Foodie Fridays: Celebrating Our Blogiversary with Cinnamon Toast Crunch Doughnuts

Can you believe it? Two years already? It feels like just yesterday I was hesitantly typing my very first blog post, filled with a mix of excitement and trepidation. Yet, here we are, celebrating a significant milestone. This Sunday marks the two-year anniversary of Climbing Grier Mountain (CGM), and honestly, the journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. Holy bonkers indeed!

It’s truly incredible to think about the numbers: 104 weeks, 730 days, and a staggering 584 posts published. As I recently revisited some of my earliest entries, particularly my very first one (oh, the early days!), it was genuinely hard to fathom that CGM would evolve into what it is today. This humble blog began as a simple endeavor, a heartfelt way to bridge the miles and stay deeply connected with my beloved family and friends.

Living out of state, when almost everyone you know resides back in the sunny embrace of the sunflower state, presented a unique challenge in maintaining those cherished connections. That initial year was a whirlwind of sharing Mr. B’s and my exhilarating adventures in the vibrant and sometimes crazy Mile High City. Looking back, our schedule was packed; I’m pretty sure we couldn’t even squeeze in a moment of calm, let alone a sigh of relief! We explored so much, learned even more, and documented our experiences with an enthusiasm that laid the foundation for everything to come. It was a period of intense discovery, both about Denver and about ourselves as we navigated new terrain together.

As 2011 dawned, a new and exciting chapter unfolded with the introduction of “Foodie Fridays.” This was a significant turning point, a moment where my personal narrative began to intertwine with my burgeoning passion for all things culinary. You, my incredible readers, embraced my less-than-perfect initial food photos with such grace and understanding. More importantly, you showered me with unwavering words of encouragement, urging me to continue exploring and writing about my deep-seated love for food. For that invaluable support, I truly cannot thank you enough. It was your feedback that solidified my confidence and pushed me to grow. Throughout the rest of 2011, I continued to chronicle our delightful misadventures, capture a few undeniably ridiculous fashion moments (often in the bathroom, let’s be honest!), and steadily hone my photography and writing skills. This entire year was, without a doubt, a period of immense personal and professional growth, laying crucial groundwork for what was to follow.

The year 2012 kicked off with an undeniable bang, marking another pivotal moment in CGM’s journey. After a year of diligently submitting recipes, my celery root soup recipe received a fantastic feature on Tasty Kitchen in February. The excitement was immense; I vividly remember jumping for what felt like 72 hours straight when I saw my recipe, and even my mug, showcased on that esteemed food site. It was an exhilarating feeling, a profound validation to see all the hard work, the recipe testing, and the dedicated writing finally gain recognition. This incredible boost spurred me on to submit more recipes, leading to features on popular platforms like Food Gawker and Daily Healthy Living Buzz. I also enthusiastically participated in vibrant food blogging communities, joining in collaborative events such as #SaladWeek and #CocktailWeek. These experiences were invaluable, fostering connections with fellow food enthusiasts and igniting an even greater passion for blogging about food. My love for culinary storytelling was truly blossoming, transforming CGM into a vibrant hub for both personal stories and delicious recipes.

Which brings us, dear friends, to today. I have a secret, one that has been brewing behind the scenes for quite some time, a secret I’ve been patiently waiting to share with all of you. It’s a significant leap, a transformative step for Climbing Grier Mountain. We’re packing up our digital bags and moving! Where, you ask? You’ve probably already guessed it: CGM is officially going **.com**, baby! My incredibly thoughtful husband bought my very own domain site as a truly special birthday gift this year, presenting it to me while we were enjoying a delightful lunch in a unique yurt. He truly is the best. I had been toying with the idea of migrating away from Blogger for a while, yearning for more creative control and a more professional online presence, and that thoughtful gift provided the final, much-needed push. Beyond the exciting move to a .com address, I’ve also been collaborating closely with the talented team at Purr Design on an entirely new, fresh, and intuitive layout for CGM. This beautiful new design is set to launch in just a few weeks, and I have to admit, I’m absolutely freaking out a little bit! But isn’t change a wonderful thing? It’s an opportunity to grow, to innovate, and to present CGM in its most polished and engaging form yet. This transition is not just about a new address; it’s about building a more robust platform to share my evolving passions with all of you.

Along with the excitement of a brand-new website, I’ve made a firm decision to delve even deeper into the world of food and entertaining. This journey has ignited a complete passion within me for creating delicious recipes, exploring culinary techniques, and sharing inspiring ideas for bringing people together around the table. You’ll find more in-depth recipe guides, entertaining tips, and seasonal culinary explorations. But don’t you worry, my loyal readers, I’m absolutely still planning on chronicling Mr. B’s and my ongoing shenanigans! Those personal anecdotes, travel tales, and glimpses into our everyday lives are a core part of CGM’s heart and soul, and they will continue to be a cherished component of our content. The new website will simply offer a more beautiful and user-friendly space for all these stories and recipes to flourish, making it easier for you to navigate and discover new favorites.

And with all these exciting announcements, you simply cannot celebrate a birthday, especially a blogiversary as special as this, without indulging in something wonderfully sweet. Last year, to joyously ring in our first year, I baked a decadent chocolate-y cake. This year, however, I wanted to tap into a wellspring of childhood nostalgia, combining two absolute favorites: fluffy doughnuts and crunchy cereal. The concept didn’t arrive in a single flash, but rather evolved from a simple, insistent craving: I absolutely had to have the iconic Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal on a doughnut. The exact moment the light bulb illuminated, guiding me to the perfect pairing, remains a delightful mystery. But it did! And with that, enter the star ingredient to tie it all together: luscious meringue! It felt like the perfect, playful way to bring the distinct textures and flavors of cereal and doughnuts into a wonderfully deconstructed dessert. Doesn’t it just evoke the comforting image of cereal and milk, but in a far more decadent and celebratory form? These Cinnamon Toast Crunch Doughnuts aren’t just a treat; they’re a delicious representation of creativity and joy.

As I reflect on these incredible two years of blogging, sharing recipes, adventures, and snippets of life, my heart is overflowing with gratitude. I want to extend my deepest, most sincere thank you to each and every one of you who takes the time to read Climbing Grier Mountain. Your readership, your comments, your shares, and your consistent encouragement mean the world to me. I truly cannot express enough how much I appreciate knowing that you are an integral part of this incredible journey with me. Your engagement fuels my passion and inspires me to keep creating. Thank you from the very bottom of my heart. Here’s to many more years, many more delicious recipes, and countless more adventures ahead! Cheers to the future!