It’s my blog birthday – Food Revolution giveaway!

Categories blogging, blogging class, food revolution, giveaway, Jamie Oliver | by

Yes one year ago to this day, I started eat. live. travel. write as a project for my online blogging class with writers.com.

355 posts, well over 6000 comments, about 300 subscribers, over 1000 followers on Twitter, one “Best New Blog” nomination at the Foodbuzz First Annual Food Blogger Festival, not one but two paid writing gigs (Food Network Canada and The Mushroom Channel), part-sponsorship to the International Food Blogger’s Conference in Seattle this coming August (thanks to the kind folks at Faye Clack), lots of amazing new friends made (both virtual and in real life!) = a whirlwind of a year but so much fun.

I am lucky Neil shares my passion for food and travel and is my live-in sommelier (his wine recommendations are always “spot on” in my book) and, whilst he huffs and puffs and complains about waiting to eat so I can take photos, he really supportive and I could not do this without him.

The top 5 most viewed posts over the past year are:

1. Lemon Scented Quinoa Salad

2. My macaron workshop at Lenôtre in Paris last December

3. Mini Beef Wellingtons

4. Lunch à la Weight Watchers circa 1974 for Foodbuzz 24,24,24

5. Tastes of Brittany

(please excuse the flash photography in #1 and #3 – I was very very green!  But I have kept those posts around because it reminds me how far I have come!)

To celebrate this first year of blogging, what could be more appropriate than Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution Cookbook as a giveaway?  My Petits Chefs cooking club has been working their way through these recipes this term and we are having a blast. Thank you to YC Media for providing the book.

This contest is restricted to US and Canadian addresses only – sorry international readers.

You can have a maximum of three entries – leave a separate comment for each – and if you already signed the petition or subscribe or follow me on Twitter, just leave me comments to that effect:

1. MOST IMPORTANTLY – sign Jamie’s petition to save cooking skills and improve school food.

2. Follow me on Twitter

3. Subscribe to my blog (either in a Reader or via email)

Note: Well wishes are welcome in exchange for at least signing the petition (#1)!  Your comment will be counted as an entry only if you tell me you signed, follow me or subscribe (or all three!).

You have until 6pm (EST) Wednesday, May 19th to enter.  I will post the winner with my Petits Chefs post that evening.

Good luck and as Jamie says, “pass it on!”

158 thoughts on “It’s my blog birthday – Food Revolution giveaway!”

  1. Congratulations on an amazing year! You are a true inspiration to us that are just beginning our journey, only a month for me, we can only hope in a year’s time that we do as well as you have. You prove that it is possible and for that I thank you for sharing. All the very best to another amazing year!

    • Happy 1st anniversary, mardi! You have a long way, so well done and achieved so much all in just one year.

  3. Yes-pooh pooh on me for finally checking out ur website b/c if th contest (I adore Jamie Oliver!). But clearly I’m the loser as the site looks and reads fun, interesting,smart and adventurous – much like you!

    Really sorry not to be able to make your party tonight – would have loved to re-connect. Hope it’s a blast !

    All the best,

    Cecile

  5. Happy Blog Birthday Mardi girl, and congratulations for the huge achievements. How satisfying this must be, and so totally deserved! I’ve signed the petition a long time ago, follow you as we find feet together … do count me in as I have a US address. I love the closing line “Pass It On!”
    Good luck always… hugs!!

  6. Happy blog-iversary! I just signed the petition last week and I would love to win the cookbook 🙂

  8. What a fantastic year indeed. And it was a pleasure meeting you when you were in Montreal. A little last minute but I will be in Toronto next wkd lol. Congrats on all your accomplishments….

    now for the contest

    I follow you already on twitter

  14. Congratulations…seems this is a birthday week then; you and your blog baby? Thing is I already follow you…everywhere, so this comment is not to win anything but to offer my congrats. I love your stories, your macaronaholic tendencies and following the adventures of Les Petite Chefs but none of those compare to the friendship we’ve made so a big hip hip hooray for YOU!

