***This giveaway is CLOSED.***
Check me out all fancy like!
So, here it is.
And YES…THERE IS A GIVEAWAY THIS WEEK!
Could you. just. DIE.??? So. cute.
Keep reading.
All the crazy chatter, all my cryptic hints.
There is so much to say, so much to do.
Do not be fooled.
This is not just a simple domain name change.
I got me a plan.
I’ll be spending the next week explaining it all to you.
(And yes, I know that many of the buttons on this site go to empty fields. That’s on purpose. I don’t want y’all to get ahead of me.)
Remember this post where I felt like I needed to grow my blog?
Well, it bugged me. A lot. It just nagged and nagged.
“I feel like I need to grow my blog, but it doesn’t make sense. Why on earth would I do that? What would be the purpose? It’s not like I sell anything or make a product. Growing my blog doesn’t seem worth anything.”
“Maybe it’s just to encourage others, Jeannett.”
“Hmmm, yeah, maybe. But that doesn’t feel right. I feel like it’s supposed to be something bigger than that.”
And so, I tossed and turned and thought and thought and prayed.
And then…the Idea.
As soon as the Idea entered my brain, I quickly dismissed it.
For Pete’s Sake, Jeannett…what are you thinking? Why would people do that for you? What makes you think you can convince them to do these things? You don’t have *that* many readers. And they only read. This takes more than just reading.
And then, 3 days after I got the Idea, I won a full-on custom website and blog design package from Simply Delightful Designs.
Oh.
I suppose that having that fancy of a blog seems a bit silly for my daily musings and announcements that “Henry started solids today. His poop was green.“
This Idea I keep talking about?
Well, through the years of blogging, I’ve noticed a couple of things:
- People always seemed genuinely appreciative whenever I was raw and true and said things outloud that may not have been “kosher”. Women appreciate knowing that they aren’t the only ones whose life carried surprises with it. Lives that were rearranged. Things didn’t go according to their plan…when it happened, it was traumatic, it sucked…but looking back, they wouldn’t change it for the world.
- Women want to connect and give back. They may not have much, but they want to feel as if they are part of a larger community and they *desire* to be philanthropic. I think we all have this desire to impact beyond our front stoop. But we don’t know how or why. Or that we can’t afford to. Or don’t even know where to start.
I wanted to take these two things and somehow combine them.
Hence, the Idea:
I plan to host guest bloggers: women who were given lives they would have never imagined would be theirs. Whether it be a major surprise like a child with special needs, a death of a spouse…or something as “little” as just not knowing how on earth to get dinner on the table in a timely manner. Because let’s be honest, with everything I have going on, sometimes just having clean toilets is what stresses me out even more than Jilly’s therapy sessions!
Each guest blogger would also select a charity for whom to fundraise for. AND, the fundraiser would also incorporate a raffle/giveaway to entice giving. Basically, if Sue gives $11 to the charity of the week, she gets 11 virtual tickets for the item/s being given away. The more she gives, the more chances she has to win.
You can expect a new guest blogger and giveaway every 2 weeks.
The rest of the time you can expect my random posts and pictures of my cute kids. Because I’ve been neglecting that part of my “voice” lately and I know I need to bring it back. So do not fear! My sarcasm and wit will return shortly! (I’m sure you’re thrilled.) It’s just that it’ll have some substance to go along with it too now. Kinda like French Fries and Ketchup. Or ice cream and hot fudge.
I think that one of the beauties of blogging is how people can connect and be exposed to things others are going through. Don’t get me wrong, we all need lives outside of Virtual World, but it’s a great way to not feel so isolated sometimes. There are millions of amazing blogs out there. And I don’t know about you, but I don’t have the time to read them all. And as I blog about my own story, you can learn a little about other mama’s struggles. other mama’s hurts. other mama’s joys.
I don’t have it all together.
Chances are, you don’t either.
So let’s quit looking down our noses at one another and realize that *none* of us have lives that are exactly what we dreamed they would be when we were 9 year old little girls playing dollies.
Our lives brought with it tears, sadness, heartache, frustrations, angry rants…but above all, more joy and happiness and love than we even knew possible.
And that, crazy kids…
is my Idea.
I’m freaked out by it.
I know you probably have a million questions…but be patient. I gotta week to get it all in.
In the meantime, the girls at Toile Tales want to give YOU a $30 credit to their shop!
Filled with the cutest crochet hats. Ev.er.
To enter, leave a SEPARATE COMMENT in THIS POST for each of these entries:
- Check out Toile Tales and tell me which is your favorite item.
- Follow me on Twitter.
- Tweet about this giveaway.
- Subscribe to my new blog site.
- Facebook about this giveaway.
- Join my Facebook Fan Page! (Whoa, getting fancy!)
Winner to be announced on Friday, March 19th!
Tell your friends. Let’s make this BIG.
(But not too big, ‘cuz you know, I’m still a mom. To three kids. All 2 and under. And I have two dogs. And a husband. And sleep is helpful. And it’d be nice to read a book sometimes. And take a bubble bath…ha!)
