IT CAME!!!

Imagine my excitement when my doorbell rang last week and the mailman was standing there with THIS package!

It was my Favorite Things Swap package from Amy!

After prying it gently removing it from Cole's hands, I tore into the box like Christmas morning.

Look at the beautifully wrapped gifts with clues as to what was inside.

And here are a few of Amy's favorite things.

1. A beautiful bracelet.

She said it was one of her hobbies, so I am assuming she made it. What a crafty partner I got!

2. A Brown Sugar Disc.

How is it that I have lived in the south all my life and not owned one of these? You may have saved a life sista!

3. Yummy smelling soap.

4. Apple Cider Packets.

If I make this will fall come quicker?

5. A beautiful picture frame.

6. A cute little note pad with pen.

How I love to make lists. This will come in handy!

7. A glass pumpkin jar full of DOVE chocolate.

Well, it was full until....

Now you may ask yourself...Self I wonder what Wendi sent Amy?

Wonder no more.

Here are a few of my favorite things:

1. Twilight.

My swap partner, Aly, from a previous swap sent me this book. I could not have imagined how much I would enjoy it. So much so that I think I am in love with one Edward Cullen. I got Amy a copy because I want her to love it as much as I do.

2.Stride Sugarless Gum.

3. Burt's Bees Lip Balm.

The best I tell ya.

4. A magnetic book mark personalized with the letter "A".

5. Bath & Body Works. I sent the honeysuckle scent, but I have many favorites.

6. Personalized note cards .

I still enjoy a hand written card, don't you?

7. Poppycock- Chocolate Lovers.

It is pecan and almond popcorn clusters drizzled in chocolate and caramel.

Need I say more?

Thanks Amy for being such an awesome swap partner.

I now have a few new favorite things.

I hope you enjoyed a few of mine!

Favorite Things Swap- The Exchange!

Thanks to all who participated in my first ever Favorite Things Swap!

I had 74 participants.

I was blown away with your response.

I hope that everyone had a wonderful time gathering a few of your favorite things.

I know I did.

Please remember that your packages need to be in the mail by

Monday, Sept. 22, 2008.

As promised, I have finally posted Mr. Linky.

Simply put your name on the first line and your exact post address from your blog on the second line.

Yes, that means you need to write a post, with photos, so we can all share in the fun.

Then link up here.

If you have any questions...please email me at becausewendisaidso(at) gmail(dot) com.

Thanks again for a fabulous swap!

THE WAIT IS OVER!!!

Check your inbox!

Your swap partners name and information has already been sent.

I am beyond excited about the overwhelming response I had to my first ever

Favorite Things Swap!

I had 70 RSVP's.

Which is a lot more than the 20 I was expecting.

I used a scientific method of matching you.

I wrote all the names on index cards.

I laid them out on a table.

I picked up two at a time.

Very scientific.

I hope you are all excited and gathering a few of your Favorite Things.

Thanks for all your help in promoting what I hope will be a great experience for you.

Things to remember:

1. Go meet your swap partner. Visit their blog or flickr page. Email them. Get to know them a bit.

2. Start shopping. Think about what your favorite things are. Choose three. (or more if you are like me and can't decide)

3. Wrap your gifts. I think there is nothing like unwrapping presents. Make it fun.

4. Mail your package. Please be sure your Favorite Things Package is postmarked and sent by September 22, 2008. This way everyone will receive their packages about the same time.

5. Write a post and display photos of the swap on your blog or flickr page. A few days after the swap I will put up a Mr. Linky so that you can link up your post on my blog and we can all enjoy what everyone got. More details to come.

6. Have fun and remember to send a package that you would be excited to receive!

Happy Swapping!

If you have any questions ...please email me at becausewendisaidso (at) gmail (dot) com

LAST CHANCE!!!

Today is the last day to RSVP for my Favorite Things Swap.

I am completely overwhelmed with the response I have gotten thus far.

You guys are the best.

I tell ya.

I know just where to go if I want some juicy gossip spread around the internet.

I have tried to respond to each of your RSVP's.

If you did not get a confirmation email from me... like "I got your information. Thanks for participating.", chances are I did not get it.

You may want to try again.

Also there were several of you that commented on my blog that you wanted to participate, but never emailed me your information.

You need to do that.

Today.

I will start working on matching partners tomorrow.

I have not decided on my exact method yet.

I am thinking of the scientific approach.

Throw the names in a hat and draw out two at a time.

Very scientific.

Does anyone know if random.org offers an option for this?

I hope to have your swap partners information to you by the first of the week.

Start gathering your favorite things.

It helps if you channel Maria (Julie Andrews) and sing out loud while you shop.

It worked for me.

Everyone now.... Raindrops on Roses...

Happy Swapping!!!

FAVORITE THINGS SWAP!!!

When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling sad

I simply remember my favorite things and then I don't feel so bad.

Oh, um... excuse me.

Singing to myself again.

I know you have waited with bated breath for the BIG announcement.

Here it is.

My first ever...

Favorite Things Swap!

I am so excited about this.

I recently did a

Favorite Things Swap

over at According to Kelly.

It was an amazing experience.

I hope that this one will be just as fun for you.

Here is how it works:

1. Let me know you want to participate.

I will need an RSVP by August 30, 2008.

2. If you choose to participate, you will simply pick three (or more) of your favorite things to share with your partner.

I am sure no one would complain if you wanted to send more.

I think I sent seven things...but I got a little carried away.

This does not have to be expensive.

It could be your favorite book, a new mascara, or a book of your favorite recipes.

It might even be some personalized note cards, or a box of your favorite chocolates.

Items can be new, bought, or even homemade.

Just remember to send a package that you would be excited to receive.

Be creative!

3. Email me at becausewendisaidso@gmail.com with the following information.

• Your name
• Your mailing address
• Your email address
• Your website/ blog /or flickr address.

(you must have one of these)

• A little something about yourself.
• Please let me know if you would be willing to ship internationally.
  
  
  4.I will email you the information about your swap partner shortly after the sign up deadline.

The delivery deadline is September 22, 2008.

Be sure to have your packages ready and postmarked by then.

So...are you ready to join in the fun?

Share this with your friends!

Tell your neighbors!

Email your associates!

Grab my Favorite Things button and post it on your blog!

Oh, speaking of my button.

Isn't it the cutest?

Alex, over at The Roaming Southerner whipped that up for me.

She is amazing.

A "genius photoshopper" I like to call her.

My own personal GPS!

Thanks Alex!

Okay.....are you ready to swap?

Me too!

I can't wait to hear from all of you.

*Feel free to contact me at becausewendisaidso@gmail.com with any questions.

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?