I am finding that my daily wish-lists are becoming weekly wish-lists and I'm okay with that. Some things need to be done sooner than others, but other things end up getting done days later. It's still super satisfying to check them off, plus I'm getting all kinds of stuff done.
I need to catch-up on the recent bounty of good mail that has come my way. As always, I didn't realize how much I'd received until I sat down to document it. I post my good mail so that I have a permanent record of it, and so that I can remind myself how kind people can be and how much goodness I have in my life...not to show off.
Esther (she doesn't have a blog, but has recently started commenting) sent me this thank you card to thank me for making her this thank you card, ha. She had placed a big Etsy order recently so I threw in a set of cards for her too. Thanks Esther.
Amy W. sent me this cool card to thank me for the Christmas cd and copy of The Christmas Carol that I sent her for being one of the first 3 to comment on one of my posts in December.
Laurie M. sent me this ridiculously cute card printed on an actual lunch sack inviting me to lunch in the near future. How cool is that? She also sent me this cool fortune from a fortune cookie she had. Thanks Laurie.
Amie sent me this thank you note to thank me for the Christmas gift and some recent good mail I'd given her. Thanks Amie.
Bridget sent me this thank you note for making her this birthday stationery. Thanks Bridget.
Amy W. sent Michelle and I (which I didn't realize until after I'd opened both boxes) these boxes of chipboard shapes because she saw them and thought of us. How nice is that? Thanks Amy.
Patsy sent me this fun Valentine-themed good mail the other day, complete with my favorite Dove Milk Chocolate candies. Thanks Patsy.
Jen M. sent me this package with some locally made chocolates and a really nice note. Thanks Jen.
I got this Valentine-themed package from Natasha yesterday. Thanks Natasha.
I got this Royal Mail from Amanda in the UK yesterday. The envelope was covered with cool stamps, her good mail label and a British flag sticker so that alone was a delight. Plus she had a nice, beautifully handwritten note inside, along with these cool book plates. Thanks Amanda.
This is the back of the envelope from Amanda, I thought this was pleasing too.
Contest: Tell me about the best
good mail you've ever received.
I'll pick a winner at random
and send you a package.
good mail you've ever received.
I'll pick a winner at random
and send you a package.
**Do the things on your lists
eventually get done?
Do you document your good mail?**
eventually get done?
Do you document your good mail?**
38 comments:
i'm working on an actual post about this now, but how cool is it that patsy sent me a real "message in a bottle" ?!?
What do you do with mod podge?
I love the back of Amanda's envelope too!
Funny about the lists, I recently found one that I had made in July 2006 and there are still a few things that remain to be done. On the other hand, today's list is going along quite well with a lot of cross-offs.
BEST good mail? That is so hard to say. All good mail is good. I loved it when you sent me knee pads for gardening! :)
The best good mail is hard to choose, but I guess I would have to pick the first mail I ever receieved. Emily sent me a box of good mail right after I learned what good mail was. I was so shocked and grateful. It made my week and motivated me to make someone else's week as well.
My best was my first when you sent me my labels and other goodies and opened so much up for me. Thank you!
I'm a real list maker- I do get things crossed off eventually & it is so satisfying to do so.
I have posted good mail but not always- I am torn. I have had some comments that it is intimidating to readers or makes them feel like not reading....yada yada. This is a good subject for a post, because I like to see yours- it doens't bother me- what's the big deal?
the best good mail I've gotten is probably a thank you card from my dad for the birthday present I sent him. I was stunned- so surprised- I think my mom made him write it. I don't care, I'll take it.
There really is nothing like good mail! It is such a delight- I love it! All of it :)
the best good mail I've gotten was back when we were first married (6 years ago) and my mom and dad (here in NC) would mail us packages (since we were living in UT). My Mom would fill the package to the top, but my Dad would always manage a way to sneak in some "lettuce." He would put green tissue paper in a ziplock (sometimes he even cut out fake tomatoes too) and then hide money inside. Man, I loved opened those boxes!! Good mail rocks!
Any mail is good mail as far as I'm concerned, but something that sticks out in my mind are the letters and different things I was sent when preparing to run the St. George marathon. It really helped to know that there were so many people supporting me and cheering me on. Unfortunatly I'm total crap at sending thank yous, so they probably all felt underappreciated. But when it boils down to it it all meant so much.
*Do the things on your lists
eventually get done? yep-i kind of do a monthly list..
Do you document your good mail? always!
