Monday, July 14, 2008

WHEN THE DOG BITES, WHEN THE BEE STINGS, WHEN I'M FEELING SAD


I recently participated in a "Favorite Things Swap".

It was my first "swap" ever.


You simply find, buy, or make, three or more of your favorite things to send to your swap partner.


Sounds easy.


Until you go to find a few of your favorite things.


And realize that you have way too many favorite things.


My swap partner was Aly.


I can't tell you how excited I was to get her.


She is a young, hip, single, trendy, photography majoring, college student living in Utah.


I am a not so young, not so hip, not so trendy, not so hot photographer, who is married with children living in eastern NC.


I can completely see how we got paired up.


We are just EXACTLY alike.


That and I bet she pulled the names out of a hat.


Anyhoo, imagine my excitement when my doorbell rang and the mailman handed me a package from Aly.


It was like Christmas morning.


This is what was in the box.




The cutest brown paper packages tied up with string.


And inside were a few of her favorite things.





How cute are these things?


She sent me a flirty apron.


I have been eyeing these on Kelly's blog.


Who doesn't want to be flirty and cute in the kitchen?


She also sent me the book, "Twilight", which I have been wanting to read.


Then she burned me a CD of her favorite music.


How cool is that?


It has now been downloaded to my ipod.


And Claire's.


Which goes without saying.


Lastly, she sent me a cute little black and white recipe book.


It was love at first sight.


I was envisioning which recipes I would put in the book.

Then I opened it and discovered she had included sixteen of her favorites to share.

I could not be happier.

A good book, good music, recipes and a sassy apron.

My swap partner rocks!

Now some of you may be wondering what I sent her.

Take a look.





Chocolate and Blue packages tied up with string.


These are a few of my favorite things.






I sent these with the following note.



These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

Raindrops on roofs and Stride sugarless gum

Bright patterned bags by Vera Bradley are fun

Brown and blue packages tied up with strings

These are a few of my favorite things

Lindt Chocolate Truffles that melt in your mouth

are loved by this girl who grew up in the south

Books by Nicholas Sparks…oh such happiness brings

These are a few of my favorite things

How I love body lotion that aids in leg ashes

Mascara that won't clump on my little eyelashes

My guilty pleasure are PEOPLE magazines

These are a few of my favorite things


When the kids cry

When the bee stings

When I'm feeling sad

I simply remember my favorite things

And then I don't feel so bad



I know you can imagine Maria (Julie Andrews) singing it now.

I had a great time with this swap.

It was so much fun.

I will definitely be doing it again next year.

Do you think I could request Aly again?


36 comments:

Lynell said...

What wonderful gifts. I love the swap. Sound like you two were made for each other.

I always love reading your posts. You write in such a fun way that really gives me a lift.

And I can totally hear Maria singing your song. Oh wait, that's me. hee hee

Carol said...

No you can not. I totally want Aly next time. Can I put in a request?

I never knew such a fun thing existed.

Loved your 'favourite things' song, the old version is dead to me now.

Lindt truffles.....yummo!

amanda said...

oh how i love your favorites things and aly's favorite things!!

i wanna play!!

seriously looks like soo much fun!!

maybe you should host your own??

The Mom Jen said...

OMG how fun...i'm so envious!

Stephanie said...

I am so jealous! What a fabulous idea! You should host your own swap for all of us. I want to play... Can you pull my name out of the hat though? You have great things! ;)

Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? said...

That looks like tons of fun! You got some great stuff and sent some great stuff, too! And, I love that you put a little poem in there, too!

I wanna play!

Laural Out Loud said...

This sounds like so much fun! I totally want in on it next year.

From the looks of things, I'd say you both scored!

Rach (Mommy Learns to Blog) said...

You know? I saw that swap link on several blogs I frequent, but being the newbie blogger I am, wasn't so sure about it.

How sad and envious am I (envy was low on my test if I remember correctly, so I'm allowed just this once) that I didn't go for it?

Aly's gifts to you are fabulous, as are yours to her.

And Vera Bradley? Oh dear, you and I haven't even gone to that place yet. Let me guess, is Java Blue your fave? I'm currently carrying the Betsy in that pattern and today when I looked down at myself walking in to the market I realized that I looked like I was dressed to match my bag - chocolate brown bermudas and a really cute (from Target, my other addiction) turquoise/teal sleeveless shirt. I actually felt like I might look dorky for being so matchy-matchy!

