Hi sweet friends!

Thank you so much for sharing your email for the Chalk Lots newsletter.  Last night, Charlie and I cut up all of the names into thin paper strips and drew one name.  It felt good to do it the old fashioned way instead of the random number generator I have used in the past.   It felt sort of like how Chalk Lots feel.  Real, genuine, comfortable.  Like a warm cocoa on a cool winter day.  Anyhow, I seriously wish I could give you all a set.  I SO would if I could!  But, Emily, you are the winner of the Chalk Lots Giveaway.  And since I have your email, I will be emailing you to let you know!

Again, thanks so much, friends.  It means a lot.  

xx, leslie

My heart is never happier than when I have my three children around me.

I can't believe in less than two weeks it will be Thanksgiving Day!  It's so hard to believe.  

 Good Morning Friends!  Happy Sunday!

Happy Valentines Day, Friends!

Just wanted to let you know that I was doing a little Valentine Celebration and offering 25% off all Chalk Lots orders.  Enter code justlove at checkout to receive the discount.

Hope ALL your days are full of love.

Hey Friends!

For those interested, giving away 3 sets (4/set) Chalk Lots over on Chalk Lots Instagram Account.
Head on over if you want to enter!

xx, leslie

Hiya Friends!

Can you believe this little blog is 10 years old today!  I know!  It's so hard to believe that today, marks a friend to knit with's 10 year anniversary!  I remember this day ten years ago so clearly.  Our computer (our "office") was in the basement.  Andrew, my youngest,  had just started kindergarten and I felt as though I now had some to dive into a blog.  Right after I put the kids on the bus, I headed down to the basement, coffee in hand,  and started this blog.  I was super nervous to hit publish.  (I actually still get a little nervous!)   I didn't have a laptop. I didn't have a DSLR.  Just a little point and shoot camera and a big 'ol desktop in the basement. And, it became the beginning of my little space on the internet.

I can't even express what this blog has meant to me.  And I can't even express how much I appreciate each and every visitor and comment I have received.  Finding like minded people with the same interests and passions is a true gift. Blogging in the knitting community has been a complete honor.
These past few months, I have become very emotional about the passing of time.  I have been so grateful that I have my blog to go back in time.  If you are ever on the fence about blogging, I say DO IT!

To celebrate ten years, I'd like to offer $10.00 off your purchase of Chalk Lots Placemats.  Use coupon code AFTKWis10 at checkout.  And please, feel free to pass along to your friends.  Chalk Lots make great holiday gifts for those who like to plan ahead! :)

I'll be back tomorrow with one of my best giveaways.  Yarn, of course.

As always, thanks for stopping by!

xx, leslie

So... Summer is over?! Say it isn't so. I just can't believe it. I just can't believe that the new school year is here, already.

Yesterday, after I took Andrew to school, I came home and stood in the kitchen.  Feeling an overwhelming amount of sadness.  Although, extremely grateful, I just can't believe that I am left with only one child at home.  I decided to blast some music like I have in the past.  I chose the Brett Dennen station on Pandora and the first song was "Nothing Lasts Forever".  Really?!  I know this!  But, Please!  You don't have to rub it in!

So, I turned off the music and read my old "back to school" blog posts.
Cried a bunch of tears. (Pure torture.)
Made my annual back to school brownies.
Wandered around the house.
Tried for 45 minutes to get contacts into my eyes.  (New to me.)
Wandered around the house.
Sat on our new sofa.
Tried for 20 minutes to get the contacts out of my eyes.
Wandered around the house.
Finally, I knit a few rows.
And, all of a sudden, all felt good in the world.

So, I'm thinking I haven't even mention where Libby will be headed in the fall.  The University of Colorado.  It's so hard for me to believe that when I started writing this blog, Libby was 8 years old and in second grade.  To all the young young mamas out there... the days are long but the years are fast.  Try really hard to settle in and enjoy every minute.  Even when there are dirty dishes and piles of laundry.  It truly can all wait.
Libby's core group of friends are going to be spread out all over the United States.  I'm so excited for their next Chapter.

