Month: December 2012

I hope all of you participating in the swop are enjoying your gifts 🙂
Here is what I chose for Day 7. They were stuck together, and I took that as a sign they were meant to be opened at the same time.

Day 7: Twelve Days Xmas Swop

Photos? What could these be for?

I opened up the envelope and found photos inside. They’re very arty, I thought. I could put them on my pinboard for display. I had not yet made THE connection with them.. Keep reading. 😀

I then opened the Spongebob present. I really love this paper, I’m nuts!

I like spongebob wrapping paper

It's a cloth bag! Purple!!

Once I saw the material, I instantly knew what it was, a reusable bag! Oh it’s so purple and pretty. I really love collecting bags like these. I should really use more of them, but they’re too pretty to soil. I do use some of mine to store toys. That way, I get to use them and keep them clean. I am sure this one is destined to hold my stuffed toys in Zurich. Thank you Samantha! 🙂

Opened bag, hearts!

Bag and photos

Here’s the funny thing. While looking at the photos again, I actually spotted one that looked familiar… Then I found more and more that looked familiar. Could these be clues to all my gifts?! And I had not opened this until Day 7! I’m kicking myself.

Hey these look familiar

You can see the heart bag has been photographed up close! I also found one of the Texas magnet, NYC polish, calendars, and manicure set. I think I’m missing the bubble bath, it could be the white flower or the gradient purple photo. Also the bracelet, that could be the blue one, second from the pile below. I’m not sure yet. Omigosh… Samantha, you’ve outdone yourself. I am in awe at the lengths you went to, to put all of this together.

I can now tell that I’ll be getting something knitted perhaps? And there’s something with a strawberry coming up… such fun!! 😀

I’m so excited to blog about this one hehe… I picked a different wrapping paper for today. It’s very pretty too. I originally took a photo of it upside down, until I realised, wait.. those are baubles, and turned it around for another photo, haha.

Day 6: Twelve Days of Xmas Swop

Bead bracelet!

So it’s a bead bracelet! The shimmery mystic colours are very attractive on faceted beads. Can’t wait to put it on.

Lovely fit

It fits like a glove, OMG. My wrists are so skinny thin, most bracelets and bangles are just too big and flop around like no one’s business. I have given away all those bracelets because they just looked ridiculous on me. Don’t worry Samantha, I have to say that these are just the right fit! Most stretch bracelets out there are simply too big, but this one is perfect. The bracelet stops halfway up my arm, and that’s just right for me. 🙂

I like this bracelet

I love the chunky faceted mystic beads.. they go so well with the metal accents. I found myself wearing it all day as soon as I opened the package. Another fantastic gift from Samantha. Thank you!

12 Days of Christmas Swop, hosted by Juanita and Chloe. I’m Chloe’s Santa! Check out her Wasted Fashion Facebook Page to see the gifts I gave her. 😉

Almost halfway now! I’m trying to pick different wrapping papers each day so they don’t all look the same from post to post. Today’s gift:

Day 5: Twelve Days Xmas Swop

Manicure set. Super cute

Oh my, it’s a really cute manicure tool set! I’ve never seen such novel designs on manicure tools before (maybe I just do go searching enough :P). I love them! These will be very nice to keep on display on my dressing table. Usually these tools are kinda boring and plain, but they are boring no more! Now for some close up shots.

Pretty manicure tools

Manicure set close up How cute is that, they have backs!

I had not realised the backs of these three girls are also printed. That is TOO cute. I’ve already used the nail file, before painting my nails. Yay!

Nail clipper

In some way, they also remind me of Blythe dolls. 🙂 Thank you Samantha! I am having so much fun with all your thoughtful gifts. You are a lovely Santa!

12 Days of Christmas Swop, hosted by Juanita and Chloe.

I love how everything I have gotten so far, aren’t things I would have thought to buy for myself. I never even thought to buy these things for the swap partner I sent to (Chloe). That’s why swaps are so wonderful and surprising. I really feel humbled at all the goodies Samantha’s been spoiling me with. Almost every package so far contained more than one item.

Today’s piece:

Day 4: Twelve Days Xmas Swop

OMG Nail polish!

OMG nail polish, this is amazing! Just recently, while I was packing up my life, I had to throw away all my old nail polish bottles that were 9 years old that I rarely touched. They were all half dried and gross-looking, so they had to go. I didn’t replace them with any more, but now I have these two gorgeous colours to start off my new collection. And after browsing through Ally McBally’s blog, I must say I’m starting to feel the obsession with nail lacquer. 😀

Pretty purples Shades of purple

And here they are on my toes. I find that I rather like painting my toenails. Please excuse my ugly feet and poor paint job! I used the NYC In a Minute, 247 Prince Street.

