What is up with all of this?

We've all seen them on facebook, twitter, and our blog feeds; Influenster, House Party, Crowdtap, BzzAgent, Swaggable, (and I am sure there are more), basically sites that say they want to connect you with your favorite brands (exciting!).  I think what they really want is to connect their paying brands with you but frankly I am not complaining.   As a member of House Party I received a box full of Hasbro games for free which made for a great New Year's Eve Party.  Free.  As in no money.  Believe me, I was shocked when it turned out not to be a scam, too.  I joined Influenster a while back and promptly forgot about it.  Last week I received a box of free stuff in the mail that made me feel like a big time poser.  Sure I love the free stuff but am I upholding my part of the bargain?  Fast forward to today and this new blog.  I am going to actually tell the world what I think about the products in my house.  Some of those products may have been sent to me by a company specifically so I can provide them with free advertising, so I will spread the word, even if that word is "Oh hell no."   Other products will be things we use everyday that I love/hate/saw near my computer.  I figure I already feel the need to tell the people in my life about what they should and should not be buying, why not tell strangers?  And finally other products will be things I have seen ads for and specifically purchased to review.  I also like to call these "things this blog gave me an excuse to buy."

So listen up folk, here's what I think...