It's Here! Ultimate Blog Party 2013!

No. It's just not possible. How in the world did an entire year pass by and we find ourselves participating in the Ultimate Blog Party once again? Where does the time go?

As what has turned into an annual event over here, the girls and I are excited to get in on the fun and excitement that only a massive virtual party can bring. Hey, who wouldn't be a little pumped up about a hip and happening gathering that you can attend in your sweats or pj's?

Having participated in UBP in 2010, 2011 and 2012, we thought we'd try something a little different this year and act like proper hostesses.

Please do come in. Can I take your coat? Get you a beverage? How about a cupcake? Go ahead and take two, they're Carrot Cupcakes, so that means they're totally healthy for you, right?

You might want to hurry, though. I'm just saying that with my kids invited to the party, it only takes glancing away once and you might find them both covered in frosting next to an empty plate.

If you aren't here for the Ultimate Blog Party and are wondering what in the world I'm talking about, take my word for it that I'm not just rambling incoherently. The amazing ladies behind 5 Minutes for Mom throw an annual bash (this is number seven!) that continues to grow each year that somehow manages to take the vast hugeness that is the blogosphere and shrink it down into something fun, unique and personal.

By introducing bloggers from all ends of the spectrum to each other, it makes it possible to jump right in and meet new writers from all corners of the earth. In the past three years that we've participated in UBP, I have continued to be amazed at the blogs that I've visited, the people that I've chatted with, and just how much our week was brightened by having new and old friends stop by and comment. On that note...

If you are here for the Ultimate Blog Party, welcome to Thanks, Mail Carrier! The girls and I are glad that you stopped by and we hope that you're having a great time at this unique event. If you feel like entering a giveaway or two or 20 while you're here, please feel free! We do like to give stuff away around here, there's something so satisfying about telling someone that they're a winner. Who doesn't like to hear that?

But even if you don't enter, please do leave a comment! We truly do make our way around to every single visitor's party as soon as possible, so of course we want to know that you stopped by!

You named your blog Thanks, Mail Carrier?

Indeed I did. Although my kids might have a slightly skewed view as to what is "normal" for a mail carrier to deliver on any given day, it's still just as exciting to hear the familiar vrooom of a vehicle coming down our block. It doesn't matter if it's USPS, UPS, or FedEx, you'll still find us peering out the window to try to catch a first glimpse at what might arrive. Who doesn't love getting the mail?

And you are...?

Why, hello! I'm Xenia (pronounced Za-knee-a), a stay-at-home-mom with a background in journalism and a degree in elementary education. When I'm not writing my next review, I'm hanging out with my kiddos, known here on the blog as Big Sister E and Little Sister B.

My 6-year-old, Big Sister E, is intelligent, caring, creative, inventive, beautiful, extremely stubborn and is thrilled every day to attend kindergarten. She loves books, games, arts & crafts, being adored by her sister and my baked nachos.

Then there's my 4-year-old, Little Sister B. From birth she has been sweet, happy, independent, loud, bull-headed, and my funny little comedienne. She likes giving her sister big hugs, pretending with play food, princesses, preschool, making new friends everywhere she goes and winning. Doesn't matter at what, as long as she wins. She's a crazy one, that girl, but her energy and enthusiasm for life never cease to inspire me.

Together, the three of us (and Daddy too, every now and again) have been reviewing products and sites from all across the spectrum since 2009. From apparel to jewelry to food to household items to music to shoes to toys to gear to technology... to everything in between — we've worked hard but have also enjoyed doing it more than I ever would have guessed.

But while blogging has introduced me to opportunities, experiences and travels that I never would have expected or thought possible, none of it compares to the people that I've met and the friendships that I've made over the years.

This community may be bigger than I can imagine and growing by the day, but I am so grateful and glad to be a part of it with all of you. If you're a hugger, I've got one here for you... if not, hey, that's okay, too. High five!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Don't be a stranger, come back and visit anytime, we're always happy to have people stop over. Now, go enjoy the rest of the party and we'll be sure to say hello when we come stop by your place!

