Social Salutations is One!!

Well, it's here!  One year ago today I launched Social Salutations, and what a wonderful year it's been!!  There have been many ups and downs in my life over the past year, but one thing that has been a constant comfort for me has been all of you.  I have met so many amazing, talented people this year and have developed many friendships with people that I otherwise would never have met.  Crafting is my outlet - I seriously think I need it to stay sane.  To be able to share this passion here, and to share it with those who have similar passions is just amazing.  Thank you for everything - you are what keeps me motivated to keep writing and sharing my life and crafts!!

To celebrate I want to show my appreciation by doing a fun giveaway!  There is one amazing blogger in particular - Anne from WobiSobi, who has been my biggest supporter from day one.  She was my first follower, and has become a great friend.  If you haven't been over to WobiSobi before, you need to head over there.  Anne shares some amazing DIY re-styling tutorials and projects.  She pulls together some pretty amazing styles AND makes incredible jewelry.  In fact - she has offered to giveaway two of the bracelets you see in this photo - any two - your choice!!  Just leave me a comment below telling me which two are your favorite, and I will announce the winner on Friday!!

OK - Let's take a trip down memory lane now, shall we???

One year ago, I was laid off from my job as an Advertising Account Manager.  It was at that time (and I had a lot of time on my hands) that I decided to focus on building up my stationery business and thus started this blog.  That was it - the blog was a way to market my stationery.  Since then - it has become so much more than that!!

In the beginning, I needed a way to keep up the blogging and crafting - a reason to be held accountable. I also had a ton of projects on my to-do list that needed to get crossed off - that's where the 30 Day Craft Challenge began.  Some days, the crafts came easy - and others - I struggled a bit.  Here were some of my favorite projects from the challenge:

Anthropologie Knock Off Necklace

Yarn Wrapped Pencil Holders

Etched Glasses

Learning to Sew

 Valentine's Day Flowerpots

Mod Podged Playroom Table

This year, we had some bad news.  My mom (my best friend) was diagnosed with Stage 2 Cervical Cancer.  She underwent chemo and radiation, and is finally out of the woods.  She is a fighter and I admire her positive attitude and drive to beat it.  I spent a lot of time in NJ in the first half of the year, and in a way - being out of work at that time was a blessing in disguise.  It gave me the ability to go up there and help her through her medical treatment, and also the ability to help out with my sister's baby shower (my mom just didn't have the energy to do it all)!

BUT - amongst the bad was also good!  My sister had her first baby - a beautiful girl named Brooklyn!  Throwing her shower gave us a much needed distraction from everything else that was going on, and my mom and I ended up having a great time working on everything together!

 Nicole's Allstar Baby Shower

In May, I started my new job, and this blog suffered a bit - but I think I have finally worked out the scheduling.  Of course once this baby boy arrives, I will need to shuffle things around a bit again!  There are so many wonderful projects that I have done since then - here are just a few of my favorites:

Custom Bat Mitzvah Scrapbook

Numbered Kitchen Chairs and Kitchen Makeover

Summer Front Porch Makeover

Bright and Cheery Headband

Summer Mantle

 

Custom Thank You Cards

Addison's Birthday Crown

Thanksgiving Tablescape

Ruffled Tree Skirt

The best part of this year by far though has been finding out we are expecting our second child - a boy!!  We feel so blessed and are so excited to meet this little guy in a few short months! 

Thank you again for all of your love and support!  I can't wait to see what the next year brings for Social Salutations!!  Don't forget to enter to win those awesome bracelets!!

XOXO