misosouper, a shopping blog

My three-week vacation, initially intended for some offline, getting out of my own head time, turned into a sunshiny swath of internet-free clarity.  I dug in the backyard with my kids, spent time with my mom, volunteered at school, read a book, practiced my photography.  After unbuckling myself from my laptop and reengaging with the world, I realized that my career as a professional stuff-poster has run its course.

Huh.

We’ve done some excellent things together, you and I: given away some good shit, won an award, made a few bucks along the way.  But as much as I have loved these past two years, Misosouper has reached its sell-by date, as most sites eventually do.  So I’m selling:  if you want to buy this blog, here’s its private sale listing.  If you need me, I’ll be at annapowersproductions {at} gmail.com, or info {at} annapowersphoto.com (site redesign forthcoming).

My most fervent wish is that someone will buy this site, and keep it alive with their stylish and snarky musings.  I wouldn’t object, however, if it ends up a gallery of Japanese food porn.

Sayonara, friends.  It’s been fun.

photo from the Nationaal Archief

Dear Readers,

On a bitterly warm day in February two years ago, I agonized over my first post.  570 posts later, much to my surprise, I’m still writing and you’re still reading.  Things have changed around here:  I’ve been with BlogHer, then without BlogHer; I’ve teamed up with TheFind; I’ve produced another daughter, and another business.

After two years, I’m stepping away for a two-week vacation, a respite from looking at stuff on the internet all day.  My eyes?  They burn.

I’ll be back the week of February 22nd, with two spectacular giveaways (notice the two theme?  you’re smart like that) and a really fun project.

Looking forward to seeing you soon.

Love,

Anna

gorgeous photo by what meg said

Dear Internets,

I’m feeling mission-statement/state-of-the-uniony today, so bear with me.  I’ll make it worth your while in my next post.

This is not my personal blog, in the most basic of senses; I hide behind the Miso Soup lady on my About page because Misosouper is not a blog about Anna the person, her life and her kids.  Which explains why I’m not included on Babble’s recent list of Top 50 Mommy Bloggers.  GLARING OMISSION, people.

Misosouper is a construct, a figment behind which I can be shielded from nasty e-mails and FCC regulations.  (Joke!  Bah!)  This aesthetic choice makes it easy for me to strip myself from this site, to slack when I don’t feel like posting, to pull back when I’m giving too much.

And in 2009, I had to pull back, almost to the point of putting the site to pasture.  The quick recap is this:  at the beginning of last year, I was very, very sick.  Then I became pregnant.  Then I was very, very sick, while pregnant.  Thank goodness that all this resulted in the happy ending of my sweet baby Penelope, but still.  Hard road.

What I’m trying to say is this:  2010 will be better, both for me and Misosouper. I vow to invest in this blog, to bring you bigger, better giveaways, gift guides, and a more regular posting schedule.  I vow to answer more e-mails.  I vow to interact more with other bloggers.

One more thing, and I’ll end this confession:  up until last night, I had a secret space on my desktop.  The Lazy Drawer, as it was affectionately called, contained hundreds of links, to dead or dying products that I had sourced ages ago, some of which I no longer even liked.  I found myself resorting to the Lazy Drawer more and more, which is–surprise!– why I was so bored.  The Lazy Drawer is gone; I’m taking daily, exciting archaeological expeditions through the internet, which is–surprise!–why I started this site in the first place.

To honor this fresh start, I’m giving away a Lifetime Premium Seller’s account at Zibbet, a global marketplace for handmade and vintage goods, fine art, and craft supplies.  That’s right:  lifetime, as in for-evah, as in if you win, your life could surely change.  More details in my next post.

Love,

Me (yes, the girl in the photograph)

Remember that big news I hinted at a couple of weeks ago?

Thanks to the fanaticism of my readers and the Orlando community, Misosouper won the Orlando Sentinel’s 2009 Orbbie for “Best Pop Culture Blog.” Because I’m a homer for my town, this award is a big deal, and I am thrilled to be in the esteemed company of all the winners, which include Cake Wrecks, The Daily City, and Dis Unplugged.

As Misosouper heads into its third year (!), I am honored to still be shopping and blogging.  Not to get all sentimental on you, but I’m misting all over my keyboard.

I carry a stack of Moo cards around, both for Misosouper and for my AWESOME NEW PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS that I can’t stop shouting about.  (Seriously–if you’re in Orlando or its environs, I’ll make you look good.)

Until recently, the cards just rattled around Ziplocked in my purse.  Professional?  You’re looking at her.  (In my defense, I just started wearing real clothes again.  And showering.  And sleeping more than 3 hours a night.  And if a new baby weren’t project enough, in the midst of this I began the aforementioned AWESOME NEW BUSINESS.)

These Moo card holders by Dear Sukie are the tops.  Made from sunny papers sealed tight in plastic, my new Moo case creates the mirage that if you hire me, that I can actually show up and accomplish something.