Happy Valentine's Day!

Love it or hate it...it's here again. Valentine's Day! If you have read my previous Valentine's Day posts then you know that I am rather fond of this day of love (and not because I'm married or in a relationship). I've always enjoyed it and how it gives us all an excuse (and sometimes we do need one) to share/spread/profess our love/like/kindness to the people in our lives.

My daughter and I put together just over 30 Valentine's Day cards for her friends at school and at Sparks. It was a great activity for us to do together - being with each other, chatting with each other, and figuring out love together. And what a fun filled day she had at school with activities, snacks, playing, and distributing her cards (which had a rad pirate theme!). I came across her cards at Armelle Blog (for personal use only). We tucked in a couple of gold wrapped chocolate coins and a red foil wrapped heart as the treasure.

I did some silly little games (Mad Lips, yep lips for Valentine's Day & a left/right Valentine's Day store with prizes) with my with high school students yesterday and you know what? No one complained. And as much as they want to be adults they all still want to belong and be loved. I kind of wish (in a small way) that they could do Valentine's cards for everyone in their classes until the day they graduate. And sure that wouldn't work for all kinds of reasons but I did challenge them all to go out into the halls and wish someone they didn't know a Happy Valentine's Day (maybe, another student who looked like they were having a bad day or are walking along without a crowd of friends).  I sure hope a few of them did. The more kindness I can infuse into their lives the better.


With all the prep for kindergarten and Sparks Valentine's cards, food for the K - class, games for my high school students and a few little surprises for my own sweethearts, I didn't end up sending out any homemade Valentine's cards like I have been doing for the last few years. So I've decided to send out some encouragement cards (which can go out any time of course). Oh Target Canada I am going to miss your dollar section and your great cards.


Speaking of rad cards I received a lovely one from my sweet husband. And melt my heart - he knows I love a gorgeous compass design and I'll take the "I'd be lost without you" sentiment any day of the week.  Our big plans for tonight are Vietnamese food (a first for us!) and renting a movie for when the kids are in bed.

And while love is generally what is on the agenda for today...I had a friend offer up a different word to me today and it meant just as much, "I really do trust you." Wow, what a beautiful thing to hear on Valentine's day (or any day) - means so much!

I hope that whatever your plans are today you know that you are loved and you are enough. My favourite piece of wisdom for the day is: When in doubt, be kind.

873/1000 - Okay, just three.

Happy 2015!

Hello friends, family, loyal readers and accidental readers!

Birthday Flowers!

During our last episode/instalment/post our lovely blog writer (that's me) was about to turn 40 and then, cliffhanger, dropped off the map for a season...time didn't stop, I didn't stay 39 (darn it didn't work) but seriously life happened (as it always does). 

Forty has been quite wonderful so far, if you happen to be 39, I highly recommend it. And since that fateful day, my days have been filled with work, family, friends, work, work, work....so yes, getting back into the classroom was tougher than I had hoped. In some ways it felt like I had never left and in others, it felt like it was my first year (which was a good 15 years ago). The good news is that I feel like I've turned a corner!

Birthday Cake in Vegas!

 We had a wonderful Christmas. I challenged myself to spend zero dollars on Christmas this year and I managed to come in just under $40. (that's gifts, baking, decorations, and so on) - it was fun and busy. We sent out fewer Christmas cards this year than I had hoped (with my work, a girl in kindergarten and life...things were different). I've been craving those moments of quiet, when I can sit down and send a note to a friend, a thank you, and soon, some Valentine's Day cards. And I've been longing to get back on the blog. And looking at my numbers, I'm getting close to finishing my challenge of 1000 paper letters (notes, packages, surprises...)  and I'm excited about that milestone. 

Hearts are starting to pop up around here and I have my thinking cap on for Valentine's Day card ideas! It is one of my favourite days on the calendar (you probably know this by now). My daughter has already started hers (spoiler alert: they have a pirate theme).  I even have a few things planned  for my classes and creative writing club (even though I teach high school - sometimes, you have to let them be kids/be silly and definitely let them share in a Valentine's Day that doesn't have to be all about boyfriends/girlfriends).

