Mom Blogger Knows Best

Blogs

A Directory of OC Moms on the Web Who Offer Advice, Musings and Rants

When your mother needed to know how to handle a colicky baby, she likely consulted her mother. And while you may still dial your mom when these parenting questions spring to mind, today there is a new source for this information: the mom blog.

Mom bloggers have taken over the blogosphere with their suggestions, anecdotes and rants. Some keep it strictly business, posting expert advice about getting your kid to try spinach or how to lose those final pregnancy pounds. Others talk about these ideas in a different way, using personal experiences of trial and error as advice while showcasing their lives and the lives of their children.

For Becky Brigade, author of “Hippo Brigade,” blogging is a means by which to gain introspection. “Not that I was never introspective before, but writing about things makes everything come alive in a different way.”

Moms rely on blogs not only as a source of information but as a way to connect with other moms from all over the world and send out support to one another. Single moms, working moms, angry moms, happy moms, entrepreneurial moms, political moms and every kind of mom you can think of make up this vast social network.

We’ve compiled a collection of some of the women in OC who are blogging their way through motherhood. You’ll find a number of stories and pictures shared by these creative women that are sometimes heartwarming and sometimes humorous. You’ll also come across a number of delicious recipes, fantastic ideas for projects and activities with your children, and exciting coupons and giveaways. Hopefully these blogs will inspire you to make your own pair of Toms or to even start documenting your own life with words and photographs.
 

