Same ole' resolution: To blog more....

I think I've said that for the past 5 years.  Like most resolutions, I did not stick with it.

Will this year be different? Who knows....

I've been struck with the inclination to write as of late. It's left me a bit astounded. I haven't wanted to write in a very long time. I hope to continue acting on the inclination.

What did I do a lot of this year? Bake. Yes, I baked A LOT. Big items, small items, chocolate, pudding, pies, cakes, cupcakes, candy..you name it...I tried it..okay..maybe not but I did a lot.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Let's start with the candy...chocolate covered Oreos, molded chocolates and chocolate covered pretzels. 8 hours later and not even water...I was a mess but my chocolates weren't.


I just realized that the next 2 recipes come from Sally's Baking Addiction. HA!

Next, Peppermint Mocha Cookies dipped in white chocolate. Divine. I made many holiday cookies but these were my favorite.
 

Donuts. Yes, I made donuts. You bake them and they tastes like giant sugar coated muffins. So delicious.


Chocolate covered banana muffins. Yes, chocolate covered banana muffins. The glaze is silky and shiny and hardens like candy. Make them.



Red Velvet Crackle Cookies. Yes, I used the recipe on the cake mix. No, I am not ashamed. In fact, I changed the recipe and they came out even better than anticipated.


Don't worry, I'll post more images and such. I already baked something in 2016. I'm off to a good start.

The Food Blogger: A dime a dozen

Last evening I had the pleasure of meeting Sally from Sally's Baking Addiction.  As I listened to her story I realized her story is very much atypical. The rise of her blogging fame was relatively short—a whole year or so. Most bloggers work for years and years before (or if ever) they can become a full-time blogger.  Needless to say, Sally worked hard and she's very fortunate - she's talented and has a knack for writing cute and clear blog posts. Ahh..yes..she's almost smart...and got in on Pinterest in the beginning..and we all know how the gals love to pin stuff.

The room was filled with wannabe food bloggers, asking questions about baking and blogging. I sat there....probably the oldest fan in the room and wondered...how unique am I if all of these "women" want to do the same thing? The thing is...I'm not..we aren't...in a way... Yes, we all possess our own thoughts but we are all very similar. We have almost the same dreams. How can we make our blogs and ourselves stand out? My answer: Be ourselves. That's my plan. It may not be their plan but it's mine. I can't try to be something I am not and I will continue to post about the foods I like rather than the foods I think my audience will like. Granted....it's not much of an audience.

Among all of the smart and fun things Sally spoke about, I took away an interesting statement. She said, "I started treating my blog as a business." That struck me. I said to myself, "Hmmm...okay...I understand but do I want to do that." The answer is no, not at this time but maybe one day after some cooking classes and soul searching.

For now, I will blog and bake as a hobby. Who knows? Next week I may just start taking it seriously. I will stick to my day job and moonlight as a baker. I even bought a chef's hat...I feel official.

I need to mention that Sally was a flipping delight! She was so warm, welcoming, enigmatic, and treated her fans as if they were already friends. That gal has charisma and it explains why she's so successful.

Keep blogging ladies...your voices matter. 

F-: My grade as a blogger

Wow. I am terrible blogger. I used to diligently write posts several times a week in my heyday. Now...months slip by and I barely type a word.

Well, what's new??

I've been baking, job seeking, house seeking, recovering, vacation researching, balleting, running...ya know..livin' the dream...

Here are a few things I've made over the months. I haven't really made anything extravagant...my food allergies have taken a toll on my will to bake and cook. I bake muffins for myself because I can control the ingredients.

There is not excuse for this. It's chocolate cake...some sort of delightful oreo interior and strawberries. It was heaven.

Carrot cake muffins...mmmmmm...healthy with coconut oil and whole wheat flour

Pie for Pi Day. Banana Cream....

I hope things will improve on all fronts. It hasn't been an easy or joyful year by any means. Don't get me wrong, it's not horrific and it could be much, much worse. Believe me, I know I am fortunate on many fronts.

It's just hard to stay positive when you work so hard to do things and for others those things just come so easy or fall in to their laps or happen faster. Your road is never the straight and narrow. It's always winding, bumpy, filled with potholes and sometimes just stops for no apparent reason.  This isn't a pity party and I am not blaming anyone.

Anyway, we move onwards...

No PoMoSco

As life always does, it's thrown me a curveball. I had been planning on participating in a National Poetry Month project via the Found Poetry Review but...sadly..I can't. I don't have the time, mental willingness or "umph" to do so.

I feel very defeated about the whole thing. I am trying to make positive changes in my life and do "things" but I haven't been able to do much. 2015...throw me a bone.

National Poetry Month 2015

Yes, yes, yes....I know..I haven't written in 2 months...but...that will change very soon. I am participating in National Poetry Month again via the Found Poetry Review. This year it's a Boy Scouts' theme. It should be fun but I am a little nervous. I am still searching for a house so mixing all of that into writing for a whole month should be entertaining to say the least.

I hope you will all join me on this journey. I hope for some quality poetry but you never know.

See you in April!! 

2014: The year that was not.

2014 brought a lot of love and a lot of sorrow. The first obviously preceded the last. I am happy to turn the page to 2015....as we are almost 20 hours into the new year and I've spent at least 5 of them watching Pride and Prejudice. Oh if Mr. Darcy was real...

Anyway, at 33 years of age, I am not quite at the station in life that I desire. This year I went from believing I was going to spend the rest of my life with someone to realizing that was not going to happen and I was once again alone. It's a lonely life. The loneliness is tangible and not many people understand how difficult consistently being alone can be. I have friends but none are close by. I participate in a extracurricular activities and solo activities to keep myself "busy" but I am alone most of the time.

I've made changes to live a happier, healthier and more positive life. I have a more positive outlook than I did before but I am not completely healed. I wonder when I will feel whole again. 

Along with an earth shattering break-up, I also experienced a freak illness. Granted it did not require hospitalization but I did go through a lot of tests and doctor visits. It came to light that I have food allergies. They are random and inhibit my consumption of some of my favorite foods. I am still getting the hang of modifying my eating habits but like everything else, I am working on it. I can't say it's been easy. I feel better, thank goodness. 

With all the ups and the many downs of 2014, I want 2015 to be filled with light, happiness, adventures and most of all love and healing. 

I will make some proclamations about the coming year.

1. I will bake more and write about it. I've baked so much over the past few months and I have not chronicled it. 
2. I will own a dog. It will be the cutest, sweetest, bestest pup in all the land.
3. I will own a home. It will be the cutest, prettiest home in all the land. 
4. I will write more. I actually wrote last year...remember..I wrote cool poems. :)
5. I will have more happy. 

Goodbye 2014...you've taught me a great deal. 

I wish....

I wish there was a button you could push that would make you fall out of love with someone. But, you could only push that button when the relationship was over and you hurt so bad you can barely breath. There isn't such button....but I want one with all my heart or what's left of my heart...anyway. 

I want this pain to vanish. I want to feel whole again. I want to feel like myself again. Sometimes I feel like I am drowning...in my own feelings. I know how to swim but I could sure use a life preserver.