9.08.2009

My Return and a Giveaway.

I've been gone for far too long! I know how much you've missed me, but it's really worth the wait. I promise, just keep reading.


Last week I became an Auntie. My brother and sister-in-law had a perfect baby boy! Graham Tyler Pickney was born Monday, August 31, 2009. 7 lbs 7 oz. 20 inches long. He's a sweet, sweet baby! How could you not love this little guy?!?




Here's a picture of mama and baby.


My sister-in-law, Amanda, puts me to shame when it comes to writing thank you cards. I really think she ALWAYS writes them the day she receives the gift. Throughout her entire pregnancy she kept up with them. I even caught her sending off one more thank you the night before she went in to be induced. Impressive!

As much as I wanted to spend every waking moment holding Graham, I took off to Chicago for the long holiday weekend. I met 9 of my closest girlfriends from college for a weekend of shopping, eating, sightseeing and maybe a little more shopping.

As we were walking down Armitage Avenue we spotted Paper Source. While I know I can always order from their Web site, I so enjoy perusing their shops. This shop was particularly large, two stories! Heaven!





I meandered through the store and aside from all the fabulous stationery, they have so many gift options. Throughout you're engagement and wedding celebration, it's always wonderful to have hostess gifts, bridesmaids gifts and other small tokens of appreciation for friends and family collected ahead of time. Check out Paper Source's Gift Guide for great ideas!

Here's what I picked up on my trip to Paper Source:


Wheat Bundle Place Card Kit ($12.50, S/8) - Gourd Place Card Kit ($12.50, S/8) - Acorn Place Card Kit ($10.50, S/8)

In honor of Baby Graham and my prompt-thank-you-writing sister-in-law, I'M DOING A GIVEAWAY. As you can see, I'm a little excited about it. Make me proud and everyone enter!

Here's what I'm giving away:

(1) set of stationery from Paper Source, including the following:


Rajasthani Paisley Poppy Thank You Notes - Chrysanthemum Letterpress Thank You Notes - Lotus & Jasmine Garden Moss Thank You Notes

Here are the rules:

1. Tell me where you went on your summer vacation.
2. Only one entry per person.
3. No anonymous comments will be chosen.



Entry Deadline: 5:oo pm CST, Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Notes This giveaway is not sponsored by Paper Source. Winners will be chosen by RANDOM.ORG.

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This giveaway has now ended! Thank you for participating!

15 comments:

Beth Moore LIVE Atlanta said...

Ooooh, Pick me Pioneer Woman! ;)

I traveled to Seattle and Cle Elum, WA, Atlanta, GA, Orlando, FL, Dune Allen Beach, FL and Chicago, IL! I leave in the morning for Denver and it's time to do some laundry! Do you want to come over and watch Design Star on DVR while I fold?

amandarickman said...

Vacay this summer was Houston, Tx.
Houston in July you say? Yeah, that's what I said but it was where everyone was meeting & I wouldn't miss getting together with all my college girlfriends FOR ANYTHING.

It was just a short trip but it was relaxing & fun. Can't wait to see them again. Can't wait to do it again.

Dorynda said...

i'm totally doing this! we DROVE! to california this summer to see deandra. me, brandon, two kids and a cousin piled in our 4 door pacifica and headed to the coast. the drive wasn't too bad. kids did great! we made it to los angeles in about 18 hours and had a great vacation, mainly at venice beach. the greatest beach ever! the surprise of the vacation was having access to an amazing beach house (check out my facebook pics). so there you have it!

Theresa N. said...

Sweet baby!! On my summer vacation I went to Beaufort SC to the Hunting Island State Park Beach climbed the light house soaked up some rays.
theresa n
weceno(at)yahoo(dot)com

Jannah said...

I had such a fun summer of traveling to California, Ocean Isle, NC and finally Chicago. I'm already looking forward to next summer!

Melissa at Perry Jayne said...

We are actually leaving on our "Summer" Vacation in a few days. Down to the beach in Galveston. Hope the weather will still be nice for us. Can't wait to enjoy the sand and ocean with my family. This will be our first vacation with just our immediate family. We've always gone with the grandparents. I think it will great memories.
-Melissa McCoy

Casey said...

Hey I was going to comment anyway when I saw that sweet baby boy pic. But then, I scrolled down and read about the giveaway....so I will definitely participate!! We went to Disney World for our summer vaca. It was mine, Charli's and Chloe's first trip there and so not our last!!

Congrats on being an aunt! You will be the best!!

J VonWhitley said...

Auntie Stephanie!! Such a nice ring to it!

Summer vacation started with Memorial Day trip to Raffine Wedding Boutique in Stillwater, Minnesota to pick out a bridal gown and then later this summer ventured to Houston, Texas to spend time with some of the most talented, diverse, gifted women in my life with a long day at the pool (we know summer hasn't arrived if you haven't developed tan lines) and checking out the local Houston culture. Vacation was filled with laughter, Oreos, lounging, and facebook.

Congrats Stephanie to you and your family! No doubt Graham is a welcomed addition. See you soon!

Jana said...

We went to see the beautiful sights of South Dakota and Minnesota. The Mount Rushmore area and the bad lands were wonderful. Tent camping was fun. Then we headed to Northern Minnesota for a family reunion where we met some extended family for the first time. We drove 3500 miles and were in the car for 61 hours over 10 days. We all still love each other!! We got home 2 days before school started. YIKES. It was worth it, though!

This is the first time I've seen your sight. I connected through FB. What a surprise.

I hope to meet Baby Graham soon.

This sight is great!!

Cindy Rodgers said...

Austin and I took a short road trip to Dallas to visit my good friend and her boys and then on to visit Papa for a few days. It was one of those moments I will always remember, because Austin and I had a great time and we talked, laughed, shopped, cuddled and enjoyed just being mother and son. When we got home, he immediately went to a friends house and ended up spending the night. When he finally came home, it was almost 24 hours since we'd seen each other and he ran in the door, hugged me and said, "I missed you mommy." It had seemed very strange to meet too not to have seen him for so long after having spent almost the entire previous week together 24 hours a day.

There is nothing like a bond between mother and son. I know Amanda will have many of these moments with beautiful Graham (as will you). Cherish them all.

C Roberts said...

I'm not sure January counts as summer, but that was our vacation this year...in Vail, CO.

C Roberts said...

I'm not sure January counts as summer, but our vacation this year was to Vail, CO.

The Gundy Gang said...

STEPH! Well this summer, we went to St. Lucia, followed by NYC - it was a trip so jam packed we almost missed our flight back because we decided last minute to catch a West Side Story matinee! AH! :) Hey I love you and miss you, can we please hang out soon!?

ELThiele said...

I had so much fun seeing you last weekend! We went to Springfield MO early in the summer and again in August, and I went to San Fran right after the last MO trip. I want to go to Disney with dallas before christmas, but that doesn't look like it's going to happen.

Unknown said...

Steph - I just saw this plug on your Facebook page and here I am! I am a fellow stationary enthusiast! :) This summer, I visited my parents in NY City and I just got back from an amazing missions trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina. God is at work all around the world building His church!

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