SweetArt

With my mother in law not responding well to the chemo (she was diagnosed with lung cancer just before Thanksgiving) and spending time w/ family on what may be some of her last holidays, I wholehearted admit, I am 100% guilty of being totally distracted. That does not make me a flaker. I know I'm late. I've offered and will be re-sending packages. ALL things will be sent and re-sent until they arrive, but please keep in mind, my LIFE and my FAMILY come first, as in my humble little opinion they should. I swap for fun and if your swap is a little late, its not the end of the world. I do appreciate those who have re-rated me and those who have sent me messages of encouragement, support and offered up prayers (of any kind) in behalf of my family. Its also been the holidays people, probs w/ the mail do happen. Im really discouraged...and hope that 2009 is better for all of you than all of 2008 has been for me and mine.

Please rate THE contents of the swap and not its tardiness. I know its late. I apologize. Thats the best I can do. Please allow them time to arrive. I am looking forward to all those ratings to boost my overall status.

I am thirty-two & have really crammed a lot into those years!! I am happily married. We met on AOL almost 8 yrs ago. We've been married 4. Jeff is my anchor. He keeps me grounded when the storms of life crash around us!! He's swept me right off of my wheels from the very beginning. We've been through soooo much that should have probably torn us apart, if we both weren't so crazy in love and so stubborn. We have no children, yet. I love animals but not pets and I'm proud to be an Apple/Mac gal!!

I love salty and sweet (in that order). If I could be an animal or have any animal as a pet, hands down it would be a giraffe!!! My fave flowers are daisies, tulips & gardenias. I love turtles, Vitaminwater, pineapple, berries, palm trees, blank books without lines but with spirals, frogs, seashells, pumpkins, G2 (Pilot) pens. I have them in every color but always need more (Sharpies too!). I love aquariums, zoos, beaches & sunsets, fruity gum, "naked" postcards, scraps of ribbon, humorous greeting cards, clouds, windy days, JellyBellys, chewey Sprees, BIG city skylines, paper scraps (bonus if its double sided and of a thicker consistancy!!) ink/chalk pads, rubber stamping, almonds, sunflower seeds w/o the shell, seasame sticks. Dragonflies and penguins. Polka dots make me happy! Patterns that are whimsical flowers, swirls, Halloween, solid but distressed, embossed, vertical stripes and plaids are ones that I most often use.

I have been making ATCs (for 5 yrs), altering matchboxes (I've made about 8), scrapbooking (for 14 yrs) & taking random photos since I was 3 (seriously, I have THE proof).

I love bold color!! My favorite is: ORANGE but if you ask my husband, its green. Ink, crayon, gel pens, Sharpies, patterns, paper, chalks, paint... I am also fond of shades of blues and greens, purples and yellows. Red in moderation. Not fond of pink. Love combos of: robin egg blue and brown, green and purple, black and white, any bold color with black or with white as an accent... Metallically, I prefer silver, white gold and copper to yellow gold.

I have lived in Illinois, New Jersey, Missouri and now live in south Florida. Those last THREE states have been within the past FOUR yrs. (Nope, we're not military). I'm pretty sure that we are were staying put... at least for now. I dont think I could get my hubby out of Florida now that he's back "home".

I tend doodle and am always jotting down random lyrics, words, thoughts, ideas and lists. I have an unquinchable addiction to words, to paper and to ink!! I am a paper crafter and was an art major in college but I can barely thread a needle let alone "knit one and purl two". I am completely random but can be a detailed perfectionist. I am absent minded but college educated. I'm a shutterbug and always have my camera with me. I love to surprise but not be surprised. I'm messy and I do tend to procrastinate but my intentions are golden, honest and true. I am in a wheelchair (13 yrs) but DO NOT park handicapped (Yeah, I drive and you should see me grocery shop!!) I love poetry, quotes and "sweet" phrases... I love baking but not cooking. I love to eat out and it shows!! (lol) I am feminine without being girly. I'm bold, loud and have a quite inner strength.

• No $ store stuff unless swap specific.
• No confetti or die cuts. -- I sometimes open my mail AT the post office or in my car and this lately (though appreciated) has been "messy".
• No PINK as a dominate color of anything!!! It is okay on things like cotton candy, pigs and flamingos and I do use it on things I'm not keeping for myself.
• No white bordered or tiny stickers.
• No loose or overly glittered (though I do use Stickles on things I make for others), lace or eyelets.
• No yarn, emb. floss or fabrics.
• No anything that might melt. Its warm here, year round!!! But it has been cooler here lately, so chocolate may survive.
• No coffee or teas. The scent alone bothers me.
• No online drama or stress (This for me, is for fun!!).
• No bath/body products or make-up.
• No lemon, licorice, cinnamon, coconut or mint.
• No artificial flowery scents.

I promise to rate and expect to be rated. I put thought and effort into all I sent out with my name on it. I try to personalize EVERY swap, so the more filled out your profile is the more I have to go on to make it "you" specific!! Please let me know before rating me low... I will always send and even re-send if something does not arrive. Communicate!!! I use a PO Box and cannot check it daily. I usually get to it about twice a week and that MAY delay me in being able to RATE you, but not much. I usually catch up w/ things on the weekends.