A few ideas to get you started on getting some mail out (just in case you need any):

• Go to a photo booth, get silly, and then send the photo strip to a friend and dare (or double dog dare) your friend to do the same
• Blow up a balloon, write a message on it, deflate it and then send it to a friend
• Send your favourite comfort food recipe for cold, wet, snowy or rainy days, or your favourite summer recipe to lend a little warmth to someone's day
• Send recent photos of your family to someone you haven't seen for a while (for their fridge)
• Send a formal invite for a coffee date just for fun
• Stickers to a little friend (perhaps with a Valentine's Day theme before the big day)

Thank you for tuning in. I'll leave you with my numbers and this smiling boy!

Sweetest boy! Turning 3 soon!

811/1000 was my last count...and with Christmas cards, thank you cards, pen pal letters and more my new count is...

869 (that's an additional 58 and only 131 to go)/1000

On the Cusp

Tonight is the very last night of my 30s...tomorrow I turn the big 4-0...yep, it's true and I'm having a hard time believing it myself. I'm so thankful for those people who also share my disbelief that I could actually be starting my 5th decade (whoa, kind of don't like that 5 there just yet) - you make me smile with your, "No way that you are turning 40, I don't believe it." Aw shucks, go on...

The highlights of the last day of my 30s...my daughter confided in me that she told her kindergarten teacher that she loved her (this fills me with joy), I had a wonderful dinner out with my parents (only child), husband and kids, and I've just spent the last half hour snuggling my two and a half year old to sleep. I wish I was this reflective at the end of every day...counting my blessings, thinking of my highlights and filling myself with love and hope in those last few moments before I am lost to sleep for the night.

If there is anything I take into my 40s it is the idea that I can truly make a difference in the lives of the people around me, near and far, friend and stranger...kindness seems to have taken hold of me and if I can lighten the load, offer a hand up, brighten a day, cause a smile then so be it (in a quiet way, always a quiet way as is my nature). I think it is a big reason I started this thousand paper letter challenge (that is nearly complete...so soon...aaaahhh...not ready for it to be over).

What a world we live in where we have the means and the opportunity to make a difference in so many ways.  My grade nine students are all writing encouragement/compliments to each other right now (yep, sharing the love wherever I can and guess what...we are going to put them into envelopes and "mail" them via our class mailbox - yep, that's just how I roll mail peeps). They've come up with some great ideas too. Someone once told me that if you give kids the chance to be amazing they will be...so I'm doing my best to offer up those chances as I get back into the classroom.

I'd like to think that we all have the chance to be amazing. In fact, everyday we wake up with that chance. The chance to do right, to be kind, to hit it out of the park, to love all day long, to leave it better than we found it, and to make a difference. One of my vehicles for these ideas is handcrafted, old fashioned letters/notes/snail mail. It works for me. With the simple tools of paper and pen I can make a difference. Life is about finding your gifts and giving them away. Find your gifts and if you think you might have time to sit down and write someone a little uplifting note...do it, it will feel good.

"The great thing about getting older is that you don't lose all the other ages you've been."

Madeleine L'Engle

811/1000 - a wonderful 7 added to the count!

Perfect Timing

Where I live, students and teachers started the school year a little later than normal - for all kinds of reasons. So Friday, September 19th was actually my first day at my school and in my classroom (for this school year anyway). I have been home for five years with my babies (who are now 2 & 5 - so technically not babies) and I wasn't sure how it would go...my first day back (albeit part-time). I walked in, dropped my bags and looked around. I think, I was a little stunned, not to mention nervous about what to do and where to start.

As I was contemplating my next move, my husband walked in (he's also my colleague) and said, "Did you get the postcard?" Of course you remember that I just said I was a little stunned right? So I look around cluelessly and I see this old milk ad postcard on the corner of "my new desk" and think, "Oh he must have found some of my old stuff in his classroom or something." It was a postcard I hand't seen for a long time. He encouraged me to turn it over and read what it said.

Doesn't look like much....
"Turn it over" he said.

To my surprise the card was dated August 2014 and from a former student (heart skips a beat here). In 2009, before I went on maternity leave, to have my sweet Piper girl, I handed out a postcard to each of my Creative Writing 12 students. I addressed it with my name and the school's address. I even put a "forever" stamp on it so it could be mailed anytime. I told them that if they had some good news they wanted to share with someone I would love to hear it. Lo and behold...someone did...five years later. I think I might have been smiling the whole time I read the card. This dear sweet writer allowed me to share in her post-secondary journey in search of her passion (which she found), her current creative outlet (drumming), and maybe her biggest news yet (getting married). 