Love your pics of the wrapped gifts from Aly, you can tell they were from your new camera!!!

And thanks for giving me yet another blog to go check out - one more reason to love you :)

Kellan said...

How FUN! And what great gifts for both of you! ENJOY! Kellan

McMommy said...

I agree with amanda!! I want you to host your own!! And now I REALLY want to play!! Pretty pretty please?!?!

As Cape Cod Turns said...

You are so clever! I bow to you!

C and C Mommy said...

I was totally singing along!!

Kristen said...

Ok, so dear dear friend. Who has way too much on her plate the way it is......

PlEASE host your own swap!!

This looks like so much fun, and I request YOU!! :)

Tiffany said...

That is so great - Love the favorite things on both ends! I agree with Kristen - Host your own!

Thanks for sharing!

Grammy Staffy said...

I loved your version of favorite things.... what a fun post and what a fun idea.

Like Lynell, reading your post always makes me smile. You are great! I surely wish that I could meet you gal. Holly and family are visiting from Texas and spent several hours with us today. It was such a thrill to meet my blog friend in real life. Sure wish I could meet you too. Don't you want to come to CA?????

Beachy Mimi said...

I love this idea! I didn't even know about swaping things. I would really love to do this. You have such clever ideas. I just love coming over here.

duchess said...

What a nice little treat and I love the song. I'm still singing it.

Briya said...

That sounds like so much fun! Where can I sign up for that? LOL.

Unknown said...

What a great swap! You both sent such good "favorite things!" And yes, I think you should request Aly again for sure! ; )

Blessings From Above said...

I love, love, LOVE the items you picked, and received!!!

This is such a cool idea.

Emy5 said...

Love the items you picked and received.

Totally can hear the song in the background. The Sound of Music is a favourite of mine. Great job on those lyrics.

Lauren in GA said...

You are such a cute writer! I love how you say things like, "That and I bet she pulled the names out of a hat." You always make me chuckle :)

Lauren in GA said...

Oh, and I love the wrapping paper you sent your gifts in :)

Unknown said...

ok #1- you are just too cute! and #2- i am so glad you posted the pictures of what you sent me because i have been meaning to post them forever but the only problem is that i took the picture of the perfectly wrapped gifts, but then i just got to excited after i opened your favorites that i never took a picture of what i got! and was going to have to resort to the picture of the empty bag of chocolates.... so THANKS! and it was so fun having you and i would love to have you as a partner again-- are we allowed to request?! haha :)

Kelli @ writing the waves said...

How fun is that! I love your cute little poem. (And yes, I was singing along.) I'd like to request YOU, please!

McMommy said...

Wendi, YOU ARE one my favorite..things? No, that doesn't sound right. You are one of my favorite PEOPLE!!!!!

Happy POW!

Anonymous said...

I want to read Twilight too. I've heard so much about it. You really scored on this swap and so did Aly!! This would be so fun, but I'd be worried that the stuff I would send would be lame.

jOni lAnE said...

Okay, so I totally sang your song as I was reading along. That is tooooooo cute! You got hooked up! (And you sent some pretty cute stuff too!) Looks like a lot of FUN! Happy POW!
Smiles,
Joni

Brigit said...

Cute poem! Very well done. I love the idea.

just jamie said...

I know for a fact that you are an excellent gift-wrapper, and gift-giver. LOVE that wrapping paper, and love the gift you sen my way. THANK YOU.

As for favorite things, that is just too fun.

Leslie said...

What a cool idea! I love the gifts!

Unknown said...

What a fun idea! You both have great taste and I love the paper you wrapped her gifts in!

Amanda @ notsoextraordinary said...

that sounds like SO much fun! I loved that you came up with new words to the song for it, thats just too creative :) now i wanna do a fav things swap!

Anti-Supermom said...

The swap was such a great thing, I'm sad I was paying attention and missed out. It looks like you both got fabulous gifts!

Tyne said...

Me too, Me too! I want to play. Will you please host a swap? Very cute song by the way!

Carrie and Troy Keiser said...

What a fun idea. what fun swaps.