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.

Lollipop Tree

I went journal and card shopping this week...have I told you that I love paper? I picked up a lovely package of blank cards with a lollipop tree design on the front (shades of pink) and come with the brightest pink envelopes. Lollipop Tree! They just make me so happy! Imagine walking to your mailbox and upon opening it you find the brightest of bright envelopes with a special note from a friend - it is so simple (almost effortless) and the joy it can bring it priceless!

How lovely!

Now a couple of weeks ago I received a super silly postcard from my 13 year old niece. I sat down and wrote her something equally silly back - it was a lot of fun. I'm including her original postcard so she can see what I'm responding to in case she forgot her questions. We'll have to see what happens with this! Here is a peek at what she sent me (and you know she's getting a lollipop card back).

So fun!

I think she needed to do some writing so her Mom gave her the option of writing a letter to someone. Glad she had fun with it and chose me! Writing letters is so great for kids - it is a great way to create a social bond beyond social media, practice writing for an audience, work on penmanship, and clearly there was a little creativity going on here! Fantastic. And you know what...there was no stamp but it was delivered to my mailbox anyway - thank you Canada Post! I'll be sending out a few other letters this week but my favourite might just be the card I'm sending to my niece. Have a few moments - get silly or thankful (always nice to send a little card of thanks or encouragement to a friend).

763/1000 I think I sent some more out but lost track - Eep! So adding three to the count.

Summer Makes a Cameo

   If you are looking to send out some personal and fun mail try this...I just had one of my favourite summer pictures printed onto postcards (via vistaprint) and added a great little quotation. Going to send some out this week and save some for gifts too (I love homemade gifts). This is the second time I've done this - through vp you have to order 100 at a time but it's a pretty cool thing to do (you just have to narrow it down and I like to wait for a sale). So if you have a favourite photo - give it a go (via your local print company or wherever works for you) and send something unique and personal out into the world.

A mug of tea on a beautiful morning in Garden Bay.

     Speaking of sending things out into the world, I was at my local Michaels Craft store and they had a flyer by the exit "Michaels Operation Christmas Card." You can bring handmade and filled out cards to Michaels locations and they will send them to American and Canadian soldiers. What a great thing to do with your own children or a classroom of students (teachable moment). Here are the deets, "Cards must be handmade and include a heart-felt handwritten message. Glitter of any kind should not be used. Include envelopes which should remain unsealed. Please do not include photos or phone numbers." You can find more info here. Mail for good - love it!

      I also have to send a little thankfulness out to my Post Office ladies - one of whom saved me over $10 on a package this week by making a suggestion and helping me re-pack and re-tape it. They are both the best!

442/1000 Sending out some of my fav photo postcards, a special package for a very special mama-to-be, and a couple of other things - count is up by 10!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian friends and family this weekend. Hope you have time to spend with your loved ones.

Lots of Things to Celebrate!

It's full on summer over here. And for us that means catching up on dentist and doctor appointments (always super exciting), reading, seeing family and friends, road trips, having water fun with our kiddies, movies, and maybe, some relaxing moments in there too (pretty please). Of course, summer is a great time for postcards & special mail.  And FYI the mail carrier certainly does not stop dropping off things in my mailbox or yours...so it is still nice to send out some lovely little notes to your lovely little ones or any lovelies in your life for that matter (I have at least one of those going out today and a few more on deck).

However you stack it...

I'm super excited that I get to send out some gorgeous invitations for a very special bride and her very special bridal shower, that is just around the corner! I would post them here but don't want to give anything away but I can tell you that they were designed by THE very talented Kristy at Twell Media and I am thrilled with them! Take a wander around her page.

...that's a lot of mail!

Just in case I don't say it enough - the mail system is pretty cool! Sending a personal note that you've put together with your own two hands to someone down the street or in the next city over or around the world for a nonimal fee, is an amazing service. And what a gift to open! Always hoping to inspire more  mail! And I just saw the cutest Stella and Sam stamps at my local post office - LOVE!


400/1000 Well! That's certainly a milestone! Hooray! Hurrah! Huzzah!

Wish You Were Here!

Yep, it was our turn to send postcards!  

My Beautiful Princess!

