a little more love

i love my bestie. so i used the holiday as an excuse to send her a package, all wrapped up in red and pink.

it included {among other things} this most ridiculous-but-yet-perfect card:

{it makes sounds, too}

and this little owly keychain. i made one for myself a couple weeks ago and i just knew sarah would love one too. 

{here's mine}

yep, even our keychains are besties!

blog-buddy-crafting-love!

i've been crafting so much the last several weeks, but there's really only so many things one can make for themselves. so i decided to spread the love a little!

i sent these zippered pouches out to a couple lovely ladies:

 {for brandi}

 {for lauren}

and this itty baby hat for caroline's new little boy joy {and she sent me the most adorable photo of him in it!}

but of course, my favorite project was for my bestie. she is such an inspiration {even when she's so far away!} so i made her a little embroidery from this photo of a miniature love note she left for her hubby.

{the note}

{the embroidery}

i've just finished projects for each of my sisters and i'm sending them this week. the worst part now is the waiting! and the mail here is so. slow. 

i hate waiting!

mail surprise!

i checked the mail yesterday and was surprised by this package, from who else but my bestie! i have never run up the stairs to open something so fast in my life.

and of course, what is a best friend for but to indulge your weird obsession with vintage frogs {especially in mug form!} 

i love it- so much character :)

{remind me some time to show you the rest of my froggy collection}

topped off with these goodies:

oh sarah, you're the best!

bestie birthday package

i love it so much, i hung it on my door.

my lovely package from my bestie.
{how to describe it? accordion folding envelopes full of goodies, complete with a collage on the back} 

yes, i have the best friend in the world. i honestly have no idea how she did this, and how she made it so perfect, but it is!

i am one lucky girl.

{and in case you didn't know, today is her birthday! so make sure you go send her some birthday love, too!}

and there's more!

you thought my birthday posts were over? oh no. i haven't shown you all the awesome stuff i got yet! i hung up all my wonderful cards. {and no, i don't think it's excessive to have two banners in the same space}

"j" and "a" block letters, owl necklace, and earrings from the in-laws {i'm in love!}

ceramic frog {i heart frogs} and necklace {made by mom} from mom: 

birthday cupcake goodness from in-laws {i believe i have previously mentioned my affinity for cupcakes}

and what birthday is complete without a package from your bestie?!

{this is just a peek; more to come monday}

i am one lucky girl.

crafty mail love

nothing puts a smile on my face like a nice letter. 

especially when it's cute and crafty.

these are some of the letters i've gotten recently.

handmade envelope from my bestie:

and wonderful handmade card:

complete with adorable drawing inside:

and my cousin sends me letters written on old pages of travel magazines.

way too cool.

she also sent me a list of old movies to watch, and a paint card with one of the colors from her sister's upcoming wedding.

anyone else want to send me something? or maybe you want a little something from me? email me! i love to spread the snail mail love <3

{angelinaladawn@gmail.com}

we're talkers

i've been waiting all week to share this next bestie post! sarah and i started this little project a couple weeks ago, and it has become one of the highlights of my week. i hope you're all enjoying it too! {you can catch up here}

ok, enough build up, here is today's word:

when i think about sarah and how our friendship started i think of all the conversations we had. she's been listening to me since the first days of our acquaintance- when i would go to spanish study sessions and complain about wedding planning. i didn't have too many girlfriends and sometimes i just needed to vent a little, and even though we were just getting to know each other, she was always an ear for me. looking back, of course, i see how amazing it is she was even interested in talking to me at all after that!

but when the two of us are together it's hard to shut up. 

we've have some pretty amazing and crazy times together, but there's not much i love more than just talking together. about important things- about nothing- about everything.

i'm quite proficient at rambling and she never tunes it out {a skill indeed!} and i also tend to get stuck on subjects and talk and talk about it {like a broken record} and she gets it. more than that, she joins in and is happy to talk about the same thing for hours at a time, too! {like a new job, or blogging, or our newest crafty exploit} there's no feeling in the world like talking yourself out with a friend. a best friend.

our dialogues are rarely profound or life changing, but when you add them all up and put them together, they kinda are.

now go see sarah and hear her take on the subject. {it's sure to please!}

valentiny treat

oh valentine's day. not my favorite holiday {although i don't dislike it} but let me tell you what i do like: making things, receiving some snailmail, and sharing the love.

 so this valentine's day my bestie and i are hosting a card exchange!

i'm excited.

This swap requires you to dust off your best grade-school-art-class moves and get down and dirty making something sweet for 5 new friends. Nothing big and fancy, just a little snail-mail love. In return, you will receive 5 cards from fellow swappers.

If you want in on the bestie love, please e-mail sarah: helloauburnst@gmail.com by January 23rd. Leave your home address and your blog address, and whether you're willing to send a card internationally.

We'll e-mail you back with the names of the people who will be receiving your love notes that week. Then you'll have till the 14th to get them to everyone!

We hope you'll join us!

word #2

in a series of words about me and my bestist bestie.

this word is sure to pop up quick

it's one of my favorite things to do, and something i love to do with sarah especially.

it also reminds me how we became besties to begin with: we were in the same {horrible} spanish class, and found ourselves working together on a group project {with her future hubby, who was already in my circle of friends}. concentrating on the project at hand became difficult because study sessions constantly turned in to "shirt parties" {that's what we called them}.

we made shirts.

a lot. 

and thus our creative and friendship bond was formed, never yet to be broken. we're talking instant connection. instant understanding and acceptance. that's hard to find. and even though we all hated that class, and some of us {read: me} barely passed- we're left with very fond memories. cause i met my best friend there.

not to mention that sarah is one of the most creative people i know. she's constantly coming up with new and wonderful things. {just stop by her apartment and you'll agree}

i could go on and on about her excellent taste, eco-friendly mentality, and all around original innovations, but i won't. i'll save it for next time

{and there will be more}

and so now, separated by so many miles and space, our friendship is something i cherish and cling to {for dear life!}. something i can't live without, and certainly don't want to!

now, go stop by my bestie and see what she has to say!

{and while you're there, ask (no beg!) for a video tour of her apartment}

and stop by tomorrow to find out what we've got cooked up for valentines day. i think you're gonna love it!

besties forever

let me tell you about my best friend sarah: she is amazing and i love her with my whole heart. i got to see her {finally!} over the holiday {since she lives in michigan and i live in kansas} and while together we decided that since we started blogging to keep in touch, it only seems natural that we have some posts together too.

today begins our idea to share our story with you. one word at a time.

if i had to pick one word to describe our friendship it would be snort.

because we both snort.

 and it is so much worse when we're together.

it's infectious.

 but only to us. our husbands {who are also best friends} think it's ridiculous.

 which makes us laugh even more.

sarah can put a smile on my face instantly. and even though we live 800 miles apart now, hearing her voice feels like we're sitting down in her living room together. like we've never been apart. we can talk, we can cry, we can share stupid secrets and fears, but it always comes back to the snort.

because really, why cry if you can't laugh, and why laugh if you can't snort?

now go visit my bestie and see her side of things