Resurfacing

Well…it’s been a while huh?

Full disclosure, I always do this. I don’t mean to, it’s just that I’m someone who doesn’t do well with down time.

I always think I want it, and then I get some…and I get itchy. So, I start a project. In this case, the blog, spurred on by my Instagram account. I still think it’s a worthy one project. I love to cook, and it’s taken on new meaning for me as I’ve aged and moved into motherhood, I’ve been taking pictures of my food basically since I got a cell phone with a camera (yes, it flipped open, I’m that old), and I love the community (local or far flung) that comes with a tiny square of the internet real estate. Moreover, I’m committed to not posturing or making my life seem more flawless than it is in reality, and I think there is value in that proposition. Especially in the highly styled world of cultivated content blogs. But then life happens. And it gets busy. Almost insurmountably so. So what’s been happening here?

I went back to work in October, and found that on top of management turnover, the company I returned to had changed. It was no longer a fit for me. Maybe there was too much leaning in for me there.

So, I worked with a recruiter, I vetted a career path with an organization that saw my value and embraced my desired work / life balance. My recruiter was instrumental in helping me position and negotiate my needs. I started the new job before Christmas. Every day is not perfect, but I’m home in time to pick up my son and eat dinner with him regularly, I don’t answer emails late into the night, and I rarely work on the weekends anymore.  For working mamas that are feeling the pinch, if you know you’re great at your job but you aren’t getting what you need - go elsewhere. Hunt for what you want, and it’s probably out there. This is not the 2008 job market, and if your skills are transferable you can make it happen, but you need to look. OK - off soap box.

Fathers Day 2018

In food related news, the baby is barely a baby any longer. He’s 12 months old, drinking whole milk and eating solid food like a champ. He eats nearly everything we put in front of him, fish, kale, kimchi…it’s amazing. Fruit and crackers are still his favorites, and I’m OK with that too.

Summer is here and that’s moving us toward eating more simply. A few grilled vegetables, a piece of fish, even a great (lamb) burger seems easier when it doesn’t get dark until after 8 and its 78 and sunny when you get home. Evan and I are also in the midst of a little dietary reset. Its been a year since we brought the little person home and into our lives and while every day is a challenge, we've developed the tools to help us tackle it, and we're moving out of survival mode.  I hope to spend a little more time here and to share some recipes again soon.