Hummusapien

2016 Reflections: I Am More Than a Food Blogger

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“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive, and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”

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That quote is my spirit animal.

I fell in love with writing when I was really young. I loved to write before I loved to eat. Along with being an expert photographer and gardener, my late grandpa wrote best-selling books on how to write. We would sit in his basement on the weekends and he’d read my seventy page “book” about Tanya and her unicorn, smiling and assuring me that this was the one. I like to think that his gifts, spirit, and passion live on in me.

Like all things in life, that passion ebbs and flows. There are times when I can’t wait to feel the keys beneath my fingertips and there are times when the thought of opening my laptop gives me a migraine. In the early years, it was far more the former. The blogging world was less saturated, less competitive, and less serious. I felt little to no pressure to make the titles of my recipes searchable on Google and to make images that everyone and their brother would want to pin twice. I felt free to curate content around what made me happy.

The beauty of growth is the opportunity to turn your hobby, turn what you love, into a career. The downside is just that—it’s no longer your hobby. I love it just as much as I always have, but I’d be lying if I said it was the same.

Moving on! Anyone that knows me knows that I’m a really emotional person, almost to a fault. While I have a good sense of humor and an affinity for sarcasm, I’m equally as sensitive. I know how to read people. I’m compassionate. I’ve always prided myself on being a leader, on having an unwavering sense of integrity, on making doing the right thing “cool.” While I love to have a good time, I’ve always been the moral one, the one that doesn’t drink more than I can handle, the one that makes sure everything gets done. I don’t pretend I’m something I’m not. I know 100% who I am and I’m completely comfortable with my identity. That’s rare, and it’s surely not something I take for granted.

But when people ask me what I do, I still have to pause and think about it. Ummm, I’m a…food blogger? I have this website with…healthy recipes? And we have this cafe…and I’m a dietitian.

“Food blog.” Is that what this is? Is that what I am?

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Sure, I love food. And yes, I love inspiring others to embrace food in a positive, healthy way. But I also love writing in general and talking to you about inanimate objects and clothes and music and my personal life and the places I’m going. To say that I’m a food blogger does not do me nor my dreams nor this space justice.

The whole blogging as a business thing may be a nice perk, but it’s not what I nor many bloggers I know set out to do when they started out five years ago. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. It is not easy to identify myself as a plant-based food blogger when I have so many friends and clients that suffer from disordered eating, often fueled by an internal need to go vegan. I also feel at odds balancing the need to generate an income that validates the time invested in this space with sponsored brand work that I’m not sure my audience will fully understand.

With all the moral challenges that presented themselves this year, it was still a great one and I know it made me stronger. I’d say it was the best year yet both for me and for Alchemy. I was named a Tastemaker, Slow Food Delegate, and Top Ten Dietitian. I spoke at FNCE on behalf of balance and entrepreneurship. I traveled to Florence, Turin, San Francisco, Boston, D.C., Louisville, and Nashville.

Alchemy is thriving with another location or two on the way. We were chosen as a top 100 Yelp business and made the 2016 list of top 100 places to eat in Columbus for the second year in a row. The blog could sustain me on its own if I ever wanted to go that route, but I don’t. All of that is fine and dandy but what I hold closest to my heart about this year is that this brand and myself as a dietitian (are those two different things?) have become known for inspiring others and for preaching balance and joy. That is my success. Why? Because being that person to you is honestly the highest reward I can imagine coming from this platform. I feel more connected to my followers than ever.

What do I want out of 2017? I want to put less pressure on myself. I want to rediscover all the joy in this again. I want my Instagram feed to not be three million pictures of food. I want my content across all platforms to be driven not by what’s expected of me, but by what compels me. I want to talk about what I want to talk about, damn it!

I want to work with fewer brands and put quality over quantity. I want to find the magical balance of running a successful business without it sucking my passion dry. I want to dive deeper into my relationships, be more present, and not be a giant stress ball. I want to put my heart and soul into Alchemy more than ever before and share more about what that journey has been like with you. If my growth in terms of page views stunts as a result, that’s okay with me. The goal for this blog has never been and never will be world domination.

