So I have to start with MY cookbook – available for pre-sale now. It comes out in February but I’ll have a fun gifting promo going on in December so pre-order them as gifts and you’ll have something to give!

Pre-Order my Cookbook on Amazon HERE!

Here are some of my other favorites this year:

1. Dessert Boards by Kellie Hemmerly
2. Well Plated by Erin Clarke
3. The Big Book of Jo’s Quick & Easy Meals by Joanna Cismaru
4. Spectacular Spreads by Maegen Brown
5. Once Upon a Chef by Jennifer Segal
6. The Stay at Home Chef Slow Cooker Cookbook by Rachel Farnsworth
7. The Ultimate Bread Machine Cookbook by Tiffany Dahle
8. Meat to the Side by Liren Baker
9. Melissa Griffiths has LOTS of books for sale on her website, including Family Dinner Made Easy
10. Big Boards for Families by Sandy Coughlin
11. Meal Prep In An Instant by Becca Ludlum
12. Dinner Hero by Mama Loves Food and Dinner Hero
13. 8 Weeks of Family Dinners by Yellow Bliss Road

What are your favorite cookbooks?

Check out my Favorite Things Gift Guide, Favorite Things – Kitchen Edition, and Disney Lovers Gift Guide!

The post 2021 Favorite Cookbooks Gift Guide appeared first on Crazy for Crust.

If you love Disney home and accessories then you’ll love this list!

This post contains affiliate links.

There are so many things at Shop Disney, but these are some of my favorites. If you don’t love the characters I chose – don’t worry, search around and I’m sure there is a bag or wallet, or some jewelry with your favorite!

Disney Home Gifts

1. HOME Pillow – I have this and it’s so soft. It makes me think of Disney whenever I look at it.
2. Alice in Wonderland Serving Tray – I have some bowls in this same set and they’re so pretty, you don’t even need to like Alice to want to use them.
3. Sugar Canister and Flour Canister – These are on my Christmas list!
4. Door Mat – Currently in my cart.
5. Disney Waffle Iron – make those Plaza Inn waffles at home!
6. Disney Mickey Wreath – couldn’t get it home in my suitcase so ordered it to my house!
7. Holiday Baking Set – fun for a Disney loving baker (like me!)

Disney Favorite Things Accessories

1. Ear Headband Necklace – I own this and love it – I get compliments whenever I wear it.
2. Mickey Earrings – I own these and wear them all the time, they’re understated and work well when I’m decked out in head to toe Disney!
3. Alex and Ani Bracelets – I’m obsessed, the end.
4. Ear Headbands – Required! They change often online so check a lot to see which ones they have in stock.
5. Wallets – While I am obsessed with the Dooney and Burke version, it’s quite pricey. The Loungefly wallets are fun too – and less expensive. They have lots of options.
6. Loungefly Backpack – I just picked one theme – they have several. Like the headbands they change often so check back a lot.
7. Card Wallet – I have several of these! They’re perfect for clutches or in backpacks!

Disney Gifts from Other Sources

Disney is expensive! Here are some other places to find good quality Disney merchandise:

• Box Lunch (clothing and accessories) – they have TONS of loungefly!
• Etsy (everything – but mostly t-shirts!)
• Jane.com (t-shirts)
• Hot Topic (shirts and Loungefly)
• Kohls and Target often have shirts and pajamas

Check out my Favorite Things and my Favorite Things: Kitchen edition and Favorite COOKBOOKS Guide!

The post 2021 Disney Lovers Gift Guide appeared first on Crazy for Crust.

No matter who you’re buying for, some of these gifts are perfect for everyone on your list. Mom, daughter, wife, husband – you name it there is something for everyone.

I started looking through my purchases for the past year and realized that some of them have truly become my favorite products, so I wanted to share. I feel like word-of-mouth is the best when you’re thinking of buying something new, so these are my tried-and-true favorites from 2021!

Favorite Gifts I Love in 2021

1. Casetify Phone Cases – there is something for everyone and they are amazing at keeping your tech safe.
2. Sugarfix by Bauble Bar (for Target) – I am obsessed with EVERYTHING in this line. The statement earrings are so fun!
3. Athleta Salutation Stash Pocket II ⅞ – These are my go-to workout leggings! They are breathable, comfortable, stay up, have pockets and are cheaper (and better IMO) than Lululemon.
4. Rainbow Peep-Toe Pumps from Unique Vintage – I get so many complements on these. PLUS – they have other colors with this style. They are actually REALLY comfortable – I’ve walked a mile in them, no problem.
5. Target Throw Blanket – We have about 5 of these and love them. They’re stylish, not too big, and really comfy.
6. Stitch Fix – I’ve been getting new clothes lately (a perk of weight loss) and am loving getting fixes, and shopping their curated collections.

1. Neck Fan – it’s actually called a sport fan, but let’s be honest, if you’re over 40 it’s a hot flash fan and it’s amazing. Stops the hot flashes before they start.
2. Apple Watch – a splurge but I love mine. I’ve had it for years and started wearing it religiously this year. I love feeling competition with myself to close my rings!
3. Milanese Band for Apple Watch – it’s stylish and comfortable. I wear it working out and all day too.
4. UGG Slippers – I use these as shoes, seriously. They’re my go-to slip on flats all winter. Fun colors too!
5. Desk Fan – see #1 lol – if you’re over 40 you need this. I was gifted it and I use it religiously all year long.

Favorite Products I always Use

This is my go-to list for makeup. I use the under eye, powder and mascara every single day and feel naked without it!

• IT Cosmetics: I use the Bye Bye Under Eye every day
• THRIVE Lash Extensions Mascara – my go-to
• Wander Beauty Powder Foundation – another go-to
• DryBarDry Shampoo (I also love Jumpstart and Hot Toddy)
• Shape Tape – my foundation when I’m filming
• Benefit Cosmetics Brow Liner – my favorite!
• POREfessional Primer – like an IG filter for your face IRL
• MAC Cosmetics Ruby Woo – the BEST red lipstick ever! Get a lip liner too.
• Rinna Beauty Lip Kits – I’m obsessed with Birthday Suit.

