Thank you.
I’m not sure how to start this post without a wow. WOWowOWowowoWOWOWOWowoWOWOwow.
As you know, the Blog Aid cookbook uploaded sometime around the middle of the night last night. When the alarm went off at 7 this morning I bolted awake, nervous, like you might feel on Christmas morning if you were terrified of Santa Claus – completely excited but a little bit panicked at the same time about what might happen if you come out from under the covers.
When I first checked, there were 65 books sold. 133 by 9 AM. 180 by 10 AM. 324 by 3:30, and by the 6 o’clock news 416 books had sold.
I really have been choked up all day. I don’t even know what to say but thank you. Not only for me, personally, but for all of us, for each other, for everyone in Haiti or with friends and family there. I want to deliver each book with a hug and a homemade pie. I want to say something wise and riveting (which is difficult to compose while listening to W in the bathtub singing his extendamix version of I LOVE MY BUM!) but the clock is ticking and at least a dozen people, including George Brookman, have emailed me in the last hour demanding I GET SOME SLEEP!! Excellent advice, I do believe I’ll take it.
Really, this is what it’s all about. This and food. And raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens.
Final pre-bed tally: 488 books sold. That translates with matched funds to well over $20,000 CAD.
Wow.
And look! I finally made a cute little button. (Don’t worry, I don’t expect you to use it again.)
February 04 2010 10:28 pm | leftovers
Cheryl on 04 Feb 2010 at 11:54 pm #
No Julie. Thank-you.
Laurie in Burnaby BC on 05 Feb 2010 at 1:21 am #
You’re amaxing, Julie. Get some sleep. Teach W a new song.
And thank you
thepinkpeppercorn on 05 Feb 2010 at 5:28 am #
Whooo hooo! I’m glad it’s going so well too! BUT thank you for all of your work, and what a LOT of work it was!!!!! And it is a cute button
bellini valli on 05 Feb 2010 at 7:04 am #
Congratulations once again Julie:D
Lori @ RecipeGirl on 05 Feb 2010 at 7:28 am #
thank YOU!! Hope you got a good night’s sleep. Love the button!
Cathy D (Calgary) on 05 Feb 2010 at 7:48 am #
Who doesn’t like to sing about their bum?
Congrats. Blog Aid is a smash success and sure to continue to sell sell sell!
kathy on 05 Feb 2010 at 8:19 am #
I lurk your blog, I use your recipes (chocolava’s are on permanent rotation for Briar Hill school bakesales) and I got 2 books – one for me and one for my sister. thanks for this hard work, thanks for helping the people of Haiti, thanks for more great recipes.
JulieVR on 05 Feb 2010 at 8:23 am #
Briar Hill? in Calgary or Toronto?
Cheryl on 05 Feb 2010 at 8:31 am #
I lurk on your website as well but never have too much to say. Anyway…just saw Briar Hill and had to comment cause that is where I live too…and it is the Calgary one! I will be buying the cookbook as well, what a great and giving project! Thanks.
blissmamaof3 on 05 Feb 2010 at 8:34 am #
Congrats on a job well done, cannot wait to see it!
Kelley on 05 Feb 2010 at 9:02 am #
Congratulations to you and all who contributed! I’m so excited about the response the book is getting and how much this project will help the people of Haiti. I saw the online preview and it looks amazing! Just ordered four copies.
Maureen on 05 Feb 2010 at 10:14 am #
Thank YOU Julie.
You are an amazing person.
I seriously get exhausted just reading about your life.
If you are ever in Victoria I would love to meet you.
Christina on 05 Feb 2010 at 10:19 am #
Congrats Julie! You should be so proud … you … YES YOU got the wheels in motion for this amazing cookbook … although it’s more than a cookbook, it’s hope and faith and a reminder of the good in this world that is so often forgotten! I’m proud to know you!!
