***This giveaway is no longer accepting entries – see who won below!***
Well, after a blog-busting (literally) 18,018 entries across two posts (the first one got overloaded after reaching 10,680 entries so we had to start a second one) we finally have one lucky winner in what has become our biggest giveaway to date. In case anyone was worried about how this would all be tallied, we used random.org to generate a random number between 1 and 18,018 and located the comment that correlated with that number across both posts (although you guys can no longer access the comments on the first post, they’re all visible to us in our WordPress dashboard, so we were also able to confirm that our winner did not have any duplicate entries as we always do). So let’s get to the good news: the winner of a $500 West Elm gift card is… CATHERINE (who must be a Richmonder because she, like us, is sad that our local Short Pump West Elm store is no longer open). Congrats Catherine – and happy shopping! Not that we’re jealous. Wait, we are.
Wow, so apparently we hit comment capacity on our big $500 blogiversary giveaway from West Elm. We didn’t even know that could happen! It appears that the original post is too overloaded to accept any more comments, but the ones that were entered will still be counted (so please don’t enter again on this one if you already entered that one or your entries will be invalidated).
We’ve created this post to continue accepting new entries (from folks who didn’t enter the first one) until the giveaway ends at 8pm EST on Wednesday, September 21st OR when this post reaches 10,000 comments, whichever comes first. To recap, we’ve included the entry instructions and details below.
- PRIZE: A $500 gift card to West Elm (!!) courtesy of their new blog Front & Main
- TO ENTER: Comment on this post with the words “WEST ME” and…
- BONUS QUESTION: …since we’re celebrating starting our blog four years ago, tell us how your world is different than it was in 2007. Do you live in a new place? Have a new job? Are you in a new relationship? Or maybe you just have a new hairdo or tattoo?
- GIVEAWAY CLOSES: Wednesday, September 21st at 8pm EST
- NUMBER OF WINNERS: One
- PRIZE SHIPS: The 50 United States (although we do try to wrangle as many international giveaways as possible)
- USUAL STUFF: One entry per e-mail address is permitted. The winner will be selected using random.org and announced on Thursday as an update to this post. That’s right, come right back here on Thursday for the announcement of our winner. Good luck…
Note: We weren’t paid or perked for hosting this giveaway, we just do ‘em to thank you awesome folks for stopping in. See our Giveaway FAQ page for more info. Pics courtesy of West Elm.
Jenifer says
West Me! Four years ago I was a freshman in college, and now I’m married with a house that I have NO idea how to decorate, which is why I’m here!
Vicki says
West Me !
In 2007 I was single, living in an attic, working a job I loved. In 2011, I’m married, living in a home with my husband, baby, and stepkids, and mostly staying home /writing a play!
PS – you guys are so generous – looking forward to the week of blogiversary-ing!
Rachei says
West Me! Married, baby, job, house, dog, vehicles…blessed:) Thank you Lord!!
Nicole T says
West me! After doing the active military thing as a wife for years and years, I’m finally settling into a home and decorating. YHL has changed my decorating life and given me confidence to figure out my own style!
And I already have glasses and dishes picked out from West Elm!
jenn says
West me!!!! I bought my first home got a good job in the government and my once lil baby started kindergarten
Korie says
WEST ME!
Since 2007 I have graduated from college, moved across the country, got a dog, and a new job!
Katherine says
West me! I’ve got a sweet new baby, and want a new rug for him to drool on!
Julie says
West Me. Just got married and working on making our house a home
Heather says
WEST ME!
In 2007 I was still working on my Undergraduate degree and since then I have gotten married, completed my Master’s degree and had a beautiful baby girl (she’s 9 months old). :)
Bonnie says
WEST ME!
Life has changed since 2007: a new home, a new job, back in school (working on my master’s degree) and our son is now almost 9 years old, which is surreal but wonderful! Life is GREAT.
Britney says
WEST ME! I had just met my future hubby and was living with a crazy roommate!
Kim says
WEST ME!!
I moved three times!
Julie H says
WEST ME
staceys says
West Me!
got married, left my job, moved, had a baby
kristen says
west me!
new house, another pup, fiance became husband, baby girl (now 9 months old…love your clara posts btw!)…worlds away from the 2007 me i once knew.
after reading your post about how much time it takes you to go through all of these comments, i am feeling torn about joining in on the 10,000+ entries for this giveaway! well, i guess i can’t help myself. you guys are the best, thank you!!!
Emily says
WEST ME!
I’m now married, live in the mid-west (I used to live in the great Commonwealth of VA), have had three jobs, and follow your blog daily! Please “West Me!”
Jennifer says
WEST ME :)
My 1978 model house finally has new hardwood, tile, and trim! :0)
Jessica says
West me!
I have two boys now & a new home!
Alec Johnson says
WEST ME! In 2007 I met the love of my life who I’m marrying in less than a month!
Sarah says
WEST ME!
In 2007, I had just moved to NYC on a whim and since then I met the love of my life, got married and moved back home to Richmond, VA :)
Becky says
West me!
