Bad Blogger.

(Image courtesy of Erica)

I’m glad that people enjoyed the message of my last post, but for the most part I’ve been scatterbrained blogger this week. My twitter feed has been a sporadic series of “new post!” alerts. In the middle of writing this post, I lost my photo card reader and spent twenty minutes wandering aimlessly around my apartment in search of it (my apartment isn’t immense, by the way.) And today, I realized the reason I almost never do giveaways: I always forget to pick and announce a winner. If you happen to have entered my Hippocrates video giveaway, let me say this: I’m really, really sorry. I forgot about you. About all of you. With sincere remorse, I’m giving my readers one more day to enter the giveaway, and tomorrow night or Monday morning I’ll tell you who won. Yeesh.

Today was another reminder of my blogging imperfections. I met up for lunch with Alexandra, who is Chloe’s little sister (Alexandra is a grown woman; I say “little” because I’ve known her since she was born, and I’m allowed). If Chloe is a sister to me, spiritually and practically, then Alexandra is the younger sister I never had.

Which means I get to do all sorts of annoying things to her, like mention how adorable she is on the internet:

…or call her “Ali,” which she does not love.

Most of the time, though, I try not to annoy Alexandra, which is why she chooses to hang out with me. Today, we were celebrating the end of her summer internship and her return to Boston for the fall semester. Our dining spot was Blossom, one of my favorite vegan lunch spots in New York, and also one of the city’s most inconsistent. Sometimes it’s amazing, and sometimes it’s a serious flop. You never know what you’re going to get. I suppose that keeps things exciting?

What I can always rely on at Blossom is the berry iced tea:

Topped with frozen ‘bloobs:

And the raw sweet potato rolls, which are stuffed with jicama, avocado, young coconut, and red pepper, and served with an almond ginger dipping sauce that has too much garlic for me, and thus is always swapped for the smoky mustard vinaigrette:

Delicious.

I had every intention of taking a photo of my entree, which was the red quinoa salad (red quinoa, navy beans, guac, and red peppers served with watercress), but I forgot.

Here’s my main area of blogger weakness: I almost never remember to have a camera with me at restaurants. And if I do, I’m halfway done with my meal before I remember a photo, or else I forget to finish the photostream once I start. Pathetic.

But you see, Alexandra and I were deep in conversation, and my food was really good (mostly), and I was really hungry. And I was doing what one should be doing at a restaurant with a good friend and a good plate of food: savoring the experience. There seem to be a lot of dialogs on food blogs about eating to live vs. living to eat, and how blogging can complicate it all. I’ve weighed in on the fundamental issue recently: I live to eat because I love food and everything to do with it: cooking it, feasting on it, talking about it. But my love of food doesn’t get in the way of my otherwise full life. I feel the same way about blogging: I love to do it, and I also don’t feel (as other bloggers seem to) that it “takes over.”

Yet I do enjoy days like today, when I get so caught up in my meal that I forget to document it for public consumption. It’s a happy reminder that blogging is still less important to me than my unabashed and unhindered enjoyment of food. Yes, I take pictures of what I eat and put them on the internet, and yes, I create recipes with an audience in mind, but I also go to restaurants and dig into my food and forget that there is such a thing as www.thefullhelping.com. And, once in a while, that’s probably a good thing.

So forgive me, dear readers, if I sometimes post half of a meal review, or talk about cool giveaways and then forget to actually give the stuff away, or I skip a few days here and there, or recede from twitter like a bird in flight. It only means I’m living or eating with passion–and in the end, that passion is what I really like sharing with you.

What about you, bloggies? Do you enjoy your blogger fails, or rue them?

xo

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    38 Comments
  1. With havin so much written content do you ever run into any issues of plagorism or copyright infringement?
    My website has a lot of exclusive content I’ve either created myself or outsourced but it seems a lot of it is popping it up all over the internet without my permission. Do you know any solutions to help protect against content from being ripped off? I’d really appreciate it.

  2. You know there are plenty of bloggers out there who do not post as regularly or with as much fervor as you do. Each of your posts is well thought out and beautifully written. If you forget some things every once in a while OH WELL!!!
    Life goes on and try to remember next time. thank you so much for this blog, it is so informative and has helped me immensely as I prepare to embark on my journey to be a registered dietitian.

  3. I really like that you addressed this topic. Helps me to accept my blogging inconsistencies without regret because I too agree that sometimes it’s nice to just enjoy your food rather than take pictures of your meals for 30 minutes, salivating while the food cools and congeals beyond appeal.

    Life is short, enjoy your food I say!

    😛

  4. actually, I think this in particular makes you a GREAT blogger – savoring the experience totally is what it’s all about, and if we didn’t, what the heck would we be writing about, anyway?? i feel the same – enjoying takes priority over snapping pictures.

