Dear readers,

Dear blog readers.  I apologize for no outfit post.  It's not for lack of leaving the house as I wore sweatpants and Ugg like boots to the store.  Not cute sweatpants, but baggy grey ones tucked into my boots. Thankfully I was only a small contender for worst dressed at Walmart. 

Dear snow.  Why must you come every single Saturday since Christmas.  Every Saturday for the last several weeks at least, I've planned on leaving the house for a few hours alone and everytime it snows and I end up staying home.  

Dear Addilyn.  Please stop growing so fast.  This week alone you've been able to hold yourself up against the couch, babble more than ever, sit in a shopping cart, give me open mouth kisses and belly laugh.  I love how much you are learning but it reminds me how fast this time is going! 

Dear buffalo chicken pasta.  You are on the menu for Monday night. 

Dear photo book.  I finally completed you but am slightly worried because the whole book only contains pictures from Addilyn's first week of life.  I may never catch up.  

Dear fitness blender.  Thank you for making free workout videos that are super hard and remind me that I am not in shape.  I plan on using you at least three times a week. 

Dear Autumn.  Thank you for starting your blog.  I have loved getting to know you and your adorable family. I love your diy projects, your photography skills and I want to attend the parties you throw.  And thank you for giving away a $30 gift card to Target.  I wish I could win!

Hello there fellow Katie fans and followers! Isn't she the greatest? I am just thrilled to pieces to have this opportunity to say a little something on her blog today.

…Ok that is not entirely true. Am I Grateful? Absolutely! But I think “nervous wreck” is probably a better description of my current emotions. I’ve been racking my brain trying to come up with a cute, clever, catchy way to describe myself that would instantly endear you to me. Perhaps I need a jingle? Hmm. Too bad I’m musically incompetent. Oh well. I guess I will go with an honest introduction and hope for the best. 

Here goes:

To begin with, I am new to blogging. As a veteran blogger that I follow put it, I’m in that “zero to 100 range where no one takes you seriously.” I feel like the new kid on the block, and I’m still trying to navigate this tricky territory of blog-land. From what I’ve been able to gather people aren’t particularly fond of these guest post things. Odds are you aren’t even reading anymore and you’ve bypassed this post altogether, or you’ve skipped on down to the giveaway (which, if that’s the case I can’t really blame you—it’s probably what I would do). 

In the off chance that you are still reading this (thanks by the way) here’s a little about me and my blog.

First off, you may be wondering… why “The Ausam Life?” Good question! My name is Autumn and my husband’s name is Sam, thus Autumn + Sam… well, you get the point. We figured out the pun early on in our relationship and it’s been our little inside joke ever since. We have a beautiful blue-eyed baby girl named Klair, and my blog chronicles the adventures of our little family. That’s actually what Katie and I have in common, and why I love “For Lauren and Lauren” so much. We are both brand new mamas of baby girls trying to figure out this difficult business of life and parenting. Katie is also a spiritual giant, and, as a religious person myself, I draw strength from her unreserved displays of faith.

 I am a former social studies teacher turned stay-at-home mom. With this new gig I've recently discovered a love for all things domestic--thanks Pinterest! I guess it was in me all along. Cooking, crafting, DIYs… I love it all. I post about these attempts, fashion, photography, and anything else that I decide to. My blog is essentially a creative outlet, a reflection of the inner workings of my mind, and a way for me to connect with other people. Even though I’m relatively new to it all, I've already gained so much inspiration from this great community and I look forward to making more connections. I hope you’ll take the time to come on over to my humble little blog and say hello.

And now, the part you’ve all been waiting (or skimming) for: the giveaway!!! Good Luck! J

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thank you for entering!  Winner will be contacted in a week!