Warning: this post is about giving thanks and paying it forward.
What you see is the content of the package put together by Rachel of Coconut and Lime for the Blogging By Mail – Your Favorite Things event hosted by Stephanie, blogging sorceress extraordinaire from Dispensing Happiness. I am indeed a lucky girl as it seems that many of Rachel’s favorites are also mine…especially the Fuzzy CocaCola Haribo candy which are all gone by now! I also love dried mangosteen and the bag is slowly dwindling down to crumbs, frou frou drink umbrellas, ginger candies and pomegranate body lotion. Things I love but never had in this form: popcorn on the cob (just pop in the microwave!), and mango ketchup. Thank you Rachel!
I also want to thank Barbara from Winos and Foodies for the lovely package I received a couple of months ago. Thanks to her, an herb garden has taken on a whole new meaning. We’ll see what next year’s crop give us!
I know you are with me on this: blogging is much more than baking/cooking, taking pictures and writing a nice blurb about a recipe or an event. It’s about interactions and frienships that transcend our small computer screens and touch us, move us, make us happy, sad and giddy.
When Blogger named me blog of note in July, people started coming out of nowhere and everywhere to tell me they had been reading this blog, when I posted the Amaretti recipe I received over 30 emails with requests for the recipe. I was surprised, touched because they were from people I did not know but who shared a common love for sweets and desserts. Thus, I try to pay it forward by answering your mail and although I can’t answer to all your comments I do try to answer your questions and suggestions. I apologize if I am slow in answering your mail…I will eventually…I hope that cake recipe is not a matter of life and death and that it can wait another week or so.
What surprised me the most was that I have given two awards by people I admire greatly. Lisa, my "other woman", awarded me a Schmooze award .
Lisa thinks I am worthy of an award created to "recognize people who have a positive influence on the blogging community by developing and nurturing relationships. You know — commenting on other’s blogs, joining in on and sustaining a “blogversation.”" Now it’s my turn to pay it forward by extending it to 5 other people:
– Belinda from What’s Cooking In A Southern Kitchen: this lady is always around to leave a commnet, suggestion, give support and she cooks yummy things all the time!
– Guillemette from Chocolat & Caetera: despite the obvious crush I have for her, she has the ability to bring people together through mounds of cream and chocolate as well as showcasingsother people’s talents by re-creating their dishes in her kitchen and screaming out lud thorugh beautiful pictures "ya’ll should give this a try, it’s goooood" and I always fall for it and she’s right!
– Barbara from Winos and Foodies: she is a far better penpal than I could ever be, she was my first BBM partner as a matter of fact. She constantly promotes awareness for cancer and cancer event and has flawless taste in foods and restaurants.
-Ivonne from Cream Puffs in Venice: it’s not because she tried to seduce me with a cake that I think she deserves this, but along with Lisa, she is at the foundation if the ever growing Daring Baker group and adventures as well as countless events. She is one of the ambassador of fine Italian cooking, and bloggers in all countries.
– Bea from La Tartine Gourmande: beside the obvious reason that we are both from the same country and somewhat thinking about the same foods, Bea is always there to give help about cooking techniques, food design and photography. She promotes blogging dialogue and interactions everyday in her posts.
Then, this week Meeta from What’s For Lunch Honey, gave me with the Thoughful Blogger award for “those who answer blog comments, emails, and make their visitors feel at home on their blogs. For the people who take others’ feelings into consideration before speaking out and who are kind and courteous. Also for those bloggers who spend so much of their time helping other bloggers design, improve, and fix their sites. This award is for those generous bloggers who think of others.” (quote from her site). I want to give it back to her because she has provided me with countless suggestions, tips and more on how to improve the look of my blog and more but I feel I should pass this one on too:
– Mary from Alpine Berry: I wish I could meet her in person and give her a great big hug. She has worked hard behind the curtains on our Daring Baker project, but she has also provided me with great info and tips on certain blog template issues that I had. She is also one of the most courteous and thoughtful ladies I know in the bloggosphere.
-Lisa from La Mia Cucina: despite the obvious reason that I now have a friend for life, and contrary to what the bold mouthy style of her blog, I always admire her for the way she handles people and their feelings. When I want to scream "oh c’mon" I always wonder "how would Lisa say it?" The woman is a real gem for international diplomacy I tell you!
– Tanna from My Kitchen In Half Cups: the woman must not sleep! She is always around to comment at the oddest hours of the day. I tried to spot her around at 2am and gave up… and there she was at 2.15am giving someone else a high five on a dessert they did not think was good enough to be blogged about. My memory fails me now on who, but trust me…I could have kissed her! She is one of the wisest woman I know out there and always turn to her in times of crisis and good times as well.
– Deborah from Taste and Tell: no matter what I ramble about, she is always around the corner cheering me on as well as coutless others with the sweetest words. She is an ambassador of international relationships.
– Gilly from Humble Pie: fellow writer of the Daily Tiffin, she is always there when I ask for blogging advice, bread recipe (her oatmeal bread is now a staple at our house). Her kindness, toughfulness and impeccable taste push me to be a better blogger.
There are tons of other people I would love to pass these awards on but I am sure that the people mentioned in this post will do a fine job at passing the torch along. Thanks for reading this long post but I had to give thanks when blessed by so much kindness.