Cause you get to meet awesome ladies like this thats why. Read on dear friend.
***
I want to talk about four really neat ladies (I just wanted to feature four at a time) who have made such a positive impact on not only my blog, but in my life.
Their encouragement and support is to be commended, because I certainly do not make it easy for people to be in constant support of my crazy ideas and antics and off the wall humor.
I mean really, its not easy finding new ways to say, "Your kids are so cute"...
They find a way. So, not only am I going to feature them, I want to highlight a post of theirs that has either got me laughing hysterically, ripped my heart out only to mend it back together with the threads of hope and faith, or that I think was just plain super neat.
***
Meet Michelle from 3 Boys and a Girl.
When I read this post of Michelle's I tried to convince myself that it would never happen to my boys. But apparently there is a gene for this. Or something.
And I love how at the end of a very long day, Michelle knows who the give the praise to.
***
I've had a great time getting to know Kristin from Bits and Pieces From My Life.
She was one of the first bloggers I met who did not have Word Verification and I vowed from that moment on to be her faithful follower. Man I get annoyed by word verification. Just sayin.
This page of Kristins blog is perfection. She writes SO beautifully, and the way this page is designed, the beautiful colors and fonts and peeks into her life... I DROOL over this page. Seriously. Perfection.
***
Someone fairly new to the mix is Denise. She is mommy, wife, dreamer, writer, just to name a few.
She has a daughter named Sea and a son named Story. How cool is that? Denise is on a mission to blog every single day of the year.
She hangs out with Bono. With guys who write TV series, like "White Color". But mostly, and often most importantly, with her kids.
***
Listen. I've sorta been reading a lot of food blogs lately. It's mainly because I have sorta been eating a lot lately. And when I say "lately" I mean always.
But Sweet Jessica's blog has made my life so much sweeter with her wonderful recipes and 'I'm totally gonna laugh some calories off' sense of humor.
Nuff said.
Oh wait. One more thing. Jessica posts recipe after recipe of mouth watering, succulent, savory, and sweet creations... and she looks like this.
Yeah.
***
So if you are in the mood to laugh or cry or reflect or be inspired or make new friends or just make something fabulous, stop by and say to a couple of my favorite people.
You totally just made me cry. I showed this to my husband because I couldn't read any more since the tears were in my eyes!! Thank you so much! You are wonderful!!
Posted by: Jessica | December 10, 2009 at 07:10 PM
Thanks for sharing new blogs to look at and be inspired by - someday I will get my butt in gear and get mine updated! :)
Not that I need ot spend anymore time reading blogs....on the computer...too bad they couldn't be blogcasts that I could play while I cleaned lol would certainly make cleaning more fun! :)
Have a great weekend!
Posted by: janis | December 10, 2009 at 07:22 PM
Now THAT is a great idea!!! You should roll with it and make millions! :)
Posted by: Amanda Rettke | December 10, 2009 at 07:26 PM
Thanks for more great blogs to read. I can't wait to have time to check them out. Check out my last post, please. I could use your help!
Posted by: Amanda Sikes | December 10, 2009 at 07:47 PM
You got it girl! :)
Posted by: Amanda Rettke | December 10, 2009 at 07:52 PM
Thanks so much, Amanda! Yeah, I don't like word verification either and so far, it has worked out fine for me. I've been so thrilled to get to know you over the past year-and-a-half (!) and watch your blog grow and grow...and keep growing. You really have an eye for beauty. I've said it too many times to count, BUT your kids have the best clothes and your cookies are to die for. :-)
Posted by: Kristin | December 10, 2009 at 08:43 PM
I'm always looking for some new blogs to follow. Thanks Amanda, what a lovely idea :-)
Posted by: Kate | December 10, 2009 at 08:58 PM
This is a good idea!
(I hate word verifcation, too.)
Posted by: Margaret | December 10, 2009 at 09:57 PM
I just came back to my computer to see you had posted a LOVELY comment on my blog. And guess what I'd been doing? Baking the yummy recipe you'd posted up!!! Thank you x
Posted by: Sarah | December 10, 2009 at 10:17 PM
What a great idea, Amanda!! Love it! I will have to head over to their blogs...and I have been thinking about taking my word verification down for a while....I'm on it!
Posted by: Liz | December 10, 2009 at 10:23 PM
Um, I just checked out Jessica's blog and saw a multitude of things with syrup and brown sugar and tons of cheese and....OMG. I heart food. I always love a new blog to check out! And I abhor word verification as well (don't you love the word abhor??? I do.)
