This week's Featured Friday blogger is sure to bring a smile to your face...you can't help it! Her posts are written with humor, warmth and love...we're betting you can even find a new recipe your family will love too!
Cris Goode is the mama behind GOODEness Gracious and she not only writes about family, faith and fun but also shares some of her photo magic tricks, favorite quotes and fun features like her FREEZE-O-RAMA coming up this weekend! They're all GOODE things in our opinion.
Here's our Q & A with Cris...enjoy!
Tell us a little about yourself and your family.
I grew up in rural southern Indiana on my family's farm. I carry the lessons of my childhood --faith, family, fun and a lot of hard work—with me to this day and they serve me and my family well.
I thoroughly enjoy blogging, photography, graphic design, crafting, cooking and home decorating.
About 12 years ago, I married my college sweetheart—a GOODE ole boy named Mike. To know Mike is to love him and he is truly my best friend in life.
Together we have a 2.5 year old “monkey” named Addie who keeps us on our toes and fills our lives with excitement, discovery and plenty of laughter.
Oh and then there is Gilbert, Add’s best friend who just happens to be a stuffed cat… but we don’t hold that against him.
Our little family loves laughing, playing and learning about God and life together.
What originally inspired you to start blogging?
Hmmm… let’s see, I have always enjoyed journaling and scrapbooking to some degree as long as I can remember. I have enjoyed blogging from time to time through social media, but GOODEness Gracious was inspired by none other than P-dub! Pioneer Woman that is. ;)
This past fall a good friend of mine introduced me to her site and I was hooked! I have always enjoyed photography, cooking, storytelling and scrapbooking. Truth be told, I was in awe of her brilliance as she found a way to combine all the things she loved electronically. I knew right then and there that I wanted to do my own blog and combine all of my favorite Goode things!
Pretty soon I started blogging and much to my surprise folks started reading. I began getting touching emails and notes from people about how much they enjoyed it and that has inspired and encouraged me to continue even more.
I love the day to day record the blog provides for my family. Memories that might be forever lost are now captured in writing for my daughter for years to come.
With a busy family, how do you find time to write, create & share recipes?
I would say it is like anything else, it takes support and commitment. My husband is my biggest fan and he helps me by watching our daughter, taking pictures from time to time and coming up with ideas for topics. Without his support and constant encouragement, GOODEness Gracious probably wouldn’t exist.
As for commitment-- a funny thing happened-- once I started blogging regularly, I noticed that my blog helped me stay focused on the important things in my life. Turns out that having to come up with a new topic on a regular basis creates an encouraging environment to try new recipes, fun family activities and new things to share which in turn makes my family’s life more fulfilling. :) A total win/win.
The blog also helps me stay committed to goals that I mention to my readers. When you know you have a group of folks expecting something—be it a nightly post or activity (like this weekend’s FREEZE-O-RAMA) you tend to stick to it or there will be some splainin’ to do. :)
How did you get your start in the kitchen?
Like any good farm girl-- right by my mama’s side.
One of my most treasured possessions is my grandma’s copy of the cookbook that Mom and I used together throughout my childhood. I heart that cookbook and all the memories tied up in it. That cookbook has my mama’s deep dish pizza recipe in it and the peanut butter cookie recipe that I would always make as a kid at my daddy’s request.
Care to share a favorite recipe from your blog?
I would have to say it has to be my Best. Chicken. Ever. Recipe. Why? Because it is seriously the Best. Chicken. Ever. :) and has to be shared. You will heart this chicken. ;)
Tell us something that no one would guess about you.
This one is a tough-y…I am teetering between my love of the History Channel’s Pawn Stars and my ability to rap the majority of DC Talk’s Free At Last album. I will go with the latter.
As a teenager I fell in love with the musical stylings of DC Talk. I received a free copy of their Free At Last album on cassette while at a youth outing one year and pretty soon I learned all of the songs by heart by fast forwarding and rewinding a million times in true 90’s fashion. ;)
My favorite song of all time is their version of Lean on Me and, if you just so happen to be next to me when I hear it and you just so happen to listen closely, you might just so happen to hear this mama do a little rap. Just sayin’
Thanks for brightening our days, Cris! We really enjoy following your family and the recipes are great too, so keep up the good work...just sayin'.
Be sure to bookmark GOODEness Gracious...click over there now to start reading!
