April Cara Box Reveal: Going Green

This month to honor Earth Day the Cara Box swap theme was "Going Green" and I could not have gotten better partners!

I sent a box to Jackie @ Health, Love & The Pursuit of Happiness!
She's awesome, and has a really cute blog so go check it out!

The box that I received was from Ashley @ Wannabe Green and I couldn't have asked for a better partner if I tried.

It was great to get know Ashley, and I was able to share some of the "green" projects I wanted to take on with her.
She's educated on being green and has done many green projects herself so she was able to give me some tips, and information sites to reference.
Go check out her blog for some great green projects, crafts, recipes, and much more!

She sent me a great box with a good range of green items from garden items all the way to beauty!
Some of which can help me get some of my green projects rolling!

- Barnes & Noble e-gift card for my Nook!

 

-2 reusable bags
- garden gloves
- recycle green reflective stickers
- organic skin care items
- a little notebook made from recycled paper
- Daisy, Tomato, and Basil growing starter kits...
which I have already started.
Let's just pray they actually grow.

Thank you so much Ashley for all of my goodies!

I had a lot of fun getting to know you and look forward to getting to know you more in the future.

I have always had a great time doing the Cara Box swaps.

I've met some really great bloggers, and made some new friends!

I've learned new things from them and their blogs.

I've gotten some great packages with thoughtful gifts inside.

Go check it out for yourself, and join the fun!

Cara Box Exchange @ Wifessionals

Happy Tuesday.

 

April Music Mix-Up: Inspiration

Last month I found Kim's music mix-up swap and I knew that I had to be part of it. 

I love music, and I love me a good swap so what could be better?!

I'm constantly wanting to share some of my new favorite tunes with people and am researching what the latest, popular songs are.

I try to explore all types of music but lord knows I can't possible find all of the good songs out there
I was partnered with Kim too so I was excited to see what she would send my way.

We learned from the start that we have very similar music tastes, which made the swap both very easy and very difficult.

I knew she'd probably like any song I included on the CD, but at the same time I didn't want to include a bunch of songs she knew by heart.

Even though the swap was more about providing inspirational music but giving her songs that were overly popular defeated the purpose in my mind.

I did go into it knowing that I wanted to do a wide range of songs: old, new, alternative, top 40, and of course they had to be inspirational to me.

For some of the songs it was clear why they were inspirational, but others not so much.

Having said that it seems like Kim might have had the same logic in mind because I received a really good mix, with a good amount of variation.

She, like the smarty that she is, included a list of the songs with explanations as to why she found them inspirational.

Why I didn't think of that is beyond on me, but I loved that she did it.
I am so happy with the mix, and I've been listening to it frequently since it arrived.
I love it!

*1) People - AWOLNATION/

2) Walk - Foo Fighters

3) Put it Behind You - Keane

*4) On Top of the World - Imagine Dragons

5) Hotel Song - Regina Spektor

6) Carry On - Fun.

7) Anne Braden - Flobots

8) Otherside - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

9) Cassie - Flyleaf

10) Hallelujah - Jason Castro

*11) Million Faces - Paolo Nutini

12) Cookie Jar - Jack Johnson

13) Belief - John Mayer

14) The Cave - Mumford & Sons

15) Go Your Own Way - Fleetwood Mac

16) Little Victories - Matt Nathanson

* = top 3 favorites

Thank you so much Kim for the wonderful CD!

I truly have found some new inspiration :)

Happy Monday.

Birthday Swap

Not mine....

But Amber and Vicki's! And they are putting together a really great birthday swap for us! 

March has no real meaning to me, but I enjoy a good swap.

Getting know some bloggers and their spaces you might not have ever found.

Getting fun and usually thoughtful goodies

I mean what isn't there to love?

They want to make this a crazy, amazing swap...

Sooooo I think you should join.

Ps - I know I said I'd be writing a Columbus Love post but I am having some technical difficulties. I will have it up within the next week :)

Happy Tuesday :)

Cara Box Reveal - #ClubSexy

This month I participated in the Cara Box swap and I am so glad I did!

It was a fun swap, and a nice way to get to know other bloggers.

The person that sent to me was Melissa at A Mile in her Boots.

Go check it out!

She's a really sweet girl and her blog is too cute! 

Since Kait decided to try and match people my states I at least knew I had living in Ohio in common, but that was the beginning!

I found out that Melissa and I have many things in common including the fact that she worked at my college, while I was there for a year!

I am pretty sure every time I meet someone new this world just gets a little smaller.

Since the theme was #ClubSexy the deal was to send each other things for the perfect date night. I didn't necessarily stick to that theme completely when shopping for my partner, but Melissa did a really good job picking out some items for me! 

She got me some really cute spring color nail polishes. 

A cute note pad, perfect for my forgetful brain to write things down on

Lavender bath salts.

A chocolate face mask. I am really excited to try this I haven't tried a chocolate mask before! 

A little mani set, which I threw into my purse immediately! 

Love coupons! A nice way to spice up things for Kev and I :) 

A cute little mirror, and again it went into my purse right away!

Thank you so much Melissa for all my goodies! I can't wait to try them out :)

I am really digging this Cara  Box swap and the mission behind it.

Needless to say I've already signed up for next month!

Polish Swap & Nail Files show off

This last month I participated in a nail polish swap ever so lovingly thrown by several wonderful bloggers. 

I got paired with Ms. Amy over at Love & Hot Chocolate. 

If you haven't seen Amy's blog go check it out.
It's super cute and she's got some great things to talk about and share with all of you!

I am also going to show off the new polish because I got my nails did the other day!

What better way to show off a swap than to literally wear what you got!?

For the swap we were asked what kind of polish colors we were interested in. 

