blog inspiration






Below are some of my favorite blogs I've found.  I'm always looking for new ones to read so if you have a favorite do say so in the comments.  These all have something to do with saving money, stretching money or just living a beautiful life.


Money Boss - I love this blog because JD's theory is that you run your household and finances as if it were a business, essentially making you the CEO of your life.

Money Diaries - This is a fascinating series on Refinery 29.  It chronicles young women living all over the world and how they spend their money.  It's a real eye opener.

Stone Soup - Fabulous recipes on the cheap.  Not all are vegan but seriously easy and delicious.

One Kings Lane Style Guide - Okay so this isn't exactly the best place to spend your time if you are easily tempted but their style guide shows some of the prettiest homes you'll ever lay eyes on. I get a lot of my inspiration here because I see so many of the items they sell at my local junk stores.  Just a nice place to relax, enjoy and get sneak peeks into great homes.

The Prudent Homemaker - Brandy must have a black belt in money saving because she has 8 kids and a gorgeous garden and home and thrives on very little income.  You'll just have to read to see how beautifully and economically they live.

Enjoy...and don't forget to leave me your favorite blogs.

xo






41 comments

  1. I'm going to enjoy reading all these new blogs, so thanks for doing the research, Janet.
    This lady writes about reducing grocery bills and she shops and eats well within her budget. I live on a small island and food is expensive so I read her shopping tips avidly.
    http://simpleliving31.blogspot.co.uk

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  2. I recommend Frugalwoods. It's a youngish couple (with baby now) but very readable and lots of ideas.

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  3. Here's my favorite online source for investing/financial information: www.bogleheads.org. People post questions/look for information and members post answers - everything from investing advice, saving advice, best things to buy at Costco, good books/movies, best mobile phone plans, retirement advice, how to reduce your grocery bill, etc. The people who post invest with Vanguard mutual funds and are very smart, good with their money, generous with sharing. I've learned a lot.

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  4. I can honestly say that my two most favorite blogs (and I read many) are this one (The Gardener's Cottage) and Hostess of the Humble Bungalow. The Hostess's blog is a very kind and gentle blog, filled with inspiring ideas about living frugally but well, about healthy food and healthy habits, and filled with beautiful photos of the area the hostess lives in, right on the sea. Your readers would really enjoy it.

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    1. Thank you for your kind words about my humble blog...
      like you, I enjoy reading Janet's blog.
      The Gardener's Cottage has been one of my favourites and still resonates with me after all these years.

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  5. Front Forty Farm - Emily has 10 children and is so organized and thrifty! They live on a lovely piece of land.

    Nine and Sixteen - Janet, visit if you haven't yet. Her style is just your cup of tea.

    The Homebook.blogspot Young mom with the sweetest, minimalist home. She loves to clean, Janet! These days she seems to post more on Instagram

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    1. All three of these bloggers consistently post on Instagram.

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  6. I really enjoy Posey gets Cozy (from Oregon) and Frugal Queen (from the UK). I think you would enjoy the blog list on Posey gets Cozy too, especially ViaLiivia (from Finland).

    D.

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    1. I love Posie Gets Cozy too. I just listed it as one of my favorites on my blog! I also visit frequently these lovely blogs: Jones Design Company, Elephantine, Classic Casual Home, and For the Love of a House (I love Joan, her gorgeous home and her three rescue dogs). Oh, and check out Tone on Tone -- Loi Thai is in the Swedish antiques business and has amazing style.
      Claudia

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    2. As always, the comments are part of why one reads this lovely blog of Janet's. Thanks @all for sharing!

      Posie Gets Cozy is one of my longtime favorites, also Elephantine (and her Etsy shop). I prefer these personal blogs (although they mostly post rather infrequently) over the typical blogger of these days who've turned into advertising companies.

      Other reads:
      http://www.ilikewantneed.com/ I've followed Erin's blog for years, nowadays she doesn't post a lot but she's a good one, a lovely writer and photographer.
      https://constancacabral.com/blog/ Constanca is a Portuguese woman living in New Zealand now with her family journaling her life, crafts...
      http://www.laurenliess.com/pure-style-home Decorator Lauren Liess blog, I love her style.
      http://www.oldtownhome.com/ Alex and Wendy from Old Town Alexandria write about the renovations of their homes.
      http://www.deucecitieshenhouse.com/ Alison's DIY skills are pretty impressive. She's also an avid gardener.
      http://hitherandthither.net/ Often a bit too much advertising, but nonetheless a rather pleasant read.
      http://copperdotinteriors.com/blog/ Karen's an interior designer and house flipper.
      http://manhattan-nest.com/ I like Daniel's style, his Kingston kitchen reno on a budget is still my all time favourite.

