// Snail Mail (and an invitation)

Snail Mail and PenPals
Last year I decided to open a PO Box so I could get back into "snail mail" and letter writing. I was so excited by how many people wanted to participate! Over the next several months I'd eagerly go to my box, open it up, read the awesome letters and postcards sent my way, and then work diligently to respond to each and every one of them. (I'm happy to say I did respond to almost all of them except a very select few that I couldn't read the return address! It's especially hard when it's an international address that I'm not familiar with. So if your letter went unanswered, drop me an email with your mailing address!) Anyway, I have a lovely little box in my office dedicated to all of the wonderful notes and cards I've received over the past year, and looking through it totally gives me butterflies. I even did package exchanges with a few folks! 

I had been contemplating closing up my PO Box, but then that thought made me really sad. I looked through my "Correspondence Drawer" at my desk and realized that it was still overflowing with cards, envelopes, and stamps that need to be used up. (Especially since stamps are going up in price yet again this month!) I've since decided to leave it open and to make more of an effort with the snail mail. My original intention was to share the cards and cool envelopes, etc here on the blog, but time simply got in the way. I want to make more of an effort with that in 2014! Ideally I'd like to have a monthly snail mail feature where I can share incoming and outgoing mail. You can't tell me you don't get at least a little bit tickled when you open your mailbox and there's something special waiting just for you, right?!
Snail Mail and PenPals
Not only do I have loads of stamps and cards ready to be used, I also have this entire Target haul (below) from a few months back! I've barely used any of it since the holidays got so busy. Blogging can often feel pretty one-sided. I feel like you know everything about me, but I'm sometimes in the dark unless you're also a blogger who's in my reader. Snail mail is the perfect way for me to get to know you... because what fun is a "relationship" when it's one-sided? I've made some lovely friends from blogging, but I totally feel even closer to some of the people I write with via standard post. Heather, for example! She's treated us to some lovely pieces of mail over the past couple of years, and I hadn't heard much from her lately. Just the other day we opened the PO Box and there was a small package from her! Inside was this shark book (above) for Toby! He was in hog heaven, and we've been reading it each night at bedtime. Such a sweet gesture! I want to be able to return that favor to so many of you!
Snail Mail and PenPals
So! With that being said, I'm formally inviting each and every one of you (who want to!), to take part in a snail mail feature here on TCGG. There are no "requirements" or anything like that. Just sending mail back and forth to keep the treat alive. A postcard, a letter, whatever.

If you do decide to take part, I just have a few requests! 1) Please include your return address in either plain print or a typed version (I hate not being able to send a card back!) 2) Leave me a way to contact you via the web, if possible (your blog address! Twitter name! Email! Anything really! That way if I do have questions about something, I can easily contact you! And so I can share that with your rad snail mail on here! Totally not required of course.)

Let me know if you plan on taking part! I might pop back through my box of previous mail and send a few random pieces "just because." I think everyone deserves to be excited when the mailman comes!

63 comments:

  1. This is such a good idea Kaelah! I've started some snail mail with some of my friends back home as myself and my husband moved away! I will certainly be sending you a wee message from Scotland! :)

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  2. Snail mail has always been one of my favorite things, so I think that this is wonderful! I'm excited to send out a letter to you : )

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  4. I love looooove snail mail and am totally all about this! You can expect one from me soon! ;D

    Elyse @ Cuddly as a Cactus

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  5. BRB sending you snail mail like a boss.

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  6. I absolutely love little packages and letters!

    I've thought about writing you before..but never did.
    I'll get a letter out to you by the end of the week, hopefully..I procrastinate, aha(:

    -XO Abbigayle Rashae
    -trueblueabbi.blogspot.com

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  7. I'm on it! Expect some mail gorgeous! :)

    Amber
    Penchanting

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  8. I think this is a great idea! I send snail mail to my little sister (she is 6 and there is a 20 year age gap) so she can practice reading and writing in a fun manner.

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  9. GREAT and exciting idea - You can count me in...alllllll the way from the UK!

    Rebecca - http://www.luckyrainbowdesigns.blogspot.com

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  10. Ooooh this sounds so fun! I'd love to participate! Bookmarking immediately so I remember!

    XOXO
    Becca
    Ladyface Blog

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  11. AH! Such a good idea! Gives me an excuse to go sticker happy at Michaels, lol! But for real, great idea!

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  12. I'll definitely send you a letter :)

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  13. Yes! I'm in. I have been toying with the idea of more snail mail this year, so your post came just at the right time for a push in the right direction.

    I'm on it :)

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  14. I LOVE getting mail (that isn't bills)... usually I only get things I've ordered (which leads to bills). So I'm definitely up for this! :D

    Jana

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  15. It's actually one of my 28 before 29 to send out a bunch of handwritten letters and thus far I only have one person to exchange with so this is great! I'll send something your way sometime.

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  16. how fun! i think i'll have to join in this fun! i love snail mail!

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  17. I made the decision to send you a letter to introduce myself this Christmas, i just wondered if you old P.O. Box would be in use yet and... tadá.
    Synchronicity. I love it!
    Count with me absolutly.

