In reflecting on how I see my blog, about which I just posted, I find myself reading blogs more than ever before. Sure, I have more time on my hands now than I have since I was pregnant (when I read infertility-turned pregnancy-turned mommy blogs like So Close, A Little Bit Pregnant, and Here Be Hippogriffs), but I enjoy following blogs and also want the information they contain--either updates on RL (for Gommie: that's "real life") friends or family or recipes, craft tips, household management info, inspiration, etc.
Over and over again these days I'm drawn to one type of blog: professional organized mommy-homesteader blogs! Okay, I made up the category myself, but I don't know how else to describe usually SAHM and homeschooling (frequently rural) moms who are dedicated to natural living, all things homemade, beautiful photography, and often some kind of blog-based business. Now, that doesn't describe all of the blogs below, but it's close (and for those it doesn't apply to, my guess is the greater part of the readership is in this category). Of course, I'm not quite in that category--a SAHM but not homeschooler, not rural but interested in DIY and natural living, and not a member of the Church of the Latter-Day Saints (LDS) or a Christian church (yep, that's another big part of it sometimes, the glorification of motherhood and the Proverbs 31 wife. See this NPR feature on "Biblical Womanhood" and the blogger who tried to live it.), but I like is the general interest in family, home, homemade, and doing everything as efficiently and mindfully as possible. Not because it is biblically proscribed, but because I enjoy it and find value in it and am good at it. As one feminist, non-LDS writer in Salon described of her Mormon Mommy Blog obsession,
Over and over again these days I'm drawn to one type of blog: professional organized mommy-homesteader blogs! Okay, I made up the category myself, but I don't know how else to describe usually SAHM and homeschooling (frequently rural) moms who are dedicated to natural living, all things homemade, beautiful photography, and often some kind of blog-based business. Now, that doesn't describe all of the blogs below, but it's close (and for those it doesn't apply to, my guess is the greater part of the readership is in this category). Of course, I'm not quite in that category--a SAHM but not homeschooler, not rural but interested in DIY and natural living, and not a member of the Church of the Latter-Day Saints (LDS) or a Christian church (yep, that's another big part of it sometimes, the glorification of motherhood and the Proverbs 31 wife. See this NPR feature on "Biblical Womanhood" and the blogger who tried to live it.), but I like is the general interest in family, home, homemade, and doing everything as efficiently and mindfully as possible. Not because it is biblically proscribed, but because I enjoy it and find value in it and am good at it. As one feminist, non-LDS writer in Salon described of her Mormon Mommy Blog obsession,
But the basic messages expressed in these blogs — family is wonderful, life is meant to be enjoyed, celebrate the small things — are still lovely. And if they help women like me envision a life in which marriage and motherhood could potentially be something other than a miserable, soul-destroying trap, I say, “Right on.”
And that's how I feel about my recent blog reading, too, which includes these new additions:
- Unplugged Sunday is one of my new favorite blogs. It contains essays by contributing writers who relate how they spend their time "unplugged." A recent favorite was "Journaling the Seasons"
- SouleMama, written by Amanda Soule Blake; I like her books on creativity and family
- Fimby, or Fun In My Backyard.
- Weaving with children (a Pinterest collection from Mariah Bruehl, who blogs and authored Playful Learning)--ideas for hula hoops, sticks, and other projects
- SimpleBites, a new food/recipe site I'm watching (along with its parent site, SimpleMom)
- Eating Rules, which is sponsoring "Unprocessed October." I like the simple food rules: 100% whole grains, no HFCS, no hydrogenated oils. Add organic and that almost covers it. (Mmmm, Maple Apple Chips!)
- Plan to Eat sells a meal-planning service, but I'm more interested in the recipes (like Almond Butter Balls) and tips (DIY goldfish cracker cutter!)
- Mom Kids Books
Next up, Lesbian Mommy Blogs!!
