I started this blog a little over a year ago as a way to keep track of some of my favorite recipes, as well as to share some of my own.  It was right around that time that I started using Twitter to try to get more traffic.  I would write an entry, post to Facebook and Twitter and leave it at that.  Back then I had about 10 followers, so my reach wasn’t all that great on Twitter.

Therefore, I did what people recommend you do to get more followers: I engaged. I started following people with other like interests – sports, music, tv shows, etc. I would comment here and there when I thought appropriate. Before I knew it, I had increased my following significantly. Unfortunately, at that point, I had little time for blogging.

I started using Twitter as @Chef_Stacey with a spiffy avatar of myself. However, for various personal reasons I changed it to @ChefHLMongoose, keeping Chef in my name and working in Hot Little Mongoose, a nickname bestowed upon me by one of my closest friends. I enjoyed writing under the mongoose persona. It became my creative outlet. I could be funny and sarcastic. Speak my mind. And of course use spiffy mongoose hashtags.

As is the case everywhere in life, not every one is going to like you. I get that. At the end of the day, Twitter is a gathering of mostly strangers judging you solely on thoughts & ideas of 140 characters or less. It is a lot like high school. And guess what? I hated high school. I was a skinny, geeky girl with big glasses who got straight As.  Teenagers are unkind. Apparently, so are adults.

More and more I’ve been reading things that leave me feeling empty. People attacking each other. The gossip. The lies. The drama. It’s not worth it any more. I have taken a hit personally, professionally and emotionally.

I have met some truly great people on Twitter, some in real life. And for those who enjoyed my wit, humor or ramblings, I thank you, but moving forward I will be focusing on my blog.

I’m headed back into my kitchen.  For those who choose to keep following, enjoy the blog. For those who don’t, it’s been a great ride.

#foodlovingmongoose

EDITED:

From comments and @ replies I received, I realized I gave the impression I am leaving Twitter. I am not. I will just be using it mainly to promote my blog. But thanks everyone for the kind words and sentiments.