A couple of weeks ago I wrote a post, humblebragging about
how many blog posts I’d read recently. Well, I wasn’t humblebragging so much as
I was sharing my dedication and commitment to reading what my favorite bloggers
have to say, to spread the love and comments and oh, okay. I was bragging outright.
Anyway, that post really struck a chord with a lot of
people, and one person even asked what blogs I read every
day. I was excited about the idea; after
all, it would be an easy blog post – writer’s block is real, people. But I was also a little
unsure if I wanted to do that. Would
other bloggers care if I casually promoted them, unsolicited? Would anyone be offended by being linked to me? A conversation with some blogger
friends advised me that this would be okay among most bloggers, and without the
permission of any other bloggers that I follow and read, I thought I’d give it
a go!
I’m very thorough in my preparation process.
So I read 69 blogs.
It’s a lot. In the previous blog
post I said 75, but as I was compiling the list I realized that
the number was less for various reasons. But 69 is still
a lot of blogs. Currently there are 62 new posts for me to read in my reader
(hey girl). And that’s just from the past two days. So things pile up pretty fast around
here. Anyway, I decided to give you a
break and break the list into three parts.
I can’t believe I managed to get three blog posts out of this. Blogging win!
Okay, so here we go.
I’ve organized them into categories for your ease of reading and because I
like things to be organized into categories.
Each of the three Blog Rolls I post will contain two categories. Today’s
categories are Art & Design and Humor.
Category #1: Art & Design.
In my mind, I have really good taste. In my home, I have lots of Ikea and framed
kid art. That doesn’t stop me from
knowing what’s good.
Artchoo! I started following Jeanette when she did
Craftwhack, which really was a humor blog.
Her hilarious voice and delivery held me while she transitioned to
Artchoo!, which is her art and design blog geared toward kids. She does all sorts of art projects with her
kids and reviews art books and stuff that I find interesting. Plus she’s super friendly and funny and I
want her to live next door so she can do art with my kids so I don’t have to.
Cuckoo 4 Design. Julia is a German transplant, married with
two kids and has an art and design background which comes out in her home. Her blog is new to me, and honestly, the
pictures of her kitchen are what sold me on this blog. Her decorating skills appeal to me on so many
levels, and she refinishes furniture which I admire. And gorgeous photos. I can’t wait to read more and drool over what
else she has up her sleeve.
Live, Laugh & Love.
Lindsay is a cutie-pie and she talks about her life, her clothing, her husband,
and their little home in which I’d like to live. This is less an art and design blog than a
lifestyle blog, but she is arty and design-y and collects mid-century modern
furniture pieces which pretty much makes me jealous about everything.
Simple Dwellings. Amber,
interior decorator responsible for Amber B interiors. Amber focuses on e-designs on her blog, and
she shares client projects and her ideas.
The whole site is eye-candy. I
love that she asks for reader input, as she did when she and her husband
finished their basement and she was looking for a piece of art to hang. I love when designers let us into their
process. It shows us that they are just
like me, but with better-decorated homes.
Simply Modern Home.
Susan is an interior designer who also provides e-design services. Her style is simple and modern, which I love,
and she is a sweet sweet sweetie who has two kids and brings gorgeousness to my computer screen every day in the form of photos and ideas for her own house or her
clients’. She invites us into her ideas, and asks about our opinions. Isn’t
that sweet?
Young House Love. Sherry and John are design blog
superstars. They started Young House
Love to chronicle their house transformation, and along the way became wildly
popular in the home projects world. At
least I think they have. I mean, they wrote a book and everything. And
it’s no wonder. Their DIY skills are
noteworthy – they have a no-fear approach to tackling anything from toilet
replacement to brick fireplace whitewashing – and fill me with awe. Plus their design aesthetic makes me happy.
Still with me?
Good. Let’s keep going!
Category #2: Humor.
My favorite category of all time. Because I think I’d be on this list. Maybe you don’t agree. Please keep these opinions to yourself.
Baby Sideburns. Do you know Karen? Get to know her. She is high-larious. She calls her kids poop machines and gives
online dating advice and routinely gets into trouble on Facebook for posting
weird internet stuff. I mean, really. What’s the purpose of Facebook if you can’t
comment on weird stuff that you find on the internet? Plus she’s featured in at least one book.
Cannibalistic Nerd. Carrie is funny and witty and has the best
replies to comments ever. Plus, she
regularly does re-caps of old Super Friends cartoons. You know, Super Friends from the 80s? Go there.
You won’t regret it.
