I Choo, Choo, Choose You V-day Swap.

i love swaps. i think it's a fun way to connect with bloggers, meet new friends, and make another person's day with Happy Mail. As you might remember, I was pretty excited about Summer's I Choo, Choo, Choose You V-day Swap.

this morning, my fellow Dexter watcher EQ of Misguided Me gmail chatted to say she got my swap gift and loved it. {yay!}

At first i thought it would be hard to find something she'd like- On her list of likes she had 1. Chocolate 2. Bulldogs (she has a cute one named Baxter) 3. Shoes.

i thought, how am i going to find any of those related things? {not that that was the requirement}

thank-you Etsy.com

flying bulldog canvas tote

sexy stilettos magnet - acrylic painted 2x2 canvas

a handmade oliverbluedesigns valentine card

with instructions to give to her boyfriend.

E, i know it was simple but i tried to make it personable to you. Thank-you for the chat this morning (boo on the job searches) & for bringing your tote to work already. It made me smile! i was glad to be your valentine *wink. I'm looking forward to more Dexter talk. Season 3, bring it!

i had NO idea the gift to me would also be coming through the post today. Wanna know who else made me smile? this cute-as-a-button girl below:

Have you met Sandra of On The Bright Side?

*she looks like my little sister Maddie so i think of her as one

& look, she has a little Maverick like me.

i've been friends with her for some time and in so many ways, she reminds me of me.

Sandra's an absolute gem. If you have the pleasure of knowing her, then you already know this and I'm not just being kind to be kind. She is a genuine genuine person. I mean look at her! *smiles.

I couldn't believe when I saw where my package was coming from and recognized the name on the box that Sandra got me. She wrote on one of the gifts that she couldn't believe it either, that "she liked to believe it was fate." See what i mean? cuteness.

in her FABULOUS handmade card, she explained that her valentine swap to me was a combo of a housewarming, engagement, and v-day gift. RIGHT THEN, i wanted to cry. Seriously, so sweet and heartfelt.

and then i did cry.

i was moved by her complete kindness.

oh Sandra... sister, you spoiled me with a plethora of goodness. EACH thing was so me... so incredibly thoughtful. You're a gift giving goddess.

Even the packaging was goodness: stripes & each tag with a quote.

the box was filled with TWILIGHT New Moon Sweet Tarts and red confetti. I told Sandra when i saw the candy i giggled (i am consumed by the series & she remembered that) because really, that was more than enough. Her card & my twilight sweets.

i was spoiled:

Black Tea English Breakfast whole leaf loose tea from The Coffee Bean & a dragonfly Tea Infuser to go with it (i've been needing one!), an adorable yellow hanging hook (i have a thing for these and this one esp... it was on my Etsy favorites. Sandra, you're toooo wonderful)...

a pink bride-to-be sash i WILL wear to my bachelorette party...

and this, this brought the tears.

An embroidery framed with the line i first fell in love with in Twilight.

it's PERFECTION.

I could never find the words to express my thanks for this, for making me filled with such happiness! I loved each and every thing x10. And more than material things, SO much more than that is the feeling that i can tell it was all from her heart.

so from my heart to yours,

THANK-YOU Sandra.

Thank-you for being my friend. Thank-you for being lovely!

(Happy Valentines to you and your Dreamboat too) xoxoxo