Just Checking in

Whoa. That’s all I have to say for the month of June. I don’t know where it went. All I know is: I’ve been drinking coffee, sleeping in hotel rooms more often than my own bed, and I can’t remember the last time I smashed an avocado on toast. All of these things throw me way off kilter, but it’s been so worth it.

But things are very, very good. And that’s because of you. Today, I want to say THANK YOU. Thanks for coming to this site. Thanks for commenting and emailing me. Thanks for making my recipes. And most of all, thanks to the person (hi Judy!) who emailed me recently to say that I’d been posting too many alcohol recipes and was concerned I have a problem. You guys really care, and that makes me feel so warm inside. (Truth be told, most of my cocktails go to my neighbors. Except when I juice. But that's just healthy).

Here’s the thing: this year, I’ve been chasing my dreams big time.  In this last year of my 20s, I actually realized what I want to do with my life. At the beginning of this year, with a friend's encouragement, I made a list of pie-in-the-sky goals. I taped it next to my nightstand, and I look at it every day. Something about seeing it each morning makes me put energy towards it daily. I do one little thing each day to help achieve the goals. We're only six months into the year, and I’ve achieved almost all of them. And that is all thanks to YOU.

This website has made me realize my true passion in life. If it wasn’t for my partner taking 3 bites of the first meal I ever cooked for him and telling me ‘this is what you should do with your life,’ I don’t know that I’d be in this state of mind. If it wasn’t for him noticing that after a long exhausting day, I still had the energy to open my laptop and work on this site, I don’t know that I would have realized that I have bigger dreams waiting for me to go after them.

I believe telling people your goals and dreams is the best way to hold you accountable for pursuing them.  So, I’m going to tell you the last remaining goal on my list. I hope that expressing it will help give it life and float. Please don’t laugh. This is my life, my goal, and my desire. I don’t expect anyone to understand. Maybe, there’s even someone out there who can help. Here goes. Deep breath. I want to replace Giada on the Food Network. Much love and respect to my idol, Queen Giada, but I want to have a food tv show, too. I want to share my love of cooking for two with the world. I have so many tips and tricks to share with small households. Plus, my recipes are easy to scale up if you happen to have a large household. So, I’m putting this dream out there so you can hold me accountable. If you want to help me, push me. Ask me how it’s going. Ask me what I’ve done lately to achieve my goal.

Soon, I’ll be sharing some videos that I’ve been working on of me cooking while talking (side note:  it's harder than it looks). I’m going to need your criticism. I’m going to cherish your feedback and use it to get better. Then, when Queen Giada gets ready to retire, I’ll take her place and make tiny 6” cakes for all of you who helped me get there. Deal?

Can I help you? Please, tell me one of your pie-in-the-sky dreams. I want to help. I spend an hour each morning lifting up friends and responding to emails to encourage others. I believe we should all spend a portion of each day giving back. I give my time to help others achieve their goals. I'm so grateful that I've been given the opportunity to chase my dreams, so I want to help you with yours, too.

Thanks for listening to this. Thanks for holding me accountable, and thanks for sharing this journey with me.

XOXO,
‘tina