Blogger's Swap

Stationery card

2011-12-03T10:42:00.001-05:00

Wishing You Merry Christmas Card

Add one photo or multiple to your Christmas cards this season.

View the entire collection of cards.

To Amy, from Noelle

2011-11-03T23:10:00.002-04:00

Well, I am finally home from Texas and I've been so excited to open up my box from Noelle. I've been gone for three long weeks and my husband called me the first week that I was gone to let me know that my gift had arrived. He really wanted to open it for me, but ~~I threatened his life~~ I kindly asked him to let me open it when I got home. I apologize for the long wait, Noelle!

I loved the fall colors that popped out when I opened the box!

See the cute packaging.. ADORABLE!

F is for Food, Yummy Food.. Popcorn, it's my favorite food group!

A is for Accessory.. What a gorgeous scarf! What a gorgeous color! Plus, scarves are a necessity out here on the great frontier.

L is for Lollipops and Caramels - My three men have almost demolished this box of caramels. I hid the lollipops.. don't judge!

L is for making a Latte - Coffee my other favorite food group! Creme Caramel, such a yummy flavor.

Thank you, Noelle for your sweet generosity and thoughtfulness. I appreciate the time and effort that you put into choosing my gifts. It was so much fun being a part of the swap this Fall and being able to connect with new and old friends from all over the country.

To Noelle, From Catherine

2011-10-19T16:07:00.003-04:00

Okay girls! We are getting down to the end. To view Noelle's gift click HERE!

The last gift has arrived but will not be posted until the end of the month because Amy is out of town caring for her mother. Make sure to check back to this blog to view that gift!

To Karin, From Dolly

2011-10-14T15:57:00.001-04:00

To view Karin's gift from Dolly, click HERE!

To Angela, From Karin

2011-10-13T15:59:00.002-04:00

To view Angela's gift from Karin, click HERE!!!

To Catherine, From Jeni

2011-10-11T19:07:00.002-04:00

Hey girls! To View Catherine's gift from Jeni, click HERE!

Yipppeee, Fall Swap Time for Me! Thank you Amy!

2011-10-09T19:44:00.007-04:00

Last night about 10:30 we pulled the big old Burban into the driveway after a fun day spent in Charlotte, at my sweet baby nieces' 1st birthday. We were happily exhausted, but I was quickly revived when I saw a box right at the top of the steps of my front porch!

I could hardly wait to open "The Box", but I practiced a bit of delayed gratification while I got the little ones into the house, into pj's, teeth brushed and then into bed.

The wait was worth it--seriously, I felt SPOILED! Amy OUTDID herself!

First up--F!

Framed Dry Erase Board with markers!

BEAUTIFUL! LOVE IT!

Second--A!

Amazing Popcorn! To be exact, the bag reads, "Peanut Butter Cup." It is DELISH and I am eating it now as I type.

Third--L!

Lotion--truly the best ever--along with a little round container of it for my purse. I am so excited! I love, love, love plain good quality lotion! Love the pump on the bottle too!

And, Fourth-L, last but NOT least!

Lattes!!!!! I am so excited about this, because I always feel so guilty when I go buy my fav drink at Starbucks. I try to save my Huggies diaper points up to redeem them for Starbucks gift cards--sad huh! Now I have a sweet gift card--with Braille on it too--cool and way to go Starbucks--Braille on gift cards--should someone have thought of that years ago???!!!

Amy, I cannot say thank you enough for how happy you made last night. I felt so spoiled with such nice things that were just for me--although my family is all digging into the popcorn now that it is opened. You are truly a gem, just like Dolly said! Thank you for being a part of the Fall Swap! It was a pleasure to get to know you!

Swap from HPS to DRS

2011-10-09T15:32:00.009-04:00

Sheww, now that I finished catching up with what everyone has received so far from their blog swap, I am finally blogging about my awesome (sorry Denise...I know only God is awesome) fall swap. I received it yesterday while I was in Charlotte for my nieces first birthday party. I was looking forward to being able to hug the neck of my gift giver but her kiddos were sick and someone had to be the mom. Shewee, a mothers work is never done. Anyway, her sweet sister dropped it off and I couldn't wait to dig in. Here is the cute package waiting for me.

If you know Hannah (otherwise known as HPS) you know she's not only hilarious in person but she's got serious writing skills. I read her card first and it put a big old smile on my face. I love that girl. Here's what I got...

F - Froo froo wreath to decorate a window or door with a lil splash of fall color. LOVE IT HPS and I have perfect place I'm going to put it. VERY creative and I love the ribbon colors. I'm thinking you saw this on Pinterest? I wanted to try this too.

A - Accessory for your mornin' cup of joe. HPS, I loved what it had to say and couldn't agree more. You're one of those "stars." Living with my sister, I've just been using all her dishes, etc but now I've got my own cup! (No touchy Dawnie)

L - Lil homemade taste of fall. Carmel Corn is one of my FAV snacks and since it takes forever to make, I NEVER make it but love it. You know me well HPS and there is only just a little bit left. DELISH I tell ya! DELISH!

L - Lotta cookie mix love for one of my fav cookie monsters in the whole wide world! This girl knows me well! I laughed hard at this. She's not lying. I LOVE cookies!!! PB and chocolate chip are my 2 favs too! I will put this to great use HPS!

Thank you so much for your love and thoughtfulness behind each item. You're a treasured friend my dear and I love you to pieces! Happy Fall!

To Hannah from Denise

2011-10-08T22:14:00.000-04:00

Allllll week, I had been counting down the days for my appointment today w/ Dolly and Denise for an up close and in person fall swap partay. I was soooo sad and low when my twins came down yesterday w/ fevers, green noses and what sounded like the croop. :( Thankfully, my good ole lil sis pulled through in a pinch and paid a visit to the event in my stead. Her return home w/ this festive, Fall bag was just the pick-me-up that a homebound Mama needed on this beautiful FALL day. Inside, each gift was adorably wrapped in ribbon w/ a tag describing the "letter."

Lovin' the candy corn tissue paper!