The timing couldn't have been more perfect. A wonderful message from a wonderful person when I needed to hear it the most. Thank you Tavia. You certainly are one of the most humble, creative and amazing students I've ever had the chance to teach. And in case the rest of you are wondering...I wrote her back (she included her return address - yay!). Now I'm knee deep in marking and paperwork but I have this little light shining inside, just a little spark that reminds me of why I do what I do.

So hear/read my story and send a little spark out into the world! Share some good news, a thoughtful word or perhaps a little encouragement to a friend. I don't know anyone that has ever said, "Oh man, I hate getting nice cards/letters/notes/surprises in the mail." And in fact, maybe like this old, held onto postcard, you will send someone exactly what they need just when they need it.

804/1000 - pen pal mail, thank you cards, a random pirate package...4 more to the score!

Summer Days & Fall Nights

     Oh Summer how I love thee! Your long days filled with family and friends, sunshine, camping, swimming, cold drinks, roasted marshmallows, and that sense, that time, has simply slowed down.  But as the nights start to feel that familiar touch of damp I know, that very soon, I will miss you. The back-to-school shopping has already started (my sweet girl picked out an R2D2 backpack - oh yea!), I'm starting to think about making food for frozen meals/lunches, and I've started my new fridge calendar...yep, all sure signs that September is coming. There are three of us going to school this September...my daughter to kindergarten, my husband to work (as per usual...over a decade in), and me (after a 5 year break...feeling like it's not real yet). But I only have one foot out of summer's door. Still loving the sunshine and looking forward to more beach exploring, swimming, sunshine, marshmallows, and memories.

Lofoten, Norway

     Received a very cool postcard from one of my favourite Norwegian families yesterday! Thanks to Elias who did the writing (I think). I love it! I know I don't send as many postcards as I used to (sometimes it is hard to sit down and write when you have a couple of kids on vacation with you needing you every moment, or at least thinking they do) but wow, it was so nice to receive...I think I'll try harder - it was such a gift to see which postcard was picked out, imagining them there and reading their note to us! Wonderful. And doesn't it look like a beautiful place (hiking, swimming, viking museums - they had a lot of fun!).

Happy August, happy back-to-school, happy memory making, happy letter writing...

happy, happy, happy.

788/1000 My count is up by 10 - some packages, some notes, definitely some love.

P.S. working on a very cool pen pal project with a friend - stay tuned.

Mailbox Monday

Love this neighbourhood collection of wooden, painted mailboxes! Each little area seemed to have one of these - some with a two or three and some like this! It was hard not to stop and check them all out ("Who is that crazy lady taking picture of our mailboxes?") but wanted to avoid international scandal - haha! I do love the communal feel and rustic nature of this collection. Hegra, Norway.

Hope everyone is finding ways to stay cool in this warm weather. More blogging coming soon. Have a wonderful week!

Sweet Summer Reading

     Yesterday, my husband and I had an Auntie/Uncle date with our three beautiful nieces (9, 11 & 13 - these are of course, their ages, we don't refer to them as numbers - lol). And we decided to take them to a very cool bookstore near us called Kidsbooks. The ladies are so knowledgeable and we were excited to take the girls in for an end-of-the-school-year-beginning-of-summer gift/book. So the girls were able to say what they liked, the staff picked out a few options and then they sat down and perused each copy and made a decision! Of course, you know, I just sent the store a handwritten thank you note because they are awesome!

To round out the afternoon we headed over to Menchies for a sweet treat (their first time!) and fully indulged our sweet tooths (teeth?). Just noticed they do fundraisers too - always looking for new fundraising venues (yum, frozen yogurt) - making a mental note about that.

    Summer and reading go hand in hand! I know I'm compiling my summer reading list right now and starting the stack to pull from.  I think we are going to head to the library in a couple of days to see what their summer reading program looks like and get our sweet five year old excited about that - brings back so many memories! Of course, libraries are great places for recommendations as well and love that you can also rent movies and take out magazines and more. Reading on the beach, on the deck, in a hammock, in a tent (with a flashlight) tucked in a sleeping bag, in a book nook, at Grandma and Papa's house, at a sidewalk cafe...reading has always been a big part of our summer and I hope that continues. All of those places are great places to read and write mail as well.

     Connecting with characters in a book is not so different than connecting with people via the written word (aka letters & postcards). In fact, one of my favourite sayings is, "We read to know that we are not alone." Some of the world's greatest people and mentors are characters in books - share that with your kids and give that to yourself as well! Some books even have letters and postcards inside them (The Jolly Postman & Meerkat Mail for the younger set and Griffin & Sabine for adults - full of beautiful mail and an intriguing story/series).