Favorite Macro-Friendly Snacks

• Built Bars – I eat one EVERY DAY, taste like candy bars. Favorites are Coconut, Brownie Coconut and Cookie Dough. Don’t love the Mint or PB Brownie ones. Use CRAZYFORCRUST for 10% off.
• Catalina Crunch Snack Mix – I cannot get enough!! Favorite is Spicy!
• Magic Spoon Cereal or Wonderworks Cereal – great for snacking or a quick protein breakfast
• Premiere Protein Shakes – Chocolate is my fav

Favorite Websites for Shopping All Year

The Little Market is a gorgeous online store that sells all sorts of fun things, from house wares to candles to bath and body. I am in love with their wooden platters and candles – they have so many fun scents! Each purchase supports women around the world – different causes for different products.

Bark Box : Abby LOVES her Bark Box and looks forward to it every month. Some of her favorite toys have come out of that box – like the Chinese dumpling container above. I’m actually getting her a new one for Christmas because her old one is destroyed.

CHATBOOKS!! I have a subscription to Chatbooks and get a new one in the mail every time I post 40 photos to Facebook. You connect FB or Instagram to the app and it pulls in your photos. You can omit and add as you wish – this is the best way to get your photos off your computer since no one prints them anymore. I’ve gone back and had it print ALL the photos I’ve put on FB since I first got an account – finally I have baby books for Jordan.

Farm Girl Flowers: Always fresh, always on time and always gorgeous.

SugarWish: This is so fun to give, and you only need an email address. They have candy, popcorn, cookies, coffee, even dog treats!

See my favorite kitchen items – they’re great gifts too! And the Disney Lovers Gift Guide and my Favorite Cookbooks Guide!

The post 2021 Favorite Things Gift Guide appeared first on Crazy for Crust.

I curated these kitchen gifts with things I actually have purchased and used so you know you’re getting the best items! From my favorite cooking appliances to cookie tools, this list has something for everyone.

Whether you want to buy a small kitchen appliance for someone or just need an easy hostess gift, this list has something for everyone on your list!

Small Appliances

These are my most used small kitchen appliances that would make great gifts!

1. AIR FRYER – This is my most used appliance – we use it daily. I upgraded to the Corsori this year. It’s a GAME CHANGER – does a whole chicken that tastes better than rotisserie!
2. NESPRESSO Vertuo – Did you know that the official Nespresso pods are recyclable? I just gather them up and mail them bag in the free bags they send you.
3. Cuisinart GRIDDLER
4. INSTANT POT
5. KitchenAid Stand Mixer
6. Cuisinart Food Processor – I recommend a big one!
7. Hand Mixer – I love my Cuisinart!

Tools and Gadgets

I own every one of these items and use them daily!

1. This is the kitchen scale I use – an OXO 11lb one with pull out front. I’ve tried several and go back to this one every time.
2. Thermapen Instant Read Thermometer – I use this ALL THE TIME. You can’t get them on amazon and I used to recommend the cheap version but no more, not now that I’ve used the original. Plus: no batteries corroding when washing!
3. Cookie Scoops are always on my list and make a great stocking stuffer – they come in all sorts of sizes!
4. I use my Silpats every time I bake – they are fantastic for people who love cookies.
5. I love the Dash Mini Waffle Makers – and they have griddles too. These are great single serve – it was great when I was losing weight – and would be fantastic for a college student in a dorm.

Hostess or Fun Anyone Gifts

These are all fun things to give as a hostess gift or to someone who you’re just not sure what to buy them. Some of these might actually be on MY list…

1. Wilton Navy & Gold Collection: There is always a reason to have more measuring tools and tips, especially when they’re pretty.
2. Fun Bar Tools: I love the gold collection – would pop in any room.
3. Coffee Accessories, like the mug+heater – perfect for the coffee lovers!
4. For the pet lover: these molds would be great if they want to make my blueberry dog treats!
5. Brown Sugar Saver: These come in handy and will keep brown sugar moist.
6. Mud Pie Dip Set: I’m a sucker for anything Mud Pie – this set is cute!

For more great gift ideas, be sure to check out my (non food) Favorite Things list!

The post 2021 Favorite Things: Kitchen Gifts appeared first on Crazy for Crust.

Yesterday we had to do one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Our sweet Ginger had to be put to sleep and we are devastated. She was like our second child and we’ll miss her terribly.

Ginger came to us when she was 5 years old. We’d been thinking about getting a dog for awhile; Jordan was about 3 and we were settled in our home and ready to take on a fur baby. We’d decided to get a pug; they’re small and cute and we were going to name it Squish. Then, a friend of mine started fostering dogs for Homeward Bound, a golden retriever rescue. She got her first foster dog and sent out an email to all her friends asking if anyone wanted a dog.

When I saw that picture of Ginger for the first time, I knew immediately that she was my dog. Even through a photo, the connection was instant. We went to meet her and when I walked in the door she jumped up on me to say hello. The foster mom mentioned that she’d never seen Ginger do that before…until I walked in the door. It’s like she knew she belonged to me too. A pug to a golden retriever is very different, obviously, and luckily Mel was on board. We brought Ginger home on an October afternoon.

I’ll never forget the day we brought her home: she was excited, and used to pull on her leash quite a bit. We  had a narrow entry hallway in our old house and there was a bookshelf along one wall. Ginger came in the house and we took her off the leash…and in that same second Callie, our cat, walked by. Ginger took off after her, banging into the bookshelf and knocking a heavy glass frame to the tile floor, shattering it everywhere, while Mel, Jordan and I just stood there open-mouthed thinking what did we do?

In time, Ginger learned to fear the cat. It took a few weeks and at one point she’d had enough; I swear to God she went after Ginger down the hallway walking on two legs samurai swording her paws and Ginger ran away, tail between her legs. From that day forward, Ginger gave Callie a very wide berth. ?

Ginger’s first home life hadn’t been good. She’s a purebred golden, came with papers, and had even had a litter of puppies (and really bad mastitis, I guess), but her owners worked full time outside the home and left her tied up outdoors all day. Ginger is an outdoor barker; if she’s outside and the wind blows or a dog barks or a bird flies by, she barks at it. So, the owners tied her up outdoors all day and didn’t like the barking complaints, so they put a bark collar on her. When we got her, she didn’t speak for at least a week, because she was so scared to. (She eventually found her voice, and I’m sure my neighbors heard me yelling at her to be quiet! several times.) But we left her in the house 90% of the time, so the barking wasn’t an issue.

