Category Archives: random
craig…who is this guy? the tees i have in the shop are long sleeve.
todays my birthday!!!!!! Your cut is SO cute. Uber chic. I’m so happy to see that I’m not the only one who’s daughter kick her butt at the memory game. Oh no, I missed pillows! I’ve been stalking you to snag one for that nursery that was inspired by your guest/play/reading room. I love your random pictures! I have a big fluffy dog (love the name Waffle BTW) and we shave her in the summer but were getting concerned when her hair began getting matted close to her skin. It turns out that if you shave them too much their hair doesn’t grow back correctly (or something like that). I just wanted to share. I am curious of your reward system w/the marbles. I am using stickers and my daughter is getting tired of stickers. Dear Santa’s Little Helper, running is a DRUG. but a good one. you’re awesome. Yay on the running! You’re an inspiration. Oh my- I started the marble jar yesterday too! How funny! It’s really just for stubborn Chloe’s back-talk. I’m thinking more marbles will be coming OUT than going in for a while. And I did do it when I was a teacher also 🙂 I love looking at your photographs, they really brighten my day – thanks! o.k.. girl… stumbled onto your blog and inspired by your beautiful work. Your house, photos, sewing… you are SO talented! Just saw that you are from Wichita. I don’t know why but your name sounds so familiar to me? i, too, grew up in Wichita… went to McCollom Elem. school and then 1 year at hmmm… is it bad, that i totally CANNOT remember the name of the junior high! Moved to Seattle when i was in the 7th grade… didn’t know if you had also grown up in Wichita and we may have been schoolmates… fwiw…Clevin Hannah is the WSU player 🙂 Waffle looks so cuddly in that picture…can’t wait for more pillows to come… Your haircut is so stinkin’ cute! You’ll have to show us Waffle’s new ‘do, too. 😉 I love you! Will you be selling more pillows soon? My 18 yr. old debated about staying home from school so she could buy one and I debated about staying home from work – Our conscious got the better of us….They are so pretty and we would love to buy one. I know you have a crazy schedule but please make more soon!!!! Have a great week! you look GREAT! and i love that you cut their hair! so awesome! that’s my haircut! Your hair is so cute. All the photos are awesome, but I just kept thinking, “Dang. Such great hair.” Happy Monday. i think the trick to running is alternating between walking and running! make a promise to yourself that you’ll run for a certain amount of time, then allow yourself a little break…and then repeat. you’ll find you can go way father than you thought, simply because mentally you are not running for 35 minutes–you’re running for 4 or 5. little segments. Nice pictures! I just got done taking a class all about behavior and it’s function and the usefulness of token (reward) systems so if you ever have any questions, let me know! 😉 Or I can lend you the book from my class haha. yay for random photos! I have been checking your etsy all day (in Uk time, so i thought i would have a head start) and i missed the pillows!!! haha I’m glad you and Annie are wearing your Christmas shirts 🙂 I’m sad I missed the pillows, I guess I’ll have to be quicker next time. 🙁 Were ya’ll making S’mores with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups? That sounds sooooo yummy. I think I need to go start a campfire right now and try that.:) Listen to YOU….all powered up and confident!!! YAY YOU!!!!!! Can I borrow some?? I love your randomness 🙂 And I am sad your pillows are already sold out…but I called that didn’t I??!!! hee hee 🙂 Happy Monday !!!!! I love that you have on a santa shirt and your daughter had on a snowman shirt!!:) And I love that she bites the lids…I do too! Your blog is fabulous…even though I DID want one of those pillows.:(
What absolutely lovely, beautiful randomness xox I enjoyed all the photos. The cookies look so yummy! Your pics always makes me smile! Lovely pictures! Can I ask where you got your chairs…the cream colored one? I’ve been on the hunt for some JUST like that! What a beautiful post! I.LOVE.IT.ALL!!!!! I love your blog 🙂 Your photos are always so great. I love them but I’m jealous, in a good way. I want to take some happy home pics as well. One word. Gorgeous.. such simple every day things captured by an amazing eye! Love your blog.. your work is stunning! xoxo Maybe my favorite post ever. Talby at the piano is precious! Wow you take some lovely shots! I love the one of waffle sniffing the grass in a jar 😀 Super Cute!!!! you have a great eye for seeing beauty in things…love your pictures. thanks for sharing. i love all of these pictures…especially annie hanging off the window, and of course waffle dog 🙂 miley would like a print of the treat jar 🙂 i think this is what i love most about your blog…the way you make the every day beautiful. I have to tell you, you have an amazing way of telling a story with each photograph. I look forward to your post each and everyday. Love all the pictures! Great pictures – as always. I kept going back to the one of Annie hanging like that – how does she do this? She’s quite an acrobat 😉 Hi Meg, Love your photos! That Easter lunch looks phenomenal! A Cora dress? In a size that fits girls and not a baby? Wow I’d like to be able to buy one of them! I’ll take a cookie please. love it all. your cookies look perfect! yum! so pretty!! ps. when are you going to publish a happy coffee table book?! – signed an eager future customer love. Oh, Waffle. I love how you take pictures of random things and they are still beautiful. FUN pictures. 🙂 yay for a cora’s dress!!! so cute (especially the person inside it!) Behold, the power of Starbucks. Just seeing that picture made me “need” it. 🙂 love the pictures..thanks for sharing!!! honestly, I was a little annoyed that you had markers and crayons out and a FULL jar of cookies..must have perfectly behaved children unlike mine. THEN I saw your hanging monkey. Oh good. love the pics….I need that green bamboo McCoy pot! I mean I already have a couple but… Love Annie’s Cora dress – so cute! And I soooo want some of those cookies. 🙂 oh, my little Meg…nobody gives better random than you!!!!!!!! I like it! Just LOVE. Well done! I love your photos! They’re always so gorgeous. Does look like a happy house! 🙂 Just brightened my day, by looking at your happy photos and house! thanks for passing on the happy! good stuff! Love the random shots. The cookies would not last in my house long enough to get a picture! They look delish! I just ADORE your blog. Great shots! You’re pictures are always full of color. Please share your secrets … 🙂 I love love LOVE your posts like this! so cheerful 🙂 Your random posts are the best. My favorite is your pooch sniffing the potted grass….exactly what mine would be doing! your random picture days are my favorite. Happy Pictures! Thanks for sharing! I love the picture of your kitchen window, and the pretty yellow flowers, but especially the glasses the flowers are in! So unique. You house is so pretty! LOVE!! Your pictures always make me feel happy!! I love your hanging monkey, too cute! Great pictures as always! Colorful & real photos- love it! Was that Easter dinner because it looks scrumptious =) Those pictures make me happy! I want to put my boys crayons in a big ol’ glass jar like the one you have your markers in, but I’m afraid of it falling and shattering. Have you had any trouble with that? Maybe your kids are calmer than mine. 🙂 also, LOVE how distressed your chair is in that picture w/ annie. looks like real life. have a great day! you’ve had a busy week, i see. lovely shots. and save a cookie for me, k? Love your random happy pictures. That fire pit one was really interesting:) Happy day to ya Meg. That does look happy!! Happy, indeed. Thanks for sharing! Oh, and I love that row of tall skinny bottles! Thanks for making me smile 🙂 All those wonderful glass jars. Jealous muchly. 😉 Great random shots – they look somewhat how my random shots would look, if I were cleverer with a camera! The piano one is lovely.
