It’s a Christmas in July Giveaway! I recently celebrated my blogiversary and wanted to celebrate with a little something for you too. But first a little explanation…
So about a month ago or so I was this close to quitting my blog. I was just so overwhelmed with trying to take care of Sophie, keep the house clean, laundry done, dishes washed and also have time to play with Sophie, oh and work out to lose this baby weight too…that blogging was just getting to be too much. Plus we also have a couple of other charity events we are in charge of planning so that played into everything as well. And, if I’m being honest, I got caught up in the comparison game and focused too much on how many site visits I have per day or if my blog is as good as so & so’s, which is just silly! I mean I’m 32 years old, and I should be over worrying about what other’s think of me where it causes me to stop doing something I love. (So God is teaching me a lot about just being myself and being open, hence the reason for this post).
I’m so thankful that I get to stay home with Sophie, and really do love it, but sometimes it’s just hard to fit everything else in. The pics above are a glimpse at my week (the teething monster is visiting so it’s been a bit of drama this week, but lots of fun moments too). So all that to say, I began to seriously pray about whether or not I was supposed to keep blogging. Mostly because my family definitely comes first and I want to make sure I’m giving them my best and the time, love & attention they deserve. But, every time I would be on the verge of quitting someone would share my facebook page with sweet comments or send a message or comment on the blog with how much they loved it and how it helps their family find easy meals to make.
As of July 1st, I’ve had my blog for 6 years. It’s been such a wonderful creative outlet for me and I think I just had to get down to the core of why I do it. It’s fun for me to make new recipes and be creative and to edit pictures and it also stretches me to try new things. But mostly I do it for you, I love helping people find new recipes or try something they wouldn’t have tried before and spread love and joy to their families. That’s what food & recipes are about really, sharing love with others through delicious food.
So, for now I decided that I’m supposed to keep going here at Macaroni and Cheesecake. God really showed me a better schedule during the day. If possible, I take her afternoon nap time and blog/network then and just do a little bit everyday during that time and I’ve found I’ve been able to stay on top of things much better. I think I just got into a bit of a rut and needed to take a step back and get some clarity.
So I just wanted to say thank you to all of you. For your encouragement, support, thoughtfulness and for continuing to read and visit me here. As a token of my appreciation I wanted to give away a $50 Amazon gift card to one lucky winner. Here’s how to enter:
Scroll down and enter in the Rafflecopter below. Giveaway ends at 10:00 pm EST Thursday July 24, 2014. One winner will win a $50 Amazon gift card. This is sponsored by me and paid for out of my pocket as a thank you to you. {GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED-Winner has been contacted}
Welcome! I'm Stephanie, a thirty something girl loving life with my husband Adam and our two little miracles living in gorgeous Southeast Tennessee. I'm passionate about Jesus, traveling, sports (Go Titans!), and of course food! Read more about me 
Good to see that you’re getting a balance in place. I really enjoy finding new recipes on your blog, but of course family comes first 😉
Thank you so much Anne!
I really like O Holy Night.
i’m so glad you didn’t quit! i love your site!
Thank you Sara!
Oh Come Emmanuel.
We 3 kings is our family favorite. I’ve been in a rut too…it’s so easy to get overwhelmed with all that has to be done. God always gives us the focus we need, exactly when we need it. Read jesus calling, dec 19th, it really helped.
Thanks so much Tammy! I agree, God always gives us what we need! I will definitely read that one!
Joy to the world!
joy to the world its heavenly
O Holy Night! So pretty.
O holy Night is my favorite christmas carol. Martina mcbride’s rendition is my favorite. Not sure why this is all in caps LOL
White Christmas
Little Drummer Boy is my favorite Christmas carol, what’s yours?
I ‘hear’ you, Stephanie on feeling overwhelmled. I love your blog, but maybe you could post less often if that would work better for you. Works for me!! Blessings to you and your family… Hugs!
Thanks so much Kathy! Posting less is a definitely possibility especially on busy weeks! Glad to know I’m not alone! Blessing to you and your family as well!
Amazing grace
The Little DruMmer Boy is my all time favorite! So happy that you didnt give ip Blogging!
Thanks so much Stefanie!
Silent night 🙂
Silent Night is my favorite. God bless you.
