Just like Matthew, I don’t usually sign up for blog fests. But this one really appealed to me. I love to pay it forward. That is 73.27% of the reason I started my blog.
Then I learned I could only spotlight three! Three? That’s impossible. I love so many blogs. I want to choose all my blogging buddies – all of you.
But I can’t. Because you all know each other! Thanks Matthew and Alex for the great idea!
So without any more suspense, here are my three blogs.
Ava always has something smart to say about the writing process. The blog directory on the tab bar has a list of all the great articles. Ava is active on Twitter and always has a friendly tweet. Definitely a must follow!
Living the Creative Life with Marisa Hopkins.
Marisa shares wacky stories of her kids, talks about her writing, and shares some fun crafty foods to do with your kids. I always come away from her blog with a smile.
I made this Ice Cream For Breakfast snack for my kids one afternoon and they were extremely impressed. Thanks Marisa!
The last one is a little different. She’s a smart woman, mother, and women’s ministry director at her church. She’s decided to live her life completely undone for God. And the blog follows the ups and downs of her past and present. You will be moved. You will laugh. You will be inspired. Whether you believe in God or not, you will walk away encouraged.
Living Completely Undone by Susan Pauling
She’s also new to Twitter. @susanpauling
What’s that you ask? We have the same last name?
Oh, right. I met Susan in 8th grade and we’ve been best friends since. She just happens to be my sister in law too.
She is a writer. And one of these days, she’ll be writing her incredible memoir.
Check out all the Pay It Forward bloggers!
If you didn’t participate in this blog fest, name a blog in the comments you feel is a must follow!
It is SO tough to narrow it down to three, I know! But we had to keep it simple to keep it from getting too overwhelming (and with over 200 blogs, we kind of failed there).
Thanks for taking part, Laura!
Thanks for sharing these wonderful bloggers. How cool is it that your BFF ended up becoming your sister-in-law. Sweet.
Have a fab weekend!
This Pay it Forward is such a great idea!
Cool story about the other Laura Pauling. I’m definitely going to take a look at ice cream for breakfast…
Okay I meant “the other Pauling”, not “the other Laura Pauling”. Fingers moving faster than brain this morning. Definitely need some breakfast.
Thanks for sharing. Awesome you and Susan are friends and related now. I’m a new follower.
I mentioned you this morning before I knew you were doing this Blogfest.
And how cool that one of your best friends became your sister-in-law.
I agree. Three is the best way or it would get way too overwhelming. Three was perfect! When we were young adults, Susan came to live with me, right when I started dating the guy next door. Well, the guy next door had a brother and the rest is history! It’s been great.
This is such a great idea for a blogfest. I hadn’t heard about it until today when I saw all the Pay It Forward subject lines! Heading on over to check out these blogs. 🙂 Have a great weekend, Laura!
Wow, that’s awesome that you sister in law also writes. Mine don’t. But my 17 yo niece does. Not that we have the same last name anymore.
Off to check out the links now. 😀
Aw! Seeing this was such a nice surprise this morning 🙂 Thanks so much, Laura!
And how awesome that your sister-in-law has been your BFF since middle school! And a writer, too! Love that!
Have a great weekend!
These people sound great! So many to choose from in the blogfest:)
Nice to meet you Laura!
Awww! I love the BFF story! Your blog suggestions sound awesome. I’m off to check them out!
Ava is already one of my fav’s, but I will def check out the other two. And Twitter is hating me today, because I can’t pull up your SIL’s acct! 🙁
Thank you so much for including me! It was a wonderful surprise this morning and I’m definitely checking out those other two blogs. 🙂
This blog fest is a great idea! Thanks for the links.
Happy weekend,
Karen 🙂
Cool!- thanks for sharing your SIL’s blog too!
Ava is one of my favorite follows too! But thanks for introducing me to two new ones. 🙂
I love Marisa too! (She’s one of my CPs).
Thanks for the list, I like the way your mind works, so I have a feeling I will love the other two blogs.
And you do a wonderful job paying it forward, Laura.
*heads over to your selections*
I love this blogfest!
Going to visit now! Thanks Laura. 🙂
how very cool! Your sister in law… Will check these out–thanks, Laura! <3
Hi, Laura! I don’t know a couple of those, so I’ll get to meet a couple of new friends. It’s been GREAT to see you spotlighted all over the place today! 🙂
Laura, all new sites to me. I look forward to checking them out.
~Kate
These are great blogs. Thank you. It’s nice to have a similar passion with your sister in law.
Happy Hopping.
Laura forgot to mention that we both had baby boys on the same day. I love to add that one to the end of our story. 🙂
Hi Susan *waves*
Yes, our sons were born on the same exact. #notplanned
Wow best friends that became sister in laws, that’s a pretty cool story.
I’m off to check out Marisa’s blog. We wacky moms must stick together.
Becca @ The Bookshelf Muse
I love Marisa, and I’m going to make those ice cream for breakfast waffles! Cute!
Thanks for the other recommendations!
Good choices; there can never be enough writer blogs, right?
Off to see the other sites! Thanks!
Man, I’m getting dizzy with all these recommendations! I need like a whole day just to go visit all these new blogs that I didn’t know about. Have I been under a rock or what?
I wish I’d heard about this blogfest. Wonderful idea! but yes, so hard to narrow it down! I like how your three picks weren’t ALL writing-related. I love mom-related blogs too and Jesus or ministry-related blogs.
I absolutely love Saumya’s blog at http://saumyadave.blogspot.com. She always inspires me or gets me to think. Going to her blog is almost like going out for coffee and chocolate with a good friend 🙂
This bloghop was a great idea. Nice meeting you!
IT’s a great idea for a blog hop so I agree.
You’ve introduced me to three I’ve never heard of! So many blogs — so little time 😛
Wow, I don’t know any of those bloggers! Good suggestions. Thanks for participating in our blogfest.
Hi Laura,
Just stopping by to say hello. Great blog fest! Your blog recommendations sound wonderful. If I don’t check them out today, I’ll be back later to click on their links. Thanks!
I’m now following you from the Pay It Forward Blogfest.
Thanks for the suggestions for new hops on the blog highway.
How cool that you’ve known your sister in law for so long! I’ll check out her blog. And that ice cream for breakfast is so clever. I might try that myself!
i missed the pay it forward hop, so stopping by fashionably late! nice to meet u 🙂
It is hard to narrow it down to three! I am glad that you signed up for the October Blogfest because that’s how i found your blog.:) I am a new follower.
Aloha Laura,
Found you via a “bluddy” (blog buddy:) of mine who heard about you via your Writer’s Hero award from The Bookshelf Muse blog.
I’m still a newbie, so my eyes remain boggled as I come across amazing blogs such as yours and the Muse. However, my addition would be http://rookiescrivener.blogspot.com/
Ara’s blog is chocker full of great info and he tweets like a fiend (He’s a bluddy good friend 🙂
Mahalo, and aloha!
Mark