All About Me.... ABC Journal

Hello friends!  It's been one of those days. You know, one of those days where you can't seem to get rid of your frustration. Actually, I feel irritated more than anything, but there's no need to go into detail. Aside from my irritation, I'm actually in a pretty good mood. So, let's get on with the mail, shall we?  First up is a peak at the ABC Journal that I made for a swap. We were instructed to create a journal and write the letter at the top, ABCD, etc. Then we had to write a word that we think describes our personality using each letter of the alphabet along with a sentence and a photo that showcased why.  Anyway, the most difficult thing about this challenge was narrowing each letter down to only one adjective.

 

Starting with the letter A, I chose the word ample.  The drawing to the left is something that I've been drawing for about 20 years.  It's varied slightly over the years, but I always feel like I am drawing my soul. The fire represents the passion and desires within me, the heart represents the love, and the half of a face is the public persona whereas, the missing side represents my deep private thoughts.  That is my interpretation currently. It could change with time.

 

 

Self explanatory!

 

 

Can you believe I made a mistake on the amount of years. It should read, 20 years because that's how long we will be married on our next anniversary in November.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm not shy, however, I am quiet and reserved a lot of the time.

 

 

We are all Worthy!

 

 

Lazy at home.

 

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Incoming!

 

 

A Postcrossing from Ukraine.

The sender writes: Hello, JarieLyn! My name's Valentina I and my family live in small town in Ukraine, Kiev region. I'm 33. My favorite hobby is Postcrossing. I hope you like my card and stamps. Best wishes from Ukraine. Happy Postcrossing! Valentina.

 

I love the little splash of color on the umbrella.. It makes the image pop.

 

 

 

A Postcrossing from Germany.

The sender writes: Dear JarieLyn, my name is Dana, I am 17 and from a small town called Ahlen in Germany. Here's a recipe of my favorite dessert. You'll need:  500 g plain yogurt, 120 g sugar, 1 tbsp. vanilla sugar, 400 g whipping cream, a bit of lemon juice, 500 g berries (frozen). The trick is to prepare it one day before. Mix the yogurt, sugar, vanilla sugar and add a bit of lemon juice. Then whip the cream and fold it in. Now, you take a clean dishcloth and cover the inside of a colander with it. Put the colander in a bigger bowl and fill it with the yogurt mass. (have a look at my beautiful drawing so you an understand it better.) Leave it at a cool place over night. The  next day, you turn it out, put the pureed berries all around it and enjoy. Love Dana.

 

 

 

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Outgoing!

 

 

This is a resend of a pen pal letter that came back to me. I have no idea why it came back. I had enough postage, the address was correct and so was the zip code. I just stuck it in a new envelope and my fingers are crossed that it reaches its destination in Georgia.

 

 

This train is headed to Michigan. It's a Postcrossing.

I write: Hi Pattie, I live in Las VEgas, NV with my husband. Boulder city is a quaint little town hwere gambling is not allowed. (just a short drive from LV) There are lots of little outdoor cafes. I love to come here and have a glass of wine and watch the passersby. It's very relaxing. Have a wonderful day.

 

 

4 Postcrossings and week-end mail

Hello. I hope everyone had a fabulous Valentine's Day and a great week-end.  My week-end was very enjoyable. I had some out of friends who were in town for a convention so I was lucky enough to be able to spend a few hours with them and we had a lot of fun. I think my new favorite drink is a wild berry mojito. If you haven't tried it, I highly recommend it if you like to drink alcoholic beverages.  Anyway, I have some mail to post. I had a few incomings over the week-end which I will share with you before I get to the outgoing mail.  Feast your eyes on this mail-luscious goodness.

 

This is from The Adventures of the Traveling Postcard swap and my swap partner was very kind in sending me all of these extras.  I hit the mother lode with this one.  She enclosed some really great postcards. The one in the upper right hand corner is really cute but the best one is a Barbie postcard. I may or may not showcase that one at a later time. It deserves it's own post.

 

 

This is a perfectly square postcard from a postcrosser in the Nehterlands.

The sender writes:

Hello JarieLyn, First I want to say what a lovely name. Second I really like Las Vegas. Been there a few times when I was living in L.A., but that was just on the strip and national parks. Greetings from the Nehterlands. 