When Ginger came to us, she came to her forever home. She was a part of our family that we didn’t know was missing; she was the second child I couldn’t have. She was with us all the time; she’d sleep at my feet during the day while I worked, watch me bake and clean the floor after me on kitchen days, sit outside Mel’s office and hope he’d invite her in, sleep with us in our room. There was never a time she was far away.

Of course, as she got older, she slowed down quite a bit. Looking back now, after 12 she slowed down a lot but it was so gradual it wasn’t glaring until I look back at her life. First she stopped wanting to go for walks, then stopped coming upstairs at night all the time. The worst decline just happened over the past few months. Two weeks ago she couldn’t keep food down and the vet gave us the news she had a large tumor pushing around her internal organs. At 14 1/2 she was a very old dog and we decided to make her comfortable, but we didn’t realize how fast the end would come. With nausea medication, she started eating and drinking again and was a bit more like her old self, but last week she stopped eating and started breathing heavy. On Friday she couldn’t walk and the return check appointment we had shifted from checking her progress to something else entirely.

We had to carry her to the car and into the vet. Mel and I sat with her the whole time, and I’m sure the waiting room could hear my grief. I’ve said goodbye to animals before, but saying goodbye to Ginger was something else entirely. Now we are here, in our quiet house, with signs of her all around. Her food, her bowls, her beds, the hair that coats my pants (and probably my internal organs). We will miss her so completely.

On that last day I wished she could talk and understand my words because I wanted her to know how much we loved her. Life won’t be the same without our Miss GingyPoo following me around wherever I go. I also now have to clean my own food messes, eat all my own breakfast eggs, throw away the empty peanut butter jar, and I can leave Kleenex unattended. Somewhere, Ginger is whole again, running free on a beach with her leash in her mouth, eating unlimited peanut butter and chewing napkins to shreds without a care in the world. And, if she’s found Callie, she’s giving her lots of space.

Goodbye sweet Ginger, we will miss you so. ❤️

The post Our Sweet Ginger appeared first on Crazy for Crust.

(Why talk about such a serious topic on a food blog? Well, I figure I’ve talked to you about infertility and eating disorders, I may as well go all the way! Plus, if my story can help one person out there, well then, I’ve done my good deed. Also, I’m totally into oversharing, which is part of the reason why you come here in the first place, right?)

Over the past year, I’ve realized I suffer from anxiety. I’m going to go so far as to say I’m pretty sure it’s of the chronic variety. I didn’t really know what it was at the time, but ever since last fall I’ve been reflecting greatly on my life and my mental health, and I realize that I’ve probably been suffering from it for at least 20 years. Sometimes it’s manageable, sometimes it’s not. On those times it’s not, I just shrugged it off and thought it was just me. I’m just an anxious person, I’m a worrier, and I really, really hate germs and bugs, and things I can’t control.

Looking back, my first really full blown anxiety attack happened about 9 years ago. We had an ant infestation and I was in full panic mode. I called my husband (he was in a meeting) and he had to leave and come home because I he couldn’t understand what I was saying, I was so hysterical. I couldn’t sleep, couldn’t focus for weeks. I felt like ants were all over me, all the time. But when that happened, I didn’t think of it in terms of anxiety, I thought about it as “I hate ants”. The ants went away, my anxiety subsided. No problem, right?

Over the following years, I was just me, living with anxiety but not knowing it. Little things would throw me off, like a roof leak, Jordan having to stay home sick, freaking out if I missed the gym or whenever Mel had a last minute business trip. These are things that would upset anyone when they happen, sure, but for me it was different. An outsider looking into my brain and see me reacting to these problems would think I was overreacting greatly. And I was, and I knew it, but I couldn’t help it. I just thought I was an irrational person; I didn’t connect my feelings (and the subsequent depressive ups and downs) with a problem.

The first time I realized there might be something to my anxiety issues was a few years later when we had lice. My husband had to call the nit picker lady back to our house weeks after it was over because I’d been regularly rocking back and forth on the living room floor ripping my hair out and scratching my head convinced they were still there. Eventually, that subsided too, although I still occasionally spray tea tree oil on Jordan’s backpack and slip it in her shampoo, and if you sit 4 feet away from me and have a piece of dandruff in your hair I can see it. Again, it went away, and I went back to my old self, the person who couldn’t handle doing homework with Jordan or going out with friends socially because they might realize how irrational I was behaving.

Last fall my anxiety came back with a vengeance. All of a sudden I could no longer function. It was worse than any other time, the attacks came more frequent and the depressive episodes lasted longer. I couldn’t work, couldn’t exercise, had no will to socialize or do anything but lay on the couch all day. But I still didn’t think my anxiety was that bad. I mean, on movies and TV the person suffering an anxiety attack feels like they’re dying. They feel like the walls are closing in; like they’re having a heart attack. The heart races, they sweat. That’s what an anxiety attack is, right? That wasn’t happening to me. Just like with my eating issues, I couldn’t even do anxiety attacks “right”.

Guess what? That heart-gripping sweating anxiety attack that they show in movies and write about in novels? That’s not the only kind of anxiety attack. Anxiety can manifest itself in many ways, and I’m an example of that.

One of my attacks starts out with a mood, like I wake up on the wrong side of the bed. I go through my day with a dark cloud over my head. I can’t be a part of my family, I can’t function properly. I liken it to when you’ve had too much to drink and you know you’re not right, but it doesn’t matter because you’re drunk and can’t stop being drunk until it’s run it’s course. A few hours later or sometimes the next day, I’m okay.

The other kind of anxiety attack I have is more traditional. Something triggers it – Jordan being sick, a bug bite, anything out of the norm that changes my day – and all of a sudden I have tunnel vision. Everything around the edges goes snowy and gray and I can’t focus on anything but the trigger. I often become manic, checking myself for lice or bug bites or cleaning or whatever the action is to the reaction of my trigger. Then it ends and I literally cannot do anything the rest of the day; all I want to do is sleep.

I thought I was just suffering from anxiety attacks, that one day, over time, it would go away, just like it had in the past. My exercise regimen would eventually put it back in check, or we’d go on a family vacation that would reset my mood. This time, no matter what I did, it wasn’t going away. And then I had a conversation that, quite literally, changed my life.

