Cash, Bakeware, and Bragging Rights

Hey there, blog friends. If you're a goddess in the kitchen (and I know many of you are), it's time for you to enter a recipe contest over at Mrs. Fields Secrets, reinventing the chocolate chip cookie.

First prize wins $250 cash, a bakeware package valued at $100, and major bragging rights among your friends and family. Seriously, you can flaunt that kind of win!

Four runners-up will win bakeware packages and bragging rights too, but unfortunately, no flaunting. Womp, womp.

Enter now and help spread the word (please!). You really should do it. Think of the children.

Embarrass Your Dad for Free Cookies

Summer has unofficially started, the fireflies have started to appear, and I have the beginnings of a tan. In other words, I'm in the mood to celebrate. Let's have a giveaway, shall we? Mrs. Fields Gifts wants to giveaway a Father's Day gift to you. I tried to convince them to give it to me, but they insisted that it go to you. Oh well. I tried.

This gift is called Dad's Trio Tray. Three boxes, chock full of bakery fresh goodies, spell out DAD. Or, if you're a smart aleck (like everyone in my family), you might spell out ADD or DDA. It's really up to you.

How do you enter to win? Leave a comment. Tell me something silly about your dad. 

For example, if I were entering this giveaway, I would tell the story about how my dad, a good religious man, recently left a message on my sister-in-law's voicemail that began as a congratulations on her and my brother's anniversary. He was driving and talking and somehow got a little distracted and his well-wishing started transforming into one of his daily prayers, and he began to close his thoughts in the Lord's name, amen. On his daughter-in-law's voicemail. He caught himself as the words rolled off his tongue and than abruptly, awkwardly ended the call. It was hilarious and priceless and made me love my dad that much more.

Too bad I can't enter the giveaway, because I love that story. It deserves to win something.

You can also enter another Father's Day giveaway going on at Mrs. Fields Secrets blog.

Comments will be accepted until midnight, June 13. A winner will be chosen randomly.

Utah, I Sure Do Love Ya and Appreciatecha

I snuck into Salt Lake late Thursday night and back out Sunday morning. I picked up my rental car at the airport and the employee asked me what I was in town for. I quickly replied, "Work and family," and then kicked myself for not saying, "Business and pleasure," because it sounds so much cooler. Especially with a british accent.

Some (or none?) of you know that I work as a freelance copywriter, and my biggest (sometimes only) client is Mrs. Fields. I have been working with Mrs. Fields for three, almost four, years and I find them to be a great company to work with, especially when I open my front door and UPS is dropping off yet another shipment of cookies. Anyway, I write their gift catalog, their business catalogs, and also their blog.

Friday afternoon, I took part in an event held at Mrs. Fields Gifts. They invited a handful of local bloggers to come and tour the 158,000 square foot bakery and gifting facility. Luckily, not one blogger got lost in that giant space.

The tour is pretty spectacular. It's pretty much just like Willy Wonka's factory, minus all the unfortunate accidents. And Oompa Loompas.

In fact, if you live in or around the Salt Lake Valley, you should take a free tour. It's very cool. And the smell? Well, you can just imagine.

After the event, I got to spend some quality time with both Ryan's and my family and a couple of friends. There wasn't enough time to see everyone, so if I didn't see you, please forgive. Maybe next time?

I got back Sunday evening, just in time to miss Utah's May 24th snowfall. Good timing! As I lifted off the ground nestled between two strangers, I hope you heard me whisper (or Twitter) in the words of my dad, "Sure do love ya and appreciatecha!" Because I do.

Helping People Find Themselves One Personality Quiz at a Time

I know what you need today. You need to do a little soul-searching. You need to see yourself as you really are. You need a little bit of introspection and understanding. (Don't we all?)

Go here. Go now.

And don't ever suggest that I haven't put my psychology degree to good use!

Hey! Anybody want some free Mrs. Fields cookies?

I've been excited to let you know about a project I've been working on.  Mrs. Fields has joined the bloggerhood (at MrsFieldsSecrets.com) and is ready to share baking tips, gift ideas, and recipes with you!  Oh, and don't forget giveaways!  In fact, there's a giveaway going on right now.

For example, how would you like to win this?  Well, you can!

Check it out and enter to win now!  And don't forget to add Mrs. Fields Secrets to your favorite blog reader, because there is a lot more to come!

(Have I used enough exclamation points yet?  I know I'm getting close to my quota.  I mean, my quota!)

One more thing--if you happen to recognize anything "Tiffany" over there, it's just a coincidence.  I swear!