I'm Lucky!

At the end of December I went to Wales. It was my first time in the country and I visited my lovely co-blogger Tanya there. She and her husband welcomed us with open arms. It was so great to meet them and they are a wonderful couple. They also have two lovely daughters. They took us shopping, they showed us around and they took us to a lovely pub. It was so much fun and my husband enjoyed it very much as well. In the short time I've known Tanya she's become a really good friend. 

Our last day was a busy one. I had the chance to talk to my good friend AJ from AJbookreviewclub on the phone which was so much fun. We could have talked for hours. Tanya also introduced us to her parents. It was great to meet them and they're so nice. In the evening we met Sophie from 23 Review Street and Rachel from Rachale's Reads. We went out for dinner and had a very good time, we couldn't stop chatting. It was so good to meet them and we all got along so well. It was fabulous! I already can't wait to see them again.

On Saturday I met Pia, my friend from Finland, in Amsterdam. She and her husband were on holiday here and she and I spent the afternoon together. It was amazing to catch up again and to do some shopping. I enjoyed it very much. 

Fortunately I don't have to be too sad that I won't see them for a while as I have plans to meet everyone again. I can also look forward to a meeting with Anniek next month. And I will be able to spend an evening with my sweet friend Marieke very soon. I think it's a splendid beginning of the new year. I feel loved and cherished and that's such a good feeling.

--- Suzanne ---

My 1st Anniversary

On January 12th 2014 I wrote my first post. I can't believe a year has gone by already. The first few months I struggled because of an elbow injury and I came close to giving up twice. Fortunately I persisted and didn't stop blogging. I love writing about Lavender, books, beauty products, Etsy shops and anything else that I love or fancy. Writing post for my blog means having a great time. It's never a burden or a chore. 

Through my blog I've met so many great people. I've made new friends and can't picture my life without them anymore. It's a joy to find messages in my inbox every day. I'm amazed by how many wonderful, kind and generous people there are and their support means the world to me. I'm also very happy with my two co-bloggers. They are helping me by writing great reviews and by spotting new books for me to read.

I'm currently trying to become more organized to add structure to my blog. In my second year of blogging I'm going to host blog hops, so other bloggers can join my book- and happy mail giveaways. I would also love for this space to become a platform for anyone who's created something great. There will be more changes in the past couple of weeks and I'll always try to find new ways to improve.

I want to thank everyone who reads my blog. It means the world to me that you click this site every day to take a look. I'm glad you like my giveaways and I'm grateful for all your wonderful comments. It's been a fantastic year!

--- Suzanne ---

My New Year's Resolution!

I used to make a long list of new year's resolutions and I did my very best to stick to it as well. I always want to do everything I do at least 100%, so that meant working on my new year's resolutions for an entire year to make a long, new list for the next one. It was quite exhausting actually. That is why at a certain point I decided I needed to change something. Instead of making a whole list of new year's resolutions I just made one and I kept telling myself through the whole year to stick with it no matter what. As it was working so well I kept the resolution the next year and the next. 

If I want to make a change in my life I can better do it straight away. I want to do things yesterday instead of tomorrow anyway, so this saves me a lot of waiting. Of course it's frustrating to be like that from time to time as well, but it isn't something I can easily change. That is also why my new year's resolution is so important. I love having fun and my goal is to have as much fun as possible. That's the only thing I promise myself over and over again. No matter what happens I want to enjoy every good thing that comes my way. 

My life hasn't always been the easiest, but I've sure had a lot of great times. I treasure them all and often think back about the good times I've had. Hopefully 2015 will bring me some joy again. Of course the hard times can't be avoided, but I'm trying to make sure there are wonderful moments to balance them with.

Happy New Year,

Suzanne

Thank You!