This postcard really appeals to me because I love agricultural areas with farmland, etc.

 

 

Here are my Postcrossings going out on Monday.

 

 

This one is traveling to Minnesota.

I write:

Hi John, I often take my out of town guest to Lake Las Vegas because the environment is as if you stepped into a Mediterranean country. It doesn't look like it in this image, but it truly is like being in another place. Peace!!!   JarieLyn

 

This Postcrossing is going to Japan.

I write: 

Hello Satoko, I am JarieLyn from Las Vegas, Nevada. Lately, I've been wanting to learn how to knit but I'm not sure if I should try to teach myself or find a class somewhere. I envision myself making beautiful sweaters and dresses that I can wear during cool weather.  Like you, I collect washi tapes. I have a whole drawer full. This is the first time I've used any on a postcard though. I hope you enjoy. Have a happy life. <3 JarieLyn.

 

 

This postcrossing is headed to China.

I write:

Hi Elf, the image on this postcard depicts the Fremont Street Experience which is in downtown Las Vegas, also known as old Vegas.  It is different than the Las Vegas Strip and I prefer taking out of town guests here. It is more down to earth and there are lots of cool street artists here that the strip doesn't have. there is also a zip line at the Fremont Street Experience. Have a great life. <3 JarieLyn

 

 

This Postcrossing is going to the Netherlands.

I write:

Hello Joyce, the Las Vegas Strip is a very high energy place but there is more to Vegas than casinos and gambling. we have beautiful Red Rock Canyon where the wild burros roam; Mt. Charleston where you can snow ski; Cold Creek where you can see herds of gorgeous wild horses; Valley of fire; Lake Mead, and so much more. It's a great place for photographers, nature lovers and party goers. <3 JarieLyn

 

 

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday.  I've got some grocery shopping to do. Ugh!!!!

 

 

 

 

Postcrossings Milestone

Good Morning Friends!

I have reached a milestone at Postcrossing.com.

I have now officially sent 101 postcards.

Yay!

To date, I have received 88 postcards.

I love Postcrossing.

In addition to being a great learning experience, it is also a wonderful human experience.

It is a soul to soul connection that imprints smiles, dreams and well wishes into my heart.

Writing is powerful stuff, even if it is just to say hello.

 

 

 

Here is a Postcrossing I received from Germany.

The sender writes:

Hello JarieLyn, you're interested in historical buildings.

This one is from 1720.

 It was built to store grain for the miners in the Harz Mountains where it is too cold for farming.

Filled in sacks it was then transported up on the backs of donkeys.

These paths are still used by hikers or changed into ordinary roads.

Today the building hosts the municipal administration.

Regards!

Gerda.

 

The thing I like about Postcrossing is being able to read a profile and pick out the perfect card for the recipient, just as this person did for me. Had she not written about the building, I never would have known that it was a historical building, especially from the 1720's.

 

 

This is a Postcrossing from Japan.

The sender writes:

Dear JarieLyn,

Hello.

This postcard is from Japan.

I chose it for you because you like a bridge.

The view is like a painting in India ink.

I've been to this place in Kyoto.

A forest of bamboos was beautiful and tofu (soybean curd) dishes were very good.

I'm sure you'll like there very much.

Best wishes.

Keiko.

 

Another example of someone choosing the perfect card.

 

 

This is from a swap partner for fast 10 pc # 3 swap on swap-bot.

This person also read my profile and chose a card she knew I would like.

I love these retro funny cards.

Also, she wrote a great note on the back about TV shows we have in common.

 

I love connecting with people through letters, postcards, greeting cards, short notes and gifts.

Each one I receive is a treasure and I do my best to send my recipients words they will treasure too.

 

Leaving my possession:

 

 

These are part of the 10 pc swap.

 I forgot to take a picture of the other ones that went out.

 

 

These are my latest Postcrossings going out today!

They will be delivered to, Germany, Florida, Latvia, Belarus, Brazil and the Netherlands.

 

 

Yesterday, Justin and I went for a drive and ended up in Kelso, CA.

It's an old train depot that was very busy in the 1940's.

