If my blog were a child, it would be starting first grade this year! Think of all the things a child does from infancy until first grade. That’s what I think about my blog when I look back on it. I had no idea what I was doing back in September of 2008. And I still don’t know a lot, but all I know is that I have met some amazing people along the way, some that I have been fortunate enough to meet in real life, and others I hope to eventually meet in real life.
My longest loyal blog reader though is hands down Maggie of Say Yes to Salad. She first commented on my blog on September 30, 2008. I did a recipe of oven baked breaded chicken. Here is the mouth watering picture I took of it: Doesn’t’ that look appetizing – ha!
And here was Maggie’s response:
Great idea for the breading – I really like your blog, by the way
Since she’s been reading my blog she moved in with her boyfriend, they moved, did tons of renovations, got married, had a baby (his name is Kurt and he’s so fricken cute) and sadly, she’s lost her Mom recently. Lots of life events in six years!
And then I think back to all the other blogs I’ve found and followed: Shelley’s boys have now both graduated college and have started careers and lives of their own. Helen has been on some amazing vacations – of course to her beloved St. Martin and a wonderful trip given to her by her daughter to the Grand Canyon. She and I both struggle with the whole dieting concept, can’t we just live, etc. She’s continued to amaze me with her running and ability to get up at 4:30 in the morning to get the exercise done before work. And we both would love to eat at the dining room table every.single.night.
Roz cracks me up with how much sushi she can eat – I believe given the chance, she would have it for lunch every single day. Sending big hugs to her since her Dad had a birthday this summer and then was diagnosed with an advances stage of cancer and passed away less than 30 days later. He loved leaving comments on her blog. She wrote a blog post back in 2012 about Roz-isms – sayings that she didn’t know she even was saying. He left this comment: “It must be something in the family. Do you remember when they gave me a coffee mug with a dozen Martinisms on it? I think it was what I retired. When I was leaving for the day I’d be “Off like a dirty shirt!” However, I must go. “I have dirt to scratch and eggs to lay!”
I could go on and on – Christina, you know you make me laugh every time I see your Instagram pics – and love all the sunset pics you take of the Outerbanks. Mara, so proud of you and how you have turned your life around this past year. Ladies – she’s lost nearly 90 pounds this last year and looks amazeballs. We still need to get together soon for a walk! Lori, I envy your rehab skills and am so happy that you and your husband finally closed on Radiance Manor! And Louise, so happy that I found you too – I love that you have embraced the lasagna soup as much as I have, and now that we are coming into the fall/winter season, you know I’ll probably be making it once a week.
Alright, I do need to eventually get to work this morning so I will move on. Money is still tight, but I did want to do a little giveaway. Nothing big, but if you could just leave a comment with a guestimate of how long you’ve been reading, you will be entered to win FOUR pint jars of my Baja Fresh Salsa.
Yesterday on my way to work, I grabbed a couple small pieces of granola and ate them in the car on the way to work. I make a batch of granola bars for one of the nurses at the coumadin clinic that Tony goes to about every other week. Her husband loves it and will it a bar for breakfast, lunch and dinner before it’s all gone. He likes a crunchy bar like me – but Erin likes a chewy bar, so this batch I cut the cooking time by 5 minutes and they stayed together AND were chewy. #winning So I wasn’t really hungry for the breakfast burrito I brought and ended up eating a Chobani around 10. I may have spilled some coffee on the top of the yogurt – I am klassy like that.
But when it came time to work out, my blood sugar was only 150, so my only choice was to walk.
Lunch was my leftover red thai chili dish leftover from my dinner the night before – I only added a cup of chopped broccoli to it, and some more stir fry sauce.
I’ve told it before, but over the weekends I usually bake at least two potatoes to have on hand later in the week. They just sit in the fridge – I can dice it up and pan fry it, make twice baked potatoes, or my favorite – french fries! I ended up making burgers last night – ranch burgers actually – where you add the ranch seasoning to the burger mix, but I didn’t taste any ranch at all. Just the salt and pepper. I added the Cabot Cheese’s white oak cheddar cheese to mine with Dijon mustard and lettuce and dill pickles. I love the crispy part of the cheese on the right side of the burger. It’s all about the cheese! And then Tony and I split a potato – we each got four spears. Although Tony does prefer crinkle cut fries, I think these are amazing. Just slice potato in half, cut each half into four wedges and deep fry at 350 degrees for 4-5 minutes. The outside is super crunchy, but the inside is so tender. Oh, and I dipped my fries in my sriracha whiskey bbq ketchup.
Time to put my food together – it looks like its going to be a rainy day today. I did remember my fitbit yesterday and got all my steps in and then some though!
So thank you old blog readers and new ones. For taking time out of your day to stop by our neck of the woods. To watch both our kids graduate, my step-son moving out with his girlfriend, moving to Texas and getting married. Hannah moving out to Chicago and watching her grow from a freshman in high school to know a woman of 22, watching Tony battle colon cancer, hernias, wound vacs, knee replacement, and now this latest battle with heart disease. Your words of encouragement mean more to us than you’ll ever know – we thank you for that!
Hugs – make it a great day!
