Happy Birthday Blog

Happy first birthday to my blog! Wow, I can't believe that a whole year has passed since I first started this blog. In truth, when I created this blog a year ago I really didn't envision myself continuing it past the summer. I did it mainly because I thought it would be entertaining and I had the time for it. I honestly believed that once school started up again in September the blog would probably fall by the wayside as I would not have any time to cook and bake, let alone take pictures and write about it.

Sitting here at this moment and looking back, I am so glad that I was wrong. What started off as a fun summer project has become a passion and escape. When I step into the kitchen I am transported into another world, one where I don't have to worry about school and stress and schedules (those three evil S's), where the only thing that matters is if something tastes good. Cooking has become a way for me to getaway from any problems I may be facing, albeit temporarily, and enjoy life in a whole new way. I learned that I don't just like to eat food (and believe me I do) but that I also enjoy the process of creating it. The time, energy, and thought process behind every dish is something that I relish as much as the food itself.

Although I originally started off unsure about my cooking capabilities, and therefore meticulously followed recipes step-by-step, I have now grown into my talents and am able to be more creative. I have enough experience to be able to judge flavors that will pair well together or substitutions that can be made when certain ingredients are missing. If something doesn't turn out as I expected it to, I can analyze the steps that I took and try to come up with alternative methods or solutions to problems I may have encountered. When before I would actively search the internet and other food blogs for recipes, I know can develop my own ideas and create recipes from scratch.

Since starting this blog a lot of changes have occurred in my life, some for the better while others for the worse. Unfortunately, during the course of the year, I attended more than my fair share of funerals as both my great grandmother and maternal grandfather passed away, as well as the mother of a friend of mine. Still, I also had great things happen to me: I made many new and close friends in my classes and was accepted into the Faculty of Nursing at UBC.

As I turned twenty a couple of months ago I realized that I have entered a new chapter of my life. I am no longer a teenager simply going to school and living at home...I am now a young woman studying for my future. I am proud of how this past year has turned out, proud of the person I have become and am on my way to becoming. During this time, cooking and baking has been a large part of my life and I believe it will continue to be. Although I do not know what the future holds, I am hopeful that I will still find the time and energy to keep this blog running because it has become a part of me. This blog means more to me than I ever imagined it would and I am thankful for the experiences it has inspired me to have.