An Adoption and a Giveaway

One of the things I love about bloggers is the mutual support we give each other. We also often give this support to new bloggers. I like to find a new blogger and comment on their posts, encourage them, add them to my blogroll, and generally watch them become established. I do this to 'pay forward' the support that I received when my blog was new. This is one thing I haven't had the time to do in the past few months, and I miss it.

I love the idea of community. In the bloggy world, we make our own community—we find bloggers who have similar interests, and we simply visit them and chat a little. We get to know each other, we email, maybe we visit in real life. That's how we make community in the real world as well! 

But some bloggers go farther. Monique supports other bloggers by making their recipes and posting links to their blogs, directing her many followers there and sharing her community so generously. I remember how thrilled I was when she made one of my recipes! 

Kristen goes even farther. She's got a program called “Adopt a Blogger”, where she matches up new bloggers with those who have a little more experience. The idea is that the more experienced bloggers can mentor the newbies. I signed up as a newby last year, and was adopted by Tartelette. It was wonderful to be able to pick her brain about blogging. You can adopt a new blogger too--just click on the link above and find a newbie who needs some support. 

I've signed up again this year. This time as an adopter.  And so I've got a new blogger to introduce to you: Ashley at Fun As We Go. I thought of telling you all about Ashley, but I think it might be more interesting for you if you get to explore her blog. 

Sooooooo, we have a prize. A box of Belgium's finest chocolate, handmade by Christophe, delivered directly to your door. All you have to do to win it is answer a few questions. The answers, of course, can be found on Ashley's Blog: 

1) What was Ashley's Emmy Awards Dinner?

2) What did Ashley drink for her 29th birthday? (heh, I can barely remember my 29th birthday, so don't ask me what I drank to celebrate!) 

3) What pledge did Ashley take in October? 

Post the answers in a comment here before December 5. Our friend The Random Number Generator will choose the winner from the correct responses. I'll have to hide the comments till then, of course... 

Ready? Allez!