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LAGNIAPPE

Permission to Pivot

This post has been a long time coming. Several months, in fact. It’s long and I encourage you to refill your coffee, or other beverage of choice while settling in. 

It began at the beginning of the year. I wasn’t feeling my most authentic self with where my food blogging was heading and in particular a couple of brand partnerships. I was struggling with food waste and creating content in an excessive way that went against what I was trying to achieve healthwise or how I felt morally. I walked away from some partnerships that required me to create recipes that I knew I wasn’t particularly eating at home. Indulgence had been the bain of my existence and it was time to change. 

The food blogging space is a tricky one, and if we are being honest, not one I ever walked into with eyes wide open. A series of events sort of landed me here, rather blindly. You know the background so I’ll keep it brief- won a cookie contest before I was even a legit blogger, created an apron and circulated it across the country, published a book about it, contracted a second cookbook, went on national television to sell said cookbook, given a food column platform in our local magazine, offered a third cookbook…and here we are. 

It goes without saying that I have been blessed. Truly. Immeasurably. Someone even said to me one day, “you’re living my dream” and do you want to know what’s sad? The entire time I thought, but am I living MY dream?

At times, yes. And at times, no. 

I was so busy creating food content that I had forfeited creating the things that fill up my cup. So busy creating content to appease what the algorithms dictated I create and post. So busy worrying about whether a sponsored post crashed and burned, or why no one was liking my most recent creation. So busy, yet not truly fulfilled. 

Then came the Covid-19 pandemic. And the need to slow down, quarantine and wear masks. 

I received an email from JoAnn Fabrics offering mask making kits. I posted on my personal Facebook page something along the lines of “how hard can it be to make a mask”? as I set off to go pick up some kits. 

I dusted off my sewing machine- a sewing machine that hadn’t been touched since the making of a traveling apron and got to work leaving behind any despair over what brownies needed to be posted next or who was going to pay me to create a cake I’d hope someone would get out of my house. While other bloggers capitalized on quarantine baking and staying sane, I went on hiatus. 

A friend’s daughter working in the SICU in Alexandria requested masks for her team as they were having to reuse their N95s each day. Those masks created a frenzy. 

The next thing I knew I was involved in a Facebook mask-making group Sew You Care, named a team captain and my porch designated as a pick-up/drop-off location. 

You can read some of the press about it here: 

Seamstresses Team Up To Donate Over 25,000 Masks

Common Thread: Making masks is a community crusade

For months, Christine Law (Zachary team captain) and I (Baton Rouge team captain) ran around collecting fabric donations then redistributing to our team of seamstresses and sewing until our machines blew steam off of them. Seriously. I had to replace my machine at about the one month mark and went through 9.2 million broken needles. Our coordination efforts and what we were able to accomplish here in Baton Rouge was the envy of all the other local chapters. We even had a team of non-sewing transportation volunteers we called “Mask Movers” to shuttle around supplies or get the masks to the people who needed them leaving those who could sew the time to sew. 

We partnered with the Baton Rouge Junior League, the fabric shop P Tree Textiles, and countless friends and family members who so generously donated funds and supplies to keep our machines cranking. We were even asked to provide masks for our Lt. Governor, Billy Nungesser, utilizing their tourism bandanas as fabric.  

And then I coordinated the group sewing day of all sewing days to make it happen. 

I knew the LSU Pete Maravich Assembly Center, aka the LSU basketball arena, had been turned into a PPE Assembly Center to get highly needed hospital gowns into the hands of the medical professionals and I had this bright idea to coordinate a sewing team,  haul our machines into the center, and crank out a whopping 500 masks during our time together. 

It was ambitious and it was insane. 

(those were the gowns LSU was making)

Our team of volunteers (we could only have 10 per the mandate at that time) wearing the same Mardi Gras colored masks we made for the Lt. Governor’s office. With exception of two ladies, I had never met any of them prior to our sewing get together.

And if I never accomplish anything else in life, there will always be the time I was posted on the Lt. Governor’s Facebook page wearing a mask. Sigh. 

During that team effort sewing day, we also created 150 masks specifically for the Baton Rouge Food Bank and another 100 or so for area nursing homes. The remaining masks went to those requested through the Sew You Care group. Our final total was 510 masks. In one day together. 

Mask Making at LSU

Now that the mask making has wrapped up, I’ve realized that it was unfair not to include the past few months here.  My website is not Aimee’sBakingBlog.com.  It’s just Aimee Broussard. On purpose. A good friend and long-time blog reader said to me, “Aimee, you took for granted that we didn’t want to be part of your mask journey. We follow “you”, not just your desserts”. She made me realize it never needed to be all or nothing.