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  18. this sounds like tons of fun!! Count me in!!

    xo.
    Holly

    happinessbrand.blogspot.com

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  19. Oh, I love snail mail. I'll save your address and send you a letter (all the way from Norway) when I'm not drowning in my studies. :)

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  20. I adore sending/receiving letters. I'm in! <3

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  21. This is lovely! I've recently been trying to get back into snail mail myself, it's sad when your only letters are bills and statements. It can even be hard knowing what to write when you're so out of practise. I shall definitely have to try and think of something to send your way though :)

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  22. Oh this is so exciting! I tried starting this type of thing this fall but it all fell through. But its never to late to try again! I can't wait to get something on the mail to you!

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  23. Ahh! I'm so excited you're still keeping this. At my job we just received a ton of super cute salt and pepper shakers and I was thinking about sending them to you for your collection!

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  24. this sounds amazing. so so amazing.

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  25. haha! such a lovely idea. writing your letter now :)

    xxo
    Chantilly

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  26. This is such a great idea! I looove greeting cards and sending people "fun snail mail" no one does that anymore, which makes getting the bills even more annoying! And I always get trapped in the stationary aisle at Target. That isn't even fair lol

    -Chelsea
    chelsandthecity.blogspot.com

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  27. oohh! I may have to take you up on this! I do love me some cute correspondence. Also, I got ALL of the notecards and notepads from that target line...and I use that Take Note notebook daily. I keep it in my purse. God, I love the target dollar aisle.

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  28. Ah I love this! It is true that nothing makes me smile more than mail which isn't a just a bill :)
    xxx
    Chambray & Curls

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  29. Love snail mail! Can't wait to send you something!

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  30. There is nothing better than getting snail mail that isn't a bill! Love the idea! Can't wait to send you a letter!

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  31. Love snail mail! Can't wait to send you something!

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  32. I love love love this idea. Snail mail is my FAVORITE! I've just taken up calligraphy, too, so maybe I'll practice a bit and send you a sample in a card/letter!

    Happy New Year, Kaelah!

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  33. I'm so happy about this post! It is something I have decided to do this year, sending letters and cards and actually I was looking for your address on the blog a few days ago. So obviously I'm on it! You can expect some mail from France!

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  34. Such an awesome idea! I have some random stationary sitting around my room. I should send some letters!
    -Nicole
    Mercantile519

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  35. I used to write snailmail to a friend in washington state and I remember the excitement of waiting to hear back from her! I most definitely will take part in this!!

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  36. I will say that snail mail like cards for like birthday or the holidays always make me so happy, so I'll be happy to send something in!

    Kasey @ Antlers & Anchors

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  37. So sweet! I would love to take part!

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  38. I will def write you, but I was hoping we could all go one step further and include our mailing address? that way if we see someone in the comments that we would like to write to, we can! i'll start: my address is 1479 meadow glen ln rock hill, sc 29730

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  39. I LOVE SNAIL MAIL!!! Imma send you something!!

    Xo Sahra
    Que Sera Sahra

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  40. I'm going to quit being shy and finally take part in this. Please excuse any awkward mail from me in advance. =P

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  41. all of that stationary looks amazing! I need to look at that section the next time I go through Target. I'm still working off a 100-pack of literature postcards I bought at Anthro my freshman year - I'll try to shoot one towards you guys!!!

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  42. Yay, can't wait to have a pen pal! If any other person who wants multiple penpal friends (i do!) let me know!!!

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  43. I love love love getting mail too! Will be sending some snail mail from New Orleans! Yay for pen pals!

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  44. This is so cool.... some Australian snail mail shall be coming your way =]

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  45. This is so cool.... some Australian snail mail will be coming your way!!

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  46. I'd LOVE to do this. I've so much time on my hands in the evenings and would love to write letters etc. How exciting. Like the girl above me, I'd love to write to anyone who wants to write! I'm from Ireland :)

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  47. I remember when we used to send each other packages!

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  48. Oh my goodness I want to do this! I think I have an idea already. And now you have me totally wanting to open up a PO box and do this same thing. How do you go about setting up a PO Box exactly?

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  49. As soon as we fix a P.O box address, i will write to you. They don't have a postal address in this country (where everything seems to work backwards), I use a friend's but we keep getting problems every time..

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  50. I will certainly be sending you a wee message from Germany :D

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  51. I'm totally doing this!

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  52. I'd love to participate, if you still accept new people :)

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  53. Yes!! I definitely want to take part, it just might not be immediately because with the exception of catching up on some blogs and stuff (I'm so sorry for the comment spam tonight!) I'm in business planning mode for the year, but snail mail is the bestest and just too good to pass up! :D
    Toby is just too cute and that photo is the bestest!

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  54. I adore snail mail. Even though I'm a relatively new(er) reader and we haven't been able to "connect" much yet, I'd love to send a smile in the mail!

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  55. I've been reading your blog for awhile, but have never snail mailed with you...or even commented, I'm ashamed to say. Sending you some snail mail soon!

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  56. This is a gorgeous idea! I've sent a few packages and letters to different bloggers and I just love it! It certainly makes the connection more personal :) xx

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  57. Great idea. I'd love to send a little something. :) I get so excited to get mail. Seems like all I ever get anymore are bills. Ohh growing up is so fun.

    - April

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  58. I love making new friends! Expect something from me very soon! ^__^

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  59. I love sending snail-mail!!
    I just filled up an envelope and it's coming your way =)

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HEY! Thanks for dropping by. xo KB