I’ve featured Naomi of Rockstar Diaries here and Natalie of Nat the Fat Rat here. They’re both hugely popular, though in terms of page hits and loyal following, they might come behind Sydney of The Daybook. Sydney, like Naomi and Natalie, posts happy things, wears bright outfits, and has a raging sweet tooth. Also similar? She’s another big name in the world of Mormon Mommy Blogs.
Based somewhere around DC, Sydney is married to Tyson and has a baby boy named Everett. She writes well, she’s likeable, and she’s got awesome style that flips from sleek 9-5 looks like this
to more Pinterest-y splashy styles like this
to feminine nerdy chic like so
What’s most interested me on her blog so far, however, is her explicit discussion of the Mormon Mommy Blog fascination. Here’s her explanation for why the blogs have become so popular.
“For starters, the LDS Church has 13 Articles of Faith {short descriptions that explain our foundational beliefs}. The last of which states: “If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.” A diligent effort to be put toward seeking after the beautiful things in life is an applicable and encouraging thought, whether you’re religious or not. I’ve always had a soft spot for aesthetics in my own life. Back when I was a little girl I had a ridiculous penchant for dramatic ringlets and red nails. In high school I tried my hand at interiors and went on a chalkboard-paint frenzy in my bedroom and then gave Thanksgiving place-settings a go-round. In college I explored my personal style further, chose to study Graphic Design and gained a greater appreciation of the arts. Until recently, I had never questioned whether this had anything to do with being raised in the Mormon faith. But then came this question from the email:
So, what are your thoughts on the nature of the relationship between your faith and your church upbringing and the way you engage culture, the world, style, fashion, design, etc?
So much of modern day media, world views and culture can be used to tear down and distract from the lovely things in life like family and relationships, or in my case, creating {or trying!} something beautiful through design, style, etc. But the encouragement from LDS church leaders to engage ourselves in ways that enlarge our capacity for happiness {and seek out those things that are “virtuous and lovely”}, has I’m sure, inherently influenced my decisions when it comes to becoming involved in the world of design and style.
The LDS Church widely supports and encourages creative minds; something that I got to experience on a daily basis during my time at BYU-Idaho {a private LDS university}. Whether through seminars, galleries, out-of-class demonstrations, or just daily assignments, I was always grateful {and encouraged!} for the opportunity to learn from the work of both professional artists and students, as we each strove to perfect our craft. The design program there was challenging and rewarding and will certainly influence my endeavors as a designer down the road.
Additionally, LDS values have always encouraged a developing and sharing of personal talents. In my case, I don’t necessarily consider getting dressed or blogging to be a personal talent {we all do one or the other!}, but for me it IS a fun form of personal expression and creativity. How wonderful is it for an individual to have something that allows them to create and learn from everyday, whether their talents lie in aesthetics or car mechanics? Blogging has certainly opened up opportunities and new paths for me to pursue other talents that I had wished to develop further, like photography, graphic design, styling and interior design. All of which, I consider to fall under the category of “virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy.”
Because of our beliefs, we choose to abstain from participating in a few things {drinking, smoking, immodest forms of dress, swearing, etc} which does limit our participation in certain aspects of popular culture, but certainly doesn’t hinder us from seeking out the very best that culture has to offer. It just makes it a little easier for all those lovely things we seek out in life to bubble right to the top.”
Whether Mormon or not, hope you have a day of bubbling joy!
(images)
hrcktheherald.wordpress.com 