Monday, September 30, 2013

September Mail

Parcel from Katie ~ we did a swap together. Detailed post coming soon but she sent me an old book filled with many little surprises inside, along with a sweet letter and questions for me to answer.. If you'd like to see what I sent her, you can click here


Letter in Today's mail from Marian
Letter from Lexi 
Letter from Becky - Love her envelopes..you can always tell how much time she puts into her letters. She also wrote a long letter, and included some pretty neat things below :) 


Adorable envelope and letter from Bethany ~ It was the first "normal" letter to find in my box since changing numbers so I was really excited to find it waiting in my mailbox and another plus..super long! :)


Really neat decorated envelope and letter from Emilie
REALLY long letter from my dear Sarah, along with a couple recipe cards and sticky notes. :)

Sweet letter from Julia 

Letter and stationery from Shannah

Mail from the end of August that never made it up on here.

Two letters that arrived on the same day from my friend Abby. 
 Letter from Rachel ~ she went to Germany and brought me back a postcard, as well as shared all about her trip. 


 Pretty card and Ginger Honey Lemon Tea recipe from Lexi. Can't wait to try it. Fall is meant for teatime. 
Letter, and postcard from Sarah. So neat how she wrote song lyrics on the front and back of the envelope. 







Decorated envelope, adorable kitty card and anklet from Shan
  


Letter from the lovely Emily
Adorable tea card ~long letter from the lovely Liz
Thank you card from my soon-to-be- sister in law, Abbey


September was filled with many beautiful, and sweet letters. I always am so blessed by each and every letter I receive, and I feel as if each one gets sweeter. I have the dearest friends and couldn't imagine life without them. <3 I have a few other happy mail things to post but am saving those for another time. :) Was your mailbox "happy" this month? 

Friday, September 27, 2013

Letter Writing Questionnaire with Liz


1. Please tell us about yourself, How old are you? What made you want to start writing?

I'm Liz, a 19 year old Christian homeschool graduate. I live in Kentucky with my wonderful sister, mom, and dad. I've always lived in KY and am a country girl at heart. I'm so blessed to have my own website, which is also my job, called AmericanGirlFan.com. If you pop on over there, you'll see that I LOVE writing! I've always loved writing since I was a younger, coming up with silly stories in my head. Creativity and imagination have always been two of my best friends. Creating something is fun, but sharing it with others is even better!

2. When did you start writing letters?

I started writing letters when I was around eight years old. My mom signed me up for a pen-pal program in a Christian magazine. I wrote to a girl from Florida for just a few times, but I loved it. Writing back and forth with another girl, while learning about her life was so interesting to me. After that penpal, I wrote one of my school friends who had moved away. Then when I became homeschooled at thirteen, I met two girls online and soon became penpals with them. I've kept every letter and it's fun for me to look back at all of those memories.

3. Have you met any of your pen pals?

I had the amazing opportunity to meet the sweet author of this blog! This Summer will be one I will never forget, we had such a nice time. It really was an answered prayer to be able to meet one of my dearest friends in person. <3

4. How many people do you write?..How many different states..Any out of the country?

Since giving out my P.O. Box address on my website, I've written to so many girls! 30 states, plus Australia and Canada! It's been such a blessing to hear from these girls and share with them. Many of them have come and gone, but new penpals come too. Each letter is so precious to me--I keep every single one!

5. What is your favorite thing about writing letters?

To me, snail mail will never go out of style! Sitting down at the kitchen table with pen in hand and away from the keyboard, is one my favorite things. To me, writing a letter is way more personal than an email or text message. It's something you can cherish forever, look back on, and even learn more about yourself. A few years ago I went through some of my Grandparents old letters from their family, back in the 1930s & 1940s. Reading those letters really showed me that although times have changed, love and friendship have not. Writing letters is special to me because I can bring a smile to someone's face.

6. Favorite place to buy stationery?

Half-Price Books! It's more of a thrifty place, so there are different cards and stationary to buy depending on when I go. They are usually inexpensive too, which is a plus! I love shopping for stationary at Barnes & Noble, Michael's Craft store, and online at Victorian Trading Company.

7. How do you store your stationery?

A few years ago I found a handy letter holder at a yardsale for only $2! I put my stationary and cards in it and I love it! :)


8. Where do you keep the letters you receive?

Most of my letters are in a box that's made to look like a suitcase! I got it at Michael's Craft Store and it is the cutest. I also keep my older letters in another storage box with a Paris, France pattern on it. When I need to write back a letter I usually slip it in with my stationary.




9. Favorite letter writing blogs if you have them?

The Letters in My Mailbox! If that counts, haha. I haven't read many letter writing blogs yet...I need to do that and browse around. 

10. In closing, What is something you'd like to share with us that you haven't mentioned yet?

Through letter writing, my eyes have been opened to many things. I love how by writing a letter, I can encourage and be encouraged. I'm so thankful to have the opportunity to get to know people from around the states and even outside the U.S.A. Words mean so much, more than I realize at times. To think my words have touched somebody's life, is overwhelming and fills me with joy. I thank God for the ability to write, talk, and use words. :)

Thank you so much, Liz for taking the time to send this to me. I SO appreciate it and LOVED reading all about your letter writing. It's so neat to have a glimpse into your organized stationery box (love it!) and trunk for keeping letters. It's fun to see how others store their letters. So thankful for your friendship. You're a true kindred spirit.


