My first post! Honestly I put this off, made excuses and avoided writing this for as long as I could. In the end I had a great deal of encouragement from people really close to me to make it happen. It’s not my first blog post, I do blog elsewhere, but for some reason this post seemed really daunting.
It’s kind of a big deal really. My own website with my very own name on it. What to write? What are people expecting from me? Should I write about marketing? I do have a really great project coming up with a really interesting client, and I will write about that… But not now.
I am totally immersed in Social Media - is that what I should be writing about? I do have a few interesting insights, ideas I am talking about and constantly working on, not to mention all the stuff I am learning… But no, not now.
Do I write about personal things? All these things are personal.
So since I really couldn’t make up my mind and I couldn’t think of the *best* thing, I’ll write about cooking. I love to cook. I love to cook for and with friends. I grew up in a big family in a small community where the village potluck was a huge deal.
The other day I was hanging out with friends and we were hungry and lazy - we didn’t feel like shopping. We needed to eat something and wanted it to be delicious. I had some leftover pasta sauce, made from scratch (love that word) in the fridge. I added onions, more garlic, Portobello mushrooms, black beans, a whole block of organic tofu, cayenne, salt & pepper and veggie broth. It was really starting to taste good - but not awesome.
So what to add..?
I threw in some orange juice and cocoa (I do love chocolate), and served it over brown rice, and WOW - it was amazing!
There you have it - a little about me and some cooking tips. Be willing to try new things, mix different types of food and see what happens.
Truthfully, I have no agenda here. No editorial plan, no timeline and no defined intent.
Let’s just see what happens. Let’s mix it up and give it all a try. Hope you like it!
{ 43 comments… read them below or add one }
Great first post! And now I’m hungry…
Hi Joel - Thanks, me too! I really appreciate all your help.
I think this was an excellent choice for your first post! I am now craving a Terrys chocolate orange thanks to your picture =P
Kassandra - Thank you for stopping by! Chocolate is never a bad thing!
I don’t cook so I NEVER would have thought to add orange or chocolate to that mixture.
I started out wanting to blog about marketing and such, and I do, but I’m trying to just be more free and open about it, just blogging about what’s going on with me and what’s happening in my world, or something that catches my fancy. I’ve also been using Mr. Brogan’s “100 blog topics” post as a guide when I am lacking in the idea area, it has sparked a few posts that I’m happy to have written.
I’m bouncing around the idea of using Thesis and would love to hear your experience with it. How was the setup process for you?
Good luck with the blog! I only have about 8 readers and I’ve been blogging for a while now, but I just really get a kick out of having a place to write and having that be a good motivator to keep me writing, something I had trouble with before. Good luck to you!
Thanks Jamie! People like when you’re open and personal. It’s tough to decide what to do sometimes. Thesis is AWESOME - no questions there at all. I found it simple but I had a LOT of help. @josuhadenney actually installed it for me and another friend worked closely with me to set up the pages etc. It’s a work in progress- still lots to do and learn. I would encourage you to try it though - we’ll all help you! Okay, now we can motivate each other!
So now I’m hungry! Great to see your “home” here online. Any content you share that shares more about who you are is worth reading. Looking forward to reading your future posts!
Dave - THANK YOU. I feel so proud! Next time we’re in the same spot we’ll eat together ( not just drink
)! HA! I appreciate you commenting!
Now here’s the deal…I know you know that it doesn’t matter what you write about as long as it comes from the heart, even better from the soul…and this is what greeted me here this morning!
Thank you for sharing a bit of your soul and I love it that you topped it with orange juice and chocolate! How yummy is that? I’ve met many a good mixed up souls but never have I met one spiced with the sweetness chocolate and the tangy tingle of orange juice!
Truly, I cannot wait to come here often to stroll the garden of you!
Hugs Always!
Oh Henie - Do you have any idea how much I value you? Thank sooo much. Mixed up, messed up, tossed up - it’s never bad and I never thought you meant that! I’m learning to be brave here and I appreciate your encouragement.
It looks great, Kathryn! Good luck with all that this project will bring for you (not that you need luck).
Chris - Thanks for stopping by! I’m looking forward to our future connection and the “luck” that we all will make
I’m strangely excited about this site. As Dave mentioned , feels like my “home” online.
as a woman who is ALREADY SMITTEN with how you think and phrase things I cant wait for ANY POST you wanna write.
so excited about this project as well.
CARLA! Thanks girl! It’s scarily fun and wow so much work but awesome
OMgosh, Kathryn…I didn’t mean *mixed up soul* as in bad mixed up…I was refencing when you said *lets mix it up…* (sheepishly) :~)
Kathryn - Happy to stop by and offer my congrats on your new blog!! It looks great and I look forward to reading your musings - and your recipes.
That sauce sounded wonderful- I also look forward to attending your next dinner party….
All the best,
Terry
Terry - oh how sweet are you? Thanks sooo much! Maybe a potluck next year in Chicago??
Great first post - sounds like a recipe for success. Looking forward to reading more.
Simon - HA! Thank you! Maybe next time a squeeze of lime?
I appreciate you stopping by 
1. That sounds delicious and i’m also hungry.
2. I think it’s a good first post, i got some info about you, and it’s personable yet not unprofessional. I don’t know though, I’m facing the same issue right now, but i think the important thing is to do it and get going! I hope to read about some marketing stuff here too, but the personal stuff tells a god story along the way too
Ian - Excellent next time we’re near each other let’s eat something together :). Thanks for the feedback. I appreciate it.
