GIVERSLOG - Part 3

A Disposable Camera is 13 oz or less

09.13.12

Earlier this week my son and I were out doing a little shopping when we came across a bargain. I am still a sucker for an old school disposable camera. It takes me back to summer camp and the last day of the school year in middle school. And while I love and adore and cling to my DSLR as one of my greatest earthly possessions, you have to admit there is something about having all those pictures waiting inside the camera that has its charm.

We picked up a pair of cameras and thought we’d mail them to a pair of our favorite people.
I considered mailing them out of box, as is, and think I might have if they’d been going to someone a little older than 12. I would love to see any creative photographic work by postal workers. But to be safe for our little friends, we decided to mail these in bubble wrap, back to back.
It might be possible that we took a few photos of our own before wrapping them up.

The benefit of sending two cameras, besides the possibility that we were sending this to two people and they each might like a camera of their own, is this little trick. I’ve heard that by lining a couple cameras up just so, you can try shooting in 3-D. Check out the tutorial here, along with how to view your 3-D masterpieces. The 3-D camera set up:
So there it is. One package, two cameras, and just a few surprises waiting to come out during development.

and incase you’d like to see a little more, here is my favorite fun mail inspiration from the archives (or follow my 13 oz or less Pinterest board, or see it all right here):

find postage rates for happy mail right here along with other mailing details

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Printable Lunch Surveys

08.30.12

I always enjoy after-school pick-up. It is a good moment of the day, a mini-reunion the kids and I have five days a week, when the kids have news for me that comes bubbling up the moment I come into their view. I ask about their high and low for the school day and we discuss it all as we drive home to unwind or gear up for our after-school agenda.

I thought it might be fun to have a new way to connect a little more in the middle of their day, so this year I put together some mini-lunch surveys, and thought I would share. Just print, snip into slips, and roll one slip up onto a pencil to drop in a lunchbox.

So then. For your downloading convenience, here are two pages of probing questions, plus one blank page, in case you’d like to write a few questions of your own, or in case your child would like to turn the tables and write a question for you.

Click to download all three pages: Printable Lunch Surveys

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How to Host a Book Exchange

08.23.12

We held our first book exchange for my kiddos earlier this year. It was fantastic. We did it at a double birthday party for my son and daughter, in lieu of gifts, and I was really pleased with how well it went off.

I’m only slightly ashamed to admit that once the party was over, it was kind of a nice break not writing thank you notes. Does that sound just terrible?

We figured out a few logistics along the way, so I thought I’d share. We had guests bring new books, but it went so well that we are thinking we’d like to try a back-to-school used book exchange. I think it would be a great, simple excuse to round up a few kids for a fun afternoon.

How to Host a Book Exchange

1. Be clear on the invite. Mention on the invitation that the book needs to be wrapped, or if used books are okay, mention that.
2. Bring at least one extra book. Have your child bring a book of course, but have at least one extra (you’ll see why at the end). I had two extras, just in case I ended up with a bonus guest or in case one of our little guests forgot a book.
3. Get everyone settled. Have everyone sit in a circle and pile the books in the middle. I recommend double checking that every child sitting in the circle has a book in the middle. (We divided into two groups, one for my son and one for my daughter, and two of the books got scrambled, this took some sorting out.)
4. Explain in advance. I found it super helpful with a group of kiddos to explain how the exchange would work, to mention that we’d take the time to open each book and be happy and say thank you, and that once everyone had opened a book they were all welcomed to make trades at the end.
5. Start exchanging. Choose who will go first, in our case, it was the birthday girl and boy. That person chooses a book to open. Whomever brought the book chosen is the next to go, and so on. Each turn someone chooses a book to unwrap, and the next turn goes to the child who brought that book.
6. The final turn. When it comes to the last child, it’s nice for him or her to have options, so this is when I throw in the bonus book. Then he or she can choose between two. Whichever book is left unopened I just save for later.

p.s. gorgeous leather bound editions of children’s classics available here

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A Great Big Sponge is 13 oz or less

08.16.12

Is it hot where you are? It is good and hot here. Summer does not seem to be on its way out any time soon, though last week while I was at Hobby Lobby I did see an employee merrily putting up a Christmas tree display. But I am in no rush. I say bring on more watermelon and popsicles!

We have been thinking of new ways to cool down. And one of my kids’ new favorites is playing a classic game of duck duck goose, but with a car-wash-sized sponge. Usually this ends up in a big water fight. I am okay with that.

This is my newly-turned 3-year old. He is a good sport. And yes, after having him pose for that picture I had to let him unload a sponge over my head.

We thought we’d send a little heat relief to some friends in other hot places in the form of a giant car wash sponge. What could be more instantly refreshing?
We just wrapped a piece of sturdy mailing paper very snugly around the sponge, added some postage,

and it was ready to go. Really, if you found this in the mailbox, how long would it be until you soaked someone?

and incase you’d like to see a little more, here is my favorite fun mail inspiration from the archives (or follow my 13 oz or less Pinterest board, or see it all right here):

find postage rates for happy mail right here along with other mailing details

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Happy Mail How-To

08.15.12

send off some school supplies in a bottle, get the full details here

Hello everyone! How has your summer been? I hope it has been exciting and slow and wonderful all at once.

