Summer Update: Time to Slow Down

July is here! It’s hot, it’s sunny, it’s everything I love. After such an endless winter-spring season in Chicago, it’s time to slow down, soak in summertime and enjoy every second of it.

As I was attending my favorite yoga class yesterday morning, the teacher started meditating about the second half of the year we are now entering, and stated some thoughts about the first half behind us. While listening to all this, I took a minute to breathe in and out, slow down, and be present in that moment – not in the past, not in the future.

Then, as my thoughts started to flow, I reviewed these last few months, trying to see what I have been grateful for, and what I should be focusing on for the second half of the year. To call the last months a whirlwind is an understatement. I’m tired. No, I’m exhausted. So for once, I decided to listen to myself, and try to find the sweet spot between life and blogging.

Life update: a big thank you.

Before we go any further, I owe you a huge thank you. Thank you for being part of DCT community overall, but also thank you for your incredible support following my post about my personal journey. I received so many comments of support, testimonials, personal emails and comments of all sorts, so much love…

It felt almost overwhelming at first, but also so comforting and heart-warming. Also, it taught me one thing: there is still a lot to do regarding infertility awareness. It remains a big taboo in our society, something we suffer in silence and keep secretly to ourselves, feeling wrongly ashamed for making people uncomfortable with our stories. Some people are; I experienced it myself and felt angry at first. But the overall support I received mattered way more (side note: if I didn’t answer you yet, please know that I will).

As for myself, the journey is still on, and I do not have so many updates for you. Back in January, I didn’t think I would still be at this stage six months later. And yet, there I am, growing in uncertainty, taking one step at a time, and learning to know myself a little bit more. There are small things in life that have been helping me a lot. Among them: working out regularly, reading Mindset Of Greatness daily quotes, and trying to slow down and embrace life anyway. Oh, and they have been quite a few awesome memories, such as My Birthday in Grandpa’s Cabin, a Weekend on a Century Old Wisconsin Farm, not to forget Yellowstone!

Time to slow down: summer blogging on minimalist mode

Now let’s talk about food blogging life! Here again, I have been quite a busy bee within the first half of the year. No matter my emotional state, I tried to keep up with everything that had to do with my professional life – and I did.

I created two recipes a week, shot many food videos, reshot several old recipes, and worked with various projects for my clients. I also went to the Everything Food Blogging Conference, became Brand Ambassador for Peugeot Saveurs, for which I developed several recipes (check out this gorgeous – eh, I’m modest – veggie burger recipe for the 4th of July!). And of course I spare you all the boring stuff around the site’s technical issues and all the SEO work I have been doing constantly, not to mention the social media aspects. I have officially endorsed the role of CEO of DCT!

A few of my favorite summer recipes to try:

• Heirloom Tomato Ricotta Galette
• Almond, Zucchini and Blue Cheese Tart
• Blueberry Pie with Oat Crust (Gluten Free)
• Savory Zucchini Bread with Goat Cheese
• Whole Wheat Mediterranean Pizza Star Ring
• Easy Salted Caramel Peanut Ice Cream
• Perfect Key Lime Pie

Now, I have been thinking. As a blogger, there is no such thing as vacation, is there? Over my last 6 years of blogging, I have never really taken a break from blogging, whether I worked full or part-time on the side. Instead, I have always doubled my workload the weeks prior so that I could relax on vacation. Yet, I always kept an eye on social media, posting days, etc during my PTO.

But this year I feel I need time to slow down a little bit. So I’ve decided I’m going to post minimally this summer (expect one recipe a week instead of two or three). As for the newsletters, expect one every other week only. During my newly found spare time, I will reload my energy and focus on other aspects of blogging. I will work on SEO, edit old content/reshoot old recipes, take a food photography class, be ready for go-back-to-school, and hire a part time social media assistant (more details to come).

So yes, I’m doing it! This summer, I am going to find some time to slow down and hit pause on as much as I can. Because I need to recharge, I need to refresh, and take time for myself.

Happy summer to you all!