It's My 6-Year Blogaversary!

Amazing! 6 years of blogging! I know - it's April and this is only the 5th blog post here this year. But I am technically still blogging, even though it's sparse! :)

If you're wondering about the lack of posting, one reason is explained in New Year, New Direction, but the other reason is that I started a full-time, outside-the-home job! Crazy!! You can read a little more about that in From SAHM to WOHM on From Lisa Marie.

I feel the need to celebrate this occasion with some cake, don't you?

To celebrate 6 years, I'd like to share a favorite post and a popular recipe from each of the years:

2008: I Forgot To Thank My Mom, Part 1

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

2009: Plugged Back In - A Redecorating Tale

Mini Nutella Cheesecakes

2010: Why The Garbage Truck Makes Me Smile

Pumpkin Truffles

2011: Encouraging Bloggers ~ A Blog Is A Blog No Matter How Small

No-Bake Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

2012: Will You Hold My Hand?

Chicken Caesar Lasagna

2013: Dare *Not* To Compare

 Puffy Apple French Toast Bake

It's been fun looking back and following along my journey through the years with you! Thank you all so much for coming back here again and again, whether there were new posts or not. Hugs to all!!

I'm keeping this post short and sweet. Just wanted to say hi, share a few links, and say Woo Hoo to 6 years!

~ 1000th Post ~

It took almost 5 1/2 years, but it finally happened! 1000 blog posts at Stop and Smell the Chocolates! If my average post is around 500 words, then there could possibly be 500,000 words on my blog! Wow! {That means some of you have done a lot of reading!}

I'm so glad you're here to celebrate with me! I think you should grab a cup of coffee or tea and have a piece of cake - maybe Flourless Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Glaze, or Creamy Baked Cheesecake, or Amaretto Cake, or Mix-In-The-Pan Chocolate Cake, or Caramel-Brownie Cheesecake, or maybe you should just stop by my Recipe Index and choose your own cake {yes, cakes are the biggest section in that index - obviously my fave - and just over half of them contain chocolate}!

Though I do have hundreds of recipes here along with several posts about food, this is not a food blog. Food posts are less than a third of all the posts here. That means there is much more happening on this little blog. I call it Life. I'm here to savor the daily blessings in Life and hope I can encourage you to find and savor them in your life too.

I have been blessed in many ways through blogging. I've improved my writing and photography skills. I've learned to step out of my comfort zone and create or adapt recipes instead of just following the directions. I've made great connections and true friendships. I started to list out some of the lovely inside-and-out friends that I never would have known if not for blogging, but the list was way too long! You know who you are and I treasure our friendships. :)

Thank you for being here with me, through time away, writing blocks, sporadic posting and more! I'm still here. Still blogging. Still wanting to share and encourage. Still dreaming of possibilities. Still savoring the sweetness of daily blessings, even when they're hard to find.

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But WAIT! **Giveaway Closed.** To celebrate my 1000 posts, I have a little giveaway for you all! I'm giving away not 1, but 2 chocolate-themed aprons! Perfect, right?! I had to have 2 winners, because 1 is not enough - just like 1 chocolate chip cookie is never enough. :)

I'm skipping the Rafflecopter widget and going old-school. To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment and tell me how long you've been stopping by my blog {or maybe you're brand new}!

For 1 extra entry {and only 1 no matter how many things you do - LOL}, you can do 1 or more of the following and leave a separate comment telling me about it: Like my Facebook page, follow me on Twitter,  follow me on Pinterest, follow me on Google+.

**Giveaway Closed.** Giveaway rules/fine print that will make some readers sad: Giveaway open to U.S. residents only and you must be at least 18 years old to enter. Giveaway will close at end of day on Monday 9/16 and winners will be chosen using a random number generator. Winners will be notified by e-mail {so please make sure I have a way to contact you!}. If winners don't respond within a week, new winners will be chosen.

Ouch. Rules & fine print give me a headache. :) I'm ever so happy to have hit 1000 posts! What are some accomplishments you've had lately?

I hope to see you all back here now and then! Hmmm...what will the world be like in another 1000 posts?! Thanks again for being here friends! Consider yourself virtually hugged! Have a truly blessed day!