Blog (n): a website that contains an online personal
journal with reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks provided by the
writer; also: the contents of such a site (Merriam-Webster Online
Dictionary).
Parenting
Nobody ever said being a mother was easy � but at
times, motherhood is good for a chuckle or two. Blogger Beth (over at Five
Kids Is A Lot of Kids at
http://putdowntheurinalcake.com) has a great sense of humor about the
mayhem that can be part of motherhood, but also the magic that is
motherhood. She says she is raising her five children to be self-sufficient
enough to pay for their own counseling. Her writing is simple, yet catchy.
She lures you into her life by the power of the written word, as photos are
not prolific in her blog. This says a lot about her ability to relate to her
readers � and keep them coming back for more. Among humorous stories of
toilet-cleaning trials and birthday cakes gone bad, there are poignant gems
also in the mix � like this one about realizing children grow up too
quickly. In her post, she writes, �I am going to the grocery store today,
and I am going to grab every single mommy-with-little-ones I see, and I am
going to hold on tight to her upper arms, and I am going to breathe my
coffee breath in her face, and I am going to say, �Hug them, mama. This time
goes SO FAST. LOVE THEM. They�ll be grown before you know it.� And all the
white-haired ladies in the checkout lines who say these things that make us
want to tear our mama hair out will nod in solidarity and give me a fist
bump and holler, �WORD.�� This blog is about more than bloody noses, wet
beds, and bad dreams � it�s a quick, fun read for the Super Mom and frazzled
mom alike.
Gardening
Who better to write a gardening blog than a former
Martha Stewart garden editor? Margaret Roach is the woman behind
http://awaytogarden.com. The blog
(which is A Way to Garden, not Away) is named for a book she penned early in
her gardening career. A Way to Garden was named best garden book of 1998 by
the Garden Writers Association of America. �I have been writing about
gardening for nearly 25 years; in my previous lives I was garden editor at
Newsday and then for Martha Stewart, where I was the first garden editor of
Living and later editorial director of the magazines, books and Internet,�
she says. Her blog is more than just going on and on about gardening
exploits; it�s an educational, well-written resource. Root through her blog
and you will find recipes and cooking tips, information on edible plants and
ornamental plants, gardening facts, gorgeous photos, resource links, and
even slideshows. For example, a recent post recounts her opinion on ethical
questions in garden-seed shopping. She explains, �By choosing seed farmed in
conditions like my own � without chemicals, and if possible, in a
geographically similar environment � I can contribute less to the pollution
caused by conventional seed growing, and also make a happy �match� between
the seeds and my garden.� Take your green (or not-so-green) thumb on over to
http://awaytogarden.com.
Party Planning
At some point most everyone is faced with the challenge
of throwing a party or large gathering � whether it�s a baby shower, a
bridal shower, a child�s birthday party, a retirement party, or simply a
holiday party. There�s a lot of work that goes into party preparation, but
successful party planning makes lasting impressions on guests. Hostess With
the Mostess (http://blog.hwtm.com) has a
wonderful blog chock full of beautiful photos, creative party ideas, and
tons of party hostess tips and tricks. The blog is aimed to provide stylish
entertaining inspiration for everyone from the first-time hostess to the
seasoned party pro, by featuring imaginative events, clever DIY projects,
hostessing tips, cool entertaining products, and plenty of fun party stuff �
all in one spot. Currently featured is an Avenger birthday party, a Noah�s
Ark baby shower, a pastel Easter garden party for kids, and Snow White
birthday party. There are more photos in this blog than writing, but that�s
what makes this blog visit-worthy. If you or someone you know has a party to
plan, this is the place to go.
Book Reviews
If you�re a bookworm, this is a great blog. Rather Be
Reading (http://ratherbereadingblog.com)
is a blog started by two women � Magan and Estelle -- who randomly met at a
friend�s wedding (one was a bridesmaid and the other was the photographer).
They instantly bonded over their love of books. A few months later, they
came up with the idea of starting a blog of book reviews. Thus, Rather Be
Reading was born. �Our mission is pretty simple: we�ll post three reviews
per week, one joint review every month, and will sporadically feature guest
bloggers, as well as some other fun posts whenever inspiration strikes,�
writes Estelle. The latest review is of The Best of Us by Sarah Pekkanen.
Estelle writes, �The Best of Us is a book that is meant to be scorched in
the sun, stained with your sun-screened fingers, and maybe even splashed
with a little ocean water. I was practically salivating over the luxuries
these characters were offered, and I literally could not wait to figure out
how this little trip would change them all. There�s a great balance to the
sexy, sweet, tough, and nostalgic moments that fill the pages. I�m
definitely looking forward to checking out more of Pekkanen�s work.�
The only downside to this blog is that the ladies tend
to feature mostly young adult books with a few adult fiction books in the
mix. But, in that case, you can always skip on over to The Blue Bookcase (http://thebluebookcaseblogspot.ca)
where a wider variety of books are reviewed by several different reviewers.
One of the latest reviews is of The House Girl by Tara Conklin. Here�s an
excerpt of the review: �The book lasted me through two extremely long baths,
leaving me with painfully pruny skin and water long gone cold. It was
wonderful. Besides the few little things, this book was an absolute delight
to read and I would definitely recommend it (to men and women alike).�
