Best of the Blogs
Holy shitballs. No seriously. There’s no other way to begin this post. Them there was a LOT of blogs you had me looking at for the past few days.
My cat slept on my head last week by the way. Literally splayed on my face with her uterus right on my forehead. This totally isn’t relevant at all, but I wanted to tell you before I forgot. My biggest regret in life is that I can’t go back in time to let Laura Ingalls know that a cat makes a surprisingly comfortable sleeping bonnet.
So last Friday I composed a partial list of 10 of my favourite websites. Spots 9 and 10 were left open for suggestions. And you suggested. A lot. So I spent an entire day looking at all the sites.
I discovered a few things about myself. I have absolutely no attention span and it takes something really bright and shiny to get my atten … OH MY GOD OHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGOD. Sorry. What was I saying? I was distracted by … I can’t remember. But it was … oh who knows. What? Who the hell are you and what are you looking at me for?
Oh right … writing a post.
So, yes. I have no attention span and I’m easily distracted. So the blogs that held my attention tended to have really great layouts or really great pictures to hook me in immediately. And simple. Too much going on and I immediately felt like I was developing Bells Palsy. So I had to leave.
I also found myself drawn to sites that were completely different than mine. It’s not that the sites like mine weren’t good, it’s that I live with this site every minute of every day and sometime’s it’s nice to go somewhere completely different.
Having said all that, I did come up with 2 favourites. The first was a hands down winner and the second was an absolute struggle.
Everyone drumroll on their thighs please ….
#1. http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com I couldn’t explain this blog if I tried. You’ll have to go and see. FUNNY.
#2. http://www.notmartha.org/ I really, really struggled with this one because it’s such an established blog. Hardly a “new find”. She recently celebrated her 10 year anniversary as a blogger and it hardly seemed fair to compare her blog to yours, or mine for that matter. It’s in a whole other category. BUT that’s what this list is. A list of the very best. And this site certainly is.
Since there were so many sites I looked at I couldn’t help but find a bunch more that are also great. Ones I will definitely be visiting again to see what they have to offer. All of these sites grabbed my attention immediately for one reason or another. And that’s the thing about bloggity blogging isn’t it? With so many out there, unless there’s something to peak someone’s interest immediately, they’ll be gone and they’ll be gone forever. It’s worse than television this racket.
So I have for you a list of honorable mentions. I couldn’t help it. These sites were too good to go unnoticed.
Honorable Mentions
~ Design ~
http://fortheloveofahouse.blogspot.com
~ Crafts & People Who Excel at Crafts ~
Great iPhoto tips! REALLY great iPhoto tips. Plus good pics to look at of knitting and stuff. And flowers. And that sort of thing.
~ Funny ~
http://timmythewienerdog.blogspot.com
Funny with a capital F. U.
http://www.byebyepie.typepad.com
Really good, funny writing but without being all “look at me, look at me, I’m funny! Watch me wear this lampshade on my head and talk with a really bad, fake British accent!”.
~ Food ~
And finally you have to go and see this particular post from Aubrey and Lindsay.
http://aubreyandlindsay.blogspot.com/2011/05/5-minute-cake-pop.html
The idea is SUPER-SMART and I tried it within 1/2 hour of reading it. Yes I had the ingredients on hand. What of it?
And that is all I have for you today. Now I have to go and practice getting really good at food photography. I give it 1/2 hr. before I get bored and just eat the food. Or get distracted by a shiny bit of sauce.
Have a super fantastic (long if you’re in Canada) weekend!
alicia
Both choices are absolute favorites of mine! Hyperbole and a Half makes my laugh just thinking of it. Thanks for sharing the honorable mentions, too.
Karen
Alicia – I know! It’s hilarious. The good news is I found the site! Yay! The bad news is, I’m now considering posting fewer posts in the week so I can focus more on the writing and not have to whip them out so quickly. I wanna spend more time on the writingggggggggggg. Prepare for it everyone. ~ karen
Laura
too many great blogs.. ahhhh
Kate
Oh my gosh. Just last week I sent my sister a link to your post about Sweet Potato Fries because I knew she would love it, and in return she sent me a link to Hyperbole and a Half! Now we’re both addicted to each other’s respective recommendations and she went on a city-wide hunt for Sriracha Sauce (yes I had to find the post again to figure out the spelling).