I was talking with a friend who told me she’d just started taking anxiety medication. She said she didn’t even realize she had anxiety, but had gone to the doctor and described how she had no patience with her family or life and she was unhappy a lot and angry a lot and yelled all the time. After more conversations with her doctor, they told her she was suffering from anxiety and had been for quite awhile.

In that moment it was as if a lightening bolt struck me. That was me.

Yelling all the time, no patience. Unhappy, angry, depressed. Periods of being okay, then periods of NOT being okay. That described my life.

When Jordan was born, I had really bad post-pardum issues. Looking back, I really should have talked to a doctor about it, but I never did. I went on to stay home (when I’m so not a stay at home type person). Yelling became my way of communicating. Jordan didn’t hear me unless I yelled at her. As she got older, we would fight. I would lose it with her more than I like to admit. If she had friends over, I’d lose it. I had zero patience. A lot of time, the same went for my husband.  For almost 11 years, I just figured I was one of those parents who was just a yeller.

I realized I’ve been suffering from anxiety the entire time Jordan’s been alive. And longer, when I look at signs in my life from high school up until her birth. It was shocking, really, to realize this. Even though I didn’t have “traditional” panic attacks, I still suffered from anxiety. Occasionally it was in check, I could handle it. Then it would flare up and affect my well-being. I’d get depressed, sometimes badly. But then something would turn it around. Exercise was what helped me out of my post-pardum, and from there it became my anti-depressent. I’d jokingly say exercise was my “little pill” because without it, my mental health suffered. But as long as exercise worked, most of the time, I could keep my anxiety in check (remember, I didn’t realize what it was), except at home when I tried to help Jordan with her homework or parent in general.

Last fall, the anxiety came and stuck around. My life was being affected: I didn’t want to workout, work, travel, or socialize. I was depressed. But I still didn’t know what to do about it. Talk to a doctor? A therapist? Medication? I didn’t want to do any of those things. I wasn’t ready yet.

Two things happened this past January that finally pushed me to getting help. First, Jordan forgot her violin on band day. Such a simple thing, right? So what, right? Wrong. I remembered in the middle of my half-assed workout (at this point I was barely working out, I had no drive or energy to even do that) and I burst into tears. On the stair master. In front of the entire gym. I was so hysterical because she forgot her violin I had to leave and go home.

Then, a week later, we got a minor roof leak. Remember, control issues are one of my triggers. We had a roof leak several years ago that was a huge ordeal. This one was minor (it was fixed the next day) but it drove me into an attack that lasted an entire day. At one point I remember thinking, what’s the point of living life if this is how it feels?

Now, those thoughts are not new for me. They’re not good thoughts, but I’ve thought that way off and on (passive, as my therapist calls it) since I was 15 years old. But I’m 38 now and I’m totally over feeling that way. I was tired of always feeling the anxiety right there, just below the surface.

The next week I found my counselor. She diagnosed me with anxiety and depression caused by anxiety. She wasn’t too into me taking medication, but when she did my depression survey and I told her about my history, she suggested I talk to my doctor. A week later I started taking anxiety medication.

The first few days on the medication was rough but literally I felt better on day 1. After a week I felt like me again (the side affects went away) but I felt like me…without anxiety. It was a weird feeling.

My counselor described anxiety to me in a way that was really easy to understand, and it helps put it into perspective for those who don’t suffer from it:

People who don’t suffer from regular anxiety live on the ground floor of a building. They go about their lives, grounded. Something happens to cause stress or anxiety, and their mood jumps to the top floor. They deal with the source of the problem, then move back to the lobby.

People who live with anxiety on a regular basis live on the roof of the building. They’re always up there, up high, waiting. When something happens to cause stress or more anxiety (even something small, like their daughter forgetting a violin) there is no where to go but off the roof.

From day one on my medication, I stopped yelling. I have not lost patience or yelled at Jordan (unless she deserved it) once since I started treatment – even when we’re doing homework. I made it through a slumber party and I didn’t snap once. She’s taken to seeing how far she can push me until I yell at her for real (seriously, #thatgirl).

My husband has told me several times now how much happier I seem. His words: they no longer have to walk on eggshells around me. He’s been having to do that for so many years and now he doesn’t. That part makes me sad for putting him through it, and part makes me happy I am finally fixing it. I took a trip without stress. I’ve been socializing with friends more. I signed up for a half marathon and have started having purpose to my workouts.

I’m happy again. I’m ME again, the me who I was in between anxiety episodes, except the anxiety of day to day life is just that: day to day life.

Do I want to stay on medication forever? No. But right now, this is the journey I’m on. We’ll see where it takes me. Right now, it’s given me a new lease on life, a new excitement about my work, and it’s allowing me to experience life like, well, a person on the ground floor.

Thank you for reading today, if you got this far. Know that all of you, being here, reading this blog with me, are some of the reason I’m happy today. And if you’re someone who is suffering from anxiety, I urge you to talk to someone. Find a friend, a relative, doctor, or therapist. Send me an email! You don’t have to live that way anymore, life is better from down here, believe me.

(If you are experiencing a medical emergency, are in danger, or are feeling suicidal, call 911 immediately. Suicide Hotline: 800-784-2433. Immediate Medical Assistance: 911. Crisis Call Center: 800-273-8255 or text ANSWER to 839863.)

The post Let’s talk about anxiety. appeared first on Crazy for Crust.

Is it weird that a place taught me about blogging? Because it totally did.

A few weeks ago I got the chance to hang out with some of my very best blogging buddies at a retreat, BloggerRefresh, in Carmel, California. It was exactly the recharge I needed. And, in spending some time away from my kitchen, away from my computer, I learned some things about blogging.

I learned that travel can not only rejuvenate the soul, but that by visiting local eateries I can invent my newest recipes. (Baseball sized macaroon hopefully coming soon to a blog near you.)

Have you ever been to Carmel? Mel and I used to visit a few times a year, but I haven’t been there in ages. Walking around downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea had me awash in memories. I remembered the restaurants we ate at, the clothing store where I had my first grown-up “Pretty Woman” shopping experience (minus the hooker part), the gallery with the gorgeous photographs that paid for our honeymoon.

(Both of those stories, BTW, will make great blog posts. See what visiting places can do? I have so many stories to share that I’ve forgotten about!)

