Today I’d like to talk about something most of you can relate to: blogging. What an amazing journey this has been for me. From getting one or two comments (sometimes no comments) per post, to falling into the blogging abyss, to finding, making, and meeting amazing friends. Blogging definitely has its ups and downs, but until you finally blog for yourself and not for comments, can you truly enjoy it.
The David K. Stack (made with Nutella and drizzled with honey)
http://thewitchykitchen.blogspot.com/2010/08/david-k-stack-everyday-tings.html
I think there is a difference between commenting for comments and commenting to support your fellow bloggers. In the latter, you’re not trying to receive a comment in return, but solely commenting to support a bloggie friend. As much as we hate to admit it though, bloggers love comments. It’s almost as though the number of comments you have depicts how popular and successful you are —> SO NOT true. I would rather have 3 sincere comments than 300 “yummy yum yum” comments. If you’re going to comment, comment because you want to, not because you feel like you have to. That is why I put effort into every one of my comments. In order to sincerely comment though, you also need to READ the whole post. If someone is going to just skim through my pictures to make a comment, then I’d rather you not comment.
Baked Eggs in the Basket:
http://www.anediblemosaic.com/?p=4877
Then there’s the camera and photo obsessions. Yup, don’t deny it guys, you know exactly who you are. I have so so much to learn from many of you. Honestly though, I started out blogging not caring whatsoever about photography. At times I would take photos from my phone and post them (did I just hear some gasps?). Now I actually take the time to take a decent photo and to make my dish somewhat presentable. Who knew photography could be so much fun? Ok, everybody but me. Hey, at least I finally caught on.
Delicious butternut squash soup: http://sharonmoh.com/2010/11/butternut-squash-soup/
How about the amazing friendships you make along this wonderful journey? When you take the time to get to know the blogger and sincerely comment, you WILL find beautiful friendships, I know I have :-D.
Healthy Miso Wild Alaskan Salmon:
http://www.keeplearningkeepsmiling.com/2011/01/03/healthy-miso-wild-alaskan-salmon/l
The first step in getting to know a blogger is to get to know their name (if they reveal it). You’d be surprised what an impression it makes on the person reading your comment to know that you took the time to get to know their name.
Strange-Flavor Chicken: http://thehappinessinhealth.com/prickly-ash-and-strange-chicken
Then there’s the food porn, the oh so torturous food porn. Yes, you people torture me with your delicious, over the top of my skill level recipes and photos. I just have one word for those of you —> ARGH! And my stomach would like to add in her two cents too —> GRUMBLE GRUMBLE!
Baby Spinach and Wasabi Puree: http://annajohnston.com.au/a-lesson-with-chef-adriano-zumbo/
On a more serious note though, thank you all for sharing your lovely recipes. I have bookmarked so many of them to try, but just haven’t had time to try them yet. These photos you’re scrolling through are just some of the recipes I’ve had time to try recently. I enjoyed every single one of them, so please click on the links to check them out if you’re interested.
http://www.burpandslurp.com/2011/03/20/ooh-ching-chong-mapo-tofu-tong/
To all of you who take the time to get to know me every week, visit, and comment (or not comment), I thank you very much. Every single one of you have made this quite the blogging experience for me. To those of you whom I keep in contact with through email often (you know who you are), you’ve been the best part of this blogging journey for me. Thank you for your beautiful friendship.
Laksa, inspired by: http://www.keeplearningkeepsmiling.com/2010/05/31/malaysian-curry-fish-laksa/
The luvtoeat family is on a little mini vacation right now. I’ll be sure to visit all my bloggie friends once I get back. Thank you for being such inspirations! So tell me, is there anything you love or hate about blogging? Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend. Until next time, friends and family.
luvtoeat 
Hi LeQuan, Oh a little vacay sounds wonderful to me although I know I would miss mY own pillow and bed, lol, what a homebody thing to write!
