A Month of Letters

Looking for inspiration to get the mail coming and going? February is perfect for a month of letters

http://lettermo.com/

The challenge is to mail something every day of the month. (Sundays and holidays not included.) It can be a 5 page letter, a short postcard, a package, or something you find that a friend might like! There are even special challenges along the way if you need inspiration. And who knows, you might get some mail in return! (Replies count as letters.) 

And if you can't think of anyone to write, there are lots of organizations online. 

http://www.postcrossing.com

International postcard exchange. Send one, get one back! I've met some great pen pals all over the world this way. 

http://www.moreloveletters.com

Send a letter to someone who needs hope and encouragement. All anonymous. One recipient chosen per month. 

http://www.girlslovemail.com/

I just found this organization today, but you write anonymous letters of support and encouragement to women who have just been diagnosed with breast cancer. The letters are collected and sent to recipients at various hospitals. 

So pull out your pens and paper and let's get writing!

Raspberry Lemon Muffins

Anyone who has seen Pinterest may know why I am addicted. Recipes, craft projects, quilts, yarn projects, funny things, more recipes. It has so many ideas for everything, especially food. I have made a few recipes from there, with mixed success, but when my parents came to visit I was prompted to make some muffins I recently pinned. Raspberry lemon muffins, if you didn't already suspect that. I don't make muffins often, but these were so delicious and easy I had to make them again! (Less than a week later...) Anyway, here is today's breakfast. 

And here's the link to the muffins, for those who wish to try them. I suspect they will make an appearance at my next tea, perhaps as a bread. 

http://www.howdoesshe.com/raspberry-lemon-muffins/

My only changes to the recipe were to use Pam to grease the pan (I put all the melted butter in the muffins), use all AP flour, use the zest of a full lemon (I really like lemon), and use a small box of fresh raspberries, which might be 1.25 cups but I really like raspberries too so more is good. The first time I made them I used cupcake liners, but they were hard to pull off the muffins and greasing the pan gives them a nice semi-crisp texture. I also sprinkled a little coarse sugar on top, but I'm not sure it added enough that I would do it again. The recipe also has some good tips for storing muffins to save for later. I'm not sure how she can have leftovers though! Time to start buying raspberries in bulk!

Meeting Survival Kit

This is my meeting survival kit. 

Where I work, long meetings that involve only nominal participation from me seem to be the norm. So I always make sure to come prepared. I have a pad of paper on which to take notes about the meeting of course. My Lamy fountain pen which is very dependable and well capped. A cup of tea so I can stay awake. And a stack of cards so I can sit in the back and write to friends. This stack is one I got recently from Sugar Paper, a letter press company in LA. I find flat correspondence cards are the easiest to use during meetings. They seem to be the least obtrusive. But only before the meeting starts of course. Then it's time to pay attention! :)

Horizontal Lines

Yay! I finally have caught up on my correspondence. Weekends are wonderful for that. Especially when there are many other things I should be doing like working and cleaning. (Oops!) But now I can face them without thinking about letters, mostly. 

Bowties Are Cool

Tis better to give than to receive. This is true in many cases, and I do love the process of sending cards, but it's also great to get them! Today my mailbox was very happy. I found 7 cards from friends and family! 

The first card was actually a New Years card from my sister and her husband to me and Peter, but it's super amazing so I wanted to share! (Also it's an excuse to say "bowties are cool." Watch Doctor Who for proof if necessary.)

The Stash

I've always loved paper. Even with nobody to write to on a frequent basis stationery has been a passion for as long as I can remember. Thank you cards were drilled in at an early age, and they were about all I wrote until 2 years ago aside from a rare Christmas or Valentines day card. Even though I make and sell stationery, I never kept it for myself. Once I started writing more frequently, I allowed myself to start building a stationery collection, picking up a set here and there when I found things that caught my fancy. First it was a box on a shelf, then half a shelf, then a full shelf, and then a few moving boxes as we got the house. For a few months it was all packed away while other projects took priority. Then piled on a spare shelf in my craft room. This past weekend my mom came to help me organize my craft room which included the stationery shelf. Amazingly, we completed this monumental task and I'm now so excited to go in there. Also, I'm not allowed to buy new cards for a while. :)

Saturday Mail

On Saturdays I try to write to all of my friends. Since I'm usually at work during the week I often don't have an hour or two to write everyone, but Saturday mornings are often unclaimed and I can catch up on all my letters. I also try to address a set of cards for the next week so that if I find myself with a few minutes I can write one and pop it in the mail without having to also carry my address book. It's a ritual I find very calming. And this way I can also make sure I write everyone at least once a week! Here is today's outgoing mail. At least so far!