Happy Blogoversary to me! {giveaway}
Thursday, November 4, 2010
A year ago today, I posted my first post launching Sweetbites into the food blogging community.
I had no clue what in the world I was doing.
If I’m honest with each of you, I still think I have no clue what I’m doing.
Just like, I still can not believe that a whole year has passed by this fast.
Guess I been having fun?
I’ve come a long way since then. At the beginning the idea to create a food blog, was simply another outlet for me to put my recipes and experiences in the kitchen and share them with a couple of my close friends and family.
And along the way, it became more. I always had a passion for cooking for my family and friends, now that passion has expanded to include everyone out there that cares to come and spend a bit of time here on this tiny bit of space in the immeasurable internet. You guys are my inspiration to post better recipes, give better tips, and take pictures that make you run to your kitchen and pick up a saucepan.
If I choose to believe my monthly stat – what started with only a couple of people visiting has grown to a couple of thousand.
I still shake my head and wonder how in the hell has that happen?
I have written a total of 118 (119 with this one) post and received 876 comments this year and I have loved every single one of them.
The top two post that most seem to love?
The Ice Cream Cake (I secretly love that post too), and the Marie Helene’s Apple cake.
Lost of ice cream and apple lovers out there – who knew?
I have become friends with readers from all over the world. Had the opportunity of meeting pretty big people from the food industry, learned so much about food blogging, food photography, and have become more courageous in cooking and baking. Somewhere along the way I learn what it means to put your heart and soul into one thing and been rewarded tens of thousand times over.
Thank you seems so lame for the amount of support and encouragement that you all have given me throughout this journey.
I wish I could all give you something special, like a trip around the world or a car.
Unfortunately, I could not get Oprah to return my calls.
So how about something a bit more personal?
Have you seen the new Moleskine Passion book series? No? Well they have a Recipe Journal and it looks like this:
This fun and useful journal helps you capture every need to store your recipes: appetizers, first course, main dishes, side dishes, wine pairings, desserts and cocktails along with prep time ingredients and difficulty. It even includes a calendar for ingredients that are in season. And for the health conscious, it includes quick reference for calories, protein, fat, and carbs. They even have an online template in order to type it all up and then cut and paste on the book – brilliant don’t you think?
I got one of these about 6 months ago and love it. And if I know my readers would too.
So to celebrate this great year, I have an extra one to give-away.
And just because you know, I’m really in the celebration mood, how about I also throw in a $25 amazon.com gift card into the mix?
So you get the passion book and the $25 amazon.com gift card.
And to get it, all you have to do is comment here by answering the following question:
What has been the best gift you ever received for your birthday?
Winner will be announced on Monday, Nov 8th by a random drawing – a bowl may be involved in that, and some video too!
Reader Comments (27)
The best birthday gift I ever recieved was a brand new laptop.
Happy Blog Anniversary! So glad we 'met' through HCB! :D
The best birthday gifts are the things my family does on my birthday. Breakfast in bed, cleaning the house, cooking the meals, being kinder than usual.
Congratulations and Happy Anniversary! So happy for you! You have a great blog! My best birthday gift ever was a trampoline when I was about 7. I bounced and bounced and bounced on that thing even though it was snowing!
Happy Blogversary my dear!
You have come a LONG way from that 1st post. And I meant that in the sense of the pictures. Your photos now totally rock the boat!
The best birthday present I ever received was half a dozen of Tintin comic books - 20-something years ago - from my dear grandma.
I would say last year when I got my new DSLR, it was a combo gift w/Christmas (b-day is a week after), but I had been wanting to upgrade for a long time and it meant a lot.
Happy Blogversary! I love your blog. Your pictures and tips are wonderful!
My best birthday gift ever were diamond earrings I got for my 30th birthday. I didn't think my husband was actually going to get them for me. But, the best part of that birthday was that my dad and step-mom visited us that weekend so my whole family was there to celebrate with us.
Happy BLOGIVERSARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I hope you have many happy bloggy years to come!
Um,The best gift I was ever given was from a girl that I was not really too friendly with.She was a group jumper always jumping from different friends,just whoever was most exciting so I really did not know her.She gave me a pink fuzzy over night bag.I hate pink but this bag meant so much to me because it meant to me that some one out there thought I would have adventures and need this for travel.LIke maybe I was going places.I still have this suitcase and I love it still as my favorite gift.
jacksoncrisman@yahoo.com
Happy blogaversary, Monica. I love reading your posts. I'm glad we met through HCB and to have you be part of my Avid Baker's Challenge baking group.
As for my best birthday gift, I'd have to pick my most recent one: our trip to Morocco earlier this year, where we were surrounded by family and the beautiful landscape, and where I baked my own birthday cake :)
Congratulations Monica! I've enjoyed reading your blog ever since I joined the Heavenly Cake Bakers. I think my favorite birthday present was last year when my hubby secretly ordered a Godiva cake for me. I was in chocolate heaven!