SO FUN clearing out your closet!! that my favorite!! what no photo of randy's "side of the closet"?
i love making lists and seldom get things crossed off. sad!
so i have to say the best good mail i ever received was an unexpected set of cds from my good friend, nate- he is like a brother and knows me well- so it was nice that he sent me good mood and bad mood music that totally reminded me of him. even the bad mood stuff makes me smile and it was so needed-
Love, Love good mail. It is hard to come up with my favorite. I clearly remember being at summer camp as a kid and the counselor calling my name because I got mail. I wish I had kept it. I also loved care packages when I was in college. Nothing like goodies for a broke college kid away from home. Carly mailed me a letter once when she was staying with my mom & dad that was fun to get. I got a couple of letters from my dad when I was in college those are special. He doesn't actually mail much but you are often suprised by little notes in your pocket or on your steering wheel. Kenny has sent me flowers a couple of times but almost as good as the flowers are the sweet little enclosure cards with them. My sister sends fun mail - just today I got super cute birthday tags! I could go on and on. I probably should write my own blog :)
I want to get back in the habit of writing lists- it helps identify what really is the priority and I love that.
Best mail- didn't come in the mail! Amie brought me the cutest star plate and a note that said "Just Because"... I LOVE that sentiment! When you receive something "just because"- well, it's fantastic! And it was so sweet that she would even think of me- aren't I just the friend of a friend? Whether from me or from you, she knew I liked Americana and she made my day when she dropped it by!
how weird- my post showed up as Jennifer. I don't get blogger sometimes.
As you know, my to-do lists often end up being weekly lists, but I don't care as long as I eventually get them done and crossed off!
Great mail, I am dying over Laurie's lunch invitation. So clever!
The best good mail I have ever received: that is so tough. Maybe the time my mom sent me a "birthday cake in a box" -- all the makings of one of my favorite cakes. Or the time you sent me a box of plastic hangers (the first time we were living in Paris and I couldn't find any)!! So unexpected and I couldn't believe you paid to have those shipped. Or the time Lara sent me Pride & Prejudice, a book and a bag of m&ms (because Marc was in Paris for 3 weeks) and I didn't even really know her! Good mail rocks.
I am a listmaker! Even when I don't get everything crossed off they help my brain to unload and relax :)
BEST good mail? That is a toughy...the labels that I received from you this week are certainly in the top ten. When I had my first couple babies and people would mail me cute baby clothes--that was good. My husband and I have a lot of notes that we have written to each other throughout the years...some mailed, most not.
Jill, I really appreciate that you document your good mail. It reminds me that women are so giving; it reminds me that women are grateful; it reminds me that giving shouldn't be scary and really doesn't require a lot of time or effort. Your posts never fail to inspire me--thanks!
I make lists that carry-over all the time. I am just happy when they get done- even if it takes a week.
I love your good mail documentation posts- they are all that is happy and cheerful.
The best good mail that comes to mind for me was the book then Jenn made me for my 25th birthday. It was the first good mail that made me cry- and I don't think being pregnant at the time was fully to blame. Just that I had never met her face to face, but I could see the time and thought that went into one of her amazing books. I have since filled it as my first art journal and it is one of my favorite things.
I love that cowgirl chocolate thingiebob. I need to look at that again, it looks fun.
How mangled did my envelope get? *sob* How heavy-handed are Utah-ian postmen/ladies??
What do you call someone from Utah? Is it Utahian? Utahan? Utahnite?
I've always loved all my Good Mail, but I still can't get over that Claudia sent me that huge, heavy, hardbacked 'Simple Abundance' book. And it's such a treasure. I read it every night.
The best mail I've ever received was a giant, heart shaped banana chocolate chip bar from my mom. That's all that was in the package, and it came on possibly one of the worst days ever--it was perfect!
It is hard to choose just one good mail. I think it is that moment when you are going through your mail and you recognize some of your favorite handwriting from someone you love. And the anticipation you feel as you walk into the house and find a minute to open and devour it. My favorite good mail is always the handwritten notes. I save them all and keep them in a book. I love seeing your good mail. IT gives great ideas and inspirations for new ideas
The best good mail I ever received was from Mique who sent me a silver four leaf clover that wished me good luck with my fertility procedures. It was very thoughtful, mostly because I barely knew her, but she spent the time and energy to send it to me. I was very touched.
Okay, I'm going to stop lurking and start commenting. The best good mail I've ever received came from my husband. I went to Utah to visit my parents. He mailed a love note to their house for me to receive while I was there. I was totally caught off guard and it was such a great surprise! I also love it when friends pass along great books they have read (in the mail).
This made me think of you.
http://www.theconglomerate.org/2008/01/finally-a-marke.html
I'm along the same lines as Nikole, maybe I should stop lurking and comment here and there. I love reading your posts, Jill. You are inspiring in a lot of areas! I love your lists. I make lists at work and then go back through pages and pages to make sure I got everything. My work is a zoo (organized chaos I like to call it), so I need lists.
The best good mail I ever received was 8 sets of Fiesta dinnerware from my sister in law. (http://tinaandneil.blogspot.com/2007/03/talk-about-good-mail.html)
Good mail queen, you deserve all of it. I do better when I make list too but I have to be in a highly motivated mood to make a list, so I don't know which comes first, the chicken or the egg?
As far as your good mail contest, it's a tie between jewelry from Dana for my Bach chorus debut and a gluten-free fruit basket from kelly A. for Jay's boards. Both thoughts made me cry.