Once we ate our way through downtown, the 10 of us drove to Carmel Valley, a place I’d never been. But it’s a place I fully intend to return to. I mean…it was literally like heaven on earth.

(I kind of wanted to go all Sound of Music on those hills.)

Our generous host for the weekend was Holman Ranch, a unique and memorable setting for all sorts of events. The ranch consists of 10 hotel rooms (each with their own bath), a communal kitchen and living room, plus several event spaces for meetings, lounging, and events. The 10 of us took over the entire place, cooked meals for each other, learned from each other, and soaked in the beauty around us.

Holman Ranch contributed to another thing I learned on this trip: photographing things is just as wonderful as photographing food.

As a food blogger, I rarely take photos of anything besides the food. Any photos I take out and about are taken with my iPhone…and not very well. I don’t consider myself a photographer, just a food photographer.

The ranch inspired me to take out my camera and just see the beauty around me.

The gorgeous tree in the center of camp.

The outside of room #4, my home for the 3 days.

The “barn” where I plan to renew my vows some day.

Clearly, we were all inspired by the beauty around us. That’s Amy, shooting more gorgeous trees!

This might sound funny, but another thing I learned about blogging is how much good food other bloggers make. I hardly ever make recipes from other bloggers because I’m too busy making my own. For this trip we each were assigned a meal so I got to taste so many delicious recipes that I can’t wait to make again and again.

Trish’s Blueberry Lemon Cream Cheese Muffins, Amy’s Hash Brown-Crusted Quiche (not pictured), and Tillamook Farmstyle Greek Yogurt for breakfast.

Lisa’s Skinny Margaritas made with Skinny Triple Sec alongside turkey tacos for lunch and Tillamookies for dessert.

A panini bar that introduced me to blackberry, bacon, and brie paninis alongside Cathy’s Sicilian Spinach Salad for dinner.

My recipe assignment was breakfast. I decided to bring my Overnight Cinnamon Rolls made with (along with some Carrot Cake Coffee Cake and Banana Bread) to treat the ladies with. And, because I’m me, I also brought Chocolate Toffee Almond Shortbread Bars and Peanut Butter Gooey Bars along. They went like gangbusters.

The first night we got to have dinner in town, at Will’s Fargo Dining House & Saloon. It was there I learned that if you stand outside the bathroom long enough a waitress will come by and you can tell them that two ladies are having a birthday and they’ll bring you dessert with candles.

I also learned that homemade berry pie is fantastic…but I already knew that because duh.

I learned that Lisa is amazing at taking head shots. She did my new one, which you can see here. I love taking pictures of people taking pictures of people.

With the gorgeous setting, we put on our fancy tops with our yoga pants, did our hair, and took pictures of each other for hours. We laughed, we cried, and we got to know each other so much better than we had only hours previously.

I think the most important thing that this retreat taught me is something I already knew: Blogger friends are real ones.

Just because you only interact on the internet doesn’t mean you don’t have a true bond with someone, it just means you have to plan a retreat to actually hug that person in real life instead of virtually.

Without this retreat I wouldn’t have met Cathy or gotten to realize yet again how awesome Amy is. (Oh, how I wish Amy lived closer to me – our daughters – and probably husbands – would get along so well!)

(I also wouldn’t have learned the term RBF, so that was a learning experience!)

As great as working on the internet is, sometimes you just need to physically see someone. Emails, Facebook, and texting just aren’t the same as road-tripping with Hayley, giving Glory an emotional hug, or having in depth conversations with Mindy.

Reaffirming this fact, that the friendships I’ve created online are real, was exactly what I needed. Because honestly, some of these ladies know me better than my “real life” friends do. And Trish and Lisa, ladies, I have no words for how I feel about you. Hopefully y’all know that.

Oh, and I also learned I have magical selfie arms. So if we ever meet, I’ll take the selfie.

By the way, if you’re reading this and thinking how do I get to go on a fun retreat with my blogger friends??!! then you should do what we did: planned our own. About 6 months ago the 10 of us realized we wanted to get away and hang out with each other. So we planned a retreat ourselves. It was challenging, sure, but it was worth all the work. Find some bloggers, pick a city, and go for it! (And check out this post by Lori, The Recipe Girl, on how to do it!)

Thank you for reading! #BloggerRefresh girls I love all your guts!

Like all blogging events, this one wouldn’t have happened without our generous sponsors:

A huge thank you to Holman Ranch for providing our logging for the retreat, to Jennie-O for purchasing all the food for our weekend, and to Will’s Fargo Restaurant for our dinner.

Thanks for reading!

The post What Carmel Taught Me About Blogging appeared first on Crazy for Crust.

The #SBFoodieEscape was planned mostly by Julianne (Beyond Frosting) and Lindsay (Life, Love, and Sugar) and although they’ll say I helped I didn’t do nearly as much as they did…except eat.

First of all, if you’re going to do a road trip to Santa Barbara (I live in Northern California), take a friend. Hayley (The Domestic Rebel) did the drive with me, thank goodness. I’d never done a long road trip without my husband, so having her along was awesome!

We stayed at a gorgeous home, the Opryland Estate. The ground and view were gorgeous!

We got to the house early to check in and set up before all the other girls arrived.

Our first meal together was a grilled cheese bar for lunch. We made our own grilled cheese sandwiches with a selection of items like Cabot cheese, bacon, and California Avocados.

After lunch we headed out to McConnells Fine Ice Creams. They don’t normally give tours of their plant but Michael Palmer, the owner, graciously showed us how their fine artisan ice creams are made. They are one of the only ice cream makers that’s also a dairy. The milk is brought to them and they churn out some of the most incredible ice cream I’ve ever eaten.

We all got to wear hair nets. Aren’t we cute?

That’s Julianne, Joan (Chocolate, Chocolate, and More), Deborah (Taste and Tell), Jen (Yummy, Healthy, Easy), Krista (Joyful Healthy Eats), me, Lindsay, and Hayley.

Speaking of McConnell’s, I found out that day that they have a partnership with Harry & David. Small world! It was the marionberries that made me think of it.

We got to go behind the scenes and then we got to taste. 8 food bloggers + 7 pints of ice cream =

I think I ate an entire pint. #notjoking

Then we headed over to the McConnell’s flagship store for more ice cream…and cookies!

