RFT Web Awards

Tuesday night I had the honor of attending the Riverfront Times 2012 St. Louis Web Awards at the Old Rock House.  You may be asking yourself, how did I, preppy pregnant pretty-girl score an invite to this ultra hip and uber-swanky event?  Well get this, I was freaking FINALIST in the category of best personal blog!  Yes, you read that right...the RFT judges (for some unbeknownst reason) found my blog entertaining enough to consider it one of the four best personal blogs in St. Louis.  Shocked is the word that comes to mind for me.  WOW is another.  Honored and humbled and grateful and surprised are a few more.  

Like so many of you, I write this blog for mainly for myself.  It's my creative outlet where I get a few minutes away from being a boring old lawyer and I can share photos of vacations, tell stories about my dogs, talk endlessly about my friends' kids, post recipes and projects, document growing a child, make fun of my husband and generally embarrass the hell out of myself.  The fact that ANYONE reads this blog, it just icing on the proverbial cake.  Blogging really is amazing - through this blog I've met so many amazing friends, been able to connect with people all over the country and I've learned so much about myself.  And after four years of blogging, I still get giddy every time I get a comment on a post or a new follower.  So to even be nominated for a blogging award in the first place was an absolute thrill...and then to be a finalist?  Shut.Up.  Crazy cool.

So of course we had to go to the awards ceremony.  I must say, it was surreal.  As soon as we entered the building we were welcomed by Chad Garrison, Managing Editor of the RFT.  Y'all, he "recognized" me.  I can't even begin to describe what a strange and amazing feeling it was to be recognized from my blog.  That's happened like once before and I turned into a blubbering mess.  He said he was a judge in my category and loved my blog.  I was blown away.  I don't remember anything else he said, probably because I was grinning so big my smile wrapped all the way around my head and covered my ears.  Nothing like a "real writer" telling you that you're a good writer.  Oh, maybe someday when I grow up I can be a real writer too.

We made our way over to the bar, where Ryan got a vodka cocktail and I had a cupcake.  

It's like they know us or something.  

See, there we are!

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The cupcakes (courtesy of The Cup) were out of this world.

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  About 8 cupcakes later, it was time for the award ceremony to begin.

The trophies were out on display.

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The judges were introduced.

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The envelope was delivered.

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The crowd was anxious.

(I'm on the far left side)

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And the winners were announced.  

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The Best Personal Blog award goes to................City in a Jar!  

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The Judges Say: Two twentysomethings coming of age in the city. We know; it sounds like the insipid plot of a network sitcom. But City in a Jar is anything but vapid, with bloggers Jessica and Maddie deftly chronicling their experiences with everything from food to fashion to movies and literature. Not only are Jessica and Maddie exceptional writers, but their stunning photography ensures we don't click to the next channel.

So, no, I didn't win.  But that's ok!  I'm a pretty competitive person, but in this instance, I was just happy to be there as a finalist.  That was all the validation I needed.  The competition was  fierce - the other blogs in my category were outstanding and I'm still shocked and honored to just be a part of it all.  I got a chance to meet some new people, discover some new blogs, and eat my weight in cupcakes...not a bad way to spend the evening.

But I must say (here's the cheese), the best part of the evening came later, in the privacy of our home, with no cameras or people around, my husband leaned over, gave me a kiss on the forehead and told me how proud he was of me.  Melt my heart.  That's about all a girl can ask for right there.  He's the best award I've ever been given.  My cup runneth over.

 So THANK YOU to the Riverfront Times for the honor of being a finalist. 

THANK YOU to everyone that reads this blog and keeps me posting week after week.  

And CONGRATULATIONS all the winners and all finalists.  

We've all won in my book.  

*All photos by Kholood Eid