It’s a new year and a new start here at Bridezilla Bakes! New design, new content… new blog! Why all the changes? Two reasons:

1. I’ll be a better food blogger if I blog once or twice a week, rather than two or three times per week. I love food blogging — and I am really excited to keep sharing recipes and photos. Food is a big deal to me (laugh if you want… it’s true). I’m especially happy when I can bring my readers recipes that are 1) more healthy and yet more delicious than what they are used to eating; 2) more distinctive and more unique than what they are used to eating; and/or 3) more like home than what they thought they could create on their own.

And, actually… those are some pretty high standards. Add to those requirements the fact that I really only like to share recipes that are really mine, or recipes that I’ve brought something unique to, and the conclusion is that I just don’t have 10-12 food posts per month in me. Not unless you’d like me to copy recipes from other blogs/magazines, repeat recipes, or blog about crudites platters.

2. There are other things I want to blog/think/talk about! Although I don’t have it in me to do 10-12 food posts per month, there are SO many other things that I am passionate about — and pretty good at — that I’d love to write about. And yes, life is more than food. As much energy as we spend on figuring out how to create and eat healthy, interesting, comforting foods, we also spend a lot of time figuring out how to live healthy lifestyles, be good friends/wives/daughters/people/etc., and how to effectively manage our workloads and households. Writing about that journey and sharing it with others will be — I hope — helpful for me and others.

With all that in mind, I redesigned and reorganized the site to allow for three major content categories. The corresponding icons are to help you better navigate the site, so that you can easily find what you are looking for:

Bridezilla bakes. The original photos and recipes that we all love so much.

Bridezilla gets real. Formerly known as the little-read page “Bridezilla Writes” — reflections on real life struggles. Body image, relationships, faith, etc. One of my strengths is my ability to reframe problems, and I hope to use that ability in this section to help us all confront the issues we deal with in our lives and to look at them in fresh ways.

Bridezilla gets organized. Another one of my strengths is organizing. Structuring and restructuring. Getting things done, and being efficient about it. I’m excited to writes series on productivity, personal finances, and more.

Food, thought-provoking reflection, and practical organizational advice — the new Bridezilla Bakes. So, what do you think? Do you like the look? Are these topics that you are interested in reading more about?

I have to also recognize the fantastic blog The Life and Lessons of Rachel Wilkerson, which introduced me to the concept of using badges/icons to categorize content. Visit her blog as well as the informative Hollaback Health blog for useful, entertaining thoughts on blogging.

You want some of this?

Come to Smash Cake Bakery in Lincoln Park TODAY from 12pm-3pm. Buy fantastic baked goods for a good cause. Food bloggers and their friends and families from all over the country are participating! See YOU there!

Smash Cake Bakery
2961 N. Lincoln Avenue, at Wellington Street