labor day love (and a giveaway of sorts!)

I hope everyone is having a fabulous Labor Day! Don't we just love three day weekends? I wish they happened every week. Sigh. 

I have had a great weekend so far! I was in gorgeous Santa Barbara on Saturday and Sunday to watch my baby sister play volleyball. She goes to college on the East Coast and so I usually only get to see her during the summer and over the holidays. But we were so excited when we found out that her volleyball team was playing in a tournament in Santa Barbara! The weather was amazing, so we hung out at the beach in between my sister's games. It was so relaxing! And, of course, we had such a fun time watching my sister tear up the volleyball court! Even though I only got to see her for a few days, it was worth it! Here are my favorite pictures from the weekend. 

my wonderful baby sister! miss her already!

All Things Beautiful also had a great weekend! I exceeded my personal monthly goal for pageviews. I attended my first ever Blog Brunch and met some terrific new blog friends while gaining a ton of new knowledge. I have some blog beautification that I can't wait to reveal to you all this week. I was included in a list of recommended links by a blogger that I am a huge fan of. And I'm cooking up some really great posts to be included in link-ups with other bloggers!

So because I'm in a wonderful blogging mood, I thought I would participate in the Pay It Forward Giveaway that is floating around the blogosphere! I saw this on my new blogging friend Erin's site ArtSocial and just had to jump in! Here's how it works:

The first three people to comment on this post will receive a gift, a little something from me to you!

The fine print:

• Within a year [I'm with Erin, I'm going to try to do this sooner rather than later], I’ll create something unique to share with the first three people to comment on this post.
• But, in order to receive your present you have to play along.  Spread the love on your own blog promising to send a little special something to the first three people who comment on your post.
• You get 72 hours to re-post, or I’ll have to move on to the next person.

Doesn't this sound like fun? In today's world, we need some more acts of kindness spreading around. 

If you'd like to get a free gift from yours truly, make sure you are one of the first three people to comment! But remember - you gotta pay it forward!

Happy Labor Day!