Today marks 3 years since I started blogging on October 31, 2008. My, my how times flies!
Every year that goes by, I’m so grateful for YOU sharing this journey with me and allowing me to grow as a person, make some mistakes along the way, and pursue my dreams. I don’t have all the answers or even many, but what I do know is that we all have something to learn from one another. Sharing our life experiences, gaining insight, laughter, great food, and wisdom. That’s what you give to me each day.
I also know that I really, really have no control around brownies. Or Sketchie cuddles.
Yesterday I spent a bit of time reading through old blog entries from 2008…oh man, it was funny to read some old posts! The blog has certainly changed and grown in so many ways, as have I. One of my biggest challenges over the past few years has been learning to listen to my heart when sometimes it feels like it’s being pulled in a thousand directions. So far it hasn’t steered me wrong more than… a few times. But that’s OK too.
I’ve been sitting on some blog news for a while now, but it didn’t really feel fitting to throw at the end of a recipe, so I’ll share it with you today!
Thank you for your votes in Chatelaine Magazine’sd Women of the Year awards! I found out last week that I’m a winner in the Hot 20 Under 30 category and I couldn’t be more excited to be included with so many inspiring women.
I really encourage you to pick up the magazine if you can (it’s on newsstands now) as it’s jam packed with women’s stories of personal triumph, business ventures, and so much more.
Secondly, I’m thrilled to tell you that I recently signed with a literary agent. As you may know, a huge dream of mine is to write cookbooks. For the past while, I’ve been trying to juggle increasing demands with both the bakery and blog businesses and I’ve been running myself into the ground trying to do it all. To give myself the time required to finish the intensive proposal and hopeful future cookbook, I’m closing the bakery. That’s not to say that I will never run the bakery again (who knows maybe someday I will open a storefront), but for now it won’t be open. Your support with the bakery has truly meant the world to me over the past couple years. As a thank you for your support, I hope to include a couple Glo Bar recipes in my future cookbook. This way, you can make them in the comfort of your own home whenever the craving strikes!
Lastly, I’m excited to be working with Chatelaine Magazine as one of their Health and Wellness bloggers. I’m contributing my favourite seasonal vegan recipes for their blog. If you haven’t checked out their website you really should! It’s brimming with great information and thousands of delicious recipes. I’m really excited to take on freelance work because it’s a great opportunity to spread my love for vegan food. Another opportunity I’ve had recently is to develop the recipes for an article in Glow Magazine, which you can see below.
Ok, now that’s out of the way, let me get to the fun stuff!
I tried to think about one of my favourite kitchen items that I could giveaway on the blog. One of them would definitely have to be a cute apron! They really make cooking and baking more fun.
I picked up this apron and matching pot holder at Pier 1 last week for the giveaway. If for some reason you don’t like this apron, I’ll be happy to buy you an apron of your choice from Anthropologie. I know that not everyone likes pink floral like I do, so there are no hard feelings. ;) I want you to love it!
To enter the giveaway please leave a comment below. Contest closes next Sunday Nov 6th and it’s open to anyone, anywhere. Goodluck!
[Contest Closed}
…and Happy Halloween! T minus 8 hours until I become a Queen of Hearts again…
Hey Angela!
So I saw you in the Chatelaine mag… you are inspiring and amazing… thought I’d tell you that! Congrats on 3 years of blogging! I’ve played around with blogging and can’t seem to find time to get a steady pace going… any suggestions?
I have passions for many things dance, yoga, reading(well blog reading) as in yours and well pinterest (all the time…), writing, running… fun workouts and COOKING!!! I think I suggest your blog to EVERYONE! My sister is now on the bandwagon yay!
SO KEEP GOING!! and of course I’d LOVE a cute apron to cook/bake in… florals are so in! hahaha
Have an awesome weekend!
Amanda
congratulations ! what an accomplishment : )
Congrats! I love your blog and the photos you take are beautiful :)
Love overnight oats, Love lentil meatloaf, and Love banana softserve! :) Thanks OSG!
Just found your blog and recipes last month, and have already made 2, the brownies and pumpkin pie oatmeal- both amazing!! Thanks and happy 3rd anniversary!!
i am already a winner! the moment i discovered your site my life was enriched!!! better than any apron for sure. still, thank you Angela and keep inspiring all of us to feed our loved ones amazing, good for them food!!
I have been reading your blog for a little over a year. I was looking for healthy and yummy recipes and a friend told me about your site. I am not vegan but cook many things from here and love it! I don’t miss the meat at all and feel great!
