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These pictures have nothing to do with the following question. I know it’s weird. Just accept it and move on.
So, here she blows:
Why do you keep coming back to my blog? Is it the recipes? The cute pictures of my kids? My husband’s larger than average biceps? I’m in the middle of a……..creative dilemma {?!} and would love to hear any and all feedback regarding my recipes, my photos and anything else you want to bring up or mention.
Thanks so much!!
PS- 10 more days till those biceps come back 😉 Gosh, I love that man.
Keep up the great work, Lauren. I follow your posts because I like messing around in the kitchen and I find that your recipes often match up to my tastes and the way I like to cook. I have to admit that I take great license with recipes, so sometimes they just give me an idea for something to adapt. I am a beginner blogger (primepassages.com) so I can relate to the “creative” question … hope I can build to the level you have accomplished some day, but for me the fun/reward is in the creating. I hope it stays that way, and I hope it is that way for you as well.
Love, love, love all your recipes! Your family is adorable and I never mind hearing more about them. I enjoy your restaurant visits also. I am in the Midwest so most of them aren’t applicable to me, but I’m sure the locals appreciate it! I also enjoy your honesty and humor. Keep up the good work!!
I keep coming back for everything – you’re a very relatable person! I love how easy and yummy your recipes are and the cuteness of your kids/husbands biceps don’t hurt either 😉
I came for the recipes, and started following you on twitter so have read all other types of posts… I thoroughly am entertained by your humor/writing style, and have tried a ton of your recipes. I love family posts as well. Let’s all be honest. ..we all stick around for pics of that adorable crazy eyed Brooke 😉
I love your recipes, have tried several of them and they are great! I like simple recipes that turn our amazing, and your do just that! Also love your humor in your posts, I have 2 kids as well, and know how the everyday life with little ones can be. Keep it up, love what you do! 🙂
p.s.- your husbands biceps are always appreciated too! 😉
I love all of the above. Being alone is good. I’ve had to do it many times thru divorce and death. God is with you and it makes you stronger and independent. Consider it a new adventure.
I Love all the recipes with the creativity, good pictures of the food , the helpful notes and easy printing of recipes, A Big Thank you,
keep up the good work and God Bless your Family.
P.S. Give him a big kiss and Hug!!! from you and you beautiful child!
1. your witty writing style..always makes me smile. 2. your pics/stories of/about your family..both kids and hubby. 3. your recipes…LOVE them!!! 4. your name…:) I am a Lauren, too! lol!!!!
i wouldn’t change a thing except add more kid/ hubby/family stories!!!!
I was drawn to your blog by the recipe “funeral potatoes!” I have stayed on following because I like what you have to say! (and the recipes…of course!) Unlike many of the other bloggers, you remain having your own unique style, and that will continue to make you a success!!! 🙂
I love your recipes too!!! And recipes are the main reason. I love the ones that are simple and easy to prepare for 3 kids:) I also love how you write. Your blog is wonderful.
I have to save I love the recipes Kate, but it’s YOU that drives the ‘draw’. You have a very caring spirit~enjoy your passion to provide a better way…learning your family and your loves is the bonus,
Hope that helps you,
Paula
BTW, adorable..”gosh I love that man’!
I love the recipes, your creativity and the photography. I also love the quirky bits of your family that you share with us. All of these factors combined makes me a fan. ❤️
The recipes keep me coming back. Love your food!!
I absolutely love your recipes first and foremost and am always referring back to them. That being said I love your pictures and your blogs. When I have a rough day and don’t feel like cooking they inspire me and remind me that we are all busy but we can incorporate great meals and treats into our busy lives.
Ps. Husbands biceps are not bad either : )
I love your recipes. And while that was what originally brought me to your site, I have grown to really enjoy your writing style and how accessible you are – meaning that you share bits of your life in a way that is funny and meaningful at the same time!
I love the whole package. Food/cooking/recipes are a major obsession…I mean, interest!..and yours are beautiful and actually doable–so many others are a bit intimidating. Your photos are gorgeous! I like feeling connected to a young family–mine are all in different cities and different states, so it is good to keep up. Your Hubz’ larger than average biceps are just another plus 😉
Pictures of the food and then the recipe
Everything! You seem very genuine and I love the way you express yourself. Your writing makes me laugh, you give us amazing recipes, amazing posts, I mean I have to admit that I am a little afraid one day you’ll decide to close the blog and take with you all these recipes hehe.
