Favorite Blogs

Hello Bloggy World!

I know a lot of my blog readers are not avid readers of other blogs. I got hooked on blogs in order to keep up with some of my friends that were blogging and also as a great way to pass time when bored. I've met some wonderful people from the blogging community.

Here are some of my favorite blogs:

All Things G&D
The wine in me sees the humor in everyday life. Even when I'm not drinking...wine.
G posts fun blog entryies on home decorating, daily fashion and she just had a baby this month, so there is lots of pregnancy and baby related musings. Check out here lucky baby girl's nursery - I love the colorful tree mural.

Bakerella
sweet inspiration & fun baking ideas

Bakerella is my favorite baking inspiration blog. She makes these amazingly beautiful creations and then breaks the steps down so that I almost think I could produce such adorable results. Her creativity seems endless and her photography is drool worthy. Her creations are extra sweet, which Jim loves. Jim's favorite goody that I make, cake balls, are from Bakerella's blog. She has a whole sections about them here and here.

 

Beantown Baker

I'm a twenty something engineer by day and homemaker by night. I love to bake and try new recipes. My Hubby serves as my number one taste tester.
Simple recipes that are easy to whip up and taste great. Her cookie dough brownies are a decadent creation.

Carrots 'N' Cake
A Blog Dedicated to a Healthy Balance
Tina updates her blog three times a day, covering her meals and activities, so there's always something new to check out. She is an advocate for living a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Exercise, healthy eating, social drinking, achieving goals and, of course, cake and treats make up her lifestyle approach. She's my kind of girl!

Fly Through Our Window
the account of our nest
Darby has three, absolutely adorable, children. She tells stories of their everyday happenings with a great sense of humor. I'm very envious of her photography skills and how she captures her children's personalities! Her blog is the perfect mix of happy homemaker with baking and home made crafts, but she also shares her mistakes and stumblings.

Young House Love
Two Young People, Falling In Love, With Their Fist House
A blog showcasing the updating and decorating of a young couple's first house. Lots of DIY and affordable projects. They also provide reader design boards, which I love for decorating sources and ideas for my own home projects.
 
Wan Life to Live
wan. married. mom. magical.
I can't remember how I first found Wan's blog, but I've been following it ever since. Her stories of her teen and bean are humorous, honest and relatable. She has a sarcastic sense of humor and I like an insight on what it would be like to live in a big city in California - such a different lifestyle than mine in rural KS, but also, not that different after all.
 
Fabulous Florida Mommy
A blog designed to showcase my styling talents through sets I have created.

I want her closet! We have a similar style, I just wish I had the motivation to get myself put together as well as she does everyday for things like running errands.

 

The Bloggess

Life Mother Teresa, Only Better

Jenny writes an award winning, satire blog. It's full of humor that would make my mother blush, swear words and a sarcastic look on life. It's not everyone's style, but I like to check it out occasionally and her posts often get me laughing out loud. (She is also well known for picking fights with celebrities on Twitter.)

 

Makeup by Tiffany D

One Girl's Thoughts On All Things Beauty

Tiffany has some really good YouTube tutorials for applying makeup and creating easy hairstyles. I'm not big on makeup, but I've learned some good tricks from her blog. I wish I had these type of resources when I was in jr. high/high school!

 

The Pioneer Woman

Plowing through life in the country...one calf at a time

I've mentioned this blog and her cookbook a few times already. Her recipes are some of my favorites and I cook them frequently. The are down home, comfort foods and she provides detailed, step by step photographed instructions. Her photography is amazing and her tales of life on the ranch, with four kids, are both familiar and humorous. She is a big city girl, transplanted to a working ranch and living a rural life. She also hosts really good giveaways on her blog, but I haven't been lucky enough to win one...yet!

 

I like to get up before the rest of my family and enjoy a cup of coffee while catching up with my favorite blogs early in the morning.

How do you view blogs? I use to keep them all bookmarked in my favorite's folder, but recently switched over to a Google Blog Reader. It's made me much more organized and up to date with my reading. I just sign into my account, and it displays the newest blog entries that have been posted.

*All pictures posted are from the corresponding blogs.

