Two years ago today, I shared my blog with friends and family, after closet blogging for several weeks. Frankly, I wasn't sure how long I would keep it up, but as it's turned out, I've quite enjoyed it.
In two years, I've found myself repeating thoughts; blabbering about nothing; or fleshing out in words something that's nested in my brain for too long.
Sometimes I start a post that doesn't ever take flight, and it sits idly in my post queue for a few days, but eventually just gets the axe.
Occasionally I start a post that I should have never started, and that, mercifully, gets deleted within minutes. I made a promise not to dishonor anyone in the very beginning, and let me tell you a not-so-surprising confession: I've come dangerously close to breaking that promise.
Even still, 278 posts (including this one) have made the cut, and it's been so interesting to me, to see which ones have been the most read over the life of this blog. In celebration of two years -- and we all know how I feel about a quick stroll down memory lane -- here are the top five most read posts:
So Long Saloon Black Bean Dip (who knew there were so many folks looking for this recipe?)
Meeting Nathan (one of my favorite stories to share)
Thankful Thursdays (a personal attitude shift that has had significant influence on me)
(Small-Town) American Pie (slice of pie, anyone?)
Get Your (Stitch) Fix (it's all the rage)
And here are a couple of my own personal favorites, just for kicks:
To Carter, on the Occasion of Your First
A Chocolate Sheet Cake Offering
Clothed
It's been a good two years. I hope for greater things to come in the next two, and look forward to sharing a bit of them, right here in my little corner of the world.
Cheers!
Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Monday, July 9, 2012
all greek to me
I've noticed that about 90% of my posts over the last few months have been categorized under "munching."
This is not surprising, because a) I have a new kitchen that's great to cook in, b) I haven't had any really fun, out-of-the-ordinary happenings to do otherwise, and c) I did declare 2012 the Year of Hospitality.
But seriously, I need to show some evidence of areas of growth, other than that of my waistline. I promise a post soon about something more meaningful. Maybe.
In the meantime, another recipe!
Yesterday I was crazy for some spinach. There are worse things to crave, but I really wanted some kind of spinach pie, or spanakopita ... something like this:
Spinach, cheese, onions, in a pastry shell? Yes, please.
Naturally I couldn't find any one recipe that didn't totally stress me out, so this is a variation of many recipes combined. It was de-lish!
Spinach Pie
2 boxes frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1 small onion, or half of a large onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
1/3 c. chopped scallions
4 oz. grated cheese, any combination (I used Swiss and mozzarella)
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1-2 Tbsp. mayonnaise
1 package frozen puff pastry, thawed
EVOO
Salt and pepper, to taste
I ate this for dinner with a little cucumber-tomato-olive-feta salad, and enjoyed every delectable Mediterranean bite.
This is not surprising, because a) I have a new kitchen that's great to cook in, b) I haven't had any really fun, out-of-the-ordinary happenings to do otherwise, and c) I did declare 2012 the Year of Hospitality.
But seriously, I need to show some evidence of areas of growth, other than that of my waistline. I promise a post soon about something more meaningful. Maybe.
In the meantime, another recipe!
Yesterday I was crazy for some spinach. There are worse things to crave, but I really wanted some kind of spinach pie, or spanakopita ... something like this:
Spinach, cheese, onions, in a pastry shell? Yes, please.
Naturally I couldn't find any one recipe that didn't totally stress me out, so this is a variation of many recipes combined. It was de-lish!
Spinach Pie
2 boxes frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1 small onion, or half of a large onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
1/3 c. chopped scallions
4 oz. grated cheese, any combination (I used Swiss and mozzarella)
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1-2 Tbsp. mayonnaise
1 package frozen puff pastry, thawed
EVOO
Salt and pepper, to taste
- Sauté onion over medium high heat for about 5-7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add garlic clove, and sauté another minute.
- In a large bowl, mix drained spinach (really get after the draining ... use a dish towel and squeeze the mess out of it), onions and garlic, scallions, cheese, eggs, and mayo. You just want the spinach mixture to have a little bit of stick to it, but not greasy or clumpy.
- Grease an 8 x 8 square baking dish. Roll out one sheet of puff pastry, just larger than the square dish, and place in the bottom. (It will come up a little on the sides when it bakes.) Pour the spinach mixture into the dish and top with the other sheet of puff pastry. (I just used about 2/3 of the second pastry sheet, and cut it into 6 squares to top the spinach.) * I think you can get creative on this pastry part. I'd consider using it only on the top, to cut down on some of the carbs and cals. Or, you could do a lattice topping, like an old-fashioned apple pie! You really can't go wrong with puff pastry, so be fun and put your own mark on it.
