We all know that every kitchen needs a stand mixer, measuring cups, or baking sheets, but what are some other tools that can help you be a better home cook? Here are some of my favorite kitchen gadgets that will not only enhance your cooking, but also make meal prep more enjoyable. Get ready to elevate your kitchen game and discover the essentials that every home cook should own!

Favorite Tools and Gadgets

1. OXO Kitchen Scale – When baking, weighing your ingredients will give you the best results, and this is my go-to scale. I love it because it has a removable platform which makes it easy to clean, and it has a pull-out display so you can easily read the weight when you have a large bowl on the scale.
2. Silpat – I’ve raved about this before, and for good reason! It is a baker’s dream come true!
3. Veggie Chopper – I am not a fan of chopping vegetables, so this is not only a time saver, but a sanity saver as well!
4. Sticky Measuring Cup – Every time I share my video about making my favorite peanut butter cookies, I get asked what this measuring cup is! It makes measuring sticky ingredients like peanut butter and honey a breeze! Hands down a kitchen gadget every baker needs!
5. Jar Opener – Nothing more to say other than IYKYK.
6. Meat Masher – The only way to break up hamburger!
7. Silicone Jar Scraper – It’s clear measuring ingredients like peanut butter can be tricky, but so is cleaning out the jar out! I love this silicone spatula for getting every last bit of peanut butter out of the jar. It also works for mayo jar, jam jars, and all the jars!
8. Avocado Slicer – Slice and pit avocados the easy way! This slicer doesn’t have any sharp edges, so you don’t have to worry about hurting yourself. Not that I’m speaking from experience or anything…
9. Popcorn Maker – A good Netflix binge session is always in order, and a big bowl of popcorn is the best way to enjoy your favorite shows! This popcorn maker is simple, compact, and super cute!
10. Fruit Cup Slicer – How cute are these slicers? I love that they pick up the fruit in the cup while you’re slicing it. Also works well for hard boiled eggs!
11. Foldable Phone Stand – Looking at a recipe while cooking is easy thanks to this cute little stand! Now you don’t have to worry about getting food on your phone! It’s also perfect for watching a show while in the kitchen! Did I mention this cute little kitchen gadget comes in tons of colors?
12. 4-in-1 Mixing Bowl Set – This is seriously the coolest mixing bowl set out there! It makes clean up SO EASY.
13. Foldable Over-the-Sink Dish Drying Rack – If you don’t love having dishes on the counter after washing them, this is what you need! It folds up so you can access your full sink easily!
14. Mini Waffle Maker – I love this little waffle maker… and they have griddles too. These are great single serve – it was great when I was losing weight – and would be fantastic for a college student in a dorm.
15. Cookie Scoops – I’ll say it once, and I’ll say it again… Don’t underestimate the power of a cookie scoop! It’s what makes all your cookies look so good.

Recipes to Make With These Kitchen Gadgets

• Hamburger Tater Tot Casserole with Gravy
• 30 Minute Ground Beef Stroganoff
• Ultimate Stuffed Peanut Butter Cookies
• Peanut Butter Blondies
• Zebra Popcorn Copycat
• Waffle Cookies
• Cheesecake Waffles

Cookbooks are still a great gift – I love receiving them and have a huge collection! This list are some of my favorite cookbooks from the past 2 years. These are great gifts for holidays or anytime gifts – even hostess gifts!

So I have to start with MY cookbook – available for pre-sale now. It comes out in February but I’ll have a fun gifting promo going on in December so pre-order them as gifts and you’ll have something to give!

Pre-Order my Cookbook on Amazon HERE!

Here are some of my other favorites this year:

1. Dessert Boards by Kellie Hemmerly
2. Well Plated by Erin Clarke
3. The Big Book of Jo’s Quick & Easy Meals by Joanna Cismaru
4. Spectacular Spreads by Maegen Brown
5. Once Upon a Chef by Jennifer Segal
6. The Stay at Home Chef Slow Cooker Cookbook by Rachel Farnsworth
7. The Ultimate Bread Machine Cookbook by Tiffany Dahle
8. Meat to the Side by Liren Baker
9. Melissa Griffiths has LOTS of books for sale on her website, including Family Dinner Made Easy
10. Big Boards for Families by Sandy Coughlin
11. Meal Prep In An Instant by Becca Ludlum
12. Dinner Hero by Mama Loves Food and Dinner Hero
13. 8 Weeks of Family Dinners by Yellow Bliss Road

What are your favorite cookbooks?

Check out my Favorite Things Gift Guide, Favorite Things – Kitchen Edition, and Disney Lovers Gift Guide!

If you have a Disney lover in your household then this is the gift guide for them. These are some of my favorite things from Shop Disney – plus I’m giving you some other fun places to shop for (cheaper) merchandise.

If you love Disney home and accessories then you’ll love this list!

This post contains affiliate links.

There are so many things at Shop Disney, but these are some of my favorites. If you don’t love the characters I chose – don’t worry, search around and I’m sure there is a bag or wallet, or some jewelry with your favorite!