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I want Hummusapien to be a brand known not just for plant-based recipes, but for inspiration, for entrepreneurship, for balance, for positivity, for humor, for travel, and maybe even for fashion. Because guess what? I like my new booties just as much if not more than the flourless cookies I posted last week. And I want to TRAVEL! I want to explore the unknown, photograph turquoise doors, and inspire you with visuals that don’t involve kale or coffee or donuts.

There is so much more to me, to Hummusapien, than food. This is not just a food blog. I am more than a food blogger. I’m here to inspire, to motivate, to teach, and to make you laugh. If you find a new recipe on the way, that’s stupendous.

Times change. Trends change. People and passions evolve. At the end of the day, if you feel an eighth of the excitement that I feel when I share with you a restaurant, a scarf, a destination, or a freaking notebook, then I’m doing my job right.

I don’t think blogs will live forever. And that’s okay. My only hope is that what I transcend to you along the way in words and thoughts and pictures will.

Thank you Photo 243 for the beautiful photos. Fashion details coming soon!

Comments

  5. Favorite line: . “I want my content across all platforms to be driven not by what’s expected of me, but by what compels me.” Amen to that. Happy 2017.

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  6. Kudos! Loving your honesty (as always). I know what you are doing can be an uphill battle….teaching and presenting a lifestyle of healthy eating. There are those who do not want to hear it…I know. However, I have found that being persistent and tenacious can be like a tiny voice that will eventually, joyfully be heard! Thanks for all you do and who you are,

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  14. Love this! You’re always so inspiring and a trailblazer in this realm. I started to notice the change in your Instagram and I LOVE all of your inspiration and truth, with your side of humor AND emotion!!! Keep on being you girl!!!

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  15. I love love love everything about this, Alexis! And I’ve definitely felt a lot of those similar feelings. It’s crazy how the blog world has changed SO MUCH over the years. You’ve built so many amazing things, I’m excited to see where 2017 takes you!

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  17. I know the shift you refer re: blogging. Sadly I think it’s making a lot of blogs less fun to read! I feel like it is less about community and more about branding. I can totally see how frustrating that could be! I hope that you go into 2017 realizing your worth and that many people adore your blog- without expectations of you being anything in particular.

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  18. I love to see influencers who are more than ONE thing and ONE note, and I love that you have so many passions. Do it all, gal! You are definitely an inspiration! Oh and the blog redesign looks fab! I have friends in Columbus, so if I ever go visit I hope to stop by the cafe.

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  20. This was beautiful. I may not have a food blog, but I relate so much to everything you said. My Instagram used to be solely pictures of food. Now it’s pictures of my life and the beauty of the outdoors with a few pictures of food riddled throughout. It was hard to make the change, I felt self conscious and uncomfortable sharing other aspects of my life because I felt like all people wanted to see from me was food. My food pictures still get double the likes and comments of my others, but including more aspects of my life makes my heart more full — and that’s what is truly important. I’m a total foodie and think about food more than most things, but it’s not all that I am. This year was an enlightening one for me as well, but I still struggle with not being a giant stress ball and seeing the bigger picture instead of focusing so much on one thing that I lose sight of it. I’m glad to hear I’m not alone. I’ve been a long time follower of your blog and journey, I don’t comment often but I love hearing about other aspects of your life beyond food and your personality shining through are what makes your blog one of the best. I look forward to seeing you rediscovering your passions and living a more full life, and I’m happy to hear you have been able to take a step back this year to see what’s truly important!

    From a loyal fan wherever your journey takes you,
    Brookelynne

    Reply

    • Thank you for such a sincere, thoughtful comment! I hear you on the engagement–people will always double a tap a beautiful smoothie bowl way faster than a nature pic. Luckily there are more important things in life than how many likes our insta food photos get :) I’m SO over posting what I know other people want to see out of me rather than what drives ME. I love how you said a moe “full” life–that’s so key. Happy New Year’s Eve, special lady! Thanks tons for reading over the years.

