Today is....

TODAY IS MY 1YR BLOGOVERSARY!!

I never dreamed I would make it a whole year (and still love it as much as I do)

WOOOOOHOOO!!!

HAPPY 1YR BLOGOVERSARY TO ME!!!!!

My stats over my past year

• 365 Days since I started blogging
• 308 Followers
• 266 Posts
• 6 Giveaways
• 2 Bloggers I met IRL

So here is my list of how to make it through your first year of blogging:

1. Make sure you have a cute blog design (Thanks Jessica)

2. Post lots and lots (and lots) of pictures.

3. Comment on other people's blogs.

4. Don't be scared to be yourself.

5. Turn off word verifications -- they are terrible

6. Participate in blog carnivals/memes (or start your own)

7. Enter lots of giveaways -- free stuff is awesome!! Host some giveaways too!

8. Try to learn some basics of blog programming (is that even a term??) -- it makes your life so much easier!

9. Only tell your "real life" friends/family about your blog if you want them stalking you and NOT ever commenting! (hint, hint)

10. Post when you can. Don't feel like you have to do it everyday or even on a regular schedule.

And most importantly....

11. HAVE FUN!!!!!!

I thank all of you for making my past year such a great time. I know I will keep blogging for a long time to come! I can't wait to see what this next year will bring!

PS: Today is the last day to win my blogoversary giveaway!!! Click HERE to Enter!!

Let's Party!!!!! --- CLOSED

UPDATE: THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED!!!!!!

Are you ready to party!?!

When I started blogging last year on February 28th, I had no idea what to expect. I never expected to meet such wonderful new friends. I have enjoyed telling my stories over the past year and reading yours. I truly feel blessed to have met such a wonderful group of women (and few men). Thank you all for everything!!

OK, now on to the GIVEAWAY

Gift #1:

Gift #1 will be chosen completely randomly (via random.org). This gift includes the following:

• Cocktail Napkins: "my favorite thing to make for dinner is reservations"
• Wine Bottle Candelabra from The Bombay Store
• Cuisinart Quick Prep Hand Blender
• Grape Oven Mitt and Wine Coasters
• Wine Stopper from Bella Casa

Gift #2:

Gift #2 will be given to the person that refers the greatest number of people to enter this giveaway!! This gift includes the following:

• Picture frame: "Live, Laugh, Love"
• Vera Bradley Contact Case or Pill Box in "Bali Gold"
• Polo Ralph Lauren matching scarf and glove set in pastel pink
• 3 sparkly picture frames from Pier 1
• Lilly Pulitzer keychain

Gift #3:

Gift #3 will also be chosen completely randomly (via random.org). This gift includes the following:

• Lint Rollers for on the go
• First Aid kit
• Moravian Cookies (made in my hometown!)
• "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch
• Chic Chat fridge magnets

The Rules:

VERY IMPORTANT --- Entries will ONLY be accepted using the google form below. No entries will be accepted via the regular comment form.

How to get entries:

• 1 entry for completing the form below. (You may complete the form one time per day, for a total of 5 possible entries.)
• 2 entries for being one of my loyal followers (or becoming one now!)
• 5 entries for writing a specific blog post about this giveaway. (The blog post will only be counted once throughout the giveaway period.) Feel free to use my pictures!
  
• 2 entries for putting my giveaway bash button somewhere on your blog's sidebar (you can get the code for the button at the bottom of this post)
• 1 entry for every new person you refer to to my blog who enters this giveaway (make sure they reference your blog name when signing up). Remember – Gift 2 will be given to the person that refers the largest number of people to enter my giveaway bash!
  
• 1 entry for sharing the name of the site that referred you to the giveaway

Giveaway for US and Canada residents ONLY! Giveaway bash will close at midnight EST on February 28th, 2010 (my official blogoversary).

I am so excited. So lets get started... fill out the form below!!

If you want to put my button on your sidebar, just grab the code:

<center><a href="http://justaddwalter.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Just Add Walter" src="http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv107/gldnwfugirl/RecentlyUpdated5-1.jpg" /></a></center>

Who are these people??

Ok... I'm upset.

When I was growing up I LOVED cartoons... (actually I still do)

Through the years some of my favorite characters have had some major makeovers

I don't even recognize them anymore!?!??

