Birthday Giveaway!

*Update 6/8/11* The giveaway is officially closed.

La Kocinera is officially one year old!

I must have started, stopped, erased, and retyped this first sentence at least half a dozen times now. I simply don’t know where to begin in discussing the past year of my life. There have been ups and downs and squirrely loop-de-loops galore. In major ways, such as I’m no longer a Business major. And in minor ways, such as I no longer believe in flash photography for food.

salmon

Thank goodness.

fortune cookie 2

Through it all, this blog’s been part of it. It’s been fun, challenging, crazy, and therapeutic all at once to have my own small corner of the internet. A place to chat about ice cream, gush about chocolate, and whine about guava. It’s been a place for me to stretch my skills with Daring Cooks and Daring Bakers challenges, as well as share the recipes close to my heart. Without a doubt, it’s been a blast.

However, beyond any sort of enjoyment that I have garnered for myself out of this blog, I want to take a moment to thank you, my readers. Your praise, encouragement, and humor has made this blog so much more than I knew it could be. Every time that I see that there’s a new comment, a new Twitter follower, or a new Facebook “Like,” it totally makes my day and renews my passion for sharing my love of food. I’m thrilled that there are so many people out there who are huge food geeks just like me.

Capture

So, as a small “Thank You” for accompanying me on this journey and for being so darn awesome, I’ve got a present up for grabs. Today I’m giving away one (1) $50 virtual gift card to one of my favorite stores, Sur la Table. It will allow you to purchase anything that strikes your fancy from their online store and have it arrive right at your doorstep in all it’s foodie glory. If you wish, you can also present a print-out of the virtual card at an actual Sur la Table location.

Here’s the info ya need to enter:

(1) Leave a comment. Any comment. That will serve as your entry.

(2) If you want to grab a few more entries, you can follow this blog, follow me on Twitter, or “Like” the blog on Facebook. Leave a separate comment for each one, if you choose to do any of these things.

(3) For the love of chocolate pudding, make sure there is some way I can e-mail you. If your comment doesn’t lead to your own website of some sort, feel free to simply e-mail me (kocinera[at]gmail[dot]com) your e-mail address so I can contact you if you win. If I can’t contact the winner, or if the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.

(4) Using a random number generator, I will announce the winner on Wednesday, June 8th.

(5) At this time, I can only offer this giveaway to readers within the continental United States. Sorry, international readers—you know I love you!!

(6) Disclaimer: Sur la Table did not sponsor this giveaway. This gift card is my gift—from me to you.

With that, I’ll send you on your way to enter for the birthday present! Good luck!

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37 Comments

  1. Jenny (VintageSugarcube)
    June 2, 2011 / 5:41 am

    Koci, It has been soooo great connecting with you over our blogs!! Your writing, recipes and photos are all super-fantabulous. Can't wait to see what you come up with this year. Muuuah darling. 🙂

  2. Unknown
    June 2, 2011 / 5:50 am

    Happy blogoversary Koci! We started our blogs just around the same time–my blog birthday is in a few weeks–and I think that we've been following each other's blogs just about since then. Can't believe its been a year already. Thanks for being my food bloggie friend. I love visiting La Kocinera and seeing all your pretty pictures and what you've got cooking. Love the contrast between the two photos lol!

  3. Anonymous
    June 2, 2011 / 5:59 am

    Congrats on your anniversary 🙂
    I have discovered your blog only recently and I love it and love your sense of humor..
    I already follow you on facebook but I am not in the US..just wanted to let you know you are doing an amazing job

  4. Angie's Recipes
    June 2, 2011 / 12:33 pm

    Happy Blogoversary!

  5. wendyweekendgourmet
    June 2, 2011 / 3:57 pm

    Congrats on your blogiversary…job well done, Koci! I hope we can tag up for lunch during one of my visits home to see my family! Love Sur la Table, so hope I win!!!

  6. wendyweekendgourmet
    June 2, 2011 / 3:57 pm

    I like you (I really do…) on FB!

  7. wendyweekendgourmet
    June 2, 2011 / 3:57 pm

    Just started following you on Twitter!

  8. wendyweekendgourmet
    June 2, 2011 / 3:58 pm

    And I'm also a blog follower :)!