In four years… I’ve had 2 kids, moved from FL to TN, and bought 3 houses.
lindsay says
West me!!!
In four years, wow! I was dating a guy, but since then, I got my first job out of college, then married to that sweet man! Life is good!
Derek says
West me!
Since 2007, I’ve finished grad school, been working in the real world, now married and hoping to buy our first house soon.
Michelle says
WEST ME!!! I am a newlywed and rocking a newly empty nest. We are building a new house.
Anita says
WEST ME!! A lot has changed in four years – I got married and we’re trying to have a baby!! $500 would help a lot as we re-do our guest room/office – I love those parsons desks.
Tam says
West me!
What hasn’t changed since 2007?! Got married, started a new job, had a baby boy, bought a new house… so many great things!
April says
West me!
I have two beautiful girls (instead of just one) and that’s resulted in me feeling like a taxi driver half the time and a referee the other half!
Love the blog! Look forward to the posts throughout the day.
Kelly says
WEST ME!
Since 2007 we bought a house, got engaged, got married, adopted 2 puppies, and had a little girl! It has been a busy 4 years!
Leslie Parent says
WEST ME!!! Soooo much has changed since 2007… I’m now married, we have our “baby” (a golden retriever), and I’ve finished my training and have a “real” job!
Lindy says
WEST ME!
I now have a little one (and another on the way), we’ve moved to a new city, and my husband and I have learned A LOT about fixing thing ourselves and decorating on a shoe-string budget to save money!
ashley says
WEST ME!! (pretty please!) yep, everything has changed.. graduated college, moved to new city, got married, got a second puppy, bought a house, ran a marathon. :)
David says
WEST ME!
I met my awesome girlfriend.
Allie says
WEST ME!
Yikes, lots is different for me! In 2007 I was a college sophomore, getting ready to study abroad and convinced I’d come back fluent in French. I’m now in grad school in a different city, studying an entirely different field, and with a different significant other. And I never got very good at French!
Jess says
West Me!
In 2007: I was still in college working really hard to get my teaching degree.
Now: I’m a teacher, and have been for 3 years!
2007: I was in the midst of breaking up with a longtime boyfriend.
Now: I’m with a different guy, and have been for almost 4 years now <3
2007: I had shoulder length light brown hair
Now: I have long hair with lots of colors: blondes,browns, and reds.
2007: Still living with my parents dreaming of the day I would have freedom.
Now: I have been on my own for almost two years now, and soon to be moving in with my boyfriend.
2007: Tattoo free.
Now: I have a small black outline of a heart on my ankle :)
Casey Rogers says
WEST ME!!! Since 2007 I went to school, got my BFA in Graphic Design, worked for a newspaper, got married, started a wedding photography business with my hubby, got my own wedding stationary business up and running, and started my new job at a Marketing firm and moved to Fort Worth, Texas!.. wow, I have too many jobs.
Kim says
“WEST ME”
Not much has changed in 4 years!
Jennifer says
WEST ME!
Bought a bigger, newer (but still old) house last year, but other than that, not much has changed!
Karina says
West Me… Four years ago I was a Freshman in College- now I am 1 year into my first real job, living with my best friend/boyfriend an totally wanting to get something new for our place ;)
Lisa says
West Me! Amazing how much can change in four years.
Erin says
WEST ME!
In the last four years, I swapped jobs, got married, bought a house and have a new, all-consuming hobby of trying to fix the house.
Ann M says
WEST ME!
In 4 years I’ve become a first time homeowner. I went from a tiny one bedroom (if you could call it that) where I lived for almost 20 years… to a 4 bedroom home. Still have empty rooms to fill. Please YHL, WEST ME, WEST ME! ;))
Lindsey says
West Me!
We have had 2 kids since 2007. A daughter born in 2008 and a son born in 2010. Our world has definitely been flipped upside down in the past 4 years…in an amazing way!
molly says
WEST ME
I moved on to graduate school. While I enjoy the academic lifestyle, I wish it actually involved an income to do cool yhl inspired diy projects.
congratulations on 4 years!
Ro says
west me!
and in 4 years, we had our daughter, got a new car, opened a new business, and i just got a new haircut! whee!
Dana says
WEST ME!!!!!
April says
WEST ME!
I moved to Texas and became a librarian!
Debbie says
WEST ME!
in four years I’ve moved away for college, met the majority of my best friends (including my now husband), gotten engaged, graduated college, moved to a new state, gotten married, gotten a dog and cat, started graduate school and started two new jobs!
Rachael says
WEST ME!
2007 was the year my now husband and I started dating! Since then we have gotten married, had a little boy, and relocated to a new state (Virigia!!). It’s been a whirl wind of a few years in the best way possible :).
Congrats to 4 years!!
Lauren says
WEST ME! oh man… I’ve sold 2 houses, bought 2 houses, & had 2 babies at one time! (we love our twins) Yeah our lives are slightly different!
Ashley says
West me! Have had baby #2 & our fam has moved 1/2 way across the country!