I love gifts and have received so many great ones for Christmas. I've never had so many nice packages and cards and this has made me unbelievably happy. I felt so loved and had a fabulous Christmas because of it. I've started this blog almost a year ago and can't believe how many great things have come my way because of it. I'm truly grateful for all the good that has happened to me this year. I love blogging and it's never a chore to write a post, I'm enjoying it every single day. I want to thank my readers for being so supportive, it's absolutely wonderful. It's another gift I've been lucky enough to receive. I want to thank everyone who's sent me great mail, kind messages and wonderful comments. They mean the world to me!

Christmas Countdown Giveaway: Merry Christmas by Suzanne

I love Christmas, it's my favorite time of the year. I usually read my first Christmas book in July, because I can't wait any longer. In September it's time to start buying gifts. Gradually I'm adding things to my list over the next couple of months. It makes me feel festive straight away.

Then at the end of November it's time to go Christmas shopping. Belgium isn't that far, so my husband and I always go to Brugge to buy Christmas ornaments. I'm such a big fan of Kathe Wohlfhart and I don't want to miss the chocolate covered oranges from one of the many chocolate shops in the city. 

If we have time in December we love to be in the Alsace. We even celebrated our honeymoon there. There are so many lovely cobblestone villages there. One of them is Riquewihr which is very popular, but for me the best town for Christmas shopping is Kaysersberg. I love all the little festive shops and have found many gorgeous Christmas decorations there.

In December we celebrate Sinterklaas on December 5th first and then it's time to start decorating. I also have to write lots of cards and I'm sending presents to my friends abroad. The weeks before Christmas are always so busy and I like the buzz. I have three Christmas trees. They're all standing in my living room and all the baubles and other decorations are different. I can't stop looking at them and can spend hours sitting and watching, being alone with my amazing memories.

Christmas is such a magical time for me and I'm feeling very lucky and blessed.

It's finally time to celebrate. Merry Christmas everyone! 

My prize will be a book from the Bookdepository and happy mail!

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      Win books, jewelry, Amazon gift cards, surprise gifts and plenty of other wonderful prizes. This is the last day you can enter! Visit onmybookshelf for more festive guest posts.

2015!

It's the end of 2014 and it's hard to believe this year is almost over. Last year's new year's resolution was starting a blog. At the beginning of the year Lavender's blog was live. I stopped blogging twice, but decided to give it a serious go at the end of April and that is when things started to evolve. I can't believe how much blogging has changed my life. I've met so many great people, I have the chance to read the most wonderful books and it's given me much more confidence. Blogging has definitely made my life a lot more fun. I enjoy writing posts, reading books, browsing Etsy to discover new things and trying out beauty products. I also really like my giveaways. Because of them I've received so many wonderful and kind messages. Everything together has made this my best year in a very long time.

Lavender is only a small part of my blog now and it's time for me to make some changes. In 2015 I'm going to continue showing you the things I like and love. I look forward to it and I'm sure it's going to be great. I will gradually make some adjustments during the next couple of weeks, so I can start 2015 with a fresh design and with more posts under my own name. I will kick off with a great giveaway of course...

---- Suzanne ----

Love for Books!

Whenever someone asks me what I'd like to have for Christmas or my birthday I always give them a very long list, my Amazon wish list. Books will always make me happy, I can't have enough of them. Which is also a bit of a problem, because I'm now getting review books which means I don't have as much time to read my own. Holding a potentially great story in my hands makes my day. Love is the most important thing in life and fortunately it's possible to also love books. I'm lucky as I have my love at first sight fairytale relationship and he loves to read. Together we can share our passion for stories and gathering knowledge. 

When people don't know what to give me for Christmas I always ask them for an iTunes card. I live in the Netherlands and those are for sale in regular shops. With these cards I can buy both English and Dutch books and it's always the best thing there is to get some new books with my credit. Obviously it will never last very long as there's always something on my wish list that I'd really like to have. 