I must say, you are my new favorite lately,especially the baking blog...you've got it goin' on, sister! :)
Posted by: Amy | December 10, 2009 at 10:31 PM
Thanks so much sweety! You are pretty fun yourself!! And CREATIVE!!! I love that about you. ;)
Blessings!
Amanda
Posted by: Amanda Rettke | December 10, 2009 at 10:35 PM
Oh my gosh, Amanda! Thanks so much for the feature! :) You're totally awesome, but I can't believe you highlighted THAT post! :) Boys are so disgusting.
I got a moment to check out Kristin's post and I agree! The 'pieces' are just so lovely and pretty and charming... I'll be reading the other blogs tomorrow.
Thanks again. You ROCK!
Michelle
Posted by: Michelle | December 10, 2009 at 10:41 PM
i think you are pretty cool, too. and i think it's really cool that you have taken time to encourage readers. i just met denise the other day through your blog. you have some really cool followers! i totally insulted her (i'm not kidding, TOTALLY) and she still came by to say to me. she is WAY cool!
Posted by: gianna | December 10, 2009 at 10:43 PM
"just plain super neat" - i love that!
thanks for sharing some of your favorite blogs. looking forward to checking them out!
Posted by: Ash | December 10, 2009 at 11:50 PM
wow amanda...i feel much "cooler" that you wrote about me on your blog than that i "met" bono or have a friend writing a cool show...i feel so BLESSED to have you in my life and look forward to meeting more wonderful people through your blog...thank you! already several days behind on my blog a day until the end of the year thingy but i'm trying to get out our holiday cards this weekend (one to you, too!)...will catch up with you and these new reads early next week!
Posted by: denise | December 11, 2009 at 12:34 AM
You are so kind Amanda to feature those other bloggers. I'll be checking them out for sure, cause if you like them then I am convinced they are great reads.
Posted by: Jamie @ Six Bricks High | December 11, 2009 at 01:12 AM
Amanda
Thank you for sharing some more good blogs. It is always fun to read something new! I have so enjoyed reading your blog the past several months and just appreciate you as a Godly woman and sister in Christ!
Blessings, Kristin
Posted by: Kristin Smith | December 11, 2009 at 06:34 AM
Uh Oh. Now I'm wondering if I should get rid of my word verification...
Cuz I don't want to drive you nuts. *grin*
Thanks for pointing us to these blogs. I'll pay them a visit today!
Posted by: Karen@SurvivingMotherhood | December 11, 2009 at 06:49 AM
Oh my goodness!! Hope you all made amends... I get the feeling that denise is a easy going girl and would give folks the benefit of the doubt!
Be blessed gianna!
Amanda
Posted by: Amanda Rettke | December 11, 2009 at 08:05 AM
It's always fun to go check out the blogs you have found. Good people seem to find there way here. I've met so many of my favorite bloggy friends through here.
If you have time, could you email me the best red icing coloring. I'm making Hope a lady bug cake on Sunday and have no idea which one to begin with. I have Wilton gel colors but I don't think that's going to cut it. :) Why, oh why (as Rabbit would say) does she love red bugs so much!
Posted by: Bethany | December 11, 2009 at 08:47 AM
Some awesome blogs...and quit yer complain' about word verification. I had to put mine back on because spammers were taking over my little corner of the blogosphere :-( But, it is still worth it to comment on my site ;-)
Posted by: carma | December 11, 2009 at 11:55 AM
You have what I would call a significant following, and yet you are always so generous to point out other bloggers. Thanks for that!
Posted by: Jenney | December 11, 2009 at 02:15 PM
YOu are so sweet to always post about your blogging friends. I should do this sometime because I am so thankful for all my blogging friends and those that leave me comments.
Posted by: He & Me + 3 | December 11, 2009 at 06:29 PM
I can't get rid of word verification because I get so many random crap comments on my blog, everything from buying flat panel tvs at wholesale prices to free viagra to japenese porn sites!
The only way blogger says I can avoid this (and reject them) is by word verification -
Posted by: darcie | December 11, 2009 at 06:59 PM
Thanks for sharing! I love getting a chance to check out new to me blogs. It's great to have fallen into your blog and see such woman to woman support! The world needs much more of that.
Off to check out these other ladies!
Posted by: Alisa | December 12, 2009 at 10:26 AM
LOVE this! What a great way to showcase everyone. And the link to bacon covered scallops? YUM.
a
Posted by: oh amanda | March 23, 2010 at 11:30 AM