Blogging Brain Dump.
I’ve been drinking an obscene amount of coffee.
I know. Me… who supposedly “hates” coffee. Guess I don’t hate it anymore! Guess I got my wish: I wanted to be cool and drink coffee like everyone else. Now I’m cool. And jittery.
If you don’t follow along on instagram or twitter, you may not know that since last Fall, I’ve been working on finally putting things in a book for you. No, not a fiction novel (though I’m working on that too), but an actual cookbook. As it turns out, I had an extremely difficult time developing anything that I found good enough for my invisible internet friends. I like you and well – things have to be superb.
The good news is that I’m essentially finished (hello, 300 scrapped recipes later?) and late next year we can talk about a ton of my favorite (all new!) quick and easy, mostly healthy recipes. Yes, obviously they will include bacon because my healthy life includes bacon. If you don’t get that… oh well.
The bad news is that my house is officially disgusting. (However, I just wrote “digesting” by accident.) I’m not even close to joking. It is such a serious mess that I don’t even know where to begin in the cleaning process. Not so much dirty… just – cluttered? I go to sleep and wake up hoping that a magic cleaning fairy came and night and solved all my problems. And I don’t even have kids!
As a random sidebar: I put on (too much?) fancy makeup some days just because I love to play with it so much. No surprise.
In addition to that obnoxious amount of coffee I’ve been consuming, I mentioned briefly earlier this week about eating like a teenage boy, otherwise known as the food day from hell. Or from heaven – depends on how you look at it. Well I’m cracking and being real: we ate pulled pork tacos for breakfast, a donut at the airport, a Five Guys burger when we got off the plane and then at midnight – a Primanti’s sandwich. Yeah. Click that link if you don’t live in Pittsburgh. It was delicious.
Considering I fully expected to have a heart attack (or ten), I went and bought one of those green juices at Whole Foods, determining that yes! I would start my week off right! and have that for breakfast. Um. OMG. It was horrific. Like downright, gag me with a spoon disgusting. I hated it. I was such a dramatic freak, acting like I’d never tasted something so terrible in my LIFE. Maybe you’re not surprised, given my thoughts on vegetables and all, but I think I’ve been doing pretty well in the vegetable department lately. Err, well for me.
I just don’t know how you guys drink that stuff. Perhaps I should do with it what I did with coffee.
It didn’t occur to me until well after I wore them that perhaps thirty is too old to be wearing such bedazzled, almost stripper-esque shoes? Thankfully, I made myself ignore that voice. Don’t care.
Earlier this year I sort of accidentally tried to train for a half marathon. Thought that maaaaaybe it would be a good way to keep off extra cookbook pounds. Guess what? I quit. Not afraid to admit it. I loathe running with a passion. I’d much rather walk or honestly? Spend 45 minutes on an elliptical machine or spin bike. Crotch pain and all. Life’s too short to hate something you gotta make a choice to do daily.
Oh and the above picture? Don’t mind those crafty zigzag scissors – we all know I suck at crafts and they are simply leftover from a scrapbook kit I had a tough time parting with. That view and my kitchen is almost all I’ve stared at for eight months. And a lot of iTunes playlists and a lot of DVRed TV shows. I adore it buuuuut – your lovely interaction has saved me sanity. I really like you.
92 Comments on “Blogging Brain Dump.”
Welcome to the coffee club…it’s a fun one, even with the shaking hands! Can’t wait for your book!
I love reading your blog and I can’t wait for your book! I have to give you a HUGE shout out – many bloggers stop posting (and especially stop posting recipes) when they’re writing their book which is kind of a lame. Thanks so much for working double hard and doing both!
I just discovered your blog, and it’s fantastic! I don’t want to be a lurker, so I second Kim’s welcome to the coffee club. :) I haaaaated the taste of coffee before I started drinking lattes (with enough milk and flavoring, coffee becomes damn good), and, replete a with caffeine high, it’s a fun club indeed!
I was wondering when you were going to make the formal announcement…and CONGRATS!!!! I know what it’s like to be in book writing mode, where your house is a mess, you eat the most random things ever, and everything is so incredibly cluttered with dishes, recipes, remade recipes, re-re-made recipes, more props, etc and it all multiplies! Well, congrats – you’re done!!!!! Woohoo! Can’t wait to see it, see what you made, see the pics, and just savor it! Bravo, Jessica! :)
Gah, so excited for your book to come out! Sorry not sorry there are a few bloggers who I look at and am just like “…why exactly did you get a publishing deal for that?” but you? You deserve it.
