Just wanted to say that yesterday I made the shortbread and it was great, delicious to eat with an iced latte! I replaced the pecans for walnuts because it was what I had at home, but I found very interesting to put coffee in them. As it's a dry batter, you can taste the coffee and it's great (in wet batters the flavour kind of disappears).
Hi sweet Stephi, sorry I am just getting caught up on my emails but I wanted to comment on here anyways. Thank you for being so vulnerable with you health anxieties. Anxiety is quite the elephant on the chest, I live with it as well (thank you for the Mom/Dad hug, right back to you btw!).
Espresso pecan shortbread ... I meannnn, bless you lol
I do enjoy your weekly "chats." I coached cross country and girls track for a long while and have seen many of my girls go through some tough spots during their teens and twenties. Body image, positive self image, and confidence are all aspects we as coaches work to build in our athletes. Even my assistant track coach struggled as she helped me coach with things like confidence and getting married (she married at age 30 bu found a real gem!). It has been my joy to see girls overcome these insecurities with courage, support, and perseverance. We are all broken and in process of growing in our lives; know that we care for you from near and afar, an we stand stronger with you having been granted the honor of seeing pieces of your private world as you share them.
Your struggles are real, but I hope you understand how very encouraging your transparent words are to those who read them. Your tasty treats are always delish, but you possess great writing talent and your words are those of strength, power, and healing, all of which are needed today. Enjoy being with your friend's wedding and know you are loved and have great value just by your involvement with those of us who read your tasty words and eat your tasty foods!!
oh wow, what a delightful message, I think it is really quite common in track and field to be honest! Thank you so much for the support! Hope you are having a wonderful week. x
Sending you big "You're never alone" and "Right there with ya" hugs back. Your descriptions sound so so familiar. And debilitating. Hearing you talk about it makes me realize struggling and fighting the good fight every day is worth it. Thanks for being a voice for others struggling like you. So comforting and reassuring. Praying daily for your peace of mind and body Steph! I know about that ravenous ever-present anxiety and depression monster, I fight it daily. For the past 12 years I've kept a routine of getting up really early in the morning to run and pray for more than an hour before getting on with my day. In all these years I've missed only two days, waking up in the hospital hooked to machines so I couldn't run! So I'm literally running away from anxiety and depression daily. It's always there with its jaws open for me every morning. Faith in God leads me through the day so I have peace, even though I can't see five minutes ahead or behind me. The anxiety and depression monster will always be there with its mouth open but it can't eat me. Every day God's grace saves me. So you are in my daily prayers Steph!
Thanks for the amazing crackers and bagel recipes, and that espresso shortbread!!
Thanks Hazel! I'm happy to hear you find peace in your routine and faith - it's amazing how having these morning rituals can set us up positively for a day! Bless you, that's so kind and hope you enjoy the recipes! xx
Sorry you have to go through all of that. I have an anxiety disorder so I know somewhat of what you’re talking about. I like the surfing quote. Everything passes…especially waves. I hope you have a calmer week. Sending love and hugs. Keep writing. I love listening to you talk.
Hey Jess - I'm so sorry to hear you have an anxiety disorder; it's such a weird one to get my head around, I'm like how do our brains spiral off into dark little spaces when they have been seemingly fine about an hour before or the previous day! sending hugs to you!
Are you able to talk with a psychiatrist on a regular basis? Here in the States, a lot of younger folks have gotten into online consultation, which is cheaper (America and its health care system, ugh!). It gives you someone to talk to who can help you work through the issues you are dealing with. I am sure you might be, I just don't remember you mentioning it before.
Don't worry about talking about it, you are helping people going through similar situations and they know they are not alone. If anything, I am sure everyone who follows you only wishes things get better for you, you are such a kind person.
Hi Stewart, thanks for your support! I have struggled to find a psychiatrist/psychologist that is the right fit for me as yet - I find myself to be quite a complex cookie! I won't stop looking though and in the meantime have a very small group of people around me to provide the necessary support.
And That's really kind, thank you! Hope you are having a good week!
