Oh that is too funny! Love the picture "Marysol Smile" indeed. Can't wait to hear all about it. Getting myself a piña colada, putting my feet up and waiting. I wish, it's barely 11:00 here and I don't even have lunch plans. Hum!

By the time I get home tonight, I'm expecting lots of pictures...I'm dying here of curiousity.... just might be a good night to empty a bottle of wine... *Clinking* about 7pm

Nancy

Sol, there aren't many people who can make me let out a good belly laugh with their posts, but you do it consistently...:-)

I'm anxious as I was with Sharon when her package was barely more than an idea - lol! Can't wait to see!

Ok, my friends, here it is. All the way from Canada, Sharon's pack of goodies. Her theme:
"Life's a Beach."

I thought it very appropriate for many reasons, here are a few...I collect shells (I'm from the island of Cuba - of course I collect shells - it's the law); I also have an evergrowing collection of candles; my screen name - Sol - is Spanish for: "Sun." And all this time you thought it stood for something else. Well, you were wrong then, weren't you?!;-Ã

Okay, okay, keep your thongs on. Here's what Sharon/chase did to put a smile on mah face...
She sent me an adorably-huge, sand-filled pail, which I'll have many uses for - yep - the pail and "sand."
{{gwi:1463907}}

Then, she creatively filled it with a wonderful book "Heat." A behind-the-scenes look at the goings-on of a famous restaurant. Can't wait to read it.

Notice the sweet Flip-Flop candles? They were paired it with a cool beach towel for Sammi.
Sammi says: "Aww heyyy." That's Teenglish for: "I love it!"
Btw, Sam will be spending this weekend with her aunt and cousins, at a lake cabin up north. She'll be enjoying nature with her new beach towel, laptop computer, cellphone and a flashlight...in case she runs into a cougar, a black bear, the next crew from "Survivor..."

You've got to check out the Shell Paté Knives, mine, all mine!. Also, you should be able to see the lovely seashell candle, the seashell napking rings (which Thumper thought were "cool bracelets." Heh. Then, there were the super cute cocktail picks. Even Thumper got a Canadian Freesbie. Hey, it's a beach party!

{{gwi:1463908}}

And as if that weren't enough, check this out:

The Pastry Resistance (that's botched-up French for: "Wow. Le Fish Plates are Outstanding!")

{{gwi:1463909}}

Sharon, it's almost like you could read my mind. You can't really read my mind, can you Sharon? I mean, that'd be kind of creepy.

Well, I'm as happy as a clam at high tide. Sharon, there are no words to express my gratitude. Except, my family and I would love to say: "Muchas Gracias. Arigato. Merci. Danke. Thanks y'all!"
Still, not enough words.

Thank you Sharon for the wonderfully-thoughtful gifts! And your letter, full of witticism a la Sharon, that I've come to know and love. And thank you Ann, for pairing everyone of us with the perfect partner!

Sunny Sol

wow, it's wonderful SHaron!!!!! What a great fun package you put together!!! Everything goes so well together - I think you're the theme queen - lol. It's beautiful. (what did you end up using for sand?)

Sol, your description is not disappointing! Always so much fun to read - can't wait to see some pics using these goodies!

Stacy

OMG these boxes just get better and better! Sharon - you are so clever, talk about taking a theme and running with it! Sol, sounds like you're in heaven - enjoy :)

Now THAT'S what I call a theme!

I really like the seashell spreaders, the picks, the napkin rings. The book seems like a perfect "summer read". I love, love, love the fish plates, Sol's goodies are going to look so good on those.

Sol, sorry to hear that Sammi is going to have to "rough it" up north like that, LOL.

What a great package, I'm glad it didn't get held up in customs.

Annie

Now there's a well thought-out theme! The sand musta cost an arm and a leg to ship! I just started reading Heat - wonderful book. Love the thong candles and the shell spreaders and rings. The fish plates are great. You gonna cook something great and post pix on them plates, Sol? Please?

That is a fantastic theme! I love the little fish plates! And of course I adore the napkins rings since they are one of my weaknesses! Great package, Sharon. Lucky you, Sol!