Disney Home Gifts

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7

1. HOME Pillow – I have this and it’s so soft. It makes me think of Disney whenever I look at it.
2. Alice in Wonderland Serving Tray – The prettiest tiered tray for parties!
3. Flour Canister – These are on my Christmas list! I also love these little containers.
4. Door Mat – Currently in my cart.
5. Disney Waffle Iron – Make those Plaza Inn waffles at home!
6. Disney Mickey Wreath – Couldn’t get it home in my suitcase so ordered it to my house!
7. Disney Casserole Dish – Classic black and white pattern that makes cooking and baking fun!

Disney Favorite Things Accessories

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7

1. Ear Headband Necklace – I own this and love it – I get compliments whenever I wear it.
2. Mickey Earrings – I own these and wear them all the time, they’re understated and work well when I’m decked out in head to toe Disney!
3. Bracelets – I’m obsessed, the end.
4. Ear Headbands – Required! They change often online so check a lot to see which ones they have in stock.
5. Wallets – While I am obsessed with the Dooney and Burke version, it’s quite pricey. The Loungefly wallets are fun too – and less expensive. They have lots of options.
6. Loungefly Backpack – I just picked one theme – they have several. Like the headbands they change often so check back a lot.
7. Card Wallet – I have several of these! They’re perfect for clutches or in backpacks!

Disney Gifts from Other Sources

Disney is expensive! Here are some other places to find good quality Disney merchandise:

• Box Lunch (clothing and accessories) – they have TONS of loungefly!
• Etsy (everything – but mostly t-shirts!)
• Hot Topic (shirts and Loungefly)
• Kohls and Target often have shirts and pajamas

More Favorites

• Favorite Things
• Favorite Things: Kitchen Edition

If you’re looking for some good gifts for the holidays, a birthday, or for any other special occasion, check out my favorite things guide! These are all products and items I use so you know they’re things that are actually great!

These are truly some of my favorite products that I want to share with you! I always feel like word-of-mouth is best when you’re thinking of buying something for yourself or as a gift for someone else, so here are some of my tried-and-true favorites.

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

Favorite Things I Love

1. Casetify Phone Cases – There is something for everyone and they are amazing at keeping your tech safe! I’m partial to bright colors and rainbow, but I have my eye on a few other designs too!
2. Sugarfix by Bauble Bar (for Target) – I am obsessed with EVERYTHING in this line. I always love a good statement earring, but I couldn’t help myself when I saw the little ribbon tails on these gold earrings.
3. Athleta Salutation Stash Pocket II ⅞ – These are my go-to workout leggings! They are breathable, comfortable, stay up, have pockets and are cheaper (and better IMO) than Lululemon.
4. Rainbow Peep-Toe Pumps from Unique Vintage – I get so many complements on these. PLUS – they have other colors with this style. They are actually REALLY comfortable – I’ve walked a mile in them, no problem.
5. Knit Throw Blanket – We have about 5 of these and love them… One for every room in the house! They’re stylish, not too big, and really comfy.

6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10

6. Portable Handheld Fan – I can’t recommend this enough! It fits in your purse or pocket, is rechargeable, and is a backup power bank. I don’t leave my house without it. #IYKYK
7. Apple Watch – a splurge but I love mine. I’ve had it for years and started wearing it religiously this year. I love feeling competition with myself to close my rings!

8. Milanese Band for Apple Watch – it’s stylish and comfortable. I wear it working out and all day too.

9. UGG Slippers – I use these as shoes, seriously. They’re my go-to slip on flats all winter. Fun colors too!

10. Desk Fan – See #1 lol – if you’re over 40 you definitely need this. I was gifted it and I use it religiously all year long.

You May Also Like

• Best Baking Items – As an avid baker of over a decade, these are my tried and true favorites!
• Disney Lovers Gift Guide
• My Favorite Prime Day Purchases, Ranked

Kitchen gifts are some of my favorite things to give and receive! If you have a foodie on your list or someone who loves to bake, cook, or entertain, you should get them something on this list.

I curated these kitchen gifts with things I actually have purchased and used so you know you’re getting the best items! From my favorite cooking appliances to cookie tools, this list has something for everyone.

Whether you want to buy a small kitchen appliance for someone or just need an easy hostess gift, this list has something for everyone on your list!

Small Appliances

These are my most used small kitchen appliances that would make great gifts!

1. AIR FRYER – This is my most used appliance – we use it daily. I upgraded to the Corsori this year. It’s a GAME CHANGER – does a whole chicken that tastes better than rotisserie!
2. NESPRESSO Vertuo – Did you know that the official Nespresso pods are recyclable? I just gather them up and mail them bag in the free bags they send you.
3. Cuisinart GRIDDLER
4. INSTANT POT
5. KitchenAid Stand Mixer
6. Cuisinart Food Processor – I recommend a big one!
7. Hand Mixer – I love my Cuisinart!

Tools and Gadgets

I own every one of these items and use them daily!

