Folks, I had a week. Let me tell you, it was not a good one. And now that it’s behind me and I feel like I can breathe again, I can see that it was not a particularly bad one either. It was just a week where a lot of little things piled up, each one of them chipping away at my ability to cope. I’ve been a little bit sick, a lot exhausted, and dealing with that soul crushing kind of tiredness that makes your whole body feel unbearably heavy and you know you have a million things you should be doing but all you want to do is lie down. You know what I mean?
And really, I’m fine. I’m in pretty good health, other than the tail end of a pesky cold, and so are the people who I love. The little setbacks and frustrations I’ve been dealing with are life lessons and learning experiences. I can easily get past them and move on. Of course, there will be other weeks. And when they happen, weeks where I’m clinging with my finger nails to the rock face of final projects and other silly things, weeks where I just can’t get it together to be here, there are other places I think you should be.
My friend Leanne and I were having a conversation about the blogging world (and by having a conversation I mean that she sent me an email (okay, three emails) and I have had a draft response sitting in my mail box since the middle of January) the result of which was that I whittled my readers down to blogs written by bloggers who I consider to be a part of my digital posse. Bloggers who, although many of them I have yet to meet in the flesh, I consider to be my people. Who, if and when I do get to meet them in the real world, I know I’d greet with a great big hug, a grin, and then settle down over a glass of wine and talk the night away (oh geeze, am I a candidate to be on Catfish?).
Obviously Leanne is my home girl. You should visit her space. She doesn’t post all that often these days, because she’s busy being an outstanding mom to her little bear. But when she does pop up in my reader, it’s always a thrill.
I found Jess’s beautiful blog, Inquiring Chef, while we were planning our trip to Thailand last year. She’s an American expat living in Bangkok, sharing the adventure and some really beautiful food on her blog.
Kathryn, from London Bakes, is one of the bloggers I was lucky enough to meet in the real world last autumn at FBC12. She’s gaining quite the following, and justifiably so. Having sat beside her at a conference making sarcastic comments (me, not her, she’s just lovely) I enjoy her writing all the more because I can hear her voice in my head.
Kellie is another blogger I met at FBC, and I’m so thrilled I did. She’s vibrant and wonderful, and like me, a nutrition focused blogger. Kellie teaches cancer nutrition, and writes her blog, Food to Glow. A variation on her date sweetened carrot almond porridge has become a staple winter breakfast in my routine.
I met Jacinthe when I was back in Vancouver over the holidays, and spent a lovely afternoon talking about food and yoga and life over soy chai lattes. She’s working on a holistic nutrition program, and posts really interesting recipes on her blog, Food With Presence.
Kiersten from Oh My Veggies posts a lot of really great content. And she responds to each and every comment she gets, which is commendable, because she gets a lot. She also posts great roundups of vegetarian recipes from around the web. Definitely spend some time poking around her site, you won’t regret it.
Lindsay and her husband Bjork work together on Pinch of Yum, and they’re a pretty big deal. I like their site because they seem like such awesome people. Not only are they living in the Philippines and cranking out amazing content, but they donate all of the money they make from their blog to the orphanage that Lindsay teaches at. What I think is especially cool is the monthly income report they post on their blog, showing other bloggers exactly how they make their money, and offering tips and tricks. They really foster a sense of community, which is amazing.
Joy the Baker is major. I don’t know her, but I wish I did. If you don’t visit her site, you should. If you don’t listen to her podcast, you should. And if you already do, you just *know* that Joy would give you the best hug ever if you met her in the real world. Do you know how I came into possession of an autographed to me Joy the Baker cookbook? My friend Leanne bought the cookbook, emailed Joy and explained that I was a megafan living far away. Leanne then mailed the cookbook to Joy, who wrote lovely words to me with a Sharpie, mailed it back to Leanne, who then mailed it me all the way in Sweden. Bonkers, right?!
This list is by no means complete. I’ll update it over time and let you know where I’m hanging out on the web. So, who is in your digital posse? Let me know! I hope you’re all having marvellous weeks. I’ll be back with a recipe in a couple of days, I promise.
