I'm disgusted right now.  No, scratch that.  I'm downright pissed off because I'm sick and tired of visiting people's blogs who are former review and product giveaway bloggers bashing those who still choose to do it.  I don't understand it.

It ruffles my feathers because, yes, if you choose not to do reviews or giveaways that is your choice but don't go around post bashing those of us who enjoy the process, working with reputable companies, helping out small business owners and sharing fantastic prize giveaways with our readers.

It's just plain wrong.

I've been blogging for a while now and I've had people comment on my writing, saying I made them cry from something I shared as a mom, raising my son with Cerebral Palsy or made them laugh with something funny my kids did.

I still post pics of my family.  I post articles on being a mom with a mental illness, share my feelings, worries, depressions and happiness in raising my family.  I also post stuff on my favorite TV shows, who I wanted to win American Idol, books I read, movies I love and products I am thrilled with.

And yes...yes I post reviews and giveaways and I love it!

These other bloggers set on bashing those us who do reviews and giveaways make it sound like we are trying to achieve fame and fortune and forgetting our roots simple because we are marketing ourselves and companies or businesses we choose to work with.  Like somehow that gives us less integrity and saying companies will work with anyone, it doesn't matter what blog they have or who they are.  I'm counting to ten can you hear me?

It steams the buttons on buns I tell you!

For example: Maple Leaf Foods invited me to a round table event with some elite fellow bloggers in Vancouver for a sit down.

Why?

Why bloggers?

Because we reach every day parents and they wanted a chance to reach out to those people because of the recall their company faced a few years back that ended in the deaths of several people.

This is a company that has been around long before I could walk.  They deserved a chance to share with us the information they have on what they have done since the recall to make things better and how they (as a company) are reaching for new heights to be Global Leaders now in food safety.

Did I go?  You bet I did.  Did I enjoy it?  For sure.  What did I get for posting and sharing this information with my readers?  I got ham, bread and coupons, a meat thermometer and an apron with a really cool red cooler bag ooooooooooo... now I'm rich and famous!  And apparently because I offered a giveaway from the company to my readers I'm a lousy blogger to boot.

What did I really get out of it?

I got a chance to meet some wonderful people who do what I do - blog.  Make some friends and ask questions to a company who lost me as a consumer but has now since gained my trust back and the opportunity to share my feelings with my readers.

I so want to post the blogs I have read who made judgements and statements against review and giveaway bloggers like myself and the stuff they've said.  But I won't.  That's petty and wrong and everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

I guess I just wish it didn't hurt my feelings.  I'm sensitive you know.  Can't you see me crying?  And I wish they would focus on themselves and their wishes yes, without tearing down what other people do.  But we don't live in a perfect world.  If we did.  I'd get more than ham for blogging and things like recalls for companies who are trying to make a difference wouldn't happen.

Imperfection is what makes us stronger...