The end of a decade, and last chapter of the Forest City Cookbook
This decade is coming to an end, and with it, the Forest City Cookbook chapter of my life will be permanently closed to open room for other projects, new publications and more exciting adventures.
I will always be proud of the work that I put into this project, the great achievement, and all the smiles, sweat and tears that went into creating the Forest City Cookbook (special thanks to everyone that helped out during production). I had unbelievable support from the community and made great friends along the way (maybe a few enemies too, but no one can make everyone happy, right?).
This book helped me find familiar things in an unfamiliar place, a place that once made me feel so alone, suddenly started making me feel happy and energized. Overall, It was an entertaining ride, and I feel honoured because I know that all these memories, recipes and stories will continue to live on through your home kitchens.
Moving forward, I hope to motivate others to read more books, talk face-to-face, hug more, build new tribes, eat together, be active outdoors, appreciate Mother Earth, take good food choices, and spend less time in front of screens. After a year of emotional, physical and creative recovery, I'm totally ready to get back in the game in 2020!
Time to reflect
I've lived in three countries during this decade, and my time moving around has taught me to not take anything for granted. These are some of the things I often tell myself: Don't expect things to come to you, go out and find them. Show up, work hard and don't give up. Don't be afraid to fail, all the mistakes will be lessons. Don't do anything to please others, It's impossible to make everyone happy, so just focus on making YOURSELF happy! Leave room for self-care, family and friends (not everything has to be about work). Always remember that health comes first! Do things that align with your values, ethics and lifestyle. It doesn't matter if you've been in a place for 5 years or 50, there's always something new to discover and someone new to meet. Chase the passion, not the money. Celebrate each other and help as much as you can. Be adventurous, aim higher, and always remember to be thankful for another day!
I'll continue with my never-ending pursuit to discover myself, find a place to call home, and find my purpose in life… and the only way to do that is by trying different things and getting lost in unknown paths. Some roads might lead to dead ends, but others might open up a beautiful landscape of mountains to climb, trees to hug, waters to navigate, and stars to sleep under.
Life happens in between curiosity and discovery, and all experiences worth remembering include a dash of discomfort. I will keep my senses sharp and try to not miss out on all the lessons and opportunities that may come my way. I hope you'd do the same! We must keep moving and wondering, pushing ourselves and asking, "where to next?". This world is a wonderful place, and our time in it is limited. Appreciate it, love it, protect it, marvel at its beauty, don't stay still, and always, ALWAYS be kind to all the living creatures that share the space with you.
The last page
I'm hoping to sell everything that's left, including some of my personal copies and the demo books that I won't need anymore. Everything at the cookbook’s online store will have up to 50% off, perfect for a special Holiday gift! All the social accounts for Forest City Cookbook will be renamed (some already have). The website and email will remain active for a few more weeks and then rebranded or deleted (I haven’t figured what to do with them yet). The e-Book will remain available for a little bit longer.
Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for the incredible support! It all meant the world to this South American girl with broken English and endless enthusiasm for keeping her creative spark alive. Stay tuned for what’s coming next… I hope I’ll see you around!
Love,
Alieska