      Tanja
      xx

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  7. Oh, yes! Posie Gets Cozy is one of my favorites too. Alicia has the most wonderful writing style. I love to read everything she writes.

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  8. Can't wait to check out these blogs! My favorites are For the Love of a House -
    My Old Country House - Assortment by Carmella Rayone - The Inspired Room - Mr. Money Mustache. Happy New Year!
    Betsy

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  9. Thank you for introducing these blogs...all are new to me.
    Watched Garance Dore on One Kings Lane chat about entertaining...I love her style. It looks like a site where I could spend a LOT of time!
    I am going to come back in a few days and see what other blogs your readers suggest...

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  10. http://victoriaelizabethbarnes.com/ is one of three blogs I follow. The others are this site and The Prudent Homemaker.

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  11. I'm always looking for new blogs to be inspired by and especially those that are budget minded. My favorite bog sites are 1) the Gardeners Cottage, 2) 5th and State, 3) Driven by Decor, 4) Talk of the House, 5) Holly Mathis
    Karen

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  12. Hands down your blog is my favorite!

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  13. My current favorite blogs are High Heels in the Wilderness, Hostess of the Humble Bungalow and, of course, The Gardener's Cottage. My all-time favorite was An Urban Cottage, but I believe Steve now only posts on Instagram.

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  14. The Grower's Daughter is another one. Simple, classic home decor in an antique canal home in Canada. She does white very well! She cooks too.

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  15. Has anyone come across a blog named "One Day?" She seems to have disappeared from the internet.

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  16. Besides your, Janet, I love Hostess, Stephen Andrew Jones and How to Be Chic. Fiona Ferris blogs about living modestly, adding simple touches to maintain a chic lifestyle. She has also published a few online books about finances and simple Christmas ideas which are quite good.

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  17. Your blog is my favorite but I also enjoy Rosemary Beck, Content In A Cottage.

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  18. How could I forget ! http://www.classiccasualhome.com/
    Classic-Casual-Home is another lovely blog with beautiful pictures of great home styling - it's also a kind and gentle blog.

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  19. I am finding loads of inspiration from these women: Atypical60.com, girlofacertainage.com, midlifechic.com, styleatacertainage.com, themiddlepage.com and... Maura Endres instagram account!!

    Renee in Northern California

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  20. I love your blog and your style
    I look at too many blogs although some have gone to instagram
    Hooked on Houses.
    Victoria Elizabeth Barnes and Stephen Andrew Jones (both very funny)
    Warren Grove Blogspot. She lives in a beautiful home on Prince Edward Island and her pics are dreamy
    Meg Durkenson (used to be Whatever)She has a former old home that is used for craft weekends.Her blog is filled with kids,animals and lots of rainbows!
    The Cottage Nest is also nice. Corinne


















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  21. Hi Janet, Well of course you are #1 on the list of my favorite blogs! I agree with Patricia, Classic Casual Home is also in my top few favorites, along with Emily A. Clark, Elements of Style and of course Mark D. Sikes! :) (those last two are not on a budget but I still love them for decorating inspiration)

    I will have to check out the others you mentioned here.

    Linda
    xo

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  22. P.S. I have looked at the OKL style guide on occasion, and you are right. Gorgeous homes! That's awesome that you find so much inspiration there.

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  24. Haven't ever heard of Posie Gets Cozy so I'll have to check that out.
    A blog I've found in the last year and loved is Julie Zickefoose. She always talks about how she'd rather go for a run to relax than eat pasta so obviously she and I don't have much in common but she is so interesting and I learn so many things reading her blog. She really inspired me to dust off my childhood field guides and start paying close attention to every little creature around me and that's been really enjoyable. Word of warning, occasionally there are photos of dead animals as she doesn't only focus on the sweet and pretty. It can be a bit jarring but I understand and respect her philosophy.
    Also love Deborah Silver, her garden design and her team's garden design studio is such a dream. And she has adorable corgis.
    I think I've mentioned Use Real Butter to you before but it bears repeating. I've learned about some new ingredients from her. And her dog is Barbie's twin. And I always think it's funny that she hates speciality cooking equipment. How one can love to cook but not be tempted by the vast world of equipment confounds me!
    Also Salt Water New England. That blog has gone in a few directions in the 5ish years that I've read it and it's changing again which I'm glad for. Getting a bit more personal again and opened comments which was always such an enjoyable feature of that blog. I bought my current car based on emphatic responses on one of her posts about cars.

