2016, the year we start teleporting through magic screens and Jetson around the skies on interplanetary highways and robots pretty much rule the earth. 2016, the year in which life continues to resume. Flashback to last week, Christmas holidays: Christmas casual at my mother-in-law’s place in Victoria for the holidays, her place is so cozy and comfortable you could melt into those reclining chairs and stay a lifetime. I was wearing jogging pants and a cozy sweatshirt, letting it loose in no bra and just finished a huge plate of Thai food takeout while watching TV. Classy times. Thumb-scrolled over to Facebook and clicked on my Coco Cake Land page. Notification: “Yahoo Food has tagged you in a post, 8 hours ago.” What’s this, I thought? Perhaps they shared my unicorn ginge house…
A click, then a yelp/gasp/confusion: YAHOO FOOD’S BLOGGER OF THE YEAR: LYNDSAY SUNG OF COCO CAKE LAND stared at me in the face. What in the jogging pants Thai food hell?????
Yep, that’s right. We food bloggers are real people. Jogging pants wearing, food-eating people. Some of us have one and a half boobs. But seriously, to be recognized like that… after this past year that has been crammed full of cancer and loss. I was so surprised, but so happy. And I felt inspired to keep blogging. So thank you, Yahoo Food, for making me feel proud of my posts this past year and for giving my mother the chance to mass-email everyone she knows with the link. I am pretty stoked to be a part of an incredible community of sweet bloggers, many whom I can call my friends. Pretty pretty neat, and can I just say once again with gratitude and excitement – “Ya-muthah-effing-hoooooooo!!!!” I’m glass-half-fulling 2016.
And this chocolate nutella cake! Yes, this one – I made it for my husband for his birthday in December. He loves chocolate hazelnut so I crammed as much choco-haze goodness into this as I could. The filling is straight Nutella, with chocolate ganache drip and everyone’s favourite nutty party balls (Ferrero Rocher) on top.
I love you RT! Thank you for looking after me this past year, and for being the coolest dad to our Teddy. And to my wonderful readers and friends – Happy 2016! Thank you for being here and I truly wish you all the best this year! xo Lyndsay
Sara @ Cake Over Steak
YAAYYYY I’m so happy for you!! This cake sounds like my dream. Wishing you allllll the best with your one and a half boobs in 2016. :-* xoxoxoxoxo!!!!
Lyndsay // Coco Cake Land
Aw Sara you are hilarious and so sweet! Thanks bud!! XOXO
steph
biggest congrats lynds!!! you totes deserve all the confetti, chocolate, and rainbow unicorns the universe is going to be sending your way this year!
2016 for the win!! all the x’s and o’s :)
Lyndsay // Coco Cake Land
yay yay yay to blogger friendships! love ya pal! XO
Summer
This cake looks incredibly delicious ♥
summerdaisy.net
Lyndsay // Coco Cake Land
thank you!
Anne @ Sugar Baby Bakes
Kermit flail!!!! SO SO SO happy for you!
Lyndsay // Coco Cake Land
haha! oh my goodness that was an awesome visual. thanks for your continued support, anne! happy new year! xo
June @ How to Philosophize with Cake
Congrats!!! That is so awesome, and you totally deserve it. Your posts are always amazing. Not to mention your cakes :)
Lyndsay // Coco Cake Land
thank you kindly june!!
Kate
Congratulations! So happy your outstanding writing was recognized.
I usually just read & lurk silently. 2015 was a hard year for me and more than once your pieces had me crying or laughing in fear, relief, sadness, and love. Thank you for this blog.
Lyndsay // Coco Cake Land
Kate – thank you so much for taking the time to comment, too – sorry to hear 2015 was a tough year. I am hoping 2016 is looking brighter for you!
Michelle @ Hummingbird High
Congrats girl!!! You more than deserve it; you’re the best. xoxo
Lyndsay // Coco Cake Land
Wheee thanks sweet friend!! xo
Tracey Henderson
Hurray, that is great news – and love how you learned about the accolade.
Lyndsay // Coco Cake Land
thanks so much tracey!
movita beaucoup
I think all awards should be accepted in jogging pants.
Lyndsay // Coco Cake Land
can you imagine the Oscars? there would be some insanely tricked out see-through diamond-encrusted j-pants!!
Tori
That’s so awesome, congratulations! I am so happy for you and you totally deserve it! You’re blog is epic! I wish you a blessed 2016 and I can’t wait to see what it will bring for your blog!
Lyndsay // Coco Cake Land
Thank you for the kind words and for following along, Tori! Happy new year to you, too!
cynthia
YAYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!! The BEST BEST BEST news and SO deserved, Lyndsay!!!!! YES for glass half-fulling 2016 all the way — you are amazing. So excited to see what 2016 has in store for you, dear friend. And I’m hoping a ton more cakes like this choco-haze MASTERPIECE! <3 <3
PS I still play Teddy's video embarrassingly frequently. Little dudes should not be allowed to be that cute!!!
Lyndsay // Coco Cake Land
Thank you so much sweet sweet friend!!! Time for a new Teddy video to be sent your way, hehe!!! XOXO
Melissa Klotz
What an honor!! Congratulations!!
Lyndsay // Coco Cake Land
Thank you Melissa!! ^__^
Mel
You have been such an inspiration in the past year—in living openly and fiercely, in the face of so much loss and pain. You were so fully human and honest about it all, managing to spread love and humor to the world. Thank you and congratulations!!
Lyndsay // Coco Cake Land
Mel, your words mean a lot to me – thank YOU for being here and for taking the time to comment! Happy new year! xo
Efi
Congrats!!!!
Kate
YASSSSS!!!! So well deserved Lyndsay! I’m so incredibly happy for you. Take that 2015!!
Alex
Congratulations!! The cake looks awesome! Where can I find the recipe?
Nancy
I just found you! Congratulations on all your victories this past year. Will there be a recipe coming for this wonderful looking cake. Chocolate, Nutella AND those little gold ball things that i can’t spell!!!!! You are my hero!
Nancy
Tish
Hi there,
Go you!!! Well done. Just wondering if you have the recipe for this cake on the blog somewhere? Looks amaze as per. Tish xx