Highlights: Inspiration

I feel like every year I write the same post: “Holy cow! I’ve been blogging for (insert whatever number applies) years! I can’t believe all the information I’ve learned and people I’ve met and things I’ve experienced! I can’t imagine my life without this site!”  And you know what?  Almost 5 years after I wrote my first post on December 23, 2008, I still feel that way.  I honestly can’t believe that the random blog I started from my parents’ living room because I was bored on my Christmas break quickly morphed into one of the things around which my life revolves.  And  I wouldn’t have it any other way.

So, to kick off my celebration week this year, I wanted to recognize some of the bloggers and websites that have most influenced this site at various times in its journey.  The list below contains a links about writing, social media, cooking, vegetarianism and more, but is no means exhaustive (my Feedly account currently draws feeds from 192 sites).  May you find these links as useful as I have.

Mark Bittman

Oh She Glows

Then Heather Said

Katy Widrick

How Sweet It Is

Michael Pollan

Healthy Living Blogs/The Healthy Living Summit

Rachel Wilkerson

Healthy Tipping Point

Peas and Thank You (she’s no longer posting, but her archives are worth it)

Savvy Eats

Food in Jars

No Meat Athlete

As always, I wouldn’t be anywhere without my readers.  Thank you all for reading, leaving comments, sending me links, following me on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest and constantly inspiring me to improve this site.

One of the best things about blogging has been the opportunity to meet amazing other bloggers who are doing amazing things.  This week I’ll be celebrating some of those relationships with 3 (THREE!) separate giveaways from some of the friends I’ve made through the blogging community.  Stay tuned – the giveaways will be going up on Tuesday December 24, Saturday December 28 and Monday December 30.  Each giveaway will be accepting entries for a week after the post goes up.

Finally, don’t forget that I’m currently offering new sponsor ads on Relishments at 20% off the price of the first month.  Visit my sponsor page and enter the discount code 5YEARS at checkout.

Thanks again!