What I did with all those letters!

Last month I talked about what to do with all the letters I'd accumulated while taking part in the 52 Letter Challenge. After browsing Pinterest a little, I finally came up with an idea on my own, since I didn't particularly like any of the ideas I found there.

Starting with the postcards I got from Postcrossing over the past few years and from friend's travels, I punched a hole in them all and put them on a ring. They aren't in any particular order (except by general size), but I love the way they look all spread out. I put them on the "window" we have between the den and kitchen, and I like the idea of having them on display.

Similarly I punched two holes in my letters and cards, put them on two rings, and viola! They're all together in one neat place. These are all the letters I received in 2011. Since they're a little more personal, I'm choosing to keep them in a box in my room, but I really like the idea of having all my letters from that year put together. I still need to do the same with the letters from 2010.


What do you think of my creative idea?

Letters, letters, everywhere!

source

Last year I undertook a 52 letter challenge...a challenge to write 52 letters (a letter a week) in 2011. While I'm not sure I made it to 52 letters, I did write a lot, and got a lot of letters back. The problem? What to do with the pile of letters I received in the past year?

Some may suggest that I throw them out. Many of them are, after all, mundane. They talk about what's going on in the lives of the friends or family who wrote to me. Even so, I just can't bring myself to just throw them out. I think it goes back to high school.

When I was in high school, my best friend Laura and I wrote letters to each other in class. They were nothing, really. This class is boring, or a rehashing of private jokes we had with each other. They were full of illustrations; stick figures reenacting silly scenes that we had previously laughed at. They are a snapshot of our lives, and I can't bring myself to get rid of them. As a result, they are in a hatbox, at my parent's house. I haven't read them in ages, but the next time I'm back home I'm going to pull them all together and read them. Then I'm going to take them back home.

Anyway, back to my letters from 2011. I don't know what to do with them. I need ideas! One that I've toyed with is punching holes and putting a couple rings on them, so they're like a little notebook.

What about you? Do you have letters hanging around? What do you do with them?

52 Letter project wrap-up

It's almost the end of the year, so I thought I would post one last time about it in 2011. {I say in 2011 because I plan on continuing this next year, and I think I will actually keep track to see if I can send out 52 letters!}

This will be my 15th post on this challenge, which is a little sad because I wanted to update once a week or so, but at least I may have averaged one post a month. Anyway, I have no idea if I actually posted 52 letters but I do know one thing. I wrote all year. All year long I wrote either to my friend and penpal Lydia, or other random friends. Some friends from grad. school received letters. Friends from high school got letters. My grandparents, sister and aunts got letters. Even The Non-Consumer Advocate got a letter. (She may have gotten two, I'm not sure)

I'm proud of myself because I sat down and wrote all year long. Did I write one letter a week? Probably not. There were probably months where all I did was write one letter. However, there were also weeks where I sat down and sent out 3 or 4. It all evened out in the end, and I'm happy to say that I think this challenge was a success.

Last week I was surprised with a letter in the mail from an old high school friend. I had forgotten that I'd written to her earlier in November, so the return letter was a lovely surprise. She wrote, "You are the only person in my life who understands how wonderful receiving a letter is."
Yes, I'd call this challenge a success in my book.

So thank you to The Non-Consumer Advocate for starting this challenge, and here's to another year of letter writing!

Who doesn't love a good giveaway?? I'm giving away a pair of earrings right here!

52 Letter project

I'm deviating from the 30 Day project I'm doing just to change things up for you and me both!

Are you working on writing one letter a week? How are you doing? Me? I'm doing alright. I typically write letters to my friend Lydia, but I've been trying hard to find different people to write to. Since I last updated about this project, I wrote a few letters. I asked friends on Twitter who would like a letter, and had a few responses. So I wrote to The Non Consumer Advocate, whom I admire for her, well, non consumerism! I can't remember exactly, but I think I wrote a letter to my friend Elizabeth, too.

I picked up a copy of The Phantom Tollbooth for $.25 at the thrift store and sent it to Geoff's aunt and cousin, both of whom I know will enjoy it. They got an old postcard along with this book, which was from Geoff's grandmother's collection. The package was mailed in a reused envelope, so I do believe this was a very green package! That makes me happy.

I also wrote a thank you letter to Geoff's aunt, for a birthday present she sent me. It was a set of cards with a girl pulling a wagon full of books, and reading one, too! There are also cats following her. I thought it was wonderful, and it was from an ALA conference, which meant the proceeds benefited libraries. This made me happy too. I wrote the thank you note on one of the cards, of course.