1. This is the kitchen scale I use – an OXO 11lb one with pull out front. I’ve tried several and go back to this one every time.
2. Thermapen Instant Read Thermometer – I use this ALL THE TIME. You can’t get them on amazon and I used to recommend the cheap version but no more, not now that I’ve used the original. Plus: no batteries corroding when washing!
3. Cookie Scoops are always on my list and make a great stocking stuffer – they come in all sorts of sizes!
4. I use my Silpats every time I bake – they are fantastic for people who love cookies.
5. I love the Dash Mini Waffle Makers – and they have griddles too. These are great single serve – it was great when I was losing weight – and would be fantastic for a college student in a dorm.

Hostess or Fun Anyone Gifts

These are all fun things to give as a hostess gift or to someone who you’re just not sure what to buy them. Some of these might actually be on MY list…

1. Wilton Navy & Gold Collection: There is always a reason to have more measuring tools and tips, especially when they’re pretty.
2. Fun Bar Tools: I love the gold collection – would pop in any room.
3. Coffee Accessories, like the mug+heater – perfect for the coffee lovers!
4. For the pet lover: these molds would be great if they want to make my blueberry dog treats!
5. Brown Sugar Saver: These come in handy and will keep brown sugar moist.
6. Mud Pie Dip Set: I’m a sucker for anything Mud Pie – this set is cute!

For more great gift ideas, be sure to check out my (non food) Favorite Things list!

Kitchen gifts are some of my favorite things to give and receive! If you have a foodie on your list or someone who loves to bake, cook, or entertain, you should get them something on this list.

I curated these kitchen gifts with things I actually have purchased and used so you know you’re getting the best items! From my favorite cooking appliances to cookie tools, this list has something for everyone.

Whether you want to buy a small kitchen appliance for someone or just need an easy hostess gift, this list of kitchen gifts has something for everyone on your list!

Small Appliances

These are my most used small kitchen appliances that would make great kitchen gifts!

1. AIR FRYER – This is my most used appliance – we use it daily. I upgraded to the Corsori this year. It’s a GAME CHANGER – does a whole chicken that tastes better than rotisserie!
2. NESPRESSO Vertuo – Did you know that the official Nespresso pods are recyclable? I just gather them up and mail them bag in the free bags they send you.
3. Cuisinart GRIDDLER – The possibilities with this griddler are endless!
4. INSTANT POT – You can make so many things in the Instant Pot! It’s a workhorse and a must for any kitchen.
5. KitchenAid Stand Mixer – I have baked thousands of recipes, and this mixer stands the test of time
6. Cuisinart Food Processor – I recommend a big one!
7. Hand Mixer – I love my Cuisinart!

Tools and Gadgets

I own every one of these items and use them daily!

1. This is the kitchen scale I use – an OXO 11lb one with pull out front. I’ve tried several and go back to this one every time.
2. Thermapen Instant Read Thermometer – I use this ALL THE TIME. You can’t get them on amazon and I used to recommend the cheap version but no more, not now that I’ve used the original. Plus: no batteries corroding when washing!
3. Cookie Scoops are always on my list and make a great stocking stuffer – they come in all sorts of sizes!
4. I use my Silpats every time I bake – they are fantastic for people who love cookies.
5. I love the Dash Mini Waffle Makers – and they have griddles too. These are great single serve – it was great when I was losing weight – and would be fantastic for a college student in a dorm.

Hostess or Fun Kitchen Gifts for Anyone

These kitchen gifts are all fun things to give as a hostess gift or for someone who you’re just not sure what to buy them. Some of these might actually be on MY list…

1. Gold Measuring Cups and Spoons: There is always a reason to have more measuring cups and spoons, especially when they’re pretty.
2. Fun Bar Tools: I love the gold collection – would pop in any room.
3. Coffee Mug Heater: Perfect for the coffee lovers! I’m in love with the rose gold.
4. For the pet lover: these molds would be great if they want to make my blueberry dog treats!
5. Brown Sugar Saver: These come in handy and will keep brown sugar moist.
6. Mud Pie Dip Set: I’m a sucker for anything Mud Pie – this set is cute!

For more great gift ideas, be sure to check out my (non food) Favorite Things list or my Disney Lovers Gift Guide!

 A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself.  –Josh Billings

Yesterday we had to do one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Our sweet Ginger had to be put to sleep and we are devastated. She was like our second child and we’ll miss her terribly.

Ginger came to us when she was 5 years old. We’d been thinking about getting a dog for awhile; Jordan was about 3 and we were settled in our home and ready to take on a fur baby. We’d decided to get a pug; they’re small and cute and we were going to name it Squish. Then, a friend of mine started fostering dogs for Homeward Bound, a golden retriever rescue. She got her first foster dog and sent out an email to all her friends asking if anyone wanted a dog.

