Q&A (avec mon Mari)

That's "(with my husband)" if you didn't know. I was trying to impress you with my French skills which might be impressive if I didn't have to Google translate the word for "husband."

Anyway, Jess at The Newly did this super cute Q&A with her husband the other day and it seemed like so much fun that I thought I'd give it a try! Time to test my Hubby with some Blogging 101...

Q: What's the name of my blog?

A: Beeautiful Blessings. Is this a test? I don't want to be tested!

Q: When did I start writing it?

A: Um...toward the end of 2011. No, I take that back! It was 2012 when we first moved to Pittsburgh in 2012. Was that wrong, too? (Yes. Haha!)

Q: What do I usually write about?

A: Love, life and pursuit of awesomeness.

Q: What does "OOTD" stand for?

A: *Long pause* Out of the...door. 

Q: What's your favorite post that I've written?

A: Well, that's a hard one. Aside from the ones about my bad habits and our sex life, I'd have to say- didn't you write a blog about when we first met? Because if you did- that one. When you first mentioned when we got together...I don't know there's a lot of them!

Q: What's one of my favorite books I've read lately?

A: It's hard because you like a lot of books. Well, one you read is The Fan. (Fangirl). And there's the one with all the mystical characters- you know the one with the giant and the mother? (Roald Dahl). You like to read Roald Dahl.

Q: If I could travel anywhere in the world, where would I go?

A: Everywhere! You'd probably start in the Caribbean and then head toward Europe. You'd probably see The Philippines, Japan and Vietnam along with Israel, maybe India and then all through Europe. But you wouldn't go to see Canada and Alaska.

Q: What are my favorite baby names?

A: For boys you really like Atticus. For girls there's several of them. There's Gypsy, and Vera and Whimsy!

Q: What would I do with a million dollars?

A: You'd probably donte 3/4 of it to charity and then use the rest to build a wooden log cabin-type house.

Q: What is one thing you'd want my readers to know about me?

A: That you are...I'm trying not to think out loud so you won't quote me. That you are one of those rare people in the world who actually gives a shit.

Q: Alright, last one: How much do you love me?!

A: THIIIIIIIIIIIIIIS MUCH! Plus, to the moon and back.

> > >

Thanks baby, I love you THIS MUCH, too!

Book Review: Life After Life

p/c

I kept seeing this book pop up on "Best of 2013" lists, so while I wasn't familiar with the author, I gave it a try. At over 520+ pages long, I admit this took me longer than usual to finish. But I was so glad I read it when I did- this writing is astounding and this is one of the most creative stories I've read in a very long time.

According to GoodReads...

"On a cold and snowy night in 1910, Ursula Todd is born, the third child of a wealthy English banker and his wife. Sadly, she dies before she can draw her first breath. On that same cold and snowy night, Ursula Todd is born, lets out a lusty wail, and embarks upon a life that will be, to say the least, unusual. For as she grows, she also dies, repeatedly, in any number of ways. Clearly history (and Kate Atkinson) have plans for her: In Ursula rests nothing less than the fate of civilization.

Wildly inventive, darkly comic, startlingly poignant — this is Kate Atkinson at her absolute best, playing with time and history, telling a story that is breathtaking for both its audacity and its endless satisfactions."

The book follows the life and multiple deaths of Ursula Todd. Born in 1910, Ursula dies multiple times throughout her childhood. We don't know why she continues to be reborn, and neither does she. All she knows is that something about her is different and she must take actions when these overwhelming feelings of imminent danger overcome her.

Over the course of the book, we see Ursula's life play out in several ways which is the most fun thing about it. One decision made differently saves the life of the family's maid, of the young neighbor girl, of herself. With each consequent life, we learn more about Ursula and get to see the "Butterfly effect" her decisions have in the lives of those around her.

At the end, we see Ursula take charge of her [lives] and attempt to alter the course of history. 

Although, this book was slow in parts and I wish the author had better developed some of the secondary characters, I was so impressed with the writing that I have to give it...

FIVE out of FIVE stars!

> > >

Have you read Life After Life? What did you think?
Follow me on GoodReads!

About Me: 2024

 

I've been having a minor case of Blogger's block lately and decided to look up some Blogger writing prompts to get my creative juices flowing. One of the prompts I was drawn to was "Write the 'About' page for your blog in 10 years." I really loved this because regardless of the followers and the giveaways and all that other Blogger hootenanny, this is something I want to continue doing for years to come.