Unless I'm mistaken, I believe those are all the letters I wrote (aside from my regular letters to Lydia, my pen pal). I know I'm not keeping up with writing 52 this year, but that's OK. I don't mind that I'm not perfect, and the truth is I'm writing, and that's what really counts.

How are you doing?

52 Letter Challenge, week...who knows!

I've been slacking again. (On a related note, notice that I'm too lazy to use the calendar sitting right in front of me to count the weeks in the year so far.) When we last left off, over a month ago, I think I said that I was behind again. Oops. However, I keep telling myself not to give up but to keep going, because even if I don't send out 52 letters this year, at least I will send out more than I would have without doing this project.

Anyway, this week I wrote 3 letters, (or 1 last week and 2 this week, if Saturday counts as last week, which I suppose it does). Last week I also finally mailed out a postcard that I picked up in Chicago in May. It was an old fashioned picture of Wrigley Field, so I sent it to my grandmother, who is a baseball fan. She emailed in response and said she really liked it!
On Saturday I mailed out a letter to my penpal, Lydia, and earlier this week I wrote 2 letters to 2 different people who have yet to receive a letter from me! One was a good friend who I have actually never met. We "met" online, and became friends. She's seen me through a lot, and has served as a wonderful sounding block on more than one occasion (via email) but I don't think I've ever written her a letter.
The other was to my best friend from high school. We used to write to each other all the time, both via mail (later, when we were apart) and through notes in class, passed quickly in the hallway. This was simply a chatty note, with a quick update on life for me, since we've hardly talked since she came to our wedding a year and a half ago.
I picked up a Heartsy deal last week for $10 (a $32 credit that completely covered my purchase! Score!) for an Etsy shop that makes stationary. (If you haven't heard of Heartsy, check it out, it's awesome) I used my new stationary for my 2 letters this week. I didn't exactly need more stationary, but I have been going through a lot of what I had, and for $10 I figured it was worth it. I got about 20 cards (I think) so I'm really happy with that!

Are you doing the 52 week letter challenge? Are you behind like I am? How are you doing??

52 Letter challenge, week 23

I've been really bad about keeping track of how many letters I've written this year, but I think I'm on track. This week I sent out two letters!

The first letter I wrote (which was actually written last week, but mailed this week) was to my best friend, Kristin. She is going through a really tough time right now, and I thought a letter might help. I wrote about nothing...which, I know from experience, is what she will like right now. It was pure fluff and it was actually a little nice to write.

The second letter was to my aunt in North Carolina. Way back when I was in elementary school, before she was married, my aunt would regularly write me letters. I never wrote back (hey, I was in 3rd grade!) but it was always nice to get something for me in the mail. Back then I didn't get anything, not even bills! This letter was also fluff, but in a good way.

If you're writing a letter a week, how are you doing?
This challenge courtesy of The Non-consumer Advocate.

52 letter challenge: Week 21

It's hard to believe that I've written (roughly) 21 letters this year! I say roughly because, as it seems to be habit lately, I've fallen off the wagon a bit. This doesn't discourage me, however, because I feel like the point is to keep going, rather than simply give up. If, at the end of the year I've only written 45 letters, I don't want to feel like a failure. Hey, no one's perfect!

Anyway, when we last left off 2 weeks ago, I had sent a letter to an old friend from college who I lived with and rented a room. I also returned a letter to my friend Elizabeth. I wrote 2 letters to catch up a bit. Last week I wrote a letter to my mother's small group. These ladies are an amazing group, and have welcomed me in when I was living at home and whenever I'm home to visit on a Thursday night. I just love them so much and they are so encouraging to me. They consist of my mom (obviously), my youth pastor from when I was growing up, an old family friend who has supported me in all my endeavors, and encouraged me to go to library school and a new family friend who I'm only just getting to know. These ladies prayed for me before I got married, advised me on married life, listened to me when I expounded on my own fears, and have generally been there for me (and, of course, each other). I long to have my own group of women like them, someday.

This week I've started a letter to Lydia, my penpal, but haven't gotten around to finishing it yet. I also picked up a few postcards from when I was in Chicago and plan to get them in the mail as soon as I get around to it, which hopefully will be this week! Do postcards count? I certainly hope so. After that...who knows!

