I haven’t blogged in almost two weeks and when I think about it, an enormous cloud of stress lingers over me. Instead of continuing on the path of neglecting my blog and ignoring it because I have X, Y and Z to attend to, I’ve decided to finally sit down and write what’s on my mind. This means writing about what I’ve been doing recently (if you’ve read my blog for a while you know I love doing this – so guilty) and what plans are ahead of me. Forewarning: I’ve had my fair share of cold brew today and am a little hyped up on caffeine.

Since my last post, I spent Valentine’s Day with two of my good friends at the Dose Market in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood. I am not one who really cares about being single on Valentine’s Day or spending it any certain way but just being with the ones I love (in this case, my two beautiful friends) at a market (something I also love) is just an overall nice way to spend a regular Sunday afternoon.

Not to mention it started blizzarding mid-way through our morning, we got green tea lattes at the new West Loop spot Sawada Coffee (my all-time NEW favorite latte ever in Chicago) and brunched at The Allis. Who needs a boyfriend when you’ve got all of that?!

Now the past week and a half I haven’t had any motivation or creative spark to make original recipes. That or inspiration. I seem to get in this rut a lot, especially when my internship and school are pretty hectic. Since the weeks can be packed with studying, class, writing, social media planning and finding time to use my ClassPass (aka working out), when the weekend rolls around, recipe development is the last thing I want to do. Don’t get me wrong, I love making recipes and LOVE LOVE shooting photos in my dining room but sometimes, sleep and relaxation are more important. Taking a step aside to go out with friends for lattes and smoked salmon plates is what I need rather than staying in all day in leggings and a hoodie baking from 9-5 in my kitchen.

There is a life behind the food.

So this is what happened when I took a break from (food) blogging. I ate my favorite dish at one of my favorite brunch spots (hard boiled eggs, smoked salmon, whole grain toast, avocado and tomatoes) and I set my phone aside in order to interact with my friends. I took a step out of my kitchen, I spent my Saturdays with my roommates, I picked up groceries from Trader Joe’s and remade this Slow Cooker Coconut Curry Quinoa and Vegan Broccoli Cheeze Burgers. Both are phenomenal and I suggest you make this coming weekend! I saw a really interesting play in a random suburb of Chicago with my roommates, I bought new bright purple Nikes that I can’t wait to show you guys and finished homework on a Saturday (who would have thought?).

I have always been the type of person that is comparing myself to others, especially when it comes to blogging since it’s now kinda sorta my life. I see my “best blogging friends” posting every to every other day and think I’m doing something wrong but in reality, I might just be doing something right. I’m living my life and doing things other than being sucked into my kitchen at all hours of the day and then being so exhausted by night I don’t want to do a thing but lay in bed.

Despite taking a little break during the middle of February, I can’t wait to bounce back in the following weeks. I’ve never been more excited to write a blog post than the one I’ll write on my upcoming trip to New York. If I haven’t said it enough, I’ll be there March 6th-9th with my first blogging friend, May, and I CANNOT WAIT.

It’s going to be a three day adventure of smoothie bowls, matcha, almond milk lattes, yoga, barre and photography a.k.a all of my favorite things in the world. If you have any recommendations please let me know because I want to squeeze it allll in. Or at least attempt to.

This coming weekend I’ll be in my kitchen whipping up some recipes for two brands I’m really excited to work with as well so stay tuned.

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