We were lucky enough to be able to take a trip to Disneyland and celebrate birthdays while we were there (Sam - 1 and Piper - 4). What a magical adventure! From favourite rides (Teacups, Jungle Cruise, Tiki Room) to becoming a princess, Rapunzel to be exact, (at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique) it was amazing to see my daughter discover Disney for the first time.  We all enjoyed Carsland and Fantasy Faire - the imagineers do such an amazing job with all of their projects! We are big fans!

The Amazing Bus!

My son (who turned one) was really just along for the ride. And funnily enough his favourite ride was the bus that we rode to and from the airport and to and from the park - easy to please! He did grab a Winnie the Pooh off the shelf that was the size of him and wouldn't let it go. It was his birthday so we figured it was the perfect gift! And really who could say no?

As I mentioned we sent out some postcards from our lovely, warm, fun-filled spring break! And as one person has already mentioned - a little Disney magic in mailboxes here and there from us! Wishing you all could have been there or at least that you get to experience the magic with your own loved ones sometime soon.


Also, heading out into the world is a stack of thank you notes for birthday gifts and various other sundry reasons! Also, a couple other special pieces! I love the mystery and gift of mail!

Would love to hear some of your favourite Disney memories/moments!

344/1000 12 postcards, 24 heartfelt thank you cards & 2 mystery pieces of mail! On a roll!

Postcards

A postcard, a postcard, what a beautiful thing!

We received a postcard last week from New York! I've never been but would love to go! The sites, the sounds...the shopping! So what a lovely thought to send it our way.  I'm told it was the only postcard they sent - now I'm really feeling special! (They stayed at THE Waldorf Astoria - jealous!).

A postcard is indeed special mail  by all accounts! Such a little gift. A snapshot. A moment. A window.  Someone on an amazing adventure stopped for a moment to think of you and "wish you were (t)here." What a lovely gesture to forward you a small piece of their holiday self.

I used to have a postcard buddy from high school - whenever we went on a trip we sent each other postcards (sometimes silly ones that made me laugh). And even if we hadn't seen in each other in a long time it made me think fondly of him and that he remembered. Sadly we drifted like icebergs, as high school friends sometimes do, but it was a cool thing we had for a time. Get a postcard buddy!

You don't need to go on a trip to send a postcard either. Send postcards from your hometown to friends and relatives far away. Art cards. Cut out cereal boxes. Search around on Etsy for something fun! Write a heartfelt message on the back, a joke, a favourite quotation or draw a picture - your friend or loved one won't be disappointed!

306/1000 Four cereal box postcards and two letters going out!



Update:
Wow, I have to write a quick Post Script here...just picked up my mail about 5 minutes ago (it's just after 8pm) and what a mail day! I got a post card from someone that just said "Have a great week!" - how fitting for today's post! A very cool birthday gift came for my kids! And bridesmaid and flower girl mail arrived as well. Feeling blessed and loved!

Just Checking In!

Sorry I've been so long between posts lately - I am still sending out mail, so I am here to do a little update.  I started a home business in March (other than my beloved Etsy) and it has kept me busy: www.pamperedchef.biz/erinevans

As for postal news: some more handmade postcards went out, at least one thank you for a super duper book, and a comic book made its way into giggling, girlie hands :)

Grand totals: Delta - 1, Surrey - 3, South Korea - 1, Norway - 1 = 5 (I think Surrey is winning).

92/1000

Oh getting close to 10%...more fun exciting stuff coming to a mailbox near you :)

Make Your Own Postcards!

Are you forever flattening cereal and cracker boxes for your recycling? Or boxes from other food and non-food delights? Two of my nieces and I made postcards the other night from cereal boxes and they are on their way to South Korea! Yes, finally South Korea - mail is coming your way :)

1. Find a box
2. Take an old postcard and trace it and cut it out
3. Write your message on the left and the address on the right
4. Make sure to leave room for the stamp :)
5. We rounded our edges with a rounded edge punch for a retro effect

Super fun! Give it a try!

Marvelous Mail near and far you go: Local x 2 (Surrey x 1, Vancouver x 1), Just yonder x 1 (Osoyoos), Very worldly x 3 (South Korea x 2, Norway x 1)

83/1000