    So without further ado, here is my About Me: 2024.   > > >   Hi, I'm Kaity!  

(Circa 2014)

I'm the happily married wifey of Chuck (13 years and counting!).   Mama to three freckle-faced mini-me's and soon-to-be Mama to one not-so freckled-faced babe in Uganda.   Liker of Jesus (working on loving Him more every day).   Non-profit worker.   Masters' degree attain-er.   Globe trotter, food lover and master gardener.   Likes: Running, yoga, reading, canning my own veggies, chocolate and rainbows.   Dislikes: Odd numbers, mortgage payments, dirty dishes.   If you like fashion, interior design or crafting- this is probably not the blog for you.   If you like sweet Mommy moments, hopeless romance and fun-filled adventures, feel free to stick around :)   > > >   So what do you think? Am I utterly delusional? Honestly, as long as I'm happy, healthy and still lovin' on my Hubby- I could care less how my about page reads. But it will certainly be fun to look back on this and see how my story unfolds!   What does your 2024 'About' page look like?  

My Style Icon

My mother once argued against my statement that I am not a "stylish" person. She said, I'm not a "trendy" person, but I definitely have my own unique style. I think she was right. I could do without chevron and crop tops, but give me a hippie skirt any day and I'll be a happy camper. If I had to describe my style, I'd probably use words like "comfy," "flowy," and "bohemian."

If I had to pin point my personal style icon, there are several runner-ups. I love Madame de Rosa's perfect Bohemian outfits and Jess' more relaxed style over at Boho Baby Bump. I'm inspired by the gorgeous hippie fashion of the 60's exemplified by Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and the fictional Penny Lane of Almost Famous.

But none of these style icons hold a candle to my numero uno inspiration.

Circa 1976. Lucerne, Switzerland.

This is my all-time favorite picture of my mom. She exemplified and exemplifies a free-spirited, soulful hippie. She will always be my favorite style icon.

Giveaway: $25 Gift Card and Ad Space!

Happy belated MLK Day ladies and gents! How's about some free stuff? You know what to do :)

BEEautiful Blessings +  the thing about joy +  Silly socks n things + Dancing with a dolly

SeraheShoes  +   Living La Vida Holoka   +   Rachel's Country Roots   +   Amber Nicole a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: Eleanor & Park

p/c

As an unofficial New Year's resolution, I decided I wanted to begin writing book reviews on my blog. I talk about my bookwormish tendencies from time to time, but I never write reviews. I love reading other blogger book reviews, so I figured- why not give it a shot?!

My first read of 2014 was Eleanor & Park described by Goodreads as...

"TWO MISFITS. ONE EXTRAORDINARY LOVE. 
It's 1986 and two star-crossed teens are smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you'll remember your own first love--and just how hard it pulled you under.

 A cross between the iconic '80s movie Sixteen Candles and the classic coming-of-age novel Looking for Alaska, Eleanor & Park is a brilliantly written young adult novel."

 I love YA. And I loved this book. I feel like the tendency of YA stories is to lean on such predictable cliches- the "good girl" falls for the "bad boy." Ugh...it's so overdone. But in this story you have the awkward, bullied, new girl at school falling for the quiet, token Asian kid who doesn't ruffle any feathers. Eleanor is heavyset, frizzy-haired and not exactly a picture of grace. But it's because of her imperfections that we love her so much. Park starts off embarrassed for and by Eleanor, but wins her over with small acts of kindness. Their relationship blossoms slowly, and so organically that it's impossible not to root for them.

> > >

SPOILER ALERT:

What I really loved about this novel, however, was something that I don't feel 100% comfortable talking about. But the fact remains, Eleanor and I shared something in common: experience with domestic violence. I don't know how she did it, but author Rainbow Rowell so masterfully captured the feeling of being in an abusive home. The shame, the hopelessness, the feeling of never, ever being safe. For those who have a similar history, this is not the easiest of reads. But for those who don't, it's a really well-portrayed glimpse into the life of a domestic violence survivor.

> > >

For that reason and so many more, I'm giving Eleanor & Park... 

FIVE out of FIVE stars! 

> > >

Have you read Eleanor & Park? What did you think?!

Are you on Goodreads? Be sure to add me as a friend!