It's that time of year again... Ultimate Blog Party 2012!

Sure, spring means melting snow and flowers and sunshine... but, in the blogging world, spring can only really mean one thing: Ultimate Blog Party.

As what has turned into an annual event over here, the girls and I are excited to get in on the fun and excitement that only a 3,000+ guest party can bring. Hey, wouldn't be a little pumped up about a virtual gathering like that?

Having participated in UBP in 2011 and 2010, we thought we'd try to fancy things up a bit by wearing our finest gowns this year.

As I suspected, however, that just led to things getting a little silly. Not that there's anything wrong with being silly at a party, mind you, but with these two invited, one case of the giggles can send the whole shindig downhill in a hurry.

In the end, it is best if we stick with just being ourselves, isn't it? Because that's the true meaning of getting together with friends and enjoying meeting new people.

So, after changing back into our everyday attire, now we're comfortable and happy and ready to party.

If you aren't here for the Ultimate Blog Party and are wondering what in the world I'm talking about, take my word for it that I'm not just rambling incoherently. The amazing ladies behind 5 Minutes for Mom throw an annual bash (that continues to grow each year) that somehow manages to take the vast hugeness that is the blogosphere and shrink it down into something fun, unique and personal.

By introducing bloggers from all ends of the spectrum to each other, it makes it possible to jump right in and meet new writers from all corners of the earth. In the past two years that we've participated in UBP, I have continued to be amazed at the blogs that I've visited, the people that I've chatted with, and just how much our week was brightened by having new and old friends stop by and comment. On that note...

If you are here for the Ultimate Blog Party, welcome to Thanks, Mail Carrier! Those crazy girls up there and I are glad that you stopped by and we hope that you're having a great time at this unique event. If you feel like entering a giveaway or two or 20 while you're here, please feel free! We do like to give stuff away around here, there's something so satisfying about telling someone that they're a winner. Who doesn't like to hear that?

But even if you don't enter, please do leave a comment! We truly do make our way around to every single visitor's party as soon as possible, so of course we want to know that you stopped by!

You named your blog Thanks, Mail Carrier?

Indeed I did. Although my kids might have a slightly skewed view as to what is "normal" for a mail carrier to deliver on any given day, it's still just as exciting to hear the familiar vrooom of a vehicle coming down our block. It doesn't matter if it's USPS, UPS, or FedEx, you'll still find us peering out the window to try to catch a first glimpse at what might arrive. Who doesn't love getting the mail?

And you are...?

Why, hello! I'm Xenia (pronounced Za-knee-a) and here I am doing my best red-carpet-look-like-a-goon pose last year at BlogHer.

Enough about me, though. Let's talk about those kiddos of mine up pictured up there and are who are known here on the blog as Big Sister E and Little Sister B.

My 5-year-old, Big Sister E, is intelligent, caring, creative, inventive, beautiful, extremely stubborn and is thrilled over recently having lost her first two teeth. She loves books, games, arts & crafts, being adored by her sister, preschool, swim lessons, and her best friend (who loves bugs. Which is ironic, as Big Sister E strongly has my run-shrieking-from-the-room-at-the-first-sign-of-a-spider gene).

Then there's my 3-year-old, Little Sister B. From birth she has been sweet, happy, independent, loud, bull-headed, and my funny little comedienne. She likes giving her sister big hugs, pretending with play food, playing in the dirt, and jumping. Lots of jumping. She's a crazy one, that girl, but her energy and enthusiasm for life never cease to inspire me.

Together, the three of us (and Daddy too, every now and again) have been reviewing products and sites from all across the spectrum since 2009. From apparel to jewelry to food to household items to music to shoes to toys to gear to technology... to everything in between - we've worked hard but have also enjoyed doing it more than I ever would have guessed.

