MAGAZINES!

Yesterday, I mentioned something in my blog about getting three favorite magazines in the mail.  Well, actually, I mentioned a lot of whiney things and you all were sweet enough to indulge me.  THANK YOU.

Anyways, Linda asked me what those three magazines were, and it struck me: I have never really shared with you guys that I am an absolute magazine FANATIC.  I love them.  If I am having a bad day, a quick trip to the grocery store for a new magazine is usually enough to cheer me, especially if it includes a hot bath in which to read said magazine.

Here are a list of the magazines I receive each month:

• Glamour:  I know it’s sort of a fashion-y, Cosmo-esque magazine, but I find that some of it’s content is really great.  I like it, for the most part and I’ve been reading it for years.
• In Style:  Another long-time favorite—I like the outfit inspiration and makeup tutorials, as well as the celebrity home tours.  SO FUN!
• Body and Soul:  I love this magazine for it’s recipes, articles about health and fitness and meditation and general self-care. 
• Martha Stewart Living:  Crafts, recipes, and type-A personality stuff ALL IN ONE.  It feeds my OCD.
• Real Simple:  The organization tips, the budget deals, the recipes, the lovely articles that make me believe maybe I *can* learn to say no while maintaining a perfect stationary drawer.  My favorite.
• Lucky:  I just like the outfits…and tend to tear them out for my inspiration binder.  This magazine has gone a bit downhill in the past few years (my humble opinion only!) but I still enjoy it.
• Women’s Health:  I particularly enjoy the recipes from this magazine.  I am not as workout-crazed as some of the people the magazine targets (but goodness, I’d like to be!) but I do enjoy reading it and getting inspired.
• Yoga Journal:  I do Bikram (well, I attempt to, haha) and this rarely addresses Bikram stuff, but I tend to really enjoy and respect the yoga philosophies and this breaks it down pretty well. 
• O: The Oprah Magazine:  I don’t subscribe, but I buy it every other month or so…it just…makes me happy.  I don’t know.
• Paper Crafts:  My inspiration for making cards and other goodies…I love seeing the creative things other people do.

Other magazines I really love: BUST, Nylon, and Paper.  All are awesome blends of music, feministy-stuff and fashion.

Before you think I’m a total freak, who lights money on fire for magazines, let me tell you a little about my ”system.”  I subscribe to most via Maghound which is a monthly magazine service that I LOVE.  Some, I pay for each year, but Maghound is a great way to streamline service AND if a magazine misses a month, you can pick a substitute, so you’re never without reading.

Once I’ve perused an issue, I usually tear out anything of interest, and keep it in my inspiration binder.  After that, I do one of several things with my magazines: keep the ones I love (Real Simple, always), bring them to school for use in varied projects, give them to a friend, or recycle them.

Magazines might seem silly or frivolous, but I love them!

Do you read magazines?  Which ones?