creative outlet

Cooking has always been my creative outlet. I stayed in the cooking dorms my freshman year of college because I knew cooking my own meals would provide much needed satisfaction and stress relief. It did. All through college I dreamed of dropping out and going to culinary arts school. I also started a ridiculously large collection of cookbooks.

My life changed dramatically a little more than a year ago. Allergy tests confirmed that Max is allergic to wheat, dairy, eggs, and nuts. I threw my beloved peanut butter away. I learned VERY quickly that it is impossible to cook without wheat, dairy, and eggs. Impossible, that is, to cook anything that tastes good. I no longer cook for enjoyment. I cook for survival.

Now that my cookbooks are collecting dust in their permanently closed position, I have been in search of a new creative outlet. I am not crafty. I don't scrapbook. I don't have time to take a photography class. I do, however, have a new sewing machine. I finally pulled it out today. I decided to start making Christmas ornaments. I plan on adorning my tree in soft, child-friendly ornaments for the next few holiday seasons so as to minimize my holiday stress level. My first attempt: matryoshka dolls. I made them out of a toddler dress I found at a thrift store (that makes them cheap and environmentally friendly, right?). Next on the agenda: owls.