Hello Steemit!

My account was just approved yesterday, and I am very excited to join this community. Yesterday I spent some time reading about the platform and commenting on posts that I thoroughly enjoyed, so I thought I’d continue today with the obligatory introductory post, so here it goes:

I work as a creative services manager for a university, which is actually my dream job. My role spans the spectrum between left-brain and right-brain tasks, so I rarely ever get bored. I do everything from project management and web development to graphic design and photography. I come to work and have a great time.

My hobbies outside of work include healthy cooking, the visual arts, and creative writing. I have a MFA in Creative Writing from Southern Illinois University, and I will admit that even though I have a great job, I have struggled to find direction in my writing since leaving my graduate program. Recently, though, I re-discovered Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way. The exercises in the book provided some necessary guidance, and I am happily writing screenplays again.

To the Steemit community, I plan to contribute articles on writing, posts that include gluten-free recipes, and a few posts where I share my visual art. I will add that I am inspired by those of you here who are sharing your artwork. I didn’t think I’d find a community of artists online who upvote each other’s work! To me, that is amazing. We are creating a world where visual artists can get paid for making something that is aesthetically pleasing and for providing lessons that allow others to do the same.

Once the ground thaws, I will also start planting basil. My husband and I typically grow four large plants, and I spend most of my time outside of work during the summer making pesto. Here is a photo of the basil just before our big harvest. For reference, I am 5’ 3”, and the tallest basil plants came up to my shoulder. I freeze some of the pesto, but I give most of it away. There is little else that brings me more joy than when I see people enjoying food I’ve prepared, and I look forward to sharing my biggest crowd pleasers with the Steemit community.