A Life Lately Post

It's kind of odd how I feel like I bare a lot of my soul on this blog, but rarely do I actually talk about the mundane, day-to-day activities that make up my existence. I figured a "life lately" post was a good idea to remedy this. So here goes...

chuck

Chuck is wonderful, as per usual. Recently, he began working a new shift so our schedules are much more closely aligned. This means, not only do we finally get to eat dinner together and go to bed together, but we've begun carpooling some mornings which saves us a ton of money on gas!

work
I'm intentional about not discussing work specifics on my blog. But suffice it to say, that I love my job. I've been working here for a little over three months now. I love the people I work with, I love the organization I work for and I love that I'm damn good at what I do. Non-profit work is definitely my calling.

play

Because I despise winter and am in full-on hibernation mode, I've been pretty reclusive lately. Which is just fine by me. I've set a 2014 Reading Challenge of 30 books on Goodreads and am content to spend my evenings and weekends curled up in bed with a good read. Life doesn't get more simple and wonderful than that!

money

As I mentioned a few posts ago, Chuck and I just made the final payment on one of my grad school loans. Excitement is an understatement. We are so looking forward to having an additional $400/month to put in our savings. We've got big hopes for a king-sized bed, a great summer vacation and eventually a house of our own. Oh yeah, and paying off more of our debt would be pretty great too!

home

Over dinner last night, Chuck and I once again brought up again the topic of whether we'll put down roots in his hometown or if we'll move closer to our jobs in the big city. As much as I love the idea of a shorter commute, and proximity to city life (i.e. Target!), I admitted to him that I really can't picture not living in our current small town abode. I've really grown to love our house, too and I'm content to just stay put for awhile!

Life is pretty easy-breezy at the moment and that's just fine by me!

My Future Husband

Every once in awhile I'll get a manila envelope in my mailbox, sent by my mother. It's usually some kind of bill or student loan sent to the wrong address, so this time, I waited about a day before actually opening it. Enclosed was a small note from my mom, "Hi, I came across  locked book-safe and thought it was Grandma Best's so I pried it open. This is what I found and I didn't know who wrote it. Sorry I opened it, but you and Chuck will get a kick out of reading it."

College Kaity circa April 2008

She was referring to the small, card-sized envelope that was also enclosed. Labeled on the front with "My Future Husband."

On April 18, 2008, while a sophomore in college, shortly before my 20th birthday and more than two years before I would meet him, I wrote a letter to Chuck...

To my future husband,

I'm 19 years old, (20 in a week!) and am completely in love with my life. I love the person I've become and when the time comes for us to get serious, I pray that you appreciate me just as much. So on this day, I've decided to give you some insight into what my expectations are, because let's face it, if I trust you enough to give you this, you know by now that I won't settle for less that what I truly deserve. So here are your guidelines: 

1. You must love Jesus with all your heart and promise me that together we can hold each other accountable and continue to grow in our faith.

2. You have to promise me that no matter how tough things get, to remember how in love we once were and promise to never resort to divorce.

3. You have to love sports and be much more knowledgeable than me and patient enough to teach me what I don't know.

4. You have to tolerate my taste in music and have good taste yourself. You don't have to like country, but you have to promise not to rag on me for liking it.

NYE 2013

5. I don't expect you to be obnoxiously romantic, but I do require some spontaneity and the desire to always be up for something new.

6. You have to be as eager as I am to constantly learn something new.

7. You have to understand my sense of humor and have a little sarcastic side of your own.

8. You have to be willing to travel to new places and experience entirely new cultures.

9. You have to promise to love me- fat or skinny, but also do your best to motivate me to stay in shape, because Lord knows it's a two-person job!

10. I don't care what you do career-wise but you do have to have some ambition and goals for your life.

11. You have to promise to view me as an equal and never as a subordinate. I hope you know by now that I can't do the whole "housewife" thing.

I guess that's it. Hopefully you're not running scared. Just know that if I gave this to you, you're the first man in my life that I've been able to trust and I'm more in love with you than you could even imagine. You truly are the man of my dreams and I look forward to a lifetime of happiness with you.