Dark Chocolate Sea Salt (OMG) and cornmeal sugar cookies (Double OMG). You need both.

That night we relaxed with a taco bar, good wine, and friendship.

If you’re ever in Santa Barbara, I highly recommend getting up early while the sun is still waking up. Have your coffee with a view.

The best part about traveling with food bloggers? This is not only normal, it’s expected. We spent Saturday morning working and learning from each other. We interact all the time online but there is nothing really like getting together and seeing what someone does. We spent the morning learning about social media, SEO, and email subscriber lists. And pretty much everything else blogging related because if there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that we bloggers cannot stay on topic.

For breakfast we enjoyed a waffle bar including fresh fruit, Lucky Leaf pie filling, and Skippy peanut butter as toppings.

Then Best Food Facts sent us cupcakes!

And THEN we went to lunch. #eatingallday

If you’re in Santa Barbara you should stop by the Whole Foods Market. They have a delicious restaurant inside. We got to enjoy a five-course meal prepared by their in-house chefs. The Whole Foods also sells locally grown and created products so for a good look at what the California Central Coast can offer, be sure to check them out!

For dessert at Whole Foods (after waffles and cupcakes at home) we had deconstructed truffles. It was all I could do not to lick my plate. #notjoking

When you’re visiting Santa Barbara you MUST go to Solvang. I haven’t been to Solvang since I was a kid road tripping in an RV with my parents. It was so much fun to go there as an adult.

One of the things that the central coast is known for is wine. When in the area, you must go wine tasting. We opted for a tasting in downtown Solvang at the Presidio Winery. The chardonnay was very good!

After wine it was time for a bakery tour because, well, that’s how dessert bloggers do Santa Barbara! If you visit Solvang there are several bakeries to choose from, but Moretnsen’s Bakery is the best! They’ve been in business for over 40 years!

The bakery cases are full of Danish cookies and pastries. I have fond memories of scarfing Almond Horns and Hats as a child.

The bakery is a family-run business and we got to see one of the sisters in action making Danish doughnuts. The filling was the best swiss buttercream I’ve ever eaten.

Then we attacked this:

You guys, it was filled with almond filling. I wanted to eat it ALL myself!

After our visit to the bakery, the other members of our crew headed to eat aebleskiver, but I had to do something for my mom and dad first: a visit to Olde World Clocks & Music Boxes.

You see, my mom and dad collect clocks. Their house – every single empty wall space – is full of them. I’m not exaggerating!! Many of their clocks are cuckoos. I don’t even know how many they have, but it’s a lot. They’re my favorite kind of clock, actually. I have a few they’ve given me – my favorite ones are the colorful kind.

I had to take a selfie with the cuckoo clocks. The look on my face: Look ma! I’m in the clock shop without being bribed!

After some souvenier shopping (be sure to visit Jule Hus, the Christmas store) we headed off to dinner at SY Kitchen in Santa Ynez.

Their mixologist is amazing. I had the Valley Girl, which is a mix of Vodka, elderflower, mint, strawberry, lime, and vanilla. It wasn’t too sweet – it was the perfect cocktail.

I drank 2.

Our meal that night was one of the best meals I’ve ever had. Chef Luca is an artist. The pizzas, roasted artichokes, and the pastas were beyond belief. The mushroom pasta? Life-changing.

My favorite part? The desserts, obviously. I already talked about how the 8 of us turned into vultures when eating Tiramisu Mousse. 4 desserts for 8 food bloggers = not enough.

Oh, and get this. Y’all know how picky I am, right? Well, you should be proud of me. That weekend I tried Salmon (pleasantly surprised – I’ve had it before and it was not good), beets (still taste like dirt), octopus, and artichokes. I deserve a picky eater medal, no?

And then, sadly, it was time to leave. I learned so much from these ladies and it was amazing to get to know them better. We all interact online often, but it’s another thing entirely to actually hang out with them. Getting to know people on a deeper-than-blogging level filled up my soul. Thank you to everyone for a fabulous time. Love you ladies!

I want to give a special thank you to our sponsors for the weekend. Lucky Leaf helped cover the lodging for the event and Best Food Facts covered all our in house food. Additionally, our fun swag bags included donations from Skippy Peanut Butter, King Arthur Flour, Wilton, OXO, Sabra Dipping Company, Cabot Cheese, California Avocados, and Baileys Creamers.

The post A Food Blogger’s Guide to Santa Barbara appeared first on Crazy for Crust.

I know, not a food post. But you know what? I have a good-sized voice on this big internet. And when I find a company I truly love? I want to shout it from the rooftops. I want to scream it until everyone can hear. Tieks by Gavrieli? One of those companies.

Honestly, you guys, they’re my favorite shoes. You may remember when I mentioned my black Tieks that Santa brought? I absolutely fell in LOVE with them. The look, the feel, the absolute comfort – I was hooked within one day of wearing them and I’ve just grown to love them even more. There are so many reasons why I’m crushing on my Tieks that I just couldn’t wait any more to share them with you.

Also? You can enter to WIN your own pair of Tieks shoes! Giveaway is all the way at the bottom of the post.

So why do I love these shoes so much? Since you asked…

1. The package makes you smile.

The box makes you feel special. The flower ribbon doubles as a headband and each box comes with a hand-written note. Before you’ve even opened your box you feel like they know you and care about you. (Which they do.)

2. They’re compact, so they’re perfect for travel.

One of the reasons I was so happy to get Tieks originally was for travel. I do a fair amount of traveling for work and for fun and I always have problems with shoes. I pack too many and run out of space in my suitcase or I buy new shoes that I have to throw away on my trip because they’re so uncomfortable.

Tieks are the perfect traveling shoe because they fold up. They’re ballet flats with a foldable flex sole design.  They’re designed for comfort and their portability makes it easy to throw them in your purse during travel or when you’re wearing those super high heels you know will come off after an hour.

How many of you have ended up barefoot at an event because you just couldn’t take your shoes? That’s when you reach for the folded up Tieks in your handbag.

3. They come in so many fun colors and patterns.

Like, literally. Name a color, Tieks has it. Classic colors, shiny colors, patterns, they have them all and believe me, you’ll want one of each.

One of the things I absolutely love is the color of the sole. All the shoes have a teal rubber patches on the soles. It adds a punch of color (even to my basic black). Y’all know how I’m addicted to teal!

