As I said earlier this week, my blog turns one year old today!

Because it’s my blog birthday, you lurkers should come out of hiding! Come say hi, introduce yourself, tell me your favorite color, whatever your little heart desires. We don’t bite!

In celebration, I’m giving away a ton of really awesome, retro inspired prints on my other blog from etsy seller, Kerry Beary. Seriousy, there are like $200 worth of prints and there will be 7 winners! You should go enter!

Kerry Beary giveaway

Lastly, I need your votes. I mentioned this before but Brandy nominated Oh How Lovely Shops for a style award and I’d LOVE to win. If I do win, I’d be donating about half of the $250 to charity so please vote, it will take all of a minute.

I only have 27 votes and the person in the lead has 73. I know I have more readers than that. If you are entering my giveaway and vote me, leave me a comment in the giveaway entry with what number vote you were and you’ll get an extra entry!

And don’t say it’s the signing up thing because you guys all signed up to vote for the Blogger’s Choice Awards in hopes for Crissy n00dz!

Vote. Pretty please?

Well, almost.

In two days, it will be one year since I started this blog. I’m not sure if I can’t believe it’s already been a year or if I can’t believe it has only been a year.

Never did I really think that this blog would get to where it is now. I’m not saying it’s a big, huge blog but it’s pretty amazing.

Quick year in review time:

I remember when I was excited that I got my first comment ever when I was talking about how Izzy is a home wrecking slut. One of my favorite posts was crimes against fashion and yes, I’m sorry but leggings are still not pants! Aly and I bonded over our love for Pacey and I believe this got me my first blog award. I whined and complained the whole way through NaBloPoMo but ended up kicking it’s ass leaving it crying and fearing November of 08. I confessed my fashion sins. One of my favorite things I did last year even though I spent most nights in a heap of tears because I was so sick: Vegas, baby! The 20SB Awards went down and I walked away with Most Likeable which left me shocked. Oh, and there was man candy. You’re welcome, ladies! In February, Edie pup came into my life. I still can’t believe how tiny she once was. I wrote the most honest thing I have ever written. The fiercest blogger meet up, you ever did see took place over Borders and yummy food. I couldn’t be more happy to say she is now one of my best friends. There is actually another post of things I love coming but here is the original.  There was a celebrity encounter with one that spoke Tim Gunn fluently. I visited the Land of the Mouse and had some of the most amazing guest posters ever during that time. Chicago invaded San Francisco and I met some of my favorite bloggers at BlogHer! Another puppy dog came into my life and a doggy blog launched: Who’s Your Dachshund? with some fabulous wiener dog blog owners.  Then my other baby was born: Oh How Lovely Shops bringing you the most stylish and fun items from all over etsy. Speaking of blog launches, not too long after that I was asked to be a part of Umm…Now What? with 4 other lovely and talented ladies. That brings us to today!

If that isn’t quite a year in blogging, I don’t know what is! Of course there was the occasional mean comments or posts but there is so much good in the blogging community that it completely outweighs the bad and negative.

Thank you all for being supportive, taking time out to read, comment, send emails, gchat and all that. You guys are awesome and I’m really happy I started this blog and was able to meet all of you.

Here’s to one year, Oh! How Lovely!

I promise won’t make you wear a stupid party hat.

Well, maybe a tiara…

I forgot to add this in my last entry, but it was so amazing, it deserves an entry all in it’s own. This was my birthday cake. We skipped candles and happy birthday and dug right in.

Instead of pie crust, it was brownie. Ice cream filling (half chocolate and half vanilla) with bits of brownie thrown in. Whip cream, more brownie bits and hot fudge.  I was going to take a picture of a slice so you could see the inside, but it was devoured in 3.2 seconds.

 I am ready to go back to the ice cream shop and eat a brownie hot fudge sundae.

It was absolutely sinful.

Day 2 of my birthday was pretty fantastic, minus some upsetting home news, but I’m not going to take about that now. Lunch at TGI Fridays, 21 which makes me want to go back to Las Vegas NOW, and then out! We went to my favorite spot and I took some of your drink suggestions. I was a wee bit tipsy by the end of the night, just a little. I was, in fact, sending silly messages through Blackberry Messenger. Not drunk texting - tipsy texting! I just coined a new phrase. Tipsy Texting copyright Oh! How Lovely! Anyway, it’s awesome when you know the people who run the bar and they cut your tab down to $30, when you had around 8 people drinking for a few hours.

