Aww girl... It hurts me to think that you've struggled so much with feeling like you have, as you said, with the urge to flex, or "prove," certain skills, competency, etc. I've always been very confident in my own skin, & have been really proud of what I know I can do well... BUT... still you can fall into that category of your de-fault being to just go SO HARD at everything just to kick AAAALLL the ass out there in life that there is to kick... (Almost like a competitiveness I feel.... *not* against anyone else, no competition externally, but actually a competitiveness ....with... myself? If that makes sense? Like, "Okay LAST time I did this thing & it was pretty good... but how can I make it EVEN better??"...)... this kind of energy. So... I get it. BUT. As I've also gotten older, and frankly more damn tired, ... & as I've experienced personal loss, heartbreak, some life tragedy...there's definitely a kind of moment I think you reach, as an accomplished, highly-competent woman, where you just look around and say, "I just DON'T **have** to do this anymore. I don't have to do it. I want my life to look and feel simpler... I just don't have the energy to push-push-push in this or that direction.... I can just lay back more, be more chill, & - frankly - lower my own g*ddamned standards *in the best way* so as to have more energy for people, and for my own wellness & self-care. And the only way to do this, I think, is to just simplify your life in ways you didnt' feel were necessary (or doable) when you were a youngster starting out in the world.... Anyway - all of this to say... I'm really proud of you and glad for you that you are reaching this stage... this "Y'know what? Maybe I use a Lipton soup-mix for a dip & call it a damn day"-kind of stage. Just know: we ALL know & love that you can make the most off-the-chain creamy dip out there for us all to emulate, as a professional cookbook author & recipe developer in your professional capacity... IF you wanted to... but I hope you get to the point where -- in your private life -- you can just cut down your efforts to just the absolute basics, & put your energy increasingly in the only places it matters: the relationships in your life that are healthy & life-giving (& honestly not many others)... and your own wellness and well-being. Those are the things that matter. Even your group of friends, I find, pares down a bit, & you focus on the people who breathe life into you (rather than draining it away), .. and those people in your life who speak life & truthfulness into you... help you see yourself even clearly - the good & the room-for-improvement-parts-of-you - and are committed to walking with you through your life's crazy. THOSE are the people you want to have time for, energy for. All the rest of it? It just just gracefully fade a bit more into the background of where you put your energy. Not that you have to abruptly & conspicuously cut folks out of your life, but maybe just... your gatherings are smaller & even more chill, your list of folks whose birthdays you celebrate or for whom you get gifts and manically keep in touch with... that layer of folks in your life just gracefully take a backseat to the people who are really, really able to walk with you through life & speak health and growth into your life where you need it most. Anyway - this has been WAY too long, sorry. And has nothing to do with food. But since it has to do with me - prob. most of us on here - celebrating your finding a new gear in which you stress/flex less and exhale more... I just wanted to get this out, say it. We love you & all the joy & inspiration you've given us through your work, we love our happy-sassy-dilly-anchovy-no-bullsh*t-girl, so we want you well, grounded, centered, & at peace. x.
AR: I am already planning a Ham Party for my 2023 Galentine's Day brunch. I can't wait! LOVED this week's newsletter & Ham Party video...actually, I love all the newsletters & all the videos! xo! ps: TY for the Lipton tip...I know I can make homemade onion dip, but I don't always need to prove it.
Yes!!!!
I am soooo excited. My gingerbread house making party got rescheduled to this weekend, and now I know the menu. Thank you, queen!
I love the idea of a ham party! Especially with melons and Midori cocktails. Wow. So original and delicious.
Unfortunately, as a Jew (who does not keep kosher), with a lot of Jewish friends, this would not fly. But wow am I tempted.
Keep coming up with these brilliant ideas!
Iowa woman here. If you can swing it, order a Berkshire ham. (From a Berkshire breed hog.) It's like eating ham butter. Melts in your mouth.
Yes but what kind of ham and where to buy it?
In tomorrows newsletter!
Aww girl... It hurts me to think that you've struggled so much with feeling like you have, as you said, with the urge to flex, or "prove," certain skills, competency, etc. I've always been very confident in my own skin, & have been really proud of what I know I can do well... BUT... still you can fall into that category of your de-fault being to just go SO HARD at everything just to kick AAAALLL the ass out there in life that there is to kick... (Almost like a competitiveness I feel.... *not* against anyone else, no competition externally, but actually a competitiveness ....with... myself? If that makes sense? Like, "Okay LAST time I did this thing & it was pretty good... but how can I make it EVEN better??"...)... this kind of energy. So... I get it. BUT. As I've also gotten older, and frankly more damn tired, ... & as I've experienced personal loss, heartbreak, some life tragedy...there's definitely a kind of moment I think you reach, as an accomplished, highly-competent woman, where you just look around and say, "I just DON'T **have** to do this anymore. I don't have to do it. I want my life to look and feel simpler... I just don't have the energy to push-push-push in this or that direction.... I can just lay back more, be more chill, & - frankly - lower my own g*ddamned standards *in the best way* so as to have more energy for people, and for my own wellness & self-care. And the only way to do this, I think, is to just simplify your life in ways you didnt' feel were necessary (or doable) when you were a youngster starting out in the world.... Anyway - all of this to say... I'm really proud of you and glad for you that you are reaching this stage... this "Y'know what? Maybe I use a Lipton soup-mix for a dip & call it a damn day"-kind of stage. Just know: we ALL know & love that you can make the most off-the-chain creamy dip out there for us all to emulate, as a professional cookbook author & recipe developer in your professional capacity... IF you wanted to... but I hope you get to the point where -- in your private life -- you can just cut down your efforts to just the absolute basics, & put your energy increasingly in the only places it matters: the relationships in your life that are healthy & life-giving (& honestly not many others)... and your own wellness and well-being. Those are the things that matter. Even your group of friends, I find, pares down a bit, & you focus on the people who breathe life into you (rather than draining it away), .. and those people in your life who speak life & truthfulness into you... help you see yourself even clearly - the good & the room-for-improvement-parts-of-you - and are committed to walking with you through your life's crazy. THOSE are the people you want to have time for, energy for. All the rest of it? It just just gracefully fade a bit more into the background of where you put your energy. Not that you have to abruptly & conspicuously cut folks out of your life, but maybe just... your gatherings are smaller & even more chill, your list of folks whose birthdays you celebrate or for whom you get gifts and manically keep in touch with... that layer of folks in your life just gracefully take a backseat to the people who are really, really able to walk with you through life & speak health and growth into your life where you need it most. Anyway - this has been WAY too long, sorry. And has nothing to do with food. But since it has to do with me - prob. most of us on here - celebrating your finding a new gear in which you stress/flex less and exhale more... I just wanted to get this out, say it. We love you & all the joy & inspiration you've given us through your work, we love our happy-sassy-dilly-anchovy-no-bullsh*t-girl, so we want you well, grounded, centered, & at peace. x.
AR: I am already planning a Ham Party for my 2023 Galentine's Day brunch. I can't wait! LOVED this week's newsletter & Ham Party video...actually, I love all the newsletters & all the videos! xo! ps: TY for the Lipton tip...I know I can make homemade onion dip, but I don't always need to prove it.