WLOW 1st Birthday

I can't believe it's been a year.  One year since I put up my very first post and decided to start a blog.  Ready to hear how all this started?  

I sent a link to craftgawker to my friend Laura via Facebook.  She's super crafty, she can sew, and she's a great photographer.  I thought, "She has to know about this sight.  It's too good."  Then the following comment was the beginning of the end..."Oh cool.  It reminds me of Pinterest.  You should check it out.  I'll invite you."  Yeah.  I'm sure you can see where this is going.  Hundreds of pins later, I realized that the majority of the projects and recipes I loved were from blogs.  

I knew nothing about blogging.  Why people really did it, outside of a journal.  How to put anything together.  What websites to use.  I think I Googled "blogging" and Blogger showed up.  I went through the all too easy set up process and there it was - White Lights on Wednesday.  

{My first button}

I had know idea what I was going to write about, but I wanted a catch all name that didn't back me into a corner.  So for anyone who's ever wondered, my blog name is a line from a poem I wrote like 11 years ago.  I went through an introspective, mused, poetry, uber artistic phase my freshman year of college.  It fit me and has really ended up being the perfect blog name for me.

Now here we all are, a year later.  I have over 300 followers (OMG!), a Facebook page, a Twitter account, and thousands of pins saved to Pinterest (damn catalyst).  Better yet, I've made some new friends, found my voice, and get to share one of my favorite passions - creating in the kitchen.

Now that we're a year in, I'm borrowing an idea from The Pastry Affair, because it's cool to look back.  All my posts, starting tomorrow, will now show what post I put up one year ago from that date.  I think it'll be interesting.  Especially now that I've learned (but don't always follow) that pictures on my kitchen table at 10:30pm when I get home from work don't get the best lighting.

So to say thank you all for taking on this journey with me and supporting me and reading my madness, I'm having a giveaway that's sponsored some of my favorite blogging friends. The giveaway will work like this: 4 winners = 2 prizes each + 1 month WLOW ad space each.  Got it?!?  The prizes will be assigned using Random.org - this way everyone gets a surprise!  Now onto my party guests - AKA the sponsors.

Jen @ Four Marrs & One Venus

  

Hello! My name is Jen and I blog over at Four Marrs & One Venus.  I am a nutty stay at home mom to 3 boys! When I am not crafting, dancing, cooking or singing you can find me shuffling kids back and forth from school to sports! I married my high school sweet cheeks in Las Vegas at a Drive Up Wedding Window. 13 years...and we still got it going on!  I would love for you to stop on over and say hi!

Jen is giving away 2 Months 125x125 Ad Space

Lena @ Mom2MephisAndRuby and Lena B's Photography

  

Lena's a 30-something, fashion-loving, photo-taking, thrify & tattooed mom of 2... {un}domestically blogging from a small town in Quebec, Canada!  

Lena's giving 1 month 200x200 Ad Space

{This is how Lena and I met. I won one of her ad space giveaways!  She's like the best ad hostess ever.}

Carrie @ My Favorite Finds

  

Hi everyone!  My name is Carrie, and I blog over at My Favorite Finds. At My Favorite Finds you'll find tutorials, recipes, organization ideas, and Disney travel tips!  I love to share my {FAVORITE} ideas with my readers, and I hope you’ll check it out.  I’m addicted to Starbucks, reading, shopping, and my sweet kids and hubby.  I’m always looking for a new recipe or craft to fill our bellies or beautify our home.  I’m also slightly addicted to planning, and going on, Disney vacations with my family.  I love sharing my ideas about Disney planning on my blog AND on Chip & Co.  Each week I host Must Try Monday, where you can share your must try recipes with my readers!  Come over and join in the fun.  

Carrie's giving 1 month Premium Ad Space

Included is an option for a giveaway and single blog/shop promotion and weekly FB shout outs.

Meg @ Nutmeg Place

  

Join my husband Drew and I in the adventure of making our cookie cutter house a comfortable and beautiful home. We live in Eagle Mountain, UT. We have 5 fur babies and a wonderful older sister joining us in the adventure.

Meg's giving 2 Cinnamon Stick Candle Holders

Paula @ Call Me PMc

  

Hi I'm Paula, but my friends call me PMc. I love to cook and bake and share those easy to prepare recipes for busy families on my blog Call Me PMc. I also share time management and workout tips, and easy crafts and DIY projects on my blog. You can follow Call Me PMc on  Facebook or Twitter. 

Paula's giving 2 bottles of Chef's Choice Grilling Marinade

Stephanie @ Bourbon and Glitter

I'm Steph and I blog over at bourbon and glitter.  You'll find a collection of all my favorite things there - cocktail cupcake recipes, latest shopping wants and pinterest finds, party themes and costumes, my bar crawl adventures, and tons of photos of my furry pup Hawkeye.  Come stop by!

Stephanie's giving a $15 Target Gift Card

Monica @ M Double M

  

Hello, I'm Monica. I grew up in a tiny town in upstate NY surrounded by forests and farms. I'm a country girl at heart, but after 8 years in California cities (San Francisco, then LA, and now San Diego) I'm learning to love city life too. I love baking, cooking, crafting, and photography, and I love sharing my creativity on my blog. 

My parents were both DIYers, and I have been crafting for as long as I can remember. I always have a huge list of new projects to try, and I would much rather shop for crafting supplies than new clothes (it's a wonder the hubby still lets me go to Michael's by myself). Most of my crafting energy now goes towards my Etsy shop, but I still love to make cute things for our home and our friends. My Etsy crafting is predominantly decoupage, but when I'm crafting for myself, anything is fair game.

Monica is giving 1 decoupaged ornament in the finish of your choosing

Kim @ Cups by Kim

  

Hi! I'm Kim and welcome to Cups by Kim! I'm a self taught Cupcake Baker and confection extrordinaire. I am a wife, and a mother to two of the greatest kids in the world. Besides blogging and owning a cupcake business I also work outside of the home full-time.

Kim is giving a $20 Starbucks Gift Card

Enter before it's too late!

Four winners means four times the fun!!

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