UPDATE: Winners have been chosen! Congrats to Heather, Rachel, Lacey, and Kerri Anne — you’ve each won (in that order), and I’ll be in touch via email to help you claim your prizes. Thanks so much to all who entered!
Just before the new year, I hit my 500th post here on doniree.com.
WOW.
It sort of happened without any real fanfare. I saw that I was at 497, then I blogged once or twice, and then I imported a couple of posts from the giveaway blog I’d started (that was a weird idea) so as to have everything on this blog and then there it was. 500 Days of Summer Blog Posts.
Let’s reminisce just for a brief moment, shall we? How did I get here?
I started blogging somewhere between Xanga and LiveJournal, back in 2003 or 2004, moved to Blogspot at some point under the pseudonym Lily. I started out anonymously because I wasn’t quite sure what this whole blogging thing was going to turn into for me and with a name like Doniree (it’s gotta be good?) you think about these things. I wasn’t sure how easily I wanted to be found, at least not just yet.
Eventually, I settled on WordPress and blogged for the better part of a couple of years at LilySpeak.com. That domain no longer exists, and while it was a little sad to let it go, I know I’ve got the best parts of that blog with me anyway — YOU.
When I started taking the online friendships offline, attending meetups, summits, and conferences (or just showing up at a happy hour sometime), I nixed the pseudonym and owned this space, out and proud.
This blog was started in October of 2008, and in nearly forty months (roughly 1,200 days) I’ve shared 500+ stories filled with photos, lessons, opinions, ramblings, musings, intentions, and more.
And I am so grateful for this space, as it’s introduced me to you.
Mise en Place
“Mise en place” is a cooking/kitchen term that means “everything in it’s place.”
It’s used to refer to that thing you do when you chop, measure, and prep everything for a meal ahead of time so that when it’s ready to cook, add, stir, and blend, it’s measured, ready, and you can focus on cooking, not prepping.
Earlier this year, I decided to move giveaways, reviews, and my photography off of this blog and into their own separate spaces. I don’t know what I was thinking.
I manage two of my own blogs already, plus the food section Twenties Hacker, plus any other guest writing and food blogging I do other places. Why on earth did I think adding two more blogs was a good idea? Especially as I’m working to give Whiskey Cloud and Wanderlust Media their proper places on the web.
That being said, as we dig deep into 2012, I’m taking a “mise en place” approach with this space. Giveaways, reviews, photography, everything personal will be here, in this space. My food blog will remain my food blog (and is always taking contributors!), and I’m creating a professional corner here, but this space here (does that big circle-y thing with my arms for effect) will collect all of the parts in one space.
A note on the photography blog: while I haven’t been posting a photo a day for the 365 project, I have been taking photos daily and will get that updated (and here) over the next week or so. Maybe 2012 is the year I learn to shoot in a mode other than aperture priority. Or with a lens other than my 50mm.
Then again, maybe not.
A Big, Giant Thank-You, Hugs & Kisses, and THREE Giveaways
As a huge THANK YOU for being a part of this space, whether you’ve been here since the beginning or this is your first visit, I’m offering three different prizes for four lucky readers. When it’s time to draw winners, I’ll use random.org to select the first winner, who will pick their prize. Same for the second, third, and fourth, until the prizes are gone. Here are the prizes:
(1) Free ad space on doniree.com for one month, 1 winner
Size: 150×150, and if you need help creating a badge, I can help with that! Value: $20.00
As a note, I’ll trade ad space for ad space (limited, on a monthly basis), so if you’re interested in doing that, reply to me (@doniree) on Twitter or send me an email.
(1) $20.00 Gift Card to Birchbox, 1 winner
Been thinking about signing up for Birchbox? $20.00 gets you two months of boxes. Or my favorite lip gloss (with six bucks leftover).
This is not a sponsored post and Birchbox isn’t giving me anything for this. I’ve earned some points there, and I don’t need anything right now so I’d rather cash that in and share it with you.
(2) Wanderlust and Love Photo Prints, 2 winners
Your choice! You can check out all of the prints in my Etsy shop here: Wanderlust and Love. Value $12.00/each.
Here’s how to enter:
Easy! Leave a comment below letting me know one (or all!) of the following things (note: leave SEPARATE comments for multiple entries, up to four!):
- Do you have a favorite post or topic that I’ve covered here on doniree.com? If so, which one?
- What do you wish I’d write more about? Anything you want to learn about me?
- Tell me what you’re most proud of, or grateful for, right this second.
- If you won the photo prints, which would you choose? You can see the full selection by visiting my Etsy shop.
{ 43 comments… read them below or add one }
I enjoy reading the blogs that embrace our families. I like seeing things through your eyes, and being reminded how special our families are, and how much love is so very obvious.
I don’t have a favorite post….your entire blog is my favorite. I really enjoyed reading about the Farmer’s Market, though
Just keep writing….I love reading what you write, “hearing what you have to say” so to speak!!
I am most proud of the fact that I am employed by wonderful people. I am grateful for the amazing people I have in my life!
