Behind the Blog
About Me
I’ve always found that my least favorite part of writing is the introduction. It sets the tone for the entire piece, whether that be a story, an essay, an article, you name it. Maybe it’s just me, but for some reason that feels like a lot of pressure. However, I feel that I owe it to anyone who comes across this blog to introduce myself.
Hello and welcome. My name is Ally, I’m a 20-something who’s trying to nurture the creative side of my brain that was long suppressed by academia. I plan to write about anything and everything – all of the thoughts that pass through my head are fair game.
When I was thinking up a name for this blog, I wanted something that wouldn’t restrict my musings to a particular niche. As such, the idiom “this and that” came to mind. But the true appeal of this phrase lies in a separate idea entirely, one that I’ve struggled with a lot in my adult years: the concept of duality. It seems to me that our world doesn’t give nearly enough consideration to the possibility that two seemingly-opposite things can be true at once. So, as I grapple with this concept in my own life, I hope that I can also inspire readers to take a second look at their opinions, beliefs, and judgements as we contemplate the notion of “this AND that”.
A Little Bit About the Blog
My hope with this blog is that I can achieve a sense of organized chaos that somewhat mirrors how it feels to be inside my head. To do this, I’ll be separating the posts into categories based on the type of writing.
The first category is recipes (usually bread, but maybe I’ll branch out one day). I was never much of a baker until the summer of 2024 when I decided to try to make sourdough bread. I made my starter from scratch and never looked back. It’s now one of my favorite hobbies, and though I still have loads to learn, I’m excited to share my favorite recipes, tips, and tricks.
The other posts are split into four categories: food for thought, essays, lists, and letters. Food for thought posts will be pretty much exactly what they sound like: shorter pieces meant to start conversation, stimulate thought, or let me reflect on something that’s been on my mind. Essays are a little more varied; they may be short or on the longer side; they could be research-oriented or more personal. You won’t know exactly what you’re going to get until you get it. Lists will be the most structured pieces and could be comprised of anything from food recommendations to travel itineraries to current favorite cliches. If it can be in bullet point-form, it’ll be a list. Finally, the letters category will contain rants, commentaries, or reflections written in letter format, just to keep things interesting.
If you enjoy exercising your brain, reflecting on life, chatting about God, or casually baking, this blog may be the place for you. I hope you’ll stick around; it might just give you a new perspective.