Blog Crush with Simply Southern Baking

Welcome back to the Blog Crush Series. Today I want you to meet Robin from Simply Southern Baking. When I first met Robin, about four years ago, she was pondering about the idea of starting a food blog. She was attending Food Blog Forum to learn more about the food blog community and if blogging was something she really wanted to do. We hit it off right away and have been great friends ever since. If you haven’t been to her blog I suggest you do so, she’s a real sweet heart and is very talented around the kitchen.

h(photo courtesy of Simply Southern Baking)

How long have you been blogging for?

I’ve been blogging for 3 years.

Is your blog a hobby, part time job or full time job?

Simply Southern Baking is a hobby (for now).

How would you describe your blog?

My blog has simple, no-fuss and family friendly recipes, especially a lot of the sweet kind. The easier the better as far as I’m concerned. Some of my recipes are semi-homemade using mixes and other convenience products to speed up preparation when time is short (which happens a lot at my house). I also share a little bit of sweet southern living for a peek into things I do and places I visit.

What led you to start a blog?

About 4 years ago, I picked up a cooking magazine at the grocery store. I saw a recipe inside from my friend Jenny of Picky Palate and noticed she had a web site (I didn’t even know what a blog was at the time). I poured over her site as well as other food blogs and started thinking of starting my own. After several months of research and attending my first Food Blog Forum conference, Simply Southern Baking was born!

Why did you decide to blog about food, vs blogging about other things?

I’ve enjoyed being in the kitchen since I was a teenager, saving recipes from magazines. Later, I developed a love of cookbooks and started on a collecting journey that hasn’t stopped yet. Along with making recipes out of cookbooks, I also have a passion for creating original recipes or tweaking others to make them my own. I had fun competing in cooking contests for a time and was a finalist three times in the Pillsbury Bake-Off and twice in the Mix it Up! With Betty Cookie Mix Contest. I’ve got so many recipe ideas rolling around in my head that I’ve lost count. With all that being said, it was natural for me to blog about food and everything related to it. I could talk about food all day!

Which is your favorite recipe from your blog?

That’s a tough question as I’ve got so many. One of my favorites is my Cookies & Cream Crunch Cookie Bites. It’s a shortcut recipe and the cookie is wrapped around my favorite kiss. The recipe was created as part of a virtual surprise potluck for Christy Jordan of Southern Plate that I coordinated after she had a horseback riding accident last year. Several bloggers took part in this special event.

If you could share a good tip or advice to a food blogger that is starting their own blog, what would it be?

I’ve got a few tips to share.

1.       Do your homework before deciding on your blog name to make sure the name is available on social media outlets and keep in mind the limit on the number of characters as well.

2.       Attend a food blogger conference as soon as you get a chance (I went to my first one before my blog was set up). You’ll learn a lot and start some special friendships (like mine with Wanda).

3.       Look for food props at thrift stores and garage sales – you don’t have to spend a fortune.

4.       Don’t stress if you miss getting a blog post ready by a self-imposed deadline. It’ll still be there tomorrow!  There are more important things in life.

5.       Here’s a great tip I heard at a conference:  Don’t compare your 1st chapter to someone else’s 20th.

Thank you Robin for being part of my blog crush series. You have become a great friend along the years and I wish you the best in the world. My prayer for you is that all your dreams come true.

Wanda Lopez

Hi there! I’m Wanda – the creator and author at My Sweet Zepol a healthy food, travel, and lifestyle blog. Passionate about food photography, food styling, entertaining and advocate about creating memories around the kitchen table. With a mission to create easy-to-make meals for the busy family.