4 years of blogging

If you’re new to Blue-Eyed Bride, this is a pretty decent recap post to get you all filled in since the beginning.

Every September, this date rolls around. I don’t celebrate it at home, but I always make a mental note that it came… and went. On September 25, 2007, I began writing this blog for our family members and out of town friends to read to keep up with what was going on. Originally it was just called “Erin & Todd” and the URL was my maiden name and his last name. I think there were probably about 20  page views per month for the first six months. The only other blogs I read were those written by my friends that lived out of town. The thought of reading a stranger’s blog had never occurred to me.

Obviously times have changed. I won’t get into what blogging has become in my life. I want to look back at where we were four years ago and where we are today.

Not even counting the physical changes, a whole lot has changed!

On September 25, 2007, I wrote my first blog post. And the Gamecocks had just won against Georgia… in Athens. And TC and I had gone to the game.

We had gotten engaged in April of 2007 and were planning our May 2008 wedding. I was working at the University and he was at his old law firm. Things weren’t entirely carefree, but looking back, it sure seems like they were! We attended every home game and two away games that year. We were in the process of looking for a house that would be our first home together- and a few days later, we put in a contract on our current home.

In December, we closed on our house. I moved in to the house while TC lived with some very generous friends. I continued to plan our wedding– making the drive from Columbia to Greenville, SC every couple of months to work on details. We had showers in Indiana, Dallas, Ruston, Columbia and Baton Rouge and we had a fun little vacation in Chicago with my family.

I was going back and forth to Dallas for dress fittings and then finally my bachelorette party with all of my best friends.

We got married in May 2008 in the Daniel Chapel on the Furman University campus and the reception was at the Westin Poinsett Hotel.

photo by Kelly Moore Photography

Then we were off to Maui for our 10 day honeymoon at the Grand Wailea! (I really want to go back– or just live there.)

A month later, my family experienced a tragedy and we ended up adopting our beloved Fiona, who joined Boudreaux as the two most loved dogs.

The summer after our wedding, I realized that people I didn’t know were reading my blog. What in the world? How did they find me? Who are they? My sweet friend, Cyndi, was the first person that I didn’t know in real life to comment on my blog. Why do they want to read my blog? And then I started reading theirs, too, and friendships were formed. Then, because I wanted something more original, I changed the name of the blog to Blue-Eyed Bride. (I wish I had a file of all of my old blog headers!)

Then when the next football season came around- just about a year after I started blogging- I found out I was pregnant with our first child. I kept that a secret for a while and didn’t blog as often as I had been. The excitement and surprise were both overwhelming! And then I finally announced it.

Then we found out that we were having a precious boy!

One June 5, 2009, he was born. And we named him Hudson.

TC left his old firm and started a new firm with two colleagues. I left my old job and started a new job at home with my precious baby.

The past two years have been measured in Hudson’s milestones. I think about things in terms of when he sat up and started walking and talking. So many of you have read along on this fun ride as we’ve raised Hudson and learned how to be parents.

When Hudson was 15 months old, we found out that he was going to be a big brother!

And then you read that there would be another baby boy Carroll. And now sweet baby Hayes is here. What a precious, precious gift he has been.

In the past two years since Hudson was born, we haven’t gone as many places or been quite as adventurous. But life has been so great. I am so happy to just sit and watch Hudson and Hayes grow up. They make me laugh and they have given TC and me such an incredible appreciation of life.

Now, instead of attending all the games, we watch at home while drawing pictures on the Magnadoodle and playing with cars and trucks.

I’ve made so many good friends through blogging. And I mean that. Good, good friends. Friends that I talk to on the phone at least once a week and so many that are going through the same things I’m going through. Or friends who have the same interests that I have.

You have all prayed with us through two pregnancies and two sweet children. You prayed with me for my mom as she battled melanoma. I am just so thankful for this community and this outlet.

Blogging has helped me stay in touch with old friends who just come by to check in.

