Once upon a time there was this little girl,
She loved pink, polka-dots, and rollers that made her hair curl.
She was always happy, smiling, and enjoying her youth,
But somewhere along the way she lost her truth.
Soon this girl was a teenager and she lost her glow,
She struggled with an eating disorder but wanted no one to know.
During this time she forgot about her life passions and dreams,
When she thought about a career choice she wanted to scream.
The problem was she didn’t know what to do,
So she became a professional student, got her masters too,
She thought the key to happiness was a high paying career,
But the joke was on her at the end of tax year.
She started working at a research job,
Unhappy, she would often drive home and sob.
On Halloween day of two thousand and Eight,
She started this blog and wished for a new fate.
Her blog became a passion, an escape from her pain,
She connected with others and felt a lot more sane.
After 4 months of blogging she got the courage to quit,
She was sick of this job making her feel like…the pits.
As she walked down that hall, her heart was in her throat,
She knew what she had to do to keep herself afloat.
With a quick, deep breath she said I’m Outta here,
and then she went home and had a few beer.
Quitting is hard, but not being happy is worse,
and for many days you count the pennies in your purse.
But the reality was this girl fell in love with her blog,
When she explained to others they looked at her in a fog.
This girl said goodbye to the troubles of her past,
She said with a smile, don’t let the door hit you in the…
[Yes, she’s crass!]
This girl who used to eat fat-free foods galore,
was now cooking, baking, and even eating yummy s’mores!
Yes it’s true, she fell in love with food.
And she even started to smile at herself in the nude.
Her passion for health, the environment, and animals grew,
So she became a vegan and she felt brand new.
Then one day it hit her like a ton of bricks,
She should start a vegan bakery, somehow it all clicked.
She would write, and bake, and create delicious meals,
With a dash of love, inspiration, happiness, and zeal.
I am happy to say this girl is in a good place,
And some say you can now see the glow upon her face.
The moral of the story is to never accept what you think is your fate,
For sometimes you must pave a new road and go create.
The reason for my wordy rhyme or two,
Is a fun contest and here’s the clue.
I hope you had fun with this rhyme that I made,
Many thanks to my writing teacher from third grade.
~Project Food Blog, Entry #1: ‘Why I should be the next Food Blog Star’
To see all of my Project Food Blog entries, see the links in this final post.
Let's get social! Follow Angela on Instagram @ohsheglows, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Snapchat, and Google+
{ 139 comments… read them below or add one }
oh… Angela… this is AWESOME.
I just want to give you a HUGE HUG.
(( HUG ))
Angela this was wonderful!
You are truly inspiring! :)
i loved your poem, you’ve got talent it’s clear
thanks for making your readers smile from ear-to-ear
:)
Just wanted to tell you from a very happy mom that your green monsters have changed my (and the kids) life for the better. I use coconut oil daily as lotion as well and found that if you put a vanilla bean in a glass container of the oil and stick it in the microwave it roasts the bean as the oil softens and it smells AMAZING. The power must be on high and I’ve only tried it with a 250 mL jar. Thanks again!
Aww. You just brightened my day :)
Fantastic. :)
You are just great! I love it
Oh my gosh I LOVE your poem!
Awww this is too cute!! Great poem :)
I love this!!!! It’s perfect. And really shows you. I liked the crass moment too. :D
Oh girl, I adore you!!
Creative as always! I love it.
This was lovely – thank you for posting it :)
This is beautiful and inspiring!
angela, you have inspired more than once today…thank you! i don’t think i’m ever going to tire of your amazing story :)
This is amazing, hilarious, inspiring, and adorable. I love it, and I love that you share your happiness with everyone else who needs to be inspired by it.
Filled with warm-fuzzy feelings after reading this.
I can’t wait for the voting to begin!
What a great idea! You really have found a wonderful place to be in, this was a great way to convey your story.
Hope that you win. I think you deserve it!!
I absolutely loved this post! Your blog is such an encouragement to me as I try to figure out what it is I want to do with my life!
Cute rhyme!!
Love your story (and your poem!). Good Luck! :)
Angela, you are an inspiration to us all! <3
Hope that you win! :) You have a beautiful story and a beautiful way with words!!!
Amazing poet. Amazing blogger. Amazing person. Angela, you’re a triple threat!
i read a lot of blogs, but you are my favorite blogger. i’m so grateful i stumbled across your blog. you’ve been such an inspiration.
