My Very First Blogoversary & An EPIC Giveaway

Wow. I mean, WOW! Where in the world did 2014 go?

As I sit here in the early hours of my very first blogoversary, I'm thinking about where I was a year ago. I was sitting in this very chair, working like crazy and learning all I could about 'how to blog'. I worked so hard at this. At the time, it was a spur of the moment decision, or maybe a last minute new year's resolution. Actually, maybe a little bit of each. You see, I'd followed book blogs for years, but I never thought it was something I could do myself. Plus, I didn't really have the time back in the day, but last year, on January 2nd, I posted my very first blog post, which features I horrible Youtube video of me introducing myself and my dog barking like crazy in the background. Little did I know at the time, how much this blog would end up growing, how many amazing friends I would end up meeting, and how many incredibly awesome events, books, and authors I would be introduced to, or that I would start co-blogging on two other blogs besides my own, start my own business, and receive some ARCs. I never expected this, not by a long shot, but surprisingly, here I sit. I'm so very thankful for that. You have no idea how much you and this blog mean to me. It is my entire life. Well, besides reading, working, and making totes!

I'm going to break down some of my accomplishments from the past year here...

Over 30,000 page views

2,903 Published Comments

240 Total Posts

My post describing the opening of my Etsy shop was my most viewed post...at 1,404 views

490 Bloglovin Followers

226 GFC Followers 

1,414 Twitter Followers

257 Facebook likes

1,206 Instagram Followers

Over 100 totes purchased from my Etsy

And absolutely none of these things would've happened without YOU! Yes, you! Thank you, thank you, thank you. (Did I say thank you yet?)

But there are a few individuals from the past year that I met that really changed my life, and I want to take a moment to mention them here.

Sarah @Words With Sarah... You are my bestie brah, my ride-or-die, the Susan Dennard to my SJ Maas (Sorry, I had to pick SJM as me! It's my blogoversary, I'll do what I want!) Before I met you, I didn't know what having a best friend who was just as obsessed with books and writing was like. I wouldn't know what I would be doing if I hadn't come across your blog last year. You make each of my days brighter and definitely funnier! One year down in our friendship, a lifetime to go....See you in Five Months and counting, brah! LOVE YOU!

Andye @Reading Teen....where, oh, where do I start with you?! You. Rock. Simple as that. I came to you just to be one of your Review Your Books reviewers, and a pretty badass friendship has blossomed from that. I'm sorry I've been sucky on the reading front for the past month (blame my mouth!), but I promise to do better in 2015! I absolutely cannot wait to hug you at BEA. That hug is easily going to last for oh about 20 minutes or so! ;) Oh, and you're stuck with me for at least the next year, if you still want me! A large part of my blogging/etsy accomplishments this past year are due to all your magnificent help. You, my dear, are forever a friend of mine, and I seriously heart you!

Pili @In Love With Handmade... Wow, 2014 was a rough year for both of us, huh? It's weird looking back now, because it seemed like those rough months were going to kill me at the time. But they didn't, and you helped a ton with that. They would probably still be killing me if I didn't have you. BUT 2015 is OUR year, girly. Our year to do it all, and be the best we can do. 2014 was full of tears, but 2015 is going to be full of smiles, ya hear?! I'm so thankful to have met you, and collaborated with Ink & Batter and Cover Puppies.. That reminds me, I need to get back to doing that! Until BEA, let's continue to engage in Emergency Dance Parties and SHAKE IT OFF! <3
Amanda @Of Spectacles and Books.... Oh, girl. I was so scared to meet you in real life! LOL! Just because I'm a total hermit, and shy about meeting new people! However, I am so incredibly thankful that I got the courage to go to our very first coffee date! I still can't believe how much we click. Our conversations are always a highlight, and I cannot wait for you to get your booty back to OKC because I MISS YOU! Seriously, Amanda, you are a wonderful person, inside and out, and I'm so, so happy to have met you and that I get to call you my friend. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE SO MUCH FUN THIS YEAR! NTTBF and BEA! AH! LOVE YOU (AND COME HOME NOW!) ;)
I have met so many amazing people in the blogging world over the past year, but these four girls are my very close friends, and I had to highlight that. But that doesn't mean that you don't mean something to me! Because you do! I want to thank you all, readers, fellow bloggers, authors, publishers, publicists. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. 
Now, time for the fun part! 
GIVEAWAY!!!
I know I don't do enough International giveaways, and I have a ton of international followers so I feel really bad, which is why I'm going to open this giveaway up for all of my followers. However, there are some stipulations. I'm going to allow entries for this giveaway for everyone to enter,  yes, BUT followers in the US will be getting a different prize than INTL followers. I hope that sounded right. I'm giving away a box of books to those of you in the US. I don't know for sure what will be in said box, but there will be at least 6-7 books, maybe more. These books will range from ARCs, finished copies, paperbacks, hardcovers, maybe even an audiobook. But if you win and you are INTL, you can choose one (1) book from Book Depository valued no more than $15.00 U.S. dollars. 
Okay, so if you are in the US and win, you will get the box of books. If you are INTL and win, you will get a choice of book from BD. 
Here are the other rules:

**Oh, and here's the rules/mumbo jumbo/stuff you may need to know before entering:**

If winner is in US, they will recieve a box of various books.

If winner is INTL, they will receive their choice of 1 book ($15 or less) from the Book Depository.

Must be 13+ (or have parents permission to enter)

I am not responsible for packages lost/damaged in the mail.
NO PO BOXES.

There will be ONE winner (either US or INTL) chosen randomly by Rafflecopter. Winner will be emailed and have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.

I reserve the right to disqualify any entries I see unfit.

Please don't cheat. Cheaters never win. (Because I check ALL entries. You've been warned!!) 

Giveaway starts today and ends January, 23rd, 2015! 

HAVE FUN!!!! :) 

MAY THE ODDS BE EVER IN YOUR FAVOR!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Again, thank you so much for believing in me this past year. Your friendship means more to me than anything I could ever put into words. It might sound creepy if I tried. Here's a wish for the happiest of new year's to every single one of you. May it be the very best year yet!