Crappy Pictures. You might know Amber from Crappy Pictures
because she has a book out now. I don’t
know how she managed to make life via MSPaint so darn funny, but she did
it. Crappy Papa, Crappy Boy, and Crappy
Baby would agree, I think.
Freaky Perfect. I started following Amy right around the
time she published her last post, in July.
She’s been blogging for a while, and instead of reading her old stuff
I’ve been waiting around for new posts like a big dummy. Her writing voice reminds me of a friend who
you want to have around, because she is fun and funny and smart, just like me.
::flips hair::
Ironic Mom. Leanne also has a book out called Don’t Lick the Minivan which is awesome
in title alone. She has this great
guest-blogging series (Whiteboard Wednesday) wherein guest bloggers tell a
story about parenting, highlighting something they never thought they’d say to
their kids. Some recent one-liners: “We live in a pants-wearing society!” and "Please don't pee on the chickens." Try not to laugh.
Life With the Campbells. Molly is warm, witty, and
wise, and that sort of person who has a wry humor about everything. She’s been around for a while, and she’s a
real writer who’s written a humor book and has won the Erma Bombeck Award for
writing – twice. Did I tell you that her
husband plays the accordion?
List of the Day. Oh, List of the Day, where would I be
without your laugh-out-loud Mugshots
and Found Porn of the Day? This site is
a catch-all for everything hilarious that Cary or his readers find in the world
or online. This is the funniest three
minutes of my day. Start anywhere on
this site and get a face-full of funny.
Mama’s Losin’ It! If
you’ve been around my blog for a minute, you will notice that I use Mama Kat’s
writing prompts faithfully each week. I
started doing them because they helped me think of topics to write about, and I
keep doing them because they help me think of topics to write about. I’ve found quite a few blogs from the writing
prompt link-up, and there’s that, too. Kat
also does videos of trying out Pinterest projects and working out parenting issues,
and they are always comical. She also
is a little bit sarcastic, which makes me love her all the more.
Misty’s Laws. Misty is an actual real lawyer which ups
her street cred. I’m not really sure
what that means but she’s a blogging lawyer so she must be a superhero –
everyone knows how hard lawyers work if they’ve seen LA Law or Ally McBeal. Anyway, Misty is straightforward and honest
and tells great stories that involve mysterious rashes, deep-fried treats, and
all the weird and wonderful people she meets.
Go to her.
MODG. MODG is Amanda, a fiercely funny mom of two adorable babies who makes me laugh at her quick, desperate rants about
anything from mom jeans to baby puke to Britney Spears. She is a gem who has a huge following, and for good reason. She is totally honest and OMG WHAT WAS I
THINKING about being a mom to smalls, and it makes me want to invite her over
for coffee so we can chat while her kids destroy my furniture.
Raising Colorado. Zakary makes me laugh with her straightforward delivery about her life’s
mishaps and family which includes two kids – one with Type 1 diabetes, one
without – and a husband. She is heavy
into the blogging world in terms of conferences and speaking engagements and
partnerships with some other bloggers who I follow and it’s obvious why – she
rocks. And her hair is fabulous.
Really Real Atlanta Housewife. She watches reality TV, specifically Real Housewives
shows. I do not. She saves me from having to watch them for
entertainment value because she uses them as comic examples on how to do
life. If you don’t know what I mean,
please head on over there. Her brilliant
use of GIFs is celebrated. By me. Oh, how I love a well-placed GIF.
The Baby is Fine. Mo is a young new mom who is adorable but who refers to herself as an old tired worrywart. Her
view of life with a child is smack on the nose of how I viewed life with a
child when I was her age, but writes it a lot better than I ever would have
back then because back then I think I was seriously out of my mind.
The Bearded Iris. Leslie calls her son Bucket Head. She is a new Tiger Cub Den Mother. She appropriately calls herself a Humorist: she
is editor-in-chief of In the Powder Room, has a list of blog accolades, and
just released a book. She says things like
“You know what would take my mind off these cramps? A big black dog all up in my biznatch.” You will laugh until you pee your
pants. Just go.
The Dawnie Project. Dawn is living the life in Chicago and is
not afraid to share it. She is random – today
there’s a recipe for Cajun nuts, tomorrow, a picture of a Lego man in a
mysterious location. She loves live
music and can draw like a champ and her conversational style makes me feel like
when I read her posts, she’s talking JUST TO ME. She also claims to have invented pancakes,
which I believe.