Oh Yay!!! It's there and in the exact right number of pieces!

sol, it was a real pleasure, I just had so much fun with this, you always provide so much solshine for all of us it just seemed right to send you some!

Stacy the "sand" is a corn based litter for hamsters! LOL Gina it's very light, took me longer to find "mailable" sand than anything else! LOL

Sol sorry for the packaging, did the "sand" stay in the pail or was it a mess?!

enjoy.....Sharon

When Sharon gets a theme...she gets a THEME!!! Those shell itmes look so summery and how cool that you collect shells!

enjoy the heat!

janet

Wonderful, wonderful! I love the little fishy dish-ies. Hamster Litter? I declare, Scarlett, that was brilliant! Loving the shells, shell anythings work for me and here they fit right on the tables. I can conjure up a whole tableau vivant with those goodies.

Sam, are you tired of the towel yet?

I'm going to go buy Heat, if ever a title fit the weather, that would be it.

Sharon, you are so much fun and Sol, there isn't a recipe that you post that I don't want to make. You make a great pair who enrich this place of ours.

Bubbe

What a fun package, love the fish dishes.

What a fun swap package!

Tee hee. Sharon, the "sand" amazingly stayed in place throughout its long, ardous journey. But, once in the hands of the Sol brigade, things go to he!! faster than you can say: Surf's Up! Even our pets got in on the action.

Seriously Sharon, I'm glad you chose those fishy plates, and all the other amazing goodies, for me. We would've done just about anything to be your happy recipients. Okay, maybe not anything. I don't think I'd have gone as far as sleeping with an octogenarian millionaire (a la Anna Nicole Smith), but that's only because Jim said he would have done it. What a guy! You know, any other time, my conscience would've bothered me - but not this time. ;-)

I'm telling you I can't wait to try all these wonderful toys!

Thank you Sharon!

Sunny Sol

Very fun package! I love the beach theme! Those fish dishes are adorable. Wheeeee!!!

Oh Sharon, now THAT is a theme! All of those great shell things are super, and that book looks intriguing, too. How clever to put a beach party in a pail of sand! Sol, run along and let the beach party begin!

Linda

Wait, I'm confused. Does 'keep your thongs on' mean foot or underwear?

Hamster litter. Hmmm. (Thumper: this is your cue to ask for a rat. They are soooo cute and they are intelligent - trainable - you can get your mom or sister back for stuff...I call my son's 'Kitty'...)

Hope Sammy doesn't run into Richard Hatch, if she runs into ANY Survivors.

I do declare this is the shortest swap distance Ann has arranged. That being said, I agree, she is good at matching people up!

Those spreaders are fabulous. Sol, I always look at your plates as much as I do your food - so I know these will be showing up!

CUTE package!

yep, Jessy, Ann is good at that :-)

Sharon -REALLY??? hamster litter? where in the world did ya come up with that idea?????? you're good.

Looks great, BTW!!! actually I thought it was grape nuts.

Sol, now that's what I call a fun, fun, fun package!

Sharon, I love your theme (beach was my first thought but I wasn't finding great items like you did, so I switched). Great job!

Jayne

Hamster litter? Who knew? Great theme, Sharon!

Love it all, Sol, especially those little flip flop candles. You get the prize for best description so far! LOL!

Teresa

Muy Caliente!!!!

Omygosh...I love the napkin rings and knives, and yet another fantastic presentation.

Sharon, You've done it again. What a wonderful theme you choose for Sol. Sol, love your enthusiasm and description of all the treats. Can't wait to see those fish plates show up in one of your pictures. Love those.

Enjoy!

Ann

Looks like Beach Blanket Bingo to me! What a fun package and wonderful theme! I especially like the fish dishes, but being a Pisces, the whole package is terribly appealing. BTW, my sister gave me the same shell spreading knives one year. Very nice shells on the napkin rings - they look like shells I used to find on Cozumel, which is not all that far from Cuba.

