I am self-reflective almost to a fault. I look back at my life, my choices, my emotions all the time. I’d like to think this makes me a better person and that I keep making changes to get me on that path, but it seems the more I reflect, the more I realize how many aspects of my life could use a tweak, a nudge and sometimes even an overhaul.

Take this blog, for example. It wasn’t always this riveting little piece of the internet you see before you. In fact, it isn’t even my first blog. Before we dive into the fun stuff like giveaways, cake and presents, let’s sojourn through my past awkward and unguided (and very apparently so) past incarnations of blogs.

Cooking Is Love – Picture it: UConn, 2007 [Sofia from Golden Girls, anyone?] Armed with rudimentary cooking skills, chipping non-stick cookwear and a roommate who tolerated my late-night baking binges [thanks, Claire!], I graduated from the angsty land of Livejournal and tried to chronicle my attempts to feed myself via Blogger. Though the title would suggest posts about cooking, nearly all cooking posts that ever existed were deleted in the overly-critical, self-deprecating attitude I was sporting at the time.
highlights include: over-use of the on-camera flash and complete ignorance of the macro feature
what the name suggests: a blog chronicling my cooking adventures
what the blog actually features: baking posts, or a photographic journey through three levels of cake decorating classes

2009 – Way More Than Cheesesteak – At this juncture, I was between going to pastry school and grad school but got accepted to the latter before I could apply to the former. Grad school proved to be nothing like I’d hoped or wanted it to be and I found solace standing tip-toe in front of my Kitchenaid, mixing, measuring and covering my galley kitchen in flour.
what the blog title suggests: photographic and descriptive evidence that there is way more to eat in Philadelphia than just cheesesteak [attention: everyone in CT]
what the blog actually features: photographic and descriptive evidence that I spent more time researching French pastries than French literary theorists.

2010 – No Small Potatoes –  The summer I ate my way through Ireland and found wifi to tell you about it.
what the title suggests: An effort to photographically chronicle all eating adventures through the Emerald Isle, while disproving stereotypes about Irish cuisine.
what the blog actually features: For once, I was actually spot on. Good Irish food and large potatoes.
highlights include: sprawling fields of green grass, cows, and the Cliffs of Mohr
not captured: I return to the US and to WMtC lugging two suitcases, an oversized carryon, a purse and a bag full of Jameson, brown bread and Baileys bought at the airport, all while casually sipping an iced caramel macchiato and getting strange looks from everyone I encounter.

2011 – My first foodblogging conference! Here, I realized that there are people who are big deal bloggers, who take nice pictures, write well, have followers who aren’t their best friend (thanks for reading, Lynette! love you!) and who have since become my friends :) After realizing that my blog was more about what I baked than actually eating in the city (ya know, because I lived in the ‘burbs and all…), I decided to drop the whole what-I’m-eating-in-Philly gig and go with what I’d always wanted to do: narrate my life through food.

…so here we are. Present day. I haven’t quite managed to execute that goal all the time. I often got caught up with wanting pretty pictures (hence the post dearth during the months I was sans camera) or feeling the pressure of needing to be like everybody else. Now that I have a shiny camera, I do still want pretty pictures (and I’m working on figuring out how to do that and it’s certainly giving my ego a few knocks to the face heh), but I think I’m finally comfortable with putting out content that’s true to what I had in mind all along. That means telling my story primarily with words through the lens of food. That also means there might be more paragraphs than pictures and there may not even be recipes. I’ve realized that after grad school sucked the joy out of writing, my main focus is putting confidence back in my voice (metaphorically and literally), rather than worrying about teaching y’all how to bake.

This past year has taught me what it means to be a blogger, especially with regards to connecting within the amazing, supportive community that exists. I’m so lucky to have met so many talented bloggers during this past year, who have graciously offered everything from rides to conferences to advice on photography and blogging etiquette to long-distance baking projects, have mentored me and encouraged me to speak up when I wasn’t sure I should even whisper. I am truly blessed to occupy this tiny space in the bloggosphere and have you all–readers, fellow bloggers, and friends–to thank :)

So, as a nod to my roots, both personally and blog-i-torily (umm… go with me on that one…), I wanted to do two things.

1.) PRESENTS. That’s right. Presents for me, presents for you. My present is coming on Thursday (more on that later!) Your present is a fantastic giveaway! The Philadelphia-area foodblogger, Iris McCarthy (@PalatePrincess) gave me two copies of her book, The Food Lovers’ Guide to Philadelphia and I’ve got one that could be yours. (And who knows, maybe I’ll even grab a bite with the winner if they’re in town!) To enter, leave a comment with a favorite birthday tradition you have. For additional chances to win, you can like Palate Princess on facebook or follow her on twitter! (Just leave a comment and let me know that you’ve done so!) I’ll use a random number generator to pick the winner on Thursday, November 1st. The winner will be notified via email.

2.) Make a cake, duh. Though I’m a pie person [I was born the day after Pi Day, c'mon!], I’ve never not had cake for my birthday. So, in keeping with the “where I came from” mentality, I reached back to my dad’s Hungarian side and decided to make a dobos torte with an autumnal spin. It’s normally made with chocolate frosting, but I wanted to make something that would represent who I am, only in dessert form: multi-layered, small, pretty sweet and kinda spicy. My layers were a little off-kilter, but then again, I’m not perfect either ;)

Happy baking, happy giveaway entering and happy bloggaversary Charlie Brown! …er, kellybakes! (and yes, I sometimes refer to myself in the blog-person)

xo!

**Disclaimer: I was given two free copies of A Food Lover’s Guide to Philadelphia; one to keep and one to give to a lucky reader. The opinions expressed here are (as always and forevermore) my own. The end.

**And the winner is…**
 ProgressiveGrae! Based on the actual comments (not mine) you’ve randomly been selected as the winner! woohoo! I’ll be contacting you shortly! :]