'MrsMuffinTop' Isn't Half-Baked By Any Means!
“It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all - in which case, you fail by default.” -- JK Rowling, Harvard address, 2008
When I came across the blog MrsMuffinTop, I initially thought I’d found a mom blogger who specialised in the perfection of making gourmet muffins. Boy, was I wrong.
What I found was a mom who developed a recipe for success and living through the combination of all different types of ingredients from her life -- highly colorful and full of depth and meaning with a twist of whimsy. Jacqui Zadik, rather eloquently and proficiently, fuses cute stories of everyday joys and imperfections experienced by most moms with life-changing moments that make some crumble. But not Jacqui. The MrsMuffinTop she is epitomizes the quote I noted above given by JK Rowling to a very fortunate graduating class.
Embracing your path fully, taking risks, welcoming everyday with optimism, passion and wonder, and making the challenging times into muffins is the only way to truly experience the gift God gave you from the moment you took your first breath. The truth is, you can never claim a day back again, so why not make the first go-around the best.
Begin today by grabbing your morning joe and taking a big bite out of the interview below. What you will save in calories from your usual muffin, you will gain in wisdom and fun.
What is your full name?
Jacqui Zadik
Where do you live?
I live in Los Angeles, but I grew up in Canada.
How many children do you have?
I have three kids so far: 7, 6, and 2
If you were asked to describe yourself in one word, what would that word be?
I would describe myself as intuitive.
What is your personal mantra?
I can get swept up in my emotions, good and bad, so I tell myself every morning, “Not everyday is going to be good, but there’s going to be good in everyday.”
Do you believe you have a “life’s purpose?” If so, share it.
I think we’re all born to fulfill many destinies and to keep striving and growing. I don’t think I have just one purpose.
Tell us about you and your life.
I was born and raised in Canada and, like a bird, flew south for warmer weather when I was twenty. I landed in San Francisco for eight years before moving to LA, where I now live. I was a grant writer and fundraiser before becoming a mom and a blogger, and I’m currently trying to write my first novel.
Finish this sentence, “The best part about being a mom is _____.”
That the challenges never end, but neither do the rewards. My stepmom told me that, and it’s so true.
How long have you been blogging for? Do you blog for any group blogs or websites beyond your own?
I’ve been blogging for around three years, but writing in notebooks since age eleven. I finally joined the tech age! I write for many sites outside of my own, and my writing has been translated into several different languages.
What is the name of your blog? When was it launched?
The name of my blog is MrsMuffinTop. I bought the domain shortly after my son was born, but I used it to upload my drawings and sketches for family to see. I didn’t start publishing my writing until 2013.
Share with us the significance of the name of your blog to you. How did you come up with it?
The name MrsMuffinTop was born shortly after I became a mother. I had lost all of my baby weight, but my body didn’t go back to what it was before pregnancy. The scale was at the same number, but I couldn’t button my pants. And the ones that I could zip up created the spillage over the top, giving me a muffin top! Still a (sort of) newlywed, I turned to my husband and proudly declared, “Just call me MrsMuffinTop!”
What is the primary focus of your blog?
I have three autoimmune disorders, so originally I wanted to have a comedy blog that would create a distraction for others like me. I really believe that laughter is the best medicine. However, since so much of my life is about being a mom and the struggles of marriage and friendship, that tends to be the focus. Luckily, there are a lot of topics that fall under the umbrella of motherhood and relationships: beauty tips, recipes, and date night ideas are all fun topics that pop up on the site.
What makes your blog unique?
As humans, we’re all unique. We may share commonalities, but the beauty of life is that we’re all so different. I share a lot of personal stories on my site, and since those are unique to my experience, it shines through. The range includes stories about when I was raped, to when my mom passed away when I was nine months pregnant, to why I want to punch my husband in his ‘family jewels.’ I’m straightforward, funny and honest – sometimes all at the same time!
Tell us about your blog, including what you hope to accomplish through it.
I hoped to accomplish small goals through my blog when I created it: laughter, a distraction from an overwhelming moment, a piece that creates excitement on an, otherwise, dull moment. It’s grown to be that. I also want it to be an archive of who I am at this point in my life (for myself and my kids) and a window into my life as a woman, not just a mother.
Are you a Brand Ambassador and if so, for which companies?
I’m not currently a brand ambassador but would love to be. I am gifted products on a regular basis for review and love that part of blogging.
Beyond your blog, do you engage in other social media outlets such as Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, etc.?
I love social media and am on Facebook daily. I log onto Pinterest, Snapchat, Twitter, Stumbleupon and Instagram on a semi-regular basis.
What is the one piece of advice you would give to moms who may be interested in beginning a blog?
If I can give one piece of advice to someone considering starting a blog it is to “JUST GO FOR IT.” Nothing ventured, nothing gained. There’s a quote by Anne Lamont that I adore, and try to live by - “Oh my God, what if you wake up some day, and you’re 65, or 75, and you never got your memoir or novel written; or you didn’t go swimming in warm pools and oceans all those years because your thighs were jiggly and you had a nice big comfortable tummy; or you were just so strung out on perfectionism and people-pleasing that you forgot to have a big juicy creative life, of imagination and radical silliness and staring off into space like when you were a kid? It’s going to break your heart. Don’t let this happen."
Are you an entrepreneur or professional beyond your blog (and outside of being a mom)? Please share.
I am a freelance writer and make tens of thousands of pennies. It’s an artist’s life!
Do you support – either formally or informally – a particular social cause?
I’m very philanthropic by nature and support a lot of causes. It’s hard for me to say no, and when I can’t give financially, I donate my time or connect the non-profit to someone else who can help.
When “all” is said and done, what is the one thing you hope your loved ones and those who knew you remember about you?
I love this question. When I take my kids to school in the morning, I always ask them this and follow up with, “What actions can you do to help others see these qualities in you?” It’s so important to me that I’m known and remembered as a genuine, kind, loyal, and trustworthy person. I try (and hope) that my daily actions reflect that!
I love that Jacqui asks her kids this interview’s final question on a regular basis. It is never too early to begin encouraging your kids to think about their places and impact on the world or to help them decide who they want to be in it.
No doubt, Jacqui Zadik has figured out who she wants to be. She is MrsMuffinTop, a woman who bakes into every one of her blog posts commonsense and enormous good taste. I recommend you devour her writings daily.