i freely admit that i get overwhelmed by facebook, i'm intermittent with twitter, and the jury is still out on my staying power with pinterest. oh i do still love my blogs though. i guess i'm old school that way. i love blogs that share creative eye candy for sure. but beyond that i enjoy bloggers who are passionate about life. i love reading their thoughts, dreams, the beautiful details of their everyday. i love the real connection with real people. i think i would be best buddies with these girls if we lived a little closer. so sharing the love with those who have entertained me, motivated me, and inspired me this year i bring you my top ten blog reads of 2011 (in no particular order). and i would appreciate it so much if you would share your favorites with me. i am always on the lookout for new blog reading material. tia!
shimelle laine - i was lucky enough to meet this sweet girl once. she brought me a coke in a pepsi establishment. my heart will ever belong to her. i call her nasa girl. i am mightily jealous of her globe trotting ways. and she's a scrappy sharing machine. a scientist with an artists soul and gypsy feet. i think we are sisters in a split universe.
karen grunberg - she blogs. she sets goals. she blogs. she perseveres. she blogs. she has deep thoughts. she blogs. she takes gorgeous flower photos and edits them so beautifully. she blogs. she stretches and grows and makes me want to be more than i am. and when no one else provides me reading material. she blogs.
jill sprott - her work is so amazingly creative. so richly detailed. but her words. wow. her words are art too. she crafts them so well. each hand selected so carefully. she's not afraid to let her intelligence show. she's raising her daughter to be an intelligent and giving woman. i admire her greatly.
lisa dickinson- humor is a wonderful thing. i learned this from elmo. my dad elmo, not the furry red guy. although he's kinda funny and a good guy too. the ability to laugh at yourself is critical. lisa has a very healthy dose of laughter in her life. she can laugh at her imperfections. better yet, she can laugh at her perfections. and the best part of all. she shares her laughter with the rest of us. thanks for the laughs lisa.
sharyn tormanen- i love the everydayness of her blog. i love her story telling. i love her list making. i love her practicality. i love that she got to ride in an air balloon this year. i love that i "knew" her when she only had two kiddos and now she has four and the oldest is driving. solid family life. solid ethics. a solid read that i look forward to each day.
anja wade- she has such a unique sense of style. it really pulls me in. it also amuses me that she makes the 80's look so cool. i'm a child of the 80's you know. i mean she brings home rainbow unicorns from the thrift shop. how neato is that? way enjoy this one.
julie fei-fan balzer - julie embraces her art with such enthusiasm. and she's so enthusiastic about sharing her love of art with others. she's so encouraging. you CAN do art! she says. do it! her posts are so instructional too. a blogger very giving of her knowledge and talents.
karen russell - beautiful photography. a gentle humble soul. darling family dynamic. you can see the love growing here. and this year's footnotes to her deployed husband are so poignant.
pioneer woman- wowzas. if you haven't read her, well, where have you been? great photos. great stories. great fun. the ordinary. the extraordinary. lots of laughs. good food. adorable pets. lots of laughs. did you catch the one about the donut. ha!
patrice williams - i knew this girl when she was still a girl. i found her this year after a very long time. i am so proud to know her. she lives her life with such grace. she reminds me to stay grounded in my faith.
ah! making me all warm and fuzzy just in time for bed! *heart*
And I love this community that we have - that we've watched each other's children grow, that we enjoy each other's journeys.
Posted by: Sharyn | December 30, 2011 at 11:20 PM
I can't believe you included me among these "greats," Doris! :) I'm so incredibly flattered. And what you said about Z? I could cry. I kind of did.
Posted by: Jill Sprott | December 31, 2011 at 05:27 AM
Three of your choices (Anja, Karen, Patrice) I do not know, so I'll be looking them up. The rest I definitely agree with you, they are fabulous. Of course my list would have your blog listed along with Lisa Truesdell and Stephanie Howell. All you wonderfully talented ladies keep my mojo going strong. Thanks.
Posted by: Kathy R | December 31, 2011 at 09:47 AM
oh doris, you're so so kind, I can't believe I am in this list either. I am honored and humbled. thank you so deeply for your kind, kind words. here's to an amazing 2012 for all of us!
Posted by: karen | December 31, 2011 at 01:41 PM
This is one of my favorites: http://themeanestmom.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Chelle | December 31, 2011 at 06:40 PM
Thanks for the mention! It is much appreciated! Lots of my faves on that list too! :)
Posted by: millkcan | January 01, 2012 at 02:20 AM
happy new year sweet doris! xoxo
Posted by: Stephanie Howell | January 01, 2012 at 06:21 PM
Your pics were beautiful! Congratulations! We were the omasiinsries from the D.R. that worked with the Vargases in the clinic. Also, friends with your parents and the Martins. We wish the best to you and your beautiful wife. God Bless and remember that marriage always takes 3! With Christ in the middle you can never fail! Love you you and your family.
Posted by: Vashali | March 20, 2012 at 11:18 PM