other

Honey-Drizzled Cranberry Brie Pastry Braid

Honey-Drizzled Cranberry Brie Pastry Braid
Honey-Drizzled Cranberry Brie Pastry Braid

I was an accidental jerk in fourth grade. I’m still totally embarrassed by it. It turns out even nice, otherwise well-intentioned kids can get caught up in accidental jerkiness.

See, fourth grade was the pinnacle of my popularity. I hadn’t grown into my shyness yet, so I was silly and outgoing. My friend group was comprised of all the blonde-haired girls in class. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was part of a clique.

Most of the time we were nice and inclusive. But sometimes we’d block kids out without even realizing what we were doing or why. For instance, one day I got the brilliant idea of creating a language. We’d talk in made-up words and no one would know what we were saying except other girls from our friend group. I pitched the idea to my friends: Wouldn’t it be so funny when the boys couldn’t tell what we were saying (not that they’d bother to stand around and listen)? Wouldn’t it be so funny when the teacher couldn’t understand our secrets? Wouldn’t it be so funny when Amanda couldn’t understand us?

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other

Over-the-Top Loaded Potato Nachos

Over-the-Top Loaded Potato Nachos
Over-the-Top Loaded Potato Nachos

Thanks to Tasteful Selections for sponsoring this recipe! Through January, profits from their Ruby Sensation and Honey Gold potatoes support the non-profit Katie’s Krops, which empowers youth across the country to end hunger in their communities one vegetable garden at a time.

When I’m comfortable with people, I’m chatty and silly and loud. But I’m rarely comfortable with people. I’m naturally introverted with a dose of social anxiety on top of that. The older I get, the shyer I become. This might be hard to imagine since I’m so very vocal here, but in person, I’m quiet, aloof, and awkward until I really get to know someone. And the thing is, it’s hard to ever get to know someone if you’re like that.

On a recent trip with other food bloggers, I was having my typical experience. I was hanging out on the fringe of the group. Other bloggers connected as naturally as breathing. They intuitively knew when it was time to go eat so they’d all be together. They seemed to instantly have everything in common. I exhausted my small talk early and then tried to look busy on my phone. I tried to disappear, and they assisted by mostly forgetting I was there. No fault of theirs; after all, I was the one detaching. It’s a bad habit.

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cakes

Hot Cranberry Orange Cake

Hot Cranberry Orange Cake recipe
Hot Cranberry Orange Cake

On the last day of school before winter break, the entire middle school sits around in jammies, performs holiday skits, and exchanges white elephant gifts. Last year around this time I was still trying to find my place in a new city and a new school. I hadn’t been a new teacher in so long that I’d forgotten how kids don’t immediately love you. They don’t get your jokes. They don’t know with what weight to interpret your reactions. They don’t know if it’s cool to want to be around you. You spend a lot of time strategizing about where to sit, what to do, and what to say to introduce yourself day after day. Even once the kids choose you as their own, you must continue to nestle into the fabric of your colleagues and learn the culture of the school. All this while you’re struggling to manage the simplest things: trying to find the closest gym or the best route to work. It was a hard year.

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news

Welcome to the New Willow Bird Baking! (and a giveaway!)

The brand new design is here, just in time for Christmas! I just want to sit and stare at it all day long. And to be honest, I probably will. But first I need to show you around! Settle in with me for a tour of what’s new and what’s been improved.

Beautiful Beginnings

Welcome to the New Willow Bird Baking!

You can now find all of Willow Bird’s social media platforms right at the top of the page. Join me on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram — or subscribe to read the blog in your RSS feed reader or email inbox.

One of my favorite features of the new design is the slideshow of featured recipes at the top of the page. This allows me to introduce you to inspiring dishes I know you’ll love. Right now I’m featuring a handful of recipes that are perfect for Christmas breakfast.

The latest new posts show up right under the featured recipes. If the photo and teaser interest you, just click the “More” link to read the full story and grab the recipe.

Welcome to the New Willow Bird Baking!

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