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Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Happy Blogiversary To You! (It's A Giveaway!)

Once upon a time, there was a housewife named Sarah. She was a jolly, happy soul, but wished to find an outlet for her multitudinous, brain-cluttering thoughts. Her poor, handsome husband tried to listen to all she said, but grew weary from the sheer volume of words she emitted. She thought about starting a journal, but being something of a lazy-bones, Sarah soon left the journal dusty and forgotten. She tried to talk to friends, but realized that she never had quite enough time with them to satisfy her talkative tooth. Thinking an artistic solution may be the best route to take, she even attempted to join an orchestra to reacquaint herself with her old love, the violin. If only she were a good enough violinist, this blog might never have been born.

Lucky for us all, she wasn't talented enough, and due to the aforementioned laziness, neither did she want to embark upon lessons to improve her musical ability. So she sat down one long winter afternoon -- one year ago today, to be exact -- and banged out some navel-gazing words. She released them to the internets, and she hasn't been the same since.

She told embarrassing stories about herself (more than once). She expressed herself in words that had sat dormant inside her heart for far too long. She tried to be funny. She made friends, both across the country and across the world, and asked for advice when she came up against insurmountable obstacles. She admitted things. She fawned over her gorgeous daughters, bragging about their undeniable perfection while admitting to their frustrating tendencies. She realized that she loves to write, and began to wonder how she'd not self-imploded long ago from a lack of writing. She dabbled in poetry. She whined. She joined carnivals. She wrote and wrote and wrote, and before she knew it, one entire YEAR had passed: Sarah The Lazy-Bones had become Sarah The Heavenly.

And bless your hearts, you READ what she wrote, never failing to uplift her or make her laugh, always ready with words of encouragement and friendship.


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To celebrate my Very First Blogiversary, I'd like to THANK YOU all by holding my Very First Giveaway!


Last month, when I posted about my favorite aprons, I got so many comments from readers who'd loved the aprons! So as my gift to you, I'd like to give away ONE apron of the winner's choice (Up to a $32.95 value.) from Jessie Steele's adorable apron collection.




To enter:

1) Leave a comment here telling me either:
a. Which Jessie Steele apron you'd love to have, or
b. Which kind of post you most enjoy at This Heavenly Life. Funny? Serious? Thoughtful? Random? This is just me being nosy.

2) For a second entry, blog about this giveaway. Leave me a link in a separate comment, and your name will be thrown in the hat twice.

3) For a third entry, Tweet about this giveaway. Leave me a link in another separate comment to your Twitter account, and your name will be thrown in the hat thrice. (Yes, I'm on Twitter, but only very occasionally. I'd love to know more friends on Twitter though, so this sounded like a good way to meet some new tweoples.) (Wait, did I say that right? Tweoples? Am I cool?) (Don't answer that.)

4) Make sure to enter before 9 PM (CST), Friday night, December 18th. I'll randomly choose a commenter and post the winner on Saturday, December 19th.

If you have any questions, please email me at thisheavenlylife [at] yahoo [dot] com.

Are you excited? I am SO excited! Please enter -- you deserve to be thanked. After all, it takes a noble, hearty, and brave countenance to withstand my banter.


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And so, Sarah The Heavenly lived happily ever after, with visions of comment threads dancing in her head.

Have a happy day!

47 comments:

  1. I love the Bib Josephine. And the red and pink damask chef apron. And the toile apron. Okay, so I like a lot of them.

    Also, I enjoy all of your posts, but the random are usually the ones I like best (I'm not a very serious person).

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  2. Here is my tweet:
    http://twitter.com/asmanyasgiven/status/6697454260

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  3. The CafeToile apron is my favorite- so classy, so simple!

    And Sarah, friend, I am so glad the violin thing didn't work out :) What would the world be like without Sarah the Heavenly? Not nearly as fun, I tell you.

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  4. I have a lot of aprons, I love them. Is it bad that I want the Bib Sophia because I think it's sexy? I've never had a sexy apron before!!

    I love you and I'm so glad to be your blog friend.

