I am thankful for blog friends

5. I'm thankful for my blog friends. There's several girls from my past and present that I feel like I really know because of their faithful blog updates. There's a lot to be said for being committed to something and producing stories and memories that can entertain or inspire the rest of us on a regular basis. I am thankful for them, and for their willingness to share their stories.

Lindsay, my new "cousin" (I think that's what we are?) through marrying Mr. Right. His family is enormous, so I'm never 100% sure how we're all related, but regardless I'll call her a cousin and say that she's made the family reunions even more fun. Lindsay, are you still knitting? I'm close to finishing that giant purple blanket from this summer.

Stephanie is a sorority sister from Baylor and one of my best memories with her is when she did my hair for one of our formals. She always had style and creativity, and now she's putting that to good use as a wife and mom in Fort Worth while her husband wraps up his medical school residency. She's like Martha Stuart, only much more relatable. 

 

I've known Marcy since we were in the second grade. She lived around the corner from me, and not only did we spend countless hours playing at each others' houses, but we were in all the same classes for our entire elementary school career. After losing touch for a decade it's fun to hear about her adventures as a mom of twins. 

Rachel became one of my closest friends in grad school - a voracious reader and a strong Christian woman and one of our professors called her the best writer she's ever read. So of course I enjoy reading what she has to say. 

Our dear friends Chelsea and Mack also happen to be the dynamic McGowan Images photography team. They've photographed Mr. Right and I four times now, plus I've started using them for some work events (now there's a new audience to RAVE about their pictures... they're legendary). Working in the industry I do, I adore creative people and find them to be wonderfully interesting, along with being wicked funny and really kind people. And they have cute kids, which makes for great blog reading. 

 I read her blog for years, and then won a national contest to become pen pals with her soldier cousin while he was serving in Iraq (I never win anything! But rest assured this was well before I met Mr. Right). It was one of those crazy stories that I couldn't have made up if I tried, but in the process got to know Lincee a little bit, which makes her blog even more fun to read. It's one of the main reasons I stick with watching The Bachelor - she writes the greatest recaps after every episode that will make you giggle until you come dangerously close to wetting your pants. Not that I know from experience.

I know all of these girls have something in comment - they LOVE it when people comment on their blog. So do your favorite bloggers a favor and leave them a note when they write something you enjoy... I promise you it will make their day brighter. Especially this blogger (hint, hint)...

Blog Roll: Quilting Blogs

I've been blogging since blogging wasn't cool (2005), and along the way I have discovered some really interesting people. I thought I would share the wealth.

Because I'm an organized person living in a disorganized person's body, on a rare day when I had some free time I categorized my blog reader. It was either that, or wash my windows, and this was a lot more interesting.

My windows could still use a good cleaning.

I'd like to introduce my favorite blogs from my quilting category:

Cluck Cluck Sew
I love pretty pictures of quilts, and she always pics the greatest fabrics. Some of her quilts are simple enough for me to attempt, and have been added to my "to do" list on Pinterest.

Crazy Mom Quilts
This was the first quilting blog I started following, and it will probably always be my favorite. This quilt is the next one I'm going to tackle after my super secret surprise quilt is completed. This one is almost all applique, and may take me a day or two (or year) but every time I look at this picture, I gasp in delight, and it'll be a fantastic way to use up my ever-growing scrap pile.

I'm a Ginger Monkey
I started following because of the name, but I stayed because these quilts are so unique. I'll probably never be able to make anything like this, but I can still enjoy the pretty pictures... and dream.

Sew Take a Hike
This is what inspired my yo-yo quilt, although 200 yo-yo's through I realized I was making them wrong (my centers are unfinished, but I choose to think that it makes mine soft and cuddly and unique... plus it's too late to start over). I'm anxiously waiting for later this fall when she posts her tutorial of how to machine-stitch my 1,000 yo-yo's together into a coverlet. I know that once I begin, my sewing room floor will be covered in yellow and gray yo-yo's for quite some time so I don't disturb my pattern.