Painted toenails

12 Days of Christmas Swop, hosted by Juanita and Chloe.

Following my friend, Juanita’s example, I’ve decided to make my own list of goals. I don’t think I’ve ever set out any goals for the year that I’ve actually accomplished. I always just forget about them and my life changes halfway in between.. but I still like to make lists anyway, so here goes 😀

  1. Complete A1 German
  2. Head up to checkout counters to pay, not make Michael do it
  3. Set up jewellery work bench before April
  4. Make real jewellery for selling
  5. Make more Blythe pull rings and designs
  6. Refrain from having pets
  7. A meal a week
  8. Stop envying others
  9. Take more interesting photographs
  10. Have my own chilli, herb and salad garden (indoors)
  11. Take more care of my appearance so I won’t end up looking ugly in candid photos
  12. Go swimming once a month
  13. Do something new

I did not include the most obvious goal: Stop buying. That is because it’s unrealistic for me to stop shopping. I just love getting new things too much. New things, designer things, cool things — I just can’t stop and actually don’t want to. 😛

Most of these goals are very possible. I don’t like paying for things in Zurich, because I’m not confident enough to speak German, and I tend to freak out when I hear something I don’t understand. Making jewellery for selling. I can’t claim to be a jeweller unless I do this.

Pets. I want them, yet don’t want the additional worry when we have to travel or move. Cooking is something I don’t really enjoy, but I want to force myself to make a meal a week. They’re not going to be pretty meals, so I doubt I will blog them, ha. An indoor garden is something I am looking forward to.. would that be an appropriate goal then?

Hm, not sure about the swimming part. I dislike going to sports centres without a car. But who am I kidding, I don’t even do it now when I have a car. And last of all, do something new. I couldn’t think of anything else as a goal, so trying something new seemed like a good one.

Go ahead, make your own list  😀

Day three. I could not wait until 10pm AEDT, and even after I rescheduled to 5pm, I am still impatient. From now on, I’ll post between 3-4pm. 😀

Ok so, I’m pleased with everything I’ve got so far! Samantha did a good job choosing for me. Today, it’s this piece. The paper was already a little ripped on the side when I received the parcel, but I didn’t peek inside beforehand, I promise! I still had no idea what was inside, so that didn’t ruin the surprise, don’t worry.

Day 3 swop parcel - red stripes

Calendars and planners!

Calendars and planners, yay!! And they’re purple themed again! These will be incredibly handy in Zurich. I always forget to write shopping lists, but with these cute pieces, I shouldn’t forget any longer. I’ll keep the weekly one on my desk, magnetic notes in the kitchen and calendar to stick up on my office wall. I could even give one to Michael, let’s see if he wants one.

Calendar with wipe off notes and a weekly planner

Shown above are the calendar with wipe-off notes section on top, and weekly pull-off notepad. Below is the magnetic notepad with pull-off calendar. I love them, thank you Samantha!

Mini magnetic calendar with notes

You can also head over to Wasted Fashion’s Facebook page to see the videos Chloe made while opening the gifts I sent to her. 🙂

12 Days of Christmas Swop, hosted by Juanita and Chloe. Below is the list of everybody participating in this swap, and where packages were sent to.

I hope Chloe, all the way in Singapore, likes the presents that I sent to her. I feel guilty about the quantity of stuff I’ve received, but I know I have given so little to my own swap partner… I’m truly sorry about that. I took the term “twelve items” too literally.

It’s day two, so another of Samantha’s packages gets opened up today. I chose this small one:

Day 2 swop package

The silver wrapping paper with snowflakes is lovely too!

It’s a magnet! Scenes from Texas maybe? I don’t know if a photo can be placed in there, I have no idea how to open it if that’s the case. I’ll be leaving it as is. I’ve even put it on my travel magnet board!

My magnet board

Most magnets are from Australia, some from Europe, New Zealand, and other places. The new one from Texas fits right in!

12 Days of Christmas Swop, hosted by Juanita and Chloe.

Let’s get rolling. Here is the amazing swop parcel from Samantha, opened up! So many different wrapping papers used, I love that. The Spongebob Christmas wrapping paper caught my eye instantly… 😀

And thus, I decided to open one of those first.

Spongebob wrapped package

Spongebob wrapped package

The wrapping paper is really cute, had to take photos of both sides. I do like Spongebob! Brace yourself… here is the unwrapped item:

Two bubble bath bottles

Bubble bath! It’s purple! They’re packaged in such cute Christmas-light-bulb-shaped bottles. The shape really reminds me of a Christmas prop in a PC game I used to play, Petz. But I digress…

I have to start taking bubble baths. Perfect timing, because it’s summer where I am! I’m actually amazed this could be posted by air since I wouldn’t be able to do the same from over here, liquids restrictions. Thanks Samantha! 😀

Two cute bottles of purple bubble bath

Close up of the sugar plum bubbly… <3

12 Days of Christmas Swop, hosted by Juanita and Chloe. Below is the list of everybody participating in this swap, and where packages were sent to. I copied the list… hope no one minds!