Yesterday, I got an email from BlogHer telling me I was chosen as one of their volunteers for BlogHer 08. This is awesome because it saves me money on the conference, food and getting drunk at the cocktail parties. Yeah, I’m totally don’t get drunk, but I could if I wanted to! Expect some Tipsy Texting! I’ll be working the registration desk for a few hours one of the days which is fabulous, because I will get to register and meet all kinds of amazing bloggers. Jenn also got chosen as a volunteer and she will be live blogging some sessions at BlogHer! Our San Francisco trip is in full swing. Hotels are booked, Flights are booked. We have gigs. We are so set.

Now for some linkage:

Jenn from Free and Flawed has a new geek news ONLY blog now. I urge you to go check it out. Must Love Geek. It is currently under construction while it is getting a face lift from my favorite designer, Jess of Delicious Design Studio. Jess made my design as well as oh…75% of the the blogs on my reader! Go check her out too, while you’re making the rounds.

And of course, Mr. 20 Something Blogger of the Week himself, Ben from No Ordinary Rollercoaster. There is no denying how much I adore Ben and Calvin. Sorry Newf, I might steal them and bring them to Chicago to be my BFFs!

Finally, Happy Birthday to the lovely, Kiraa of Ex Everything!

Bookmark. Google reader. Blog roll.

Do what you do!

I really love my boyfriend’s family. They are so good to me. I’m over there more than I am at home sometimes, they force food on me, take me on vacations (Disney World! Las Vegas!) and are just all around amazing. We got pizza from a local spot nearby and it was yummy! Boyfriend and I caught up on television, signed up for Netflix and I got presents.

From William I got a fancy smancy pink Blackberry skin for my Pearl and Enchanted. Both things, I wanted in my wish list. We are also going to get tickets for Blue Man Group, because I have never seen it and I am pretty sure that is a crime.

From his parents, I got the most adorable picture frame which will be filled with a photo of Edie and Princess, my two pups, as soon as I get some printed. I also got tickets for Kooza!

Also, I got the most ridiculous looking, brownie ice cream pie thing instead of cake from my favorite ice cream and candy shop, Gayety’s. It looks amazing and the brownie bits I swiped off the top tasted amazing! Unfortunately, we didn’t take it out in time to thaw a bit and it wouldn’t cut. As hard as it was to leave it, we are saving it for another day. Seriously, wait until you see a picture of this thing. You will want to lick your screen.

I couldn’t ask for a better birthday. I hope you all have a fabulous weekend, I know I plan on it.

Drunken debauchery?

Probably not, but definitely drinks and maybe a tiny bit of debauchery thrown in the mix.

…but I don’t care because it is my birthday!!!

Honestly, I’m not really ever too psyched on birthdays. I really don’t want to get older. Really though, this year so far has been a pretty big bummer with all that is going on, but I’m determined to make today a new start. I have lots of incredibly awesome things planned for the rest of the year, so this is kind of the start of it all.

I’m super excited about all that is in store for my three day birthday extravaganza!

Today
First off, today I have to stop by the travel agency to confirm the fabulous trip Jenn and I are going on in July. San Francisco and BlogHer, watch out! Maybe grab lunch or dinner with the boyfriend. I’m kind of feeling like some pasta! Leona’s? YES. Oh and maybe go buy Enchanted! Wrap it all up at boyfriend’s for some cake. Then tv catch up and cuddles with boyfriend.

Friday
21 comes out tomorrow so William and I are going to see that. Vegas! A movie is the closest I will get to Vegas until October, but that is okay. Then get myself all dolled up for a night on the town with friends in my little black dress that went unused in Vegas because I was sick. We got a table and bottle service at my most favorite night time spot in Chicago and a bunch of friends will come out. Hopefully. They better or I will punch them. In the eye. If you are in Chicago and want to come out, I might just tell you where, only if you have a cupcake in hand when you greet me! haha. I also won’t punch you in the eye.

Saturday
First, Edie and I will have puppy class at 11, which will definitely be hard to get to after Friday night. But we will persevere! Then an adventure with Jenn, since our first adventure went smashingly. This time a movie and mini food. Another day of fierceness all around.

And of course, even though it was a few weeks early, my favorite birthday present (to myself) was my little Corgi fluffy pup, Edie. She brightens every day for me and was the best thing I have ever got for myself.

Thank you all for the birthday wishes so far. You all are fabulous and I love you to pieces!

Turning 24 21 doesn’t seem so bad today ;)