Aaaaand ain’t no shame in dressing up/doing your makeup for no one but yourself and your mirror to see. Why buy nice things if you can only use them in public? Buy nice things for yourself, not to impress others :)
Love blogging brain dump–do more of these! :) Can’t wait for your cookbook to come out!!!!!!!!
PS. Glad you’ve joined the coffee club.
Congrats on the book! And I really, really like you too! (in a totally non-creepy kind of way)
I agree with the comment on running. I live in Chicago and I walk EVERYWHERE. Like, miles and miles and miles every week. Can I run even three-quarters of a mile? Absolutely not. Hate it. Hate it so so so much.
Congrats on the book deal, Jess!! That’s huge. I’m so glad you left your job way back when to pursue this whole blog/food/baking/cooking thing.
*Thank you* for hating running. I have tried repeatedly to make the transition from a speedy walker to a runner, only to end up focusing on feeling myself jiggle everywhere. Glad to know there’s someone else out there who hates it as much as I do!
SO, so, so happy for you! And welcome to jitter-land. It’s a wonderful place. I’d love to pimp your cookbook on my website when the time comes. Just say the word. :)
I am so excited that you are putting together a cookbook! You are by far my favorite food blogger and I can’t wait to see what you’ve put together. :D
Congrats!! I am so excited for you and this book! I know you have worked SO incredibly hard on it and I can not wait to see it!! I am so glad you started this blog and do what you do because if it were not for your blog I would have never started mine! Obviously, I am so happy I did and I have you to thank for part of that! Go you and your bedazzled shoes!
Congrats on the book!! You should be incredibly proud of yourself. I’m working on ONE article for ONE journal and that has been intense so I cannot fathom a whole book! I can’t wait to see it. I love this blog so I know the book will be a delightful offshoot.
CANNOT WAIT for your book! Even though it’s not your novel, YET, I can’t wait to hear your voice throughout the cookbook pages!
And, yeah, my house is like that ALL the time. At least the icing bags keep the mess colorful. ;)
CONGRATS!!!!!! I just honestly don’t think I could wrap my head around writing a book. I’d be a mess. You are a CHAMP!
Love you blog!! Fund you through tasty kitchen a long time ago! :)
http://www.skinnytaste.com/2012/01/skinny-green-monster-smoothie.html
This is the only green smoothie i’ve ever had that doesn’t taste horribly terrible. Plus it has banana and peanut butter which you seem to like, so give it a try! Thanks for the little rant; I enjoy reading your stories and am totally looking forward to a cook book!
i actually really like green smoothies – it was the straight up juice (like kale, spinach, romaine, green apple, parsley) that made me want to cry. wah!
Wow Jessica! I’ve been reading for Years (gah) and I would be so excited for your cookbook!! Congrats, you so deserve it :)
Also I am an elliptical/walking girl all the way. I’ve tried with running too and It just feels so.. uncomfortable or unpleasant and I just can’t stand it. And green juice looks gnarly to me.. I’ve never tried it..I’m down with salads instead. Thought you weren’t “supposed” to drink your calories anyhow.. I save that for wine ;)
I felt the same way about coffee for years and now love it. But I totally started “acquiring” a taste be aide I wanted to be a cool person. Yeah, that still probably didn’t make me a cool person. So now I’m just a hyped up person on the beans.
Congrats on the book! I love reading your blog, so I definitely can’t wait to have your recipes in book form. I live a “healthy” lifestyle that always includes bacon, so your recipes are just up my alley.
How did I not know that you’ve been working on a cookbook, Jessica?! Mega congrats! Kudos for keeping up your posting schedule on your blog, too. That must be so tough! I don’t know how you do it all.
Super excited about your book! Congratulations!!
Coffee is my life. Sadly (or happily) my son has acquired a taste for it. I just let him have a little sip here and there, as my mom used to do with me when I was little, and I think Starbucks was the first advertising he recognized as a baby.
And almost 30 is so not too old! I’m in complete denial of being well into my 40’s, well it has been a whole year almost, and I think the older you get, the less you care. Within reason ;) But almost 30 is most definitely young!
I cannot wait for your cookbook to come out! And I’ve never had a green juice in my life. I’ll stick to coffee.
No joke I tried green juice the other day and oh my gosh it was disgusting! I have no idea how people can drink it on an annual basis…I took two sips and no more! I still want to try a green smoothie though, especially a kiwi one!
CANNOT WAIT for your cookbook!
And no worries about the shoes, if you’re 30 and can rock ’em you go girl!!
<3 <3 <3
SO that means you’re coming to Austin? Can I lure you there with mentions of Tasty Kitchen and Ziplist parties? Offer is still open to stay with me.