It's wonderful to share my love for books in my own home, online and in conversations with my friends. While it wasn't so cool to read when I was younger now most people I know seem to love books. With e-readers the choice of books has become so much larger and there's something for everyone. The internet isn't the replacement of books, it's just an expansion, something I'm grateful for every day.

Books are magical and I'm lucky to be able to experience that magic every day. It is my life and the air I'm breathing. This year I've learned a lot, about reading, different genres and writing. I'm hoping to continue my journey. I can't wait to open my Christmas presents, to discover something new once more and to lose myself in the wonderful world of stories. I can't thank my husband, friends, family and the authors of the books enough for the joy they're bringing me.

The Joy of Gifts

 

I love getting presents. They've always meant the world to me. Ever since I was a little girl almost every present I received made me very happy. I  very much like the idea that someone spent time to choose something especially for me. That's the biggest gift there is. The only time I've been disappointed with something I received is when this clearly wasn't the case.

My worst present ever was a box in which I found a ripped restaurant magazine from the year before and a dirty stuffed animal that I'd given the giver about ten years earlier, now I received it back. This person forgot to get me anything and in her despair to find something she sent me junk. A present like that makes my heart ache. There are plenty of websites where the giver could have ordered me something much nicer for only the costs of the postage. With just a little bit of money you can find the most wonderful things if you spend some time looking. This 'friend's' gesture was hurtful and I felt ashamed unwrapping these gifts in front of my guests.

The sweetest present I received took the whole month of December last year. My husband made me an advent calendar and inside were either sweets or the most delightful little charms for a charm bracelet he gave me. All the charms are personal and they mean the world to me. I still can't believe he went through all that trouble to make last year's December the most romantic month of my life.

When people ask me for my wish list I either give them a link to my Amazon list or I ask them for an iTunes or Amazon gift card. Books always make me happy. There are plenty of other things I like though, so a surprise is very welcome. I love the idea of not knowing what's inside a package. The anticipation is the best feeling there is. There are already packages under my Christmas tree and just looking at them makes me feel festive.

Not everyone feels like this about presents. I know people who are very critical and they're only happy if someone gives them the exact thing they've been asking for. Gifts come in all forms and sizes and having the recipient in mind when you get something is the most important thing there is. A gift is meant to make someone happy after all. If they are happy you'll feel great, so it's a win win situation.

I don't know what I like more, the giving or the receiving part. I can spend hours finding the perfect gift for someone. Or when I see something that would be perfect months in advance I'll get it and then can't wait to give it when the time is finally there. I have a lot of Christmas presents ready to go out and my number one wish is that I will make someone happy with the things I've chosen. Wrapping them has been so much fun, I can't wait for them to open my packages. Giving often means loving and that, for me, is the magic of Christmas.

Chaos

It's the first day of December, which means the most festive month of the year has begun. The days are getting shorter and it's getting colder. I love the cosiness of being inside where it's warm and light. In the Netherlands we celebrate Sinterklaas on December 5th and then we're getting ready for Christmas. I love both holidays and always feel lucky that I can celebrate them with my husband, family and friends.
December also has a completely different meaning to me, it's chaos. In December I have to run from one project to the next and in between there isn't much time to breathe. Because of that I have the feeling that I'm living in a huge chaotic whirlwind for an entire month. Do I mind? Not at all, because I love the festive cheer, the love and warmth and the exchange of thoughtful gifts.
I would never exchange the feeling of going crazy for a peaceful and quiet December. It's the first day of the month and already I have the feeling that my head will explode. My to do list is longer than the wish list I have for Santa. Even though there's chaos, I don't want to let this month be ruled by stress. I'm trying to enjoy every minute and if something goes wrong I will fix it, there's no need to worry about it up front. This December the month will be even busier and crazier. I'm as ready as I can be and hope it's going to be a great roller coaster ride.

----- Suzanne -----

I Love You Grandma!

My grandmother and I have always been close. She's a beautiful lady with a great sense of humor. She taught me to face my problems and to keep going, whatever happens there's always a way forward. Because of her I know how to fight and to persevere. If I want something I'm the only one who can make it happen.

