MM: Marvelous Mondays, 16 Blogs I Like

This week’s marvelous Mondays is going to be a bit different.

When I first started blogging I just did it because I had thoughts I wanted to get out of my head & into something more permanent.  I also wanted to show people the joys of eating vegan –that it can be health-promoting, yes, we all know that, but it can also be fun & food can taste good.

Because I was so busy having babies, working, & putting a husband through law school, I didn’t have much time to be a part of the greater blogging world.  I think it would be safe to say I didn’t have a clue about blogging outside my blog.  Not a clue.

Since I decided to make the change to blogging more consistently & I have a bit more time to devote to it & joined up with the folks on Twitter, I’ve realized that it’s a big, big world out there in the blogosphere.  It can be intimidating, especially if you’re new to blogging, which I’m not, but as I said before, I might as well be, considering how little I knew about the greater blogging world.

Point is, since the change, I’ve found some great blogs.  That I like to read.  I subscribe to something like 200 blogs via my Google reader & read on average 20-30 posts a day.  Scanning is one skill I’m glad I picked up in 10th grade English.

I thought I’d share with you some of my favorite blogs, some of the blogs I try to never miss a post.

FYI.  I don’t read just vegan blogs.  In fact, much of what I read is not vegan or fitness related.  I read blogs that touch on topics that interest & inspire me, have good writing, photography, or a combination of both.

Here are my top reads:

Planet Money.  They make economics seriously interesting, I swear.

Healthful Pursuit.  Leanne is an extremely talented photographer.  Always gluten-free, & often vegan recipes, doled out in even, calculated, & beautiful portions.

Alexandra Wrote.  Thought provoking writer, often writes about topics related to online ethics & social media issues like online etiquette.  Brings up issues that need to be talked about in the online world.

Amanda Jane Jones.  Has one of my favorite series about married couples.  Always like seeing those posts.

Design Mom.  Yes, she’s like the super-popular blogging girl.  But she’s got great stuff about being a mom, with style.

Modern Mrs. Darcy.  Thoughtful, intelligent posts about books, women’s issues.

Meg in Progress.  This girl’s a writer.  Love getting into her thoughts.  Always makes me think.

Plant-Powered Kitchen.  Dreena’s my fave, what can I say?  Always great vegan recipes, in classic Dreena fashion.

Roost.  Coco has got such a distinct style that I really admire.  She shares her journey of dealing with her husband being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease & how she’s dealing with it through healthful dietary changes.

Sprouted Kitchen.  Photography & recipes are always inspiring.

Joy the Baker.  This girl is Fiona Apple meets Martha Stewart in the kitchen (not sure if she’d appreciate the later comparison).  Has a distinct voice I enjoy reading.

Pars Caeli.  MJ is new to blogging, but you wouldn’t ever guess.  A mom of 3, she blogs about all sorts of helpful things about life, parenting, fashion, balance.  Always great ideas.

Frock Files.  Joy is a friend I met through Alt Summit.  I’m always excited when she writes a longer post.  Great style & writing.  Wish she posted daily!

Choosing Raw.   Gena blogs mostly about vegan food (high raw diet), in an intelligent, thoughtful way.  I like her.  Hope to meet her someday.

Splendid Willow.  I met this lady at BlogHer Food ’12.  She’s not a food blogger, she’s a designer with good taste.  I really like her in person & online.

Dessert First.  Also from BlogHer Food.  She’s a brilliant food writer & has amazing photography.

Again, I subscribe to, & like many, many more blogs than this, just not enough room to list them all in one post.

Perhaps, I’ll do a 16 blogs I like, part 2?

Hope you have a wonderful week,

P.S.  I guest posted today.  First time.  You can see it, here.

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What are some of your favorite blogs & why?