****Winner is Julie******* Yay!!! Julie was picked using Random.org and appropriately enough she’s IN LABOR to meet her brand spanking new squishy son! Congrats Julie!  Thanks again Amazing Hats!!!!

I am not a hat person.

I admit it.

They don’t look cute on me, they look awkward and make me feel strange.

I admire women who can sport a good hat.

Let’s take (almost) Princess Kate.

She makes hat wearing (or make that feather wearing) look effortless and graceful.

While Kate is a beauty, she’s got nothing on Bitzy.

My girl can rock a hat.

See? Not only do you train your babies to wear hats but to clean house. Clearly.

All this can be yours friends!

Amazing Hats has offered to giveaway one free hat (up to a $15 dollar value) to a lucky winner!!!!

Are these the cutest or what???

To enter simply leave a comment after this post telling me why you simply MUST have a hat for your sweet bundle!  Then, for an extra entry, go to Amazing Hats Facebook Page and “Like” it.  Then leave a comment mentioning this giveaway!

Winner will be picked on Saturday at 9:00pm.

Good luck!

Love to all,

I’m so excited to announce that Carolyn Laws is the winner of my little blogs anniversary giveaway!!! Yay!!!

Congratulations Carolyn!!!

Well friends, we have something to celebrate!

Maybe this is your first time on this little stories blog of mine (welcome!), or maybe you’re a veteran of this site (thank you and welcome back!), either way, I’m glad you’re here.

You see, I have been writing these little stories for one whole year! Can you believe it? It all started when I was on maternity leave with Bitzy and I told my husband some kind of hair-brained story and he said, “that is so funny, you should write that down.”

Hence, Little Stories Everywhere was born.

I am proud to say that while I haven’t written every single day (especially lately), but I’ve written more than I ever have, and nearly 50,000 people have visited the site over the past year!

Incredible!

That makes me a little weak at the knees to know that people are actually reading my little stories! Crazy!

In honor of our 1 year anniversary let’s do a little giveaway, shall we?

The giveaway is a book since I am a pseudo reader. Ya know, the kind of gal who loves to read but doesn’t since she has a Bitzy and a Zach to take care of…oh and a house and 2 very high maintenance puppies.

So, in honor of one of my favorites of the past…here’s your giveaway!

This book is a beautiful collection of thoughts and reflections by one of my favorite speakers/authors. She is truly wonderful.

I think you’ll like it…I know that I sure do.

I mean, it’s only appropriate for me to give you an anniversary gift, we’re in this crazy blogtastic world together after all!

To enter, simply leave a comment telling if you love to read and why, or if you can read but you just don’t:).  Winner will be chosen on February 27th!

Can’t wait to hear from you!!!

Love to all,

PS: Like my little stories? I would really appreciate it if you’d vote for me here and here.

I think I’ve mentioned before that I love to read. Love it. Before my Bitzy was born I would devour books, one by one. My reading has certainly slowed down since the arrival of my girly, but I still love and crave the freshness of a brand new story told with a witty voice.

My favorite books are memoirs. Especially funny ones. There is nothing like reading about someone else’s life and laughing ’til you cry.

Kinda like last night.

Last night when Zach came up to bed I was laying there with tears streaming down my face, holding a pillow over my head, laughing so hysterically that I couldn’t breathe. No joke.

It was then that I knew that it was time.

After re-reading this book more times that I can count, I just had to share it with my sweet Zach.

So last night I introduced Zach to my favorite memoir of all time:  ”A Girl Named Zippy” by Haven Kimmel.

This book represents so much about how I love to read, write and laugh. Not to mention that our hometowns are painfully small, but still yet mysteriously charming. And our families are quirky, but still fantastic. That said, I consider Zippy and I soul sisters.

I declared to Zach last night  that before bed every night I would read him a chapter. I love this book so much I simply have to share it with him!

But then it occurred to me…I couldn’t just share it with him….I have to share it with all of you as well!

I realize it would be ultra creepy for me to hop into all of your beds at bedtime to read you a story, so instead, I want to give away a copy of my favorite book ever – to you- in honor of Thanksgiving!

