FROM CHAOS TO JOY
I'm going to talk straight to you today. There will not be mincing of words or unnecessary flowery language. The last thing we need right now is vagueness and ANYTHING ELSE that will make us cock our heads in confusion. I came across the picture above a few days ago. It was taken at a wedding a while back during a time that I was giving a lot of attention to taking care of myself physically, mentally and spiritually. I was investing in myself in ways that I have since strayed away from. Seeing this picture was a wake up call to get back there and FAST. I was happier then. I was more in control of what brought me joy then. Life has a way of getting in the way of life, you know? It takes work to reign it back in.
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OUR LIVES IN LITTLE BOXES
I moved a couple of months ago. And then I helped my parents move a few weeks after that . There has been a monumental amount of packing and sorting and purging and brown boxes and tape ripping ripping ripping from tape guns.
I found so many skewers+tea bags+wandering Q-tips+stacks of magazines+scribbles of recipe ideas+1st grade spelling tests. But even when we say goodbye to more than we think we should, we still end up with exactly 47 boxes too many.
We pack up all of the material things into paper boxes and move them with us because we think they ARE us.
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A BACON ACCIDENT
One of my favorite things ever is cooking for the people I love. There was a season in my life where my door stayed unlocked and people came to my house to eat by the dozens on a weekly basis. My kitchen had an open door policy for a while and it was everything my heart needed.
One Sunday night I was hosting a large group of friends for Brinner. On the top of the list of MUST-HAVES was bacon, obviously. Right under bacon on the list of necessities was SPICY. I was trying a recipe for a sweet/spicy bacon from a cookbook that I absolutely trust but something went terribly wrong.
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BROWN SUGAR BROILED GRAPEFRUIT
I hate grapefruit.
Well... let's back up. I hated grapefruit until I tried it THIS way. When you put bitter grapefruit under a broiler is mellows it out juuuuuust enough for me to forget I hate it and becomes one of the most comforting things I have ever eaten.
And I come from the deep south where comfort food is all there is... so you know I'm saying some truth right now.
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PIZZA BIANCA WITH PROSCIUTTO
There is something so calming about working dough.
Flour + Salt + Yeast + Water. Knead + Turn. Dust Flour + Knead Again. Rise + Stretch.
Simple into extraordinary.
This is one of my favorite kitchen projects because it ends in PIZZA. I can't find fault in that scenario.
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Photo by : @lindseypruitt
STUDY YOUR LITTLES
I have had several conversations with some frazzled and worried parents lately and found myself talking them down from the "I'm the worst parent ever" ledge.
There is so much pressure to have perfect kids + perfect lives but there is such a narrow idea of what that perfection actually is. So let me just let you off the hook, loves.
None of you are perfect. All of you are perfect.
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IN THIS TOGETHER
It's Monday and you deserve a high-five just because. If there is the slightest chance it will make your day a bit better... high fives ALL AROUND!! It may be a little early in the day/week/everrrr to talk about this, but it's on my mind so here goes.
Any other moms + dads out there have right-on-the-cusp-of-puberty-10 year old kid? Lord Jesus help me with the mood swings and the independence exertion and the GIRLS.
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CHICKEN + DUMPLINGS + BABES
I started learning to cook when I was very young. We were living in Florida and my Mawmaw welcomed me into her kitchen with open, flour-dusted arms. She didn't care that I unorganized her alphabetized pantry or dumped flour all over the floor, or at least she didn't let on if she did.
I absorbed a love for the kitchen from her. A love for gathering people around a table to share a meal, to talk, pray together, to love selflessly. She taught me to put your very best self into that loaf of bread or that pot of dumplings because it isn't just flour and water and seasonings... it is your heart extended to the ones you are feeding.
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TO THE NEWLY BROKEN
I know that title is total BS. We are born broken... straight out of the womb fragile and needy. It's kind of how Creator designed us. To be incomplete and broken apart from Him.
I know I know... that last sentence was also total BS. We are never apart from Creator. He is in us and around us and above us and below us. He is all things at all times for all of us.
But we forget and that, my loves, is when we feel broken.
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The Making of Salt + Charm
I am so very excited to give you all a little peak behind the curtain of Salt + Charm and introduce you to one of my favorite people, Lindsey Pruitt! I have known this woman for many many years and it was my privilege to enlist her help when I was ready to create this space. What I love most about Lindsey is her heart to encourage and support other women as they pursue their passions. {and also: she is stupid talented}
This journey was so very challenging in all the most wonderful ways! I invited Linds to share with you all a little about her creative process and how she helped me create the Salt + Charm branding. So enough from me - I'll turn it over to her now!!
Hi everyone!
I'm so thrilled to dive in and discuss the process behind the branding!
To begin, a little about me:
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