  15. I follow you, tweet with you and have already signed the petition. So just go ahead and mail me the yummy cookbook. 😉 Congratulations on a terrific year. It sounds like just the start of something wonderful.

  16. M, happy blog-a-versary! I remember when we first met at that writers.com course!

    Congrats on all the things you have achieved so far, as well as to all future commissions! I’m so proud of you. And no, I’m not sucking up just because I want that cookbook (sine I’m a big Jamie fan)! Anyway, I’m a follower and I’ll sign petition right after I leave this comment.

    -Jen Laceda

  17. Happy everything Mardi! What an exciting year! I love reading your posts on the blog. And love your writing style! It is just like talking to you in person! You should be so proud! We are on the highway of town but I am thinking of you today! Have a great party! Happy birthday!

  18. Mardi my dear, you’re an inspiration. Wishing you the happiest of blog birthdays!! Can’t wait to see what more you have in store for you, and really can’t wait to meet you next month!

    Can’t enter obviously but wish the lucky winner many happy meals 🙂

  19. Happy Blogiversary Mardi! I can’t believe you’ve only been doing this for 1 year! Your website is wonderful and delightful to read. Great giveaway too! (Yup, I’ve already signed the petition and hope many more people do too!)

  22. wow, you have done so much in a year!!! it’s hard to believe that it was really just a year ago that you started. congrats on a wonderful year and happy blogiversary! i just signed the petition and also follow you on my google reader. not a twitterer, but if i were, you know you’d be first on my list there too. 🙂 can’t wait to see what exciting things you and neil share in the next year!

  27. Congratulations. What an amazing achievement! I signed Jamie’s petition a while ago. I hope it gets more signatures!

  29. Let’s see…

    Signed the petition.

    tHought I already followed you on Twitter, checked and I didn’t, so I do now.

    And I read your blog in a RSS reader. Feed Demon, in my Daring Kitchen folder to be exact.}:P

  30. Happy Birthday again. I have signed the petition. I was already subscribed to you blog on Blogger and I am now following you on twitter! Even though I am in Bulgaria I have an address in the US. Can I still play?

  31. wow! I can’t believe it’s only been a year -that gives me hope that maybe in two years I can grow as much as you! 🙂

  32. Isn’t blogging sometimes draining, sometimes uplifting, sometimes inspiring and motivating…hmmm, somewhat like LIFE. It’s a great time to reflect on where you’ve been, but really to propel you forward. I wish you NOURISHMENT in your blogging this next year!

  34. Those are amazingly impressive stats! I adore your blog and am thrilled that after a year you are still going strong. I have already signed the petition, follow you on Twitter and now officially follow you here (I was using Google Reader before).

    Congratulations! So happy for you that this year has been such a huge success.

  38. Here’s hoping that more foodies, teachers and parents will take on the challenge of getting young people to learn how to cook nutritious and delicious food!
    Keep up the good work, Janet

  39. Petition signed and subscribed!!

    Looking forward to more food and drink adventures with you as we enter our new decades!!

  42. Congratulations on both your birthday and your one-year blog anniversary!
    I signed Jamie Oliver’s petition and subscribed to Twitter to follow your tweets. I already receive the email updates.

    Love the background on Twitter for eat.travel.write – would love to be at Laduree in Paris right now, sampling all the macaron flavours!

  43. I love everything about the Food Revolution. I’ve been following Jamie for sometime and just think it’s amazing what one person can do to change the place where they live if they will actually do something- action word there- DO. I have begun 10 recipes for life on my blog.

    I’ll become your twitter friend ASAP.

  47. oops, didn’t realize i could leave TWO messages and enter twice – love that! i want that cookbook. 🙂 i subscribe through my googlereader and love seeing a new post come up, even though i tend to slack on comments and end up re-reading and commenting on a dozen of them at once every so often. i blame it on the little people . . .