 My most wonderful memory of my grandma is the afternoon she took me to a mini golf course. We were really bad and we kept losing our balls. Soon we changed the rules of the game, it wasn't about achieving the best any longer, but we tried to make the worst possible moves and the one with the largest number of hits would be the winner. We couldn't stop laughing and in the end we couldn't hit any balls at all. It was one of the best afternoons in my entire life. 

My grandmother has always taken the time to show me the good things in life. When I was younger she often took me shopping and let me choose a beautiful piece of clothing. Our lunches and dinners were legendary and I could order whatever I liked. No matter if it was the most expensive thing on the menu, if I wanted to eat it, she'd let me. We drank countless glasses of champagne together as well and because of that it's now my favorite drink.

My grandmother has been present at all my milestone celebrations. I wanted her to play a special part in my wedding and she was my witness. She was 87 years old at the time and nobody could believe it as she looked so young and vibrant. I will forever treasure that moment. She's also been there to celebrate my last milestone and we drank a glass of Dom Perignon together. I will never forget it and consider myself lucky that I've been able to create so many great memories with her. 

I love you Grandma, thank you for everything and a big hug!

---- Suzanne ----

My Special Day!

Today is a special day for me. 18 years ago the boy I fancied in high school asked me to be his girlfriend. We were at a bar and it was the first time I was really going out. I had a pretty tight curfew, but we managed to have a great few hours before I had to go home again. I was really nervous and it wasn't easy to find something to wear. I still know which outfit I chose, a tight black top and my best jeans. I usually wore color, but I managed enough of that with a lot of jewelry. I used to wear rings on every finger, including my thumb and one necklace was never enough. 

We didn't notice anything that happened around us, we were in love and on our own little pink cloud. He asked me to be his girlfriend an hour after I arrived. I was sixteen at the time, but knew what I wanted. Back then I already knew he was going to be the love of my live. Fortunately the feeling was mutual and we're still together. For me it was love at first sight and I found out later that he was feeling the exact same thing. I love stories about true love and being soul mates as they remind me of my own relationship. I know I'm lucky and I treasure it. Even though life can be tough sometimes love is what keeps me going. I'm thankful for this great fortune every single day.

----- Suzanne -----

What Inspires Me

 

'What inspires you?' It's a question I find myself asking more than once a week. It's one of the first things I want to know when I'm interviewing creative people. I want to find out what makes their creativity come to the surface. It's always interesting to read the replies and I either learn from them or just let the answers amaze me. I don't know if you feel the same way, but as I'd like you to get to know more about me I think it's time for me to answer my own number one question.

I've always wanted to create something, ever since I was a little girl I needed pen, pencils and paper. Without them I felt lost and I still feel that way. When I see an empty screen I want to write, when I see a sheet of paper I want to draw, when I see a few scraps of paper I want to craft, etcetera. It doesn't matter to me if I'm working on a possible masterpiece (one of my biggest wishes) or something that will end up in the bin, the creative process makes me happy. Of course I hope that other people will enjoy what I do, but even if they don't I will keep doing it. If one person besides me likes it, I've already succeeded.
I like learning new things and every bit of knowledge I gather inspires me to create. I love the changes of the seasons and their beautiful colors, they influence my mood. When someone tells me a story, when I read a newspaper, a book or sometimes even a brochure something in my brain is starting to work immediately. I think of new stories all the time. I want to write and make so many different things that it can be overwhelming sometimes. For peace and quiet I read, so I'm being transported into someone else's fantasy instead of my own. Shopping has a calming effect, but a beautiful dress, a stunning painting or the most fantastic shoes could also be the beginning of a wonderful story. My husband, my friends and my family inspire me as well. Not only because of their support, but also because of their willingness to be my soundboards. I love being inspired. It's the most wonderful feeling there is and I hope it will never leave me. Inspiration is all around me and I'm grateful for it.

