Award Speech

I'm just so amazed at how vast the blogging world is. I thought it was just about writing, but there are challenges and conferences, feed burners and followers, get togethers and giveaways, politics and photography, and now I've discovered there are awards!

Blog awards given from one blogger to another is the most rewarding aspect of blogging, in my opinion. Being that blogging is a public venture, you put a little bit of yourself out there every time you blog. When people respond to that, enjoy it, or even relate to your passion, makes it worthwhile! And then, on top of that, to present you with an award-to think of you amongst the millions of blogs out there, is pretty awesome.

I've actually received a few awards, lucky me! and it's l.o.n.g. (embarrassingly l.o.n.g.) overdue for me to pay it forward.

Frieda @ Lovin' From the Oven presented me with the: Lemonade Stand Gratitude Award. This award represents just what you would think it does based on its name. It is passed from one blogger who exemplifies gratitude to another blogger who does the same.


Frieda is an extremely talented cook and baker, who always gives step by step photo tutorials with every one of her posts! Over the summer she shared an insane number of fabulously looking and sounding ice creams, she always blogs about delicious breads, and during this fall season she's shared scratch made grape juice and all about freezing, canning, jamming and storing!

The rules of accepting and sharing this award are:

• Put the logo on your blog or post
• Nominate at least 10 blogs that show an attitude of gratitude
• Link to your nominees within your post
• Comment on their blog to let them know they've received this award
• Share the love and link to the person who nominated you
• Tell us how you've come to have an attitude of gratitude

Sometimes I don't really think I'm very grateful, and I know that I could definitely use some improvement in that area. I am grateful for friends, and family foremost. Living in Utah has been such a reward; being able to go to nieces and nephews football and volleyball and soccer games, having luncheons, and walking around the block to borrow eggs or spices or something else I didn't plan ahead for.

I would like to bestow this award to the following:

1. Naomi @ The Larsha Chronicles
   
2. Tangled Noodle
3. Kendahl @ Stepmom Extraordinaire
4. Audax @ Audax Artifex
5. Barbara @ Barbara Bakes
6. Melinda @ Baby Tai
7. Cat @ Cat Spills the Beans
8. James, Fatima and Emily @ Literary Food Porn
9. Sarah @ Gardner Baby Talk
10. Paige @ Paige's Pantry

Lisa @ Parsley, Sage, Dessert and Line Drives and Fuzzykoala's Caketastic Adventures introduced and bestowed me with the: One Lovely Blog Award. This award is given to those with... you guessed it... One Lovely Blog!


For now, I won't say anything about Lisa - but only because I am sooo excited to feature her during my week long Blogoversary celebration (coming up the week of November 9!). Fuzzy, on the other hand, has one of the most adorable blogs out there! She features a conglomeration of recipes from muffins to cookies to cakes to brownies to candy. I recently found her through another blogger I love, and I can't wait to read and relish more!

The rules of accepting and sharing this award are:

• Accept the award and post it on your blog
  
• Share and Link to the person who has granted the award
• Pass the award to 10 other blogs that you think are lovely
  
• Contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award
  

Here are 10 blogs that I think are just lovely:

1. Pammy @ French Knots
2. PD @ PDOTT Treats
3. Rhi @ Pink Sugar Desserts
4. Charmaine @ Pastry Blog
5. Evan @ Buttercakes
6. Lynz @ Everything But the Birthday Cake
7. Camille @ Make it Work Mom
8. Taylor @ Once Upon A Cupcake
9. Leslie @ The Hungry Housewife
10. Tonic @ The Speed of Life
    

Lastly, Ziggy @ Ziggy's Blog gave me the: Honest Scrap Award! This award is gifted to blogs that are encouraging, inspiring, or brilliant.


Ziggy tells it like it is. I found her when she posted about a very touchy subject, and she hit it dead on, at least in my opinion. She embodies everything this award represents; she is encouraging, inspiring, brilliant and fearless!

The rules of accepting and sharing this award are:

• Thank the person who gave the award and link to their blog
• Share "10 Honest Things" about yourself
• Present this award to 7 others whose blogs you find encouraging, inspiring, or brilliant
• Contact the bloggers and inform them they've been given this award

Here are my favorite encouraging, inspiring and brilliant blogs:

1. Gabriel @ The Art of Gabriel Olson
2. Heather @ Cullimore Family
3. Kim @ Today's Creative Blog
4. Sylwia @ Sugar Rush
5. Jamie @ My Baking Addiction
6. Quinn @ Quinn's Baking Diary
   
7. Amanda @ Pastry Studio

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
...and now, in my gratitude, a recipe!

Pom Wonderful Muffins

With Swine Flu blowing through our communities faster than the falling leaves we could all use extra vitamins and antioxidants! Plus, when you feel like you couldn't eat anything, these muffins are sure to be gentle enough and sweet enough to comfort your upset tummy.

¼ cup butter
1 cup POM Wonderful Pomegranate juice
Melt together just until butter has dissolved

Add
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon butter
Whisk together until thick

Add
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup mashed banana

Pour into greased muffin tin, or line tin with cupcake liners
Fill ¾ full
Melt ¼ teaspoon butter & ¾ teaspoon sugar over ¼ cup almonds, stir
Cover domes with almonds
Bake at F350°, 10-15 minutes

Enjoy and get better!

Jack says, "I'm already feeling better!"