve rounded-up posts from One2One members that are all things Super Bowl. It’s mostly food, no surprises there, but you’ll find a couple of non-food related posts as well!

Very popular on many Super Bowl gathering menus are all things “buffalo” which is generally synonymous with spicy. If you’re looking to heat things up on Sunday we suggest the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich from Susie of Susie QT Pies Scraps of Life or the Buffalo Shrimp Bread Bowl Dip from of Lisa Snappy Gourmet.

You can never go wrong with sandwiches, especially when they are sandwich rolls like these Roast Beef Sandwich Rolls from Jen at 4tunate or these Pepperoni Rolls from Kristl at The Budget Diet.

You’ll always find a variety of dips at a Super Bowl party but nothing is better for the hostess than a Super Easy Dip and that’s just what Robyn has to share! And dips don’t have to undo your New Year’s healthy living resolutions! Mel at Outnumbered 3 to 1 has healthy and yummy Super Bowl worthy dips!

Avocados are in season which means they are well priced at the grocery stores right now. Guacamole is definitely a crowdpleaser but there is so much more you can do with them as Kelly from Faithful Provisions shows us!

Jenna’s party is heavy hors d’oeuvres and will have everything from Buffalo Chicken Dip to Fruit Pizza. Check out what everyone is bringing at Eat. Drink. Pretty.

If you’re going the actual meal route rather than just appetizers, Emily from West of the Loop has a delicious Corn & Black Bean Chili for you to try!

I happened upon this Crockpot Molten Lava Cake from Merissa at Little House on the Prairie Living as I was searching for Super Bowl blog posts. Merissa wasn’t writing about the Super Bowl at all but her post showed up in my Google Reader. In any case, it’s a great way to have a hot dessert available for your party guests or to have ready at halftime for some splurging!

And to wrap up the food and party planning, Tori at thoughtfully simple shares some Super Bowl Party Ideas & Inspirations and Linsey at Wise Bread has some Frugal Super Bowl Party ideas and tips.

Not everything Super Bowl related is about the food. Casey lives in Indianapolis and even though the Colts are not playing in the big game this year, she still has a lot of pride for her city, the hosts of Super Bowl XLVI.

For many Super Bowl viewers, the unveiling of new, innovative, and humorous commercials is a big draw. Those of us from the “Ferris Bueller” era, like Maria at Bored Mommy, were excited to see Matthew Broderick in new commercial from Honda that hearkens back to the movie that propelled him into stardom.

What are your Super Bowl plans?

And our January question, “Any resolutions or goals for the year?” Fadra says, “To be able to call myself a runner and not be lying about it.”

I’m known for… my brains, good looks, humility, and my quirky sense of humor.

I’m working on… a new venture for bloggers to connect with causes close to their heart.

10 years from now I… will be grateful for another decade of life.

I’m currently addicted to… Angry Birds (not a new addiction, just a continuing one).

I find joy… in watching my son discover the world.

My secret ambition… is to walk the red carpet at the Oscars.

I can’t do without… my iPhone. It’s attached to my hip, almost literally.

I’m most creative… in the shower. Not the bath, which is where I spend more time, but the shower. I should shower more.

I admire… Margaret Thatcher. I’ve never had many role models but I’ve recently fallen in love with her.

When I grow up… want to be 5’8″, blond hair, green eyes.

PC or Mac? MacBook Pro

iPhone or Droid? iPhone (duh)

Coffee or Tea? Tea – strong with milk and sugar

Peanut butter – crunchy or smooth? Smooth, but only Smucker’s All Natural

Three words my friends would use to describe me are: generous, smartish, funny

Find Fadra on the Internet:
Blog – all.things.fadra.
Company – Social Dialect
Twitter
Facebook
Pinterest

On that note, we want to know how you would complete this sentence, “I love being a One2One Network member because…..” or “My favorite thing about being a One2One Network member is…..” We’re looking for members to be voices of One2One Network! You are an integral part of what makes this company great and it’s your voice we want others to hear when they ask us, “so what are you all about?”