Lovely, lovely… make sure to put up a link when we can vote. :)
Beautiful! :)
brilliant, angela! creative and meaningful! well done! A+!
i have a similar story – taught grades 7-11 for three years and decided it wasn’t for me.
fastforward a few years and a few jobs – who would have thought that working retail (a running store! i get paid to talk about my fave hobby!) would be my favourite job ever!
thanks for the enjoyable read! and inspiration!
You’ve been to great depths,
And traveled so far!
You climbed the Great Mountain,
Look how much stronger you are!
Such a beautiful post. Well-written and tells your story wonderfully!
Love this. Love you.
Too cute.. love it!
Original and playful…just like you. Love it!
Love this!!! Nice use of your iambic pentameter :-)
This was amazing! Brought me to tears, thank you. You are beautiful and you are so inspiring.
Super cute!! I’m sure your 3rd grade teacher is proud!!
Lady you are AMAZING…your website is so FITTING – you glow in everything that you do….I feel such comfort in everything you write …it just makes sense….you make sense.
I am way older than you and all I can say is that you just get it….20 years ahead of me! I have always loved fitness, cooking, healthy lifestyle….but you excel in all that you do.
Keep doing what you are doing – it is amazing. I love how you keep challenging yourself…you always think there is ONE more challenge ahead of you. Hugs
So cute. And honest. Love it. :)
That was so sweet and beautiful! Thanks!
LOVE it!!
You are too cute! :)
LOVE it! And you had me tearing up at work :)
This was so good! You’re an inspiration to me. Watching you follow your dreams gives me the courage to go for mine. Thank you.
This is beautiful, Angela!!
Awesome story! Those cookies look tasty:)
This is so awesome! I signed up to enter the contest too, but I don’t think I could ever compete with you :)
you are so fun! thanks for making me smile everyday. :) (i used to write such poems too- including “i think his stethoscope is sexy!” HA!) maybe one day i’ll figure out what i’m supposed to be doing…i am pretty sure it isn’t vet med or lab med…next (crazy) idea is owner of an indoor dog park…or beach explorer. ;)
Love your poem! Very inspiring for a fellow career-changer like myself. There’s a present for you on my blog – check it out when you get a chance!
What a wonderful poem! You are always so inspiring, from your amazing recovery to opening your very own vegan bakery, you never fail to impress! In my still undecided life path, you give me hope that I’ll eventually figure out what I want to do with myself!
Love this poem! You should print it out and put it in that box your Mom gave you ;D It’s a great progression of your journey to happiness and health!! LOVE IT!
Holy freaking amazing post! :) Love it. Love you!
I have been reading your blog for a few months now, and feel super energized and positive after every read. I love this poem! Thank you for your inspiration and the courage you’ve given me (and to many others) by getting out there, living a healthy lifestyle and also, to RUN! :)
This is such a terrific entry! It took me from almost tearing up to a huge wide smile! You’re def getting one of my votes! Good luck!
Amazing. Simply amazing. And totally you!
Now, all I can do is SMILE :)
How fun!
Way more creative than my submission! :)
so cute! you have my vote already!
Wow, you are SUPER OH SHE GLOWS! Great poem Angela. I know you are helping others, that makes me really happy. :)
So great! I love your poem!
I’m crying. Not sure why, but I am – in a good way! Thank you for that!!!
Love the poem! So awesome, and so true to you!
…how did you start your vegan bakery?
Thanks everyone…I’M in tears!!
Awww the poem was lovely!
and LONG.
I thought it really put your story into a neat little package to tell your tale with cute little rhymes.
I loved it :)
:) This is wonderful!
Fantastic poem!! very creative and inspiring :)
Wow, what a great poem and a great blog! Good luck on the challenge!
Great poem Angela! Thank you for sharing it on your blog. :)
Angela, thanks for this AWESOME post. So cool to see where you’ve been and how much you love what you do. Gives me hope that we can all find our passions and get paid doing what we LOVE to do.
I feel like that poem is me! Aside from the successful blog…I am totally relating to the content :)
Always inspiring! I can literally feel your glow!
Awesome post! Love the meaning behind it and super impressed with the rhyming! :)
This poem is beautiful and inspiring! Good luck for the contest!
lmao I love this!!!! especially “she smiles at herself in the nude” it made me laugh, but it is so amazing! you are awesome keep cooking!! I can relate to the ed and sugar free fat free crap and now real foods!!!