Read about it here.

 

 

 

Facing east, this road takes us back to Vegas.

 

Have a fabulous day my friends.

 

 

 

 

 

 

One In, A Ton Out, and A Proper Name

Hello friends!

It's a sunny day here in Las Vegas, NV.

I just got back from the gym.

What?

Oh, you thought I meant I just got back from working out.

BUHAAAAAH!

Actually, I haven't been in over a year and I forgot my member number so I obtained my number along with a ten day pass so my endermologist can come with me and get my butt in gear.

She's offered to be my personal trainer for a day.

For Free!

To be honest, I'm a little scared that she's going to over work me and I'll die of a heart attack.

So, if you don't see any posts within ten days, you'll know what happened.

 

Now, on with the mail.

I only got one Postcrossing today.

 

 

From the Netherlands.

The sender writes:

Hello JarieLyn,

I'm liesbeth from Amstelveen Holland.

I like flowers and work in a flower shop.

I like my garden and the little birds in it.

Best wishes,

Liesbeth.

 

Picture perfect for today's weather.

 

I worked hard today on my outgoing mail.

 

 

An official Postcrossing on the way to Poland.

 

 

A small gift for my beautiful sister.

 

 

Tucked inside this envelope is the Adventures of The Traveling Postcard R7 swap.

I also included a few extra items with a French theme for the recipient.

 

 

A pen pal letter.

 

 

A pen pal letter.

 

 

A pen pal letter.

 

 

A pen pal letter.

 

That's The end of Thursday's mail.

 

On another note, a pen friend asked me how I pronounce my name.

It never occurred to me that many of you probably don't know how to pronounce it.

It's something I have taken for granted and now I'm aware.

First, the spelling is quite different than most with the same name.

My first name is Jarie, pronounced Jerry. ( I was named after my dad)

My middle name is Lyn, pronounced just as it is spelled.

I don't like being called Jerry. It makes me feel too masculine.

So, put the two together and say Jarie Lyn. (Jerry Lynn)

It's a bit more southern sounding which I like because my heart belongs in the south, even though I've never lived there.

 

How were you pronouncing my name?

I'm curious to know.

 

I've been called sherry, terry, jerry, and numerous other pronunciations.

 

 

 



Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone!

Although I acknowledge and believe in what Easter represents, I don't go to church on this day.

I believe in God and a higher power, however, I am not a follower of organized religion.

I have my own relationship with GOD and tIhat's all that matters to me.

I could get into a lengthy discussion about this but I won't because this is a lighthearted blog.

 

So, feast your eyes on some yummy treats of the mail kind.

 

incoming:

 

 

Oops, this first picture isn't mail.

It's my beloved Sasha a few weeks before her passing.

It makes me feel good so I wanted to post it.

 

 

A wonderful letter from Lynn B.

Her letters always make me laugh.

 

 

She also enclosed this miniature card with a note written inside.

It was very thoughtful and kind.

 

 

2013 PC Swap #12.

This is a vintage postcard from Italy.

The sender doesn't live in Italy nor was it sent from there.

 

 

Adventures of the Traveling Postcard.

This one originated in Minnesota and so far has traveled to Germany, Utah and to Nevada.

It's such a cute card.

I wish I could keep it for myself but I must forward it on to the next destination wherever that may be.

 

 

Simple Postcards Swap #2

cute card.

 

 

A lengthy letter form Kari.

I enjoyed very much.

 

 

A postcard from Elena, who I sent a postcard to during LetterMo.

This is her reply.

She tells me that this is a decoration near a restaurant.

So cool.

 

 

A Postcrossing from Germany.

The sender writes:

Hi JarieLyn, I'm Christina 25 years old and come from Germany.

On this card you can see by beautigul town Olsberg.

Happy Postcrossing!

 

Outgoing:

 

 

An official Postcrossing on its way to Poland.

 

 

This is week 4 for the RR.

It's on its way to the Netherlands.

 

 

A Letter for a pen pal.

 

 

This is for a postcard swap.

I forgot to take a photo of the postcard.

 

 

A letter for a pen pal.

 

So that wraps up the mail for the week.

Happy Easter and Happy Week-end.

