Ah, Ernest Hemingway, how right you are.  What is difficult is actually taking the time to sit down.

Ever since I had my crazy idea on April 27th I've been mentally writing and rewriting parts of this blog post.  Here's hoping I've not lost all of that work to the gray matter that is my brain.

Of course, no blog post of mine would be complete without a few memes (I'm sorry, I just can't help myself) so here ya go:

That last one.  STORY OF MY LIFE RIGHT NOW.

May is a crazy month for parents.  Firstly, there is all of that end of school year stuff.  I can't even write about it, it's gonna make me break out in hives.  Teachers, I think you are super heroes and I appreciate you to the very bottom of my heart.  But, also, I feel like this:

#livingforJune2

Then, if your kids play spring sports, you add the craziness of games/practice schedules.

And, finally, there is all the regular life stuff that doesn't care what the rest of your schedule is: work, meetings, laundry, cooking (seriously, these people want to eat every single night), grocery shopping, cleaning the house (just kidding, I don't do this one), church, and trying to fit in quality time with the people you love. 

May is also my anniversary month.  I've been planning two surprises, one for Larry and one for you.

Sometimes I make time and space for quiet.  It almost always happens in my yellow chair.

I posted this on Facebook with the above photo:  

This is my chair.

It sits in the corner beside the patio doors and, when the sun is shining, it is bathed in afternoon light. Sometimes I curl up like a cat in the bit of sun and take a nap. It feels like sleeping in a hug.

My chair is yellow and red and comfortable and covered with an afghan knitted by my grandma. It's my favorite.

It's also where I meet Jesus. And where I think blog post thoughts. And where I hatch crazy ideas.

I had one of those ideas this morning. Stay tuned for more details.

It's FINALLY time for the unveiling of this idea.  I must confess, I've enjoyed torturing you on Facebook and Instagram with vague, non helpful clues.  This meme pretty much sums up who I am:

I'm sorry.  I blame the genetics from my dad.

That little one in the picture?  There's no hope for her.  She's the same as us.

So, The Idea.  Today marks the day where 15 years ago two kids who didn't know anything pledged their lives to each other.  I'm not gonna tell you how many years we were married before I was able to remember the date.  Actually, let's be real, I still sometimes get it wrong.  Whatever.

I was sitting in my chair thinking about how our anniversary was coming up.  And I remembered how a few years ago I did a giveaway on my Facebook page.  I figured on a day that celebrates love it would be my pleasure to give away some things I love.  So I gave away three or four things, mostly books if I remember correctly.  It was super fun so I figured I'd do it again this year.

But then the wheels started turning and The Idea was born.  To celebrate 15 years of marriage why not give away 15 things?  And why not feature the work of some of the people/businesses that I love?  I'm always saying I know the best people and you are about to meet some of them.

But first, here are the rules...guidelines, lets call them guidelines, I don't like rules.  Here are the guidelines for winning: 

You may enter to win as many items as you would like BUT you can only win once.  If you enter to win all 15 you will win the first item I draw your name on, after that you are ineligible to win anything else.

To enter, first share my blog post on whatever social media you use.  Then, follow the links in this post and 'like' the social media pages of the businesses you would like to win from, if applicable.  Finally, comment "shared and liked" on either my actual blog post or on the Facebook link and which items you would like to be entered to win. 

You have until 11:59 EST on May 11th to enter.  I will draw the winners in a live Facebook video on either Friday or Saturday.

So, without further ado...let's get on to the stuff!!

#1.  Cooking is my favorite.  So is hosting a dinner party.  The first item up in the giveaway is a marriage of the two:  I will cook a four course dinner for you and seven of your friends.

#2.  Reading is my favorite.  So is creativity.  My friend, Renee at Blue Bird Signs made the coolest garden sign for me to give away. I just can't even put into words how much I love this sign.  To sweeten the deal, as if it needed to be sweeter, I am including a copy of each of the books that contains one of these places.

*Side note:  I am an idiot and ordered two copies of The Wizard of Oz and none of Robin Hood.  It's coming and I'll get it to you if you win, I promise.

