Newbie Round-up: UKIP, grief and comfort food

Blogging runs the whole gamut of emotions. We laugh and cry, moan and celebrate. We share our joyous, our depressing, our mundane. And we share the raw depths of our emotion. Because we need to, because writing it out helps us set it more clearly in our own minds, brings support and advice. And because sometimes, in our angst, we can help others too. One such blog is Chasing Dragonflies, a blog about unimaginable tragedy and grief, about parenting through that pain, and learning to cope. It’s a beautiful and honest read, and for anyone dealing with loss there are chords to strike, and a conversation to have. This post about not being able to move past something seemingly mundane, and yet so significant, was the first I read, and even for me it resonated. Have a read – I think everyone will gain something from reading this blog.

Totally changing the mood, I’m now going to send you over to Kitchen Choufleur for some comfort food. This is a blog full of frugal recipes, and what’s more their owner is on a weight loss quest, so they’re healthy too! I’m particularly loving this Slow Cooker Cassoulet, a dish that traditionally swims in fat, but is indeed a much lighter version. It’s going on my meal plan this week, and I especially love her tip about cooking a gammon joint.

Now, it cannot have escaped your notice that UKIP recently had a few successes. I’m not going to venture into what I think about politics (trust me, there’s not enough blank page for all my rantings), but I will point you in the direction of a blogger who has read more about the party’s policies than the average voter. FiAndMi has been on the blogging circuit a very short while, but this post socks some actual facts (very eloquently) to the people who blithely scan the Daily Mail headlines and then head out to vote.

Every so often you come across a blog that has a slightly more unusual feel. I’ve just spent a very happy half hour flicking through Marlene’s Big Mouth, and found myself smiling wryly at most of her posts. It’s just the normal musings of a mum, friend, woman, but Marlene’s matter of fact spin on learning lessons about herself is strangely addictive. Here she tells us what she’s learned about saying NO.

I love this post, How to be Immortal, from I Run on Caffeine. Eliza crafts a story beautifully as she takes us through her thought processes about life and living. You start with a giggle and a knowing grin, and you end with a lovely warm feeling that family, and making memories, is what life is all about. Eliza has blogged for a year, but this new venture feels like one I want to follow closely. Because reading real stories is such a pleasure.

Now, every good blog read is all the better for an accompanying tea and cake, so I’m going to leave you with a recipe that caught my eye as I was browsing Julie’s Family Kitchen. Chocolate Lime cupcakes sound like the perfect partner for a cup of Earl Grey, so without further ado, I’ll pop the kettle on. Grab a plate, and enjoy a good read!