I’ve been making macarons professionally for 5 years now, and I feel accomplished to have made it through such a sustained period of macaron production with my mental health (mostly) intact. That’s not to say that it hasn’t been shredded to bits during times of extreme frustration, because there have been tears shed and many …
For the Love of Crafts and Environmental Awareness
At one time, I was a hardcore crafter. You name it, I did it: painting, crochet, scrapbooking, ceramics, quilling, leather work, Ukrainian eggs, basket weaving, calligraphy, and more. Crafts were the ultimate destination for my creativity! But I also had significantly more free time on my hands than I do now! I miss those days …
Kitesurfing in Tarifa
You might have been led by the title of this piece to believe that this post is about my harrowing and adventure-filled experience kitesurfing off of the coast of Tarifa, but I must inform you that I have somewhat deceived you. Or, perhaps you simply took the title as a straightforward description of the picture …
The Sound of Water
This photo was taken in my old neighborhood. There was a sidewalk that circled the houses that was about a mile long, perfect for short jaunts in the fresh air. This creek ran through it, creating movement in an otherwise still area. I had set out with my boyfriend that winter day to photograph the …
Fall Tradition
Each year in October my family makes the pilgrimage to Baldwin City, Kansas, for the Maple Leaf Festival. As the name suggests, the maple trees sprinkled throughout the city are beginning to wear their warm fall colors, and the bright leaves stand in contrast to the gray sky. The narrow streets of the city become …
Two Weeks in Budapest
This summer I had the privilege of exploring Budapest with a dear friend who is a native of the city. I spent two weeks hitting the streets with her and taking in all of the sites! We also went to several villages surrounding Budapest, as well as Lake Balaton, which is the largest lake in …
5 Spectacular Talents That You Gain as a Baker
I’ll start off by saying that this could be more accurately titled “5 Otherwise Useless Talents That You Can’t Use Unless You Spend Vast Amounts of Time in a Kitchen”. I decided that seemed a tad clunky, and it also could be a strong turn off to potential readers. You might now be thinking, “Melanie, …
A Springtime Homage to the Nelson Atkins Museum
Hey guys! This is going to be another brief photography post, and you will know that these photos will appeal to you deeply if : A. You revel at the site of gracefully columned stone buildings. B. Spring flowers put a little skip in your walk. C. Moody gray skies give you a burst of creative …
A School House and a Sunset
It’s a snowy spring day in Kansas, and I’m stuck inside pondering how I want to go about this post. I’ll be honest with you guys, I haven’t done much writing lately. I’ve been spending more time on photo-taking excursions, and I feel that sort of thing has been speaking more to me lately in …
An Open Letter to My Dark Circles
My dearest dark circles, You have been my companions for as long as I can remember! Just as a shadow constantly follows at the heel of its owner on a sunny day, you have stuck close to my eyes without cease. You make your presence known through even the most generous layer of concealer, shining …