I’ve said so many times that one of the best parts of starting this blog is the incredible people I’ve have the opportunity to meet. You must say hello to Kathleen, author of Forging Ahead. Ready to be impressed? She’s a triathlete. Yep. She swims, bikes and runs in quick succession. That blows my mind. And you know what else? She’s an expert with horses and dressage. For some extra eye candy, her husband’s stunning photography decorates her blog. I asked Kathleen to share some music to keep me motivated while I work out. Wait until you hear this mixtape. She knows how to rock too!

 ETA 9/17/08: My aplogies to Erin for having problems getting her lovely photo posted properly.

The very best thing about going public with my blog is the incredible people I’ve met. One of these amazing people is Erin. She is an educator, mother of a one year old cutie pie, and a truly lovely person. She writes about her life in Alaska. At one point, she lived in an Eskimo village of just 150 people. That absolutely fascinates me. I love that she is passionate about her political views. And she does great critiques of movies. This is someone you want to know better. 

And now on to her mixtape and a little trivia. Does everyone know that the Buggles tune she chose was the first video played on MTV ever? I love this list. Cake. Ray Charles. Go Go’s. Dexy’s Midnight Runners? Need I say more?

SeeqPod - Playable Search 

This blog is a little diamond I discovered a while back. I have the sense that The Girl Next Door (TGND) started writing as a sort of therapy, but for her readers, it’s entertaining, inspiring and fun. Just the fact that she could get six pack abs after having twins is enough to gain my respect. Some of us would turn to Chubby Hubby ice cream while going through a divorce and the Ex decides to move in next door. But TGND turns to crunches. Need I say more?

TGND surprised me with commentary to accompany her selections, and I just had to share her songs and her words. 

“Work Out Songs Through The Ages”

JET: Are you gonna be my girl?  This song brings back instant memories of the only good thing I remember from the “cruise from hell” (the one I took with my entire in-law family, then returned and told my Husband “Buh-bye Now - we are finally getting that divorce.”  I would wake up at the crack of dawn and got to the top deck and RUN.  I’d watch the sun rise over the endless water.  Ironically, it was a Royal Carribean cruise.  And I think this is their theme song.  Which just made me laugh

Meet Katia from Crazy for Trying. Katia is a truly talented blogger who chronicles her life with style. Don’t let her blog title fool you. This lady has it together. She has two adorable girls and a wonderful husband. Then for good measure, she has a lovely home, lives in the city and she walks to work. When I met Katia a couple months ago I knew I wanted to peek into her iPod. Just as I expected, you will find here a fabulously eclectic mixtape that doesn’t disappoint.

Say hello to MommyPie. She is the second person I met in the blogosphere. One of the first pages I read on her blog was her personal story. I was hooked. Ever since, her blog is among the first I check in my reader. Such the blogging ground breaker is MommyPie that she actually coined a word in the Urban Dictionary. When I asked MommyPie to appear on Mixtape Monday, I knew that she wouldn’t disappoint. As far as I’m concerned, anyone who can work Squeeze and Billie Holiday into the same mixtape is a friend of mine.

A few months ago, I met an amazing blogger. Her name is Jenny, and she writes Jenny on the Spot. When she posted a photo of her new Cannondale and how her love for it was so great that she called upon friends to help name it, I knew we would be fast friends. Did I mention that she’s a mom of three AND she competes in triathlons? And she has naturally curly hair? No Jenny, I don’t hate you. As for her mixtape, it just rocks. If this is the kind of music that makes you crazy enough to get in the “zone” to train, then sign me up for some Run DMC sister.

Meet Jake, budding pianist, scooter rider, and journalist. He does not have his own blog yet, but I didn’t think that should disqualify him. At six, his selections are already rather eclectic, due in part to the fact that he is highly influenced by the marketing genius of TV and movie studio moguls. From the back seat of the family car, safety tucked in his booster seat, he requests that these selections remain in heavy rotation. He hopes you enjoy them too.

SeeqPod - Playable Search

I met Lindsay a couple weeks ago, and now her blog is one of my new favorites. Her blog design drew me in first (I am a sucker for such things). After browsing a bit, I realized why her blog was love at at first sight: she’s a writer, a mom, and she loves rock and roll. I’m all over that. I love that she’s my first guest to feature all female artists in her mixtape. Meet Rock and Roll Mama!

Last fall, I met Amanda. She is founder of The Mom Crowd, where she and several other lovely people dispense motherly wisdom and wit to the masses. Turns out, she has fabulous taste in music too! There are some great finds in this mix. Dig in, then visit her at The Mom Crowd.

I have a theory that people who live in California - particularly those in metro areas - are as a rule, probably cooler than average. How else do you explain the fantabulous playlist by San Diego Momma? She calls this list her Porch Swing Songs. Am I the last person in the world to discover Ryan Adams (track two by the way). I’m pretty sure I could do some serious blogging to this music. Or swaying on a porch swing if I had one.