778/1000 Sent a couple of great packages to Norway, one to Piper's pen pal, and a couple of cards - making it 5 that I get to add to my count.

Mail is Good.

Earlier this week I received this lovely card in my mailbox!

So blessed to have such lovely friends! Really, my heart just warmed when I saw the handwritten name and address. Oh and that lovely teal coloured envelope. But really it was the words inside and the person who wrote them that absolutely made my day. Thank you so much! You know who you are! Guess what people...you could be doing this for someone right now or who knows maybe there is one on its way to you!

The other cool thing I received this week was in this beautiful box.

This is a Tea-zer from Steeped Tea - I was lucky enough to be the recipient of this monthly mail out! I get two random 50g bags of tea for 6 months! So exciting to see what I will get and try something new. Looking forward to trying Strawberry Shortcake. I do love blank-of-the-month type gifts. Just really extends the love and there are so many cool ones out there (wine, cheese, beer, tea, treats/products for pets to name a few).  

Another great gift-of-the month would be a magazine subscription...my mom sent my daughter a subscription of Chickadee and she loves getting it every month! We talk about who sent it to her and then read through it together and man does she ever read through each issue a lot (well used). She talks about how she has a collection of them is quite happy about it. She also get a free monthly Lego Magazine which she adores as well. The mail can bring so much happiness, a break from the mundane (flyers, bills), a moment with a friend, a laugh, a smile...yep, mail is cool like that.

771/1000 Just one for now.

P.S. It's Mother's Day on Sunday. Do you have a mom in your life that would love a card? Your Mom? A single Mom? A Mom you admire? Make it happen!

Books and Silliness

     My oldest niece just turned 13 this spring and she's just lovely! As an English teacher (on hiatus), professed book lover, and avid reader I always feel sad when kids in my class don't like reading. Not necessarily class novels - as much as I love Lord of the Flies it probably isn't exciting for everyone (I even like the black and white movie - seriously?). But I am a strong believer that non-readers just haven't found the right book yet (to get them started). And this is the case with my niece. She liked reading for a while I think but then suddenly wasn't interested...until now! It just took a certain series of books to flick the switch for her.

     It's really cool because my husband and I have been able to 'feed' her books, so to speak, from our book shelves. Sharing books and talking about them is a special gift. And I definitely advocate sharing your favourite books with friends and family because they really are a little piece of who we are - we often find ourselves in books and that is part of their beauty. Easy to pop in the mail or even an excerpt that really means something to you.

No shortage of books to lend here.
Two of our five bookshelves that we purge often.

     In addition to lending out books this week I received another silly letter back from my niece J and had a great time writing her back - maybe, I'm enjoying it more than she is? Either way it's a lot of fun to be creative with it to see what silliness I can come up with - pancake fights, bacon jewellery, and skunk jerky - oh it's on!

     And pleased to report that on my way out to run errands I mailed her letter and when I came back to my car my two year old pointed to the mailbox and said, "mail." Now he has new words everyday lately but have to say this is one of my favourites this week! Yep, he knows what his Mama is up to - love that kid!

     Then on my way back from running errands I stopped to check our mail and lo and behold my 11 year old niece S (J's sister) sent me a silly letter - Oh we've started something here! So looking forward to sitting down and writing back! So S tells me she's travelling the world...and other crazy hijinks. Both nieces only live a block and a half away actually (with sister K too) but there is something magical about mail and what we are doing here. Keep that in mind. Mail is not always about distance, it is often just about relationships.

770/1000 1, 2 & 3 to the count this week! Slowly but surely.

P.S. One of those fab letter is going to Stephanie with something special inside for guessing the movie from my last post! And it was Finding Forrester. Way to go Steph!

The Random Drop Off...

One of my favourite movies has a great line in it to help the guy get the girl, "An unexpected gift, at an unexpected time." He does get the girl. I'll send you something fun in the mail if you can tell me what movie that's from. 