I have been lucky enough to recieve 2 good mail packages. They were both equally wonderful and totally made my day!!
I should do better at sending "good mail". It is such a wonderful way to brighten someones day.
Oh my, I'm a huge list maker. In fact, my husband got me a book called "List Your Self" which encourages you to make lists about yourself. I'm not very good at that. I LOVE the feeling of marking something off your list! Especially if it has been there awhile. Good job on your list. That is amazing job, especially in one week. Very productive!!
Now, the best "good mail" I got was for my birthday last year when a very good friend of mine sent me a birthday card with the greatest sentiment in it. What was so amazing about this card? The friend had died about 5 days before my birthday. She had known she was dying and still had taken the time to make me a card and get it ready to send. Her daughter then sent it the day before my birthday so I would get it on my birthday. It meant SO much to me. I miss her dreadfully. That was my best good mail.
I am a big believer in the eventuality of things getting done. :) Congrats on crossing things off your list.
Each receipt of Good Mail is special, really. It's the fact that for that moment in time someone was thinking of me and took an extra step to let me know it. So it's hard for me to pick one specific thing. I think the notes and cards are special cake and the "surprise" treats are like icing.
Do the things on your lists eventually get done?
Most of the things eventually get done. At the end of the day I usually add more things that I "could" have done...which I find silly; so I just leave it for another day.
Do you document your good mail?
No, but I enjoy reading about yours and Claudia's, it just brightens my day.
Best good mail? Claudia always sends me uplifting mail. It doesn't matter the occasion; she usually fills the envelops with cut-outs, magazine pictures, photos and cards which represent our past, present and future outings, purchasing or just acknowledgements of our friendship.
Jill, I just so appreciate your blog. You're just so steady and comforting. Thank you.
I love all these comments I am never going to skip posting good mail again.
i have a hard time picking the best good mail ever. but today I received the cutest apron ever as a belated birthday gift. it was a totally unexpected package! i love getting real mail.
i am enjoying your lists. it's good to know others have lists like mine.
I love that you're getting Valentines Day packages. Good mail pretty much all ranks great in my book. The smallest guesture can mean so much.
I try to document mail and gifts. I have a VERY hard time parting with cards. Maybe if I took pictures of them and scanned them I could throw away the stacks I have from years past. Any suggestions?
hmmm, lists are supposed to get FINISHED? dang.
:)
i try to make *progress* on my lists but hardly ever finish them and i am ok with that.
hmmm, best good mail? too hard. i think any mail sent by a loving friend to cheer up, show appreciation, bring back good memories and shared history is just wonderful and always the BEST!
but i will say totally unexpected mail is the best. the kind that makes you smile from ear to ear when you open it and think "wow, that is so awesome that she (he?) thought enough to do this.
oh, oh, oh-- the really heartfelt letters or cards, too. the ones who show you that you are making a difference or that something you did meant a lot...those are the best
(see, i told you it was a tough question!)
Every morning I make a small list of a few things that need to be done. Then a couple of things I would like to do. Then I check them off as I get them done. Then if some thing is important does not get done, it carries over into the next day.
Best Good Mail for me was when you sent me the good mail labels. Then you sent a set to my daughter. I have used them almost up. Know I will need to order more soon. Other than that I enjoy giving good mail. Other than your good mail labels. I have yet to recieve anything else. What matters is the joy I get in doing things for others. I really love "good mail"
The best good mail - My freshman year at BYU, my parents mailed me the most fantastic package for Valentine's Day... the outside of the box said things like, "Most Eligible Bachelorette at BYU" and "Hey Beautiful" and then inside were things for me and my roommate - funny matching heart pj pants, a heart photo album, a funky string of heart lights to hang up in our dorm, and some Valentine's candy.
I've saved that box and everything that was in it - and even brought it to church for a talk on Father's Day :)
The best good mail I have ever gotten was from my mom. She sent me a sweater and a comfy cozy shirt after I went through I really difficult time this year.
Yes, I document my good mail. I do have one sitting in my box that still needs to be documented though. I'm still planning to document it though.
The best good mail is when it comes on a day I really need it regardless of what it is.... I can think of 4 right off the top of my head.
I need to get some things crossed off of my list................. (that is a lot of dots on purpose, to signify my lots of thoughts not worth writing)
I am way behind in documenting my good mail. I need to get that done. I also have several things that have needed mailing for quite a while.
I don't know if I could pick the "best" good mail. It astounds me every time. Wait, I just thought of a good one. Shawna B. sent Brynlee a children's book about a horse race last year. It made me cry! I just thought it was so thoughtful of her to think of Brynlee, and Brynlee loved it and felt like a million bucks.
Good mail does so much to restore your faith in humanity, I think.
laurie M - so creative.
even though i am late, i must comment
one of the best good mail was a blogger sent me a hand written 5 page note of things she has changed in her life because of my blog.
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