But while blogging has introduced me to opportunities and experiences that I never would have expected or thought possible, none of it compares to the people that I've met and the friendships that I've made over the years. This community may be bigger than I can imagine and growing by the day, but I am so grateful and glad to be a part of it with all of you. If you're a hugger, I've got one here for you... if not, hey, that's okay, too. High five!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Don't be a stranger, come back and visit anytime, we're always happy to have people stop over. Now, go enjoy the rest of the party and we'll be sure to say hello when we come stop by your place!

Ultimate Blog Party 2011! We're Partying Once Again!

Hold the phone, did someone say party? Ultimate Blog Party?

Oh, we're so there. We've been excited for this big ol' bloggy bash to roll around since... well, since last year. The excitement over it finally being time is pretty hard to contain and we're quite literally jumping for joy that it is time once again.

But I have had a special request this year to ask you if you've brought cake. Because we loved all of our visitors in 2010 and the chance to get to know you all... but, really, we needed some cake.

Cake makes every party better, doesn't it?

If you aren't here for the Ultimate Blog Party and just happen to be reading this post wondering if I've lost my mind, please rest assured that I haven't (at least not completely). 5 Minutes for Mom throws an annual bash that takes the vast hugeness of the blogosphere and somehow makes it seem... personal.

The whole concept is to form new online friendships and have the chance to meet and visit with bloggers from all ends of the spectrum. As I mentioned, we jumped in headfirst last year for the first time and... wow. Just, wow. There are some pretty amazing blogs out there that I didn't know about and some pretty cool bloggers that came by and brightened our week with their comments. So...

If you are here for the Ultimate Blog Party, welcome to Thanks, Mail Carrier! Those crazy girls up there and I are glad that you stopped by and we hope that you're having a great time at this unique event. If you feel like entering a giveaway or two or two dozen while you're here, please feel free! We do like to give stuff away around here, there's something so satisfying about telling someone that they're a winner. Who doesn't like to hear that?

But even if you don't enter, please do leave a comment! We're actually on vacation right now and I will be slowly but surely making my way around to every single visitor's party as soon as I can and I want to know that you stopped by! Also, if you follow or subscribe, let me know so that I can return the favor!

What's up with calling your blog Thanks, Mail Carrier?

What can I say? We love the mail! My daughters might have a slightly skewed view as to what is "normal" for a mail carrier to deliver on any given day, but that's okay. As soon as we hear the vrooom of a vehicle coming down our block, you can find the girls and I peering out the window to try to catch a first glimpse at what the USPS, UPS, or FedEx truck might be bringing.

Tell me more about your kids.

Well, certainly. I don't think you have to ask too many moms more than once to do that.

My 4-year-old, Big Sister E, is caring, creative, inventive, beautiful, stubborn, and acts completely shy when meeting new people (she won't even make eye contact) even though she talks nonstop when we're at home. She loves books, games, arts & crafts, being adored by her sister, preschool, swim lessons, and trying to charm her mother into giving her sweets "because I was good. Right? I was good? I have something special now, Mama? Huh? Can I?"

Then there's my 2-year-old, Little Sister B. She's a crazy one, that girl. She is sweet, happy, independent, loud, bull-headed, and my funny little comedienne. She likes giving her sister big hugs, pretending with play food, singing Row, Row, Row Your Boat, and jumping. Lots of jumping.

Together, the three of us (and Daddy too, every now and again) have been reviewing products and sites from all across the spectrum since 2009. From apparel to jewelry to food to household items to music to shoes to toys to gear to technology... to everything in between - we've worked hard but have also enjoyed doing it more than I ever would have guessed.

Blogging has opened my eyes to an entire world that I didn't know existed and has brought me opportunities that I never would have thought possible when I first started writing. I've been flown across the country more than once, attended amazing events, actually succeeded at a weight loss program, and opened my door to find pretty incredible products on the other side. Do I consider myself lucky? Absolutely.

