Crush Series: Blog Crushes

It’s February! Which, in my book, means the beginning of Valentine’s MONTH. What? You didn’t know Valentine’s Day was more than just ONE DAY? For shame.

Anyway, in honor of Valentine’s Month, I’d like to do a blog post series of people or things I’m crushin’ on. Today, let’s talk blog crushes. Bloggers I simply adore for one reason or another. Since I work with bloggers for a living, my Google Reader is out of control. But I have a few favorites that, whenever I see their blog name bolded in my feed reader, I make sure to read theirs first. In no particular order…

(Don’t make fun of my crappy PowerPoint skills!)

Sara at Running from the Law.

I started reading Sara a couple of years ago. I don’t recall how I found her, but I was initially drawn to her blog because she’s a fellow St. Louisan. She’s also around my age, with a husband named Ryan (just like mine!), a dog lover, travel junkie, and excellent photographer. Basically, I decided we should be BFFs. This decision was solidified even more when she announced she was pregnant in fall of 2011. I was harboring my own pregnancy news and couldn’t believe our due dates were just mere weeks away from each other! I remember the instant bond I felt when we both found out we were having boys, and oogling her maternity photos, wishing I’d done something – anything – more creative than just random belly shots of myself that will never see the light of day. Then when the news came that Baby Mac had arrived, I remember cooing over his little newborn photo Sara sent to a few of us via Twitter. Last week, we finally met for lunch and she is just as cool as she appears to be on her blog – and more! Before I knew it, nearly an hour and a half had passed and we both needed to scurry back to work. But how great it was to sit and chat with a new mamma like her. Someone who approaches parenting – and life – with such gusto and optimism and support of other moms out there too – and without judgement. And did I mention she’s gorgeous too? Yeah, I think I’d probably hate her if I didn’t like her so much. :)

Another Sarah. This one blogs at The Baum Squad.

Their precious baby girl just turned 1 year old! I started reading Sarah when she was still newly pregnant, and figured her posts were an awesome glimpse into my near future. Her posts were so detailed and helpful, I made sure to bookmark things like her hospital bag advice (Part 1 and Part 2), which I read and re-read as my due date neared. I also read her best friend Stephanie’s blog, who also has an adorable daughter that just turned 1, and I secretly wish we all lived closer so the three of us could hang out. I’m sure I would learn a TON of parenting tips from them.

Rebecca Woolf at Girl’s Gone Child is one of those celebrity bloggers that I just adore. You’ll likely see her name at the top of most mom blog lists, and for good reason. She has 4 children (the youngest are twin girls that look almost NOTHING alike – but both equally adorable), lives in L.A. with the perfect bangin’ haircut (pun totally intended), and writes with such emotion and raw-ness (Is there a better word for that? I don’t know but I’m sure Rebecca does.) that you can’t help but be pulled into her life and never want to leave. She’s a masterful storyteller with the eye of an artist. I seriously can’t think of anyone who takes better phone photos than she does. And yet, somehow through parenting 4 children, she maintains her self-identity and talks about tough topics, like sex after marriage (and babies) and how hard all of it is. Things you likely won’t find on my blog, but man do I love reading about it.

Julie from I Like Beer and Babies is a new-to-me blogger that I just discovered last week. I was immediately drawn to her and it’s easy to see why. I mean, she includes beer in her blog name. What’s not to love? She also does a very cool Body by Baby series that’s all about us moms appreciating our bodies, stretch marks and all, because they gave us our babies. How awesome is that? I tend to prefer my bloggers with a sense of humor and she’s definitely got it. Best of all, she lives in St. Louis too and I’ve already talked her into a sushi date with me very soon. I may or may not have promised beer.

Lastly, I’m so glad to see my friend Janet at Love is Blonde get her blogging mojo back. That’s a photo I swiped from her most-recent post because her header won’t let me steal it. But man oh man do I love seeing updates of her adorable twin boys. She’s swapped red cherry shoes for onesies in blue and green and I could not be happier about it (even though I do miss those shoes, Janet). She also has impeccable taste when it comes to clothing and home decor (just look at this nursery!) and the next time I’m in DC, I’m making it a priority to take her to coffee and kiss those sweet baby heads. Back when I started reading Janet, we were both in our mid-late twenties. Now we’re 30 and moms. Life sure has changed, but every time I open my reader to an update from her, I always feel like I’m reading an email from a best friend.

Who are you crushin’ on lately?