This is such a creative idea for a post, all the sentiments, photos and links are the perfect things to share with your devoted followers. Especially good food for thought on a Sunday morning, for me before breakfast or coffee, that’s right just roll out of bed and check out mY friend at Luv to eat;-)
Have a wonderful time with your family and I will be sure to let you know if I make one of these delicious looking dishes;-)
I love all the inspiration and the creativity in the blogs I follow also just love to think about food especially while eating, just had to share that, take care, Patty
Well said LeQuan! I totally agree with how just seeing my name in a comment really means the world to me…it makes me realize that people do comment because they want to, not just because they want a comment in return.
I hope you have a lovely min-vacation! I can’t wait to hear all about it.
Always like reading your thoughts about blogging, family, friends, and your kids. As more you read the others’ blogger, the more you are curious about their life and things besides food! 🙂 I start blog in 2009, and going through – love it , addicted to it, frustrated about it, hate it, get back and in peace with it. You blog for you and for those who loves you, it should be fun and not to be judged in any measures.
Hope you have a wonderful time with your family!! Summer is here !
Dear Dear Le Quan – What a great post and such a wake up call from rut we all find outselves in, sooner or later – for us bloggers we are right there with you especially with the yum yum comment…lol…and the pic obsession.
And you are right these blogging friendships when sincere and from the heart are something to celebrate.
Before I forgetr, I nearly fell over looking at your pain d’epi – you’re becoming a wicked baker right there with Val & Denise!! Such fun!
Have a great vacak but keep it coming because tyhe blogging world needs your sunshine!!!
Hugs, Devaki @ weavethousandflavors
I do like to leave comments at other blogs as a form of support to blogger friends. The ups and downs of blogging is itself an interesting journey to learn from. I mean, e.g. I don’t have superb photos like some of the other professional out there – I just make do with the best. Almost 4 yrs into blogging and I am still so “unwilling” to get myself a DSLR (why should I if my current point-and-shoot is still working?). And I am still not on my own personal domain.
I love visiting blogs more for ideas and inspiration, and sometimes reads that evoke thoughts like yours, today. 😀
Ending note, enjoy your trip! And have fun
Dear Lovely LeQuan – I so love that you’ve so beautifully said what we all feel, I couldn’t agree more that it’s such a thrill getting a mini post in the form of a comment on our blogs, with our name in there – I know I love reading your comments because I truly do feel your support & that your really reading what I’ve said because you actually enjoy it – makes all the difference, so thank you for YOUR support. Oh, & thankyou for linking to one of my blogs too – that dish was stunning wasn’t it.
Like us all, the yum yum comments kind of leave you a bit ‘huh, why did they bother?’ but I accept because it’d be rude not to.
I found myself one day on a super photographers food blog & realised I kinda go there to do the ‘Oh Wow.., what awesome photographs experience’ – yep, serious food pornographer that one! I decided then & there that I can be guilty of commenting that way when I’m actually drooling about the photograph, not necessarily the recipe – to me sometimes they’re 2 different things!!! (OK., hang in with me here kid, I’m getting to that point I want to make!!!!!); I guess what I’m saying is there is all types of support & admiration when it comes to our comments & the comments we receive & give.
Have a wonderful little holiday my friend, take care & I look forward to reading more of your wise words soon.
Anna xxxx
Anyhow.,
I agree with every single word of this LeQuan. And I want to make sure I tell you that I love every one of the comments you leave on my blog. Theyre always so thoughtful, and kind, and I look forward to them. 🙂
I definitely like getting comments, but I agree with you, I’d rather have just a few, sincere comments than a bunch of nothing ones.
I hope you’re having a fantastic mini vacation.
Thank YOU, Lequan, for being one of the best blogger friends I have. I think you are THE most sincere reader I have. I cherish every comment you leave, every lovely tweet you send bc I know it is genuine. I truly appreciate you. I want you to know that!!
And omg, your pictures are just fantastic!!! I know you share them on Facebook all the time and drive people wild, but you should post more often on the blog, too. Ahem.
