Oh, mamas… I remember sitting down last year, writing about the Top Posts of 2014, and bursting at the seems with excitement at how much Houston Moms Blog had grown and flourished in its first full year of operations. But little did I know that 2015 would blow those impressive numbers, those raving accomplishments, and those feel goods out.of.the.water. You see, this past calendar year has brought us over 1.4 million {?!?!} pageviews, enabled us to reach over 22,000 followers across social media, and brought together the moms of Houston at 20 different types, kinds, and sizes of events. To say it’s been a whirlwind is a VAST understatement!
So as we bid farewell to 2015, I just have to give a {virtual} standing ovation to our top 10 most read blog posts that were published this past year, as well as a few honorable mentions that I want to put a spotlight on too. Below you will find posts about working moms and stay at home moms, date nights and local guides, and of course – posts that will inspire you and make you chuckle as well. I encourage you to take just a few minutes of your busy day to read through these amazing odes to motherhood, and then I challenge you to share one or two with someone walking alongside you in this journey also. As I say again and again, we are all in this crazy mom life together, and I absolutely cannot wait to see all that 2016 is going to bring us!!!
10. Top 10 Misconceptions of the Working Mom
“Over the past 2 years, I’ve noticed that working moms are often a little misunderstood. People tend to assume things about us without even knowing us or understanding our situation. For me, it actually started 3 years ago when I was pregnant with our first daughter and people asked me if I would be returning to work. And I don’t mean like family and friends, most of them actually didn’t ask me because they knew I would be going back to work after she was born. I’m talking about strangers on the elevator. One even told me he felt sorry for our unborn daughter. Yes, a complete stranger — trust me, my jaw probably hit the floor during that elevator ride . . . ” – Mandy
9. The Ultimate Spring Bucket List
“Ahhhh, spring time in Houston. You have finally arrived! {And so says my allergies, too.} Come and stay awhile, why don’t ya? Of course, if you’ve lived in Houston for any amount of time, you know that spring is a short-lived season around here, if we can even call it a true season. We have just a couple of precious months of gorgeousness before we are all sweating it out by the pool and dreaming of fall leaves and lattes. So that said, our family wants to make the most of this delightful season and we thought yours would too!” – HMB Team Collaborative Post
8. Motherhood is Lonely
“Gosh, being a mom can be lonely. No one told me that. And when you are expecting your first baby, people tell you a lot of things. Some nuggets of advice you want to hear. Others just make you want to roll your eyes and excuse yourself from the conversation as quickly as possible. You know something no one told me? That one piece of advice I never heard? Motherhood is lonely . . . ” – Brittney
7. Thanks…but she’s a girl.
“I don’t mean to brag, but I seriously have the most precious little girl. I love her fun loving personality. I love her sweet demeanor. I love how she is crazy about dolls and jewelry and all things girly. I love how she sings and dances even when there isn’t any music on. I love her precious dimples. And I even love her bald little head . . . ” – Kelly
6. 2015 Houston Area Pumpkin Patches
“Fall is right around the corner, and I am so excited about all the upcoming fun! One of my favorite things to do each year is to visit a Houston pumpkin patch or two. St. Luke’s is where we like to take pictures, and we love to make a trip out to Blessington Farms to enjoy all the family fun. This year my belly will be the size of a pumpkin, so I will once again be bringing out my pumpkin shirt. {For those expectant mamas out there – iron on a felt pumpkin face to an orange shirt to get a cute maternity picture in the pumpkin patch.} . . . ” – Jana
5. You Know You’re a Stay-at-Home Mom When…
“Not too long ago, Breonna wrote a hilarious post called “You Might Be a Mom If….”, and I caught myself nodding to each of the things she listed. To dive deeper into that conversation, there are things I do each day as a stay-at-home mom that make me think, “only another stay-at-home mom would understand this.” Being a stay-at-mom is brutiful – beautiful and brutal all at once. {My good friend Glennon from Momastery coined that phrase.} I mean, aren’t all mom gigs tough stuff no matter if you stay-at-home, work from home, or work outside the home? . . . ” – Kristy
4. Love Actually {When Marriage Isn’t the Fairytale}
“I met my husband Matt at the beginning of my final semester at LSU, just when I had it UP TO HERE with the whole college dating scene. I was disillusioned to the point of writing off boys for the interim {because let’s face it, most college boys are just that – boys} and making plans for post-graduation, including a potential move to Atlanta. Then in swept this handsome, hilarious, smart, loving, Aggie MAN, only in town for an internship at a local oil company. After dozens of late night phone calls, hours spent talking about anything and nothing at all, I was done. Bliss. Heads over heels. Every single cliche in the book . . . ” – Meagan
3. Dear Mean Girl…
“Dear Mean Girl at Dance Class, I saw you. I saw you parade out of class right after my daughter the other day. Your brown curls bobbing and excitement on your face. You looked like just another one of our adorable little dancers. As I helped my 5 year old put on her street clothes, you kept circling us. Then I heard you speak . . . ” – Meagan
2. A Word of Warning… The Day I Almost Got Carjacked
“I’m a former TV news producer, and I have watched every single episode of Dateline and 48 hours that has been aired. I am ultra aware of my surroundings and suspicious of pretty much everyone. I mean, I once thought a dark van following me around the neighborhood some mornings during my run was a mad man trying to kill me. Until one day I saw him throw a newspaper out of his window. {Yep, it was the newspaper delivery guy!} So, when I had a close call with a possible creep, I realized anyone can be the victim of a crime. Let me explain . . . ” – Andrea
1. 7 Houston Date Night Ideas {…that don’t involve dinner and a movie!}
“I have a newsflash for all of you Houstonians looking for an amazing day or night out with your significant other – DINNER AND A MOVIE DATES ARE SO 2014! Move over sushi and Tom Cruise, back off Hibachi and Cameron Diaz…it’s time to put your walking shoes on, grab your love, and hit the town! Listen up, ladies — our town has some amazing places to go on a fabulous date without sitting in a crowded theater! So try them all out, okay? . . . ” – Michelle
Honorable Mentions ::
Houston Splash Pads – Bre
Throwing a First Birthday Party in Houston – Chelsea
The reality is, I just have to pee. And I’m scared. – Erica
On Being a Motherless Mother – Jessica & Sarah
I’ve Got 99 Problems, But Braiding Hair Ain’t One – Jenn
Toddler Sleep {I’m doing it all wrong…and I don’t care!} – Jill
I’m Not a Hero – Hannah
An Open Letter to Toddler Moms – Heather
Real Mom Bods – Kristine
The Miraculous Thing About Junior High – Stephanie
Breast Pumps, Affordable Care Act, and The Milk-Saver – Tiffanie
What was YOUR favorite post of 2015?
Be sure to include it in the comments below!
