girl versus dough turns four {giveaway}

(This giveaway is closed.) I cannot believe that this week (tomorrow, to be precise) marks the four-year birthday/anniversary/blogiversary/blogobirthday (?) of this here blog.

So much has happened between then and now, it’s insane. When I first started I had no idea what I was doing, how to bake a loaf of bread, how to wield a camera or what this bloggy business had in store for me. There have been new jobs, new homes, a new kitten, a lot of kitchen failures (and successes), some sweat, some tears, some memories made and friendships built. In four years this blog has gone from a fun little hobby to a full-fledged career that I love.

Like I said, insane.

And awesome.

Now is when I get sappy and tell you that I couldn’t have gotten to this moment in this space without you guys. But I’m totally serious. There have been several times when I’ve wondered why I’m even doing this whole ding-dang thing, if it’s even worth it, getting ready to throw in the towel — but then I remember my readers, my blogging friends, the food blog community, all of you who inspire me. And I remember that this space is incredibly special to me and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

I wish I could meet you all in person and give you big ol’ bear hugs and tell you how much I love you (in the least creepy way possible). But instead, I shall give you a gift. Actually, several gifts. Because what says “thank you for being here and for being awesome and for putting up with my ramblings and my weirdness and for trying my recipes and liking them, really really liking them” than a giveaway of gifts, amiright??

So, my people, here is what one of you will receive:

One copy of Luisa Weiss’s memoir, “My Berlin Kitchen,” in paperback. The famous blogger behind The Wednesday Chef chronicles a year of her life in and out of the kitchen and letmetellyou, from the few pages I’ve read already (I’m the slowest reader in the universe), it is good reads. Plus, this is the fancy schmancy new paperback version, which if you’re me and you like to bend your books back when you read (thereby utterly destroying them but with love, such love), is pretty neat. I plan to finish the book this fall snuggled in a sweater blanket by the fire drinking copious cups of coffee/hot chocolate (yes, I’m dreaming of fall already. Don’t hate).

One full “Grains of Discovery” kit from Bob’s Red Mill. I’ll be telling you lots more about this new lineup next month (oooo, foreshadowing), but for now, wouldn’t it be fun to get a whole box full of neat-o grains like farro, quinoa, amaranth and chia? If you’re a weirdo foodie like me, you’ll think so. It’s gettin’ all sorts of grains up in our kitchen right now thanks to this kit, and one of you lucky ducks will get a chance to experiment with them, too.

One $50 gift card to Williams-Sonoma. Not going to lie, it’s going to be REAL tough for me to give this one up. But I like you, so I’ll get over it. Nab this baby and you’ll be able to buy things like this pretty lil’ artisan loaf pan, or this set of restaurant-style mixing bowls, or this Le Creuset casserole dish, or… OK, OK, you get the idea.

Here’s the giveaway rundown:

To enter, leave a comment below sharing one thing you’re looking forward to this fall (really, I’m just very excited about the upcoming season and I need someone else to be excited with me).

And that’s it! Contest ends on Sunday, September 1 at 11:59 p.m. CST (giveaway is open to U.S. residents only). Winner will be announced Monday, September 2.

Update: Sarah Grace is our winner. Thanks for playing, everyone!

Good luck, everyone! Oh, and for real, thanks for being here, you guys. You’re just so great. OK, I’m done being sappy. For now.

Disclosure: I was provided with a copy of “The Wednesday Chef” from Penguin Books and a full “Grains of Discovery” kit from Bob’s Red Mill. I am providing the Williams-Sonoma gift card of my own accord. All opinions are my own.