Monday, June 24, 2013

PuchiMo address labels = LOVE!

Oh my goodness, I am in love with PuchiMo address labels! I just had to share how pretty they are! Kana did a beautiful job! They aren't listed in her Etsy shop, but I think you can get them if you convo her! Nope, this is not a promotional post, either! I just love them! I've been on an address label kick lately and just...wow. Observe!



Aren't they gorg?!

What's in my letter-writing kit?

Figured I would show off what I took with me on vacation! Keep in mind, this was a ten day trip and I brought a LOT more with me than I would have on any other vacation! I'm very well known for over-packing and I definitely did this time BUT I didn't have to run out and buy anything, so that was good at least! Well, except stamps. Somehow or another, I forgot to buy those pre-trip...Anywho, here goes! Oh, and I fit this all, with room to spare, in a regular two section Jansport backpack.

Here is the whole lot together! Ignore the field notes notebooks! Also, the 'loose leaf' paper is a no-name paper that I got from my local Japanese market! The pouch is one that I previously showed.


What is inside of all those ziplock bags, you ask? First off, let's talk about the ziplock baggies! I ended up choosing these (and the plastic blue box, which is also a no-name item from the same market.) for organization because they were simple light, and see-through in case TSA hassled me!

I managed to fit all of my washi tapes, a roll of standard clear tape, a stick-glue, as well as three packages of various stationery in two baggies.


The blue box-y thing is just a simple locking plastic folder-type thing and inside that, I kept a few spare pens as well as the letters I was responding to, letters I was working on, some spare memo sheets, and some stickers.




And inside the plastic airmail pouch, you ask? PENS AND LABEL GOODIES!



Included up there in the pen lot are a buuuunch of Pilot G2's in various points and colors, a Pilot B2P (I had like five more but I'm not sure where they went for this photo...), several Unibal Signos, two different types of Sharpie pens, a Sharpie marker, a Pilot Choose...And then later on in the trip, I added in four Pilot B2P rollerballs!


I also had a bunch of random stuff includes...various types of labels, things to stick in, some stickers, a few different types of cards in case I wanted something different...Just a bunch of randoms! Also inside that pouch were some of the postcards that I purchased!

So there ya have it! I carry WAY too much with me! In hindsight, I wish I had packed lighter, but at least I was prepared? OH! I also carried a regular old clipboard with me, too!

Saturday, June 22, 2013

An addition to my must-have pens!

I was browsing Meijer yesterday and came across a new to me pen! Again, it's by Pilot and is in the b2p range but I strayed away from my usual gel b2p/G2 and thought I'd give the rollerball a chance... And I  LOVE IT! They are very much like my beloved black and white 'Bic Stick Med' black pens! I tend to stray away from rollerballs and actually grabbed them by mistake but decided to give them a go. Well worth the $3.99 for a 4-pack! I picked them up in the black medium 1.0 point size.



They all have a wet usable grippy that doesn't get in the way!



My three go-to pens, not including my Marvy le pens, Staedtler tri-plus fineliners, Stabilo 88's, and Uniball Signos (in various sizes!). I try not to use those guys as much as I do the Pilot pens because I only have one or two of each with the exception of my set of Staedler fineliners.

Hopefully these photos don't need to be re-sized! If so, I'll do it when I get home! I'm working off my Blogger iPhone app at the moment!

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Vacation is proving to be productive!

Productive on the writing front, that is! Today we are headed to Mackinac Island, a place well known for their fudge! Hopefully I can finally find a post office, too!  And hopefully a hotel room that doesn't smell like smoke and air freshener! Anywho, mail tiiiiiiiiime!

Some Michigan posties going out from Sleeping Bear Dunes (where we visited yesterday!)



And also two standard Michigan cards! I sent two of this design!


A fun one! 


To Arwen!


To Elaine! 


To Kiki! 


The back!

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Vacation mail post!

I also have a vacation outgoing mail post!! I hate the boring stamps but I had to buy them at the drug store. -___- I'm hoping I can con my mother into taking me to the post office and shopping in town so that I can pick up postcards, postcard stamps, and extra stamps to mail abroad! Sucks not being able to drive the rental car...oh, and for those of you who aren't American, our rental car is outrageous in size! But so comfy! Oh, and I got to photograph the backs! Darn!



