Happiness is...

...getting an email to say you've won a Blogiversary Bash gift from Susan over at StickyChewyCreamyGooey!!! Thank you Susan!!!

Susans blog is one of my new favorites, I was coaxed over there after doing a food survey that had a link to her blog and I just couldn't get enough of her amazing recipes and food photos which would have saliva dripping off your chin, see my favorites here and here! Oh and here! Aren't they unbelievable! So she has become my hero, the blog I aspire to... the dishes I wish were mine!

So I was jumping for joy when I saw that I had won a gift for participating in her Blogiversary Bash!! I won a book on Food Photography which I cannot wait to receive and hopefully come closer to the pictures I aspire to take!! 

The Blogiversary Bash was great fun to take part in,  I brought my Pina Colada Cupcakes to the do, and they fit right in among the other amazing fare! Have a look here!

Thanks Susan, and Congrats on your first birthday!!!

THANK YOU KIM!!!

What a nice surprise! For a few months now I have been peeping in to a lovely blog called Foolin around in the Kitchen - its a wonderful honest account of food, and centres on Kims love of decorating cakes and cookies - which I have to say are professional quality see here.

So I peeped in this morning, to have another look at her Strawberry Pillows 

recipe and low and behold there was my own name staring back at me under the "I love you this much" emblem that I have coveted on other blogs! Kim has awarded my blog as a blog she loves!! I'm so touched....

Cough cough... snif... I'd like to thank my family, and of course my agent.... 

Getting awards in this curious little land of blog is really special, because they are from other bloggers, and what really strikes me is the comradery, the support, the "we're all in this together"ness, the absense of competitiveness that can often make life difficult when pursuing something we love.

I never imagined when starting this little blog, all thanks to Ciara who introduced me to Blogger, that I would be eagerly clicking in to womens lives on the other side of the world, and never imagined they would become so involved in mine.  It really has become a strong force in my life, these little blogs of mine! So have all the women (and men) that have become part of my blog and my days! 

Thanks Kim, I'm so glad you drop by!

I would like to give my award to.... (drumroll)...

Emily at HONEYBEE!!! (Thunderous applause)

Emilys first post said "I have no idea what possessed me to set up a blog but here I am writing my first entry.  I am not really sure what to say or how any of this works but I am determined to figure it out.  Be patient with me"

We agreed "Patience? no problem" but we didn't need it, her blog quickly became an adorable account of her baking haps and her love for food, design and writing! 

Snippets of her life and lovely poetry allow you in a bit more to the life she is living, and you realise how young she is, still in school, yet her intentions in the kitchen rival even the most experienced.  

She loves a gastronomic challenge and some of the food she attempts (and succeeds with) would intimidate me on a good day! She is a talented chef! Look here at her Tea Cream, amazing stuff!

Blogging with a Purpose Award

Thanks Nicole!

I was touched to receive the "Blogging with a Purpose" award this morning from Nicole over at Art and Aioli, I've become a regular over in virtual california, where Nicole cooks up a storm in her kitchen - I'm still green eyed over that Pizza stone Nicole! Nicole interjects her colourful kitchen journal with pieces of art that inspire her, my favorite is this!

I would like to pass on this award to the following,

Milkmoon

A truthful and evocative blog, snippets of the joy and heart that is Ciaras family life, her writing is particulary beautiful, it is a wonderful blog and the weekly 'something lovely' is a joy!

Alabama Days

I love this blog - I'm completely inspired by the descriptions of life for this Irish woman living in Alabama.

Shift

Fantastic and hilarious at times, an interiors/design blog with snippets of diary entries that are pure gems.

Sternum Might

An amazing blog which I stumbled upon and have enjoyed reading immensely. A fellow Joanna Newsom fan, Serena is a talented writer and jewellery maker and her fantastic poetry prose posts are brilliant! I also enjoy answering her very interesting "scruple" which she updates regularly on her blog!

Ten on Ten

I love this project which was set up by Rebekah and has been such fun to participate in! Check in to see her macro work project which is really lovely.

Award-winners, here's what you should do if you would like to pass this lovely award on:

1. nominate 5 blogs which haven't had this award before

2. each of the blogs must have a purpose

3.the nominated blogs must make a link back to this page

4. the logo from the award must be put on their blog and it must link back to this blog!