Mailbox Monday

Some more mailbox goodness from Ambiente (South Surrey Location). Look at that red beauty - just lovely! I see a couple of empty spaces on their wall - so some lovelies found new homes.

It's the little things...

Holding steady at 403/1000

P.S. Received my first scavenger hunt results - more about this later in the week!

Mailbox Monday

Welcome to a new little feature I am going to try (to keep up with) - Mailbox Monday!

There won't be a lot of text but at least one cool photo of a mailbox I love. This might be my favourite of all (that I've seen so far) and maybe I should be keeping it for last but why not start with something amazing. It's true - I covet this mailbox! It is for sale at one of my fav stores - Ambiente. It would look lovely on my front porch (as mentioned before...we do have a central mail pick up and have no need for an actual mailbox at our door but a girl can dream can't she). Dreaming about this beauty and what lovely mail it could hold.


Holding steady at 403/1000.

A Little Art to Start the Day...

My daughter was lucky enough to hang out with her pen pal last week - makes the letter writing a little bit more real when you are 4 to see the other girl every so often! And it is definitely our turn to send some mail her way.  So we are on it today (after Van Gogh art class - Yay, Piper is going to love it).

We are able to walk to the 4Cats Art Studio by our house and it is her first class there (other than a splatter birthday party for her friend Andy - which she loved!). Carlen, the lovely curator, is such a wonderful person. She gave Piper a very warm welcome this morning.

We like art. And we like to send art to our friends and family via...you guessed it...the mail! Such an easy thing to do. Any paper (new or recycled), any writing instrument, a little time and off it goes to brighten someone's day and fridge! And while we are in the midst of summer (an amazing summer so far for us) I've noticed that school supplies are starting to creep into the stores bit by bit, aisle by aisle...and as much as I don't want summer to end (it really has been wonderful)...I love the coming of the school supplies - new notebooks, pens, highlighters, post-it notes...it is quite an event (this might be the secret reason why I wanted to become a teacher actually).

Here is a little art piece my daughter did not too long ago. And here is the description she gave me to explain what it is:

A Dibbledop - It cleans up the mess on your floor instead of a vacuum. It never stops until the mess is gone.

She doesn't always scribble but she does seem to get a lot of enjoyment out of it. And seriously, this is a product I could get behind. I particularly like how it really, "never stops until the mess is gone." Love the imagination!


Today I am using my Stella and Sam stamps! Couldn't resist picking some up!

This past month I've had readers from: Canada, US, Germany, Russia, United Kingdom, Australia, Spain, France, India, Japan, Norway, South Korea & Macau! Thanks for reading my little blog - I love that it reaches people far and wide...just like letters finding their way around the world.

403/1000 sending out some thank you notes and other fun things!

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!

Summer Days

Rainy days, cloudy days, sunny days...either way summer days are almost here...with kids out of school and lots of time on their hands! Hopefully, you have lots of fun things planned and lots of days of doing nothing (that's important too!). My husband and I adore sleep in days over here...most days it is the crack of dawn but on summer holidays we take turns (yep, I love my guy). We are looking forward to lots of fun-filled activities too (camping is what my daughter is most looking forward to).

A couple of things...the end of the school year is fast approaching and if you haven't thought of getting a teacher in your life a present it might be a good idea. There are lots of fab ideas out there but you know I'm going to advocate for some lovely stationery (that maybe they could use throughout the next year...sending lovely notes home to moms and dads just like you about how great your kids are). Or at least write the teacher a nice card or better yet have your child do it.  I'm also a sucker for cool post-it notes & Starbucks' cards.

"Mom, I'm bored!" Oh my gosh did you hear that already? Hopefully not...but maybe a good time to do the penpal thing if my penpal post didn't inspire you earlier perhaps you are thinking it over now. Or write a note or send a care package to a relative (photos, letter, treats). Is someone coming to visit you this summer or maybe you are going to visit someone else - send them a little, "I'm so excited" mail to get the anticipation going!