If I won the photo print, I would definitely choose the Morning Latte
I love all of your prints, though 
Yay congrats on 500 posts! I hit 800 recently and was like, holy crap!!
I would love for you to blog more about Portland and your travels!
And I’m most grateful for my healthy pregnancy. There’s some other not so fun stuff going on in our lives right now, so the fact that Baby Bean is healthy and growing is a great source of calm for me.
My favourite posts are when you talk about VOLCANOES.
I wish you’d write more about photography. (Tips, etc.)
And congrats on 500 posts!
Congrats on the big 5-0-0!
More posts about your Portland adventures please.
I’d pick Morning Latte or Bullseye!
Most grateful at the moment for the life I have.
Congratulations on hitting 500 posts! That’s a huge milestone
The thing I’m grateful for right now, and always, is my family. I wouldn’t be where I am today without their love and support.
i’m grateful for you and for BISC and for the year that i’m having and all of the opportunities that i’ve been given.
prepare to have your little DSLR world blown up in Vegas, i’ll teach you to shoot MANUAL.
I love your stories that you weave and lessons you learn from them, like the one about ice skating.
I wish you would write more about your tattoo!! I know there’s no new photos or anything, but I can’t wait to see the progress and finished product. It’s lovely.
RIGHT THIS SECOND, I am in Atlanta, getting ready to go to an event hosted by the PhD program I was just accepted to, and for that I am proud. I am grateful, though, for the hotel they’ve put me up in, because I have a direct view of the CNN world headquarters from my bed. I am an epic nerd.
I would love a print of your Bicycle photo. I’m admittedly obsessed with cruiser style bikes.
I LOVE the bicycle print!
i love when you explore the town you’re living in. that’s always been my favorite when you find a new place to hike or to eat or just anything different wherever you are.
also, yay 500! woo!
Not sure I could pick a favorite. There was one where you blogged about your casual Sunday and Portland. You described and had pictures of all the places you went. I liked that because I got some useful info if I ever re-visted Portland, and I felt I was right there with you.
Like I said from my other comment, I liked the descriptions of places you visit. You have a great eye for detail so if I ever visit Portland I know where to go. Love your photos too!
I am most grateful for my good health, friends, and freelance projects which are coming in!
I think I like morning coffee the best (I could see if hanging in my kitchen) but the red velvet cupcake is a close second.
Ah this is awesome! Okay the first one is tough, because I love everything you write…one of my absolute favorites was one where you talked about you and the BF being on a collision course to meet each other (although now that I think maybe that was on StrateJoy?? not sure…) Anyway – another favorite is the one you wrote about all the feelings that come from growing up and experiencing new things in life…I think it was right after your niece was born?? So many more to choose from (500!) but those are the ones that come to mind…
Next – I have been eyeing that Morning Latte print in Etsy…get me some of that
In real life and printed form, please 
Next – I have been eyeing that Morning Latte print in Etsy…get me some of that
In real life and printed form, please 
Right now I am super grateful for my roommate, for being someone who just gets me, accepts me, and is there for everything life throws my way. She is awesome!!
I love your posts from the yoga mat, you know the ones I’m talking about? The intentions, ideas, and lessons you learn and how that carries over to life. So inspiring!
I’d like to read more personal posts. What’s going on in your life? What did you and Chris do last week? Pictures of your new house?
I’m most proud of and grateful for my healthy body and my ability to continue training for my half-marathon next weekend!
Your prints are gorgeous. I’d love to win the Morning Latte!
Most grateful for, right this second: A new home I absolutely love; amazing(ly beautiful and intelligent and hilarious) friends; hot cappuccino in front of my face.
I *loved* your post What Does It Mean to Live With An Open Heart? Beautiful post, really well written.
LOL! I only ever shoot in aperture priority too.
What am I grateful for??? Hmmm. My supportive co-workers, who make life so much easier. I’ve accomplished so much lately.
RIGHTTHISSECOND I’m super grateful that I’ve finally found an apartment to live in. I’ve been living out of suitcases for the past three weeks now in DC and I’m so happy to unpack and have a closet this weekend.
If I won the prints, I think I’d go with the bicycle and the bull’s eye. They match enough to hang well together, but not so much they look too matchy-matchy. Or is that just me?
Also? Congrats on the 500th post! I’m getting close (not really ~394ish) and it’s intimidating!
I’d want that cupcake print!
I’m grateful for girlfriends who offer up their own boyfriends to be stand in Valentine dates (but no thank you.)
I’m sooooo grateful for the health of the people close to me. A close friend is facing major cancer/illness with three very important family members, and I just feel for her. I’m so sad about the situation, and I can’t imagine how she feels. So I’m very grateful for health.
Entry #1
My favorite prints are bullseye and this way to the restrooms
Entry #2
I like your posts about home living and also products you like very miuch. I’d like to see more of those. (Tell us about your new place!)
Entry #3
I’d definitely pick the “Quiet Path” print if I won! LOVE that photo, Doni! (Although I also love the grape shot in Wenatchee, for obvious reasons!)
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