Today I just want to talk to you for a second.

About a year and a half ago when I really got serious about blogging, I made a promise to myself that I would blog three times a week. Period. I wanted to be consistent, to be taken seriously. And that’s what I did. I posted a new recipe on Mondays, “What I Ate Wednesday” on Wednesdays, and either something topical or another recipe on Thursdays. That’s just how it was.

Then last week came along and guess what? I didn’t post on Thursday. Then I didn’t post on Friday, either.

And then I realized something. I don’t want to be a slave to the internet.

I never wanted this space to be stressful. It’s supposed to be my creative outlet, my way of giving back. So why am I putting pressure on myself to meet some silly standard that doesn’t even exist?

Life HAPPENS. We get STRESSED. We get BUSY. We get EXCITED. We’re LIVING.

The second Alchemy is opening in less than two weeks. I’m stressed, I’m busy, I’m excited, and I’m sure as hell living!

Last Wednesday my friends asked me if I wanted to get dinner and drinks at Columbus’ new Guild House and my immediate thought was “shoot, I still haven’t done tomorrow’s blog post.” Then I stepped back. I realized how ridiculous I sounded, that I was about to turn down an invitation to drink good wine and eat great food with fabulous friends because I hadn’t photographed the freaking chickpea salad. What the hell is wrong with me?

Having a blog that doubles as a job really blurs the line sometimes. There’s pressure. People depend on you. It’s expected that you’ll post pretty food and write funny things each and every week. But it’s also your job to have a life, to keep some sliver of sanity, and to practice what you preach.  I preach balance, and now I’m going to practice it.

I’m going to have a glass of wine even if tomorrow’s post isn’t finished.

I’m going to enjoy a long, lazy brunch even if I signed up for a workout class.

I’m going to stay out late drinking vodka sodas even if I haven’t responded to the last two hundred comments.

It can wait. All of it. At the end of the day, I love you all and this blog more than anything and we all know that. But if I’m spending all my “free” time working working working working and then working a little more, no one’s happy. Not me, not you, not the chickpeas.

So if I suddenly don’t post, don’t worry. I’ll always be here. This space is only going to get bigger and better. I can promise you that.

But if I’m gonna do this, if I’m gonna make Hummusapien all it can be, I want to do right. I want to do it with a smile on my face. I want to always have that warm and fuzzy feeling I get when l nail recipe that I know you’re gonna love or when I think of something hilarious to say on my way home from work. I don’t want it to be forced. I don’t want to blog just because it’s Thursday.

So on this beautiful Monday, I don’t have a recipe for you. All I have are some wise words.

Don’t push your passion over the edge. Don’t accidentally turn what you love into something you don’t. Do you and rock it. Embrace your inconsistencies. Anyone who matters will love you for it. I can promise you that.