Wanted to share a quick update as we prepare for baby #2.
I’m 36 weeks pregnant and our lives are rapidly about to change. We’re excited for Noelle to become a big sister, but know that comes with its own unique set of challenges. She understands there’s a baby coming and seems very excited, but I know the reality will be an adjustment. You’ve given me some wonderful advice for this big change, so we definitely feel better prepared.
An update on our dog, Jude. He has come off chemotherapy. While his bloodwork has been normal and he’s been eating/sleeping/smiling like usual, we made the decision with our vet this week to take him off any more medication that helps stop his cancer from spreading. It’s hit his lymph nodes and is enlarging, so we understand the medication is no longer working.
Nothing but snuggles for our big guy moving forward.
It’s been a heavy few months. In addition to our world tragically losing hundreds of thousands to the pandemic, there’s also immense grief and sadness following the death of George Floyd, among others. This isn’t a news or lifestyle website; it’s a food blog and I know you come here for joyful recipes. But these Coffee Break posts are where I can share a piece of my life and heart. I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting and self education and want to share my heartfelt thoughts with you today. I shared some of this on Instagram, too.
We ALL Love to Bake.
You’re probably here because you love to bake. And isn’t it so beautiful that no matter what we look like, where we live, who we love, and what we do– that we are all united in this delicious hobby?
Sally’s Baking Addiction is a brand and business owned by me, a woman who has a strong commitment to inclusivity and practicing kindness. This is how I was raised. I’m also learning about ways to help disrupt the unjust cycle of racism in our world and country. I’m disappointed and sorry that I’ve never touched on anything like this before, but given the past couple of weeks we’ve seen, it would be wrong not to use my platform to share my thoughts. I stand with you, all of my Black followers and readers. I see you, I support you, I’m listening, I’m learning, and I thank you for being here. I’ve written and rewritten this post 100x this week because I don’t have the perfect words. I don’t know if what I’m saying is helpful or not helpful or seen as artificial. My hope is that my words and actions show my genuine intent. I’m committed to bettering myself both online and offline and am looking into concrete ways on how to make a change for both right now and future generations. I want to help be the change and I know many others here do as well. All lives can’t matter until Black Lives Matter.
- Here is an extensive list (a google doc) of anti-racism resources. Books, films, organizations, podcasts, causes, articles, and so much more.
- This video is beautiful, eye-opening, and powerful. Though there are many resources we can use to self-educate, Emmanuel gives his time and speaks so eloquently, yet directly, about how we can actively help. And that begins by listening.
- If you have children, consider checking out Here We Read (thank you to a reader, Cathy, who shared this with me on Instagram). There is also The Conscious Kid book club. Here is their Instagram account. Available to us are many resources for how to teach children (of any age) about anti-racism. I’m looking forward to going through it when I take time off in a few weeks.
But no matter who you are, you’re here because you love food. Here are some wonderful food bloggers who have so much inspiring content. Some of these blogs/sites are new to me and I’m looking forward to supporting them in this business. Follow, comment, like, and engage with these talents. Their passion shows!!
- Sweet Tea & Thyme – follow on Instagram
- Big Delicious Life – follow on Instagram
- A Little Food – follow on Instagram
- Jessica in the Kitchen – follow on Instagram
- First & Full – follow on Instagram
- A Classic Twist – follow on Instagram
- Grand Baby Cakes – follow on Instagram
- My Forking Life – follow on Instagram
- Orchids & Sweet Tea – follow on Instagram
- Butter Be Ready – follow on Instagram
- Cooks With Soul – follow on Instagram
- Brown Sugar Food Blogger – follow on Instagram
- Tried and Tasty – follow on Instagram
- The Hungry Hutch – follow on Instagram
- Peaches to Peaches – follow on Instagram
- Sweet Potato Soul – follow on Instagram
- Artisan Bryan – follow on Instagram
- All the Healthy Things – follow on Instagram
And I know you love cookbooks. Cherry Bombe has an extensive list of Black authored cookbooks. I only own 2 of these! I’m looking forward to expanding my collection. I found Sweetie Pie’s Cookbook while searching yesterday, too. Do you have this one? The list on Cherry Bombe’s website also includes chefs, creatives, restaurants, and initiatives.
Thank you for giving me the space and courage to speak up.