4. One of the colors, my absolute favorite, matches my ice cream. (And pretty much everything in my closet too.)

I have to say, I’ve gotten more compliments on these shoes than I have on any other pair of shoes ever. And I’ve owned a lot of shoes! I was nervous about mint matching my spring/summer wardrobe but I needn’t have worried. Think about it: mint goes with blue, teal, coral, yellow, white, black…so many summer colors! And I’m sure the same can be said about the other colors too!

6. They ARE the accessory.

I’m horrible at accessorizing. I consider myself winning at life if I put on something other than sweats, let alone a chunky necklace or summer scarf.

{What is a summer scarf, anyway? I mean, it’s 100 degrees here in summer. A scarf would just be wrong.}

Anyway, because “accessorizing” to me means remembering to put on earrings, when I slip on my mint Tieks my accessory is on my feet. I can forget everything else – even wear sweats – and I still look cute.

7. They’re the most versatile flats in the world.

They’re designed for flexibility and comfort. They’re also durable and sturdy. They have rubber soles, they fold in half, and they go with everything. Is there anything else you need to know about how versatile they are??

8. They have options for everyone.

Most of the Tieks line are made of fine Italian leather, but they understand that leather is not for everyone. They also have an entirely vegan line of shoes made with wool uppers designed for comfort.

9. They are absolutely the best shoe you’ll ever buy. Seriously.

Shoes should be comfortable. I mean, that’s obvious, right? But so many just aren’t. Tieks are comfortable. VERY much so!

Until I got my first pair of Tieks I considered myself to be a “not a flat shoe” person. It seems like I’d tried every pair of flats out there. Every spring I buy 2-3 new pairs of cute flats thinking these will be the ones. And then after 2 hours of wearing them my feet are sweating, my toes hurt, my heels have scratches, and the latest attempts are tossed in the corner of my closet where all the flats go to die.

And then I got my Tieks. And I was amazed. Seriously. These are the most comfortable shoes you’ll ever own. Let me break it down for you:

Regular flats hurt my feet after only an hour (or less) of wear. Over the past few months I’ve worn my Tieks for hours without issue. One day I didn’t take them off for 9 hours…no pain at all.

Regular flats give me toe joint pain. After hours of wearing, Tieks do not hurt my toes.

Regular flats scrape up my heels – always. Tieks don’t. In fact, the heel is formulated to be elastic to grip comfortably.

I cannot wear regular flat shoes barefoot. They cause me to sweat, slip and slide, cause pain and make my feet stink, so I have to wear footie socks which always pop off my heels or show. (Footie socks are like the granny panties of socks.) I have never once needed to wear socks with my Tieks. My feet sweat when it’s hot, sure, but it didn’t bother me one bit.

When I wear my Tieks I forget I’m wearing shoes. Until someone compliments me on them, that is.

#MostComfortableShoesEver #Tieks

10. My favorite Tieks, the mint, remind me of my favorite MINT CHIP desserts, which I’ve been totally obsessed with this month!

No-Bake Mint Chip Lush / Mint Chip Ice Cream Cupcakes / Mint Chip Cake Roll / Mint Chip Sweet Rolls / Mint Chip Milkshake Cupcakes / Cookies ‘n Mint Chip Ice Cream / Mint Chip Poke Cake

Okay, I know. Shoes + dessert? But really, I’m obsessed with mint and every time I wear my Tieks I think of all those desserts! I think I need some sparkly ones next. Or pink, to remind me of strawberry.

Giveaway has ended.

Which Tieks would you buy? Or which Tieks would you choose to WIN??? Check out the Tieks website for shoes available and then leave a comment telling me which one you love most. That’s one entry because…

Guess what? ONE lucky Crazy for Crust reader will win their choice pair of Tieks (up to a $200 value).

Enter to win a gift card for a pair of Tieks (up to a $200 value) using the rafflecopter form below this paragraph.  If you cannot see the rafflecopter form, click here to enter. Good luck!

Fine print: Giveaway is sponsored by Tieks. Crazy for Crust, LLC is not responsible for prize. All entries for the winner will be checked and verified. By entering you give the right to use your name and likeness. Number of entries received determines the odds of wining. Open to U.S. residents only, must be 18 years or older to enter. Giveaway runs from March 7, 2015 through March 13, 2015. One winner will be selected at random and emailed to claim their gift card. Gift card is in the form of a coupon code to be used at checkout when shopping at Tieks.com. Winner must respond to said email within 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen. Winner will be provided a coupon code and is responsible for any cost over $200. Entries must come from your main social media accounts and not ones that have been set up for entering giveaways. All of those entries will be deleted. Giveaway is not sponsored or endorsed by Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, or Twitter. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited.

Disclosure: I loved my pair of Tieks so much that I decided to partner with them for this giveaway and Tieks Review.

The post Tieks Review: 10 Reasons Why I Love Tieks appeared first on Crazy for Crust.

Today I’m sharing all of my 2014 Favorite Things and I’m giving away one of them!

AND…I’ve banded together with some of my friends to give away their favorite things too! Aren’t you excited! Like Oprah, without the car.

Anyway.

Shall we start talking about my favorite things? I have lots, and they range from kitchen gadgets to jelwery, clothes, food, and cards! Any or all of these things would make great gifts for the people in your life.

1. For her (or you): Clothes I love.

I’m obsessed with Express Jeans. Remember those crops I bought in Miami? Well I just went and bought skinny jeans last weekend. They’re super comfy and hug in all the right places.

I have the hardest time finding tops I like. I want them to be a little flowy to disguise my, er, problem area, but I don’t want to look pregnant. These LC Lauren Conrad Pleated Tops from Kohls are perfect. I bought one of every color!

I pink puffy heart cardigans. In fact, I have one of every color on my Christmas list. My favorite? The Crew-Neck in Full Tealt from Old Navy. I wear it all. the. time.

And, of course, boots. I wait impatiently all spring, summer, and most of fall for it to be cool enough to wear my boots. My favorites: the Ecco Palin. I wear them all the time, they’re super comfy, and they’re gorgeous too!

2. For the Coffee Lovers.

Y’all know how much I love my coffee! No one talks to me in the morning before my first sip.

