We Have a Winner!!

Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose.
~From the television show The Wonder Years

I loved reading your memories! I smiled, laughed out loud, I was reminded of things in my own life, inspired, had a few tears and felt warm and fuzzy!
So cool to hear stories from all over...not just my little world.

Thank you!

One reason for me asking for a childhood memory was because of an adventure I am in the middle of.
3 years ago I remembered the first cake I made…I had just gotten a cookbook for Christmas, I think it was a Sesame Street Cookbook, and I couldn't’t wait to make something. I decided on the Blizzard Cake – if you can believe it…it was a chocolate cake, covered in chocolate icing, covered in none other than popcorn!
I was SO PROUD, I vividly remember carrying that cake out to my 4 siblings, Mom and Dad…I thought I rocked! One can only imagine what it actually tasted like lol!
Anyway, as I remembered that moment I thought…darn, I don’t even have a picture of that cake…how cool would it be to show my own little guys that cake, share the memory and recreate it. Then the light bulb went on and I began writing a book.
Me being me, I got about 40% finished and put it on a shelf.
Then 7 months later I was out to dinner with some neighborhood gals that I was getting to know and I asked if anyone was interested in getting together and pitching ideas for a business…we would each come with an idea or two for a product or service…pitch it…settle on one and in 2 years we would have a product or service ready for market.
(I actually tried this speech a few times in the last 20 years…but no one took it seriously).
Anyway…3 were in, we met, we pitched, we landed on an idea (I never thought of the partially written book at home as one) we went off to do research, met again.
I said I am not that into this idea, so did another…then I mentioned the book…all eyes lit and the rest as they say is history. 4 Moms bringing different things to the table got it done. I get excited about things, I so am the glass is half full most of the time…I remember sitting there that night saying…”We are going to get on QVC and sell a million copies!!!”
Well folks, the books are scheduled to arrive in port Monday and will be on QVC!! It was to be on this past Thursday but the books were not here on time. I actually went through the training with one of the Real Housewives of New York no less...I had no clue…to me she was Bethany as I never saw the show. And I gave a hug to David V, my favorite host!

The book is called Picture ME Cooking. It’s a kids cookbook with a twist – the twist is that on every recipe page there is a pocket to place a photo of who you cooked with, what you made (masterpiece or disaster…lol) etc. The book is an awesome activity to complete with your kids or grandkids. What they will learn and what memories will be made and captured are awesome! In the back there is a family section to write in some of your treasured family recipes. So you see it’s an heirloom in the making.

This blog is for me to express myself, but I couldn't’t help sharing that part of me too.

SO back to what I thought this post was about!!!!
Thanks to a new friend I found about a site that picks numbers at random for winner…funny that site is down today for scheduled maintenance, so I found another.
Better than me writing all your names down and pulling form a hat!!
Thanks http://grettajohns.blogspot.com/!!!

The winner is: Vivian (little one)!!!! I hope it matches your kitchen or can make a good holiday gift for someone in your life!!

And because I had such a great response...surprise!! I have a second giveaway a Kitchen Aid manual chopper, also in red and the winner of that is MP!!
Funny when I thought to do a “second prize" I thought about picking my favorite memory…and my favorite one WAS MP’s…but the number picker picked it as well…it was meant to be! MP your grandma sounds amazing!

Vivian and MP, I need to know where to send the prizes...shoot me an email at johnkenjr@msn.com with the details. Enjoy!

Thanks again everyone and as soon as I have some of the Picture ME Cooking Books in my hand I will give a few away as well!! Stay tuned! Below is the cover photo.