I have now given myself permission to pivot and do and post the things that truly fulfill me.  Actually, I gave myself that permission months ago I just failed miserably at including you. And I am sorry about that. 

If it’s no longer brownies, it’s no longer brownies. I’m certain my rankings for mask making do-gooder posts will tank according to Google, but I have always believed that if you are joy-filled with what you are putting out there, it will be valued, and “your people” will find you and love you for it. The moment you are not happy with what you are creating or doing it for the wrong reasons, it will show and it will lead to feelings of overwhelm.  

So in the spirit of continuing to create, I made a date with my sewing machine once again. The masks have long been cleared away and space created to work on a little something that better represents two things that make me happy: my Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and apron making.  

Handmade Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Apron

After all, this began, years ago with the power of community and the beauty of a handmade apron. 

If you have read this far, thank you for being my people. I owe the utmost gratitude to you for sticking around. 

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6 Comments

About Aimee

Southern born and raised, Aimee enjoys living life in the deep South with husband Brian and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Milo, Murph, Tucker, newest addition Queen Bea + their occasional foster dog. A graduate of Louisiana College, she once haphazardly traded in a career in corporate insurance for the aprons and ovens of her kitchen. AimeeBroussard.com is the online diary of her journey as an award-winning cookie creator and two-time cookbook author.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Bianca says

    October 15, 2020 at 8:23 pm

    If you have a brown dachshund apron I’d love that, your cavi one is precious.

    Reply
  2. Sarah says

    October 15, 2020 at 8:58 pm

    Thank you for giving yourself permission to pivot. And thank you for including this community.

    Reply
  3. Kelly A. says

    October 16, 2020 at 6:49 am

    You are precious. I’m so happy you took away to get back to you, but even more so that you’re back! Keep on being amazing. Much love from TN.

    Reply
  4. Virginia Rachal says

    October 26, 2020 at 12:05 pm

    I love this, Aimee! I started following you when you made an appearance at one of the Ugly Mug Marketing events — you stuck out to me because you were “different” and I love food. I also love anyone who has a creative and giving mind. You fit that bill. I love the permission to pivot. I always enjoy seeing your post on social media. I am in real estate and I totally understand where you are coming from in a world where you have to ‘go with the flow’ in order to make it. In the past few months I am determined to find out what makes me “Virginia” and I will enjoy watching what makes you “Aimee” — best wishes!

    Reply
  5. Brenda Catanesi says

    October 26, 2020 at 12:11 pm

    Sew On! Love this pivot!

    Reply
  6. Angie | Big Bears Wife says

    October 26, 2020 at 1:21 pm

    I’m so proud of you no matter what you blog about. I love your site, you, your recipes, your pups and your aprons! The apron I have from Dixie Crystals is one of my favorites. I can wait to follow your new journey.

    Reply

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Hi, I'm Aimee. Southern born and raised, a self proclaimed accidental entrepreneur with a penchant for porches and sweet hospitality. I'm a two time cookbook author, recipe developer and award winning cookie creator making my home in the deep South with husband, Brian and a gaggle of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. WELCOME to my online front porch.

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🍰 Heirloom Recipes + sweet Southern Charm
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Aimee | Aimee’s Pretty Palate
No April foolin', this Pecan Praline French Toast No April foolin', this Pecan Praline French Toast Casserole will have your Easter brunch guests droolin'. 🙌 🐰 🍞 
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**recipe found on www.aimeebroussard.com**
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#frenchtoast #pecanpraline #breakfastcasserole #brunchideas
One, two, three, four....eat the whole stack and y One, two, three, four....eat the whole stack and you'll be on the floor. 🤣Maaaaybe only have one slice of Iced Lemon Loaf instead but no judgment from me if you sneak in a second for a late afternoon snack. Just not four, okay? You should share. 🍋 🍞 Recipe is on the blog and also included in my March "When Life Gives You Lemons" column in @inRegister magazine. <<----- video flip through in stories! 🍋🍋🍋
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#lemonloaf #icedlemoncake #lemonpoundcake #
Weekend plans start NOW! 🙌 🧺 🍍 ⭐️🥝 Weekend plans start NOW! 🙌 🧺 🍍 ⭐️🥝 🍓 🙌
Whenever I'm lacking inspiration, a quick stroll down the produce aisles of @Sprouts is sure to do the trick with their not-found-elsewhere unique varieties.  Such is the case for this Tropical Fruit Salad with Honey Yogurt Dressing recipe featuring the photo dazzling, sweetly flavored, Star Fruit- the fruit that doesn't even have to be shaped because it's already born as a star! ⭐️ Literally. This month, indulge your senses in a taste of the tropics at Sprouts with Star Fruit, Jackfruit, Dragon Fruit, Kiwi + more...without even leaving your home town! 🥝 #ad #lovesprouts 
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Here's how to make the Honey Yogurt Dip: 
1 cup vanilla flavored Greek yogurt 
1/4 cup honey 
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 
Whisk to combine. Serve as dressing tossed with fresh fruit, or as a dip alongside a fruit board. 🥝 
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Viola! Scroll through the photos and consider taking your Tropical Fruit Salad on a picnic ala Jar-Fruiterie style! 🥝⭐️🍓🍍
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#rainbowfood #rainbowboard #rainbowplatter #eattherainbow
You can bet your bundt I'm adding this From Scratc You can bet your bundt I'm adding this From Scratch Lemon Pudding Bundt Cake to my handy dandy list of springtime favorite recipes. 🍋 It's the ultimate recipe for lemon lovers containing lemon juice, lemon pudding, lemon zest THEN topped with lemon glaze. 🍋 🍰 🍋 NEW on the blog! 
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🍋 www.aimeebroussard.com 🍋
#lemonbundtcake #bundtcake #bundt #lemoncake
Years ago I did the 23andMe ancestry test and it t Years ago I did the 23andMe ancestry test and it turns out, I'm 46.8% British & Irish. 🍀 So basically, not Irish enough to have any soda bread recipes for you BUT Irish enough to offer you something green like a rich and creamy Grasshopper Milkshake rimmed with Thin Mints. 🍀🥛🍀 And if you prefer to eat your desserts rather than drink them, swipe through for Grasshopper Pie, two ways because... I like options. 

