these are a few of my favorite blogs...

The blogging world is wonderful for many reasons. I love it for allowing me to document my life and capture the little moments as my children grow. I can share pictures of my baby with family members and friends who live far away. I can know what's going on in the lives of people I care about without having to spend hours with them on the phone. But this world.wide blogging arena has opened up a new way of connecting with women I've never met. Women who inspire and encourage and make me a better person just by being themselves. Today I want to share with you a few sites that have made my life brighter and more meaningful. I don't personally know any of these women, but they have changed me for the good by the things they've written on their blogs. If you're looking to be inspired, you should read too.


#1- PIONEER WOMAN. I kid you not, I just started reading her blog last week. WHY have I waited so long? I do not know. After a couple of short posts, I am in love. I can't even begin to compare myself with her-- not her photography skills, her mega-talent in the kitchen or her writing genius, but I feel privileged to relate to her in the homeschooling department. This article is fabulous and keeps me going for all the right reasons.. Why I Homeschool and What my Approach Is. I will keep this handy for those times I get discouraged and ask myself, "why oh why am I doing this?"


#2- ENJOYING THE SMALL THINGS- Kelle Hampton is a talented photographer and mother of two daughters who was interviewed by CNN about the recent birth of her daughter, Nella with Down Syndrome. This inspiring mother truly does find the beauty in everyday life and her pictures are absolutely heartwarming. If you need a little more joy in your life, grab a box of kleenex and read the birth story of Nella. I kind of want to hate her for looking so gorgeous after just having a baby, but I can't.. Only love for that momma.



#3- SUBURB SANITY- I love blogging about my family, posting pictures of my kids, etc. But if I had enough time in the world (like when my kids move out of the house and could do what I wanted to do) I would have a blog like Debbie's @ Suburb Sanity. She writes about hilarious and everyday subjects, never posting actual pictures of herself or her children. She is easy to relate to, takes a stand on subjects that others are afraid to talk about and is so very funny. I can't pick my favorite post, but I like THIS one.. and THIS one.. and THIS one.. and THIS one. It's just so hard to choose! ps. Every once in a while, Debbie will come and comment on my blog and I always feel sheepish. It's such a weird thing because I admire her for her humor and writing and I would almost rather she ignore me than read my blog because I am just not cool enough to be her "friend". Do you feel like this with anyone? Seriously, though.. fast forward 15 years and I will be a blogger like Debbie. Until then, I am posting pictures of my kids and writing about the funny things they say.. it's all I can do for now.


#4- THRIFTY DECOR CHICK- I just happened upon this design blog a few weeks ago and LOVED everything about it. Creative, funny, crafty, do-it-yourself, colorful, cheap, encouraging, NOT-as-hard-as-it-looks and SO up my alley. She has quite the following (rightly so) and earns a living off of being bold, inspiring and creative. (If there's anything that annoys me, it's big-headed interior designers who criticize others on what NOT to do.) Thrifty Decor Chick is exactly the opposite.. and I believe that's why she's so successful. She's all about showing what TO DO... and how to do it. Her site is filled with a million pictures, instructions, tutorials and testimonials. After reading, I can't help but want to put molding up in every room of my house. I will be doing my dining room sooner or later.... can't wait!

and last but not least-

#5- A GOOD GRIEF- I've followed Molly Jackson's blog for some time now and I've written in entries past about how Lucy's death has changed the way I parent. It's amazing how the short life of a little curly blond 2 year old could make me appreciate my own children more. Motherhood is such a gift... even when that gift comes with runny noses, dirty laundry, big messes, high fevers and no sleep. This post made me cry today. I felt so grateful after reading it that I just couldn't click away without donating to their headstone foundation. If we all give a little, I know it can make a big difference.

And these are my TOP FIVE favorite blogs of people I don't know (we all know Nie Nie is on the list too, right?) Check them out, follow them, give them more traffic and donate to their causes. They deserve to have the attention because they inspire, encourage, bring laughter (and tears) and make the world a better place.