Lars

That is adorable. What a clever idea. I especially love the shell spreaders. The fish plates are so darling.

Good going!

GREAT theme and the details! Hamster litter. THAT'S clever! I too wondered if you were crazy to ship sand and at international prices! I needed one of those items for my package, can't say which one. But I didn't find it, and you did.

"being a Pisces, the whole package is terribly appealing" -Lars, you're another who intrigues me with their posts...:-)

Cool, Sharon! I echo what you all have said. Great use of a theme. Sol, love your enthusiasm, too, but what's not to love? Sharon puts together a nice package. I know from experience. ;)

I finally got here... I had this on my mind all day since I saw Sol's post this morning.

Sharon...you be the queen of themes, this time around...so far at least! You really did it well, I love it. I love all the goodies you picked and aim to take a gander at that book myself.

Sol... like just about everyone else has said....you posts never fail to amuse and most often cause outright laughter here. You are just too much and I love ya GF!!

Nancy

Oh Clever , Clever Sharon-- love the way you put that together & hit Sol's collectibles . And what a way to include the whole family in the fun . And OMG those fish -- just fabulous . Enjoy Sol-- don't run into anything playing Frisbee with thumper .

LOVE the beach theme! SOOooooo cute!

Well that package would put a smile on my face too. Love the theme, and the clever items to carry out the theme. Enjoy Sol! Great job Sharon.

What a great theme Sharon. Very, very cool.

Sol, You always manage to make me laugh. I loved reading your description. I can't wait to see what your gonna put on those plates.

Enjoy
Tracey

What a great theme! I love that fish plate!! Those flipflop candles are too cute! IÂd love to read that book! I love the whole beachy theme! Great idea! Enjoy Sol!!

Really great package Sharon! Nice thoughts put into each gift!! (except maybe the hamster litter!! Just kidding!)

Loving the beach..candles.. books.. and all cute dishes.. romance, whimsey and quirky..
This is adorably well done:) The frisbee too a touch of bold color for the beach..
Sol makes food beautiful and beautiful food...:)

I don't know which I enjoyed more, Sol's desciption or Sharon's package! Super creative and definitely is all theme, I love those napkin rings too!

Sol you crack me up! I can always count on at least a chuckle from your posts---that Mona Lisa a la Sol is too much LOL!

SHARON! You are amazingly creative & talented. Who would have guessed that you are the ultimate swapper! That is one awesome package. Love those napkin rings and thongs - heck, I love it all!

Sol, enjoy those fabulous goodies! LOL at the Marysol smiles pic (is that you, you're gorgeous!).

How fun and inventive! Sol, the way you word things, your enthusiasm just pours over the internet!

Susan

OH what a fun fun box! Great theme!
Sol I also enjoy reading your posts.

Sol, your pics, graphics, and posts floor me all the time!! Love that first pic. LOL!

Sharon, what a great theme for a swap box right down to the sand!! You don't miss a thing do you. Love it all and can't wait to see the pics of Sol's great creations on those plates on the WFD thread! A fantastic box for a special lady from a special lady!

David

Now that's a fun box and very creative theme.

Sol, you do have a way with words, your posts are always fun to read.

Sharon, I think you Canadians have a special talent putting together swap boxes!

Stacy, at first glance, I also thought the sand was actually "Grape Nuts." But I didn't try to eat them because, well, we all know what happened to that 70's health guru Euell Gibbons. He died from a heart attack eating grape nuts. Nope. Just shower me with pork rinds, thankyouverymuch.

Wait, I'm confused. Does 'keep your thongs on' mean foot or underwear?

Jessica, I can't answer that, on the grounds that it might incriminate me.
Why do you ask? Do you feel like baring your sole, or do you feel like baring your "soul?"
If it's the latter, could you please be so kind as to give us all a warning? Thank you. ;-Ã

Allright my friends, ladies and gentlemen of the hootenanny... I would like to invite you all to join Sharon, Raul and I in Waikinky Island.
Note: Please BYOT (Bring your own thongs).

Sharon, I luv yew.

Sunny Sol