When we chose the title for our blog, we didn’t exactly hash out all its implications to precision. We loved the images it summoned - crusty breads, flaky pies, sweet and savory pastries - but we also liked its suggestion of substance being interior, something concealed but exposed when cut into, divided, or, well, shared. It sounded good enough, so we went with it.  But the more we’ve developed the blog with that idea in the back of our minds, the more we’ve come to see just how good it is.

We're all up against a little comparison syndrome in this age of social media. Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest are a steady stream of picture perfection. Who hasn’t at some point or other felt overwhelmed by the comparative lack of perfection in their own kitchen, home, or just life in general? Maybe by that one mom with the kids who are always dressed perfectly. Or by the friend who is always traveling to new places. Or maybe just by the perfect pancakes/cookies/pizzas constantly on parade. On the flip side, who hasn’t posted something on social media that wasn’t quite as good as it seemed? Maybe of that beautiful park day that was actually filled with melt-downs. Or the vacation that was more stressful than relaxing. Or the beautiful cake that was actually dry and over-baked.  There’s nothing wrong with wanting things to look good … except when they’re not good and the appearance is just a mask. That pie can look as beautiful as a cover photo of Saveur magazine and that bread could look like it was baked by James Beard himself, but if what’s underneath is bad, it’s a waste. The appearance becomes meaningless because the substance is lacking.

So with this blog, we want to cut open a little, to expose the underneath of home life and life with kids, to share the reality of both struggles and triumphs. Make no mistake, we definitely want our lives to look joyful and our houses to look organized and our food to look delicious... but only because they are that joyful, organized, and beautiful. “Beneath the crust” then stands as a reminder, a challenge to match the substance to the presentation. This means working on the little things, paying attention to the smaller details, being intentional and precise, guided by goals and objectives. It means fostering good relationships with people you admire, thinking about what makes a life joyful instead of stressed or a home orderly instead of chaotic. Yes, sometimes even our best intentions won't suffice and our weaknesses will get the better of us. Even the best baker can slip up on a stand-by recipe. This is part of the cutting into and exposing - it's how we'll learn and grow.