The ever-fabulous Jane Porricelli and I were interviewed by the delightful Jamillah Knowles for BBC Five‘s Pods and Blogs about the Hot Blogger Calendar. You can subscribe to the program here, or listen to just our show here. (As you can imagine we are thrilled!)

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I am delighted to present Amy of Permission to Peruse, one of the ladies of the Hot Blogger Calendar.

(Hot Blogger Amy, Calendar Cofounder of Awesomeness Jane, and me)

One of the best things about the calendar project is that I’ve met amazing people. Amy is not only incredibly cool and sweet, she’s a great mom, a successful professional – and, obvs, certifiably hot. So I loved that she chose this topic to write about, totally unprompted. Because who’d know better than her?

I’m all about the Twilight these days and all the women are swooning over Edward, the main character. It’s a girl thing, but there’s something guys can learn from it. In fact, I’d say, men, buy your wife a copy (if she doesn’t have it), and then secretly read it (if you can’t make yourself do it openly). If that just doesn’t work, here are five tips to becoming hot:

1. Watch her sleep. I don’t know how it is in your house, but my man is always the first one to sleep. I tease him saying he’s an old man when he wants to go to bed at 8. So maybe this one means more to me because the possibility of it happening is about zero. However, I can’t imagine that it wouldn’t be flattering to wake up and have them say, “I’ve been watching you all night. You’re so beautiful I just couldn’t help myself.” As long as it’s not a stalker watching you through a window, it’d be a good thing to hear.
2. Quote Poetry. In the book, Edward sits and watches Romeo and Juliet with Bella and quotes lines as it plays. It doesn’t have to be Shakespeare (although I would recommend it). Throw in a British accent and you’re golden.
3. Protect her from the bad guy – even if it’s you. Not only are there some true bad guys Edward saves Bella from, he’s the bad guy too. He tries his best to save her from him as well. Always, always, always protect her. Swear to never hurt her and then do your best… even if it’s saving her from yourself.
4. Get creative. Edward plays piano for Bella in person and then records it for her birthday. You can’t lose on getting in touch with your creative side. I don’t care if it’s pulling out some Crayolas and printer paper and leaving it on your pillow for when she wakes up (way later than you, you know, from staying up WAY past you).
5. Just say no. To me, this is what makes Twilight great. Edward really wants to kiss her. In fact, probably more than that, and if the book wasn’t young-adult-oriented, we’d probably know that for a fact. But we barely get a kiss out of the first book because he restrains himself. That, my friends, is sexy. Maybe it’s just me, but it’s sexier to be in a restaurant and have your man give you “the look” and go on with his business rather then cop a feel under the table. It shows restraint.

Who knows, maybe it’s just me and I should virtually crumple this post up and throw it over to my husband to study, but I’m guessing one or two of these should work for just about any woman. So men, pay attention, and women, print this for your husband. You can all thank me later.

So, does this girl know hot? You be the judge:

Oh, and for more hot, go get a Hot Blogger Calendar at www.hotbloggercalendar.com!

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The countdown has begun. And what better gift this holiday season than a Hot Blogger Calendar , available for pre-order starting today ?

It’s the gift that says that you appreciate hotness. Intelligence. Charitable undertakings. And it’s the gift that keeps on giving: one whole year of hotness for just $1 per blogger. What kind of a crazy deal is that , internet?

Go check it out and see even more behind-the-scenes pictures while you’re there.

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Check here for my first recap, complete with photos and the first photos and posts of some of the Hot Bloggers.

And now, check out what Amy and Shawn and Jim have had to say today. Funny, cool, interesting, full of great stories and fun. Much like them.

(And I’m not ashamed to say that Amy’s made me a bit sniffly.)

(Shawn and Jim are a little less mushy.)

(But all three of them are smoking hot.)

(And I may have crushes on all three.)

We’re working on the calendar presale process now. I can’t wait till I can tell you how to actually get your hot little hands on one of these.

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Three months ago… this crazy idea got started.

Two months ago… 359 people were nominated for it.

Last night… 20 people from all over the country drank rather a lot of tequila in celebration of it.

Today… 12 of the 24 certified Hot Bloggers rocked the camera like they were born to, with photographers Bill Wadman and Meg Wachter and makeup artist Jillian Villafane making them look like the supermodels they are.

Amy , Britt , Ces , Dave , Erika , Jill , Jim , Josh , Katja , Peter , Riese and Shawn … you guys looked amazing and are amazing. How lucky am I to get the chance to meet people who are so great (in addition to being so hot, of course)? The only possible way it could have been better would have been if your 12 counterparts had been there too. But we’ll see their gorgeous photos shortly. And until then, it’s been a fabulous weekend of hijinks with my partner in crime, Jane (and her completely wonderful parents Barry and Sharon).

Guys… thank you for coming from all over the country to be a part of this. It’s an honor.

Everybody… you’ll have to wait to see the real portraits in the calendar, but in the meantime, check out my Flickr for some shots of the past two days.

Edited to add: also check out Shawn’s photos!

And Amy’s!

And Sharon’s! – And her eloquent post about the shoot – done on her birthday, nonetheless!

And Dave’s! And his post! And Poppy’s photos!

And Jane’s!

And Jill’s post about the shoot!

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Bloggery news:

• Check out the latest Hot Blogger Calendar news here. (Short version: it’s OUT OF CONTROL.)
• If you’re a PANK, check out my Savvy Auntie blog.
• Expect more guest posts at Buzznetworker , where I’ve gotten a completely flattering invitation to be a regular!

Also, check out the fabulous Josh (in the stripey shirt) in this podcast . (Kris ‘specially.)

Just back from a gorgeous weekend away with people I’ve loved for decades and three babies-to-be, elegance and goofiness, laughing and crying, gourmet and junk, photo-junkie-ism and swing dancing, a run in the sun and fire on the river. Back to 400 unread HBC nominations, new paint up in the condo, the news that my cousin got married by a Buddhist monk when nobody was looking, and not nearly enough time to absorb it all.

Hopefully, that’ll come this week. Along with my first sparring tournament and wedding 5 of 5 this summer. Expect updates throughout it all.

In the meantime, I leave you with this question. Did you get enough of what makes you happiest this weekend?

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Seriously, you guys? This is insane. In. Sane. There have been over a hundred Hot Blogger Calendar nominations. In the first 12 hours . And it’s 100 different people. (Only two of whom have nominated themselves.) And nominations go for a whole week still!

In the words of sweet baby Charlton Heston, what hath God wrought?…what? Oh, whatever. Stop being a smartypants and go nominate the hottest blogger you know. All the cool kids are doing it.

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Last month the lovely Jane decided that Playboy’s “Hottest Female Blogger” column needed a male counterpart. She did a little contest of her own… but we got our heads together and realized it couldn’t stop there.

So I am pleased to announce the first-ever Hot Blogger Calendar competition. Think social media meets cheesecake and beefcake calendars.

Nominations begin today and run for a week. Then the finalists will be voted on. And then we’re having a shoot party in Manhattan. It’ll be tons of fun, and we’re going to liveblog the whole hysterical process.

(And then, calendars will be available in November, with a portion of proceeds going to charity. Definitely this holiday’s “hot” gift. Ha ha.)

It’s time to get a look at the people behind the blogs. They’ve been hiding their hotness long enough.

Have you nominated someone today?

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