Two Years of Adventuring

I was totally MIA last week, and I’d like to offer my sincerest apologies! I’m not sure if it was a case of writer’s block or how incredibly sleepy/lazy the rain makes me. But let’s take a second to recognize that California is finally getting rain!  However, I could not wait to acknowledge what today is.

Two years ago today, I registered for a WordPress account and started sharing my adventures (and sometimes misadventures) in the kitchen, while traveling, and my attempts to craft with anyone who would listen (Hi, Auntie Donna!). I’ve been introduced to some lovely bloggers, tweeters, commenters and pinners online over the past two years, and even had the chance to meet some of you (the romantic and the hubs!) or at least visit your favorite places or make your favorite things.

While I’m still figuring out how to balance my blog and real life (read: a 40+ hour/week job), I’ve learned a lot over the past two years. Like participating in any sort of food related exchange not only gets you more followers (and let’s be honest, free food), but you get to know some awesome people from all over (like Jazzy and Allie). Or that despite having made the food/craft in advance and despite the best of my attempts to write a post, I’m really bad at scheduling posts more than a week out. But that’s okay and I’m totally still working on it. Promise. I’ve even learned that people apparently like going on adventures in the kitchen. Because I’m not a professional food/travel/craft blogger, and that means nothing turns out perfectly, recipes aren’t followed to a tee, and that I am 100% using my iPhone camera for all of the photos I take. This blog is a hobby, and I truly appreciate everyone for understanding that.

So, I’ll leave you with a few of my favorite posts and some of my most frequented. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy sharing them with you!

• #1 reader fave: Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate
• Wicker Park Food and Bar Favorites
• Two Days in Prague: What to Do
• Happy 100th Birthday Oreos!
• I’m a Jetsetter Celebrity
• Map Frame
• Mavi Guesthouse
• Bienvenido a Miami!
• DIY Cinnamon Gift Tags
• Great-Grandma Emogene’s Coconut Cake
• Very 1st post: Shredded Beer Can Chicken Sandwich (and still my favorite thing to get there!)

I can’t wait to tell you all about some recent adventures and all of the ones in the future. Cheers, friends! xx

P.S. It’s perfectly acceptable to enjoy a glass (or 3) of wine/beer/cocktail of your choice while reading through these. I mean, I’m not encouraging you to drink alcohol, but it’s what I’m currently doing. And it’s adventurous.. right? Right.

October Foodie Pen Pals

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Later this evening, I will be dressed up in either a flapper costume and consuming tasty cocktails or in pjs and sleeping– I haven’t quite decided yet. One thing is certain though, Johanna sent me an absolutely fabulous Foodie Pen Pals box earlier this month!

September Foodie Pen Pals

Ay ay ay! It’s Monday was Foodie Pen Pals reveal day, and it’s been so long since I’ve participated in Foodie Pen Pals! This month, Ms. Lindsay changed things up a bit– she had us exchange in pairs! So while I was collecting foodie items to mail to Meghan, Meghan was gathering items to mail to me.

Before we delve into what’s inside the box pictured below, I’ll acknowledge the fact that I’ve been terrible about updating this thing. I’ve been busy with work and personal tasks, planning my European adventure (which now includes Brussels!!!), and whatnot. I’ve been itching to get back to baking, trying new recipes, and sharing my upcoming travel plans. So to those of you who use this blog to keep tabs on me (*ahem* Auntie Donna..), fear not! I’m back.

June Foodie Pen Pals

June was such a lovely–albeit crazy– month! I celebrated my birthday week, booked airfare for two trips to one of my favorite cities (Portland!) and lodging for one loonnng trip to a *soon to be* favorite city (Paris!). Over the weekend, my roommate and I hosted a housewarming party (pics and a menu coming sooooon!), which has taken up all of my spare time, resulting in a very tardy to the party Foodie Pen Pals post! Yes, I went there. So, without further ado, let’s take a gander at what the lovely (but sadly, blog- and Twitter-less) Denise of the Philadelphia area sent me in this month’s edition of Foodie Pen Pals!

