2015 Best of Blog Awards: WINNERS!

Okay... Is the suspense killing you yet?  Because it's totally killing me.  I've made a special button for each and every winner here-and provided the code so you can put it on your blog if you want! :) They are 500x500 by default, but you can change it in the coding by changing the width="500" height="500" part of the code to say whatever size you need in pixels.

Are you ready?

Am I dragging this out enough?

I'm not sure...

Okay fine!

But you'll have to click "Read More" to continue.  ;) (unless you're already in the post)

2015 Best of Blog Awards: Final Voting

Whew, what a crazy round of voting that was!  So much fun-and I've painstakingly broken it down into the top 3 for each section (thank goodness google docs summarize responses!)  So please take the time to vote for the final winner from the three below!

Step 1: Nominations - Complete!
Step 2: Voting - Complete!

Step 3: Final Voting
Final voting will last exactly 1 week, starting at 7AM on Thursday, March 12th and ending at NOON/12PM MST on Thursday, March 19th.  There will be a new post with the top three contestants in each category listed for final voting during this time.

Step 4: Awards
The Awards post will go up on Wednesday, March 25th listing the final winners in each category! Winners will all get a special badge to put on their blog if they wish, and a special extra prize which is outlined as follows:

• Niche Blog Awards: 1 month 450x100 ad space (scheduled in advance throughout the year)
• Non-Niche Blog Awards: 1 month 450x200 ad space  (scheduled in advance throughout the year)
• Best Overall Blog: 1 month 450x300 ad space  (scheduled in advance throughout the year)
• Post Awards: Option to re-post their winning post here as a guest post (with a feature introduction about them in the post and links back to their blog and social media)
• Social Media Awards: Twitter & Facebook features on the My So-Called Chaos pages.
• Small Business Awards: 1 month 450x100 ad space  (scheduled in advance throughout the year)

First thing-YOU MADE IT TO TOP THREE! That's no small thing-and even if you don't win you should be celebrating because that's totally fabulous.  Feel free to grab this button and encourage your friends, readers, etc. to vote for you.  :) 

<a href="http://www.mysocalledchaos.com/2015/02/2015-best-of-blog-awards-voting-round-1.html" target="blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkdAjIWwCD7PatSGpe5ffb8z5m0VfKRG6NimvEYZOp-tBW4BD0VpY3XQWbYQNLbZsTu5GyF3ZJPBJASNfbPiRBx-dZAfIHpUnMbiMI_ek4WW1CY9KIXYUkhtNfiWmZ63QcW-hGKAac921/s1600/2015BestofBlogAwardVOTEFORME.PNG" width="400" height="400" alt="2015 My So-Called Chaos Best of Blog Awards"></a>

Vote for one person in each category.  Since this is just voting I've made all categories mandatory-so if you don't know any of them in the category feel free to go ahead and check out their links and choose, or feel free to just choose one, however you prefer to do it.  (I hope you'll take the time to get to know them though-that's half of what this is all about! :)

If you did not make it to the top 3 please don't be sad.  I promise you were SO close-why? Because EVERYONE was so close. The voting was very tight this year (with nearly 300 voters) so some people barely made it in over others!  I recommend you go ahead and still vote, and I really hope you feel awesome for making it into the nominations overall.  You are amazing!

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THIS IS ALL IN GOOD FUN.  There were some concerns shared last year about people inflating numbers, etc. But guys, this is just a fun little thing... Please don't stress about it in anyway.  Here are some simple do's and don'ts.

• DO vote for someone in each category. Take the time to find new blogs, or just select someone.
• DO feel free to vote for yourself.
• DO feel free to vote for your friends.
• DO feel free to grab the button button above and post it on your blog, sidebar, etc. linking back here.
• DO ask your friends to vote for you.
• DON'T go through and vote multiple times just to vote for yourself.  I mean-that's super time consuming.

Enter to win a $25 Etsy Gift Card.  Giveaway runs from 7AM MST 2/19/15 and ends at 11:59PM MST on the last day of voting, 3/19/15.  Giveaway is open worldwide, and entering the giveaway below agrees to all terms and conditions within the Rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2015 Best of Blog Awards: Voting Round 1

Woohoo, we got lots of fabulous nominations-how fun!  I've narrowed it down to the top 10 nominations (no one can be nominated for more than three categories) so now it's time to vote!

Step 1: Nominations - Complete!

