It’s time for another update… I started this blog in 2014, just a few months after meeting my now husband Jason. It started out as a way to kind of (selfishly) memorialize all of our fun dates and excursions. But it evolved into something I actually enjoyed doing: thinking a bit more deeply about the food and drinks I was tasting, but also meeting wonderful people along the way. Over the years, I’ve become less snobbish about the food and drinks. I felt an early pressure to be critical and honest, which sometimes led me to being overly critical and overly honest. I wanted to make a name for myself that I would give the absolute truth and that people could trust what I wrote. While that is still part of the goal, I also have realized that the humans that make up the restaurant/bar life are more important than the products they sell.
In 2016, Jason and I married. After some fertility issues and going through IVF (which fortunately for us, went seamlessly), we welcomed our first little peanut, Emily in 2018. Benjamin followed soon after in 2019. It’s been almost 5 years since I wrote a blog on here, my last being in 2017. Having kids, now, our dining experiences are usually quite different. We love to steal away and get a date night to ourselves but, for the most part, we’re eating and drinking in the world through the eyes of 3 and 4 year olds. Our priorities in general, and when dining out, have shifted drastically.
There are some other things I’ve become passionate about over the last few years, too. Parenting, obviously, has been a big one. As a pediatric occupational therapist, I’ve always been largely interested in child development and how we as adults can best facilitate it. But now, having reared my own little humans, I’ve had the chance to apply some of what I’ve learned. Parenting topics such as sleep routines, mealtimes, potty training, screen time, literacy, and imaginative play are at the top of my list of parenting interests. Home renovation and decorating is never-ending; I’m sure that by the time we get through everything it will be time to start over, anyways. I earned a PhD in leadership in 2021 and, since then, have been reading for “leisure” virtually nonstop. Over this past summer (2022), I’ve embraced a somewhat minimalist perspective in many facets of my life, though certainly not all – my bookshelves and personal closet are still completely out of control. But I’m finding huge satisfaction in having kitchen cabinets, pantries, storage areas, and surfaces that are simplistic and contain only what I need/use/enjoy. While, in the past, Jason has always been the primary homemaker/laundry doer/house chef, I’ve recently begun to embrace these homemaking tasks and find great joy in making my home comfortable, logical, and full of love (and yummy food). I’ve invested in some cookbooks and dipped my toe into some simple recipes; some have been wonderful successes and some have been epic failures. I plan to share more about all of these topics, especially via Instagram @TheBaconBoozer, where it’s easy to just snap and caption moments/thoughts. BaconBoozer is expanding; really I’m just sharing more of my life.
But I also want to get back to what the blog was originally all about – food and drinks – and to do it in a more joyful, openminded, and positive way. My goal is to write a few posts each year, something I think can be manageable while raising two kids, working a full time job, and maintaining a home. I plan to pick some special meals or nights out, to take the time to be fully present for them, to savor them, and then to reflect on them. There may still be some things to be critical of; I do intend to remain honest and objective in my reviews. But my intention is and will not primarily be to catch mistakes. If it’s a damn good meal, I’m going to embrace that and let it be just that simple.
For scheduling, questions, comments, or anything else feel free to contact me directly at baconboozer@gmail.com.
Cheers!