Adventures in Blogging

by Gina Knuppenburg

In the Beginning

The first sentence of any written document is difficult to write no matter if it’s the first line of a book, an article for a magazine or newspaper, or the first sentence of one’s very first blog post. I remember, clearly, sitting at my computer ten years ago to do just that.

My blog, Desperately Seeking Gina, turns ten years old this week. I joke that my blog is my baby, but actually, it was reborn after having been created and named Desperately Seeking Thom. You can read how the blog evolved right here on Arkansas Women Bloggers.

In the beginning, I blogged about a trip to Europe, my niece and nephew, my amazement that people who wrote blogs would take pictures of their food, and little snippets of thoughts that popped into my head during the day. In those days, I didn’t worry about page views, followers, sponsored posts, or likes and comments. Sometimes, the first sentence of every post just flowed from my thoughts to my fingertips without reason or rhyme.

DSG_Early Days

 

I continued documenting my life on the blog as I found myself moving to Arkansas. I joined the Arkansas Women bloggers and attended the first meet up in 2010.

The Middle

I purchased my first camera at this point and practiced taking pictures of everything in sight. I may have stalked our cats. That kitty-cat birthday hat? It was the first blog prop I ever made.

{Insert Photo: Desperately Seeking Gina_Collage 1}

With the new photography habit under development, I ventured into food photography. The blog turned into a place to share those food pics and recipes that I found online. I wondered: was this my niche? It was during this point where I learned about “finding your niche,” writing with purpose, and the importance of the behind-the-scenes fundamentals of blogging.

DSG_Food Niche

The Current

They say blogging is dead. I’m not sure who “they” are, but I keep hearing about “them” from other bloggers; professional bloggers who make a living from teaching the business of blogging to those of us who are eager to give up our day jobs and live a work-at-home, get-rich-from-blogging life. Not that I want to do that. Well, partly, I do.

My adventure in blogging has led me to writing with purpose and to being paid for stringing words together on my blog and others. I never did find just one niche. In fact, I’m learning about new ones every day; I started a YouTube channel, I’m playing with craft blogging and I even became a contributing designer for a scrap booking company and an influencer for a wood working company. I’ve worked on campaigns for one of my favorite chocolate companies and was able to work part time from home last month with the dream of leaving my day job almost in sight. If I squint real, real hard, this adventure-dream is becoming clearer and closer.

DSG_Colllage CraftAdventures in blogging are not nearing an end for me. My blog is not dead, although in blogging-drama-fashion it’s currently down at the moment and I can’t figure out why. I have grand plans of growing Desperately Seeking Gina into an adult this Spring and migrating to a self-hosted site.

Thanks to all of you reading this and to Arkansas Women Bloggers for cheering me on during this adventure and I hope to see more of you in blog land.

How is your adventure in blogging shaping up? Let me know in the comments below.

Take a Flight {Adventure}

By Ramona Collins, Miss March 2016

The theme for March is adventure. There are many different interpretations of the this theme. I chose to provide details and insights on a recent trip to the west coast. I believe adventures are opportunities to step outside your comfort zone and enjoy life…while learning a few things.

Take a Flight

As I entered the airport, the clock struck noon. The terminal was busy with the buzz of hurried travelers. This was my first flight in 5 months and my first trip to San Bruno (CA). I looked forward to the sunny days and warmer weather. It was freezing here in NW Arkansas. After grabbing a chocolate nut bar and a Fuji water, I boarded the plane and settled in for the long trip.

We landed in Dallas after a short flight from XNA. Part one of the trip was over. As I sat quietly in the terminal gate area, I watched and watched more. There are so many things to notice and observe – people, things, planes and situations.

Levels

When going on an adventure there a levels of emotions – anticipation, excitement, anxiousness, relaxation, relief and more. Honestly, adventures can be full of moments of high exuberance as well as minutes of despair and sadness. In the end, your adventure is either a lesson or blessing. After a layover in Dallas, I was ready for the longest leg of flight.

 Tip: Sitting in a window seat offers a unique view of the world.

While flying over the country, I saw the towns below appear and disappear in the distance. I recognized the mountain ranges and what I’m claiming to be the Grand Canyon. However, the most relaxing view was of the horizon. Oftentimes, we stop and experience the vastness of the sky above with the sun, the moon and the clouds. On this adventure, I gazed out the window and looked at the clouds below.

Adventure-Horizon-490x490

During the flight, the plane maneuvered over a storm and cloudy skies. AT that moment I realized that adventures are not only fun, but we can also learn a lot. For example: We go about life each day “smooth sailing” through activities similar to the way planes zoom across the sky. We take turns when necessary. We ascend and descend to get around the turbulence. And, we even face stormy weather (read rough times). Just as the plane flew over the storms, in life sometimes the best path through a “storm” is to fly above it. 

What do I mean? 