Rainbow Brite: I'm guessing the plastic surgeon made a fortune on her... eye lift, nose job, boob job?, lipo suction, tummy tuck? Plus the new clothes and make-up? Even her horse had some work done!

Strawberry Shortcake: Hair extensions, lipo suction, Latisse for her eyelashes, major nose job, freckle removal (does that even exsist?), new clothes and makeup. And what happened to her cat "custard"... did she kick him to the curb??

Dora the Explorer: ok... no way this is even the same girl... this is some girl pretending to be Dora... what the heck??

Care Bears: size reduction (how did that happen?), weight loss, somehow less cuddly and younger looking.

My Little Pony: hair extensions, new tattoos on their feet, some sort of eye work, oh and some of them now walk on 2 legs?!

Trolls: Ok these were creepy when I was growing up... and now I am going to have nightmares after seeing these new trolls...

Can't we just leave them alone?

Stop changing my favorites...AHHH!!!

******

Don't forget to come back tomorrow for the start of my GIVEAWAY BASH

My Giveaway Bash!

You are cordially invited .....

It is almost my 1 year blogoversary and I am doing a giveaway bash to celebrate!!

I am still ironing out the details on HOW I want to do this giveaway.. but there are going to be a lot of great items up for grabs!!

Help spread the word!

Grab my button and put it on your blog by coping and pasting the code provided below!

Everyone who puts this up on their blog will be rewarded with 2 extra entries!

(so be sure to let me know if you decide to put this on your blog)

<center><a href="http://justaddwalter.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Just Add Walter" src="http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv107/gldnwfugirl/RecentlyUpdated5-1.jpg" /></a></center>

And don't forget to come back and join me on February 24 for the start of the party!!

WOOHOO!!

Knockout!

This weekend I'm hitting the books

Hitting them HARD

They better watch out for my uppercut!

We are Family

Today I am joining a new meme called "Family Fridays"

So guess what?

This month my family is featured on the front of a magazine!!

(ok, we aren't featured... but the family business is...)

This is my stepdad...

(and he loves that jacket even if you do not)

We have a family owned business that has been around since 1880.

It didn't start off that way... My great-grandfather started as a bookkeeper in 1915 and eventually bought the company, adding his name to the title.

This picture was taken in 1980.

(My stepdad is the 3rd one from the left in the back... wearing another "spiffy jacket")

The company has morphed over the years from a wholesale hardware distribution company to a wholesale electronics and appliance distribution company.

There is a showroom which offers products such as Electrolux appliances (you've seen the Kelly Ripa commercials, right?), flat-panel televisions and washers and dryers for new homes, apartments and other residential projects.

If you want to read the whole article, click here

I am really proud of my family!

Wanna See More?

Read about the other side of my family: The "Walter Family Story", by clicking here

Fix it up

Look how handy we are....

Before Picture of Laundry Room = Messy Messy!!!

Wire Shelves down...

After Picture of Laundry Room = Yay Organization!!

Such a quick and easy and WONDERFUL fix.

Electric Slide

Gracie is Electric... Boogie Woogie Woogie

Static Electricity = Funny

View other people's pictures at: Seven Clown Circus, 5 minutes for mom

Boo-Boos Hurt

I got an email this weekend from someone asking about my health situation ... just incase anyone else was wondering, here is an update:

I have been waiting on a specific blood test to come back ... waiting and waiting... (all of my other results came in)

Turns out I have been waiting for nothing... since they never even did that blood test (the most important one).. so today I went back to the doctor to get some more blood drawn...

and now its time to wait some more (could be as long as 10 more days)... I'll keep you updated!

Day O' Love

I hope everyone had a great Valentines Day!

I had a sweet surprise waiting for me Valentines Day morning...

Tory Burch Revas!!!

Woohoo!! I guess all of those hints finally paid off... haha!

We decided we didn't want to brave the crowds on Valentines Day so we stayed at home and did our own fondue. This was our first time doing this and it was so much fun!

First we set the mood

Started with something easy -- cheese and bread

Then it was time for the main course

We had to play around with cooking times

It was getting hot and steamy in the kitchen... haha

For dessert Justin made chocolate covered strawberries... yummy

The "Walter Melting Pot" was a great success

All around a great Valentine's Day

PS: Lilly Pulitzer is at Rue La La today!!! If you are wanting to treat yourself to something cute -- this is the time to do it since everything is MARKED WAY DOWN!!

