Recent Swaps and My Weekend

So I promised I would post on the weekend, but that just didn't happen! Surprise, surprise ;)


As you, my readers, probably know, Trevor and I had a simple civil ceremony four years ago. We wanted to get the legal stuff out of the way so we could apply for my permanent residence, and we always planned to have a bigger event later for family and friends who couldn't attend the civil ceremony. Well, things just kept getting in the way, like me having to return to Virginia for eighteen months and for seemingly constant financial hurdles to be overcome, and we kept postponing the bigger event.

Now that event will finally be happening at the end of June! I can't tell you how excited I am that it's actually coming to pass! :)

Trevor and I never got a stag and doe before our wedding. In anticipation of our event, Trevor's and my male friends took him out for one helluva stag night on Saturday. A limosine and plenty of booze and games at Dave & Buster's! The girls are planning my doe night for sometime in June, but my close friends Liat and Alora didn't want me feeling left out anyway, so they had me come over and party with them all night! We were joined by two other close friends, one of whom is Liat's sister, and we had a truly amazing time.

We made two homemade pizzas loaded with tons and tons of toppings. I've never eaten so much cheese in my life! This first pizza was supposed to be *ahem* inappropriately shaped, but after it rose in the oven it just looked like a blob. A delicious, cheesy, pepperoni-laden blob.

Later, we divulged in sweets and junk food, tons of tea, and movies.

Liat, Alora and I all draw like our lives depend on it, so we did a lot of that as well. We finally went to bed once the sun rose!

Having quality girl time is something I never had growing up, which is what made me so darn awkward around other females until recently. It's a very liberating and therapeutic thing to have, and I will never again allow my anxiety to prevent it. It was my second time hanging out with just my female friends, without Trevor or any of the guys being present. And there's going to be much more of it in the coming weeks. I need time with my goddesses.


I wanted to show off some of the wonderful swaps I have received in the past couple of months. Swap Bot is one heck of an amazing site and I've met some amazing ladies there. I've learned new crafts and skills which I will be talking about in near-future posts. Here are the goodies!


Handmade notecards with envelopes, and a handmade watercolour journal!


Two of the winter zines I received in a recent swap. Google "zines"; you won't regret it!


This was supposed to just be a penpal letter, but my partner went crazy and spoiled me with things I love, such as zebra print, kawaii letters, and dolphins!


An ATC swap for artistic interpretations of alcoholic drinks... :)


UFO dotee and goodies from Postcardpeggy, a friend of mine...


For a swap called "Happy Mail Every Month"... and it sure was! :)


Tea, what my partner loves about Canada, and extra goodies!



Just fabulous!! I love getting these wonderful things in the mail and I love all my partners! :)

See you all soon! I will be posting about smash books and journals and how I am totally obsessed with them...!

Samhain's Sirens giveaways (and I won one!!!!)

Silly Blogger would NOT let me post yesterday, no matter what I did! Argh! So I missed blogging about the giveaway that ended last night on Samhain's Sirens, but it's okay, because I get to share another one this day :)

I wanted to share some neat haunted places across southern Ontario. I would love to visit them some day!

Haunted Places, including the Ancaster Pet Cemetery, Blue Ghost Tunnel, Dundas Elementary, and Magnetic Hill

I can't forget about a more local place that seems to be haunted. Thornhill's own Heintzman House!

Our friend Christine has managed the house for the last twenty-odd years, and she has lots of stories! I worked there to help her out last winter, and let me tell you, that big old gorgeous house is a little creepy when you're in it by yourself! I always felt as if there were eyes on me, but not necessarily unhappy ones :)

Do you have any legendary haunted places where you live? What are they? Have you ever visited them?

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The latest Samhain's Sirens giveaways I'm blogging about are both courtesy of Sabrina from The Ink Witch. She is giving away these fantastic witchy prints:

October 9th Giveaway

October 10th Giveaway

Sabrina does tons of other gorgeous, Old World style drawings that are full of detail and passion. She also has coloured work that is truly fabulous. I am really inspired by her!

And HOLY COW, you guys, I won the last giveaway I blogged about!!! Remember this?

Mini Altar Besom/Broom from Elegantly Enchanting

I'm so excited! I have an altar-type spot set up for meditation, prayer, inspiration and serenity. It's covered by a beautiful piece of orange Indian fabric that I picked up from Value Village last weekend, so my little besom will match perfectly :)

What I would really love to own is this:

Complete Elemental Altar Set

But since I'm not truly Wiccan or Pagan, I feel it would be disrespectful to the old religions if I were to own and use these fantastic pieces. Maybe it's disrespectful of me to own my tiny besom or have an altar. But it's part of me, part of who I am. I'm still on this winding path of faith and spirituality, and I always will be. Right now I think it's safe to say that I consider myself a Christian Pagan, which just sounds like one big contradiction, doesn't it? :)

That's it for today, if Blogger will be so kind as to let me post. If my bruised tailbone cooperates, I may go on a little nature walk and revel in autumn's beauty this afternoon. There's nothing quite as rejuvenating and inspiring!

Fun with International Stuffed Envies!

As some of you reading this know, I'm pretty active on Swap Bot right now and am currently hosting my second swap. My first was Show Me Your State/Province/Country, and my second is International Stuffed Envies, which is 146 swappers strong! This swap was even #1 on the top swaps on the site's homepage!

Today I received my envelope for this swap from my partner, newberlin!


WOW. Just look at it all! She really took the time to read my profile and see the things I really love. And everything is SO PINK. EEEEE!

A close look at the decotapes!


My most favourite item: a little pink matryoshka keychain! *squee*


Receiving swaps really makes my WEEK!! How about you?