When I saw that picture of Ginger for the first time, I knew immediately that she was my dog. Even through a photo, the connection was instant. We went to meet her and when I walked in the door she jumped up on me to say hello. The foster mom mentioned that she’d never seen Ginger do that before…until I walked in the door. It’s like she knew she belonged to me too. A pug to a golden retriever is very different, obviously, and luckily Mel was on board. We brought Ginger home on an October afternoon.

I’ll never forget the day we brought her home: she was excited, and used to pull on her leash quite a bit. We  had a narrow entry hallway in our old house and there was a bookshelf along one wall. Ginger came in the house and we took her off the leash…and in that same second Callie, our cat, walked by. Ginger took off after her, banging into the bookshelf and knocking a heavy glass frame to the tile floor, shattering it everywhere, while Mel, Jordan and I just stood there open-mouthed thinking what did we do?

In time, Ginger learned to fear the cat. It took a few weeks and at one point she’d had enough; I swear to God she went after Ginger down the hallway walking on two legs samurai swording her paws and Ginger ran away, tail between her legs. From that day forward, Ginger gave Callie a very wide berth. ?

Ginger’s first home life hadn’t been good. She’s a purebred golden, came with papers, and had even had a litter of puppies (and really bad mastitis, I guess), but her owners worked full time outside the home and left her tied up outdoors all day. Ginger is an outdoor barker; if she’s outside and the wind blows or a dog barks or a bird flies by, she barks at it. So, the owners tied her up outdoors all day and didn’t like the barking complaints, so they put a bark collar on her. When we got her, she didn’t speak for at least a week, because she was so scared to. (She eventually found her voice, and I’m sure my neighbors heard me yelling at her to be quiet! several times.) But we left her in the house 90% of the time, so the barking wasn’t an issue.

When Ginger came to us, she came to her forever home. She was a part of our family that we didn’t know was missing; she was the second child I couldn’t have. She was with us all the time; she’d sleep at my feet during the day while I worked, watch me bake and clean the floor after me on kitchen days, sit outside Mel’s office and hope he’d invite her in, sleep with us in our room. There was never a time she was far away.

Of course, as she got older, she slowed down quite a bit. Looking back now, after 12 she slowed down a lot but it was so gradual it wasn’t glaring until I look back at her life. First she stopped wanting to go for walks, then stopped coming upstairs at night all the time. The worst decline just happened over the past few months. Two weeks ago she couldn’t keep food down and the vet gave us the news she had a large tumor pushing around her internal organs. At 14 1/2 she was a very old dog and we decided to make her comfortable, but we didn’t realize how fast the end would come. With nausea medication, she started eating and drinking again and was a bit more like her old self, but last week she stopped eating and started breathing heavy. On Friday she couldn’t walk and the return check appointment we had shifted from checking her progress to something else entirely.

We had to carry her to the car and into the vet. Mel and I sat with her the whole time, and I’m sure the waiting room could hear my grief. I’ve said goodbye to animals before, but saying goodbye to Ginger was something else entirely. Now we are here, in our quiet house, with signs of her all around. Her food, her bowls, her beds, the hair that coats my pants (and probably my internal organs). We will miss her so completely.

On that last day I wished she could talk and understand my words because I wanted her to know how much we loved her. Life won’t be the same without our Miss GingyPoo following me around wherever I go. I also now have to clean my own food messes, eat all my own breakfast eggs, throw away the empty peanut butter jar, and I can leave Kleenex unattended. Somewhere, Ginger is whole again, running free on a beach with her leash in her mouth, eating unlimited peanut butter and chewing napkins to shreds without a care in the world. And, if she’s found Callie, she’s giving her lots of space.

Goodbye sweet Ginger, we will miss you so. ❤️

(Why talk about such a serious topic on a food blog? Well, I figure I’ve talked to you about infertility and eating disorders, I may as well go all the way! Plus, if my story can help one person out there, well then, I’ve done my good deed. Also, I’m totally into oversharing, which is part of the reason why you come here in the first place, right?)

Over the past year, I’ve realized I suffer from anxiety. I’m going to go so far as to say I’m pretty sure it’s of the chronic variety. I didn’t really know what it was at the time, but ever since last fall I’ve been reflecting greatly on my life and my mental health, and I realize that I’ve probably been suffering from it for at least 20 years. Sometimes it’s manageable, sometimes it’s not. On those times it’s not, I just shrugged it off and thought it was just me. I’m just an anxious person, I’m a worrier, and I really, really hate germs and bugs, and things I can’t control.

Looking back, my first really full blown anxiety attack happened about 9 years ago. We had an ant infestation and I was in full panic mode. I called my husband (he was in a meeting) and he had to leave and come home because I he couldn’t understand what I was saying, I was so hysterical. I couldn’t sleep, couldn’t focus for weeks. I felt like ants were all over me, all the time. But when that happened, I didn’t think of it in terms of anxiety, I thought about it as “I hate ants”. The ants went away, my anxiety subsided. No problem, right?