Step 2: Voting
Voting will last exactly 1 week, starting at 7AM MST on Tuesday, March 3rd and ending at NOON/12PM MST on Tuesday, March 10th.  At this time there will be a new post with a form for voting for the people who were nominated.

Step 3: Final Voting
Final voting will last exactly 1 week, starting at 7AM on Thursday, March 12th and ending at NOON/12PM MST on Thursday, March 19th.  There will be a new post with the top three contestants in each category listed for final voting during this time.

Step 4: Awards
The Awards post will go up on Wednesday, March 25th listing the final winners in each category! Winners will all get a special badge to put on their blog if they wish, and a special extra prize which is outlined as follows:

• Niche Blog Awards: 1 month 450x100 ad space (scheduled in advance throughout the year)
• Non-Niche Blog Awards: 1 month 450x200 ad space  (scheduled in advance throughout the year)
• Best Overall Blog: 1 month 450x300 ad space  (scheduled in advance throughout the year)
• Post Awards: Option to re-post their winning post here as a guest post (with a feature introduction about them in the post and links back to their blog and social media)
• Social Media Awards: Twitter & Facebook features on the My So-Called Chaos pages.
• Small Business Awards: 1 month 450x100 ad space  (scheduled in advance throughout the year)

First of all, congratulations!  You deserve it! Feel free to snag this button and share this post so people know and can vote for you-asking people to vote for you is totally okay.  :)  The button size is actually 750x750-but I've made it 400x400 here, and put that in the coding-just changed the width="400" height="400" section to be what you need it to be.

<a href="http://www.mysocalledchaos.com/2015/02/2015-best-of-blog-awards-voting-round-1.html" target="blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkdAjIWwCD7PatSGpe5ffb8z5m0VfKRG6NimvEYZOp-tBW4BD0VpY3XQWbYQNLbZsTu5GyF3ZJPBJASNfbPiRBx-dZAfIHpUnMbiMI_ek4WW1CY9KIXYUkhtNfiWmZ63QcW-hGKAac921/s1600/2015BestofBlogAwardVOTEFORME.PNG" width="400" height="400" alt="2015 My So-Called Chaos Best of Blog Awards"></a>

Vote for one person in each category.  Since this is just voting I've made all categories mandatory-so if you don't know any of them in the category feel free to go ahead and check out their links and choose, or feel free to just choose one, however you prefer to do it.  (I hope you'll take the time to get to know them though-that's half of what this is all about! :)

*Note* I'm not going to lie... There were quite a few people who broke the rules and either only nominated themselves for one thing and no one else, or nominated the same person more than three categories, in which case they were typically not counted.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THIS IS ALL IN GOOD FUN.  There were some concerns shared last year about people inflating numbers, etc. But guys, this is just a fun little thing... Please don't stress about it in anyway.  Here are some simple do's and don'ts, and hey-if you want to go through and vote multiple times sure, but it's time consuming since you do need to select someone in each category-so I don't recommend it.  :)

• DO vote for someone in each category. Take the time to find new blogs, or just select someone by name or something if you don't have time to get to know them in depth and you don't know anyone listed.
• DO feel free to vote for yourself.
• DO feel free to vote for your friends.
• DO feel free to grab the button button above and post it on your blog, sidebar, etc. linking back here.
• DO ask your friends to vote for you.

Enter to win a $25 Etsy Gift Card.  Giveaway runs from 7AM MST 2/19/15 and ends at 11:59PM MST on the last day of voting, 3/19/15.  Giveaway is open worldwide, and entering the giveaway below agrees to all terms and conditions within the Rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The 2015 Best of Blog Awards: Nominate Your Favorite Bloggers/Blogs/Posts!

Yay!  It's finally time, in fact it's a little past time, to get the second annual Best of Blog Awards here on My So-Called Chaos!  Remember when I did it for the first time on this blog last year?  We had such a blast!  Check out last year's winners HERE.

Step 1: Nominations
Nominations will be open for exactly 1 week, starting at 7AM MST on Thursday, February19th and ending at NOON/12PM MST on Thursday, Feburary 26th.  Make sure you fill out the form below to nominate your favorite bloggers and blogs before the deadline!

Step 2: Voting
Voting will last exactly 1 week, starting at 7AM MST on Tuesday, March 3rd and ending at NOON/12PM MST on Tuesday, March 10th.  At this time there will be a new post with a form for voting for the people who were nominated.

