Hi blog friends! I hope everyone had a great holiday. I definitely enjoyed my time off. New Year’s resolution: have more staycations. Seriously, there is something liberating about ignoring your email for days on end, ordering in takeout food, and taking baths at 3 p.m. just for fun. I cannot tell you how hard it was to join the real world. But, I guess you know because you did it too.

One thing I did not doing during my staycation was write down recipes, take food photos, or write any blogs. That was also liberating. I forgot that sometimes it’s nice to just cook. For fun. I did a lot of just for fun cooking over the holidays. I made some naughty appetizers for my family on Christmas Day. Un-healthy crock pot buffalo chicken dip anyone? Don’t worry, I won’t tempt you with pictures. I made Pinch of Yum’s Salted Maple Pecan Pie Bars. Also unhealthy, but so worth it. And, I made a huge Mexican-inspired spread for a dinner party. Pork carnitas, authentic refried beans, rice, guacamole, bacon-wrapped stuffed jalapeno.

I can’t wait to share some of those recipes with you – well, the healthier ones at least! After my hiatus, I feel reinvigorated and I’m chomping at the bit to blog. But, before I can share any recipes, I have to share (drumroll, please), My First Interview!

Michelle Hershman of HealthyRecipeEcstasy.com shares her blog-starting tips

A friend of mine from college recently asked if she could interview me about food blogging for her own blog, JC Wordworks. We were journalism majors together, so it’s only fitting that we are both entering the blog world together! I was a little anxious about doing the interview. I mean, I’ve only been blogging for six or so months. What do I know? I’m no Smitten Kitchen. But then, when I was responding to the interview questions, I realized how much I had to say and how much I’ve learned over the past six months. I know I have a long way to go, but I feel like I’ve finally got the tools under my belt to really take off.

Tools being a lighting system that Alasdair bought me so I can start taking food photos at night after the sun goes down. AND I’m planning to buy myself a new camera. One that will let me do all the cool focused shots that other bloggers do. After I learn how to use it, of course….!

It’s a new year, and a new and improved HRX. Can’t wait!