12-20-11

Since I had no mail today, I thought I would share one of my favorite things! It's called my 'Inspiration Board'. I started this puppy up about a year and a half ago and it's gradually grown to what I think is a sort of piece of art! It's amazing what a plain old cork board can turn in to!

The paper lantern is the newest addition! My dear Gladys from Singapore sent it to me!

As you can see, my love of Paris and Rome is definitely shown!

Look! There's a gorgeous Indonesian card! And also an Australian beach!

A close up of a great Trevi Fountain card! It's honestly more beautiful in person!

And there's a nice close up of the first postcard I have EVER gotten in the mail! It's the London one, just so you know. And there is a Stockholm card as well! These cards all represent the places that are either on my list of places I want to visit or my (MUCH shorter.) list of places I have already been to. I think I'll round off this post with another interesting thing in my bedroom! I have a big US map hung on my wall where I mark the locations of my pen pals! A handmade Lucky Star garland is also affixed to it.

Over and out!

ECOSYSTEM - Limited Edition -

Ah, so pretty! Simone from EcoSystem sent me a wonderful notebook to review! She sent me an 'Author' notebook from their limited edition 'Geometry' line! I can't find any literature on their website regarding the line, unfortunately, but I could possibly just be blind...Either way, they are gorgeous! I was sent this fabulous coral and red beauty!

Now, if you aren't familiar with this brand, let me clue you in. Ecosystem is an awesome company that produces notebooks and planners of various sizes and colors using 100% post-consumer recycled paper. According to their website, "Every component that makes up an ecosystem book has been researched to ensure the most environmentally friendly materials or production methods are being used." All books/products are constructed in the US, as well! Another interesting feature...you can actually look at the ingredients IN YOUR BOOK!

The particular book that was sent to me is the 'medium' sized Author. Measurements given on the website are 5 1/4 x 8 1/4, which are definitely more exact than mine! They are offered in large (7 3/8 x 9 7/8) and small (3 5/8 x 5 5/8) as well as in several colors and styles. I am quite partial to the hard cover and flexi cover version. The particular one that I was sent is a flexi! I've never had one that was not hard covered, so this is a new experience for me! The 'normal' colors offered are: onyx, lagoon, kiwi, watermelon, clementine, and grape. The book I have here seems to be a pattern of clementine and watermelon triangles!

These are the other 'Geometry' patterns offered:

On the first page, you will find a section for your name and contact information.

Now, onto the most important part! Or at least I think it's the most important. The paper! The paper really is fabulous. I have run into some pretty nasty recycled paper because but this paper is just dreamy. It is a little bit on the creamier side as you can see from the photo below. I was comparing it to standard white filler paper.

As you can see, the lines are quite thinly spaced...I wasn't sure I would like it, but I decided that I am a fan!

All of the pages are perforated, which is also a really great feature. I don;t particularly like having to ruin multiple pages by ripping with no perforations, nor do i like when only a section (usually small!) of my notebook is perforated!

Now, I can tell you that this paper is great, but is there anything better than seeing the quality? I am a fountain pen user and I know how difficult it is to find fountain pen quality paper! This is definitely in the small grouping of 'GREAT' paper! The photos below tell it all. I used a variety of pens and I even tested the paper using rubber stamps and the standard black ink! Minimal show through! How about that?! WHAT NOW, MOLESKINE?!

With rubber stampings:

In all honesty, I have no complaints WHATSOEVER with this notebook! I love it!

Wahoo!

I finally have decent photos! I didn't have a chance to take on of the mail that I sent out today, but it was just one piece heading out to Japan in some super cute Rilakkuma stationary!(via) He is definitely one of my favorite San-X characters!

But I had LOTS of incoming mail! One package was really exciting! I got a new notebook to review for EcoSystem! The review for their 'Author' Limited Edition notebook!

Anywho, on to the mail!

I received this adorable Santa mini-postcard from the lovely Jonna in Finland!

And once again, AWESOME Finnish stamp! I love how they put out funky shaped stamps...well, if you can call a circle a funky shape. Either way, it's really pretty!

