Blogiversary - The Big 3 and A Freebie!

Three years ago this coming Sunday, I started a blog with this post about one of my favorite agriculture traditions.

And boy oh boy, I had no idea the things that would come of this little ole blog.

Over the past 3 years and almost 300 posts, I have learned far more about blogging and social media than I ever imagined possible. I have gained followers from all walks of life and from all over the world. I have found friendships with people I have never met but feel like I've known a lifetime. This blog prompted my signing up for, and eventual addiction to, Twitter (@brandibuzzard). It has also sparked a journey that led me to my career today, so without any more insightful crap mushy memories, here's a list of things that have come of this blog:

- The development of my writing skills which led to freelancing opportunities with:
    -- Farm Talk
    -- Grass and Grain
    -- DRIVE magazine
    -- SwineWeb.com
- Master's of Beef Advocacy Blog of the Month - August 2010
- Blogging on these other sites - YPC Beef Blog, Food For Thought 
- Social Media Coordinator for NCBA's Young Producer's Council (which led to):
- Co-Chair Communications Committee NCBA YPC
- Featured twice in articles by Chuck Jolley in Drover's Cattle Network -- October 2009 and March 2012
- Featured in a BEEF Magazine article by Jamie Purfeest in the October 2011 issue
- Because of my vocal advocacy of agriculture on this blog and Twitter I was an invited to speak about agvocacy at the Australasian Pig Science Association (APSA) Conference in Adelaide, South Australia in November 2011. There were a lot of different demographics and ideals in the room but I think everyone benefited from the experience.
- The freelancing and blogging experience led to a job with K-State Research and Extension incorporating several of my favorite things into one amazing experience: K-State, agriculture, writing, social media - whammo. Perfect.

The Hardcore Stats

My top 5 all-time posts are:
1. Temple Grandin - HBO Biopic: 4570 views - A post announcing the release of the Emmy award winning film about Dr. Grandin's early years
2. Buzzard's fly, they don't ski: 3469 views - This post was about Ninja and I getting engaged so while I would like to think that 3500 people were concerned with our lives, I am assuming some other search term like "buzzards flying" brought them to that post.
3. Who Are We to Judge Horsemeat: 1791 views - A post about how American's don't set the tone for what other countries eat and we shouldn't condemn those that don't rely solely on beef, pork or chicken.
4. Grillin' Ain't BBQ'in: 1149 views - A surprisingly popular post about how the terms grilling and bbqing are often interchanged and misused.
5. In Honor of Pigs and Pork: 847 views - Again, a post which garnered a lot of attention for some unknown reason. This contains a lot of factual information about pork. It was written during Pork Month.

Where y'all be coming from?

The top ten countries that visit Buzzard's Beat are:
1. United States
2.  Russia (surprising)
3. Australia (not surprising)
4. Canada
5. United Kingdom
6. Germany
7. Netherlands
8. France
9. India
10. Brazil  

Whatcha lookin' for?

The 10 most popular search terms used to find this blog since its inception:
1. Temple Grandin
2. Buzzard
3. Turkey Buzzard (thanks Sharita)
4. Buzzards
5. Horse meat (which I'll not be eating)
6. Fiji (probably stems from posts of this nature)
7. BBQ
8. Buzzards Beat (hooray you remembered my url!)
9. Mini pigs (whaaat?)
10. Trevor Brazile (hahahaha - I love me some Trevor Brazile)
Those that didn't make the top 10 but are still funny were: vet (uh, no), great American desert, school lunch policy, 80s girl, article on global warming and my personal favorite: bone in cow heart (twice!).

Ok - so now to the part that you all really came to the blog for....

A friend of mine makes western jewelry with copper and silver. It's gorgeous - her company is called Silo Silver and you can find her on Facebook. She has generously helped me out with a pair of these gorgeous feather earrings with turquoise and copper to giveaway to one lucky reader. For the fellas, you may not think they'll look good on you but what about that lucky lady in your life???

Enter by following the instructions on the easy peasy Rafflecopter thing - (Sheridan introduced me to these and they make giveaways so much easier). Entries will close on Halloween - then I'll announce the winner the next day! It'll be a spooky surprise, but not really spooky.

****This giveaway is now closed - the Rafflecopter widget has been removed****

Thanks so much for your loyal readership over the past three years. It's been quite a journey and I've loved it and hope to be able to continue sharing my opinions, sarcasm and passion with you for years to come (did I say years? yikes).

Until next year (kidding, I'll post again before then),
~ Buzzard ~

p.s. the picture above is from my Instagram feed - here is my shameless plug. Follow me - @brandibuzzard!

and the FroBuzz honeymoon is in...........

FIJI

I love my husband.  It wasn't until we were looking for our gate in LA (after a 5 hour flight from Detroit) that I found out where we're headed.  WOW - freakin' Fiji.  As you read this post (which I wrote while excitedly waiting for our flight to paradise) I'm on a plane headed to palm trees and warm water. Jealous?

I have a few blog posts that will go up between now and our arrival to Australia, but not many. Sorry folks - paradise is calling my name  :)

I love my husband.

Until next time,
~ Buzzard ~

Mission: Angel Food Cake -- COMPLETE!

As I write this, I am sitting in a hotel room in Manhattan, KS with three of my best friends after a busy day of wedding decorating, rehearsal and drinks out with family. It's my last night as a full-fledged Buzzard, and I'm having difficulty dealing with the reality. Boom.

