The sidebar was just getting too unruly for words, so I’ve compiled all of the happy lists and community projects–both complete and on-going–onto this one page. Have a good time exploring. Click on any of the links to see the original posts or learn more about the project.

The Creme de La Creme happens every year from December to January. Instead of awarding one blog the “best” blog in the IF/pg loss blogosphere, every blogger submits their favourite post of the year.

Putting Together the First Creme de la Creme
More on the Creme de la Creme’s History

The Creme de la Creme of 2006 List
The Creme de la Creme of 2007 List (check back in January 2008)

Similar to the Creme de la Creme project, the Friday Blog Roundup Extravaganza occurs every July. Unlike the Creme de la Creme where a bloggers chooses their own favourite post, for the Friday Blog Roundup Extravaganza, participants were given another blog to read and had to pick their favourite from July to July. Each blogger then wrote a few sentences on why they loved that particular post. The list is compiled secretly and no one knows who reviewed their blog.

The Friday Blog Roundup Extravaganza of 2007
The Friday Blog Roundup Extravaganza of 2008 (check back in July of 2008)

To mark my blogoversary, we started three projects. The Commentathon is held twice a year in the summer and winter. Secret Ode Days pop up on the calendar at irregular intervals when one least expects it. The Great Cake Day takes place every year on June 25th.

Read about all three projects as well as seeing old Commentathon lists or Secret Ode Day write ups by clicking here.

The Blilt Project is an ongoing creation of virtual blog quilts (or blilts). These blilts are constructed by people giving a quote on a certain topic and then the squares are made and placed together, with a link going back to the author’s blog. You can see both the current blilt as well as all older blilts by clicking below.

How to Make an International Blilt

When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when you’re feeling sad because you just got back a negative beta, go over and see what is currently making other people happy. We compile this list of from time to time, with everyone adding their favourite things.

Favourite Things One
Favourite Things Two

Come On Get Happy is an ongoing discussion and activity for the fall/winter of 2007. Participate by jumping into the discussion or joining one of the Happiness Challenges. The point? To join the happiness revolution and gain peace while navigating the choppy waters of infertility.

Come On Get Happy Compilation

First Happiness Challenge

Second Happiness Challenge

Phrecipes are photo-supported recipes. Think of it as you would My First Picture Dictionary–the images explain the words. The majority of these phrecipes are baking recipes because that is my stress reliever from infertility. Sometimes you just need to pound some dough. The minority of these recipes are cake decorating and candy recipes (my other IF stress-reliever. I even got a cake decorating degree while going through treatments the first time). If you have phrecipes you’d like me to cover, I take requests. Email me at thetowncriers@gmail.com. If you end up trying any of these recipes, please blog about it and then send me a link so I can add it to the end of the recipe. Sort of the equivalent of the opinion section of Epicurious or Food Network.

Our Mission: We are an organized group of male and female bloggers who aim to support the goals of larger infertility, pregnancy loss, and adoption organizations. We lend support to the missions of groups such as Resolve, INCIID, and ASRM in the areas of advocacy and education. We do not have loyalty to a single group but instead use our resources to support many different organizations.

The twelve-and-a-half are the 12.5% of the population experiencing infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss. According to the CDC, infertility is a medically recognized disease that affects 7.3 million men and women in our country. Infertility is a crisis that is increasing in magnitude over time. The largest growing population within infertility is women under 35.

But infertility is not a women’s issue. It is a medical crisis affecting men and women equally. It affects those married or unmarried, gay or straight, young or old. It is a crisis that crosses into every religion, nationality, ethnicity, and race. Infertility can have its root in reproductive health or in biological limitations.

Our group is open to every person within the infertility/pregnancy loss/adoption blogging community (in other words, all 1000 blogs on the blogroll as well as all the ones we haven’t found yet) can be a blogtavist with THFB. We also welcome any friends and family who would like to support the cause.

What is Blogtavism?

Using your sliver of the Internet to affect change through words and action. Utilizing blogs as a communication tool to spread awareness and support for issues affecting the infertility and pregnancy loss community.

How Can I Get Involved?

Scroll down to see a list of current projects and click on the hyperlinked text to learn more. In order to get on the THFB mailing list for infrequent but important information, please send an email to thetowncriers@gmail.com with “add me to the THFB” in the subject line.

Current Projects:

These projects are currently running and need your help. Click on the links to read more about these projects. Check back often to see updated information and new projects during this pre-election time period.

The general pregnancy and parenting room has been moved here.

The general infertility and treatment room has been moved here.