I’m never going to get anything done at work now.
Karen
LOL. Thanks for the recommendation! I appreciate it. Sriracha Sauce needs to be consumed whenever possible. Delicious! ~ karen!
Jenn
Hyperbole and a half rocks! She makes me wheeze every time I read her.
The dogs moving post? I couldn’t breathe without rasping for days, I laughed so hard.
Good choice.
Now I’m off to look at some of the honorables…
Adrienne Audrey
great choices. I have some new ones to add to my must read daily list for sure!
amy walters, aDESIGNdock
Love the list Karen ;)
Annika
Thanks. Now I will have to spend the day looking at all of these!
Brenda Watts
Karen…ALL of my ‘dog’ friends LOVE hyperpole & a half..we share every post on fb..Great choice.
Thank you so much for including mine…I am thrilled. Will spend a cold & rainy weekend {grrrr} checking out the rest. Smiles, from PEI.
Karen
Brenda! You’re welcome. You have lovely work! ~ karen
Lindsay
Yay! Thanks for the mention and now my day is shot looking at all of these new blogs! Ack.
Karen
Lindsay – I *really* did do the cakesicle thing. Cakepop. Whatever. I just happened to have some Krispy Kreme donut holes in the freezer and a can of frosting in the pantry! Thx.! ~ karen
June Gardens
See, I always thought of myself as kind of “look at me, I’m funny with the lampshade on my head” funny, but I am glad you see me as more…subtle. And thanks for honorably mentioning me! In the same category as these other good blogs! Which totally just made me sound like a suck-up! (Also, all my fake accents end up sounding Finnish. You need an impression of your Asian friend? He’s gonna sound like Sven from Helsinki, over there.)
Annette
Checked out your site per the above recommendation — my least favorite word in the English language is “veggies.” You’ve just got yourself a new fan!
Karen
June – I take back the lampshade thing. ;) Glad to add you to the list. Sorry ’bout your cat. ~ karen
CJ
Oh wow I am so going to lose more than a day looking at these – I may need to pace myself…
Karen J
Thanks for the mention Karen!
Yes, I’m on a mission to show the world that mosaics don’t have to be ‘ugly and stupid’(lol).
Love the honesty about your attention span:)
Happy May Two-Four!
Karen
Karen J – Happy May 2-4 right back atcha! ~ karen
Devin
I’m glad Not Martha made the top ten! I wanted to comment last week and suggest her site, but then I forgot.
Now I’m off to check out Hyperbole and a half… although if it really is as funny as you say, I’m not sure that’s such a good idea being at work and all!
Christina
I contemplated trying to pretend that it’s cool but not a big deal that you included me as an honorable mention, you know, so I’d look cool. But it is a big deal. And I am psyched. Thank you so much Karen! And I really appreciate that you appreciate that I credit my sources. ^.^ Thanks again!
Karen
Christina – Congratulations! And I really do appreciate a blog that properly credits. Plus you have purdy pictures! :) ~ karen
Erin @ Lemon Sugar
Ahhhhhh!! This made my day! Thank you! I’d make you some cupcakes if you lived nearby. Or pizza. Or whatever you wanted.
I love the other blogs you listed, too. Can’t wait to read them all, one by one!
And NO ONE is gonna wipe this goofy smile off my face all day long. =) Thanks again!
Karen
Erin – Thanks for the beautiful blog pictures to look at! And just so you know for future reference and future food items … I’m more of a savory than sweet kindda gal. ;) ~ karen
Michele
Time suck much? Thanks Karen. Love them so far.
Susie
Oh my gosh – no kidding – was just thinking the exact same thing! MAJOR time suck!! MAJOR! But, I can’t help it – now I’m hooked – is there a blog-readers anonymous I can go to? Because I need it badly…..and to do my laundry and dishes and feed the cats….oh and grocery shop….when did I last shower?? : ) still smiling tho….keep up the good work Karen!
Kate S.
These Roving Eyes is my new favourite blog, every shot is so beautiful and he does have great hair :P
Thanks again Karen for helping me be a more effective procrastinator.
