Howdy Bookworms!
Have the gray days of winter been getting to you like they’ve been getting to me? There is only ONE redeeming factor of winter, in my humble opinion. In just the right type of snow, everything outside gets super super quiet. It’s the most peaceful feeling in the world to stand outside in the gently falling snow and listen to the silence. This winter? We haven’t gotten a single peaceful snowfall. We’ve gotten angry snow. We’ve gotten icy snow. Right now it’s just rainy and gross. The cold and the rain and/or snow, the ice, the drizzle, and the lack of sunshine all combine to make me one downtrodden bookworm. Seasonal Affective Disorder? What they hey, I diagnose myself with things all the time! SAD. That’s me. S to the A to the D.
Luckily, Joules, over at Pocketful of Joules (I like to imagine she so named her blog because she is, in fact, a pocketful of sunshine) organized a blogger gift swap. She decided to make it a post Christmas affair so that we’d all have something to look forward to in the drear of midwinter. (If you recall, I also participated in Joules’ inaugural swap back in the fall, which was also crazy amazing.)
I had so much fun playing Secret Scarecrow, I couldn’t resist joining the Hazy Shade of Winter Swap (Hey Joules. I re-named your swap… Again… But the Bangles version of this song ROCKS SO HARD!) On a cold, rainy, miserable day last week, it arrived. My secret swap package! (The box was soggy, but the contents were not compromised!)
How could the festive tissue paper NOT turn my frown upside down?
I did as instructed and opened the card first. Turns out my Swapper’s parents lived in a town in my neck of the woods for a while. If you’re not from the part of Illinois that ISN’T Chicagoland, these places aren’t even a blip on the radar. Total Twilight Zone moment! The note also contained instructions for my winter survival kit!
Each item came with a note of explanation. So cute!
My package included: Starbucks salted caramel hot cocoa (yum), Skinny Cow chocolate caramel candy (more on this later), Sweethearts candies (the ones with the words!), a super cute notepad (for LISTS), and a cotton candy scented candle (to remind me that cotton candy season WILL be back! IT WILL!)
Sweet!
I owe my winter swap partner a major debt of gratitude. Everything in the package was great fun, but those Skinny Cow candies are crazy delicious! Nobody is giving me a cent to say this, but OMG. Those things. 130 calories for 3 squares of chocolate filled with caramel goodness! They are every bit as satisfying as a Ghiradelli square and way better for you! It’s so magical, Jim even liked them. I didn’t tell him they were “diet” candy, but he couldn’t tell. Seriously. Best thing ever. THANK YOU!
The last part of the Hazy Shade of Winter Swap is to guess who you secret swapper is. I’m pretty confident in my guess. It’s not because I’m a brilliant guesser. It’s because my swapper was a responsible citizen and put return address information (along with her name) on the package. So… A Grace Full Life, thank you, from the bottom of my hazy winter heart!
Let’s try to put on a happy face, shall we, Bookworms? What cheers YOU up in the dreary winter doldrums?
Jennifer Hartling (@JenHartling)
What a great idea! Is there anything better then getting a nice package in the mail?
Words for Worms
Very few things are as exciting and happy!
JoulesDellinger
Oh, I LOVE your new name for the swap and I’m super jealous of your amazingly thoughtful gift! I haven’t gotten mine yet, but I’m sure it will also be lovely. But you got chocolate caramel candy, which sounds AWESOME!
Words for Worms
It was the perfect cheer up package! 🙂
Quirky Chrissy
Dude. I FREAKIN LOVE that candy. LOVE IT. There’s one that tastes like the Little Debbie peanut butter buddies.
Words for Worms
YUM!
didibooksenglish
Salted caramel hot cocoa, that sounds yummy! Haven’t been to Starbuck’s in a long while. Will have to try that next time I go since I don’t drink coffee. I usually get Chai Tea Latté or if it’s summer those fruit drinks with mango. Awesome and refreshing. You were spoiled. What a great idea to get through a harsh winter! Thanks for sharing and making us all jealous. 🙂
Words for Worms
Oh yeah, that cocoa is no joke. Seriously delicious stuff.
didibooksenglish
🙂 yummy!
Kari
OMG. I am a total idiot…..head slap!
I am so glad you loved your package, I am smiling from ear to ear!
And we totally bond over our central Illinois connection since I have been there so many times in seven years that I lost count.
Happy Winter my friend!
Oh and you can find those Skinny Cow’s everywhere but Target has the best selection.
And they are AMAZING. 🙂
Hugs,
Kari
Words for Worms
Hahahaha no, thank YOU for putting that on there! Seriously, I guessed wrong last time. I appreciate you throwing me a bone. And Central Illinois! Wahoo for the middle of nowhere! I’m going to take a trip to Target and buy them ALL!
Ashley F
Aww that’s so cute!!
Words for Worms
🙂 I enjoy it!
Charleen
Sooo… I had no idea the Bangles version was a cover. A Simon and Garfunkel cover, no less. I fail.
Words for Worms
I first heard “Hazy Shade of Winter” on an 80s compilation album and became obsessed. So of course, I googled the lyrics and learned it was originally Simon and Garfunkel. (Don’t tell Paul & Art, but I like The Bangles’ version better!)
daddio
Youngins… Back in my day……………….
Words for Worms
Please, Old Man, enlighten us!
Christine
How fun! Real packages are so much fun to get!
Words for Worms
So much fun! Really, any mail that isn’t a bill is a joy, but a package? With presents? Awesome!
Amanda
What a neat idea! Here on the Gulf Coast of TX, our “winter” is pretty pathetic. What depresses me in winter is that I spend money on cute winter gear for the kids and they only get to wear it for 2 months, then they outgrow it.
Words for Worms
That stinks! I bet you get even less snow than we do. Siiigh.
Meg
I totally rocked out to the Bangles version of that song alone in the privacy of my room as a teen. Out in public, it was very uncool to like The Bangles at that point. Now I can rock out publicly. Like I might boombox it up at the Target with my gals The Bangles tomorrow.
Words for Worms
I completely understand. Clandestine rock outs can be the best kind!
Sarah Says Read
One – This is such a fun idea!
Two – I am SO with you on Skinny Cow stuff. Skinny Cow makes REALLY good chocolate peanut butter bars that are 110 calories each, and delicious ice cream sandwiches that are only 150 cals each. No one believes me, but they’re just as delicious as regular junk food, if not better.
Words for Worms
SERIOUSLY! I knew about the ice cream sandwiches, but those aren’t that exciting for me because I’ve never been big on the full fat ones. Skinny Cow is maaaaaaaagic!