From my hometown...

I signed up to participate in Shannon's My hometown Swap. The idea being that you would be matched with someone from an area of the country that you had never been to - or that you would want to visit. And then you would send things that represent your hometown.

Who knew that this would be such a challenge?! I live in the suburbs. And the only thing that distinguishes us is our traffic, mcmansions, and good schools. And those are rather difficult to package. So, I broadened my hometown. For about five seconds I thought that Emory University hospital might qualify. Then I moved on to Atlanta as a whole. Dismissing the idea of sending a bottle of Coke and a peach. So...what did I send? It's a surprise! But if you know anything about me...you know that books were included.

And then what should I receive in the mail on Saturday? But my very own package! The part of the country where I have never been is the Pacific Northwest. And I was matched with Rachael - from Bellingham, Washington. Let me tell you...I am one very lucky receipent. First, she sent this whole guide that explains what she included and why.

Why didn't I think to do that? And look at that handwriting. I am getting envious.

She even sent chocolate. And you can't really see it in the picture, but they are shaped like salmon. If chocolate is fish shaped...it has less WW points, right?

I got a very cute re-usable bag. That can go into this tiny bag. So I can throw it in my purse for all the times I forget to get out one of the other 25 reusable bags that we have. Do you all do this? Have a collection of them...and then never remember to grab them?

A very cute Washington Apple box. I wonder if I can hide my earrings in here so that the kitties might stop stealing them.

A pottery flower. Isn't it gorgeous? I have my iced tea spoon resting in it right now. I think I have turned it Southern.

A water color of the old court house.

And this very cool Ski to Sea t-shirt. I am still mesmerized by the possibility of snow skiing. On Memorial Day weekend.

And let me tell you. By the time I had pulled all of this out of my box. And thought about just how wonderful Rachael is...I was slapping myself on the head as I thought about all the things that I could have included from here. But never even thought about. So...many, many thanks to Rachael. You sent some amazing things. And have just made me wish even more to get to see your side of the world for myself!

So...what about you? Is there a part of the country that you would like to visit or live? What things would you send from your hometown?

A little something for me; a little Eggnog bread for you

I signed up with Kori to be in her Secret Santa Shindig. And I am so excited to report that my package arrived. I took off the paper. And guess what was under it? Look at that box. Oh, that so brings back memories. I long for the days of Gymboree. And matching outfits. And words absent from my girls' boo-tays.

And when I open the box - it almost looks like there are Gymboree outfits in there. Do you think that Gymboree ever contemplated making clothes for adults? And I find, not clothes but this incredibly cute pot holder, towel, and matching aprons.And you see what Madalyn is shaking? Those are sprinkles. Because they are apparently now used as musical instruments.

And look at everything that was under the aprons:

I got a cute birdie ornament. That will lovingly be packed away. Because I don't have a Christmas tree this year.

And look! A smutty book. But one that is true. I cannot wait to delve into this. And "Love Story." Can you not just hear Ali McGraw telling Ryan O'Neal that "love means never having to say you are sorry?" Right before she dies? Sigh.

There's more, too. A bookmark. A cookie cookbook. Cookie cutter. Sprinkles. That my children decided was much better used as maracas. Many, many thanks to Amy at Papertrails by a Paper for such a Merry Christmas gift!

And since my girls are dressed in their apron finest. Let's put them to work. And show you how to make something yummy - Eggnog Bread. This is our standard gift for the neighbors. And I usually give this with a gift card for all the other people in the girls' life. For their choir director. Sunday school teacher. Piano teacher. Tennis instructor. Who am I forgetting?

Here are our ingredients:

Mix the eggnog, oil, and egg. (Ummm...can you tell I forgot to take pictures when I made the first batch?)

Combine all the dry ingredients.

And then gradually mix in to just blended.

Add pecans if you like.I put it in those disposable loaf pans. They are kinda small. So a double batch will fill three of these. If you are making a loaf for you. With a regular loaf pan - it will fill just fine with a single batch.

Then bake. And these are better the next day rather than hot out of the oven. Yum! A perfect gift. And EASY to make!

Here is my easy recipe:

3 cups flour

1/2 cup sugar

4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1 egg

1 3/4 cup eggnog

1/2 cup oil

1/2 cup pecans (opt)

Combine egg, eggnog, and oil.

Add dry ingredients until just combined.

Stir in nuts.

Pour into a greased loaf pan and bake at 350º for 60-70 minutes. Enjoy!

So...what about you? Have you been someone's Secret Santa? Do you do something at Christmas for your neighbors? For your kids' teachers? What?

And...have you entered to win the Disney prize pack yet? You can think of that as a little something for you!