O little town of bethlehem is my favorite christmas song, one that really brings me back to the true meaning of christmas. “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” So glad god gave you the desire to keep writing macaroni and cheesecake. He’ll carry you through when things seem overwhelming. Family first…we’ll all be here whenever you post! Hugs to you and sophie, too!
And for some reason everything was in caps as I typed but changed when it posted! I do know how to capitalize names….God and Sophie, specifically!
Thank you so much for your encouragement Stephanie!! So very true, He will carry us through!! (And sorry about the all caps thing, sometimes my comment box does that and I don’t know how to fix it).
My favorite is Mary, Did You Know?
Christmas Rock…love it!
Silent NIGHT IS SO beautiful.
I can only imagine how overwhelmed you have been! I love your food blog but my favorite content are the pictures of you and your family! Be happy dear Stephanie!
Thank you so much Susan!! Hope you are doing great!
O holy night
Im so glad you didnt quit!! And i completely understand where you’re coming from, im glad things are getting better 🙂
Thank you so much Jenn!
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Oh come, Oh Come Emmanuel, Mary Did you know and many others!
PS – glad you are sticking with the blog! I too know how difficult it is to juggle kids (3), a house, a dog, a blog…..and a life:)
Thank you so much Ally!!
SIlent night
I’m glad you didn’t give up blogging – I love seeing your recipes and your photos are gorgeous! My favorite Christmas carol is O Holy Night – I’ve loved it ever since I was a kid.
Thank you so much Jamie Lynn!!
I love Mary, Did you know? You are doing a great job! Thanks for your hard work! 🙂
Carol of the Bells. eSPECIALLY WHEN THE mORMON tABERNACLE cHOIR PREFORMS IT.
I’m so glad you’re going to keep blogging. I would really miss your easy family food and all the cute Sophie pics. My favorite Christmas Carol is Carol of the Bells. (Though I pretty much obsess over Christmas music and love all the carols.)
Thank you so much!! 🙂
I love Carol of the Bells. So glad you’re going to stick with blogging. But I totally get how hard it is to juggle it all! Stay strong!
Thank you so much Anne!
Silent nighT
I am glad you aren’t Quitting!! YOur life changing rice really did change my lIfe!! You got this!! My favOrite Christmas carol is up on tHe houseTop!
Thank you so much Jodi! So glad you love the rice!
piCKING JUST ONE CHRISTMAS SONG IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE – BUT SILENT NIGHT IS ALWAYS A TOP PICK.
Not true christmas carols, but all of mariah carey’s christmas songs 🙂
So so glad you didn’t quit blogging! I know exactly how you feel though. Once i stopped playing the comparison game, my outlook on blogging really changed for the better. I think my fave christmas carol would have to be Oh Holy Night. So pretty!
Thank you Leah! It really does help change your perspective when you stop comparing doesn’t it? Glad to know you’ve felt the same in the past too!
I enjoy your blog and am so glad you are going to continue. Love you friend!
FOrgot my carol – i love mary did you know
Thank you so much Courtney! Love you too!
I holy night for sure so besutiful. Actually now i have a million songs running through my head and i love thrm all ni start my christmas tunes in novemeber!!!
I Saw Three Ships
Hey,
I am chad & jennifer’s cousin. I’ve heard nothing but good things about your blog and i’m glad yOu didn’t quit you haVe some great recipes!
Thanks so much Taylor! 🙂
Oh Holy Night 🙂 Love checking in on your easy family RECIPES!
Thank you Meghann!
I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
Little Drummer Boy 🙂 SOOOOOO happy that you aren’t leaving blog world!
Thanks so much Kris!
O Holy Night!
as a new mom to a five-month-old, I can totally relate to feeling overwhelmed by how little time you have for yourself these days. and when we do have a little free time, we don’t always have the energy to use it the way we want!
I’m glad to hear that you are going to continue blogging, not only do i come here for the food, but I love the sophie updates, especially since she and my connor are so close in age. she shows me what i’m in for! 🙂
Thank you Stephanie! So glad to have fellow Mommy/Blogger friends to help me through these times! 🙂 And your little Connor is adorable!! 🙂
v. familiar with the blog burnout — glad you’re continuing! I always enjoy your posts!
Thank you Whitney! Glad I’m not the only one!
what a cutie pie she is! Hang in there, it gets easier. My favorite christmas song is silent night.