Yours forever,

Kaitlyn Michelle Best

(P.s. Don't ever call me that! My name's Kaity ;)

Needless to say, Chuck loved reading this. He may have even suggested that we frame it. What blew my mind about it was that not only does Chuck meet all of my "criteria" laid out two and a half years before we ever met, but he surpasses it. Even my dream guy couldn't compare to the guy laying next to me as I type this. He is everything I have ever wanted and more ♥

INFP

Have you ever taken the Myers-Briggs personality test? I have. Several times over. And my result is always the same: I'm an INFP. Or, my primary personality traits are that of:

Introvert

iNtuitive

Feeling

Perceiving

My personality type has been described as a "Harmonizer Clarifier" which I think is pretty darn accurate. I find great comfort in knowing that I fall into a "type." It helps to better understand myself and to clarify those quirks of mine. INFP's have been described as people who, "never lose their sense of wonder," "see good in almost anyone," "struggle with issues of own ethical perfection" and strive in areas of writing, humanities and psychology. Oh, and we avoid conflict at all costs.

Although, we may be introverted, the INFP wants to help humankind.

I admit, although I have always been intellectual and bookwormish, I can also be very absentminded, or put more bluntly- lacking common sense.

I have been described by my friends and family as someone free-spirited and whimsical. I enjoy acting childish and think even at 80, I will never have lost my childlike sense of wonder with the beauty of the world. This is also something Chuck and I have in common and is one of the main reasons I think we're so compatible.

I think my heart breaks more than the average person about the brokenness of the world. I tend to carry the weight of the world on my shoulders and feel myself to be personally responsible for helping to make the world a better place.

I find great relief in knowing that I'm an INFP. I am often timid and unsure in social situations. The thought of conflict of any kind gives me panic attacks and I strive to live harmoniously at any cost. But I think I'm a pretty decent person the majority of the time. I work hard, am constantly trying to better myself and genuinely want to leave this world a better place than when I entered it.

I am INFP and proud of it, baby!

p/c

Oh, and according to this chart- I'm also Luna Lovegood.

> > >

Have you taken the Meyers-Briggs test? What was your result? 



The Glorious Audiobook

When Chuck and I moved back to his home state of Ohio from our urban abode in Pittsburgh, we made a conscious decision to move back to his hometown within about a mile radius of his family. We wanted to become more involved in the community that brought us together, Chuck wanted the opportunity to resume playing music with his older brothers and we wanted to be close enough to watch our niece and nephews grow older.

Making that decision was not with consequence, however. My current work commute is about an hour, where Chuck's is closer to an hour and 15 minutes, depending on weather and traffic. I was making a similar commute in Pennsylvania and to be honest, it really doesn't bother me. But it does leave both of us with a lot of down time.

Someone made the suggestion to me that I should start listening to audiobooks during my 60-minute road trips and a couple months ago, I took the plunge! And the verdict is- audiobooks for the win!

It helps that my sister-in-law is a librarian, and the state of Ohio has a pretty stellar library system. But I digress.

Here have been my favorite audiobooks to date:

Honorable Mention

This was my first of David Sedaris' work and I understand now why he has such a following. He's a little bit eccentric, a lotta bit of a wiseass and has some great stories to tell. His snarky reflections on his life adventures are a great, light-hearted listen.

Third Place

Granted, I'm only about halfway through this one. But this memoir about an atheist's challenge to follow the Bible as literally as possible is awesome. It's the perfect combination of funny anecdotes about weird Biblical laws, and enough serious commentary on modern-day Judaism and Christianity to keep the reader hooked. Secular and religious folk alike stand to gain a lot from this one.

Second Place

This was such a toss up because I loved my first and second place books so much. Alas, I had to choose just one so I'm going with Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling. You probably recognize Mindy from her work on The Office. But nothing will prepare you to fall head over heels in love with this woman. She is humble, hilarious, and someone you'd want to know in real life. Listening to her audiobook was like chatting with a BFF sitting right next to you in the passenger seat.

First Place

Jim Gaffigan takes the cake. His reflections on life with five children had me literally laughing out loud in my car. But funny jokes aside, this is a genuinely likeable guy who clearly adores his wife and children. I sincerely hope "the Hot Pockets guy" has another book in the works, because he is a comic genius.

> > >

Are you an audiobook "reader"? What have been your favorites?

All images courtesy of GoodReads.com

Five Years Later

It’s really hard to believe that 5 years ago I was preparing to board a plane that would transport me to another world for 4 months- Uganda. 5 years?! How can it possibly be 5 years?!

