Inspired Internet (A Short & Sweet Blog List)

September 7, 2012

For years I have read blogs through Google Reader, a service that allows you to subscribe to blogs. Instead of reading blogs by bookmarking them or searching for their address, I go one place, my goggle reader, and read what's new on the blogs I follow.

If a post is really interesting I'll "link through" to leave a comment, but most of my blog reading has been done with a reader and reading blogs has became a regular feature of my day. I do a lot of connecting with people this way, especially since I live in a rural francophone area (and I'm an extroverted anglophone).

What I started to notice though was a growing dissatisfaction with my own life, my writing, my living situation, etc. while regularly reading other blogs. This is simply crazy.

I love my life. I'm so blessed with where I live, the work we do, and the family life we have. But seeds of discontent were being sown into my heart. And I needed to yank those little weeds out. I needed to step away from regular blog reading for awhile. I'm still in this place of critically evaluating the number of blogs I read and why I read them.


a gift from friends

Bloggers don't intend to sow seeds of discontent. Other people aren't responsible for how I read and interpret their writing. That's my responsibility. And I have a responsibility to myself and my family to build a joy-filled life, not to pine after so and so's life. Or for that matter, "pin" after so and so's life. (Which is why you'll notice very little on my Pinterest boards.)

But I'm an internet girl and I can't stop reading blogs all together especially since many of my online friends are bloggers! I want to read their words and find out what's going on in their lives. 

I thought I'd share with you the handful blogs I regularly read these days. These are not all the blogs I read, I'm certain to be excluding a number of blogging friends in this list. I apologize for that in advance.

I've listed these blogs because they are ones I think FIMBY readers might also enjoy. Many of these women (they are all women blogs) are personal friends and others are online acquaintances of mine.

Steady Mom - I love Jamie's message for loving and living motherhood. I also appreciate that Jamie is not a do-it-all woman. No one is, but some bloggers sure come across that way. Jamie's blog is a steady dose of mothering encouragement and wisdom (of course, I love her homeschooling philosophy also).

Beauty That Moves - I don't do yoga, I read Heather's blog instead. Reading Heather's blog is like inviting snapshots of beauty and deep breathing into my life. Heather is also a great person to work with and I love contributing to her frequent nutrition and wellness courses.

Sorta Crunchy - Megan's blog has captivated me for some time, my favorite recent posts are those about expecting twins. Megan has also co-authored and published a book about parenting babies. She's one talented mama. The best part of Megan's blog is how very real she is. That, and her adorable self portraits.

Sarah Bessey - I found Sarah's blog through Megan's. Sarah writes mostly about her faith - as related to motherhood, marriage, women, and community. At least that's how it looks to me. Sarah's honesty about how she wrestles with and lives out her faith in Jesus Christ is what I love best about her blog. It's the faith blog I would write, if I was wrote a faith blog.

Catherine et les fées - I took me the longest time to figure out that this means Catherine and the Fairies, the fairies being her girls I'm guessing. Catherine's blog is about traveling as a way of life, unschooling, eating a high raw vegan diet, but most importantly, celebrating the joy of living this beautiful life together. I dig that, a lot. I also know Catherine personally and we share Quebec as our main province of residence, only she actually speaks the language, while I'm just learning.

Wonderfarm - Patricia is a writer, homeschool mom, and educator. She writes a lot about writing. I love her philosophy of education, her philosophy about writing and how she brings the two of those together. Want to know how to teach your kids to write? Read her blog.

Abide With Me - Emily is a personal friend who I met through our blogs. She read mine, I started reading hers and then I met her last summer when she hosted Damien and I on our trip to Utah. Emily is a beautiful person, a wonderful mom, and an awesome cook. Her blog is beautiful both in spirit and aesthetic.

Clean - Rachel blogs about motherhood, crafty stuff, and homemaking. Mostly though she shares her heart in a very raw and real (but not uncomfortably so) way and accompanies that with gorgeous life-at-home photography. Rachel is radical in her parenting and life philosophies. I love her "follow your dreams and guts" type living. It inspires me even if I don't walk the exact same path.

Penelope Trunk - This woman doesn't know me from Eve. I love her intelligence, her wit, her sass, her moxy. This blog is very much not the waldorfy, soft fuzzy mama stuff I tend to read. And I really appreciate that. Penelope is a savvy career woman who homeschools, a combination I find fascinating and inspiring.

I read a few more blogs than that but I'm keeping this list short on purpose. Kind of like my blog reading these days - short and sweet.

« My New Mug
My Farm Fill »
  • kyndale

    kyndale on Sept. 7, 2012, 2:11 p.m.

    Yes, I know what you mean Renee. I feel the same way when I read blogs where I see these amazing women doing so many creative things. I want to do them all. I feel like I'm less of a person if I can't. But, you're also right that they aren't making me feel inadequate. It's me. I've also stepped away from reading so many blogs. I'm a busy person and my kids need my attention. You are always one of those blogs that I love to visit. Thank you for the inspiration!

    reply
  • Renee A.