Congrats on three years! I love reading your blog, your pictures and recipes are always wonderful! Thank you!
Happy 3 years! I’m sad you’re closing the bakery through, I’ve enjoyed watching your journey over the past few year and I’m excited for what comes next!
Hey Angela!
I just want to tell you how much I love your blog, the recipes, and most of all…your completely zany personality! You are just adorable. I have made a couple of your recipes and love them. Most recently I made the Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Spiced Donuts and they were AWEsome! Even two of my three non-vegan kids liked them. I made a second batch for my third non-vegan kid, but he left them there for two days, so I ate ’em all! Delicious! Anyway, just wanted to say hey, thanks, congrats, and I’m looking forward to trying more recipes. So happy to hear about the cookbooks!!! =D
(By the way…do you have any raw foods recipes?)
I happened upon your website trying to find great easy vegan recipes. Your site is informative and easy to follow. Congratulations on your 3 years and more to come! You inspire me to follow my intuition about my health. Thanks!!!
Congrats! There’s so many wonderful things happening for you and I couldn’t be happier! I also have to say THANK YOU SO MUCH for what you do. Not only have you made going Vegan more fun for me, but more delicious! I’ve gotten people interested in trying Vegan recipes just from your blog alone. <3
Wow, congrats to you and it sounds like you will have a busy future bringing your dreams to reality! I am currently studying Nutrition and I hope to eventually do some health and wellness writing for magazines as well..not sure I’d ever have enough innovative recipes for my own book but I can’t wait to see yours when it’s complete! Good luck.
Of all the blogs I follow, this is my favorite. I have loved every recipe of yours I have tried, and I thank you for the inspiration and great food!
Congrats, I love this apron :)
Congratulations Angela! You are such an inspiration and I love love love seeing healthy delicious new recipes coming out of your kitchen onto your blog! Keep it up! :)
Happy anniversary Angela. You are an inspiration to me and many others I’m sure. Keep it up!
Congratulations on all of your success Angela! You definitely deserve it. My sister and I are vegans and have made many of your recipes (loving them all of course!) You inspired us to start our own vegan blog Twin Taste and we hope to spread the word on the awesomeness of being vegan just as you have! Thank you again for all of your recipes and inspiration!
Congratulations on your success! I love to see hard work pay off.
Congratulations on 3 years, Angela! I find your life story truly inspirational and it is motivating me to start making a career out of my passions. Also, your recipes are fantastic! My fave is the protein goddess bowl!
I only found you a year ago – congratulations!
I love how you food photography has progresses over these three years. So sophisticated!
I’m so happy for you for all of the exciting things happening in your life! And absolutely thrilled that you’ll be writing a cookbook! Can’t wait for that-congrats!
Happy 3 years of blogging Angela! I am new to being a Vegan (3 years as a Vegetarian) 8 months vegan (trying to be raw). I am always searching for new recipes and ideas! You have the best recipes and I LOVE the pictures!! I love reading about your experiences because so many of us can relate! You keep me motivated to continue learning more! Aloha!
Congratulations, Angela! Your blog and recipes have inspired this college student to take a step back and look at what she is putting into her body. You have also inspired me to stop being lazy and start learning to make wonderful healthy meals. I never had the motivation to try and make my own food, but you have helped me try new things that I have ended up loving! You have been such an inspiration, and I thank you so much for all you have done!
I’m leaving my witty comment here. I would look silly if I were walking around with it all day.
happy three year blogoversary :) it’s always so exciting to look back at what you’ve accomplished and being grateful is part of that fun. you deserve it :)
Congratulations on 3 years and all your successes! Your recipes are like finding vegan paradise. Much happiness in the future years to come and I’ll be reading :)
you’re so inspirational! love reading your blog everyday
I need an apron–I don’t have one and it shows on all my white clothes! All those pictures made me realize how many of your recipes I still have to make!
Hi Angela,
I just wanted to give you a big, warm ‘Thanks!’ for sharing your recipes, thoughts and witty tid-bits through your blog (not to mention all of the mouth watering photography!) I found your site just a few months ago and have already recreated many of your recipes for friends and family (slowly proving that natural, healthy food = yummy food) :) You are a shining example of how pouring your heart, soul and passion into something never fails to inspire and fill up the hearts of others! You GLOW girl! :)
Hey Angela!