    PS, I’m a long-time reader, just a first-time commenter. LOVE your blog! Oh, and I made your Dilly Carrot-Avocado Spread a few weekends ago, and it was seriously addictive and a HUGE hit with everyone who tasted it!

  5. gena! you’re not alone. i always forget to have my camera with me when i go out to eat…and, i also ALWAYS forget to take pics when i am suppose to!!!! so so bad…i am hanging my head in shame…hehe!!!

    it’s nice to know you also have this very same issue.

    have a beautiful evening.

    <3

  6. Wow, I completely know how you feel on this one! I just posted about blogger guilt and how I never take enough pictures to go with my excessive amount of words! I often find myself taking pictures of scenery and drinks at a restaurant and forgetting to snap a shot of the entree (as I am too busy inhaling my food by the time it arrives!). No worries about your guilt though, I like how you said “savoring the experience,” because, isn’t that really what it’s all about?

  7. Gena gorgeous,

    As many others have already said, it’s the quality of the blog that counts, and anyway,you are extremely consistent!

    I personally blog anywhere from 1-4 times per week, and it’s dictated by what I have to share but also what my offline life is asking for.

    Keep up the good, good blogger work. 🙂

    Casey

  8. I do feel guilty when I go several days without blogging, which is funny because I definitely don’t get upset at other people when they don’t blog! Usually when I don’t write anything it’s because I just don’t really have anything to say and have been really boring food-wise.

  9. I like this post. Way to be upfront. Also, I just love posts about blogging. So meta 🙂

    And Alexandra looks really nice, despite stealing my time slot with you.

  10. You’re hardly a bad blogger and, with the way my schedule has been lately, I would totally forget to follow through on a giveaway too! Cafe Blossom looks wonderful and on my wish list now for a future trip to NYC.

  11. Nope, you’re just a terrible blogger who should leave bandwith to more camera-obsessed peeps. 😉

    Haha, I can’t imagine photographing everything I ate…because a lot of it is BORING! And I don’t always have my camera ready at restaurants…or I’ll forget it.

    Your blog is a great example of balance–it’s clear it matters to you, and you do a damn fine job, but it doesn’t AT ALL seem like it takes over your life. You rock, basically.

  12. I am the same way with giveaways–I’ve only done two in my blogging career, and I completely forgot about them for at least a week after the entry deadline.
    Love the looks of that berry iced tea–“bloobs” and all:)
    I’ll admit that there have been times in my life when I give too much importance to blogging–altering my eating schedule so that photographing is possible, etc. However, I think I’ve reached a good balance over the past several months in that I don’t feel guilty for my blogging “transgressions.” Often the situation is such that I would rather enjoy the company than whip out my camera at a meal.

  13. You write some of the (if not the) most thorough and well thought out posts – so I don’t think you are in any danger of being labeled a bad blogger. One great post every 2 weeks is better than 2x daily fluff posts (in my humble opinion).

    I’ve had similar struggles with my family blog. Like, ‘do I actually sit and be with my kids or get on the computer and write about them?.’ I also think the best posts often come when you aren’t sitting and forcing yourself to come up with one.

    • Wait, I have a life? That’s news to me.

      I kid. Seriously, I know you know, and I wasn’t suggesting otherwise (or apologizing for what small portion of a social life I have). I was just taking a moment to appreciate the fact that I’m not so hyperactive a blogger that I don’t get plenty scatterbrained about it.

  14. Awww, Gena, I think you are one of the most dedicated bloggers out there (that I keep in touch with, anyway)! As I’m just starting a blog, I’m sure there will be up’s and down’s on the journey. Let’s hope my blog is even a little bit as successful as yours, and I will be thrilled! Keep up the excellent work, wonderful writer!

    With Smiles,
    Amanda

  15. I’m with other commenters- I’ve never noticed any ‘bad blogger’ from your end! And I feel the *exact* same way about taking pics & savoring the experience. I’m really hesitant to call myself a foodie because yes, I enjoy food. I like cooking, creating, and eating (of course). But it’s not really the focus point of my life. I can’t say I’ve ever gotten really excited to eat…I mean I look forward to eating but it’s the people I’m with/places I go that excites me!

  16. Pshaw! If there’s anything I’ve learned from blogging, it’s that it’s a cycle. Ups and downs, ins and outs. I constantly forget my camera, my personal blog hasn’t seen a post in over a month, and I definitely don’t keep an organized list of what I want to write about. Fuhgettaboudit. You’re doing a FANTASTIC job here, and one or two off days (or weeks or months) is totally fine. Hearts!

