As I write this my husband is downstairs putting away Christmas decorations, my kids are playing with their Christmas presents, and I’m still in bed enjoying a morning of sleeping in and reading in bed. It’s hard to believe it was exactly one year ago we were saying our final goodbyes to my dad as he lay at peace in a funeral home. Boy, what a year it has been.
For the last two weeks we’ve been hosting family, parties, and lounging. Christmas Eve with fifty extended family members, Christmas Day with my immediate family, and with no plans for New Year’s Eve other than to enjoy the presence of each other, I’m looking forward for this year of transitions and major life changes to close.
When my dad died I decided to re-prioritize how I spent and devoted my time. Spending quality time with friends and family were the only things that seemed to matter. I particularly enjoyed frequent spontaneous play dates with my son’s friends and their moms, catching up with good friends (old and new) at coffee shops or frozen yogurt, and the occasional self-indulging Sephora therapy sessions which always seemed to make any dreary day, bright. These changes also meant willingly stepping down my level of involvement on Savory Sweet Life so I could figure some things out which I would describe as soul searching. Then there was the issue of maintaining my site. I feared little if Savory Sweet Life would disappear into a black hole of obscurity if I didn’t maintain it on a regular and consistent basis. Truthfully, it didn’t seem very important anymore in light of everything happening at home. A food blogger’s rule of thumb is to post at least 2-3 a week. For most months all I could get out was one post, sometimes two for the entire month. I lost my motivation to post. Surprisingly, I wasn’t sad about it at all.
Tempted by several media trips to far off exotic places around the world, I would end up politely declining all but two trips because I committed to not travel throughout this year. With the exception of speaking at a conference and a quick one night trip to San Francisco, I am glad to have stayed home to cheer my girls on during their soccer, basketball, and swim meet matches. With a Starbucks latte to keep me warm, I relished in watching my girls thrive in their favorite activities in my “soccer mom” uniform consisting of my favorite front zip black yoga jacket and pants, sneakers, and the occasional baseball cap.
But yet, here we are in the last few days of the year and I can honestly tell you Savory Sweet Life is finishing the year strong. With more visitors this year than the last couple years combined, I credit all this to listening to the still quiet voice in my heart which prompted me to step away from the site so I could serve those around me. The motto I’ve lived by all year is God’s grace is sufficient for me.
Surrounded by good friends who loved on us all throughout this year, I cannot help but feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude for loyal Savory Sweet Life readers who also encouraged me with emails and comments on blog posts and on Facebook. Thank you for your support. Really. Truly. From the bottom of my heart, my family and I thank you.
Here is one last recipe of the year my sister Joyce suggested I post for you. Made with vodka, coffee liqueur, Irish cream liqueur, and half and half (or vanilla ice cream), a Mudslide is a cold, boozy, and sweet coffee flavored cocktail. Perfect as an after dinner dessert drink; this is the cocktail my husband and I will be enjoying quietly at home as we step into the New Year.
Wishing you a Happy New Year.
Alice
Ingredients: Vodka, Kahlua, Bailey’s Irish Cream, Half and Half, and Ice
Pour all the ingredients into a shaker.
Shake for about 10 seconds.
Pour the mudslide into a glass and if you want to be fancy, top with whipped cream. Want to get fancier? Drizzle chocolate syrup or add a pinch of cocoa powder or cinnamon. Coffee beans work great as a finishing garnish.
- 1 ounce vodka
- 1 ounce coffee flavored liqueur (like Kahlua)
- 1 ounce Irish Cream liqueur (like Baileys)
- 1 ounce half and half
- ½ cup ice
- Optional garnish: whipped cream, chocolate syrup drizzle, coffee beans, pinch of cinnamon or cocoa powder
- Pour the alcohol and half and half into a cocktail shaker.
- Add the ice and shake for 10 seconds.
- Pour the drink into a martini glass.
- Garnish with whipped cream, chocolate syrup drizzle, coffee beans, pinch of cinnamon or cocoa powder.
- ****half and half can be substitued with ice cream for a mudslide shake. Omit ice cubes and pour all the ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth and serve.
I have been away for SSL for a while. Today with some extra time, I decided to catch up on some of my favorite blogs. I saw this recipe for a mudslide and have had sometihing similar. Using the ice cream and Frangelico, baileys, vodka some chocolate syrup put it in a blender. OH so YUMMY…
This is 33 days into the New Year. I hope your cloud is moving on and you will get as some one posted your “Mojo” back…
Alice,
Unfortunately this post rings more true with me now than it ever could have before. My father passed away unexpectedly on Thanksgiving this year at the age of 59, and it shook our family to the core. Since our mother passed away when we were kids, it’s just me and my brothers now, and it has been a very painful and difficult (ongoing) transition. I’m sure you are still grieving and that every day is a struggle, but seeing that you are doing okay gives me hope that I’ll be in a better place a year from now.
As for your beautiful blog, I’ve never been one to subscribe to the idea that there is a “right” way to blog – posts per week, tweeting and following and having followers and such. At least for me, blogging is not all about the numbers and reading your heartfelt posts, I suspect the same is true for you. Your blog continues to be successful because it is so honest and genuine. Thanks for creating a site that I truly enjoy reading. I save your posts for when I have time to really savor them!
Oh also, this cocktail looks delicious. Making it ASAP.
I am relatively new to your blog (as in only a couple of months ago I found it) and as I read this post, I am blown away with the sincerity within your heart. It is always inspiring when someone looks into their life, makes a change, and then is blessed in return for their faith. Thank you for continuing to share pieces of you to all of us out here in cyber-land. 🙂
Thanks for sharing with us. All the best to you in 2012! And his grace IS sufficient, his power made perfect in weakness.
Happy New Year to you, Alice! Thank you for your thoughts and for the great recipe. I will definitely have to try this for my celebrations! Hope you have a beautiful day. xoxo Kim
Happy New Year to you and your family, Alice! And yes – God’s grace is sufficient. Amen to that. I’m glad to hear SSL finished on a strong note. Your blogs are a great encouragement to many readers.
I meant, don’t forget about us! 🙂
I just found your site today. I hope you hang in there, I think this site is just as important as anything else that you do in your life. Why? Because it’s yours. It’s you.
Granted people change, loss can do that. I’ve been there. Seeing this site for the first time today, I think it’s beautiful, educational and so unpretentious.
So, as you are footloose and fancy free with the spirit of a sprite – don’t forget about is! 🙂
Happy New Year.
Sounds like you had a hard start to last year, here is to a great one this year.
Alice, I know 2011 was a tough year for you. I hope that 2012 is much better for you and your family. You made the right decisions by you and your family and I’m so proud of you. Thank you for everything and it was nice to finally get to meet you this year. I hope we get to hang out a little at BHF! Happy New Year and hugs!
Wow… thank you for all the wonderful recipes. I have never posted here before, but jump on here every day looking for what you have in store! Thank you for everything. I have been making no knead bread like a crazy woman! Thank you for that and so many more recipes i have tried and made and gained confidence from them coming out great! Thank you.. Happy New Year!
Yummy recipe! I will show it to my husband so he will not go buy another bottle of ready-to-drink Mudslide!!
I’m happy for you that your life is going well and your site is going on strong. Thanks for sharing your heart and life with us through your blogs. May God bless your new year ahead in all ways!
Your chocolate chip cookie recipe is the best! A new family favorite. The sea salt really adds dimension. Love it. Thanks!!
Glad to hear listening to your heart has brought you some peace and Joy this year. I loved meeting you in 2011, and hope to see you again in 2012. Happy New Year Alice (and the mudslides look great)!