One night, I was binge-watching YouTube as usual when I came across Laura Vitale’s vlog, where she was baking almond croissant blondies. If you haven’t heard of Laura Vitale, I highly recommend checking out her YouTube channel or her blog, Laura in the Kitchen—I really love her recipes. The blondies looked incredible, and even better, they…
My Christmas Sugar Cookie Success
Every year, I usually buy a Christmas cookie tray because I always thought I wasn’t much of a baker. This year, however, I decided to make all of the desserts and snacks myself. As it turns out, I’m not a bad baker at all—I actually did pretty well! One thing I knew I wanted to…
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!
Did everyone have a good Christmas? We had a full house! I decorated like mad, and it was so festive around here. My brother, his fiancé, and their two dogs came into town, and my sister and her boyfriend were here as well. Despite all the people and dogs under one roof, we had plenty…
The Cornbread Bake-Off No One Asked For
Hi everyone! I’m back just in time to post for Thanksgiving. This year will be a quiet one for us. My brother and his fiancée usually spend Thanksgiving in North Carolina with her family and join us for Christmas instead. My sister, on the other hand, will be in Colorado celebrating with her “friend’s” family….
The Great Kidney Stone of 2025
It’s been a while since I’ve posted—this summer was a whirlwind. Chaotic, busy, and a bit of a blur. I won’t get into all the details, but let’s just say it included ER visits, hospital stays, surgeries, and more doctor appointments than I can count. The good news is, everyone’s doing well now. And yes,…
Flu A, Sushi Regrets, and Plant Guilt
One day you’re feeling fine, and the next, you test positive for the flu. Things start to get a bit blurry after that. Getting sick is always frustrating, but when it’s something more serious than a mild cold, you can’t just push through it. I was out for a few days, mostly just resting. I…
Day of Dads
Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there! I hope everyone had a wonderful day. It was a quiet celebration at my house this year. My father hasn’t been feeling his best lately, so we kept things low key. I’m the oldest of three children, and my parents live with me—though whether I live…
The Usual: Workloads, White Truffle Bread, and Worn-Out Dogs
It’s been a while—I didn’t intend to be away this long, but life kind of took over. Lately, I’ve been under the weather. I don’t usually catch colds in the winter, but for some reason, they tend to hit me during the summer heat. Right now, I’ve got this annoying tickle in my throat that…
My sister’s photos of Japan
My sister just returned from a two-week trip to Japan, where she visited Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, and Hiroshima. It was a packed itinerary, and she was constantly on the go. I had the chance to join her, but I ended up passing on it. I would’ve loved to go, but it just wasn’t financially…
Nostalgic Pad Macaroni
I’m no chef, but while mom was away, I did my best to feed my dad. I searched through YouTube and the internet for meal ideas to make for him. With everything he’s going through with his health, his appetite isn’t great. He eats, but doesn’t really enjoy food like he used to. I stumbled…