Friday, September 4, 2015

It's Fun to Follow Blogs Outside of Our Niche


Today, for just a few moments I am going to pussyfoot OUT of cat mode! Yes!! I am!!

Sometimes it is important to venture out of cat mode (or in my case, cat AND dog mode). Wait! I no longer love cats? Or dogs? Nope, I never said that. I just said that sometimes I need a break from reading about cats and dogs, and that is when I deeply appreciate the list of blogs that I follow outside of the Pet Niche.

Some of my favorites are:
(Ok so the word "Paws" is in the title, sue me lol)


Believe me when I tell you that this list in no way covers all of them There are close to 200 on my follow list that are NOT pet related. (GASP!!!)

Don't get my wrong. My core blog follow list is 99% pet related blogs. It is also fun to follow all sorts of blogs because you meet people outside of your niche with different viewpoints and perspectives on blogging, and you learn about a myriad of topics outside of the pet realm. Sometimes, there is a bonus that you happen to follow a blogger outside of the pet niche who has a cat, dog or both!! When that happens you often gain new followers!!! 


One of my favorite non-pet blogs that I follow is:

 Written by Ellen Ross, Ask Away was started by Ellen "to give people a place to come for advice on anything and everything.  I've always been known as the advice giver and I can give advice from an unbiased standpoint."

I have been following Ellen for a few years now and an extra bonus to her blog is she has the most adorable Chihuahua furbabies!!

Ellen covers topics such as:


AND MORE!!

Ellen is quite a bit younger than me, (as most of the bloggers I follow in ANY niche are), but I love that. It helps keeps me young at heart and in spirit, and keeps me up-to-date in reference to topics such as pop culture, music, fashion, technology and what is important to young people today.

I have always had friends of all ages and for me, it doesn't matter if a blogger is 20 or 100. If I like their blog I will follow.

Recently, I was reading Ellen's blog and she had an amazing give-away for some new cleaning products that I had never heard of:

Murchison-Hume was created by former Fashion Editor and mother of two, Max Kater when her son developed allergic sensitivities to common household cleaning products. She made it her mission to create products that would be safe, easy to use, beautiful and effective.

You choose carefully and work hard to keep your family safe and make your home beautiful. We’re here to help you keep it that way. Clean is easy. Clean is beautiful.

The products I won from the
Murchison-Hume  line:

AND
AND I WON!!
My items arrived this past week and I could not be happier! I have mostly been using the counter safe All-Surface Spray (I have been using it in the kitchen), and not only does it WORK, but it smells FANTASTIC!!!! Not like a cleaner at all!!!

There are other reasons why I love this product line and will definitely be ordering from them and you can see those reasons right on their product label:


The Murchison-Hume products are:
100% CRUELTY FREE
NEVER TESTED ON ANIMALS
AND THEY ARE
PEOPLE, PET AND PLANT SAFE!!!

I am in love with the Murchison-Hume product line and I thank Ellen for hosting the give-away and for introducing me to them! 

See what I mean? When you follow blogs OUTSIDE of your niche, you never know what fabulous people you will meet, what new information you will discover and what amazing new products you will find!!! 

C'mon...step OUTSIDE of the litter box for a change, it's FUN!!!


65 comments:

  1. Oh I've been to that blog before - lucky you for winning! Her chihuahuas are definitely super adorable <3 I've not heard of these products before. They look nice though.

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    1. thank you Ann! I was so happy! Yep I have been following Ellen for a few years now, love her blog! I just love the appearance, scent of these cleaning products...AND...they WORK!!

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  2. I too think it is good to follow other topics. We all can't have just one interest. I like photography blogs or blogs from people in other countries and cultures.

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  3. I think it would be really fun if we did a blog hop in the CB where everyone shared their favorite non-et blogs! I think it's important to read outside your niche as well as inside it. I subscribed to a few of the blogs you listed here. I really love reading book blogs. :)

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    1. Nice in theory but I don't think it would fly. That would be for something other than the CB.

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  4. That is a great idea. I too follow other blogs besides pets. It is fun to hear what other people think about stuff. That cleaner does look good. I might have to look into getting some of it. You all have a great day Caren and an great week end.

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    1. I agree Marg it IS fun!! To me, it is a nice reprieve from reading and thinking about animals 24/7. Don't get me wrong, I ADORE cats and dogs but I do like to think about other things ;) The cleaner is marvelous, the bottles are precious, it WORKS and the scent is AMAZING!! you have a great weekend too! xoxo

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  5. XOXOXOXOXO thank you so much! i am glad u love the cleaner. I just cant get over how pretty the bottles are too!!

