One of my favorite bloggers to date also happens to be a really good friend of mine. Eleanor Douglas-Meyers of JustEllaBella pretty much introduced me to blogging many a moon ago, when we wore high heels for fun and drank pink drinks out of fish bowls. Today, a lot has changed. Well, for starters, we’ve ditched the heels and drinks and instead sip on copious amounts of coffee while comparing mommy notes and planning one of our favorite events of the year: #ECMeetUp!

I’m honestly not sure how on earth we get things done because our conversations are basically a bunch of real-life movie trailers cropped and pasted together into a huge collage, complete with blobs of glitter, craft paint and a spreadsheet in the mix. Somehow we do it though and I am honestly so appreciative of our friendship and all the stuff that I’ve learnt from this lady and her blog, over the past few years.

Eleanor started blogging like, ten years ago, or something crazy like that. She’s been in the media industry for an extremely long time and was asked to blog for the newspaper’s weekly supplement. She says: “JustEllaBella was born as a silent rebellion against the fact that as a journalist I had to write only what my editor wanted,”

JustEllaBella is a family and lifestyle blog, where she shares tips, tricks and DIY’s focusing on how to live a fabulous life on a budget. She is also well known for her hair – seriously, I swear it has a personality of its own – and she’s pretty much a guru of maintaining and styling natural hair. She also does a lot of posts relating to mental illness, child loss and society. She is married to a police detective and together they have two little boys – Logan, who is their angel baby and Aidan, who turns five soon! I remember reading her blog after losing Logan. She poured her heart into every post and in many ways offered healing to others who were hurting, while using the blog to heal her own broken heart.

“Although I had blogged before I don’t think I really knew what an outlet it was untill Logan passed away… I managed to help others see mourning a new born as normal and in helping others I was healed in a way.”

This bubbly fashionista gets a kick out of comments and emails from her blog readers. I mean, the thing that most bloggers enjoy about oversharing is the part where we get to actually interact with you, the reader. She says that getting a “hey, I like what you have to say” really warms her heart.

The challenging part of blogging, for her, is the competition. Just like with any other industry, the blogging circles can be pretty cut throat. And with technology and social media ever changing, it can be tricky and really tiring, trying to stay up to date with what’s hip and happening. But Ella has found her groove and readers seem to be drawn to her infectious personality, clever quips and really adorable pics of her son, Aidan.

“Comparing yourself to others can be soul destroying, I can’t tell you how many times I have wanted to just start over, make my instagram feed more editorial, stop being so opinionated and just conform to “the norm”. I’m learning that you need to find your own voice and go with it. Every one is different and that is really okay”

This year, JustEllaBella is kicking it up a notch on the curly-haired front. She will be opening the floor up to natural hair girls to share their stories and tips. Also, if you’re ever in a crafting rut, or looking to be inspired to make something, JustEllaBella is the place to be! Here are a bunch of my favorite posts:

I was introduced to the sweetheart that is Kim Muller a few years ago (okay it literally feels like 10 years, but I think it’s only been 3) when I started ogling at her gorgeous kids on her Instagram feed. I’m not sure why it took me a while to finally get to reading her blog over at Muller Kids, but boy am I not sorry that I did! Muller Kids is a parenting and lifestyle blog that oozes authenticity and realness and you can’t help but feel like you’re a part of the Muller family once you’ve read all of her posts!

Kim says that she started blogging in 2010, when she was preggers with her first son. Guys, I swear, most of us mommy bloggers started blogging when we were preparing for some or other baby. (By “some or other” I mean our own actual children). Anyways, like the rest of us, she also wanted a space to document the pregnancy and raising of her kid. In fact, when you first start blogging, your blog becomes like another baby to you, and you literally don’t care that no one besides your mom and cat reads it.

“My blog has since evolved to not only document all 3 pregnancies but I also chat about marriage, life’s ups and downs, and what life is like with my kids.”

Kim shares that the most rewarding thing about blogging is the reader comments. She loves being able to see when a piece resonates with a reader. I mean, that’s what it’s all about, yo! It is so rewarding to know that by sharing a little bit of your own loony toons, you are able to help another mama feel a little bit less loony toons herself. She says: “If I can help just one person know that what they’re going through is normal, that they’re not going mad and that everything will be okay, then the hours of work that go into my blog would be worth it.  (Well, that and when I get any comments at all lol)”

I love how real this lady is! She says that the most challenging thing about blogging is finding content that is enjoyable to her readers. Sister girl, preach! I mean, do you guys know how much pressure you feel when you’re about to share a piece of your heart in a blog post, knowing that people might think it sucks?! It’s daunting as heck! You kinda need to put your pride in your pocket when you give away that little bit of creativity, and be content with knowing that hey some might not like it. Daunting. As. Heck!

“Not everyone wants to read about every tantrum that Ethan has or every new milestone that Harper has reached. Finding something interesting to write about (and remembering the idea later on) is probably the hardest for me.”

