SecretSerendipity

07/28/2011 Hello everyone..... I owe everyone a HUGE apology!!! I feel horrible that all my swaps have not been mailed out.

I got sick about 2 weeks ago, I went to the Dr. and was admitted due to dehydration. My blood pressure was through the roof, and once in the hospital they found a raging infection had attacked my kidneys, liver and bladder. Also my kidneys were not working normally. I was in the hospital for about a week and a half. I was finally released Sunday. Im still really run down, and still fighting infections. I cant convey enough how sorry I am! I had no way to get online to update anyone on this website and today was the first day I actually felt good enough to sit up and do this.

I plan on fulfilling all my swaps, and again cannot say Im sorry enough!

I AM NOT A FLAKE!!!

I HAVE ALWAYS resent my swaps, and am dedicated to making everything RIGHT!!

All I ask is you give me just a little more time.

So, I have recently been given a 1 and a (2)- 3 ratings....

I have ran every emotion over this and was ready to just bail on this site. But, you know what, Unfortunately in today's world you have bad days, bad experiences and well, sometimes no matter what you do, you cant please everyone.

For the most recent 3 rating, I will say that I deserve it for being late, but as far as the quality of the work, I am completely offended. She states that I just slapped some stickers on a piece of paper and called it a day, that NO effort was spent on it and I threw it together. Well, Im sorry, but thats not entirely true, I am a crafty person... but I am a scrapper... So my knowledge is stickers, papers, die cuts, things of that nature. I actually get alot of compliments on my scrapbooks. I dont just THROW stickers on... I spent alot of time, money and effort on that card, (which I had to do twice, due to MY OWN stupidity) and it truly is hurtful that she said it was so bad. I understand everyone has their own opinions, but also everyone has different crafting abilities... I guess she is extremely artistic....

For the past 3- Rating-

EXPLINATION ON MY 3 RATING.... Well I have been rated a 3.. and im sooo upset and disappointed. It was for the "SEND A CARD" swap. I had mailed it from my brothers in So. California, and it never made it. I found out it didnt make it when I received a 1 rating. I immediatley contacted my partner and let her know I was sorry and would get it out right away. The swap was for a St Pattys day card. Even though it was passed St Pattys day, I still included a St pattys card, with stickers, a st pattys quote and a recipe. I wanted to make sure I still fufilled the swap requirements. I also had read her Bio, and I had shopped at Hallmark and had come across some very special things that I knew she would love.... I know it was not called for, but I felt I needed to go a little over because she had waited... I sent her 2 additional cards, quite a few sheets of stickers, and a special bookmark. My feelings are sooo hurt!!! So I know 3's will prevent me from joining some swaps but I hope you will read this and understand. I did get a nice thank you email from my partner, so I know she appreciated everything, I just wish the rating refected that.

For the 1 rating, it was for a swap that was Journal Your April. Well, I had almost completed the journal and had dropped a large coke slurpee into my swap basket and it ruined everything, one being her journal. I sent her a message and apologized and asked if it would be ok to Journal my May, as there was NO WAY to recover Aprils entries, she was not happy about it but did agree, and I truly felt bad.... But it was an accident... So, I journaled my May, and I mailed it out to her on June 3rd. I have my receipt and everything. I was notified yesterday when she rated me that she still did not receive a journal. I am sooo frustrated!! There is no way I can afford to do it again, it isnt like I just write journal entries, I add things, of every nature. So, I feel absolutely HORRIBLE, and do hope that somehow it does find its way to her, but other than that there is no way I can remedy the situation.

I am truly a good swapper, I LOVE swapping and meeting new people and I have learned sooo many things by being on this site. My overall ratings do prove that I am and honest swapper. If I am late, I notify my partner. I will always do my best to please my swap partner, even for Post Card swaps, I go through profiles to see if there are any Postcards I have that they may want, even if it is senders choice.

Also, I do not always have access to go to the screen to mark a Swap as sent..... Sometimes the only access I have to the internet is thru my phone and I cannot mark swaps as sent through my phone, but unless I sent you a message to let you know that I will be mailing late, it went out before its due...

Also, I ALWAYS Rate, but again it may take me a few days as I cant do that through my phone either.... If you are missing a rating, please let me know!!

Also, I just have to say.... On a few of my swaps that I recieved there were notes that said, I put this in the mail on (whatever date) but due to (different things) it may not be postmarked on this date.

Really?? How sad is it that someone has to do that?? I understand there are due dates... but sometimes, life happens, you get sick, kids get sick, whatever.... I know we all joined swap-bot for the same reason, we love to be creative, we like to share our creativity with others and in the process make new friends... Well for me thats why...

Again, I know there are due dates and they are there for a reason, but if you are going to be a day late, or for that matter a week late, I dont see why you can be upset.... Now, if your going to be over a week, yes, I then think you need to contact your swap partner to let them know what is going on!