As a Pittsburgher, I appreciate the Primanti’s love – people just haven’t lived until they’ve had a sandwich with coleslaw and fries and an egg on it. I’m so excited that you’ll be publishing a book! Can’t wait.
That’s SO effing cool that you’re just about complete with your book! I don’t even have any cookbooks, but I would totally get yours! And proudly display it in my kitchen. Next to my popsicle maker tray and Hello Kitty lunchbox. (I’m not even kidding)
I love your blog and I cannot wait for your book! SO exciting :) I love that you write like you’re having a live conversation with all of us…its refreshing actually! Keep up the great work on the blog…you’ve got a faithful follower here!
Yay that you’ve finished! Can’t wait to get my hands on the book x
So excited about the cookbook!
SO excited for your cookbook!
SO EXCITED for a cookbook!! i just want to say that I discovered your blog about 6 months ago and you’ve quickly become one of my favorite bloggers. You seem like you work tirelessly and you always create content that is fun to read, great to look at, and tastes amazing. You’re sorta like my blogging hero? Now I made it weird.
YAY!!! SO EXCITED TO SEE IT! I can’t wait. I know it’s gonna be amazing.
I have enjoyed reading your blog Jessica over the last few years! So excited for your cookbook!
so excited for the cookbook!!! my husband and I love ALL your recipes that we try – can’t wait!!
OMG I CAN NOT WAIT FOR YOUR BOOK!!! SO EXCITED!!!!! and im right up there with you on the jittery ive been drinking monsters like they’re going out of style
Congrats on the cookbook! That’s so excited! Seriously hoping the BLT Chopped Salad is in it because I’m eating it right now and it’s amazing :)
So So So excited for your book!! And so happy for you friend – you deserve it :)
I can’t wait for your book!! Congratulations!!!
As you can tell from the rest of the bajillion comments! So happy that you finished your cookbook recipes. We ALL look forward to sharing the recipes and to see what you came up with.
Congrats on the cookbook! I’ve wondered if you had a deal yet, you deserve it! It is my DREAM as well – any pointers????
Would love to check it out and showcase on my blog if you are taking offers! Good luck!
Everything about this post just made you my favorite blogger. I struggled today to convince myself to clean my messy house because there was so much to be done (i.e. there were espresso chocolate chip cookies to be made).
Oh and those whole food juices? I neglected to look at the price and wanted to wet my pants when I tasted it and realized I spent $6 on beetle juice. I mean beet juice. Whoops.
Lastly, thank goodness someone finally admitted how much running sucks. I was beginning to think there was something wrong with me.
I loved this post. Thank you
p.s. Congrats on the cookbook! Can’t wait for the pre-order…I’ll definitely be purchasing it :)
All the best to your new cookbook!
I live for coffee. Cannot wait for the book.
OMG! I love this post. Definitely agree that ‘blogging brain dumps’ should happen more often. It’s like you’re inside my head! LOVE the coffee club…LOATHE running (glad to see from the comments that I’m not the only one). I,too, thought something was wrong with me. I see these people at the gym running for.ev.er and I stare at them like a freak, because….well…they are! Just kidding…sort of. It’s a mix of how-do-you-do-that and admiration. :)
Excited for your cookbook. I will admit that I’ve never tried one of your recipes but I laugh like crazy at everything you post. Out loud. In front of people. (No wonder my kids think I’m crazy.)!
OH! And your house??–mine could top yours. My excuse?! We have 5 kids (ages 13-1). Maybe that’s why I haven’t tried your recipes!!?? I cook every night but nothing too crazy and too far from the normal range, though.
Congrats and all of that stuff! Glad you’re my friend :-)
Look forward to adding the book to my collection.We are returning to the burgh on Fri. Gotta do, Pamelas, Penn Mac, try La Primo coffee in the strip. Oh, Mancinni’s bread for my NC tomatoes! Keep sharing Please.
Congrats on the cookbook! I was wondering when you would write one. And if you think your house is messy and cluttered now…just wait until you have kids! I have 3, and if I attempt to even blog on a regular basis, this house becomes a hazardous waste land. Your welcome for that encouragement ;-) {I’m predicting your books – yes, plural – will be so popular that you can just have a live-in maid!}
Hi, Congratulations on the cookbook!!!!!!!! I was hoping you would do a cookbook. Yeah!!!!!!! I enjoy reading your blog and love your recipes! You are my favorite blogger! You are a hoot!
Will this more correctly be categorized as a ‘comedy cookbook?’ I love how you blend your own quirky commentary with some great recipes. No matter, congrats are in order and I’m sure this will be a fun read! (From someone closer to that 1955 date you recently mentioned who has put you in her will for her bedazzled jean jacket). :)