My best of the blogosphere 2012
Well, I have been thinking long and hard about how to kick-start my 2013 blogging. I imagine most people are either
A. Trying to recover from excessive amounts of over eating at Christmas and the New Year (I know I am)
or
B. You’re on a new diet / healthy eating regime (I know I am not!).
So, I have decided that rather than doing a round-up of my posts/cakes/finds from 2012 I thought I would share with you some of the blogs I have found over the last year or so. The ones that have become my firm favorites. Some are foodies and some are not. Some I started following with a work/practical head on and others for pure indulgence. So here are my top 10 in no particular order. I hope you like them.
The Foodie blogs
1. Frugal feeding
This is one of the first food blogs I started following and couldn’t wait for each installment. Frugal makes all his recipes look so easy and they taste really, really great. I made his Tiramisu for New Years Eve and it went down a storm.
I still have his Welsh cakes firmly imprinted in my mind. I remember reading that post on a very cold train platform and thinking I HAVE to make these. That was over a year a go and I still remember them. That’s the sign of a great blog post!
2. The Pink Whisk
This is Ruth Clemens (from the first series of The Great British Bake Off)’s blog. At the end of the series the link to her blog came up on the screen and I was just about to start this blog so it was a great place to feed my baking addiction. Ruth covers all sorts of baking, recipes, decorating and even has a shop. There are also tutorials and a whole “How to..” section. I love the Raspberry & White Chocolate Macaroons
3. Bakearama
I’ve been following Bakearama for a while now and I have learnt so much from her posts. She has so many tips on not only great baking but also on tools and techniques to use. She posts so often she puts me to shame. I love her designs and ideas not to mention the recipes!
4. Baking Joy
This is one of the newest blogs I follow. I came across Joy’s blog when she commented here on CakesBakesAndCookies.com. She’s got a really lovely tone and her posts are really chatty (which I love) not to mention that the bakes all look deelish! Check out her Cointreau Devil’s food cake. No scrap that. Check out her post from yesterday on Dark chocolate chip cookies. I could lick the screen!
5. Sweetapolita
This is one of those cake blogs that you find when you are looking on other people’s blogrolls. It is serious eye candy. The photography is so good and the styling, recipes and design is excellent. I dream of having this blog look that good one day. It’s just beautiful. The first post I saw was this Sprinkled chocolate party spoons. Don’t you just wish you could have had them when you were 5 years old? No? Well how about for your next birthday then?
The Non- foodie blogs
(because I’m not obsessed with baking… honest!)
6. I get a kick out of you
www.igtakickoutofyou.me
If you’re looking for a touch of vintage glamour in your life- whether it’s fashion, interiors or just brilliant buys, then this is the blog for you. It’s always inspirational and is bursting with ideas you just really want for your home and your wardrobe. I wish I had an office as organised as this one! I also love the fact that Carolyn does beautiful illustrations that go with her posts and keeps us updated with her incredible style when she has wedding/ dance/ event to dress for. They’re truly gorgeous.
7.Centsational girl
This is an American blog that is bursting with room makeovers and furniture re-vamps but it’s so much more than that. It always looks bright and sunny (which let’s face it – if you are here in the not so sunny UK you need sunshine) and the style is always so chic. I love the way Kate includes tips on how she takes photos and uses photoshop. It’s a real insight. One of my favorites. I open it as soon as it pops into my inbox.
8. Mummy in Manolos
www.mummyinmanolos.com
Liz is lovely. That is always a great place to start with a blog. I just love all the insights into her luxury PR world. I’ve never been that into shoes (being 5ft10” with a not so tall husband- heels have never been a big part of my life) but I’m am getting more and more swayed by her posts. Liz is also an illustrator and her artwork is gorgeous.
9. Flylady
www.flylady.net
Okay this isn’t a new blog to me. In fact I’ve been a “flybaby” for about 5 years, ever since I wrote a Classy Cleaner page on Woman and Home. It’s thanks to a co-worker pointing me in Marla’s direction that I now have a house that is nearly always clean and is basically organised. “Anything can be done for 15 minutes”. Her mantra is so true. This is a blog that was started by Marla Ciley who wanted to get her home in order and did it one step at a time. Her routines are so great for a control freak like me. Now, if I could just get the kids on the band wagon!
10. Simpledollar
Although this is an American money saving blog and some of the daily posts aren’t relevant to the UK (like their terminology for financial stuff like pensions- what is a 401?) I am completely obsessed with it. Trent has tons of money saving tips and interjects plenty of his family life and experiences in his posts. He was broke and has now paid off his mortgage. That’s the dream isn’t it? I like to read this blog to keep me focused on saving money and not spending more than I earn. It brings things to the forefront of your mind that you may not want to deal with like saving for retirement and insurance etc. I’m a complete fan.
So, what blogs would you put forward for a top 10 blog? I’d love to know……
Thank you! I am so honoured to feature in this list!!
I would honestly say you put me to shame though Emma – let’s just have a combined love of cakes, and long may it continue 🙂
Your a pal my love! Cx
Thank you for including me in your blog round up, you’re a treasure! Xx
My pleasure. I love it. X
Have you started planning what you’re baking for New Years this year? The Tiramisu looked amazing!
Funnily enough I have….and I’m not one for being organised and planning ahead! I just made some French Onion soup from the Leiths How to Cook Book which was AMAZING. So I know that my new Apple and Almond pudding (coming to a blog post near you soon!) will work really well with it. Now I just have to figure out what Tim can cook for the main course! Any ideas?
EmmaMT