I really like the idea of that unexpected gift at an unexpected time! In fact it seems to be popping up all over the place this week (how unexpected). A friend just wrote on Facebook that for the last four or five years her family has received an Easter basket on their doorstep and they truly have no idea who it is from. This is so cool! And today a friend had the water service guy in her office bring her a coffee - how sweet! I brought someone special a soy cinnamon dulce this week too (although she knew I was dropping it off but she loved it just the same)! Which had me thinking about putting up my own Facebook post and asking all of my friends what their favourite coffee shop beverages of choice are...so maybe one day I can surprise them (so many different options)! Okay, I might just do that!

Oh and how could I forget this! My sister-in-law came by with these beauties for me! I mean one for each of us. They were delicious and fun. Thank you!

An unexpected gift!

On the news there has been a push in the last 48 hours for people to become organ donors in my little corner of the world. One of the ultimate unexpected gifts and at an unexpected time. My husband and I have been donors for years (although him longer than me). I somehow had this irrational fear about it (darn movies and urban legends) but I got over it and saw all the good it can do for others and that was the most important. Congrats if you are one and if you aren't...what are you waiting for?

Mail is super cool but the random drop off...a little gift to make someone's day - on their desk, doorstep, windshield...maybe they need some encouragement, some love or just because. Feel free to write a little note to go with it (always working the mail angle - haha). Not sure what to drop off? A favourite hot beverage or a $5 gift card so they can pick, chocolate (this is always good, unless you are allergic of course, but try to find out what their favourites are...dark, milk, peanut butter, sea salt...with bacon...oh yes that is a thing and so good), actually any favourites of anything (snack, cookie, lotion, bubble bath, candle), flowers, a good book and so on...

Share the love!

767/1000 4 new ones (and one is a birthday package for Piper's pen pal)!

Telling Time...

     I just checked in to see when I published my last post...March 3rd...whoa, what happened. I've been thinking about posting quite a bit but the sitting down and typing got lost in time. It seems that right now as a mostly-stay-at-home Mom I tend to see time a little bit differently than I used to. I don't mean that I don't know what the date is or keep a calendar on my fridge (because I do, a very detailed one at that) but time seems to be "coloured" in my brain a little differently.

     It has been 26 days since my last post or...5 family birthday get togethers, one friend birthday party (first one ever for my sweet girl), two weeks of being sick, two weeks of spring break (the same two weeks unfortunately), eight days with 4 kids under 5 in my care, one Pinterest book nook project and lots of other little adventures in between. Oh and mail - there has been mail going out too (of course)! Maybe, this is how we should all be measuring time - adventure by adventure!

It was a Lego party.

She had a great time.

Her penpal even came!

   

     We are in fact, just wrapping up our last few days of spring break and trying to squeeze a thousand things in - get the snow tires off, cleaning (everything), book nook, marking (for hubby), seeing friends and family, working on birthday thank you notes, a House Freezing party (yep, you read that right, it's a housewarming party but we are going to watch Frozen, drink tea and eat ice cream - how rad is that), making work lunches and writing some blog posts (haha). Can anyone else relate - do you see time this way? Or is it just crazy me?

 Lots of thank you notes heading out to friends and family - thank you for making birthdays so memorable for both my kids (who are now 2 & 5 - Oh my!) FYI that's a peace sign and a high five. Also, filling out a store receipt feedback form for Samantha at the Lego store in Lynnwood for finding the super cool Lego birthday kit (for half-price to boot) - it was exactly what I was hoping for (and maybe, I'll send her a little personal note too).

It's been a busy 26 days. I'm looking forward to a little bit of down time so I can sit, read, drink tea and write some of you lovelies some letters that I've had on my mind lately (they are in my head, just need to put pen to paper). Here's to telling time, adventure by adventure and letter by letter!

753/1000 Appreciation is on its way with 25 pieces of mail...

Sweetness

This story starts back in November when a new friend started reading this blog for the first time...and she liked it. Really liked it. Which makes me incredibly happy and makes me think that my little challenge is not just my little challenge. It's been shared with readers, friends, recipients of my mail and all mail that might have been inspired by a blog post along the way. And this sweet friend liked my blog/challenge so much that she wanted to help me meet my thousand paper letter challenge! And so...

How Lovely!

she offered up hair clips for me to send out to some little girls in my life. She simply said just tell me how many you would like - I just want to help. How nice is that! My friend and her business partner have a little company called Hair Candy. Super excited to get these out to some sweet girls (already three have made their way out into the world). So thank you, thank you, thank you to a very sweet friend! You may have already met her in my last post  - yep, that was her (and her awesome family) making people happy on Valentine's Day. How lucky am I to have met her - thanks Melissa!