carissa you are so awesome! it is a really great magazine! the best thing i ever got in the mail was…………..a Pure NRG CD ..letters from my brother, who is incarcerated. He is a good hearted man and has made mistakes. When he writes, I can hear his laugh and his voice. We laugh the same and find the same things funny..Siblings are the closest to you in the world, according to our DNA..I know him and I have a cosmic bond, its just different than any other bond Ive had in my whole life. Love letters from my first boyfriend when I went back home after summer vacation. “Parting is such sweet sorrow.” Now that I’m an old married lady with a teenager it’s important to remember that intensity (and try to STOP it! haha) ooh I have been trying to get my hands on a copy of that!! The best thing I ever got in the mail was a letter from a boy i liked at camp in high school, letting me know he liked me too. Fast forward exactly 6 years from that day are we got married! Letters from my grandpa when I was a freshman in college. He sent the sweetest notes just telling me what he was up to and telling me he was proud of me. One time he included a $20 and wrote “shh! don’t tell anyone.” I could picture him winking at me. He was a great man, so glad I kept his letters. I hope I’m not too late for this!! I saw the magazine in the store a couple of days ago and had to pass it up ($10) ’cause we’re kinda going through some hard times right now. That is too cool that you’re in it. The best thing I’ve ever gotten in the mail…um… I guess when I order a book from amazon…I never get anything in the mail! I think the best thing I got in the mail was in 1997, I was a senior in high school and my acceptance letter to Penn State University arrived. My Mom brought it to me at school. She didn’t open it but she knew it was the right size to be the acceptance letter. I don’t know about the best thing…but I do like it IF we get a tax refund and we get notification by mail! One year for my birthday a friend’s mother sent me a package (it was a bit odd since I’d never gotten a gift from her before!) & she sent the bridesmaid dress that her daughter wore in my wedding – the note siad I would enjoy it hanging in my closet more than she would, it being in her closet. It is wonderful to have that dress in my life!!! any magazine …i love magazines! I just got a travelling pad in the mail last week! that was pretty cool. I am just in awe of you and your life. I know that is weird to hear from people but seriously, you’re amazing and I hope that I am as great of a mother as you are someday. My whole life I just wanted to be a mom. You’re inspiring. best mail would be a letter from a little girl (my cousin) just learning to write. my sister-in-law sent me a package with a cross necklace in it that had belonged to my dad. he never took it off. i thought he had been buried with it, but there it was in this little box, like it had finally come home. it was better than winning the lottery. 🙂 any letters from friends & loved ones are always the very best! We used to get homemade cookies and divinity from family in Florida each year at Christmas time. That divinity was the best thing my tongue has ever tasted! Best thing I ever got in the mail… probably my wedding gifts! My husband and I live in Oregon, but we got married in NY (we are both from NY and our families were all there, so it was easier for us to go to them). After the wedding, we came back to Oregon. My Mom packed up all our gifts and a few favors from the wedding and shipped them out to us. So we got to open our wedding presents twice!! I was on a mission for my church and we couldn’t really call home very often, so letters it was. I was gone during Christmas and it was especially hard to be away from home at that time. We also didn’t have any money so my friends and I couldn’t get any decorations for our apartment. My sweet sisters and mom found a place that could send little potted decorated Christmas trees. So, one day I came home and there was this Christmas tree, just for me! I felt so blessed! Definitely the best thing I’ve ever received in the mail. The best thing I ever got in the mail was from my friend and old roommate who was living in New York. It was autumn, and she sent me an envelope of leaves–red, yellow, green, brown, orange, and golden ones of all different shapes and sizes. There was no note. Just leaves. And they smelled so good. 🙂 The best thing I ever receievd in the mail was a letter from my grandma, which included seeds to plant a peanut bush! a small note to our first daughter (when I was 6 months pregnant with her) from her daddy who was away at war…tellin’ her how sweet she was and that he couldn’t wait to meet her when he came back to us. 🙂 What just popped into my head was happy mail last week – finally, 3 years after Tara Whitney took our family pictures, I got enlargements. And in anticipation, I had the empty frames on the wall, waiting for them. Yay! Meg – hope your trip is safe and fulfilling for you!!! the best thing i got in the mail was JIF peanut butter for my kids when we lived in England!!! enjoy every moment of your trip!!!! My favorite thing to come in the mail would be my UGG boots….I basically live in them!!! My favorite thing that I ever get in the mail is to receive Christmas cards especially newsletters and family pictures. It was great to hear from them based on what they do during these years. love letters from my (at the time) boyfriend… The best thing I got in the mail was the new lego catalogue with legos from the kids lego club for my 6 year old. Keeps him busy for hours. Letters sent to me from my Grandmother while I was in college. A loooooong time ago but I still have them even though I don’t have her. a jury summons, i had a ball. that and any handwritten letter or card! Love Letters….oh yes! The best thing I ever got in the mail: When I was turning 13, the big teenage year, my cousin was in Namibia, Africa for two years teaching. She couldn’t come home and I hadn’t seen her since she had left two years before. For my big birthday she had gone into one of the bigger cities. To get there she had to get in a taxi with 10 other people and drive on a dirt road. When she got there she payed her few dollars for internet access and ordered my birthday present. She timed it perfectly so the present arrived on my birthday. It was an Edna St. Vincent Milly poem book, with a poem about seperation marked for me. It was single handely the best most heartfelt peice on mail I have ever recived. Some great pieces of mail have been my children’s birth certificates. I also love getting birthday cards and Christmas cards too. our passports! 