Click Here for your FREE PASS!

Family Funnies

A funny story for you guys:

My SIL's little sister just had a baby and a bunch of people went over to her house to see the little one

While everyone was there the little baby got hungry and so the mom started breast feeding.

She was trying her best to keep herself modest and do it discretely... BUT... everyone still knew what she was doing...

My oldest nephew (age 11) was so embarrassed and just wanted to leave.

My two younger nephews (age 5 and 7) were STARING so hard their eyes were about to pop out....

Once they left and got in the car my nephew Mason (the 7 yr old) said to my brother,

"Dad, I think it would have been easier if God had made the milk come out of her finger instead"

HAHAHAHA

Kids come up with the funniest things.....

My sweet nephews:

PS: If you want some more giggles... Go to Biggie Z's blog to see the DOG PILE competition. My little Gracie is the first picture!!

Forms

So this may be giving away a secret... but... I am doing a giveaway soon...

A BIG GIVEAWAY...

And I am experimenting with a way to collect the entries

Can someone (anyone/everyone) fill out this form to let me see how it works??

(anyone filling out this form today will be AUTOMATICALLY entered into the giveaway later on)

Sail Away

I went to the mall yesterday and all I seemed to see was "Nautical" stuff

Sail Away: $22.50 from Forever 21

Ahoy Racerback $8.90 from Forever 21

Ahoy Anchor Tank $6.90 from Forever 21

Ahoy Canvas Tote $16.80 from Forever 21

Daisy Anchor $22.80 from Forever 21

Nautical Necklace $5.80 from Forever 21

Nautical Tube Dress $28.99 from Charlotte Russe

Anchor Chiffon Halter $21.99 from Charlotte Russe

Rope Strap Flat Sandal $14.99 from Charlotte Russe

What do you think of the nautical stuff? Are you a fan or not?

I bought one of the above items... can you guess which one??

Excuse Me...

The other day I was sitting on the couch minding my own business when Gracie decides to come over and sit right next to me... with her BOTTOM pointed toward my FACE!

Excuse me Princess Gracie... am I in your way?

Let me just move over...

Tick Tick Tick

Sometimes I think I'm old....

Especially when I had this convo with a girl in my class:

Girl: My fiance is mad at me.

Me: Why?

Girl: Well, I started out in a different program and dropped that and started nursing

Me: Why would that make him mad at you?

Girl: Well, he knows I don't want to have kids until I graduate and that is going to put off kids for at least another 2 years.

Me: Well that is not so bad. 2 years goes by really fast....

Girl: Well, I am just going to be so old when I start having kids. My clock is ticking!!!

Me: How old are you?

Girl: 22

Me: (dumb look) um, that is not old....

Girl: How old are you?

Me: um, (embarrassed look) I am 27 and I don't have kids yet....

Girl: Oh..... well.... you have plenty of time I'm sure...

This is proof that people really need to watch the things they say to others. Obviously this girl thought I was her age and could relate... instead she just embarrassed both of us....

I am so sick of people telling me I need to start working on having a baby... I will have a baby when I (and my husband and GOD) decide to have a baby. It is between us. Not between my family or my friends or my neighbors or random people I don't even know.

I do not like people telling me my eggs are going to "rot" if I don't hurry up (yes people actually have said that to me MULTIPLE times). I don't want people thinking about my eggs at all. They are MY EGGS!!!

Having a baby is a personal choice and WHEN people decide to make that choice is up to them. It is not "fun" conversation to have with people you don't even know. If you don't know someone, you don't know if perhaps that person has tried having a baby and are having problems or maybe they just aren't ready. You don't know if you are hurting people by bringing up a sensitive subject... This topic should officially be added to the list of things you DON'T TALK ABOUT!!

The do not talk about list:

1. politics
2. religion
3. when are you going to have a baby? (!!!!!!)

Ok, vent over...

PS: Just to clarify incase you were wondering... I definitely WANT children one day but there are no immediate plans for "baby Walter"... sorry to disappoint.

Super Bowl

Who are you pulling for?

Do you watch for the game or watch for the commercials?

As for me, I am pulling for The Saints but am really watching for the commercials!