Over the following years, I was just me, living with anxiety but not knowing it. Little things would throw me off, like a roof leak, Jordan having to stay home sick, freaking out if I missed the gym or whenever Mel had a last minute business trip. These are things that would upset anyone when they happen, sure, but for me it was different. An outsider looking into my brain and see me reacting to these problems would think I was overreacting greatly. And I was, and I knew it, but I couldn’t help it. I just thought I was an irrational person; I didn’t connect my feelings (and the subsequent depressive ups and downs) with a problem.

The first time I realized there might be something to my anxiety issues was a few years later when we had lice. My husband had to call the nit picker lady back to our house weeks after it was over because I’d been regularly rocking back and forth on the living room floor ripping my hair out and scratching my head convinced they were still there. Eventually, that subsided too, although I still occasionally spray tea tree oil on Jordan’s backpack and slip it in her shampoo, and if you sit 4 feet away from me and have a piece of dandruff in your hair I can see it. Again, it went away, and I went back to my old self, the person who couldn’t handle doing homework with Jordan or going out with friends socially because they might realize how irrational I was behaving.

Last fall my anxiety came back with a vengeance. All of a sudden I could no longer function. It was worse than any other time, the attacks came more frequent and the depressive episodes lasted longer. I couldn’t work, couldn’t exercise, had no will to socialize or do anything but lay on the couch all day. But I still didn’t think my anxiety was that bad. I mean, on movies and TV the person suffering an anxiety attack feels like they’re dying. They feel like the walls are closing in; like they’re having a heart attack. The heart races, they sweat. That’s what an anxiety attack is, right? That wasn’t happening to me. Just like with my eating issues, I couldn’t even do anxiety attacks “right”.

Guess what? That heart-gripping sweating anxiety attack that they show in movies and write about in novels? That’s not the only kind of anxiety attack. Anxiety can manifest itself in many ways, and I’m an example of that.

One of my attacks starts out with a mood, like I wake up on the wrong side of the bed. I go through my day with a dark cloud over my head. I can’t be a part of my family, I can’t function properly. I liken it to when you’ve had too much to drink and you know you’re not right, but it doesn’t matter because you’re drunk and can’t stop being drunk until it’s run it’s course. A few hours later or sometimes the next day, I’m okay.

The other kind of anxiety attack I have is more traditional. Something triggers it – Jordan being sick, a bug bite, anything out of the norm that changes my day – and all of a sudden I have tunnel vision. Everything around the edges goes snowy and gray and I can’t focus on anything but the trigger. I often become manic, checking myself for lice or bug bites or cleaning or whatever the action is to the reaction of my trigger. Then it ends and I literally cannot do anything the rest of the day; all I want to do is sleep.

I thought I was just suffering from anxiety attacks, that one day, over time, it would go away, just like it had in the past. My exercise regimen would eventually put it back in check, or we’d go on a family vacation that would reset my mood. This time, no matter what I did, it wasn’t going away. And then I had a conversation that, quite literally, changed my life.

I was talking with a friend who told me she’d just started taking anxiety medication. She said she didn’t even realize she had anxiety, but had gone to the doctor and described how she had no patience with her family or life and she was unhappy a lot and angry a lot and yelled all the time. After more conversations with her doctor, they told her she was suffering from anxiety and had been for quite awhile.

In that moment it was as if a lightening bolt struck me. That was me.

Yelling all the time, no patience. Unhappy, angry, depressed. Periods of being okay, then periods of NOT being okay. That described my life.

When Jordan was born, I had really bad post-pardum issues. Looking back, I really should have talked to a doctor about it, but I never did. I went on to stay home (when I’m so not a stay at home type person). Yelling became my way of communicating. Jordan didn’t hear me unless I yelled at her. As she got older, we would fight. I would lose it with her more than I like to admit. If she had friends over, I’d lose it. I had zero patience. A lot of time, the same went for my husband.  For almost 11 years, I just figured I was one of those parents who was just a yeller.

I realized I’ve been suffering from anxiety the entire time Jordan’s been alive. And longer, when I look at signs in my life from high school up until her birth. It was shocking, really, to realize this. Even though I didn’t have “traditional” panic attacks, I still suffered from anxiety. Occasionally it was in check, I could handle it. Then it would flare up and affect my well-being. I’d get depressed, sometimes badly. But then something would turn it around. Exercise was what helped me out of my post-pardum, and from there it became my anti-depressent. I’d jokingly say exercise was my “little pill” because without it, my mental health suffered. But as long as exercise worked, most of the time, I could keep my anxiety in check (remember, I didn’t realize what it was), except at home when I tried to help Jordan with her homework or parent in general.

Last fall, the anxiety came and stuck around. My life was being affected: I didn’t want to workout, work, travel, or socialize. I was depressed. But I still didn’t know what to do about it. Talk to a doctor? A therapist? Medication? I didn’t want to do any of those things. I wasn’t ready yet.

Two things happened this past January that finally pushed me to getting help. First, Jordan forgot her violin on band day. Such a simple thing, right? So what, right? Wrong. I remembered in the middle of my half-assed workout (at this point I was barely working out, I had no drive or energy to even do that) and I burst into tears. On the stair master. In front of the entire gym. I was so hysterical because she forgot her violin I had to leave and go home.

