Photo © Krystyn Jones

This week, Mommybloggers.com is thrilled to introduce you to one of our favorite writers. Elaine is a Southern California hot mama with a rare talent for capturing those little moments in life with clarity and beauty. Her personal blog - Wannabe Hippie, is an intimate journal, reflecting her journey as a creative, energetic mother of two young daughters. Featuring her expressive writing and beautiful photography, every visit to Wannabe Hippie is noteworthy.

Elaine glows with a positivity and generosity that draws people to her. Her sense of humor sparkles as she recounts the triumphs and disasters that fill her days. She writes with genuine affection and respect for herself and her subjects, while maintaining an edge. Countless readers have fallen in love with Elaine, her husband Mark, and beautiful daughters Lily and Anya. In addition to her offerings at Wannabe Hippie, Elaine also writes for the fantastic group blog Mama Says Om. We just can't get enough Elaine.

There's magic to be found at Wannabe Hippie - but don't take our word for it. We put a call out to some of Elaine's admirers, and we weren't at all surprised at the flood of loving responses we received.

Vanessa Adams was delighted to share her thoughts with us:

Elaine is great! I've been reading her blog for over a year, now, and I'm absolutely in love with her and her family. She has such a zest for life and the most precious way of writing about her life with Mark, Lilly, and Anya. When she gave birth to Anya, at home! in water! and posted the photos from the birth, I felt as if I was being allowed to be part of her family. She is one of my blogger buddies whom I'd love to meet some day. Mommy Bloggers is very lucky to have Elaine writing for them.

I've never met Elaine, but she never ceases to amaze me with stories of humor, silliness and beauty -- okay, and sometimes bodily fluids! She sees kindness and beauty in people and is living the life of a true Wannabe Hippie.

Christina, another Mama Says Om mama, values the wisdom and humor that Elaine brings to her writing:

Elaine is an amazing mama, writer, artist, and all-round wonder-woman with a brilliant sense of humor and an incredibly down to earth and thought provoking way of seeing and writing about her world. She's someone Iturn to for insight, for humor, for wisdom, or just for beautifully constructed sentences.

Krystyn Jones,Co-founder and creator of Mama Says Om, writes eloquently about her relationship with Elaine:

Elaine is my inner peace, my mama instinct, my naughty giggle, my primal scream. I am totally and completely in love with her and I'm not just saying that because I know she'll read this.

Elaine lets her readers glimpse into her life openly without hesitation. From your first visit to Wannabe Hippie you feel like you've known her forever. She manages to write on a level that most people can relate to, all the while making you giggle with her snarkiness, and sometimes even making you teary eyed with her frankness and humility. For this reason, she's not just one of my favorite people in the world, but she's one of my favorite bloggers.

Mama C-ta has been influenced by Elaine's mad parenting skills:

I came across Elaine's site, Wannabe Hippie during my pregnancy. I never knew she would turn out to be such a positive influence on my parenting. Everyday I am impressed by her creativity and the love she has and shows for her family. She has helped me see different options I have when it comes to making some tough parenting decisions. Elaine was a big influence in getting me to make the switch to cloth diapers. She's been an invaluable resource on all kinds of parenting topics and she has been a big supporter in helping me overcome some issues I have after a less than ideal birth. Elaine has really helped me indirectly see things more clear which has made me a better mother. And for that, I am very thankful to have stumbled upon Wannabe Hippie.

Elaine - I know her in person as well as through her blog. She draws me in with her writing and creativity. She is hella funny, yet incredibly deep. We have, in many ways, lived parallel lives this past year or so, but even beyond the surface similarities, she speaks to me when she writes as a mother. Reading Elaine's blog helps me to grow in my own mothering path. Thanks, mama, you're an awesome friend!

We've shared a few of the reasons that we feel Elaine is special. You've heard from some of her many fans. Please check back later this afternoon as we chat with the dynamic Elaine of Wannabe Hippie.