my weekend (or week-day!) must-reads...

my husband's photo, taken last spring...my photo-editing

I've been spending a lot of time gaining inspiration from the blogosphere lately. I've had sick kids all week and so while they watch more TV than usual, I've had a chance to be on the computer more than usual. I've been editing photos left and right...it's my new addiction...and reading blogs, which is an old addiction. Sometimes blogs can be sensory overload...one thing leads to another, leads to another...and before you know it you are deeply entranced in the personal writings of someone that you would never have the chance to rub shoulders with in real life. But suddenly you can read about what inspires them....you can see pictures of their most personal spaces...get recipes from their favorite foods...and hear their tips on photography. It's a pretty amazing thing when you think about it.

So, without further ado...and in no particular order...here are some of the things that have been inspiring to me lately. I hope you follow the links and check them out - although consider yourself warned - you will find CRAZILY creative people!

So I'm in love with The Pioneer Woman. She is truly a Jill of all trades and seems to be a master of all of them. She's a former city girl who fell in love with a cowboy. Now she lives on a ranch with her husband and four kids. The question is not, what does this woman do that is noteworthy?, but rather....what does she NOT do? She's recently written and published her own cookbook, she homeschools her four children, she is a seriously GIFTED photographer, a witty and entertaining writer. Seriously, people. If I were less of a person I would hate her. But I've chosen the path of love instead.

Have you heard of Amy Atlas? I've had her website in my bookmarks for about the last year and a half. How in the world did I miss the fact that she has a blog? Seriously. I went over there yesterday and spent a ridiculous amount of time drinking in the (literally!) eye candy. She creates high-end dessert tables that are so elegant and coordinated and look positively yummy. I think I gain a little bit of weight each time I look at them...but it's so worth it.

I just discovered Marianne from Songbird. She has a beautiful blog and is another one of those ridiculously talented women....ladies, she makes her own clothes. Gulp. And I'm not talking about how she wraps a piece of fabric around her body, toga-fashion. I'm talking cute, detailed, boutique-quality clothes. Oh, and curtains, and home decor, and...and...these plaster roses that I have totally fallen in love with. It actually looks easy enough for me to do. I WILL try these one day. Really, I will.

spotted on Etsy: Organic Baby Boots in green, by infusion

I also spend a lot of time window-shopping on Etsy. Some of you have asked how you can view my list of favorite things from other sellers on Etsy. If you go to my Etsy shop, you'll see a sidebar on the right. Scroll down the list of options, and "Favorites" is one of them. But, if you need me to hold your hand...here's the link. I'm considering going back to my "Friday's Fabulous Finds" posts because there is SO much handmade beauty and creativity out there, and I really like to spotlight artists and their work here.

Okay, if you stuck with me all the way through my wordy little brain-dump, thank you. And perhaps you should check your temperature. Fevers are going around, you know. :-)