----- Suzanne -----

Challenges, Goals and Deadlines

Time is a curious thing and it's often slipping away from me. There aren't enough hours in a day and before I know it the day is over. I'm easily distracted and often forget which date it is. When I'm writing that's the best thing there is. I can totally disappear in the world I'm creating. For blogging it isn't always handy. I've done very few blog tours, because I have noticed that they aren't my thing. I get really stressed, because I'm afraid I will forget. I can of course prepare the post up front, but the thing I like about my blog is the spontaneity. I type whatever I like whenever I like. There are some regular features like the Etsy Seller of the Week, but that's it. I need the freedom to be able to deliver.

When I'm blogging I want to have fun. It's an outlet and for my blog to be happy and cheerful I need to feel that way as well. It has to be genuine, otherwise it won't work. It's sometimes hard to come up with things to write about at the last moment, but it's usually working out and it also has big advantages. My flexibility allows me to make room for last minute posts and to always have space for those who need me to write about something right now.

For my blog I don't have deadlines. I'm not good with challenges as they usually make me stressed. I sometimes join my friends, but have discovered I'm not the best participant. I will always support them, but sometimes I need to go my own way. There's only one goal I've set for myself when it comes to blogging and that is that it has to be fun and positive. If I'm not feeling that way something has to change immediately. I write all of these posts with a lot of love and that is what I'm hoping people will see. 

I give myself deadlines when it comes to writing. I want to get things done. Which means I promise myself a cupcake with lunch or some nice online shopping when I'm done. Every day I have a goal for myself and a deadline to meet. It's the complete opposite of my blog. I think that's why they are going so well together, there's some kind of balance. It don't like it at all when something comes in between. For example when I need to start a new project and the writing isn't going according to plan there's a big gap. I need my writing and my blog and to reach some kind of equilibrium, then they make me feel great. Fortunately I have the time and the opportunity to get to that stage over and over again. I think that means I'm quite lucky...

----- Suzanne -----

How does it work for you, do you like deadlines, goals and challenges or not at all?

5 Ways to Bring Sunshine to a Grey November Day!

It's November and for a large part of the world that means colder and shorter days. Sometimes those days are grey and sombre. Fortunately there are some ways to brighten them up. That's why I'm giving you five ways to bring your own sunshine to a dark and wet November day.

1) Promise yourself a treat at the end of the day. That can be something small like your favorite candy or chocolate or a nice new lipstick. It can be anything basically, as long as you like it. And it shouldn't be above budget, because that short moment of happiness isn't worth the sorrow later. Or you can make yourself a nice and cheerful emergency jar to put in money for when you need it on another grey day.

2) Enter a few giveaways. You never know when it's going to happen, but eventually you will end up winning something and that's going to make your month a whole lot nicer. Start entering as soon as you can.

3) Plan an afternoon in with a good friend. Make sure you have enough tea and chocolate for many hours of fun chatting. Don't look at the clock and then order a take-away because you're not done yet. If your friends don't live anywhere near, plan a Skype meeting, it might not be the same, but it's a lot of fun as well.

4) Check websites that recommend you good freebies and get yourself a free book or a nice sample. Free things always cheer you up. There are so many nice free books on Amazon. Even browsing them can make your day. If you have nothing to read you can stock up your kindle with great reads without paying anything for them.

5) Pamper yourself. You feel better after treating yourself to a nice mask or facial, a great shampoo, a wonderful shower gel or some lovely bath salt. Prepare for a day like that by putting all of the samples you receive in a basket or booking an appointment at a beauty salon.

What do you do to brighten up a grey and rainy day?

---------- Suzanne ----------

Manga Me

BeagleCakes Art

This is Manga Me. I'm so happy with my drawing. I'm now the proud owner of this kawaii drawing of myself. It's a wish come true. I've always loved cute things and I think I will love them for the rest of my life. 