Amethyst and itty bitty diamond earrings.
Definitely the Strawberry Shortcake doll when I turned 5-years-old! I had the whole Strawberry Shortcake theme, complete with matching cups, plates, napkins and cake!
Congratulations on your 1 year Blogversary! Reading your posts and looking at your pictures is a gift in itself....I feel like I should be giving you something ;-)
One of my best birthday gifts was the surprise party my mom and sister threw for my 40th birthday, along with a timeline collage of pictures from infancy to adulthood.
Congrats on the blog anniversary - amazing what can happen in a year, isn't it?
One of my favorite birthday gifts was a Circle of Friends candle holder, given to me by my sister. The figures are all women, and it just speaks to me about sisterhood.
On another note, I was just looking at the Atlanta gathering on fbf. That was you in the front row, wasn't it?
@ Ashley – That was one of my best present as well
@ Faithy – Me too, I love the connections that I made thru HCB
@ Kathy – ohh all of those sound good, I need to “suggest” them in my house.
@ Jodie – Girl were have you been? Thanks so much, and I can picture you bouncing away in that trampoline.
@ Jenn – where would I be without your support, and daily emails – thanks chica!
@ Marg – secretly that is what I’m hoping for my birthday gift this year – fingers crossed.
@ Andrea – time with love ones always seems to trump the material stuff right?
@ Rachel – so have your pink suitcase taking you many places?
@ Hanaa – I’m so glad too, and love the ABC group too. And I have to agree, a trip always leaves the best memories.
@ Julie – ohh I love surprises.
@ Vicki – you made me laugh “itty bitty”… LOL a diamond is a diamond, no matter how itty bitty it is.
@ Yummy – it’s the simple things right. Oh, to be 5 years old again.
@ SamCyn – Cyn! You are so sweet, thanks so much for that.
@ LoisB – totally amazing, I’m so very lucky. And yes, if you are looking at the blond, lost in thought with a blue scarf – it is me :)
Congratulations on your anniversary and I hope you have many more to come. The best birthday gift I've ever received was given to me by my mother. It was a gold ring with a heart and a small diamond in the middle. I still have it many years later.
Happy blogiversary, lady! Congratulations to both you and the blog for a brilliant first year together. Here's to many more!
Over the years, I've treasured every single gift I've ever received, and until you asked, I never stopped to think whether I had a favorite. I thought I wouldn't be able to come up with one, until I realized my car was a birthday present! My first (and nine and a half years later, still my only, knock on wood) car was given to me for my 19th birthday. Man, I love that car—not to mention what it meant to me that my family was willing to swing it. It may have been just a tiny used car, but we've never been wealthy, and it still means the world to me. Plus, did I mention I love my car? My car is awesome.
Happy Blogaversary, Monica! The best b-day present I ever got was for my 21st b-day. My then-husband took me to my favorite place on earth- Disney World! Sadly, the marriage went badly, but I'm glad to have that bright spot to remember him by, because it was the sweetest thing anybody could've done for me.
congrats on your blog! it's nice to see your blog flourish among all sweet tooth foodies out there. =)
best birthday gift was an all clad set that consisted of a skillet and a pot. still have it today and loving it.
Congrats on your blogoversary! As a fellow blogger, I know how much time and commitment a blog requires, and you've reached a fantastic milestone...kudos to you!
The best b-day gift I received was from my husband last year - a long weekend in Napa for great wine, food, and spa!
Wow! Congrats! A whole year! =) You go girl. Keep up the great work and AMAZING photography!
The best gift I ever received were these little porcelain numbered birthday angels. My grandmother gave me one each year of my life, up until they stopped making them at 25. I treasure these, and think about my grandmother fondly when I take them out. If they still made them today, and my Abuelita were alive, I'm sure I'd still be getting one once a year.
=)
Happy blog-birthday to you!
Favorite birthday present was the trip to NYC with most of my family for my 50th, with lots of sightseeing and Broadway musicals.
Congrats on a super milestone!!!! And many, many more blogging years to come. Your #1 fan.
TheDesignerPad
Congrats on your anniversary!! The best bday present I've ever received is a romantic weekend in St Augustine.
About 3 years ago, on my birthday, my friends threw me a surprise party...it was the best!
katch05 at gmail dot com
Happy Blogoversary to you! My best birthday gift was 12 years ago when my 10 week pre-mature son (born at 2 lbs, 4 oz) came home on my birthday after 10 weeks in the hospital. Totally cool!
Happy Blogoversary to you! I have really enjoyed reading your blog along with all the other HCB'ers blogs each week. You have already given us a gift.. the gift of your knowledge and letting us share a piece of your world. Thank you so much Monica!
As for the best Birthday gift? That is a hard one.. I don't really have a favourite thing but this year's present was a one day chocolate workshop that I shared with my teenage son.. That was pretty special for me.. ♥