Are you doing the 52 letter project? How are you doing? Please respond in the comments section below. I always love some comments!

52 letter challenge, weeks 17 and 18

I'm behind again. Not only am I behind in updating about my project, but I'm also behind in sending letters. Worst of all, I had two letters returned to me this week! One because I didn't have enough postage (damn those square envelopes!) and the other because I didn't have the correct address. Oops.
So this week I re-mailed out the square envelope with extra postage, and the incorrect address is going to have to be delivered in person, since I'm seeing this friend in just a week when I go to Chicago! In an effort to catch up, I wrote a letter to my pen-pal Lydia, and my friend Elizabeth, who was kind enough to write back when I wrote to her earlier in the project. So I'm not sure if the returned letters count, but I did write actual letters, in addition to finding an unusually sappy card to mail to my mom for Mother's Day. I think this is acceptable!

If you are doing the 52 week letter challenge, how are you doing?

52 Letter Challenge, weeks 15 and 16

I'm a week behind in posting, but not in writing, thank goodness! Week 15 somehow slipped away from me so I quickly wrote a letter on my lunch break last Saturday. This one was to my pen pal Lydia, to whom I write when I don't know who else to write to! It wasn't anything exciting (we usually write about what's going on in our lives) and it was on a piece of white lined paper from a legal pad at work, but it was a letter, and that's all that counts!

Week 16 was a little more interesting. This letter is already written and just waiting to be popped in the mail! (I keep forgetting because it's on my coffee table). This week's letter went out to a very good friend named Tammy. I lived with Tammy's family while I finished up my last 2 years of school, renting out a room in her house. Though I loved my first two years at school, I absolutely loved living with Tammy. At the time she had a little boy who was 1 1/2 when I moved in (that same little boy was in our wedding, along with his sister, who was born just after I moved out. They are now 8 and 6! I can't believe it!) I expected it to be slightly awkward, and only last a year, but to my surprise, I became part of the family. Bryant and I bonded, and Tammy became like a second mom to me.
We haven't talked since my wedding, unfortunately, because I'm not very good at phone calls and Tammy doesn't use email. However, they've been on my mind lately, and I thought she was the perfect person to write a letter to. I know she will appreciate the handwritten, personal mail.

If you're doing the 52 week letter writing challenge, how are you doing?

52 Letter challenge, week 14

Despite going away with my best friend for a few days this week, I managed to get a letter written to someone who is not my penpal Lydia!
This week I wrote to a very good friend named Steve, whom I've known for 18+ years. I actually babysat for Steve, who is only 3 years younger than me, along with his brother and their younger sister. I was mostly a referee, to be honest, however.
Anyway, Steve and I clearly go way back, but we became close when we worked together at a bowling alley. We worked Saturday nights, and it was so much fun. I often miss those days. So, Steve is now married and living in Chicago, and I will see him in about a month, when I go out for my sister's graduation! I'm very excited.
When we worked together, Steve had the silly habit of collecting fake credit cards. You know the ones, the cardboard cards they send you in the mail with "Your Name Here" on the name area. We recently got one in the mail, however, and I was reminded of Steve! I've been stuck on wondering who to write to (I needed someone new) and this was perfect.
So, this week's letter goes out to Steve, along with a fake credit card; a joke clearly he will only understand fully.

I love writing letters.

52 Letter challenge, week 13

I can't believe we're already in week 13 of the letter writing challenge! Though I'm up to date on my writing, I'm not always up to date on my updating you all! Sorry about that.

Last week I decided to write to my grandmother in North Carolina. We used to write back and forth a lot but got out of the habit, somehow. Funny how life gets busy and you forget things like that. Anyway, I sent her a relatively newsy letter, including a discussion about my very first cheesecake I made on my own!

The weeks I can't think of anyone to write to, I write to my perpetual pen pal, Lydia. Since my best friend from home is coming to visit this week and we are going away for a few days, I decided it was easiest to write to Lydia. She may be next week's recipient too, since Kristin will be here until Thursday and I'm taking time off from work. I want to enjoy our time together! If I don't get to writing, then I will do two next week, most likely.

If you're doing the 52 week letter writing challenge, how are you doing?

52 letters, weeks 8 and 9

Somehow I let week 8 slip away from me, so I decided it was best to be on top of things this week. I'm posting this during week 10, however, because I don't want to ruin the surprise of what I sent my sister!

