Allow me to Re-introduce Myself

Hey everyone! I'm Taylor, a law student in Chicago, IL who is obsessed with dogs, loves to knit, adores vintage furniture and clothing, and fitness. I love traveling and take a lot of my food inspiration from my trips to Italy and time spent living in California. Most of my cooking revolves around fresh ingredients prepared well, but I also have some serious comfort food recipes in my back pocket. It's all about balance. I am a Type-A busybody who struggles to sit still often times, but is gradually learning the importance of slowing down and practicing gratitude, as well as mindfulness. I believe that setting aside time for those moments is great when you can, but that the mindset of mindfulness and gratitude can be found in everyday moments.

As some of you may know, I started this blog around 2013 under a different theme and branding. In the last seven years, I have changed and grown significantly, and I wanted to reboot this blog to reflect that change and growth. Lots of things have stayed the same: I am still crafty; I still love food; and I still find cooking to be a meditative process. However, a lot has changed: I have moved about nine or ten times in the last 5 years alone; I have earned one degree; I am in the process of earning my law degree; and my paradigm has shifted quite a bit about how I view food, leisure, and work. Food is a really powerful part of our existence. It gives us the energy we need, can bolster our immune system, and also provide comfort in times of need. Leisure is something I have learned the importance of as I have entered the workforce and an intense field of study. If we don't carve out time for leisure and hobbies, we most certainly lose sight of ourselves. Work has become more important to me than ever before. Entering the workforce and having a 60 hour-a-week desk job made me realize frankly how difficult it can be to make ends meet and how motivated by career goals I am.  However, what has changed the most is the state of uncertainty we see today.

The world is in a lot of turmoil right now.  I want this to be a place where people can find peace and aid in coping with spending a lot of time away from loved ones. I want this to be a place where people can learn things that will help them forget some of their anxieties, for even just a few minutes, and find joy in living at a slower pace than we usually do. I know that for me, the most difficult part of the COVID-19 pandemic is feeling powerless. While I don't have the answers on how to fix our healthcare system or eradicate Coronavirus, I am an expert at enjoying time at home, comfort food, and finding things I can control amidst uncertainty.

Baking is helping me make the best of quarantine. 

Now, more than ever in my lifetime, is the time to slow down and appreciate what we have. Whether it be our health, our communities and family (that we are currently loving from afar), the ability to work remote, the ability to reconnect with our values, the time we have to spend re-evaluating our goals and priorities, or simply time spent with roommates, family or partners, we have a lot to be thankful for. On the other hand, I do want to be honest. This is a hard time, and we are all riding a roller coaster of emotional ups and downs right now— myself included. I have been worried, frustrated, sad, and even plain mad over the last couple of weeks, but in cooking and hobbies, I have found some peace. Hopefully, my recipes and suggestions will bring the same to you.