  9. AubreyLaine
    June 2, 2011 / 4:43 pm

    I would love to win this 🙂
    I've never been there but have always been curious!
    littlegray88 at yahoo dot com

  10. AubreyLaine
    June 2, 2011 / 4:43 pm

    I follow you via GFC
    littlegray88 at yahoo dot com

  11. AubreyLaine
    June 2, 2011 / 4:43 pm

    I like you on Facebook!
    littlegray88 at yahoo dot com

  12. AubreyLaine
    June 2, 2011 / 4:44 pm

    I follow you on Twitter.
    littlegray88 at yahoo dot com

  13. Winter
    June 3, 2011 / 12:03 am

    Congrats, Koci!

  14. stacie tamaki
    June 3, 2011 / 8:42 am

    Congratulations on your anniversary! How exciting. I discovered your blog through the Daring Kitchen and love your writing style so much you immediately became one of my favorite blogs to read.

    Just followed you on Google and Twitter. Wishing you every success and many more years of happy blogging 😀

    theflirtyguide.com/pages_The_Flirty_Guide/contact.html

  15. Suz
    June 3, 2011 / 7:31 pm

    Happy blogiversary, Koci! I love your blog very much. 😀

  16. Damaris @Kitchen Corners
    June 3, 2011 / 7:33 pm

    Congratulations on your 1 year

  17. Damaris @Kitchen Corners
    June 3, 2011 / 7:33 pm

    I'm retweeting your tweet

  18. Moo
    June 3, 2011 / 7:39 pm

    happy happy blog bday 😀

  19. Baking Serendipity
    June 4, 2011 / 6:51 pm

    Congrats on one year of blogging 🙂 I think we started our blogs at just about the same time and I definitely share your feelings. There is something seriously gratifying about connecting with people who straight up love food 🙂

  20. Amanda
    June 4, 2011 / 9:08 pm

    Hey congrats on the blogiversary! Love your blog and your great photos!

  21. Amanda
    June 4, 2011 / 9:09 pm

    Follow you twitter

  22. Amanda
    June 4, 2011 / 9:09 pm

    Follow you on rss

  23. Amanda
    June 4, 2011 / 9:10 pm

    and I like you on facebook!!

  24. Keiko and Brian
    June 5, 2011 / 1:16 am

    Giveaway entry!

  25. Keiko and Brian
    June 5, 2011 / 1:17 am

    Just followed you on twitter!

  26. Keiko and Brian
    June 5, 2011 / 1:17 am

    And I am also a follower of your blog, always have been 😉

  27. Dee
    June 5, 2011 / 3:05 am

    Yay!!! Happy Anniversary to La Kocinera!!! And many more to come! 😀

  28. Anonymous
    June 7, 2011 / 1:41 am

    congratulations on your 1st year anniversy and best wishes for many more. peace and cookies to you 🙂

    jacquieastemborski AT comcast DOT net

  29. Shumaila
    June 7, 2011 / 10:35 pm

    Hey congrats on completing a year. Can imagine the feeling- I'll be completing one year July end and would be hitting 100 posts soon. So I am pretty excited too!

    capri[dot]shumi[at]gmail[dot]com

  30. sweetlife
    June 8, 2011 / 2:54 am

    Congrats!! here is to many many more years of great eats!

    sweetlife

  31. blackbookkitchendiaries
    June 8, 2011 / 3:00 pm

    happy blogaversary!! *hugs*

  32. Kristen (swanky dietitian)
    June 8, 2011 / 7:53 pm

    Happy Blogiversary! I have enjoyed reading your blog so much!!! 🙂
    I love Sur La Table!

  33. Anonymous
    June 9, 2011 / 2:14 am

    Woohoo happy anniversary!

    Thank you for the good wishes this morning 🙂

  34. Anonymous
    June 9, 2011 / 2:15 am

    I follow this blog in my reader!

  35. Anonymous
    June 9, 2011 / 2:16 am

    I follow your twitter (@danacooks)

  36. Anonymous
    June 9, 2011 / 2:16 am

    I follow you on facebook

  37. mangiabella
    June 13, 2011 / 2:32 am

    i know i'm belated but HAPPY ONE YEAR BLOGOVERSARY!!!! what a TREAT it has been getting to know you thru the blogosphere and I'm so blessed to have met you…God Bless you know and always