I have been meaning to get back to blogging for some time, I have missed everyone! I thought maybe the beginning of a fresh school year would be just the time. I snapped a few pics last week of some new happy mail we sent, so I will put those together and share here tomorrow.

But before I share something new, I’ve had several questions (and several reactions!) about the things I’ve mailed, and I thought it might help to go over a few basics of sending happy mail that I’ve learned along the way.

So here we go, a few happy mail tips for anyone wanting to try:

1. Write the mailing address and return address on the same surface. My friends at the post office taught me this one. It’s best to avoid any chance of confusion over who is sending and who is receiving.
2. Mail that weighs 13 ounces or less qualifies for USPS’s wonderful, inexpensive first-class shipping rates. The things I have mailed are, of course, considered first class parcels, not envelopes. You can download the parcel rates here on the USPS shipping sight, but I’ll include the current rates as of 3.15.13 here

Weight Not Over (ounces)
1	2.07
2	2.07
3	2.07
4	2.24
5	2.41
6	2.58
7	2.75
8	2.92
9	3.09
10	3.26
11	3.43
12	3.6
13	3.77

3. You can take your mail to the post office desk to be metered or add stamps yourself and drop it in a mailbox. Both are fun. Stamps are pretty! And it is fun just sticking stamps on a package and dropping it in the big blue mailbox to send it on its journey. But I always enjoy going to the counter and seeing my postal workers either grin or subdue a grin, depending on who is helping me behind the counter.
4. You can mail something without a box!? Yes. So far, I have never had a package returned, and never been turned down at the post office desk. I have, however, heard from readers who have happily walked into the post office with a frisbee to mail, and had the central post office managers of the whole country, I imagine, phoned on their behalf, and then been turned down. But the majority of my friends and readers have had no problems. You can always send something in a box, but there’s something about catching a person off guard. It’s kinda fun.
5. And now, the controversy! I have had some post office workers comment on how it makes their day to see a fun piece of mail come through, that they spend the day chuckling to themselves, and a couple tell me what a pain I am for workers who have to hand meter the mail. I have had one reader suggest that I might be single handedly taking down the struggling USPS post office (and another comment that happy mail might help save it!) To tell you the truth, I have thought quite a bit about this, as an ardent fan of the USPS and a sucker for a hand-written letter. I often have readers make me well up on the spot or laugh outloud telling me about eggs and frisbees and ribbon wands they’ve sent to a husband serving in the armed forces abroad or little kiddos who need an extra dose of support and love. I’ve also sent a few of that type of package myself. So far, I am thinking that happy mail is worth the effort, and am hoping that if the USPS should find that sending bouncey balls and flip flops and other items that need to be hand metered is costing more than is covered in their parcel rates, they inch up their rates a bit, I will pay.

MORE happy MAIL:: more fun mail inspiration from the archives:

(or follow my 13 oz or less Pinterest board, or see it all right here)

find postage rates for happy mail right here along with other mailing details

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Teacher Appreciation Doors

05.07.12

Teacher appreciation week is here! We spent the weekend decorating a door for my daughter’s class and it occurred to me that it might be fun to share. I’ll include a pic of the door we did last year too, plus a door I snapped a picture of as we walked by. Do you like? What are you doing for teacher appreciation?
p.s. If you’re in need a few teacher gift ideas, stop by here or here or here.

p.s.s. I have missed you all and am quite ready to get back to some more regular posting. We have a few crazy projects in full swing around here, but I am crossing my fingers that after all that is tied up, I will be seeing you more often.

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blogging break

02.09.12

I have been unconnected the last couple weeks and have been letting myself be nice and busy with cooking, faithfully attending group strength training at my gym (thank you), and potty training my littlest (success!)

I also cleaned out my closet on a whim and tossed several things into the donate pile. It felt amazing to slide over one hanger after another and love everything. (And just to make sure we’re clear, I am no fashion maven. On no, I rely completely on fashionable friends and consider blogs like this, this, and this required reading.) But I felt like everything left was truly me. I love editing things. I love the result. I love a well-edited kitchen utensil drawer or a well edited room design.

It got me thinking about this blog. I have been thinking since the holidays that I need a little time to rethink this blog, but haven’t quite figured out what to do about it.

I’ve been thinking that, because I love being in the kitchen and I have a chocolate shop, it would be professional of me to blog more about the kitchen. But I also get excited about mothering and organizing and good books and happy mail (as you know) and on and on. And I start wondering if it would be good or exhausting or unprofessional to blog about all of this.

I edited down my posts over the last year (in case you are a blogger and want the stats—I went from 5 posts per week to 1 or 2 without losing traffic, if anything my traffic climbed a bit, crazy and unexpected). And I have truly enjoyed the focus.

But lately I’ve been thinking I need to pull in more things that are truly me. I thought with enough experience, a more honest version of me would surface in every post, but on occasion I feel my posts starting to feel forced.