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  25. My favorite is www.travelingspud.com. Katie is taking a year off and traveling. Her pictures are amazing and her Instagram pics are great too. Travelingspud is her name on Instagram. She's traveling on a dime and she gives you great places to check out!

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  26. My favorites are Assortment, Reading My Tea Leaves, and Becoming Minimilist . And I'm enjoying following your DIL instagram on her store. Where does she find all her beautiful vintage items?

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  27. Love any blog That inspirés a life-style, living on a shoes string budget but looking like no budget at all. That's why I like to inspire all the thrifting finds in my home, sharing that one need not buy big mass market retail, but yard and tag sales as well as the not so popular thrift shops can be a gold mind to heartbreaking old pieces that can be brought back to life for pennies and the impact to your home can be powerful.
    In one of my post I share a couple back a $3.99 French chair, before and after posted, and the results were better then I expected and no money was put into its upstyling. Your blog my dear has always inspired the best soulfully living with beauty all around you and budget decorating fabulously.

    I have so many favorites for so many reasons to list, with that being said, a 2017 and all that can inspire is the beauty in sharing.

    Xx
    Dore

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  28. ***spell check, auto corrected my Gold Mine to Gold Mind, I guess a golden mind at work can be a gold mine. :)
    Xx
    Dore

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  29. Love your style and blog. I've been searching for a Ralph Lauren book for my mom -- she has been looking for the one like yours. Can you send me the isbn on yours?

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  30. Hi Janet,
    Thanks for the recommendations. I have followed your blog, since the beginning, and love... Another one that I love is Carmella Rayone- please check her out. She is lovely, living in a 665 sq ft house with 3 "big" boys, and husband. I love her values and appreciation for a life well lived. Happy New Year to you, Larry, and those you love!

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  31. These are wonderful. Love that Brandy at The Prudent Homemaker!

    A favorite I subscribe to is carmellarayone, formerly assortmentblog. Incredible talent on every level.

    Shelley Rose

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  32. I love Small Things by Ginny Sheller. Her beautiful photographs are inspiring.

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  33. Thanks for the Prudent Homemaker rec! Planning to make white bean "alfredo" tonight.

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  34. I like Sarah at La Maison Boheme. She is always trying to simplify, and recently sold her home to save money, specifically because she has a disabled child. She and her family are embracing their new life in their small apartment, and she continues to be grateful and upbeat, but always real. Sarah is an artist, well written, and deeply passionate.

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  35. I love seeing what other blogs people are reading! Thanks for passing on The Prudent Homemaker's blog. I can't get enough of her site! Here's what on my list right now: Sharon' Santoni's blog My French County Home sharonsantoni.com. So lovely. Check out her Flowers in Paris video - my favorite. Design Mom is great - Gabby Blair is a very hip Mormon mother of 6 living Oakland but formerly lived with her family in France for 2 years - great insight, great articles, etc. The Chalkboard Mag (Pressed Juicery's blog) - lots of healthy stuff here, and I love GP's Goop. Great articles, recipes - Gwyneth's recipes never fail to impress me. And of course The Gardener's Cottage! XO

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  36. Content In A Cottage by Rosemary Beck...always a simple inspiration.

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  37. Janet, I utterly love your home and blog. I'm your newest follower and, though not vegan, I share your interest in decluttering, home decor and money management. Just wanted to say I'm reading through your back posts and hoping you don't make your blog private as you earlier stated you might. You give me a lift reading your no nonsense style. My husband and I run our house as a company and have business meetings when we start falling off the wagon. I have tried to encourage my blog's readers to be debt-free (via Dave Ramsey style) and declutter (via Marie Kondo's "Life Changing Magic..." style). In the last year, we have reduced furniture and possessions by 30% but still have a long way to go. I believe the $10 I spend on Kondo's book was the best money I've ever spent. Hope to learn lots from your blog as I journey backwards. Love the white walls you have and hoping to see if you've listed the paint color and brand any where or to ask if you might share in the future?

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kindness is never out of style.

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