My 100th Post!!!

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Well guys, it’s hard to believe but this is my 100th post! I’m amazed at all the things I’ve learned since I started back in April and how quickly the time has gone.  This has been more work than I thought it would be, but has also been more rewarding than I could have imagined.  It’s made me realize how much I was craving a creative outlet and I’m glad that I have this opportunity to share with you!  I don’t want to be too boastful but I’m proud of myself for keeping up with posting 3 times a week even when it seemed impossible.  I’m also so grateful to anyone that has commented or liked any of my posts.  It’s nice to know you guys are out there!

My husband Derek and my close friend Betsy keep telling me I should share more of myself here.  I’m trying, but it’s tough to think that people are interested in my stories and not just the food and cocktail recipes. Derek is my editor and some of the confidence and pride you read in my posts is likely edited in by him because I worry I am “tooting my own” too much or being too “look at me”. However, Derek and Betsy were the ones that convinced me to start blogging so maybe they know what they’re talking about. 😉 So here goes…

Some of you may have read on my About Me page that I have Lupus, but I thought I’d share more about that.  Lots of people don’t really know what Lupus is, so I thought I could provide some context.  Lupus is an autoimmune disease (others include Crohn’s Disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis), which is what happens when your body creates antibodies against itself.  In other words, your body is fighting itself…constantly. Think about how a normal person’s body wards off a cold.  Well for someone with an autoimmune disease your body is fighting its own cells.  For Lupus that can impact several organs which is part of what can make it so difficult to diagnose (if you’ve ever watched the show House you have a sense of the variety of symptoms it can produce).  For me, it has effected my lungs primarily.  Symptoms of the disease can also include joint pain and extreme fatigue.  Quite a few people with Lupus also end up with Kidney problems.  While I have problems with my lungs which makes strenuous activity harder and I tire more easily than some people, I still consider myself lucky.  I was diagnosed at the age of 12.  While it was a bummer at the time, it has also meant that I have always been under the care of a Rheumatologist so my Lupus has not gone rampant.  I also feel incredibly lucky because I don’t have any Kidney problems. While some days are tough (really tough), I remind myself that I have a husband who is right there with me, friends that love and support me, a roof over my head and this blog to share my thoughts, photos and recipes.  Overall life is good!

On a less serious note, I wanted to share some of my favorite ingredients and flavors.  You may have noticed by now that when I find something I like I can go a little cray with ideas of ways to use it (Exhibit A: Blackberries).  Here are a few of my other favorites in no particular order you can expect to see more of around here:

  • Chocolate
  • Coffee
  • Chestnuts (you’ve been warned, since we’re moving into chestnut season, he he)
  • Licorice
  • Mushrooms
  • Coconut
  • Gin

Other things you should know about me are that I pride myself on a being a loyal and supportive friend.  I think I end up being the person that tells a friend what she needs to hear, not always what she wants to hear.  I can also be goofy at times, love to read and will always always always enjoy experimenting with all things food. My favorite color is purple and I have a fondness for owls.  In fact, my husband and I now get a 2nd smaller Christmas tree every year just for my owl ornaments (I’ll share some photos on Instagram when we put it up after Thanksgiving).

I also thought it would be fun to share with you which posts have been my favorites thus far to write:

  • Mother’s Day and Father’s Day posts- both of these were so enjoyable for similar reasons.  I got the chance to learn things about both of my parents that I didn’t know and connect with each of them.  It was also fun getting the chance to share them with all of you!
  • Apple & Green Tomato Pie– This is one of my favorites because I was proud of the unique flavor combination I created.  It was also one of my desserts that got the most reaction amongst my friends.  Everyone had a comment about it!

green_tomatoe_and_apple_pie

  • French Laundry– This was the first (of many, I hope) of my Food Tourism posts and I really enjoyed getting the chance to re-live that amazing meal.

 

I feel like I’ve been blabbing on about myself so it’s time for some audience participation.  I’d love to hear from all of you.  What’s been your favorite post?  Is there anything I do that you don’t like? Anything you’d like to see here?  A girl can use some constructive feedback once awhile, so don’t be shy!

Here are a few things you can expect to see around here in the near future:

  • A Rachel’s Food Tourism post about Franklin BBQ in Austin, TX
  • A blogging cookie exchange
  • Some special holiday posts
  • Some big upgrades to the look and feel of the blog

 

You can find most of my social media links on the homepage, but just as a reminder you can find me in these places:

 

Thanks again to all of you who have been so supportive.   Here’s to another 100 posts!

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