I LOVE this Fragile pumpkin filled w/ pumpkin candy corn!!!! I've been eyeing all the white pumpkin decor "out" as of late and NOW I have one for my very own collection!

and I have a feeling that A lot of The Help Tea is going to be enjoyed, well, A LOT! How cute is that? And it is Caramel Cake flavored! One sip and me an Aibileen are gonna be tellin' everybody on the street "You is smart. You is kind. You is important." :)

Liquor...just kiddin...Lacquer for my twenty digits. It's even OPI and the flava is "I brake for manicures." As you can tell by my thumbkin, I DEF need to brake for a manicure STAT.

Lovely scent for your home which is a Yankee Candle wax melt contraption that I've been wanting to try! Me 'cited!

THANK YOU, DENISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You did me good. I LOVE it all and I love you to pieces. Your creativity, wit and thoughtfulness brightened my day beyone measure. My only regret is I couldn't squeeze your neck and thank you today in person...both for my gift and for headin' up another FAB swap. You're the best. <3

HAPPY FALL, Ya'll!

To Toni, From Caroline!

2011-10-08T10:25:00.013-04:00

First and foremost, I must apologize for not getting this on here sooner! I actually received my package from Caroline on Wenesday, Oct. 5th! This chick was FAST! I am in the process of transitioning jobs and I have been working "double shifts" lately, so I have literally had no time! Since I work with children, leaving my job is super emotional for me because I have seen these little babies grow up and now I am leaving them! I literally cried when I opened this swap.

This box really couldn't have come at a more perfect time :-)

Anyways, on to the REALLY GOOD STUFF!!!

FRONT PORCH BLESSINGS!!!!

My box was adorned with all kinds of cute fall-inspired stickers! Let me tell you, Caroline put a LOT of time and effort into my swap gift and it did not go unappreciated. From the stickers on the outside, to the individually wrapped items on the inside with the fall leaves and ribbon! I feel unworthy of such a great swap gift!

Here is what I saw when I opened the box (CHECK OUT THE DETAIL!):

F- F is for festive throw to keep you warm and cozy on the cool nights to come. (Already put to use girlfriend!) It is perhaps the fuzziest, softest blanket in my house! We ALL love it!!! It matches all of my living room decor perfectly as well!!!

A- A is for the Aroma in soap and candles:

I love me some Bath and Body Works! In case you can't see it, that is a fall scented candle, Brown Fig and Sugar body wash and Pumpkin hand soap! LOVE IT!

L- L is for Layering. A new fun fall scarf to liven up your fall wardrobe and also letters to pen on your paper. The picture doesn't do it justice, but it is so beautiful! I actually wore it last night to an outdoor movie with the family! I am also in desperate need of paper for telephone messages and notes to parents and teachers, so the notepads are very cute and just what I needed.

L- L is for Leaves to view on your table with a new table runner. (I seriously feel like I'm on the Price is Right--what's behind curtain #3---IT'S A BRAND NEW TABLE RUNNER!) I can't tell you how lucky I am right now to have received all of this! Donna had me for a Fall swap (last year or the year before?) and this runner goes PERFECTLY with the fall place mats she gave me! Did you plan that or was that just sheer luck? Either way, THANK YOU!!!!!

And last but not least, Ms. Caroline included 2 fall treats for my 2 little pumpkins! How thoughtful!!! They LOVED them! Needless to say, we went outside right afterwards so they could run off that sugar!!!

THANK YOU AGAIN SO VERY MUCH, CAROLINE! I REALLY AM SO BLESSED!

To Windsor From Inger

2011-10-07T22:17:00.009-04:00

I was so excited when I found out Inger got my name! She is so creative and talented that I always love what she decides to give as a swap...She did not disappoint!

This beautiful presentation was waiting for me when I walked through the door this afternoon from a quick trip out of town.

F - Frappuccino Holder with a Starbucks gift card...YUMMY! I absolutely love the cup/mug that she personalized with my name and have washed it to use tomorrow morning with my first Pepsi of the day!

A - Adorable personalized towels. Aren't they great? Perfect timing too, a bottle of wine fell off our fridge while I was gone and my husband wiped all the red wine up with my lighter colored dish towels. So these are perfect!!!

L - Luminary - I only got to see this gift before my little ones stole it and have fought over who gets it in their room! We decided to alternate Mr. Pumpkin each night! Success!

L - A little reminder to be thankful...These babies are what she is famous for!!!! Her beautiful banners! I am so excited to have the words thankful adorn my mantle! Thank you Inger!

Arrr...this picture won't post for some reason, but trust me it is amazingly great!

As if that wasn't enough, Inger, included a devotional for Mothers of Children with Unique Challenges which was a source of encouragement for her these last couple of years. Thank you so much Inger! I can't wait to dive in and begin using it!

And yes, there is one more...She got the kids Carmel lollipops and well this picture explains it all...

They were a hit!!! Inger, thank you for your thoughtful, creative, fun and beautiful swaps!

Inger's Fall Swap Goodies From Angela!

2011-10-07T17:55:00.002-04:00

Yesterday was my daughter, Lindsay's birthday, so I assumed this package was for her....BUT, it was MY Fall Swap package from the beautiful Angela! Just LOOK at her lovely penmanship! (do I sound like a teacher?)

Upon opening the box, I was treated to this beautifully-Fall vision. There is just something about packaging that I appreciate. I LOVE the Fall colors of the bows against the backdrop of the simple brown paper. And, again, that perfect penmanship...

Angela wrote me the sweetest note (in that nice penmanship of hers) and even personalized the outside of the little card!

F- "Frugal"-a coupon organizer (and one for a friend!) I actually read Angela's blog regularly and would just LOVE to go to one of her Clipsy Chick seminars..but, I live too far away! *Grrrr*

F- (yes, I got a bonus "F") Funky- the cutest FALL colored cuff bracelet!

A- Aviators...which my Anna quickly snagged and wore to school today!

L - Leaves....darling kitchen towel with a cute leaf on it!

L - Light...a toasted hazelnut candle! Yumm! Angela wrote this precious quote on the package of the candle.."Women love company, even if it is only that of a small burning candle." - Georg Christoph Liddenburg

L - Lunch...what a cute lunch tote! I am ALL ABOUT things that are black and white, so this little cutie is right up my alley!