Step 3: Final Voting
Final voting will last exactly 1 week, starting at 7AM on Thursday, March 12th and ending at NOON/12PM MST on Thursday, March 19th.  There will be a new post with the top three contestants in each category listed for final voting during this time.

Step 4: Awards
The Awards post will go up on Wednesday, March 25th listing the final winners in each category! Winners will all get a special badge to put on their blog if they wish, and a special extra prize which is outlined as follows:

• Niche Blog Awards: 1 month 450x100 ad space (scheduled in advance throughout the year)
• Non-Niche Blog Awards: 1 month 450x200 ad space  (scheduled in advance throughout the year)
• Best Overall Blog: 1 month 450x300 ad space  (scheduled in advance throughout the year)
• Post Awards: Option to re-post their winning post here as a guest post (with a feature introduction about them in the post and links back to their blog and social media)
• Social Media Awards: Twitter & Facebook features on the My So-Called Chaos pages.
• Small Business Awards: 1 month 450x100 ad space  (scheduled in advance throughout the year)

Please make your nominations in the form below, and make sure you post a link with your nomination.  If it's a blog I'm not familiar with I will need the link to follow.  A few titles have changed this year to make them more open to both female and male bloggers. :)

If someone fits more than one category feel free to nominate them for both, but a person may only be put up for voting in 3 categories.  I'll pick the top three they were nominated for if they are nominated for more than 3.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THIS IS ALL IN GOOD FUN.  There were some concerns shared last year about people inflating numbers, etc. But guys, this is just a fun little thing... Please don't stress about it in anyway.  Here are some simple do's and don'ts.

• DO feel free to nominate yourself.  DON'T nominate yourself for more than TWO categories.
• DO nominate your friends.  DON'T nominate your friends for more than THREE categories.
• DO fill out as many of these sections as you possibly can.
• DO feel free to tell people you nominated them and suggest they make some nominations. 
• DON'T ask people to nominate you.
• DON'T just fill out one or two sections with one person.  Fill out as many as you can.
• DO share this blog post.  DON'T share the form on it's own-we don't want people to miss the info.
• DO have a ton of fun and enter the giveaway after nominating! 

Enter to win a $25 Etsy Gift Card.  Giveaway runs from 7AM MST 2/19/15 and ends at 11:59PM MST on the last day of voting, 3/19/15.  Giveaway is open worldwide, and entering the giveaway below agrees to all terms and conditions within the Rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2014 Best of Blog Awards - The Winners

<a href="http://www.mysocalledchaos.com/2014/02/2014-best-of-blog-awards-winners.html"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6jUqmV2giycvggdEB5awqg7tUyuXb1LtWSRzksAHO0oMmEZowoIHY1GPFeXgz5y2jfVQ45AssBeYta1Q2W-NmOsYMxRAcmVjNi80XcBOayGdssm__35RIrwNs9FjUvof_Z_GhqsWnRHx/s1600/bestofblug_2014.png" alt="My So-Called Chaos Best of Blog Awards"></a>

Well that race was neck and neck and seriously so exciting!  Everyone did so well!  If you're a winner, feel free to claim your badge by copying and pasting the code provided!  If you have any issues with it, please let me know and I"ll be happy to help you with it.  :)  You'll also be receiving an email from me notifying you that you're the winner with instructions on how to claim your free ad space.

Ads not claimed within 1 month of winning will be given to the listed runner up.

If you didn't win, please don't take it personally.  This was just a bit of fun, I'm not a big time company giving out gold medals or monetary awards... Not everybody who loves you, or another blog, or shop, etc. had the chance to see this and vote-it's just a little thing and I think it was pretty neat to see who was nominated to begin with-I found so many new blogs to follow!  I hope you took it as a great opportunity to make some new blog friends, and I look forward to an even better round next year!

I'll be learning from this year, and looking into better voting options for next year to ensure that the votes aren't just being padded.  :) Also next year there will be a limit on how many categories you can be nominated for/win.  If you have any other suggestions please leave me a comment and let me know! 

Are you ready to find out who won?  I am!  This is sooooo exciting!   Follow the break to see..

Drumroll please....

Best of Blog Awards: Final Voting

Whew!  It's now time for the final voting for the Best of Blog Awards!  Can you believe it?  Some of the votes were EXTREMELY close calls!  You guys have no idea how close-some of the votes came down to only one or two!  Every vote counted.