OC/SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MOM BLOGS

	Rage Against the Minivan Kristen Howerton, Costa Mesa www.rageagainsttheminivan.com What It’s About: Here, you might find musings about the impact of the skinny jean on Kristen’s self-esteem, her tendency to spill food on her laptop, and her inappropriate crush on Jon Stewart.
	The Vintage Mama Lydia Poblano, Orange County thevintagemama.com What It’s About: This is a beauty and style blog by a mom who, before blogging, was a licensed skin care therapist. You’ll find articles about great skin care and easy makeup.
	A Sweet Dose of Truth Jo Ashline, Orange County www.asweetdoseoftruth.blogspot.com What It’s About: A blog following a family’s journey with a special-needs child as seen through the eyes of this mama.
	Suburban Mama Marcie Taylor, Orange County suburbanmamas.wordpress.com What It’s About: One mama’s short and sweet narratives about suburban life with her children.
	Angry Julie Monday Julie (also known as Angry Julie), Orange County www.angryjuliemonday.com What It’s About: This mom blogs about everything from parenting, to her life at home, to just about herself. This is a fun blog full of pictures and entries all written with a great sense of humor.
	Grin and Bake It! Kate Robinson, Orange County grinandbakeit.com What It’s About: A food blog by a mom who loves to bake. She provides her readers all sorts of sugary sweet recipes and many pictures of her creative cookie designs.
	Day Tripping Mom Aracely Worley, Yorba Linda daytrippingmom.com What It’s About: A great resource for families to plan fun activities and adventures in Southern California. This blog is the ultimate guide to activities that will be fun but easy on your wallet.
	This Mama Makes Stuff Carrie Lundell, Orange County thismamamakesstuff.com What It’s About: A blog about a mom’s artful and active family life. Here you’ll find her craft project ideas and a record of the events in her daily life.
	Whoorl Sarah James, Newport Beach whoorl.com What It’s About: A blog about the glamorous life of being a mom. This blog features fashionable goodies that interest this mom as well as some shared precious moments in everyday life.
	Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice Kathleen Enge, Orange County kathleenssugarandspice.com What It’s About: This mom highlights the necessities in a mother’s life beyond her family, which include delicious recipes, shopping, and everything else inspired by Haagen Dazs.
	Tiny Oranges Jennifer Scheumann, Orange County www.tinyoranges.com What It’s About: A fresh, fun blog featuring the juiciest places, spaces, products, services, outings and ideas for OC moms and their little ones.
	FunOrangeCountyParks.com Blog Michele Whiteaker, Orange County www.funorangecountyparks.com What It’s About: A blog that caters to adventurous moms who want their children involved in their active lifestyles. It features her suggestions to great places to do things with your kids.
	According to Kelly Kelly, Orange County www.according-to-kelly.com What It’s About: A blog full of color and pictures. This mother of three shares some of her recipes, ideas for crafts, daily outfits, and stories about the marathons she participates in.
	Raising my Rainbow C.J.’s mom, Orange County raisingmyrainbow.com What it’s About: A blog about the adventures in raising a slightly effeminate, possibly gay, totally fabulous son.
	Eli’s Lids Kara-Noel Lawson, Orange County www.elislids.com/blog What It’s About: This blog belongs to a creative entrepreneur stay-at-home mom who runs a business that was inspired by her love for her son. She shares pictures and stories from her life.
	Momfluential Ciaran Blumenfeld, Orange County www.momfluential.net What It’s About: Ciaran’s blog is a not merely another suggestion site but a carefully selected collection from influential mom bloggers as well as some personal musings of her own.
	Three Before Thirty Jennifer Klein, Orange County 3before30.com What It’s About: The everyday struggles and musings of a mother with three children and her reflection on her everyday challenge of having to find a balance between her children and her career.
	Thoughts of a Mommy Liz Cerezo, Southern California www.thoughtsofamommy.com What It’s About: Motherhood, giveaways and product reviews and all from a Latina’s point of view. You will find the latest in family-friendly product reviews and giveaways for today’s familia!
	Twenty-Four at Heart Suzanne Haggerty, Dove Canyon twentyfouratheart.com What It’s About: A blog that follows a mom that has been through a terrible accident and has undergone eight surgeries. She shares her stories of daily life, often poking fun at OC stereotypes.
	Ramblings about Life Kristi Davis, Yorba Linda www.kristibug.com What It’s About: A techie mom giving tips to all fellow mothers about dealing with modern technology. It traces the days of a successful mother who still makes time for her kids and family.
	Nine More Months Angela Bishop, Orange County www.ninemoremonths.com What It’s About: This blog was started as a documentation of one mom’s second pregnancy but the process made her fall for the world of blogging.
	Send Chocolate Tina Cruz, Orange County www.sendchocolatenow.com What It’s About: A blog that follows a mother who conquers motherhood one day at a time as she raises her two autistic children. She lives free of labels and defines herself by things she enjoys.
	Get Carried Away Carrie Braun, Orange County www.get-carried-away.com What It’s About: The journey of this mom who started the blog with her pregnancy and now regularly updates her readers with random bits and pieces of her everyday life.
	Diarrhea of the Keyboard Ani Meador, Irvine keyboardshit.blogspot.com What It’s About: A blog by a single mom with one son, detailing many stories and adventures from her everyday life.
	Elizabeth Esther’s blog Elizabeth Esther, Orange County www.elizabethesther.com What It’s About: Sexism, politics, freedom of speech—there is nothing this mom is afraid of discussing. She writes about whatever amuses her.
	a moon, worn as if had been a shell Elizabeth Aquino, Southern California www.elizabethaquino.blogspot.com What It’s About: This blog got it’s name from one of this mom’s favorite poems, W.B. Yeats’s “Adam’s Curse.” Elizabeth is a writer who documents her life through written posts and photographs.
	Fine Design Aura Garcia, Foothill Ranch www.finedesign-aura.blogspot.com What It’s About: Her blog focuses on design concepts more than her personal life. The goal of “Fine Design” is to educate, inspire and entertain on the subject of lifestyle and interior design.
	Everyday Mama Christine Fox, Southern California www.everydaymama.com What It’s About: This OC mama is rocking motherhood in style. She blogs about everything that pertains to being a mom but also promotes having her own mama-free activities on the side.
	Annalytical Anna Bourland, Orange County annalytical.com What It’s About: This mom writes about everything in life, love, family, and anything else spinning around her head. She rants and reviews books and baby products.
	On the Rox Roxanne Hack, Fullerton roxannima.com What It’s About: A Fullerton mom who is capturing her life with her son as he grows up. She documents his life as a child along with her activities from working at the OC Register.
	Cracking Up Autumn McAlpin, San Clemente www.crackingupmotherhood.blogspot.com What It’s About: This mom shares her reflections on motherhood, showing that no one is perfect. She hopes her words will inspire moms to feel better about their own shortcomings.
	Rockin’ Mama Caryn Bailey, Orange County rockinmama.net/category/personal-bl0g What It’s About: Juggling her nursing career by day and blogging by night, this mom talks about her travels, life as a mother of two and tips on quick snacks during the holidays for children.
	Glitterful Felt Stories Shelby Barone, Aliso Viejo www.feltstories.com What It’s About: Glitter, felt, and craft pictures aside, this mom also shares many product reviews, giveaways, and LA/OC events for fellow moms.
	Alive in Wonderland Suzanne Broughton, Orange County www.emphasisallmine.com What It’s About: Fueled by a desire to show that Orange County isn’t a vast wilderness of Bed, Bath and Beyond stores and soccer fields, this mom writes about her daily life in the OC.
	Single Mom Smarts Pam Brashear, Orange County www.momisa4letterword.com What It’s About: She blogs as written record to show her girls one day. She hopes these posts will show them that she is doing what she can to make their lives special.
	Mama and The Dudes Mandy, Orange County mamamandolin.blogspot.com What It’s About: Mandy blogs about her life—everything from her two twin boys to her engagement to weight loss. Her blog is humorous (if the title alone didn’t suggest that) and full of photos.
	Toddler Trail Jenn, Anaheim www.toddlertrails.com What It’s About: A stay at home mom’s blog about her life with two toddlers. “Toddler Trails” is a directory of toddler-friendly locations and events in Orange County.
	Jess and Luke Hudson Jess, Orange County jessandlukehudson.blogspot.com What It’s About: This blog follows the life of the Hudson family from mama Jess’s point of view. She posts about her son Tyler as he grows, her relationship with her husband and life in general.