🙂 Letters from a long distance friend all through high school. I always looked forward to those letters! the best thing I ever got in the mail was the brand new limited edition 8 quart kitchen aid mixer sent to me for Christmas from someone who reads my blog!! can you say BLOWN AWAY??????????????????? Pictures! I love it when I recieve unexpected pictures in the mail from friends that come visit and without my asking mail me pictures from the time they spent with us… that just makes me smile 🙂 LOVE IT everytime… Letters from my husband when he was deployed on a submarine and out at sea for months at a time. The Best. The best thing I still get in the mail is the Kodak albums of our family that I make when I’m too busy to scrapbook! My mom still sends “care packages” for our family like she did when I was in college. I love seeing my girls’ faces when we open the boxes. I have to admit that I am always excited to see what she picked out to send for us! I love getting prints in the mail that I have ordered online. So exciting! We received a “Notice of Favorable Determination Concerning Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition.” Basically, it told us we were approved to adopt a little girl from China.THAT WAS FOUR YEARS AND TWO BIOLOGICAL CHILDREN AGO. We are still waiting. Hand writen recipes from my grandmother. She has past away and these are so precious now. Best thing I’ve gotten in the mail lately – my order from Everyday Minerals. Spent $44.00 that included shipping and handling and I got two brushes, one full size concealer and 24 trial sizes of various concealers, make up bases and eye shadows. The trial sizes last a long time, the makeup doesn’t hurt my skin like most other makeups do (I have rosacea), it covers well and heck it is just fun to play with new pretties. Have a rewarding trip! 28 days after I moved from California to Tennessee it was my birthday and my amazing friend sent me a to go container of my two favorite salsas from the taqueria I ate at all the time back home. I can’t put into words how it made me feel to have that familiar smell and taste in a place that was still so unfamiliar to me. Best mail ever!!! Hmmm, scrapbook supplies? The best thing I ever got in the mail was…an incredibly sweet card from my fiance {now husband}! 🙂 The best thing I’ve ever gotten in the mail was the oh, so- providentially-timed-by-God money after we were first married. We still don’t know who the sender was, but it blessed us immensely, especially in those tough first months-year. One of the best things I’ve gotten in the mail was a friend from a pen pal from Slovakia. I live in Arizona, and my brother is on a mission in Slovakia. He told a friend to write a letter to his family, she happened to know a little English, and so I wrote her back. I love getting her letters! The best thing I ever got in the mail was a hula dancer get up from my daddy when I was 5…he was stationed in Hawaii without us for 8 months…I played and played with that set…I still have the skirt and now my sweet little girls spend hours hula-ing just like their mama did as a gilr 🙂 The best thing I ever got in the mail was a hula dancer get up from my daddy when I was 5…he was stationed in Hawaii without us for 8 months…I played and played with that set…I still have the skirt and now my sweet little girls spend hours hula-ing just like their mama did as a gilr 🙂 I love mail from my best friend. She always sends the sweetest things that just tell me that she knows me like no one else does. Growing up we always looked forward to getting this amazing tin of chocolates at Christmas from my mom’s best friend. One year when I was in college my mom sent me a tin of my very own. It was the best ever!! The best thing ever was receiving a package in the mail for Valentine’s 2008. It was a package from my husband who was currently deployed. If you knew him, you would know that communication from him when he is deployed is very slim. He hates computers, email, writing letters, etc. But he also is not big on gifts. So for him to actually send something that he personally ordered & picked out along with a sweet message was huge! I don’t recall one specific package or letter, but letters from friends and family are always my favorite! Best Mail Ever: A few years ago we got a letter from our mortgage company saying that our payment was going down and oh here’s a check for too much money that was in the escrow account. Loved that and of course has never happened again!! First of all Meg, I love your blog and DON’T miss it…EVER! The best thing I got in the mail are my wonderful Crocs boots. I have recess duty everyday at school, and in the winter, these boots are my life! We get a lot of snow in Indiana, and these keep my feet warm and toasty! That’s a hard one. I would have to say in recent years it was a birthday card (one of those music ones) from an old friend who I don’t hear from much. If I remember tight it was one of those birthdays that I would’ve rather not have done anything on. (We have three b-days back to back, mine being the last.) When I opened the card “Walking on Sunshine” played. Totally made my day! I have held onto to the card to this day. When I need a sunny smile I open the card. Easy, The day I day I got my referral information about my oldest daughter Maggie. The adoption agency sent it to my office and I had to wait for 3 long hours for my husband to get back from a meeting to open it. As soon as he got to my office we were pushed into an empty room to take a first look at our beautiful girl. I still have the fed ex envelope. She just turned 12. How fast time goes! A card from my friends:) The best things I’ve received in the mail were probably the letters from my husband (then fiance) when I was in Ghana for a semester in college. Oh, Meg. How I love your blog 🙂 You brighten my days & I just love being welcomed into your home. My favorite thing I have ever gotten in the mail? Letters from my little brother (well, I guess 21 is not so little anymore…) who is in the ARMY. An unexpected box filled with goods from a Kate Spade sample sale (a girlfriend works for Kate Spade). i was in college and away from home living in the dorm…my mom sent me the most random package…birthday plates, birthday napkins, forks, party hats, candles, icing…and…pringles and planters party peanuts …hmmm…i thought it was so random all day until i opened the pringles…inside were homemake cupcakes stacking on top of each other (uniced of course), sprinkles and decorations in the planters tin…it was a birthday party in a box…:) That is so cool that you’re in the magazine!! The best thing I ever got in the mail has to be a large chocolate hamper, I was in heaven for days (yes sadly it was so yummy it didn’t last long!). Hey Waffle, you never call. How ’bout sneaking that magazine my way? And maybe we could spend a little time together? I can run you ragged! The best thing I ever get in the mail is hands down just a note from a friend out of the blue. “Just because” Best thing I ever got in the mail.. One of my best friends sent me a couple of pages telling me her life story. Letters and Christmas cards/pix from friends. Also, I remember when I was little (before email and text messaging) and looking forward to letters from my pen pal! Letters from my husband while he was deployed overseas the first time. It was before the internet was really going and you had to pay for AOL by the hour and so we didn’t get to call or email like we do these days. Letters from him were the one thing that I would carry around with me everywhere until he came back home!! Just got my picture of Annie in the googly-google glasses. Love it. Best mail: The best thing I ever got in the mail was years ago we had ordered my daughter a My Twinn doll for Christmas- in September. It was all she wanted and at 7 years old