Hahaha! That was so fun to read Angela! You say thanks to your teacher, I say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. I remember reading texts your mother wrote for OSG. It runs in the family!
You’ve been my inspiration to eat healthy all through 2010. You made me try all kind of different foods (vegan cheeze sauce, lentil in a pepper, raw chocolate cookies, etc, etc, etc).
Best of luck with the contest, you got my vote girl! :)
LOVE your poem, so inspiring! I knew exactly who I was voting for (You) when I saw the contest mentioned. Good Luck Oh She Glows!
I have one word for you…WOW! I hope my third graders thanks me some day!
Wow, what a fantastic story! Good luck with the contest :)
Love that you help so many people by telling your story. You are awesome.!
Love this! I resonate with SO much of it, especially from the beginning and also quitting my research job. I am not where you are yet but I am on the path and learning to love myself and be patient – that is the most important thing. Every day is a struggle but I keep fighting.
I really liked reading this.
Wow!
I am super impressed by your poetic skills; nice work!
This is too cute!
Love it. Love it. Love it! Thank you!
I just wanted to say thank you… reading your blog has turned in to a cherished morning & evening activity, and reignited my passion and goofiness in the kitchen. I have started experimenting with new & old foods, really getting in touch with the joy I feel in creating healthy, delicious food – and laughing over the disasters! Thank you so much for putting yourself out there and inspiring me. Did I mention I’m drinking a green monster as I write? ;)
Thank you that means so much to me. :)
You’re so adorable and inspiring. Your blog has helped me so much in my own recovery with disordered eating. And your the one who inspired me to start one of my own. Thank you : )
You are truly an inspiration. Thank you.
angela, you are such a beautiful lady. this was a great read. thank you!
This just made my day. You’re awesome.
Amazing! I laughed out loud at the in the nude part! :)
Ange this is an AMAZING entry!! I love it! :)
LOVED THIS!!!!
Awww – that was super sweet!
wow what talent you have! you seem like you are in such a good place in your life! I aspire to be as content and prosperous as you when im older. hopefully doin what i love and loving what i do. thanks for being such an inspiration
I’m so happy for you that you found peace and happiness doing what you love :) You deserve every second of it. You’re such a great role model!
Wonderful opening post and I love your poem :)
Wonderful opening post and I love your poem :)
this totally made me tear up!
You’re truly an inspiration <3
Amazing Angela! Loved your entry!
How wonderful and inspiring!
AWESOME!!!!
Thank you. I needed this tonight. :)
I’ve been following your blog for a couple of months now and I just wanted to thank you for sharing great and tasty recipes and inspiring me to start my own blog (under construction at the moment). I’m a Master student Chemical Engineering (living in the Netherlands) with a passion for food, cooking and fitness and I’ve been very unhappy with my studies. I can very much relate to your poem about doing what you think is expected and being unhappy. Quitting is very hard, but lately I have come to realise that it is necessary in order to pursue happiness. After I have my Master’s degree I vow not to settle for an unhappy career. This makes the future scary, but I am sure it will turn out for the best :-)
So thank you and I look forward to all your new posts and recipes!
awww what a lovely story!
This is sooo stinkin’ cute! =)
YOU are straight up AWESOME. Shine on women!
Thank you for this. You’re really an inspiration. I feel like my story could be interchangable with mine–all of the disordered eating and everything (well except the veganism–I love butter too much!). I’ve recently found running and I think it’s helping me find that healthy balance. Thanks, and good luck on project food blog!
So touching and poetic! My favorite like is “she even smiles at herself in the nude”, one of womens largest struggle! :-)
Love the poem Angela!!
I love following your blog. :-)
Angela I absolutely LOVE your blog!! I’m studying to become a dietetic, I love how eating amazing natural food can make you look and feel amazing. I have been trying to learn how to cook but haven’t had much interest in it, UNTIL I found your blog. Your recipes are exactly what I have been looking for! Thank you!
Aww! I absolutely loved your poem! You’re truly an inspiration to me. :)
Hi Angela,
I just discovered your blog last week. I LOVE IT!! I am actually going through a lot of the same stuff you describe here (overcoming nearly 20 years of disordered eating), quitting my job that’s just become a drain, rather than a source of pleasure in my life (and trying to figure out what I am passionate about pursuing), exploring the wonderful world of vegan cooking. I have so much to say and so many questions, but let me start with just one: how did you start creating this beautiful blog? I’d like to start my own, but Blogspot just isn’t what I want. I’d love to do it right. Do you have any suggestions for getting started? Thanks so much for all of this!!
