Well, I now know exactly why they do that. I sure do!

Yes, creating the book takes months and months of your life, causes you to gain lots of weight, and "let yourself go" (well, at least in the case of your's truly) and you become super proud of all your hard work and sacrifice.  But it doesn't end there.

Have you ever taken a baby home from the hospital?  

My book released last Tuesday.

And it's like we are first time parents all over again, trying to figure out what the heck to do with a new baby, and wondering how on earth they let us take her home without a mandatory training class with overnight sleep deprivation testing, current patience certification and a parenting license.

It has been a whirlwind last few days, filled with interviews, live tv segments and book signings.  No, you don't get to call anything you "baby" without working super hard and losing lots of sleep.

Thank goodness there are no diapers associated with book releases.

And of course there's lots of smiles and laughs and hugs to go along with. That's why we do these things!  Thank you everyone who came to our book signings in Atlanta!  I really enjoyed our time in Atlanta, and loved meeting you.  And a special thank to those of you who woke up early on Saturday and stopped by to say hello in Houston.  Sierra, I loved your play kitchen!!!  

And no book signing of mine would be quite right without bringing along a drill, would it?

At the book signings, I build this frame and answer any questions you may have about building.  It's actually modified from a plan from the book, much larger in size, with the added string and clothespins.  We give the frame away at the end of the demo.  

SALT LAKE CITY BOOK SIGNING TONIGHT

Tonight, I will be building a frame in Salt Lake City at the Home Depot on 3398 S Highland Drive, followed by lots of fun giveaways (including gift cards so you can build your own frame!) and free autographed books with $20 purchase.  

Can't wait to see you tonight Salt Lake City!

FREE BOOKS

If you haven't already picked up a book - thank you to those of you who have! - there is quite a few giveaways going on that you can enter and win a book:

- Free Book with $20 purchase at all Home Depot book signings (Salt Lake City 10/15, Chicago 10/17 and Seattle 10/18)

- PureBond Plywood is giving a book away a total of 20 books! Entry daily!

- My publisher Crown is giving away a free book!

- You can Pin 2 Win a $600 building goodies package (3 $300 valued runner up prizes too!) by just pinning the book!  

- My friend Jen at Tatertots and Jello is giving away the book and posted a plan from the book!

- My friend Beth at Home Stories A2Z is giving away the book and is sharing a new free plan from the book!

- Dear Wendy from the Shabby Nest who I so fondly say "discovered me" is sharing a free plans from the book and giving away a free book!

It will just take a second to put your name in to win the book!  And if you already have a copy, why not give the gift of building to a friend?  Take a second to enter the great giveaways right now!

A SPECIAL THANK YOU

Just wanted to give a special thank you to those of you who are taking a second to write a review of the book over at Amazon.  Your reviews mean zillion times more to me than professional reviews - I work for you, and value your feedback tremendously.  Thank you, thank you!

FIRST BRAG!!!!

Oh. My. Goodness!  We got our first book brag post! 

It's a mirror with shelf built by JoanneS!  I have this mirror too and LOVE it!  Thank you JoanneS for sharing the brag post!

For those of you building projects from the book, when you brag, just check the box that says "Book Plan" and I will create a special "Book Brag Board" when I get home.  Fun stuff!

FRAME PLANS!!!

And of course, I want those of you who don't live near signings to be able to make this frame too!  It's modified from the book plans, so follow along the book plans too as you build!