Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacqueline Williams.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jacqueline. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Growing up, I loved exploring different creative outlets. Whether that was through playing with makeup and learning how to contour, exploring different styles of dance, singing, thrifting and making my own clothes, or getting my hands dirty in different types of art mediums. As I got older, my creativity blossomed into other creative forms like interior design, photography, gardening, and especially cooking. My love for cooking started in 2015 shortly after I got married. I remember standing in the kitchen as a newlywed thinking to myself,“Welp, I guess it’s time for me to figure out this whole cooking thing!” Thank goodness for Pinterest! When it came time for me to put my cooking skills to the test, I knew I had the creative touch in me. I just needed to spend some time in the kitchen for it to flourish.
I grew up watching my father in the kitchen. If cooking was a love language, that would definitely be his. He is one of those people who can throw an incredible meal together with just a few simple, but also random ingredients. He has a way of pairing different foods and spices you would never envision together and making it taste like one of the best meals you’ve ever had. I definitely got my creativity in the kitchen from my father. As I started to experiment with different recipes, it began to come with ease and I was able to implement my creative side into the dishes I was making. One of the most meaningful lessons I’ve learned in the kitchen is to first and foremost have fun! Cooking is not a pass or fail test. Have fun with it and see what you can create for yourself and those around you.
My blog started mostly with recipes, but I am now starting to highlight different parts of my life, like my Motherhood journey, self-love, and so much more. My blog has been a great way for me to have a positive, creative outlet while also allowing me to connect with likeminded people. I’ve learned that it’s when you share your story that you can truly connect with people.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
One of the most challenging parts of being a blogger is being consistent. When I started the process of building my blog, my son was just two months old. I was embarking upon a new journey and I set a goal for myself to launch by January 1st, 2019. I remember sitting on the couch covered in spit-up, my hair a complete mess, and the same t-shirt and yoga pants, which I refer to as my “uniform.” I probably had unbrushed teeth and hadn’t showered in a couple of days. Those few months were a time when I was working tirelessly to get my blog off the ground so that it would be ready to launch in time.
I really struggled with consistency in the first year and a half of launching my blog, mainly because I was in an entirely new season in my life. At the time, I was caring for my son, trying to be a good wife, keep a clean house, make time for myself, all while living in a new state. All of my responsibilities left me feeling like I had very little time and energy for me to put into my blog. Creating a recipe, cooking the food, photographing the food, editing the images, writing the recipe for the blog, writing a caption for social media, and responding to your readers, takes time and mental energy. I have always set high expectations for myself, and there were many days where I felt like my expectations were unattainable. As Micah got older and was more predictable, things got easier and I learned how to manage my time more efficiently.
One of the important lessons I have learned about myself in my Motherhood journey is the value of creative time. In order for me to feel happy and like myself, I need to make sure I build time into my schedule to be creative. Whether that be making a new recipe, taking photographs, or writing, I knew if I really wanted my blog to be successful, I would need to put in the work and that no one else was going to do that work for me. So, I just started creating time in my schedule by adding blogging to my list of priorities. Each day I work on my blog, even if it is just for 15 minutes. Most of the time, I can get to work early in the morning before my son wakes up, or in the evenings after his bedtime.
Another struggle I deal with is Mom Guilt. Mom Guilt is the never-ending feeling that you aren’t doing enough for your child or that you could be doing more. I find myself sometimes thinking, “Instead of doing something for myself, I should research more educational activities or read him a book.” Sometimes I can be incredibly hard on myself and I know I am my toughest critic. Throughout my Motherhood journey, I have learned that while the guilt may never fully go away, the best decision for myself and my family is for me to take some time to do the things that bring me joy. Making myself a priority and investing time into the hobbies I am passionate about is so important for my overall happiness and wellbeing. As women, we need to be reminded that we can only be the best version of ourselves if we invest and take care of ourselves, and by doing this everyone around us will benefit.
We’d love to hear more about Taste Full Life.
I launched Taste Full Life in 2019 shortly after the birth of my son, Micah. When I was thinking about the vision for my blog, I knew I wanted it to be a place designed with my readers in mind. It is a place where I strive to be my true authentic self every day. Parts of my blog are light and fun, while other parts are raw, real, and relatable content, where I dive deep into certain parts of my life. I recently have been talking about some topics that are not always easy but are so necessary. Taste Full Life has a focus on not only Motherhood and recipes, but also love, family, self-discovery, and connection. My blog is a place where I give my readers a full look inside my Motherhood journey, self-discovery, and the life changes I have and continue to go through. I share the challenges and the joy of life and highlight how being a mom is only one part of who I am in this world.
Taste Full Life is a place where people can feel like a chef even if they are not experienced in the kitchen. I like to think I am known for sharing delicious recipes that are not intimidating to make. It is also a safe place where women can feel connected and supported while on their parenting or life journey. My aim is for Taste Full Life to be a place where women feel encouraged to explore and create beauty and comfort in their lives. Whether that be learning some new cooking skills, adding some favorite dishes to their recipe book, discovering parts of themselves they didn’t know existed, or reminding them to be gentle with themselves and to trust their journey. Or learning ways to be a happy stay at home mom, working mom, or confident woman in general. My blog is a place for ALL women and is not a place where I try to be perfect or act as if I have it all together. I am just like everyone else trying to figure out how to be the best mom, wife, daughter, sister, and friend, all while trying to be the best version of myself. My readers and biggest supporters tend to be women who have a taste for a FULL life!
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
My family and I are planning for the birth of our daughter Mirielle, who is due in October. While this pregnancy hasn’t been easy with the pandemic, she has brought so much light and excitement to our family already. In terms of my blog, I plan to continue being consistent. Once things settle down with the Coronavirus, I want to look for opportunities to meet other bloggers in my niche. I moved to Texas a year ago and am still in the process of getting to know people in the Dallas blogging community.
My readers can expect more delicious and easy recipes, blog posts about pregnancy and postpartum recovery, and life with two littles. I will also share how I keep my marriage a priority, especially during the wild sleepless newborn months!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.TasteFullLife.com
- Email: Jacqueline@TasteFullLife.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tastefulllife/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TasteFullLife
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TasteFullLife
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/tastefulllife/
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