It has once again been a very busy week. I’ve had next to no time to read any blogs. It’s been sad, really. But between moving on to the next phase in the adoption process (child search, here we come) and trying to get everything together for the refinance of the house (sure we can come up with $18k in cash), I’ve been just a little stressed, with my mind on everything but reading and commenting.

But that’s okay, because this month also marked my 3^rd anniversary of taking part in a no spend thread on a money message board. I know some people out there think the idea of trying to get no spend days is silly, but it was huge for me. It helped make me much more aware of our spending, not just the money, but the patterns. We could not have gotten to where we are today (with the ability to come up with $18k in cash for the refinance) without my having learned the lessons of tracking no spend, controlled spend, and spend days. So in honor of that anniversary, I am first sharing with you the blogs of four amazing women I met first on the No Spend/Controlled Spend message board.

You all know my love of Jana @ Daily Money Shot. I met her on that thread. It’s an amazing friendship that I am so very grateful for. And this week, we found out that Daily Money Shot is up for the Personal Finance Blog of the Year award. First, go visit Jana and tell her how awesome that is, and then, go VOTE FOR DAILY MONEY SHOT.

You’ve also seen me link to Another Housewife before. Jenniemarie is another of part of the great support group I wandered into when I joined the no spend thread. She and I are very different people, and yet, she inspires me in so many ways. She’s been sick recently, so feeling like the ship is sinking. But I know she’ll soon be back on her feet and wowing us in new ways.

Gin from Frugal Students actually wrote a guest post for me a when this blog was fairly new. She and her husband bought a duplex and were renting out half, and she wrote about being a landlord on a tight budget. Now, she’s opened up a whole new world. To quote her “Frugal Student has Added a New Hat”. At the end of January she became a mom to a beautiful baby girl. Congrats!

And speaking of babies, I also met Red of Red Fish, Blue Fish on the no spend board. In fact, I met her before she and Blue were married, and now, they are also parents. Back before superstorm Sandy, she gave birth to twins! What that means for Red is that it is now time to go back to work. I know it’s hard on the new mommy, but I have faith she will make this work.

Since I decided to focus on one of my major support groups, personal finance wise, I thought I’d focus the pet blogs on the first support network I was welcomed into in the pet blogging community. I was asked to join a Triberr tribe because the members thought my voice would fit in well with theirs. I have been blessed to get to know the blogs and members of this group, as well.

Cindy Lu’s Muse is who actually invited me to the group, in a sense, she’s the chieftain of our tribe. This week, she shares an important warning with us all- Beware Coyotes in Your Neighborhood. They really are everywhere.

Leslie and Bella of Bringing Up Bella have quickly become some of my favorite blogging friends, even though we’re unlikely to ever meet. It always makes my heart soar to hear of Bella having a good day, so you can bet I was grinning like nobody’s business during this video- Sometimes, She’s Just a Normal Dog.

The Chronicles of Cardigan always makes me laugh. Not only are Dewi and Jon Farleigh adorable (I mean they’re Cardigan Corgis, it would be impossible for them not to be adorable) , but Elizabeth just cracks me up with her sense of humor and gift for song. This week, it’s Cats Are Cool, as sung to the sound of a vacuum cleaner.

And finally, the last member of our little tribe is Keep the Tail Wagging. They’re a magazine more than a blog, but still. This week my favorite article is on Dawg Grog Beer for Dogs. Just because I don’t drink, should I be denying my pets?

And I’m falling down again on the new to me blogs. I’m having a hard enough time keeping up with my life without any new things in it. Next week, I promise. (Though I may have said that last week…)