As you can see, Angela went above and beyond for me!

Thank you so very much, beautiful Angela! I love each and every thing you included and the way you beautifully packaged it all for me!! I admire you as a wonderful mother and especially the godly "ministry wife" you are. Beautiful from the inside, out!

I am so thankful for this little "sisterhood" of christian blog friends. I feel like as women, we do NEED each other, even from miles away, reading each other's blogs is a source of great encouragement! Thank you Denise, for organizing the swap again.

"Your love has given me great JOY and ENCOURAGEMENT."

Philemon 1:7

To Donna, From Toni

2011-10-06T21:53:00.000-04:00

Yesterday my Fall Swap gift arrived! I have had such a busy week preparing for Charlotte's first birthday party tomorrow that I kind of forgot about the Fall Swap, but when I heard a knock on the front door and saw the mailman's car leave, I remembered!! I saw this box and laughed! Toni got creative with her packaging:

I was so tempted to tear into it right then, but it was naptime and my kids were sleeping and I knew they'd want to open it with me, so I refrained. But when they woke up, we tore into that thing. Toni did such a great job on the presentation. Each letter was wrapped up separately. She had nice letters labeling "F-A-L-L" and they were even laminated!!! Here's what was in the box: (for some reason, I can't flip some of these pics!! sorry!!!)

F-Feet--take care of those feet on these crisp Autumn days! (a little pedicure kit, Halloween socks and some nailpolish....let me just say that I really LOVE this color, Toni. It's like a grayish-brown color. I was literally about to buy a color just like this a few weeks ago! And the socks came in this little jack-o-lantern bag that Caroline has claimed as hers:)

A- Accessorize your Autumn confections (my kids literally squealed when these came out of th e box....Halloween napkins and plates with cute cupcake liners, cookie cutters and a bunch of sprinkles. Roy Austin kept saying he got the sprinkles for his birthday.)

L- Liquid Refreshment for when you on the go and need to relax! The story of my week, Toni! (a realllllly cute plastic cup with fall colored flowers all over. I love it and have already used it--and I'm sipping water from it right now--and a package of iced coffee from Starbucks. I've never tried this, but I can't wait to do it now!)

L-Liven up your house with some Fall decor! (cute towel and pot holder and GEL CLINGS! My kids LOVE these things. They were on our kitchen window in no time!!)

Thank you, SO much, Toni! Everything was presented so nicely and each gift was very thoughtful. I can tell a lot of time and effort went into it!

And thanks, Denise, for organizing this swap! In a busy week, it was nice to take a break and have some "me" time!!!

To Jan, From Windsor

2011-10-06T21:26:00.003-04:00

I am not a blogger, so I had to wait until I got to Charlotte today so Donna could help me with this post. But, I received my fall swap package from Windsor and I was so anxious to open it and see what was inside! Windsor did a GREAT job---look what I got!:

Windsor, I am a big hot tea drinker, so this mug will definitely be put to use. I love the colors, too. And this is sitting on top of a nice tin of English Breakfast Tea!

I can't get this picture to turn, but look at these cute Fall towels! They are a great accent to our kitchen this season:

Also included were some very nice Fall cookie cutters. Cute!! And also these nice wall plug in-air fresheners. I love the leaf design on them, and the scents are great! And I can't forget the pad of paper....I always need paper to write lists on:) Oh, and Windsor had ALL of these nice gifts situated nicely in this red tub. Love it!

Windsor, you really outdid yourself. I love everything you sent and believe me, it will all be put to good use. Thank you so much!

Jeni's Gifts From Laura

2011-10-05T19:14:00.005-04:00

Oh my lands were my chicks excited to answer the door this afternoon when the mailman knocked on our door. We all danced around like it was Christmas. I was super excited to see the box was mailed from Ft. Worth, Texas, one of my favorite places! Laura, I hope you've shopped at Sam Moon in Dallas.

Well as you can see from the pictures, Laura is a very talented and supremely thoughtful gift giver! My pictures do not capture the color and quality of the paper that Laura used to describe my gifts.

My first gift is a foot warmer. (F) The picture does not do it justice. The bag is made out of this beautiful cream colored fabric and it has the most delicious scent!

My second gift is an beautiful pair of earrings for adornment. (A) As you can see from the picture, these earrings are in a warm hue of eggplant and crystal. Simply exquisite!

My third gift is also scented for a luxurious lather. (L) I wish you could smell the wonderful French milled sage soap through this blog.

My last gift is probably my favorite! Laura must have spent hours crafting this amazingly detailed letter banner. (L) I have admired these banners on many a blog and wished I could have my very own. Well now I do! I just wish I had a mantle to hang it on, but alas, we do not have fireplaces in south Florida! I do have it proudly hanging across my china cabinet.

Thank you Laura for putting so much time and thought into these gifts. I know everyone is going to be so jealous!

To Laura, From Donna

2011-10-03T21:25:00.006-04:00

I got my first Fall swap gifts ... Yay!! First was a sweet note from Donna welcoming me to the swap.

Then....F was for Favorite Fall Treats including oatmeal cookies, apple spice bread and carmel corn.

I wasted no time sampling and having a good laugh at Donna's note on the back of the tag:

Everything was delicious!

A was for the Aroma of a pumpkin candle. Perfect!

L was for cupcake Loot..papers picks and sprinkle for some fall baking :-)

And the last L was for latte! A gift card to buy a yummy drink at Starbucks.

Thank you, Donna, for all the wonderful Fall goodies.

From Jenius to Caroline

2011-10-03T20:42:00.001-04:00

Inside my box with a photograph of the
beautiful enclosed card.

Today was Monday and my third grader always seems to have a great deal of homework on Monday nights (he is in third grade). This evening the homework took 3 1/2 hours. Just a few minutes ago we heard a plop at the door and low and behold a box was awaiting me on the other side.

Jenius, you were so speedy on the shopping and posting of your package. I can't believe it arrived today. It really was by divine appointment as it couldn't have come at a better time.

My bounty all lined up and ready to open in order of
the letters Jenius so lovingly purchased and planned.

I LOVE my Fall Swap. Jenius, you are such a good gift giver. I adore everything and it suits me perfectly.

