The holidays are officially here, which means that you are probably busy finding the perfect gifts for those special people in your life.  I'm happy to say that my holiday shopping is already complete and the last day I plan on hitting the stores this season is on Black Friday.  (I just can't resist those amazing deals!)

So how did I finish so early?  Actually, there are two reasons I can successfully avoid the holiday shopping hustle and bustle each year...

But wait, there`s more! »

Hopefully, you've read my previous posts in the Build a Faster Blog Series which detailed some excellent resources with which to discover the real health of your blog and how fast it is performing for your readers.  You may or may not be pleased with what you've discovered so far and might be wondering how you can change things for the better.  The purpose of the rest of the posts in the Build a Faster Blog Series is to try and steer you in the right direction on how to really speed up your site.  Unfortunately, this might mean drastically changing the way you're doing things right now.  I promise though, that you will see big results if you embrace the attitude of "if it's slow...it has to go!"

Believe me when I tell you that I have changed virtually everything about my original blog, for I had no idea what poor choices I had made when it came to my blog's speed. I definitely am not claiming to know everything there is about improving a blog, for I still have plenty of challenges I am working on, but here's the things I've come to find are horrible speed stealers thus far. Do the absolute best you can to ditch as many of the following as possible. (Also remember that I am running a self-hosted WordPress blog, so some of my tips and lingo won't really be applicable for those of you running Blogger, Typepad, etc.)

But wait, there`s more! »

For the last 56 weeks, I have enjoyed meeting up at the "Sock Hop" to enjoy fellowship and fun with other like-minded bloggers out there.  I've met writers, photographers, chefs, moms, travelers, deal hunters and fashion mavens, but unfortunately, this will be the last spin of the record before the lights go out.

Since Google Friend Connect was the primary focus of the Be-Bop-A Blog Hop and it will no longer be available to WordPress blogs this year, I've decided to discontinue the hop and might be starting another blog hop with a different emphasis soon.  (If you have any ideas as to what you'd like to see, please leave a comment and let me know) 

Thank you to all who participated, both regularly and for the first time.

I truly enjoyed getting to know each and every one of you and hope that we have all made some lasting friendships through the hop.  I know I have!  Here's to your future success...may 2012 be the best year yet!

Please add your link below and take a spin around the dance floor at the last Be-Bop-A Blog Hop!   Shake a leg and LET'S GET HOPPING!

<a href="http://www.mommylivingthelifeofriley.com/index.php?s=be%2Bbop%2Ba%2Bblog%2Bhop"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-x7rjIa_suU8/The1N9hy27I/AAAAAAAACgw/VMuBNowpgy8/s800/BeBopABlogHopSmall.jpg" alt="Be-Bop-A Blog Hop Wednesday" title="Be-Bop-A Blog Hop Wednesday!" width="150" height="150" rel="nofollow"/></a>

There are so many unique and special blogs out there and we all need followers! This blog hop is your chance to link up and meet some great new folks hosting some outstanding blogs.

THIS LINKY WILL BE LIVE EVERY WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY!

There's only ONE rule required to participate in this blog hop and that's the Golden Rule. "Follow unto others as you should have them follow unto you". In other words, if someone follows you, be nice and make sure you do the same in return. That's what this hop is all about, after all.

Of course, as your host, I would also appreciate a follow. I promise to personally follow every person that joins this hop! So, shake a leg and LET'S GET HOPPING!

<a href="http://www.mommylivingthelifeofriley.com/index.php?s=be%2Bbop%2Ba%2Bblog%2Bhop"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-x7rjIa_suU8/The1N9hy27I/AAAAAAAACgw/VMuBNowpgy8/s800/BeBopABlogHopSmall.jpg" alt="Be-Bop-A Blog Hop Wednesday" title="Be-Bop-A Blog Hop Wednesday!" width="150" height="150" rel="nofollow"/></a>

There are so many unique and special blogs out there and we all need followers! This blog hop is your chance to link up and meet some great new folks hosting some outstanding blogs.

THIS LINKY WILL BE LIVE EVERY WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY!

There's only ONE rule required to participate in this blog hop and that's the Golden Rule. "Follow unto others as you should have them follow unto you". In other words, if someone follows you, be nice and make sure you do the same in return. That's what this hop is all about, after all.

Of course, as your host, I would also appreciate a follow. I promise to personally follow every person that joins this hop! So, shake a leg and LET'S GET HOPPING!

<a href="http://www.mommylivingthelifeofriley.com/index.php?s=be%2Bbop%2Ba%2Bblog%2Bhop"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-x7rjIa_suU8/The1N9hy27I/AAAAAAAACgw/VMuBNowpgy8/s800/BeBopABlogHopSmall.jpg" alt="Be-Bop-A Blog Hop Wednesday" title="Be-Bop-A Blog Hop Wednesday!" width="150" height="150" rel="nofollow"/></a>

There are so many unique and special blogs out there and we all need followers! This blog hop is your chance to link up and meet some great new folks hosting some outstanding blogs.

THIS LINKY WILL BE LIVE EVERY WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY!

There's only ONE rule required to participate in this blog hop and that's the Golden Rule. "Follow unto others as you should have them follow unto you". In other words, if someone follows you, be nice and make sure you do the same in return. That's what this hop is all about, after all.

Of course, as your host, I would also appreciate a follow. I promise to personally follow every person that joins this hop! So, shake a leg and LET'S GET HOPPING!

<a href="http://www.mommylivingthelifeofriley.com/index.php?s=be%2Bbop%2Ba%2Bblog%2Bhop"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-x7rjIa_suU8/The1N9hy27I/AAAAAAAACgw/VMuBNowpgy8/s800/BeBopABlogHopSmall.jpg" alt="Be-Bop-A Blog Hop Wednesday" title="Be-Bop-A Blog Hop Wednesday!" width="150" height="150" rel="nofollow"/></a>