Love your recipes…they are easy to follow, use ingredients I usually have in my pantry and are yummy! I also enjoy reading about your family!
Love your recipes and the upbeat delivery! I also love the stitch fix and travel posts that you include from time to time.
Good recipes.
I come to your blog for the recipes and stay for your writing style.
You have awesome recipes. 🙂 I also love other posts, such as stitch fix reviews, etc.
Love your recipes and your blog!
I love your recipes and that’s why I come back but I do read everything.
I love the recipes and your adorable family. Your posts are entertaining!
I keep coming back because you’re a normal Mum who doesn’t sugar coat everything (except maybe in the kitchen!). You don’t dictate and you admit when things go wrong or you’ve had a sleepless night. Due to the time difference of where I live I usually get your blog when I get to work in the morning, a lot of the time it makes me laugh, and that’s a great way to start the day. Your recipes and pictures are awesome too 🙂
What Laura said! 🙂
I came for the recipes. I’ve stayed for everything. I’ve good so many of your recipes I can’t even remember what I was originally looking for when I found you. I’ve made at least a dozen of your recipes and followed your shares to at least another dozen or two. I enjoy your humorous and love filled outlook on life. I have a soft spot for Blake. My husband and I welcomed our first child, a son, on July 31st 2013 so it’s been fun watching our little guys grow up sort of together. 🙂
Love your recipes….keep them coming! 🙂
I love your recipes and your great sense of humor! Yours is my favorite recipe blog. I enjoy seeing pictures of your family as it grows, and hearing about your travels and home remodelling projects. Please keep up the good work.
Lauren,
I am so glad you asked…
Your site is different from anyone else.
You provide a wholesome, down to earth,american family site that is so interesting, that i cant stop reading.
your recipes,local restaurant reviews,fashion,health and something precious you share…..Family.
As a fellow Oregon follower,i find your personality inviting and the honesty you share a real treasure.
my wife has also subcribed on facebook to your site and we regularly Share items you post.
Keep up the “Great Work” we enjoy getting recipes in our Inbox.
Thanks again Lauren, and to your husband and children for sharing.
Ron &Tami O’Brien
All of the above! I love the recipes that are easy to follow, and taste awesome! Also, it gives me a fun way to see how Gordon and his little family are doing 🙂 (I know his family from a million years ago). I feel like I know you, though we have never met. You have a fun personality, a witty writing style, and a cute family. What’s not to love!
The first recipe I tried were the BBQ pork and sesame slaw cheese shell tacos, a few years ago. My family and I were forever hooked on your recipes. I make many of your recipes every month. Aside from Everyday Foods and Recipes (which many of your recipes are on), your food blog is the only one I follow 🙂 I love your sense of humor and real life writing. Our children are similar in age. Plus I live in Southern Oregon 🙂
I have never commented on someone’s blog before but I decided to venture out just to let you know how amazing your recipes are. I used to never cook, my mom would be amazed that I cooked macaroni and cheese. When I met my now husband and found myself pregnant two months later, I found myself needing to grow up fast. If you have ever seen the movuoe decided it would be best if I stayed home with our son, and I found myself in the position of “house wife” with no real idea on how to be one. When I found your blog and started cooking, I not only loved every one of your recipes, but I also gained the confidence that I needed to become the housewife I wanted to be.
Lol I submitted my comment to fast….this is why I don’t comment 😉 the jumbled up sentence was supposed to say how I was like Goldie Hawk’s character in the movie Overboard when it came to cooking and cleaning. Your blog has helped me realize that cooking can be super fun, easy and delicious and now I love to cook! Thus I now believe in my self more when it comes to being a mom and a housewife 🙂 So thank you for your wonderful recipes! And my super picky husband loves them too which is a bonus!
I love your recipes but I also love the way you mix them with your family life. Your style of writing is very pleasing, as your stories are never hurtful or nasty about anyone else. What can I say, I wake up on the other side of the world from you (the Netherlands) and check to see your blog to find recipes and a friendly voice. You must be doing it just right!
I love your blog because reading it feels like I’m chatting with one of my girlfriends. I love the mix of recipes, stories about kids, husband and life, house stuff, fashion and style, exercise etc. It’s a great mix of subjects, I love your pictures, and all of your recipes that I’ve tried have worked! You’re doing a great job, keep up the good work!
