Stuff & Links

Here it goes!

1. I am so excited about attending Food Blog Forum Orlando that I can barely stand the anticipation. They sent the attendees details about the sessions yesterday and I nearly squealed with joy. {Ok, I may have actually squealed with joy. Farley was a bit alarmed.} Not only is it hosted by Walt Disney World, but the accommodations are at The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, which I haven’t stayed at since I was about 8 years old. {I’ll have to tell you about our family Disney vacations one day.}

Me, circa 1989 at The Grand Floridian.

I’m chomping at the bit to learn new things from some blogging superheroes like Jaden from Steamy Kitchen and Lindsay from Love & Olive Oil, but even more so, I’m ridiculously eager to meet some of the people I follow, read about, chat with & pretty much feel like I’m friends with, but have never met! {AND to hang out with some of the ones I’ve already met!} Blogging is an interesting thing! Squeeeee! {There I go again. I’m going to have to get a muzzle for the event.}

2. I’m not gonna lie, my excitement also has a lot to do with the fact that I’m SO getting a Dole Whip while I’m at Disney.

3. On a similar note, I signed up for a local blogging workshop {“Rockstar-Worthy Blogging“} that will be held by the fabulous Alyson from The Average Girl’s Guide. It’s so nice to get to meet local bloggers & I’m really looking forward to the event!

4. Many of you have heard that Google Reader is shutting down on July 1. Being a creature of habit, my stomach sort of flip-flopped when I found this out because that meant I had to hunt for a new feed reader. Bleh. Luckily, I discovered {through Katy of this blog, whom I also met through a blogging conference last year} that Feedly is a good alternative that switches everything over for you instantly. So, I bit the bullet and did it. And I LOVE IT.

I don’t consider myself shallow in real life, but let me tell you, I am a marketer/brander’s dream. It’s all about the look for me. I totally judge a book by its cover. Or a feed reader by its format. Or whatever. The point is, I stayed up past midnight just looking at the darn thing. If you need to make the switch, do it.

5. Talenti Gelato is coming out with 4 new flavors. I need to know what they are. And I Need. Them. Now. {You can help speed along the “reveal” by going here.}

6. I redid my About page. Like 5 times. I hope you didn’t see all the versions. I’m still working on it.

7. Shameless Plugs for Other People {SPfOP}:

• If you have the time or like clicking on things, please visit & “like” my friend’s Arbonne FB page. She’s trying to reach her goal of 100 “likes”, and man, do I know how that feels. You’re awesome.

• My very talented friend recently opened up an Etsy shop selling these gorgeous bracelets. You know you want to do some accessory shopping…

• I want to brag on another super-talented friend who owns her own photography & calligraphy business. You should check her out, too — WP inks.
• Friends That Blog: Genevieve at City Lights & Tasty Bites {Always making me want to book the next flight to NYC & eat until my top button won’t close.} Sloane at Life Food & Beer {Recipes! Beer! Yay!}. Lauren at Soul Inspiration. {I need some deepness in my life after reading about food and looking at pretty pictures all day. Wonderful introspect.}

9. New Stuff: I really hate asking you guys, “What do you think about this?” regarding the blog. It makes me feel like I’m standing in front of you in a new outfit asking if makes my butt look too big… and nobody likes to answer that question. But the truth is, you’re the ones who read it {I hope!}, so it’s pointless for me to do what I want to do without checking in with you to see how you like it.

So… how do you feel about the direction of the blog? {What direction? HA!} Do you like the Tasty Travels/Prep Praises posts? {P.S. I’m thisclose to being done with the NYC ones… the end is in sight!} Do you enjoy when I team up with other bloggers like La Petite Fashionista, etc.? Are you into the giveaways from time to time? How would you feel about some posts that are mostly pictures and less words? Do you mind the posts where I ramble on about life?

What am I doing that you’d like to see more of? What can I do to make this more your style? {Besides stop pestering you with silly questions, of course!}

I would be BEYOND grateful if you would be dears and answer any{or all!} of these questions. It would save me from a lot of sleepless nights and mad brainstorming sessions. Ok, not really. But still, it would be really nice of you to let me know what you’re thinking on the other side of this screen. 😉

10. And a little bit of food to round it all off… these are the things I’ve made lately that I haven’t shared on the blog. The links to recipes, if applicable, can be found in the caption links.

Cupcakes Galore. Left: Creamsicle Cupcakes {heavily adapted from Cooking Classy }with white chocolate hangers for a shopping event I catered. Center: White Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes & Pineapple Cupcakes {Base from Glorious Treats} for a friend’s Great Gatsby themed 30th. Right: Guava & Cream Cheese filled cupcakes for my sister’s birthday painting party. Top Row {left to right}: Baked Brie Bites, White Bean & Ham Soup, GF Pasta with Olives & Artichoke Middle Row: Italian Easter Breads, White Chocolate Banana Coconut “Cheesecake”, Caprese Skewers Bottom Row: Herbed Pork Chops with Kale, Hydrangea Cupcakes, Sausage & Cheese Bread {dough recipe from here}