make your own pasta bar + a blogging break
I’ve got a lot of feels for today’s post, so bear with me. Part of the feels comes from the excitement I have over this make your own pasta bar with alllll the yummy pasta sauces. I’ll admit it — I’m a pretty routine jarred pasta sauce buyer.
I know, I know. I’m ashamed of it. Especially because whenever I make a homemade pasta sauce and take even one bite, I do a jig in the kitchen, slap my knee and say, “By George, I should be making this all the time!” Or something to that effect (I promise I’m not so weird that I say things like “By George!” At least not often. Ahem).
ANYWAY, I’ve got not one, but three delectable sauces here — including a roasted red pepper sauce, a creamy Parmesan chive mushroom sauce and a garlic alfredo sauce, all made in the blender! — for you to choose from for your next pasta dinner. Or, if you’re in the pasta bar partying mood, you can make all three at the same time along with a big spread of cooked pastas and have your guests go crazy on adding their own sauce and toppings to their pasta bowls. Serve it all up with lots of bread and wine and by George, you’ve got a great party going. AHEM.
You can find all three easy recipes on the KitchenAid blog here!
The other part of today’s feels comes from the fact that I’ve decided to take a bit of a break from the blog. It’s been a long time coming and very, very needed, but I’m conflicted.
You see, I’ve been blogging quite regularly for nearly six years now (holy cannoli.), and except for that one time I had a baby, I haven’t taken a real break. Not even on vacation. So it’s time, it’s definitely time.
I’m only planning to be away for a month, and by “away” I mean I won’t be posting anything new here for the entirety of July (but I’ll still probably hang out a bit on Instagram, but you guys, that’s hard for me. I feel like this space has become a weekly gathering of all my favorite people (i.e., you, my dear readers) at the table with all of my favorite foods, and I’m deeply going to miss that, if even for a few weeks. But I’m finding myself so burned out, so tired, so uninspired and so hungry to live a little bit of life offline that I need some time to step back completely, re-prioritize, re-energize, relax, restore and rediscover who I am and who I want to be — for myself, for my family, for this blog and in turn, for you.
I feel my fingers going rigid even typing this post because the perfectionist in me is freaking out over the lack of routine and regularity I’m going to have by not showing up here for a while. But I have hope that this hiatus will be so good and so healthy that it’ll wash away that growing sense of dread and exhaustion and overall “meh”-ness I’ve been feeling lately whenever I open WordPress. Gah. I’m hesitant to admit that, because I don’t want you to think I’ve been a fraud over here. I haven’t been. Everything I’ve written is honest and sincere and comes from the heart, and that’s why I’m taking a break. Because that fire in the belly is dwindling and I feel like a break is the best way to get it back.
In the meantime, you can find some of my recipes to tide you over here. I’ll also be popping in on Instagram, as I mentioned, from time to time. I might even work on some recipes during this month (because who am I kidding if I think I won’t be in the kitchen because cookies) and I’ll show some sneak previews there.
Thank you all for being here. Thank you for making this my happy space. Thank you for allowing me this gift of much-needed time away. I’ll be back, promise! Until then, lots of love and carbs to you all.
Oh, that baby! I want to smooch on her. And, have you been talking to a certain girl that I know? If not, you need to. Assuming that you two could possibly get on the same wavelength at the same time. It’s amazing how alike the two of you are. You take care of yourself. You’re doing the right thing. We’ll be right here when you get back. Hugs to all of you. xoxo
Enjoy your time with your family, your baby and yourself. Summer is short here, soak up every last moment! We will all still be here when you get back. Because, those EYES! Oh my, love them up! 🙂
Avery is so adorable! I love seeing her on snapchat 🙂 you deserve this break and good for you for recognizing it!! Sometimes we are so into the routine that we forget to take a break to refocus and realign. We’ll all still be here when you get back 🙂 xoxo
I am saddened that you’re taking a blogging break so soon after I discovered your blog….but lucky me, I get to explore years worth of your recipes over the next few weeks. I can only imagine the time commitment a successful food blog requires…please enjoy the time off.
Totally relate to the fear of being out of routine, but you totally deserve a break! I know the burnt out, uninspired feeling all too well as I have just kept on blogging in the past when I was desperate for a break telling myself “I had to keep working” but it really does you good to have a break! Have a lovely time taking a break! 🙂
It’s so admirable that you know yourself and realize when is the right time to take a break. I’m sure it will be absolutely refreshing and you’ll come back inspired 🙂 I will miss you this month, you have been a huge inspiration for me since I started my blog back in January! Enjoy the break with your family.
I get it. It takes a lot to juggle the parenting and blog life at the same time. I have definitely cut back to avoid burn out. No shame! Go enjoy that cutie and your time out in the sunlight away from a computer screen! PS I’m all in for that mushroom sauce!
First off, this trio of pasta sauces are all heaven! While when I usually stick with a light olive oil sauce and loads of parmesan, that roasted garlic sauce has me intrigued!
Second, way to go to know when its time to step away! Its good for the soul and we will all still be here when you come back 🙂 Hopefully rejuvenated!
Avery is the cutest! OMG. Wishing you a very relaxing and rejuvenating July and that you really get to savor every second of it with your adorable family. Good for you for doing what you need to do to be the best you, even when it feels hard. Excited for you!!
Homeslice, you’ve said the words we are often so scared to say, and you’re doing the things we are often so scared to do – walk away, even for a short period of time. But I respect that and admire you for putting YOU, your sanity, your family and your LIFE FIRST!! I hope you, most of all, enjoy your break and I can’t wait to see you back here again reinvigorated and inspired to tackle new things in the kitchen and you can bet your biscuits I’ll be truckin’ along hanging out with you on the Snapschats and IG!!
I kind of just want to throw a big pasta party now!
Good for you taking a needed break. You will come back so much more refreshed and inspired. Plus, look at that cute face… you will get more time to enjoy her for a bit!!
By George? You made me laugh for the day. Then you made me smile with the pic of you and Elliott. THEN you made me tear up with that adorable pic of my little baby. Oh yeah, and the sauces sound wonderful too!
Love this pasta bar concept! So fun!!! Secondly, I just want to say good for you for taking a short break and enjoying life. It is so hard to be go-go-go all the time, and I can’t even imagine how much more difficult it is when you have a little one by your side.
We’ll all be here when you get back! In the meantime, enjoy the break, don’t stress, and live in the moment! 🙂
I think it is hard to remember sometimes, but we have to be kind to ourselves. I know I can be my own biggest critic, but sometimes you just have to know when to step back and give yourself a little room to breathe! Good for you for taking some time!
Enjoy your break dear, we all need one from time to time. You will be missed, but I will just make sure I do extra insta stalking to make up for you abandoning us…err.. 🙂