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

Piper wins!

Earlier this year I "signed on" to receive a random act of kindness from my friend Tracie (I was one of five) and in turn offered to do the same for five other people, who in turn would offer to the same for five other people, who...you get it right. I did the same thing last year in January 2013 and it was a lot of fun. I have to say that I haven't had a chance to pay it forward to my peeps just yet for this round. I need to get my thinking cap on for sure! But now I am inspired because I received the coolest gift from Tracie last week!

Super cool for so many reasons! I love it because it is a great family piece, it is handcrafted (love the craftiness), and if you don't know...I love scrabble! So what an amazing and thoughtful gift! A big thank you to Tracie (who also happens to be the mom of Piper's pen pal). And she is on my list too...

And while a pay it forward challenge is cool you certainly don't need a reason to send out a random act of kindness - I sometimes think that no reason is the best reason - an unexpected kindness! And yes, the cost of postage has gone up but still under a dollar to send some domestically, under two dollars to send to the US and under three dollars to send letter mail internationally is really a great deal (it flies all over the world from your hands to a friend - less than a latte, seriously). So while I was initially bummed about the prices I know it won't stop me from sending out love to my friends and family near and far.

Send out some love, send out some kindness and send out some mail! You just might get some in return (words, photos, magazine articles, a recipe, coupons, favourite quotations, nail art, a lottery ticket, an old note from junior high, a copy of a yearbook message or photo, a poem, a picture of cool graffiti, a pressed flower, a gift card, a postcard of a favourite piece of art or place, scratch and sniff stickers, bookmark, art...I think there are a few new ideas in there since I last wrote a list). Do with it what you will!

760/1000 Seven more!