- Spray the top with cooking spray, or brush with an egg wash, and bake at 375 degrees, for 35-40 minutes. Let sit 20 minutes before serving.
I ate this for dinner with a little cucumber-tomato-olive-feta salad, and enjoyed every delectable Mediterranean bite.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
thankful thursday #73
The world we live in is beyond materialistic. I know this.
I struggle with that sin to a point, although I rarely think of myself
as having outrageous amounts of stuff
(save for the closet and pantry purges of 2011).
For the past two weeks, though, I’ve not had a clear path to
walk in my apartment, thanks to all my possessions coming out of hiding and
into stacks of boxes.
The movers have told me they will call me tomorrow for a
final box count, so they’ll know what size truck to bring. I haven’t counted the boxes yet; it will
probably be embarrassing.
So here I sit, writing my final Thankful Thursday from this
address. I move in less than 48 hours to
a new home – just up the road, not far – and I’m looking quite forward to
new. New space. New décor.
New projects. New memories.
But alas, saying hello to new means saying goodbye to
old. Not surprisingly, the ol’ nostalgia
is kicking in, and I can’t help but feel grateful tonight for ...
The awesome neighbors I’ve had here, whose median age is 70,
and who do not party hard.
The pristine landscaping my landlord demands.
The prompt maintenance service I’ve received, but only
needed on a few occasions.
The tiny increase in my rent, which happened only once in
five years.
The accessibility I’ve enjoyed to everywhere in Birmingham.
Location is king.
Living five minutes from Lori.
Stay tuned for more fun facts about the “new” that’s around
the corner for me, but in the meantime, celebrate some “old” in your own life,
and for the goodness therein. Go on, be
grateful!
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
fill in the blank
I'm so excited to be done with traveling, but now that my schedule is quietly opening up, I barely know what to do with myself.
My four-month adrenaline rush is over. I'm flat. Crashin' and burnin'.
Not channeling much creativity these days, this fill-in-the-blank list gave me a little nudge to start typing:
1. I have never been to ... a World Series game, a Superbowl, a College Football National Championship game, or the U.S. Open. Those are all on my bucket list. I've also never been to a NASCAR race, and that is not on my bucket list.
2. When it comes to working out ... I'm super moody and fight the extremes (i.e. the I run three to five miles every day phase, versus the I don't feel like it, so I won't do anything phase). Exercising is a necessary evil, but I do it because well, loving food comes at a cost.
3. A woman should always ... have a red lipstick on hand for special occasions, expect chivalry, send hand-written thank you notes, be savvy like a serpent but gentle like a dove, and know she was made beautiful by a master Creator.
4. I hate to admit it, but sometimes I ... am judgmental. I can't tell you how many times I think (or say aloud -- I'm not ashamed), Back it up, Robyn. You don't know her story. You don't know what he's dealing with. And you're certainly no better than her. Oh, that I might one day see people first the way Jesus does.
5. At the end of the day, the best feeling is ... pulling on my pajama pants, brushing my teeth and climbing into a bed with cold, crisp sheets.
6. I can't get enough ... of this face!
My stars in heaven, when I travel to see this child in two days, I might never come back.
My four-month adrenaline rush is over. I'm flat. Crashin' and burnin'.
Not channeling much creativity these days, this fill-in-the-blank list gave me a little nudge to start typing:
1. I have never been to ... a World Series game, a Superbowl, a College Football National Championship game, or the U.S. Open. Those are all on my bucket list. I've also never been to a NASCAR race, and that is not on my bucket list.
2. When it comes to working out ... I'm super moody and fight the extremes (i.e. the I run three to five miles every day phase, versus the I don't feel like it, so I won't do anything phase). Exercising is a necessary evil, but I do it because well, loving food comes at a cost.
3. A woman should always ... have a red lipstick on hand for special occasions, expect chivalry, send hand-written thank you notes, be savvy like a serpent but gentle like a dove, and know she was made beautiful by a master Creator.
4. I hate to admit it, but sometimes I ... am judgmental. I can't tell you how many times I think (or say aloud -- I'm not ashamed), Back it up, Robyn. You don't know her story. You don't know what he's dealing with. And you're certainly no better than her. Oh, that I might one day see people first the way Jesus does.
5. At the end of the day, the best feeling is ... pulling on my pajama pants, brushing my teeth and climbing into a bed with cold, crisp sheets.
6. I can't get enough ... of this face!
My stars in heaven, when I travel to see this child in two days, I might never come back.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
nothing and everything
Blogging has been such the experiment for me.