 

I know it sounds like such a cliché but my time in Uganda changed me in more ways than one. In unexpected ways. Some days when I start to feel like I’m drifting away from myself, I look back on my writings from my semester abroad to remind me of what I learned. To remind me that I need to be more conscious of poverty. And hunger. And suffering. I lead a very privileged life and I take that for granted on a daily basis. I have days where all I want to do is engage in some good ol’ fashioned retail therapy. And then I consequently feel horrible about indulging my own superficiality and contributing to the consumerist culture I’m surrounded by. My time in Uganda taught me to be more aware of how I spend my time and money.

I know I’ve mentioned this before, but I’m a very sensitive person. Not depressed. But sensitive. I get really bogged down by the brokenness of our world sometimes. Often, I will intentionally skip out on watching a documentary about sex trafficking or modern-day slavery and the like, because it’s easier. Because I don’t want to feel that pain. I hate that about myself. It’s one thing to be oblivious to the plight of the world’s poor. It’s quite another to be intentionally oblivious because it makes me feel more comfortable.

In Uganda I was faced with those realities on a daily basis. I couldn’t choose to be oblivious because I was immersed in brokenness. I had to develop coping mechanisms or I truly would have never survived. I began running. I’ve always enjoyed running, but more often than not, my laziness wins out over my desire to be healthy. It’s something I would really like to do again. My biggest coping mechanism, however, was writing. While in Uganda, I partook in my first Creative Writing class. I loved it. I remember one of our professors telling us that the thing about being exposed to pain all the time, is sometimes it makes you raw. And sometimes when you’re raw, your past pain resurfaces. This was true for me- and I coped through my writing. I started working through my issues with the abuse my family suffered years before. I worked through the breakup of my first dating relationship. I wrote it out. I also started this blog during that time. My posts were not formatted, the Ugandan internet didn’t allow for pretty pictures. But what I wrote was real. I’m so thankful for that. Obviously, 5 years later, I haven’t yet given up on writing my feelings. I’m so blessed to have this outlet.

Five years later, Uganda is starting to become a hazy memory. I’ve forgotten some of my classmates’ names. The details of my homestays are becoming blurred. But five years later, the memory of Uganda keeps me grounded. It keeps me from becoming too complacent. It forces me to continue to fight for social justice. It keeps me counting my (Bee)autiful Blessings.

Five years later, a piece of my heart remains in Mukono, Uganda.



 

Sticks and Stones

Well, it looks like I've finally arrived as a blogger. I have my first "hater."

I'm really trying to have a sense of humor about this, but the fact is, I am so shocked and honestly, really hurt.

As I was obsessively checking my stats and comments- which I do frequently, I noticed one of my high traffic sources was from a website called "Get Off My Internets." Curious, I clicked the link.

Much to my horror, I found that someone in cyberspace had written a comment about my blog under the "'Nobody' Blogs that Annoy You" category. I really shouldn't have read it seeing as it already sucked to be labeled a "nobody" as well as "annoying." But I did. Here's what my hater had to say:

I literally felt sick to my stomach reading this. You know, sticks and stones and all that stuff.

But I'm posting because I'm hoping to address some of these apparent contradictions. I'm a work in progress, for sure, but it sucks to be called out like this rather than approached directly.

So to "myname," here's what I've got to say for myself:

1. I do not consider myself a religious person. But I do believe in the example of Jesus and I do want to model Him in my life. You're right- acting like a drunken ass is not glorifying Him in any sense. Which is why I have committed to giving up drinking which I talked about here. 

This is a much more accurate depiction of my life:
no makeup and jammies with my lazy butt on the couch.

If it looks like I'm posting a lot of pictures of drunken escapades it's simply because I'm not as prone to take pictures during my evenings when I'm home by myself. Watching back-to-back reruns of L.A. Ink doesn't exactly make for riveting blog material. My husband and I generally have a "party hardy" night with our friends about once a month. During these times, you can bet your bottom dollar I'm going to document my wee little social life. So I'm sorry if I led you to the impression that I'm some kind of party girl. I'm not. I'm also not a perfect disciple of Jesus Christ. But I'm working on it.

2. A few years ago I probably would have been as equally nauseated by someone publishing a "16 Months as Mrs." post. I had been abused by a man who was supposed to be a father figure and had come to the conclusion that I was entirely unworthy of love. Every guy I met seemed to reinforce that idea and I had completely accepted the fact that I would never marry, let alone love a man. So imagine my surprise when I fell madly in love with a genuinely kind, gentle and good man. Yes, my bi-monthly marriage updates may seem a little obnoxious. But I'm not apologetic. I found the love of my life and am the happiest I have ever been. Even better, I finally feel like I deserve to be happy. Since my blog is a reflection of my life, I am sure as hell going to document my wonderful marriage.

