Four Years of Lynsey Lou's (Closed)

I can't believe that 4 years ago today, I was sitting down to wright my very first post here on Lynsey Lou's.  When I first started my blog I honestly had no idea what direction to go and how much this would impact my life.  Blogs were a new concept to me; I don't think I had ever read a blog and the thought of writing my own blog dedicated to food was intimidating and a foreign concept.  June 25, 2008 I took the leap and joined the blogasphere!  Wow, where does the time go? 

I'm not really sure what prompted me to start this little blog.  I've always enjoyed being in the kitchen; and some of my fondest childhood memories take place with my parents and grandparents in the kitchen.  I guess my goal when firsting starting my blog was to utilize this as a place to document recipes for myself.  The very thought that people would get on the internet and visit my blog to read the things I had to say never even occured to me.  Everybody has their hobby, that special thing they do that lets them escape and be transported to their own little world.  My hobby happens to be cooking.  That hobby then grew to not only cooking, but photographing that food, and writing about the journey of that particular dish.  I never thought that hobby would become such a large part of my life, not to mention yours.  Not only do I enjoy making different recipes and pushing the boundaries, but I enjoy sharing them with you.       

Wow, 4 years!  I could have never imagined how much blogging would truly affect me, inspire me and help me grow.  I've always loved being in the kitchen, but my love has turned into a passion.  My meals were very basic when I first started and the thought of straying from the original recipe was inconceivable.  Now my skills for both cooking and baking have improved immensely.  I'm no where near perfect, but my knowledge is ever growing.  Practice definitely helps get me closer to perfect.  I try to make every experience, success or failure, a learning experience.  I can now adapt recipes, as well as develop my own.  I never in a million years thought I would be developing original recipes, and then have other people make those particular recipes and enjoy them.  What a humbling experience.  

I never thought I would be the person that anyone came to for a specific type of advice, let along cooking and baking advice, but I am.  My friends and co-workers come to me with questions or asking for recommendations, but they also come to me with excitement to share recipes that they have attempted and conquered.  Now it's time limited to just my friends and co-workers but so many of you.  I can't tell you how much I enjoy and looking forward to hearing from everyone and hearing about your experiences in the kitchen.  I never thought one of my goals would be to get others in the kitchen and help them to enjoy cooking and baking as much as I do.  What a blessing it is to be able to inspire others to get in the kitchen and overcome their fears.  

The kitchen doesn't have to be an intimidating place.  It can be a place where people go to escape and create deliciousness.  It's also a place where memories can be made.  Some of my fondest memories took place in the kitchen.  Get your kiddos and the rest of your family in there together, spill some flour, make a mess, play with your food and make some memories.  I have had a blast over the past 4 years.  I've come quite a ways and I can't wait to see what the next 4 years hold!

Now, it's not a party without favors, right?  So, to celebrate my blogs 4th birthday I'll being doing a series of giveaways this week.  Be sure to check back everyday for a new giveaway.  

Today's giveaway will be a Silpat baking mat.

                  

I can't even begin to tell you how much I adore my Silpat baking mat.  It's definitely a lifesaver when baking all of those delicious cookies for you and your family to enjoy.  It prevents your baked good from sticking, and you never leave a partial cookie on the baking sheet.  It's also ideal to prevent the waste of using foil and parchment paper; plus it's incredibly easy to use.     

To enter:

*Please leave a comment on this post stating:

"What your favorite cookie is?" 

*US residents only, please.  Sorry for all of those overseas readers, I still love ya!

For additional entries:

*Subscribe to Lynsey Lou's via RSS or email.  Return to this post and leave a comment and tell me you subscribed by leaving another comment.

*Become a fan of Lynsey Lou's on facebook.  Return to this post and leave a comment and tell me you're a fan by leaving an additional comment.  If you are already a fan then leave a comment telling me you're already a fan.

*Share this giveaway on facebook.  Return to this post and leave a comment telling me you've done so by leaving an additional comment.

The fine print:

You can earn a total of 4 entries.  

All entries must be received by midnight on Saturday, June 30.

The winner will be announced on Monday, July 2.  The winner will have 5 days to respond to claim their prize.  If the winner has not claimed their prize within 5 days a new winner will be chosen. 

  

Full disclosure: This giveaway is sponsored and paid for soley by Lynsey Lou's.