Freshen the air

F is for Freshen the air and is Autumn Room Spray.

Isn't this stunning with the hand stitched work? I know just
where to put it.

A is for Adorn the wall and a beautiful stitched frame that says Give us this day our daily bread.

Book and hand crafted leaves

L is for Leaf some time to read to the boys and contained two items. The Oak Inside the Acorn by Max Lucado. I am so excited to read this as a family. The illustrations are stunning! The second item is three beautiful handcrafted leaves from the Philippines.

L is for Lather your hands and is the same scent at the room spray, but in a lovely foam hand soap.

Lovely Autumn hand soap!

Thank you so much for the lovely gifts. Each item is something I would have selected myself. Jenius, I will think of you each time I use and/or view one of these lovely items. Thank you so much for blessing me this special season.

Love, Caroline

Just A Bit on Our New Friends...

2011-09-29T21:57:00.004-04:00

My sweet sister Donna asked me to do a post on the new girls in our Fall Swap. Sorry to call you new girls, "NEW GIRLS," but we are excited about having some newbies to our bit Fall fun.

Okay, so I will just give you a little bit of info, still trying to keep their privacy intact.

Amy--she is a friend of both Dolly and Hannah. According to Dolly, "Amy is a gem and if she lived near us girls she would just fit right in." Dolly has only the best things to say about Amy and her sweet parents. And, I found out today that in Amy's recent past, she lived not too far from us! Amy has a blog if you want to learn more about her. Click on her name in the comment section of the Sept. 23 post for the link to her blog.

Noelle--she is a friend of Caroline's. I don't know a whole lot about Noelle. I believe she is a graduate of LU, which me likie and, Hello...let's just say she lives in a very cool place!

Karin--she is my friend. I met Karin about a year ago on the football field. Our son's were on the same team. Karin went to LU also. Karin is a photographer and has taken many of my families pictures. Her website is redchestnutphotography.com.

Laura--she is a friend of Inger. From what I can tell Laura and Inger are like two peas in a pod. She appears to be very crafty. She told me via email that just recently she moved from where she had lived for the past 38 years and is now in a new state. Wow, that's a good wife!

This swap has been fun. There have been so many questions going back and forth from so many of you, wanting to get to know your person. That is sweet! Anyway, I think I sent all the correct information to each of you. If there is something else you need, just let me know.

So the first gift has been sent. Donna sent Laura her gift today. That Donna--always on the ball. Alllllways on the ball!

And the names are...

2011-09-28T08:22:00.001-04:00

Okay girls, I'm so excited about this swap! We have FOUR new swappers! Welcome to Karin, Noelle, Amy, and Laura! We are officially swapping gifts all across America, representing California, Texas, Nevada, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and good 'ole Virginny! Cool!

Below are the list of names. Remember you give to the friend BELOW your name. The LAST friend gives to the FIRST friend. I will send you your friend's email and home address ASAP!

Start shopping NOW so you can get your gift out! If you need ideas, click on last year's Fall Swap gifts on the right side of this blog.

And the names are:

If you cannot read the above picture :

1. Amy

2. Denise

3. Hannah

4. Dolly

5. Karin

6. Angela

7. Inger

8. Windsor

9. Jan

10. Caroline

11. Toni

12. Donna

13. Laura

14. Jeni

15. Catherine

16. Noelle

Also, if Karin, Jeni, Windsor,and Catherine could please email me their home address that would be great! dandeniselogan@aol.com

Extra info: I am in the process of adding each of your names/emails to this blog as authors so you can post on here. You just need to accept the invitation to become an author, when it comes in your email. If you have any trouble please let me know. Also, IF you have a public blog (not for private viewing only), of course you can post on there, just let me know you posted it so I can link it to this blog so we can all view it.

Okay girls enough said! Email me if you have any questions~dandeniselogan@aol.com.

Happy Gift Giving and Happy FALL!!!

Fall Swap

2011-09-23T08:27:00.010-04:00

Okay girls! It's back! The original, the one that started it all...THE FALL SWAP!

So here are the deet's (details)!

If you want to be in the swap reply in the comment section OF THIS POST! Names will be drawn and posted ON THIS BLOG on Wednesday morning, Sept 28. I will contact you soon after that with your persons address/email. PLEASE get your swap gift out ASAP.

Remember, you're swapping 4 little gifts representing each of the letters F-A-L-L. Click the links on the side bar of this blog to review past Fall Swap gifts if you need some ideas.

Posting: Okay we all want to see what each got--right? So, I know it can be difficult to get everyone to post on this blog, but it makes it much easier for everyone involved in the swap.

You will all have access to post on this blog. If you don't want to post here, please email me pictures of what you received and I will post for you.

Okay girls, I'm pumped! I LOVE Fall the most of any season. Let's have some fun, let's be creative and invite your friends to join in--the more the merrier!

If you have any questions, just give me an email~dandeniselogan@aol.com~ Oh, and if you're new to our blog swapping and want to be a part of it, PLEASE email me so I have your email and can get in contact with you!

VaVaValentine Treats from Toni!

2011-02-02T15:29:00.000-05:00

I just got home from preschool pick up and stumbled upon this as I came up the walkway.

I knew immediately it was my much anticipated blessing from my blog swap sister, Toni! My sweet three year old said, "Look, Mommy! A package! Don't worry. I'll help you open it." So, in we went, promptly put the twins down for a nap and got to bidness.

Let me just say, I knew I was in for it when I cut the box open and a romantic fragrance immediately teased my sense of smell. I then looked down and saw rose petals everywhere. Hubba Hubba! Nice touch, Toni. Perhaps they need to be recycled?

Toni wrote a sweet note which was followed by all sorts of yummy, decadent treats. I couldn't blink before a certain munchkin had already found and gotten into a cute heart box full of candy. :)

Candy was just the beginning. There was also I <3 U peeps, Piroulines (LOVE these dipped in coffee) & Kettle Corn to please the palate. :) Oh, and she even included some adorable Valentine plates and napkins which we will so enjoy using!

and these cute heart reusable ice cube to keep the bevs cold. I've always wanted to try these b/c I LOVE ice but it's horrible on my teeth so my dentist thanks you, Toni!

