Go for the Gold!

I've been soaking up the excitement of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games! What an experience to be living so close and actually experiencing the games. The energy around town is palpable (had to throw that in there Colleen). My letter count has taken a bit of dive but I'm back at it today! I'm sending out some Curious George mail to celebrate my daughter's upcoming First Birthday! I can hardly believe she is almost one already - time flies when you are having fun (or totally exhausted from lack of sleep - in those first few months anyway).

Curious George mail: Locally x 8 (Surrey x 6, Delta x 2), beyond x 3 (Osoyoos, Kelowna), out of province x 1 (Ontario), down below x 1 (New York) = 13

62/1000

Valentine's Day...a few words.

On Friday, February 12th (the last school day before Feb.14th), in elementary schools across North America, students will be exchanging Valentine’s Day cards. The teacher usually sets up a system of envelopes hanging over the side of each desk or in arts and crafts they have actually created a mailbox or container for just this occasion. Some students will probably even be sent to school with pink cupcakes or heart cookies (lucky!).

Do you remember those days? When I was younger the Valentine’s Day cards came in thin paper envelopes and sometimes they were homemade and everyone got one. That was kind of the cool part-no one was left out on Valentine’s Day and we were too young for “real” boyfriends/girlfriends, so we celebrated with the people we spent the most time with (classmates) and our families. That shared celebration of Valentine’s Day kind of gets lost along the way as we get older (but it doesn’t have to).

Don’t get me wrong. Love letters and romance are great, and since the Middle Ages, sweethearts have exchanged valentines on February 14—a date commemorating the death of a Roman priest named Valentine who performed forbidden marriages. But I think I like the idea of Valentine’s Day so much because it combines caring/loving and my personal affection for mail. I recently read that only 54 percent of Valentine's Day cards are delivered through the mail—the rest are hand-delivered. There is something very special about hand delivered mail too.

I think all of you have a lot to offer the world and am confident you will do great things in your lives. I hope above all things you will let those people who are so important in your life know how much they matter to you (single, married, in a relationship, old, young – whoever). This year just might just be a great time for that! So whether you handmake or buy or relay in person say “Happy Valentine’s Day” to someone who maybe isn’t expecting it and perhaps, enjoy a little journey down memory lane. Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!

♥

This year I handmade some of my Valentine's Day cards (I usually give them out to my Writing 12 students and give them an extra to pass on to someone else) and I bought some Cool Robot ones! from Kathryn Wright (local Etsy seller).  Check out her shop! Her Robot cards are good for Valentine's Day or any day to profess your robot love :) I also bought some of her You Rock cards.


On the way: local (Surrey x 5, Delta x 8), out of the Lower Mainland (1), out of province (Alberta x 1, Ontario x 2), USA (Iowa x 1), and International (Norway x 1) = 19
49/1000

Have you ever read Flat Stanley?

Flat Stanley is an adorable book about a little boy named (you guessed it), Stanley, who has a bulletin board fall on him (it's above his bed) and he wakes up flat. The cool thing about being flat is that he gets to visit a friend far away by being sent in the mail. Actually, many editions of Flat Stanley come with a rip out postcard of Stanley so you can send him in the mail too.

Why do I bring up Stanley? First, because it is an awesome book! Second, because there are a lot of cool flat things that you can send in the mail that will make someone's day! Just a little added something to an already great gesture (handwritten letter) - doesn't need to cost a lot or anything at all. Here are some cool ideas and some of my faves.

Flat stuff

• photos, postcards, hand-drawn pictures/doodles/cartoons.

• cartoons (from the newspaper or Internet) I like Savage Chickens: cartoons on sticky notes by Dan Savage.
• an article that is interesting or funny or totally relevant to someone's life (a great way to get more use out of that magazine you bought too - recycle/reuse).
• a favourite recipe - you can even get special notecards for this but just the thought of sending off a tried and true fave recipe is so great!
• stickers, temporary tattoos, rub-on transfers.
• coupons you can't use but know someone else who can (or just leave them on the shelf, in the store, by the product - how nice is that!).
• iron ons.
• a perfume sample (from a magazine) of someone's favourite scent.

Bumpier but still relatively flat (warning some of these may cost extra for postage)

• a favourite tea bag (love Good Earth for its spiciness and no caffeine, Lady Grey and Earl Grey - such a lovely couple).
• zines (available in cool bookstores like Powell's and on the 'net) I like Stolen Sharpie Revolution 2 and The Super Cat Crazy Dance.
• a few fun shaped sticky notes from your pad (hearts, stars, apples, whatever).
• a single serving drink mix - hot or cold depending on the season.
• origami or how-to instructions with a couple pieces of cool paper.
• soap leaves.
• facial masks or bubble bath in those little squishy envelopes at the drugstore.

Go stuff some envelopes :) and if you have additional ideas throw them in the comments attached to this post.

Mail alert:  3 x local (Surrey), 1 x out of province (Ontario), 1 x USA (Iowa), and 1 x international (Norway).
30/1000

To comment or not to comment or...I just can't get it to work...

Just a quick note to say I changed my comment settings and those who have been having problems commenting may find it easier now :)

Currently working on my Valentine's Day cards and other such gems.