Front:







How am I even awake?

Well, it's 5:27am back home which is 8:27am up here in Michigan andddd...IM AWAKE! On purpose! Haha. Just sitting here with a peppermint mocha and enjoy the news and lovely views from the windows of the cabin-ish house we are all staying in. Turns out, though, that for a 7 bedroom home (that supposedly sleeps 26...definitely not.), it's rather small! So my parents, brothers, and grandma are going to be migrating over to a hotel and spending the days here at the cabin with the rest of the family.

Yesterday we visited what used to be the Northern Michigan State Hospital, which was a mental institution. Usually, I would not have even stepped foot on the grounds of a building with such a negative past but it turns out that my grandmother worked at the hospital for three months during her nursing training in the 50's! So we went back (and brought her of course!) so she could see it as whatnot. Now the hospital has been turned into shops, restaurants, condos, and office space. We went when the shops were all closed (boo!!) but it was still an eerie feeling walking through the lower halls...it was kind of surreal knowing that if I had been how I was/suffered from my disorders in the 50's or before, I would possibly have been out there. My cousin and I stood looking out the window both talking about how terrible patients must have felt looking out those same windows. But enough of that! Here are a few photos! I wish I had taken more/better ones! 



Monday, June 17, 2013

My view...

Just a quick photo of the view from our house off Spider Lake in Michigan!

Request!

Hey guys!! How are ya'll this morning? 

Just thought is pop in and see if anyone is interested Ina small swap! I'm looking for airmail envelopes of all types!!! (I run out SO fast!!) Actually, I'm looking for all types of envelopes, haha. Oh, and kraft brown paper envelopes! I'm also looking for euro look leaf paper (the kind with lots of binder holes and also loose leaf paper with a designs! Washi tape, too! and stickers and pens! hahaha. Oh, and Diddl!! Oh, and stickers! sheets or flake. Please email! I have kawaii to swap, letter sets, stickers, used stamps (some rare and old), American cosmetics, teas, etc. I can list more if you email me! Below is the type (or similar of what I have.) and I'm looking for other sizes if possible but I'm not going to be too picky! I can send postcards from my vacation, too! 

I think these are the kind I have...I love all the square-ish ones an basiclly everything!

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Quick question!

Hi guys! I have a couple of questions for you! 

1. How do you store your received letters? 

2. How do you organize or what do you use for a mobile letter writing kit? 

3. What are your go-to pens/writing utensils? 

4. Do you have an address book orrr...? 

5. What do you include in your letters?

I'll be doing a video of 'what's in my travel letter writing kit' and also an updated 'what's in my bag' photo! Along with more letter writing posts! ;)

Saturday, June 15, 2013

:)

Hey guys! Long time no write! I'm currently on vacation now in Michigan and plan on write and sending quite a bit of mail! Right now, I'm in Ann Arbor, MI, but last night we went into Ohio and the then tomorrow we're headed to Traverse City, MI where we will stay until the 22nd! I've got all my supplies and backed up letters and plan on cranking them out while up there! Here are some photos so far! If you aren't already following me, follow me on Instagram where I'm always posting and am also cataloging the trip! 

Lake Tahoe in the distance.


Our view, the inside of the plane, and my youngest brother and dad.


We had a layover in Las Vegas and they had LIVE cactus magnets! I plan on grabbing a cactus of some sort on our trip back home.


Our AWESOME rental car! We want one so bad for home!


It has a Texas license plate, haha. 


Part of the reason we are in Michigan is because it's my great aunt and uncle'a 50th wedding anniversary! They are two of the most amazing people I know! Anyways, they chose vintage toys that their children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews all played with! So cute! Each 
Table had a different toy! 
And I was going to show you our hotel room but I sort of deleted the photo after I posted it on Instagram. :/ but here's something more exciting for me! Both my ipsy Glam Bag and Birchbox have shipped and should be waiting for me when I get home! Woohoo!!!