Swaps Galore!

Hi everyone!

This last week or so, I have been as giddy as a kipper(!) because I have been expecting not one, but TWO Swap packages to pop through my front door! How lucky am I?!
I was absolutely gutted therefore, when I came home from work, to find a card through my door stating that I had missed delivery of TWO packages, and must wait 48 hours before I could collect them! boo!
After an agonising wait (it felt like it!) I finally had my little hands on my goodies!

The first package was part of a Spring Makes Me Sing Swap, in which I was partnered with the lovely Lynda of hookin' with laalaa (to see what I sent her, click the link :)
Lynda sent me an absolutely gorgeous boxful of goodies, every single item very thoughtfully picked out, and I adore each and every item :)
When I opened up the box, a gorgeous familiar scent wafted out from the box, and I was greeted with lots of beautifully wrapped packages, each tied with a lovely co-ordinating ribbon :)

How gorgeous are these?!

After ripping open two intriguing looking (and gorgeously smelling!) packages, I was greeted with these two! A gorgeous Lush Bath Ballistic and a Bubble Bar!
Although I adore Lush, I have never tried these particular two products, so I was very tempted to run a bath straight away just to try them out!
The pink one is called Think Pink (tonka bean and vanilla scented), and the white one Amandopondo (rose, lemon & orange scented) As you can imagine, both smell simply lovely!

My next few goodies speak for themselves - Cath Kidston!!

I think now I am going to have to collect the other colours to match this mug (any excuse!)

Next up - more Lush! The solid perfume in Tuca Tuca smells lovely, and is the perfect size for my handbag, for when im on-the-go!

This has got to be my absolute favorite item from Lynda's box, for two reasons - one, its a fabulous book about Burlesque, which I have a definate passion about, and second, for the sheer thoughtfulness of the gift, so thank you Lynda!

Last, but certainly not least, Is this fabulous aptly named chocolate bar - which is the perfect accompaniement to munch on whilst I soak in my Lush scented bubble bath, reading my new Burlesque book  - perfect night in, in my opinion!

The next parcel, was a mini-swap I did with Stacey from Nude-Obsession (again, to see what I sent, click the link!)

Stacey very kindly offered to pick me up some Seche Vite nail varnish top coat, and instead of me paying her for it, she suggested a swap!

I was really excited for the swap, as Stacey has a fabulous beauty blog, so I could be sure to receive some great beauty finds, and I wasn't wrong!

Sorry for the terrible photo, for some reason I couldn't seem to get a good one!

Stacey included:

• Seche Vite top coat
• Schwarzkopf Got2b POWER'ful volumizing styling powder
• Jean Marin body firmer, 2-in-1 fluid cleanser, deep nourishing body veloute, age defence day cream.
• Vitamin E skin oil
• Philosophy pink frosted cookie lip gloss
• Alida beauty tool set - how gorgeous are these?!

Thanks for a lovely swap Stacey :)

Didn't I do well in my swaps? Have you had a bloggy swap yet? I was thinking of hosting a swap after Easter, if you are interested, please say so in your comment :)

Thanks for a fabulous swap Lynda - will definitely be doing one again!

Handwriting Challenge & Giveaway Win :)

Hi everyone!

Lovely Nic at giddylittlemiss tagged me in this handwriting challenge (thanks Nic!) and as I love tags, here goes :)

The rules state that the tag-ee just write the following:

1. name and blog name
2. url
3. write 'a quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog'
4. favourite quote
5. favourite song
6. favourite band(s), artist(s)
7. anything else you wish to say..

So here are my efforts - sorry for the horrible quality, I must have taken tons of pics, but this was the best of a bad bunch :(

I wonder what my big, rather rounded handwriting would say about me?! :/

I try not to 'tag' the same people, so this time I tag whoever wants to do it :)

Also this week, I received a lovely surprise in the post from Fiona at sparklerosedesigns, which turned out to be lots of lovely goodies that I won in her Valentines giveaway! Thanks very much Fiona!

The parcel came beautifully packaged, and there were some amazing goodies in there, all individually wrapped - Soap & Glory, Nails Inc, cute sequin headbands, and I particularly love the beautiful handmade jewellery (made by herself!) a gorgeous fabric rose-bud ring and a pair of lovely candy-coloured earrings, and both are really delicately made and so pretty!
(Fiona has an online folksy shop in which she sells her handmade jewellery - check it out :)

 Im going to be sending my 'Spring Swap' goodies to LaaLaa at hookinwithlaalaa over the next fews days, and im also doing a mini-swap with Stacey at nude-obsession  :)

 I hope they like their goodies, and I cant wait to see what I get! It feels like christmas or my birthday, im ridiculously excited!

Have you taken part in a bloggy swap?

Spring Swap & Midnight Walk

Hi everyone!

I thought I would do a bit of an 'update' post, about what im upto at the minute, and what I will be doing over the next few weeks :)

Firstly, Im ridiculously excited to be involved in Jackie  at Sew Special Bears Spring Makes Me Sing Swap, with the idea being that you get partnered with another blogger, you then email each other likes/dislikes ect, and then go shopping for lots of lovely little bits and bobs for your 'swap-ee!' which you then post within an agreed time :)
I have been partnered with the lovely Lynda/LaaLaa from hookinwithlaalaa, which is fantastic, as we have a lot of shared tastes, so im sure im in for some lovely treats!

Because Lynda is a follower of my blog, I can't share any of the swap idea's I have in mind for her, sadly, but I will take a pic and show you what I send after the swap, I really can't wait!
(check out both these ladies blog's, they are lovely reading :)

Secondly, My little sister Kaila and I, along with a work colleague of mine, have signed up for the Leeds Midnight Walk in aid of St Gemma's Hospice, which is held on May 14th at 12am at the Leeds Rhino's Headingley Stadium, Leeds. (click the link for more details, or how to enter)

The aim of the ladies-only sponsored walk, is obviously to raise money for St Gemma's Hospice - a hospice that provides specialist medical and nursing care for the terminally ill, (predominantly cancer patients) along with support for their families.
The walk is just one of many fundraing events for St Gemma's Hospice, (click the above link for details of other ways to raise money)

Participants doing this event can choose to walk either a 6 mile route, or a 12 mile one.
My sister and I have decided to go for the 12 mile route, which starts and ends in Headingley, with the route basically going round in a massive circle. 
We have around 77 days to go before the event, to train and get fit, and we have our 'lovely' yellow t-shirts all ready for training :/

As well as the walk being a fantastic get-fit incentive, I hope to raise as much money for the charity as possible, so I have just set up an official Virgin MoneyGiving online donation page here, which is recommended by the charity, so if anyone is kind enough to donate, please feel free to do so, any amount at all is hugely welcome  :)

Im really pleased and honoured to be involved in raising money for such a great cause as I, along with thousands of people, have known or lost a close family member/loved one to cancer, and any organisation that helps in easing the stress and pain of the patients last few months (as well as helping the family come to terms with their loss) is well deserving of donations, in my opinion.

I will, of course, keep you all updated on our training progress, and running total of donations.

Are YOU doing a Midnight Walk event where you live? Or any other fundraising for charity event?