Thank you so much! 🙂
Thou Didst Leave they throne
Thank you for your many efforts to share yummy recipes on this blog
Thanks Jamie!
So glad that you foUnd that you are able to continue your blog. I really enjoy reading it and trying your recipes! I love the picture of the 3 of you! Sophie is absolutely adorable!!
I suppose my favorite Christmas carol is The Holly and the Ivy.
Thank you so much Pam!
Silent night
So sweet of you to do this giveaway! It’s hard to pick just one Christmas Carol because I love them all, but I really like “Mary Did You Know.” 🙂
Hark the herald angels sing is probably my favorite Christmas Carol =)
let it be Christmas
the angels cried
the Christmas shoes
My favorite is o how a rose ere blooming. and also i wonder as i wander.
My favorite is Jingle Bells!
My favorite is “Carol of the Bells”
I think o holy night says it all – the true meaning of christmas!
My favorite hymn is Silent night. I love this blog. Sophie is a beautiful baby. god bless you and your family.
Thank you so much Karen!
The Christmas song is my fav
Silent night
I’ve been in a funk too…I totally get it. I don’t want to quit, but I am slowing things down a good bit since starting a new job. 🙂
My fave carol is “12 Yats of Christmas”…it’s a New Orleans spin on the 12 Days of Christmas. 🙂
Yay for your new job! That’s exciting! I think sometimes it’s good to slow things down a bit. I just had to realize it’s ok if I don’t post as much as long as I’m doing it for the right reasons. Glad I’m not the only one feeling this way! 🙂
I love away in a manger
My faveorite song is silent night!
I found two good things this week. Edys PomegraNite popcicles and you. Just got back From the store where were out of the popcicles. Now you. So glad you arnt leaving. It would be harder to replace you than those dang popcicles.
Hahaha! Thank you so much Nancy! And I will have to keep a lookout for those popsicles!;)
The little drummer boy
O holy night or ave maria. There is a Christmas album by the group Barlow Girls, can’t go wrong with that one.
O Beautiful star of bethlehem.
I’m so glad you didn’t quit!!! I may not always comment on your blog, but I read it faithfully and am always inspired and encouraged!! Congratulations on 6 years! My favorite carol is O Holy Night 🙂
Thank you so much Crystal!! Your sweet comments always encourage me! 🙂
amazing grace is my favorite christmas song
Oh come all ye faithful!
Joy To The World
I HAVE BEEN FEELING THE SAME WAY FOR THE LAST YEAR. i FEEL LIKE i NEVER HAVE TIME TO SIT DOWN AND BLOG. I’m finally at a place where I realize it’s okay to not blog all the time and that i don’t have to be as good as everyone else {thank you pinterest}. I’ve been following your blog for years and i love it! do what is best for you and your family. but i’m glad you’re sticking around. {i also don’t know why this is in all caps lol}.
It’s so hard to fit it all in, isn’t it?! I had to realize that too, that I don’t have to do what everyone else is doing or be perfect, so hard to learn that sometimes! 🙂 Thank you for your sweet comments!
I’m glad you aren’t quitting! i love your blog!
my favorite is O holy Night .
Thank you Emily!
Silent Night !! Its the first one my daughter tried singing with me.
I love Silent night. we play it all during christmas eve
Silver bells is my favorite!!
Thanks for sticking with it! I am somewhat new to the chattanooga area and love your blog, both for the recipes & your every day posts! I’m always learning something new about the area.
Thank you so much Holly! So glad you are enjoying the blog and hope you are loving the Chattanooga area so far!
Im so glad that you did not stop! I enjoy all your posts and have tried many recipes from. I totally get the rut and am feeling it right now myself, thanks for sharing, sometimes you feel as though you are the only one who has those weeks. Take care.
Thank you so much Kimberly! I’m so glad to know I’m not the only one too! 🙂 Have a great weekend!
Angels from the realms of glory
YAY! I know life must be SOOO hectic and busy but I’m so glad you’re keeping the blogging up 🙂
and my fave christmas carol is silent night 🙂
Thank you Kayle!! You are always so sweet and encouraging! 🙂
I feel you, it’s really hard. There’s definitely not enough hours in the day to do everything I want. But, I figure I’ll squeeze blogging in when I can. It takes me 3+ days to bake/photograph/blog now but I still enjoy it (usually) so I’ll keep on for now.
