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Seven sites I'm into for 2007
Published 01.09.2007 | Permanent Link | Comments (11)
I thought it would be worthwhile to highlight the seven websites I predict I'll read quite a bit in 2007. They're blogs or they're resources and they're definitely tailored to what's currently interesting to me. What sites do you think you'll be reading a lot of in the coming year?
Parent Hacks is "a collaborative weblog of practical parenting wisdom". It's been around for a while but I predict I'll be reading a lot of this site in the coming year. Why, I mean, since I've been a mom for 8+ years now, I know all the tricks. Not really but it's a great place to go to feel like you've come out on top of the parenting thing for just a little bit.
Kiddley started up last year and when I saw it my heart dropped because I'd often toyed with the idea of creating a well-designed fun to look at site which rounded up the best craft-y stuff from around the web for kids. When Claire from Loobylu pulled this site out, I knew the game was over. She wins. Lovely illustrations as always but really great 'crafts with kids' content as well. One of my goals for this coming year is to do more fun stuff with my kids, Kiddley is a wonderful resource.
My Wardrobe Today is a journal of what Dilly is wearing each day. Why do I care what this woman I don't know at all is wearing each day? I have perhaps the world's most boring wardrobe. I hate spending money on clothes because I generally hate the way most clothes look on me. Dilly pulls together really nice outfits and since we're the same (not so small) size, I've become inspired. Her look is simple but with little touches of style I could potentially see myself grasping an understanding of.
A nice woman named Mary sent me a link to the Finished Kitchens Blog and I guess Mary doesn't like me because I have spent many hours browsing all the pictures and yearning for a kitchen of my very own to love and care for. Finished Kitchens, and extension of GardenWeb Forums, shares reader pictures of their finished kitchen remodels. I love that these are the kitchens of regular people and I especially love when I come across a beautiful kitchen done on a low budget. This year, I predict I will torture myself for many more hours on this site.
I've taken a shine to Whoopee, the blog of Antonia Cornwell. Antonia became a mother a couple of months ago but I'm really in it for the London accent. How can I 'hear' an accent while reading a blog? Antonia mentions 'tea time' and says, "...grumble and kvetch" and talks about riding the Tube, I hear the accent. I think you'll like reading Whoopee too. PS: Check out the Frog of the Day.
The Bargainist is a site I came across just a few weeks ago and we've established (repeatedly) how I feel about saving money. (I am 'Pro'.) This is another site I'd contemplated starting, a place to share all the best deals I find while scouring other 'deal' sites. Like Kiddley, when I came across The Bargainist with it's clean look and well organized content, well all right. You win Bargainist.
Somehow over the last 3-4 years, my husband and I stopped entertaining. Something about the neighbors with the garbage piling up on their front porch and our own mirror tile and suspended ceiling bathroom made us feel uneasy about welcoming new people into our house. We've missed it and so we're going to entertain a lot more this year. Enter the Real Simple website. Six pages of help for me, who is frazzled when asked to bring vegetable dip to the party. With articles like, Fake It With Take Out and Throw the Easiest Dinner Party Ever, I think I'll be using a lot of this site over the next 12 months.
What websites are you going to be using quite a bit this year?
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Melissa Summers was one of five Melissa's throughout her schooling, in her everyday life she is the only Melissa who folds laundry. The name Melissa is derived from the Greek word for Honeybee. The Buzz Off is published weekly on Tuesdays. She writes almost nearly everyday at Suburban Bliss.
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Comments (11):
Melanie said:
Oh, great, feed my kitchen obsession, thanks Melissa! I need that like I need a hole in my head...
Posted on January 9, 2007 22:26
Allyson said:
Great list!
It looks like your last link ate the last part of your post though...
Posted on January 9, 2007 22:57
Vicky said:
Great! I've just spent 24 minutes on that kitchen blog...and I was just stopping by to see what you wrote on my way to bed! (I'll have to go back there when I have more time...like when I'm at work) Excellent choices for sites Melissa, but do you have a link for that Bargainlist site? Didn't see one on the post.
Thanks!
{Ed Note: Oops! Fixed.]
Posted on January 10, 2007 01:26
bgirl said:
I've been Kiddley obsessed since she started, and I've even done some of the crafts with my babies (instead of just reading about them as I usually do). GREAT LIST. Can't wait to check out the wardrobe thing - maybe she can help me help myself! ;)
Posted on January 10, 2007 09:42
Chookooloonks said:
Great list, Melissa!
If you're into saving money, you might also want to check out Want Not:
http://www.wantnot.net/
Authored by Mir of Woulda Coulda Shoulda, this blog is all about livin' large on a small budget. Worth a look!
K.
Posted on January 10, 2007 10:26
Sara said:
I subscribed to the magazine Wondertime and the website is great too - http://www.wondertime.com -- I look forward to what I'll find there this year. There's an alphabet game my daughter really likes.
Target started carrying a line of British toys called "The Little Experience." I found, on their site, some free craft and cooking activities -- http://www.the-little-experience.com
I think I'll also spend some time at the Babble/Strollerderby site -- http://www.babble.com/CS/blogs/strollerderby/
And I should really spend some time outside, too!
Posted on January 10, 2007 12:20
Cheri said:
I checked out Parent Hack, which looked promising. Maybe it is if you children are on the young side, but there is nothing for Teen Hacks. I've emailed and let them know I can contribute once I know of a successful hack. The particular hack I am working on: My 14 yr old daughter wants to date a 16 yr old boy, who drives... a van.
Posted on January 10, 2007 15:07
Michelle said:
I love Kiddley and Parent Hacks, and I'm with you on the accent thing. Whenever I hear "git" or "mum" I'm right in the middle of London.
Posted on January 10, 2007 17:31
Amber said:
My 2006 was spent lovin' the Kiddley and Parent Hacks. Very awesome to seem them plugged here!
Posted on January 11, 2007 08:24
buttercup said:
I started recently reading the Real Simple magazine in waiting rooms. I love it. Thanks for linking to the website.
Posted on January 12, 2007 09:25
tracey said:
If you like Real Simple, I'm gonna bet you'll like Wondertime.com. It's like RS for moms. It's my new fav. Plus, they've got Catherine Newman on board. HELLO!
Posted on January 12, 2007 18:41