Anyway - the last time I posted, I had completed 15 of the required 30 cakes. I baked a few more cakes between then and last week.  At 2:30 a.m. this Friday morning, I finished the last of cakes.  Tonight, at our rehearsal dinner, I present 5 cheesecakes and 3 angel food cakes which catapulted me to the 30 mark!  I have no idea if I'm headed to Fiji in 3 weeks, but the mere fact that I completed the challenge against Hyatt's predictions makes me feel awesome!

Feast your eyes on the heavenly dessert bar!

Getting married tomorrow -- hello January 22, where did you come from?

Until next time,
~ Buzzard ~

Fiji Deliciousness

I think my readers need an update on the Fiji cake extravaganza.  Since we last spoke the count of cakes has skyrocketed from 7 to 15!  Thanks in large part to these lovely little fellas!

I've made some angel food cakes in there too but why make a cake that only counts for one when cheesecake (more specifically, cheesecake cupcakes) count for two!  I made these scrumptious bites for the Ninja's seminar today and they disappeared quick! Halfway to Fiji - I need to get the ball rolling on the last 15 credits!



Until next time,

~Buzzard~

Help Me Get to Fiji! PLEASE!

Hello all -- it's time for another Fiji post.  Recently, I went to KC, MO and had dinner at the Cheesecake Factory with BFF's Martha and Melissa. It was hard to decide on one thing since the menu is seriously 21 pages filled with scrumptious goodies.  However, I did decide and after devouring my chicken littles (fried chicken) and mashed potatoes (I can't help it, I'm addicted) we all ordered our dessert (as if I'd drive 2 hours and not order cheesecake). In addition to the Oreo variety I ordered for myself, I also ordered a piece of cherry cheesecake to take home with me to my loving fiance (it's his favorite).  I know, I know, I'm so freakin' nice it ain't even funny.

After fiance scarfed down his piece when I arrived home, I asked him if his expensive dessert could count as a cake to be put towards the honeymoon in Fiji drama. He replied NO. Not cool.  I told Melissa about this crock of you know what and she gave me the splendid idea to post it on my blog and start a petition. 

This is where YOU come in!  Fiance agreed that if  50 people commented that "Yes, the piece of Cheesecake Factory cheesecake should count as one cake", then he would allow it.

Please help me by posting below that you agree - you can just say 'yes' or you can write a long message but please please help me get to this gorgeous venue for my honeymoon!

Thanks in advance for your commenting! I'm counting on you!

Until next time,

~Buzzard~

Baking cakes is as easy as pie

So, I used to think baking a cake was a long, drawn out task.  I was wrong.  Seriously. I spent a total of three minutes last night preheating the oven, lowering the oven rack, mixing the batter, pouring the batter in the pan and then shoving the cake pan it in the oven.  Forty-five minutes later, I took the cake out and propped it up on an empty beverage bottle so it could cool.  It was like I pressed an easy button from Staples.



Anyway, if you haven't yet caught on, Angel Food Cake #6 is baked and ready to be devoured.  I tried to bake brownies instead because I thought those sounded tastier at the time but they don't count towards the overall goal of 30, so I abandoned that cause.

I'm not really sure why I'm still partaking in this challenge because Hyatt booked the honeymoon about a month ago - my efforts are kind of pointless right now.  Unless..... he actually booked the honeymoon to Fiji in anticipation of me actually baking 30 cakes. Oh the drama.

Until next time,
~Buzzard~

Easy as Cheesecake

Due to a recent development in the honeymoon-to-Fiji-in-exchange-for-angel-food-cake saga, I made a cheesecake last night. The NInja informed me that a cheesecake or pie counted for two angel food cakes so voila! I am done with #'s 4 and 5. It's a mighty tasty little devil if I do say so myself ;)

Until next time,
~Buzzard~

686 Miles Closer to Fiji

So in case you were wondering, 686 miles is 1/10th of the distance from Kansas to Fiji.  And 1/10 is how much of the cake bet I have completed.  Cake #3 is baked but the Ninja hasn't eaten all of it.....yet.  Just the edges!

This one was a bit of a pain because someone, ahem Ninja, threw away the bottle I used to put the pan on to cool.  I had to dump out a perfectly good Bud Light to get another bottle so I could finish this cake.  The sacrifices I make for love and marriage!

Until next time,
~Buzzard~

Two Cakes Closer to Fiji

That's right!  Angel food cakes #1 and #2 have been baked and demolished -- last night I caught the Ninja walking through the kitchen with the remaining 2/3 of cake #2.  Apparently, he is enjoying his end of the deal.

 I managed to snap a picture before it was all completely gone though.  Only 28 cakes to go! Fiji better be amazing.....

Until next time,
~Buzzard~

Angel Food Cake = Fiji

What would you do for a trip to Fiji?  Work an extra job? Clean out hog pens?

Would it be worth baking 30 angel food cakes to travel here?

I desperately want to go to Fiji for our honeymoon, but the Ninja is resisting a bit. So, he told me if I baked him 30 angel food cakes (complete with strawberries and whipped cream) before our wedding he would whisk me away to Fiji.  I plan to bake them 5 at a time and then reveal them.  Hopefully, I'll have them done by December - Fiji here I come! Stay tuned for posts on when I start whipping those puppies out!

Until next time,

~Buzzard~