friday links (plus tribute to Elle's Kitchen)

On Wednesday the food blogging world lost a wonderful person.
Many of you might remember her as Elle from elle's new england kitchen.
I can't even remember how many friends she has in the food blogging world--let's just say it was a lot.
And for good reason: she was a good soul.  She loved EVERYONE, she encouraged everyone to cook & bake.
She was one of the first people I met when I started blogging back in 2008; it was her and a few others that left inspiring comments on my first few crappy blog posts.
Two days ago it was so heartbreaking to learn from her kids and her husband, that Elle quickly passed. Honestly I thought it was a prank, even my gut said "no, this can't be--it has to be a prank".  But sadly as the day went on, and more and more bloggers posted on Facebook about the news, it finally sunk in that she was in fact gone.
So I ignored facebook for the day, couldn't handle the news, and left the house.
Sometimes just hearing over and over again how heartbroken everyone is, just gets to me.
Comforting for others and that's fine, but to me, I had to deal with this on my own; digest it in my own way.
At the end of the day, a certain memory I had of Elle and I conversations kept cropping up in my head; it involved my morning haiku's (Elle called them haiku's).
Most mornings on Facebook I would post a quick and short inspirational phrases to get myself motivated for the day.
It soon became apparent that most of my Facebook friends and food blogging friends looked forward to them--especially Elle.
Sometimes I would repeat the same message over and over, since they meant so much to me, and/or really struck a chord with me.  These quotes were from the movie "eat pray love".
The first:
'eat pray love'- (simple & easy to permanently remember past 11am).
The second:
'you must choose your thoughts just the same way you choose your clothes every day'.
I remember Elle loving these messages; somehow it always struck a chord with Elle too.
On my way home from work, it hit me to combine them into a new phrase; like the words just flowed--it was a perfect remembrance of Elle's passing.  As soon as I posted them on Facebook, my dear friend Kristen of Dine & Dish took those words and created this gorgeous photo.
Thank you so much Kristen!

I'd like to share a few of the bloggers who have done a remembrance of Elle, and in the coming week there will be an #ElleaPalooza happening.

What is an #ElleAPalooza?
Any blogger can join in.
First accept the open invitation here at #ElleAPalooza
Then simply choose a recipe creation from Elle's Kitchen, create it and post it on your site along with any words you have about our dear Elle.
Make sure to tweet about your post with the hashtag #ElleAPalooza
AND finally, please leave your link URL at the Facebook page for #ElleAPalooza 
Post it Feb 8 or 9 (or sooner if you have to).
Here are more details on the event.
I encourage you to join The Friends of Elle on Facebook

Wonderful remembrances of Elle:

- The Foodie Blogroll featured Blogs (special edition)
- a special fund on Paypal has been set up to help Elle's family; she left behind husband and 4 children.  If you can help, please donate, any amount is welcome:  The Self Healing Journal
- My friend Elle from The Leftover Queen
- Lee Ann from Not Going Postal
- A Salad for Elle from cbsop.com
- Elle from Mad Rantings of Andrew's Mom
- Losing One of Our Own by Just Crafty Enough
- Out of Every Darkness: Light from He Cooks She Cooks
- Elle From Fresh New England 
- Elle's Kitchen Hard Cider Jelly from Flamingo Musings
- Details about the #ElleAPalooza
- Friends of Elle on Facebook
And lastly the obituary for Elle (Lee Ann)
The guest book for Lee Ann Ritchotte.

Any links you'd like me to add, please tell me!