Autumn Swap

Oh, boy, did I receive some awesome Autumn goodness from Jolene at With a Little Help from my Friends. Before I even go on, let me just say, if you've never checked out her blog, please do yourself a favor and click over there!   I was happy she was my partner.  We have so much in common.  I hope we can meet in real life one day!

First, my goodies were wrapped in bright yellow paper with autumn leaf stickers and two huge autumn leaves.  I hated to tear the paper, but it had to be done.

 A package of scrapbook paper in fall colors!  I can definitely use this!
A sweet & spicy jar candle.  Mmmmm!
A Candle holder and shade in the perfect style!  So cute!
An autumn throw blanket.  So soft and pretty!
A scarecrow welcome sign.  This is hanging by my front door now.
A rattan decorated pumpkin.  How darling!
Bulletin Border.  She knows I'm a teacher.
Fall stickers, 2 packs.  She knows I love to scrapbook.
A magnetic notepad.  She must also know I make lists.
A beautiful homemade card. (Puts mine to shame!)
And best of all, a jar of homemade apple butter.  That made my day!

Wow!  That's all I can say!  Jolene, thank you so much for everything.  I love it all!  Mamarazzi, thanks for hosting such an awesome swap!

Here is her post about the package I sent.  I hope she liked it!  I'm going over to read her post now.

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Autumn Swap

I am so excited to participate in Mamarazzi's latest swap - All things Autumn!  I love fall - the sounds, the smells, the colors. And I can't wait to make some new friends!  This is going to be a great swap!

Swapoween!

Swapoween was a great Halloween swap hosted by Beth at Living a Goddess Life and Miss Angie at My So-Called Chaos.  I  was partnered with the fabulous Lovely One from Looking for Luck, Love, And...

Here are my goodies!

I got some great stuff!  She sent me a Funfetti cake mix (the same one I sent her... great minds!) and an adorable cupcake party pack.  I had been eyeing that myself.  I just love the Trick-or-Treat sign.  It's hanging by my front door now!  Also love the magnetic notepad, so cute and useful!  See those fun jack-o-lantern figurines?  They are on my mantle.  The hand towels are so cute, too, and she sent me a bag of pumpkin erasers, chosen by her little one.  Oh, and I can't forget the really funny Halloween card.

I sure hope she enjoyed the package I sent, because I just love the one I received.  Thanks, Lovely One!

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Swapoween!

Yay!  I'm in! 

My So Called Chaos and Living a Goddess Life are hosting a Halloween-themed swap.  I missed the last swap I wanted to participate in because the beginning of the school year had me so busy, and I'm definitely STILL busy, but I didn't miss sign-ups for this unique swap.  Have you checked it out yet?  Go on over now.  We could be partners!

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Shout Out

Just a quick update to my Wordless Wednesday post... just no picture this time.  Thank you so much Shawn, Impulsive Addict, and Mary!  (I wasn't sure where to link to Mary.) You guys are awesome, and you made my day!  And another thanks to Mamarazzi.  You're too much!

If you've never visited the linked blogs above, you should get over there right now!  These are some ladies who make me smile.

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Wordless Wednesday

The only word I have is THANKS!

This made my day!

Shout-out to Janna, Beth, Angie, Sara, Brandy, and Mamarazzi!

You guys are THE BEST!

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Mamarazzi's Favorite Thing Swap

I received my box of goodies from my partner, Colleen, from Fishful Thinking, for Mamarazzi's Favorite Things Swap.

Here is what I received:

Barilla Whole Grain Pasta

Burt's Bees Lip Balm

Pledge Multi-Surface Spray

Pumpkin Spice Granola

Cancer Wristband

Postit cards

Paper Mate Pens

Ziploc Vacuum Starter Kit

Allen's Mixed Vegetables

French Vanilla Coffee Mate

Cucumber and Swiss Chard seeds

Blended Ice Coffee Mix

Ziploc Steam Cooking Bags

Twin Bing Candy
Foot Cream

Thank you for the goodies, Colleen!

Here is what I sent her:

pink nail polish, Softlips lip polish, 3 G2 Roller Ball pens, a multi-pack of Trident chewing gum, A Disney Journal, Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs, An Easter Egg coloring kit, FOOD Network Magazine, a Fabric Tote/Organizer, a Scrapbook/Card-making kit, and a Photo Album.

Thanks for hosting a great swap, Mamarazzi!

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Favorite Things Swap

I've decided to participate in another one of Mamarazzi's swaps, and I'm so excited! Her swaps fill up fast because they're so awesome! I've made several new blog friends from participating in her swaps, and I'm glad I made the sign-up in time. For this swap, I'll be sending my partner a few of MY favorite things. Now I've got to put my thinking cap on! This is gonna be FUN!

Guilty Pleasures Swap

Mamarazzi at Dandelion Wishes hosted another swap, and I participated in this one as well. Guilty Pleasures. My swap partner was Ellen from Creative Passage. My package arrived Wednesday. Loved the cute box. Inside I found Mary Kay lotion, a Mary Kay bag with three items, a bath sponge, a bag of almonds, and some coconut candy. I sent my gifts wrapped.The gifts I sent included a coke can with $2 so she could buy her own favorite soda, body wash, People magazine, Ghiradelli Dark Chocolate with raspberry, cute box with a photo album, brag book, and journal in it, a mani-pedi kit and two nail polishes, a candle, and a $10 Barnes and Noble card since reading is one of my favorite guilty pleasures.

