Ah, Monday... today I am writing while John studies furiously for his first test of API. This is his second phase of flight school, and the academics are tough. I am doing everything I can to be supportive, including pirating my best friend Danielle's chicken curry recipe for tonight, per JB's request. Brain food.

Anyhoo, I wanted to start the week off with a note of gratefulness to everyone who has checked out the Gallivant, been reading, shared, and subscribed in the past few weeks--thank you so much. It is crazy to me that over 1,200 people have stopped by since my first post. This is becoming a wonderful and exciting space for me, and I am so excited to keep growing it and sharing with you. Figuring out newlywed life, the Navy, flight school, moving, my writing career, and a brand new place is all at once exciting and (at times) scary, but I will strive to be as honest as possible in hopes that anyone who is going through any or all of those things will have a place to come and feel like like they are understood. And anyone who is just here to stay up to date on the Richeys--we love you too!

Please know also that your comments make my day, so please feel free to jump in, comment on posts, say hi, introduce yourself even. I would love to meet you!

On this note, I wanted to share some of my favorite blogs today. If the Gallivant is your first venture into the blogging world--welcome, and let me open the gates a little wider for you. If you already read tons of blogs then please feel free to post your favorites in the comments section below! The following blogs are written by some incredible men and women who have inspired me so much in the past few years, whether in the kitchen, in marriage and relationships, in travel, in style, in design, in writing, in the way they raise their kids, or just with wonderful wisdom. I follow all of them religiously, using feedly, and have been so grateful that they have been willing to share their lives via their blogs. So, grab a mug of tea and settle down to do some reading when you need a boost to make it through your monday. :-)

Hither and Thither: A lovely lifestyle and travel blog based in Davis, California.

Cup of Jo: If you have never heard of it, you have so much to catch up on! Joanna is the coolest.

Smitten Kitchen: Aka the blog that birthed the cookbook we live by.

Frugal by Choice, Cheap by Necessity: A wonderful blog based in Washington state (jealous) all about being frugal, with tons of cool gardening, cooking, and budgeting tips. She is also hilarious.

Gal Meets Glam: Love this girl. She is young, married, lives in San Fran, and has impeccable style.

May Richer Fuller Be: My friend Chaney's wonderful blog with tons of incredible DIY and organizational projects.

David Lebovitz: A world-class chef and baker living in Paris. Duh.

Oh Joy!: Such fun craft, party, style, and food ideas.

Like I said, these are my standbys, but coming up later this week is a list of some of my new faves!

xoxo,

Emily