Enjoy your vacation, and make sure your next one is to L.A. ok? 😉
Hi LeQuan. Hope you & family have a wonderful vacation together. With regard to your post all I can say “RIGHT ON”. Your sentiments about blogging, the cache in comments, devotion to better and better photography, the sheer power of using someone’s name to convey your regard and compliments, and of course,the food…really hit the nail on the head. My journey in blogging has been to watch Quaypo’s transformation from a kitchen phobic to a kitchen queen, and her devotion to all of the above. The comments she receives have clearly been a primary motivator for her. The generous support and the friendships she has made along the way are like finding treasure. She has, I believe, a lifelong interest in full bloom. So here is a toast to all of you bloggers, and your pure streak of humanity and optimism.
Hello Quay Lo, How did you beat me in leaving a comment in LeQuan’s blog? You are fast. LeQuan, see how your sincerity and being you wins the hearts of your readers? In this case, both husband and wife are your ardent readers. Cheers!
Lol! You two are just too cute! Now that’s how you leave a short, sweet, and sincere comment. Haha! Thank you for your true thoughts always, Quay Po and Quay Lo!
That is so true! Well, here it goes, Le Quan! I am commenting on your blog cos I really want to, not because I feel oblige to. I like the fact that you are a genuine, honest and funny person, like vegetables like I do but still indulge in food that you love (like the fried oyster). Best of all, you love durian! How can one not like a fellow durian lover? And thanks for dropping all those comments on my blog. You are right! Meaningful comment really helps to encourage a fellow blogger. I thank you for the encouragement.
Wow, what a post to brighten a blue Monday! I’m certainly on the same page & I’m glad I found u 🙂 When u’re back, it’ll probably be my turn to be away for a week.
Thks for your support on my Mother’s Day Handmade Accessories Giveaway! Remember to post the FB link that you’ve shared in my comment box & let me know your colour preferences should u win! Happy holidays!
LeQuan, This morning, my Quay Lo asked me if I have read your post, but Yay!! I am one step ahead of him! He will never beat me to that! hehehe.. I am always here waiting to read your next post and looking forward to see your comments on mine. You are so right that from the comments, you will more or less know whether those are just comments for the sake of commenting to get one in return or a sincere comment that offer love and support for their fellow bloggers. However, I do not discount comments that are short and even the word “YUMM” because we never know. Not everyone is open and demonstrative or good in writing comments. Some readers might have read our posts and want to write their views but may not be able to put across their thoughts in words especially if English is their second language. Whether the comments are sincere or not, I am still happy that they take the time to visit my blog and leave their comment and I will sincerely thank them. If they truly enjoyed my blog, they will be back to visit me often, and if they are not, it is fine with me because they won’t be around for long anyway.
Have a wonderful vacation with your family and enjoy yourself my dear. Can’t wait to read all about it when you return. Like the song goes “I am right here waiting.” LOL! Have a safe trip! HUGS!
Hello my dear,
You’ve made an absolutely great point here that I’ve overlooked, Veronica. Being brought up in Canada almost all my life, I’ve forgotten the fact that not everybody has perfect English to fully try to communicate their thoughts. Thank you for reminding me of that. You make a very great point which I’ve unfortunately forgot to look at. Of course all comments are welcome here on luvtoeat. When I talked about leaving comments though, I’m mostly talking about myself or other bloggers. If you have an English written blog, then you should be able to communicate your thoughts quite thoroughly. So in those cases, hopefully it’s more than yummy yum yums. You’ve opened my eyes to a whole new side of the yummy yum yum comments. Thank you for sharing that, Veronica.
Quay Po, I love your point too! 🙂 Totally agree!
Min, thanks:D
Kudos to you LeQuan for saying what a lot of us have not been able to. Added to what you have already said, I am now starting to weed out certain blogs that after a year of following and leaving comments have not acknowledged or reciprocated in any way – I feel that I have been building a one sided relationship with myself. Like you say, I want to build a community of meaningful relationships. Thanks for the great post and enjoy your mini vacation.
🙂 Mandy
Le Quan, I know every word you say here is true and the philosophy is reflected in your blog and community you built! Every comment I get from you is sincere and I really look forward to reading it 😉 Thank *you* for being part of my blog too! Hugs~ Have a wonderful vacation 🙂
YUMMO!!