Mamarazzi's Guilty Pleasures Swap

I'm once again participating in one of Mamarazzi's swaps, and I'm so excited! For this one, I'll be sending my partner some of the things that I consider "guilty pleasures." (Get your mind out of the gutter! This is a family blog!) Hmmm. What are the things that aren't necessarily good for me, and aren't necessary to live, but make me feel pampered? What are your guilty pleasures?

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Mamarazzi's Red, White, and Blue Swap

What a successful swap! This is my 2nd or 3rd R,W, & B swap, and I have done several of Mamarazzi's Favorite Things Swaps at her blog, Dandelion Wishes, as well as a few others here and there. This was super-fun!

My partner was Myya of Myya Says. I'm loving her blog! She's also got three adorable little girls that she often blogs about, so you should check her out. This is what I received all wrapped up and numbered in the order she wanted me to open them.

Here's a photo of the goodies I received! Two packages of popcorn; awesome scrapbook supplies; I love the USA sign; A salad set that will be perfect for taking lunches to school, notepads (who doesn't need these?); cute cup with RW&B stars; strawberry chapstick; Hershey kisses (yum!); Circus Animal Cookies (I love these!); A water bottle with a cute design; A toy for the dog; A cute pair of socks; An adorable apron which I will definitely use; two pairs of Old Navy flip-flops (how great is that?); pens and pencils in a cute blue tin; lemonade packets for my water; and red nail polish. Wow!

This is what I sent her. The first photo shows everything wrapped up. The second photo shows her goodies.

I sent her cute cupcake tins, a cake mix, and frosting. She also got The Big One beach towel. From my favorite store, I sent Bath & Body Works foaming hand soap, a small anti-bacterial gel with a cute, portable carrying case. I also sent a large bottle of hand sanitizer. I included a can cooler, a red photo album, Woman's Day Magazine, A patriotic mouse pad that she can put a photo in, RW&B tootsie rolls, and 3 packages of fruit snacks for her daughters. I also make her a card. I hope she loves her goodies as much as I love mine!

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Mamarazzi's Red, White, and Blue Swap

Part 2! I have participated in several of Mamarazzi's swaps, including the Red, White, and Blue swap last summer, and I'm happy to say I get to do it again this year! I'm excited! Visit Mamarazzi to sign up.

Mamarazzi's Favorite Things Swap

I participated in Mamarazzi's Favorite Things Swap, and I received my package this week. Take a look at my goodies.

I received 2 sets of cute stickers, a hair clip, organic shampoo and conditioner (just the right size for the vacation I am taking this week), Burts Bees lotion, darling socks, healthy snacks (fruit leather), pretty pink polish for my toes and a toe separator, dark chocolate/coconut bar, and cute blank note cards. Thank you so much LaVonne!

Here is what I sent her:
Womans Day magazine, Paper Craft Magazine, Coloful Pens, Journal, Bath & Body Works shower gel, jar candle, a box of Jello Cheesecake mix, Hershey's Dark Chocolate candy bar, A Package of three Trident gums, and a bath pillow.

And here is her post showing the gifts I sent. Don't you just love good mail?

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Mamarazzi's Favorite Things Swap

It's that time again! Time for another swap hosted by the fabulous Mamarazzi from Dandelion Wishes. It will be my third time to participate, and I'm so looking forward to it! Mamarazzi's swaps fill up fast, so if you want to join, write your post and link your blog (after reading the terms, of course). Get to it!

Christmas in July Swap

Angie from Antics with Angie organized a great swap! She called it Christmas in July, and it really was! I was partnered with JoAnne from Barely Domestic Mama. Here's what I received:

And here is what I sent my partner:

Thanks for hosting a great swap, Angie! And thanks for all the lovely gifts, JoAnne!

Red, White, and Blue Swap Package

I received my swap package this week from Amy at 6FlowerMom. Oh, what fun to open this package and get her four and a half page note explaining why she chose each of my gifts. Not only that, but she sent me a great dessert recipe! I think this swapper is a much better baker than I am, but I can follow a recipe, so I may give it a try.

In the meantime, look at these goodies!

Three containers of Lindt chocolates. I love these! They are already open and being consumed as I type.

3 boxes of nostalgic cracker jacks. Will share these with the kids!

A red, white, and blue fan for this Texas heat!

Big Red chewing gum.

An assortment of tea bags.

A pretty candle that says "peace" and smells wonderful!

A journal. One can never have too many of these!

Pens, red and blue, that will be great for teaching.

An adorable tea cup.

A re-usable grocery bag. She's going to help me go green.

Incense. I haven't seen this in years, but it smells wonderful.

Dr. Bronner peppermint soap.

A lovely magazine, "Traditional Home" which is perfect as I work around the house this summer.

A red, white, and blue lei.

A red, handcrafted bracelet made by a local artisan. It's beautiful!

A little garden: flower pot, gerbera daisy in a can, and a strawberry plant in a small terra cotta container.

Lacy even wanted in on the action.

Luckily, she received my package before the 4th of July Festivities. Here's what I sent her. In the first photo, I forgot to include the cutlery caddy and utensils, so I had to take a second photo.
A box of goodness to help her create the perfect patriotic picnic:

Notepad for to-do-lists
Woman's Day magazine for ideas and relaxing reading
Star cookie cutters for cookies or sandwiches
Gel cling for decoration
Socks for festive fashion on the fourth
Candles for the centerpiece
2 serving bowls
dinner plates
dessert plates
napkins
cups
tablecloth
cutlery
cutlery caddy
Bath & Body Works anti-bac hand sanitizer
can cooler for a soda or other canned drink
red tin pail full of after dinner mints
and... Blue glo bracelets for the kids after it gets dark
You can read her post about our swap here.

Amy, thanks so much for all the swappy goodness! Have a safe and happy 4th!