If you would like to be featured on here, I'd love to share your answers with everyone. Please go here for more info

Thursday, September 26, 2013

New Stamps Prices Come January

I am quite disappointed in the raised prices of stamps come the new year. The last few years first class, one ounce stamps have increased by a penny, but January 2014 increases by 3 cents. I am really bummed with just thinking about how much mail already costs and here it's raising again. When I think about it, 2 letters will basically cost one dollar to mail. It really makes me think about how much mail does cost, and wanting to make every letter worth mailing. Not just putting it in the mail, and sending off, but taking extra time to share and decorate. 

Highlights of the new single-piece First-Class Mail pricing, effective Jan. 26, 2014 include:
  • Letters (1 oz.) — 3-cent increase to 49 cents
  • Letters additional ounces —  1-cent increase to 21 cents
  • Letters to all international destinations (1 oz.) — $1.15
  • Postcards — 1-cent increase to 34 cents

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

A Bit Of Fall In The Mail


I always love walking out to get my family's mail in the afternoon. While some people get their mail around 10 a.m. ours usually comes around 4 p.m. One of the reasons I like having a p.o.box is because my mail is ready to be picked up by 10. While I don't go to the post office every day I try to go at least a couple times a week..though there are times where the box is empty. I'm hoping to sign up where I'll be notified every time something is waiting. 

The other day I walked out to get the mail and found a package waiting in our mailbox. Two of my sweet friends sent me a few things from their recent trip. They've been so kind to do this in the past and I'm always so thankful. 



Thank you girls for always thinking of me and sending me such adorable things. The package smelled so good as well. <3 

Sunday, September 22, 2013


This afternoon I decided to go through all my past writings and It's so neat to see all the old letters from people I write, along with all the comments I've been blessed with. I love how I have a place I can look back on things from past times, where pictures and friendship are included. It's pretty neat how I have an online journal that can be shared with others and I receive feedback. Just wanted to put a little thank you out, and let all of you know how much I appreciate you following and sharing with me. Hope you're having an absolutely wonderful Sunday.


Be back real soon!
<3 Hannah




Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Letter Writing Questionnaire with Sarah

1. Please tell us about yourself, How old are you? What made you want to start writing?

Hi y'all! I want to take a moment to thank Hannah for featuring me here on her blog today! This was so much fun! :) I'm Sarah! I am a 16 year old, home-schooled Christian girl who tries to love Jesus with her whole heart.
I like music, letters, movies, reading, junk food, fashion, daydreaming, superheros, Disney, sparkles, pajama days, puppies and kitties, and the color yellow. :) I've always loved to play pretend-and writing. I always loved getting the mail, even before I wrote letters, always hoping there would be something for me but knowing there wouldn't.

2. When did you start writing letters?

I started writing letters when I was 8 years old. My mom was in a mom's email group, where they decided to have a pen pal swap for their kids. She asked me if I wanted to be part of it and I said yes. My first pen pal and I wrote for roughly three years. I have had several other pen pals since. :) Here are all the letters from the pen pal I've written the longest, that I still write. :)




3. Have you met any of your pen pals?

Yes! I met my pen pals Amy and Olivia in 2009, and I started writing my pen pals Heather, Anna, and Miriam after meeting them.

4. How many people do you write?..How many different states..Any out of the country?

I write to I think 7 people, some write more often than others. One of my pen pals (Amy) moved out of the country recently, so I'll try to keep up with her, but overseas postage is so much more expensive! Anyway, I write to people in three different states. :p It's pathetic, but most of them live in the same state.

5. What is your favorite thing about writing letters?

Getting to know people through a way where you can re-live your old conversations! Every so often I love to go through my old letters and re-read them, remembering what we were talking about and laughing at myself or at old stories we've shared. :)

6. Favorite place to buy stationery?

I haven't found a job yet, so I usually buy cheap stuff. :p Usually in the dollar section at Target or at the Dollar Tree. They have some cute stationery, though! :) I get a lot of stationery as gifts, too.

7. How do you store your stationery?

I currently have an old gift bag that I just dumped all my stationery in, then later organized it. I also have a box set of stationery that was recently gifted to me that had more than enough room in it, so I put a bunch of my greeting cards in there. :)

8. Where do you keep the letters you receive?

In shoeboxes on a shelf in my closet! I currently have four very full shoeboxes. I'll need to start using a fifth one soon!


10. In closing, What is something you'd like to share with us that you haven't mentioned yet?

One time on "Leaving a Paper Trail" blog, she mentioned filler ideas. Where to go when the words don't flow? I commented, listing some of my favorite ideas.
I keep a (now very ragged) simple, wirebound notebook with a couple pages for each person. In between letters I often think of things that remind me of them, or jokes I'd like to share, or even questions I'd like to ask them. All of that, goes in my notebook. Another thing I like to do sometimes, is ask the person I'm writing what they're wearing, or where they are and what everyone around them is doing. It helps them to set perspective for you, like a story, and I think that's fun. :)

Thank you so much Sarah, for taking time to send me your answers. I loved reading them and it was so nice to hear about your letter writing. I'm so blessed by your friendship and am happy that I get to be one of your pen pals . :)

If you would like to be featured on here, I'd love to share your answers with everyone. Please go here for more info

Monday, September 16, 2013

monday mail











two packages put together over the course of a few weeks. sent to sweet friends across the miles. i would say i'm quite fond of monday mail. Sent out last Monday
             
                                                 current inspiration loves one,two, three, four

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Summer Mail



                                                             overflowing with love