Cold Hands, Warm Hearts

Happy Thursday, guys! I am really excited because I got my Cold Hands, Warm Hearts package yesterday from the lovely Tara!

About a month ago, Ilene from much love, illy and Sandy from Sandy a la mode organized a swap called "Cold Hands, Warm Hearts." As the participants, we were matched with another reader of their blogs, and were to send each other packages with only one requirement - they must include gloves! 

So, I spent a night thrifting and collecting for Tara. I sent her some really lovely things I found, and you can read all about it here! You should also take a minute to check out her blog, This Military Mama. She is an awesome blogger and mama. :)

I spent the whole week thinking about what she could have possibly thought up for me, and last night I finally got to open the package :) This is what I found...

First of all, the packages were so beautifully wrapped! It was like presents inside of presents :)

1. The Tales of Beadle the Bard, a Harry Potter book of wizard fairy tails! 

2. Delicious looking Island Mango & Peach Tea... YUM!

3. BEAUTIFUL handmade, mustard-yellow, fingerless gloves. The lace detail is SO pretty.

4. A much love, illy headband! I am so excited to wear this at Christmas time! 

I love, love, LOVE this headband. It's SO cute.

I could not have been happier with the things that Tara chose for me. I could tell that she really took the time to get to know me through my blog and via twitter. It was so fun to connect with someone in another part of the country and to make a new friend. I strongly urge you all to take part if Sandy and Ilene do this again next year!

HOLY THURSDAY!

It has probably been the longest week of my life, this week. With only 6 days of student teaching left, you can bet I have been hurrying them along. And you can also bet that since I have been hurrying them along, they have been
d   r   a   g   g   i   n   g.  I am having a real moral dilemma... should I do something nice for the kids on my last day? I want to... but do they deserve it? Ideas/suggestions are welcome. I was considering letting them watch a movie and just chill out since my last day is their last day before Christmas, also, and after three days of six two-hour exams... Since next week is exams, and Holly has me not teaching this week, I have basically just been sitting around the classroom a lot, grading *late* papers and reading Harry Potter, and working on that awesome giveaway I posted the other day!

Speaking of which... I wanted to go into a little more explanation for you guys about that! Since I am quickly approaching 100 followers, I really wanted to celebrate by helping 10 other bloggers/crafters get their shops and blogs known as well. I figured that since you all have supported me so much, I want to give back a little. [I never expected for Femmena Mala to come this far... Thank you guys so much!]

PLUS? Giveaways are fun. Especially when they are in the masses :) I am so astounded at how quickly the spots have filled up, and there's only one more left! (if you want to take part in featuring your shop, read more here!) [the giveaway is full! thanks, guys! <3] The giveaway is going to go up around Christmastime, because, DUH. Anyhow, I am SO excited about it. This is my first giveaway since the teeny tiny one I did back in... September? About 6 people entered, and I gave away a mixed CD with a handmade sleeve. It was very fun, but I am excited to do the same thing on a much larger scale this time!

Back to the topic at hand... I know I haven't posted about my new job recently, or really posted anything significant about my life at all in the last few weeks, but I have been SO busy and extremely tired ALL. THE. TIME. But, the job is going awesomely. I have been getting the perfect amount of hours, and having money for once is such an awesome feeling. Plus? I get to play with puppies all day long and who wouldn't want to be paid to do that? I am learning a lot about animals, and have already found out some better ways that Nick and I can improve our care for Guillermo. [Who, by the way, is still not using his bad leg, and we are seriously thinking that we'll need to get him those water physical therapy sessions after Christmas, when the cash is somewhat flowing again... such a bad dog!]

ALSO. I am getting so, so, so excited about Christmas, and I am seriously counting down the days until I can give all these awesome presents that are mounting in my bedroom to their respective giftees! I bought the prettiest wrapping paper from Target for really cheap last week, and I can't wait to get some pretty red ribbon to set it off... pictures to come!

Also, ALSO! I won a really awesome giveaway at Roxy's blog, grrfeisty, the other day from Mary Rebecca's etsy shop! I am not going to give anything away here, but I am so, so, so excited to blog about it when it comes in the mail!! Let's just say I was clapping my hands and bouncing in my seat when I found out... eee! <3

Shew. If you guys got to the bottom of this, my love for you is renewed, and you are teh awesome.

<3 S

there's a giveaway looming on the horizon...

Hey, y'all! I want to present another opportunity to those crafty ladies out there.

I am well on my way to 100 followers, and I am SO excited to do a huge giveaway 

when I get there.

I want to open my blog to those ladies who would like to give themselves a little extra [free!] boost! 

When I reach 100 followers, I am offering a huge giveaway + feature spot for anyone who wants to take part alongside my own giveaway. This includes: 

* feature/interview to be posted the day of the giveaway

*giveaway opportunity with an item of your choice

*button of your choice to be added to the giveaway sponsor link 

**Winner(s) will receive something made by me as well as some awesome handmade prizes.

If you are interested: please email me here to register yourself!

Thanks, everyone! I have filled all ten spots! 
Keep an eye out for the 12 item 
giveaway in a few weeks! <3

Happy Tuesday, friends!

Bloggin' Ladies: Fancy Biscuit

Friends! Tuesday means Bloggin' Ladies, and this week it's Danielle from Fancy Biscuit Blog. She rules, and that's all you need to know. Read on, if you please. <3

Name+Age+Site/Blog: Danielle / 27 / http://www.fancybiscuit.com/

Tell us something interesting about you! I never buy "new" or "designer".. I like clothes/shoes/purses with sweet style and character. I work at a store with designer shoes & purses and it amazes me how cute all of it is..  and then when I go to purchase something I'd just rather have it vintage or beat up. Strange? Maybe. My opinion? Kick ass!

Why did you begin blogging? I just wanted a place that was different and I could express my thoughts and feelings. A place where judgment is placed on the back burner and everyone can come out of their shells and chime in. I have more in common with you than you think, we all do.

How long have you been blogging? I used to blog back in the Xanga days (8 years ago).. never really stuck with it once I got my Myspace account.. and then of course Facebook doesn't really have the "creative outlet" platform. I wanted something uniquely "me" in every way. So, I started a blog about a year and a half ago with blogger.

Who is your inspiration for writing/doing what you do? Myself. Not selfish at all.. or pretentious. Just truth. I think of wild, retarded things and I post them. That is who I am and what I like. 

Where do you get your ideas? Sometimes I'll be on the phone with Amy (my best friend) and think of an idea, sometimes I will wake up and just have an epiphany... sometimes I will think off something off-kilter and jot it down in my phone. Just whatever sparks me at any given moment. I'm a "roll with the punches" kind of girl, so I want that clearly conveyed on my blog, even if it comes off as insanity.

Do you have any advice that you want to share with fellow lady bloggers? Just be kind to everyone you meet. And give un-known or newly started bloggers a chance. Sometimes aesthetics aren't everything. Content = quality. If the person behind the screen has something great to say, then listen/read. Don't start a blog to get followers. If you are interesting enough on your own, people will read your blog content. But, be yourself. Don't resort to a "cookie cutter blog" just because someone else did it and was successful. Originality and perseverance are the best qualities of bloggers.

What is one thing you are looking forward to most in your future (blog or otherwise)? The one thing I look forward to (more than anything else) is the day I can say goodbye to my current work life and move to Mexico to do ministry full-time. I can't wait for that day. Just to know how much of a difference my presence will make in the lives of all the children in Jerez... well makes my life worth living. Blessings are what you feel when you do something good for other, with love as your main intention. I am excited, also, to share my adventures with the blogging community.

[Thanks, Danielle :)]

bloggin' ladies nominations now open!

hello, all! i am very excited because i have a proposition for you.

over the next few weeks, i have a few more really fantastic

ladies lined up to do bloggin' ladies posts. however, since i have done so many already, i want to open the nominations up to YOU!

this means: if you read a blog that is inspirational, and is written by a really lovely lady (or fellow!), please email me with the link to the blog, and a short blurb about why you would like them to be featured.

i am really excited to learn about more bloggers and blogs to add to my daily blog roll (and to help widen yours, too!), so please, enter however many blogs you would like! 

thank you all, so much! <3