Bread Thoughts


Longer than an Instagram caption, shorter than therapy.
Happy Birthday, Sam šŸ’›
Today is Samā€™s birthday, and I just wanted to take a moment to say how thankful I am for him. Heā€™s smart, supportive, funny, and genuinely the best husband. Heā€™s the kind of person who shows up consistently, encourages me when I need it, and somehow manages to make even the busiest or most chaotic days feel a little lighter. Bread by Blaze wouldnā€™t be what it is without him. Heā€™s been there through every idea, every late night in the kitchen, every ā€œI think I can make this work,ā€... Read more...
What I End Up Bringing šŸž
Iā€™m not usually the person who shows up empty-handed, and honestly, I donā€™t think I was ever really given the option. Iā€™m Italian, Irish, and German, and especially growing up with an Italian grandmother, showing up without something in your hands just wasnā€™t how things were done. There was always something to bring, something to share, something that made you part of what was happening before you even walked in the door. That habit stuck. My dad had his own version of it too. He would bring an Entenmannā€™s bakery... Read more...
Making Space for It ā˜€ļø
Iā€™m not always very good at slowing down. I like having things to do, things to work on, something moving in the background. Even when I tell myself Iā€™m going to take it easy, I usually end up finding something to fill the time with anyway, because apparently sitting still is a skill I am still developing. But every once in a while, something comes up that feels worth making space for, and this week is one of those times. Weā€™re celebrating Samā€™s birthday a little early, and instead of... Read more...
On Celebrating (and Why I Love It So Much) šŸŽ‰
Iā€™ve always loved celebrating people, and I donā€™t really think I fall cleanly into one category with it. I love the small, intentional things that make someone feel seen, but I also love going a little over the top when I can. Thereā€™s something really fun about putting extra thought into a moment and letting it feel bigger than it technically needs to be. A lot of that probably comes from how Iā€™m wired. Gift giving has always been one of my love languages, and hosting is right up there... Read more...
A Quick Pause (For Something Really Special) āœØ
There are some weekends that you know are going to be special before they even get here, and this is one of those for me. At the end of this week, Iā€™m going to be taking a short break from baking because my family is coming into town for my brotherā€™s ordination, and I couldnā€™t be more excited about it. We donā€™t get to have everyone together like this very often, so Iā€™m really looking forward to slowing down, being present, and just enjoying the time we have. Iā€™m especially... Read more...
Sabreā€™s Summer Kitchen Rules ā˜€ļø
(a blog post by the cat who is once again in charge) Hello. Itā€™s me again. Sabre. Chief Feline Operations Manager of Bread by Blaze, Professional Supervisor, and nowā€¦ Seasonal Director of Summer Activities. Weā€™re entering a very important time of year, which means itā€™s time to review updated policies for the kitchen. Please read carefully. The windows will not be opening. Donā€™t ask.I am aware that some people enjoy ā€œfresh air.ā€ I am also aware that I am an indoor cat with very important health considerations. So while Florida... Read more...
On Moms (and the Ways They Show Up) šŸ’
Motherā€™s Day always makes me think about how different moms can be, and how they each show up in their own way. My mom is someone who loves being part of the world I get to work in. Sheā€™s always excited about the theme parks, about visiting, and about sharing with other people what rides Iā€™ve gotten to be a part of. Sheā€™s also a teacher, and from what Iā€™ve seen and heard, sheā€™s always singing to her students, sometimes for laughs, sometimes to get their attention, and sometimes just... Read more...
A Week in My Apron
People often ask me, ā€œHow do you have time to do all this?ā€And the answer is: barely. With vibes. And a timer thatā€™s always going off. Bread by Blaze isnā€™t my full-time job - I work a somewhat normal 9 - 5 during the day. And beyond that, Iā€™m also living life: choir practice (alto!), Life Group, the occasional D&D night, updating something around the house, and trying to honor a day of rest weekly. So all the baking? That starts only when orders come in, and happens in the... Read more...
What Iā€™ve Been Growing (and Struggling With) šŸŒæ
Lately, Iā€™ve been spending a lot of time out in my gazebo working on a little garden setup. Iā€™ve got a couple of raised beds in there along with a few planters, and for the most part, itā€™s been really fun to build out. Thereā€™s something about checking on things every day, even when nothing looks different, that Iā€™ve really been enjoying. I actually had a similar setup last year, but the problem then wasnā€™t critters. It was the soil. I had the idea to use ground tree mulch from... Read more...
Itā€™s Starting to Feel a Lot Like SpringšŸŒ·
Even though Florida doesnā€™t reallyĀ do spring the way other places do, I still know when it shows up. Itā€™s not the leaves changing or the air getting crisp - because that simply does not happen here. Itā€™s more subtle than that. Itā€™s the few weeks where the weather is just right, where I could open the windows without immediately regretting it, and where the kitchen feels bright instead of just warm. It never lasts very long. Florida kind of skips over spring like it has somewhere else to be. But... Read more...
Itā€™s Beginning to Smell a Lot Like Christmasā€¦ (In My Kitchen Too!)
For those who donā€™t know, I have a little tradition: every Halloween night, I patiently wait until 10:00 p.m. sharp before I let myself start putting up Christmas decorations. Yes - you read that right. While most people are still finishing their candy, Iā€™m untangling lights and pulling out boxes of decor. Christmas is my favorite time of year. Thereā€™s something about the glow of twinkle lights, the smell of spices, and the feeling of coziness that just fills my heart (and my kitchen!) with joy. Itā€™s a season that... Read more...
Sabreā€™s Seasonal PSA
Hello, itā€™s me again. Sabre. Your favorite fluffy enforcer of household rules. First, I must address the absurdity of October 31st.Ā Strangers in costumes everywhere and not one of them is here to admire me. Tragic. But just when I think Iā€™ll never survive, something magical happens (or at least, magical for Blaze). At exactlyĀ 10:00 p.m. (yes, I can read clocks), Blaze starts putting up twinkle lights, hauling out bins of Christmas decorations, and suddenly the house transforms. And do you know what that means for me? Garland. So much garland.... Read more...