Will I have anything worth saying? (Maybe.) Will it become a burden? (No.) Will I find a writing rhythm? (Mostly. About three times a week, in fact.)
Let it be known, however, that July is the month of not too much going on, while everything is going on. And I've found that while this kind of "everything" is going on, none of it is worth writing about.
Over the past week or so I ...
Took the Little to see Mr. Popper's Penguins.
Perhaps the lamest movie of 2011, but well worth it, to spend the afternoon with my penguin-obsessed Little. She was beside herself. And I was happy to share a bag of over-buttered, overpriced popcorn with her. She's a jewel.
Ran ten miles.
In a row, that is. Man, that hurt, and yes, this upcoming half marathon will hurt more. It was nice, though, to spend the morning with friends, and take in some nostalgic neighborhood life along the way: women pinning laundry to an old-fashioned clothesline; the nice person who leaves cups and a cooler of water in his yard for the runners; new moms getting out with their babies before the sun's too unbearable; fresh cut lawns; a post-run smoothie in a local coffee shop. It was good. In retrospect.
Enjoyed a haircut in a new chair.
My stylist moved to a little shop in Old Town Helena called Roots. It's simple and sweet, with white-washed walls and a window air conditioning unit. Nikol and I were her only appointments, so we made a girls' day of it. We were channeling Steel Magnolias all the while.
Wrapped up Peru trip prep.
Our final team meeting was Sunday, when the packing began. Our awesomely organized leader dazzled us (me) with a diagram of how we would off-load our luggage from the carousel. He does not play, people. It was beautiful. I purchased the last few items on my list -- protein bars for when our food is terrible, and Sour Patch Kids to make me happy on the flights. (Now if I can just adhere to the 50-pound baggage weight limit...)
And that is my week of nothing and everything.
Will I have anything worth saying? (Maybe.) Will it become a burden? (No.) Will I find a writing rhythm? (Mostly. About three times a week, in fact.)
Let it be known, however, that July is the month of not too much going on, while everything is going on. And I've found that while this kind of "everything" is going on, none of it is worth writing about.
Over the past week or so I ...
Took the Little to see Mr. Popper's Penguins.
Perhaps the lamest movie of 2011, but well worth it, to spend the afternoon with my penguin-obsessed Little. She was beside herself. And I was happy to share a bag of over-buttered, overpriced popcorn with her. She's a jewel.
Ran ten miles.
In a row, that is. Man, that hurt, and yes, this upcoming half marathon will hurt more. It was nice, though, to spend the morning with friends, and take in some nostalgic neighborhood life along the way: women pinning laundry to an old-fashioned clothesline; the nice person who leaves cups and a cooler of water in his yard for the runners; new moms getting out with their babies before the sun's too unbearable; fresh cut lawns; a post-run smoothie in a local coffee shop. It was good. In retrospect.
Enjoyed a haircut in a new chair.
My stylist moved to a little shop in Old Town Helena called Roots. It's simple and sweet, with white-washed walls and a window air conditioning unit. Nikol and I were her only appointments, so we made a girls' day of it. We were channeling Steel Magnolias all the while.
Wrapped up Peru trip prep.
Our final team meeting was Sunday, when the packing began. Our awesomely organized leader dazzled us (me) with a diagram of how we would off-load our luggage from the carousel. He does not play, people. It was beautiful. I purchased the last few items on my list -- protein bars for when our food is terrible, and Sour Patch Kids to make me happy on the flights. (Now if I can just adhere to the 50-pound baggage weight limit...)
And that is my week of nothing and everything.
Friday, April 15, 2011
tracks of my tears
I've spent all night in my "safe place" because we've had severe weather sweeping across Alabama. All's well, except for the fact that Dateline and Friday Night Lights -- the only saving graces of Friday night television -- were eighty-sixed, thanks to the live weather coverage. (All. Night. Long.)
Time-wasters of the night included rampant games of "Words with [some] Friends," and checking on other friends who lived in the ever-moving red "polygons" on the weather maps (they're so technical, those weathermen).
I wanted to be motivated to at least post a blog entry, but I was uninspired. Then at some point I saw a homemade video someone posted on Facebook that made me get a little teary, and I was inspired.
I've mentioned before that I'm not a big crier (although there are a handful of ugly-girl cries I claim).
But you know those moments that sneak up on you out of the blue? Grip you. Give you the lump in the throat. You know the tears that spill over, no matter how far your eyes look up? When you wonder how badly your mascara is running. When you can't find the Kleenex!
They're subtle tears on the outside, but sometimes deeply profound on the inside. Got me thinking about what those are for me. The things that prick my heart, and call up my tears.