I’m so thankful for you all it’s the least that I can do!

So, to enter please leave me a comment telling me what you’re favorite book is! Even if you don’t have one, still comment and hopefully you’ll win!

For extra entries you can tweet about this or post on facebook, just be sure to leave separate comments and let me know!

Winner will be chosen on Sunday, November 28th! Good luck!

Love to all,

PS: I am in no way associated with the author Haven Kimmel. She and I are not BFF’s- yet.  This giveaway is simply a gift from me to you.

PPS: Like my little stories? I would really appreciate it if you’d vote for me here and here.

You can vote once per day.

I love giveaways.

Don’t you?

They give me butterflies and happy jitters.

As I put in all the names of the entries and wait for Random.com to pick it’s special winner I get so excited…and hold my breath…

And the winner is…

Katie Jones!!!!

Yay for Katie!  Enjoy!

Thanks again to Whimsy and Whirl for your generosity!

Love to all,

Ya know when you were little and people would ask you what you wanted to be when you grew up?

I always said a check out girl at the grocery store.

That’s right.

Big dreams.

That was back in the day before scanners. The cashiers had to type in all the numbers of the items.

Oh the speed of their fingers.

It was pure magic watching their fingers run across the numbers. I wanted my fingers to be magical.

But then as I got older and went to college there was no degree program for being a cashier.

So, I settled and got a degree in PR and Advertising.

The great news is that I can still fulfill my dreams of being a cashier by playing with a calculator any time I want.

And, while my cashier dreams have been crushed, now I get to hang out with people, plan parties and serve Jesus all at once. Good deal, huh?

So, in perfect party planning style…something special is happening in only 6 weeks…my Bitzy’s 1st birthday party!!!

Take in mind that she was born on October 30th, only one day short of my least favorite “holiday.”

Maybe the fact that I hate Halloween has something to do with the fact that my childhood torturer, Meanie, told me every single year in elementary school that I would be sacrificed by devil worshippers. Turns out that I wasn’t sacrificed, but I did spend every Halloween shaking in my Strawberry Shortcake boots.

Needless to say, I’m still totally freaked out by Halloween.

However, having an October birthday offers many opportunities for fall fun and decorating.

So, this year our theme is CANDY CORN.

Mama’s candy addiction + Mama’s Bitzy addiction + Party planning for a living = Best.Birthday.Party ever.

I’m soooo excited.

Wanna know one of the most exciting parts?

Bitzy’s outfit.

That’s right, she’s gotta look ultra fab. Duh.

So, on my quest to find the cutest little outfit ever, I happened upon Whimsy and Whirl on Etsy. After looking at her fabulous creations, I messaged her to see if she could do a custom candy corn onesie.

Thankfully she said YES!!!!

It’s true. I didn’t name my kid “Bitzy.” Do you feel like you’ve been lied to? I’m so sorry. Forget this ever happened and let’s move forward, mkay?

So, picture this precious onesie with a big beautiful orange, white and yellow tutu.

I know, right?! Precious.

The amazing news?!  Whimsy and Whirl has offered to do a giveaway to you, my sweet readers!!! Yay!

Here are some pictures of her awesome stuff!!!

Seriously cute, right? Gratefully Whimsy and Whirl has generiously offered to giveaway a tutu (if it’s for a little girl) or a t-shirt with an inital/name – up to 6 letters- (if it’s for a little boy).  Depending on what the winner wants!!!

Want a chance to win?

To ENTER leave a comment telling me if you’d like to win a tutu or a t-shirt and why.  A winner will be chosen at random one week from tomorrow on September 29th!

Extra Entries For More Chances to Win!