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  5. I tweeted!
    http://twitter.com/RootsAndRings

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  6. happy blogoversary!! I love the cream & black damask apron :)

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  7. Oh definitely Bib Audrey. And Happy Blogoversary to you!

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  8. Hey dude, I added a link to your giveaway at the top of my blog (I just added it as an element, so no post link to include). Hope you're enjoying your blogiversary!

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  9. Happy blogiversary!!

    My lands there are a lot of aprons to choose from! I think I like the cafe toile one -- but that leopard print sure is sassy ;)

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  10. Well, it would be quite hard to pick out a favorite type of post or a favorite apron. Happy blog-iversary!

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  11. I love the red and cream damask apron. Those aprons are so cute. I have two canvas utility aprons, but I love cute aprons. I have had two of them cut out for ages but I keep setting them aside because the bias binding and I are not very good friends.

    Happy blogoversary!

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  12. Yay - Happy Blogiversary! I'm so glad you were lazy and started this :) I can't wait to go through and read your links to the ones that are older that I haven't read before!

    I think I like your funny posts best, but I think what I like even more is that your blog is a collection of all those things. It strikes me as more reflective of your life.

    I would LOVE one of her damask aprons. However, my husband the scientist hates patterns like that and calls anything resembling it "paisley." So for his sake, I'd probably go with the French toile one. Or maybe the Dissectional if I was feeling sassy, and since I don't know how to pronounce "toile."

    Also, will you share the secret of how to have a giveaway? Do you just contact a company and ask them to sponsor one? I'm so curious!

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  13. Happy Blog-o-versary! ;) These are too cute. Perfect for such a cute post. Love it!

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  14. This is fun! I've actually been wondering about you and your apron buying lately. Your original apron post even inspired my mom (who lurks around your blog sometimes and ought to leave a comment) to send me all these sweet stories about her own grandma's apron. Did you ever buy one of the aprons from Anthropologie?

    As for your posts, I really like that your blog is so varied. I check it everyday (sometimes more than once, just so I can read all the comments!) and I never know what to expect. All I know is that your posts, regardless of style, are honest and insightful. I think that's why you've developed such a following here! (Does that get me into the giveaway? If not, I'll just say serious posts...because they often make me feel like I know you better, which I like!)

    Happy Blog-o-versary!

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  15. Happy Blogiversary to you!!!! Uhmm, I love them all. I would be afraid to actually use them, they might get messy!! What I really want to know, how hard would it be to convince my boys to wear the children's utility flames?????
    Is Justin sending you a fruit bouquet for your blogaversary???

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  16. I love the Chef's Black and Cream Damask apron - elegant and fun! However, I had a really hard time choosing. They are beautiful!!

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  17. oh and I tweeted this: www.twitter.com/rachieannie

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  18. I LOVE the second apron you showed. I'm a sucker for black, white and red.

    And can I answer both a and b? Yes? Okay then... I just love your blog in general... when you make me snort in laughter, when you bring tears to my eyes. Even when you just bring a little smile... it's all good!

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  19. I just put up a post about your giveaway along with another fun giveaway I found. Hope you don't mind sharing the spotlight...but I thought you might like a chance to win something too!

    I'm not sure how to leave a link in a comment, but here's where you can go:

    http://thekeepingtime.blogspot.com/2009/12/presents-foryou.html

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  20. I don't tweet, but I did post!

    http://uneautremere.blogspot.com/2009/12/any-apron-fans.html

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  21. Hi Sarah,

    I'm Emily's (Keeping Time) mom. I'm going to type an excerpt from an email I received (one of those forwards we all get) because your love of aprons makes me think you'd enjoy it. I don't know who to credit the email to, but I hope they won't mind me sharing part of it with you.

    "The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath because she only had a few, it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and they used less material, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven. It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears. From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven. When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids. And when the weather was cold, Grandma wrapped it around her arms. Those aprons wiped many a perspiring brow bent over the hot wood or oil stoves. Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron. From the garden it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls. In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees. When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that apron could dust in a matter of seconds. When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out on the porch, waved her apron, and we all knew it was time to come in to dinner. It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes."

