Finally!

Do you have this goal…this grandiose (or maybe not so grandiose) goal that’s been there in the back of your mind? The goal that’s been nagging at you, waiting for you to bring it to fruition?

I think we all have something haunting us like that.

When I started this blog, I really didn’t have any preconceived notions. Food blogs were still in their infancy, and there weren’t a lot of professionals at that point. I just knew I had a lot to learn, I loved writing, I loved the creativity it allowed, and I really enjoyed the whole process. Once I found that a living could be made, I made that one of my goals.

I wanted to be a professional food blogger.

I didn’t know what all that would encompass or what it really even meant, to be honest. Ad money was part of it that I understood. But I never imagined what all blogging would lead to. For me, the journey has included becoming an ambassador for companies I love and use everyday. It has included becoming a professional cake designer and baker – a job I can’t tell you how much I enjoy. And one thing – one lofty goal I set for myself – to write a cookbook.

That happened.

I can log onto Amazon or Barnes & Noble and find a book written by ME. Is it the cookbook I would have written given carte blanche? No, not really. I don’t even know what that cookbook would be, exactly, as I am still becoming Doughmesstic. Someday soon, I’ll know. But I AM proud of this book. I wrote a cookbook. I WROTE a COOKBOOK.

I finally did it.

Now, what are YOU waiting on? I know there is something you want to do.

I want to help you get that dream realized, and so does Quaker.

Quaker themselves has just realized a dream, too. Cookies. They finally – FINALLY – have cookies on the grocery shelves, after YEARS of just supplying us the oats to make our own. Sure, I love making my own oatmeal cookies, and I know you probably do too. But sometimes, you just want a cookie. Right now.

These are great for that!

My favorites are the soft oatmeal raisin. Each one is individually wrapped, which keeps them fresh until you are ready. This was perfect for us last week in Orlando – we could pack a few in Jon’s backpack, then grab one for a quick snack (and avoid the $8 spent at the park). Seven loves them, and so do we!

Quaker Soft Baked Oatmeal Cookies come in five flavors, including:
o Apple & Cinnamon
o Banana Nut
o Chocolate & Almond (pictured here, from Quaker)
o Cranberry & Yogurt
o Raisins

Soft cookies not your thing? Well, your opinion is wrong.

Haha! Just kidding! They also make a Crunchy Oats Granola…so you’re in luck!

If you’d like to go ahead and tackle that goal of yours, or, if you’d just like to eat a bunch of cookies, you should COMMENT! What’s your goal? Tell me here, and you’ll be entered to win an assortment of the new Quaker Cookies and a $75 Visa Gift Card to put towards that goal of yours, courtesy of Quaker. Nice, right?

If you’d like a second and third opportunity to win, you can do the following:

• Become a FAN of Quaker Oats on Facebook , comment here, and you’ve got an additional entry.
• FOLLOW Quaker Oats on Twitter, again, leave a comment, and there’s yet another entry.

There you have it – 3 Chances to win these great cookies and $75! Good Luck!

Prize courtesy of and shipped by Quaker. Contest open to US Addresses only, age 18 and older. Contest ends March 27, 2012 at 11:59pm EST. Disclaimer – this post is sponsored by Quaker, and as I mentioned, I was supplied cookies to share with my family. Yum!