The Dirty Shirt is a product review blog that generates hands on reviews of baby and toddler products, teens and products and products for Moms and Dads including tech gadgets and toys. Recently I broke out into review local area hotels like Disney’s Swan and Dolphin and the Nickelodeon Family Suites.

The Dirty Shirt was my first blog, it started out as a personal blog, a company saw a picture of my baby on it when she was about 8 months old and asked me if I could get a picture of her in their clothes and the rest, as they say, is history.

“Keep your head above water”, because once you start doing this you will have an onslaught of offers, press releases, and random nothingness. I constantly get pitches that start out like this….ahem….. “Dear Sir, madam, mommy blogger, eco friendly person you”. To which I just have to shake my head and move on, but you will be surprised at what hits your inbox.

I started out contacting companies and did that for about 4 months, after which I saw companies start coming to me. I still to this day will contact a company if I see a great product.

I would have to say for selfish reasons, a Blackberry smart phone and that is because it afforded me the in depth look that I needed to decide that was the phone I wanted to buy and now can’t live without!

Advertisers really need to reach me on a level that is beyond being informal. If I feel that the pitch is hollow and cold I move on. Don’t lump me in with a whole bunch of people (or sirs for that matter). I am unique, just as all the women being pitched are.  I love when I get an email asking me how my family is doing or pitching to me in a way that incorporates my kids, like “I saw that your toddler loves Barney, would you like to review a Barney DVD?”   That shows me that they took the time to find out about me, at least went to my blog, and saw my toddler first hand.

Take part in drama. I try to stay out of it all out of respect to everyone involved. Plus I am too old for all that. I am unique, I have my own voice, do my own thing. It works for me.

What advertiser would you like to work with given a chance?

Sony, anything from their immense product line would be wonderful! And of course Nintendo, just to be a fly on the wall in that company would be amazing.

Where do you see growth in the blogging field?

I see blogging branching out in all areas from photo blogs to cooking and all the great stuff in between.

What is one thing about you that not many people know?

That I am a huge video game fan. I play with my children and without. I ran a clan in Final Fantasy 11 for 4 1/2 years and held 5 Gatherings (or parties) and hosted people from all over the world in my home. I had a man from Europe fly over and a family from Japan. Best of times!

What’s your favorite book?

Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume- it is the one book that has stuck with me since I was a child. Something about it touched me and made me love books.

What’s on your iPod?

Everything from Josh Groban to Metallica and a whole bunch of 80’s Pop – to me the best music 🙂

What are your contact details?

Blog – The Dirty Shirt

Email – thedirtyshirtblog@(nospam)live.com

Twitter – @jentifa

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/jennifer.leet

LinkedIn – http://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer1337

Skype – jennifer.leet

What events do you go to?

I have been to a few blogger events and one conference, IZEAFest – which was AWESOME, counting down the days next year. Would like to attend next year and a few others but we will have to see.

How do you prefer to communicate?

email or cell (email me for my cell number)

Who would you recommend, and why?

Lori Falcon – @acowboyswife – Lori was the first blogger I ever ran across and I loved what she did, she is what I call my blogging idol as love what a genuine person that she is.

Drew Bennett – @benspark – Drew was the first blogging dad that I ran across and I loved his stuff, his photo a day blog has been amazing. I have had the pleasure of meeting Drew and I love everything about him and his family!

Connie Roberts – @ConnieFoggles – Connie was another one of the wonderful women I met when I started blogging and has been there all along with giving me advice and tips and has helped me more than she could ever know.

Jennifer James – @mombloggersclub– Mom Bloggers Club was the first blogging community I ran across (which also led me to Lori) and I was quickly taken in by the fellow mom bloggers and made to feel welcome and at home. Jennifer James is still a person on “my must meet in person list” and I hope that is accomplished next year. Now I am happy to be a Mom Bloggers Club Ambassador and help others as they enter the world of blogging.

Cooper Monroe – @themotherhood – Cooper has such a contagious sparkle about her and I was lucky enough to get the chance to get to know her and work with her on a few projects. A true gem!

What is one thing people can do for you?

Give me a chance, get to know me and we will be forever friends.

– Connie Roberts
ConnieFoggles