Jeb - Thank YOU. So true hey, about food? I appreciate you stopping by
Mistress Mia - Thank you! You are always welcome to any table I may be at. Here’s to the experimenting. Cheers to you!
greymous - I would so eat that waffle concoction! Thank for your kind words!
Jorge - potluck you say? I’m in. Thanks to you.
Laura! - Thanks for taking the time to visit - you are welcome any and ALL the time Hahaha. Remember, I am here if you ever need me - just like you did for me.
Loki - Recipe swap MOST definitely I KNOW you’re an awesome cook. Thesis ROCKS and thanks for the great idea! Keep in touch. I appreciate you popping by
Oh Rosy - that’s wonderful! Thanks for letting me know what that’s called! haha Thank you sister.
Cheryl - How wonderful you dropped in! Nice hearing from you
Thanks for your kind words.
Ben - Thanks. I appreciate the advice
Kathryn, I don’t know of anything quite so unifying and collectively appreciated as food. A very fine first post indeed. Great job.
What to write about … in this space where we “push” authenticity what better to write about than cooking- mixing it up and trying new things. A perfect analogy for what we are doing daily experimenting with “SM” but anytime I am next in you country I am inviting myself for dinner. YUM. You have a gift girl.
I also love to cook and like the “what the heck, let’s throw it in and see what happens” approach to cooking. One of my weirdest favorites is a mushroom sauce over top of waffles with mixed vegetables inside. Yes, it does sound odd but it was pretty darn good too!
Good start for your blog and best wishes for your continued success!
I like your first post Kathryn. I love to cook too LOL and I look to see what I have and then add that to whatever I decide to create. It is what makes food so very interesting. Heck, even a burger tastes better when other things are added to liven it up. I use limes more than lemons as most central Americans like me do but the chocolate is divine. Mmm . . . so potluck IS in order I think. Anyway, kudos to your first of many posts.
Peace and Love - Jorge
Hello Beautiful Soul! I am so very excited to have a place to come visit and join in on your latest chocolate laced, mixed up journey. Oh the places I know we will go! Yay You!!! All my love to you today =). ~Laura
Great to see your personal outpost on the Internet! I’m sure it is no surprise that I am very happy to see cooking as an element of your initial post! We’ll have to trade some recipes sometime.
Looking forward to see where you take it! (And by the way, I’m just getting set up with Thesis now and LOVE it, perhaps some Thesis tips would be good meat for a future post on your part….
Loved your first post-you made an italian “mole” sauce. I loved how you wrote it, because I was in the kitchen, too.
Bon Appetit, Kathryn Child!!!
Congrats on your first post. Leading with your passion is always a good first step! And who knew you could mix mushrooms, pasta, & garlic with oranges and chocolate? When’s dinner?
I tried to force myself to blog marketing while studying and living from day to day back when my blog started. It immediately made blogging a chore from the get-go. I say don’t block yourself in, relax and have fun with whatever direction strikes your fancy!
It’s always the surprising ingredient that makes pushes the things into the exceptional (In dreams, its the little peculiar detail that can easily get overlooked). It’s always a blast when the guest is guessing, what’s that flavor?
I’m really looking forward to the unexpected flavors when I visit. Got curry?
Richard - Ever since you explained the detail elements of dreams I try to remember. Thank you for all you do and have done. I will *always have/find curry with and for you!
I just posted something similar in a comment on Joel Kelly’s blog.
It all seems like such a good idea at 2:17am in the morning. A Blog? Why, yes! Yes, I do think I’d like to start one of my own, thank you for asking.
And then the light of day dawns on the reality that you own a domain and LOTS of blank space just hanging out there for the world to see. I think we’re both big, tough girls - we can do this! And do it well
PS I would never have thought of adding orange juice to pasta sauce. Was is a red sauce? Please tell me it wasn’t a red sauce.
Lisa - It was. And it was delicious. Rosy says it’s called a mole sauce. This will be fun. Thanks for dropping over!
Hey Kathryn, congratulations on your “first” post! I love the beginning stages of a project - new and exciting, limitless potential . . . what a great feeling. I wish you a long and happy life on kathrynjennex.com.
But I will say that looking at the oranges mixed with the chocolate made me want to gag a little bit - blegh.
Nate - you are sooo kind. Thank you. BTW chocolate and oranges are awesome :P. Good to be connected.
Anyone who cooks pancakes before work is well qualified to write about food I think! I’m looking forward to reading more. All the best with it!
Never mind “Hello World”!
Look out world!
A certain NorthernChick has a blog.
Okay, off to figure out how to instigate her…
{Congratulations Kathryn
Well done trigger squeeze}
Hello Ed! Really great you stopped by thanks! Looking forward to a little instigation
Your cooking story is such a great metaphor for the adventurous and generous spirit I have seen so often expressed in your writing! May your new adventure be full of pleasant surprises
Susan - Thanks so much! What kind words, I appreciate that!
Yes, Kathryn, first posts *are* kind of a big deal (especially when you’re as well-connected as you. The rest of us slouches are lucky to even get our moms to read the first post.) — and you nailed it! Your authenticity shines through.
Looking forward to catching more glimpses into your online “home.”
Jennifer - Glad you stopped by - thanks so much. It only took me a year of talking about it!!!