**You can click on my Blogspot Profile picture to see all the blogs that I follow.

Sugar (cookie) Buzz

Ethan enjoyed having his cousin, Alex, over to the house the other afternoon. Alex is Jim's sister, Gidget's, 8 year old son.

When faced with two, energetic boys, I like to have activities ready to keep their fleeting attention.

Ethan and Alex are 5 years apart in age, so it also comes in handy to have some activities planned to help them in playing together. They are close enough in age to have a lot of fun playing together, but far enough apart that their interests and play styles are different and can use a little guidance now and then.

This afternoon's activity was decorating sugar cookies. Why save these only for Christmas? I love simple sugar cookies and what kid doesn't like frosting and sprinkles?

I gave each boy a rimmed sheet pan with their cookies to decorate. The rimmed pans help control the sprinkles and sugar from spreading all over the table and floor. The frosting covered fingers get things messy enough, so I try to control the chaos and mess in any possible areas.

The boys got into the decorating, Ethan showed off his coordination by decorating with a sprinkle shaker in each hand. Ethan's cookies were full of Phillipsburg Panther spirit with his blue and gold sprinkle combination that he choose for his decorating.

The boys had several different shapes and colors of sprinkles to choose from, along with colored sugars and mini chocolate chips. The cookies came out colorful and fun. I think my little chef's did a great job!

We wrapped up Alex's cookies for him to take home and share with his Mom. Ethan didn't have many cookies left, as he somehow managed to sneak 3 cookies while I was cleaning up. Ugh - the resulting sugar buzz from all those cookies in his little body kept him wired the rest of the evening.

What I'm Craving This January

I'm back for my 2nd addition of Cravings. I love learning about new products and ideas over the Internet. I don't have a lot of shopping access out here in rural Kansas, so I do the majority of my window shopping online.

Here are the products that I'm craving this month.

*Product name and shopping sources provided after the image.

Kitchen & Foodie Cravings

Dutch Oven Baker

I love the color of this pot and the down home, comfort foods that Dutch ovens produce.

Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron 2-Quart Round French Oven, Flame

Vanilla Bean Paste

I can't get real vanilla or vanilla beans locally. I love the idea of having this vanilla bean paste on hand to add the flavor and tiny vanilla bean specks to my baking.

Nielsen-Massey Vanilla Bean Paste - 4 oz

Bento Box

These Japanese bento boxes come in a variety of shapes, colors and styles. The cute, organized boxes would make the perfect size package for Ethan's food when we are traveling.

Mamegoma Lunch Box , Blue 620ml

Fashion & Beauty Cravings

Cocktail Dress

I don't have anywhere to wear this beautiful, deep teal dress, but should it find its' way to my closet, I'm sure I could find someplace to wear it...even if it was just while cleaning my house.

Modcloth Dress

Red Lipstick

I watched the movie Bride Wars earlier this week and was inspired by Anne Hathaway's beautiful, bold red lips in the movie. Her classic style is timeless and elegant.

Sephora

1883 Lucchese Boots

I read about these boots on two blogs that I follow and have fallen in love. I would be one stylish cowgirl while stomping around our Kansas farm. However, spending around $300 on boots that will be covered in cow poop, not so practical.

1883 by Lucchese Women's N4540 5/4 Western Boot,Tan Burnish,9 B(M)US

Home Cravings

Welcome Mat

I'm ready for Spring and this bird's nest door mat seems like the perfect way to welcome the new season. It's from the new Farmhouse collection by Pottery Barn. I'm loving everything in the collection that looks tailored made for our home.

Pottery Barn - Nest Mat

Sunflower Pillow

Another find from Pottery Barn. I told you that I'm loving their farmhouse/country styled collection. This sunflower printed throw pillow would look amazing in our family or living room. For this "sunflower living" family, the pillow would be a perfect accessory.

Pottery Barn - Sunflower Pillow

Circle Wall Mount Candle Holder

We recently took out a wall and a doorway to open up the entrance to our basement. This left us with a large, open wall space that needs decorating. Yet another find from Pottery Barn, this wall sculpture has been on my wish list for a while now.

Pottery Barn - Wall Sculpture

What Internet finds have you been craving lately?