  51. Congratulations on such an amazing first year!
    Had already signed the petition (have been fans of Jaimie for years plus we have 2 kids) and now am following you on Twitter! Happy Blog B-Day!
    Leslie

  53. I just got directed to your blog and I love it!! Keep up the good work and I just followed you on Twitter =) Congrats!

  55. Well happy birthday wishes then! I’ve looked in that book and I think it is such an amazing book. The winner will be very lucky!

  59. Happy Happy Birthday Mardi! You are one ball of fire, girl! I am so thrilled to be your friend!

  61. You know, I watched his food revolution in Great Britain on tv here in France and thought it was bold and brilliant and I am thrilled that he is taking on American schools, too! I signed the petition!

  62. Mardi, I signed on. Thanks for this, and congratulations to you. I love reading your blog.

  65. Congrats, Mardi! Your blog is great and I enjoy reading it as well as chatting with you on Twitter. 🙂 I am so happy that your blog is doing well. Happy first blogiversary and many more!

  68. Oh that’s too bad that I’m not from US or Canada, but I still wanna applaud you for your effort and happy blog birthday!

  70. Happy Blog Birthday to you! I’ve only recently found you, but have enjoyed your posts.

    I have signed Jamie’s petition. 🙂

  75. Love your blog so far! I just discovered it via foodbuzz. I’ve now signed the petition, and subscribed to email.

  76. What a great story! Congrats to you! I signed Jamie’s petition a while ago and would LOVE his book.

  79. Thank you for this offer… your blog is wonderful, I have read it many time before… I now follow you on Twitter.

  81. Happy Blog Anniversary! I’m a huge Jamie Oliver (and Food Revolution) fan, so I’ve already signed the petition. And I’ve been drooling over this cookbook ever since I spotted it in Borders the day it came out!

  84. Congratulations on an awesome blog! I signed the petition (don’t know how I haven’t done it until now) and I strongly support Jamie. Also followed you in Reader and Twitter. Keep up the great work!

  85. CONGRATS! I cannot believe it’s been a year already! Nice work, and so accomplished, too! 🙂 I signed the petition! Could you imagine if I won the cookbook?! Jon would have a fit! Another one on the shelf I don’t use! HA! I would probably use this one though. Wonderful, Mardi! Looking forward to another 10 years!! Or more!?!

  86. Thank you so much for the opportunity. I did sign the petition,
    Rod adores your cooking, so do I!
     Jaleh 

  93. Congrats on a great year of blogging… I’m so impressed with how much you have accomplished in one year. You’re leagues ahead of me!

    PS – Since I already have a copy of the Food Revolution, you don’t have to count my comment in your giveaway… just wanted to say “congrats” 🙂

  94. Good lord! Is it May 19th already?!? How’d that happen! I signed the petition quite awhile ago, and you know I follow you on Twitter, girl. It has been an eventful time, hasn’t it? Congrats on your one-year blogaversary, and continued success! xoxox

  96. First of all congratulations on a fantastic year!!!! What jumped off the page is the International Bloggers Conference in Seattle? Also Jamie is an excellent ambassador, why stop in trying to revolutionize only England.

  97. I love your show and your initiative. I’ve been following you on twitter @briancorrales.

  99. Congrats on a great year Jamie. Your truly changing the world one bite at a time! Congrats on all of your success and keep on cookin’!

  101. I follow you on twitter and i have signed the petition – you are doing a great thing for the kiddos!

  102. Congratulations!! You are a great inspiration and are doing a wonderful job for the kids!! I’m following you on twitter @Rainnne and I subscribed

  107. I’ve already signed the petition 🙂

    What a great giveaway. I really want this book.

  112. I’ve only just found you through Twitter, but will be following from now on. Good food is so important. I also signed the petition! Look forward to reading more from you.

  117. What an amazing blog. I love what you are doing with the schools in America. I wish you great success and hope it will soon spread to my children’s school. I just signed your petition and subscribed to your blog. I have been following you on Twitter for a few weeks. I would love to win your cookbook.