Beverley M on 05 Feb 2010 at 10:19 am #
Yay! I love the updates of how many books are sold
Even though I didn’t lift a single finger to help, by watching the progress I feel a teensy crumb of “ownership” and want it to succeed 
Here’s hoping those numbers keep rising at that incredible rate!
JulieVR on 05 Feb 2010 at 10:25 am #
Everyone owns this! It’s like a big baseball game – tons of people involved – all I did was suggest we play.
It’s up to 635 now! (10:23 AM)
Charmian @Christie's Corner on 05 Feb 2010 at 10:34 am #
No, no, no. Thank YOU.
And I just swiped your Blog Aid button. Hope to put it on my site within a few minutes.
635? Let’s hit 1000 by the end of the weekend!!!!!
Ren on 05 Feb 2010 at 10:42 am #
Thanks Julie! I too am a lurker and enjoy reading your blog every day. I just ordered a book and look forward to trying the recipes. Congratulations- your project is heart warming!
Steph on 05 Feb 2010 at 10:56 am #
Thank you for putting it together…you’re fabulous!
Sarah (Calgary) on 05 Feb 2010 at 11:07 am #
Julie, you are just awesome.
I’m thrilled as to how well this is going – I wish I could have played a bigger part but you just got the process nailed, girlfriend.
I sent an e-mail to 60 of my nearest and dearest (friends, family and work colleagues) and am getting replies of multiple purchases happening with comments like this: “thanks a lot for forwarding…I have ordered one for me and 3 more for my sister’s in law!” and “This is a great idea! Thanks for sending this to me. I am going to order one.”
Perhaps if eveyone who follows this blog sent a note and a link to the sites this could get even bigger!
If that were to happen, you could have another best-seller on your hands. YAHOO!
Mel on 05 Feb 2010 at 11:10 am #
Congratulations on your success – we had no doubts! I ordered mine as soon as I saw your post yesterday and am so very excited to share, both in the recipes but in the Haiti relief! A most amazing project!!! So proud of you all for all of your effort and dedication!!!
Sarah (Calgary) on 05 Feb 2010 at 11:20 am #
PS Just used the new button to order my 5 books (guess what the birthday gift of choice is going to be for my family?). It was super easy and so much slicker than the first setup you had – way to go. You even managed to get both buttons on the same page, too. Woo Hoo.
Are you going to be able to keep it at the top of your blog pages? Or perhaps on your side bar so that it is always visible whenever someone stops by? I know more work when all you want to do is sleep, but hey, once a marketer always a marketer.
the other Al on 05 Feb 2010 at 11:27 am #
I love my bum too!
Vivian on 05 Feb 2010 at 12:51 pm #
What an achievement, Julie! An Herculean effort by all involved and to see the finished product “live and on the big (well, okay…little) screen” is a joy. It looks colourful and sophisticated. A treasure!
robyn on 05 Feb 2010 at 1:01 pm #
I LOVE MY BUM!
Aimee on 05 Feb 2010 at 2:23 pm #
Noah is walking around with a handsome polo shirt and a bare bum as I am reading this. Ah, four year olds.
Yesterday was SO exciting.
Hope you got piles of sleep.
Love this button, I’m switching it in for the one I’ve got.
Nancy on 05 Feb 2010 at 3:00 pm #
Julie – once again you amaze me with your creativity, drive, kindness and thoughtfulness! Bought my book yesterday. Will be sending a note to all of our asknancy members next week to ask them to do their early Holiday Shopping! Way to go and I must learn the “bum” song – might be useful after a stressful day with a splash of red in my hand!
Erica B. on 05 Feb 2010 at 3:21 pm #
lol at the Bum Song… there’s a song on xm kids entitled “I’ve gotta butt” be glad he isn’t singing that one
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/unclejim2 (scroll down & select “I’ve Gotta Butt” lol
Colleen G on 05 Feb 2010 at 3:35 pm #
I am a longtime fan of your blog, Julie, and your efforts in giving back to your community, and now the international community, are really inspiring! Not only do you share your love of great food, but you are one heck of a person too! Ordered my book today, can’t wait until it gets here. You go girl, you are amazing!
