The past month has been a frenzied whirlwind of change.
I moved from Atlanta to Pensacola, then from Pensacola to Gainesville to start my junior year of college. I settled into a new apartment with a new roommate (my best friend) and got a new job. I started my semester's classes (14 credit hours this fall) and have already taken a number of exams and turned in several large projects. I am serving on the executive board of a huge organization at my university, which requires tons of time invested. I also work every game day at my university's football stadium in various capacities, which keeps most Saturdays tied up.
All in all, hopefully this chaos explains why I've fallen behind on blogging! I do plan to resume my blogging now that I've (somewhat) settled into a routine. Just because I've fallen behind on the blog, however, doesn't mean that I've stopped writing letters! While I've failed at a letter-a-day, I have written an additional 35 letters since I last posted... which puts me at 66 letters since the start of my project! I'm about ten letters shy of where I should be but I'll make up for that and still have 365 in 365 :)
If you're reading this and expecting a letter reply from me, don't fret! I'm doing some serious writing this week. If you're reading this and want to correspond with me, please email me! My address is at the bottom of the page.
Happy Sunday, everyone!
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Sunday, August 5, 2012
letters 28, 29, 30 and 31
Letter twenty eight was for my love bug Meredith! I have known this girl since I was three years old and our friendship has never faltered. It's mind blowing, really, how well we get along and how much we have in common. We go to schools in different states (which kind of stinks) but it's incredible--no matter how much time goes by between seeing each other, we always fall right back into our BFF rhythm. I LYLAS Meredith!
Letter twenty nine was a reply to Lucas! I was so excited when I got his letter, written on a typewriter and sealed in a painted envelope! I could take a page or six out of Lucas's book because it seems like he's really mastered the art of the first letter. He asks good questions, answers questions thoroughly (and, when appropriate, humorously) and uses insane amount of detail. I LOVE detail. You could spend three paragraphs telling me what you're wearing, where you're sitting and what is going on around you as you write a letter to me and I'd be enthralled. I don't know; maybe I'm weird in this regard. (Do you like extreme detail in letters you receive?) I forced myself to wait a day to respond to Lucas, both for the sake of practicing self discipline and for making it the letter of the day... I'm so looking forward to hearing back from him!
Letter thirty was a reply to Anna! Anna's letters are vivid and funny and everything a good letter should be-- and her mail art is out of this world! I am always very conflicted when I get one of her letters. On one hand, I am dying to open it and read every word and respond. On the other hand, the envelopes are always so gorgeous that I feel a bit sad to rip them open and mess up the art! I've found a compromise by taking pictures of the envelope before I open it. :) Anna, I'm putting your letter in the mail on Monday! It'll be my last letter to you sent from Georgia!
Letter thirty one was a playlist/note/cd for my friend Chase (last seen in letter three). I'm really hoping that the cd doesn't crack or break in transit to his house! Have you ever sent a cd before in the mail? I didn't use a padded envelope or anything but I'm hopeful that it will be okay. I personally love getting mix cd's from people of their favorite music so I hope that Chase will like mine!
Note: In moving away from Georgia, I've gotten a little behind on the blog! The letter project is still going strong but I haven't had much time to post here. I'll be updating quite a bit in the next few days! Also, if you have my Georgia address and need my temporary Florida address (I'll be changing again in about ten days though...) then shoot me an email at mallorylovesbears@yahoo.com!
Letter twenty nine was a reply to Lucas! I was so excited when I got his letter, written on a typewriter and sealed in a painted envelope! I could take a page or six out of Lucas's book because it seems like he's really mastered the art of the first letter. He asks good questions, answers questions thoroughly (and, when appropriate, humorously) and uses insane amount of detail. I LOVE detail. You could spend three paragraphs telling me what you're wearing, where you're sitting and what is going on around you as you write a letter to me and I'd be enthralled. I don't know; maybe I'm weird in this regard. (Do you like extreme detail in letters you receive?) I forced myself to wait a day to respond to Lucas, both for the sake of practicing self discipline and for making it the letter of the day... I'm so looking forward to hearing back from him!
