Ten on Tuesday (12) – And Some Very Important Information

So yesterday I told you that today was a big deal for two reasons. About 3 hours after I published that, I realized that it was a big deal for THREE reasons because today is my one year blogaversary! Not quite sure how I forgot about that. So… happy blogaversary to me and happy blogaversary to you!

When I got into blogging, I was quite naive. I thought that I’d just have this little website and I’d write a little bit each day. I figured my family and friends would read it and thats about it. I had NO idea that there was like a whole blogging community out there. I never realized that strangers might actually read. And I definitely never would have thought that I’d actually meet others in real life. Weird.

Thanks to all of you for sticking with me and being part of my life. Every comment, every email, every bit of encouragement truly means the world to me. Thanks.

(excuse me while I put myself together… sniff.. sniff.)

Now it’s time for ToT! If you participate on your blog, feel free to use this button and add your link to Mr Linky below.

1. Are there any movies that inspire you to bake/cook?
The only one I can think of is Julie & Julia. How could you watch that and NOT want to cook??

2. What’s your favorite food blog and why?
Pioneer Woman Cooks – Why? Because it’s amazing.
Bake at 350 – She is so talented and makes me think that maybe one day I could bake like her.
Bakerella – Pure eye candy. Seriously.
Three Many Cooks – This is Pam Anderson (the chef, not the hooch with the boobs) and Pam’s daughter’s blog.
Kim’s Concoctions – I found her after PW came to town, she’s a Houstonian. I’m not sure why her blog isn’t super successful. Her recipes look fabulous and her photography is great. Check her out.

3. Who’s your favorite celebrity chef?
Ina Garten. I used to be annoyed with some of her mannerisms on television but I’m willing to look past that because she is BRILLIANT.

4. What’s your favorite kitchen tool?
Oh gosh. That’s difficult. I love my KitchenAid, although I don’t use it nearly as often as I should. I love cutting boards and spatulas. Oh Oh Oh, my knife (<– link). It’s amazing. I’m pretty much only going to buy this brand ever… for the rest of my life.

5. When it comes to cooking/baking, what’s your specialty?
I don’t have a specialty. I’m good, not great, at most things in the kitchen.

6. When in the kitchen, do you wear an apron, if so, any cute ones you’d like to share?
Normal day to day cooking, no. But when I am in the kitchen for a while or if I’m in an especially good mood, yes. I have a ton of cute aprons.

If you are one of those people without a cute apron, you probably ought to make sure you enter my giveaway (<– link).

7. Is there anything that intimidates you when it comes to baking/cooking? (ex. Pie crust, yeast breads, sauces, etc…)
Pancakes and rice. I can’t make either. I think the universe is against me.

8. What’s the weirdest gadget in your kitchen?
Apparently I posted without answering this. I skipped it at first with the intention of looking through my kitchen to find the answer. I can’t think of anything. Maybe our snow cone maker? Our table top s’more set?

9. What’s your go-to music for cooking/baking?
I like to have Food Network on the television in the background. It’s nice to know other people are cooking along with me.

10. After several failures, what do you do to motivate yourself to get back in the kitchen to try again?
I usually whine and say, “But I’m NOT a bad cook!!!!!!” and Stephen tells me that I’m not a bad cook. And then I yell at the person who put the recipe on their blog and photoshopped the picture of her dough before posting it on her blog so that her favorite reader would see it and think that her dough was wrong… over and over. Ahem ahem. (No, you will never live that down Taryn.)

(I have no segue here… deal…)

Today is a big day for another reason. It’s the season premiere of The Biggest Loser! Which means that my life now had meaning again. Dramatic? NOT AT ALL! Okay, maybe a little bit.

But MOST importantly today is my momma’s birthday. She’s pretty much the best momma in the world. She’s cute and funny and wonderfully thoughtful. She knows how to make people feel welcome and she is extremely generous. She loves Jesus, my daddy, and her kids– in that order. Just as it’s supposed to be. Her house is so cute and she has the cutest glasses in existence.

Tell Mommy happy birthday! Check her out, how is she a Nana?

So cute! I love you Momma! I’m so glad you get to see me on your birthday, I know you’re excited about it. I’m sure it has nothing to do with the fact that your granddaughter will be there also…

(If you’re participating in Ten on Tuesday, leave your link here. Just click on this button and it’ll give you a spot to add you link. If you aren’t participating you can still click this button and visit other people. It’s always fun to get more kitchen advice!)