This blogger continues to produce quality content, is now an author of 100 Things To Do In Wichita Before You Die, and she has not let any grass grow under her feet in 2022.

– Midwest Travel Network, 2022 Blogger of The Year: Vanessa Whiteside

One Delightful Life started with taking a creative risk and resigning from my job to fulfill my genuine desire to write a blog featuring travel destinations and foodie finds. My travel posts focus on telling the hyper-local experience. Now, I’ve authored “100 Things To Do In Wichita Before You Die” and Secret Wichita: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure published by Reedy Press.

This site is devoted to making the lives of others easier, whether you’re booking your new vacation to sunny Puerto Vallarta on a strict budget or on the hunt for a week’s worth of easy-to-get-on-the-table meals. I’ve also included posts on many topics to assist you in your learning.

I don’t claim to be some fancy home chef. I’m a recipe cook who is often too tired to spend more than thirty minutes preparing a meal for myself, let alone someone else. I like to experiment with recipes, and I prefer to use fresh ingredients when possible but also use store-bought items to create semi-homemade meals.

I’ve spent a lot of hours on my feet serving people food as a hostess, waitress, food runner, and bartender. You name it, I’ve probably worked in that role in the restaurant industry! When not preparing food, I’m usually thinking about my next meal.

When it comes to preparing daily meals, I try to purchase farmers’ market goods when possible to support local businesses. I would much rather support a mom-and-pop business in the area than buy from a big box store when I can. Case in point, one summer we made pickles from a local farmers’ market, and it was much easier than I imagined. Like me, you can do it yourself!

I’m equally enthusiastic about my next travel adventure. From discovering new adventures within my hometown to traveling across the country, I appreciate spending time outdoors, learning history, and getting to know the people who make an area what it is today. Although my vacation time from my day job is limited, I try to carve out as much time as I can for travel.

It’s fair to say I’m passionate about writing, photography, entertainment, and teaching (I was a high school Journalism teacher in a former life). All of my experiences have provided me with one delightful life , and I hope to share them with you. My goal is to inspire you to try a recipe, seek an adventure, or try a DIY project that makes your life more delightful. So, bookmark this site, and let’s enjoy the adventures together!

FAQ

How did I got started:

One day someone close to me asked me, “What do you love doing, love thinking about?” and it wasn’t my day job. After reading a highly motivational book, receiving a supportive letter from a family member, and a lot of soul-searching, I set out to launch One Delightful Life. The thought of helping others while working for myself aligned with my truth. Now, I partner with destinations and brands to promote hyper-local tourism experiences.

My food philosophy:

You should live to eat. I’m not a perfectly healthy eater, but I do try to incorporate as many healthy ingredients into my daily diet as possible. That said, life is a balance. I love cheese. I love craft beer. I love meat. I don’t beat myself up if after indulging in deliciously rich and fatty foods, especially when dining out. I’ll make sure to eat more greens the next day! Again, it’s all about balance.

I can’t afford to be a food snob. Sure, I like to grab my grocery bags from the trunk and head into the organic grocery store, but you won’t find me buying all of my groceries there. Instead, I love to grab marked-down grocery items while smiling ear-to-ear (what a saving!) and then go home and create multiple meals from them.

Learning is by far my favorite activity. Teaching others new, creative skills is a close second. It is rewarding for both of us if I help you learn how to make a new recipe, take a stronger photograph or travel without spending a year’s worth of savings.

Equipment:

I use a Canon Rebel T3 with a macro lens to shoot most food photography recipes for the blog. I’ll also use my iPhone 13XS Pro for most social media photography. When editing photos or creating graphic content, I used Adobe Photos. I’m typing this post on a MacBook Air.

Can you use my photos?

Please don’t use the images of my blog without my express permission. Every photo on this site is protected under copyright. Therefore, using my images anywhere without my written permission is illegal.

My culinary experience:

I grew up eating my mother’s fabulous dishes made from her creativity. She loved (and still reads) glossy food magazines, so she made it a point to continue learning about ingredients, food pairings, and food trends. She also worked for years in the restaurant industry.

Therefore, I was exposed to sophisticated ingredients as a young child. My friends ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in their sack lunch, but my brown bag often included the likes of a savory meatloaf sandwich or egg salad sandwich with springs of fresh dill. That was my normal.

Having worked in the restaurant industry in every role, from dishwasher to bartender, I understand what it means to cater to diners and serve them gorgeous food or a cocktail that brings them back. I want people to remember my food, my parties and come back again.

I’ve written restaurant reviews as a one-time dining panelist for my city’s newspaper. Here’s an example of a phenomenal Vietnamese restaurant, a place I reviewed because I love their pho. You can also view some of my dining-out experiences on Instagram. 

Contact Info:

Let’s be friends! Email a question or topic and post suggestions to info@onedelightfullife.com. One Delightful Life can also be found on Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. You can also leave a note on the contact page.  

Thanks so much for visiting. I encourage you to have fun and create a more delightful life!

Do you want to collaborate on a tourism partnership? Email a suggestion to info@onedelightfullife.com.