Simple, Handwritten Notes

Hey there!

I kinda have a fun post to share today. I don't know how many of you follow Layla and Kevin over at The Lettered Cottage but I do. And I love them. They seem like such a down-to-earth and laid back couple - great parents in the making! Anyway - a couple days ago, Layla posted on gestures and their simplicity and importance in this post. A few days passed, and many people held her accountable, so she posted here about her little adventure here. 

Earlier this summer, I had a similar experience at a Chik-Fil-A drive-thru and posted about it here. After that event and reading Layla's adventure, I felt it was God's way of telling me - This is it. It's your turn. What could be more simple, fun, and encouraging than leaving a handwritten note for someone? Nothing I tell you! 

I really love paper goods, so this is very much up my alley. I've actually decided to do one a week in 2013, placing them at random and I'm pumped about it. Giddy-like-a-child! Since we're two weeks into January, I placed two today. This will be an ongoing project for me for a couple of reasons:

• Writing out a quick note relieves stress (and pretty paper doesn't hurt either)
• It's easy
• It's fun
• It will make someone else smile and maybe spur them do something similar

I used a gift card from Christmas and headed to Target yesterday after work. I scored an awesome set of blank note cards and envelopes (200 to be exact) for $13 and picked up a few pens for my wordage. Lastly, I headed to Michael's for some decorative paper to line my envelopes (I tried to keep my paper gender neutral, but some florals and butterflies snuck in there).

I decided on envelopes with cards rather than a sticky note because it worked better for me and the locations I had in mind. I also made liners for my envelopes. It's SO easy and makes them SO fun. Here's a how-to if you'd like to know more.

I don't particularly care for my handwriting, which kinda stinks when you set out to do a handwritten note project haha. My solution? I typed up a couple things using some of my favorite fonts, printed them out, and used a stylus to transfer the outline to my envelopes. Then I just used my black pens to fill them in.

I made an enticing message for the front of my cards and a sweet hello for the inside.

I decided to follow in Layla's footsteps and placed my first card at my local post office. My PO is like most post offices - sterile looking, not cute and quaint and Better Homes and Gardens-esque like Layla's haha. Mine is also apparently VERY busy, even on a Saturday at three in the afternoon! I pulled up to a drop box and a man pulled up right behind me!! Ahh! I couldn't let him see me! I pulled away, got my stuff together, and pulled back up. I frantically taped my card to the drop box, snapped a quick picture, and sped away as I saw another person driving up behind me. Whew!

Now for the second one. I went to Starbucks for an afternoon pick-me-up . . . and to drop off some smiles. I went to the bathroom while the barista made my coffee and quickly set up my second card. I snapped a picture, collected my coffee, and walked to my car with the biggest grin on my face. 

I will preface this just like Layla did by saying that this is not a "Look What I Did" post, rather a "Look What WE Can Do" post. Think if you were the one washing your hands at Starbucks after a long morning wrangling your kids and scurrying off to their school. You see a note luring you in. You open it and a stranger has just wished you a wonderful and happy day. I can't speak for others, but that would make me grin from ear to ear, just as it does when I think about someone reacting that way. You don't even have to use cards and envelopes, sticky-notes are perfect! Promise me this - try it? Just once. You'll be more upset that you didn't do it, than if you do. Rest assured. 

I don't know if I'll post about each one every week - I was considering adding a tab to my navigation bar and posting a pic from each one, that way people could check in at leisure if they wanted. 

Happy note writing friends!

- Suze