PS: I’m taking time off after our baby is born. While you’ll continue to see Sally’s Baking Addiction in action on social media, in your inbox, and here on the website, the new recipes won’t be as frequent. I’ll be checking in periodically! Sally’s Baking Challenge will continue, of course. Brownie Ice Cream Sandwiches this month.
Thank you so much for the shout out, Sally! You have been inspiring me for years. Your support means everything.
Sally,
New life and tragic deaths at the same time- thank you for your heartfelt post and the resources. It will be your children, our children who will lift up this crazy world into a more loving inclusive planet.
Sally, your blog and recipes have quite literally gotten me through quarantine.
It makes me so happy to read this post and see your heart. I hope you are doing well and excited to welcome your bundle soon!
Thank you for this. You have a large audience, many of whom I feel need to understand that silence = compliance.
Simply by speaking up, speaking out, and not pretending that racism doesn’t ruin society as a whole, helps us all.
And we all love to bake!
Congrats on your upcoming newest addition! Maybe he/she will be born on the 4th of July like my baby was last year! I’m looking forward to using one of your cake recipes for his first birthday cake smash! We will be continuing to enjoy your recipes in our house and look forward to what’s coming when you return 🙂
Sally, thank you for being so open in your blog about your life & your feelings! Thank you for the list of anti-racism resources which I am saving & forwarding. Good luck w/your delivery & we’ll miss you for a while! But, we’ll be thinking of you & baking your goodies! Love you!
Great suggestions Sally! We really need to educate ourselves more and do our best to fight the systemic racism around us.
Thank you for using you platform to better inform others of prejudice, and how to prevent or at least how not to encourage it. I was among the many who participated in the peaceful demonstrations/protests in the 60’s. For some reason I thought it would make a difference – just as I thought the women’s rights movement would make a difference. I now realize it was perhaps too little and too late. I do not know the solution. Until hate is eliminated from people’s hearts and minds I fear we will encounter this evil.
Dear Sally, thank you for using your platform to be an anti-racist ally. Your thoughtful reflection shines through this post and I have clicked on and read and will continue to reflect on every single link you have shared and am reflecting and listening myself and amplifying the voices of PoC. Referring to baking – look forward to discovering more inclusive PoC food blogs and cookbooks.
So sorry about the hard decision you and your family have made for Jude – so so hard, I hated seeing my pets suffer – best wishes to you all as you soak it all up.
And best wishes for your upcoming chapter with a new baby, wishing you well for all that is to come!
Hope you are well and hope you have a chance to nest and relax and a bit between all the personal a and professional prepping!
Btw I Loved your stock the fridge pre-baby post – so helpful when I want to take a meal to new parents or families who are grieving a loss or just need a pick me up 🙂
Thanks!
Loved your blog and your banana muffin recipe (made them this a.m.) is the best I’ve ever made, ever tasted, and am so in love with the way you write a recipe. I have a question – where can I (or how do I) find the nutrition information for these muffins, or any other things I fix from your baking addiction cookbook? Just ordered it and posted a note on Facebook today with picture of your wonderful banana muffins. 🙂 and your muffin URL. Would have looked at more of the cookbooks but didnt realize you had more, OR this amazing website. I am filled with joy for you and your family with the birth of your sweet new baby, but my heart also hurts for your lovable, wonderful big dog who is ill. He does know he’s loved, I’m sure. Very sad. And the state of our world. OMG … I wrote a short piece called Leroy on my blog (beeconcise.com – wordpress) about our yard man in Pensacola, FL when I was only 10 yrs. old. Set my heart for my stance on race relations that day, when I sat on the back step with Leroy to eat our lunch, after getting my face slapped for taking him in the house for lunch. Who knew?? Am so sorry for the Floyd family but his little daughter is 100% right – “My Daddy’s gonna change the world.” Amen to that! He gave his life for it, in fact. He deserves our praise. Thank you again for your wonderful website.
Thank you so much Sally! I’ll be checking out some new accounts and cookbooks!
