Welcome to Urban Bliss Life!
Come on in to this cozy, happy, colorful world, where everyone can cook and bake easy, family-friendly recipes.
Let me pour you a glass of wine and share simple tips for pairing affordable and special occasion wines with the ultimate comfort food.
Where your journey anywhere around the world can be delicious, joyous, cheerful, and fun for the whole family.
I'm Marlynn (pronounced Mar-Lynn), and I'm so happy you are here! If you love food, wine, and travel, you've come to the right place!
I talk in exclamation points, and I write the way I talk, so if I seem super excited about food, wine, and travel, it's because I am!
And, I absolutely adore sharing these worlds with all of you. I'm so lucky to have some of the kindest, friendliest readers, and I am so grateful to count you among our fun community of food, wine, and travel enthusiasts.
Jump to:
👩🏻 Let's get personal
I'm a first-generation Filipino-American living in Portland, Oregon. I'm a cookbook author, recipe developer, certified wine expert, radio journalist, and livestreaming social media chef. I've served as a food and wine judge at various food and wine competitions over the years, and have been featured in numerous TV, radio, print, and online media.
Most recently, you may have seen me sharing my recipes on The Drew Barrymore Show. I've been honored to regularly share recipes on her show, such as my Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread, Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings, Mushroom Marsala, and Mini Pecan Pies.
But the most important fact you need to know about me is that I'm a mom to two awesome teenagers, and one goofy Lab Retriever. I'm wife to my college sweetheart. And I am a fierce and devoted cheerleader and confidante to my dearest girlfriends.
👩🏻🍳 Easy, tested, tried-and-true family-friendly recipes
My love of cooking began before I could even see over the kitchen counter, while helping my mom and Lola Epyon, my great-grandmother, cook both traditional Filipino recipes and American recipes. I'm so proud to share some of our family's best Filipino recipes here.
Urban Bliss Life recipes have been tested, refined, and they are regularly re-tested as I receive feedback in the form of blog comments, emails, and Pinterest comments. Each recipe includes helpful cooking and baking tips to help you make delicious, home-cooked meals and baked goods you and your family will love. Each recipe has an FAQ section, to help answer some common reader questions.
If you've never tried any of my recipes before, try one of these popular Reader Fave Recipes to start: Banana Crumb Coffee Cake, Creamy Dairy-Free Mac and Cheese, Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken, or Instant Pot Moroccan Chicken.
You can also check out our FAQ page, with more common general questions about the site and our recipes.
🍷 Expert (unpretentious!) wine pairings
I am pretty lucky: we live right at the edge of gorgeous Oregon wine country. My husband and I, along with our wine-loving friends, go wine tasting at least once a month.
In March 2020, I received my WSET 2 with Distinction wine award certification. Which basically means: I've studied a LOT about wine - the world's wine regions, growing conditions, grape varieties, viticulture, winemaking, wine service, food and wine pairings, and more. I've also served as a wine judge in wine competitions. And, I'm constantly taking classes and attending wine education events to learn more.
Most main course recipes on Urban Bliss Life come with wine pairing suggestions. You'll also find wine reviews, wine pairing and tasting tips, and winery features here on the blog.
✈️ Fun travel pro tips
I've been a travel writer for industry publications, a food, wine, and travel radio correspondent, and have written for Travel Oregon and other local and national publications. My family and I absolutely ADORE traveling the globe, and do so whenever possible.
I write about family travel, girls' weekend getaways, solo travel, and adventure travel. Some of my favorite places that I've traveled so far include Greece, Ireland, Amsterdam, Hawaii, Switzerland, Italy, and all around my beautiful state of Oregon.
Most of the travel tips on Urban Bliss Life have a culinary focus. I love sharing what I learn and experience about food from around the world with all of you. My foodie travel guides usually include a list of Where to Stay, What To Do, and Where to Eat & Drink in each city we visit.
Let's connect!
I really appreciate you taking the time to stop by and read my blog. I especially LOVE all of your blog post comments!
- Feel free to subscribe to my weekly newsletter, where you'll get meal plan ideas and family-friendly recipes to help you plan for the week ahead.
- Want to know what tools I use in the kitchen, and while traveling? Shop my favorite food, wine, travel products at the Urban Bliss Life online shop.
- Connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. I love chatting with folks in my Instagram DMs!
- Check out my cookbooks: The Super Easy Teen Baking Cookbook and The Ninja Foodi Meal Plan Cookbook.
- Follow my livestream cooking demos on Kittch.
If you're working for a food, wine, or travel brand, and would like to discuss working together, please visit my media page. There you can view my stats and download my food & wine media kit and my travel media kit.
Thank you for visiting the blog! I hope you will come back often, and that you and your family will love these recipes as much as we do.
XOXO,
Marlynn Jayme Schotland
Lover of Food, Wine, and Travel
📚 Cookbook Author
👩🏻🍳 Recipe Developer
🍷 WSET 2 with Distinction
Mom to 2 kids (ages 15 and 18) and Urban Bliss Dog
To learn more about my legal and privacy policy for Urban Bliss Life, please visit my policy page.