You seriously need to be following the lovely Kim over on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, yo! And while you’re at it, check out some of my favorite Muller Kids posts over here:

You get bloggers and then you get Bloggers – and Zayaan Mollagee of Surviving the Madness falls in to the latter group. The capital ‘B’ suggests that, like others in her supreme category, she knows what’s up when it comes to running and maintaining an online presence. I mean, the lady started dabbling with blogging almost ten years ago, you guys! Ten years ago I barely knew what Facebook was, much less blogging! And coupled with her lengthy experience working at popular parenting site, Parent24, let’s just say that on a scale of one to Siri, Zayaan knows how to tell an audience exactly what they want to hear.

Zayaan was nudged into the blogging arena by her Parent24 team but never really felt that she had a voice until she had her kids. I can so relate. I mean, not that our mommy identities are our only identities, but becoming a mom is a game changer on so many levels. She shares: “I started Surviving the Madness after Rushdi (son) was born because I felt like I finally had something to share. And I was also looking for a community and support from other moms like I saw happening on the Parent24 blogs.”

One thing I love about Surviving the Madness is that she shares a lot of tips and tricks, that make her life easier. From homeschooling and educational prompts to toddler recipes and even a “things I love” section, there is something for every mum.  

Zayaan and I share a similar blogging challenge: time management! One would think that all you need is a laptop and something to say. But quite often, you’re so pooped after a long day at the LIFE, that your brain refuses to function… or atleast form coherent sentences that would be pleasing unto the public eye.

“The most challenging thing about blogging for me is being consistent with publishing posts. I find it hard to make time for blogging when I have two kids, homeschooling and freelancing. So I’ve learned that I need to plan as best I can. The most rewarding thing has been being able to connect with other moms and I’m also very grateful for all the friends I’ve made in the last 4 years. “

If you’re keen to read more about the Mollagee adventures and misadventures, check out more from Zayaan and how she “survives the madness” on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube.

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Check out these cool posts from Surviving The Madness:
Just because I complain doesn’t mean that I’m ungrateful
Home School: Adventure Club apps
Hidden veggie pasta that your kids will eat!
10 things to keep in the car if you have kids

One thing you might not know about us “mommy bloggers” is that we actually do have other interests besides our kids. I promise. I mean, take Lindsay Thomas of Love Made Me, for example. This lady is a certified Doula, you guys. That means she is a birth companion or post birth supporter, assisting moms during child-birth and basically being a voice of reason and calm at a time when emotions run high. How unbelievably legit is that?!

Lindsay was introduced to blogging a couple of years ago when she fell pregnant with her eldest, after stumbling across another mommy blog. She shares: “On days when parenting was hard I would escape my reality and read. The thing was, all these other mothers out there were experiencing exactly what I was. I felt connected, somehow, to these hundreds of women all over the world and strangely enough it made me feel like I could do this.”

She only jumped onto the blogger bandwagon after her second baby was born, as a way to document all her thoughts during the particularly challenging days. The great thing about blogging is that it’s theraputic – your blog becomes your therapist and you get to vent and share your feelings to a super supportive audience. (Well, for the most part.) But the BEST thing about blogging is that when you put your own story out there, for the world to see, you empower other women who may feel as if they are the only one going through the exact same thing.

“There have been a few life lessons I have learnt from blogging. I’ve learnt that patience is possible. I’ve learnt that its ok to open up. I’ve learnt that growth takes time and hard work. There are some great people in the world, some of which I would never have met (this goes for virtual world and in person) if it wasn’t for my blog. Not everyone will agree with me, share my views or think I’m great – AND THAT’S OK” 

Lindsay proudly refers to herself as a “mommy blogger” because she shares so much of the highs and lows of parenting with her audience. Covering topics relating to parenting, lifestyle, food and travel, she aims to share posts that offer advice. “I look at posts this way – will this help someone? Whether its quick tips, sharing an experience or even doing a review – will it help?”

“I want to inspire other moms out there. I want them to know that you are not alone in this wonderful journey called Parenting. Some days it can get rough, I know, but I want them to know that they can do it!”

It’s not all fun and games, you guys. Blogging requires some serious dedication, yo! Lindsay shares my sentiment. She says that the most challenging part about blogging is the part where you actually need to sit down to do it. I mean, the only time I actually sit down is when I use the toilet. And even then I sometimes have an audience. (The struggle is real).

Last year was a hectic one for Lindsay. She says she suffered from a severe case of “Mom Blogger Guilt” because she had to put her blog aside for a while. But she’s back and ready for action, Jackson, with a super cool blog series! In the Rise of the Doula series, she chats more about the local Doula’s in her community and shares personal stories about successful Doula-assisted births.

“I believe that knowledge should be shared, and I’m doing my best to try and give some Doula tips to parents out there. My passion as a Doula is to focus on volunteering at local MOU’s and Government facilities, however my long term goal is to be a Doula full time.”