Here is a cool idea - Send a scavenger hunt to someone - they can send you a picture of all the items once they've found them (one picture or a picture for each one). Then they could send one to you (okay, I just thought of this and now I think I may need to try it today!).

Find a frog!

Find a red balloon!

So they could be things to do or things to find.

(adults or kids can do this)

A book page with your name on it.

A buttercup.

A heart shaped rock or rock with a stripe on it.
A coin from the year you were born.
Something that starts with the letter M.

Here are some ideas to get you started!
Have fun!

374/1000 - 9 fine letters going out today (they may or may not contain scavenger hunts)...

Special Days...

We can send cards for all kind of days and special occasions - whether they are store bought or  handmade...and we do (at least I do)...Mother's Day, Father's Day, Birthdays, Engagements, Weddings, Graduations...and many more. And I know some people who think that some of these are made up days or "hallmark" holidays. I love any excuse to send mail to someone and share my like/love/friendship with them.

That first kiss lead to this...yep, had a feeling.

But why not come up with your own special days - they often can be the most important and memorable. Every year I wish my husband a Happy First Kiss Day (not sure why I kept it in my mind but I remember it) - April 9th. I just realized as I am writing this blog post that this past one was actually our 10th First Kiss Anniversary. And really, I'm pretty sure that I kept track of the day because I had an inkling after that first kiss, that maybe, just maybe he might be a keeper (and yay, he was). I absolutely remember the day he proposed December 17th - a Friday - the last day of classes before Christmas Break (a happy day for two teachers...made even happier). He gets a lot of mail from us at work (Happy first week of classes, Happy last day of classes, We miss you/Love you...).

One of my sister-in-laws is a twin and in her family they celebrate Twin Day - the day their Mom found out she was having twins! Think about the fun you could have with this! The day someone you know gave up Diet Coke (okay that was me 106 days ago - going strong!) or the day someone you know made THE perfect cupcake/apple pie/_________ fill in your blank (a day that will go down in history perhaps or infamy). Or if you don't have a special day just yet send out a Happy Talk like a Pirate Day note (September 19th - marrrrrk it down on your calendarrrrr matey) or need something closer...Lollipop Day is July 20th...even closer...Go Barefoot Day on June 1st! See how fun this is.

Happy Thursday at least!

365/1000 - one today - a little celebration card just because :)

Operation Postcard

Quite a few years ago when I was teaching Creative Writing our school principal was off for a month after an operation, so as a class we all wrote postcards of encouragement and sent them off to her. She was thrilled.  I sent them all at once but I wish I'd staggered them a little bit so she would receive them little bit by little bit. Although I guess her mail box was flooded on that particular day. There were at least 30 in total and I dubbed the assignment "Operation Postcard." A few kids weren't too sure about the assignment but I think we need to give kids kindness opportunities often - then it becomes normal and easy.

I had a friend who recently organized something similar for a friend of ours who is going through chemo (she told us her idea about sending a postcard from our hometown with words of encouragement for our friend - whom I'm sure has been flooded with cards from around the world - facebook can definitely be a good thing). What a simple, sweet idea! Kindness and the written word go hand in hand! I know this friend is feeling the love!

Do you have a friend that could use some encouragement (because they are missing home or going through some struggles)? Gather up a group of people and create your own postcard blitz! Or maybe, you gather up a group of postcards and send them weekly to that someone who could use some lift to their week. I'm doing my own little blitz of postcards today (going to various people just to say hello). I bought these postcards below in the Ikea 'As Is' section - 5 cents for a package of 5! Woohoo - mail and a deal!

364/1000  **Postcard Blitz** That's 8 cards zipping around out there...now!

Have you had the opportunity to send an rsvp reply to a wedding invitation recently...do anything fun with it? I like adding my own writing/comments and playing around with the fill in the blanks. But it is also fun to put something in the envelope (a cool picture of you and the couple, some tea, a magnet of a cool quotation about love, a coffee gift card for a treat during the stress of wedding planning, an article you clipped about marriage tips...well you get the picture).