she was becomming a big sister for the first time and I knew big changes were ahead. All the clothes arrived but come December the doll still hadn’t shipped. When it finally did ship, it stopped tracking somewhere in the middle of the US- lost! I called My Twinn, in tears, a week before Christmas. They were no help and I set out in search of some other doll to take its place. All of a sudden, late on the 23rd, the doll miraculously appeared! Best mail day ever! Congrats on being in the magazine! I would love to win a copy. the best thing i ever got in the mail was the letters i would get from sister when she was away from college and i was a small girl, they were filled with colored pencil sketches and ideas to help me improve in my dance lessons, then we would write back and report. good good memories My best mail came recently…Valentine’s Day…my favorite holiday! Well, we have had some bumps and bruises recently (like the last 3 years), but God is good and helping us take one day at a time. So, hubs was out of town on Valentine’s Day and her remembered to send me (and our daughter) very, very sweet cards. Meg, this is a BIG deal because he doesn’t do mushy stuff! This card had it all, mush, hearts, kisses, hugs and everything!!! I LOVED IT!!! Best mail ever! Well, I am not famous like you so noone sends me anything. So, so sad, PEOPLE! I think the most coveted thing I have received in the mail is letters from my husband when he was serving in Desert Storm. He couldn’t tell me where he was and did not have access to phones, and email wasn’t invented yet so I began to chase the mailman each day. No, not because he was hot! Because he was bringing me a part of my husband. So, does that count? Okay, this might be silly but, I love it when I get my magazines in the mail :P. Those are good days! The best thing I ever got were love letters from a college boy I was dating in High School…He was a total romantic, and I treasured every letter:) Best thing in the mail…long-distance love letters in the days before all the new communication technology. Birthday cards with money inside!! Always unexpected and wonderful!! Love the 5! A check in the mail for $500 from an anonymous giver at our church. It was so unexpected and really needed; I had a stack of bills that were due but couldn’t be paid until my husband got paid almost a week later. I didn’t think these things really happened to people — especially not us! God is good 🙂 when I was at camp and my grandmother wrote me letters…I’m so glad I still have them. A hand knit scarf that one of my best friends sent me for my birthday a few years ago! a norah jones cd with a check to cover my massive phone bill after a 7 hour phone to my future husband-met,talked 7 hours, married exactly 3 months later! 🙂 I love the photos! You do yoga/stretching on a QUILT? What an awesome idea. Ooh please pick me! 😀 The best thing that i ever got in the mail was actually just recently…a letter (an actual 3 1/2 paged letter) from my Grandpa who never writes! 😀 an old friend (i haven’t seen in five years and only spoke to a few times in that period) recently surprised me with a large box full of fabric – she works for a high-end distributor, was cleaning out her samples and said sher thought of me. i was about eight months pregnant and it totally made me cry i was so happy to dig through the treasures. Letters from my husband or kids when they are away. My husband goes out of town for work, sometimes 3 or 4 weeks at a time. We talk every day most of the time, several times a day, but I love to get mail from him. Last week I got a handmade postcard from my son in college. We see him often, but this was just to say he was thinking of us, and that is special for a 22 year old boy!. If I win the magazine will go to my daughter. She will love it! Jackie What a cool magazine! I love getting FREE things in the mail from food to makeup to magazines and coupons for FREE items. Who says there’s nothing in life for FREE! It didn’t happen to me, but to my Nana: She went to a fortune teller, who said she was going to get a diamond watch in the mail. Nana said that was absurd. And then sure enough, she got one! It was sent by her fiance. Wow, have a GREAT trip, be safe, and yes, wear that sunscreen! anytime i get shoes!! sigh… that magazine would be the best thing I ever got in the mail… looks like a fun one!! I’ve never gotten anything that awesome in the mail, but I was pretty excited for my curtains to arrive from Urban outfitters! The magazine looks awesome. Dying over the yellow shoes. And LOVE the 5! When I first went off to college I was feeling a little homesick for my grandparents (they are in AZ and I’m in IL going to school)–one day I had gotten a small package from them. I opened it up and inside was a green apple (which was one of my favorite foods when I was a kid). They had shipped a green Granny Smith apple all the way from Phoenix and my Ota (Gpa) to this day thinks it one of the funniest things ever. Little does he know it’s what got me through my first semester away from home:) Best thing in the mail=a surprise necklace from Vintage Pearl, purchased by my amazing sister…wear it every.single.day. I love reading all these! The best thing I ever got in the mail was a letter from my husband in Ranger School (where we couldn’t communicate except by letter) telling me he couldn’t wait for our wedding in a couple days….telling me all the reasons why he wanted to be with me forever! A Christams package with all my favorites one year when I was far away from home. My childrens’ birth certificates. My best friend who moved away to Georgia, sent me the most darling sign,from http://www.fairyfreckles.com, it was such a sweet surprise! I miss her! I love your blog Meg, I follow several, but yours is one that I go to first and never miss. You always seem to encourage and inspire me in my walk with Jesus, thank you! Cards and Letters from my almost 90 year Grandmother. She NEVER forgets a birthday or a Holiday (unlike me) She ALWAYS takes the time to write in everything she sends, always including a memory. I will always cherish her cards and letters! Just yesterday I received a care package from my best friend. I had told her that I’d been dreaming about painting our study the perfect shade of blue. She sent paint chips, her favorite paint brush, putty knives, great advice, a cute card and chocolate…and wishes that all my dreams would come true! 