It’s been another fun week here at lovelinks, and I just wanna thank all the bloggers, writers and readers who enthusiastically took part by linking up, reading and/or voting for their favorites.

I’m listening to you in comments: as the writing gets better each week both because seasoned bloggers have joined the fray and because our less experienced bloggers have been improving with practice, it gets harder to choose only three when it comes time to vote. I thought about increasing the number of votes to four when we have 40+ entries and five when we have 50, but then I thought: you know, as the writing grows, so should the level of competition. No medals just for showing up, no applauding the tenor for clearing his throat. We push ourselves toward the next level everyday. Just ask my kids, especially my brain-injured one. Mommy is hardcore. With forehead kisses.

So. Three votes, three winners plus comment karma. If it makes you feel any better, it’s as hard for me to choose my one favorite as it is for you and your friends to vote for three. With that, let’s get to it:

Editor’s choice

…goes to Cynthia at Commonplace Crazy for her adorable and accidental personal ad for her adventurous and talented son Ben. Most good blog posts are telling a good story. This one starts with Cynthia feeling a little guilt over not writing as often about Ben as she writes about her daughter Alyssa. It ends with a comment by Ben that made me wanna find him a lifelong partner like it’s my cosmic destiny. Congrats, Cynthia, on the win.

Lurker’s favorite by @FloodG

…is the eponymous Hilarity in Shoes. Which made me giggle at 3:30 yesterday morning when I finally got it. Hilarity inshoes, enshues, ensues. That’s funny, guys. Anyway.

[blockquote]Hilarity in Shoes “Intuitive(ly)” is well written, describes things difficult to express and is a little kooky. Great combo.[/blockquote]

—Flood G

HiS is a lovelinks virgin. Congrats on the first time link, first time win. We hope to see you next week.
 

Popular vote winner

Much like last week, this week’s popular winning post was written in mourning. Ado’s multiple stories of taking her young children to multiple funerals in a relatively short amount of time are heartbreaking life lessons. This is probably Ado’s fifth or sixth lovelinks win, she’s a very faithful participant, and the post is one of my favorites of all she’s entered. Congrats, Ado, on the win. You are a wonderful writer.
 

Comment karma

Yay, Jenny Leigh who bounced from blog to blog with the cutest comments. Even in my cantankerous grouchy mood, I was smiling on the inside as I was checking how things were going in everybody’s spaces. Thanks, Jenny Leigh, for jumping in with such enthusiasm. You’re perky.
 

I need an assistant. And a nap.

I still have homework. Namely, creating a spreadsheet on Google Docs to keep track of everybody’s karma points. Remember those? I introduced them a few weeks ago as a way for everybody to earn points toward a new blog header, a year’s free hosting on Blue Host for a self-hosted blog, a donation to the non-profit of your choosing and some other cool stuff. Me no know how to make spreadsheets in Google Docs. Yet. Just know that I’m keeping up with your points and the prizes are still available. I’m coming.

But. I did make new winner’s buttons! They are over in the sidebar looking all cosmopolitan and retro. It’s on the honor system. If you won lovelinks in December: editor’s choice, lurker’s favorite, popular vote or comment karma, grab the code for the December badge. If you’re listed here today, grab the January code. They are not redeemable at Target or any other merchandiser, so I don’t imagine anyone will grab the code without winning one.

Win-Win

The thumbnails are sorted in the grid from most yellow star votes to the least. In the case of a tie, like if four blogs all got seven votes each, the thumbnails are sorted by page views. Do not be discouraged if your blog has landed near the bottom of the grid; it is always a tight race. The fun is in getting better exposure for your blog and in using the spirit of competition as incentive to improve your writing and blogging skills. It’s a win-win for everybody involved.

Thanks again, everybody, for linking up, for reading, for voting. And for making lovelinks the most welcoming spot on the Interwebs.

Lovelinks #39 opens Tuesday.