Then, a week later, we got a minor roof leak. Remember, control issues are one of my triggers. We had a roof leak several years ago that was a huge ordeal. This one was minor (it was fixed the next day) but it drove me into an attack that lasted an entire day. At one point I remember thinking, what’s the point of living life if this is how it feels?

Now, those thoughts are not new for me. They’re not good thoughts, but I’ve thought that way off and on (passive, as my therapist calls it) since I was 15 years old. But I’m 38 now and I’m totally over feeling that way. I was tired of always feeling the anxiety right there, just below the surface.

The next week I found my counselor. She diagnosed me with anxiety and depression caused by anxiety. She wasn’t too into me taking medication, but when she did my depression survey and I told her about my history, she suggested I talk to my doctor. A week later I started taking anxiety medication.

The first few days on the medication was rough but literally I felt better on day 1. After a week I felt like me again (the side affects went away) but I felt like me…without anxiety. It was a weird feeling.

My counselor described anxiety to me in a way that was really easy to understand, and it helps put it into perspective for those who don’t suffer from it:

People who don’t suffer from regular anxiety live on the ground floor of a building. They go about their lives, grounded. Something happens to cause stress or anxiety, and their mood jumps to the top floor. They deal with the source of the problem, then move back to the lobby.

People who live with anxiety on a regular basis live on the roof of the building. They’re always up there, up high, waiting. When something happens to cause stress or more anxiety (even something small, like their daughter forgetting a violin) there is no where to go but off the roof.

From day one on my medication, I stopped yelling. I have not lost patience or yelled at Jordan (unless she deserved it) once since I started treatment – even when we’re doing homework. I made it through a slumber party and I didn’t snap once. She’s taken to seeing how far she can push me until I yell at her for real (seriously, #thatgirl).

My husband has told me several times now how much happier I seem. His words: they no longer have to walk on eggshells around me. He’s been having to do that for so many years and now he doesn’t. That part makes me sad for putting him through it, and part makes me happy I am finally fixing it. I took a trip without stress. I’ve been socializing with friends more. I signed up for a half marathon and have started having purpose to my workouts.

I’m happy again. I’m ME again, the me who I was in between anxiety episodes, except the anxiety of day to day life is just that: day to day life.

Do I want to stay on medication forever? No. But right now, this is the journey I’m on. We’ll see where it takes me. Right now, it’s given me a new lease on life, a new excitement about my work, and it’s allowing me to experience life like, well, a person on the ground floor.

Thank you for reading today, if you got this far. Know that all of you, being here, reading this blog with me, are some of the reason I’m happy today. And if you’re someone who is suffering from anxiety, I urge you to talk to someone. Find a friend, a relative, doctor, or therapist. Send me an email! You don’t have to live that way anymore, life is better from down here, believe me.

(If you are experiencing a medical emergency, are in danger, or are feeling suicidal, call 911 immediately. Suicide Hotline: 800-784-2433. Immediate Medical Assistance: 911. Crisis Call Center: 800-273-8255 or text ANSWER to 839863.)

Is it weird that a place taught me about blogging? Because it totally did.

A few weeks ago I got the chance to hang out with some of my very best blogging buddies at a retreat, BloggerRefresh, in Carmel, California. It was exactly the recharge I needed. And, in spending some time away from my kitchen, away from my computer, I learned some things about blogging.

I learned that travel can not only rejuvenate the soul, but that by visiting local eateries I can invent my newest recipes. (Baseball sized macaroon hopefully coming soon to a blog near you.)

Have you ever been to Carmel? Mel and I used to visit a few times a year, but I haven’t been there in ages. Walking around downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea had me awash in memories. I remembered the restaurants we ate at, the clothing store where I had my first grown-up “Pretty Woman” shopping experience (minus the hooker part), the gallery with the gorgeous photographs that paid for our honeymoon.

(Both of those stories, BTW, will make great blog posts. See what visiting places can do? I have so many stories to share that I’ve forgotten about!)

Once we ate our way through downtown, the 10 of us drove to Carmel Valley, a place I’d never been. But it’s a place I fully intend to return to. I mean…it was literally like heaven on earth.

(I kind of wanted to go all Sound of Music on those hills.)

Our generous host for the weekend was Holman Ranch, a unique and memorable setting for all sorts of events. The ranch consists of 10 hotel rooms (each with their own bath), a communal kitchen and living room, plus several event spaces for meetings, lounging, and events. The 10 of us took over the entire place, cooked meals for each other, learned from each other, and soaked in the beauty around us.

Holman Ranch contributed to another thing I learned on this trip: photographing things is just as wonderful as photographing food.

As a food blogger, I rarely take photos of anything besides the food. Any photos I take out and about are taken with my iPhone…and not very well. I don’t consider myself a photographer, just a food photographer.

The ranch inspired me to take out my camera and just see the beauty around me.