More Than a Hobby: How One Mama’s Blog Bettered Her Well-Being

Simply Fit Mama
Brandy Forward, Orange County
simplyfitmama.blogspot.com
What It’s About: A site to keep moms inspired to eat and cook healthy, keep active and fit, and to keep moving forward all while maintaining the responsibilities of a parent, wife, and friend. Here you can find recipes, meal plans, and this mom’s own fitness plans. You may also even find other tidbits here, including her decorating, sewing, and crafting projects.

Why She Started: When I first started blogging in 2007, it was really just a blog about the kids. I started on my journey to better health and fitness when my son began to break out in hives and developed eczema. I realized that the preservative-laden food I had been feeding my family was no good, and something had to change. Once I began eliminating bad food and adding healthy whole foods, my son’s hives went away, his eczema cleared and I dropped some baby weight that had lingered. At this point, I decided to learn more about healthy living and decided to shift my blog more towards real-life fitness and whole food. I believe that foods in their purest form are the best fuel for our bodies. I believe our bodies are amazing and that if we, with consistency and dedication, feed them right and get them moving, we can conquer any challenge!

How It Has Transformed Her Life: Since the shift in my blog and mindset, I have run a couple 5ks, a 10k, a couple half-marathons and countless training miles in between. I have picked up swimming, biking and, more importantly, I have met and been encouraged by an amazing community of women working toward a healthier life, too!

Blogging For Introspection

Hippo Brigade
Beckey Brumfield, Orange County
hippobrigade.com
What It’s About: A blog full of true funny stories in the life of a mom with a great sense of humor.

Why She Started: I was blogging even before I knew what that term meant. I remember writing one of my good friends an email and comparing our relationship to facial hair, or I’d write my husband about the first time I ever wore a bra, and I guess after a while I started to want an audience. Once I realized what blogging was I was like, “YES! I need that in my life!”

How It Has Transformed Her Life: I think blogging has improved my storytelling abilities. I look back on the stuff I used to write three years ago when I started this whole thing, and I’m like, “ew.”