Fave Blogs of 2013

Hey everyone and happy Friday! Hope everyone is ready for a great first weekend of the year. I am~ wooo!!

Over the last year I found tons projects and people that inspire me so much I just have to share it you all! One of my goals for 2014 is to share with you more often all the things like blogs, music, tutorials, crafty ideas, fashion-y ideas, food stuffs, and everything in between that inspire me.

Today I want to start off with some awesome bloggers that kept me coming back for more over the course of last year. Their hearts, passion, faith, desire, and drive are nothing short of awesome. The way they write their blogs is endearing and inviting~ it's something I strive for and really want to learn how to do with my blog. These gals all have a fun and happy space on the internet and I want you all to see it. :D

Without further adieu, here they are~

:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.

Contemplating Beauty



What I love about this blog is Gina's self-reflection and courage to face every day fighting. Her kind words always seem to speak to me and her wisdom I take right to my heart. She is madly in love with her family and you can just feel it by reading her writing. She gives encouragement and advice, and embodies grace and kindness. Every time I'm on her blog I feel like I just plopped down on her couch with a blanket and a cup of coffee and made myself at home.

.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.

Lovely Little Whimsy



Carina's blog is full of pictures of her family of 7, faith, food, and fun. She just recently welcomed their fifth baby into the world and so she's full of little tidbits, thoughts, and ideas of being a parent. Her grounded look on love, family, and balancing life is something that I look up to and want to emulate when I become a mom.

.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.

Love Sparkle Pretty




Kayla's blog is full of beautiful items she makes for her shop, as well as DIY's, blogging/photography tips, and her thoughts about life. Sometimes I take blogging way too seriously and her blog reminds me to relax, keep my goal in mind, and carry on. I always leave her blog with a smile and determination.

cute 'N' roll



Cute 'N' Roll is an Italian blog full of super cute outfits, adorable little dogs, and make up reviews. Alice's outfits are fun and playful, and so many of them I want to try and replicate once the weather gets warmer. Her hair style is gorgeous, which I just love it and must learn how to do it!

.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.

Even Artichokes Have Hearts



I keep coming back to this blog for the sewing and gluten-free baking DIY's. Her sewing style is fun but simple, creative but not intimidating. And her baking tutorials are delicious! These Easy Peasy Biscuits do me in every time. And I am pining over the stamps for these cookies she made. Who would have thought of stamps on cookies? Gah I love this blog!

.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.

Much Love Illy



This daily fashion blog I found a few years ago while knitting blog hopping. Illy was modeling a cowl she received from a gal and it was then and there I was 100% sold on cowls. Illy's easy style, friendly smile, and overall cuteness made her blog such a fun and inspiring place to return to regularly. The way she shares so much of herself on her blog makes it easy to feel like you're friends ready to go on a coffee date, or go watch movies together in pj's. Her blog encapsulates FUN and that inspires me so much to make my blog a fun place also.

.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.

The Marvelous Flight of Cara



Cara's enthusiasm and gung-ho attitude in her writing is infectious and I love it. I feel like each time she sits down to write a blog she just dives right in with all the of joy and happiness in her body. You can tell there's a fire burning inside her and it's just bursting to get out. I absolutely love it. It's inspiring and just makes me love blogs and blogging that much more.

.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.

Hima Hearts



Hima Hearts is a cute little blog I found through blog hopping before the holidays. Hima is nothing but smiles in every blog post~ whether it's holiday related or school finals. She seems to do everything wholeheartedly and with this beautiful smile on her face. She was inspired to blog after reading The Happiness Project and so she fills with things that make her happy. Hima Heart's is a joy to read and I look forward to reading more throughout 2014!

.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.

Definitely take a second or two to check these gal's blogs out~ you won't be disappointed. What blog(s) were your favorite last year? Are there any that you would recommend I check out? ♥

One Little Word 2014

The other day I ran into the concept of One Little Word over at Whimsical Poppysmic. She was going to pick one word to follow her through the year~ a word to hold on to, a word to learn from, a word to own. Having read more about it here I've decided I'm going to join in and have my own little word.


Grace. It's something I've struggled with a bunch last year, and it's something I want to overcome this year. More specifically, I want to be more graceful when I talk to people.

Working in retail for any length of time can make you jaded, which is sad. While I'm not jaded, there are definitely times that it seems that way. When my mouth starts talking before my brain or my heart has had a moment to take things in.

Some instances I struggle with:
■ customers who don't understand our return policy
■ the customer just assumes that they're right and I'm wrong
■ they don't bother to listen to me, which creates problems later on

There are other instances that are more complicated and sensitive than those:
■ people who are socially inept
■ people who struggle with anxiety
■ people who are, in my opinion, willingly closed minded
■ people who won't help themselves
■ people who trap themselves in labels that they themselves or people they surround themselves by create

These are all things I deal with on a weekly, if not daily, basis and SHOULD be able to handle them with more grace than I am.

Maybe it's because I was raised to be a strong, independent, pull-yourself-up-by-the-bootstraps, tape-it-and-go sort of person that I do not fundamentally understand people who are different. I want to understand them though. I want to empathize with these people and see where they are coming from. I want to be able to talk to them and for them to see respect, trust, and genuineness in me. Whether it's over a transaction or a fun chit chat, I want people to leave their conversation with me a happier, more positive person than before.

Maybe that's arrogant or me to say? Or of me to want? I just really want to leave this world a better place, and I feel that in my situation as a store owner, I can do that by my daily interactions with people. But I cannot do that if I let my mouth run off without my head and heart.

That's why I will do my best every day of 2014 to be mindful of the word grace. To keep it close to my heart and see if I can stubble and fall a lot less than I did last year.

Do you have any advice for me on how to live with grace more each day? Are there any tricks or tips you have that keep your mouth from running off when you don't mean to? I'd really appreciate any thoughts from others in Blogland! ♥

Latest Instagrams

© KnittedFox. Design by Fearne.