However, none of it compares to the people I've met and the friendships that I've made through blogging. This community may be bigger than I can imagine and growing by the day, but I am so grateful and glad to be a part of it with all of you. I just hope that the friends that I talk to that help keep me going know just how important they are.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Don't be a stranger, come back and visit anytime, we're always happy to have people stop over. Now, go enjoy the rest of the party! We'd really like to give you a big hug before you go, but since that's not possible, we'll just have to stick with the little lovefest that we're having here instead.

Now, really. When is someone going to pass the cake?

Ultimate Blog Party 2010 - Let's Party!

Well, hi there. Thanks for stopping by! Did you come to join the party? Are you dressed for it?

No, it isn't black tie. It's pajamas and accessories, a common uniform around here.

If you aren't here for the Ultimate Blog Party and are wondering what in the world I'm talking about, head on over to 5 Minutes for Mom to get the lowdown on this unique, fun way to build new online friendships. This is my first year participating in this annual event and I'm pretty excited about it. Every day I'm reminded in some way or another how large the blogosphere truly is, so what better way to meet some of the wonderful people out there than by partying with them?

If you are here for the Ultimate Blog Party, welcome! I hope you're having a great time! While you're here, you just might want to take a little looksie over at the fun giveaways that I've got up and running at the moment. It never hurts to try to win something, right? Even if you decide not to enter (What? You don't want to win a Britax stroller, Delta faucet or PlasmaCar?), leave me a comment! I have plans to follow this blog hop all over the place this weekend and I'll be sure to come stop by your party as well. If you follow me, let me know because I'd love to return the favor!

Who's behind Thanks, Mail Carrier?

Well, life around here as a SAHM with a 3-year-old and a 1-year-old... when is it not a party? As the title of my blog implies, the mail carrier is a pretty important person in our lives - and we use that term to represent anyone who brings fun things to our door, whether USPS, UPS, FedEx, heck, even that yellow one that I can never remember the name of. Just the sound of a truck coming down our block makes things come to a standstill so we can peer out the window with our fingers crossed.

My older daughter, Big Sister E, is creative, beautiful, bossy, all-knowing, and acts shy around new people even though she talks a mile-a-minute when we're at home. She loves books, coloring, taking care of her sister and getting together anytime and anywhere with her friends.

My younger daughter, Little Sister B, is adorable, happy, independent, a climbing monkey and in need of a haircut. She likes hugging her sister, pushing a play shopping cart around and pointing to a picture of ducks and quacking loudly. Together, the three of us (Daddy helps too, once in a while) have reviewed everything from food to items for the home to music to clothing and shoes to toys to gear and everything in between - and we've enjoyed doing it more than I can say.

This whole blogging thing has brought me opportunities that I never would have thought possible when I first started writing. I've been flown across the country, attended amazing events and opened my door to find pretty incredible products on the other side. However, none of it compares to the people I've met and the friendships that I've made. This community may be bigger than I can imagine, but I am so grateful and glad to be a part of it with all of you.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Don't be a stranger, come back and visit anytime, our "door" is always open. Now, go enjoy the party! I think all the excitement has worn us out...


Hold on! What would a party be without goodie bags? The Ultimate Blog Party has a whole list of incredible prizes to be won just for joining in to the fun! I would be pretty excited to win most any of them (and there are LOTS), but since they're making me list my favorites, my top three choices are...

1. US grand prize: Satellite L505D-ES5025 laptop from Toshiba (is there anyone who wouldn't want to win this?)
2. USC17: $200 Apple Gift Certificate from CmomGo.
3. US101: Human Touch Foot and Calf Massager from Still Blonde After All These Years.

If I'm not the luckiest person ever to receive those three, I'd also love any of the following in this order: US3, USC39, USC35, USC8, USC3, USC15, US112, USC37, US71, US39, US73, US74, US87, US32, US88, USC36, US52, US55, US31, USC32

Hmm, think that's enough? What great prizes! Thanks so much, 5 Minutes for Mom, for throwing this great party... now, will someone please pass me a cupcake?