• Go to the Whimsy and Whirl shop on Etsy and add the store to your favorites: Here. (1 comment)
• Like Whimsy and Whirl on Facebook: Here. (1 comment)
• Vote for Little Stories Everywhere here (click the green “click to vote” text) and here. (You can vote once per day on each site, meaning you could potentially have 16 extra comments!!!)
• Subscribe to Little Stories Everywhere at the top of page where it says “Follow me” and has a little fan looking thing. Click that button. (1 comment)
• Follow Little Stories Everywhere on Twitter: Here (1 comment)
• Like Little Stories Everywhere on Facebook: Here (1 comment)
• Blog About It. (3 comments)
• Tweet About This Giveaway DAILY using the following wording: Enter to #win Whimsy and Whirl from @littlestories courtesy of Whimsy and Whirl Etsy Store! #Giveaway ends September 29th at 11:59pm. (Leave your Twitter ID in the comment. 1 entry per day!)

Please make sure you leave a comment for each entry!
Remember this giveaway ends Tuesday, September 28th at 11:59pm EST. The winner will be chosen using random.org.

Love to all!

Like my little stories? Remember to comment and to vote here and here everyday so that other  people will love them too!

This is picture of Tara and me from a wedding we were in together once in beautiful Vail, Colorado. So fun!!!

Your friend and mine, Random.org has picked a winner!!!  Congratulations to TARA GETTING!!! YAY!  I will email you details later this evening.  How fun!

Aren’t giveaways super exciting?!

We’ve got another one coming up later this week for boys and girls…Yay!!!

Love to all!

When I was a little girl I was obsessed (shocking, I know) with dolls.

Barbies in particular.

I would play and play with my dolls.

We had a pretty fantastic fantasy world where they were my children and I was their mommy. They were very well behaved if I do say so myself. At 3 years old I was practically doll mommy of the year.

So now that I have my very own living doll, it truly is fulfilling a lifelong dream.

What is one to do when their dream comes true?

Love, cuddle…and play dress up every.single.day!

Since my Bitzy was born each day has been a practice of Project Runway Baby Edition. Only, I’m not a fashion designer, a seamstress (unfortunately), or a wounded and tortured artist. So actually, it’s not like Project Runway at all.

Details, details.

The point is that I LOVE dressing my sweetheart in cutesy clothes.

In other related news, I am officially and undoubtedly addicted to Etsy. What is Etsy you ask? It’s only the most fantastically fantastic way to support small businesses/artists and to get cool, creative stuff that very few other people have. I mean, Gap is great and all, but it’s nice to go to the park wearing some Etsy gear and not match every other kid, ya know? (am I snooty or what???).

That said, when I was gearing up for Bitzy’s 6 month pictures I scoured Etsy for the cutest and best priced hats. Then, I happened upon Sparkleberry Crafts.  Not only was the selection incredible, but the customer service was supreme (just another reason to shop Etsy, you talk to real people rather than an automated system).

It was then that I began chatting with Janet, the creative genious responsible for Sparkleberry Crafts. I explained what I wanted and she graciously created the hat below.

I mean, seriously? Cutest baby + Cutest hat= Precious!!!!

The great news? Sweet Janet has so generously agreed to do a Giveaway for an amazing custom made hat for your little bitty!!!  Yay!

Here are some samples below:

I mean A-mazing, right?!!!

Want a chance to win?

To ENTER leave a comment telling me which hat you would like to win from the pictures above. Sizes are 6-12 or 12-24 months. A winner will be chosen at random one week from tomorrow on September 14th!

Extra Entries For More Chances to Win!

• Subscribe to Little Stories Everywhere (Only 1 comment)
• Follow Little Stories Everywhere on Twitter: Here (Only 1 comment)
• Like Little Stories Everywhere on Facebook: Here (Only 1 comment)
• Like Sparkleberry Crafts on Facebook: Here (Only 1 comment)
• Blog About It. (Add 3 comments)
• Tweet About This Giveaway DAILY using the following wording: Enter to #win Sparkleberry Crafts Hat from @littlestories courtesy of Sparkleberry Crafts Etsy Store! #Giveaway ends September 14th at 11:59pm. (Leave your Twitter ID in the comment. 1 entry per day!)

Please make sure you leave a comment for each entry!
Remember this giveaway ends Tuesday, September 14th at 11:59pm EST. The winner will be chosen using random.org.

Love to all!

Like my little stories? Remember to comment and to vote here and here everyday so that other  people will love them too!