🙂 How cute are you in those shoes? Love the springy happiness. Best thing in the mail? Right now I am waiting for the new bathtub to arrive. Random that I am getting a bathtub in the mail, right? But it will be the first time in 8 years that we actually have one that is big enough for a grown up to lounge in. Now to carve out time for actual lounging. My Master’s Degree – The day the mail lady pulled up to our house I saw her pull the package out of the truck. I told her that was probably the most expensive piece of mail I will ever receive. It took me about 4 years to complete while staying at home but I did it! I would have to say a Church Cookbook from my Aunt Audrey, she mailed it to me our first Christmas after we got married! she has since passed on and every time i use that cookbook i think of her! Hope you have a safe trip, enjoy every moment! the best mail I ever got was a mix tape (when they actually existed) from a boy I had a crush on. I was a freshman in college and oh so giddy! Best mail ever was a recent package from my bloggy BFF Michelle. It had an adorable picture frame she made, yummy chocolate, a bottle of Framboise, lovely smell goods for body and hair, and her incredibly witty greeting cards. I love her so much! Isn’t the Internetz great? This is kind of funny, but the only thing that comes to mind. Once, when my heat pump was broken and my house was freezing and our one space heater was dedicated to the office (where I was doing homework)… I complained on facebook that my toilet seat was freezing and I wished it was heated. Two days later I got a package in the mail from my sister in law. It was a Toilet seat cover, and while every one else thinks that is weird, they don’t have to sit on the 30 degree toilet seat. It was such a thoughtful, random gift. 🙂 The best thing I can ever remember getting in the mail was a letter from our priest, telling us, after premarital counseling, he felt we would have a very successful marriage. 26 years later I still have that letter! The letter with the official date and time to go to court to FINALLY adopt our 2 little ones. Have fun in Africa! I would have to say my necklace from the Vintage Pearl. My hubby got me a gift certificate for Christmas and I absolutely love it!! the official birth certificates for our kids had to be a major-mail-highlight! Meg, Safe travels! Stay hydrated on the plane- will help with jet lag! And no naps once you get there- like you’ll even have time for them 🙂 I am so excited for what you are doing. You are definitely on my prayer list! Best mail I ever got goes back a few years…letters from my now husband. We were separated by 3,000 miles for 1 1/2 years prior to the e-mail boom! I love to look through this generous sized box of hand-written letters…sigh. A dear friend of mine made me the most beautiful and elegant pillow to match my bedding. I wasn’t expecting it at all and it made me feel so special to know she worked so hard on something for me. BEST MAIL EVER: when i was gone for a year studying abroad in the u.s. ten years ago, i really missed a certain kind of cheese and also knew by the time christmas is around i would miss my very favorit: grandma’s christmas bread. so my mom asked my grandma to make a bread just for me so she could ship it to me. bless her heart with her 88 years of age she made one early so i could have it by december (it needs some time to sit and “ripe”). also my mom bought a really big chunk of cheese and by that i mean big. she wrapped and packed both goodies carefully and send it on its way from germany to chicago. i didn’t know my mom planned this and when i got the package – was really surprised – unpacked it and saw what was sitting inside, i was so touched i started crying. that was really something! love love love the big ol’ number 5. About 15 years ago, I got a silly little note in the mail and it wasn’t signed. It was also typed (before typewriter fonts were available/popular) on a typewriter. I still haven’t figured out who sent it and noone will fess up. So fun. Special caramel apples from my mother-in-law we get every fall. They are from a little candy shop in her small town. Hubby and I know fall has begun as soon as we bite into one of these sweet delicacies. Who knew you could mail caramel apples!? They always arrive in great condition. post cards! i love getting post cards in the mail because it means the sender was gracious enough to think of little ole me while soaking up sunshine somewhere fabulous. 🙂 …thinking of you as you get ready for your trip! Safe travels! I love this give away. I read all the comments…so sweet! The best thing I got in the mail was for my high school graduation…in 1987. My grandmother had passed away several years prior, my parents divorced, and we moved out of state away from our family, so needless to say it was a sad time in life. However, my aunt mailed me a beautiful necklace and on it was my charm from my grandmother’s charm bracelet and a beautiful card. It was a day I will never forget. I am very sentimental. One of my favorite pieces of mail was the letter I got from my daughter the first time she went away to summer camp for a week. I had been so worried that she would be too homesick to have fun. Not so! My diploma! I skipped graduation to go to the zoo and it was so fun to get my diploma in the mail. I have never enjoyed getting mail more than I did from the age of 13-15. I was dating a boy from 45 minutes away, and wrote letters almost every other day. I remember that feeling of butterflies in my stomach as I was hoping and wishing there would be one of his handwritten notes in my mailbox. It was just the best feeling. A pillow I bought from YOU…..! The best thing in my mailbox… anything addressed to me that doesn’t fit in my mailbox (: I moved across the country when I was pregnant and was bummed out that I couldn’t travel back for a baby shower with my family and friends. My sister threw a shower anyway and mailed me all of the gifts and pictures from the party. She is the sweetest 🙂 Getting unexpected checks in the mail!! It’s always a nice surprise! africa on monday…whoa! best thing in the mail, hmmmmm? love letters from my hubby (then fiance) when he was in amsterdam the week after we got engaged (10 years ago!). ah, young love ; ) Can I have two answers? My best friend moved far away when we were 16, and she sent me a scrapbook full of our childhood memories for my next birthday. I passed it back to her last year and we laughed and laughed (31 years of friendship will do that)! A birthday package from my parents when I was living in England. I love mail in general. I check it all day til it gets here. A long distance friend and I recently starting writing each other. We both write on vintage stationary. I really look forward to those letters. The best thing I ever got in the mail was my marriage certificate. It made the start of our family feel so official 🙂 I loooove all my fun Etsy packages, but I really miss letters. There have been a few charming boys in my past that used to send me really fun/unique/amusing/cute letters. I ended up marrying one of them — so it’s all good. But I still smile when I think of how exciting it was to find one of their letters in my mailbox! …hmmmm, tough question, recently, a pillow from Meg. My mom always sends me singing cards on holidays since I am away at college. The post office always squished them, so i have to perform some surgeries to make them work, but they always make me smile. The best thing I ever got in the mail…. was a birthday card from my oldest son. It was a big deal for me because he had graduated high school a few months before and immediately moved to a completely different town to attend college. I never hinted to him when my birthday was… he remembered on his own. And it arrived in time for me to enjoy it for several days. And it was big. And glittery. And signed with love. And I still have it. well the coolest thing recently was this great picture of some sunflowers that I do believe you just might know the photographer! 