728/1000 some hair clips, some thank you notes, and some randomness.

Valentine's Day

Radio, tv, the Internet, magazines, store fronts are all a buzz with flowers, diamonds, expensive dinner dates and chocolates...which are lovely (really lovely) but I worry about the expectation it puts out there for Valentine's Day and the entitlement that follows for those that are figuring out this like/love thing (which might just be all of us). There are so many ways to show love, to support friends, to be kind that are special. So ignore the hoopla and make it about love on your own terms!

I received some sweet tea towels from a friend - just because!

Love them!

And Piper received this fabulous hair clip from another lovely friend (more about this later).

Piper was thrilled with this Hair Candy Hair Clip
made just for her!

Not your typical Valentine's Day Fare are they? But amazing nonetheless. Think outside of the roses, chocolates, diamonds, dinners etc. scenario and share love with those around you in amazing ways on Friday!  

Love people you've never thought of loving...your neighbours that you don't know yet (baked goods, a plant...foster a little community), your children's teachers  or office staff (they have to deal with a lot of kids hopped up on Valentine's Day sugar  - maybe a coffee card...maybe something stronger), drive through worker (it's not the best job is it and they are working on Valentine's Day - sucks), buy a bag of chocolate hearts or heart lollipops and just hand them out to everyone you meet, bring flowers to any office/residence/hospital/library for the staff room, if you go out for dinner by all means overtip, fill coin operated coin parking meters, offer to take a couple/group photo for someone so they can be in the photo, or don't plan it out at all and just be open to making someone's day. 

It can certainly be a dark day for some - remember that too and appreciate that/honour that. And if you can lighten their burden, do. If nothing else reach out and have a conversation with them on Friday. I saw a card recently that said something along the lines of "it could be worse you could be dating a total idiot." So I guess there is that. I just saw a cool "new" holiday out there in cyberspace scheduled for February 13th called Galentines...where you get together and have fun with your girlfriends (the gals) - oh fun! Don't forget to love those close to you too an extra little bit today just because! Why not?

Meanwhile at our house my husband and I are pretty low key on the gifts and by that I mean...we don't tend to spend a lot but we do tend to think a lot about the gift or card or gesture (and that's why I love him). My love language is gifts and he knows this but this past weekend he did all of the laundry - ALL! So maybe, service is one of my secondary love languages - it was so thoughtful and to boot he let me sleep in on Monday (Family Day). Those are great Valentine's gifts right there (or any day). A huge thanks to him! He needs to do nothing else (he'll be glad to hear that). 

"Piglet noticed that even though he had a very small heart, it could hold a rather large amount of gratitude."

AA Milne - Winnie the Pooh

711/1000 Four pieces out the door

Shared Memory

Do you have special sayings or inside jokes you share with friends and family?  Little moments that you replay over and over with each other? Something probably comes to mind as you read that sentence. Nicknames even, are little stories in themselves aren't they - full of memory, snapshots in time. Warm yourself this week with some of these moments, stories, & names. And once you've basked in the good times pass it on.  Send some memories to someone this week. Write down a phrase that will get a friend gut laughing just by reading it or get them smiling from ear to ear at a little trip down memory lane (even if that memory is just from last week).

 Or maybe it will just be a time and a place - and that will be enough to bring them back to a special moment.

I'm writing journals to my kids - an idea I got from a beautifully creative person in my life. But as my husband was telling someone...they are secret journals or maybe surprise is a better word. I'm hoping to pass them onto them when they are older (lates teens maybe)...a real trip down memory lane...my memories of them. Something I've been clinging to this week is a phrase that my daughter and I share (usually at bedtime but often whenever the mood strikes)...I say to her, "I love you to the moon and back" (not an uncommon sentiment that parents share with their kids) but what gets me every time is when she turns to me and says, "I love you to the sun and back. That's farther right?" And I hold her close and reply, "Yes, yes it is." And time stops until I release her from my arms. I was reminded by a very special Mom this weekend to write down our kids' stories because as much as we want to remember we sometimes forget little moments. And we never truly know how long we have with them (or anyone).

So share some stories this week - by post, by email, by phone, by text, in person...make a connection and share a smile.

We're all just stories in the end.

682/1000 Two totally terrific tokens...

Thinking Outside of the (Mail)Box

I love mail. I love paper. I love lists. I love sticky notes. I love little notes.