All text and photos © The Muffin Myth 2013
The Muffin Myth 
You’ve listed some up my favorites up there! Obviously I adore Kathryn and her recipes and Joy the Baker is also on top of my list. I’ve only recently discovered Pinch of Yum and love it! Apart from those I could not live without Simply Scratch, What Katie Ate, La Tartine Gourmande and basically any other blog that combines yummy recipes with nice photography!
I’m not familiar with those, Antonia, I’ll have to check them out! And your space is great as well – made better by the fact I’ve met the real you in the real world 🙂
Oh, man, I am sorry to hear about your week! Those kind are just terrible, the kind that seem like they keep creeping along, getting worse. I’m glad it’s behind you and hope that cold goes away soon! And you are too kind with your words … just yesterday I was debating whether I should just take my blog down, because of my lack of commitment to it, but here you’ve reminded me of how nice it is to be a part of a digital posse. Hooray for online friends who WILL meet in the flesh someday!!
And now I have to go check out some of these blogs … Kathryn I know, and love, but I’m excited to check some of these others out!
Leanne, you can post as seldom as you want, but you can not take it down! How else would I know what you’re up to since I’m such a terrible emailer? 😉
I think that pretty much describes my week too. I hope things calm down a bit for you soon. That tail end of a cold never helps much, does it?
Thank you for the mention–it really means a lot to hear something like that! Although there are always a few bad apples, on the whole, I have been amazed at how supportive the food blogging community is. And it really is strange how you get to know some bloggers so well even though you’ve never met in person.
I know what you mean. The community overall is really great. The reason I did a major purge of my reader is that it seemed there was this inner circle of untouchable ‘cool’ bloggers and commenting seemed like simply reciprocal back scratching. The idea of having a posse of awesome, talented, supportive bloggers who foster a community is much better to me, so I’d like to focus my energy there. Your space is awesome, Kiersten! So glad to know you 🙂
Best posse ever. I feel like we need our own kind of handshake or something…And thank you so much for the mention although I refute the allegation that I was not being just sarcastic as you were 😉
I hope the next week is better than the last and you kick that cold soon!
Alright, you were, I was just trying to protect the innocent! Definitely a hand shake is needed. Or a code word? Or just a lot of cake?
I’m honored to be included in this group of awesome bloggers, and have been so happy we’ve been connected since you escaped the cold for our steamy climate last year! Wish I could send a bit of it up to you now. Glad you’re feeling a bit better, Katie – when I’m tired AND fighting off a cold, I really can’t handle even the tiniest of challenges. I’m with Kathryn – let’s get a handshake.
It’s amazing how everything is just so much worse when you’re exhausted. Individually, none of the things that happened would have rattled me as much as they did. Collectively, they added up, and in a state of exhaustedness, I could hardly deal. Could definitely use some steamy climate about now! But, spring is around the corner, and soon we’ll have 23hrs of sunshine to enjoy 🙂
Oh, Katie! I hear you, sistah! Life is definitely moving at breakneck speed — in a good way — though that doesn’t make it any easier!! Thanks for the compliment of being included in your posse. This food blog world is SUPER small (just like Vancouver)…makes for awesome support, conversation, rando Twitter meet-ups and many places to stay when travelling! 😉 Hope you’re feeling better soon. ~j
You’re right, it’s definitely a small world, and speeding by incredibly fast. Just earlier this week I was all, omg, it’s only Monday? And now it’s already Thursday?! Whaaaat is happening?!
What a generous post Katie. I am sorry that you have been feeling low. It’s rubbish feeling like you are doing well with one aspect of your life (healthy eating, exercising, being an overall nice person) but still get felled by illness, work/school stress and the general undertow of everyday, hectic, 21st century life. I hope that by the time you are reading this, and all the great responses I see above, that you are buoyed up by our good wishes. Thanks SO much for including me in your Digital Posse. Although we only met that one weekend I felt like we have known each other longer. I love reading you every week, and learning something new – whether through a link, your way with an ingredient, or your thoughts on an issue. It is a delight also to share posse status with so many lovely-sounding people. I shall go and have a rummage around their blogs and learn even more from them! x
Thanks for the kind words, Kellie! It’s nice to be part of such a supportive and talented community. You’re right, it’s hard when you’re trying to do everything right, and just keep getting knocked down. I’m taking it easy this week and hoping that a new month will bring a shift in new, much more positive energy.
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