🙂 any real mail is wonderful from someone is the best. I save ALL of the cards, notes, letters that I receive! Perfect timing – the best thing I’ve ever received in the mail just happened this week! I’m a bit of a finance geek, and one of my favorite financial newspaper columnists, Michelle Singletary, was giving away a copy of Thomas J Stanley’s new book “Stop Acting Rich: …And Start Living Like A Real Millionaire.” I sent an email entry a couple of weeks ago, and didn’t think anything more about it. When I saw a package in the mailbox this week from her, it was like a scene straight out of the movie “A Christmas Story” – I had won a “major award.” According to my 10 year old, I shrieked like a teenager when I realized what it was. None of my friends get my love of finance, so they weren’t very impressed with my “major award”. But, I teach a finance class at church, and I’m always looking for new material, so this was pretty exciting stuff to me. Love letters from my now husband…going on almost 17 years and I couldn’t be happier. Best mail I ever got. Safe travels and have FUN! Oh, and congrats on being featured in a magazine….of course you’re so cool that it’s well deserved! May God continue to bless you and your sweet family! One of the sweetest gifts I received was in college my freshman year. My dad was doing a lot of traveling and he sent me a huge box full of all the travel size shampoos, lotions and mouth washes. He knows I love little things. It meant the world to me! Anything besides bills is good mail to me! PASSPORT! Just in time for a mission trip to India. Praying for your trip…may God prepare you wholly, protect you completely, and bless you eternally for your obedience to go and share the love of Jesus! Flowers from my mother-in-law. The flowers are your basic variety – you can pick them up anywhere – but having a mother-in-law who sends them to you just because is really awesome! Don’t think I can pick one. In general it would be gifts from my Mema. Packages for every holiday or no holiday at all. So fun. Have already started praying. Can’t wait to hear about the trip! Wow such beautiful stuff!! the gifts for you kids are so thoughtful (: that will really help them while your away doing something helpful in another country!! The best thing I ever received in the mail were care packages from my Mom when I was away at college. LOVE stuff from Mom. I bet your kids will love what you left them. 🙂 The best thing I ever got in the mail… a gift from a friend, just because, not for a birthday, or christmas, but just because she was thinking about me. The best kind of gift. The best thing I ever got in the mail was my acceptance to University. It was not my first choice, the first choice had declined the pleasure of accepting me. (Only sixteen spots available in the program.) The second letter from another university was like a balm of goodness. It all worked out and thanks for a 23yr old memory. When I lived in East Asia, my mom would send me cards. They ALWAYS came when I was about to burst into tears from frustration or loneliness! Moms are the best!! When I was in middle school, my Grandparents would mail me Cathy and Garfield cartoons every week since my hometown paper didn’t carry them at the time. Isn’t that the sweetest? Have a great trip Meg! xoxo oh my goodness! how cool is that? hmm, my favorite mail is any mail . . . except bills. i love getting packages in the mail! i would love to find that magazine in my mailbox one day! I remembered what I wanted to tell you. It was to be sure to take the journal Lorel made you for Christmas and write everything about your trip in it. I see someone else gave you some too. You will be very glad to have it journaled. A postcard written on a Frisbee! My baby sister (in eigth grade, not so much a baby) wrote a poem and sent it to us – snail mail! What 13 year-old does that??? My mom always sends me the best mail- cards, letters, and packages. There have been great ones from summer camp, college days, etc. I’ve been living about 800 miles from my hometown the past couple of years and last year celebrated my Birthday away from home for the first time. My mom sent “a Birthday party in a box” so that my 3 year old could celebrate the day with me. It was full of cupcakes, frosting, sprinkles, candles, balloons, paper plates, napkins, and gifts. It was such fun! i had a secret admirer one year with my small group. i would get occasional “love packages” just dropped into my mailbox. kitchen towels one time, fun little decorative cocktail napkins another time. and flowers another time. so fun to get a little random funness. a letter that changed our lives, My favorite mail was all the letters I got while I was in basic training for the Air Force. A letter from home, especialy from my Dad, just made the time there more bearable. DVD’s, my two sisters do this thing…”the sisterhood of the traveling dvd’s. we each put a dvd in and watch the two from the other to sisters and write letters about the movies we watched and are sending. It is an endless cycle. I love my sisters and sharing our love for movies with each other. Referral pics for our two international adoptions. Hands down! Those shoes are SO cute! We do quite a bit of online shopping, so I get some neat stuff in the mail. I guess one of the best has been my clogging shoes! I have been clogging now for 2 years and LOVE it. I will have to look for the magazine locally (if my name isn’t drawn!) little notes and cards from my Ma & Pops that say they love me “always & all ways”. And this year for my birthday they surprised me with a package that ended up being 25 pink roses (my dad bought them for my mom when she had me) and they wanted to do something for my big 1/4 century. They’re so sweet! 🙂 Love letters from my husband — when I was in college — and the only other means of communication was the dorm payphone! and boy did people get annoyed if you hogged that. It was a long time ago 😉 Letters of encouragement from my granny while I was in college. She always knew just what to say to make my days brighter and even though she was new in her faith, she still seemed to be full of godly wisdom to impart to me when I was struggling with something. I’ll always hold onto those precious words. The best thing I get in the mail is “the box”. A long distance friend and I decided to forgo birthday and Christmas gifts and just send a shoe box back and forth throughout the year. There’s no rhyme or reason as to when it may arrive but I am always guaranteed sweet surprises. It may be a new magazine, some wonderfully smelly tea lights, a little seasonal decoration, basically whatever strikes our fancy. The best thing? There is almost always dark chocolate stashed in there somewhere! I LOVE to get mail … (almost) all kinds of mail! I religiously check my mailbox every Monday-Saturday. I love to find something with a handwritten address on it. Lately, my favorite mail has been from my sister/niece. My sister got the idea to send thank you notes from my niece (now 14 months) that are a picture of her playing/wearing/holding a the gift you gave. I LOVE to get these new pictures! I am new to the blog world… this year I took part in a blog secret santa swap. The best thing I have every gotten in the mail had to be my gift from