Letter thirty was a reply to Anna! Anna's letters are vivid and funny and everything a good letter should be-- and her mail art is out of this world! I am always very conflicted when I get one of her letters. On one hand, I am dying to open it and read every word and respond. On the other hand, the envelopes are always so gorgeous that I feel a bit sad to rip them open and mess up the art! I've found a compromise by taking pictures of the envelope before I open it. :) Anna, I'm putting your letter in the mail on Monday! It'll be my last letter to you sent from Georgia!
Letter thirty one was a playlist/note/cd for my friend Chase (last seen in letter three). I'm really hoping that the cd doesn't crack or break in transit to his house! Have you ever sent a cd before in the mail? I didn't use a padded envelope or anything but I'm hopeful that it will be okay. I personally love getting mix cd's from people of their favorite music so I hope that Chase will like mine!
Note: In moving away from Georgia, I've gotten a little behind on the blog! The letter project is still going strong but I haven't had much time to post here. I'll be updating quite a bit in the next few days! Also, if you have my Georgia address and need my temporary Florida address (I'll be changing again in about ten days though...) then shoot me an email at mallorylovesbears@yahoo.com!
Friday, July 27, 2012
Incoming #2 + Postcrossing
Incoming letters two, three and four came this week! Can you say exciting?!
Incoming letter two was from my lovely friend Lindsey...the first letter from a "real life" friend! I was so excited and wrote her back already. We won't be writing much longer though, since we'll be reunited in the same city in just a few weeks!
Incoming letter two was from my lovely friend Lindsey...the first letter from a "real life" friend! I was so excited and wrote her back already. We won't be writing much longer though, since we'll be reunited in the same city in just a few weeks!
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| Lindsey's letter on the left and a letter from Lucas on the right! |
Incoming letter three was from Lucas. He's practically my neighbor, considering he lives just an hour and a half north of me and seemed very familiar with the town I'm living in this summer! Maybe I'm easily impressed, but I thought it was so cool that he wrote his letter on a typewriter. I wouldn't know what to do with a typewriter if somebody put it in front of me. I'm really looking forward to keeping up with this new pen pal, though!
Incoming letter four was from Anna. I saw on Anna's blog that she had an outgoing letter coming my way earlier this week, so I've been excitedly awaiting its arrival. Today, as I stood at the edge of the driveway (promptly at 4:40 p.m.) waiting for my postie, I crossed my fingers that it would arrive...and it did--along with two postcards! (See below.) I loved the beachy envelope Anna decorated for me and am so excited to respond.
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| My second letter from Anna in between two Postcrossing cards. |
Postcrossing update-- I got two postcards! So far, five people have received my postcards and I have received two myself. One of my postcards was from Rose in Canada (yay international mail!) and the other was from Susan in Philadelphia. This might be the start of a beautiful hobby...
One other thing- I began an email pen pal friendship this week. It began as me sending my first Postcrossing card to a stranger in the Netherlands, and it has turned into a fast friendship! After she emailed me thanking for my letter, I sent her a long response and our conversation started there. We've found we have so much in common and I am so thrilled to get to know my new friend Henrike better!
letters 24, 25, 26 and 27
Letter twenty four was a birthday note! I wrote it to Amy, who might very well be one of the sweetest people I know. She is someone who puts a smile on your face every single time you see her, so I'm hoping that for once, I'll be the one putting a smile on her face as she reads her birthday card. I made yet another attempt at going the handmade route, so hopefully Amy didn't laugh too much at my amateur effort. :)
Letter twenty five was a reply letter! Hooray! My stunning friend Lindsey was the recipient of letter eleven (seen here) and I was lucky enough to get a wonderful response from her today. It's so nice when my "real life" friends (as opposed to my pen pals/blog friends-- though you all are fabulous too) take the time to send snail mail. As long as I get letters, I will always respond. You hear me, Linds? Although with going back to school in a few weeks, we'll get to communicate in person. What a great day that will be!
