A year ago today my life changed in a way that still surprises me.
That sounds dramatic, but in truth most of my day-to-day is the same: I still work a full-time job and I still avoid vegetables. What’s different is that I started this blog, and it has been an unexpected blessing.
Writing has always been a part of me, but somewhere between awkward adolescence and rebellious teenage years my focus shifted. Two paisley vests, one silk shirt and a hoodie later, and writing took a back seat.
Starting How Sweet It Is reignited that passion—ten million times over. I truly believe the last 15 months of choices and experiences led me to begin this blog, to rediscover my voice, and to open up in ways I hadn’t expected.
You helped me do that. Your encouragement, thoughtful comments and generous suggestions meant more than I can say. I appreciated every tip for cooking vegetables (even if, sadly, they haven’t converted me yet) and I loved that many of you kept visiting when I posted about bacon three days in a row.
I might write a post about what I’ve learned this year, but for now I’ll stop the sentimentality—just for a moment. I want to say:
THANK YOU!
I tried to narrow my favorites down to a top 10, but I change my mind constantly. Still, as of today, these are the recipes I love most.
My Top 10 Favorite Recipes
Salted Chocolate Pecan Butter
Fresh Fruit Bruschetta
Whole Wheat Double Chocolate Chip Waffles
Healthy Crispy BBQ Chicken Fingers
Kiwi Mango Salsa
Ice Cream Crepes
Tropical Avocado Smoothie
Better-Than-Crack Brownies
Macaroon Granola
Lobster Mac and Cheese
Do you have a favorite How Sweet It Is recipe?
Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes!
Not much will change here, but one thing is shifting. For the last nine months I’ve also been blogging on the Fit Bites page, focusing on fitness and snapshots of life. I’ve talked about fitness nearly every day for years—since I started teaching in college in 2001—because I love working out. But I don’t want fitness to be the only topic I cover there.
Going forward, Fit Bites will include more personal posts, reflections on life, and the occasional food post. How Sweet It Is was never intended to be strictly a food blog; I launched it to write about family, life and my passion for storytelling. Somewhere along the way I fell into a pattern of posting stylized food content daily, and that can feel limiting.
I will continue sharing new recipes and fitness content because both are part of my life, but you’ll also see more of me—the everyday thoughts, the ramblings, and a broader look at what I care about.
Do some good!
If you’re able, check out Tina’s blog today to bid on a batch of my muffins as part of a bake sale benefiting a good cause.
Thank you to each and every one of you for reading. It truly means the world to me.
What would you like to see more of on How Sweet It Is?