Five on Friday - The Bloggers Who Started It All

I’ve been blogging for a year and a half now, and I’ve met a lot of lovely ladies along the way.  The list of blogs that I read daily is longer than I could have ever imagined it would be, and I always enjoy pulling up a chair and following along… it’s like having coffee with a good friend each day! 

During my early years of blog reading, there were only a handful that I read each day.  These ladies who I have been following the longest have a way of drawing me in and making me feel like I’m right there at home with them, and I feel like I actually know them after all of these years… and I mean that in the least stalker-ish type of way!  Haha.  These are the ladies who inspired me to follow my dream and start a blogging journey of my own, and for that, I’m very grateful.

O N E – Little Baby Garvin

Jessica’s blog is the first blog that I ever stumbled upon.  I was never a blog reader until about five or six years ago, and hers was the very first one that I started reading regularly.  She is 100% relatable, she is brutally honest, and She. Is. Hysterical.  You will feel like you’ve known her forever.  Not to mention she has the best sense of fashion and excellent taste in home décor.  Her two oldest daughters, Harper and Eloise, are just a few months apart from Jacob and Olivia, so we tend to reach milestones around the same times, which is always fun since everyone is always looking for someone with whom they can relate. 

T W O – Mix and Match Mama

I could write a book about the love that I have for Shay.  She is just such a super, super lady and such a renaissance woman at that.  She’s a wife and mommy of four who creates the yummiest recipes (she even has her own cookbooks!), she runs her own travel agency, and she shares my same love for old standards music (Michael Buble, Steve Tyrell, Rod Stewart, Frank Sinatra)… pretty rare for people at our young age. 

She posts about her family, she posts about fashion, she posts about food, and she posts about life in general.  She is a godly woman who just seems to constantly radiate goodness.  She loves her friends like family, and she loves her family more than anything.  She and her husband recently adopted two little girls from China, and the way that she loves those babies like her own is nothing short of admirable.

T H R E E – A Little Bit of Everything

I found Erika’s blog shortly after I started reading Shay’s blog since they are real life friends (lucky girls!), and she is just so entertaining!  She’s cute as a button, she has the most adorable kiddos, and she seems so genuine. 

I love her sense of style… I turn to her for all things fashion because her style is one that mirrors mine very closely.  I wish she and I could share a closet… I don’t think there’s a thing in her closet that I wouldn’t wear!  She and her family also recently moved into a new house, and I’ve really enjoyed following along with her decorating process.  Y’all know me… I love a good home tour!

F O U R – This Happy Life

Once upon a time, Lizzie was not a stay at home mom, and instead she worked full-time for the same company that I currently work for.  We were several hundred miles apart as she was at a different location that me, but she and I dealt with the same accounts so we had to email each other often.  We ended up bonding over certain events and eventually became friends, often emailing each other back and forth all day, none of it work-related.  Neither of us blogged at the time, but I remember the day she told me that she was thinking of starting a blog and I remember when she actually started it. 

Lizzie is my “fun things to do with kids” guru.  She is constantly posting the best crafts for kids, the best holiday activities for kids, and she is constantly out and about and doing so many fun things with her kids.  Her love for her three sweet babies is evident, and I love watching her do her mom thang!  

F I V E – A. Liz Adventures

April is a good southern gal like myself, so I feel like I relate to her in many ways.  She’s classy, she’s down to earth, and she always has some amazing ideas for recipes and entertaining.  Y’all know us southern girls are all about good southern hospitality! 

She is a mommy of two precious girls so she also gives the best recommendations for all things for the littles – clothes, products, you name it!  Not to mention she always loves to find a good bargain just like me!  All of the products, tips, and life hacks that she posts about has me constantly returning to her blog for more.  

S I X – Life in the Green House

I found Jennifer on Instagram a few years back, and I enjoyed following her on there so much that I immediately checked out her blog.  It was love at first sight!  She throws the best birthday parties for her two sweet babies, so if you are ever short of ideas, you can always turn to her blog.  She also has some great DIY ideas as well, and her craft room is drool-worthy. 

She currently hosts a fashion link up on Wednesdays with Taz and Belly, and she has such a cute sense of style.  She is also a Whole 30 guru, so for those of you looking for Whole 30 recipes or ideas, look no further!  I personally would love to try Whole 30, but I think I would have a hard time giving up the wine.  ;o)  I have to say, Jennifer has me seriously considering it, though.  The recipes she posts sound so good… she makes Whole 30 look easy!

S E V E N – House of Rose

Her house, you guys.  Her house!  I found Mandy’s blog via Pinterest because her gallery walls are out of this world!  Chances are, if you’ve ever browsed Pinterest for anything home related, then you have stumbled upon pictures of her dining room, living room, and kitchen.  Every inch of her house is decorated beautifully.  If you ever need ideas for decorating walls, Mandy is your girl!

She has recently refocused a lot of her attention to her marriage, so her blog reflects that as well.  She and her husband started a Marriage More series, and they do a lot of work together on there.  They are oh-so-cute together and their marriage is such a great example of what marriage is and should be!  They also recently adopted a baby girl – their first girl in a household of all boys – so it’s been exciting following along with them on their journey. 

Well, I guess you got a "Seven on Friday" today, but I just couldn't leave anyone out.  Such inspiring ladies, each and every one of them, and I’m forever thankful to each of them for helping me find and nurture my passion. 

*Linking up with A Liz Adventures and Carolina Charm for Five on Friday, A Little Bit of Everything for Friday Favorites,  September Farm and The Farmer's Wife for Oh Hey, Friday, Meet @ the Barre for Friday Favorites, Cup of Tea for High Five for Friday, and Our Pretty Little Girls for Rewind Friday!

*All pictures were used with permission.