And there are so many ways to share a few words with someone without needing a stamp or an envelope. At the end of November I went away for the weekend (without kids, without husband) but before I went, I left my hubby a number of sticky note reminders and other notes around the house. You know...things to remember about the kids, dinner possibilities, and other general messages but I also left one on the bed that said, "Enjoy having the whole bed to yourself" and one on the bathroom mirror that said, "I love you." It's been about two months since then and guess what...

it is a little wrinkled but it is still kicking around in the bathroom and that just makes me smile (with my whole face). It was fun to put them around the house and think about where my guy would see them and be surprised.

In other noteworthy news (and you just know that pun was intended) just this week I registered my girl for Kindergarten! That means packing a lunch and a backpack - oh perfect for little notes or pictures at least until we get the reading thing down! I really hope she loves school! I look forward to sharing in her adventures and sending her off with love!  I don't send notes with my hubby normally but we do send him mail and emails throughout his week (he doesn't have a lunch bag because he just takes a homemade or leftover meal from the freezer and a fork - although I have been known to tuck something in his bag or pocket). I also try to pop in during candy gram time (Christmas/Valentine's Day) and send one to his classroom (he has his Christmas one up on the fridge right now).

Now I was lucky enough to receive a little letter out of the mailbox last week! It was just lovely.

This typewriter sits on the hutch in our dining room. How nice to come home to this note from my beautiful sister-in-law! Opportunities are out there just waiting for you to seize them and spread some love. Lunch box notes, fridge notes (sticky notes, magnetic poetry), bus stops, doors (outside/inside), cubicles, pockets, bags/purses,  bathroom mirrors/shower doors (you can even write in soap and it will show up when it gets steamy), in a library book you are returning (just for fun)...a note by nature is just a few words but wow, what a few words can mean! Getting any ideas yet? I hope so!

680/1000 Four pieces dropped in the mailbox...

Some People Care Too Much...

"Some people care too much, I think it's called love."

                                                                - Winnie the Pooh

What a sweet and wise bear.

I've been thinking about February 14th this week - scouring my house for supplies to make Valentines. I think I have it all figured out for this year...think Venn diagram. Fun!  Piper picked out hers at the grocery store the other day - Toy Story (making her Disney Mama proud). We were looking at the designs and she couldn't wait to tell me all about the different characters. This is going to be a fun year. And if you are dreading this upcoming day on the calendar I encourage you to look at my
previous posts about the good ol' 14th of Feb.

Valentine's Posts: 2013, 2011, 2010.

My daughter does have a penchant for wrapping things (mostly in my clean kitchen tea towels) and making cards (hmmmm....wonder where she gets it). This weekend she went to a birthday party for her friend Andy and this is the card she made (my husband jotted down her translation). This awesome photo was taken by Andy's Mom, Candice of Candice Wong Photography.

So Sweet!

She had a great time at the art party and also painted her entire face green (just like last year). I want to say...Creative Genius? She makes me laugh so often and I just burst with love for her too. She received some mail of her own last week and there were five great questions for her to answer...

1. If you had one super power what would it be?

2. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life what would it be?

3. If your parents let you paint the house, what colour would you paint it?

4. What is your favourite season? Summer, spring, winter or fall?

5. If you could give your Mom one gift, what would it be?

Okay, first of all, I love that she is getting her own mail. And beyond the excitement, the time listening to me read it and the heartfelt message from one of her fun Aunties, it leads to a conversation for us to have about those questions...she has to really think and I learn a few things too.

Her Answers:

1. Love. To make everyone love their friends.

2. An apple or two.

3. Maybe pink, because it is my favourite colour.

4. Spring, because that is when we get to have cold ice cream and chill down 

from the sun (okay, so we might need to work on our seasons).

5. Something special.

Send some little people in your life mail - you won't regret it! It will mean more than you think it will. Heck, use the questions above to start a dialogue or send them a Valentine or a knock, knock joke! And if you are lucky...they will send something back to you (and something magical will have started).

676/1000 Up by 5!

Where Does a Word of Thanks Lead...

Don't know if any of you accepted my challenge of sending a thank you note for good customer service but after posting that blog I sat down and wrote mine! Before I put pen to paper I sat and thought about my past interactions with Dan at the grocery store - he has always been helpful, pleasant, and geniune. And what makes him so great is that he is consistently this way (maybe I've missed him on his bad days or maybe he doesn't have bad days - either way, he's great). I addressed the note to the manager because I feel/felt like Dan should be recognized for what he does day in, and day out.

