Welcome to Sweet and Savoring!

This is a personal blog written by me, Christy Milford. I feature posts on life in New York’s Hudson Valley region, vegetarian eating, my travels (throughout North America, Central America, and Europe so far), and struggling with depression and anxiety.

Who am I?

I live in Columbia County, NY with my husband, Andy, and our dog Juno. The one thing that inspires me the most is travel: experiencing the unfamiliar and devoting every minute to soaking it all up with my camera. My first time on a plane was on a school trip to Italy my sophomore year of high school, and I haven’t stopped dreaming of my next trip since. At 18, I flew out to California for the first time and fell in love with San Francisco. I explored much of the U.S. by car before deciding that it was time for a big solo trip, this time back to Europe. My two months train-hopping through nine different countries in 2005 was as much about my romanticism (fueled by the film Before Sunrise) as it was about my own need to discover what I was capable of.

Since then, I’ve traveled slower: three months in a camper van from New York to Louisiana to Florida and back, one month in Northern Italy, two months in Costa Rica, one month in Nicaragua. I love the sense of discovery that I get from travel, whether it’s a new city or a foreign country.
Besides a traveler and dreamer, I’m also a book lover. I love spelling and word games. I used to be a medical assistant and a nursing student, but now I’m neither. I lived in community for six years at the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies (where my husband and I met). I’m a full vegetarian, and haven’t eaten any red meat since I was 14. I’m an introvert, a nature lover, a baby-sitter, an erstwhile photographer, a recent gym enthusiast, and a Long Island native.

I’m also someone who struggles with mental health. I know major depression, Seasonal Affective Disorder, and social anxiety all too well. It took me until my late 20’s to decide that I wanted to be open about my struggles instead of hiding behind them and feeling ashamed. Speaking up and sharing our stories helps to foster community and understanding, and in an age where far too many people are stigmatized, committing suicide or living in fear, I find that there can never be too many conversations about mental health.

Wondering where to begin?

Check out my top 3 posts in Mental Health, Travel, Food, and Hudson Valley:

Mental health

Depression Feels Like This, Part Two: A Conversation with My Husband

Sunday Travel: Being Depressed While Traveling

Sunday Travel: Anxiety at the Airport

Travel

My Life Experiences: Looking Back with Appreciation

Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula: Eating in Central America, Part 2

Quirky San Francisco: A Resting Place and the Hidden Steps

Food

Savory Cheesy Spinach and Basil Dutch Baby

Local and Delicious: Banana Moon Baking Company

How to Eat Well in Coastal Maine

Hudson Valley

Exploring the Hudson Valley: Wyndcliffe Mansion, Rhinebeck

Rosendale Train Trestle: More Adventures with the Kid

Loving Where You Live: Kingston, NY Edition

What others are saying about Sweet and Savoring:

Christy has a blog that I will not miss a post from, and a voice I gain something from every time. She has singlehandedly changed the way I feel about mental illness, and more specifically – my own situational anxiety. She makes me feel brave…give her a visit just to see how much beauty one blog can contain.     —Tamara (like) Camera

I must say, I live vicariously through Christy’s blog. She’s well traveled, lives in the beautiful Hudson Valley and is an excellent photographer. Reading her blog is like sitting down with a good magazine.   –Jenny of Express Bus Mama

Courage, gratitude, depression, body image and insecurities while embracing the positives in the seasons. I am new here and can already tell what an inspiration you must be for many people.   —Karen Main blog

I don’t know either of you, but I felt like a trusted friend in a conversation. Thank you for asking the difficult questions and pushing through that discomfort. This read was pure love!   –A reader on Depression Feels Like This Part 2: A Conversation With My Husband

This is one of the most open and honest explanations on what life with depression is like that I’ve had the pleasure to read. I’ve had issues in my life and had to deal with depression several times and I always struggled for words to explain how I was feeling and what I was going through. You have captured the essence so well and even helped me understand a little bit more of myself. Thank you!   –A reader on Depression Feels Like This

Comments or questions?

I’d love to hear from you! christy@sweetandsavoring.com

 

Me and my co-adventurer:

*All photos on Sweet and Savoring are either taken by me or my husband, Andy.