Share Mail

"In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter and sharing of pleasures."

K. Gibran.

This outgoing post idea is all about that necessary skill we were first introduced to in our toddler days...sharing!! Now we may not have been too keen on the concept when we were in our terrible twos, but "share mail" is most assuredly fun!! The idea is simple. Brainstorm a few ideas you would like to share with your pen pal. Here's a few ideas from my list...

1. I really love...

2. My wish list...

3. Recently pinned on Pinterest...

4. I'm currently listening to...

5. Done today....

6. Still to do...

7. I'm looking forward to...

8. Book I'm reading now...

9. What's on my mind...

After you come up with some fun things to share about yourself, create your letter!! Here's the start of mine...

I sectioned off my letter into little boxes, but you could make a mini book, bullet point list or simply write it out paragraph style. The possibilities are endless! It's also fun to enclose an identical (but blank) version of your share mail for your pen pal to fill out and mail back to you. (They may not do it unless they are a true snailmail enthusiast, but might as well encourage them all we can, right?) 

What's a sure fire way to increase the happiness in your life? Share your joy with another! It's magic! 

Go postal, everybody!!

XOXO Mrs. Murphy

A Purrrr-fect Idea For Snail Mail in June!

Guess what I just found out?  June is "Adopt-a-Cat-Month!" Do I have a cat?  No. Am I planning on adopting a cat?  No.  Do I even like cats?  Well...sure, but I am more of a dog person.  (I am Lexi the Wonder Dog's Mom, after all.)  So why am I excited about National "Adopt-a-Cat-Month? Snail Mail inspiration, of course!!  I am always on the look out for new snail mail ideas and when I heard about adopt-a-cat-month, I knew I could create something in honor of it!!

I decided on two lovely pen pals for my kitty cat post. The first, my sister, actually did adopt two kittens. I created a little pun-tastic card for her. (Collecting puns is my second favorite hobby!)

My other pen pal recipient is not exactly a cat lover...but she always appreciates a little humor!!

So get out your stationary and write something! It's the purr-fect time for snail mail!!!

Go postal, everybody!!

~XOXO Mrs. Murphy 

Making the Mundane Magical

I keep a "to-do" list in my calendar. This list is usually filled with such mundane tasks as pick up the groceries, stop at bank, return church key, bring baby gift for coworker. Although the list may be boring, completion of the tasks doesn't have to be!! This was my actual list of errands from last week. While I was ticking things off the list, inspiration struck! Why not turn completing these tasks into snail mail opportunities?

 Our family volunteers to clean our church building.  Every few months it's our family's turn. Normally we pick up the church key from the office and return it on another day. (We have to lock the building when we're done cleaning it.) Instead of driving over to the church and dropping it off, I decided to send a little snail mail package for the office staff! (Yay! Unexpected = Magical!) I wrote notes of thanks and appreciation for our senior pastor, our youth/worship pastor and our church secretary. I enclosed all three notes in a padded envelope along with some small candy (Laffy Taffy, Nerds, etc.) and of course, THE KEY! I mailed away the package and checked another item off my list. I heard from my recipients the very next day! They loved it!

My next "snail-mailable" task was the sending of a baby gift. The gift was for a coworker who recently had a baby.  I was lamely planning on bringing the gift to work to give to her. (Yawn) Why not increase the magic factor and snail mail it?!  I packed up my gift, enclosed a little note and took the gift to my post office.  I used my own box (I snazzed it up a little bit, of course!) but the post office has some super cute boxes and mailing envelopes from which to choose! (See USPS picture below). My friendly postal clerk weighed my gift and for just a few dollars I was able to send some magic through the mail!!  (The post office is a fun place, people!!)

I really enjoyed trying to think of ways to incorporate snail mail into my daily life!! It definitely turned the mundane into something truly magical!! 

Go postal, everybody!

XOXO Mrs. Murphy

Snail Mail: ALWAYS Better Late Than Never!

My parents celebrated their anniversary recently. Not just any old anniversary...it was their 50th!! Did I send snail mail on time? No, of course not.  Did I feel bad about this? Yes, yes I did. BUT did I let it stop me from creating some awesome snail mail for them? NEVER!! If there is any adage that I live by in my snail mail world it is this: "Snail mail is ALWAYS better late than never!" I wanted to post this to encourage you to adopt this same policy in your snail mail connections with family and friends. I love it when there is some special snail mail magic waiting for me in my mailbox. I have received responses to my letters many months after I've sent something. Do I mutter to myself, "Well, it's about time!" No!! Absolutely not! I love to receive honest to goodness snail mail and it doesn't matter when or for what reason. Your recipients will feel the same way. So don't let shame over the lateness of your post ever keep you from sending it.

I decided to create a little mini book for my parents' anniversary as a celebration of their 50 years together. The little book was silly and lighthearted, but I also included a hand-written letter telling my parents how much I appreciated them and their legacy of love that is being carried forward into the younger generations of our family. My mom texted me the day she got it and said she loved it (and the snail mail artist who sent it, too!) Yay!! Magic!!

Rid yourself of your shame, my fellow procrastinators!! Dig out your stationery and send that letter!! 

Go Postal, Everybody

XOXO 

Mrs Murphy