Here's where that scent I mentioned is unveiled! How did Toni know I needed a new Wallflower?! Looks like my Valentine and I are gonna be enjoying some tropical spice. We like the tropics and we like spice so verrrrry fitting. AND a pink (my fav color) Sangria candle. LOVE this scent.

Now, heeeeere is where something's telling me that the romantic in Toni is dying to just bust out...A LOVE BELL! Yes, you read right. A LOVE BELL. It says, "ring once for a hug ring twice for a kiss!" Toni, I just wanna know what happens when you ring it three times? Are you remembering I just had twins, Shug? DON'T WORRY, MOM! Just remember M has a kidney stone. All jokes aside, where did you ever find something like this? I think Ang needs one ASAP!

OK. Let me get myself together. Last but not least...a cuuuute handmade banner that says, "BE MINE". How sweet!

It was hard to fit it all in a picture but here's the whole shabang...

THANK YOU so much, Toni! You put a lot of thought into that and I love it all. I hope YOU have a Happy Valentine's!!!! This was one FUN swap!!!

To Maddie, From Glenda

2011-01-29T15:21:00.004-05:00

Today when I got home from Kroger, there was a big old package in our mail box for Maddie! She was so excited when I brought it in the house.
There were 3 gifts in the package. On each gift were sweet little notes. On this gift it said, "Beautiful are the feet that bring good news!" (very nice, very true!)

Gift #1...

... a nice cozy pair of slippers!
Maddie put them right on!

Gift #2......a comfy hoodie! I think she likes it!

Gift #3...

...warm PJ pants to complete the outfit!

Perfect'O gift Glenda for my perfect sweet Maddie girl! SHE LOVES IT! I think she sent you a thank you via FB.

To Glenda, From Donna

2011-01-27T11:43:00.012-05:00

The first swap gift has been given! Glenda received her yesterday from Donna. Glenda's blog is not working so she posted her pictures to FB. These pictures/comments are from FB.

To Glenda, From Donna!

Ok I can't get my blog to work so I can put a picture on it and I am so excited that I got my blog swap gift from Donna Graham and I am so excited that I will share with Facebook world. First of all everything was so uniquely wrapped. There were three gifts with numbers 1,2 and three. This is box number one!

Box number one had a crochet scarf

and Starbucks gift card for me and Roo!

The creativity blesses me.

Box number two had a gift card to dinner with

my honey and a beautiful black bead necklace.

Beautiful Box 3

Box number three had Donna Stewart

chocolate cake in shape of a heart.
My heart is warmed. Thank you Donna.

Drum Roll Please!!!!

2011-01-24T10:46:00.007-05:00

Okay the names have drawn, nicely I might add! I am excited about this swap!

*Remember you buy a gift for the girl BELOW your name. The LAST name buys for the FIRST name.

*Addresses: I thought I had everyone's address on my computer, but alas I don't. If Toni, Angela, Catherine, Caroline, and Rose could email me your home address that would be great!

*Once I get all the addresses I will send you your girls home address and email.

*No money limit--but be reasonable!

*Please send it out ASAP !

So without further ado, I give you the names!

1. JesseRuth

2. Angela

3. Nikki

4. Catherine

5. Rose

6. Denise

7. Toni

8. Hannah

9. Inger

10. Donna

11. Glenda

12. Maddie

13. Caroline

14. Jennifer

15. Alex

16. Dolly

2011 Valentine Swap

2011-01-20T15:56:00.013-05:00

Okay girls! It's long overdue! Back by popular demand, it's time for a Valentine Swap!!!!!!

If you want to be a part of this swap, please leave your name in the comment section below. If you're new to our swap leave me an email address along with your name, so that I will be able to get in contact with you to get your home address.

Under normal circumstances, according to the rules (see sidebar), you need to be a regular commenter or a blogger. BUT, since most of us are lacking in our blogging we will open this up to anyone who AT LEAST KNOWS SOMEONE IN OUR BLOG CIRCLE.

I am not putting a dollar limit on this. Be reasonable! Be creative! (You don't have to be crafty!! I'm not crafty.)

Extra Info:
*Names will be drawn and posted for "who gives to who" at noon on January 24.

*You will be emailed the address of the person you are giving to.

*PLEASE send out your gift ASAP, or at least by JANUARY 29 so your person can enjoy their gift during the Valentine season.

*Once you receive your gift in the mail, you MUST post pictures of your gift on this blog OR your blog. (You will be given posting ability to this blog if you desire.) Reason why??? We all want to see what each other gets! If you need help with this, just let me know.

*If you are new to this swap and have any questions, just email me. You may be a bit confused, but trust me, this is FUN! dandeniselogan@aol.com

Okay girls spread the word, and start signing up!

Happy Heart's Day!

Fall Swap Suh-weeeeetness!!!!

2009-10-09T21:07:00.000-04:00

The UPS truck rang our doorbell about 5:00 this evening and I giggled with glee. I knew my FALL swap gift from Jennifer Clardy was on the other side of that door and it was!!! I wanted to plow into it right then but we were getting ready to eat dinner so I figured I'd wait until I could sit down in peace and quiet, take my time and relish the whooole package.

Kitchen cleaned...check. Laundry put in dryer...check. AP in bed...check. The patient is resting...check. It's just me and my box. YIPPPPEEEE!!!!

Excited already! This was lying on top and the first thing I saw...the book about Goppy that Jenny's sister and BIL just published. She recently just posted a giveaway on her blog that I entered so looks like that leaves one extra spot for somebody else to get in it to win it!
Not only did we receive a copy of Goppy's inaugural issue, but it's even personally autographed for AP. How sweet is that!?!? Thank you, Jennifer (AND Smitty and Aunt Rea!!!!). Can't wait to read it.

This is what was awaiting in the rest of the box...4 individually wrapped sercies. How fun!

Sercy #1= Fall Accesories...2 pairs of earrings and a beautiful green pashmina wrap! Jennifer, you know me well! Those earrings are SOOOOO me and that wrap is sooo pretty. You must've known this prego needed a little something to spice up her mundane maternity wardrobe. I will get tons of use out of all three!

