This Mom's Confessions

By

Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall – You’ve Got A Friend with The Secret Seven Swap

Filed Under: BLOG, Writing/Blogging Tagged With: , , ,

How could you be friends with someone you have never met?

I get asked that question often enough by others in my life who don’t totally get blogging or making connections with others all of the country and world, too.

I didn’t realize myself before blogging that you could become friends with and share so much with other people that indeed you haven’t come face-to-face with in real life.

But I must admit I have been so very lucky in this department, getting to indeed know quite a few other bloggers and have many out there that I very much consider my friends.  I know I have shared this sentiment here before, but still amazes me and really does make me feel blessed by this.

Over the course of the last year or so, I got close with a few select bloggers.  Seven of us have bonded over shared experiences and have formed wonderful friendships from this.

The seven of us organized a Secret Santa back last year and if you missed my article on this, click here.

After how successful our Secret Santa went, we collectively decided to do a Secret Seven Swap for each season (4 times a year) with each other.

Since it is March and Spring is indeed in the air, this time out was our Spring Swap and today I am sharing all about the Secret Seven Spring Swap.

Who was my Secret Seven Swap partner?

Sara from Confessions of A Red-Headed Mama

Sara and I have been friends for over a year now and to find out how our sweet friendship started, keep reading now!

And by the way, it is times like these that I do very much feel indeed very much blessed that I am a blogger who has great friends, because I must say Sara truly knows me and picked out the perfect selection for me.  She truly is not only a great friend, but also very observant when she reads my blog with the package below she sent me.

Secret Seven Spring Box

Secret Seven Spring Box

Honestly the selection above was seriously, absolutely perfect and from start to finish, Sara truly picked out all stuff that I love and would totally get myself if I were to go shopping.

Birdhouse Cookie Decorating Kit

Birdhouse Cookie Decorating Kit

I absolutely could not get over the adorable Birdhouse Cookie Kit,  Sara sent me and as soon as I opened the box with my girls, they were sold.  They wanted to put it together immediately, but it was late Tuesday morning when we got the package, so the girls had school about an hour after.  So, I told them we would definitely do it as a family when Kevin was home on the weekend.

Pink Peeps for the Pink Girl

Pink Peeps for the Pink Girl

As soon as I laid eyes on the Pink Peeps, I couldn’t help, but smile.  First and foremost, Sara was the recipient of my Peeps Recipes and Giveaway post last year here.  And then the pink color she hand picked for me was absolutely perfect, because she knows just as many others that read my blog and know me that I am addicted to the color pink and seriously am the pink girl from way back when I shared that here.  And trust me this box didn’t last long before I dug in and sampled these little pink heavenly marshmallows!

St Patty's Day Straws

Next up, were these absolutely green-tastic shamrock straws, because Sara knows that we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in our house to the fullest with Kevin being 100% Irish from my St. Patrick’s Day recipe post from the past year, too here.  These totally had my wanting to sing, “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling”, because they seriously were so cute and can’t wait to put them to good use like for this year’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration here.

EOS Lip Balm

EOS Lip Balm

I actually never mentioned this here, but recently I decided to try this lip blame for myself, because I tend to get dry, chapped lips during the colder weather.  When my girls saw mine, they wanted one for themselves as well.  I caved and bought them each one, too.  And all three of us are addicted to these awesome lip balms.  So, when I saw this package of lip balm, I was amazed at how Sara got this one totally right, even though as I said I never mentioned here or to her once.  

Now that I shared my Secret Seven Spring Swap today, I just want to thank Sara again and tell her that I am truly thankful we are friends once again.

Thank you Sara!!

Also, want to share a few more pictures of the bird house that we finally put together two weekends ago now, too!!

And to find out who I got to shop for in the Spring Secret Seven Swap, click here.

pinkfade

ModCloth’s Twirl Around the World Contest-

Show off your twirling capabilities with the ModCloth ‘Twirl Around the World Contest’ and you could win a $350 gift card! Snap a photo of yourself twirling in your favorite spring ensemble and upload to the Style Gallery or post on your Instagram account with the hashtag #modtwirl. Videos will also be considered on Instagram. Contest ends 3/31 at 10am PT. One Instagram winner and one Style Gallery winner will be chosen on 3/31 by EOD. Happy twirling!