As I was writing my note I started to think that perhaps this type of mail is the best kind of mail I can send. Sure it's nice when friends and family members notice what you do and congratulate you on a job well done, but a stranger? An unbiased party? That is a whole different ball game isn't it? Somehow it is more legitimate (especially to your boss anyway). So I encourage you to try it.

Indeed!

Of course, you don't need to send mail to do this either. You can simply pipe up when you encounter great service or pop by the customer service desk and chat with the manager. Or simply start handing out compliments to strangers. I remember I was standing in line and the lady in front of me had a brightly coloured pedicure. I can't remember what the line was for but it seemed to be a bit of a wait. Anyway, I leaned in and said, "I love the colour of your toes." She gushed in return, obviously thrilled to let me know that her daughter and her had gone together and she had let her daughter pick out the colour (she was maybe even a little unsure about the bright colour). My comment had clearly made her day. A small observation. A few words off the tongue. And you know what, the exchange made my day too.

Are you looking for more/any ideas of mail to send? How about a thank you for a recent gift - traditional note or maybe a photo of you using, wearing, eating the gift (whatever happens to work). Manage to snap some great family photos over the holiday or have a few favourites - send them off to friends and family for the fridge (it seems we print fewer and fewer photos in this digital age). Send a Happy New Year card! A Have Your Best Year Ever card! An I Look Forward to Seeing More of You in 2014 card! Have some fun this January through the post. If you are snowed in, iced in or just choosing to stay cosy inside it's a great time to get creative.

Here are a couple of thank you photos I should send to my Sister-In-Law and her awesome family for one of the coolest/best Christmas presents my kids received this year (and homemade to boot)!

The Piper and Sam Show!

Oh my... is she ever at home
on a stage (or tv for that matter).

671/1000 14 fun pieces going out on this rainy Saturday! Inching my way to 700 and ever closer to my goal of a thousand paper letters! Woohoo!

Today There Are Many Possibilities

We really enjoyed Christmas with lots of visits and time with family and friends. There was even some snow in December (and that doesn't always happen here on the west coast).

Snow Angel!

Out with the old...that is what we have been up to at our house - purging, cleaning, organizing and then doing it again. Still a few areas I'd like to tackle but pretty happy with how we did. The clutter tends to weigh on me and I don't always notice or realize it for a while and then suddenly creativity stifled, inspiration impossible...only stuff in the way. So feeling good about a clean desk again (and closet!). It's funny how turning a piece of furniture a different way gives one a whole new perspective on a room. I know I wasn't the only one doing this...good for you (if you did it too).

It's a brand new year - fresh and full of possibilities! Is this the year I finish my thousand paper letter challenge? I certainly feel close. Is this the year I write a book and get it published? Maybe. Is this the year I open my own stationery store? Oh that would be a dream. So full of potential...I love a new year and 2014 certainly has a nice ring to it.

I've been writing and sending since my last post (December 16) so I have some good numbers to add to my count - cards, postcards, photos, and gifts have gone and are going out in the mail! I love looking through a pile of cards/letters/postcards ready to go - makes me feel happy.

657/1000 with 19 glorious pieces of mail.

I've finally had the wherewithal to notice the name tag on a really nice fellow that works at my local grocery store, so it is on my list to send his manager a letter to compliment his great and consistent customer service (does this make you think of anyone you could do the same for - so easy! I'm challenging you all to write a note/thank you/letter about someone who is really good at their job - tell the boss!). I'd love to know if you do it.

Mailbox Monday

From World Market - one of my favourite stores!

Here is today's mailbox. It definitely has me thinking of mailboxes as home decor. I heard this week that Canada Post is going to be phasing out door to door delivery and transitioning to community mailboxes. I haven't had door to door delivery since I was...well, a long time ago (in my teens) but it still makes me a little sad that people won't need personal mailboxes or mail slots. So truly, mailboxes as home decor might be the wave of the future (starting trend now). Have a great week everyone!

Mailbox Monday

A Santa Mailbox!

I found this gem in my Christmas tree decorations. The end comes off and you put your letter to Santa inside - I haven't used it yet but this year might be the year! A very festive Mailbox Monday for you.  I keep surprising myself with all of these mail related objects that I didn't realize I had - each discovery is like...well...Christmas!

Happy Monday! It's snowing here - Winter Wonderland!