The Makeshift Revolution - Stuff Parents Need

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Full confession: my Google Reader has 180 blogs in it. And that’s after I did some semi-painful unsubscribing (I was pushing 300 blogs a few months ago). I need to cut it back more, but it is a struggle, because there are SO many awesome blogs out there that speak to me in a number of different ways. I always love hearing about who other bloggers are reading, and so today I’m highlighting 5 blogs that always grab my attention. I want to encourage you to go check them out; you just might get as hooked as I am!

1. So Easy Being Green. This blog is written by Lindsey, one of my most loyal blog readers. I read this blog because Lindsey writes from the heart, always engages with her audience, and it doesn’t hurt that her baby is such a cutie pie. I like her point of view and find myself relating to her a lot. She’s a relatively new kid on the blogging block, but I definitely think her blog is a keeper! This is Lindsey having a slumber party with her baby. How cute is that?!

2. Chic Critique. This is the only blog in my overcrowded feed that is devoted strictly to beauty and fashion. That’s because I think it is so good that I don’t need to ready any others! This blog contains posts that show me tips and tricks I can actually use in my beauty routine, and give me ideas for which trends to consider and which to avoid. Posts are written from the point of view of “real” women and not fashion magazine editors (yes, I know those are also real women, but I just can’t relate to them). Perhaps what I love most about this blog is learning which of the drugstore cosmetics are the real gems!

3. The Makeshift Revolution. I think this blog is a “sleeper.” By that I mean that her readership hasn’t yet skyrocketed into the stratosphere, but her writing is truly worthy to have a following of tens of thousands. I really mean that. Mary Allison is someone I have the honor of knowing in real life, and she is a person of great joy, careful consideration and unconditional love. She writes from the perspective of a professional (she’s a PCUSA minister) trying to redefine this whole “balance” thing that eludes almost all of us as we navigate our adult lives with kiddos in tow. Pretty much every post she writes not only makes me laugh, but also gives me pause to really think. GOOD, GOOD STUFF.

4. Real Ways to Earn Money Online. You may recall that this year Tim and I have some goals when it comes to monetizing our online presence in various ways. This blog is written by a mom who has kids at home but who is also figuring out ways to work and generate some income. Her website is an AWESOME resource, because she has written some fairly extensive articles on tons and tons of online earning opportunities, sharing her personal experiences if she has tried them, and even if she hasn’t, she does plenty of research online to see what others have to say about their experience. Basically, this is my go-to source when I hear about an online earning opportunity. I’ll always hop on Real Ways to Earn Money Online to get the real scoop before I sign up! I’ve also heard of lots of new opportunities that I probably wouldn’t have found, otherwise. Basically, this site saves me time and helps me make money. WINNER.

5. The Adventures and Mishaps of Mrs. Amy B.I’ve been reading this blog for ages (ok, really I’ve been reading it for a year and a half, which in the blog world is 3 eternities). It has been such an honor to have a front row seat as a reader as Amy prepared for her first child and now writes about the joys and struggles or parenthood. What I especially love about this blog is Amy’s passion and honesty. She really tells it like it is. Parenting is HARD. She doesn’t shy away from acknowledging that truth, and it is really comforting to hear another mother say that she is struggling in whatever number of ways that we all do struggle from time to time. But she also has such a fierce love for her son, and you can feel it in each and every post. I really identify with her and always look forward to her posts.

What blogs do you always make a point to read??? Please share!

Don’t forget to enter the 50 Fabulous Wishes contest for a chance to win $1,000 to support a friend’s wish. I was selected for this Tropicana Trop50 sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do. I received compensation to use and facilitate my post.

Special thanks to Mary Allison, blogger at The Makeshift Revolution (which happens to be the best new blog of the year, in my humble opinion) for giving me the Happy 101 Award. The rules are simple…I need to tell you about 10 things that make me happy. I’ve decided to make it all food-related, since that’s a large percentage of the things that make me happy in life, anyway!

1. Sticky rice with mango. My mother-in-law introduced me to this out-of-this-world Thai dessert. We used to make it ourselves at home, but then we ran out of sticky rice and have yet to find more in Memphis. Until last night. We got to go out on our first date in months (thanks, Crissy and Stash!) and we went to Jasmine, a fabulous jewel of a restaurant that we somehow missed until now. And we had sticky rice with mango. And I just about died from the joy of it.

2. French onion soup. But it has to be done right. I want it in a beautiful dish with loads of yummy cheese on top and the onions cooked just so. This is something that I have never been successful at creating at home, but on occasion I can find it at a restaurant and I love it!

3. Big fat yeast rolls, smothered in honey butter. I used to eat these at a restaurant named Quincy’s in the area where I grew up. It isn’t there anymore, but oh man I remember those big fat yeast rolls. Their commercials had dancing yeast rolls (at least that’s how I’m remembering it).

4. Ben’s cookies. When I studied in Oxford for a summer I would go every single day after classes and get a cookie. I remember that they were pricey. I also remember that I gained 10 pounds that summer. Totally worth it. If I could order them and have them shipped to the states, I would. And I’m cheap, so that should tell you something.

5. Boiled peanuts. I can understand why anyone who wasn’t raised on these would think that they are slimy and gross, but I could eat my weight in boiled peanuts in one sitting.

6. Peanut M&M’s. Leslie and I ate an entire bag of these in one sitting once in college. The big bag.

7. Macaroni Grill. Hands down the best Italian food chain restaurant out there!

8. Dairy Queen chicken sandwich. It’s been a few years since I’ve had one of these, but holy crap they are delicious! So are DQ fries, by the way.

9. Andes mints. The perfect size. The perfect flavor. If you ever visit my house, leave one on my pillow and you will make my week!

10. Lane cake. This was the specialty of my mother’s mother, and it is still the cake of choice for me on my birthday. Whiskey in the frosting? Yes, please!

What about you? What do you like to eat???

5 Blogs I Love to Read

10 Foods that Make Me Happy