One Year Anniversary Post

Today marks the ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY of my blog.
Wow!

It's crazy how fun flies when you're having the time of your life!

I started this blog to document our journey through the renovation of our home, but it's turned into so much more than just a place to showcase our "before and afters".

I've made so many great friends here!

And it's probably a blessing in disguise that we all live so far away from each other because if we were all in the same town, I have a sneaking suspicion things could get a little out of control. :-)

Can you imagine? All of us congregating at the local HomeGoods on delivery day morning, to make sure we're the first ones that get to sift through the latest & greatest shipment of amazing accessories.

The word "chaotic" comes to mind.

As does this photo:

All joking aside, it really has been such a treat to hear from people all over the globe. I appreciate your comments so much!

I've been encouraged to follow my dreams here.

A year ago, I spent a lot of time thinking about interior design. I watched HGTV and read every shelter magazine I could get my hands on. I helped friends and family stage their homes for quick sales on the teeny-tiniest budgets known to man. I peeked into the windows of homes that were for sale, whether they were in our price range or not, just to dream about what I would do with the place. (That's actually how we ended up with the Lettered Cottage!) But back then I worked a nine to five job at a photography studio, and just couldn't ever seem to find the time, or energy, to figure out how to turn my obsession, uh, I mean passion into a career.

Today, because of this blog, I wake up every day, bright-eyed and broken-nailed (Hey, I'm a DIY'er, what can I say?) eager to create fresh new design plans for people all over the world.

It's been such a wonderful year- from "meeting" all of you talented, creative, witty, sweet people out there, to creating inspiring products, to sharing stories about our lives here at the "L.C.", to dreaming up design plans for those who have asked for my help. It's really been a blast! I look forward to the friendships, opportunities, and design challenges Year #2 has to offer!

To celebrate my One Year "Blogiversary", I'm having some more giveaways!

The first one is from Red Letter Words...

Meet Dee.


Dee's loves God, her husband (of 15 years), her four children, her family and her friends. She also adores travelling and scrapbooking, and says she could play with paper and pictures for HOURS. Other interesting tidbits about Dee: she just recently started drinking coffee, and she arranges the clothes in her closet by color, but not in "rainbow order".
Some things that make her tick include decorating her house and staying up really, really late.

When Dee first emailed me about doing a giveaway on my blog, my pulse quickened a little, because the name of her company instantly appealed to me, and I just knew she probably made some amazing things.

One second after visiting her Etsy shop, Red Letter Words, I was in love.

Dee's works of art have been featured all over blogland. And, today, Dee has offered to give this 12x12 beauty to one of you!






To enter, leave a comment here with your email address OR blog address. Then make sure you visit Dee at her Etsy shop, Red Letter Words.

Thank you Dee! Your work is amazing, uplifting and beautiful- just like you!

The second Giveaway I'm having is for a set of four etched wine glasses, made by Sarah of Whitewash Sundries:



Meet Sarah.



In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and her four lovable dogs. She also spends time helping the local animal shelter, reading, and getting rough-n-tough as "Anna Malinstinct" (get it? "animal instinct") with her roller derby team.
Sarah is inspired by almost everything she sees. And although she works as an Economics teacher, she also possesses tons of artistic talent. She has a passion for transforming everyday objects into extraordinary works of heart. Today, this "Jill-of-all-Mediums" is offering up a set of four of her hand-etched wine glasses to one lucky reader.

Again, all you need to do is leave a comment on this post with either the address of your blog, OR you email address and visit her Etsy shop, "Whitewash Sundries", and you'll be entered to win!

Thank you Sarah! You are so talented. Your Etsy shop is guaranteed to be a hit!

Good luck to all those that enter the giveaways, and thank you to everyone who has encouraged me to keep on keepin' on. I love you guys! Contest ends Wednesday, May 27th, 2009 at midnight. Winners will be announced the next day.

Layla


*THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED (5/27/09)
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Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Predicting the future
The most accurate way to predict the future is to get busy creating it. Though you cannot guess what's going to happen, you can know for sure what you intend to do.
Do you wish to be in the right place at the right time? Then commit to creating real value in every time and place where you find yourself.

The most reliable way to get in on a good thing is to put forth the effort that makes that good thing real. A surefire way to have good luck is to create your own luck through the actions you take.

It serves no purpose to wish for what you don't have. Use that energy to fulfill, express and expand upon all the great possibilities you do have.

The more generously you participate in life, the more it will go your way. Always see the positive possibilities in the way things are, and things will work to the benefit of you and those around you.

The future belongs to those who act with commitment, persistence and positive purpose in the present. Use this now moment to make your best predictions for the future come to life.

-- Ralph Marston