    That excerpt could have been written about my own grandma and her apron.

    Congratulations on your Blogiversary!

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  22. My favorite posts are definitely the cute kids. I love seeing your girls who are so like mine.

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  23. Happy blogiversary! I love that first apron in the post...

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  24. Hey! I blogged about you:

    http://jens_page.blogspot.com/2009/12/adorable-apron-forgetful-blogger.html

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  25. oohh, i want one! actually i want them all. but if i had to choose i'd like the black damask one.

    and just to be thorough, i really love your "thoughtful" posts. i think that's because i'm taking your humor for granted though. so please don't take those ones away! ;)

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  26. I love the blue and green damask apron! So cute!!

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  27. I just tweeted about your giveaway and I'm following you on Twitter now! twitter.com/janiephill

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  28. Hi Sarah,

    Happy Bloggiveaway! I learned about your blog through Emily's blog Keeping time." I love the pink apron with floral design on the bottom.
    missma2008@yahoo.com

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  29. congrats on your 1 yr anniversary! I love the cupcake apron, so cute! As for posts, this is my first visit to your blog after seeing it on another blog I visited... but I like fun, upbeat posts, an occasional rant or rave, and even something serious... thats what makes it YOUR blog!

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  30. I have to say that while I always enjoy your blog, your sense of humor is outstanding. I love the funny, wry posts.

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  31. That red and pink polka dot onemakes me want to smile.
    Happy Blogaversary.

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  32. I've been DYING to get myself an apron- although would that mean I have to start cooking dinner again?

    I like the bib Josephine the best, I think. And I like.... ALL of your posts the best. I can't pick. They all rock - and I know, because not ONE of them has made me want to skim over it quickly!

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  33. Congratulations! I'm glad that you started writing this blog. You really have a way with words. Personally, I'd have to say that I love the stories you tell on yourself. Makes me feel not so alone in some of the silly things I've done! :) Of course, I also really love the stories and brags about your girls. Yeah. I pretty much just like it all. :)

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  34. I love the French tools and the blue poppy fields...so cute!

    I want to say my favorite posts are the funny ones, but I really do enjoy them all! You're such a talented writer.

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  35. Ooh, happy anniversary! I am surprised to read that you've only been at this for a year. You're so talented!

    I love the bib Audrey and the bib Ava. In fact, I sent my husband a link to both of those for Christmas gift inspiration, but seeing as how I am the one who gets the mail while he's at work every day, I'm pretty sure he did not get me one!

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  36. The 50's kitchen apron is my favorite! It's so cute, I think it would be a perfect decoration in our vintage kitchen too!

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  37. Happy Blogiversary!!
    I would love the cafe toile, so chic!!

    Here is to many more years of This Heavenly Life!!

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  38. Entry #2
    Blog link: http://joyinthemorning-joy.blogspot.com/2009/12/sharing-wealth-blog-find.html

    Congrats again!

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  39. Cream & Black Damask!
    I do appreciate your thoughtful posts, but everything is great! It's all a part of your life, and I appreciate a glimpse into it!

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  40. Oh my gosh! I love so many of these aprons! It's hard to pick a favorite! I love the red & pink polka dot, the cafe toile, and the cream & black damask. (and probably in that order)

    Happy blogiversary!!

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  41. I love all the styles of your writing. I can't choose. You can tell from your first post that you are a born blogger.

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  42. OK - I tweeted. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  43. I LOVE the Bib Josephine style... especially the red with polka dots.

    I just made my way over to your blog today (thanks to Dawn's post) so I am looking forward to reading more and having a favorite type of post.

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  44. Love the aprons. Interesting blog. Found you through Dawn.

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  45. I like the red and cream damask one, and I'm new to your blog via Becky! :)

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  46. Awesome giveaway!!! I love the Bib Chef's Cream & Black Damask Apron!

    Megan/supermegs28 at yahoo dot com

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