{a day in the life} Sweet Basil

Today’s “a day in the life” is Carrian of Sweet Basil. I am aware that I go on and on about how everyone is sweet and nice, etc., but Carrian really is one of the sweetest people I have “met” while food blogging. She is very kind-hearted and genuine which comes through not only on her blog but also through her interactions on social media. 

Oh, and her blog rocks. Gorgeous photos, great food. Check it out!

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Tell me about yourself and how you started food blogging.

I was born and raised in Vancouver, Washington where I fell in love with the beautiful outdoors and the falling rain. Seriously, I even sleep better when it’s raining.

I double majored in Spanish language and health science and I do absolutely nothing with either. ;) College is where I met my darling husband, at the gym of all places. We were both personal trainers and after almost a year of friendship we finally began dating and have been together ever since. Now we reside in Utah with our two little girls.

Sweet Basil began as a way to share the food that we were loving with all of our friends and family. Others began commenting and last year we decided to turn it into a full time gig. I believe that the kitchen used to be the heart of the home, but lately it’s the tv, and I’m bound and determined to change that. Healthier habits and stronger relationships are created when you cook and eat together at home, and anyone can be successful with a little help.

Take me through your day. 

6:15 Wake up

6:30 Work Out

7:30 Eat breakfast while I hop on social media, and other blogs

8:55 Take my first grader to school (thank goodness for the hubby that gets her ready while I work)

9:10 Back to the computer to answer emails, blog etc

10:30 -11:30 Depends on the day, but cook, shower, begin photographing recipes

12:30 Lunch with my little C

1:00 Put little C down for a nap

1-3:30 Blog, cook, clean house, laundry. Yes, I do it all at once. I just hop back and forth between things

3:30-4:30 Photograph recipes, help the oldest with homework

4:30-5:30 Dinner, photographing if needed, finish laundry

5:30-6:30 Somewhere in here we have dinner, and read together

6:30-8:00 Play games with the family, go on walks, make a treat etc. The point is just to be together

8:00-10:30 Kids go to bed and the hubby and I sit down together and finish up marketing, emails, editing photos etc. Some days we turn on a show to watch like, Once Upon  A Time (don’t judge! It’s totally good!)

10:30 Off to bed where we read for a bit if we are lucky

10:30-1:00am Lately I’ve had so much going on we’ve been up pretty late working on the blog.

I take Saturday and Sunday completely off. I need time to unwind and just be with my family. I wont even write a new recipe on the weekends.

What is your one must-have kitchen tool or gadget?

Oh gosh, ummmm can I have two? I love my food processor and my microplane. I cannot live without either.

What is the most important part of your day? Why?

My workout, play time with the family, and tv/reading/or just talking and snuggling with my family. All three keep me focused, relaxed and balanced.

What is your favorite part of your day? Why?

I love bed time. I loooove crawling in that cozy bed of ours and snuggling up with my hubby while we fall asleep. MMMMM Sleep.

What is your LEAST favorite part of the day? Why?

I hate getting ready. I love a good shower, but doing my hair and makeup is just torture. Oh, and I don’t loooove social media. It’s just one more thing to worry about when I’d rather be cooking. (shhhh, I know I shouldn’t say that)

If you had to choose one place to travel to every year over and over, where would it be? Why? Have you been there before?

Hmmmm, someplace tropical would be lovely because I love to lay out and read a good book in the sunshine. And I actually would love to visit my parents more. They just moved to Rexburg, Idaho and they have this huge, gorgeous backyard and an amazing view of the Teton Mountains.

If you could travel anywhere in the world for free, where would you go and how long would you stay?

I would love to travel through Europe, Italy and Greece. I mean, like everywhere, Sweden, Germany etc.

What is your favorite quote or verse?

Oh, I have so many. I really do. Ummm, I love this one because it reminds me who I want to be in a world that emphasizes the opposite.  “I don’t want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbors children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone’s garden. I want to be there with children’s sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived.” Marjorie Pay Hinckley

What is your favorite cookbook?

I love America’s Test kitchen because if I ever can’t get a recipe to work I can check out that book. They test recipes for weeks and weeks and then explain why things do and do not work. I love that.

What recipe on your blog are you most proud of?

I love my Roasted Tomato Soup with Mozzarella Grilled Cheese “Croutons”. I have never loved tomato soup, but oh my goodness, it’s so creamy and the tiny grilled cheese! OH YUM!!

15. What recipe on your blog do your readers seem to love most?

My Reeses Krispies recipe is always in the number one spot and never moves.

What is your guilty food pleasure that you’re embarrassed to fess up to? Kraft Mac & Cheese? Spagetti-o’s? Canned cheese? We promise not to judge!

Hmmmm, that’s a tricky one. I don’t know if this even counts, but I love a grilled PB&J.

What have you learned since you began blogging?

That everyone has a story. No matter if you are successful or just trying to break out into the blog world, everyone comes with a story and deserves all of the love and respect that you wish for yourself. There’s room for everyone.

What have you found to be the most challenging part of blogging?

It’s a 24/7 job and that can become exhausting. There’s always something that needs to be done and especially when you are trying to turn this into a full time gig, it takes a lot of effort. It’s hard to know who you can trust, who to contact and how to approach them. It’s hard to always be creating, blogging, attending events etc. It’s easy to get out of balance.

Do you have any advice for someone who is interested in cooking or food blogging?

Put your priorities in order and then move forward with passion. Be who you truly are regardless of those around you. It’s easy to get sucked into the blogging social world, but it’s more important to stay true to yourself and share lots of love for those around you. Love them for who they are, what they are doing and treat yourself the same.

Is there anything else you would like to tell the world about yourself?

Well, I think that all pretty much sums me up. I adore family, food, reading, and staying fit. I love a good Sunday afternoon nap, and I am all about finding good people to surround myself with. There’s much to learn even from those you may not get along with. It’s all about the love.

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Thanks Carrian! I enjoyed learning more about you. I love your devotion to your family. 

You can also find Carrian on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.

Even though she hates all three ;)