Hahaha! You’re such a dork, Hun. (shaking my head)
I always thought you were the weird one in your household, LeeQs, but now I’m not so sure …
LeQuan, I totally agree with you and blogging is now a big part of my life, I love to learn more about the bloggers, their life, theirs experiences…sometimes TIME is a problem but I try to make a visit a week to at least say “hello” and to know if everything is OK. I got very touched recently after my short vacation and so many of my community bloggers mention that they missed me…enjoy your vacation and hope to hear from you soon.
LUV this post, LeeQs! What a way to start it: “You’re all my inspiration”. This post is so positive and just radiates with the care and affection you have for your bloggie friends (and I’m so honored to be one of them!!!!). And I’m so tickled that you included my recipe in your lineup! I think your version looks so wonderful, I’m licking my lips over here 🙂
I 100% agree with you about connecting with other bloggers and how the comments are a way to support the people you really care about, to show that you’re reading their thoughts and have something to say. I know I’ve told you before that I’ve fallen into the comment trap, but thankfully, that phase is now past 😀 Now, I only comment on the blogs of those I connect with (and email with those who are particularly special 😉 ).
I hope you have a fun mini vacay in Vancouver!! Enjoy the yummy food!! xoxo!!!!!!!!
As much as I enjoy food blogging, I find it emotionally difficult to deal with the ups and downs of commenting. OF COURSE we all know that the number of comments and who comments, etc. shouldn’t dictate the way that we feel about our posts and our blogs, but I always find it difficult not to be affected in some way or another.
I’ve taken a major hiatus from food blogging, mainly because I wanted to talk about more than just food, ya know? Most people, sadly, only care about the food porn. However I get incredibly inspired by reading blogs like Sophia’s, because she is always somehow able to tie in her real life stories with food, in some creative way or another! 🙂 Ultimately, it’s blogs like hers and YOURS that I will keep coming back to, out of all the zillions and zillions of blogs that I used to read, simply because I feel like I have a sincere and genuine relationship with the people BEHIND the words. And that, my friend, is something that is absolutely priceless. No number of comments can take away from that. 🙂
love
Aletheia
P.S. YES I totally remember when you first started out on your blog and have to commend you on your incredibly amazing new photography skills!!! Love it. ❤
hi le quan, it’s been a while since i last visited your blog and i can understand your point on the comments part. To me, i dont really mind people leaving a short comment like “yummy”.. i mean that’s really fine with me. True, not every blogger like what you said expects a return comment from us, i think it’s just a way of supporting one another and building relationships. I still love their comments though. I started blogging less than a year and with no exception from the rest, this has brought me many new friends and even met some of them, how wonderful is that! the thing i do not like so much about blogging is the photo taking. Unlike you which you think it’s fun, i just hate taking photos.. i only know point and shoot and i also have to make sure it’s a sunny day before i take out my camera. Never in my life that i’m using a camera that frequent, ha! enjoy your trip!!
LeQuan,
You are one of the most sincere and supportive bloggers around. Keep doing what you do. I hope you continue to enjoy your blogging adventure.
Be well
I read the post and the comments ,just feel everything and everybody is fine and nice.
Thank you for sharing ,and I love to read blog and articles , they alwasy can evoke me something.
http://www.hellojersey.us
Like Chinese food~~deliciosu~
Hey LeQuan – I know you blog because you enjoy it. It just shows. And I know that you don’t just toss out comments for the sake of “blogalising” or networking. Every comment you’ve ever posted on my blog has been honest, engaged, involved and from the heart. You truly are one of the very, very few bloggers who doesn’t keep count. I know that for a fact. I’ve said before that visiting your blog is like going to a friend’s cosy kitchen where the kettle’s always on, and it still stands. I’ve always loved visiting and reading about your exploits and I always will. Thank you for being my friend.
Hope you have the bestest vacation! Come back soon, before I miss you too much 😀
Glad to hear that you enjoy blogging and are not looking at the numbers. Thanks for all your comments on my blog. Enjoy your vacation!
