Let's Do This::Miniswap 2

MINI SWAP 2 is closed...thanks everyone. I'll get names swapped this week!

It's that time of year again: the holidays are past us, things are slowing down and most of us are getting ready to snuggle in for the rest of the winter months. The perfect time for a little miniswap.

::So what is it?::
A swap between our children. I'm sure your children enjoying sending and receiving mail as much as mine, so why not let them get in on all this brown paper package goodness??

::Here are the details::
PLEASE, PLEASE read the "directions" carefully and FOLLOW them. I don't mean to be a "meany-pants" (as my daughter would say), but last year I spent so much time following up with people that forgot certain information, or sent emails to the wrong address, etc, etc. It was exhausting and confusing. So I'm doing my best to streamline everything this year. And hopefully, by doing that I'll be able to include more people than last year. So please, help make this easy on me....

::we will swap by household. Keep in mind, you might sign up one child, but be swapped with a household of two or three children. This doesn't mean you have to put together three times as much stuff, but it might be nice to include something small for each of the children.

::Last year I didn't put an age limit on who could participate. But this year, I'm going to say two years and up. The idea of this swap is that our children are really partcipating. So I am going to put a minimum age. Please use good judgement about where to cap it off at the older end. (And just for the record, if you were my partner and signed up your four year old, but there was a 12 month old toddling around your house, I'd want to know so I could include a little something for him/her. I wouldn't want to leave those babes out all together. But I'll leave that up between partners.)

::The swap is open to anyone, so please be willing to ship overseas when you sign up.

::I always try to be budget-conscious. Try to keep the bulk of your swap goodies in the handmade or hand-me-down category. Last year my partner passed on gently used books, a stuffed toy and other goodies (among other fantastic things)--and my kids loved it. And the sentiment behind her children wanting to pass on a special toy to another child was priceless.This swap is not meant to break the bank.

::Ideas of things to include? you can check out the flickr group here  Or, leave a comment after this post of some of the highlights from last year. I'd love to hear and I'm sure others would, too.

::Please include a postcard or small map showing where you're from. (I forgot to do this last year. oops.)

::Ship packages by February 5. I know the longer I have the more time I have to procrastinate. I figure one month is do-able?!

::Want to join? Here's what to do:: (this is the important, follow-the-directions part!)

• Send me an email at this address: miniswap(at)gmail(dot)com
• Please put "miniswap sign up", or something similar in the subject line
• Include your name and your child/children's names and ages.
• I will leave the address swapping up to you and your partner.

The following week, I will contact one of the two partners with the swap names. It will be up to that partner to contact the other family involved. I'll post here when I've sent out emails so you can be watching...

I will take names until Monday morning.  However, I'm going to put a cap on the participants at 150. I think I managed about 100 last year. And if all goes smoothly, I think I can handle fifty more. I HOPE??!!!  So friday or 150, whichever comes first...

And please, help pass the word on your blog, too.

Alright, please forgive the overload of details. I'm just attempting to keep this slightly organized. No "meany-pants" intended!!

And check back here for more updates and details.

Have FUN!!

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And here's the code, if you'd like to copy and paste a button into your sidebar:

<a target=_top HREF="http://mommycoddle.typepad.com/"> <img
src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/130/343039242_9a8452b861_t.jpg" border="0"></A>

Comments

[Joanna]

Fun! Thanks for organizing this. I just sent you an email.

[claire]

I just sent you an email, this sounds so great! We are really looking forward to it!

[amy h]

Have fun with it! I agree -- my 1-1/2 year old would not understand what was going on, so I don't think there would be much participation going on. Just a lot of crying about putting good things into a box and sending them away. :)

[kirsten]

woo hoo! i missed the last one - can't wait! i love the idea of hand-me-down but thoughtful gifts between children.

[Dawn]

My email just left... hehehe. I'm excited - last years was so much fun.

[blair]

Yay for a mini-swap! I'm sorry to say that I don't think I'm going to be able to participate this time (I'm cutting way back on several things intentionally), but for those interested let me say it was a blast the first time. Mail, who doesn't love it? Hope you are well Molly, miss you! xo

[luckybeans]

Yeah! This will be so much fun! I am off to email...

[Julie K in Taiwan]

I just sent an email and I posted the button on my blog. Thanks so much!

[Niki]

Just sent you an e-mail. I didn't know about the swap the first time, so we are excited to participate. My daughter LOVES giving things away, and I definitely want to encourage her generous nature. Thank you for hosting!

[mo]

I think you know how I feel about this! I can't wait to get our partner and start putting things together!

[Jodi]

Like many of the others, I just sent you an e-mail! This will be our first swap and my daughter and I are really looking forward to it.

[Jude]

I emailed you - very excitedly - my little Lily and I would love to be involved. We have already assembled a little pile of stuff to choose from!
Jude

[Renmeleon]

Just emailed you and am very much looking forward to this (if we got in by deadline). Just found you five minutes ago via juliekintaiwan's blog. My daughter is 5 years old and loves to craft and give gifts. She sees all of my swaps and has been wanting to get in on her own. hehe We are going through all of her gently used things (she has always taken very good care of things thankfully) as well as making things this month. Will make sure to put a very nice package together for her/our recipient! Thank you again for hosting this.

Ria :)
www.renmeleon.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/renmeleon/sets/

[Mia`]

Oh just realised I am too late - but applied anyway. Am hoping you don't have one fifty yet. Sounds like a a great time!
Mia

[Mia`]

Ooh sorry, late at night. Missed the deadline. Don't worry about my fuzzy brain,
Mia

[tovorinok]

Hi

Great book. I just want to say what a fantastic thing you are doing! Good luck!


Bye

[Ana Maria Seaton]

I found a link to the swap names when I was checking Google for my name - I do that to make sure my sites are coming up like they should - and it had me partnered with "Sonya Philip". Do we know whatever happened to this? I don't think I was ever contacted and given this list, if it landed in spam, if they contacted me and I just don't remember it...please let me know as soon as possible. Want to make sure the swap is finalized and someone didn't miss out. Thank you!