TODAY ONLY – Reebok Kid’s ATV19s for $24

The world is your child’s playground with the Kid’s ATV19. This all-terrain running shoe features 19 large ATV lugs to help provide traction wherever kids roam. Today only, get the Kid’s ATV19s for only $24 when you use code ATV19. Shop Now! 

Reebok Kid’s ATV19s for $24

Org $59.99
Now $24 
**The links in this post are affiliate links and I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on my link.

Disclosure Final

One Click Is All It Takes!!

Top Mommy Blogs - Mom Blog Directory

Sharing is caring!

About Janine

Janine is a published author of the books, The Mother of All Meltdowns and Only Trollops Shave Above the Knee. She has been featured on The Huffington Post, Mamapedia, Today Parenting Team and SheKnows. She also runs her own graphic design company at J9 Designs.

Reader Interactions

Comments

    • Janine Huldie says

      That is good to know about the red one and think my girls only like the pink and purple (because those are their favorite colors). And the bird house was definitely such a fun and cute activity. Sara really did a great job with this box and am so thankful for her as a friend!! 🙂

  2. Sara says

    Aww I'm so glad that you love everything. I had so much fun shopping for you. The birdhouse came out awesome. Love you friend.
    My recent post My Blogging Days Are Done

    • Janine Huldie says

      I love you too Sara and seriously cannot thank you enough for all the wonderful goodies here and just so happy that we are indeed friends. Thank you again!! 🙂 xoxo!!

  3. massholemommy says

    Some of my greatest friends are people I have met through blogging. When you read their blogs every day, you really get a sense for who they are and you get to know their families & personal lives – so it's like we know each other in real life.

    And you don't live all that far from me -I bet we could do a meet up half way at some point.
    My recent post Things I Don’t Understand

    • Janine Huldie says

      I know that would be awesome and would love if we did that meet up and you are right I totally do feel like I have gotten to know and your family, too through blogging. Hugs 🙂 xoxo!!

  4. dishofdailylife says

    What fun! The birdhouse decorating kit looks like a great spring project! (If it ever gets here!) I don't know about you, but we've got high winds today! So cold!

    My recent post Wordless Wednesday: Doors

    • Janine Huldie says

      It was so much fun and the girls had fun eating it, as much as they did decorating, too! And yes we have terrible winds and freezing temperatures here, as well. Starting to think Spring will never get here and getting a bit depressing now to be quite honest.

  5. queenmomjen says

    How wonderful! Thanks for sharing your sweet story of friendship. Rocking gifts by the way 🙂
    My recent post A Guide To Creating Magic

    • Janine Huldie says

      Totally was my pleasure to share this and thank you for reading and your kind words here, too 🙂

  6. dianeroark says

    Janine,

    I think the secret to a great blog is building blogger friends and supporting each other. I love that you all send secret gifts. What a great way to support and surprise each other.
    Blessings and have a wonderful day!
    Diane Roark

    • Janine Huldie says

      Couldn't agree with you more Diane and I feel once again truly blessed by all the wonderful friends I have in the blogging community. And just so happy to be able to share with them and all here as always! Have a wonderful Wednesday now!! 🙂

  7. Billybuc says

    Some of the best friends I have are online writer friends…you included…it is remarkable and very satisfying and I cherish you all. Thank you Janine and have a fantastic Wednesday.

    • Janine Huldie says

      Bill, you know you are truly at the top of my list here, too and I know I say it a lot, but totally do mean it when I say, "Thank you for being my friend!" Happy Wednesday again and hope it has been a great one for you so far 🙂

    • Janine Huldie says

      Kristi, those Peeps didn't stand a chance with me and I finished them off in less then a week's time. Seriously one of my favorite's this time of the year 🙂

  10. day-with-kt.com says

    So awesome that y'all expanded the Santa swap to a quarterly thing – great idea!!!
    Love all the things that are so very suited to you. And, I'm impressed with how y'all put together the bird house -nice!
    My recent post Am I Still a Fitness Blogger?

    • Janine Huldie says

      I love that we did expand this and had so much fun doing this for this time of the year. And the bird house was all Kevin and the girls. I was the photographer here 🙂

  12. lisang@expandng.com says

    I love seeing blogger gift swaps! Sometimes I think I know my blogger friends better than IRL friends b/c I interact with them almost everyday. I love the EOS lip balms!

