So, the disappearing blogger award goes to me this week. Every time I take an unplanned blogging break I always really enjoy myself, and I find that it would be so easy to fall out of habit.

It’s been a wild week in our country. And at times I’ve felt very unsettled, and at other times I’ve just shut off and walked away from all forms of social media (and didn’t even pick up my computer for 3 days) and ignored everything that was happening.

We’ve been soaking up the sun this week and just having a whole lot of fun. It’s not that I can’t have fun and blog about our fun at the same time, but sometimes I just love not picking up my computer. I owe about 30 people an email response, and have some things that really do need my attention.

But… while I’ve got your attention, I wanted to share with you some of my favorites from around the blogosphere this week.

1. A Ginormous Givewaway from Pinterest Told Me To

I’ve told you about my hilarious, stylish, adorable blog friend Sheaffer before. Her fantastic blog hit 1 million page views, so she’s hosting a ginormous giveaway! Pop on over to see what it’s all about it. I promise you don’t want to miss it!

2. Miriam Joy’s Arrival from Marital Bless

I love birth stories and I love Leah’s blog. Leah just had her precious third baby and I always love reading her birth stories. And this one was no different- definitely made me cry.

3. Walt Disney World Tips and Tricks from The Shull family

Okay, okay. So I link to Shay all the time. But I just love her blog. I’m either always nodding along and saying, “yes! Me too!” Or I’m taking notes because I’ve learned something new. I love her post on WDW trip tips. We’re planning to go in mid-January 2014 (when Hayes can still go for free!) and this was perfect timing!

4. It’s Called Working Out Because It’s Hard from Big Mama

Oh my goodness, this made me laugh so much. Big Mama has been doing Smart Barre in Texas, which I can only assume is just like Pure Barre, which is extremely difficult. I imagine myself looking like my svelte, gorgeous instructor, but I know I don’t. And I know that I sweat and shake and want to scream. But I loved her post because I could relate so much!

5. Braylen’s Perfectly Pink Princess Party from Life in the Green House

My friend Jennifer put together an adorable princess party for her sweet 3 year old baby girl. Every detail is so cute!

6. Staying Organized During a Build/Remodel from Sunny Side Up

This was just perfect timing, and Erin has the best organizing tips! If you’re building, remodeling or just love geeking out over organizational tips, this post is for you.

What have you loved this week?

 

 

I have a lot of posts to share from this week, but there was so much goodness this week! Enjoy!

Why I Want to Subscribe to Your Blog and Why I Hope You’ll Subscribe to Mine from Chatting at the Sky

I just love Emily’s post about community in the blogging world, and how important community is to a blogger.  (And if you want to subscribe to my blog via Bloglovin’ I’d love that. And I’d love to subscribe to yours, too! Leave the link in the comments and I’ll do it!)

Skinny Easter Egg Cake Balls from Skinny Taste

If you have some extra time in the next few hours, these Easter egg cake balls from Skinny Taste look delicious and they’re certainly adorable!

The Joy of Playing With Your Kids from Life in the Green House

I loved the post my friend Jennifer wrote for our Build ‘Em Up series. Our kids are just waiting for that perfect opportunity to open up to us, and the conversations can be so sweet.

A Relationship from Tales of the Trees

My friend Megan is a beautiful writer and this one is a re-post, but it’s worth the read. Loving Jesus isn’t about “religion.” It’s about “relationship.”

DIY Gold Dot Vase from Hi Sugarplum

A super easy, super cute gold polka dot vase idea. I love gold polka dots!

Great Neighborhood Homes from House of Turquoise

This may be my favorite house ever. Or at least for this week. I think I pinned nearly every image in this post. And it kind of reminds me of the layout of our future house. It’s so open and bright!

Easter Egg Coupons from The Larson Lingo

This is just so cute! They’re little printables to put inside Easter eggs for “coupons” for various things that may apply to your family. So adorable!

