#sponsored #ad #affiliate #co isn't fake. Let me tell you why.
This is a post I've wanted to write for a long time. I don't typically "blog about blogging" mostly because I always hope to relate and reach people outside the blogging realm, but, I think this topic has been unfortunately tainted by influencers (bloggers) and has caused readers, followers, and even other bloggers to click away from and ignore certain content.
That being, sponsored content.
Ugh. You guys, this literally makes me so uncomfortable to talk about because it's so personal. But I'm going to dive in and explain what it is, how I approach it, and how I hope you view my sponsored/affiliate/ad content moving forward. Again, let me just reiterate, this is MY approach and every blogger does it differently - to each their own!
What is sponsored/affiliate/ad/CO content?
Sponsored or Ad content is typically made up of content that is paid. Sometimes it's just free items in exchange for a mention within a post, a product review, or social media shout out, but most of the time, the blogger is being paid to write positively about the mentioned product or business. Here is an example of this type of post on Joy Lynn: Vitamin Water. I was paid by a third party to write a unique post using Vitamin Water from Sam's Club. This was essentially an ad, but it doesn't mean that the post itself was "fake" - just that it had to mention the product. The other tips within that post are honest-to-goodness tips I keep in mind when I'm doing some serious thrifting. Think of it like product placement in movies. Just because the characters are drinking Pepsi, doesn't mean the movie is just about Pepsi. They just got paid to mention it.
Affiliate links are no more than a link to a product that, should you make a purchase, will give a small commission to the blogger. They're used all over the internet and are not unique to blogs or bloggers, but YouTubers, businesses, and more. They cost nothing extra, but affiliates are a very positive, passive way for bloggers to make a few dollars for recommending great products to their readers. Any Amazon link you find on my blog is affiliate linked. So if you click on the KitchenAid mixer in my sidebar and buy it, I get a little moolah from Amazon as a way for them to say to me, "Hey, thanks for sending someone over and giving us business!" However, if you click that mixer, decide you don't want it, but continue to browse Amazon and make a different purchase - without ever leaving that one session - I'd get a small commission on whatever you bought in that session. It has no affect on you, but it's the main way my blog personally makes an income and helps keep my running costs in the black.
C/O (compliments of, courtesy of) is nothing more than free product. Typically, this means an item was sent to a blogger because the blogger asked for it or the company sent a sample on their own accord hoping the blogger will like it enough to mention it. This doesn't usually come with any requirements and bloggers might like something they received so much, that they willingly write a review on it, share it on social media, or use it as a giveaway item. Companies might ask for a share on social media or a review, but no one is contractually obligated. The difference between free items in the C/O sense vs. the sponsored sense, is that free items that are sponsored are "in exchange" for a post/social media share/review. C/O items may or may not be used or shared at all.
What did you mean in regards to some of these being "tainted?"
How many times have you as a reader come across a post that's tagged as #sponsored, #ad, #afflink, etc... and immediately passed it by because those tags, to you, have become synonymous with "fake content?" Probably a lot. I'll even raise my hand for this one... I still do this.
The thing is, I get it. I understand why you do that.
It's because at one point you clicked on one of these posts and found the substance to be completely vapid and lacking, except when it came time to praise a product. The photos were filled with pretty staging and gaudy-labeled products as the star. The post, though intriguing by the title, ended up being nothing more than a glorified ad for chocolate milk from Wal-Mart. You felt used. Like you were the audience adding to the success of an online "figure" who just needs you for numbers and "support" for their ad company. This "trick" happened to you more than once, until finally, you developed an instinctive response to simply scroll right past any and all posts with "#ad" associated with them.
How are these approached on Joy Lynn?
I'm writing this post preemptively so that in my future posts, you aren't quick to judge. I want to communicate to you - you as an individual - how honesty and integrity works on Joy Lynn.
