Even Jerks can give

This week's Kiva team is perfect for my ex-husband! Team Pompous Jerks, according to their info page, is "helpful but insulting".  They currently have 2 members but, c'mon, I know there are way more pompous jerks out there! They've raised $100.

Didn't know pompous jerks could give? Well it behooves them apparently. Team Pompous Jerks gives because: "We like to rub our philanthropy in people's faces at social occasions. Feel free to remind everyone you know that you are better than them because you lend money to the third world." Wow, it's like I can hear the ex's voice!!

Loan in Style

Are you Philanthropic AND fabulous? Here's the perfect Kiva lending team for you. Team Fierce loans because: We're fierce. With 110 members, team Fierce has loaned almost $30,000!! Team Fierce is "The most fashion forward Kiva lending team!" And who doesn't want to look good when they're fighting poverty?

New Faces, New Places

Besides the crafty goodness of Aunt Peaches' valentine swap, y'know what I liked? I liked visiting the blogs of other participants. It's a cool way of getting to know folks out there. I like reading not just about their projects and passions, but about the minutae of their lives.

I found "Sara vs Sarah". I love the premise of this blog, the two Sara/hs take on project challenges each with her own twist. They've been friends a long time and now craft their little hearts out together. aawww!

I found out one blogger has a band kid like me and may even live near me and may have even attended the same sience fair on the same weekend!! I deduce this from the pictures.

I found out one blogger is a Sci-Fi and zombie geek like me!! She's been into the zombie thing way longer than the current craze, like me! Unlike me, she got to meet Judith O'Day of Classic zombie movie fame (Night of the Living Dead).

I found out one blogger has an awesome button collection!!

Reading these blogs do make it feel like a small world!

Love is in the air...

Happy St. Valentine's Day!!! AAWW!
I got another card from Aunt Peaches' valentine swap. It's adorable! A little heart bouquet is the theme of this card. Check it out, it's so dang cute!!

The kids had their own valentines to get ready. Chief McD went the classic route, buying his valentine a heart shaped box of chocolates. That's not all though, apparently this little gal has a thing for hot Cheetos. So she got a bag or two of those as well. Pickles found a Pinterest project that she couldn't resist. There are so many of these sweet picture valentines that we don't even remember which one we saw first.

Here's how hers came out:

All Valentines present this morning got a package of their own. I made large versions of my heart pockets.  I filled them up with their favorite goodies and left them out for them to find this morning.

I love making little gifts and treats to cheer folks...on ANY day! Thank you, Aunt Peaches, for putting on your swap. It was the first time I got to participate in a blog swap or project of any kind!

BFFs loan

From most fiercest, to most sweetest; seeing as how it's Valentine's Day, this week's Kiva Team is the friendliest, most lovable team ever. It's Team Friends of Piglet! They currently have 4 members but who couldn't use more friends? Even very small animals can make a difference. Team Friends of Piglet give because: "We care". 'Nuff said.

Love and Chocolate

Mr. McD knows what I like! I like flowers. I love getting flowers. They're cheery, they brighten up the place, some of them last long, some of them smell good. What's not to love? So naturally, I got flowers for V-day.

Oh but that's not it. I got another bouquet...a bouquet of CHOCOLATE.

There it is, taunting my co-workers with it's bright wrappers. Oh, you say the VASE is filled with chocolate too?!? Get my smelling salts....

Chuck Norris would give...

This week's Kiva team may be the most awesome team ever. They could use a few more members, though. Team What Would Chuck Norris Do has two members. It has loaned $1800 over 72 loans. Not bad for just 2 folks, huh? Team WWCND doesn't say why they give, but do they really have to?

Since Chuck Norris can hear you reading this right now, I think we all know what we have to do. Join the team, give like the wind and hope to God that Chuck Norris is pleased with your offering.

First Card and it's Super!!

Got home from work yesterday and guess what was in my mailbox? I got my first valentine from Aunt Peaches' St. Valentine's Day card swap!! Bonnie sent me this cool and modern style valentine!

I am pretty sure that Superman is cut straight out of a comic book. How cool is that? Thank you, Bonnie. It's fun and I love it!

Get Ready to Swap!

So I got my valentines done and sent out for Aunt Peaches' Valentine Swap. The idea was to send handmade valentine cards to three recipients and you would get valentine cards from three senders. I hope my recipients like theirs as much as I liked making them. I decided on making mini garlands.

I used classic Valentine materials: paper, ribbon and some doilies. I cut scalloped hearts and punched holes on either side.

I then strung them together with red ribbon. I used doilies to cut more heart shapes which I then laid over the red hearts.

I then added some letters (stickers). A short Valentine poem is written on the back of each garland.

I couldn't have a cute little garland in a plain ol' envelope so I wanted to make heart shaped pockets. I cut heart shapes with zig-zag scissors and punched holes along the "sides" of the hearts. Then I stitched two hearts together with a button stitch (of course)! I put my valentines' names on the hearts. Here are the finished valentines:

Thanks to Aunt Peaches for putting on this swap!

Well It's Groundhog Day....again

Rise 'n shine, campers! And don't forget your booties cuz it's cold out there today!
Today, Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his burrow and said "I definately see a shadow". Booooo! If you get it, you get it! If you don't, you MUST see the movie Groundhog Day with Bill  Murray. It's one of his best films and it's fun to watch, over...and over ...and over....

So I'm stoked today because I'm participating in my first blog swap. Aunt Peaches has a fun blog that I love to read. When I first read it, I felt like I'd discovered a long-lost sister! Well she's holding a St. Valentine's Day card swap. How fun! I got the names and addresses of three gals I will send a homemade valentine to and who I will a card from. Love it! Please check out Aunt Peaches' blog, I think you'll find her fun and funny!

RUSH to it!

Know what today is? It's February 1, 2012; that's 2.1.12. It's 2112!! Yes! You Rush fans know what I'm talking about! One of the best albums from one of the greatest rock bands OF ALL TIME. Happy 2112!