10-23-09: I am in CA this week spending Halloween with my girls. I have the privilege of taking Maya trick-or-treating on Halloween!

Update on my cousin:
I'm not sharing this to get sympathy, but to share information that may help others.

My cousin is 49 and extremely healthy. She had no underlying issues when she got the H1N1. It caused her to have, what she thought, was a really bad cold. She waited too long to go to the hospital. When she finally went in they put her on a ventilator right away. So, pay attention when you or your family and friends get upper respritory issues. That is what's causing the deaths.

Also, Vitamin D3 is a great way to boost your immune system to help fight this and many other issues. The adults in our family are taking 5,000 IUs per day and the children are taking a lower dose appropriate for their age. Do some research and you will see what a great benefit Vitamin D3 can be. Hope tis helps....

I have been a member of swap-bot since July 2006. I have never sent a swap late, never flaked, and I'm not going anywhere. So, if you have not received a swap or a rating from me....feel free to pm me and I will fix the situation quickly.

My Motto

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."
-Winston Churchill

Thank you for taking the time to read my profile.

I love the color purple and all things Tuscan.

I love purple (most shades, but especially eggplant) and sage green with gold accents for my home. But I love all deep, rich colors. I love classic decorating ... nothing contemporary, country, or over the top. Yep, pretty conservative for decorating. I collect teacups and saucers and I collect depression era glass. I especially love hobnail. I absolutely love gardening and have hundreds of flowers. I have to replant each year...except for the bulbs. I love wines (it's that whole Tuscan thing) and I enjoy wine accessories. I cannot chew gum, but I love coffee and tea. I love Starbucks...all things Starbucks. I absolutely love handmade items. Since I am an atheist, I would prefer not to receive religous items. But because I respect other's belief systems, you just might receive a religous item from me...if it is clear on your profile that you are ok with that.

My Likes:
Purple
Sage green
Fruit flavored anything. Except: gum, peanuts, & hard candy cuz I have braces
I love handmade items
Gold not silver if it's for me, but supplies in silver are good!
Loose tea over tea bags
Coffee
Teacups and saucers
Bottle caps - blank or your creations
Dominos
Jewelry findings, gold or silver
Beads, seed beads welcome
Buttons (preferably with a shank)
Foreign Currency, coins
Linens (hankies, doilies, especially handmade)
Love the Fleur-di-lis
Hello Kitty for my granddaughter
Anything to do with autism awareness
Fingernail stickers or tape
Gems, adhesive or not
Scents: Vanilla, Cinnamon, Cookies, food not flowers
anything miniature for using on inchies and bottle caps
Scrabble Tiles!! Lots of them!
charms: gold or silver
anything in the color purple is always welcome
Grapes and Tuscan theme is perfect
Monogrammed items with any or all of my initials VJP

AND if you have received something from another swapper that isn't your style and you think it is mine...please feel free to "re-swap"(like re-gifting). Please don't be offended if I re-gift as well. If this is an issue, just let me know up front.

I love technology. I do online scrapbooking and burn cd's for my kids and grandkids instead of printed pictures in books. But I still love getting embellishments of all sorts to use on my crafts and altered art. Although I love purple, please feel free to send any color for embellishments as I will use them on crafts for others.

I'm kind of picky about scents. Nothing too strong or flowery.

I am very open to trying new things, so even if it isn't listed here and you think I will enjoy...go for it.

Items I don't need or don't like:
Pastel or bright colors like neons.
ATC's
Religous items
Teabags (loose tea is good)
Post It Notes and Note Cards (I have tooooo many)
Candy, nuts, gum
Ribbon..I have more than I will ever use
Smokey smelling items

NO ALLERGIES

I don't care for rude, self centered, selfish people...which includes people who don't use their turn signal. But I digress...

Jazz, New country, and classic rock.

Michael Buble Harry Connick Jr. The Dixie Chicks

I have an ipod that is no where near full so I would love to receive CD's with lots of music. About the only music I don't like is Old Country (too twangy), head banging rock and nothing that even sounds remotely like rap. I'm definitely into 60's,70's, & 80's rock or pop. I love NEW Country and the Dixie Chicks are my heroes and my favorite band.

I never seem to find time to watch movies these days, but here are a couple of old favorites. Out of Africa, Casablanca, When Harry Met Sally...yep, Chick Flicks ≈

The View, Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy, Gilmore Girls....and lots of News....CNN, MSNBC and more ≈

I have found some new crafts that I love. I am inspired by the wonderful items I see here on swap-bot and have tried some new ones. I love making matchboxes, bottlecap jewelry and magnets, bookmarks of all kinds including paper and silver, magnets, envelopes, cards, jewelry, inchies and so much more.

One on One's/Forum Swaps/Angels

If you don't see your name here and I owe you something...don't be shy, please pm me. I don't want to miss anything.