Sponsored/Ad Content:
Thus far, to be completely honest with you, I've not pursued many sponsored opportunities. There are various places you can land sponsored gigs for money, but because authenticity is of the utmost importance to me, I cannot bring myself to write a meaningful article about frozen dinners from Target even if it comes with a nice paycheck. I have a hard time feeling as though that's true to my blog and honest and valuable to my readers.
Pitching to companies I love is also insanely daunting - even small area businesses. As much as I, of course, feel that my blog and my readership would be beneficial to these businesses, it's hard to go in and say, "Hey, I love your business and I want to share about your products on my blog, but it'll cost you $---." And unless you have a massive following with huge social media numbers, the big brands you want to work with probably won't even acknowledge your existence, let alone PAY you. Sponsored content is not my strong suit. I am not very "salesy," I care very deeply about authenticity and only promoting products and businesses I absolutely love, and I never want to disappoint my sponsors or readers. Maybe it's a fear of failure, but more than anything, it's a fear that my readers may see my blog in a negative light should it become too "sponsored." I hope that in the future, as I perhaps pursue some of these higher paid routes, I'll have the support and understanding from my readers that these posts are necessary for my blog's success and they are still real posts.
Affiliate Links:
These links are the driving force on Joy Lynn. They are passive in nature, and I only link to products that I either own, are very similar to what I own, or would consider trying (like the ones linked in this post). I'm not pushy about them, they bring in only cents on the dollar, but are such an easy, positive way for readers to give back to this little online space. How many times do you order off Amazon in a month? Next time, I hope you'll think of me and click through one of my links before filling up your cart and purchasing :)
C/O (compliments of, courtesy of):
Though I think it's very important for bloggers to be paid monetarily for the hard work they put into their blogs, receiving products is also very fulfilling and can feel so rewarding. I've received several items over the years and only shared with you the ones I love. Social Print Studio, as an example, is a company I've purchased from for years, and when I pitched to them and they agreed to sponsor a post, I was ecstatic because they are such a genuine fit for my blog and I felt my readers would appreciate it too (here's that post). To this day, if I ever see someone looking for a great place to order prints, I point them to SPS because they are truly my personal favorite. Not because they worked with me, but because I genuinely love their company and products.
Really, it's just an awesome perk to be able to share with you actual items I would choose or purchase, but instead be given them so I don't go broke buying up all my favorite things. I have a few items for our upcoming trip that were sent to me, because I reached out to them, I picked their items, and I would have bought them anyway. If I didn't like them, I certainly wouldn't share them, but I do! And I can't wait to recommend them to you.
How do I hope you view my sponsored, affiliate, etc... content moving forward?
In terms of all the different ways I make a living off this blog, I hope with all my heart that you'll continue to be supportive. I don't push anything on my readers and never will, but in doing so I've sacrificed a lot financially, and in ways it's even held back my success. I do not buy followers (many, mannnyyyy influencers do) and I always want Joy Lynn to be 100% organic, authentic, and real. In order to keep this up, I need your support and trust. I need you to not ignore or skip those posts that are sponsored or affiliate linked or C/O, because those posts took a lot of guts, pitching, time, and energy to land. When I have the opportunity to share a brand with you, it's because I love that product and I think you really will too.
It hurts bloggers when they put so much blood, sweat, and tears into their online spaces, only to be shunned by their readers when they finally get a paycheck. As if readers suddenly don't appreciate their work if they get paid for it. How crummy is that? To work so hard to be honest and trustworthy, only to be pigeonholed by the word "sponsored" or "affiliate."
If you see sponsored here...
Know it took so much bravery, hard work, and dedication-to-authenticity to land and put together in a genuine post. It's 100% real.
If you see affiliate here...
Know it's one of the few ways this blogger can continue to follow her dream of creating a helpful, positive, wholesome online community.
If you see c/o here...
Know it's a product this blogger either asked for and chose herself, and feels so grateful to have the opportunity to receive and share it. Or she was given this product and really loves it and thinks you'll really love it too.
