Five Blogs Written by Women that Keep Me Coming Back

Being a good writer is a talent that can be rewarded in many different ways. Some people publish a great book and make millions when their book becomes a bestseller and is turned into a movie. Some people write useful pieces that expand the body of public knowledge. They may not make a lot of money, but their writing makes the world a better place. And some people never earn a cent for what they write or gain any professional esteem, but their writing is able to make other people feel good or teach them something new.

The Internet is fertile ground for good writers, some of whom may never get any monetary or professional rewards for what they do. Blog writing is one way good writers can share their talents with the world. Recently, I've found some blogs written by excellent female writers that keep me coming back for more. Here they are, in no particular order.

Stilettoes In The Sand- (http://stilettosinthesand.blogspot.com/) This is a fascinating blog written by a woman named Sabra whose husband's job took her and her two dogs to live in an eastern province in Saudi Arabia. Sabra writes witty and entertaining blogs about her day to day life in "the sandbox", where she's not allowed to drive, drink alcohol, or import pork products. Like all other women in Saudi Arabia, Sabra must also cover up with an abeyah over her clothes. Besides writing articles about what her own life is like as an American woman in Saudi Arabia, Sabra also frequently posts interesting links to news articles about current events there. She offers a unique American viewpoint of Saudi culture that I find very compelling. I found Sabra's blog after searching the Internet for information on capital punishment in Saudi Arabia. She had written an article about Saudi Arabia's so-called "chop chop" square. Once I started reading, I couldn't stop. I may never get a chance to visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, but Sabra's first person accounts of life over there make me feel like I can at least take a peek.

Life Lessons Of A Military Wife- (http://lifelessonsmilitarywife.blogspot.com/) Written by a three time veteran of Army life, this blog is all about making life easier for military spouses. The author of this blog grew up an Army brat, served in the Army herself, and is currently married to a soldier. She also recently moved to Stuttgart, Germany. I will admit to being partial to this blog because I am myself an Army wife who lives in Stuttgart, Germany, but I also like it because the author posts excellent articles that are both useful and entertaining. This blog is a great source of advice for military spouses, especially those who are new to the lifestyle. It's also a great place to pick up everything from travel tips to employment and education advice.

Lil' Peas In My Pod From God- (http://lilpeasinmypodfromgod.blogspot.com/) I will admit to having nothing in common with Janis, the author of "Lil Peas In My Pod From God", but I do enjoy reading her blog. Janis is a young mother of five who is currently pregnant with her sixth child. She lives in southern California, homeschools her kids, and practices what she calls "unschooling" and "peaceful parenting". I really enjoy reading her articles about how she teaches her kids practical life skills through experiential learning. Janis and her husband are followers of the Quiverfull movement. They embrace having many children as they reject taking on debt. While I don't necessarily agree with the Quiverfull way of thinking, I do find Janis's blog entertaining and informative reading.

Wagnermania- (http://wagnermania.blogspot.com/) Emilee Wagner is a young wife and lawyer who is about to become a first time mother. But that's not why I read her blog. I was directed to Emilee's blog through a Web site I frequent and got hooked on her witty, acerbic observations on life. Emilee comes across as the kind of person who says exactly what she thinks. Her lively sense of humor always comes through on her posts. She even posts a disclaimer to her friends and family, reminding them that "she lacks a filter of what is appropriate to say and what should be kept to herself." Maybe I like this blog because I feel a kindred spirit to Emilee's. I'm also the kind of person who also tends to speak my mind, much to the occasional embarrassment of friends, family, and my husband. In any case, I find Emilee's blog worthwhile reading and feel like it should be passed along to others.

63 Days- (http://www.63days.com/) Maybe I shouldn't include the link for 63days.com, because this blog hasn't been updated in about two years. Still, this blog written by Alli E., is a fascinating account of how the author was "kidnapped" from her home at age 15 and sent to attend Challenger, a teen boot camp run by Steve Cartisano. Alli E. spent 63 days attending Challenger and writes grippingly about her experiences there as well as how she managed to escape. I found Alli E's blog when I was researching teen boot camps and was so intrigued by it that I kept coming back.

These are just a few blogs written by women that have entertained, inspired, or educated me over the past few months. I hope they will do the same for you if you have the chance to drop by for a visit.