I started a comment and then I don’t know where it went – it disappeared! I am sorry if a half-finished comment ends up on your blog. Anyway, I was trying to say that I used to be a vegan from 1996-2000 but gave it up because of college and I liked cheese. I’ve been a vegetarian for 15 years, and recently I’ve decided to start transitioning back to being vegan (have you seen Forks Over Knives??). Your blog has been instrumental in providing delicious recipes and fun cooking ideas (as well as positive energy towards veganism) to make the transition smoother for my family and I’d like to thank you for that. :)
Also, congratulations on all those wonderful success you posted about. You are a true testament for following your dreams. Cheers from California!!
Congrats on three years!! Time flies by when you are making yummy food :)
Love your website, love your recipes, love aprons from anthropologie! Keep up the good work!!
Congratulations on all the amazing news and on 3 years!!!! You inspire so many people and you deserve all the fabulousness that’s been coming your way. Passion and hard work really can make your dreams come true!!!
Congratulations on three years of blogging! That is a magnificent accomplishment! Not only are your recipes amazing, but your ability to talk about important issues such as anxiety and career happiness in such an open manner really sets you apart. I look forward to continuing to read your blog and be inspired!
I love your blog! So inspiring, delicious, and healthy!
I’m a sucker for cute aprons… and tasty vegan recipes. what’s not to love!
Got my Chatelaine the other day – saw you in it… congrats! so glad that this wonderful blog made it out there for more people to learn about.. and thank you for all you do!
Yay! Congrats!
Thanks for the giveaway!
littlegray88 at yahoo dot com
Angela, congratulations on all the great news! That is so exciting that you will be working on a cookbook. I can’t wait to buy it! It’ll be more organized than collecting your recipes on piece of paper that I shove in the cabinet for later use…. because I always use them again!
Congrats on your third anniversary of blogging. You are truly one of my very favorite blogs, and without you, I wouldn’t have VOO, Rustic banana bread, Glonola, and Almond Chews as regulars in my culinary shuffle. You are an extremely talented culinary master, photographer, and writer. Even though we’ve never met, your blogger voice feels like that of a friend and I’m grateful for it. You deserve all that is coming to you! :)
Congratulations on the book deal, the freelancing, and the awards!! I cannot WAIT to buy your cookbooks, and I’m certain there will be more than one. :) It couldn’t happen to a nicer woman.
Oh I am so glad I found your site. I am a VERY new vegan girl living in Toronto Canada! I need to learn how to cook/make YUMMY vegan meals and your website… and FUTURE cookbooks (CONGRATS btw) will be my new go to place for recipes!
I am going to try your avocado creamy pasta tonight. I love avocado and pasta. I would love to win this apron. It would officially make me feel like a real cook.
Hi. I wanted to compliment you on your blog; between the photography & cooking motivation, I am inspired :). Thanks.
We have been trying to incorporate more whole foods into our diet lately and gluten – free and dairy – free options have been key to improving our well being. We’re now trying to add in more vegetarian/vegan options… In all cases, your blog has been a godsend!!
Thank you and keep the recipes and inspiration coming!!
Cheers, Joan
Hi Angela! I stumbled on your web page a few months ago and ran out to get ingredients to try a green monster. It is one month ago today that I have been drinking green monsters for breakfast and I am feeling great! While I am not vegan, I simultaneously gave up meet for the month just to change up my diet and renew energy. The shift has been exciting as I am trying new seasonal foods and I am feeling more in touch with how I nourish my body… Thanks for the inspiration! :)
Me! me! Me! I need a new apron!
Love your blog!
Hi Angela! I’ve been going on your site for a while now and I LOVE almost everything that you put up! The way you make things are simple to follow and extremely satisfying to eat! ;) Not only am I inspired to try bold recipes, especially after my first cookie fail, I’m also inspired to be healthy and have fun! I would really like to thank you for all that you do and are. Good luck on your book! I’m looking forward to it.
Hey Ang, I don’t even need to be part of the giveaway since I have two swell aprons already. I just wanted to wish you all the best for these exciting changes. I’ve been a loyal reader for quite a while, I send other people here all the time, and I live on lightened-up lemon tahini dressing. It makes me smile to see all these good things happen for you. I hope great things keep coming, way past the point where you’re an old lady like me! :)
Thank you so much! :) Your support is so appreciated.
Hello Angela, I happened upon your blog through another sweet uplifting blog and was uplifted. Oh that is so nice to see a happy face in the kitchen (My favorite place in the world-the kitchen). Thank you for sharing your insight and experience with us. Also I love the Apron. I am excited for a chance at it:)