(Keep in mind: Not every free product makes it to the blog because it may not have made the cut in terms of quality/style/various reasons)
Finally, I just want to express my sincere gratitude for my followers and small, engaged community. Whether you're a blogger or not, I love having you here. I think about my readers on the regular, I love your comments, I write for you, and I share my heart here hoping it can bring something positive or relatable to your feeds of grim news and heartache. I do real here, and sometimes that means sharing hard things, but each and every day, when I open up my blog or my social media, I feel at home. I cherish the messages you send me and love when you tell what you like to see and read. I want to continue to nurture this space and take opportunities for growth, but I need your supportive words and presence to keep doing what I'm doing. I know it's easy to look at the life of a blogger (a career that many still think is bizarro - haha) or writer or creative freelancer, and think they have it easy and their life is just a staged photo, but behind the scenes are struggles, and insecurities, and many "no's," and few "thanks," and all for such little pay. But it's something I care for so deeply, in the way anyone cares for a work of their own hands or their small business. It's a place that feels worth the frustration and failure and slow growth when that one person reaches out and to say they feel validated, inspired, understood, or happy.
I hope I'm acting as a light for Christ, a light in the world, and a light to someone's day.
We need more lights, but you have to pay the bill to turn on the light. So please. Don't be afraid of #ad.
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Hondo's Favorites
Welcome! If you’ve landed on this page, you likely landed here via Hondo’s Instagram. His Instagram was started when we first got him as a place for me (Joy) to picture-dump because I just knew I was going to take wayyyy too many photos of him. Well, that silly little page (that I made really for myself) has grown into a fun, positive community of people who get laughs and smiles from our favorite bear-of-a-fella. In fact, Tom (my husband) posts for Hondo pretty often now, too! We are so grateful and glad to have you following along on Hondo’s derpy adventures and we hope this page comes in handy for all you new - or not new - doggo owners! We own and use all of the items listed on this page, so this is certainly not an “ad” page. The crowd favorites (which you may have seen featured in some of Hondo’s videos) are the stainless steel rake and the paw-washer. Both are listed under “grooming.” My personal favorites are the magic fur remover brushes listed under “for the house.” They save you from those annoying lint rollers and the endless sheets that still leave hair behind. These brushes get ALL the hair off my clothes, the couch, bedding, etc. Truly magic! Anyways - so glad to have Hondo’s followers finding their way onto my blog, so if you’re curious, please take a look around my site. If you have any questions comment below, DM us on Instagram, or email me here.
This post contains affiliate links. Should you make a purchase through one of these links I may receive a commission, but at no cost to you. These affiliates are essential to the livelihood of this blog and help cover the expenses necessary for running Joy Lynn.
Basics
Grooming
Toys
Walking
For the house
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Custard Rhubarb Pie
I am not really a "pie person." I would prefer cookies, or brownies, or ice cream. Pie is sort of "meh" to me.
But this pie. OH THIS PIE. I can...
I am not really a "pie person." I would prefer cookies, or brownies, or ice cream. Pie is sort of "meh" to me.
But this pie.
OH THIS PIE.
I can (and may have) eaten an entire one of these pies all by myself. Tom can explain to you what this pie tastes like with words like "decadent, tangy, sweet, but not too sweet, buttery.."
This is his favorite pie. EVER. I get some serious wife points for that. He tells everyone about this pie, and if Tom is bragging about something, it's going to be worth bragging about. He's usually hard to impress. BUT THIS PIE.
Honestly, just try it.
Crust
2.5 C flour
2 sticks COLD butter
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
6-8 tablespoons ice water
Pie Filling
4 C rhubarb, diced
3 eggs
2 C sugar
1/4 C flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon butter (melted)
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July | 2017
I mean, is it okay to admit that I'm already living vicariously through our upcoming trip? Haha! We are having so much fun just PLANNING for it, and we're learning some cool tricks for packing and about overseas travel as a whole. I've become really fascinated by it all and have found myself looking for info that doesn't even necessarily pertain to this trip.