Bella
Can’t wait to check them out. What a fun post.
bex pow
Ok… so excited and very curious.. I had to find that kitchen you mention and OMG! There are no words to describe. You are so so so right about it. Who are those people!
And I had to look at hyperbole… gobsmack hooked! It definitely deserves no.1 spot! :))
Kristin
Karen,
I found you recently through the Nester and was instantly in love. I didn’t think I could possibly find anyone more funny and entertaining, but… (please don’t take this in a negative way) HOLY CRAP! I just read two posts on Hyperbole and a Half (about her retarded dog) and I’ve been laughing so hard I have tears in my eyes. (And I have a cold right now, so you can probably imagine what the snorting has been doing to my nasal passages and need for tissues.)
Thank you SO MUCH for sharing. Hands down winner, indeed. But don’t worry – I still love you.
Karen
Kristin – I understand. Don’t worry. However, that cinches it. I cannot do the kind of writing I want and do 5 posts a week. It’s gettin’ cut down folks. Sorry! ~ karen
marné
Wow, I don’t know if I deserve to be in this list, but thanks for adding me! I better go write some more iPhone posts :)
And dammit, my favorites folders are getting out of control, and now I’m going to have to add all these blogs too!
for the love of a house
I am so honored to be honorably mentioned:)! Thank you! It’s great to meet you (and the other blogs you’ve named), and may I just say that you are a hoot!! seriously… you’re day-umm funny!!
joan
Karen
Joan – Nice to meet you too. And yes. You have the most beautiful kitchen in the world. In fact I had it as the desktop picture on my computer for a few days! I loveeee your artwork and antique frames as well. Beautiful! ~ karen
Anj
I just have to share with you Laugh out loud humour A little off colour, a lot quirky, http://www.15minutelunch.com/
Scroll down on the right hand side under “Favourite Posts of Mine” start with “1977 JC Penney’s Catalog”
It is the type of observational humour that just makes me crack up. I also loved from Feb 2011 “Do you like boxes of shit in your house? Get a cat”
His Mexico trip reports from this year and last year are hilarious.
Hope some others enjoy this. As a girl who likes to blurt out the word Penis just to shake things up, I know Karen will.
Pam'a
ROFL… I went to the 1977 JC Penney’s Catalog post. Remember that picture of the ghastly barrel furniture upholstered in naugahyde? It was in our basement when I was growing up. That probably explains a lot.
Jason Hudson Dot Com
Eep!
Thanks! How sweet.
Karen
Eep! You’re welcome! :) ~ karen
Joni Nawrocki
Damn you, Karen! I had just gone through my scads of RSS feeds, deleted a bunch, and now I’m adding to it again. I give up.
Karen
Joni – Sorry. Punch me in the nose the next time you see me. ~ karen
Taylor
I had only heard of ONE of these blogs (not martha) so I’m very excited to check out the rest of the list! Thanks for referring them!
Taylor
http://www.maryjanesandgaloshes.com
Michelle
I now hold you solely response for the loss of the next 48 hrs as I check out these favs ;)
Micol
Great choice karen! I spent two ours reading Hyperbole and a half, much more than funny. A pure gem. I was laughing so loud that My husband woke up.
Brianne
Have you ever seen Dooce.com? :)
(btw – new reader, and I LOVE your blog. You crack me up!)
Karen
Hi Brianne – Yes, I’ve been to the Dooce site, I like it. Why do you ask? Thanks for visiting the blog! ~ karen
Brianne
I was a little late on the blog recommendations and it is another favorite of mine that I share with whomever I can. :)
This blog is definitely a new favorite!
Karen
Karen…
Thanks! what a great post…I have already lost about a half a day…going for gold.
So many beautiful things to look at and do!!
Gotta start tinkling :)
LOVE your blog.
Karen (that’s my name too)
Karen
Thanks Karen (that’s my name too) – You could be sucked into reading all these blogs and posts foreverrrrrr. :) ~ karen (that’s my name too)
Auntiepatch
I just spent 4 hours on “for the love of a house”! And then another hour on the others. What will I tell my husband when he asks what I did all day??? LOL!
Auntiepatch
And my name is Karen, too ~