Theme song: Goo Goo Dolls - Give a Little Bit. Yippee - playlist is back up. And Godzilla doesn't have to be the theme song for this post.

Favorite Things and Swap Update

I saw this yesterday on Heather's blog - and thought it just goes so nicely with my swap update! So, here are 11 of my favorite things:

1. Clothes shop: For me - Avenue. For everyone else - Target

2. Furniture shop: Haverty's

3. Sweets: yes, please. Peanut m&ms

4. City: all the ones I have never been to. I have a huge travel bug.

5. Drink: Coke Zero. I love that you can get this at fast food places now. I much prefer my soda from a fountain than from the can. And it needs to be over a huge amount of ice. Pellet ice if I can find it.

6. Music: I don't think I can pick just one group. And it must change on a daily basis. But, today, I think it's Coldplay

7. TV series: LOST (118 days and counting...) and Weeds

8. Film: Thank you for Smoking. Have ya'll seen this yet? Put it in your netflix queue.

9. Workout: Water aerobics with the seniors three times a week. They are all so good. I straggle. And get lapped. Repeatedly

10. Pastries: Cinnamon rolls. Yum.

11. Coffee: Yuck. I'll take my caffeine drip in the form of Coke Zero. Or tea. Love the smell of coffee. But drink it? No thanks.

Last month I hosted my first swap - a My favorite things Swap. Where you gave your own favorite things to your partner. I had 43 people participate. And I micromanaged them down to the last detail! Packages were sent out this week - and I was lucky enough to my package last Friday. Jill from Scary Mommy sent me her favorite things:I think they are also my kitty Ella's favorite things. Look at how pretty everything looks in the box! And then...I got to unwrap...which is one of my favorite things to do...and look at what Jill sent me -- a cool book that I cannot wait to read. And one that will make me crave cupcakes.Embroidered kitchen towels --

or wait...is it a kitty bed? Nothing is sacred when you have a cat. Or two. A pretty silver spoon.And if you are doing Jill's contest - I think I already won! Thanks so much Jill. Your favorite things are now my favorite things. And Ella's favorite things.

I got my package all ready to send to my own swap partner - Brandy. One of the things Brandy said she did NOT want to recieve was a live animal. That's too bad. Because I had a volunteer. Or two.Here is a sneak peek

And then today, I got a surprise in the mail! One of the reasons why I hosted (and micromanaged) was because I signed up for a swap in May. And got stiffed. It was a pink, girly swap. And I sent out a package. But got nothing in return. Rhea decided to be my fairy blog mother and get me some pink.

I love the pink kitchen tools! Well...I love it all! Thanks so much for all my goodies. And for all who participated in the swap. I hope you had fun. And I already have the next one in mind!

So...what about you? What are some of your favorite things?

Theme song - a Coldplay collection. Because it's my favorite. Today.

A Whole different kind of trouble

Last week I had some trouble. And this weekend, I made my own version of trouble.

On Saturday morning, I putzed around my house. I needed to leave at 11 so that I could drive across Atlanta to meet Shannon and Angie for lunch - in yet another Applebees stalker's summit. I finally got my act together and went to my email to find Shannon's cell phone number to let her know I was running a wee bit late. But it wasn't there. I had deleted it. I am an email purger. I don't like stuff on my counters. And I am not a fan of saved mail in my inbox. Which always leads to trouble.

So...I got in my car. I now had twenty minutes to get to Kennesaw. And for those of you unfamiliar with the territory - it's a normal 50-60ish minute drive. I don't think you heard a sonic boom from my drive. But it's quite possible that I bent the space time continuum. Actually I am quite sure of it. But, let's not discuss exactly how long it took me to get there. I don't need my confession in print. By my own hand.

Angie and Shannon were waiting ever so patiently for me. And we had a grand time eating lunch. Talking. Laughing. Wondering where all the screaming kids came from. And laughing some more because we left 6 little girls at home. We warmed the seats of Applebees for a good three hours. Before we decided to take our own brand of trouble over to the mall.

Where we innocently roamed. Until we found shirts that just beckoned to us. Screamed our names. And insisted that we take pictures with them.Later as I am telling my husband about our shenanigans, all he hears is "pictures of tatas."

I actually managed to get some Christmas shopping done. Shannon bought herself a birthday present. Angie got things for her girls for their Disney trip. And we all did our part to help the economy.And then, our little expedition - summit - convention - party had to come to an end. And we had to get back over to Applebees to get our picture. And as we are taking pictures of each other with the sign in the background. Carefully following the rules. A young man comes traipsing by. And we snag him to take our picture. And as we explain the rules to him - especially about the no hips - he informs us that we have great hips. So we decided to kidnap him and keep him forever.

Theme song: Pink - Get the Party Started