Someone recently asked me how I started quilting - I simply bought an inexpensive Singer sewing machine on a whim at a trip to Target, invited a girlfriend over to teach me how to operate it, and from there, I just winged it. I've had no formal training, but following these blogs (along with YouTube videos - God's gift to the "I have no idea how to do that" quilter) has taught me so all sorts of new tips. I've approached a few workers at quilting stores, but for the most part, I've found them to be a bit snobbish - it's easier to learn from the comfort of my laptop.

Share the Wealth

Don't you just love discovering new things? I thought I'd share some of my favorite discoveries in the blog world... lately.

Meet Kendi. She's fashionable every single day. I, on the other hand, pride myself on being fashionable at least once or twice a week. Less now that none of my clothes fit, but soon, my friend, I'm going to have a closet full of clothes that haven't fit in a few months and I'm going to LOVE it.

Do you love office supplies, newly sharpened pencils, and anything they sell at the Container Store? Then you'll love IHeartOrganizing. I've gotten some great ideas on there, including designing some cute labels for otherwise ordinary baskets and canisters.

My husband will tell you I'm a bit frugal. I think I magically inherited it when we got married, but I've always had a bit of a "cheap" streak in me. I guess that's what happens when you grow up with a $2 a week allowance... in high school. It just hurts me to waste money on things... thus, I love Copy Cat Chic, which gives you knock-off versions of pricier furniture, rugs, and lighting. Every time someone asks me if my bedroom furniture is from Pottery Barn (it's actually 20-year-old hand-me-down kid furniture from a neighbor that I refinished), my chest puffs up just a little.

Crazy Mom Quilts. Since I'm an amateur quilter (emphasis on amateur... and slow), I love seeing all of her ideas. Even though I'll never be good enough to tackle half of them, I've already found one of hers that will be the inspiration for my next quilt - mine will be a fun gray and yellow number that will probably be a gift for someone in 2013. I told you I'm slow.

The Lettered Cottage. This blog is just pretty. And happy.

I'd love to hear some of you favorite blogs - just let me know in the comments section. Soon I'll post some of my favorite friends' blogs... I am learning all about motherhood thanks to the documented adventures of other girls my age. And laughing with them.

PS--Project 115 Update: I did the P90X cardio AND ab videos this morning before work. And then I promptly collapsed in the floor of my living room, which is where I was when my husband got home from the gym. Man, that was hard. But now that I'm up and moving, I'm fine. Tomorrow I'm going to be brave and try the spin class that has been intimidating me for, oh, about five years. And... I'm down four pounds! Eleven more to go... we decided last night to get a bit stricter with our diet. So no Chick-fil-a for me for a good long while. It's worth it... right?

What I'm reading...

I've got so many blogs swimming in my head that I can't commit to what I want to write next. That, and my friend Andrea is on her way to watch The Bachelor with me, and I'm going to get two blissful hours of knitting time while we yell at the TV. I can't wait, and my husband will benefit if I can finish his cool yellow scarf in time for the ice storm tomorrow (brrr). In the meantime, I'll leave you with some really cool blogs to peruse while I brainstorm.

Jones Design Company

I just discovered this today, and I'm already in love. My next project (after I finish my scarf and my quilt) will be this ruffle pillow.

The Simple Wife

I never followed her before, but now I anxiously read each morning to see if Joann is recovering from her stroke. I stumbled across it after a post on Beth Moore's blog, and the heartfelt posts by her husband bring tears to my eyes. Such a great example of unconditional love and a strong marriage.

Meadowlark

My sister started a blog! She's a super-talented interior designer and artist, and this new blog will feature projects she tackles. She has done a lot of design work at my house, as well as created some one-of-a-kind furniture pieces that other folks drool over. She's uber talented. Check out the coffee table she made from my favorite novels. (photo courtesy of McGowan Images)

Crazy Mom Quilts

I'll probably never be able to do half the quilts this pro does, but I get so inspired by looking at all of her pictures and color combinations. Who knows, maybe one of these days I'll master the math involved in cutting out all of those pieces. Here's the quilt I'm almost finished with.

I'm off now to finish my dinner dishes and curl up on the couch with my knitting needles to enjoy the last calm evening before our little blizzard hits North Texas.