Monday, November 22, 2010

So. Here’s the deal.

I started this blog well over a year ago (I totally missed my ‘blogaversary’ back in June or July.)   I started at the time when I had been gaining success in losing weight and was reading a ton of healthy living blogs.  I kept thinking “Hey.  I can do that.” and then finally my sister Jen gave me a push.

I still read most of those blogs today – and some of them are the more popular blogs that get mentioned in Marie Claire articles.  I will fully admit here that I was – and still am – fascinated by this phenomenon wherein you can – for all intents and purposes – blog for a living.   I don’t think I’ll get there ever but there are days where I think that would not be too shabby.

My current job has evolved into something that is very, very different from my old days of event planning where half my day was spent planning menus and thinking about table cloths.   I liked that part of my job a great deal and I miss it.

I participated in NaNoWriMo a few years back and realized I have a love for writing (well – I always knew it – but never thought about seriously doing it as a means to support myself).    I now have a 50,000 word mish mosh of a story collecting dust on my hard drive.

Here’s what I know about myself.

1) I like to cook.  I’m pretty darn good at it.

2) I like to write.  I’m pretty good at that too.

3) I like to take pictures.  I want to get better at it.

4) I get REALLY excited about food.  I was reading Food & Wine yesterday and I literally wanted to jump in and live in the pages.  I wanted to make every single thing I saw.

5) I don’t want to go to formal culinary school.  I want to learn some techniques but I have no desire to be yelled at by a French guy while making sauces for a week straight.

6) I think my day to day antics are mildly amusing and some of you seem to agree.

7) I’m not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.  Foodbuzz is generous to give me pocket change in exchange for the ads on this blog.  Their Tastemaker program just provided me with the Oatmeal bread I made a cheese sandwich with for lunch.  I like that.  I like having a community of other foodies.

8) I like you guys.  Some of you know me in real life – others I just met here.  Some of you never comment – some of you do.  One of you is my boyfriend who likes to comment here, tell me he commented here, and then bug me when I don’t update.  But he has a much bigger kitchen than me and children I can engage into slave labor while cooking so I think it evens out in the end.

I do know, however, that me taking pictures of every bite I eat isn’t feasible – nor do I think it’s very interesting.  I need some sort of plan.  I was thinking of going to a model similar to my buddy Shan at Daily Pie where she has a theme post a day (and two days off a week).

I need two days off I think.  Sometimes I might not take it but it would be good to know I could skip a day here and there.

I’m feeling pressure (I’m looking at you Melissa) :) to keep up the pace and though I am willing to cut myself some major slack due to some traumatic events in my life recently I’m not as gung ho as I once was.  But I do enjoy blogging. A lot.  I miss it when I don’t post.  I want to be excited about it again and I want to post things that are more meaningful than me showing you a peanut butter sandwich every morning.

Soooooooooooooooooo.

I am thinking of something like the following – in no particular order.

1 day featuring a recipe – whether mine, my dad’s or my attempt from one of my many cookbooks

1 day a “what I ate” post with pictures

1 day about diet and or exercise

1 day a restaurant review or a look at any industry events I plan

1 day of me just babbling about wearing designer jeans in the 80s, Reality TV or something else inane.

I’d really love to know what you think.  What about this blog what do you like?  What do you wish I did more of?   I don’t ever expect to get rich here – I’m not going to open a store or appear on the Food Network any time soon but I’d like to use this place as a way to focus my culinary aspirations and give them some sort of purpose.  Whether that manifests itself in a new career, a little freelance writing or something all together different I do not know but this is what I’m aiming for.

Don’t be shy.  We’re all friends here.  I’ll even pick a comment at random and send you something chocolate.

Dave – you’re disqualified from that part of this post as you still have the truffles Mora and I made in Ziploc containers in your fridge.

5 comments:

  1. Thank you ahead of time for randomly picking my comment for chocolate goodness. Wink wink, nudge nudge.

    I think that's a great idea. I know that when I put myself on a schedule of doing specific blogs on specific days, the stress lifted. :D

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  2. I like the new plan and I like scheduling things so this is perfect for me - however, if you assign something to each day - I will be waiting for it! hehe

    I think you should treat yourself - or maybe ask for as a gift - a Garmin running watch! You will love it and be addicted and it will really motivate you to run.

    I am quitting running for the winter months I think but once it is warm again - I will be hitting the pavement and I definitely will be purchasing my own (I borrowed this fall) Garmin watch - it is so addicting and really makes you go further.

    I would also like to be invited over for a dinner party even if just Jen and I - oh wait make that Jen, Daaavvvve and I are the guests!

    Perhaps we can have some contests on here - of what sort I am not sure but contests are fun!

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  3. I think that that is a great idea. Truth be told, I would probably read your blog regardless of what you wrote because it's one of my favs out there. You have a way of making what you eat everyday interesting and you are relatable, so it's a great combo.

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  4. Maybe you could have a weekly column on Dave. Many of us out here are quite interested in him and his unique ability to get around without a GPS

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  5. Thanks for the shout! I agree with Melissa-san -- I love my Garmin (Forerunner 110). I can't now for injury, but I wish I could strap on my watch and cruise.

    Instead of a "what I ate" post, how about a "what I cooked" post each week, with a focus on the photography? Chances are you ate what you cooked, but the approach would be different. You could showcase your cooking and photography at once. Added bonus: there's no pressure to snap a shot of everything you eat. If you need to document it, you could journal.

    It'd be cool, too, if you did posts featuring the healthy-lifestyle blogs you read.

    I like having theme days. I'm evaluating them for the coming year because there are particular days I slack off more than others. It was a huge relief to take the weekends off. :)

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