Time For The "MY HOW A YEAR HAS FLOWN BY" Giveaway!

Sometime last February I started blogging -- I don't really remember what even got me considering doing it... Maybe it was all the time I spent looking at other blogs (once I even figured out what a BLOG was).

But whatever the motivation, it has been such a fun year and I just want to say thanks to all who have joined me along the way, read by lengthy philosophical posts, my excited 'we have new things in the shop!' posts, and my pretty-much-about-nothing posts.

I am always so surprised (and flattered) when someone will either email me or write note on an order with the store placed online, mentioning to me that they've followed my blog for months and was finally popping in to say "hi".

Its funny, as a blogger you can often wonder "sheesh, is anyone even reading this stuff??" Then I get one of those wonderful emails or notes on an order and I feel so good. Thanks for that.

In my blog-browsing I'm floored by the number of comments some blogs' posts routinely get. The average number of comments being maybe 30 to 60. Wow. I often wonder how that happens. But does it really matter? I suppose its akin to taking a drive through the other parts of town and gazing longingly at homes that make you feel like yours is a shack.

And if the truth be told, I don't always leave comments as I blog-surf. I'm the queen of blog "hit & run" -- I read, browse and cruise. Bad, Ruth! :)

If you're a blogger then you obviously have something you want to say...so say it. At the end of the day, it really doesn't matter if a post gets 1 comment or 100, some post, some time, will be JUST THE WORDS some woman needed to read.

So I say, write-on, ladies. Let's not do the comment-number comparison game with ourselves. Allow your thoughts to flow and write them down. I know I enjoy reading all your posts. I may not always stop and take the time to comment (SHAME ON ME!) and I really, really want to get better about that, but your posts are always fun, refreshing and inspiring.

Okay....I hear all of you out there saying "Alright already! Enough with the philosophical dissertation on blogging! Let's hear about the giveaway!!"

Well, I have spent the last few days trying to think of just the right giveaway goodie "basket" to come up with. What kind of "theme" could I do? Hmmm... did French or Parisenne. Been there done that (last year). Spring/Garden theme? Well, possibly, but its technically still February and though I sit here in Florida where temps will reach 80 degrees by Saturday, much of the country still has some cold ahead of it. On an on it went with the whole "theme thing"...

Then I spent about half an hour browsing my site to gather things to give away and before I knew it, I practically had MY ENTIRE STORE as the giveaway prize. So....since "corporate" (aka hubby) probably won't approve that, I finally concluded that I would give the gift that puts YOU in the driver's seat -- a

$100.00 spending spree at The Beautiful Life.

I'll get with the lucky winner once the drawing is over and you can let me know what you'd like and within a few days your goodies will arrive all prettily packaged up just for you. How's that sound to ya?

Just leave a comment on THIS blog post, and that gets you entered to win!

Now, one thing... As I recall from my last giveaway, there were some who commented anonymously and I had no way to contact them...If you must comment anonymously, I just ask that you also shoot me an email, too, leaving me your name and then I'll have both name and email address in case you're the winner!

Details, details.

Well, what do you say we wrap up the giveaway on Monday, March 2nd? That way you don't have to wait too long to see if you won and it should give plenty of time for entries. Okeedokee?

On your mark, get set, COMMENT!

OH! One more thing.... THANK YOU FOR A FABULOUS FIRST YEAR, DAHLINGS!!!

;)

Okay, now GO!