Cold Hands, Warm Heart

I came across this at One Happy Mama this morning. 
What a fun idea to 'meet' other bloggers.

About the Exchange:

The Cold Hands, Warm Hearts Swap is a swap created to keep your hands warm as Winter approaches and the weather gets colder. It’s also a way for bloggers to make new friends across the blog-world. Doesn’t your heart get warm when you make new friends? Your package should include a pair of gloves AND any other items you think your partner would like! You can never have too many pairs of cute gloves and who doesn’t love getting some extra unexpected goodies in their packages too? Please make sure your package is made from the heart!

If you'd like to join in on the fun, head on over to Sandy a la mode and get signed up today!  This swap is capped at 100 bloggers.  (Yes, you need to have a blog to participate.)  I already have some ideas rolling around in my head.  Now to make them come to life. 

If you want to join me and a bunch of other bloggers, go sign up now!

Stay warm!

Home Goods Swap

A few weeks ago, some friends and I got together and had a home goods swap.  That included things from rugs, shower curtains, vases, and frames, to pillows, wall hangings, picnic basket, pails, holiday decor, candles, and whatever else people could find that they no longer used.  With the swap, everyone is to take their items, a day or 2 before the swap, to the host house for set up.  We also chipped in a couple bucks to help with the cost of the snacks.

After everyone arrives and has had a chance to browse through the items, we all draw numbers.  That is how the order is determined for selecting your times.  Once you get through everyone once, you start back at 1 again.  It is possible it will get to the point where someone has selected all they want, so you skip them.  This continues on until all the items are selected, or until no one wants anything else.

Here are the fun things that I got at the swap.

Check out this little beauty.  It is kind of cute....but I got it with the intent of redoing it.  Finally, yesterday, I took out the board with the snowmen painted on it.  When I pulled it out, one of the little pieces came with it.  So I had to get out my handy glue gun and reattached it.  I am using it now, but not sure if it will stay where it is or not.

Now who doesn't love tin containers?  I picked up a few.

This one is tall for flowers, grasses, twigs, whatever.

A watering can that won't be used for watering.  :)

A small bucket!  It will go in my craft room.

These pillows are big!  They are great for putting against the wall to sit if I have lots of company over.

And last but not least....because it was the 1 thing I really wanted....

a picnic basket!

Growing up, I remember mom always having a picnic basket similar to this.  She would use it for all our family picnics, church potlucks, and whatever else.  So when I saw it, I knew I had to have it.  And within the first 2 days I had it, I used it twice!  Once for a grill out/bonfire, and the other time to take food to connection group. 

If you have some extra things sitting around your house that you can't part with by taking to Good Will or Salvation Army, why not host a Home Goods Swap?  It's quite possible your friends are in the same boat.  Best of all, you might be able to grab an item that you have had your eye on at your friends place for awhile, but now see that it is 'missing'.  And pick up some awesome things for free!!

Goody Swap Questionnaire

I forgot about this part of the Valentine's Day Goody Swap I signed up for. So here it goes:

Questionnaire:
What is your idea of a romantic Valentine’s Day?
Well, I'm not sure yet. In the meantime, I'll probably watch some kids so their parents can go on a date.

In reality, what is your Valentine’s Day really like?
This year, it will be coaching my Upward team, then heading back to my parent's farm and area for a Mary Kay facial or 2.

If you could have a lifetime supply of your favorite sweet indulgence, what would it be?
Probably Dove Milk Chocolate Promises. They are just fabulous. I am actually enjoying a few right now. :) But during Valentine's season, I LOVE the sour cherry jels, which I also have with me here at work.

Is there any sweet treat you absolutely do not like?
Black liquorice and anything extremely sour.

If you fell into a pool of chocolate, how would you get out?
It would depend on what type of chocolate it is. Milk chocolate, I'd eat it. Anything else, probably just try to get out.

I'm Participating in a Valentine's Day Swap!

I just signed up to participate in a Valentine's Day Swap, hosted by Kailani over at An Island Life. This is my first swap, and I'm excited about what I can come up with. I already have some ideas, but am waiting to hear back from who I was matched up with.

Let me introduce you to Liz, who is the lucky lady that will be getting my gift. It looks like she has lots of great stuff on her blog. But I think I'm going to have to look around another time, when I have more time. If you would like to participate, you can sign-up until Jan 31. So go sign-up right now!