When going through tough times, it’s easy to get caught up in the moment and only see the negative situation. The pain takes over and you feel defeated. When you fly above the storms you choose to: 

 

  1. Not let the storm of life bring you down. Keep pressing toward your prize. Because in the end you’re gonna win. Focus your energy on positivity and making it to your destination (a solution, a resolution or a conclusion). 
  1. Keep going. Above the storm is a horizon with sunny days. Did you know the sun is always shining. It’s always brightening the world and the universe. You may not see it everyday, but it’s there. When the storms in life arise, realize that there’s a bright side somewhere. 
  1. As with any weather system, the storms will pass. Trouble and heartache don’t last always. Your current situation doesn’t have to be you destination. Stay focused on your goal and continue to make the right decisions. Be patient, your rainbow is on the way. 

Storm Clouds-490x490

  1. Be prepared. There WILL be storms.Your storms can arrive in different forms: The job you wanted will be given to someone else with less experience. The person you love doesn’t treat you right. The sickness you thought was gone returns with a vengeance. The parents you love will need you more than ever. The people you thought were true friends will turn their backs on you when you need them most. Be ready for the cloudy days in life so you can stay ready for the stormy days ahead. 

In the end, my trip to San Bruno was better than expected! I also spent time in Menlo Park and Palo Alto. It’s really beautiful there. California is growing on me. It was great to experience new things and try new foods. The Crab Nachos at New England Lobster Market in Burlingame were ah-mazing. They also make a great Blueberry Lemonade! It was great to get away and find perspective on living a better life. When the opportunity arises, choose your adventure. You might be surprised with what you learn. 

CTA: Think of your recent adventures. What did you learn? How did your life change? Share your story in the comments section below. 

Paula Henry: Mafe {Foodie Friday}

Celebrate Food Adventures: Mafe – An African Stew

 

mafe african stew

 

During the years I was lucky enough to get “stuck” in France, I picked up a lot of practical, food-related lifestyle insights:  meals are good, snacking is not; if you feed your kids in courses, veggies first, the veggies get eaten; it is alarmingly easy to buy a bad baguette in Paris—better to commit your neighborhood’s “good” boulangerie’s  apparently arbitrary schedule to memory. 

The French really know the ins and outs of food.  Maybe it was the wine, but I’d swear I never ate a disappointing meal while there. If they can’t put something worthwhile on the table, they prefer not to eat. 

That’s why it seems counter-intuitive that among all the delicious dishes I sampled while there, perhaps my favorite is Mafe (mah fay), a hearty Senegalese peanut stew often available in the North African cafes of larger cities.

Traditionally made with lamb or other meat, I prefer to make Mafe as a vegetarian dish, rich with meaty root vegetables.  As with most stews, many variations will work (skip the turnips and up the sweet potatoes, saute some sweet peppers with the onions, throw some torn kale in towards the end), but the stars here remain the chick peas and peanut butter.  Though it sounds like an exotic combination, if you grew up with peanut butter as a staple like me and still crave its comforting and childhood-memory-inducing qualities, you’ll love this dish in any of its incarnations.

Print
Mafe: An African Stew

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup vegetable or olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 1 large onion
  • 1 large potato
  • 1 large turnip
  • 1 carrot
  • 2 large sweet potatoes
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tablespoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 1/2 tablespoon cumin
  • 2 fresh thyme sprigs
  • 2 cups cooked garbanzo beans (or 1 15-ounce can garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed
  • Fine salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 cups stock of your choice or water
  • 2 Tbsp fish sauce, optional
  • 3/4 cup creamy, natural peanut butter
  • parsley for garnish

Instructions

  1. 
Finely chop the garlic and dice the onions. Peel and cut the potato, turnip, carrot, and sweet potato into ½ inch cubes.
  2. In a large, heavy pot over medium heat, heat the oil until shimmering and add the onions and garlic.  Cook 2-3 minutes (until onions are transparent), then add the paprika, cayenne pepper and cumin and cook one more minute. Add the root vegetables, tomato paste, thyme sprigs, chickpeas, salt and black pepper.
  3. Mix well. Cover and bring to boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the veggies are tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
  4. Turn off the heat but leave the pot on the stove.
  5. Stir in the peanut butter and fish sauce, mix well and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.
  6. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve with jasmine or basmati rice.

Notes

Adapted from the Cooking Channel’s “West African’s Finest Mafe” recipe.

https://arkansaswomenbloggers.com/paula-henry-mafe-foodie-friday/

Paula Henry

 After graduating Bentonville High School and Hendrix College, Paula spent many years out of the area, including time in Key West, New York City, London, New York and Paris.  After the birth of their two boys, she returned to family and Bentonville, where, with her husband Frederic. She now owns and operates Crepes Paulette, a popular local food truck, with a storefront Crepes Paulette coming soon to “southern” downtown Bentonville.

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