The Reedster Speaks. Cindy shares dialogue of
conversations she has with her daughter, stories about feeding neighborhood
kids, mishaps on reddit, and general life events infused with a hefty supply
of humor. I get sucked into every one of
her stories, and then she sneaks in a snarky comment or three and I snot all
over my computer.
What Now and Why. Arnebya is that quiet friend who is
serious and contemplative and you
want to really pay attention when she speaks because you know it’s going to be good. And then she says things
like “Someone should write a list on how to get your kids the things they need AND want but also teach them gratefulness and humility and you too can achieve this without shaking your ass for money” and
you realize that not only is she smart and thoughtful but she is also funny in a way that kind of hits you upside the head when you’re not ready which only makes
you want to hear more of what she has to say.
Please do not hesitate to follow her.
Holy crap. That was long. Thanks for sticking with me here. You are a stone-cold hero. Your mission is to visit these blogs, and
follow at least five of them regularly.
That’s totally arbitrary on my part.
I just like telling people what to do.
You really should follow all of them.
Come back on Friday and I’ll
share my picks for the Foodies and the Moodies! See you then!
*******
You are the hero. I am just catatonic. But I promise to visit a few of the new ones.
ReplyDeleteBlog-hopping is fun if you have a short list from which to start. Although this is more a medium-short list.
DeleteI love that you did this.
ReplyDelete(and total blogging gold!)
Some awesome people here!
So you know a few, huh? That doesn't surprise me! :)
DeleteSo cool. Thanks for the list! I think I might be adding to my roll :)
ReplyDeleteBeware! Blog lists have a tendency to grow very fast.
DeleteI love that I know about so many of these already and enjoy them. YOU GOTS GOOD TASTE, except with that last one. That heifer is a total wench.
ReplyDeleteThanks, and that heifer is one of my faves. :)
DeleteSay no more, woman. I'll have my family packed up and ready to displace the people who live next to you by Friday. You're awesome. And I actually can't wait to poke around on some of these blogs I don't know; it's time to shake things up a bit....
ReplyDeleteYes! I'll be putting the for sale sign up tonight as they sleep. I'm sure they won't mind moving if it's for a good cause.
DeleteWhat an awesome list! Some of these blogs are new to me - I love bloggy recommendations.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kim! I hope you find a few (or a lot) that you love.
DeleteThis is a totally fantastic list!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jen! I'm glad you like it. :)
DeleteGreat list! You're such a super sweet blogger to share all your favourites!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Laura! I'm so excited to share them with everyone here. I hope everyone gets a hundred new readers.
DeleteWOOHOO!! I am seriously honored to be a part of your illustrious list. And the fact that you consider my nonsense to be "humor" is just icing on the cake.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great list (and not just because I'm on it...ahem) - can't wait to check out all these other blogs!
Nonsense is humor to me, and yours always makes me laugh! I hope you have some time to check out the others - they're all great!
DeleteAwesome list! I love finding new favorites!
ReplyDeleteI hope you find one or two or seventeen new favorites here. :)
DeleteThis rocks. I read many of them, but some are new to me...and off I go!
ReplyDeleteYay! I wonder if there are any on my list that no one I know has heard of?
DeleteAndrea, you are amazing!
ReplyDeleteI know a lot of these, but not all. I'm bookmarking this to make sure I check the rest out!
Thank you so much! And I'm honored to be a bookmark for you - I hope you find some favorites from this list!
DeleteAwesome list! There are some I need to get to know, and the rest, I wholeheartedly agree with. 100% even. GUFFAW.
ReplyDeleteHa! Thanks, Greta! It's nice to know we both have the same good taste, huh?
DeleteWhat a fun and varied group of bloggers you read! I'm looking forward to checking some of these out ... and for the list on Friday!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tammy! I hope you have the chance to check them out. They make my days brighter, these bloggers.
DeleteLove this list! Thank you so much!xoxoox
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! I hope you find some new favorites. :)
DeleteI'm always looking for new fabulous blogs to read, so thank you for compiling this list!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! There are some fabulous ones here. I hope you find a few that you love!
DeleteAndrea!! You are TOO SWEET!!! I took the weekend off and just came across this post now! Thanks a million and I'm SOOOO glad you're enjoying my blog. You're a great writer and you make me laugh with every post!
ReplyDeletexo
You are welcome! I really love seeing what you come up with in every post; it's a little slice of design heaven, your blog. Thank you for visiting here, and for the compliments. :)
DeleteI love you for including me. And for providing a proverbial kick in the butt to blog again. Also, fist bump to a fellow hair flipper.
ReplyDelete