I'm a Lucky Girl!

Recently I was nominated by wonderful Michelle over at Chocolate and Marmalade Tea for an award! (go visit for some fun inspiration- she is ALWAYS up to something!) Thank you so much Michelle!!! That is so exciting to me because I never know who is reading my blog unless comments are left. I know my little blog is not read my many but I love and appreciate those that do; especially those that do leave comments. I just love the friendships that have been made from comments and blog visits!

I don't know if you all do awards, but know that I feel that ALL of your blogs are wonderfully deserving of this award! With that being said, I am openly nominating everyone's blogs for this award. Feel free to grab the button above and post it on your blog and share it with any you feel deserve it.

If you choose to do this and play by the rules, the real rules are below.

The rules to accepting and sharing this sweet button are:

1. The winner may put the logo on their blog.

2. Put a link to the person who sent you the award.

3. Nominate 10 blogs.

4. Put links to their blogs.

5. Leave a comment for each nominee.

In March I had entered another swap. This one was hostessed by Sarah over at Gypsy Mermaid and it was a Pink and Green Swap. Not only does it take me back to college and my Pappagallo Preppy Phase but I love and decorate with shades of pink and green all over my house- so I was in! Imagine my surprise and delight when my swap partner turned out to be Katie from Ragamuffin Gal. I have visited her blog many times and love it! She is extremely artistic and I admire (and drool) over all that she does. If you get a chance, visit her blog and see all of her talent- oh yes- she is a teacher too! Needless to say, it was great fun putting together her swap box! We mailed our boxes out last weekend and Wed. when I came home, hers was waiting for me! I was so excited- even the outside of the box was cute! It took all my reserve not to dive right in and gush over the contents but rather savor each step as I took pictures...

This was the first thing I saw when I opened the box. Isn't that the coolest? What a wonderfully thoughtful gift! And the box is beautiful as well!!! I couldn't wait to take a peek inside...

Ahhh...the presentation... beautiful

I came upon this sweet altered journal; love it!!!

Look what she wrote! I almost cried...

All the goodies... she made and put together- such wonderful talent!

Katie collaged the piece on the left- it is sooooo me!

The tags, the fairy children, the fibers...I couldn't have picked better goodies if I tried!

Endless possibilities of ephemera to play and create with; I truly can not wait!

More lovely items including some pages from some vintage magazines, more fairies (one can never have too many of them), a flashcard, and a beautiful embroidered piece of silk...

Thank you so much Katie for being such a wonderful swap partner and friend!!!! Everything is perfect!



This afternoon I am going to see my favorite author EVER: Elizabeth Berg!!! She is going to be at the Orland Park library for a book talk about her new book Home Safe; which I started reading a little Friday night and finished yesterday afternoon- I could NOT put it down.. I have read EVERYTHING she has ever written and she is one of the few authors whose books I will read twice. This book, in my opinion, is one of the best she has written in awhile. So I am excited to hear her in person and also meet up with Laura from Maude and Mozart and her mom. Fun! Right after that I am leaving for a few days with some teacher friends to go back to Springfield to work on the Alternative Assessment Committee for the Illinois state tests. I did this before in October (right before my mom died), and it was very interesting. The whole thing is funded by Pearson, who I am convinced, own the world! Beautiful hotel, stipend for attending, meals provided and reimbursed, mileage, sub paid for, DAYS OFF...what's NOT to love?

Hope you have a wonderful week!!!