How does it work? Simply submit a short video answering one of the above questions. Use your webcam, the camera on your phone, or whatever recording device you have available that will allow you to send a digital file. (If you do not have a way to record a video, we’d still love to hear from you! Take a picture and add a speech bubble or text with your answer.) We will review the submissions and choose several to use in our “Voices of One2One Network” video that we will premiere at BlissDom ’12!

And now for the really fun part, all submissions will go into a drawing for FIVE – $100 VISA gift cards!

We can’t wait to hear what you have to say!

Deadline for submissions is Monday, February 6, 2012. Please e-mail your submissions (video or photo) to Malia at malia.carden@one2onenetwork.com.

Gift card winners will be chosen by random drawing. Winners will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to claim their gift before an alternate winner is chosen. Winners will be announced by Friday, February 10th. By submitting a video or photo, you release it for use by One2One Network for business and promotional purposes.

And to continue with our January theme: Any resolutions or goals for the year? “Continue to eat healthy and exercise, be more present with my children, and go on more dates with my husband.”

I’m known for… my sense of humor

I’m working on… my new marriage blog with my husband (check it out www.forbetterandworse.com)

10 years from now I… WILL HAVE THREE TEENAGERS (make it stop!!)

I’m currently addicted to… Pinterest, and in very good company

I find joy… in the giggles of my children

My secret ambition… is to learn to sew

I can’t do without… chocolate, dark chocolate

I’m most creative… when coloring with my kids

I admire… my parents. everything about them.

When I grow up… I wanna be a mom and wife. Oh wait, I got that.

PC or Mac? PC

iPhone or Droid? Droid

Coffee or Tea? Tea

Peanut butter – crunchy or smooth? Who cares if it is with chocolate

Three words my friends would use to describe me are: fun, fashionable, talkative

Where to find Jill on the Internet:

Blog – The Diaper Diaries & new site For Better and Worse
Twitter – @DiaperDiaries
Facebook – The Diaper Diaries and For Better and Worse
Pinterest – Follow Jill’s Boards

Here’s a list of who is “going dark” today.

Join the strike and write your congressperson here.

Why SOPA is dangerous

Google: End Piracy, Not Liberty

The Oatmeal’s take on it (FYI – possibly NSFW or if you have young eyes around)

And finally I’ll leave you with something a friend of mine posted on Facebook this morning, “I’d tell you to stop SOPA and PIPA but everyone else is telling you that today. What I will instead tell you is to put on your calendar to keep calling your congressperson once a month about it. Because what they’re counting on is that we make a big fuss for a few days and then go on to something else. So please–the best thing you can do is set up an autoreminder in Events or iCal or Outlook to remind yourself to keep asserting your freedom while you still can.”

It’s not just about today or when Congress comes back from their break and takes a look at these bills again. Use your voice. Be heard.

We all have things that we must always have with us, we wanted to know, “What is something you never leave your house without – in your purse/bag or on your person?” You will always find Lucrecer with her chapstick and her cellphone. And with it being January, we had to ask,  “Do you have any resolutions or goals for the year?” Lucrecer says, “No resolutions, but I am going to be bolder in every area of my life this coming year.”

I’m known for…my artwork and my keep it real attitude

I’m working on…taking my writing to the next level and following my bliss

10 years from now I…want to be surrounded by people who love me just as I am

I’m currently addicted to…Pinterest. I wouldn’t call it an addition, just a healthy form of idea curation, you know…

I find joy…in living my life fully each day. In being grateful for my blessings and my challenges. In my children’s unconditional love

My secret ambition…is to be a successful entrepreneur

I can’t do without…sleep and rest

I’m most creative…when I am at peace, living boldly and at ease

I admire…the strength of the women in my family

When I grow up…I hope I never stop learning new things

PC or Mac? Both

iPhone or Droid? Droid now

Coffee or Tea? Tea

Peanut butter – crunchy or smooth? Crunchy

Three words my friends would use to describe me are: genuine, loving, funny

Where to find Lucrecer on the Internet:

Blog – Art Slam
Twitter – @LucrecerBraxton
Facebook – Art Slam
Pinterest – Lucrecer’s Boards