What a fun outlet! What a great way to record memories and to be able to look back and see such wonderful times chronicled through your words and photos. It hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows and there have definitely been some storms. But those things are much harder to remember when I think about the last four years. They’ve definitely been the best years of my life. And I’m so happy to have a record of them.

photos by Angela Shea Photography in Charlotte, NC

Sunday stuff

I’ll be posting my September sponsors post soon. I can’t wait for you all to read about the four new sponsors for this month!

Today, I wanted to share a few fun thoughts and fun internet finds. I can’t believe this weekend is almost over. We spent most of ours inside because it’s apparently monsoon season in South Carolina. Seriously. The downpours have been remarkable.

1. It does nothing for my weight loss efforts, but I am currently obsessed with the Salted Caramel Mocha from Starbucks. It is so delicious. I seriously want one every night after supper. Not good.

Source: starbucks.com via Jo on Pinterest

2. Why must everything in blogging be so competitive? Isn’t there room for us all? We all have things to share, say and discuss and I just hate seeing so much competitiveness.

3. I realize this makes me a little bit cuckoo, but I have started putting together inspiration boards for Hayes’s first birthday party and for Hudson’s third birthday party. Things have a tendency to sneak up on me, so I want to have a plan when the time comes for me to get to work.

4. My friend, Lindsey, sent me this super fun list the other day! Check it out and print it out. This is the Fall Bucket List for Southern Belles– and it includes cranking up your air conditioner and turning on your fire place. Hilarious! We’ve all been there– even on an 80 degree Christmas day. And of course it includes cheering on an SEC team. (How ’bout them Gamecocks, huh?)

Source: lindseymichellephotographyblog.com via Erin on Pinterest

5. Today is my 4 year anniversary of blogging. I’m going to spend a little bit of time today going back and reading old posts from four years ago. Time flies… yet it somehow creeps. So crazy!

6. Finally, my mom gets here today. I’m so excited. I haven’t seen her in a couple of months. Hayes and I got to spend some time with her and my dad in Atlanta in July. Hudson hasn’t seen her since June. This visit is long overdue- we’re all so excited!

Erin Condren Double Giveaway Winners!

Hey, friends!

We have had such a great week! I am so excited about the Erin Condren Double Giveaway and all that entered. Thank you all to everyone that entered the giveaway and “liked” ErinCondren.com on Facebook.

Nina and I are sure that Erin Condren really appreciated all the love this week!

We’re super excited to announce the two winners from each of our blogs plus the bonus winner!

Make sure you visit Nina at According to Nina to see winners 3& 4.

Now for winners 1 & 2! (Winners were chosen randomly through Random Integer Generator)

Congratulations to Erin from Confessions of a Magnolia Mom and Che!

And because the response was so great, ErinCondren.com Facebook “likes” are now well over 6,000! Thanks to you all, they reached 6,000 “likes” by Tuesday!

And now we get to do the 5th BONUS WINNER! Congratulations to McCall from My Little Bird Nest!

Congratulations to the 5 winners! We already have your email addresses from the comments, so we will just send your info to the Erin Condren team and they will send your gift cards to you as soon as possible! Happy shopping!

pinnable me: Halloween Parties

I’m working on some plans for a fun Halloween party. I’ve been collecting lots of fun ideas on Pinterest. A few weeks ago, I bought the Better Homes and Gardens Halloween issue. It has tons of great ideas and I found some of the photos on Pinterest.

I have three gorgeous Savannah Beverage Servers from Willow House and I’d love to do this. I love the idea of calling a signature punch “Witches Brew.” So cute!

Source: karaspartyideas.blogspot.com via Erin on Pinterest

So this is a pin of one of the pictures from BHG.com. Isn’t this party design so cute? It’s simple, it’s playful and not scary Halloween. I just love it.

Source: bhg.com via Erin on Pinterest

These mummy dogs look so yummy and simple. Perfect for kids at a Halloween party!

Source: bhg.com via Erin on Pinterest

This candy corn inspiration board is too cute. I love the topiary so much! And I have got to figure out how to make the tissue poms to be color-blocked like that to look like candy corn. Anyone know how to do that?

Source: blog.finestationery.com via Erin on Pinterest

Today is the first official day of fall! Are you ready? Are you decorating for fall or Halloween? Are you planning a party?

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