   

<a href="http://www.mysocalledchaos.com/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6jUqmV2giycvggdEB5awqg7tUyuXb1LtWSRzksAHO0oMmEZowoIHY1GPFeXgz5y2jfVQ45AssBeYta1Q2W-NmOsYMxRAcmVjNi80XcBOayGdssm__35RIrwNs9FjUvof_Z_GhqsWnRHx/s1600/bestofblug_2014.png" alt="My So-Called Chaos Best of Blog Awards"></a>

Step 1: Nominations - COMPLETE! 

Step 2: Voting - COMPLETE!

Step 3: Final Contestant Voting  I will go through the voting results from the previous round and narrow it down to the top 3 in each category and put them back up for voting.  Final voting will last exactly one week and will be open from Thursday, February 20th through Thursday, February 27th.  

Step 4: Awards Ceremony The final awards will be handed out here on the blog on Tuesday, March 4th!  Every winner will get a nifty littler custom button/award that they can display on their blog if they'd like (Stating that they won the award!) and a FREE small ad* on My So-Called Chaos.  (*The free small ads will be for throughout the year, 3-4 bloggers per month scheduled in advance.)

Final Three Bloggers

First off, if you didn't make it to the final three I'm sorry to hear that!  It all came down to the votes-but there's always next year!  

Second, if you did make it to the Final Three HUGE congratulations!  I'm so happy for you!  :D  Here are some new buttons to put on your sidebar to encourage people to vote for you!  Share with your followers, your friends, etc. You could win the title and a free ad spot!

Feel free to choose the color you like most, and if you need to change the size simply change the code where it shows height="300" width="300" to reflect the sizes you need.

    

<a href="http://www.mysocalledchaos.com/2014/02/BestofBlogVotingRound1.html">"><img src="http://i725.photobucket.com/albums/ww257/agofish/For%20Blog/MSCC%20Buttons/Best%20of%20Blog%20Awards/BOBfinal3Pink_zps30d8266c.png" alt="My So-Called Chaos Best of Blog Awards" width="300" height="300"></a>                                         <a href="http://www.mysocalledchaos.com/2014/02/BestofBlogVotingRound1.html"><img src="http://i725.photobucket.com/albums/ww257/agofish/For%20Blog/MSCC%20Buttons/Best%20of%20Blog%20Awards/BOBFinal3Blue_zps02b6f37c.png" alt="My So-Called Chaos Best of Blog Awards" width="300" height="300"></a>

 Final Voting

In the form below vote for one person per category.  The categories are mandatory so you have to vote for all categories-if you don't know anyone in the category I would urge you to go through and check them out before voting so that you can find awesome new blogs and blog friends!   BUT if you are pressed for time I wont hold it against you if you just randomly select someone for the category to move on-it's up to you.  :)  Enjoy!  Let me know if you have any questions!  Don't forget to enter the big giveaway!

Best Of Blog Awards:Voting Round 1

It's time for Round 1 of the Best of Blog Awards voting! Are you as excited as I am? I sure hope so! We got a lot of fantastic nominations-and a lot I've never seen before! I'm so excited to find new bloggers to friend and follow through this-and I hope you do too! Also, since it's moving more quickly than I thought-I'm posting this early!  Also, on Tuesday the big 5 Year Blogiversary Giveaway will go live, so don't forget to come back for that! 

   

<a href="http://www.mysocalledchaos.com/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6jUqmV2giycvggdEB5awqg7tUyuXb1LtWSRzksAHO0oMmEZowoIHY1GPFeXgz5y2jfVQ45AssBeYta1Q2W-NmOsYMxRAcmVjNi80XcBOayGdssm__35RIrwNs9FjUvof_Z_GhqsWnRHx/s1600/bestofblug_2014.png" alt="My So-Called Chaos Best of Blog Awards"></a>

Step 1: Nominations - COMPLETE! 

Step 2: Voting I will go through the nominations and pull the top 10 in each category and put them up for voting. Voting will be open for exactly one week from Thursday, February 13 to Thursday, February 20th!

Step 3: Final Contestant Voting  I will go through the voting results from the previous round and narrow it down to the top 3 in each category and put them back up for voting.  Final voting will last exactly one week and will be open from Thursday, February 20th through Thursday, February 27th.

Step 4: Awards Ceremony The final awards will be handed out here on the blog on Tuesday, March 4th!  Every winner will get a nifty littler custom button/award that they can display on their blog if they'd like (Stating that they won the award!) and a FREE small ad* on My So-Called Chaos.  (The free small ads will be for throughout the year, 3-4 bloggers per month scheduled in advance.)