Letter twenty six went to my amazingly intelligent, self-aware, hilarious law student of a friend, Ben. Ben and I have had several phone chats throughout the summer and they have really been some of the highlights of my time. That sounds a little pathetic, I realize, but I'm just being honest. This guy can lift up a mood, make you laugh, talk seriously, give advice... you name it, Ben's the guy for it. Clearly, he warrants receiving a letter of appreciation, so I sent him just that. I probably owe him ten more letters if I were trying to adequately depict for him the gratitude I have for him in my life, but I'll stick with the one for now. :)
Letter twenty seven... yet another birthday note! I'm going to post her full name-- JOCELYN LONQUIST. Why am I taking special care to share that? Because this girl will be famous in approximately five years. She's a musical theatre student currently who just finished getting paid for a summer of performances at a theatre in Virginia. I've already made Joce promise me that when she makes it big on Broadway, she has to take me backstage and let me stay with her in the city... that is, if I'm not living there at that point (living in NYC at some point is on my bucket list). Anyway, Jocelyn ended her teenage years and I sent her a card to celebrate! It's not as good as being there in person, but it'll work!
Letter twenty six went to my amazingly intelligent, self-aware, hilarious law student of a friend, Ben. Ben and I have had several phone chats throughout the summer and they have really been some of the highlights of my time. That sounds a little pathetic, I realize, but I'm just being honest. This guy can lift up a mood, make you laugh, talk seriously, give advice... you name it, Ben's the guy for it. Clearly, he warrants receiving a letter of appreciation, so I sent him just that. I probably owe him ten more letters if I were trying to adequately depict for him the gratitude I have for him in my life, but I'll stick with the one for now. :)
Letter twenty seven... yet another birthday note! I'm going to post her full name-- JOCELYN LONQUIST. Why am I taking special care to share that? Because this girl will be famous in approximately five years. She's a musical theatre student currently who just finished getting paid for a summer of performances at a theatre in Virginia. I've already made Joce promise me that when she makes it big on Broadway, she has to take me backstage and let me stay with her in the city... that is, if I'm not living there at that point (living in NYC at some point is on my bucket list). Anyway, Jocelyn ended her teenage years and I sent her a card to celebrate! It's not as good as being there in person, but it'll work!
Monday, July 23, 2012
letters 21, 22 and 23
Letter twenty one was a birthday card for a friend named Anthony. The circumstances are slightly weird; I've interacted with him in person four times at the most. However, I feel so utterly connected to him and wrote him what was quite possibly one of the best birthday messages I've written! I didn't tell him about this project (mainly because I ran out of room on the card!) but I did let him know that a person as great as him deserved a truly stellar birthday, and I meant that. In a time of Facebook wall posts and text messages, I think that a real, tangible birthday card is a great gesture and I'm hoping Anthony felt that way too. Pay it forward! Send someone (maybe even someone a little random) a birthday card to tell them you care. :)
Letter twenty two went to my beloved Momma Bear! By that, I don't mean my actual birth mother... I mean my fabulous friend Erin! She recently made her way up to Wisconsin (quite a contrast to Florida) and I thought she could use some snail mail love. This letter was basically a profession of love for her, because she's responsible for a large portion of my life that means a whole lot to me. (If you don't know me in real life, that seems vague, I know, and I apologize.) EP... you are about to show Wisconsin what that state has been missing out on throughout the majority of its existence. And they're never going to want you to leave. I love and miss you!
Letter twenty three was a birthday card for my enemy Josie. Did I say enemy? I clearly meant friend. This birthday card was perfectly fitting because it had robots on it and Josie is indeed a robot. I actually bought it in June and have been holding on to it this long so that I could send it in a relatively close proximity to the day of celebration of the birth of Josefina. Do you see how I'm talking kind of strangely? That's what Robot Josie does to people. Anyways, Josie, if you're reading this, you should know that I wish you all the best for your twenty first anniversary of life. Feel free to make any semi-poor decisions because I'm pretty sure that your body has the Ctrl + Z function as a part of your non-humanity. Also, I'm excited to embrace you next month. Prepare yourself accordingly. Or, in your native tongue, "G3t r3@dY $$~~~~~."