I know I put purples because they are some of my favorites but I honestly don't remember exact what else I put down! 

Amy hit the nail on the head!
I know wrong kind of nail, but it's still punny.

To make things slightly sweeter she included some chocolates.
It's like she really knows my heart - nail polish and chocolate - in the same package?!
Let's just say I was one very happy, sugar buzzed, lady :)

 Aren't her cards cute?

 She's very sweet :)

My two new polishes!

{over the edge}   {nothing else metals}

 
I won't lie when I saw the dark one I got a little nervous, it looks a little black.

This is no offense to Amy what-so-ever because this she did exactly what I would have wanted her to do...

First, she got me two options that I don't have already.
Second, she picked colors I probably wouldn't have picked on my own.

However, I got over that nervousness and ended up getting my nails done in the "Over the Edge" color this week, and I LOVE IT!

What do you think?

It comes out this gorgeous, chic, gun metal grey color. Depending on the kind of light you are in it can look purple/grey, it can look black/grey, blue/grey, and sometimes just plain ole grey.

The accent nail is done with: 

{platinum record}


Thank you Amy for the gorgeous nail polish & the chocolate!

Also a big thanks to the swap co-hosts :)
Now go check out what everyone else got!

Happy Friday and have a good weekend!

Project Inspire

I recently participated in the Project Inspire swap hosted by Hollie & Chelsea!

I thought it was a good idea, and I am always using quotes for inspiration so why not spread the love!

I was paired with Ms. Heather over at SimplyHeather.

She has one cute blog so after you read this I think you should make your way over to her little corner of the net and show her some love :)

Heather sent me a nice card with a couple quotes I am loving! 

She also included this cute little frame with a quote on it.

I've added it to my new dresser trinket collection :)

I think it's important that we all spread some inspiration.

You never know what you will say or do that will inspire someone else to take action and follow their dreams! 

Thanks Heather for the inspiring quotes :) 

All of them speak to me in there own way! 

Happy Thursday!

Fall Swap

What up my party people?

Yeah I just said that.

Sooo this was a bit of a fail on my part.
This was supposed to go up yesterday, and I thought I'd be able to get it posted even though we were traveling back home.

Well, I could have, but apparently iPad & blogger aren't really friends.
Does anyone else use their iPad to blog? How do you do it, because I couldn't!
The pictures kept getting messed up, couldn't get it to show the whole post, or scroll to see the whole thing, etc.

I disgress...

I was lucky enough to be paired with Stormy over at It's Me against Margaret. If you haven't checked out her blog, go do it! It's a good one!

Since I was away, and my sister was at our place taking care of the pup she sent me the pics :)
Thanks Ju!

A scarf

 I don't have a leopard print one so this is perfect.

Some new nail polish

This color is called Miss Fancy Pants :)

A tie up headband

A pretty cross bracelet

And finally a Halloween chocolate chip cookie!

 I would have to say Stormy nailed it! 

I love it all and I'm so excited to use/wear all of it!

Thanks Stormy and sorry for the delay!

Happy Thursday!

Post Card Swap & Nail Files

Happy Friday everyone!

I'm so happy it's the weekend! Aren't you?

Today I have two link ups for you!

First, I participated in the a post card swap hosted by Lyzz & Amanda.

It was simple, and fun.
It was a great way to get to know another blogger. 

I was lucky enough to be paired with the very creative Krista over at Rustik Chic. 

Go check her blog out! 

She has a great little shop with some fantastic jewerly!

I was excited when I saw the brown envelope in the mail the other day!

Isn't it great to get a piece of mail that isn't junk! 

Well, that was the whole point.

 

 She sent me a great card, with a few fun facts about herself which included her love of quotes just like me!

She put 4 quotes in there on the cutest designed cards!

 

 

I'm working on getting little frames to put them in!

Thank you Krista!

I love the card & the quotes. 

Most of all I've loved getting to know you and your blog through this swap! 

Next up.

The Nail Files!

I've had my nails done like this for over a week, and I'm just now getting ready to link up about it. Blog fail.

Oh well, they are pretty :)

Happy Friday everyone :) 

NY Blog Swap Link-Up

So when I saw this link up over at Crowley Party I jumped on the chance to be part of the action.

I had seen a lot of other bloggers doing swaps and I knew I wanted to start participating in them when I could! What better way to start off the new year with something new like this :)

My partner was H. over at Sew Dysfunctional. If you have not seen her blog, pop on over! She's done a ton of awesome DIY stuff, loves to adventure, and is funny :) I'm sure she'd love to see you!

Anyways, H and I start to email and I knew instantly that this was going to be a ton of fun, yet pretty hard consider you would be shopping for someone you only knew via blog and email! The more I read her blog and we got to emailing back and forth I knew we had a lot of similarities. What's even better is we live in the same area of Ohio and can start to swap new restaurants and events as we try them! We'd both openly admitted to loving the charm of this state and all the little places that it has hiding, but we both know we help finding those places sometimes!

So without further adiue what did H get me you ask?

She mimiced this bag she had seen me post:

Source: notonthehighstreet.com via Megan on Pinterest

I am in LOVE with this! I wanted that bag so bad & now I have one, and it's customized!

I don't think the gift would have been complete without something Queen-y :)

She knew I liked candles! A lot!

Of course we all know how I feel about nail polish. Guess's who's fingers will be gold soon?! I would also like to mention I love that Elf Chap stick! I use it every night before bed and have yet to have any dry lips (Kev thanks you H!)

Thank you, thank you, thank you H! I love all my gifts! I love them.

I feel like I didn't only get stuff I got a new friend, fellow new experience enthusiest, and of course another awesome blogger to follow :) I can't wait to keep up with her blog and share more of the neat things we find to do around her for her and her hubs to try!

What did you get during your swap?