I loved my old Keurig Elite brewer. I now have the one that makes cups or pots and I like it okay, but I liked my Elite more. I’m the only one in my house that drinks coffee, so having a Keurig just makes sense.

I’m kind of fanatical about my coffee mugs. We have too many; I keep buying cute ones like these monogram mugs from World Market. I have two shelves of mugs: my shelf and everyone else’s shelf. Don’t take one from my shelf or you’ll get the stink eye.

Oh my gosh how cute is this coffee spoon I found on Etsy? It’s totally going on my Christmas list!!

And lastly, plastic mason jars. I’m addicted. If I could replace all of my plastic cups with these, I’d be happy. They’re cute, I use them for water all year long and for iced coffee to go in the summer.

3. Christmas cards for the win.

Every year I say I’m not going to send Christmas cards and then every year I march my family to the park and take photos and stress over the perfect card design and where I’m going to get them from. I want unique cards that are beautiful; I don’t want something that five other people also got from the same big box store. Last year I used Minted.com for my cards and I fell in love with them. They’re thick, printed beautifully, and they’re unique, with tons of personalizable options.

I always have a really hard time choosing my favorite cards to send, so I made a bunch for you to see. (None of these are my actual card…those are a surprise!)

There are options for one or multiple photos on the front of a card, and they can be vertical or horizontal. There are also color options for most of the cards. (For example, the Block of Joy cards (above right) has three color options so you can easily match outfit colors.)

The BEST part about the Minted.com cards are the back printing. You can put a full photo on the back or write a message. Or, you can even add a print/design or a photo + text on the back (see below).

Many of the designs have movable words (like in the joy design, above right) so you can move the saying so faces aren’t covered. And their line of foil cards have actual foil designs on them.

I cannot wait to see the cards I ordered this year. I swear, my daughter is the most photogenic person I know. It’s a good thing she loves the camera.

4. Jewelry is always a good thing.

I have to say, I’m a late-to-the-party accessorizer. I used to wear the same necklace every day, when I remembered to put it on. (Er, that still might be true.) Then I discovered how much I love new necklaces and now I have way too many!

Something I really want is a non-gaudy “mother’s” necklace with our birthstone’s. Mel’s is red, mine is blue, and Jordan’s is purple, which I find kind of cool. This Mother’s Birthstone Necklace from Etsy is on my list this year!

Also on my list, a gift for Jordan and I: this Mother-Daughter necklace set. How adorable is that? It would be a great layering piece too.

The infinity symbol is very dear to my heart. One, because I’m a math geek, and two, because it symbolizes forever. I have one very similar to this Charming Charlie’s Infinity Necklace and I wear it almost every day! (Sidebar: have you been to Charming Charlie’s? OMG.)

And last, food jewelry. My pie necklace is my favorite piece, but the Etsy shop is no longer open. This Whirly Pop Necklace from Dylan’s Candy Bar is a close second…and I want one! (Also, their Donut earrings are super cute! I have a pair and get so many compliments on them.)

5. Food Gifts are the best gifts.

I love giving the gift of food. Often I make a lot of it myself, but sometimes only purchased goods will do. Many of the business contacts on my gift list get Harry and David food in their Christmas boxes, and some of the family members on my list are getting some this year too. (They finally put a H&D store at my mall and I’m super excited.)

Harry & David Pears are my favorite. They make a great gift!

Some of my peeps are getting Holiday Truffles this year. H&D makes all of their truffles on site, and they taste amazing.

Moose Munch. Is there anything better?

I had to include these Holiday Krispie Pops in my list of favorites because (1) they’re adorable and (2) Jordan made me buy her one and they’re actually really good. Kids will love them in their stockings!

6. Kitchen Appliances, obviously.

I have every single one of these appliances and I use them almost daily. If you don’t have them, you need to add them to your list. (And, obviously I love my Cuisinart products. )

A food processor is necessary. And I always say, go big or go home. I used to have a small food processor and I hated it because I always had to divide my recipes in two to make them fit. Small ones are great for little jobs, but for regular recipes you need big one! I love my Cuisinart 14-cup Food Processor. Pricey, but worth it!

A hand blender is great for so many things! Mine comes with a mini chopper (great for those little processing jobs) and I use the blender for all my soups. I hate transferring hot things to the blender and then back to the pot. A Cuisinart Hand Blender gets rid of that messy step!

A hand mixer. Even though I use a KitchenAid stand mixer for 90% of recipes, a hand mixer is super important. And, just FYI, after 10 years? You probably need a new one. I had an old Cuisinart that I got for my wedding in 2001 that still worked, but I recently got a new 7-speed hand mixer and it’s so much faster than my old one!

My Cuisinart Griddler is, hands down, my most used appliance. Pancakes, french toast, grilled cheese, quesadillas, grilling…it does it ALL. (Which is why I’m giving one away!! See the bottom of the post.) You need to add this to your list!

7. Kitchen Gadgets, because they’re cute. Oh, and functional too.

I’m a kitchen gadget junkie, that’s for sure. But there are a few things I use all. the. time.

Cute measuring cups from Sur la Table also make great props.

These OXO adjustable measuring beakers are perfect for measuring peanut butter. And they go in the dishwasher!

Pancake molds. I love making heart pancakes on Valentine’s Day.

A candy thermometer. Please get one. They’re not too expensive and it’ll save you lots of guesswork! (I have this exact one and I love it!)

8. Cute serving dishes (or props).

I’m a sucker for a serving dish, especially if it can double as a prop.

I have always lusted after this cute Unzipped Glass Zipper Bag candy dish from Uncommon Goods. I’ve never gotten one, but it’s on my list.

Little dip bowls from West Elm (or Anthropologie or Crate and Barrel or wherever!) I have a few but I want one in every color!

Pi Plates. For obvious reasons.

This green milk glass cake stand from Minted.com is my absolute favorite cake stand. It’s gorgeous and a true statement piece!

What’s on YOUR list this year??

Thanks for reading and happy shopping!

This post contains some affiliate links. This means that by clicking the link and buying the item I get a small commission, but it in no way changes the price you pay. Minted.com supplied me with Christmas cards for this post, even though I would have bought them myself anyway. I really and truly love all of these items and I would be sharing them regardless of links or my relationship with the brand. Thanks for understanding!

The post 2014 Favorite Things appeared first on Crazy for Crust.