Today we’d like to introduce you to Meaghan Dawson.
Meaghan, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have been both writing and cooking as long as I can remember. Now, how I tied them in together and found a way to make them into something, well, that’s another story. I didn’t start out in a career that lends itself to either. I actually started in fashion, working in New York for several bridal designers and then at Saks Fifth Avenue at a few stores nationwide.
After having kids and taking a short break from the fashion world, I found myself working jobs that I liked, but they were never quite my thing. As I got older, I began to realize that what I was putting my energy into wasn’t giving back as much as I wanted it to. I felt drained, grumpy and like I wasn’t making the best decisions for myself or my family. Looking back, I definitely wasn’t. So, I “retired” and took some time off from. I spent an entire summer staying home with my kids, being a mom, regrouping and realigning myself with my beliefs and values, and somehow from all of that–BurntToast was born.
I had NO IDEA what I was doing when I started. None. I couldn’t even take a picture of my kids, much less a meal. But I knew somehow this was what I was supposed to be doing. So, I took the leap. I jumped in with both feet, no idea how deep the water was.
That was about a year and a half ago and since then, BT (as I affectionately refer to it as) has transformed and morphed into something I never thought possible. I’m able to marry my love for writing and sharing my heart and soul, warts and all, with recipes I have created or, even better, have been handed down from generations in my family. My readers come for the recipes, but they usually stay for the heart.
Has it been a smooth road?
It’s been bumpy for sure. Learning and growing always is. It is scary putting yourself out there to be judged and measured. You feel like your worth is being held up for all to see. You feel exposed and you don’t always feel safe.
BUT, I did find that I always felt free. Free to be me. Free to create. Share. Write. And the risk is totally worth it if I feel like that.
I definitely have morphed over time. I went into blogging thinking I was going to make instant money and get endorsements and partnerships immediately. I tried getting affiliates and such, but it never felt right or authentic to me. I’m not a typical food blogger, I’m not one dimensional at all (not to say that most are, but I very rarely talk in depth about my recipes which I find unique in this space). So, I never wanted to push just to make a profit. It wasn’t me.
My biggest advice, despite being trite and possibly overused, is to be true. If it feels right to you, do it. Your gut instinct is a wonderful thing. Trust it. But also, don’t be afraid to morph. Don’t be afraid to take risks and change. That’s where you grow and figure out just who the heck you are.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into BeautyfromBurntToast story. Tell us more about it.
If I had to put myself strictly in one category I’d say I’m a food blogger. I am in that space because I love cooking, I love sharing recipes and I think life is best shared around a table.
BUT, I’m possibly better known by my followers for my general all-around realness. I will tell you exactly the God’s truth about my heart and soul, warts and all. I am a story-teller by nature and each time I write, I long to really connect with my readers. I am not polished and filtered, I am very real. I talk about life. I talk about parenting and love and relationships. I talk about faith and a very real relationship with God. I talk about failures and hurts and pain and joy. I talk through it all.
And the best and most humbling part of it all is when I hear from someone that my words touched them. That it helped them through a time where they felt alone or abandoned, that my words told them they were not alone, that they are loved and that is exactly what I want us all to know. Each day.
So, yes, my space is food. But also yes, my space is LIFE.
Looking back on your childhood, what experiences do you feel played an important role in shaping the person you grew up to be?
Absolutely! I grew up in a family of cooks. In fact, if I had to point the finger at the least qualified person in my family to run a food blog based solely on expertise, it would be me! We live around the table. We bond over food. Memories are made in our kitchens. This is what I long to share with people.
But maybe more than that, I think the bumps and bruises I have experienced in life, either through my mistake and missteps or through outside factors, have led me to the point where I can feel comfortable being vulnerable and honest with people. Where I feel as if I have nothing to hide and I want to share my stories to help others feel less alone. I am not a choir girl. I am nowhere near perfect. But the reason people relate to me is that I openly share that fact. We all need a little dose of reality and a big dose of love on the daily. It’s my goal to bring that each and every time I sit down to write.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.beautyfromburnttoast.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/beautyfromburnttoast
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/beautyfromburnttoast
Image Credit:
BeautyfromBurntToast
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
