Welcome to Make It Good.

Read about why I'm craving connections, cultivating authenticity & community, and why I wanted to start this new home.

This new space will be community led and supported, free of ads. If you love my recipes, consider becoming a paid subscriber to receive all-new recipes in your inbox every Thursday.

Getting Back To My Roots

For years now, the desire for change has been gnawing at me, and today, it's finally happening.

Back in 2008, I stumbled into the world of blogging without a clue of what it really meant. It was a time when I was grappling with a new diagnosis and undergoing a complete overhaul of my diet. The idea struck me: why not share this journey with friends and family? Writing has always been my solace. There was something incredibly therapeutic about sitting on the couch with Ryan in the evenings, pouring my heart out onto the page.

As a Type 4 on the Enneagram, writing became my lifeline, the channel through which I could untangle the tangled mess of thoughts in my head. Speaking sometimes just couldn't capture the depth of my emotions, you know? But with writing, I could take my time, shaping my words until they felt just right.

My blog quickly became my sanctuary, a place where I could share recipes, discuss the highs and lows of living with ulcerative colitis and autoimmune issues, and most importantly, connect with others who were going through similar struggles. It was a lifeline for young women like me, for mothers seeking support for their children with allergies or autoimmune disease, and for anyone facing their own health battles.

But it wasn't just about writing. I fell head over heels in love with cooking on camera, sharing my kitchen adventures with viewers eager to learn. In the early days, Ryan was my trusty cameraman, capturing those precious moments. Knowing that real people were on the other side of the screen, learning and healing alongside me, fueled my passion like nothing else.

When connections matter more than metrics.

Yet, as time passed, social media began to change the landscape. Blog readership dwindled, and it felt like my voice was getting lost in the cacophony of algorithms and trends. It was draining, wondering if anyone still cared about the stories I had to tell. I moved over to instagram and shared a lot of my heart there, until reels and trendy short videos became king. I also loved cooking live weekly on Facebook and Instagram, until long videos no longer were served out to your feeds.

Today, it seems social media increasingly prioritizes likes over genuine connections. Navigating the ever-changing demands of algorithmic mediums adds uncertainty to fitting content into the mold. And it is draining.

Then, I did something different. I reached out to you, my community, and asked what you wanted more of in 2024. And your response surprised me. You craved real stories, easy recipes, LOTS of chocolate, actual cooking demonstrations over reels, and a peek back into my life like I used to share - daily struggles with autoimmune disease, motherhood, and being a small business owner. It was a reminder of why I started this journey in the first place.

I've had dreams to get back to my roots of blogging and teaching on video, sharing the ups and downs of life, and returning to sharing more personal stories simmering on the back burner, uncertain of where to host it or what medium to publish on. But seeing other writers make the leap to SubStack and migrate from their blogs or social media gave me hope.

It felt like a return to the blogging days of old, where connections mattered more than metrics.

The comment sections devoid of bots and trolls. Our blogs, and honestly even social media comment sections and private messages, used to be a positive, loving, encouraging space for like minded people.

And that’s what I hope to cultivate again here with Make It Good.

Good food. Good people. Good friendships. Good discussions. Good recipes. 

Good health. 

A Fresh Start

I'm excited, waking up at ungodly hours to write and dream. Ryan keeps coming downstairs at 6am to find me already snuggled on the couch, second cup of coffee in hand, and a new letter to you drafted. If you know me, you know mornings aren't my thing. I’m a sleep-9-hours-a-day girl.

But this feels different. It's like the old days, but with a fresh twist.

I’ve already written journal entries for six new recipes, an update from my latest colonoscopy, how I prepare for my infusion days, marriage with autoimmune disease, and detailing our food philosophy when it comes to raising kids. I also poured a bit more onto page about my dream for a television show, the uphill battle it’s been, and how I plan to test out my ideas here in the video tab instead for now.

I can’t wait to share them all with you and continue writing about the subjects you ask for.

Will anything change?

To my long-time newsletter subscribers and social media followers, fear not. We're still connected, and I’ll continue sending you recipes via email. And I will still be on Instagram and Facebook sharing recipe videos and photos from my recipe archives.

I’m just going to be spending more time on, and pouring much more of my true self into, here. Where you and I get to make the rules, and I can be who I am.

This journey feels like coming home. It's about creativity, community, and, of course, good food. Thank you for joining me on this ride. Let's see where it takes us.

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My newsletters

There are two versions of my newsletter: One is free and one is paid. The free version comes out every Thursday. If you’ve been my email friend for a long time, those will look the same!

For free subscribers:

• Weekly newsletter in your inbox every Thursday

• Seasonal recipe ideas from the archives

• Info on new books or book tours

• One brand new exclusive recipe a month

For my paid subscribers ($5/month or $50/year), you'll enjoy everything above, plus:

• Exclusive Recipes - One brand-new exclusive recipe a week (ad free, printable, and with all of my substitution, shortcut, and make-ahead advice)

• Essays - Occasional personal essays on health, wellness, and motherhood (if you were a regular reader of my Against all Grain blog back in the day, this is what you can expect)

• Recommendations for ingredients, cooking tools, books, restaurants, (and even random things like my favorite house shoes for plantar fasciitis!) and other things/places I’m loving that are currently making my life GOOD.

• Q&As - because I genuinely love answering all of your cooking questions. Or even what my favorite Christmas movie is. Or what I’d bring to a desert island.

• Comments - Access to comments so we can talk about whatever we please, and you can request recipes, in a fun safe space.

Again, all ad free and exclusive to you.

Regardless of which subscription you choose, I can’t wait for you to come along this new journey with me and embark on something new together.

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