So You Want to Start a Blog? Blogging Platforms - A Simple Review

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If you have ever read anything on starting a blog, you've likely heard of Blogger and Wordpress.  Blogger was one of the first platforms created for the blogging world in the sense we understand it today.  It was also acquired by Google in 2003.  In 2003, Wordpress also began.  The latest statistic is that Wordpress.org runs 30% of the world's websites including big companies like CNN, Fortune, NBC, and TechCrunch.

Gratitude and Incorporating It into Everyday Life

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We all get into the rush and tumble of everyday life. When we do, we tend to forget being grateful for what we have, tend to only focus on the negative, and/or keep imagining all of the other stuff we want/"need". I am certainly guilty of all of these. In fact, as I reviewed my gratitude log, I realized in 3 weeks time, I only did 6 entries. I didn't exactly meet the everyday goal...

Depression, PPD, and Decades of Living Through It: Chapter 3: Part 2

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As I was entering my mid-thirties, I had a lot of things going for me. I had my dream job, I was engaged, we were moving into a great townhouse, I had picked my dream china pattern, and my future husband loves silver. There were some not so great things intertwined in my want to be fairy tale life. For the first part, go here.

August Reading List

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Instead of waiting until the end of the month to do a reading list, I thought I should start posting earlier instead of after the fact. So this month, I've been obsessed with The Maze Runner series.

In the first book, The Maze Runner, Thomas arrives in the Glade without his memory in a box that deposits him in the midst of a group of boys. Think Lord of the Flies meets the future that is in total upheaval. There is definitely a pecking order and each boy is assigned a job. The Glade is surrounded by walls on each side that close up every night. Runners have the job of trying to map the maze that encircles The Glade to try and find a way of escape. It's very much a young adult read but it's a good story of what trust is, is the individual or group more important, and what determines friendship.

The Scorch Trials continues the Maze Runner saga. They've escaped the maze but what follows is anything but better. The Gladers learn the Sun Flare has ruined the world as they knew and has infected most of the population with "the flare". WCKED is the group that put them in maze to try to find a cure and now they are testing them even further in this next set of trials set in The Scorch where humans don't quite act like humans but more like crazed, rabid animals.

The Death Cure is the third installment of the saga. I'm still in the middle of getting through this one, but it definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat. Thomas continues to fight for his life, his friends, and to try and take down WCKED. More to come as I finish.

The Maze Runner movie franchise starts out very much in line with the first book. However, then it dramatically departs from the storyline in the books. That being said, although different, I think they are still very good. Some of the things depicted in the books would just be too difficult to try and convey on the big screen.

The Tea Girl from Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See is by far one of the most moving books I've read in a long while. I have loved Lisa See's books since I first read Shanghai Girls which was the first encounter I had with her work. I've since read most of her books, heard her speak, and been a loyal fan for years. The Tea Girl follows an Akha through her life in Yunnan province.

The Akha people are one of the 55 minority groups that exist within China's borders. Yes, China definitely has more than just Han majority. I actually spent 3 weeks in Yunnan province in 2001 and went to some of the places mentioned in The Tea Girl. It is a beautiful province that was extremely poor both in the novel and my personal experience.

Times have changed over the past 20 years and with the growth of the tea industry, Yunnan has become famous for their Pu'er tea. Tea is at the center of this story and how it shapes the life of Liyan. It is how her peasant family made a meager living prior to the opening of China and how Liyan ultimately triumphs. It the story of loss, love, struggle, enduring and overcoming.

It is also the story of mothers and daughters - a unique bond that defines who we are as girls and women the world over no matter race, creed, religion, or background. Read this book!

What have you been reading?

Sunshine Blogger Award - 2nd Nomination!

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The Sunshine Blogger Award

I was nominated for this award for the second time by Halos and Life.  I started blogging in May and it is so humbling to have been nominated twice.  

July Reading List

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How I have managed to keep up with books over the past month is some what beyond me, but thank goodness for audiobooks! Without them, I definitely would not be able to tear through so many books a month. Here's July's Reading List a little late!

Depression, PPD, and Decades of Living Through It: Chapter 3: Part 1

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In case you missed Chapter 2, you can find it here.  Sorry for the delay in writing, but we moved last Thursday and my life has been a literal wreck.  I can't find anything and boxes are everywhere which is driving my anxiety through the roof!

Journaling For Mental Health

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Journaling For Mental Health

If you are someone that suffers from stress, anxiety, or depression, you should definitely be writing in your journal every single day.  Journaling is therapeutic, helps you get rid of all those thoughts and feelings without burdening someone else, and provides a host of benefits for most everyone.

Depression, PPD, and Decades of Living Through It: Chapter 2

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In case you missed Chapter 1, you can find it here. As college came to an end, I was finally medicated and sleeping.

My Top 10 Favorite Bloggers - That You Should Follow Too

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First, the list in no particular order or rank:


My Passion Projects / @blog_mpp / @bloggerclan
Llama Punch / @llamapunch1103
Elle Goes Global / @ellegoesglobal
Phigella / @Phigella
Real Mom Blog / @realmomblogcom
My Best Friend Adeline / @joansenio1
Seaweed Kisses / @seaweedkisses
Travels with Thomosaurus / @travellingrex
Tales from Home / @talesfromhome
Hearthandmadeuk / @hearthandmadeuk

Now to the juicy part - why I think they are fantastic!

