A Birthday Letter and a Giveway

Dear Sparkles and Shoes,

Happy Birthday my love. Yesterday was the third anniversary of my first post on this special blog of mine and today you are three years old, time does fly! Your birthday was actually yesterday but we came to a mutual agreement early last year that there would only be posts Monday through Friday, plus, I believe birthdays should be celebrated for me than one day. I looked up the usual child behaviors are of a three year old and the article began with, “Your little one isn’t so little anymore.” That is very true, it has been 36 months of ups and not too many downs and you are growing much quicker than I ever thought was possible in the summer of 2012.

This is definitely a time to sit back, think, and honestly, marvel at how far you and I have come. Together we have published 883 posts and shared over 5,000 photos wit the world in the last three years. With the exception of five hours in 2013 you have been live the entire time, ready for anyone to read what we have put together. As real life gets busier and busier I will admit, I have thought a few times about giving you less attention or taking a brief hiatus but those thoughts are fleeting. You are my creative outlet, my voice of reason, and often the reason I step outside my comfort zone and try new things.

Thank you for pushing me to be a better version of myself. Because of you my writing skills have noticeably improved (although proof reading and spell check are still not my forte), I have learned a great deal about HTML5 coding and SEO, learned how to use a DSLR on manual, and brushed up on at least half a dozen other skills. The way I talk about you is the same as a proud parent and it means the world to me when friends ask how you are doing and I can report that you are doing phenomenally. Looking back on the letter I wrote you a year ago so much has changed in my life but not much in yours – you are simply a bigger and better version than you were on your second birthday.

With as I like birthdays I threw you a party on Saturday night where friends from high school, college, and work all withstood the 90 degree heat to come celebrate. The party was terrific and I had a wonderful evening – I had so much fun I forgot to take more than a few photos. Many of my friends brought you cards, balloons, and gifts as they know how much you mean to me. Speaking of gifts, I decided to purchase an item I have had my eye on for a long time a Kate Spade Gramercy Watch in rose gold in honor of your birthday.

To help celebrate I have decided to give one of our loyal readers a gift too, a $100 gift card to one of my favorite websites, Shopbop so they can join in the 3rd birthday celebration. Even though we have readers from all over the globe this giveaway will only be open to our fantastic U.S. readers only and will run through Sunday evening:

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Sparkles, thank you for sticking by me for the last three years and I hope we have many, many more years of happiness and creativity ahead of us!

I love you to the moon and back!

xx
Kelly

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