May Foodie Pen Pals

Happy Friday, y’all! I’ve had a very busy and exciting past few days. Most noteworthy is that I’m moving into a new apartment that happened to be my first choice of all apartment options! I’m quite happy to be living with one of my best friends and enjoying the fabulous fireplace– I’ve never had one before– and two bathrooms. Such a luxury for two chicks!

This month, I received a package from Elena at The Sweetness of Joy. Elena is on a mission to document her journey to conquer her sweet tooth and enjoy the sweet things that life has to offer, and often blogs about health and fitness– something we could all use, am I riiiiiiight? I think Ms. Elena must have done some research on me, because she KILLED IT with the goodies she sent me! I could tell right away that a lot of thought was put into what she picked out for me (heaps of peanut butter and chocolate items!), and I totally appreciate it.

April Foodie Pen Pals

Ay, ay, ay!  Coachella, Miami, and a work event over consecutive weekends makes for a very swamped Natalie! I swear I’ll get to posting about my aforementioned trips. But today, I write about food. I know, you’re shocked.

This month’s Food Pen Pals post is very baking-y. Go ahead, say that out loud: baking-y.

Melissa from Cupcake Friday Project is a magazine editor by day, but is slowly working on teaching herself all things pastry in the hopes of owning her own bakery cafe someday. Swoooooon! I could totally be a drop in chef at her bakery. Right? She also loves sending homemade gifts, and aside from baking, she makes her own jams. Can we be best friends?

March Foodie Pen Pals

Monday. Yuck. I may or may not need to devour one of those tasty peanut butter cupcakes with decadent chocolate peanut butter ganache in order to get this morning back on track. I do get a little happier and less Monday-ish when I think about the fact that today is:

• Opening Day for the San Francisco Giants, World Series Champs, I might add
• The first day of April and not in an April Fools’ sort of way

annnnd..

• Foodie Pen Pals reveal day!

This month’s Food Pen Pals post is all about two of my favorite things: Thai food and chocolate. Jazzy of Travel Jonez is obviously trying to woo me. I’m not quite sure why, or what she could possibly want in return, but here I am, indebted to her for sending me some of the most delicious things I could ask for.

January Foodie Pen Pals

I cannot believe the first month of 2013 is already over. It’s almost Valentine’s Day (read: I have to buy/make Valentine’s or cookies. Cookies it is!). I’m also two weeks away from visiting Em in Los Angeles! Guess what else? It’s Foodie Pen Pals reveal day!

Mellissa, over at A Fit and Spicy Life, was an absolute doll and sent me healthy treats for January’s Foodie Pen Pals. She hails from the Twin Cities and describes herself as a 30-something newlywed who loves food, working out, traveling, and (my personal fave) wine. Her package came at a perfect time, because around this time of year, everyone is all on healthy eating kicks. Let’s take a peak at what she sent me, shall we?

November Foodie Pen Pals

I cannot believe that Thanksgiving has already passed. Guys, this means we’re officially into the countdown for Christmas. Yikes! I shouldn’t be too worried, I have three Secret Santa parties to attend– so much easier to buy for one person than figuring out a gift for everyone at each of the parties!– and only buy presents for my family and a handful of individual friends. But I really do like to bake a lot, in lieu of providing gifts for family functions, co-workers, etc. I suppose the anxiety comes from the fact that there will be a lot of baking involved, and my kitchen isn’t incredibly large.

Rather than focusing on what is eating away at my brain, let’s focus on something fun! exciting! and delicious! Let’s focus on: November Foodie Pen Pals reveal day!

Guest Post: Heather’s October Foodie Pen Pals

Howdy everyone! As I mentioned in my October Foodie Pen Pals post this morning, Heather wrote up a guest post for me to put on here, since she doesn’t have a blog (YET!). Heather is currently preparing for a fitness competition, and therefore isn’t eating refined grains, sweets or dried fruit currently. She follows a high protein, moderate carbohydrate diet. She’s also a registered dietitian and currently resides in Michigan. Let’s all say hello to Heather!

After a long day of work outs, work and class, what a pleasant surprise it was to receive my October Foodie Pen Pals box from Natalie. This is my first time participating in the Foodie Pen Pals program (which, as I’m learning, is the coolest idea ever!) and so I wasn’t sure what to expect.