Wow – I knew you had been blogging a long time but 6 years is amazing!! So cool that you have had some blog friends that entire time!!!
I think I started reading your blog just over a year ago – it was right when you started Insanity last year:)
Congrats on your 6 year blogaversary….time flies when we blog doesn’t it? I always look forward to your blogs and all the inspiration you give, especially with dealing with diabetes. I’ve been reading your blogs for about 2 years and wouldn’t miss it! Love your recipes and pictures you take. Egg, cheese and spinach omelet has to be my favorite morning breakfast. Oh and Chobani…I never started eating that till I met you.
I think I shall start reading all your previous blogs just so I can get a “Biz Buzz” for the day…especially on weekends when you don’t blog on Sundays or are taking a blog break. Have a great day.
Oh, I forgot to mention….thank you for the shout out…..and I am going to make my lasagna soup this week, got the fixings for it 🙂 🙂
I have been reading/lurking daily for about two years! Happy Sixth Birthday MBK!!!!!! 😀
You have inspired me to leave a comment as I blog – stalk you yet I have never left a comment. I have been reading your blog for the past year and I voted for you everyday for the contest and was quite happy when you were selected as a finalist. I have tried numerous recipes on your blog and the one I am currently madly in love with is the 5 minute naan. Even my mum who doesn’t bake was asking me for the recipe. Keep up the good work and my prayers go out to you and Tony.
I guess I’ve been reading since the beginning – I remember reading back when I worked and I’ve been disabled 6 years the end of this months…
Oh good lord – we don’t have to be right on this guesstimate [or even close do we?] Because you know me – I forget everything. And blame meds. giggle
I do remember Miss H graduating HS, so I am guessing 4 years? I have no earthly idea who’s blog I followed over on, but I know I was reading a lot of weight loss blogs because you ladies are so inspiring – and your blog stuck, because man you can COOK girl. Probably my favorite recipe is your Chicken Cordon Bleu. Damn that shizzle is good. And easy. Family loves it.
Thank you for all you do for so many Biz. You are sometimes the only bright light some of us see, I suspect. You’re a good egg – as my grandma used to say.
Know you’re always in my thoughts and my prayers. Love to you all! JG
I fell in love with your blog probably a year in a half ago. After a few months of reading everyday I finally realized where you live and how close you were. I live in Woodstock. It was funny to me that you were the one blog I was reading everyday and you only lived a couple towns away. I have enjoyed your journey and you have inspired many of my workouts.
Congrats on your sixth year blogaversary! I love reading your blog I get it daily in my email. I found your blog in 2010 my how time flys when your having fun.
Oh . . . forgot to mention. You photos have improved tremendously!
I’ve been reading since you began your blog and we started working together over seven (can it be?) years ago. Starts my day, sometimes with a tear, but always ending with a smile. You are an amazing person!
Sending big love to you Vat, and to your 6 years at the Bizzy Kitchen! I am so honored by the shout out, and sooooo glad we are electronic friends!!!! My Dad would love this!!!
BIG HUG!!!!! Wanna go for sushi??? 🙂
The heck with Biz, I will go Roz!
i’ve been reading your blog for 2 or 3 years, i’m not exactly sure. i look forward to reading it every day – thank you for your candor in sharing your life with the world!
I love your blog and have been a reader for about 4-5 years. You are the only blog that I read every day. I mostly just stalk and don’t comment much 🙂 I envy your meal planning, I just can’t do it…i seem to always be winging it. I also struggle with dieting because I am a foodie at heart and love to cook and entertain. Congrats on your 6 years and I look forward to reading many more posts!
I’m pretty sure I started reading when I was living in Ontario, Canada. That was over 4yrs ago. I remember when you got Hannah the car and you video taped it. Congrats on 6 years. I wish I had the wherewithal to start my food blog up again.
I’d say around 5 years. I’m certain I read way before I ever commented. Also, I was just toodling around in my computer last night and found the e-cookbook I won from you a long time ago which got me to thinking how long we’d been blog friends. Ironic that it’s the blogs birthday today!
I’ve been reading for about 5 years! I lost 60 lbs in 2009 & have kept it off! I love reading about your life & your recipes. I even won one of your giveaways once – hope I am still eligible!
I have been reading your blog for about a year and one half. It amazes me that you almost never miss a day, even with all curves life throws at you. Congratulations on your six year anniversary.
Hi Biz, I was lucky enough to find you right around when Tony was getting out of the hospital with his colon cancer scare. You had been so tough through that and I was so impressed! I had just lost my job of 14years and was feeling lost. (late 2010). I remember the blog, it was the perfect Hard Boiled egg. I still don’t do them right, nor have I tried your shrimp cocktail recipe but I still read your blog each and every day! You are one of a kind (In the best way possible).
Warm regards,
Janis from Los Angeles
I never miss a day. Have been reading for 4-5 years and your blog is my first read of the morning. Congrats on keeping it going so long and carry on sister!
I’m only a year behind you. Time flies!! And it’s amazing how many things can happen in just 6 years. I’ve been reading since 2009 but didn’t start commenting for a while so you were unaware of me at first lol. Love that picture of your breaded chicken! I have a few real winners in the photography department as well. lol