my secret blog sants. She sent me so many things that make me happy … it was amazing that she doesn’t even know me but took the time to read my blog and send me things that she knew had to make me happy. It was such a great idea and such an amazing gift!! PS. Also glad to see someone sent sunscreen, cause if I hadn’t found the pretty journals I would have sent that for you;) I get lots of fun mail because my husband is awesome and sends me stuff all the time. Even just cards. And he times them to get here when he knows we have a busy day or week. He’s pretty good. But my most favorite thing I’ve ever gotten was from my dad. When I was a poor struggling college student going to a very expensive Christian college he sent me $100 and told me it was our little secret and I had to use it to have fun. I still have the card he sent it in and it makes me happy. I have picked up that magazine in every store I’ve been in recently and never flipped all the way through, I’m sad I didn’t know you were in it. I would have bought it right up immediately! But, maybe I will win your extra copy instead?!! My boys’ birth certificates. It was the joy of them being born all over again! A letter stating that my student loan was paid in full!! Have a safe trip! Handwritten letters from my brother who was a Marine in active combat during the Persian Gulf Wars. Back in the day when e-mail and internet were not as accessible as they are today, those letters were HUGE for us. My mattress 🙂 lol hahaha Have a safe and wonderful trip! Can’t wait until you get back so we can read and see your pictures! Being in Nashville, TN, I’m just a little far away from my hometown & family in Newton, KS. So when I was pregnant with my first child, my Aunt organized a baby shower in a box for me, having so many of my family members pitching in. It had confetti and everything!! I remember feeling so loved even though I was so far away! When I was about 6 my mom went on a mission trip to Jamaica and she left little notes and gifts for my brother and me to open every day while she was gone. I still remember how fun that was for me, though I don’t recall what any of the presents were. 🙂 My parents have been career missionaries in West Africa for 20 years, now. I will be praying for you as you go. Post cards from my brother in jail. I like hearing from him when he is sober… which sadly only seems to happen when he is in jail or rehab =( My husband and I dated long distance for a while. During that time he wrote me the most amazing love letters. Best mail ever. Oh wow, love that you are in that magazine! And please, please, please tell us where you found those awesome ruffle shoes. My first semester of undergrad, a group of nuns I didn’t know sent me a big box of stuff including food, a frisbee, a yoyo, and $20. It was awesome. a package of scrapbook do-dads from…..YOU!!!!! Letters. I love letters! HELLO…pick me!!! I have looked everywhere for this. Please, please, please….I beg and have no pride:-) A postcard from an old friend with a picture of him and his son. That was nice!! Care packages from my mom when I went to camp! I hope you have a wonderful trip! Letters from my Grandma. We’ve been penpals eversince I can remember and I always look forward to an envelope with her bubbley handwriting on it. Have a wonderful and more importantly,SAFE trip Meg! It was college and a boy — a wandering boy without much money. We became friends during his stopover in my hometown out west, and then he moved on. A few weeks later I got a big box on my doorsgtep. I couldn’t imagine what it was since he was living hand to mouth at that time. He had made it to New England and had sent me a box full of autumn leaves in blazing reds and oranges and yellows. He wished I was there to see it with him. It was amazing. I still have them, even though they are dusty and faded… Handwritten letters from my best friend. Meg, I will be praying for you and your group while you are away. Mr. sends me love letters from the office. It is always unexpected and delightful. Pick me, I could use some inspiration on the recession budget! Safe, safe, safe travels. My best friend sent me popcorn balls a couple of weeks ago…no joke they were so happy and fun and colorful… it was definitely a good mail day! 🙂 Gosh the best thing I got in the mail. Probably cards from my frined from California. We send each other cards. she sends me die cuts and pics. We keep in thouch that way. Have a safe trip. Birthday cards with loving messages from my dad (still and I turned 44 last Sunday). my head is full. then another bag will be full of cake mixes and frosting.
do you know that i LOOOOOOOOOOOVE the show LOST? and one more thing. I wonder what the children would do if you made and cut into a rainbow cake (if someone were to have a birthday while you are there). Oh, to see their reactions to such fun! Enjoy hugging and loving on all those littles. Meg, I LOVE Lost too! I can’t wait until the series is over (don’t get me wrong, I’ll miss it) because I want to have a Lost marathon this summer where I watch the whole series from start to finish. Such a great person! Bringing dresses and foods over for those kids! Great to know we still have good caring people out there! I’m so jealous you are going to Africa. I would love love love to be apart of something like that! Monday?? I will be praying for you while you are gone…You, the people you encounter, and your family at home!!!! I love list makers and I love LOST. I cry inside every time it’s over for the week. 🙂 Can’t wait for my pics either. Have a wonderful time! Have a safe and wonderful trip!! All the best to you Meg. I can’t wait to hear your story. I also can’t wait to get my bubblegum pic. I know my girls will love it. SOoooo exciting…well, the trip….not the prep and the lists!!!! I am praying for you….that you are able to complete all those things on your list and stay somewhat sane 🙂 You are SUCH an amazing person Meg!!! (And I love the pic….I have that same look…except I am THE QUEEN at rolling my eyes too!!!! So if you can just imagine an eye roll with that look…….) What a great cause and how lucky you are to be able to experience them receiving the items you are taking. Beautiful dresses too. God bless you on your amazing journey. Can’t wait to hear all about it 🙂 Meg, good luck in Africa! you are amazing!!!!! well done to you for doing this, i cant wait to see all the photos when you get back. Your going to love it!!!! xxx Excited for your trip! I’ve been on a few missions trips and they are life changing! I’ll be praying….. On a totally unrelated topic I read an article about ‘Why big families are easier’ and I thought you’d enjoy it since you have 5 kids. I have 4 kids and totally related to this article. Plus it just made me laugh! Here’s the link… Enjoy! I’ve been sewing dresses just like that for my granddaughters! They are SEW easy to make. 