    • Janine Huldie says

      I know Lisa, I truly am beginning to feel the same way and I very much adore my blogger friends. And same here with the EOS lip balm 🙂

  13. tamaralikecamera says

    I TOTALLY get that we're real friends and it's definitely possible to make friendships with people you have never met! And in my case, it has turned into real life friendships too (Michelle and Ilene) and it will again!
    My mom loves pink peeps. So does Scarlet. So that made me smile.
    The whole package was so delightful!
    My recent post In The Light and Dark Spaces.

    • Janine Huldie says

      I truly hope it will again in real life with you and me, too. And the pink peeps seriously were absolutely perfect for me, as was the whole package. So, I couldn’t agree more 🙂

    • Janine Huldie says

      I totally get it and would say that many who are my friends and blog totally know me better then those in real life very often at this point. Love knowing it isn’t just me 🙂

    • Janine Huldie says

      I know I miss the two of them blogging greatly, but understand why each are no longer actively blogging though.

    • Janine Huldie says

      I know I really had no idea either and totally am having fun now that I do 🙂

  17. lovingmarshall says

    There are so many things in this world to be sad about right now, and I find it so uplifting to read this story of women meeting through a shared interest and doing something so nice and supportive for each other. You are filling the world with goodness!
    My recent post Working, traveling, writing–oh my!

    • Janine Huldie says

      Aww, I am so happy that I could share this and to be honest makes me so happy to know that there are others out there that are indeed supportive of each other in this crazy, little thing we call blogging 🙂

  18. The Dose of Reality says

    Oh, I LOVE IT!! Sara is awesome!! It is so nice to have a friend that just "gets" you. Sara rocks!! I'm so glad you found each other! That's special!
    I am so with you. Before blogging I never would have imagined that I could be friends…actual friends who I knew and who knew me…with people I had never actually met in person. But it's true and real and oh, so wonderful. It's my favorite thing about blogging. –Lisa

    • Janine Huldie says

      Truly one of the things I love about it too and you already know i am so happy we are friends, too 🙂

  19. realhousewife says

    I think that the world has changed so much since computers became a household item. They allow us to reach farther into the world to find people we connect with…people that have common lives and personalities. Being a housewife was much more isolating when my mom stayed home…I love my Internet connections…you too Janine!

    • Janine Huldie says

      So true Kelly and I am just so happy that I can be a housewife and stay at home mom during this time in history versus in the past. And I love you too, Kelly 🙂

  21. gigigirl says

    As I began reading your blog about becoming friends with people you correspond with but never meet, I thought….this is just modern day pen pals! I had a couple as a child….one in Scotland and one in Canada. Auntie Anne also had a pen pal who she is still in touch with. So, yes, lasting friendships can begin and continue with the written word! So glad you share so much with your blogger friends. I love the bird house….what a great idea! Lots of love to all…..xxoo

    • Janine Huldie says

      You are so right it is like pen pals and love that blogging and then internet have afforded us in this day and age this kind of an opportunity. And love that you too had a pen pal, as well as Auntie Anne, too. Thanks for sharing that here tonight with me!! Love to you too and see you in a little over a week now xoxo 🙂

  23. MelChi says

    What a cool idea of a secret santa for each season! Why save it all for Christmas time? Well done! 🙂 And of course I understand what you mean about forming friendships online with people you've never met before. It's amazing to think of the people I would never have "met" had I not taken the plunge to start writing and blogging. It's awesome! Have a fab day 🙂
    My recent post Why I’m Not Jumping on the Whole “No Make Up for Cancer” Bandwagon

    • Janine Huldie says

      Couldn't agree more about blogging and friendships. I am truly happy that I could share a bit more about it here at the hop today and thank you as always for co-hosting. Have a wonderful Thursday now! 🙂

    • Janine Huldie says

      I was so happy that I was allowed to be included in the Mustela campaign and we have all been using the lip balm. Definitely would recommend 🙂

Footer

Confessions Belong To

I Am A Published Author!

Featured Confessions

Confessions Partners

baby clothes on DHgate.com