Blogging birthday + a sweet giveaway for you!

Hello there!  No, your eyes aren't deceiving you.  This is rare Saturday post to mark a very special occasion -- my blog's birthday!  

Exactly three years ago today, I published the very first post under the title Baking, domesticity, and all things mini.  I'll admit that I wasn't quite sure what I'd do or say with a website of my very own, which is why I chose the title I did.  I wanted this to be a place where I could share recipes and pretty much anything that amused me that I thought would, in turn, amuse family, friends, and soon-to-be-friends and allow me to connect to people in new ways.

Three years later, this has become so much more than I ever thought it could be.  I've challenged myself to play with new and, occasionally, interesting foods.  (Somewhere, my dad is still calling me a tree-loving hippie and mispronouncing "quinoa" even though I've corrected him a hundred times.)  I've opened myself up to strangers who happen to come along, sharing some of the biggest milestones in my life, and making new friends along the way.  I've (slightly) improved upon my food photography skills and realized I'm finally ready for a grown-up camera beyond my compact point and shoot.  I've even had a few extended lapses in inspiration, kitchen activity, and thus posts.

But, you've not only stuck with but also motivated and energized me and made this downright fun.  Again, I can't say it enough, but I'll surely try -- thank you!  Thank you, thank you, a-thank-you from the bottom of my heart, wherever you are.  :)

Enough talking, right?  To the good stuff -- a sweet giveaway for you!

To celebrate this occasion, I want you to know how important you are to the success of this blog.  Without fantastic, brilliant, witty, and hungry readers like you, I'd have closed up shop many moons ago.  So, I'm hosting the very first contest with a real live (not technically) buttery prize!

Three dozen cookies, of any one recipe ever posted on this blog, of your choice!

How to enter: Leave a comment telling me what your favorite recipe ever seen on this blog is.  It can be for cookies, or it can be a soup, side dish, or something entirely different.  Use the quick label links on the right to browse through the plethora of cookie recipes and pick one that entices you the most!

Rules:  One entry per person.  The deadline for contest entries is 11:59 PM EST on October 31st, 2012.  A winner will be chosen at random using random.org.  I'll even ship the cookies to anywhere in the continental United States.  I'll contact the winner November 1st for recipe confirmation and shipping details.

Good luck and happy baking!


One year ago: Delectable twos
Two years ago: Happy first birthday to me! 
Three years ago: Well, hello there!