Sercy #2- NuteLLa!!! Suuuuhweeet! We just polished off our first jar so this is one timely treat. Good thing I'm stocked up on apples. My concoction might be calling my name as I type. :) All I can say is JFTB sho knows HPS !

Sercy #3- all 4 letters of FALL..a pretty red leaf dish with a matching spreader. Very cute. Love the red. Can't wait to show this baby off during fall time entertaining.

Sercy #4-For Miss AnnaPreston! Max was reading to AP when I got to this point. I was going to run this up to her so she could open it before bed and I could take a picture of her in full excitement. As I was going up the stairs, I saw the stick coming out of the package and thought "Hmmm...this might be candy. I better not taunt her right now." Me being the loyal blogger that I am, very carefully opened it JUST so you could see what it is and wrapped it right back up so she can open it tomorrow. What is it? A chocolate covered rice krispy treat on a stick and shaped like candy corn. Wowzers...AP is ONE lucky girl! That was so sweet of you to think of her with this yummy goodness AND Goppy!!!!

For those of you that don't know Jennifer, she just had twins (a boy and a girl)! Over the past couple days, she kept being silly and telling me she was 1 day late, 1 dollar short...then 2 days late and 2 dollars short in mailing my package. Jenny, you were absolutely zero days late and zero dollars short. I know what a task it is just to get to the Post Office much less put all of this together. Your effort means so much and I absolutely love everything you blessed me with. THANK YOU, sweet girl!!!! THANK YOU! You made me feel like a queen tonight. You're just a gem! XOXOXO.

HAPPY FALL YA'LL!!!!

To Jane From Glenda

2009-10-09T20:56:00.003-04:00

Since Jane doesn't have a blog, I'm doing this post for her. Glenda had her name for the Fall swap. These two ladies have known each other for years and years and their children grew up together, so it was neat that they were able to do this swap together. Glenda did a great job, once again, with her gifts for the swap:

F- Fragrance (sweet pumpkin handsoap)

A- Apron with Fall leaves on it

2 L's- Linens (matching kitchen towels to go with the apron)

Thank you, Glenda. She LOVED everything! I can just see Jane right now working on Thanksgiving dinner (making her mean sweet potato casserole and her pumpkin pie) next month in the kitchen, wearing that apron and putting those towels to use!!

Thank You Jane Graham!

2009-10-09T08:46:00.000-04:00

Lucky me!!! Today I received my blog swap gift in the mail and it made my day!!! My sisters incredible mother-in-law, Mrs. Jane Graham had my name and boy did I luck out! I know Donna said that you better be praying for Nikki to get your name but I think Jane's the one you need to be praying for! For starters, she went all out on packaging my gift. It was packaged so beautifully. She wrapped up each thing individually and it was so fun to unwrap.

Take a look at how she individually labled the letters to coordinate with each gift.

Here is what she got me....

F - For Furry Slippers

She got me some real Ugg slippers that feel SO GOOD on your feet. Pardon my "dogs". I just got back from a walk and it felt so good to slip these on! LOVE THEM Jane! And I'll be getting lots of use out of these this fall/winter.

A - For Acorns

These adorable glass acorns are JUST the thing I needed for these leaf bowls I received last year. I love them! The options to use and decorate with these are endless!

L - Leafy placemats

L - Leafy napkins

And these are just the cutest placemats and napkins. She sent me four of each. I was just thinking this morning that I needed to get some leaf placemats after seeing some of the others swap receivers posts. These go perfect in my house with everything else. And the napkins wrap up the complete look. Can't wait to have family over for soup this fall and use my new table decor!

Seriously Jane, you went ALL OUT and made this girl smile BIG today! Thank you for getting this all together with your busy schedule. It's so fun having you part of our blogs! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

Posted by Dolly at 4:44 PM

To Jeni, From Caroline

2009-10-08T16:54:00.003-04:00

(Jeni doesn't have a blog, but she was sweet enough to take some great pictures of her gifts and email them to me. Thanks Jeni! )

I got my goodies as soon as I got home and I'm sending the pictures. I wish you could smell the wonderful aroma from the hazelnut coffee! Caroline rocks! She sent something for everyone in the family, except the dog!!!! I LOVE the pumpkin and have always wanted something like that for myself. And who could pass up anything in the color purple? So thoughtful!!!! Here's what the note said about each item:

F is for a festive pumpkin to decorate your home.

A is for the aroma of coffee to brew on a chilly morn.

L is for something to help your lips stay
soft and moist (and your girls too)

L is for little fingertip towels in your favorite color purple.

(Sorry, I had a little trouble posting this picture.)

Thank you Caroline!

Thank You Nikki!

2009-10-06T18:21:00.001-04:00

This was posted on Donna's blog. I coppied and pasted it here for those of you who cannot get into her blog.

Okay, I can't stop smiling! Girls who take part in the blog swaps, you should just pray that Nikki gets your name from now on. When I saw that she had my name, I was so excited! Once again, Miss Crafty came through for her person. When I saw that box on my porch this afternoon, I couldn't get it opened fast enough. I had to tell myself to slow down so I didn't slice anything with the knife and I think I actually said, "oh, yeah...here we go" when I started opening the packages!! So, for those that don't know, I took part in the Fall Swap that is currently going on. You had to send one item for every letter of F-A-L-L. Here is what Nikki sent me (and let me just say A++ on the packaging of each item. I tell you what, start praying, girls):

F- Fall Banner:

I wanted one of these and I was seriously going to order one from Nikki's etsy store. Click here is you want to order one. She does all kinds of different sayings for any occasion. I love the colors, Nikki, and they go with my living room perfectly!

A- Adornment

Again, I love these necklaces! I have given them as gifts but never bought myself one. She put a C on one of the charms and an R on the other. Love it! (these are available through her online store, too. They make great Christmas gifts!).

L- Latte

Thanks for contributing to my addiction. A Starbucks gift card with a free sample of their new coffee and coupons for Starbucks! You know how I love a coupon!!

L- Little Birdie Desk Calendar

How cute is this?! She sells these in her etsy store, too. I love it and I am always looking for a calendar. This will look perfect on my desk next to my computer.

