Country Living Blue Ribbon Blogger Awards

This is the second year that Country Living has offered their Blue Ribbon Blogger Awards honoring the best new blogs in gardening, decorating, crafts, and cooking. I was so, so excited when I found out back in September that I'd been named one of the finalists in the Gardening category out of 2,830 submissions. What an honor to be recognized by such a great magazine--did you see their post on Neko Case's Vermont Farmhouse or the dreamy Connecticut Kitchen Garden that I see images from on Pinterest every other day?

Making it that far was excitement enough and then there was the most heart-warming get-out-the-vote movement for the Reader's Choice Award. A great big hug to all you friends, family, and readers who voted for me: you did it! I've bagged both the Judge's Pick AND Reader's Choice Award in the Gardening category.

The Fabulous Beekman Boys were judges. I'm star struck--love them.

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You can see all the other winners on the Country Living website. It's been fun to learn about these great new blogs (you've got to check out that Calvados Ice Cream on Gourmandistan!). 

Thanks again for all the cheers! I started Bell and Star back in April and have enjoyed it so much--this is great encouragement to keep on keeping on.