Are any of my readers fluent or decent in French or Italian? I've love to know the phrases you think would be most helpful for us to familiarize ourselves with. Like, "Yes, more bread and cheese, please" "Another bottle, please" and "What do you mean I look like a tourist?!" :)
This month was really pretty relaxed, though, which has been nice. It was extremely hot and humid here until recently, when the humidity dropped and the mornings have been perfect for walks with the pupper. It's been a slow month, overall, and we've had a nice balance between busyness, life, work, and appointments. Here's what's been happening...
Life Lately
July Posts
Favorites Lately
Things this blogger "will never..." - I loved this post by my friend, Autumn. It was both amusing (#2: really! Some people's comments online are INSANE) and a fun way for me to see someone else's perspectives on some things that don't bother me, or I've just never thought about. Fun little read! It'll get you thinking!
Venice travel guide - also by a friend (sorry, I'm a little biased, okay?!). Alex put this together so nicely and it was fun to hear about her trip!
This video of a poor hamster's running wheel fail - haha!
Do you like dad jokes? These guys go up against each other and aren't supposed to laugh at each other's dad jokes... but obviously.. that's impossible.
Tumblr posts that are too real for dog owners - it made me laugh way too hard.
This Chicago home tour is so awesome. Love the storage solutions, modern touches, and bright decor.
How was your month? Anything you'd like to see on Joy Lynn soon? I'd love to hear from you :)
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My Skincare Routine
First off, none of this is sponsored. I just wanted to share my skincare routine because I feel like I'm finally at a good point with it and maybe it will help someone else find just the right combo of products to get to a good place with theirs.
First, here is my skin background:
Just as a reference (because everyone's skin differs), I thought I'd give you the background and general texture and traits of my skin. I have always leaned toward the oily side of the spectrum. As I'm getting older, it's falling more between oily and normal, but I'm still on the oily spectrum for sure.
Teens:
Throughout puberty, I'd get an occasional zit or small breakout, but it was always manageable. When I hit seventeen, though, acne hit me. It was bad, but not what I'd call cystic so much as just blotchy. T-zone, cheeks, typical breakouts, all over my face. This is when Proactiv became a big seller, and their system kept my bad breakouts mostly at bay until I was about twenty-one or twenty-two.
Just some under-eye concealer and eye make-up. Those were the days!
Adulthood:
As I entered my early twenties, I really struggled to find the right method for keeping my acne under control, and nothing I used during that time seemed to help much at all. You know how you sometimes switch face washes and your skin clears up for maybe a week, and then goes back to being zitty? That's what my early twenties entailed. It was extremely annoying and embarrassing, and I was also just learning how to use foundation (up until then I got away with nothing but concealer - I wish I had appreciated that more haha!). During our engagement, my skin was at an all time low. It was absolutely covered in zits and small bumps and I was incredibly self conscious.
I went to a dermatologist, and whatever he prescribed did not sit well with me. I got terrible flu-like symptoms and had trouble breathing. Living on my own, I couldn't get to an ER, and sometimes I still wonder how I managed during those horrible 24 hours. I did, however, continue using the prescription strength benzoyl peroxide cream and would slather it on twice a day. This dried my skin out to a crisp and I'll never forget the day Tom noticed how flaky and disgusting my skin had gotten while we walked around a Target one evening (haha so funny).
I didn't catch a break until Tom and I were married and I was on the pill for a while. Not to be TMI or get into that topic, I just want to express how grateful I am for what it did for my skin. It was during this time I really learned the value of moisturizing, because for once I didn't have to tend to my breakouts with drying agents. From that time forward, I've been slathering on moisturizer like there's no tomorrow, and I realize now, how incredibly important and revitalizing it is.
Those stupid zits creams made my oily skin, dry at the same time which gave me combo skin. I realize now the serious mistake I was making, and even though EVERYTHING I read told me to moisturize to even out my skin, I couldn't bring myself to do it. I thought it would make my skin MORE oily, when in fact that dang BP was making my oily skin oilier and dryer and in turn caused me to break out to a terrible extreme. Moisture (and even oily skin) is so beneficial (I think) to your skin's elasticity and longevity and will keep your skin youthful and supple, while drying it out and using something as harsh as benzoyl peroxide will only age you faster. I'm so glad I've realized this.