Hiya Stephi! Hope you enjoyed the Hungarian GP today. 2 out of 3 podium placements English drivers!!! Yay. SO sad though...no races for a month. I know.....I will practice some of your recipes!!! Thank you for your newsletter and your bakes. hugs
IT was fantastic, so happy for Mercedes and great drives from Lewis and George! I know - I have been keeping myself going with the Commonwealths... then there is European athletics - hoping this will ALMOST carry me right through! it's so uplifting I think! Awh such a pleasure! x
I want to say that I had not clocked that you don’t do vids/reels and it was not on my radar. It has flagged that I now realise I see less posts from people who don’t (I would put the way your content makes me want to cook your food alongside Miguel Barclay who I actually can’t remember posting now because he doesn’t do stories. Your daily story I always watch and your photos are always gorgeous and mouthwatering and have enough caption (list of ingredients etc) that makes me want the recipe. I have thought this for a long time about your content and you will forever be the person who made my clan like aubergine.
I think do you. Don’t compromise. It’s frustrating that insta seems to resort so much to reels. But I see your stories every day, I love the coffee thoughts, and I love that you share some of the recipes for the things I see! I look forward to the blog dropping into my inbox. X
Hey Charlotte - awh thank you for your kind words. I love that I made you team aubergine!!! You are right - even posting photos I find it hard, I get all 'what do I write' and 'what do people want to see' - it takes energy and then it doesn't feel authentic... which holds me back, I'm such an idiot! haha! Hope you are having a nice week! x
Absolutely love and wait for The Comfort Chronicals, sending hugs Stephi, you will be fine we are here to help and support as is your mum, family and friends. Look after yourself Stephi there are a lot if people who care about you.
Let me know if you try any of the recipes?I can't believe you made them commercially when you were younger - that sound pretty cool although presumable fairly large scale? I'm surfing girl! hope you are having a good week! xx
Hello!
Just wanted to say that yesterday I made the shortbread and it was great, delicious to eat with an iced latte! I replaced the pecans for walnuts because it was what I had at home, but I found very interesting to put coffee in them. As it's a dry batter, you can taste the coffee and it's great (in wet batters the flavour kind of disappears).
I love to read your comfort chronicles!
Hi sweet Stephi, sorry I am just getting caught up on my emails but I wanted to comment on here anyways. Thank you for being so vulnerable with you health anxieties. Anxiety is quite the elephant on the chest, I live with it as well (thank you for the Mom/Dad hug, right back to you btw!).
Espresso pecan shortbread ... I meannnn, bless you lol
I'm pro-photo and messages on IG too.
Hope your week has brought unexpected joys !
Steph,
I do enjoy your weekly "chats." I coached cross country and girls track for a long while and have seen many of my girls go through some tough spots during their teens and twenties. Body image, positive self image, and confidence are all aspects we as coaches work to build in our athletes. Even my assistant track coach struggled as she helped me coach with things like confidence and getting married (she married at age 30 bu found a real gem!). It has been my joy to see girls overcome these insecurities with courage, support, and perseverance. We are all broken and in process of growing in our lives; know that we care for you from near and afar, an we stand stronger with you having been granted the honor of seeing pieces of your private world as you share them.
Your struggles are real, but I hope you understand how very encouraging your transparent words are to those who read them. Your tasty treats are always delish, but you possess great writing talent and your words are those of strength, power, and healing, all of which are needed today. Enjoy being with your friend's wedding and know you are loved and have great value just by your involvement with those of us who read your tasty words and eat your tasty foods!!
oh wow, what a delightful message, I think it is really quite common in track and field to be honest! Thank you so much for the support! Hope you are having a wonderful week. x
Hi Steph,
Sending you big "You're never alone" and "Right there with ya" hugs back. Your descriptions sound so so familiar. And debilitating. Hearing you talk about it makes me realize struggling and fighting the good fight every day is worth it. Thanks for being a voice for others struggling like you. So comforting and reassuring. Praying daily for your peace of mind and body Steph! I know about that ravenous ever-present anxiety and depression monster, I fight it daily. For the past 12 years I've kept a routine of getting up really early in the morning to run and pray for more than an hour before getting on with my day. In all these years I've missed only two days, waking up in the hospital hooked to machines so I couldn't run! So I'm literally running away from anxiety and depression daily. It's always there with its jaws open for me every morning. Faith in God leads me through the day so I have peace, even though I can't see five minutes ahead or behind me. The anxiety and depression monster will always be there with its mouth open but it can't eat me. Every day God's grace saves me. So you are in my daily prayers Steph!
