My love-hate relationship with Social Media

so·cial me·di·a

/ˌsōSHəl ˈmēdēə/

noun

1. websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking. (via google.com)

   
   

   

   
   

   
   

   There was a time where waking up and checking all my social media channels was my first priority in the morning. I distinctly remember waking up this one morning and getting the worse migraine after mindlessly scrolling through my Instagram. At the time I didn’t think there such a correlation between the two. 

   
   

   In 2020 I gave up most of my social media channels. It all started with Instagram. It was due to my mental health. I was catching myself comparing my looks, my life, and just being jealous of all the “picture perfect accounts”. The stay-at-home moms that were sharing how perfect their days were with their 4 plus kids. Or the fashion accounts with their perfect outfits (made me think of how much they must spend to have a new outfit for each picture). Lastly, the fiftfam community, which has been a huge part of my Instagram journey and who I used to be. I couldn’t bear looking at all those perfect bodies and muscles (while I was miserable and pregnant). So yes, you could say that my mental health played a big reason I deleted my Instagram from my phone.

   
   

   At this point Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube were still part of my life. The difference is that my usage was very moderate compared to Instagram. 

   
   

   It wasn’t until the pandemic hit hard that I decided to quit all the other social networks. There was something about reading the same stuff over and over and just me getting tired of the bad news on the daily.

   
   

   My pregnant-self just couldn’t handle it. I’m pretty sure I told my family members not to talk to me about pandemic related news until after baby was here. 

   
   

   So as we reach the end of 2020, here a few things I’ve learned about my social media cleanse:

   
   

   I’ve been posting on the Internet for almost 11 years (blogging being the main platform) so with this in mind it is okay to take a break.

   
   

   It’s okay to be different than others and not try to follow every single trend out there. I never created a TIKTOK account and probably only ever will if it is for my baking business.

   
   

   Instagram was once a huge part of my life, but it’s not my passion. And if I don’t want to focus on that platform I don’t have to. I never was an Instagram influencer but more of a blogger anyways so I’m not missing out there.

   
   

   When you work on social media, you most definitely can pick your favorite platform and post on there only. Mine being my blog/Pinterest/YouTube.

   
   

   I learned this from a blogger that I interviewed once. We were talking about being creators and what platform made more sense for our craft. I told her that Instagram just wasn’t the same anymore and my blog at the moment was the only thing that was bringing me joy. She then told me that I should do that! I should just focus on my blog if that’s what made me happy. It’s was a great conversation and I’m glad it helped validate my feelings.

   
   

   YouTube was also another platform I turned to this year. The reason was all to better myself and my business. I spent hours watching cooking channels. Perfecting my craft. Learning from the pros. It also helped me create 3 business plans for all my businesses. 

   
   

   So, here we are, almost a year later and I don’t regret my decisions. My love-hate relationship with social media has gotten better. I’m loving the creativity I’ve had all year. I’m loving the fact that I’m doing me. 

   
   

   If I ever decide to get back on Instagram it won’t be for the likes and competition. It will for the content that I truly want to share. There won’t be a schedule or me refreshing my account every 5 seconds to see if got new followers. 

   
   

   PS: Thank goodness for blogging. If I wasn’t able to put my emotions out there, my mental health would not be the same.

   
   

   There you have it, 

   
   

   Have you ever done something extreme like this before? Did you regret it? What were the results? 

   
   

   
   

   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

Happy 1 month baby Olive

 

Dear baby Olive,

Today you are one month old! 

Please time slow down... our baby girl is just growing so much. 

You have been sleeping through the night most nights. Mama is the one waking up in the middle of the night just to make sure you are still breathing. You are always sounds asleep and content!

After having to go visit your pediatrician a couple of times because you were a little bit jaundice and lost a lot of weight. We started to supplement moms breast milk with formula.

That seems to be helping you a lot and you are gaining your weight back up!

Today you were at almost 8 pounds so about 2 pounds gained since your birth. The doctors said I’m doing a great job.

You are so sweet and sleep pretty much all day and night until you are hungry. Then you let us know! 

You have found your voice and we hear you loud and clear. It’s adorable when you cry because you scrunch up your forehead and put your lips. 

Even though mama is very tired because you are very attached to me. I wouldn’t change a thing. It makes my heart happy and I just want to cry tears of joy! 

Your daddy is back at work fighting this whole covid thing along with other military guys. It’s such an interesting time that you were born in. The year you were born in will be a huge part of history down the line.

Your Vovós and vovôs love you so much and are obsessed with your cuteness. 

Happy one month baby girl! Here is to a growing and healthy baby!

We love you so so much,

A simple Texas Sheet Cake Recipe

Texas Sheet Cake

Earlier last year Daniel got to live in Lackland AFB Texas for 4 months. During those months it was just the kids and I. To pass time most of my days were spent in my kitchen doing one of my favorite things: baking!

I took this time to really work on my craft and perfect each of my recipes. After all, I’ve been working on this secret project that involves lots and lots of baking.

So back to Texas, Daniels experience was a little different because he wasn’t aloud to leave his base and therefore he wasn’t able to indulge in all the delicious Texas food we have been hearing about. 

While I was baking away in my kitchen I came across this old recipe from Lemon Poppy Cake.  A simple cookbook for easy recipes. That’s when I decided to make the famous “Texas Sheet Cake” in hopes to get Daniel excited to try when he was back home. 

This recipe never fails me, and I’ve been making it for a very long time. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do:

The "BEST" Texas Sheet Cake:

Ingredients 

1 cup butter 

1 cup water 

2 cups sugar

4   T of cocoa powder 

2 cups flour 

1 t. salt 

2 eggs 

1 cup sour cream 

1 t. baking soda 

Directions 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine butter, water and cocoa in a medium saucepan. Bring to a low boil. Remove from heat and pour into large mixing bowl. Add sugar, flour and salt and mix. Add eggs, sour cream and baking soda and mix again until smooth. Pour into large greased cookie sheet and Bake for 20 minutes or until toothpick before pouring frosting over cake. comes out clean (do not over-bake).

Frosting

4 Tablespoons of Cocoa

1/2 cup of butter 

6 Tablespoons of milk

1 Tablespoon of vanilla 

3 cups of powdered sugar

Heat butter and cocoa in a medium saucepan until a low boil. Remove from heat and milk, vanilla, and powdered sugar. Mix with hand mixer for about 10 minutes and let it cool for a little bit before frosting your cake.