IF YOU ARE UPDATING YOUR BOOKMARKS/READERS/ETC. YOU CAN JUST BOOKMARK WWW.LIFEREARRANGED.COM/BLOG TO BYPASS THE HOMEPAGE IF YOU WANT.
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LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT! Everything about this is fabulous! I heart the look, the concept, the colors, the Idea. I especially admire your wanting to help others and seeking a way to inspire people to do the same!
Best Wishes on your new endeavor. I’ll be following along!
It looks awesome! I’ll bet you didn’t get much sleep this weekend preparing for this! Hang on, I have a feeling you are about to be taken on a ride of a lifetime!
I just LOVE LOVE these hats, each of my girls own one and they are so well crafted!! Great giveaway!
I follow you on Twitter!
I retweeted about today’s blog entry.
Your new blog looks great. I’m interested to see how it all turns out.
I’m “Following” your blog- and I’ve already changed to the new site! Go me!
Ooo, I checked out the hats and I think my favorite is the “Adult Darling” in charcoal. I should probably have picked one for one of my girls instead, but I’m being selfish today. :)
Jeannett–the new blog looks great! I am so excited to see your idea unfold before us. You’re amazing.
Wow! Congratulations. This is so cool. No crickets, see? I’m so impressed by your follow-through on this great idea. So many ideas in my head never get past me writing them down. So proud of you! I can babysit if you ever need some admin time…
I checked out the site and I love the townie hat.. my little man would look adorable in that hat! I also think the new site looks great! Can’t wait to hear the new idea(s).
I just became a fan of your page on Facebook! Woohoo!
I’m a “follower” of your new blog as well! Love it and love reading what you post! Keep it up!
OH OH OH! You go girl! What a fabulous idea!! I have to say the crochet little boy hat are just stinking cute!
Looks great Jeannett! I’ve been excited to see what everything would look like… I’m impressed! And following along for the ride…
I love Toile Tales! I love the Adult Orchid hat you’ve featured. It was my favorite when I came across their site about a week ago too!
What? We have to choose a favorite? Probably the sweetheart, which would make Lola simply irresistible.
Love the new site. How fun and exciting!!
Wow I get to be the first dude to post on your shiny new blog. Looks good.
…oh and I want to see Andy posing with one of those knit hats…why does it have to be a chick thing?
Mkay, LOVE the idea behind the website/blog name. Life rearranged: SO TRUE! Can I nominate myself as a “had life rearranged” person? Oh the tales to be told. Ha, I s’pose we’re all there in one way or the other. Here’s to a new fun creative outlet in your “journey of faith!”
i am so proud of you for taking this leap! and i have to win. really. i want the aviator hat in a bad way.
i follow you on twitter.
just tweeted about it! can you tell i want to win?
you are now in my google reader. well, you were before, too, but now the new you is there.
although i am a fb slacker, i’m posting on this now!
joined your fan page. ok my odds are pretty good now.
I love the Adult Darling in Ecru!!
I follow you on Twitter! (freckledfancies)
I subscribe to your new blog site!
Facebook fan! (Elizabeth Abbott Duan)
What a great idea for your blog! I love the Adult Darling in Brown :)
I love your ideas for your new blog, I look forward to it!
Awesome giveaway!
I like the Adult Townie hat!
I follow you on Twitter!
I’m following you on Facebook!
I couldn’t find a friend connect button on your blog, so I just added you to my Google Reader to follow you!
I updated my Facebook Status with your giveaway!
Love the new blog layout! Can’t wait to see what comes. As far as the caps- I love the Tween darling in olive green or the Tween Townie no visor in charcoal, brown and black for my 8 year old. But I love the 6-12 month shelled sweetheart in pastel pink for my granddaughter (I am a very young grandmother).
I LOVE the site! Gorgeous. I’d be honored to be a g.b.!
Oh my gosh! I can’t pick! they are all soooooo cute! I would probably get something with a flower on it for the babe’s head, but I might pick something with a brim for me…
I follow you on Twitter
@carriehaughey
I have subscribed (well, publicly followed on Google Reader)to your new site. I love it Jeannett! It is such a great idea, and I love your openness and all the granola crunchy stuff you do for your kids, I think i will be fairly granola crunchy for my kids too… I already kind of am…
I am such a Fan! on Facebook that is… ^_^
Tweeted
http://twitter.com/carriehaughey/status/10544398324
Facebooked…
WOW! It looks great!!!!
Get on with your badself, FancyPants!
xoxo
Love the new design! Looks great! I’m loving the Darling hat in Indigo, so adorable!
I also follow you on twitter
And I subscribed to your new site as well!
you are some kinda awesome!
How exciting… it will be fun to see this unfold! ;)
Surely God will bless this new adventure!
Hope it all works out the way you hope it to!
Just Jenn~
I love the shelled hat in Robin’s egg blue… and the red flower to go with it… blue and red make me jump for joy right now!!
What a great giveaway… thanks for the opportunity!