Bria on 05 Feb 2010 at 5:14 pm #
What an amazing project! Though the devastation in Haiti is so overwhelmingly heartbreaking, I am always heartened to see the way such events bring out the fundamental loving generosity in people. Thank you for this book – it represents much more than a beautiful collection of recipes. I won’t ever be able to cook from it without hearing a tiny voice in my heart that says “see? There is good in this world – lots of it.”
Beautiful.
Anonymous on 05 Feb 2010 at 6:15 pm #
Julie-
You continue to amaze me with your incredible life. If only everyone in the world tried as hard as you do–imagine the results! Kudos to all who helped this come about, but it was your vision that planted the seed.
I think it might be neat to have a cook-the-book sort of club/blogspot that features a new recipe every week/month. Sort of like the Daring Bakers, but no credentials required. You have enough on your plate, so I would be happy to get it going (with your blessing and advice, of course!).
ps–you looked beautiful in Swerve today. What an excellent article.
Elizabeth L. on 05 Feb 2010 at 6:17 pm #
Oops! I was so excited to get writing that I forgot that part…
As well, what I meant was cooking the recipes from the book. I was not nearly explicit enough.
JulieVR on 05 Feb 2010 at 6:18 pm #
Well gosh. Thank you! I’m blushing from all of these lovely, amazing, flattering comments. Bria – yours nearly brought me to tears (must be the sleep deprivation) – there is good in the world. Lots of it.
And anonymous! I don’t know who you are, but you have a brilliant idea. I would love to join the fun if you got something like that going. And do let me know if you need help – of course I’d be happy to.
Pat on 05 Feb 2010 at 7:04 pm #
I think your two articles in the Herald this morning will help sales too! The Swerve article was incredible…thanks for opening up on an issue that affects, oh so many of us!
Beverley M on 05 Feb 2010 at 8:36 pm #
So I have the links as my facebook status, but FB won’t let me email more than 20 people at a time.
What do you think of creating an “event” or maybe a “page” on facebook for the book, so we can invite our entire friend lists to it?
molly on 05 Feb 2010 at 9:06 pm #
Extraordinary. From the vision to the collective (international) effort to the execution. The time table alone is mind-boggling. A huge congratulations to all. Will be ordering shortly!
lovetocook on 06 Feb 2010 at 12:30 am #
There aren’t words to describe what you (and your team) have accomplished here. And you have provided a means for us to help Haiti when we didn’t quite know what to do alone. Cook books and good deeds never go out of style. Once again, “If you want something done, ask a busy person”.
kathy on 06 Feb 2010 at 7:38 am #
kathy – Briar Hill in Calgary – One Smart Cookie is well used up here!
Maureen on 06 Feb 2010 at 5:15 pm #
My computer is in my kitchen so I am now compulsively checking for order updates.
I won’t rest until it hits 1000!
JulieVR on 06 Feb 2010 at 5:20 pm #
921!!
Maureen on 07 Feb 2010 at 1:53 pm #
Over 1000sold!!!!I predicted this would happen by noon on Monday. What do I know?
So now let’s go for 1500 by noon tomorrow!!!!!
I haven’t heard of Swerve-can it be viewed online?
Nancy on 08 Feb 2010 at 9:06 am #
Ordered my copy on Sat. night and can’t wait till I get it!!! Thanks Julie!!!
Pinos on 08 Feb 2010 at 9:20 am #
That’s really amazing. The book I can not miss, so I’ve just ordered, hoping it will find its way to Poland
Thank you for this idea…
Chelsey on 08 Feb 2010 at 9:30 pm #
Just purchased a copy of your book. I can’t wait to see the wonders of your creation. Ain’t it great to help with what you do best?!
The Curious Baker on 09 Feb 2010 at 11:08 am #
Just got my copy. What a great idea, it’s so nice when everyone pools together for a good cause