Sometimes stepping back is the only way to find your spark again. This is my story of pause, passion, and coming home to what I love.
Hi friends,
I have to be honest with you. Over the past little while, I felt like I lost my spark. Doing what I love, sharing recipes and stories, it started to feel heavy because there was not much interaction. Every like, comment, or little note that used to bring me joy felt distant, and slowly my head filled with self doubts. I wondered if anyone was really paying attention, if my ideas were silly, or if I had anything meaningful to offer at all. So I stepped back. I took a pause. I needed space to breathe and figure out how to fall in love with this all over again.
During that time, there were little moments that made me laugh and reminded me why I started in the first place. Dancing in the kitchen with my kids to songs I could barely remember the words to, spilling flour everywhere, and watching Marney trying to "help" by eating every stray bite. Or quietly sipping my tea while reading a book, watching the sun hit just right, while the kids chased each other around. One afternoon, I tried a new dessert recipe and it turned into an unintentional science experiment, with frosting everywhere except the cake. My oldest daughter just looked and me, shrugged, and said, "Well, it still smells good." Those moments reminded me that creativity does not need likes or comments to matter. It just needs a heart willing to make it and a little laughter along the way.
After stepping back and soaking in those moments, I realized I was not done. My love for creating, storytelling, and celebrating life through food is too big to ignore. I had to find that passion again, and so here I am, coming back with a fresh perspective and a renewed heart.
This time, I am doing things a little differently. I am reimagining Bayou Bites & Booze, giving it a soft, playful, and beautiful makeover that feels like me. Bright bold, cheerful, but with a Southern charm and Louisiana roots that make it uniquely my own. Everything you will see, every design, pattern, or idea, I am creating myself, which means it is going to take time before everything comes together. Bu that is okay. I am learning to embrace the process and enjoy every step along the way.
Once you start noticing changes you might think I got inspiration from somewhere, and I did. Once you notice who I do hope you like it. You might wonder why Lily Pulitzer. I have always been drawn to her joyful patterns, her colors, and the energy she gives off. It is playful but elegant, fun but confident, and I wanted to capture that same feeling, only with my own Louisiana Bayou twist. Imagine soft pinks and blues dancing with magnolias and cypress, little herons or egrets tucked into floral patterns, and playful details that make you smile when you notice them. Taking inspiration from something I admire and reshaping it into something personal felt like the perfect way to reconnect to my creativity.
The changes you will see will not happen overnight. I am experimenting, creating, and figuring out exactly what feels right for me, for this space, and for you. There will be small touches here, a new design there, but it is all part of the journey, and I cannot wait to show share it with you as it unfolds.
Through all of this, what matters most is that I am creating because I love it. I am making this space feel like home, a place for flavor, creativity, and joy. A place where every dish, every story, and every tiny detail has a little piece of my heart in it. And most importantly, a place where I am finally letting myself enjoy the process again without pressure or expectation.
Thank you for being here with me. Whether you are reading quietly, sipping your coffee, or just stopping by to see what is new, I hope you can feel the heart behind everything I am sharing. I am back, I have found my spark again, and I am excited to see where this creative journey takes me, one thoughtful, playful, Bayou-inspired step at a time.
I also want to remind you that my Seasoned With Love Cookbook is still available for free and will always remain free, but the rebrand will give that a makeover as well. It is my little gift to anyone who wants a taste of my kitchen while we slowly build this new chapter together.
"Creativity takes courage." - Henri Matisse