3. I honestly didn't realize I talked about how "poor" I am so frequently. It hasn't been my aim to whine about my financial state. Rather, I recognize that a lot of people my age are going through the similar burden of graduating college with inordinate amounts of student loan debt. Money is a taboo topic of conversation and isn't talked about as much as I think it should be. It is my hope that by sharing our journey in paying off our debt and in general, figuring out how to responsibly handle our money that maybe, just maybe I might be able to be of some encouragement to someone in similar standing.

I realize I shouldn't give your hurtful comments more attention than they deserve, but because I felt I deserved an opportunity to defend myself against your anonymous words and because there is a small part of me that worries that your views might be shared by more than just yourself- here you go. I'm sad that you no longer enjoy reading my blog. But this is me, take it or leave it.

16 Months as Mrs.

Today is Chuck and my 16-Month married anniversary. Time really has been flying by! It's so hard to believe we've been married nearly a year and a half when it feels like just yesterday I was a newly engaged, crazed, wedding-planning wifey-to-be. A co-worker of mine just got engaged and I couldn't want to congratulate her when we returned to the office. It didn't even occur to me to ask her about how he popped the question or to see her ring. I just began asking questions about their actual wedding and marriage plans. I suppose this is because I thoroughly hated wedding planning. I looked forward to our married years, and I had a blast during our actual wedding weekend. But the weeks and months leading up to that day sucked. I pray to sweet baby Jesus I never have to plan a wedding again!

I feel like there's very little for me to report on at sixteen months in. There have been some small changes in the last two months, but not many. I love my husband and I'm as happy as a clam, but that's not exactly news around these parts. So this is what I can muster up about my...

money

Since I began my new job and we returned to Ohio our finances are looking so much better than they did in Pittsburgh. Although we are spending more on rent and gas, I'm also making considerably more than at my old government job. We're finally at a place where although we're pretty much still living paycheck to paycheck, we can begin to put some funds into saving for our summer vacation, a king-sized bed and a down payment on our future home. We're really looking forward to making the last payment on one of my grad school student loans this month and having an additional $400/month to put toward savings and reducing our debt. It's amazing how much less stress and turmoil we've been experiencing as of late, simply because we're not constantly worried about overdrawing on our account. I can see why money is the #1 problem for married couples!

location, location

Chuck and I are enjoying life in Ohio. He loves being so close to his family and I love having an adorable little house to be my homebody-self in. Life is good, but the fact is, we're both making 1+ hour commutes to work and have been thinking about what makes more sense for us long-term: being close to family vs. being close to our jobs. We have plenty of time to see what life has in store for us, but it's something we're putting some thought into.

together

One of the things that has been an issue for us is the fact that Chuck is much more of a social butterfly than I am. I don't expect him to stay home with me all the time when I just want some time to myself to read or watch a movie. And he doesn't expect me to go out for some beers when I just want to relax after a long work week. Although, we spend a good amount of time together, we also spend a healthy time apart. We keep being encouraged by our relationship gurus to sync up our schedules and go out together and leave together. I see the value in that, but I just keep thinking- if it's not broke, why fix it? I don't want to go out just because Chuck wants to, and I would never expect him to pass up hanging out with his family just because I would rather stay home. The jury's still out on this one...

Overall, life is simple. We're slowly making our house more of a home and looking forward to opening up Stuckert's Home Bar in the upcoming months. We're making plans for the future, and just enjoying evenings of conversation, cuddling and general togetherness. Like I tell Chuck, "I like you and I love you!"

> > >

Check out my previous Months as Mrs.:
14 Months as Mrs.
One Year as Mrs.
10 Months as Mrs.
8 Months as Mrs.
6 Months as Mrs.
4 Months as Mrs.

14 Blogs to Read in 2014

Sponsorship has never quite sat right with me. As Bloggers, we write because we love it, and because we love investing in the stories of others. I think it's a shame that so few bloggers are willing to promote each other without monetary compensation. I love happening upon a blogger who I know invests in her (or his!) writing and in her readers. A blogger who doesn't stoop to superficial link-ups and Pinterest dumps. A blogger who writes damn good content and makes me a better, more well-rounded person for having read her words.

