I got away with the Moe and a fellow mum to Las Vegas for a few days of warmth and entertainment. It was wonderful. While away my Google Reader simply collected posts from the 204 subscriptions I read. On average that gives me about 60 articles to read each day. I forgot that over the course of five days away I'd have over 300 articles to read! As it turns out I came home to OVER 650 posts!
I actually thought about this while I was gone: which articles would I be anxious to read upon my return? And, if those were the only ones I wanted to read, why not just reduce my reader to those subscriptions? So, that's exactly what I did!
By The Numbers:
THEN: 204 blogs in my reader
NOW: 156 blogs in my reader (still too many)*
POSTS READ: about 300
OBSERVATIONS: Design and Photography blogs post WAY TOO MANY articles in the course of a single day. Those and the Pioneer Woman - holy smokes, she's a machine!
I came across a few articles I'm so glad I didn't miss, and don't want you to miss either:
Have I told you how much I love Brené Brown? She has empowered me to be all the things I want to be, and more. While away her TED talk went live! Brilliant!
Danielle LaPorte must be reading my mind. Or maybe it was the shimmering effects of Vegas, but I'm really thinking about my Superhero Name. What's yours? Along those lines, this is still resonating. And, if you don't get them, sign up to receive her Daily Truth Bombs, such good stuff.
From over at the Happy Self, I found an idea I am implementing NOW, I just didn't realize I was in the process, and the validation is wonderful. I'm thinking this is another idea worthy of immediate implementation - one I should focus on a bit more.
I also love reading who inspires those who inspire me. Carolyn Rubenstein really speaks to my heart and her list of those who speak to hers is inspiring.
A while ago I stumbled upon Jenny Meyerson via Ali Edwards and I am ever so happy I did! She and I think along the same lines and where I'm apprehensive about putting it "out there" she is not, and I am grateful. Her 100 Family Conversations is a wonderful idea and something we can (and will) participate in right away.
I am totally immersed in Susannah Conway's Blogging from the Heart course and enjoy what influences and inspires her online.
Oh my goodness, I cannot wait to make this: Slow Cooker Mediterranean Stew. I can only hope my kids will be equally excited when it's served :)
Though I still feel the sting of one particularly snarky know-it-all scream "CONTROL Z" over and over again when I was first starting to learn Photoshop, I found this article particularly informative.
I really enjoy "collectives" and one of my very favourite is The Creative Mama. In particular this project idea is exactly what I need! LOVE that there is a tutorial, too :)
I love how Cathy Zielske speaks about her children. LOVE.
*while going through all of the goodness, I re-categorized a number of the blogs and they are now in my "must read" file.
MUST READS INCLUDE all of those above as well as:
There are, of course, quite a number of personal friend-and-family blogs I read, too!
I hope you find inspiration and validation in these blogs as well. What inspires you? What am I missing from my "must reads"?