Now, to get into my current skincare routine. Everyone's routine changes a little here and there, and so now and again I may use a different night time face wash, but I always do these same steps.
Morning/Shower
In the shower, I wash my face with Cetaphil (daily facial cleanser) and every other day I use the the Target or name brand Apricot scrub for acne prone skin.
As soon as I dry off, I use three pumps of CeraVe PM (the AM has SPF and though that's great, it makes my skin extremely oily). A friend showed me this lotion in college and even though I didn't use it then like I should have, it came in very handy when I did start using moisturizer. It's very light and once it soaks in, you hardly know you put lotion on at all - but I always notice when I don't!
The last two photos in this set I'm wearing a thin layer of foundation and some concealer.
Night Time
You should know that I'm insane about washing my face before bed. I don't know why it's always been this way, but it has. Even on my wildest nights out on the town in college, I NEVER went to bed without washing my face! It's just a habitual thing for me - I can't sleep in make-up.
Lately I've been switching between Pond's Cold Cream (the original) and normal face wash every few days.
When using Pond's (which is what my grandmother swore by and she had beautiful skin) I simply take a generous amount to my finger tips and massage it all throughout my face - makeup and all. When I've loosened my makeup (mascara too), I wet a washcloth with hot water, wring it out, and gently wipe it over my face making sure to remove all the most heavily made-up areas until my face looks and feels clean. Then I take another small dab of Pond's and use it as moisturizer.
When using face wash (pictured is Burt's Bees Skin Brightening - which I love right now!) I just wash my face like normal, dab dry with a clean hand towel, and use four pumps of CeraVe PM.
The last two photos in this set I'm wearing a thin layer of foundation and some concealer (and Hondo is photo-bombing which is what made me laugh).
Here are the products I use:
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Things Creatives Are Tired Of Hearing
Do you know someone who works in a creative field? Maybe a freelancer or an entrepreneur who works from home? A small business owner? You probably do. And since you do, I would very highly recommend you watch this short video on why asking one of these people for free work is downright crazy.
Now I'm not the "how dare you utter that" police, because people can say whatever they want. In fact, I am actually the queen of foot-in-the-mouth syndrome (it happens to the best of us). That being said, I love a good satire... partially because all sarcasm has a lick of truth behind it and that's the kind of humor I enjoy (aka teasing). My readers today can rest easy in knowing that this is all meant in good fun, but I hope some of these open your eyes to the ridiculous requests people make of creatives. Here it is... a long overdue sassy post:
1. I just have this little project, and it would probably take you five minutes. It'll take me all day! Do you think you could do it instead? Anyways, you like doing it, don't you?
Would you ask your hairstylist to cut your hair for free since it'll only take them five minutes? Especially since they like doing it? How about your plumber? Electrician? Babysitter? Or anyone, really, who offers a service they enjoy doing? Asking a favor of someone because they have a skill (that they're normally paid for) that you don't, makes you look very presumptuous.
2. Do you get paid for that? How much money do you make?
How much do you make?
Yikes. Such private, personal info.
That's rude, guys.
That's a really rude question. And tacky.
3. So is that just a hobby, or a real job?
Did you know that scores of people make over six figures a year from their own home? Of those people, many started their businesses from just a hobby. I know more than a handful of ordinary people who have done this, yet it's often not considered "real work."
Just because someone genuinely loves what they do, doesn't mean it's not a viable job. Also, what defines "real job?" Moms don't get paid monetarily, but I'm pretty sure they have a "real job."
Some of us would rather work to live than live to work, and just because our work isn't defined the way you define it, doesn't make it less than any other "typical" job.
4. I want something new and unique.
This is then followed up with visual examples of 'exactly' what they want. So, actually, you want to plagiarize that person's exact site/product/style? Oh, okay.
