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The transition from city to woods hasn't been easy for Michelle Bravo, but so far, she has survived to write about it. Bravo, of Easton, started writing her blog, Suburban Adventure, to talk about relationships, parenting, fashion, food, travel and more -- while living, as she says, in "the forest."
"Which brings me to the question -- how in the world did a city girl that likes glamour, culture and action end up living solo with two kids and a cat on almost four acres," Bravo asked in her first blog entry, which she posted on May 16. She goes on to write, "I have planted over 100 plants and trees on my property. So what if I did it in my sparkly flip flops and urban decay lip gloss? I did a pretty darn good job for a girl who had been living in a high rise with a doorman since she was 19."
When her then-husband landed a job in New York, the two decided to move to their large, set back colonial house in Easton with a long driveway, stone walls, a deck overlooking the backyard and few neighbors. Bravo grew up in Fairfield and was happy to be back with family, but "this what not the picture I had in mind," she said. Now a divorced, single mother of two kids Giavanna and Christopher Bravo uses humor to tell a truthful story and give advice in each of her blog entries. Since its inception, her blog has reached more than 1,600 hits in the United States, Hong Kong, India, Peru, Austria, Germany, Australia and Italy.
"So many people watch reality TV people like to know what other people are doing," said Bravo. "I don't see people like the 'Real Housewives' here, [My blog] is the truth."
Bravo has always "tended to be everybody's therapist," and said she is friendly and she listen and is "interested in people and why they ended up where they are." Bravo grew up in Fairfield and has degrees in sociology and anthropology.
In Friday's post, she writes about the importance of friendship and how a song triggered her thoughts on friendship. She jokes about living with her girlfriends in Florida when they're 80. She writes about her family and how they taught her about friendship, and she gives advice to those reading: "Support their decisions and hold their hand. Be there for them even if they have nothing to give to you. You might not think that you are making a difference but you are and it will be forever appreciated."
A man from New Jersey contacted Bravo about her blog on divorce. "He read my blog and expressed his gratitude for my being able to be brave enough to be honest."
Bravo has readers ranging from ages 16 to 60 and that's just who she knows about.
What do you think about Michelle Bravo's blog? Leave your comments below.
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