In this weeks addition of Makers to Note we’re Brewing up all kinds of Happiness in the kitchen with Atlanta local, Haley Davis. The mastermind, chef, photographer and writer behind the blog and You Tube channel– Brewing Happiness. We are excited to get to know Haley better and thrilled to see how she is using her Blue Sky Papers Leather Constellation journal.
Tells us a bit about your background…where did you grow up? Were you creative as a child? Did your upbringing encourage or delay your creative endeavors?
I grew up in Athens, GA in a sports-centric family. So as a kid I bounced around from sport to sport, until I found dance and theater in fourth grade. I joke that I picked dance because it was the only sport my dad couldn’t coach me in. But, truthfully, I picked it because nothing makes me happier than creative expression.
Did you go to any type of schooling for your craft or are you self taught?
I actually have a BFA in Screen Acting. Which may seem very unrelated to food blogging, but so many of the skills I have (like branding, on-camera training, cinematography, editing, etc.) came from that degree. So in essence, I have some schooling in what I do, but the cooking element has all been self taught and intuitive.
What is your elevator pitch? How do you quickly describe what you do to people?
Brewing Happiness is a site for people who are on their journey to health-ier. I want to make health less about perfection, and more about progress. My recipes are the foods you already love, with some simple adjustments to make them slightly health-ier for you! Because I believe that health and happiness are directly related, and therefore, your health journey will inevitably lead to more happiness. (And we all want that!)
What inspires you + motivates you to keep perusing creative endeavors?
My journey to happiness has been long, and confusing, and probably similar many other people’s stories. It’s been wrought with body image issues, and depression, and diets. It has taken me a while to find a happy/healthy middle ground, and I’m constantly thankful to be here. (Although I still struggle from time to time.) So now, I thrive off of speaking vulnerably about my struggle to love my body. It’s still such a taboo topic in our culture, and I’m ready for that to be a thing of the past. I can only hope me speaking out helps someone somewhere in their journey, because that’s my true motivation in all this.
What are your essentials when creating?
Coffee, snacks, kombucha, water, a good podcast or a good dance party, and a clean and beautiful work station. Luckily for me I work out of a beautiful loft apartment, so I’ve been able to shape it into the kind of workspace that inspires me each and every day!
Do you listen to anything while you work? Tv? music? podcast? if so, what?!
I’m a HUGE podcast fan. I listen to them almost all day long, it’s like having company and learning something all at the same time! Among my favorites are: Beautiful Stories from Anonymous People, This American Life, Casefile True Crime, Two Dope Queens, and Found.
Tell us about your favorite project you’ve gotten to work on?
The southern girl in me loves to play hostess, so when I was asked to host a dinner party with some of my favorite bloggers in partnership with Amy’s Kitchen – I was thrilled! There is nothing on this earth more wonderful than good people sharing good food. If I could do that everyday of my life, I’d be a happy camper!
What would be your dream job/project/collaboration?
I would love to eventually combine my love for acting with the world of Brewing Happiness, and collaborate on my own show. This might be a huge pipe dream – but who wants to limit their dreams?!?
Whats the most challenging part of being a creative for you?
The most challenging part of creativity is the isolation it can cause. Because no one is on the same creative path, we all essentially have to pave our own road – go it alone. This can be both exhausting and creatively draining at times. However, I wouldn’t trade my journey for anything. I’m very lucky to have found a community of blogger friends who can empathize with my struggle, and always have encouraging words for me when I’m down.
What is your biggest inspiration behind your work?
I always say that the inspiration behind my recipes comes from combining my Southern roots with my West Coast mentality. It’s the middle ground between fried chicken and a juice cleanse. And ironically my very southern father is a huge piece of that. I always think to myself, “is this a recipe I could get my dad to try?” Having him as a litmus test allows me to check myself creatively, and also inspires me to think deeper. Plus, he’s a huge supporter of my work – so that makes it all really special.
