Guys, there’s an important anniversary fast approaching. It has to do with travel. And blogging. Maybe travel blogging. I don’t want to give too much away.
I’ve had so much fun over the past year writing about travel, thinking about travel, dreaming about travel, actually traveling and essentially living and breathing travel. I’m finally fully immersed in something I feel truly passionate about, and that is a beautiful thing.
I’ve loved becoming part of a community of passionate and talented travelers and writers and getting to read their words and admire their photography through their blogs. And while I adore reading other travel blogs (and trust me, one of these days I’ll list all my favorites here for your convenience) there are times when I prefer to diversify my reading material and step outside the realm of Best Destinations and Travel Hacks and Wanderlust.
Shocking, right? It’s a nice change of pace for my brain, a good exercise in exposing myself to different writing styles, and a great way to get my creative juices flowing in periods of stagnation.
Here are a few of the blogs I’ve fallen head over heels for since diving into blog-o-land and the little ways in which each one keeps me feeling inspired.
A Beautiful Mess
What Is It: A lifestyle blog written by the sweetest pair of midwestern sisters that ever lived with a passion for photography, DIY, baking, and vintage fashion.
Why I Read It: Their photography is beautiful, they have tons of helpful tips for bloggers, and every post they write is dripping with spunky personality.
It Inspires Me To: Never stop creating and to appreciate life’s little details.
ABM Recently Killed It With: Strawberry Grapefruit Mimosas
The Man Repeller
What Is It: A blog about fashion that only follows one rule: If it feels good, wear it. Originally penned by Leandra Medine but now staffed by a veritable army of brazenly brilliant babes.
Why I Read It: It’s refreshingly witty and funny as all hell. I’ve never read a Man Repeller post that didn’t leave me with a huge grin on my face.
It Inspires Me To: Feel empowered as a woman, to wear whatever the hell I want and never apologize for it, and to incorporate more pedantic vocabulary into casual everyday conversation.
TMR Recently Killed It With: Why I Wear Bad Pants
Mark Manson
What Is It: In Mark’s own words, it’s a blog about “unconventional life advice” or “self-help for people who hate self-help.”
Why I Read It: Because it’s funny as hell (are you seeing the pattern here?) and unapologetically real, like that one friend who always tells you what you need to hear, even if it hurts. And because he says things like “I changed career aspirations more often than I changed my underwear.”
It Inspires Me To: Get my shit together.
MM Recently Killed It With: 7 Strange Questions That Help You Find Your Life Purpose
Budget Bytes
What Is It: A blog about feeding yourself like Giada De Laurentiis on a jobless-in-New-York-City budget.
Why I Read It: Because I love to eat good food and, uh, I’m a backpacker.
It Inspires Me To: Get creative once in awhile and realize that I can eat something that’s NOT spaghetti with tomato sauce.
BB Recently Killed It With: Sweet Potato Tortilla Soup
Humans of New York
What Is It: A blog featuring portraits of real people from New York–and more recently, all over the world–and telling their real stories. Humanity is real, man.
Why I Read It: The stories are touching, funny, sad, inspiring, haunting, and uplifting, sometimes all at once. It gives me the major feels.
It Inspires Me To: Be less judgmental and remember that everybody has a story, everybody has a struggle.
HONY Recently Killed It With: This guy.
A Cup of Jo
What Is It: A lifestyle blog by the beautiful Joanna Goddard giving little insights into how to be a classy woman, a task I fail miserably at pretty much daily.
Why I Read It: Her style is relatable and sweet, intelligent and eloquent. She’s open and honest about marriage and family life, something which, believe it or not, I want for myself someday. She’s also the one who helped me figure out I’m an introvert.
It Inspires Me To: Be a lady.
ACOJ Recently Killed It With: What Marriage Means
Cody C. Delistraty
What Is It: A digital portfolio of writer Cody’s work where he “explore[s] big questions about the human condition through stories.”
Why I Read It: There’s really only one adjective that comes to mind to describe Cody’s writing: Delicious.
It Inspires Me To: Be a better writer and storyteller.
CCD Recently Killed It With: The Complex Relationship between Writing and Loneliness
If you ever grow weary of all the travel babble you find here on my site, pay one of these guys a visit and shake things up a bit. And then come right back here refreshed and ready for more travel babble.
What blogs do you love? What else should I be reading? Don’t be selfish, share your favorites in the comments!