What Would You Look Like? by Beth Moore

I absolutely love this post. It touched my heart in a big way and I love how much grace Miss Moore shows us all when she encourages us by telling us that there is no right or wrong way to love Jesus, as long as we’re loving him. Our story doesn’t have to involve giving up everything and moving to another country to be a missionary. We can touch lives right where we are.

Sunday Morning Madness from Glamorous Life of a Housewife

Our family is often hit by the Sunday morning madness that sweet Whitney describes here. And I just love the beautiful way her heart was touched on a Sunday that got off to a bad start.

The Pharisee in Me from Kelly’s Korner

Kelly wrote a gorgeous, honest post about our natural, human tendencies and the way we should strive to be.

The Football Party from The Thomas Family Days

My sweet friend, Michelle, hosted the most adorable party for her little boy. Michelle is so creative and she does every single little project with SO much love. She enjoys being creative, but that never ever takes away from the fun she has with her kids and her joy in celebrating them!

52 Shades of Shay: Makeup from The Shull Family

I am absolutely loving the name of Shay Shull’s new weekly series to feature different parts of her life. 52 Shades of Shay. So cute! This week she showed us her makeup stash!

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you’ve all had a beautiful weekend. A really cold front swept through here, so our sinuses and allergies and everything else are giving us a little bit of trouble. But we had the most amazing time at a family retreat at White Oak (the SC Baptist retreat facility). As soon as I can put into words all the wisdom we soaked in, I’ll share it with you!

In the mean time, please enjoy some of my favorite posts from around the blogosphere this week!

Yes, I am one of THOSE moms from The Larson Lingo

This post really encouraged me because it’s an encouragement to love other moms right where they are. To stop seeing everything as a competition. Sometimes there are moms who love to throw elaborate parties, and some moms love to craft and bake with their kids, and some moms do little things every single day for holidays. And that’s okay, because it’s what makes them happy. And it’s also okay if that’s not your cup of tea. But we shouldn’t see other mom’s ways of doing things as a personal attack. I don’t celebrate every little holiday, but I do love to throw a birthday party!

The During by The Nester at (in)Courage

Goodness gracious! I loved this post. The Nester is one of my favorite home bloggers because she keeps it real. She isn’t constantly perfecting her house for the sake of her blog. Her blog reflects her life- not the opposite where her life reflects what she’s blogging. The beauty happens in the “during.” And it’s that way with our lives, too. And I’m having to remember that in this season where I don’t have a house to decorate or where I feel like we’re not “moving forward” with our lives. We’re in the during and the beauty is all around.

Dancing With The Stars Told Me To from Pinterest Told Me To

That’s right! Sheaffer is back to recap Dancing With the Stars episodes. And she’s even styling some of her wardrobe around the show! This is going to be so good, y’all!

Advice for the New Toddler Mommy by Meredith from The Tichenor Family Blog for Lamberts Lately

Meredith is a fellow boy mom, and she is the boy mom of all boy moms! She wrote the sweetest post for Leslie’s blog, and I just love so much of what she said about parenting toddlers.

 

Because I was out of town last weekend, and I really try not to blog when I’m out of town, I didn’t get to post my favorite posts from last week.

So this weekend, I’ll be posting twice the amount of posts to share my favorite finds from around the blogosphere over the past couple of weeks.

I am often posting from the same bloggers, but sometimes I might surprise you a little bit with a blog you may not know about yet.

A Million Little Ways from Chatting at the Sky

Far Above from Naptime Diaries

What Love Sounds Like: Love, On Purpose from Life {in} Grace

Thornton Designs from House of Turquoise

To Endings and Beginnings from The Dirty Martini Diaries

Being Authentic from Tales of the Trees

A Day in the Life from Kelly’s Korner (I absolutely love “day in the life” posts!)

He Spilled The Beans from The Glamorous Life of a Housewife

Ahoy! It’s a Boy! A Nautical Baby Shower from The Larson Lingo

Give Her Grace from Naptime Diaries

and maybe my very favorite post from the past two weeks…

Dear Mom on the iPhone, I Get It from Fried Okra