Home for the Holidays Swap Goodies

I received my swap package from my partner and good blogging friend Chrissy of The World Through Chrissy's Lens and Chrissy's Creative Spot. I think Chrissy and I met through Sunday Scrappin', but we've connected in many other ways, and I count her as a blessing to me.

Once again, though, my swap partner really outdid me. Just look at the goodies I received!

Adorable snowman mug and "snowman soup"

Christmas tree cookie cutter

cute Christmas penguins on a pot holder and dish towel

And scrapbooking goodies!!!!!!!!!!

Retro resin metal embellishments

Life's journey metal art

O'Scrap headers

green and red embossing powder

3 license plate sports embellishments

football and soccer stickers

6 soooo cute brad buddies

marching band rub-ons

mini medals

and a hand-made card that I've admired on her blog before

I am just floored - and tickled pink, too! I feel really guilty that the swap package I sent is not nearly as good as the one she sent me, in my opinion. I hope she doesn't feel that way! I just love all my goodies. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

And thank you to Tamy at 3 Sides of Crazy for organizing this fabulous swap.

Crafty Giveaways

Pink Piggy is having a great giveaway of scrabook/card-making supplies.

Crafty Goings On is also having a mega Christmas blog candy giveway.

You should also see the giveaway over at Tales from the Craft Cave.

Happy Blogiversary to Me!

Three years ago today, I started my blog. Hard to believe! Time flies when you're having fun, and I am definitely having fun, making new friends, and even learning so many new things.

I'll leave the comments open on my giveaway post until midnight CST, so if you haven't entered yet, click on over!

Lemonade Award

Tamy at 3 Sides of Crazy and Lucy at LuLu's Petals gave me this adorable lemonade stand!

Here are the rules:
1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude!
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.
6. The bloggers listed below are truly deserving of the Lemonade Award for having a great attitude. They have become dear blogging friends and inspirations!

Dandelion Wishes

Cafe at the End of the Universe

And We'll All Float On

My Kids are My World

It's My Life

Mother, Daughter, Sister, Friend... Me

My Life is Based on a True Story

Up the Hill Backwards

Through our Eyes

Queen Size Funny Bone

Tidbits of the Tippets

Liza's Eyeview

Love to you all.

Clutter-Free Gifts

I definitely decluttered this week - both before and after our 16 year old's suprise party last Saturday. And I cleaned out at least one item of clothing each day from someone's closet since I know they're getting clothes for Christmas. But that's not where I'm going with this post today.

Marcia, the Organising Queen, had a post last week titled "Clutter-Free Gifts - Just in Time." That's what I want to focus on today.

We all know someone who is so hard to buy for because he/she has everything. We also know those teens, tweens, and kids who have so much stuff, not that they don't want more stuff, but they already have so much stuff! Besides, who wants to give someone a gift knowing that it is going to sit in their home/closet/room/whatever collecting dust and serving no purpose? That parafin wax home treatment station seems like a great gift right now, but, really, how many times will it get used before it goes in a box and sits in a corner for ever and ever? Twice in our case. And how many calendars and fuzzy socks can one person actually use?
I've been racking my brain trying to think of clutter-free gifts. Here's what I've come up with so far. For my son and husband, Rockets basketball tickets. For my daughters, movie theater gift cards. For my mom, tickets to a local dinner theater performance. Other ideas include restaurant gift cards, massage gift certificates, hair salon gift cards, and manicures. How about the gift of house cleaning for an older relative? Then, of course, there are consumable items such as homemade bread or cookies. The hard part is to match the recipient with a clutter-free gift he/she will truly cherish.

Yes, we'll have clutter at our home this Christmas, that is definite, but I'm trying to reign it in and have some control over it. Baby steps, as I always say. And I'd like to know what ideas you have! Please leave a comment!

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