SWAP-TASTIC!

I am on a swap frenzy!! Thank you to whoever invented some of these amazing swap websites that I am going to share with you.

 

Being a snail mail addict, sending and receiving mail just puts a big smile on my face. If you love to get mail (and also de-stashing your crafting or sewing room at the same time) then head on over to these websites I am frequenting lately.

 

 

 

 

Swap-Bot

 

As far as my online swapping pursuits have gone, I fee like I have hit the gold with swap-bot! This is a site where you swap in categories that are set up by members of the website. Signing up is totally FREE. Once you sign up you set a profile of likes, dislikes, crafts that you are interested, and swaps that you like. Then you search for swaps in your interested area (i.e. paper crafts, postcards swaps, thrift store finds swap, stationary. etc). and get set up with swap partners. There is always a signup date and a sending date.

I few that I have joined are postcard swaps, crazy thrift store book swap, handmade notecard swap and handmade envelope swap. There are so many possibilities that I just get excited about getting all my swaps together and putting them in the mail!!

If you join, look me up! My user name is Stephhaus.

 

 

 

 

 

SwapDex

 

This is a wonderful site for those looking for different swaps on the internet but don't want to spend hours searching for them. It incorporates all kinds of different swaps in internet land on one page. All you need to do is visit SwapDex, scroll through and find a swap (or swaps) that pertain to your interest, click on the link and follow the directions for signing up for the swap on the designated website. BOOM! Done! Swap away! A few that I have signed up for are the handmade Valentines day card swap and the ninja book swap (look for posts on these in the future!)

 

Clink on these links for some regular faves of mine that I have posted about before:

-Paperback Swap

-Postcrossing

 

 

Happy Swapping!

 

Bloody Good Time

YAY! I donated blood today! It may not seem like a big deal to a lot of people, but it was actually something that I have been wanting (and trying) to do for a few years.

 

Donating blood is close to my heart since my mom had to get quite a few blood transfusions when she was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. They were a life saver at times.

 

The year after her passing was a hard one for me and I decided to get out there and donate blood because it was something that was felt so close to home. After going through the interview part of the donation and getting my hemoglobin tested, I was told that it was too low and I wasn't able to donate at that time. I was literally crushed. I walked away with tears in my eyes. I didn't let it get me down and decided to try again after that. I ate all the right food, drank lots of water and headed to the donation center-only to be told my hemoglobin was still too low! Crushed again, I decided to wait longer in between trying again.

My boys' school was holding a blood drive tonight and I decided to give a third go-and IT WORKED! I was very nervous that my hemoglobin count was too low again but it was perfect this time. YAY! I know, I know, not a super big deal to some other people, but it was an emotional accomplishment for me. I felt that my blood could go on down the line and help someone in the same position as my mom, giving that persons family more time to love them.

 

Please, please, please go donate blood. It is free and doesn't take much time. And most importantly,

IT CAN SAVE A LIFE!



I DID IT!

I did it! I got up on stage and read a personal story in front of 350 people. And I wasn't as much of a blubbery mess and I thought I was going to be!

I was SO! nervous too. Which I wasn't expecting, but it was a good nervous. I was given so many texts, cards, and phone calls of encouraging and loving words before the show. Those really got me through the nerves too! Many of my close friends and family came to the show and that meant so much to me. To get up there and share my story was such a great experience. I hope to be part of something this wonderful again.

My story was called "Some Good Advice" and was about me being able to not hold in all of my grief of losing my mom. It was about letting it all out, and it being ok to cry and that it is actually helpful.
The director of the show, Stephanie Precourt, mentioned that this show was about sharing our story and if one person was touched and could relate to it, then the show and our stories were a success.

After the show we all gathered in the lobby to "meet and greet" the audience as they left. I got lots of hugs and congratulations from those I knew that attended the show. I also got a lot of hugs and nods of knowing from women who said they liked my story because they also had lost their mom to cancer. But one woman really resonated with me throughout the night and today. I was standing there and she pointed at me and looked me straight in the eyes and said "You!". Since I didn't know her I thought maybe she was pointing to someone else until she came up to me and gave me a hug and told me in my ear," Thank you for your story. It really meant a lot to me. I lost my mom and I went shopping in Old Navy and saw other moms and daughters together and just started bawling!" She was my one person. She cemented the fact that I am not alone in the struggles of losing a mom, and neither is she. This made me so thankful that no matter how hard it was to go on stage and share my story, it was worth it to be truly heard and touched by that one person.

~~~

Thank you to all the strong beautiful women in the show that touched my heart and also everyone's heart in the audience last night. 

Especially thank you to everyone who attended and took something away from the show. I have heard nothing but positive comments from everyone who attended. 

And THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to Ann Imig for getting this started and Stephanie Precourt for being the amazing, organized, thoughtful and strong person she is!

Please check out all of the beautiful woman's blogs who were also in the show:

Liz Chatwell

Brenda Magnetti Erickson

Beth Fletcher

Katy Hoagland

Julia Huisman

Judy Miller

Jen Mitchell

Heather Curlee Novak

June Saavedra

Carrie Steinweg