good mail

So I read a blog the other day that got me thinking about the mail. Not something I usually spend a lot of thought on, but she said some things that really hit home!

"I think that one of the reasons that I love to shop online is because I love getting things in the mail. Who doesn’t? Especially in our age of instant gratification communication (e-mail, crackberry, cell phone cameras, text messages. . .) I appreciate something tangible. Nothing is as good as ripping open a package in the mail and wondering what is inside.

A few months ago I ran across a blog that talked about “good mail.” Kristi explains in a post that a friend of hers started this. It started as a circle of friends that went to college together who would send each other things in the mail. Sometimes it was a book or a cd compilation. Other times the recipient was the beneficiary of a wonderful creation. The point was to send an “I am thinking of you” type package. Soon Good Mail expanded to their friends from various grad schools. Then, as they all moved across the country and settled into life, the circles expanded even more."

So, to make a long story short, I checked out "good mail" for myself... and I think I'm hooked. It just sounds fun. Who doesn't like getting something in the mail, especially something totally unexpected! So, I think I'm going to be joining the "good mail" movement. If you're lucky, you might be one of the recipients!

pay it forward.

it seems to be spreading like wild fire throughout the blogoshpere, and thanks to clare, i'm in! it's called the pay it forward craft exchange (PIF), here's how it works...

I will send a handmade gift to the first three (3) people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don't know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

i can't wait! i love swaps & good mail... this combines the two!
help me pay it forward by signing up!

i'm grateful...

1. to be home & sleeping in my own bed.
2. for two cute little boys & a darling husband.
3. for the kindness of strangers.
4. that canada let me come home.
5. that i don't have to unpack or wash any dirty clothes.
6. for my incredible family.
7. for good mail: belated birthday gifts, fun magazines & a sweet card from kristi.
8. that it wasn't my kids screaming the entire flight.
   
9. that i was able to pick up a few of my favoite candy bars... violet crumbles & mint aeros.
10. that tomorrow is a new day.
    

ever had "one of those days"? today was definitely one for me. to make a long story short... we spent a long weekend in seattle & canada. this afternoon we went out to the car to head to the airport, only to discover that someone had broken into our car and stolen our luggage. not only did they get away with all my pretty new clothes i had just gotten for my birthday, but also our passports, an iPod, a laptop & a whole slew of other important stuff. thankfully we were able to make our flight and that canada let us leave without any passports. i just have to keep reminding myself:

everything will be okay in the end.
if it's not okay, it's not the end.
(anonymous)

pure genius.

i really should market this idea, because it truly is AMAZING. and don't try to tell me that it's not totally & completely original... my mom & jeff, have already tried to convince me that it's been done before, but i KNOW i'm definitely the first person to every think of it... dr. pepper ice. i used the heart molds that andrea sent me. (by the way, i'm totally loving the good mail! to be honest this was my very first "package" sent to me by someone i don't actually know in real life, outside of swaps. i've received cards & letters before, but never an actual package, specially bundled just for me. yeah! thank you! thank you! thank you! and if anyone else wants to send a package my way... be my guest.) anyway, back to my genius idea. i filled the molds with dr. pepper & put them in the freezer. now i can enjoy an ice-cold dr. pepper, with none of that yucky, watered-down ice effect. i'm telling you, this is going to be my golden ticket. & you can all say you knew me before i became a millionaire.

good mail by kelly

this little beauty is off to the post office today, ready to be shipped to a special, unsuspecting friend. i hope wearing the words 'round her neck will give her a bit of strength, help her through some tough times & remind her that she is constantly in my thoughts & prayers. hope she enjoys it!

have you met my friend...

jessica? she makes and sells the most beautiful jewelry over at lost button studio, not to mention, she is dang nice. what qualifies her as being not only nice, but dang nice, you ask? she sent me the most wonderful little thank you for hosting this. (i really should follow her example, all i've managed to send has been an email to my recent swap hosts!) anyway, you can only imagine my surprise when the post man brought me a totally unexpected package, filled with the most beautiful & incredibly delicate earrings. talk about good mail! thank you jessica, you definetly have made my day! although, you may have created an addict... i'm thinking i need THIS & THIS.

birthday giveaway featuring swanky paper.

maybe you missed the news, but it's almost my birthday. hip hip hooray! presents, balloons, another candle on the cake... it's going to be great. but, i've always been taught that it is better to give than to receive. so, with that in mind, i'm throwing a month-long birthday celebration, here on the blog. each week i will be hosting a giveaway featuring some of my favorite things. & at the very tip top of that list is personalized stationary. let's face it... in this day & age, the art of a handwritten note is quickly fading away - it's so much easier to send an email or text message. but nothing gives me a bigger thrill than spying an envelope in the pile of mail, with my name addressed on the front, in an actual, real, live person's handwriting, instead the usual computer generated bills i get. that being said, this week's giveaway is featuring a grab bag chock full of some of my favorite designs from swanky paper, personalized just for you! i'll be the first to admit that i'm a bit biased, because the designer, heather, is a good friend of mine. but seriously, i LOVE all of her designs. they are fun, vibrant & actually make me want to sit down & write someone a card. but, i guess i better pick out a couple of favorites, otherwise, i may be shipping one lucky winner a truckload of personalized stationary... so take a gander at heather's cute shop & check out all of her designs. seriously, you'll be ready to order cards for yourself, your mom, your neighbor & even your aunt mabel - they are that cute!

so here are the rules of the game:
* you have until midnight PST on monday, june 9th to enter.
* simply make a comment on this post to enter.
* anyone can enter (so tell your friends), although anonymous comments will be ignored unless accompanied by an email address.
* please, just one entry per person.
* the winner will be randomly picked & announced tuesday.

and the winner is...

jessica who said:

I never win either Kelly. And yet I still leave comments on all these giveaways. I guess it's the (tiny) optimist in me.

congratulations! email all your particulars to me at accordingtokelly@gmail.com
& i'll get your package in the mail!

thanks everyone for participating! look for more give aways...
that was fun! the crazy thing is... not long after posting this giveaway, i actually WON one over at design mom! it must be good karma at work!