So without further ado, here are the bloggers I think you should be reading in 2014:

1. Recently Roached
I have legitimately never missed one of Jena's posts over at Recently Roached. She is a fantastic writer and her sassy sense of humor nearly leaves me breathless. 

>>>Recently Roached was also featured last year!<<<

2. Wifessionals
Over the last year, I've truly grown to value how much of herself Kaitlyn invests in her blog. She had one of my favorite pregnancy series and has recently started a cloth diapering series that I am over the moon about! Due to some hurtful blog backlash, Kaitlyn decided to take a hiatus but I'm so hoping Wifessionals makes a triumphant return!

3. Hope Engaged
I can guarantee you there is no blogger out there who is quite as faithful, genuine and sweet as Katie at Hope Engaged. Her photography is beautiful, her travels, awe-inspiring, but mostly I love that Katie loves Jesus and exemplifies leading a Christ-like life. 

4. Lucy the Valiant
With three mini-me's to juggle and a house full of boarded high school boys, Lucy doesn't post as much as I would like. Regardless, you should absolutely visit her at Lucy the Valiant. Lucy has become one of my best Blogger friends. Something I don't say lightly. She's a fantastic Mom, an all-around over-achiever and I absolutely love her to pieces.
>>>Lucy the Valiant was also featured last year!<<<

5. Momastery
You may know Glennon of Momastery from her book published this year titled, Carry on, Warrior. She's a "big blogger," but for good reason. Literally, everything she writes is bursting with love and inspiration. She's an excellent writer and encourages all her readers to be their best selves.

6. Mish Lovin' Life
Mish Lovin' Life is doing just that- loving life. And I love reading all about it! She is fun-loving and always up for an adventure. Her writing style is super approachable and makes you feel like you're sharing a conversation over drinks at your favorite bar. Don't miss her!

7. Everyday is a New Adventure
Since having sweet baby Elsie, I haven't heard as much from Alyx at Everyday is a New Adventure. But that hasn't stopped me from following her. She's a new mama, a grad student and a kickass person. I love reading her witty remarks when she writes them!
>>>Everyday is a New Adventure was also chosen last year!<<<

8. A Brew of Blessings
Tara at A Brew of Blessings is living a modern-day fairy tale. She met a handsome, foreign Prince and is now living the happily married life with him across the pond. Tara blogs about love, travel and has some killer style. You'll love her blog!

9. Birthing Beautiful Ideas
Birthing Beautiful Ideas was a blog I stumbled upon during my post-The Business of Being Born phase. I wanted to learn as much as I could about childbirth, doulas, breastfeeding and feminism. This blog is my go-to resource. She covers it all and in a seriously intellectual, yet light-hearted way.
>>>Birthing Beautiful Ideas was another 2013 contender!<<<

10. By the Porchlight
Lesley and I are kindred spirits. We're both simultaneous wanderlusters and bookworms. Which is how I stumbled upon her blog, By the Porchlight, through our mutual love of books. She is honest, fun and works hard to keep her blog fresh and a treat to read.

11. Moments with Love
Moments with Love has my dream family. Nine kids born to them through pregnancy and adoption. Not to mention her sons were adopted from Uganda which is totally where my heart is. She makes being a Mom of 9 look easy, but always keeps it real and counts her blessings. You will grow to love her heart as much as I have over the years.

12. Rage Against the Minivan
Rage Against the Minivan has been featured on HuffPost and is plain and simple, kind of a big deal. I think I found her blog while seeking out adoption-related blogs and just fell in love with everything she posts. While she writes about adoptions occasionally, she also regularly comments on current events and features women suffering from pain pill addiction, miscarriages and abuse among other things through her What I Want You to Know series. Excellent reading!

13. The Simplicity
The Simplicity (a blog by Kimberly Erskine) tackles it all. She talks about her marriage and thoughts on babies. And within the same week, will write a kickass post about her feminist beliefs. She's not afraid to tackle tough subjects and always stays true to her voice as a writer.

14. Katie Did What
I loved following Katie from Katie Did What to see her stellar style, weekend favorites and workout tips. But when this cutie patootie announced she and her husband were expecting, I couldn't get enough. She is precious, has the rare ability to write about the good and the bad with beauty and grace and is just one of those girls you'd want to be real-life friends with!