Spring Fling Coffee Swap Package

Firstly, let me say sorry to Lizet and everyone else for delaying this post for a whole week.  I expected to post it first thing when arriving home, only to become terribly sick on our return.  My clients were so nice in giving me time off work to recover, and I'm so happy to be myself again!  

Thank you Lizet for such a great package!  I've never seen so many wonderful flavours of coffee all at once!  They all look so nicely displayed together!  My 4 year old likes to help me pick out which one I shall try next, though I haven't tried any yet.  I thought I would make sure this was properly posted before indulging in them, and I can't wait!  We are going to go shopping for a new coffee maker for me tonight (a Mother's day gift) so I can set a timer for the coffee machine to start in the morning.  

On to the photos...

Here is the group photo, with the mug missing in action.

My partner for this swap is from England, and must know how much I love souvenirs, especially from England.  I'm always delighted to get trinkets from where my swap pal may live. She was so kind to send me these seeds, playing cards, and clicking pen.  The pen is now in my little knitting bag with a WIP, the playing cards have been played with, and the seeds are safely hiding from my children.  We are going to plant some this week in our little garden in the front, and perhaps make some more room in the backyard for a some more flowers.

I couldn't wait to tell my mother about this one!  It's a Tea for Two set, complete with a bonus honey dipper!  When I was a little girl, I often played with my mother's tea balls not knowing what they were used for.  Now I have my very own, and I know how to use them!

Here is the fine selection of coffee that Lizet sent me.  I really have no idea how she was able to fit all these things into that little box - she's very good a packing!  They were buried inside those little peanut shaped packing pieces, so you put your hand in the box not knowing just how many delicious surprises were to be found!  Right when I would expect there to be no more, I was wrong!  My little boy had a blast helping me to unpack them;  he was certain it was Christmas!  He is going through a phase right now when every time he may get something or ask for something, it must be due to Christmas.  He knows his days of the week, but a month or several months is just too inconceivable to him right now.  It sure is fun to observe his enthusiasm for Christmas, though!

Here is my little boy trying to sort the coffee packages in various orders.  If you line them up, they almost look like little houses in a village.  Use your imagination!

Here is the yarn she sent me.  Isn't it so Spring!  I keep holding it and pondering about what I might do with it!  So many possibilities!  Something for me.  Call me selfish, but when I get yarn from a swap I just can't seem to part with it by making things for other people.  I simply have to make something for myself to enjoy!  Also, there is a great guage/needle size tool that was with the yarn, and for some reason I didn't get an extra photo of it, but it's in the group shot above, just behind the hand cream.

See the adorable lady bugs on my new mug?  Every angle has a little something different going on with the lady bugs of this adorable mug.  Definitely Spring!

Here is the little project bag, or sock bag as some people call them.  The picture just doesn't do it justice.  It looks like shiny glass marbles all adorned in spring colours!  And I can bring it anywhere to do my knitting!  It will fit inside my purse nicely, and even has a belt loop so you can walk while you knit or to keep it securely by your side.

Wow!  This was my first time trying organic Hispanola chocolate.  It says "plain chocolate" but I'm convinced it tastes like dark chocolate.  Organic food always seems to have more flavour in it.  I have hidden it away and sneak little nibbles of it when I am craving chocolate.
Aren't these so fun?  I don't know if you can tell from the photo, but those are googly eyes on the ladybug socks.  My friend says she can't believe how much fun I'm having with them.  They are a huge hit here.  You can't wear them and not feel cheery.
My son was convinced that this was sent specifically for him.  By this point, it was impossible to convince him that this was NOT Christmas.  You can't get all these toys without it being Christmas, don't cha know?  This tape measure is so cute!  The ladybug is knitted on, though I can't imagine just how difficult it must be to make one of these!  I finally have a retractable tape measure - whoo hoo!  Now that I have one, I can also see why knitters with kids keep several of them, as they are quite the comodity.  I'm always being asked by the children if they may borrow it, or if I can make them one.  I don't think my skills are anywhere ready for that yet, but it would be something fun to do when I have learned a few more techniques.
Lastly, here is the soothing hand cream Lizet sent me.  This Helping Hands cream is from the Lush company in England, where they make fresh handmade cosmetics with natural ingredients.  I can't tell you how impressed I am with this product.  I had no idea there was such a thing as handmade cosmetics, so I especially want to thank Lizet for sending me this.  I love it!

I love everything in my swap package!  I hope you had fun shopping for me, and thanks for everything!