And if that wasn't enough, Mrs. Hogsed sent nicely packaged prizes for Caroline and Roy Austin! When they get up from their naps, they will be so excited to see these:

RoyBoy has become quite the expert with stabbing his food with forks lately, so he will be good to go. And Caroline LOVES decorative flatware and candy corn. So does Mommy!!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Nikki!!!

You have seriously made my day!

Oh, and just to plug Nikki's stuff some more, click here to visit her website (not the etsy site) and click here to see her personal blog. She just did a REALLY cute family rules craft recently.

**** UPDATE****

When the kids woke up, I showed them their prizes and they were so happy. Of course, they wanted the candy right away:)

Posted by Donna at 2:55 PM

Fall Swap: To Dawn from Toni

2009-10-06T17:31:00.004-04:00

Okay girlies, the second Fall Swap gift has arrived. Below is the gift that Toni gave to Dawn. I am SO excited my bloggless sister got in on the fun this year. Dawn (aka. Top-dawg), it was good to have you sweetie!

And, it needs to be noted that Toni and Dawn went to school together, years ago, at good ole LCA!!! I think they cheered together too. Way to have a blog swap to rekindle old friendships!

F-Fragrance

Enjoy the newest scent from
Bath & Body Works, Twilight Woods!

A- Aroma

Let the aroma of mulling

spices fill your home this fall.

L-lush

The softest slipper socks...ever!

L- Leaves

Perfect for the kitchen and perfect to
keep bacteria away. You will love
the spicy scent that "leaves"
your hands clean and soft.

Thanks Toni! I love it!
Dawn

It's Harvet Time!

2009-10-03T22:34:00.005-04:00

Drum roll please! It's harvest time--get it??? The swap gifts are starting to come in. Click on the names on the side bar to your right, to see who got what.

**Also, because of the fact that lots of you swappers have private blogs, please feel free to post your gift on this blog so everyone can see it. If you want to do that, just let me know by leaving a note to me in the comment section. I will add your name to this blog as an author so you can have access to posting here, just as you would post on your own blog.

Let The Swapping Begin!

2009-09-29T20:12:00.005-04:00

Okay girls! Sorry to keep you waiting so long. I've been out of town for a couple days. Just got home, got the kiddos bathed, fed, and now,

LeT tHe SwApPiNg BeGiN!

Below are the drawn names. I am happy to say we have a couple new swappers!

After you find your name, look at the name below it and that is the girl you are buying for. The last girl, buys for the first girl. Here it goes!

1.) Julie
2.) Denise
3.) Shelly
4.) Angela
5.) Jennifer
6.) Hannah
7.) Caroline
8.) Jeni
9.) Ashleigh
10.) Inger
11.) Nikki
12.) Donna
13.) Toni
14.) Dawn
15.) Glenda
16.) Jane
17.) Dolly

*If you have any questions just leave it in the comment section and it will be sent to me.
*PLEASE get your gift sent out by next Tuesday!
*Once you receive your gift, take pictures of it and then blog about it on your blog. IF you don't have a blog you can post on this blog, (I will give you access to this blog). OR send me your pictures and I can blog/post it for you.
*I will email everyone with your swappee's (funny word) address so you can send it out. I need to get a few address, so give me a day or two to get those and send them out.

Let the swapping begin! I already have my "A" and one of my "L's." I am SO EXCITED!

HAPPY FALL'Y!

It's Time Again for the Fall Swap!

2009-09-21T23:06:00.005-04:00

This evening at 5:18, Fall officially arrives! And in celebration of this beautiful season we are bringing back the Fall swap. The swap that seemed to be the most popular, the most fun. The swap that sets the mood for the holiday's to come!

Okay, I know this picture is not too Fall'ish, but as I was looking for a good Fall picture I came across this yummy cupcake. I liked it. I wanted to eat it! So I used it.

Anyway, if you are in on the blog swap, review the rules and other information on the side bar of this blog, then leave your name in the comment section below. Names will be drawn from a hat on September 29 and posted on this blog. Please send your gift out no later than October 6, so the person you are buying for can enjoy their gift during both October and November.

Gifts should be as follows:

One small gift to represent each letter in the word FALL. Be creative! You can be crafty, but just make sure it is Etsy worthy. If you need some examples of past Fall Swap gifts, click on the names below.

Dayna
Jenius
Denise
Jennifer

If you have any questions leave them in the comment section, and someone will get back to you. Start thinking of possible gift ideas! It's gonna be fun!

Happy Fall Swap!

Who Got What?

2009-02-01T12:29:00.027-05:00

1. Noel
2. Maddie
3. Jennifer
4. Caroline
5. Toni
6. Amy
7. Jan
8. Merritt
9. Glenda
10. Angela D.
11. Julie
12. Windsor
13. Denise
14. Donna
15. Jane
16. JesseRuth
17. Dolly
18. Tonya
19. Angela R.
20. Hannah
21. Inger
22. Rose
23. Jessica
24. Ashleigh

Happy V Day to Jenius!

2009-01-31T13:11:00.000-05:00

Mom was in the Queen City for the night, so today Hannah personally delivered her swap gift to her! The note was really cute that Hannah wrote and the wrapping was very pretty:

Caroline is sick today, but not too sick to help Grammy open her gift. What did she get?

Some milk chocolate covered fortune cookies! YUM!

And some cute V-Day kitchen towels....

And some ADORABLE V-Day place mats with cupcakes all over!!

Thank you, Hannah! That was a very cute gift that will be put to good use this Valentine's Season!

Thanks, Ashleigh!

2009-01-31T08:26:00.000-05:00

While I was in Boone, I was able to take pictures of Jane's swap gift from Ashleigh! Here is what she received:

A soft pink, heart throw, some yummy Ghiradelli dark chocolates and a nice candle. I'm seeing a cold day in the works: Watching a movie while snuggling under the blanket and eating chocolates with the candle lit:)

Thanks, Ashleigh! Jane loved it!

It's in the Mail!

2009-01-30T17:36:00.001-05:00

Okay swapies! The emails with names and addresses have been sent out. If you didn't get an email from me or Donna PLEASE let us know. I think a few emails were sent to SPAM boxes.