 

I'm off to get ready for endermologie, my favorite thing on Sunday.

 

 

 

 



I guess I got a little distracted last week and forgot to publish my post on Friday until earlier today.

:)

I've been getting a lot of postcards from postcrossing and swap-bot but I haven't received any letters

from any of the persons I wrote to for LetterMo except the ones I've already showed you, which really was about a 15th of what I sent out.

Do I sound ungrateful for saying I'm a bit disappointed? I hope not. I'm just mentioning it because I'm wondering if you all had the same experience or did all or most of your letters get reciprocated? I'm just curious.

I enjoyed writing the letters nonetheless and it was a fun challenge.

Original artwork and poem by me! (2009)

Now on to the mail!

Here's what has been delivered to me the past few days including today.

A Postcard from Bulgaria.

This is for a swap I joined awhile back called I Love Postcards #3.



A Postcrossing from good ol' US of A.

This is personally one of my favorites that I've received so far.

The sender writes:

Here is a vintage funny postcard for you that I found @ the local Raleigh, NC farigrounds/flea market.

:)

Crystal.

This is from a Group Swap on Swap-Bot, Quick Notecard Swap #3

The cards are really cute in person.

I do like them a lot.

This amazing mini journal for another swap, One Sentence A Day February.

I was blown away by the creativity of the person who made this.

I have to share some of the inside with you as well.

This precedes the actual journal writing.

So cute, don't you think?

At the end of the journaling, this little surprise was sewn into the pages.

Lift it up............

To reveal a secret compartment with a treasure hidden inside.

A very nice bottle and key pendant and I love it.

The creativity of the maker of this journal has me in awe and I am so appreciative of this gift, not just the pendant tucked inside, but the love that went into making this journal.

So nice.

I love postcards with images of dogs.

This one is so sweet.

This is a postcrossing from the Netherlands.

The sender writes:

Hi JarieLyn,

Do you have examples of your mail art and snail mail.

I don't know what it means.

I try to do some scrapbooking besides being wife and mother of 2 sons.

My sons are 5 and 3 years old.

It's busy but fun most of the time.

Wish you the best.

Regards,

Grietje

Another Postcrossing from USA

(it is a resend because his first one never arrived)

The sender writes:

Hi JarieLyn,

I scanned the card begore I sent it to you so I printed it and hope yo liike it.

Best wishes from your Postcrossing friend-David.

(Lost Card)

I love the stamps too.

Notice that the postoffice didn't cancel the stamps.

Oh no, they had to put their little cancellation mark on the front of the card.

Ugh!

These lovely postcards came from another swap, Postcard Scavenger Hunt.

My favorite one is the black and white gallows and the other sepia toned one.

A PC A Day Swap.

My husband and I actually went here two years ago while on vacation so I was glad to receive this postcard because I don't have any from that vacation.

I received one of Julie's (La Papiere) postcards from a swapper for PC A Day Swap.

It's pretty cool because I ordered some envelopes from La Papier not too long ago and this was the sstyle that I ordered.

I have several more postcards, at least five but I'm not going to photograph them because you might get impatient scrolling through my blog post.

But I will post my outgoing now:

I finallly joined a Round Robin on the Postcrossing forum.

This is a march postcard pals.

I send one pc to 3 different people once a week in March.

I thought it would be easier to send them all the same card.

These are headed to Russia, The Netherlands, and Estonia.

These are for the Quick Note Card Swap, two partners.

I believe this is for the 3 card swap USA.

I forgot to take a photo of the cards inside.

The mini journal swap.

Again, I forgot to photograph my handy artwork.

But compared to the one I received mine pales in comparison.

A Postcrossing on its way to Russia.

A Postcrossing on its way to New Jersey.

A Postcrossing on its way to Germany.

A Postcrossing on its way to South Africa.

Fast &amp; Easy Notecard Swap.

Also the front of the envelope of my original artwork and poem.

A Postcrossing card on its way to Turkey.

One of my pen pals had a birthday recently, (I guess it's been a month already) so I will be wrapping up a small gift and writing a long letter to her tonight.

And tomorrow............

more pen pal letters to write.

Oh, happy days are here again.