Finding Joy

A few weeks ago, I took some time to reflect on one of my favorite pastimes, afternoon tea (See my blog post Pinkies Up: Joy Found in the Bottom of a Teacup). It’s a simple thing, but it makes me happy. As part of my wellness evolution (see more here), I’ve promised myself that I will spend more time focusing on how I feel emotionally, not just how healthy my body is. It is easy to focus on how many steps I take in a day, what kind of exercise I’m doing, how many calories I eat, and if I’m eating the right foods.

In the era of social media, it is even harder to ignore fake content and to focus on what is real, not just the perfect picture someone presents. One goal I have for this blog is to make better choices for myself without sacrificing what brings me joy. After all, there’s no use being physically well if I am a miserable wretch the rest of the time 😀

Filling the Creative Void

​Since losing my job, I’ve craved a creative way to express myself, but have often felt weighed down by my situation. Sometimes, it has been a struggle to find happiness. For a while, I put my energy into my Etsy business as a creative outlet, but as I mentioned, not having the physical space made that difficult.

I thought the Glow Forge would solve the space issue, but it presented its own issues, making it not a good choice. I still plan to continue the business when I can, but now is not the best time. This blog helps fill a creative void, but I feel like I need something more—something that gets me away from the computer all day.

For the Love of Baking

I have always loved baking, and I have been doing it since a very young age. Both my grandmother and mom are amazing bakers. As a kid, I desperately wanted an Easy-Bake Oven, but my parents were practical and said no. We had a real oven, after all. Instead, they bought me a Strawberry Shortcake* baking kit for our full-sized oven, with strawberry flavored cake and frosting mixes. The kit even included a tiny 3.5-inch cake pan. I baked and decorated pint-sized, artificially flavored cakes for family birthdays. My mom even bought me a little set of sprinkles and jimmies for that extra pizazz. The cake tasted terrible, but nobody ever complained.

My mom also bought me the “classic” 1987 — boy, did I just date myself— kids’ cookbook Marvelous Munchies by Current. After making my first “Nana’s Cake,” which was one of my favorite recipes, I was hooked. I never did get that Easy-Bake Oven, but I did develop a passion for baking and creating my own recipes.

Making a Mess

That’s what baking is for me— a creative outlet. It allows me to try new recipes, explore new techniques, and even create my own new flavor combinations. It also allows me to rediscover old favorites and sometimes tweak them to make new ones. It’s a way for me to experiment, and if you’ve ever seen my kitchen after I bake, you would understand. The thing I love most about baking is sharing my creations with others.

​As I mentioned, I hope writing this blog helps me as I reinvent myself (more here), but I figure, while reinventing, why not invent a little too? Why not take the passion I’ve always had and reignite it, while sharing with others? It is so easy to let the world get you down, but I would rather spread a little happiness.

Bring on the Butter

So, I am introducing a new segment that I am calling Happy Morsels. In this space, I will share recipes that bring me joy. They aren’t meant to be healthy. They aren’t for the calorie-conscious, and they most likely will contain butter! I hope you will try them and share them with others. I hope they bring you a little joy too! Check back next Monday and find out what our first Happy Morsel will be. Happy Baking!

*Strawberry Shortcake is a trademark of Shortcake IP Holdings LLC

Until My Next Musing!