My first kawaii possession was a Sanrio Little Twin Stars notebook. I don't have it any longer, but I liked it so much. My mother's favorite aunt brought it for me as a present when I was six years old. It was just a small present, but one that made a great impression. I never used it, I kept looking at it over and over again. When I found Sanrio items in a few stores in our bigger cities many years later I was in love. Soon I started buying things online as well. I now have a huge kawaii collection. It's really cute and I'm proud of it. Every item is something I can't stop looking at. A lot of people think it's weird and they laugh at me for liking items that they think are for children, but for me my collection is the most magical thing in the world.

I've been writing regular letters since I was 9 years old and kawaii letters since I was 20 years old. I love decorating envelopes, I really like to use adorable stickers and cute tape. I try to make things as cheerful as possible. Manga Me might not be tough and I don't think she will do well in a fight, but she does stand for everything that I am. If she'd have one special power it would be the ability to make the world a better place. That's why I like kawaii so much, because it makes everything just a little bit brighter and happy.

---- Suzanne ----

Why I want to be a superhero

I want to be a superhero. It might sound childish, but it's true. I think about it quite often. It would be great to have special powers and to be able to make a difference. I often dream about what those superpowers could be. I've come to the conclusion that I don't have to be very strong as I'm not a fan of fighting. I want to be able to spread love, to make people like each other again. Lately I've seen a lot of nastiness and I'm frustrated that I can't solve it all. I want people to be nice to each other. I like happy conversations and would love to see more of them, in everyday situations and on social media.

I also would like to have another, similar superpower and that is to spread positivity and happiness. I would like to be able to give people a festive and cheerful mood just by snapping my fingers. I think this would make the world a better place. I want to be able to cut through negative spirals and turn them around to make them positive and wonderful. If I'm a superhero I can make people's lives so much better. I love Care Bears and what they are standing for. Once a friend gave me a little sunshine bear because she thought it resembled my character. That was such a great compliment, it made me more aware and I realized it's an important part of my personality I should never lose. Sometimes I need a little reminder and then I think about that little bear. I don't see myself as an actual bear though, hence the superwoman alteration.

Maybe you think this is a strange way to see the world, but it feels right to me. Even though I can't make someone happy by snapping my fingers, make every hurt go away and stop bullying just because I appear, I still want to try to make things as nice as possible. Even without wings, a cape or a super tight costume I'm trying to be as positive and upbeat as I can be. If I spread the word maybe people will join me. It's everything I can do, which is a little bit better than just dreaming about having fantastic kick-ass powers that will make everything better in an instant. If only...

--- Suzanne ---

Fairytales

photo credit: Cinzia A. Rizzo / fataetoile via photopin cc

Ever since I was a little girl and read my first fairytale I've been intrigued by these peculiar and inventive stories. I still read them from time to time, I'm actually reading one right now. I love magic in stories. That's the most fantastic thing about them, because they don't have to be real they can be anything. It's what I like so much about fiction, the possibilities are endless. It keeps amazing me that the most wonderful things can come out of combinations of words. For me that is the most magical thing there is and the possibilities are endless.

In a fairytale good usually wins from evil. The journey is never an easy one, which resembles real life. Don't we all wish to have special powers from time to time? The best thing is that on paper we can give our heroes and heroines the tools that we miss. It is necessary to teach the villains a lesson. Sometimes we can't beat our own bad guys, which is maybe why I like fairytales so much. With a great trick or help from someone special or sometimes just by being good the situation always results in a happy ending. Aren't they the best? 

Real life is no fairytale. Sometimes it's a good thing too, as definitely not all elements of the stories appeal to me. I can live a perfectly happy life without running into a giant, an evil monster or a witch who could change me into a bird or a waterlily. There are some pretty magical elements in every day situations though. The most important one for me is love. Romantic evenings, beautiful weddings, perfect holidays and an unexpected act of kindness from someone who's close to you can all be like a fairytale. The connection is love. I think love conquers all. There's nothing more important in life than love. I don't mean only the love from a partner, but also from good friends, family or sometimes people you don't know very well at all. 