Letter twenty two went to my beloved Momma Bear! By that, I don't mean my actual birth mother... I mean my fabulous friend Erin! She recently made her way up to Wisconsin (quite a contrast to Florida) and I thought she could use some snail mail love. This letter was basically a profession of love for her, because she's responsible for a large portion of my life that means a whole lot to me. (If you don't know me in real life, that seems vague, I know, and I apologize.) EP... you are about to show Wisconsin what that state has been missing out on throughout the majority of its existence. And they're never going to want you to leave. I love and miss you!
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| Perfectly robotic card for Josie |
Letter twenty three was a birthday card for my enemy Josie. Did I say enemy? I clearly meant friend. This birthday card was perfectly fitting because it had robots on it and Josie is indeed a robot. I actually bought it in June and have been holding on to it this long so that I could send it in a relatively close proximity to the day of celebration of the birth of Josefina. Do you see how I'm talking kind of strangely? That's what Robot Josie does to people. Anyways, Josie, if you're reading this, you should know that I wish you all the best for your twenty first anniversary of life. Feel free to make any semi-poor decisions because I'm pretty sure that your body has the Ctrl + Z function as a part of your non-humanity. Also, I'm excited to embrace you next month. Prepare yourself accordingly. Or, in your native tongue, "G3t r3@dY $$~~~~~."
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
letters 17, 18, 19 and 20
Letter seventeen is going somewhere I've never been: Ann Arbor, MI! My friend Orlando is the lucky recipient of this card. Orlando is currently interning at GOOGLE! Yes, GOOGLE! He is one of those people who is outrageously successful and brilliant yet still totally cool and down-to-earth. Hence, I like having him as a friend. I've found that in life I am drawn to having a bunch of girlfriends and a few key guy friends. (Are you like this? I'm always awed by the "guy's girls" of the world.) Orlando is definitely shaping up to be one of these key guy friends! Aside from the fact that we'll be working together constantly this year for our campus's ambassador program, we're also going be friends who hang out and eat good food and enjoy each other's company. I can feel it.
Letter eighteen turned out cute! I returned some spray paint to JoAnn's (Pinterest project aborted) and instead bought some paper crafting supplies. Great move, Mallory. I stayed up the better part of the night yesterday working on some cards and envelopes and I think Morgan's came out pretty cute!
Morgan is working in her post-grad "big girl job" back at my school. She regularly acts as my mother, therapist, friend, confidante, motivator, and everything in between during the school year. A letter does not satisfy how much I owe her, but it's a start right? I think everyone deserves to know how much you miss and love them, so I told Morgan in writing. Side note-- Morgan has a highly-entertaining, non-mail blog called Gradually Ginger. You should check it out.
Letter nineteen is in the hands of my dear friend Hayley. She started out as my R.A. in my dorm for my freshman year of college. At first, I thought she would be the intimidating rule-enforcer at the end of the hallway to beavoided at all costs. I learned quickly though that Hayley was a friend first and foremost, and I grew to love this girl! I wish that I could be with her to celebrate her 21st birthday but a letter had to work in my place this time. However, Hayley, if you're reading this, we are having a celebratory lunch/dinner/outing/something in your honor when we return to school next month! Happiest of birthdays, pretty girl. I miss you!
Letter twenty, written on the same day as letter nineteen (I'm getting way out of hand), went to a stranger named Lucas. I found his blog, Lucas Writes, and decided I should most definitely correspond with him. So, I sat down and made a sea-themed card (I guess I'm missing living so close to the beach) and then set about writing to him.
Writing to a stranger is bizarre yet invigorating. There's a sort of anonymity that is quite liberating; you can say anything at all and not have to see the look on the reader's face as he or she processes it. Don't get me wrong, I didn't say anything all that weird, but the option was nice. I am hopeful that Lucas will become another pen pal. After all, my "real life" friends are wonderful but very few of you love snail mail enough to correspond repeatedly over time!
Letter eighteen turned out cute! I returned some spray paint to JoAnn's (Pinterest project aborted) and instead bought some paper crafting supplies. Great move, Mallory. I stayed up the better part of the night yesterday working on some cards and envelopes and I think Morgan's came out pretty cute!
