Blogging is Expensive

Is it just me or do other bloggers end up reading blogs and shopping?   I started blogging so that I could connect with my kids who live in other places but truthfully my kids tell me they rarely read my blog.  That's why I joined Facebook.   After blogging a year or so I realized the reason I continued to blog is because of the friends I've made through blogging and this continues to be the case.   Meanwhile as I blog I read lots of other inspiring blogs and because of blogging my family has benefited from lots of new recipes and updated home decor.   But I've also done a lot of shopping.   I thought I would take a moment to highlight some of my recent purchases and give credit to the bloggers responsible for my new creative outlets and experiences.

  

Cookie-making Supplies

I love The Sweet Adventures of Sugar Belle!

I already owned a number of seasonal cookie cutters and several copper ones that I treasure but since I started following SASB, I've bought so many more.   Her cookies are pure artistry.  I haven't actually started baking any cookies but at least I have all the supplies and equipment I need when the time comes.  Oh that reminds me, I need to order that paisley cookie cutter. 

Art Supplies

Paris Breakfasts is one of my favorites!   Carol's blog is about much more than art but I love her watercolors.   Not only have I bought all new watercolors and brushes,  I'm working my way through Artist Journal Workshop and have just bought Watercolour Painting.   So far I haven't painted anything but I'm planning to test my talent on my next trip.   Speaking of trips this leads to my next category. 

Travel 

This has been one expensive blog experience though I can't totally blame the bloggers.   Several bloggers have inspired me to travel and sight see both in my local community and abroad.   A few of these include Recollections of a Vagabonde,  Mille Fiori Favoriti, Menton Daily Photo, Elizabeth Minchilli in Rome and my good friend Pondside.   Thanks to Elizabeth I will be making a quick trip to Rome and the Amalfi Coast in December.    Pondside inspires me because I want to meet my pen pal in person and I'm determined that the two of us will meet in person in 2012.

Books

I don't know where to start here as many blogs have inspired me to buy books.   Susan at Between Naps on the Porch is probably responsible for most of my book purchases though there are are plenty of other bloggers who've introduced me to books I've bought and enjoyed.    I always want to live in the pages of books by blogger authors like Vicki Archer, Elizabeth Minchilli, Mary Kay Andrews and Susan Branch but since I can't, I buy their books. 

Classes 
Besides the travel category this is one of the most expensive of blogging side effects but it is one that is great fun too.   Sue at Rue Mouffetard got me started on my first cooking class at Viking Cooking School.   Since then I've taken several classes and on my trip to Italy I will definitely be taking a class or two.   There are many blogs that have inspired me with their writing skills and one of my favorites would have to be Jenny Matlock's blog.   Blogging in general has made me want to improve my writing skills so I recently enrolled in a writing class.   I'm really sad the class has ended but I'm hoping our class can continue to meet periodically as a writer's circle, doing critiques and perhaps inviting other local authors to join our discussions.   The class was fascinating in that it brought together very interesting people with very different backgrounds.   Participants shared such interesting topics through their writing such as, being a young Olympic athlete with a most unusual childhood, dealing with racial issues in the 60s, growing up in the 50s with a gay parent, eccentric family members (we are in the south), dealing with the loss of a parent, experiencing the changing life of a parent with Alzheimer's and growing up in a small southern town.  Julie Cannon was our teacher and I so hope we are able to keep in touch.  I loved the class.  

Like I said, I'll continue to work on the writing but my next class effort will be photography (and a new camera)! 

I'm interested to hear about your blogging (and buying) experiences.