Anyway, a few of the gifts are already in the mail. So check back here every so often to see what everyone received.

Have a good weekend! Stay warm everyone. Stay cozy!

The Results!!

2009-01-26T17:20:00.003-05:00

Okay, I just drew the names. We have some new people playing this time! Here is who everyone has. We will be emailing the mailing info to everyone within the next day. If I don't have your email or address, please send it to: Tellagraham2@aol.com

Okay, drumroll......

1. Amy
2. Tonya
3. Dolly
4. Julie
5. Jessica
6. Angela R.
7. JesseRuth
8.Windsor
9.Inger
10. Maddie
11. Ashleigh
12. Jane
13. Jennifer
14. Caroline
15. Toni
16. Merritt
17. Glenda
18. Angela D.
19. Hannah
20. Jan
21. Rose
22. Donna
23. Noel
24. Denise

Time For Another Swap, Valentine Style!

2009-01-15T17:40:00.002-05:00

Okay, girls. Back by popular demand, it's Swap Time!! This round it will be a Valentine Swap and it will only be $15 (including shipping). Here are the rules:

1. Gift can be anything as long as it's Pink or Red. Be Creative!

2. Please send your gift out ASAP so your person can enjoy it before Valentine's Day. I will draw names on Monday, January 26th. Please try to have your gift sent by the following Monday, February 2rd. Please get your gift out on time. It's not fair to your person to be late in sending it out. If you know you can't commit to the rules, please don't play.

3. You can play as long as you are a known commenter or someone who is known, knows you. Make sense?

4. RSVP by responding in the comment section of this post.

Who Got What

2008-12-05T12:38:00.022-05:00

In case you've been wondering, here is what's been going on with the swaps. I will be updating this post regulary, so check back!! Click on each person's name to see what they received:

1. Imogene

2. Glenda

3. Ashley

4. Donna

5. Ashleigh

6. Windsor

7. Nancy

8. Merritt

9. Hannah

10. Denise

11. Jan

12. Shelly

13. Inger

14. Elizabeth

15. Angela R.

16. Jennifer C.

17. Toni

18. Karen

19. Kristi

20. Andrea

21. Amy

22. Angela D.

23. Suzanne

Thanks, Karen!

2008-12-04T08:20:00.001-05:00

I'm writing this post on behalf of Jan (Jenius). She came home from her Florida trip after being gone a week. She was busy running errands, paying bills and packing for another trip to Delaware. She found a box on her doorstep and couldn't figure out what she had ordered from L.L. Bean and then opened it and saw that it was from her swap person, Karen! She was leaving the next morning for Delaware but used the bag for the trip and LOVED it! She said everything fit in it perfectly. The color is perfect for the season and the personalization is a nice touch! Thanks, Karen! Your gift was "JENIUS"!!

Thank You, Glenda!

2008-12-03T08:11:00.002-05:00

The first BlogSwap gift has been received! Imogene asked me to post this for her:

"Thank Mrs. Parrish for my snowman. We are having two parties in the next week and I can not wait to use him! Thanks also for the encouraging letter, it meant alot!

Imogene Noe

I Noe Design

www.inoedesign.com"

The Results Are In!!

2008-11-25T03:50:00.002-05:00

Okay, ladies....this should be an exciting swap! 24 people are playing, so this will be fun! Most of the players are new to the swap, and some are pretty talented in the handmade gifts, I hear:) I drew the names tonight with Caroline's help and there was no cheating involved...I PROMISE!

So, without further ado, here are the results for the Christmas Blog Swap 2008. The person under your name is the person you are buying for. The Last person will buy for the first person listed below:

Jen

Jan "Jenius"

So if you don't know your person, click on their name, visit their blog and get a feel for who they are. Hey, why you're at it, click on everyone's name and get to know each other. Blogs are a great way to meet new friends:)

I will be sending each player their person's mailing and email adresses so look for it. Remember to try to get your gift out by December 2nd or 3rd and also remember to post about the gift you received on your blog once you get it in the mail. If you don't have a blog, please email me a picture of your gift so I can post it for you (Tellagraham2@aol.com). Enjoy and have fun!

All Aboard?!

2008-11-18T13:48:00.004-05:00

The Christmas Blog Swap is now underway! Consider this the official invitation. After taking the poll, it looks like most people want to do a creative swap. This means that you can do anything you want pertaining to Christmas. Examples of this could include:

-an assortment of Christmas ornaments
-a nice Christmas decoration for the home
-Christmas tea towels with some type of Christmas goodie
-a Christmas CD
-The possibilities are ENDLESS--especially for you creative girls who make stuff:)

Please make sure your Christmas swap gift is $25 including shipping. The RSVP starts now!!Just leave your "YES" answer in the comments. If you want to opt out this swap, no problem! Just please don't leave a comment. Let's try to use the comment box only for positive RSVP's. The last day to reply will be next Tuesday, November 25th. On that night, I will draw the names and have them displayed on this blog by Wednesday morning. This will give you time during the Thanksgiving sales to buy your swap gift. I will also provide each player with their person's mailing information. If your blog is private, please make sure your person has access.

Please try to have your gift sent off by Tuesday, Decmeber 2nd so your person can get the most out of your gift this Christmas season! And please remember to display the gift you received on your blog as a thank you to your swap giver AND to show the rest of us what you received! And remember...presentation is everything!

This really is a fun activity when everyone plays right. If you know you can't commit to the rules/dates, please don't play. And, once again, if you are an unknown lurker, sorry....you need to be a known commenter or someone who another faithful commenter can vouch for:)

Let the fun begin!

Welcome

2008-11-13T20:27:00.004-05:00

Hello fella blogger girls! Welcome to our new swapping blog, which is still in the works.

We need a nifty name for it so please think of one and then let us know in the comment section.

This blog is public and is a way to let more than just one person host the seasonal blog swap.

This weekend, November will be half over, and we need to get going on the next seasonal swap!

Some suggestions have been given for our next swap. Please take a moment to take the polls on the side bar of this page so you can help decide what type of swap to do for this winter season.

More will be posted later after the polls are over, but keep checking this blog to be in the know of what's going on.