The instant when I realize someone isn't feeling included, or maybe has never felt included, and I know it's a loneliness they live with more than anyone should.
A photographic montage with sad music playing. Seriously, folks, even in the movie Up. The animated photo series of the couple who grew old together? Over the top. Too much.
Missing the past. Sipping the bittersweet taste of nostalgia. The time when grandparents still lived, when we still played in yards and on playgrounds, and when we didn't have adult decisions to make.
Watching authentic worship. Participating in authentic worship is powerful, but do you ever see people being overwhelmed during praise and worship? There is almost nothing sweeter on this earth.
Speaking of worship, singing praises -- traditional hymns, contemporary songs, sacred choral music, who cares -- those are some of my most throat-lumpy moments ever.
Celebrating people. Graduations, anniversaries, birthdays, retirements. Those are such tender moments, and I wonder why we wait for those "big" days to honor people well.
Subtle gestures of support and affection. Have you seen a mom comfort her grown child with her hand on his back? A little girl wrap her arm around her daddy's neck in church? A husband who grabs his wife's hand when he knows she's upset? Be still, my heart!
Time-wasters of the night included rampant games of "Words with [some] Friends," and checking on other friends who lived in the ever-moving red "polygons" on the weather maps (they're so technical, those weathermen).
I wanted to be motivated to at least post a blog entry, but I was uninspired. Then at some point I saw a homemade video someone posted on Facebook that made me get a little teary, and I was inspired.
I've mentioned before that I'm not a big crier (although there are a handful of ugly-girl cries I claim).
But you know those moments that sneak up on you out of the blue? Grip you. Give you the lump in the throat. You know the tears that spill over, no matter how far your eyes look up? When you wonder how badly your mascara is running. When you can't find the Kleenex!
They're subtle tears on the outside, but sometimes deeply profound on the inside. Got me thinking about what those are for me. The things that prick my heart, and call up my tears.
The instant when I realize someone isn't feeling included, or maybe has never felt included, and I know it's a loneliness they live with more than anyone should.
A photographic montage with sad music playing. Seriously, folks, even in the movie Up. The animated photo series of the couple who grew old together? Over the top. Too much.
Missing the past. Sipping the bittersweet taste of nostalgia. The time when grandparents still lived, when we still played in yards and on playgrounds, and when we didn't have adult decisions to make.
Watching authentic worship. Participating in authentic worship is powerful, but do you ever see people being overwhelmed during praise and worship? There is almost nothing sweeter on this earth.
Speaking of worship, singing praises -- traditional hymns, contemporary songs, sacred choral music, who cares -- those are some of my most throat-lumpy moments ever.
Celebrating people. Graduations, anniversaries, birthdays, retirements. Those are such tender moments, and I wonder why we wait for those "big" days to honor people well.
Subtle gestures of support and affection. Have you seen a mom comfort her grown child with her hand on his back? A little girl wrap her arm around her daddy's neck in church? A husband who grabs his wife's hand when he knows she's upset? Be still, my heart!
Those are the tracks of my tears. What are yours?
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
being and blogging
I’ve considered blogging for a long time. Like for a couple of years. I even tried once, but it was lame. So after about four entries, I was done.
Two months ago, when I disconnected my cable, I decided that blogging would be my new hobby, because
a) I enjoy the written word,
b) I have a lot more time on my hands, and
c) I figured I might enjoy keeping a scrapbook of sorts.
a) I enjoy the written word,
b) I have a lot more time on my hands, and
c) I figured I might enjoy keeping a scrapbook of sorts.
So I started wondering about how exactly to launch this whole thing. About how, if I told someone, “Hey! Check out my blog!” And they went to read it, and there was only my first entry? How boring.
That got me thinking that I should blog incognito for a while, get started, hopefully get myself into a writing rhythm, and begin to discover my online personality, without telling people. So I did!
Here’s what you might see in my entries:
- Lists (I’m a list-maker, so … yeah.)
- Occasional photos
- Some good eats (I love food!)
- God moments
- Recaps of trips
- And generally, a little glimpse into what it’s like being me.
Here’s what you won’t see in my entries:
- Anything dishonoring to a person
Well, that’s the only thing I know of right now that’ll for sure be off limits.
Today’s the official invitation to blog stalk me, because I’ve finally settled on the design. (That was also a big process for me, and I have some really great professionals to thank for that.)
Thanks for visiting, y’all. I hope you’ll poke around, maybe come back and comment sometime, but if you don’t, that’s okay, too.
I'll just keep on being and blogging anyway.
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