So we’ve covered how I love being a hostess.  I love baking.  So it’s no surprise given that I love cooking!

I think my FAVORITE dish…oh, Lord.  I have so many.  The Momma makes some mean casseroles & right now, I could really go for her oven fried chicken with some peas & mac n’ cheese.  She’s an amazing cook & I only wish I’d spent more time learning from her in the kitchen versus what happens now – “Hey, Momma!  Okay, so I have this piece of chicken….” at seven o’clock at night.  I’m a huge fan of comfort food – meatloaf, mashed potatoes, cream of wheat, fried chicken, mac n’ cheese, stews, soups, chilis, cornbread – I could go on & on.  (it’s why I’m kind of chunky, I know)  & for our birthdays, we always got to pick “Birthday Dinner.”  I ALWAYS picked steak & baked potato & salad.  Always.  mmmmm, medium rare with garlic salt & a loaded baked potato.  & then I’d throw back an amount of cow that would make a linebacker green with envy (or repulse).

& about a month ago, I got to meet my guru of cooking other than Paula Deen:

Yep.  That’s Ree Drummond, aka Pioneer Woman.  I wuff her.  We talked blogging, mostly.  Not cooking.

& this is what she & I were discussing:

Maybe you’re not a nerd like me, but I get kinda tingly just looking at it.   She is simply so gracious.

Her cookbook is AMAZING, if you have not checked it out yet.  I love her recipes, plus it’s full of gorgeous photography & sweet stories & witty humor.  You must have it, even if you think this one is super-lame & OH MY GOD, I WOULD NEVER WANT THAT IN MY KITCHEN.  That’s fine.  You still need to haul ass to Borders & buy one so you can whip up a mean meatloaf wrapped in bacon.

If you were stranded on an island with only one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

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& on that note, my Birthday Extravaganza is complete!  I’ll be drawing the winners to every giveaway on Saturday!

How delicious does that look?! PRETTY DAMN DELICIOUS, I’D SAY. CUPCAKES!

I love them.  I made Harrison with them (okay, not technically, because my husband contributed 50% of the DNA) & I’m pretty sure the blonde hair is actually WHIPPED FROSTING.  I’m not quite sure what it is I love about cupcakes except that there’s not much to NOT love about cupcakes.  Cake + Frosting + easy to hold = cupcake.  WIN.  & North Carolina is home to some of the greatest cupcakes in the universe at Cafe Carolina.

& I’ve always been a baker.  I make the best brownies in the entire family & these amazing things called Cake Chews that will be up once I get Blair’s Best Bites back up & running (among a zillion other things on my to-do list).

The Great Cupcake Giveaway is pretty much for a little girl – sorry, boys.  But it just wouldn’t be right to not have my beloved cuppycakes in the Birthday Extravaganza, would it?  So you will win these sweet treats:

…simply by telling me what your favorite cupcake flavor is!

Thank you to petitebee & I Love Fancy Schmancy for sponsoring this giveaway!

::squeeaaaaa::

I love handmade.  I love Etsy.  I love supporting moms & small business & mom shops that help earn a little extra income.  It is so very important to me & my main drive behind giveaways – gaining exposure to small shops at no cost to them (& sometimes tossing in some bigger stuff just for fun).

I have such a passion for this that sometimes it’s hard to say “no” – because every mom shop deserves a chance!  & some of these folks are SERIOUSLY TALENTED.  Clothes. Toys. Furniture. Accessories.  In my next life, I’d like to be crafty/creative & sell unique headbands that all the celebrities will purchase off my Etsy shop.  By the way, do you ever wonder if celebrities buy off Etsy?  It’s not like I spend my days thinking about celebrities, but the thought just crossed my mind.

BACK TO TASK, BLAIR.

To celebrate handmade & Etsy, please allow me to introduce you to Rebekah & her DARLING hats.  One of you will win a hand crocheted hat from her store!  Lucky!

What is your favorite handmade item that you own, or what is your favorite Etsy store? I’m always on the hunt for new inspiration & gifts!