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| Morgan's envelope... yay new supplies! |
Morgan is working in her post-grad "big girl job" back at my school. She regularly acts as my mother, therapist, friend, confidante, motivator, and everything in between during the school year. A letter does not satisfy how much I owe her, but it's a start right? I think everyone deserves to know how much you miss and love them, so I told Morgan in writing. Side note-- Morgan has a highly-entertaining, non-mail blog called Gradually Ginger. You should check it out.
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| The back of the envelope with a precious zebra |
Letter nineteen is in the hands of my dear friend Hayley. She started out as my R.A. in my dorm for my freshman year of college. At first, I thought she would be the intimidating rule-enforcer at the end of the hallway to beavoided at all costs. I learned quickly though that Hayley was a friend first and foremost, and I grew to love this girl! I wish that I could be with her to celebrate her 21st birthday but a letter had to work in my place this time. However, Hayley, if you're reading this, we are having a celebratory lunch/dinner/outing/something in your honor when we return to school next month! Happiest of birthdays, pretty girl. I miss you!
Letter twenty, written on the same day as letter nineteen (I'm getting way out of hand), went to a stranger named Lucas. I found his blog, Lucas Writes, and decided I should most definitely correspond with him. So, I sat down and made a sea-themed card (I guess I'm missing living so close to the beach) and then set about writing to him.
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| I love this saying! It's so true. |
Writing to a stranger is bizarre yet invigorating. There's a sort of anonymity that is quite liberating; you can say anything at all and not have to see the look on the reader's face as he or she processes it. Don't get me wrong, I didn't say anything all that weird, but the option was nice. I am hopeful that Lucas will become another pen pal. After all, my "real life" friends are wonderful but very few of you love snail mail enough to correspond repeatedly over time!
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| A P.O. box means no concealed address! Yay unedited image! |
That's all for now. To my very few loyal readers, thanks for caring and keeping up. :) Happy snail mailing!
Monday, July 16, 2012
letters 14, 15 and 16
Letter fourteen was a first for me-- I made the stationery! I went to a local store called Rubber Stamp Fantasy last week and bought shimmery black envelopes, gold and silver stickers, metallic pens and cream-colored card stock. Lauren's was kind of a guinea pig test but I was so happy with how it turned out. Lauren is someone who I really admire and respect but with whom I have never really spent very much time... Why on earth is that the case?! Our school is lucky enough to have her around another year as she gets her Master's degree, so I'm going to jump on the opportunity and spend more time with this amazing individual. I hope that she's okay with this, because I'm pretty persistent. :)
Letter fifteen was written on the same day as letter fourteen! That's right-- two letters in one day! I have lost my mind! It was an exciting one for me because it was my first letter to a "stranger." Anna at The Lettering sent me the letter from the post below and I was thrilled to respond! She is what I hope I'll be in a few months: a mail art master, letter writing extraordinaire. Anna, your letter got put in the mail today so it should arrive soon! Yay for finding others who love snail mail like I do!
Letter sixteen just got picked up by my postie! It is in transit to bright, beautiful New York City to be with my lovely friend Sara. Sara lives in this fabulous area of Brooklyn called Park Slope and she was sweet enough to host me at her apartment this past February! I envy and admire this girl so much. She moved up to NYC to follow her dreams-- she got a great apartment, two jobs, settled into a fabulous social life and now she's working for NBC! Yes, NB-freaking-C! Less than a year after arriving in New York! I get a little excited when I think about it because I just know that I'm going to see Sara on the Oscars someday. :) Anyways, a girl this wonderful (and a great friend and listener on top of all that!) is fully deserving of a letter, so she got just that today.
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| An attempt at nice lettering on LV's envelope |
Letter sixteen just got picked up by my postie! It is in transit to bright, beautiful New York City to be with my lovely friend Sara. Sara lives in this fabulous area of Brooklyn called Park Slope and she was sweet enough to host me at her apartment this past February! I envy and admire this girl so much. She moved up to NYC to follow her dreams-- she got a great apartment, two jobs, settled into a fabulous social life and now she's working for NBC! Yes, NB-freaking-C! Less than a year after arriving in New York! I get a little excited when I think about it because I just know that I'm going to see Sara on the Oscars someday. :) Anyways, a girl this wonderful (and a great friend and listener on top of all that!) is fully deserving of a letter, so she got just that today.
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