(image from photobucket) life can surely hand you a bunch of lemons...
but i love that saying, "when life hands you lemons, make lemonade..."
that's probably why i enjoy participating in various swaps throughout these months and during this blog of mine. i truly feel like i'm sending a lil' sunshine someone's way.
ie. this past fall, my family learned of some bad news (and just recently found out more bad news) but i didn't want to dwell in the negativity so i have been working on several art projects, swaps, etc. to keep my mind off the stress. spreading positive karma + love...
so, my lovely sis,
Mary Ann and her
Sunshine Club surprised me and sent me this magnificent book made JUST FOR ME... it was filled with handmade beautiful art (and my love of the French)+inspirational + motivational + kind+ encouraging words...to treasure for ETERNITY...
you see, how this 'random act of kindness' touched my soule and warmed my heart?!
(to know that each of those kindred spirits took time from their busy lives to create such beauty for me has forever touched me beyond any words and belief! i'll have to take pics of this amazing book and post it sometime here...) also...
i remember seeing an Oprah program when she paid the person behind (her) tollway fee. or when O bought the person behind (her) McDonald's coffee or breakfast. or when O bought the person behind (her) newspaper/groceries/gas etc...
this is what i'm talking about...i wish i could bottle up that feeling of unconditional love.
anyway, a couple of weeks ago, a very sweet blog friend of mine, Gracie of
Gracie Bella Butterfly sent me an invitation to participate in a "Pay it Forward" challenge...it's an on going giveaway, an on-line event. it's like winning a mystery prize because it'll arrive as a surprise in my postbox sometime in the next 365 days. so now, my challenge is to 'pay it forward' to three more sweet bloggers...i'm so honoured that Gracie even thought of me and wanted to share this experience with me. this will be my very first time to offer any type of giveaway on my blog...
The first three people to comment on this post (with a way to contact them back and shows an interest in this challenge) will receive a gift (a very nice+sweet gift) from me, sometime within the next 365 days. Who knows when it will turn up, or what it will be, but rest assured, it will arrive. All you have to do is promise to make the same declaration on your blog, and send out gifts to three of your lovely readers. Easy Peasy.
If you miss out on being one of the first three, please leave a comment anyway because I will draw a random name also, in the spirit of Valentine's Day. The winner will be drawn next Friday, February 13th and I will post everyone's names at that time.
so, i know that i'm fairly new with blogging and really don't have a following, but if the only 3 people that visit my blog would love to play along, i would be honoured to send them a very nice surprise...(maybe i'll take a few sneak peeks and post them soon...) (also i wasn't able to join in the gypsy caravan of Lisa Swifka's One World One Heart event this time... so this would be a perfect time to join in a 'Pay it Forward' challenge...hope you will join me!)
Merci Beaucoup, Sweet Gracie!!!
Bonne Nuit
xoxo jo ;)
*
* {based on "What lies ahead...Possibilities" by BJ Gallagher Women's Work Is Never Done~Celebrating Everything Women Do}
Christopher Vine Design-absolutely divine!!!
here's EVERYTHING....SWEET!
theloveshop
check out all the sweet treasures, Gracie so kindly sent over to me...i'm absolutely floored by her absolute sweetness ... every item...coming from the heart...chosen with such caring thoughts...
Christopher Vine-exquisite card...simply magnifique!
la vie de France guidebook for my future dream trip to my Love-Paris-France + 
totally put a smile on my lil' munchkins' faces...
pure happiness...
ian+shioban+gracie's love+treasures=pure delight!
simply one of my favourite authors...can't wait to delve into this wonderful novel and totally dream away...i simply love this movie... gorgeous eye-candies and one of my alltime favs!!!
such a thoughtful letter...Gracie kindly listed all her goodies to me...such pretty paper and i truly love getting a personal letter, don't you?! makes it much more special and i feel like there's a total connection between the two of us...
wowzer...Gracie made this card for her friend's bachelorette party...absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!
anastasia of pervical road design
Gracie sent me this postcard with a couple of handmade envies. 
simplesongdesign.com
(image from photobucket) 