The gorgeous tree in the center of camp.

The outside of room #4, my home for the 3 days.

The “barn” where I plan to renew my vows some day.

Clearly, we were all inspired by the beauty around us. That’s Amy, shooting more gorgeous trees!

This might sound funny, but another thing I learned about blogging is how much good food other bloggers make. I hardly ever make recipes from other bloggers because I’m too busy making my own. For this trip we each were assigned a meal so I got to taste so many delicious recipes that I can’t wait to make again and again.

Trish’s Blueberry Lemon Cream Cheese Muffins, Amy’s Hash Brown-Crusted Quiche (not pictured), and Tillamook Farmstyle Greek Yogurt for breakfast.

Lisa’s Skinny Margaritas made with Skinny Triple Sec alongside turkey tacos for lunch and Tillamookies for dessert.

A panini bar that introduced me to blackberry, bacon, and brie paninis alongside Cathy’s Sicilian Spinach Salad for dinner.

My recipe assignment was breakfast. I decided to bring my Overnight Cinnamon Rolls made with (along with some Carrot Cake Coffee Cake and Banana Bread) to treat the ladies with. And, because I’m me, I also brought Chocolate Toffee Almond Shortbread Bars and Peanut Butter Gooey Bars along. They went like gangbusters.

The first night we got to have dinner in town, at Will’s Fargo Dining House & Saloon. It was there I learned that if you stand outside the bathroom long enough a waitress will come by and you can tell them that two ladies are having a birthday and they’ll bring you dessert with candles.

I also learned that homemade berry pie is fantastic…but I already knew that because duh.

I learned that Lisa is amazing at taking head shots. She did my new one, which you can see here. I love taking pictures of people taking pictures of people.

With the gorgeous setting, we put on our fancy tops with our yoga pants, did our hair, and took pictures of each other for hours. We laughed, we cried, and we got to know each other so much better than we had only hours previously.

I think the most important thing that this retreat taught me is something I already knew: Blogger friends are real ones.

Just because you only interact on the internet doesn’t mean you don’t have a true bond with someone, it just means you have to plan a retreat to actually hug that person in real life instead of virtually.

Without this retreat I wouldn’t have met Cathy or gotten to realize yet again how awesome Amy is. (Oh, how I wish Amy lived closer to me – our daughters – and probably husbands – would get along so well!)

(I also wouldn’t have learned the term RBF, so that was a learning experience!)

As great as working on the internet is, sometimes you just need to physically see someone. Emails, Facebook, and texting just aren’t the same as road-tripping with Hayley, giving Glory an emotional hug, or having in depth conversations with Mindy.

Reaffirming this fact, that the friendships I’ve created online are real, was exactly what I needed. Because honestly, some of these ladies know me better than my “real life” friends do. And Trish and Lisa, ladies, I have no words for how I feel about you. Hopefully y’all know that.

Oh, and I also learned I have magical selfie arms. So if we ever meet, I’ll take the selfie.

By the way, if you’re reading this and thinking how do I get to go on a fun retreat with my blogger friends??!! then you should do what we did: planned our own. About 6 months ago the 10 of us realized we wanted to get away and hang out with each other. So we planned a retreat ourselves. It was challenging, sure, but it was worth all the work. Find some bloggers, pick a city, and go for it! (And check out this post by Lori, The Recipe Girl, on how to do it!)

Thank you for reading! #BloggerRefresh girls I love all your guts!

Like all blogging events, this one wouldn’t have happened without our generous sponsors:

A huge thank you to Holman Ranch for providing our logging for the retreat, to Jennie-O for purchasing all the food for our weekend, and to Will’s Fargo Restaurant for our dinner.

Thanks for reading!

Happy Saturday friends! Today I’m talking about food in a different way…travel food! Two weeks ago I got the chance to spend the weekend with 7 other fabulous food bloggers in Santa Barbara, California. Today I’m sharing some of the fun things we did – and the fabulous places we ate!

The #SBFoodieEscape was planned mostly by Julianne (Beyond Frosting) and Lindsay (Life, Love, and Sugar) and although they’ll say I helped I didn’t do nearly as much as they did…except eat.

First of all, if you’re going to do a road trip to Santa Barbara (I live in Northern California), take a friend. Hayley (The Domestic Rebel) did the drive with me, thank goodness. I’d never done a long road trip without my husband, so having her along was awesome!

We stayed at a gorgeous home, the Opryland Estate. The ground and view were gorgeous!

We got to the house early to check in and set up before all the other girls arrived.

Our first meal together was a grilled cheese bar for lunch. We made our own grilled cheese sandwiches with a selection of items like Cabot cheese, bacon, and California Avocados.

After lunch we headed out to McConnells Fine Ice Creams. They don’t normally give tours of their plant but Michael Palmer, the owner, graciously showed us how their fine artisan ice creams are made. They are one of the only ice cream makers that’s also a dairy. The milk is brought to them and they churn out some of the most incredible ice cream I’ve ever eaten.