    Renee A. on Sept. 7, 2012, 2:38 p.m.

    Ohh,thanks for sharing...I love discovering new blogs! Some of these I already follow...seems like blog readers have a certain types of blogs that they follow, a certain theme to them I guess you could say from what I've seen others follow.I used to look at those blogs that always talked about all those pretty expensive things they got,etc and it just made me want stuff that I really didn't want.In the end I realized I am a simple mom that just wants a simple life enjoying her family and watching other bloggers do the same,that's why I love your blog....yes,I do still enjoy seeing people post new things they got (like your mug) but it's not to the point where you think the blogger is getting paid to throw things in my face. I love your pictures and the things you share with us.

    Also,wanted to add that the link to Rachel's blog is wrong,if this is the same Rachel you are tallking about,her blog is http://www.lusaorganics.typepad.com/ in case someone wants to visit it now. :) Have a great day...off to visit those new to me blogs. :)

    reply
  • patricia

    patricia on Sept. 7, 2012, 4:07 p.m.

    Renee, I'm utterly honored to be included in this list.

    Thank you for the generous words about what I attempt to do on my blog. Helping parents with their kids' writing has developed into a sort of calling for me, and I'm always pleased to meet new readers.

    I've so enjoyed getting to know you, via the Internet!

    reply
  • Ellen

    Ellen on Sept. 7, 2012, 9:14 p.m.

    Renee, this is so incredibly timely for me... I spent an hour last night weeding through my blog list and dividing them into two folders, one of the best ones for me right now and another of the ones which really are not helping me (though they are quite lovely).

    I was finding in my heart those same seeds of discontent you mentioned and also a scattered, overwhelmed feeling about the number of projects I was constantly inspired to try. Too much inspiration from others actually tends to wipe my brain of the focus I need to accomplish my own creative goals.

    I don't want to completely lose touch with the other blogs, so I kept them in a separate folder, for reading on a quiet weekend in a magazine-type way. But I set Reader to only display the folder of the ones I find to be the greatest blessing (several of which are the same as your list). This morning it was a quiet pleasure to read a few posts which really spoke to the areas of life I have prioritized in this season. Enough to think about, enough to encourage. And what a blessing to see that approach confirmed here today!

    reply
  • Sarah Bessey

    Sarah Bessey on Sept. 8, 2012, 2:18 a.m.

    This is so timely, it isn't even funny. I went through my blog list tonight, and deleted a whole big group of them. Most of them were blogs I followed when I was so terribly disillusioned with institutional religion, but now, I'm just, I don't know, OVER them. So I like to have about 20-40 blogs at a time, max, because otherwise I can't keep up with commenting on them. But I wanted to add another few and I think you've got a few that will be just right.

    And thank you so much for including me, too! Truly honoured, my friend. xo

    reply
  • Renee

    Renee on Sept. 10, 2012, 6:45 p.m.

    just popping in and . . . I just wrote this morning about my struggle with being jealous over a fellow blogger. I don't have a desire to be her or have what she has yet I still read her blog and feel low. So I posted early and then went to Mass and Fr. Nate said, "we are all called by name to do our own work." I got it now!!! Her work is not my work.

    Maybe I should post that! Be Blessed.

    reply
  • Beth Wagenius

    Beth Wagenius on Sept. 11, 2012, 6:33 p.m.

    I missed this post....trying to cut back on my blog reading too! I need to cut my list more. I sure wouldn't cut yours though. I really enjoy your writing Renee. Funny thing, I could get dissatisfied with my life by reading yours. I have had to tell myself, I have to live the life that is in front of me. So I just choose to enjoy all your outdoor activity and leave it there. :) Nice list, I many find another to read...

    reply
  • Teresa

    Teresa on Sept. 18, 2012, 4:49 p.m.

    I find that same problem with reading blogs. I'll sometimes find myself thinking, "I should be doing that!" instead of "How fascinating that she's doing that!" I'll occasionally find myself envying your life and having to remind myself that I'm childless by choice, not particularly outdoorsy, and very fond of meat, so in reality your life wouldn't suit me at all. :-) I started reading your blog because you write well and take marvelous pictures and DON'T have that much in common with me on the surface. There are definite things for me to learn here, mostly about living outside one's comfort zone, but in the specifics, I'm reading because it's fun to read about your life on a very different and beautiful path from my own.

    reply
  • dora

    dora on Sept. 22, 2012, 8:52 p.m.

    Yes, I've been knowing without words expressed what you are writing about. Feels good to see it as you put in this post: clearly and with tranquility. Wise, then.

    reply

You can subscribe to comments on this article using this form.

If you have already commented on this article, you do not need to do this, as you were automatically subscribed.

Featured Content

All Content

Monthly Archives

Get posts by email

Connect

email me at: renee@tougas.net Ⓒ 2004-2023 Renee Tougas