  120. I have signed the petition, follow you on Twitter and Facebook and I subscribe to your blog via email!

    Please include me in the contest!!!

  123. Joined the Revolution and signed the petition when it first started!
    Following now on Twitter.
    Can’t wait to regularly read the Blog since I subscribed.

  124. Jamie, you’ve inspired me to start cooking! I loved Food Revolution and what you did in Huntington. I’ve signed the petition, follow you on twitter and now I’ve signed up for your blog. I can’t wait to try out your one cup pancakes. Thank you for all you do and for caring enough about the next generation to make a difference.

  126. I heard about your blog from JAMIE OLIVER RT’ing you!!! THAT IS AWESOME. I hope to do a similar blog someday! (I’m in school to become a Registered Dietitian, so I’m hoping to help the food revolution, too.)

    I’ve been reading up, and I love your blog! I hope I win the book, but I’m *really* glad I have a new favorite in my google reader. =)

  128. And, I’m following you on Twitter. (I’m jamielucinda. Aspiring stand up comedian, foodie, and future RD!)

  129. Dear Jamie,
    I think it’s really fantastic what you’re trying to do for our schools here!! Last year when you did it for the UK schools, we were siting right here rooting for you and cheering you on. We thought the TED award was so greatly deserved. Our immediate reaction when we heard about you school lunch project over there was GOD I wish someone would do that here!!!! And here you are!! Awesome!
    I am a subscriber, a twitter follower and a signer of the petition of course. My own food revolution is on a personal level. I am trying to qualify for bariatric surgery. I am sadly severely or morbidly obese and need the help to get to a place where I can have less pain and move free enough to really exercise enough to get where I want to go. Where I want to go is all the way back to fully healthy and mobile. Thanks for reading this and good luck and bright blessings to you in all your endeavors!
    CMK

  130. Jamie:
    I signed the petition and already follow u on Twitter. I was so impressed to hear about ur sucess changing the school food system in the UK and wish u could’ve come to the schools in my area. Good luck. And continue doing what u do! 😀
    Angela K

  133. This is just a delightful blog!!! I can’t believe I didn’t know about your blog until now. But I did all three of the things!!! and I forced my boyfriend, and my girlfriends to sign the petition. 😉 congratulations with your blog’s birthday! 😀

  135. Thanks for the heads-up about the petition. I signed (not as K A B L O O E Y, though) and you know I’m a follower, so please put me down for two chances to win. I’m not a tweeter, though. I’m tweet-free. (Saturday! woot)

  139. Hello, Just a note to note that I signed up to receive your updates via e-mail!

  142. I already follow you on twitter (started shortly after your tv show first aired) .. and just started reading your blog…

    congrats!

  143. I’ve signed the petition, follow on twitter and read the blog and here’s my 2cents worth. I think what you’re doing is great. I’ve watched some of your show on TV and it is wonderful although some people just don’t get it. BTW , I love your banner design—Allsorts–Yum–discovered them on my only trip to UK and brought home as many as I could stuff in my luggage! hehe

  147. Congrats on your anniversary:)

    I signed the petition, not only because its part of your contest, but I believe in the cause. (I also follow on Twitter)

    All the best,
    Madalina

  150. Am I confused…or is it other readers? This is quite clearly NOT Jamie Oliver’s blog; looks like some folks are too anxious to win a prize but not bother to read the story!

    This wonderful blogger has shared though through her students and her readers the amazing role Mr. Oliver has taken in trying to inspire better eating to students and families and deserves her own kudos for those efforts.

    I applaud both of them but in my congrats, I’m celebrating Mardi and her blog…and you know I would follow you anywhere; feel almost like a stalker!

  154. I signed the petition a while back… and have been pushing everyone I know (including my students!) to sign it, too! Oh, and my students were given the assignment of watching Food Revolution and we had round table discussions about what was on it. I can tell you that there are 2 dozen students in NEPA that are NEVER eating chicken nuggets or chicken patties again… thank you for helping me to teach them about good nutrition!

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