Top Ten Tuesday

A bloggy friend of mine, Grace of Arms Wide Open, asked me last week to write up a top ten of the blogs I love to read, “you know, when you have time,” she said, mostly joking–since I have ZERO free time.

But this comment of hers gave me and idea for a fun weekly Tuesday post, that may turn into a meme if you all want it too.

I call it Top Ten Tuesday.  Creative, I know. Don’t judge.

Anyway, in honor of Grace’s request, I decided to do my first Top Ten Tuesday on blogs.  The Ten I never miss.  Ever.  I might let them back up in my reader until I have a week’s worth to read, but I ALWAYS get to these.

So here they are in no real particular order.

10. The Heir to Blair – written by the lovely “Blair,” I love this blog because Blair is honest, open, and totally funny.  She has a curly blond-haired one-year old named Harrison (which may be a small reason I love her…she has a little twin of Eddie).  She is also one of the first PPD/A mommas I found out in the bloggy world.  She has given me undying support as well as a serious case of the giggles with her sardonic writing style.  Sassy and strong–I love her.

9. Arms Wide Open – by the lovely Grace.  Yes, Grace, you are in my top ten!  I can’t miss reading about Grace’s beautiful family!  She has a handsome little man she calls Solo-Boy.  Oh and did I mention they live in Guadalajara, Mexico?  The pictures she takes of their surroundings are breath-taking!  Plus Grace?  is also a PPD survivor!

8. DesignHERmomma – written by my “in real life” friend, Emily. Emily and I went to high school together.  In fact, she graduated with Cortney.  She and I were in the same Bible study group and had gone to summer camp together.  After graduation, I went to Western Michigan University and she went to a different university (Big Ten, Go Green!) and we lost touch.  Then one day because of the wonderful world of social media, we somehow reconnected.  We learned that while Cort and I stayed here in West Michigan, she and her beautiful family are living and loving in Indianapolis.  Because of our reconnection, our family took a little trip down to Indianapolis to meet and hang out with the rest of her family…and some bloggers that we both love.

7. All Work and No Play Make Mommy Go Something Something – written by the strong and hilarious, Kimberly. I swear Kim is my sister from another mister.  She is another PPD/A survivor who is totally honest and raw about her battle.  She never sugar-coats ANYTHING.  She is blunt and sarcastic and sweary and witty.  Oh and?  She is Canadian. I swear we would be friends in real life if she didn’t live hours away.  Someday…

6. in these small moments – written by the beautiful Nichole.  Nichole has one of the most caring, beautiful hearts I have ever witnessed.  Her writing exudes love, but she can also be pretty darn funny when she wants to.  She has two of the most gorgeous children, Katie and Matthew, and a wonderful husband.  Her Monday feature is called “Small Moments Mondays” and are written by wonderful guest posters about small moments they cherish that might otherwise be overlooked.  Nichole has given me unending support in my writing and my mothering.  She seems to always see the beauty in things–even things that most people would dismiss or even hate.  She is simply lovely.

5. moosh in indy – written by the phenomenal Casey.  Casey oozes emotion in her writing.  She can somehow put into words exactly what needs to be said, no matter what the topic. She also takes some of the most amazing photographs I have ever seen.  While her words drip with emotion, so do her photographs.  It is impossible for Casey’s feelings to not be out on her sleeve…er…her camera lens.  Her true-ness to her blog, her craft, her family, her friends, and most of all, her self, is a huge inspiration.  She has gone through hell and back to be here today.  But she is here.  And she is wonderful.

4. No Points For Style – written by the glorious Adrienne. I have mentioned before that Adrienne kicks my blogger butt.  She knows when my whining and complaining is real and when it is just BS and she is not afraid to call me on it.  Her blog is one of a kind for sure.  While I guess she is considered a “mom blogger”, her blog has a much different tone to it than the many “mom blogs” I have found.  Her family is blended together from her previous marriage and her husband’s previous marriage, however; they have one son together:  Carter.  Carter is all over special needs, and I dare you to read about him and his struggles and not fall in love with him and his mother.  She is feisty and passionate and everything I adore in a friend.

3. Not Super…Just Mom – written by my blogging bestie, Miranda. I am fairly certain Miranda and I were separated at birth.  We are all twinsy and what not.  We are both high school English teachers.  We are both band (um, COLORGUARD) nerds, we both had/have PPD, we both have one-year old blond curly-haired boys, we both have weight-issues right now (even though we are both beautiful!), we both have amazing husbands, and we both blog about it all.  Seriously, if you like me?  You will LOVE Miranda!

2. Pretty All True – written by the unflappable Kris. Pretty All True is both my guilty pleasure and my daily inspiration.  Some days she is witty and sweary and a tad bit naughty.  I can’t be sure that sipping coffee is a good idea when I click over to her blog.  On the other hand, some days I find myself becoming completely reflective and solemn because of the pictures she weaves of her childhood memories.  If I read PAT first thing in the morning, it tends to set the tone of my mood for the day.  It also serves to inspire my writing.  Kris is the ultimate word arsonist–blowing up moments and snippets of time so that her reader feels like what she has written about?  Has happened to them.

1. Tasty Buttered Toast – written by the super fantastic Cortney.  Now, I may be biased, but I think Cort is a really awesome writer.  I love that he has his own blog.  He doesn’t post every day…in fact, he doesn’t even post every week.  But I love to get the little surprise notification that he has some new writing up to share.  His perspective on things that happen in our life together is invaluable to me.  Sometimes there are things that he can pound out on the keyboard that he has trouble saying out loud–mostly because he doesn’t get a word in edgewise around me.  Oops!  He is funny and sweet and thoughtful and wonderful.

So there you have it…my Top Ten Blogs.  There are so many more blogs that I read, but these are in my “Must Read” folder in my Google Reader.  What are your Top Ten reads?  Post about it and link up!