  17. it’s funny, because i am consistently impressed by the amount of blogging that you do (especially considering the intensity of your schedule earlier this summer!). i post far less often than i’d like these days, but like you, i want to enjoy my life, and blogging is only an element of that. it’s possible that i’d be more diligent about it if i had a very large readership, but mostly i just blog for myself. there was no way i was going to interrupt the perfect ambiance, for instance, of sidewalk dining in tribeca last night just to snap the perfect “whole plate” photo. 🙂

    and i couldn’t agree more with your final sentiments in this post. i blog about food because i am passionate about it – the passion came before the blog, and it will always stay that way.

    happy sunday, gena!

  18. It only means I’m living or eating with passion–and in the end, that passion is what I really like sharing with you.

    Wise words. And I couldn’t agree more with this and everything else you ‘ve written. This attitude towards blogging is the best, and the healthiest too, for you and everyone that gets this message.

  19. Hi, Gena! Your kind comment on my blog means so much coming from you, a great and talented writer and editor (not to mention GORGEOUS!). Thank you so much for reading and for all of your support 🙂

    • Anytime, Maria! It really was a terrific post, and I hope it’s a conversation that you continue to expand. I’ll be reading 🙂

  20. Hi Gena
    I would love a chance to win the Hippocrates video collection! I have been trying to follow their program for the past two years, and though I fully believe in it and know many people who have healed from it, I find it very difficult to keep up with. I think that the info in the videos regarding food combining as well as practical day to day tips on how to make it work would really help me a lot!!! That said, I have gotten a bunch of great recipes from your blog that I have been able to use and have really enjoyed, and I appreciate that.

  21. oh it’s kinda ironic you posted this…
    I posted about BLOOB Muffins that were a Near FAIL today…combining two things in your post in one…oh the serendipity!

    First of all, I HATE that I actually remember to carry my camera everywhere…it just means I am a slave to my blog which I really dont relish. Why do I continue? Not sure. It’s my own stuff that I have to figure out and work thru and the ever-striving need for balance with blogging.

    And as someone who’s moved my blog to food centric to food as just one element (b/c food is not my life rather it’s simply one element of my life)…I totally dont expect to see pics of everyone’s food, every post, and surely not ALL The food one eats. I am still astounding I get “daily eats please” requests from readers. Shocking they would care and even more shocking that they think I would actually photograph and upload it all LOL

    It’s 4am and time for me to go to bed now 🙂

  22. Good for you! I write in my blog when I feel “inspired.” Sometimes, that is once a week, sometimes it’s five times a week. I try not to force anything because I know it won’t be worth it for me or the readers if I do.

    Glad you enjoyed your eats!

    xoxoxo

  23. I’ve been lurking on your blog for a few weeks now, and you have nothing to feel bad about cos you skipped a photo! Your posts are always so full of knowledge and quality, I think it’s so impressive!
    Almost as impressive as those sweet potato rolls..they sound amazing!

  24. I think it’s healthy to take blogging breaks and breaks from taking food pics too. The only bad blogger is one who doesn’t blog at all!

  25. girl, you are doing just fine! i love that every post you have is a high quality post…not just a listing of what you eat and random tidbits from your day every time, but you actually have a really great voice 🙂 i say keep up the great work!

  26. I think you’re a fantastic blogger who balances her work life, personal life and blogging life in equal amounts. You’re doing a great job, and don’t feel a whit of guilt about any of it!

    Besides, too many blogs feature food porn pictures. I don’t visit your site to see that. I visit choosingraw to *read your words* and learn your insights – not to see a photo of lunch.

  27. Oh Gena… like you owe us anything! I’ll take what I can get whether daily, weekly, or monthly. Each of your posts is wonderful. If you were perfect I wouldn’t be able to stand reading your blog. Perfection is annoying. As for bad bloggers, check out my nonexistent tease of a blog!

  28. I really appreciate this post, Gena. I’ve been feeling so guilty lately about the fact that I DON’T post every single day. I try to do my best, but I don’t want blogging to take over my life. I have other things to do and people to spend time with; not to mention I spend enough time dealing with food in the kitchen–I don’t always want to spend hours looking/reading/writing about it too! It’s just about finding a good balance and schedule for me, so thanks again. I needed this. 🙂

  29. I’m a totally bad blogger but oh well. It’s just how it goes. The food pics you did take look scrumptious! Glad you enjoyed yourself and your company!

  30. I’ve never noticed any “neglect” from your end, and am actually rather impressed by the amount of blogging that you do. Bad blogger does not equal Gena, in my book! Your posts are always thoughtful and inspiring, and I feel lucky to have discovered your blog!

    • Thanks girl. Given that I’ve been reading your blog since well before this blog had come to be, that is a mighty fine compliment 🙂

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