Why Everyone Should Have a Journal

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Journaling is not just something certain creative individuals do, but it should really be something everyone does. Journaling helps in so many ways, from finding triggers to your stress, to helping with physical and mental health, and of course being a creative outlet.

Depression, PPD, and Decades of Living Through It: Chapter 1

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It scared me when I created the above title and picture that it has, in fact, been decades that I have suffered from depression.  I will be 38 in August and have suffered from depression since I was as young as 10 and probably earlier.  I read tonight a blog, www.wildtypebeauty.com, and was taken through this woman's inner struggle with depression and anxiety.  

The Versatile Blogger Award

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I am so honored to have been nominated for the Versatile Blogger Award! A Huge thank you to Laura Eslick of The Cornish Maid for nominating me!

July Goals - Mid Year Review

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Can't believe June is coming to an end. I feel like the month just began and here we are at the end already. I kind of feel that way about the whole bloody year. Seriously, how can it be July?? I'm having a hard time believing that I've actually accomplished several big goals this year already.

2018 Reading Challenge Courtesy of @AnneBogel

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June's Reading List

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As I mentioned in my May Reading List, reading is my favorite.  Yes, hear it in a 7 year's old voice almost at the point of a whine.  As an only child, it was my primary form of amusement.  Finding good books to read always makes me smile.  This month's reads seemed to have a theme of what matters to the soul, what is integrity, and how do we define loyalty.  I certainly didn't think I was embarking on a soul-searching selection of books this month, but alas, I guess I have.

Fun Facts About Me - Bella Inspired Grace

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I'm part of a Bloggers group #BloggersUnite and found a another interesting blogger, Paul. His blog is https://brutalhonestyblogger.wordpress.com . His most recent post is all about him and his thoughts on the type of blogger he is. So I thought I'd tell everyone a little about me.



1. I love fonts, especially handwritten ones.

2. I have never felt creative but I keep trying every day.

3. I love being barefoot.

4. I randomly find half used journals from my youth.

5. I really don't understand Instagram.

6. I'm not a big picture taker.

7. Reading is my obsession.

8. I really like learning code like html, css.

9. Secretly, I am a HUGE dork.

10. Doing anything on the water makes me happy.

11. I hate sand. Like really hate it and will not sit on a towel on the beach.

12. I can be very Type - A and OCD.

13. I built my website on 5 different platforms before choosing Blogger.

14. I love bullet journaling but don't feel like I'm good at it and I certainly don't use it as it was created.

15. In the past 2 years, I have completed 2 life dreams: having a baby girl and owning my dream home.

What are some fun facts about you?

Fun Facts About Me - Bella Inspired Grace

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Best Places for Cheap #Bujo Supplies

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As you might be able to tell, I really love all things journaling.  I love pens, washi tape, glue sticks, glitter glue, markers, brush pens, notebooks of every kind, paint....you get the idea.  I am also very cheap; not to mention, if I bought every journaling supply I wanted, I would be broke.  I don't know why these supplies are so expensive but they are!  It's annoying, but I've found some workarounds.


The Wish App or Wish.com has been the best find I've found so far.  Now, granted you have to be patient.  The stuff I've received has shipped direct from China which means it takes 6 plus weeks to get to you.  That being said, Frixon erasable pens are $1 a piece!

A pack of 10 fineliners for $4!!!

Black Fine Line pens (6) for $5!!!

These I've all purchased myself and DO NOT get a commission if you purchase.  They all work fantastically.  Although the white writing on the outside of the black pens is starting to rub off within 2 months, but who cares?  The pen still works!!



Dollar Tree has great stuff and EVERYTHING is a buck!  They have washi tape, pens, glue sticks, markers, colored pencils, crayons, every type of school supply you could want.  The washi is cute too!  Just look at the picture below!

They even have PRINTABLES!  I didn't know that Dollar Tree had a loyalty program, but they do which is where I found the printables and TONS of other ideas for stuff!

They even have recipes!  Think I'll make these egg cups tonight!

Clearly, I love the Dollar Store!  💗💗💗❣

Of course, I have to mention Dollar General if I'm going to mention Dollar Tree.  The selection can be a bit limited, but for basics it's awesome!

$5 for a portable art set - sign me up!

They even have art pastels for $3!  I haven't purchased these yet because I didn't want to invest in pastels and end up hating them.  For $3, I'll try it!

  Last, but not least, there's Amazon which of course has everything!  However, it isn't always the cheapest.  That being said, the huge value add is you don't have to leave the house and go to the store and search through a bunch of crap you don't need or want.  You type in the search bar and voila - there it is!  Here are a couple of my recent favorite finds for under $5:

Have I mentioned the Frixon Erasable Pens?  Oh Wait I Have, but I LOVE THEM!!

So, there are my top picks for cheap journaling/bujo supplies!

What are your favorites?