Jen
i LOVE this! you are such an inspiration.
Awesome!
I love the growth you’ve made into being you. Completely and utterly you :-)
Wow! Thank you, my day just got a little brighter.
That was awesome-sauce.
Funny, cute, creative… and so telling of your fabulousness.
The best Challenge Post I have read so far (Shhh!)
~Missy
I just discovered your blog last week. This poem is amazing! Have a great time in Paris!
Angela that made me cry. It really hit home to exactly how I’m feeling right now…I’m stuck in that place that you were in your old job. I’m in the middle of taking steps to change and your story has always been an inspiration to me.
This was my favorite part and will be added to my quotes collection:
“Never accept what you think is your fate,
For sometimes you must pave a new road and go create”
Let me just say I LOVE reading your page, and I must confess I read it about everyday lol You are such an inspiration and I am so glad I stumbled upon this page so many months ago, keep writing & Have fun in Paris!
Loved the poem! You are inspirational! (And witty!)
Oh this is so great! I loved the poem! And the post before this has come at a great time for me. I am currently looking at my own self-doubt and wondering what I’m good at and what my passions are. While wondering what career path I should take. Thank you for this timely inspiration! :)
Came to check out the competition. You look strong! Good Luck! GREG
I cried. This was really cute :)
I love the poem! This makes me want to go back and read more of your earlier posts & About Me stuff to hear the full story of your transition to full-time blogger!
Fabulous post! I loved every line.
Have an amzing time in Paris!
Angela,
I want you to know that I felt like I was looking in a mirror when I read this. You truly have no idea how much I needed to read this. I used to have an eating disorder and fell in love with food and vegan eating 2 years ago. My family thinks I’m crazy, nuts and pitiful for loving food so much. I could read recipes and stay in a kitchen all day. The truth is though, the kitchen is where I healed from fearing food. It’s where I learned who I really was. I started blogging last January,and I felt like the part of my soul that was missing from what I knew I wanted to do, and what I could do, actually met each other finally. It was if my dreams had touched my abilities for the first time in my life and all the emotional baggage just fell away. Recently, I’ve had 2 life tragedies and my health has taken a nose dive south due to stress. My family often thinks I’m crazy for sticking with staying at home to write instead of going to work to find a full time job. As a senior in college in Nutrition, I’ve decided to get my Masters in Psychology and I’ve been contemplating jobs recently. I went on an interview today for a full time job with all the perks and felt sicker than I have in my life. I knew I didn’t want it because it meant no time for my blog or me. At 26, it sounds foolish, but what I really want is a part time job at Whole Foods I interviewed for where I could contribute to a world of health that I love and still have time to write while I’m in school. Sometimes dreams seem so silly when we say them to others, but they are louder in our hearts than we could imagine.
Thank you eternally for this post. You helped me make up my mind and do what I knew I needed to do from the beginning. God bless you and I’m voting for you:) Your childhood pictures looks so much like mine!:) It’s hilarious
PS- My dream job is to write a recipe book, blog full time and open my own vegan and allergen friendly ice cream shop:) I know if we met, I’d feel like I wasn’t so crazy afterall:)
Thank you so much for your comment…you are an amazing girl and you have such a great spirit. I wish all the best for you in the future. xo
Beautiful <3
Awww I loved this poem! Good luck :)
Great and inspiring poem!! Loved the glimpse into your life and how you overcame your struggles. Rock on, girl!!
Very inspirational! Best of luck!
I just voted for you! :) Good luck!
Here’s the link for everyone else who wants to vote for Angela!
http://www.foodbuzz.com/project_food_blog/challenges/1/view/148
thanks!!
Great Post! Good Luck with the rest of the competition! (I’m in it too.)
Beautiful! I just gave you a vote! You can check out my entry here: http://tinyurl.com/2ec2hlq Thanks and Good Luck!!
Wow – you got the most comments of anyone! Well-deserved for clever entry. I’m casting one of my votes for you.
i am so glad to knw that u followed ur dream,.;-)
I love your creative take on the first challenge. With your passion and drive you are going to go far in this competition. Best of luck. You’ve got my vote.
💕💕💕💕💕