5. If you do this and I like it, there will be lots of follow up work and exposure.
Sadly, this happens to almost all freelancers who are trying to get exposure without having to pay an arm and a leg. Schemey people out there know freelancers can get desperate, so they play this line and never hold up their end of the bargain.
6. Please, don't spend more than a few minutes on this.
...until they come back with some "little tweaks" that obviously turn into revision, after revision, after revision. These people are so sneaky!
7. I know you don't do this for other people, but can you make an exception for me?
Nope.
Side note: this is my favorite gif of all time.
8. Don't worry about the cost, I'm willing to pay!
Until they get the bill, and then they suddenly don't remember saying they were willing to pay that much. Or they weren't actually willing to pay to begin with.
Annnnd this is why deposits are the freelancer's best friend. Helps weed people out!
9. Clients who want their freelancers to know every creative skill known to man.
Must be a rockstar at: marketing, social media management, web design, graphic design, photography, Adobe Creative Suite, photo editing, editing, copywriting, coding, UX, content development, styling, PR, email campaigns, sketching, wire-framing, etc...
Word to the wise: If you want someone who is a rockstar at something, they won't be a rockstar at EVERYTHING. Each of the areas I listed above are often separate job titles and specific areas of study and/or expertise. Creatives, like many other jobs, do not know about every other creative function known to man. As they say, "the jack of all trades is the master of none."
10. I don't know what I want, but I'll know it when I see it.
If you can't articulate it, I don't know what you want or where to even start. Please don't waste people's time with this ridiculous phrase. That's like having someone with a different body type go try on wedding dresses for you. It's a waste of not only your freelancer's time, but yours too!
11. I'll give you some products in exchange for your services.
Again, would you pay your plumber with a pack of gum? This one happens in blogging particularly often and can be really annoying. The only time I find this one acceptable is when a brand sends you a product with little to no requirement from you. I've received products from brands who are just hoping to get the word out authentically via influencers who may genuinely like something so much they'll share about it. (More on the topic of bloggers + sponsored content coming soon)
12. When the client delays the deadline they gave you:
There you have it, friends. Just a few of the silly things creatives and freelancers hear on the regular. It's okay. We're used to it. And we talk to other creatives and laugh about these silly comments. That being said, keep a few of these in mind the next time you're tempted to ask your web designer friend to "help" you build a website.
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Minimalist Style | 3
I love having a minimal wardrobe and it definitely forces me to get creative, but sometimes I just want to wear something else. Something I haven't worn a thousand times over, and feels "new to me." Well, those are the moments it's nice to sneak into the husband's side of the closet and steal his clothes! Haha - am I alone in this?! Depending on what I steal, he either loves it or gets irritated, but I can't help it - his clothes are the comfiest!
In today's example, I'm showing you how I style a typical men's t-shirt three different ways. It's been a while since I've snuck this particular shirt of his (we used to fight over it, and I finally gave it back up to his keeping), but I just think men's t-shirts are the best for styling purposes.
Minimalist Style | 1
Minimalist Style | 2
Here are my easy outfits broken down:
1. Patterned pants, flats
2. Flowy skirt, necklace, heels
3. Jeans, belt, hat, flats
Boyfriend/husband/oversized tees are so easy and fun to style. You could also throw on a cardigan, shorts, and sandals. Or a maxi skirt, skinny belt, floppy hat, and sandals. So many amazing options out there, but below are just a few to get your wheels turning. Go "steal" that hubby's t-shirt!
Excuse my little photo bomber :) Hope you enjoyed these simple ideas!
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The Great Blogger Bake Along | Finale
Alright, friends. It only took a month for my mom and I to be able to coordinate a good day for this finale, but it's here! Honestly, having...
In case you're not up to speed, this is the tenth and final bake in The Great Blogger Bake Along series. Read about it here.
Alright, friends. It only took a month for my mom and I to be able to coordinate a good day for this finale, but it's here! Honestly, having finished these final THREE bakes, I realize we could have easily done this sooner, but I assumed they would be time consuming and fussy like some of the previous bakes. Surprisingly, I was able to do all three in just a few hours!