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    1. Ellen you are MOST welcome!!!!! xoxoxox back at ya! You KNOW I LOVE your blog!!! I always feel bad if I win an item on a lifestyle blog that I can't blog about on either of my blogs (because they don't fit), but when I read the label about this product not being tested on animals and being safe for pets I was like "Hmmmm...I might be able to pull this off!!!" I LOVE the cleaner and am embarrassed to say that the scent is to die for lol!!! Makes me WANT to clean (and that in itself is a miracle!) Thanks so much again!! xoxo

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  6. Caren it's great that you decided to share your blog reading list outside the pet niche. I also read several blogs from other areas like fashion, DIY, blogging tips and book blogs (I'm a big book lover and I even run a book blog for about 2 years). We can get lots of inspiration and ideas for blog post outside our niche.

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    1. Thank you so much Rosa!! I find it to be incredibly exciting to find new blogs outside of my niche. I agree with you about finding inspiration and ideas, and you get to meet new people and learn so many new things! Another thing I love is that the lifestyle bloggers seem to blog to the world at large more than the pet bloggers do. Most pet bloggers (myself included), blog TOO MUCH to each other....and not enough to the rest of the world.

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  7. First of all.....MIss You Caren & Cody !!!! Sorry..I'm not around lately...tee..heh
    and thanks for what you share with us.
    Have a fantastic weekend
    xox

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    1. Puddy!! Good to see you!! My comment wasn't about YOU visiting ME....it was about your Mom having YOU blog more than 3 or 4 times a year!!! :)
      love you always!

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  8. I think many or most of us have other interests besides cats/pets. We'd be pretty narrow in outlook otherwise. Now, the time to follow a whole host of blogs, cat or other, is another matter! :-)

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    1. You are absolutely right but you would be surprised. For example, (which I almost included in this post), I see pet bloggers asking over and over again how to get more followers on Pinterest (I have a sizable Pinterest following).....they are advised (not by me lol), to JUST pin about pets...there is no way in hell that I would just pin about pets. I have boards devoted to ALL of my passions.....food, music, art, etc., etc. You are right, people like to follow those with a bevy of interests instead of appearing one dimensional. My "other" boards are far more heavily followed on Pinterest than any of my pet/animal boards. Seriously, you would be surprised. About the time? Hell yeah....tell me about it. I have cut down the amount of blog reading I am doing across the board. I do my best and that's all any of us can do.

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  9. Nice job, Caren! Great post, and congrats on your win!

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    1. Thanks so much my friend!!! It's not one that everyone will like but oh well!! I march to my own drummer....never have been a "pack" animal hehehe.....thank you!!!

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  10. I too follow lots of blogs that are different than mine. I think it's a good thing.

    Have a purrfect day Cody. My best to your wonderful mom. ♥♥♥

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    1. Ohhh I KNOW that you do!!!! It IS a "good thing" You have a purrfect day too!! We send our love! xoxo

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  11. Totally agree :-) just checked my feed of blogs and I follow a lot of Food Blogger :-) So much stuff to learn from other types of blogs. Just wish I have the time to read/comment on all the blogs I follow. Golden Woofs to you :-)

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    1. Hi Sugar! this doesn't even begin to touch the number of blogs that I follow out of niche! lol. I am sure you are the same! I follow a TON of food blogs too that aren't even on here. I am like you, just don't have the time to read/comment on everything! Meows to you!

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  12. Congrats on winning!!! I will have to check out some of those blogs!
    ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!

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  13. I do the same thing--follow other bloggers. When non-cat bloggers follow me, I do not like to shut them out. Unless I absolutely can't stand their blog, or it doesn't load well on my browsers, I follow them, so I have sort of a magazine of blogs to read for entertainment. Sometimes I need to activate other parts of my brain as well. I have been following you quite a while now--now on Bloglovin.

    Have a good weekend

    Greetings,
    Greg and his cats

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    1. Greg I LOVE your candor! I feel the same! Love how you referred to them as a "magazine of blogs" that conjures up such a lovely image!
      Oh I know you have been following us, you won our commentathon I believe or something like that where I donated to your shelter approx a year ago. I think that was you! (Or it might have been Phil, now I can't remember), but regardless, I know you follow us!
      You have a great weekend too!

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  14. I most definitely follow non pet related blogs! It keeps me balanced - that's the Staff talking - if not sane MOL

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    1. Oh I hear you my furiend and I feel the same! This is Cody's "staff" talking too lol!!!! I need the occasional break away from the pet world and I am sure that you do too! xoxo

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  15. I really enjoyed perusing your list of blogs. Aside from my favorite furtastic blogs, I also love any blogs related to food and books, and your list helped me find some new blogs on these topics. Thanks for sharing! Purrs!

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    1. Thank you so much!!!! OMG I follow SOOOOOO many food blogs it is unreal! I have to say, next to cats/dogs those are my favorites. So much so, that I have considered going that route but there are so many superb food blogs out there. If you don't have a specific niche it wouldn't work. I love to cook and love reading/looking at food....lol! Glad I could help you find some new blogs!!! Have a great weekend!