Oh!  Of course those are our beloved Chalk Lots.  :)

Hey Friends!
We've packed the bags and most of the kids, and are headed to Alaska!  Airplane knitting here I come!
I'm going to try to post pics, daily, on Instagram if I can find WiFi. (Except for the painful 24 hours I told the kids they couldn't have their phones!)  I'm also going to take a Chalk Lots List along for the adventure, too, if you would like to follow along here.
See you soon!
xx,
leslie

Licorice.

I have the most wonderful memories with my kids gathered around the table with Chalk Lots.  Drawing, doing homework, playing games and leaving funny notes.  They are always on our table.  The best is when their friends come over and leave us funny drawings. It truly makes me happy down to the core.

Chalk Lots helps get our kids engaged with their sweet mamas!  Unplug and draw funny faces, play games, work out those times tables and write lots of LOVE notes! (Not to mention, a list of their chores!)

In celebration of our amazing moms, aunts, grandmothers and sisters out there in the world, Chalk Lots are 25% off through May 9.  Enter THANKYOUMOM at checkout.

Libby and I had a little Easter photoshoot last week for Chalk Lots with our treasures from Target.  They had the cutest, CUTEST decorations.  They may have a few of those jars left on super sale!
 This year there was only one extremely talented egg dyer.  The other someone said that vinegar makes him sick to his stomach.
 What a masterpiece we ended up with!
The plastic egg hunt was a success.
55 small eggs.
5 large eggs.
1 golden egg.
4 eggs are still missing.  Including the coupon for lunch at their favorite Chinese restaurant.  Wonder if it will ever show up.

Craft Beer or Beer + Crafts?
Of course, I'm all about the crafts!  (With a little beer.)
Hope your St. Patricks day was fun.
Happy weekend!

 But, this particular day, it was true, I was out of butter.  And it was like the cookie Gods intersected and showed me Katie's post highlighting her favorite cookie. With every one of her family members loving these cookies.  And better yet, it involved vegetable oil instead of butter.  I usually steer away from recipes like this.  Or I use almond oil.  Or sunflower oil.  But this time I went for it and used the vegetable oil.
And guess what?  They are exactly what Katie said.  A pillowy brownie that is rolled in powdered sugar.  A chocolate lovers dream.

They make a great gift for the peeps on your holiday list or yourself!

As part of the happy weekend (black friday, small business saturday, cyber monday) we are offering 25% off your order. Enter code Happy at check out.

Thank you and have a Happy day!

xx,
leslie

Hey friends!
Remember the chalkboard placemats?  Well, we finally named them (Chalk Lots!) and are doing a little giveaway over on Instagram.  So, if you are on Instagram, follow @chalklots and you will automatically be entered into the contest.  We are giving away 5 boxes, 4/box.  Head on over and tag a friend or family member, too.  They make a great gift and a really great addition to the new school year!
P.S.  You can always purchase them here and here.  :)

 I've had a thing for pallet tables lately.  This pallet table was not my idea.  I saw it floating around on instagram.  And since I have my business set up in a warehouse full of pallets, I thought it would be fun to grab a few and throw a dinner party for Libby and her friends.
 I have been using this website for pallet inspiration.  I guess you can always find a pallet here or there.
And of course, the chalkboard place mats are available here or here.
 Their dinner was simple.  Just a few summer time light dishes.
 {Oh how I love my girls feet.}
 Libby's friend Maggie is quite the baker.  She brought a lemon poppyseed gluten free pound cake.  It was delicious.
It really was quite magical.
And now, I want to have some girlfriends over and do it all again.

Have a happy weekend, friends.

I think this was the fastest summer of all time. I just can't believe that we are headed into another school year. As my kids grow, time picks up speed. I always heard that would happen. It is so true. It is so hard to believe I will have a sophomore (yikes), an eighth grader and a sixth grader. How does that happen when I don't feel a day older? (No really, I don't.)