Today is a special day here at Squidoo Lens Reviews. We would all like to wish a very happy birthday to the blog creator, editor-in-chief and our friend, MiMi!

MiMi is known as GrowWear on Squidoo and has a range of motivational t-shirts and other gifts on Cafe Press by the same name. While everyone should have a happy childhood, MiMi knows from her own experience that this is sadly not always the case. Her mission in creating this range was to inspire and encourage others who have suffered from neglect and need reminding of their worth. Her compassion and wish to help others in their own journey of personal growth is reflected in several of her 81 Squidoo lenses, including Children: Building Character, Top 10 Personal Growth Songs That Inspire, Quotes About Success, and The Top 10 Motivational Quotations.

She joined Squidoo in January 2007. During this time, she has also served as a Giant Squid Greeter, Giant Squid Challenge Leader and an Honorary Squid Angel. She is one of Squidoo's most popular and respected figures.

Squidoo Lens Reviews was a project that MiMi launched in July 2008. She ran the blog single-handedly, giving shout-outs, nods, and promotion to remarkable Squidoo lenses, until early 2010 when she extended an invitation to write for the blog to a small group of lensmasters. Needless to say, we all jumped at the chance! These days, MiMi's work is for the most part behind the scenes, but don't be fooled, she works as hard as ever to ensure the smooth running of this project in addition to promoting Squidoo Lens Reviews to reach an ever-widening readership.

MiMi has established herself as the queen of pink with her top-ranked lens, Pink Tool Kits For Women, and not far behind it the companion Pink Gardening Tools For Women. Her lensography also includes tributes to two of her dearest Squidoo friends in Be Positive: Like Joan Adams and Drifter0658. But I first encountered MiMi through the remarkable Homeless in America, which was the lens of the day when I first discovered Squidoo, both inspiring me and leaving me a little in awe as a brand new lensmaster.

I know MiMi has made a great many friends during her Squidoo journey and is both widely respected and held in great affection. I have a feeling they will add their own personal wishes here or elsewhere, but on behalf of all of us at Squidoo Lens Reviews, we wish you all the best on your special day. Many happy returns to you, MiMi!

Visit MiMi's full lensography

Image Credit: Princess Cake by aggiebutterfly

We bring you breaking news with this unscheduled post. There is one very special man who is celebrating his birthday today and we want to join in on the fun. He is a guy many of us know and love on Squidoo. He has made us laugh, made us think, and taken us on a journey on the back of his motorcycle a time or two. Let me tell you just a little bit about this Birthday Boy.

Alex Crabtree is well known in the Squidoo circuit as Drifter0658. He rides his bike around telling us tales about some of his adventures on that bike. I think I join everyone in being glad that he has traveled back safely to us after having Ridden The Tail of Dragon! And of course this bike ridin' Dude can tell us all about the proper attire when riding along with him if we read his article Biker Leather Jackets for Men.

Our fast ridin' Alex is also a bit of a history buff. His Old West Legends ~ Bill Miner tells us about a Gentleman Bandit who led quite an amazing life. He masterfully shared the dirty side of Thomas Jefferson.

Alex is a member of the Giant 100 Club at Squidoo and at the time of this writing he has 111 articles under his belt. He is a talented writer that can write about so many different topics besides the ones outlined above. From blues music to how to use wordpress you will thoroughly enjoy every minute that you read his work.

So, my dear friend Alex…we toast you today. We salute your talent. We adore your humor. We are grateful for all that you do for so many of us. Happy Birthday, Buddy!

Visit Drifter0658 for some awesome reading.

Image Credit: Motorcycle 18 by bikeart

Since it's hard to concentrate during the final leg of the race for Giant Squid, I think I shall spend this week doing some commentary.

Today, I am wondering about the new ads displayed across the tops of our pages. For the most part, the ads, though not targeted that I can tell, are not offensive.

However, there is this one that I've been seeing: What Women REALLY want. Get the Secret Now. I clicked to see. …Apparently, we want Glam Media.

Hmmm. Not I. Not the folks who read my lenses, either — few though they may be. I must be missing something somewhere. :/

Comments welcome. I'll write again, tomorrow. Do make sure to chime in on The Question Of The Week.