My favorite Christmas carol is little drummer boy, lately. It changes 🙂
It’s definitely hard to fit it all in! So thankful to have Mommy/blogger friends like you!:)
My favorite Christmas Carol is O HOly Night
I love Silent Night
Please don’t quit.i love all the Alabama Christmas songs but thistle hair the ChrisTmas bear is my favorite lol
i appreciate the work you do on this site! the recipes are simple and good. I’m glad you found a balance.
Thanks so much Holly!
I love silent night! My son’s favorite is rudolph, so that goes at the top of the list too!
I can appreciate your quandary and your soul searching. YOu did the right thing in the process of coming to a decision. I am new to following your blog, so from a selfish point of view I am glad you decided to hang in there. integrating a baby into your routine is not an easy thing to do for anyone. I think all the parents in your readership would agree. to change gears your husband is handsome. you baby is adorable. makes me want to start singing summertime where the living is easy. hugs—–
Thank you Carol!!
I didn’t comment about my favorite carol. with my name I love them all!!!
oh Holy Night
Away in a manger
i LOVE YOUR BLOG AND THE RECIPES–GLAD YOU WERE ABLE TO PUT EVERYTHING IN PERSPECTIVE AND HAVE HELP FROM THE LORD.
aWAY IN A MANGER.
Thank you so much Jan!
Angels we have heard on high!
Thanks
i’M GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU ARE STAYING. I like your S’Mores Cupcake Recipe.
Thank you so much Kelly!
Loving the blog 🙂
glad you didn’t leave!!
Thank you so much!
O Holy night!!
you are a rockstar and that’s not my fave christmas song.
Haha;) Thank you so much Krystal!
Let it snow!
Silver Bells
Frosty the snowman!
walking in a winter wondreland
O Holy Night
my current favorite is away in a manger because atalee insists on singing everyday in the car:) glad you chose to stick it out!
Thanks Alison!
o hOLY NIGHT IS MY FAVORITE, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY GREAT CHRISTMAS SONGS. lOVE YOUR BLOG!
Thank you Megan!
Silent night and amazing grace !!!
I love Christmas music!! I really enjoy non-traditional Christmas music, not so much the standard carols but more along the lines of Mariah Carey or Kenny G’s Christmas music. It drives my husband crazy (but that’s part of the fun!)
i LOVE WALKING IN A WINTER wonderland
sILENT nIGHT IS MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE
Just found your blog! am loving looking at all the wonderful recipes!
Thank you so much Kelly!
O Holy Night.
My favorite christmas carol is do you hear what i hear?
I can definitely relate when it comes to feeling overwhelmed sometimes. My favorite carol is the “Twelve Days of Christmas” because my mom made signs for each one and every christmas we all gather around and sing it, each individual person holding up their sign at the appropriate time. It is hilarious especially when someone can’t sing well, forgets which sign they have, or is overly dramatic with their singing. Memories that I will never forget!
Thanks Terri! That sounds like so much fun! I may have to steal your idea this Christmas!
I like Oh Holy Night!
away in a manger. and i’m glad you will be continuing to blog, though i admit i have thought about quitting too for some of the same reasons. just do what you can and have fun with it 🙂
Thanks Sarah! Glad I’m not the only one!
I love jinglebells.)
I like Silent Night, so peaceful.
My favorite is O Holy Night. Thank you!
I’ve been reading and following your blog for a few years now. I don’t know how you do it all, especially with a baby, but I enjoy what you do here and am glad you’re going to continue.
Thank you so much Sharon!
I love, love, love o holy night. Any version will do, but if I have to pick a favorite, it’s josh groban’s.
I love it must have been the mistletoe
Just like everyone else here, I’m so glad you didn’t quit! But, I also understand where you are coming from… it’s very hard to keep a balance. I’d love to tell you it gets easier, but it doesn’t. You just have to keep in mind that you do the best you can, and never compare yourself to other (easier said than done, for sure)!
You’ve got a great blog, and one of my personal favorites. Keep it up, girl! 🙂
Thank you so much Nikki! That is such great advice! Thank you for your sweet comments, that means so much!! Your blog is one of my personal favorites too! 🙂