#3.  Stroopies, coffee, and pretty mugs are my favorite (I have a lot of favorites, so shoot me).  To enter to win this lot there are two business I need you to like.  First, the Lancaster Sweet Shoppe.  My friends, Jenny and Jonathan, have this company that makes these amazing things called stroopies.  It's a cinnamon waffle cookie with a caramel center.  And, hold on to your hats for this, the cookies fit on top of a mug.  So you pour your favorite hot beverage (coffee, duh), set your stroopie on top of the mug, and wait for the steam to warm the cookie and make the caramel nice and melty.  That is, if you are a patient person.  I have never been able to wait long enough because my patience level is 0.

Another thing you need to know about Jenny and Jonathan is that they have amazing missional hearts.  Their company has created jobs that supply meaningful employment to refugees.

They also employ my dear friend Adrianne whom I love with all my heart.

She's a keeper.

Now, on to the second part of this lot.  Coffee and mugs.  Have you been to Ten Thousand Villages?  I love that store.  It's so interesting, so unique.  And the fair trade items they sell help artisans in other countries live better lives.  I wondered around there last week searching for the perfect mug to give away.  I ended up with two that I just couldn't decide between so I threw all caution to the wind and bought both.  So, if you win this prize, have a friend over for coffee and stroopies, use your new mugs and toast to my health, please.

#4.  If Ten Thousand Villages is my favorite and cooking is my favorite, it doesn't get much better than this next item up for grabs.

I've given this cookbook away approximately 1,000 times.  I bought my copy ten years ago in a Ten Thousand Villages in California.  It's full of recipes that point you to the produce that is, well, simply in season for each season of the year.  My copy is ragged and stained and falling apart and I love it.  I write in all my cookbooks, tweaks I've made, notes on if everyone liked it, notes on if I was the only one to like it.  The copy in this picture is note free.  However, if you win and would like me to, I will write my notes in your brand new copy.

#5.   So, while we are talking about things that are in season, how about this gorgeous pot of fresh herbs?  Gardening is my favorite.  Wait, that is a lie.  The idea of gardening is my favorite.  But also that feeling when you're like "I want a salad" and you can go pick one out of your own dirt.  I like that.

My Aunt Lynette has an eye for the beauty in simple things.  I told her recently that she is a Noticer.  Her Instagram photos are often of nature:  trees, ponds, flowers, vegetables.  So I asked her if she would make a potted plant for me to give away.  Last week I picked this beauty up.  Basil, parsley and dill.  And, ahem, I've used a bit of the basil this week when I made pizza with my nieces.

#6.  Speaking of Noticers, Ann Voskamp taught me so much in her first book, One Thousand Gifts, that of course I bought multiple copies of her newest book so that I would have them to give away.  Ann writes with a style like no other.  Deep, beautiful, life giving words.  I really can't recommend her enough.

#7.  Now, to totally switch gears.  If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram or know me in real life you know this:  I hate doing crafts with every fiber of my being.  Crafting makes me want to swear and throw things.  

Meet my friend, Erin.  Otherwise known as Sew Sweet Marie.  She likes doing crafts and she's good at them!

You're looking at a cute striped zipper pouch that will help you keep your purse organized, a stamped necklace that you can defuse your favorite oils on, a little pocket that holds a chapstick that has a convenient key ring, and two rice bags.  A monster shaped rice bag for the kiddos and a "normal" one for you.  Have you used these rice bags before?  You can heat them in the microwave or stick them in the freezer to chill and then use them to soothe any of your aches and pains.  I have a cute little owl shaped one.

Erin also has made a few custom orders for me.  Follow the link and check her out on Instagram!

#8.  Have you heard of this cute little restaurant called Lickity Split?  I'm kinda partial to it.  Mitch and Gina have donated a gift certificate and a tee shirt for me to give away. 

*sidenote:  Jake is modeling one of my work tee shirts here.  If you win this you tell me your size and I'll pick a brand new shirt for you.