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  24. Damn girl, you can write! I always knew that, but you really put it all out there in this post, which makes me like you even more than I already did. To inspire balance and joy, while being true to the person you are, is a fantastic goal. I’m looking forward to watching what you do in 2017!

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  25. So well-written and freeing! Thanks for inspiring us with your leadership, passion, food and fantastic fashion sense! I look forward to following along next year. Happy Holidays!

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  28. ” It is not easy to identify myself as a plant-based food blogger when I have so many friends and clients that suffer from disordered eating….”

    I have small blog that I love and am proud of. I would very much like to grow my blog in coming year and I totally identify with what you’re saying. My personal experience is that blogging has helped my own disordered eating. I can control food instead of food controlling me. I’m not “there” yet, but there are things that never truly go away….

    Congrats on a wonderful year, Alexis! Here’s to 2017.

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  29. Alexis, you are an inspiration. I’m a huge fan of all your work and can’t wait to see what more you have in store :)

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  30. This is why you’ve been my favorite blogger for years. You always keep it real, you’re always honest, and you truly have a good heart. You have been such an inspiration to me in my journey, and I am so glad you can see all the light you shine for all of us. I truly hope I get to meet you one day! Wishing you all the happiness in the world in 2017! I know I am def ready to see 2016 go…

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  32. So true. I feel like blogging is unique in that most of us started out with such different goals or images in our mind compared to what has emerged. It’s so important to remember what drove us initially to write, and think of how we can return to those roots. Thanks for the reminder.

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  34. You are and always will be my favorite blogger…or writer…or traveler…or whatever YOU want to be. Know this…that you HAVE inspired me, motivated me, taught me and seriously made me laugh! Your recipes ARE stupendous, but your spirit is what keeps me coming back. Have an awesome 2017…I’ll be watching!

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  35. Alexis,
    What a great from the heart blog! You always come through as a genuine, caring, compassionate person in whatever role you are taking on. I never think of you as just a food blogger. Your health and exercise tips are always inspiring. The recipes are fabulous. I think I might be extra hangry if you didn’t post all of your recipes and pictures. You have me baking up a storm. Even my not so healthy eating husband has crossed over to try some of your fab dishes! I also am always so happy for you with the honors that you have received. I have told my own two sons and my four year old grandson that the effort you out into something is what you will get out. You certainly have put oodles and oodles of effort in everything that you do. Thank you for everything that you share with me. Happy Holidays!
    Jan Brulz

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  36. I LOVE YOU and this is amazing. I’ve been feeling so many of the same things this year. Time to make 2017 the year of “I’m doing this for me and give zero f*cks about what anyone else thinks because it makes me happy.” Hugs!!

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  37. I love this post so much. I feel like I’ve heard this sentiment from hundreds of other bloggers before but I love how eloquently you you put it to words.

    I am so glad we finally got to meet in 2016- you are truly a positive force and an inspiration! Keep following your heart girl.

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  39. … and this is why I follow your blog. To be honest, I’ve unfollwed people in the past when their blogs or Instagram turned from real life glimpses, thoughts and opinions with some food in between to just the latter. I still see blogging as a means of connection with like-minded people and don’t want to see just one aspect of their lives – aka the food part – only. Actually, life > food for me. So bring it on in 2017!
    Gorgeous pictures of you here, too!

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  40. Love this! And you’re an inspiration to all of us, even if blogs don’t live on. But I hope they do! I think many times it’s just easy for people to forget that food bloggers are actually people and that we don’t spend all day eating, even though our socia media channels may make it seem much differently. Thanks for being honest, and I love those booties! :)

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  41. What I love most about your posts Alexis, is your ‘realness’. Your sense of humor and sarcasm are revealed and I love it!
    Best wishes to you in the new year!

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  42. I love ur blog Alexis! And I wud definitely want to come to Columbus to eat at Alchemy <3
    Keep up the amazing work :)

    Reply

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