Like A New Best Friend

Photo of Tea Cup and Scone It’s Wednesday, and as you all know, it’s time to showcase another blog(er).

When I landed on this one, I was actually surprised as the theme was so simple. It has no bells, no whistles, no fancy header or special fonts. In fact, it sports the WordPress default blue and white theme. The only adornment is the author’s photo.

The value comes from, you guessed it, the words.

With the way she writes, I feel we’re sitting in the same room, enjoying a cup of tea, and just chatting about life. Her posts are casual, but yet complete. Fairly short, but yet thought provoking.

To begin the introduction, in her Welcome post (and on her “About” page) she writes,

This blog is devoted to the idea that adulthood is not a destination. Growing up, I always thought adulthood was the final frontier – a place you arrived and suddenly everything made sense: you knew what you wanted to do with your life, you knew what advice to give your kids, you knew which shoes looked right with that jacket. Turns out, it doesn’t work that way. Sure, you make progress and have those “aha” moments every so often, but growing up is all very incremental and you never really arrive anywhere.

Isn’t that the truth? As youngsters we so looked forward to becoming an adult, but once we got “there”, we began saying, “Now what?”.

She shares a story of a discussion she had with her brother in her You Really Shouldn’t Dye Your Hair post, saying (in part)

…It’s a slippery slope, this beautifying thing. And I don’t think it’s all about vanity. The older I get, the more I find myself not just wanting to alter my look but to really play with it. There’s something exhilarating about changing the way you present yourself to the world. It’s sort of like having a secret with yourself that other people aren’t in on (FACT: most people think I’m a natural blonde. I LOVE that!) It’s a safe way to have some fun without really altering who you are.

I hear what she’s saying with this one. As we age, many of us want to find ways to look better, but prefer not to go under the knife.

Her humor shines through in her Tips For Adulthood – 5 Household Items You Can’t Do Without post. One of the items she lists is,

3. Vertical Chicken Roaster – Here’s [includes a link] the one we own. For reasons that elude me (gravity??) chicken cooks better – i.e., is more juicy and succulent – when you cook it vertically. And who doesn’t like succulent chicken? (I’ve always thought it would be great to come up with a list of food descriptors that really turn people on and off. I’m a sucker for anything that’s “pan seared,” but loathe the term “drizzled.”

Food descriptions can influence me, too. If the author of a recipe makes it sound good, I’m more apt to try it. “Decadent” always wins with me.

When I found a link to this blog in the “Blog Registry”, I was intrigued and clicked through. I’m glad I did.

Without further ado, this week the spotlight shines on Delia of Real Delia

Please join me in welcoming Delia to the Blogging Without A Blog community.

Welcome Delia.

It’s a joy to have you here.

~Barbara.

Photo Credit: mbgrigby

23 thoughts on “Like A New Best Friend”

Hi Barbara – Delia’s blog is great. I really enjoyed reading the poem her friend gave her. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks, Barbara. It’s a pleasure to be here!

delialloyd´s last blog post..Coping with the Death of a Parent: A Poem

Another good pick, Barbara! I, too, liked the poem her friend shared with her when her father died. There is a another great post on what makes a good marriage, too. I’m holding you responsible for filling up my reader.

Betsy Wuebker´s last blog post..I LOVE YOU MORE THAN EVER

Wonderful review of the blog! Can’t wait to go check it out now… 🙂

Positively Present´s last blog post..how to give the world a virus

Like Positively Present said, nice review. I can’t wait to check it out. FANTASTIC name.

Writer Dad´s last blog post..10 Ways to Find Your Writing Style

First, I love the name! Great blog to highlight Barbara. Adulthood is not a destination! This is a refreshing blog packed with great information too!

Caroline´s last blog post..WOW…I said that?

What a great blog find. Thank you.

Vered – MomGrind´s last blog post..A Rose Garden

I like it. Little stories from life.

I especially like her DIY Healthcare post — it’s a reminder to be your own best doctor (or accountant or coach or …). It’s also a foreshadowing that social networks will help spread patterns and practices that work.

J.D. Meier´s last blog post..Iterate More, Plan Less

Barbara, I read your quotes from Delia’s blog with interest. She sure sounds like a warm friend. Her messages are profound, despite the simplicity of her site theme. Thanks for another great recommendation!

Evelyn Lim´s last blog post..Dial A Life Coach

Nicely done, Delia! Your blog makes we want to set a green tea and jasmine blossom steeping in our cast iron tea pot!

Kevin Sandridge´s last blog post..7 Common Homebuyer Mistakes

I was just pondering today how I must be a grown-up now, even though I don’t really feel like it. Funny, our change in perception from childhood when we think all grown-ups know everything, to now — when we realize we are always growing indeed and probably always will be.

Sounds like a very special blogger!

Jannie Funster´s last blog post..Five Pansy Poems, Poem, Pansies

Hi All,

Thank you so much for the wonderful comments and the warm welcome you’ve given our new friend Delia.

It’s nice to know even though we all have RSS readers that are over flowing, there’s always room for one more.

Delia,

It’s been my pleasure to showcase your blog, I wish you much success as you journey into blogosphere. Know you’ll always be welcome in the Blogging Without A Blog community.

Barbara – Thanks for sharing this SHINING example of a blog where the content is TRULY “king” (or should I say queen in this case?).

I can’t tell you how OFTEN I’ll go round and round with clients over their theme. I beg them – PLEASE – write some content before deciding upon a theme. Write – write – write (i beg) and THEN worry about the theme later.

Delia’s blog is a SHINING example of this in action. Her “Tips for Adulthood” post got me to subscribe to her RSS feed. Exceptional.

Thanks Barbara – once again – the best blogs on the internet are featured here!

Kathy | Virtual Impax´s last blog post..The Customer’s Point of View

I really enjoyed it. Just popped over from Ribbon’s blog.

Your blog looks really interesting. Am off to read more.

Joanne´s last blog post..Even the dog’s fed up…

Very nice introduction Barbara – here is my weekly Thank you for the introduction, now I am off to explore this new and delightfully named blog and blogger.

Patricia´s last blog post..Summer Reading: Thin is the New Happy ~By Valerie Frankel

Delia is wonderful. I was especially moved by the poem she shared after the death of her father.

Thank you, Delia!

Chris´s last blog post..Benny the Race Car

A blog acknowledging adulthood as a permanent journey is wonderfully uplifting.

Paisley (Paisley Thoughts)´s last blog post..The Generation Gap

Delia and Barbara —
This is great, “Growing up, I always thought adulthood was the final frontier – a place you arrived and suddenly everything made sense…” I remember those days vividly in smallville Oklahoma! How I wanted to be there so badly, and now it’s taken me almost 50 years of living to see things finally settle peacefully and make sense.