You can follow this amazing super mama over on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram. Check out some of my fave Love Made Me posts over here:

Rise of the Doula

First day back to school prep

Having a Doula present makes a difference to your birthing experience

Birth day preparation

Surviving and thriving as a single mom on Mother’s Day

Ever come across a piece of writing that makes your heart go “aaaack”? Or do you find yourself reading something whilst quietly sobbing at your desk, like a lunatic, for people you have yet to meet? Well, friend, that’s me (on a good day anyways) visiting the blogs of my fellow mommy bloggers. And that’s me pretty much every time I visit Sharon van Wyk’s blog over at The Blessed Barrenness. I was introduced to Sharon’s blog a few years ago and my heart did all kinds of flip flops as I found my self re-reading heart wrenching posts where she shared about her struggles with infertility and the beautiful journey of adoption.

Blessed barrenness
I love the name of the blog. I mean how kick ass of Sharon to turn something that has brought anguish, into celebration! I admire the spunk and vivacity of this woman so much! And blessed she is indeed (judging by her Instagram feed – yeah, I’m a stalker) with a loving husband and two beautiful girls who simply adore her. She shares that the blog has changed since its conception in 2008, and is now a combo of personal story telling, parenting and basically anything else that sparks her interest.

“Interestingly, even though my style has morphed and changed over the years, I have never deleted any of my old posts. There is something about those old posts that’s comfortable like a worn shoe and I just can’t seem to let them go. So if you go back on The Blessed Barrenness, you can read posts from as far back as 2008.”

Sharon explains that for her blogging has become so much more than just words on a website. A lot of creativity and thought is invested into the design, layout, creating, editing of photos and videos. It really is a labour of love! She refers to it as soul food. (Interestingly, her posts about food are quite popular – she knows her high carb/low fat stuff, you guys!)

She has played a ginormous role in the blogging community at large and nabbed the African Blogger Award for best parenting blog in 2015. With so many doors opening for her (TV, radio and print media) she sometimes finds the demands of running a blog and maintaining a healthy home/work balance to be a bit challenging. I mean, being a mom is a full time job! Who has the time (or energy) to sit down to write and create after a full day at the office and at home. But despite the ebbs and flows of creativity her 4am wake up calls and late night laptop rendezvous’ certainly is paying off because The Blessed Barrenness continues to inspire and capture hearts all around the country.

“Blogging has exposed me to an array of interesting people and experiences. It’s definitely taught me a lot of lessons, I’m more socially aware and I think kinder because of it.”

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Sharon is quite the banting expert! Her banting recipes are quite popular and a must read if you’re all about that low carb life. (#breadmustfall)

She’s also doing a bunch of cool stuff with Builders Warehouse and Cool Kids Cabs this year which should be up your ally if you’re looking for tips on home improvement and if you’re a mom.

I also love Sharon’s stance on being body positive. She is pretty honest about her life long struggle with breaking her negative mindset towards her body and food.

And of corse, if you’re looking to read more about adoption, Sharon is an adoption advocate and she has a lot to share! “My eyes have been opened to all sides of the adoption triad, to the joy and the miracle, the pain and the loss and I have tried to show all sides of that to fairly represent adoption in South Africa.”

You can also follow her in Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Youtube and Instagram.

As far as friendships go, I’m quite selective about who I share my life with. I mean, you get friends-friends… the people you occasionally spend time and generally share the ups and downs of the day with. And then you get FRIENDS-friends… the (unfortunate?) ones who get to experience your beauty AND your ugly and they stick around regardless. Well, Venean has been the latter… in her I’ve found someone who actually encourages you to let lose and be whoever you darn well want to be. Her blog, In The Meantime, is a lot like that too. She chats about the realness of motherhood and she kinda leaves you feeling as if she’s your actual real life friend.

Vee started blogging a few years ago, but wanted to keep it anonymous. After a lot of prompting she eventually moved over to her own domain last year and began to take this blogging thing seriously. Yay for us! Since then In The Meantime has grown and Vee’s anecdotes and personal stories have truly given me life, on those really crappy days.

“My blog keeps me thinking about ways I can be better at parenting, wifeing, lifeing. It keeps me asking myself why I did that, and what I can do to improve it.”

Vee explains that the most rewarding thing about blogging is that it keeps her constantly thinking about ways she can be a better parent or wife. I can totally relate! In a weird way, having a blog or being invested on a social media platform, kinda motivates you to make better decisions. Yes, it’s easy to get sucked into a “but how can I make this moment Instagrammable?” mind set. But you kinda feel responsible to share content and information that is rewarding/uplifting/necessary/a benefit.

We share a similar story (teenage pregnancy, single mom, married man of our dreams, had a kid with him etc etc) and I personally love reading her blog and feeling as if she “gets” where I’m at right now.

“It’s been an amazing outlet for reflection even when I say the same thing over and over. Also having people comment and say – YES! ME TOO, or I feel you. It just means all that time I spent preparing and writing was for that one person to not feel alone.”

Vee and her hubby, Ian, recently started their own business, Ootrey, which specialises in affordable, funky prescription eye wear. I love the brand’s geek-meets-cool persona and their products are stunning! You can check out more on the website and catch Ootrey on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Venean’s blog, In The Meantime, can also be followed on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Check out some of my favorite In The Meantime posts here:

How to not ditch your husband after you have a baby

The crappy side of motherhood – saying no!

Unlearning single motherhood

Is your child naughty?