7 Things

I was very excited when Jenn over at Pea & Crayons tagged me in her Stylish Blogger Award and asked that I share 7 things about myself. Yay! It's my first fellow blogger award! Obviously I love talking about myself (you know you're a blogger when...), so this award is extra fun :)

Here's how it works:

1. Make a post + Link back to the person who awarded you this award - Donezo!

2. Share 7 things about yourself - Don't mind if I do!

3. Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers so we can share the love - On it!

4. Contact these bloggers and tell them they've won!

So without further ado, here's 7 random things about me!

1. Aruba never gets old to me, even though I go every summer. Sometimes I cry when it's time to come home.

 

2. I've seen You've Got Mail many more times than I can count. And still look for it on TV every so often. (Did I mention that I own it, too?)

3. I had a crush on Shaun for almost 3 years before we started dating. He was my high school crush who I admired from afar! Who knew 10 years later we'd be very happily married?

4. I use all Lush hair & body products (that's all-natural, organic people, and it works!), thanks to my sister Christine. This includes a shampoo bar, conditioner bar and alternating between Happy Hippy & Olive Branch body wash.

5. My entire sock drawer needs a major overhaul. Each and every sock in it needs to be thrown away and updated, from boot socks and athletic socks to tights and knee highs. It's just one of those things that I never think to spend money on!

6. I own no less than 10 different blue and green shades of nail polish. Obsessed much?

7. Each and every comment that I get on the blog leaves me perma-smiling all day long. Thanks to everyone who has been commenting lately, I hope you are enjoying the site!

So there you have it. 7 random things about me! What are some random tidbits about you?

And to pay this fun forward, I'm selecting some more fab bloggers to participate! These are all blogs that I'm loving right now - keep up the great reads ladies! Hope you'll all accept :)

Baking 'N Books
Bites and Bliss
Black Book Kitchen Diaries
Delish Living
For Sweets Sake
Haute Apple Pie
Healthy Eating for Ordinary People
Keep it Sweet
Like Mother Like Daughters
OliePants
Pretty Good Food
The Cookie Battle
The Healthy Apron
The Ketchup Diaries
What Megan's Making

Take it away girls!

Project Food Blog Challenge #1: Why me?

Challenge #1: Ready Set Blog!

I never knew that I loved food.

sampling a buttercream-topped cupcake at the San Gennaro festival, 2009

Sure, I loved a good slice of buttercream-topped chocolate cake or a great, meaty burger. But I never really knew that my simple enjoyment of these things would turn into a full-blown food obsession, spanning kitchens and restaurants, cities and countries.

lemon blueberry pancakes, one of my favorite breakfast creations!

It wasn’t really until I married the love of my life on a beach in Aruba that I decided to follow in my domestic goddess of a mother’s footsteps and learn what this whole cooking thing was all about. I was always mystified by her ability to transform any dish or even whip up the most delicious dinners on a weeknight between soccer practice and piano lessons. I so wanted those skills. And once married, I really wanted to be the cool, fun wife who not only watched (and could avidly discuss) football but could do some damage in our tiny apartment kitchen. You know, in a good way. And so a kitchen of food fun and exploration was born.

pizza dip, always a favorite in the Humiston household!

While not every dish that comes out of my avid kitchen is worthy of a gold star, (like my pizza dip pictured above which is always a crowd-pleasing winner) I’m all about trying new things, working with what I have, and sharing dishes that can be made and enjoyed by all - regardless of your cooking level. After all, I’m no expert. I'm learning as I go, just like many a reader here on TAA. And you gotta love my ultimate recipe taste tester, blog supporter and super amazing husband, Shaun, for always encouraging my cooking and blogging and for letting me rule our kitchen 24/7. Except when it’s grilling season (that’s his specialty).

enjoying a beer 'n brat at Jersey City's Zepplin Hall

It’s not just about cooking up the goods. Living just outside New York City, home of some of the best food in the world, my thirst for new foods just never seems to be quenched. With decadent food like truffled honey at Otto, mascarpone crostini at Fig & Olive and sweet potato hash or pineapple upside down cake at Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill, can you blame me? I’ve turned into a veritable food disposal...and I’m always hungry for more.

poached eggs over chicken & sweet potato hash at Mesa Grill...mmmm

Oh, and the fact that I love travelling just kindles the proverbial fire of my love of food. This year alone, I traveled to Antigua, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Aruba, the Hamptons, Wyoming and Montana, eating my way through each and every place. Not to mention my history of sampling local goods in Paris (can we take a moment for the genius of frites with mayo sauce?), Germany, Prague, Budapest, Sweden and Estonia.

Dutch pancake with walnuts, brie and honey at Linda's Pancakes in Aruba

I may not be experienced, trained, or all that ‘gourmet’ but turning my love of food into a full-blown lifestyle has changed my life for the better. And sharing it with all of you is just the icing on the cake. Having the opportunity to share my love of food, learnings and kitchen mishaps with all of you has been so personally fulfilling and I just can’t seem to get enough. I hope that you enjoy reading about my culinary adventures as much as I enjoy having and writing them...and above all, I hope that it inspires you to explore new food and get cooking in your own kitchen, whether big and fancy or tiny and basic! So with all of that in mind, I'd be honored to earn the title of The Next Food Blog Star! And with my love of all things food and having become the go-to foodie for friends and family, I just might earn it.

Please vote for me here!

http://www.foodbuzz.com/project_food_blog/challenges/1/view/558