Hey y’all! Have you guys had enough of the Foodbuzz Next Food Blog Star posts? I’ve loved every second of reading everyone else’s memoirs on their blogs, and I hope that you enjoy reading my little ditty as much!
Here’s the thing: I could go for days and days about how much I love food and writing. I could talk for equally as long about my journey to self-love and finally finding victory over disordered eating and thinking that dominated my thoughts for almost 14 years. Really, there’s a lot to say!
But y’all, when it comes down to it I’m simply a girl who took a chance on life when my husband and I moved from the plains of West Texas and the busy city of Dallas…
…to the wide-open mountains of Colorado…
…and like crazy people threw caution to the wind in doing so since we had no jobs and had never seen the place we agreed to live in for a year. It’s funny how taking a chance on life can lead you right to where you need to be. Among other things, I would never have discovered blogging if we hadn’t.
You see, on one fateful day I purchased a magazine that featured ‘secrets’ of healthy living bloggers. I had no idea what that meant or who those people were, but from that day forward I was hooked. I began my own blog and used it as a diary to record my own eating habits. I fell in love with writing once again, a hobby and passion I’d lost through years of dead-end jobs. I fell in love with cooking again, another hobby that I’d lost my passion for in an endless search to just have dinner on the table at the end of the day. And I fell in love with blogging and the incredible network of people and support that it provided for me. It has become my passion to create recipes like Mud Pie Mojo Brownies:
Sweet Potato Orzo and Fruit Salad with Orange-Honey-Cinnamon Vinaigrette:
And Marinated Cacio e Pepe Stuffed Mushrooms:
It’s allowed me to photographically and gastronomically explore the textures, flavors, aromas, cooking methods, and colors of fresh ingredients.
Most importantly, I’ve learned who it is that I truly am: a Texas-Colorado hybrid who is completely passionate about food, writing, and photography. A beautiful girl who had lost her way and has now found her true passion in a world where she never thought that was possible. A woman of God who adores every relationship I’ve been blessed with in this life. My blog is a celebration of food, life, the woman I’ve become, and the woman that I am constantly evolving into.
I deserve to be the Next Food Blog Star not because I already have millions of views per month and not because it’s my full-time job, but because I do it as a passionate celebration of food and life. My one goal with blogging is to continue to cook, continue to write, and to always share a passion for food with others and encourage them to get all up in that kitchen and make something fabulous!
Y’all have a good one, I’m off to cook some eggs and grits for breakfast!
Great Photos! Great Post! Good luck. You have my VOTE! Here is my entry for this challenge in case you haven’t seen it yet https://www.foodbuzz.com/project_food_blog/contestants/1142
Well, I was going to say “you had me at Colorado” because that’s where our heart is. Living in Alabama is great…..but our yearly trip to Colorado is what we live for. When you mentioned eggs n’ grits for breakfast, I became a believer. Great post and I’m glad to have a new blog on my reader. Thanks for sharing those Colorado pictures! I look at mine every day counting down the days to June.
Terrific post and terrific pictures. You got my vote 🙂
Love this post! the grits? not so much 😉
good luck! great pics in this post.
this is an awesome post! i didnt really know your full backstory, but now i do!
i love this “but because I do it as a passionate celebration of food and life. “–AMEN GIRL!
Hi Heather,
I found your site through reading a comment you made on the Pioneer Woman. I am so glad I did. I love how you speak from your heart and I am glad your journey has brought you to a place of love and joy! I made your pumpkin/sunflower seeds. I love them! Fall is in the air here in Atlanta, GA so I made cute little bags for my friends with leaf tags that say “Happy Fall” Thanks for inspiring me. I love to bake and share with friends. I just had some on my yogurt with berries and it was the perfect addition. I would love to be in Colorado. My Dad has a place in Telluride. The sky is just more blue where you are! I will enjoy reading your site and adding to my list! Happy Fall!
Love and thanks,
Krysia
I’m so glad you liked the seeds! I felt like it was a fun addition to the regular fall line up, but I love your idea for giving them away as gifts. Too cute!
Thank you so much for your sweet comment, this really made my day so much better and brought a smile to my face 🙂 Let me know if you ever make it out this way!
what fantastic pictures!
You are such a star Heather! Love your entry post. 🙂
I am in <3 with that tomato pic.
I love your story Heather! I think you have what it takes.
Beautiful photos! Good luck with the contest!
I have loved discovering my fellow project foodblog contestants, and your blog is no exception. Very nicely written, and I look forward to reading more 🙂 Good luck!
This is so inspiring.
I’m so glad that everything has worked out for you since your move. The pics are STUNNING!
And I’m so glad your doing the challenge – because now I get to read this post and REALLY see who you are and how you got here 🙂 Thanks.
Wonderful post! I’m so grateful for our big food blogging community. That passion that you talked about is invigorating, and I love how we all can share and inspire each other. Good luck in the contest!
Yay! You know I think you would be a perfect candidate, my friend. 🙂
And darn that mocha brownie!!! LOL
Wonderful post! I love the picture of the cherry tomatoes!!
I love this post because you OWN it!
Out of the “Next Food Blog Star” posts I’ve read… yours in my favorite 🙂 I’m voting for you!
I really enjoyed this post, Heather, and the reasons why you should be the NFBS. Your story is very inspiring! Can’t wait to follow you on the continuation of your journey =)
Heather, I am glad that you have found peace with yourself, because it only makes the journey of life that much more enjoyable.
The pics. are beautiful, as always. Onward, my friend 🙂
Love this 🙂 I relate to you so so much- simple foods, simple ingredients, unpretentious- just focusing on the way life happens around our food..I definitely support you!
Ditto from me- I am so happy that I stumbled upon your blog (through How Sweet It Is sometime ago). You are an inspiration, Heather! I love your Faces of Beauty site, too. I do everything I can to make my teenage daughter feel beautiful every single day-just the way she is. Thanks for sharing your passion for life with us…you have my vote!
I’m so glad I came across your blog, Heather. You are so passionate and I love how you show your passion through the lens. Being a photographer and wanna be foodie you inspire me to look at food in a different and creative way. I hope you are the next big star!
Excellent!!
I love your entry for the first challenge. You have some great photography and I love your POV on the celebration of food. Feel free to send me some of those eggs and grits!!!! Good luck in the contest!
So wonderful, Heather! Loving this blog post. You are delightfully inspiring and I’m enjoying your blog more and more. You would surely get my vote! 🙂
You’re so awesome! I love you!
Wonderful post Heather!
I love the picture of the litle cherry tomatoes in the mason jars. 🙂
That’s my favorite pic too, Holl! So pretty!!
Great post girl!! Beautifully written 🙂
I love what you did with this post. I found your blog via Foodbuzz Project Food Blog. I’m so glad I did. I love the food and recipes and photos that are featured here. I can’t wait to see you entry in the next leg of the competition. Have a wonderful day. Blessings…Mary
What a great post! Beautiful pictures & sweet potato orzo? Yum! I’m a/b to make a big life change soon, so you just comforted me in knowing it’s the right decision.
Great post Heather and as always beautiful photos 🙂