#9.  Let's talk for a minute about how I love thrifting.  It's my favorite (did you see that coming?).  The New Holland Reuzit Shop is a great place to go for home decor, books, clothes, shoes, purses, glassware, furniture, accessories and more.  Make sure you have several hours.  Seriously.  

More about thrifting coming up in a later give away...

#10.  This is my favorite brother:

I'm not giving him away.  But the cutting board he's holding?  You can enter to win that.  He made it out of a piece of cherry board.  I don't know what all he did to it but I assume it was a bunch of manly wood working things.  That board is so silky smooth that I rubbed it on my face.  Don't ask, I do weird things consistently.

Anyway, he does not have a website that is up and running for you to visit but if you would like some custom woodworking done ask me for his contact info!

#11.  Speaking of custom woodworking, check this out.

My cousin, Brandon, at Redeemed Creative also does some mighty fine work.  This tray is just gorgeous.  Nobody is going to be mad at you if you bring them cookies and coffee on this!  You'll also want to check out Brandon's Instagram to stay up to date on what he's working on.

#12.   What?!  More wood!  I absolutely love this sign made by my dear friend, Janina.  I love it so much that I asked her to make two, one to donate for me to give away and one for me to buy for my own kitchen.  So, if you win this, our kitchens will be twins!

You can find Janina on Facebook at Reclaimed Beauty.  She loves doing custom orders!

#13.   Ok.  LuLaRoe.  Their leggings are incredible.  So I asked my friend, Andrea (find her here), if she would donate a pair of one size leggings.  

And since accessories are my favorite, I found a few to go with.  

When it comes to sunglasses my motto is, the more ridiculous, the better.  I know not everyone abides by that (I'm lookin at you, Tiana) so the ones I picked are somewhat toned down.  I was tempted to keep them tho.

The earrings, again, are toned down from what I would normally wear, but they are nice and dangly.

And that striped purse.  I love it against the rose pattern of the leggings.  While the earrings and sunglasses are brand new, the purse is thrifted from Goodwill.  Just FYI.

#14.  Pearls n Joy.  Do you have one of Wanda's necklaces yet?  I have six.  Or seven.  Who's counting?!  Wanda is one of my favorite people and her creativity is so inspiring.  She gave me a brand new necklace design to give away to you.

If you happen to not win, you can always visit her Etsy shop and snag yourself (or someone else!) a piece.

#15.  And last, but not least...a story.

Once upon a time, a girl was doing a giveaway on her blog.  She asked her brother to make something out of wood to give away.  He was delighted to do so and then, three days before the giveaway, he asked her what else she was giving away.  She easily ticked off 14 items and then drew a blank on the last one.  She consulted her list and realized SHE DIDN'T HAVE A 15TH ITEM.

The end.

True story.  Except it didn't actually end there.  There's no way I was about to give away a lame fourteen items when the ENTIRE POINT was to celebrate 15 years of marriage.

Enter, these earrings:

When I bought them at Ten Thousand Villages I thought I might keep them.  And even though I really like them, they aren't quite bold enough for me.  So, I'm giving them away to you.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE.

One time I took my friend, Adrianne (see her lovely picture above) thrift store shopping.  We searched thru the racks for a little bit together so she could show me what she likes.  Then she just stayed in the dressing room and I searched for and brought her things to try on.  We both had the best time.  And so I want to do that for you.  (Sidenote:  You'll need to pay for the things you want to get.)  We'll do our best to find some things that you can wear with these earrings.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE.

Thrifting makes me hungry.  So after we're done finding you some fabulous clothes, I'll take you to lunch (my treat).

Whew.

So remember, to enter, first share my blog post on whatever social media you use.  Then, follow the links in this post and 'like' the social media pages of the businesses you would like to win from, if applicable.  Finally, comment "shared and liked" on either my actual blog post or on the Facebook link or on my Instagram post and which items you would like to be entered to win. 

The winners will be drawn at random on either Friday or Saturday.

Stay tuned!

xoxo,

Tara