I so agree with you, about everything but especially the commenting. These are all great dishes from wonderful sites that I also enjoy. I hope you and your family have a most amazing and relaxing vacation 🙂
You said it all LeQuan..and although I’ve been blogging for almost a year, there are times that I do wish I have more people comment on my blog….but I try not to get that into me. And like you said, just blog whatever I want, no need to feel pressured or anything..blogging should be fun, not another chores 🙂
Have a wonderful mini vacation..looking forward to read more about it 😀
You’ve recreated every single meal beautifully, LeQuan! I especially like the laksa and mapo tofu 🙂 And what you say about blogging and commenting is absolutely true. Even though Veronica does indeed makes a good point too. I think your gut feeling can tell the intention of people commenting ;). Anyway, I think receiving comments is nice but it shouldn’t be our main intention to blog. I do notice that some people get ‘insulted’ when I don’t comment in their blogs regularly, how blogging could be such a an obsession, but unfortunately sometimes also in a negative way.
WHere are you? YOu went away! Good for you! I am still deep into Eat Alberta and just got back from Slow Food Nat Conf in Que.
Not even close to caught up on my blogging reads, writing, or posts. This is a beautiful tribute to your blogging pals.
🙂
Valerie
Hi sweet lady…I am so glad that i found your blog. You always make me smile and laugh and think and drool! And I agree that I would much rather have a few sincere comments than hundreds of thoughtless ones! Thank you for sharing. I hope you have a blessed day tomorrow. I’m here with my love and my family, and I’m so thankful for the hope that comes on Easter morning. Take care!
Great post, LeQuan! I agree with everything you wrote 🙂
HOPPY EASTER LEQUAN!!!
What a great post, LeQuan! You put into words what most of us bloggers out there are probably thinking (at least I know I am!). My favorite part of this post is where you talk about the friendships you’ve formed through blogging…blogging has opened doors to so many wonderful things, and beautiful friendships is definitely one of the best. And thanks so much for the shout-out, your Baked Eggs in the Basket are gorgeous!
What a wonderful post! I totally agree with what you said about commenting and getting to know other bloggers. It really makes a difference whether you just type some quickly and hollow “Yum!” blubblubb or actually read and contribute some thoughts you have on the post.
I think your pictures are totally amazing, and you seem to be an awesome cook! I also love how aesthetically you arrange the food. Gives me an appetite immediately! 🙂
LeQuan
You’re on a minivacation? I hope somewhere good.
I get what you’re writing here about blogging. It is terribly emotionally complicated sometimes. On the one hand, it is great to get comments since it makes you think at least those people looked at your work. Blogging is an art form and it is super to be appreciated. But let’s face it, there are a lot of blogs out there and only so many people reading everything. I know I like that feeling. But it can become a sick addiction too: seeking comments.
I find that it is fun to comment on other blogs because you get to know the other person somehow through their blog, it makes you see things differently and it helps you form connections that you wouldn’t otherwise have. Also their comments make you see things about yourself in a new way.
That said, I find that I gradually drop blogs that never comment back or that it is quite difficult for me to write a comment that will allow my link to show. (That’s the selfish part rearing its ugly head, but that’s reality.)
I also wonder about them if they don’t comment back on my blog. Am I just a number to them? Am I irrelevant or a laughingstock to them? An embarassment but they let me comment to keep their comment numbers high? I know it is my own problem and I should probably take it up with my psychoanalyst, but with the blog and everything else, who has the time and money for therapy?
Some blogs I drop even if they comment on mine and I comment on theirs. I just lose interest or struggle with the tone or the sheer number of existing commentators. You know these famous blogs. What can I possbily say that is original if it is comment 189 or 234? And would these writers really take an interest in me the same way if they had, say only 2 or 7 or 34 comments on a story?
And the tone makes a difference to me. I don’t want to read a depressing blog even if it is really popular with great pics, super food etc. Real life is already grim enough. Why add to it? That is not the same as a blog that has a serious tone, like this story. Those are thrilling to me! It isn’t that often that I can have a real and intense conversation on a subject that actually means something to me personally.
Anyway I’m just rambling. It’s a great story. Hope you have fun on your time off. We’re likely to have a short break as we’ve some friends coming to visit from Brazil in May. As always, love your blog and all the great pictures ;D