I'm a romantic person at heart, which is probably why I don't want to be all grown up. I like it that there's still a child in me. One that loves tiaras, pretty wings and cute dresses, but also one that can't get enough of amazing stories. I will always keep reading them and will try never to lose the tiny spark of magic that's so important in my life.

-- Suzanne --

Getting to Know Me: Crafts

I've always loved doing things with my hands. Drawing, painting, decorating boxes, making decos, FBs and slams, etcetera. I've done so many different things. I love crafts, but sometimes I long to do something more than just making a single project. I'm seriously thinking about doing something for children. I would love to see my ideas come to life. There are only so many hours in a day and I also want to write. I've decided I'm going to combine both of my passions for a while and see where that will get me. It's fun to find out if I will actually be able to make the things I'm dreaming about. 

I'm messy and chaotic. I function best when the table is filled with scraps of paper, all kinds of different materials and tools. There's barely any room left for me to put my project. That's how I've always worked and even though I don't like that part of myself very much it's great for my creativity. I may not be the best artist or crafter in the world, but as long as I'm having fun I think it's going to be all right.

---Suzanne---

3 Star Restaurants!

Bras

This photo is from restaurant Bras which is one of the most beautiful restaurants of France. It's also one of the best places to eat in the whole world. The food is so special, it's an experience you don't want to miss. It's expensive, but it's worth the price. Eating in this restaurant can't be compared to a regular lunch or dinner, it's special. It's art on your plate and it isn't something you will ever taste again. Every bite has been carefully planned. Even the most simple things taste so good you didn't know they could taste like that. That's why I save to go to a restaurant like Bras from time to time. 

I'm not feeling comfortable in fancy restaurants. Even if I wear pretty clothes I still have the idea that they think I'm in the wrong place. At first I let that get to me, but lately I tell myself I have the right to enjoy the experience. If I pay for it, I'm good enough. I know a lot of people feel like that, but don't let it stop you. Try not to care and get over it as you miss out on something great if you don't.

 I love eating out and I love a special meal, for me that's one of the best things life has to offer. It's all about the enjoyment. Exploding taste buds make me unbelievably happy. I'm amazed that there are people who can achieve that with just a few ingredients. It's an art form which shouldn't be underestimated. Even though it's just one afternoon or evening the memories will last a lifetime.

---- Suzanne ----

Mail

photo credit: zizzybaloobah via photopin cc

I've always loved mail. Ever since the big sister of a friend gave me some stationery when I was 9 years old I wanted to write letters. At first I wrote letters to my family. I've corresponded with my grandparents for years. I also had a penpal, a girl who was about the same age. We met when we were both on holiday in Switzerland. Unfortunately we didn't stay in touch, but writing and receiving those letters opened a whole new world for me. Since that moment I've always had penpals. Even though life gets in the way sometimes I try to stay in touch with the ones who have become dear friends. Over the years I've met quite a few of them in person. I'm really lucky, because now I have a few close friendships with people who don't live in the same city or sometimes not even in the same country. I've met my best friend through penpalling. We've been friends for almost 15 years now, so soon we have something to celebrate.

I initially started my #happymail project to get back into sending mail after I had to take a break for a few months. It's different from penpalling, but because of it I again meet a lot of great people. I'm grateful for that. Today I packed a lot of envelopes and it was such a nice thing to do. There are quite a few ways to send snail mail. Some are just basic and then it's only the content that matters. Others vary in looks and size. There are so many ways to be creative with mail. From sending a nice poem to creating mail art. It's all fun to do and I've tried a lot of things. I still want to broaden my horizons and am planning on sending as much fun and wonderful mail as possible. If it makes someone else's day it makes my day as well.

--- Suzanne ---