Your Voice in Your Community

Are you passionate about your work?

Do you have a hobby or special interest you enjoy sharing with others?

Perhaps you're a writer in need of readers. Des Plaines Patch can help.

This is an open invitation to the Des Plaines community to participate in our online community by blogging at Des Plaines Patch.

Patch bloggers are featured on our front page and tell many different stories. Motherhood, family finances, health care and the outdoors are a few examples of successful topics on the site.

Almost any topic can be your focus; Patch blogs can be useful and fun for lots of reasons. Small business owners are welcome to write about their industries. Politicians are welcome to address issues and communicate with constituents.

And that's just the beginning. Parents, teachers, police officers, firefighters, nonprofit communicators, graphic designers, comedians and historians can all connect with readers on Patch blogs. The options are endless.

There is no time commitment. You can post as frequently or infrequently as you wish. There is no cost.

If interested, please e-mail local editor Christopher Brinckerhoff at Christopher.Brinckerhoff@Patch.com.

Here are some current Des Plaines Patch bloggers:

: Family, parenting and mental health.

Excerpt from :

"One of the areas we have cut back the most is shopping. I will admit that I am a compulsive shopper. Not in the way that many people joke about being "shopaholics" but in a very serious, real addiction problem kind of way. I have no impulse control and no restraint when it comes to spending. It's something I've been working on with the help of a therapist for a while now. I have become much better and not buying impulsively and really learning to save our money for essentials."

: Healthy living, stress management and nutrition.

Excerpt from :

"Although we may not want to hear it or admit it, though, a lot of fruit and vegetables these days are contaminated with pesticides and chemicals. Even having said that, a diet rich in these foods outweighs your risk of exposure, so you’re still better off eating it than not.  You’ll want to avoid those that have the most pesticide, however."

: Cosmetic surgery procedures.

Excerpt from :

"Is there a standard on how to measure for a woman's bra? The answer is, quite simply, "No." Various manufacturers have their own design and/or measuring system. So, it is not surprising that many women are confused as to what bra size they are or which type of bra fits them best."