But for all those swap partners that send to me, I WILL not be checking your post mark to see that you sent it ON THE SET DATE.... If you need to be late for a reason, just let me know! I understand life happens!!! We all have lives, and nothing is ever predictable. We are here to have fun, and I dont think that you should have to be so nervous over something being a day or two late, it takes the fun out of it. So I will always rate according to the requirements of the swap, as in what you sent for the swap. I will never critique your swap, unless its just garbage, but since I have been on here I have always received nice swaps.... If your going to be more than a week late, then yes, please message me, and again, I understand, just keep me updated is all!!

IF YOU ARE MISSING YOUR SWAP PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND I WILL RESEND!! I ALWAYS STRIVE TO GO OVER THE INITIAL SWAP REQUIRMENTS AS SILLY AS THIS SOUNDS IS I LOVE HEARTS SO I LIKE GETTING THEM!!!! :o)

So, now on to the reason we ALL are here... THE FUN STUFF!!!

A little about me.... ~ I am 39 years old ~ I live in Northern California ~ I am engaged to the love of my life! We are getting married August 18, 2012 ~ I have 2 wonderful kids Keegan is 16 and Kelcey is 14 and my bonus daughter Marissa is 18 (my fiances daughter!!) ~ I Love, Love, LOVE to read ~ I love to write, I have pen pals, I love writing poems and quotes, and I journal, blog, and one day I would LOVE to write a book! ~ I am a hopeless romantic ~ I love cooking and baking! I am always looking for family friendly recipes ~ I am a girly girl to the core! I love ribbons and bow, bubbles, and hearts, dressing up, LOVE high heels, whimsical romance ~ Nothing makes me happier than being with my family ~ I am very creative! I love crafts of all kinds!! ~ I love taking pictures, Im never without a camera ~ LOVE bubble baths! ~ I LOVE LOVE LOVE comfy Jammies ~ Love hippos! Not so much real ones, but the cartoon ones, my favorite one is the Purple hippo that is in Its a Small World at Disneyland ~ I love disneyland ~ I LOVE Alice and Wonderland (The Disney version not the creepy new one!!!)

What you can find me doing..... ~ Being with my family! We love playing games! Puzzles, movie nights.... ~ Reading ~ Connecting with my friends on facebook ~ Writing ~ Doing craft projects, usually cards and scrapbooks, and fleece blankets, but I got this new book for Christmas called "Hook, Loop and Lock and I cant wait to get to try it out!

A few of my favorite things.... ~My favorite color is yellow ~My favorite pattern is polka dots, whimsical designs, hearts ~ My favorite holidays Valentines day and Thanksgiving ~Favorite Foods anything Peanut buttery, hard candies ~Favorite Flavors Cherry, Banana, Grape ~Favorite Smells Lavendar, Apple Spice, Pumpkin spice ~ Magazines Craft Magazines, celebrity gossip magazines ~ Favorite Characters Queen of hearts, Suzy's Zoo, Mary Engelbreit ~Collections Hearts, Vinylmations, Disney precious moments, Gooseberry Patch Recipe books, calendars, organizers.....

My wish list.... Pens, Cute paper, pretty envelopes, journals, stickers, recipe cards, candles, craft stuff.... paper for card making, paper patterns, rug canvas, fabric any bright colors, yarn in all colors, ribbons of all sizes and colors, cotton twine, locker hooks, hook, lock and hoop patterns, fun embellishments, such as buttons, charms with fun sayings, like love, family, hope, etc.

My Favorite Music.... Anything Country, but I also love Todays' Top 20, Bon Jovi, Kelly Clarkson, Harry Connick Jr., Nickleback, Taylor Swift,

We will go with my favorite Authors, as my favorite books could go FOREVER.. But Id have to say my ALL TIME FAVORITE book, is The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks ~Nicholas Sparks ~Joan Johnston ~Debbie Macimber ~Luanne Rice Pretty much any chick-lit :O) And OMG!!!! For all of you who liked to read as a teen ager, the Sweet Valley High Series is BACK!!!! Im SOOO EXCITED!!!! The author wrote a book about the twins, but 10 years later!! I just got it and as soon as Im caught up on my swaps Im going to read it!!!! (OMG!!! What a complete disappointment this was!! I couldnt even finish it!!!)

My Favorite Movies ~The Notebook ~ A Walk to Remember ~ Ghosts of Girlfriends Past ~ Time Travelers Wife ~ The Italian Job

My TV... Well I am a reality TV JUNKIE!!! ~Amazing Race ~Hells Kitchen ~ Jerseylicious ~ Pawn Stars ~Chopped ~ Food Network Challenge ~ Dancing with the Stars ~ LOVE HGTV I just love the home shows!!! Then my regular TV shows I cant miss Bones, Law and Order SVU, Chase, Hawaii Five-0

If I have missed anything just ask! I am an open book! I am a very honest person, I DO NOT EXPECT anything, my wishes are just that wishes, When I commit to a swap, or to anything for that matter I follow thru!

I will NEVER EVER ask a swap hostess to angel my swaps!!! I ALWAYS MAKE SURE MY PARTNER IS WELL TAKEN CARE OF!!!! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE contact me if you did not recieve your package!! I WILL FIX IT!!!! HAPPY SWAPPING!!!!