One thousand

[source]

It's hard to believe but this is my 1,000th post on my blog.

One.  Thousandth.

Back in 2005, when everyone started a blog, I resisted.  I didn't think I'd have anything to say.  (Something with which I still struggle.)  The ironic thing is that every year, since getting engaged in 1996, we had sent out a letter with our Christmas cards, which after a year or two, turned into a full blown newsletter, sometimes four sides long!  Everyone had their own "column", even the dog and it included recipes and brain teasers and photos.  After the first year, I had people telling me in September that they couldn't wait to receive our Christmas card!  Our mailing list grew from about 70 to over 140 and while I LOVED creating the newsletter - graphic design is where my heart lies, I think! - once we had TWO kids and Just Cre8 started, there was, sadly, less time for everything.

So I thought, 'I know!  I will start a blog and everyone can keep in touch with us throughout the year!  Plus it's not such a burden to write about our entire year in a few weeks - I can pace it over the year and things won't get missed!'

But there were many who were not online and we still ended up sending photo cards of the kids anyways! :)

I have noticed that my blog content is changed over the years, now geared more to the designer side of my life, with snippets of family life peeking through.  Either way, I love going back and reading stories of events that I have forgotten, or seeing projects that were created years ago.  And I have decided to make a concerted effort to blog more of our everyday life.

Here are the top 10 Blog Posts, as of yesterday:

10.  Spectrum Noir vs. Copics
9.  Scrapbook Studio Tour | Part III
8.  Flirty Fridays | Sexiest Dads Alive v.2012
8.  Flirty Fridays | Aug 31
7.  Leave Your Legacy | 2011.01.14 I Am...
5.  Scrapbook Studio Tour | Part II
4.  Welcome to the CS Hands On! Photography Blog Hop!
3.  Update on Gary
2.  Scariest.  Day.  Ever.
1.  Scrapbook Studio Tour | Part I

To celebrate the milestone, I want to give something away!  I have a large package of stamping and scrapping supplies, valued at over $100, for a random winner!  Here's a sneak peek at just part of the prize:

[sorry for the photo quality - I keep adding stuff to the prize so I can't get a complete prize photo!!)

To be entered into the draw, simply leave me a comment with what sort of content you would like to see more of around here:  sketches?  layouts?  tutorials?  recipes?  my crazy family's antics?  I will enter a ballot for each person who comments below.

Want to earn more ballots?  You can:

1) Follow me on Twitter:  sugarskyes (1 ballot)
2) Follow me on Instagram:  suesykes (1 ballot)
3) Follow me on Pinterest:  suesykes (1ballot)
4) Follow my blog (1 ballot)

Then leave me a comment (separate comments, please, to make sure I don't miss you!) letting me know you are following!  Current followers are included, so please leave a comment as well!  Feel free to leave your Twitter/Instagram/Pinterest name or blog address so I can follow YOU!  Draw will end at 11:59pm EST on June 30th, 2013 July 15th and a winner will be announced on or around July 16th!

Many thanks (a thousand!) to those of you who have read along through the years, and to those who have newly joined my bloggy family.

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the challenges on my blog for a chance to win:

Sketchy Challenge:  June 2013 (deadline:  June 30/13)
Leave Your Legacy: Pet Peeves (deadline:  Aug 31/13)