Brown paper packages

Good Monday morning, my lovelies! How was your weekend? Ours was good. We ate out (more than once!), shopped, dreamed up DIY projects, played games, went swimming, read books, and I even went for a really good run (one week down, 13 to go!). I was definitely fighting off the flu bug the boys had had, but I tried to get a bit more sleep than usual, and I rested and drank quite a lot of peppermint tea, so I managed to enjoy myself regardless of the queasiness I was experiencing. And I'm happy to say that this morning, I feel just fine.

Now, about my fabulous Friday afternoon of parcels! I promised a few photos, didn't I?

Here's what I got from my darling friend Kelly, the one who used to live right up the street, and then moved up to the interior of BC. She's an adventurous girl, that Kelly! She also knows how much I love Harry Potter, drinking tea (see the tea bags in the back there?) and Dairy Milk chocolate. Mmmmmm. Thanks, Kelly, you're the best! I love your big, long letters, too. Keep them coming, please!

{mmmm... chocolate and tea and Hogwarts!}

Then there was the beautiful parcel from Cassie. I have loved getting to know Cassie through her blog and the many emails we've written to each other these past few months. She and I have so much in common, from our love of You've Got Mail to our mutual adoration of children's books, Christmas decorations and Kirstie Allsopp. Cassie's parcel was part of a Pay It Forward swap, and also just to say thanks for being a (new) friend. Isn't she lovely? And doesn't she wrap a pretty present?

{this little bird is adorable, isn't it?}

The parcel was full of all sorts of goodies that suited me perfectly, including some great notecards (watch the post, Em!), flower seeds, a 2010 diary (love those dark red poppies) and some cute, embellished clothes pegs.

{see? perfect!}

Cassie's parcel also contained Cadbury's chocolates. Look how she labelled these buttons for the boys!

Needless to say, they didn't last long... Sawyer was ripping into his right away!

What a great way to kick off our weekend. Thanks, girls! You really do know how to make me (and my little guys) smile.