Nominated Bloggers

First off, congrats!  I hope you feel loved that someone took the time to stop and nominate you!  I encourage you to grab one of the buttons below for your sidebar or blog post-and to encourage your followers via your blog and social media to vote for you!  :) All winners will get a free month of advertising here on My So-Called Chaos and the awesome recognition for being the best! 

Feel free to choose the color you like most, and if you need to change the size simply change the code where it shows height="300" width="300" to reflect the sizes you need.

    

<a href="http://www.mysocalledchaos.com/2014/02/BestofBlogVotingRound1.html">"><img src="http://i725.photobucket.com/albums/ww257/agofish/For%20Blog/MSCC%20Buttons/Best%20of%20Blog%20Awards/BOBvoteforme_zpse6787889.png" alt="My So-Called Chaos Best of Blog Awards" width="300" height="300"></a>                                         <a href="http://www.mysocalledchaos.com/2014/02/BestofBlogVotingRound1.html"><img src="http://i725.photobucket.com/albums/ww257/agofish/For%20Blog/MSCC%20Buttons/Best%20of%20Blog%20Awards/BOBvoteformeblue_zpsbde013e2.png" alt="My So-Called Chaos Best of Blog Awards" width="300" height="300"></a>

Round 1 Voting

In the form below vote for one person per category.  The categories are mandatory so you have to vote for all categories-if you don't know anyone in the category I would urge you to go through and check them out before voting so that you can find awesome new blogs and blog friends!   BUT if you are pressed for time I wont hold it against you if you just randomly select someone for the category to move on-it's up to you.  :)  Enjoy!  Let me know if you have any questions!

Announcing the My So-Called Chaos Best Of Blog Awards: Nominate Your Favorite Blogs/Bloggers

Before I continue, I'd like to give credit where credit is due.  Every year the wonderful Karen from A Peek at Karen's World does bloggy awards, and without her devotion and inspiration I never would have thought these up!  Thank you Karen for inspiring me, and being okay with me branching out from it!  You're the best!

Now Introducing....

<a href="http://www.mysocalledchaos.com/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6jUqmV2giycvggdEB5awqg7tUyuXb1LtWSRzksAHO0oMmEZowoIHY1GPFeXgz5y2jfVQ45AssBeYta1Q2W-NmOsYMxRAcmVjNi80XcBOayGdssm__35RIrwNs9FjUvof_Z_GhqsWnRHx/s1600/bestofblug_2014.png" alt="My So-Called Chaos Best of Blog Awards"></a>

.

I've decided that every year around my blogiversary, I'm going to take nominations, then voting, and give out Best of Blog Awards based on the recommendations from my readers and visitors! My blogiversary is February 18th, and I'm planning a HUGE giveaway to go along with this (if you're interested in participating let me know-I still have slots for that open too!) and I am SO excited!  

Dates & Steps

Step 1: Nominations - Nominations will be open for exactly one week.  They will run from today (Thursday, February 6th) through Thursday, February 13th.  So make sure you get your nominations in quick if you want your friends to be considered!  Also feel free to encourage your friends/readers to vote for you as well!  The more nominations, the more fun we can have!

Step 2: Voting I will go through the nominations and pull the top 10 in each category and put them up for voting. Voting will be open for exactly one week from Monday, February 17th to Monday, February 24th.

Step 3: Final Contestant Voting  I will go through the voting results from the previous round and narrow it down to the top 3 in each category and put them back up for voting.  Final voting will last exactly one week and will be open from Thursday, February 27th through Thursday, March 6th.

Step 4: Awards Ceremony The final awards will be handed out here on the blog on Wednesday, March 12th!  Every winner will get a nifty littler custom button/award that they can display on their blog if they'd like (Stating that they won the award!) and a FREE small ad* on My So-Called Chaos.  (The free small ads will be for throughout the year, 3-4 bloggers per month scheduled in advance.)

Make sure you post LINKS!  If I'm not familiar with a blog I need a way to find it.

There's a Giveaway too! 

As an added bonus I'm giving one lucky person who nominates a $10 Starbucks eGift Card.  This is open worldwide (if you don't have Starbucks in your country accommodations will be made) and ends when the nominating ends at 12AM on 2/13/14.  Good luck and have fun nominating!

a Rafflecopter giveaway