The Challenge
Tea Time Scones
Lemon Tart(lets)
Mini Victoria Sponge Cakes
The Outcomes
Like I said, these bakes were really pretty quick. The ingredients were few and came together without fuss. The baking times were short, the prep work was minimal, and the final presentations were easy. Truthfully, anyone could have made these little bakes and I would encourage even the most amateur bakers to give one or all of these a try. The challenge here, was doing all three in an allotted time, I'm sure. However, I had all day, but still managed to breeze through them without a problem.
Some adjustments I made:
- I used a larger tart tin instead of mini ones
- I used a muffin tin instead of perfectly round mini cake tins
- I added sugar and vanilla to the whipped cream (because why the heck do they leave whipped cream plain?!)
- I nixed the chocolate on the lemon tart because I don't think lemon and chocolate are a good mixture.
Would either of us bake these again?
The scones tasted more like semi-sweet biscuits and I found them sort of blah. They are supposed to be served with jam and cream, and without those additions they are nothing to write home about. I think they make a good base for making the more Americanized scones we know (if that's more of what you're looking for). I'd bake again with adjustments.
The lemon tart was delicious. A little rich, so a small piece will do, but very yummy. This was the first tart I've ever made, so I really enjoyed trying my hand at it. The crust was sweet and buttery, and the filling came together quickly, and set into tangy, creamy perfection. I would definitely bake again, and now I want to try all kinds of tart flavors!
The mini Victoria sponges with strawberry jam and cream were delicious as well. This sponge mixture was far easier (and tastier, IMHO) than the sponges of some of the previous bakes. It was denser, a little dry, but the filling evened that out and made it the perfect tea-time cake. I'd bake a different batter altogether, but I love the mini versions and yummy filling.
Here's the glamour shots...
Here's my mom's report
The final bake! In a way I'm happy we are finished, but at the same time sad. When your daughter lives far away it is easy to begin to feel a "distance" that not being in each other's world can bring. What fun this has been. I highly recommend doing something like this if you have someone dear to you living away. We've talked regularly and our FaceTime conversations hashing over our experiences has been wonderful. We are people who find humor in just about everything and laughing with her is frankly, "the best." Love you Joy, Joy.
Now to the bake. These final three were very easy. The instructions were simple and the ingredients not unusual.
The mini Victoria sponge. The sponge actually tasted like I think a cake should be. While they were fresh they were delicious, but I think as they cooled they became dryer. This has been typical of most of the British sponges. DRY. The moisture of the jam and cream helped. I used mini muffin tins. I had home made jam already so I got to skip that step.
Lemon Tartlets. These were surprisingly simple. I've always wanted to make these and was happy to discover how easy they really are. Joy told me she had trouble rolling out the dough. Once I began I could see what she meant. To solve the issue I rolled mine out between two pieces of Saran Wrap. Beautiful, and problem solved. I will make this again only with different filling. While the lemon was very good, it would not be the pick in this house. Neither one of us garnished with chocolate as we didn't like the pairing of those particular flavors.
Tea Time Scones. Simply put, not a fan. Too dry.
Thanks for coming along with us on our Great British Baking Show challenge.
This entire challenge has been such fun. Expensive at times, and very frustrating at others, but worth the funny FaceTimes with my mom as we laughed over every hilarious misstep. As she mentioned, this series has been a great way to remain close even though we're far apart, and I couldn't agree more. I love talking to my mama regularly, but being able to enjoy one of our favorite hobbies together from miles away is extra sweet. And geez, we needed the "extra sweet" from all the annoyingly bland bakes we did!!! Haha!! I'm sad it's come to a close, but hopefully we can continue this tradition annually. Perhaps we'll even come back with our own showstoppers with the new techniques we've learned (and failed at!). I hope you all enjoyed this series as much as we did.
BIG thanks to Cameron, our Star Baker. She did an incredible job and her writing skills are just as beautiful as her bakes. If she gets a blog going, I'll be sure and let you know!