10 Things… and a little (big) news.

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

We’re shaking things up a bit today because, well, it’s my birthday. Ever since college, I’ve shared a list of things I know at my current age.

This year is no different, and I’m kicking off the day right with this post…

Interested in seeing previous lists? 2020 | 2019 | 20172014 | 2013

10 Things: 30 Years Old // The Speckled Palate

1. I could never have envisioned what I do for a living when I was in college, and I’m thrilled that I am lucky enough to continue pursuing all my loves by freelancing.

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    2. Sometimes, you gotta dance it out when you’re prepping dinner. Just… be careful with that knife.

    3. There’s absolutely no shame in walking when you feel like you should be running. (ANY movement trumps being stationary.) There’s no shame in not liking something that everyone else does. (I’m looking at you, Pumpkin Spice Lattes.) And there’s no shame in asking for help if you need it.

    4. It’s hard to beat the combination of good food, good conversation and good company.

    5. I’ve grown up a lot since I first started making these lists when I was in my teens. Y’all have no idea just how much.

    6. Y’all know the scene with Snape in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows? It will always bring me to tears, whether I’m reading the book, listening to it on tape (because I’ve got it on tape) or watching the movie.

    7. I’ve got the best friends and family a girl could ever hope for.

    8. There’s nothing quite like a fantastic book to fall into and explore a new world.

    9. There is so much in the world we cannot control. Focus on the little you CAN control — yourself — and rejoice in that.

    10. Henry David Thoreau provides a beautiful reminder as I begin a new decade: “What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us.”

    … And now, a little (big) news that I’ve been anxiously waiting to share with y’all.

    10 Things and a little (BIG) announcement // The Speckled Palate

    I’m pregnant!

    Winston and I are expecting our first child — a baby girl — on March 1st, and we couldn’t be happier!

    Since this is a food blog, I doubt I’ll be sharing much about the pregnancy because, well, I feel like the majority of y’all come here for recipes. However, if y’all are interested, maybe I’ll do a monthly update or something to have a written record of how crazy/thrilling/strange pregnancy is…

    And that’s what I got for y’all today. Be sure to come back tomorrow to check out my super cute stacked birthday cakes! (Because I made my own birthday cake. Because that’s apparently what food bloggers do.)

    … What do you know this beautiful September day?

    A woman with dark curly hair wearing a black tank top in front of a white wall

    About the Author:

    Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her

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    28 Comments

    1. Yay! Congratulations! This is such awesome news! And yes, please bring the pregnancy updates. Food blog or not, it’s so fun to follow along! Yay!

      1. Thanks so much, Chelsea! We are thrilled… and since everyone is saying to share some updates on the pregnancy, it looks like I’ll be doing a monthly update or so. 🙂

    2. Happy birthday!!!! And HUGE congratulations on the addition to your new family – I bet you’re psyched! And you are correct: there is TONS we can’t control – I’m learning how to deal with that now. Let me know if you figure out the key to letting go 😉

      Have a wonderful week!

      1. Thank you, thank you, Julia! We’re totally psyched about the Lady Baby (because, of course, we’ve been calling her this as soon as we learned we were having a girl!)

        Haha. I’m still figuring it out as I go, too, but hopefully, we can sort it out. 🙂 I hope you’re having a wonderful week, too!

    3. Love this list! Happiest of birthdays, sweet friend! And congratulations!!! I know I personally am interested in pregnancy updates, but I just like those sorts of things 🙂

      1. Thank you, Madison! I so appreciate the wishes and congrats… and it sounds like you aren’t the only one who’s interested in pregnancy updates. I’m thinking I’ll do a once-a-month round-up update on the pregnancy at this point, and we’ll see how it goes!

    4. CONGRATULATIONS!!! Such fantastic news. I will miss seeing your beer drinking selections on Untappd for the next several months, but I wish you and Winston the best on this exciting new chapter!

      1. Thanks so much, Alli! I randomly miss beer and rare steak and runny eggs… all kinds of things I’m not allowed during pregnancy, really. But never you fear: I’m actually making Winston log all the beers he drinks (after I sniff them, of course) during this time and making notes so I can try them once the time is right for me again.

      1. Thanks, Kelly! And please, enjoy all the PSLs on my behalf, as I can’t seem to get into them or bring myself to find a workaround to make them work for my tastebuds currently.

    5. Happy Birthday! But also, congratulations on your new bundle of joy! How delightful! Your list is great too, I especially relate to #3 & #9. I love your blog for your food inspiration, but I would love to hear your pregnancy updates as well. What a blessing!

      1. Thanks you, Jamie, for the birthday wishes and congratulations. I love writing these yearly lists… and I’m absolutely feeling #3 and #9, too.

        Good to know that you’d enjoy reading some pregnancy updates, even though you generally come here for food inspiration! Thanks for stopping by!

      1. Thank you so much, Megan! We had a lot of fun taking this announcement photo with the pooch, though we don’t think she really knows what she’s in for just yet. 😉

    6. Oh my GOSH Erin!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHH! Congratulations to you and Winston and the little bean’s big sister! That’s amazing news. And is your birthday 23/09? Cos that’s my birthday too… happy birthday to us 🙂 Sending you heaps of love, prayers for a happy and healthy pregnancy, positive thoughts and joy! Wish I could give you a proper hug across the seas! xxxxx

      1. I can feel your excitement from Europe, Laura! You’re TOO sweet! Thank you, thank you! We’re super thrilled about our little one on her way… and a very happy belated birthday to you, lovely! I hope you had an amazing day and an amazing week!

        Also, the across-the-seas hug? Let’s make that happen somehow. 😉

    7. Love your 10 things list and Congratulations!!!! I think you should do a monthly update because it is such an important time on your life, and your food preferences and things you’re allowed to eat will be changing a lot anyway.

      1. Thanks so much, Julie! I’m kind of leaning toward the monthly update thing, too, for the exact reasons you’ve said. It’s such a cool experience, though there are definitely some strange things that come with pregnancy — like aversions and random cravings — and I’m sure you know about these, too!

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