1000 Posts: My Favourites (& Book Giveaway)

Imagine having 1000 children and having to pick a favourite...? Could be tricky.
Stories are like babies. You labour over them, you pour yourself into them, and then you send them out into the world. You love them all.
But over the years, in the midst of so many stories, a handful have stood out to me.
There are some posts which have almost written themselves; they have gushed out of my soul like a river in flood. Others I have laboured over, crafting and refining until it is just-so. And still others were paid for with the blood, sweat and tears of life's lessons.

Here are a handful of my favourite posts, ever...

Frequently Asked Questions (for when I'm famous) Written November 2011

Simone Jones Diary (the movie of my life) Written June 2011

Scrag's Guide to Getting Attention (May 2010)

(more LOL posts)

Broken (where hearts are like bones)  Written September 2010

This is My Life (I got what I wished for) Written January 2011

What if...? (on coincidence and destiny) Written June 2011

(more deep thoughts posts)

Ten Worst Mothering moments (and what I learnt from them) Written August 2011

Confessions of a Lazy Mother (revisited) Written August 2012

Ten Cool Things About Motherhood Written January 2012

(more motherhood posts)

I've chosen these posts, from my earlier blogging days, so that if you're new to my blog you can get more of a taste of where I've been and who I am.

I try to "keep things real" here in this space. It's a not a place for showing off or pretending that I have it all together (I DON'T). From my earliest blogging days I sensed that if I was going to connect with other women, I'd need to be real and honest. That's why you'll see plenty of pictures of my laundry piles alongside the pretty ones of flowers and teacups. There is no room for pretending to be perfect or living an idyllic life here... New Zealand is far too small to get away with fakery (and Kiwis will never tolerate a know-it-all.)

We are muddling along, doing our best, fighting battles on all fronts some days... trying to find the Fun on this Rollercoaster called Life.

(Here are ALL my Favourite Posts)

And when I need to escape the realities of my laundry or my squabbling tribe, I turn to BOOKS.

Which brings me to today's giveaway Prize: I want to give you three of my favourite books. That's THREE people, one book each.

My alter-ego Mrs Readalot has read and reviewed a bunch of books (all listed here on my Bookclub page).

If you win, you can choose from this list:

• Anything by Jodi Picoult; Anything by Phillippa Gregory, Water for Elephants, The Time Travellers Wife, The Birth House, Anything by Stephen Lawhead, A Thousand Splendid Suns, The Help.

To enter, all you need to do is leave me a comment and tell me which one of my favourite posts is YOUR favourite (and which book you would choose if you win). 

Oh, and be following me somehow - GFC, Subscribe, Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Bloglovin - your choice.

The Winners will be announced on Tuesday 5th July here on the blog. In the meantime you can also enter my other 1000 Posts Party giveaways...

Day One Giveaway: Personalised Party Invitations from my Etsy Store - Closes Monday 1st July.

Day Two Giveaway: A Custom Blog Makeover (by me) - Closes Monday 1st July

Winners announced right here on Tuesday 2nd July.

♥