You are unique. I love your recipes. I love your photos. I love reading about your passion for your family and of food 🙂
I discovered you through pinterest and ended up staying for basically everything you mentioned (save for your husband’s biceps, lol!). I really enjoy reading the stories about how certain recipes came into being or how your kids react to your cooking. I’m an unemployed kid who still lives with her parents and who is teaching herself to cook, so many of your recipes have come to my rescue (mostly the dessert ones; my dad is big on taking a plate of dessert with him to bed at night!) on more than one occasion!
I love your balance of food and personality. Plus I am practically neighbor, from WA state 😉
I can’t remember exactly how I found you, but I was pulled in by the recipes. I’m not a very skilled cook, but I like reading them and imagining that one day I can make some of the more elaborate ones. I’m also very intrigued and impressed that you create your own very delicious recipes. Knowing how to blend ingredients, which match well, etc.
By the way, thank you for your Fancy Chicken Salad recipe. It’s been a summer staple for my small, new family since 2012. It might seem a bit silly, but it’s a big deal to me. Although I could eat it year round, I save it for the summer for a light, cool meal on a hot day and we really look forward to it. It’s a big deal to us and you did that. Thank you.
I love the recipes you post! You inspire me! And although I am a new reader of your blog; I get a very positive feel good vibe as well. And ‘those’ places that give me positive vibes; I return to often. 🙂
I love the easy yummy recipies.You are a family that is real.The photos are amazing.Keep up the great work.I save your recipies for later to cook or share on line.Thanks Lauren.
The recipes are always great & easy to follow for sure but that combined with your stories is what keeps me coming back. I don’t follow blogs often but I find myself using yours as my go to for new ideas.
My family loves your recipes! I also enjoy reading about you, your family, and your home.
I love, love, love your recipes (have yet to have one not turn out and have my family say WOW). Plus, you’re super funny and adorable.
I adore your recipes! I’ve been following your blog for a few years now and I absolutely love your food, it’s generally easy to follow, affordable, and delicious. As a poor (and time poor) uni student, it’s great for me! I also love seeing your adorable munchkins and reading about other various things that you post (like your husbands biceps…?)
I really like your writing style, I find you funny, witty, entertaining and generally just a joy to read. I’ve also been following you for so many years now that I feel as though I know you in some weird (super creepy?) way. Like, I’ve watched Brooke grow up to some extent, and seen little Blake grow and change since he was born. Keep up the awesome work! 🙂
I love the recipes, it is what first drew me to your site. I find now that I like the mix of family ( personal life insight) and food. If it was all one or the other I would probably get bored, but I feel you change it up just enough for me to keep it fresh.
The recipes, the amazing food photography, your endearingly funny way of describing mundane everyday experiences (yeah I mostly come back to read up on what’s shakin in the hood 😉 than for actual recipes lol) coz they make me smile and inspire me to create simple yet filling dishes that are not too straining on my college student budget! Love your blog <3
I LOVE your recipes. All the recipes you post are what I love – especially the ones that include chocolate. Sometimes I think we are twins. I follow other cooking blogs, but yours, by far, includes recipes that I will definitely make. I recently did a juice fast and I was sharing your recipes every day, looking forward to making them when I came off my juice fast! And I did 🙂 So much for the juice fast….
OH – the Cinnabon cinnamon roll recipe. THANK YOU!! I have tried for years to find a recipe like that. I love cinnamon rolls, and all the ones I have made would come out hard or dry. I made your recipe the weekend after you posted it. My first batch didn’t rise as quickly as the recipe said, so I thought I may have done something wrong. I started a second batch. The first batch ended up being fine, as did the second. I put some in the freezer and ate them whenever I wanted. Thus…the juice fast 🙂
Your pics are cute too! 😉
I agree and well said Kristi
I love your recipes
All of the above! As a college student your blog inspires me on a normal basis. I cook one of your recipes at least once a week and the family pics and fun stories make it so much better than just a normal food/recipe website. I love having real stories from a real family. And Blake is obviously the cutest little blog helper around!
LOVE YOUR RECIPES, love your blog plus and big plus you in portland OR. and im in Ridgefield wa
I love your recipes.