😀 I saw a cute passport holder at tjmaxx the other day! Have fun on your trip! Best of wishes for a time that is unforgettable.. Hope you get it ALL done.. ha ha ha! I just laughed out loud at “and i look a little cross eyed.” you’re a hoot! love annie’s expression! I just wanted to let you know that I will be praying for you – for peace, safe travel, and fun! meg-so excited for you! i know you’re probably scared/excited/nervous/freaking out. i’m freaking out too–for you–i’m a nut, i know. can’t wait to learn more about your trip! The dresses…wow! What a wonderful thing. I’m so happy I read this today!! I’ve was packing up my linen closet today and came across 20 or so pillow cases that I will never use. I was going to give them away but now I’m going to make these. I love this idea! Thanks so much for posting it. I am so glad that someone else still follows LOST! I agree with you completely and it is one of those shows that really makes me think!! I am so sad that it is coming to an end:( Have a wonderful trip!! I’ve been a few places overseas and just can’t imagine that it won’t be very challenging (in a good way) and somewhat life altering. My trips made me feel much smaller, and made God feel much bigger. Puts things in perspective. You’ve got some eyelashes. Well, some eyes – all around, beautiful eyes. Not veiny eyes sans lashes, like some unfortunate souls might have. (Can you tell I know that of which I speak?) I looked at your list and thought, “Wow, I did’t know Meg was writing a book!” have a wonderful trip and stay safe…i will be getting home just as you leave…so go bless those people in africa! I love your scarf too! And that box of cake goodies will be SO dang fun! I mean, seriously wouldn’t YOU love to open a box full of CAKE goodies? 🙂 I love your to do list! It’s organized yet fun! I’m sure things are crazy for you, but God will let it all come together and it will perfect in His will! Have a most wonderful trip & experience!!! 🙂 Oooohhh! It’s getting close! So exciting! And you look pretty darn cute in that picture, btw. I don’t know why I thought you were leaving in April. No wonder you have had so much to do. March 1ST!!! Sooo excited for you. Sending some prayers that you will have peace and comfort as you finalize everything. Ok cutie…love the hair, how you make lists and that darn cute pillow case dress. My post is coming on Friday…just for you:-) Hi Meg. I’m sure you don’t need to add “read another blog comment” to your list…but I’ve been reading your blog for a log time and been dying to tell you…that my boss is Sierra Leonian! He has a non-profit ministry (that I am also involved with) to “Rebuild Sierra Leone”. We help support an orphanage there and bring school supplies to local schools in Free Town! I’m SO excited you’re able to go! Our church has sent 3 teams in the last 12 months and is sending 2 more in the next 12 months! What an exciting time! I can’t wait to see all the amazing pictures you’re sure to take! I’ll be praying for you as you prepare to go and for your people while you’re going! Eeeek! I am so excited for you! What an amazing thing you’re doing and all of those cakes and sprinkles look so happy. I hope the prep goes quickly for you. You have amazing eyes!! I am so excited for you 🙂 Hope someday I can do what you are doing. What an example! Oh wow! I can’t wait to hear about this trip! And the pictures and the experience … sounds so totally amazing!! Oh Meg…what an amazing adventure. I will be praying you and your team on your travels. What a great collection of gifts! I would love to hear what you’re going to say at customs… “Anything to declare Ma’am?”. Oh, not much, just 300 pounds of sugar and the cutest little dresses ever!! Hope you make it through your list. Don’t freak out. I will put safe travels on my prayer list!!! I hope to be able to go to Rwanda someday to help build houses. I have a friend from there who has the most amazing story ever. blessings and fun om your trip! how exciting! and yea, isn’t it amazing when it gets so hectic before and after a trip….like needing a vacation after the vacation… Good luck on your trip. Oh, I so, do not envy the packing. Love the little pillow case dresses. I’m sure there must be a tutorial out there. My eldest wants to start sewing and what a great first project for her, for her youngest sister. Love the way you organize. That is my kind of “things to do: list. I should try it, as it looks like it might work for my self diagnosed domestic ADHD. i can’t wait for you to go…and come back….and tell us all about it! can’t wait to hear what God has in store! passport holder: zoe by sherpani. i got mine on sale at rei. red. I want to come with you to Africa!! Maybe next time you go!! can you add “send cassie a copy of my list” to your list? You hair looks so cute! 🙂 I am praying for strength, peace, rest and health as the next few days fly by. I am so excited to see how mightily God will use you and your team. oh, nice list. I should make one of those. Wow, I didn’t realize the trip was coming so quickly!! Love those pillowcase dresses. wow. that list overwhelms me just looking at it!! maybe you should add “pack multiple boxes of kleenex” to it. i know you will need them! |
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Kimberlee J. - Love the earrings you’re wearing in that last shot.
Christina - Those first pictures with your younger son (I think that’s right) are so funny. And Talby is looking so like you! What a sweet face!
Happy Mother’s Day.
karen - Happy Mother’s Day Meg!!
Melanie - I love the photo of Talby. She is adorable!
Erin from Skoots and Cuddles - i love the photo of you and your pooch! it truly is the good stuff. thanks for sharing!
amy jupin - please move to alabama and be my bff. pretty please!
Jennifer - Wonderful, happy pictures! Especially the ones of you all terrorizing some indoor pool. HA!
We did a family cannon ball (Mom and Dad too!) on our cruise back in December. A family was allowing their kid to be VERY rude, splashing my girls terribly with no regard at all. So before we left, we retaliated. Great lesson for the kids, no?
Sixty-Fifth Avenue - Looks like so much fun! All of it!
We are starting swim lessons next week for our 4 year old…I hope this year she has more fun in the water.
Have a fabulous mothers day!!
Carrie K - good stuff for sure!! love the pool pics the most…
and that one of you and waffle…haaahaahaaa…that made me laugh LOUD…at WORK…whoops…haaahaahaa
Caroline @ The Feminist Housewife - Such priceless photos! I’m so glad I found your blog. I loved the guest post at 320 Sycamore!
Staci - Fun times 🙂 And I love Waffle’s “mean dog” face 🙂 I love it that you have to help him be mean 😉 Happy Mother’s Day Meg!!!!!!!!
Sue K. - oh ya, i forgot to say, it hard to make a doodle look vicious, even when you try too!
Sue K. - love waffles haircut – looks just like koda used too sniff sniff… and oh my goodness, talby looks just like you!!!
Molly - Looks like fun!!!
Molly
http://www.mypeaceoflove.com
Jesse Peak - My little ones just started taking swim lesson 2 months ago. We are loving it. Can’t wait to let them take off and swim this summer.
P.S. I have been thinking I might try to make an at home photo booth and duplicate that look. I think it would be fun! Happy Mother’s Day!
Gemma - Your pictures are lovely!( As per usual lol)
Yummy doughnuts 😀
Gemma X http://musings-of-a-gem.blogspot.com/
seriouslyahomemaker - stop it with the cute kids. its not fair to the rest of us! 🙂
angie
kelli - please have a drubers giveaway! 🙂
Dana Banana - This is the 3rd post I have seen today about Drubers. Makes me REALLY want donuts!