365 days... a few more than 365 posts

First header used - so sad!

Wow.  It's been an entire year since I started this little project.  I am amazed to say that, technically, I was not much different than I am right now - a mother alone during the summer while her husband is working and her kids are visiting their grandparents.  It's interesting how everything in your world can completely change and yet, technically, stay the same.

So in honor of this little piece of interwebs making it a full year, I made a few wishes and sent out a couple prayers... and they were answered!  I wanted to celebrate and share the joy that this little space in the cosmic blogiverse has given me with all of you.  I was looking for a way to say "Thanks for hanging out with me over the past year" but I wasn't sure what I could do that would convey my gratitude... and then it hit me.  I knew exactly what I wanted to do and exactly how I wanted to do it - the question that remained was whether or not others would feel the same and want to lend a hand in the celebration.  What in the world am I babbling about, you ask... having a giveaway, of course!

This is Bellini

Sharon, the beloved genius behind Three Irish Girls, was the first to answer my prayers and did so without a moments hesitation.  I sent a simple email one night before bed and I woke up to a resounding "I'd love to" the next morning.  The Yarnista, as she is known through the blogiverse, is a wildly talented entrepreneur who, after a humble start on her kitchen stove, is a colorway connoisseur... a yarn guru... an inspiration in so many ways.  She has a gorgeous family and a beautiful business.  I have loved her yarn since I first stumbled upon it a few years ago and was amazed at the intricate colorways.  Sharon's eye and attention to detail is off the charts.  I have said it before and I'll say it again, if I could only use one yarn for the rest of my life, it would be Three Irish Girls.

This is Bridget

Sharon has sent over two of the most beautiful skeins of yarn that you could ever dreamed of - Bellini and Bridget.  Bellini is a very soft and subtle Springvale 100% superwash merino wool that has the sweetest peakaboo of cotton candy to blush pink running through it.  I know these 370 yds of sock weight wool will make any project drop dead gorgeous!  Bridget is equally as fetching in all her Springvale 100% merino wool glory.  There are so many twists and turns in her colorway from green to blue to purple and back again.  It took all I had not to unwind all 460 yds to see where she went!  I know that this DK weight wool will make any project pop with excitement.

Desmondus Socks

Another wonderful woman to grant my anniversary wish is Sandra Singh from Sandrasingh.com.  She very graciously offered up one of her exclusive patterns, Desmondus Socks by Chrissy Gardiner.  Sandra also asked for me to share that her "easy to navigate pattern section offers you over a thousand designs ranging from Garments & Accessories for men, women and children and more.  Sandra works with many of the best and most respected Independent Knitwear Artists in the fiber arts community and is constantly searching for new talent to introduce to you."

Sandra went on to say that "in the Fall/Winter 2009-10 season [she] collaborated with many talented Knitwear Artists to bring you patterns that are exclusive to her website, the Sandrasingh.com Exclusive Collection, look for these designs in the Patterns section.  Chrissy Gardiner of "Gardiner Yarn Works" has done two exclusive patterns for Sandrasingh.com, the Tangled Vine Socks and the Desmondus Socks, which are knit in one skein of Serendipitous Ewe's hand painted Fate Fingering sock yarn."

Sweets tin, boxes, labels, tags and jar grip.. oh my!

Then I got the biggest surprise of all - my hero surprised me with a box full of goodies!  Y'all remember my sending out thanks to Mrs. Paula a few days back?  It took all I had not to add these gorgeous items to the mix... and keeping secrets is not my strong suit, just ask Pokey!  I wasn’t expecting a box because I hadn't received any correspondence back.  I assumed that it wasn't something that they were able to do but I was okay with it and actually expected it.  Then the UPS man stopped out front of my house and handed me a box.  I read who it was from then I thought “I don’t remember ordering anything”… I hadn’t - she sent me stuff because of my email.  It was amazing!  I jumped up and down and cried and giggled and had a full blown girlie fit over everything.  I mean look at it all ~ wouldn't you?

So what does all of this mean, exactly?  It means that I have not one, not two, not even three but four fabulous things to giveaway today!  Yes, you read that right - there will be four winners, giving more of you a chance to win some of these delectable goodies.  Sounds good, don't you think?  That being said - here are the ways you can enter the giveaway to celebrate my blogiversary ~

1. Following me here will get you one entry.
2. "Like" me on Facebook will get you an additional entry.
3. Follow me on Twitter will get you yet another entry.
4. Answering this question in the comment section will get you the most important entry (manditory for giveaway entry):  "My favorite part of Peppermint Mocha Mama's past year was..."

Please be sure to let me know which ways you have entered (with ID information) and don't forget to leave valid contact information such as Ravelry ID or email so I can reach you when you win!  Unfortunately, at this time I can only offer the giveaway to those inside the United States.  I'm shooting for internationally next year!

Good luck to everyone and I will have Pokey pick the names out of my very pretty pink sun bonnet in one week's time (July 12th at 12 a.m. EST).  The winner will be announced later on that day.  Should I be unable to reach one of the winners, an alternate will be drawn on July 16th.

Thank you for spending this past year with me - I can't wait to see what trouble we'll get into this year!