A few weeks back I found this mug at the thrift store. She recently spent 6 weeks in LA, so I thought she'd enjoy the small gift. I included a packet of hot chocolate too because she doesn't drink coffee. I thought it was a pretty good gift, even if I spent more on shipping than on the mug itself!

My second letter, the letter intended for week 8, is to my friend Elizabeth. She recently (well, about 2 months ago now!) bought and moved into her own house, so I thought she'd appreciate a bit of real mail! I know we are still getting junk mail because we moved. Apparently everyone thinks we need a plumber, roofer, newspaper subscription, coupons...you name it!

If you are doing the 52 letter challenge, how are you doing?

6 letters down, 46 to go

I have good news and bad news. The good news is I wrote two letters this week! The bad news is, I haven't mailed either of them! Oops. They will go out with tomorrow's mail, however, so it will all work out. This week I wrote a letter to my friend and pen pal Lydia. We have been exchanging letters since early last fall and I've really enjoyed it. The other letter I wrote was to my grandmother. She wrote to me first, and since I really miss seeing her (and her scones and tea!) I wrote back. It wasn't anything exciting, just about what's going on in our lives, but I think she'll appreciate it all the same.

This week's letter isn't going to be mailed, because it's a special, hand-delivered letter. It is going to my husband, and it's going to be a Valentine's love letter. I haven't written it yet, but I am eager to. That will be a Sunday or Monday project for me (these things take time!)

If you joined in the letter-writing challenge, how are you doing this week?

52 Letters, 52 Weeks, week 5

I'm a week or so behind in posting but, thankfully, not behind in writing! The letter from two weeks ago was to a good friend from college. When we were in school we used to go to Great Harvest Bread and pick up their coloring pages which were always seasonal. Then we would take them back, color them, and write letters on the back to friends far away. I once wrote a letter to my grandparents and when they wrote back they commented on how nice my picture was! Why thank you, I hope so, considering I'm in college!
Anyway, I had an old coloring page from Sunday School (I say old because it was two kids with a cake that said Happy Birthday Jesus!) which I had colored while my kids played with legos at the end of the lesson. I found it, pulled it out, and wrote a letter on the back, just like old times. Though I haven't heard from my friend yet, I hope she's received it already!
Last week's letter went to my sister. In searching for a silly Valentine's card for my best friend, I came across an adorable, but simple card that I thought my sister would appreciate. So I penned out a letter, filling both sides of the card, and mailed it off to LA, where she is staying for the semester.
This week's letter is still to be determined. I don't have stationary that is condusive to long letter-writing, though that is what I have wanted to do, recently! I was considering typing up a letter, but since that isn't very exciting either, I think I will just use one of the blank cards I already have. Though I'm not sure who will get this week's letter, I have a few ideas, so when inspiration strikes I should be ready (and hopefully inspiration strikes soon, since it's already Thursday!)

If you're doing this challenge, how are you doing?

1 letter down, 51 to go!

This week's letter will be mailed out with a package for a good friend who I hope doesn't read my blog!

Our local thrift store had books on sale, 5 book for .99! I bought three animorphs books for my friend (and two for me) and wrote her a letter along with her (super cheap) gift. This particular friend collects these books, and the best part is, if she has the three I've sent her, I spent less than a dollar on them so she can just donate them to goodwill herself.

Who did you write to this week?

One letter down, 51 to go!

I mentioned before that I wasn't sure I wanted to join the letter writing challenge this year, and the truth is that I was afraid I was too lazy to do it. When I received a letter in the mail from a friend who was thinking about doing the challenge, however, I was spurred into action!
So my first letter was to my friend Lydia, in response to her letter to me. I covered both front and back of a plain piece of paper (nothing special) about my job, and the things that have been going on these days. It wasn't anything overly exciting, but I knew that Lydia, like me, loves to get mail, so I felt really good when I put it in my mailbox this week.

If you joined in the letter writing challenge, how was your first week?

52 Weeks, 52 Letters

I was on the fence about doing this when I first read about it from The Non-Consumer Advocate. I even went so far as to actually start a letter, but decided I was too lazy to finish. Then I got a letter in the mail from my friend, Lydia, stating that she was planning on doing the challenge and to expect more letters. It was the kick in the pants I needed! I love getting real mail, and I love sending it!
So this week starts the 52 letters in 52 weeks challenge of 2011. I'm hoping to keep this blog updated so I can be held accountable! So we will see how it goes. First I better finish the letter I started...