Second last day already… I’m going to miss opening presents… 🙁
What could this one be? My first guess was a votive candle, but I was so wrong!

Day 11: Twelve Days Xmas Swop

Day 11: Twelve Days Xmas Swop

It’s a shot glass, of the Texas armadillo! It’s another great present from Texas. I haven’t yet been to the US or seen a real Texas armadillo, so this is a nice treat. 😀 Armadillos are such funky creatures with their leathery shells, aren’t they? Another wonder of the world. I’m sometimes amazed at how creatures evolve.

Texas Armadillo

Love that purple to blue gradient!

Day 11: Twelve Days Xmas Swop Day 11: Twelve Days Xmas Swop

Above left is my attempt to put a fake tea light candle inside it, but I failed. lol. And I really hope the photo on the right matches the gift! Thank you Samantha, I really like this one. It shall go on display when I get to Zurich. 😀

Everyone participating in this swop:

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 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.

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.

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!

Look at what I received from a friend, yesterday!

It’s a huge 3cm lampwork foil glass pendant! As soon as I saw it on Juanita’s shop, I loved it. And to my surprise, she so generously gave it to me! 🙂


I love love love it. It is purple, juicy and kitschy. I left the pendant as it was, and added a really long 21 inch stainless steel chain. Definitely a keeper for life, and will always bring back fond memories.

This also makes me want to make glass beads. I just can’t stick to one craft, can I? 😛