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200th Post!!! Giveaway Post! :)

Friday, July 30, 2010
It's my bicentennial. :) Yep... I've posted 200 times on this blog. I know some of you are thinking, "Yes, and most of them have been in the past month... :)" You are probably kind of right, but hey... I love my blog.

Over the past 200 posts, my blog has changed. It's become a whole other extension of me... sometimes very good, sometimes very boring, sometimes happy, sometimes whiny, sometimes just downright random. It is totally me. It's become a place for me to vent all of my thoughts and feelings, not just post about my adoration for my babies, even though I still love to do that. It's a place where I can tell about my life to anyone who cares to read. I always think of it as the book I've never written. I hope that maybe one day my kids will love to read about all the things we did together and will realize how very much I love them and love my life.

So, I've contemplated what I should do for my 200th post. I feel like this should be big. Not life-changing like the list was. And nothing that requires that huge of a time commitment. I thought about seeing if I could run 200 miles before the end of the year. At the rate I was running before my ankle and the "possible gallbladder issue", I think I could do that without a huge change of lifestyle. Of course, that is if I ever get to run again now. 

I thought about posting "200 Things You May or May Not Know About Me" in a similar format of Dawn's "58 Things You Don't Know About Me." But, that's a lot of things and I'm not sure I'm able to come up with a list that would be that interesting. Not to mention that lots of the things Dawn listed would also be on mine. :)

I also considered doing something crazy like sending Facebook compliments/positive messages to 200 of my friends, but honestly, how sincere would I be after like the 50th one? I'd probably resort to copying and pasting things that I had already posted on other people's accounts because I would be tired of trying to think of things to say that were creative. lol. Plus, I'm sure many of my friends would be wondering what the heck I was thinking and why I was sending them this randomness.

And, my last thought was to post my favorite 200 photos from the past year. I am still thinking about this one and I might just hang on to it for the future... like maybe I'll do it on the 250th post. Or maybe I'll do an end of the year photo slideshow around Christmas time. Or maybe those will just happen to coincide and be around the same time and I could kill two birds with one stone. :)

So... what am I going to do? I really wanted to do something that would only require a one-day kind of commitment. Something fun and exciting and something to really celebrate with my readers. I love to sign up for giveaways. Most of my favorite blogs give things away. Most of them probably have some kind of endorsement deals with their giveaway partners. :) I'm sorry, but as important as each and every single one of you are to me and as loyal as each of you are to my blog, I still don't have that big of a following.

Leave it to my best friend and brain trust to help me figure this one out. :) Thanks, Cilla...

Drum roll...

Everyone who posts a comment, signs up for an e-mail subscription, or becomes a "follower" on Google (if you follow my blog another way, just let me know) by Sunday, August 1st at 6 p.m.(EST), will be entered into a drawing to win your choice of one of the following items:

1. A set of personalized cornhole bags, complete with a carrying bag (you choose up to two different bag colors and up to four different colors of thread)



2. A pillowcase dress for your favorite little girl (sized between 6 months and 12 years), a pair of ribbon flip-flops, and matching hairbows
(Fabric is at my discretion, but if this is selected, I will do my best to find fabric that fits your needs)

   






3. Two jumpers/rompers for your favorite little man (sized between 6 months and 3T)
(Fabric is at my discretion, but if this is selected, I will do my best to find fabric that fits your needs)





4. T-shirt and/or onesie with name and/or design embroidered on it (all sizes)



5. A pair of ribbon flip-flops with your favorite team colors and name (Adult or child)



All of these will be handmade (or sewing-machine made) by yours truly. Samples of each are shown below. Remember, you get registered to win these by signing up to follow my blog, get an e-mail subscription of the blog, or just leave a comment on this post... all before Sunday, August 1st at 6 p.m. The winner will be announced that night and contacted via e-mail.

Two winners will be selected. :)  

Here are some more cute pictures of the kids in their outfits! :) 

   




10 comments:

  1. Carcamo Family said...:

    Great ideas Andrea and I love reading your blogs! You inspired me to start my own. Even though it is no where near as good as your's but I guess in time I may have it down! Esp. Finding Balance.I just wanna let you know I believe all of us mother's go through that!

  1. Jess Toews said...:

    Yipppeeee for 200 blog posts!! I am excited for the next 200 :)

  1. Amanda said...:

    To one of my most amazing friends. Thanks for the reminders that it's the small things in life that are important and that being imperfect is perfectly perfect! I love you and your blog. Congrats on 200 and gosh I hope I win :)

  1. Unknown said...:

    Your blogs are wonderful and insightful. I love hearing other mothers and their their thoughts and stories. Congrats on 200 blogs...keep'em coming.

  1. andreaooten said...:

    Hey girls!

    I think I know (like 99.9% sure that I know) which Jess, Amanda, and Shannon this is. BUT... if you would, please e-mail me or send me a FB message or something so that I make sure I have you entered correctly to win! :) I should have thought about that. lol. I'll get all this giveaway stuff down before it's all over. :)

  1. Unknown said...:

    Oh man, I was hoping to be the first to comment. I love being the first at stuff like this. I also like to be the first to send in an rsvp to a wedding. Not sure why, just cuz. Anyway, congrats on the 200th post! I love checking in on you guys and seeing what is going on. It also makes me feel better to know that other people are going through the same or similar things as me/us. Looking forward to more posts.
    k. Lanham

  1. I love it!! Great post!! You know I'll enter and I'm already a follower. Come on Random.org...pick #7 :). So creative...now you have me thinking about what I should do for my 200th post. So very cool!

  1. The Rileys said...:

    I really like your artistic abilities and your blog writing. Even though I have only read a few I think that your family is sweet and that your a great person. You and Celia have inspired me to make a life list and Ive already started to check a few things off. I hope that in the future we could hang out more and maybe even see more twilight movies. :) Great blogging, congrats on number 200 and happy future writing. :)

  1. Unknown said...:

    Hey Andrea Im recently new to your blogs and enjoy them so much, because I can relate to so many! Congrats on your 200th blog that is so awesome and I wish you the best with all your future blogs!
    God Bless, Kelly

  1. cheryl said...:

    You know I'm already a follower! :)

    Congrats on reaching 200. Before you know it, you'll be at 1,000. I am loving this new blogging you! Great way to keep up with each other in these busy, busy days!