The Blogs I Read
What ever happened to the blogger’s blog roll? Let’s bring it back! Here is mine:
Travelers
Geneva, who is Australian, but lives in Tokyo runs this site full of travel advice, business advice (for bloggers) as well as style inspiration.
I want to take moody pictures and write soulful words just like Beth – she is very good inspiration for these goals.
It is a never ending cabinet of curiosities. I am in awe of it and Nessy’s ability to keep it constantly stocked. Plus, there is Paris.
I’ve loved Anne since her Design Sponge days, and have since followed as she moved to Paris and made a life there. She’s also a mapmaker who teaches inexpensive online classes.
Bourdain (Parts Unknown), Cara Parks (formerly of Modern Farmer) and a whole cast of travel writing cool kids are here telling great stories.
Design Favorites
My first blog crush, and still a favorite many, many, years later. Holly is a gem and her classes inspire me regularly.
Erin seems to have figured out the right things and doesn’t worry about the wrong things, the stressful things, or the ugly things. I aspire to (what I imagine is) her serenity and total chic-ness.
Victoria curates one of the the best design blogs. Charming, consistent, and it hasn’t changed a million times (like the rest of us bloggers). Its like listening to a well loved album.
Listen to this talk, to realize how awesome Tina is. Then check out Swiss Miss and all her other related sites. Not flashy, but full of heart. She’s also the founder of Creative Mornings.
This is a smart lifestyle blog created by Kate Arends. I can’t help but be drawn to her consistent and straightforward style.
Garden Lovers
Matt is an insanely knowledgable plantsman. I do not advise trying to keep up. He is an artist and a maximalist at heart. It is good to know I’m not the only one constantly following my curiousity in crazy new directions.
Hank is the blogger version of my Colorado/Montana family. They’re resourceful hunter, gatherer, gardener types who think nothing of spending days canning, fishing, or concocting something from the land.
Delphine writes about garden art and design from near Paris and she always finds the most inspiring and beautiful things. She hardly mentions it, but her garden (designed by her partner Lucien) is extraordinary.
Georgina (in Australia) curates and writes this excellent site about people and plants. The writing and themes are always thoughtful and clever plus beautiful photography.
Northerners
Catherine in Montreal fills this site with inspiration that I try and recreate in my life and home. I just painted my house black, and I love it. I’m a wannabe Scandinavian.
I wonder if I did one of those ancestry things if I’d find I’m less German and more Swedish than I know. Even though google translate is a little awkward, Sandra’s site is still a great read.
You have to translate (from Swedish) so it is often awkward for english speakers, but it is so heartfelt and charming that I can’t help but be attracted.
Foodies
A beautiful blog about growing and eating good food. Andrea was a farmer here in MA, but now she has a place in Oregon. She also has a new cookbook.
Great recipes and beautiful food photography. Even if I’m not cooking, I like to click through just to see the front page collage.
I have never made a bad recipe form this site. Ever. Deb Perlman knows what she is doing with a recipe and you can trust her to tell you how to make the best stuff.
Creatives
There is a whole editorial team behind this site, creating features about creativity and introducing us to quirky people, ideas and things.
I’m naturally migrating towards a minimalist sensibility – but when I need a hit of maxed out plant-filled, joyful, colorful design (which is often), Justina never lets me down.
Brittany is so creative and she gets up to all sorts of inspiring projects that I don’t have any interest in trying myself. It is nonetheless inspiring and her energy somehow travels through the internet and fuels me.
They Get Me Thinking
I love Austin’s books and his website is a regular dose of his inspiring words for writers and creatives. I would not know how to live happily as a creative, if not for people like him.
Are you a writer or an aspiring writer? If so, I am guessing you will love the encouragement and kindness of this supportive community.
Danielle inspires me to no end. Mostly it is her podcast (Art for Your Ear) that I obsess over – but the blog is a pretty great companion for seeing the art created by all the interesting creative people she talks to.
I pay for the upgrade to read all his work – it is totally worth the few bucks.
Fashionistas
(now Atelier Dore)
Garance is a chic French woman who shares her life and fashion inspiration with humor and honesty. I also love her cool illustration style and pretending I’m all fashionista and down with the industry.
I feel like I am being seduced when I go here. There is endless chic-ness and frenchiness. It makes me want to ROAR as well as go spend some money finding new ways to rock myself.
Minimalists
I used to be a maximalist. But then I realized it was driving me crazy. So I need Joshua’s help and insight on a regular basis.
“What if we made everything we do sacred?” -Honestly, I don’t know. Being Zen is Leo’s thing – it isn’t mine – but through this site, I’m learning.
Because Moms
My cool mom-friend in NYC. I mean, if I lived in NYC, and actually knew Joanna, I know we would hang out and be mom-friends. For now though, I just read the blog.
I have no idea how Gabby manages to mother to so many kids and also remain capable of writing a great design blog (Ah-mazing!).
Heather has been making me snort my coffee for longer than I can remember. The original mommy blogger – she is brave and interesting and funny.
This site is not made for me, and I know it. But I might like (ok love) it more than my teen daughter. It’s what I wish Seventeen Magazine was like when I was thirteen. Tavi Gevinson is a genius.
So now that you have an idea of what I am into right now, do you have any sites to suggest (drop me an email)? As much as I have time, I’m constantly updating this list. So share your favorites below and I’ll check them out and see if they resonate with me too.