Up until now, I have had this desire to try new things, to swim in unfamiliar waters. But lately I’ve been feeling like I want to get down to what I do best. I think maybe it’s a natural part of growing up, of wanting to give back. I want to focus on the places where I am sure footed, and enjoying myself, and contributing. Do you know what those areas are for you?

They say that editing your wardrobe leaves you with more to wear, not less. I’d like to make that happen here.

And I’m thinking a new approach might help me trim down the sheer time that a good post takes, which is always a concern when it comes to putting first things first.

So I think I’ll take a little time away and rethink things. I may stop by and share if I send any happy mail, because sharing that is my very favorite.

Until then, thanks for listening. And here’s to pursuing the things you do best. Here’s to finding wardrobe and blogging s-w-a-g-g-a.

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eggs by post

02.08.12

I just wanted to drop in and with a little reminder to get your eggs in the mail this year!

Find details on sending eggs via post here and here. Find USPS’s current package rates (make sure you use package rates and not letter rates) right here.

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Two on Tuesday

01.17.12

Just wanted to let you know, as part of our big birthday bash, we have a fun offer going today only in the shop. Buy one of our Valentine two-packs (i love how they turned out, aren’t they sweet?) and get the second for $2. Just enter coupon code 2tuesday. You can check off a few teacher valentines or have a little something for yourself and a little something for someone who needs something cozy.

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A Tube of Burt’s Bees is 13 oz or Less

01.12.12

I just wanted to share a little something we have been mailing out for a couple of birthdays this winter and will be mailing as a few simple valentines. This time of year, there’s nothing like the gift of soft supple lips.

and incase you’d like to see a little more, here is my favorite fun mail inspiration from the archives (or follow my 13 oz or less Pinterest board, or see it all right here):

find postage rates for happy mail right here along with other mailing details

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Confessions of a Hopeless Introvert (me!)

01.09.12

Hello there. How were your holidays? Has your new year started off the way you wanted it to? I hope so. The new year has put me in a major organizing spree. I love starting fresh. More on that later.

For today, you can find me over at Blogstar, an amazing resource and blog of superwoman Sarah Bryden Brown (long-time publishing pro and author who has put together must. read. books by favorite bloggers). I am bearing my soul about what a complete hopeless introvert I am, and just what that has been like in my blogging life. I hope you’ll stop by!

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Ticket On Today Show

12.09.11

If you happen to be watching the Today show this morning, keep an eye out for our Ticket Chocolate. eek! In the meantime we will be here trying to remain calm. And using our best elf packing skills to mail out some chocolate.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

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A Wreath and Twinkly Lights are 13 oz or less

12.08.11

We know someone who is going to need a few festive decorations in her college apartment while she is slogging through finals, so we decided we’d better drop a some the mail.

It just so happens that a set of 100 holiday lights weighs in at just under 13 ounces. Lucky for us. So we were able to stick on a few cheery stamps and drop that string of lights in a big blue mailbox.
We also picked up a $3 straw wreath-form, which is perfect for wrapping in tinsel. That weighed about the same, so in the mailbox it went. It just fit.
Followed by a string of tinsel, of course.
Photo credits for all post office shots go to my lovely mother. Who came visiting and offered to come along to the post office and snap pictures. We ended up having a great conversation with a pair of English women, who got in their car, then got back out to find out what we could possibly be doing. Which it turns out is a pretty good way to start a conversation.

Happy holidays, everyone.

***

and incase you’d like to see a little more, here is my favorite fun mail inspiration from the archives (or follow my 13 oz or less Pinterest board, or see it all right here):

find postage rates for happy mail right here along with other mailing details

{ 17 comments }

Help Wanted

12.07.11

It has been almost a year since my sister-in-law and I opened the doors to our chocolate shop, and almost a year and a half since we first came up with this crazy idea.

Since then it has been a fun, wild ride.

We’ve found ourselves driving around the bay area with our minivans packed to rear-view-mirror-level with chocolate to deliver, we’ve learned how to mail chocolate to Florida in September, we’ve tasted hundreds of blends of hot chocolate, and then tasted them again, and then made our friends taste them, and we’ve made new friends with a whole lot of very awesome customers and shop owners and other people.

But we are ready to share the fun.

and the work : )

We are ready to expand Team Ticket.

We would love to bring on a few new willing women or men to join us on this adventure of ours. What will these women and men do, you ask? We don’t exactly know. We know they will probably work from home. But that’s about it. That’s where you come in.

We’d love to bring on some helpers, perhaps this January or maybe this August 2012. We know we want a few chocolate lovers to help us peddle Ticket Chocolate to smart little cafes and independent grocers and the like. And we know we would adore someone very organized and willing to help us keep up to date on our stock, or we might even like help from someone who is very serious in the kitchen to help us source ingredients.

But we really want to shape the positions according to who might like to join us and what they can bring to the table or fit in their lives. So if you have a moment and care to apply, we’d love to meet you.

Just click on this link and complete the survey.

And if we don’t get back to you in a flash, or even before Christmas, don’t worry. We are probably zipping around delivering chocolate. Or fitting in a little last-minute Christmas crafting and shopping. But we will read every application and be in touch either this January or this summer.

Thanks for considering.

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