Hi Sally,
Thank you for your words and thoughts. As a world we are dealing with so much. It would be nice to think that we could all get along. That we could respect and love one another despite our skin color, beliefs and backgrounds. With the pandemic it has been overwhelming and frightening at times. I pray that as a world we can learn from all of this. I am so happy for your new addition. I pray good health, safe delivery and rest and relaxation for you and your family as you welcome this new blessing. I pray for your sweet Jude. I pray he feels peace and comfort and has many more days! I know he feels your love and care. I lost my precious boy a few months ago and I know he is finally at peace but the pain is still there. They are such a huge part of our lives and families. Know that Jude will always live on in your heart and memories. Love your website and all your recipes. Have learned so much from you!
Thank you for the links to all the food bloggers! In every interest, we can make sure our community is as rich and varied as possible.
Congratulations Sally and family. Such an exciting time. It’s been 29 years since I brought home a baby brother for my first son, but I can still see the smile in his eyes as we put the baby on a pillow in his lap. Yes, there will be issues along the way, but Noelle will be able to help, too. You know when you really have to go to the bathroom, she can distract him. Or pick up the cup he/she purposely drops after you’ve done it 100 times already. You’ll all figure it out as you navigate this wonderful adventure as a family of 4.
My sincere thanks for your recipes and guidance! I am considered by many to be an excellent Baker, but I’ve been able to improve my pie crust & accuracy in measuring through your delightful site!
Bravo to you in expressing your feelings about the death of George Floyd; it’s a deeply felt sadness for us all and a resolve to make things better.
Sorry about your dog. I lost a shih tzu to cancer and it was like losing a family member.
Enjoy the birth of your second baby and take some time to rest and relax. We appreciate you!
Sally
Thank you for your thoughtful and caring comments during this difficult and sad time. It only speaks to why I am such a supporter of your site. I am sorry for you and your fur baby. It sounds like he will always be in your heart. Enjoy time in the welcoming of a new family member. Time is precious and in the end love is what matters.
Hi Sally, Jude is lucky to have you both and best wishes to you and your growing family! You bring joy to everyone ! I hope you and your family remain safe and content and continue to cope with what lies ahead for you and yours! Elisa
Thank you sooo much for honestly sharing your thoughts.
We lost our beautiful dog after 13+ years, but love and care kept her with us nearly a year beyond the vet’s estimate.
Also best wishes for a healthy new addition to your family. Mine, now grown and parents on their now, of been the greatest blessing and joy to my life.
A happy comment : the yeast shortage resulting from covid has resulted in a surge of sour dough baking using no additional yeast. Yummy bread and comforting activity.
I haven’t felt sickened by the killings of black people for a long time, but the good life in a Minneapolis suburb protected me from real pain. This happened elsewhere. Not here. No more. We are one humanity, different parts of one body, and this body needs to be healed.
Congrats on your new bundle of Joy…so sad about your dog… had to face the end of my 15 yr old cat last month…she had a tumor in her throat.. so sad to have to say good bye… big hugs to you and your puppy.
Hi Sally- My name is also Sally. Thank you for sharing these resources to help us examine how we can all get better in Doing something about racism. It starts with self-knowledge and listening. When the new baby comes and your daughter wants to be constantly with you and the new one, she’s not jealous, she’s fascinated and doesn’t want to miss anything this wondrous new creature does. And last, I am very sorry that Jude is ill. If you have to make a decision to end his suffering, and you are able, be with him at that time. I made the mistake of leaving my sweet Giz and will never forget the look in his eyes as I left.
Hi Sally
I really appreciate your candid honest thoughts on the state of the world today. Living in the Minneapolis/st.paul area it has been a very hard event to go through but our prayers are with the Floyd family and all if the country.
I am sorry that you are having a difficult decision to make with Jude but know that you have given him the best life he could have ever had. I know from personal experience if having lost 3 of my 4 legged children in 3 years.
Bless you and your family and prayers for a wonderful rest and welcoming for your new child
Dear Sally..I wish you only the best as the birth of your new baby fast approaches. I also thank you for touching on the subject of racial inequality. To be socially conscious is to care! Lastly, I believe you have done all you could (medically) for Jude. That he is well and happy right now is a testament to your love and care!
Hi Sally – Your post was was lovely and genuine. I look forward to checking out the websites that you have listed. Wishing you all the best with baby no. 2. Noelle will be the sweetest big sister! Jude has been the luckiest fella since you first brought him home. Give him a few extra hugs from me. All the best Sally!
Hey Sally! Thank you so much for using your platform, and for sharing my website!
Nice job Sally.
Best to you, family and soon to be new baby!