Thanks for the amazing crackers and bagel recipes, and that espresso shortbread!!
Thanks Hazel! I'm happy to hear you find peace in your routine and faith - it's amazing how having these morning rituals can set us up positively for a day! Bless you, that's so kind and hope you enjoy the recipes! xx
Sorry you have to go through all of that. I have an anxiety disorder so I know somewhat of what you’re talking about. I like the surfing quote. Everything passes…especially waves. I hope you have a calmer week. Sending love and hugs. Keep writing. I love listening to you talk.
Hey Jess - I'm so sorry to hear you have an anxiety disorder; it's such a weird one to get my head around, I'm like how do our brains spiral off into dark little spaces when they have been seemingly fine about an hour before or the previous day! sending hugs to you!
Hope you are having a good week! x
Steph.
Are you able to talk with a psychiatrist on a regular basis? Here in the States, a lot of younger folks have gotten into online consultation, which is cheaper (America and its health care system, ugh!). It gives you someone to talk to who can help you work through the issues you are dealing with. I am sure you might be, I just don't remember you mentioning it before.
Don't worry about talking about it, you are helping people going through similar situations and they know they are not alone. If anything, I am sure everyone who follows you only wishes things get better for you, you are such a kind person.
Hi Stewart, thanks for your support! I have struggled to find a psychiatrist/psychologist that is the right fit for me as yet - I find myself to be quite a complex cookie! I won't stop looking though and in the meantime have a very small group of people around me to provide the necessary support.
And That's really kind, thank you! Hope you are having a good week!
Hiya Stephi! Hope you enjoyed the Hungarian GP today. 2 out of 3 podium placements English drivers!!! Yay. SO sad though...no races for a month. I know.....I will practice some of your recipes!!! Thank you for your newsletter and your bakes. hugs
IT was fantastic, so happy for Mercedes and great drives from Lewis and George! I know - I have been keeping myself going with the Commonwealths... then there is European athletics - hoping this will ALMOST carry me right through! it's so uplifting I think! Awh such a pleasure! x
I want to say that I had not clocked that you don’t do vids/reels and it was not on my radar. It has flagged that I now realise I see less posts from people who don’t (I would put the way your content makes me want to cook your food alongside Miguel Barclay who I actually can’t remember posting now because he doesn’t do stories. Your daily story I always watch and your photos are always gorgeous and mouthwatering and have enough caption (list of ingredients etc) that makes me want the recipe. I have thought this for a long time about your content and you will forever be the person who made my clan like aubergine.
I think do you. Don’t compromise. It’s frustrating that insta seems to resort so much to reels. But I see your stories every day, I love the coffee thoughts, and I love that you share some of the recipes for the things I see! I look forward to the blog dropping into my inbox. X
Hey Charlotte - awh thank you for your kind words. I love that I made you team aubergine!!! You are right - even posting photos I find it hard, I get all 'what do I write' and 'what do people want to see' - it takes energy and then it doesn't feel authentic... which holds me back, I'm such an idiot! haha! Hope you are having a nice week! x
Absolutely love and wait for The Comfort Chronicals, sending hugs Stephi, you will be fine we are here to help and support as is your mum, family and friends. Look after yourself Stephi there are a lot if people who care about you.
Awh thank you so much, that really means a lot!
I do the exact same thing when I have the slightest health issue - Google my symptoms to create a panic. Can't wait to try cornflakes recipe
I swear the internet is the evil sometimes! Let me know if you try the cornflakes - mum Mum and I are addicted!
Just adore you and hugging you back!!
Awh adore YOU! xx
As always, thank you for sharing!! ❤️❤️
xx
Sending hugs right back, Steph. ❤️
xx
Hi Beth,
Let me know if you try any of the recipes?I can't believe you made them commercially when you were younger - that sound pretty cool although presumable fairly large scale? I'm surfing girl! hope you are having a good week! xx