Up next is a lovely Christmas card/letter from Wei Qi in Malaysia! She will be heading to Shanghai in two weeks, the lucky gal! Isn't this card lovely, though?

And her stamps and stickers she used are great! i especially adore the shimmery Santa Claus stamps!! Unfortunately, I tore one on the back while opening her card, but here is the cute one on the front of the envie along with a photo of the exotic flower postage stamps!

Miss. Cinthia from New York City sent me a great, shimmery snowflake Christmas card! I really need to write her a letter, so that is definitely on my to-do list for today! I love lined envelopes!

It features one of my favorite winter stamps from the USPS.

This next one was a very special surprise! My good friend and pen pal, Gladys, sent me a wonderful gift for Christmas! Isn't it beautiful?!

I'm surprised that it made it because the letter itself was inspected by the post! They ripped the envelope open. :(

Luckily, the lovely otter stamp wasn't destroyed too much! Just the corner a bit.

Check out the super cute Cinnamoroll unicorn stationary she used!

My dear Agnes sent me a great holographic-type, orange card, that also had some cute stickers on it!

Well, that's all the goodies for today! Expect an EcoSystem review here really soon!

Check out this Blowfish Shoes Giveaway!

Kaylah over at The Dainty Squid (one of my fave blogs!) is hosting a giveaway for Blowfish Shoes!

(via)

Head on over and check it out!

Dec. 17th, 2011

FINALLY! Something came for me! It's definitely the holiday card season and I received two holiday postcards! I did not send out holiday cards/postcards this year simply because I don't have the extra postage money. It's much easier for me to wish my friends and pen pals happy holidays in a letter that I would already be sending.

Anyways, here are the two postcards that I received today!

A cute little reindeer from Germany! It's funny because we have a stuffed reindeer that lives on our couch during the holidays that looks exactly like this little guy!

Next up is a nice kraft postcard. I am a sucker for anything kraft or brown paper! I love kraft envelopes specifically! Something about the simplicity just tickles my fancy. So here is my kraft Santa from Finland!

This card also had a cool cartoon stamp on it!

There is something about Finnish stamps. They always have the coolest designs! The particular stamp above is called "Fantastic Women Maisa and Kaarina" booklet.

Of course, my favorite stamps are the Moomin ones!

On to my letters! The first is from the lovely Ayumi in Japan! I squee'd over the stationary! I have a love for 'kawaii' or cute stationary! I love brands like San-X, Sanrio...all of them! Too cute! This particular envelope is "Little Twin Stars" by Sanrio.

Something I really liked was her handmade label! I'm sure all of you snailmailers know this, but we get charged for writing vertically on our mail and I am guessing that is the same in Japan, hence the horizontal label!

Her stamps were also pretty cool, too!

I also got a letter from my dear Vanessa in Espana!

Now for some outgoing! I sent these out today:

One introductory letter out to Courtney in Ventura, CA. Coincidentally, my entire extended family live just a short drive from where she lives!

And another introduction letter out to Kristina in Lithuania:

Well, that's all for today! I've got a couple of product reviews coming up soon! Hopefully, I'll have them written up by this coming week! Have a great weekend!

NO MAILLL!

Arg! Postwoman, why won't you bring me some mail! I think I am having withdrawals! I picked up a box turtle whom I am babysitting, though.

He's kind of cute in an ugly way. Super bright, though! I would love to get myself another tortoise...so expensive! Okay, I'm rambling about torts again.

I think I will occupy myself with writing a few first letters! Hopefully, I can get them sent out. I came across an address in my mobile letter-writing kit (I keep a pouch full of extra stationary, envelopes, pens, various little things, etc. in my purse just in case.) and it was marked with her address and "awesome girl!". I can't believe I missed it! So, I think that is how I will occupy myself!

Until next time! Over and out! (Hopefully 'next-time' will involve some mail!)

-_-

So, no reviews or mail posts today, but hopefully tomorrow! I'm looking forward to reviewing some fabulous products, which means there will be giveaways soon! And let me tell you, they are GREAT goodies! At the moment, I'm on a bit of an overnight stay a few towns over from home at a family friend's home, so nothing interesting to report, unfortunately!