We all got to wear hair nets. Aren’t we cute?

That’s Julianne, Joan (Chocolate, Chocolate, and More), Deborah (Taste and Tell), Jen (Yummy, Healthy, Easy), Krista (Joyful Healthy Eats), me, Lindsay, and Hayley.

Speaking of McConnell’s, I found out that day that they have a partnership with Harry & David. Small world! It was the marionberries that made me think of it.

We got to go behind the scenes and then we got to taste. 8 food bloggers + 7 pints of ice cream =

I think I ate an entire pint. #notjoking

Then we headed over to the McConnell’s flagship store for more ice cream…and cookies!

Dark Chocolate Sea Salt (OMG) and cornmeal sugar cookies (Double OMG). You need both.

That night we relaxed with a taco bar, good wine, and friendship.

If you’re ever in Santa Barbara, I highly recommend getting up early while the sun is still waking up. Have your coffee with a view.

The best part about traveling with food bloggers? This is not only normal, it’s expected. We spent Saturday morning working and learning from each other. We interact all the time online but there is nothing really like getting together and seeing what someone does. We spent the morning learning about social media, SEO, and email subscriber lists. And pretty much everything else blogging related because if there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that we bloggers cannot stay on topic.

For breakfast we enjoyed a waffle bar including fresh fruit, Lucky Leaf pie filling, and Skippy peanut butter as toppings.

Then Best Food Facts sent us cupcakes!

And THEN we went to lunch. #eatingallday

If you’re in Santa Barbara you should stop by the Whole Foods Market. They have a delicious restaurant inside. We got to enjoy a five-course meal prepared by their in-house chefs. The Whole Foods also sells locally grown and created products so for a good look at what the California Central Coast can offer, be sure to check them out!

For dessert at Whole Foods (after waffles and cupcakes at home) we had deconstructed truffles. It was all I could do not to lick my plate. #notjoking

When you’re visiting Santa Barbara you MUST go to Solvang. I haven’t been to Solvang since I was a kid road tripping in an RV with my parents. It was so much fun to go there as an adult.

One of the things that the central coast is known for is wine. When in the area, you must go wine tasting. We opted for a tasting in downtown Solvang at the Presidio Winery. The chardonnay was very good!

After wine it was time for a bakery tour because, well, that’s how dessert bloggers do Santa Barbara! If you visit Solvang there are several bakeries to choose from, but Moretnsen’s Bakery is the best! They’ve been in business for over 40 years!

The bakery cases are full of Danish cookies and pastries. I have fond memories of scarfing Almond Horns and Hats as a child.

The bakery is a family-run business and we got to see one of the sisters in action making Danish doughnuts. The filling was the best swiss buttercream I’ve ever eaten.

Then we attacked this:

You guys, it was filled with almond filling. I wanted to eat it ALL myself!

After our visit to the bakery, the other members of our crew headed to eat aebleskiver, but I had to do something for my mom and dad first: a visit to Olde World Clocks & Music Boxes.

You see, my mom and dad collect clocks. Their house – every single empty wall space – is full of them. I’m not exaggerating!! Many of their clocks are cuckoos. I don’t even know how many they have, but it’s a lot. They’re my favorite kind of clock, actually. I have a few they’ve given me – my favorite ones are the colorful kind.

I had to take a selfie with the cuckoo clocks. The look on my face: Look ma! I’m in the clock shop without being bribed!

After some souvenier shopping (be sure to visit Jule Hus, the Christmas store) we headed off to dinner at SY Kitchen in Santa Ynez.

Their mixologist is amazing. I had the Valley Girl, which is a mix of Vodka, elderflower, mint, strawberry, lime, and vanilla. It wasn’t too sweet – it was the perfect cocktail.

I drank 2.

Our meal that night was one of the best meals I’ve ever had. Chef Luca is an artist. The pizzas, roasted artichokes, and the pastas were beyond belief. The mushroom pasta? Life-changing.

My favorite part? The desserts, obviously. I already talked about how the 8 of us turned into vultures when eating Tiramisu Mousse. 4 desserts for 8 food bloggers = not enough.

Oh, and get this. Y’all know how picky I am, right? Well, you should be proud of me. That weekend I tried Salmon (pleasantly surprised – I’ve had it before and it was not good), beets (still taste like dirt), octopus, and artichokes. I deserve a picky eater medal, no?

And then, sadly, it was time to leave. I learned so much from these ladies and it was amazing to get to know them better. We all interact online often, but it’s another thing entirely to actually hang out with them. Getting to know people on a deeper-than-blogging level filled up my soul. Thank you to everyone for a fabulous time. Love you ladies!

I want to give a special thank you to our sponsors for the weekend. Lucky Leaf helped cover the lodging for the event and Best Food Facts covered all our in house food. Additionally, our fun swag bags included donations from Skippy Peanut Butter, King Arthur Flour, Wilton, OXO, Sabra Dipping Company, Cabot Cheese, California Avocados, and Baileys Creamers.