🍀All recipes found on www.aimeebroussard.com 🍀

Happy St. Patrick's Day! 🍀🍀
#stpatricksday #greenrecipes #gogreen
I'm not even going to complain about how cold it h I'm not even going to complain about how cold it has been in Louisiana when friends are having it so bad in Texas, but y'all... I had to pull out and dust off my Alaskan cruise clothes when we lost power earlier in the week. 🥶 We just aren't equipped down here. I've had ALL THE SOUPS on rotation including this Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle that has been on the blog forever, but got some new photos. Because if you're gonna be iced in, might as well photograph & update your recipes! I hope you are staying WARM where you are. 🥣 🐔 🥣
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#food52 #buzzfeedfood #buzzfeast #huffposttaste #marthafood #thekitchn #foodgawker #yahoofood #feedfeed #BHGfood #mysouthernliving #droolclub #imsomartha #theeverygirlcooks #Todayfood #chickennoodlesoup #slowcookerchickennoodle #foodtographyschool #comfortfood #noleftovers #buzzfeedtasty
Every day I'm truff-a-lin. 🎵 King Cake Oreo Tru Every day I'm truff-a-lin. 🎵 King Cake Oreo Truffles are NEW on the blog.  You are only fiiiiiiiiiive ingredients away from your newest snack time obsession. 💜💚💛
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#foodstagram #beautifulcuisines #eatwellbewell #foodwinewomen #huffposttaste #foodtographyschool #feedyoursoul  #TOHfoodie #food52 #instay #BHGfood #imsomartha #ABMlifeissweet #makeitdelicious #kingcake #kingcakeseason #followyournola #sweettoothforever #mysouthernliving #onlyinlouisiana #mardigras2021 #mardigras #nobakedessert
Hustle and heart may set you apart but Streusel To Hustle and heart may set you apart but Streusel Topped Banana Bread will get you outta bed. 🍌 🍞 🛏 High five for Friday and weekend breakfast on deck! PS: If you haven't sprinkled your streusel with turbinado sugar, you are missing out. It keeps the topping crunchy even after sealing the leftovers. 👏 🍞 👏
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🍌🍌 Recipe found on www.aimeebroussard.com. 🍌🍌
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#foodstagram #beautifulcuisines #eatwellbewell #foodwinewomen #huffposttaste #foodtographyschool #feedyoursoul  #TOHfoodie #food52 #instay #BHGfood #imsomartha #ABMlifeissweet #makeitdelicious #mydomaineeats #dailyfoodfeed #bananabread #bananabreadrecipe #homemadebread #inmykitchen #whatsforbreakfast #tastingtable #recipeshare #simplebaking #bakingfromscratch
There are only 4 more Mondays (3 if you don't coun There are only 4 more Mondays (3 if you don't count today!) between now and Mardi Gras and I've got a King Cake recipe for every. single. Monday. 👑 Today? KING CAKE FUDGE that looks like mini king cakes. Rich, buttery with cinnamon goodness throughout. 💜💚💛
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Find this recipe on the www.aimeebroussard.com homepage under the "ALL HAIL CARNIVAL SEASON" tab. 👑 
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