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  16. Yes, other blogs are so much fun and you listed some good ones. We do always read Bibliophile by the Sea.

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    1. oh they are! Thank you!! Yep I have seen you "by the sea" MOL!

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  17. It is good to follow blogs with other topics. Being a dog blog primarily, we also enjoy following some felines and post about our cats now and then to get some more readers of the feline type.

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    1. Emma that is pawtastic but I meant "non-animal related" :)

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  18. We too follow a ton of other blogs outside of cat blogs. But we are basically lurkers on those.

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  19. I love this post! You're absolutely right... it's VERY fun to venture outside of our niche! Like you, we'll always love cat blogs, but we love food, fashion, home... all kinds of other stuff too!

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  20. Caren, thanks for the shout out. I'm like you...I so enjoy following blogs that aren't in my 'so-called niche.' I've come to know some amazing bloggers, such as yourself, that have helped and inspired me. I've also been surprised at how many bloggers are huge pet lovers even if they don't blog about it. You've shared some new sites for me to check out. Thanks and congrats on your win.

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    1. you are most welcome!!!! You know I love you to pieces!!! xoxo

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  21. Oh I do wish I had more time to visit more blogs of more types! Honestly if not for the amount of time I spend at Cat Scouts I COULD do just that..........shame on me............you sure have some GREAT blogs though Caren......lots of fun!

    Hugs, Pam

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  22. Mum totally agrees, following other topics is fun and interesting ! Purrs

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  23. Mom confesses that she likes to read Scary Mommy and Honest Toddler now that she has grandchildren. And several cooking blogs as well, and even a couple of financial ones!! Though not so much the past couple of weeks :-(

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  24. Gosh! Wes follows tons of blogs and only about half is pet related...and Mommy writes 3! Thanks for telling us about your favorites!
    Kisses
    Nellie

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  25. We like to follow different types of blogs too...
    There is soooo much out there!
    Have a great weekend.

    Noodle and crew

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  26. Outside of the cat blogs, mama stalks many travel blogs.

    Emma and Buster

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  27. shhh....don't tell anyone...but our mom finds the Bloggess' off color humor pretty funny.... and did you know we have a humor blog? Life with a Physicist? And we love some really gorgeous food blogs out there - beautiful photography! (like http://localmilkblog.com/)

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  28. I am a cat blog fan and there are a few others..not too many. I think I may sprout furs and whiskers and pink pads!

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  29. Step outside the litter box- MOL! I agree, I follow a few cooking blogs, book review ones and crafty ones too :)

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  30. Thanks for introducing us to some not pet blogs. We'll check them out. :)

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  31. We follow a few blogs outside our niche too... but we'll be sure to check out your faves :)

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  32. Congratulation on your wins that is pawesome :) Momma has her own blog and follows all the human peeps there ;)

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  33. I agree Caren there are some super non animal blogs out there..and it all adds to the fun of blogging...i must say that looks super divine to me...and congrats on the win :) :) Hugs Bev xx

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  34. I have a few favorites a couple of cooking blogs and then I LOVE Jenny Lawson of The Blogess.

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    1. omg I follow a TON of cooking/food blogs. Love them! I used to follow Jenny Lawson but stopped, don't remember why

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  35. Yep we follow non pet bloggys too. Weez never heard of those cleaners, weez'll have to check 'em out. Mommy be lergic to most cleaners so she uses stem and/or vinegar and water. Gweat posty and fanks fur lettin' us know 'bout these wunnewful purroducts.

    Luv ya'

    Dezi and Lexi

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  36. Thanks Caren for the very fun book! Cheers!

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  37. Mommy hasn't been to human blogs in a long time. She wants to try that bathroom cleaner. She supports cruetly free products.

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  38. At one time I followed a variety of blogs and some of those still follow mine. I just wish I still had time to visit them all but my Shug and his needs come first. Those products sound great. Think I will hop over and have a look at her blog right now while I have a few minutes. Hugs

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  39. I'm soooo glad you wrote about this topic. Thinking and reading out of the box or niche opens avenues to keep our niche fresh.

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  40. Our mommy ventures out of the cat and dog blog genre from time to time too. She says thanks for the suggestions!

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  41. We read non-cat or dog blogs too. We'll have to check those out.

    The Florida Furkids

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  42. Very timely post for mom. She says she has a hard enough time keeping up with her pet blogs but she has just recently started adding a few others.

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  43. Great post, Caren! I, too, follow some blogs outside of the pet niche. Always enjoyable to learn new things and broaden my horizons. :)

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  44. You are so right. There are so many great blogs out there! Just wish I had the time to read them all.

    Purrs xx
    Athena and Marie

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  45. I wish we had time to visit blogs outside our niche. We’ve been visited dog blogs too recently which we consider outside out niche. Some of those peeps so you know are very nice and I don’t know what cat bloggers have against them.

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