Lobster Shorts happy mail, lifestyle, pen pals, Sponser child

The Book That Inspired Me

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I bought this book at bookoutlet.ca. I love writing people and this book caught my interest. It’s a memoir of an American girl and a boy from Zimbabwe and how they became best friends through their letters to each other. Martin was top of his class, but his family was struggling financially and he was no longer able to attend school and Caitlin’s family sent them financial aid. This happened a long time ago, but I was so surprised by how little went so far over there. It made me think that I would be able to help someone too.

My spouse Jay and I decided to sponser a child, but we didn’t know which agency to use. I searched on Google and I noticed some of them seemed to really force their beliefs onto the children/families they were sponsering. I preferred to use an agency that allowed the families in need the freedom to practice their own belief system. There were also a couple things I wanted to be able to do as well. I wanted to be able to write my sponser child and I wanted to sponser an individual instead of a community. I’m sure there are pros and cons to either one. I didn’t know where to start and I found a really helpful website: https://www.evanforry.com/child-sponsorship-programs/. They let you know which agencies allow you to communicate with your sponser child and whether or not you’re sponsering a community, or individual child. The summary chart at the bottom of the post was super helpful.

We decided to go with Children Incorporated. A child sponsership program that wasn’t affiliated with a religion and would allow you to communicate with your sponser child through correspondance. We are now sponsering an adorable 9 year old girl from the Philippines. We are so excited to learn more about her. An email with more info will be provided to us soon and I can’t wait to read it. For only $30 a month a big difference could be made in someone’s life.

Lobster Shorts happy mail, The Great Outdoors

Wildwood and Surprises In The Mail October 12/2020

It was such a beautiful weekend! The sun was shinning and the weather was beautiful. I went hiking through the woods at Wildwood Conservation Area. It’s such a pretty walk there. The trail does a loop to make it 24km long. I only went 10km this time. I love walking here.

There’s lots of interesting things to see and the trails are easy to walk on.

To make the weekend even more wonderful, this unexpected package was waiting for me in my mail box. It was from my friend in England. She sent me this adorable hot water bottle.

How perfect for the weather! I’m always cold, this is going to so helpful. I have the sweetest friends ❤

Lobster Shorts card making, crafting, happy mail, weight loss

Mail and Crafting Sept 9/2020

Two packages came in the mail today.

The smaller package contained these cutting dies. They were much smaller than I had expected.

The bigger package had these HUGE cutting dies.

They were bigger than my hand! I wasn’t expecting them to be this big. I’ll be able to do a lot of different things with them.

I didn’t use the new dies today, instead I used these sweater dies, to make a card.

The card is a little plain. I should have staggered the words more unevenly and used a less bright ink colour.

For the second card, I used a baking themed stamp and die set. I really love this set, but I don’t love the card I made. I’m not sure how to use this set in a better way. The set is perfect for gifting baked good.

Lobster Shorts lifestyle

Amazon and Outgoing Mail August 31/2020

I had a bunch of letters to mail this morning, that I finished last night. I don’t think any of them contained any cards. I don’t always send cards, usually just a letter. I love hearing from friends through letters, or in person. It’s just not the same through text messages, or phone calls (I would prefer to never to talk on the phone, which is strange because that’s how I happily spend large chunks of my younger years).

I mistakenly used my work address for my Amazon shipment and the delivery agent left it outside a locked office door in a big commercial building! On a Saturday. I was not happy at all. Luckily someone went to the office the same day it was delivered and took it inside for me. I was so happy it was there waiting for me this morning. Amazon did say they would refund me if it wasn’t there today, so they are really good about it. I’m happy to say it wasn’t an issue and I got my parcel.

I got some double sided adhesive sheets and these punches. The adhesive sheets are for die cutting and the punches for shaker cards, or general craft purposes.

I need another vacation so I have time to play with all these things.

Lobster Shorts books, card making, crafting

Book Mail, Cards, and Vacation

This came in the mail awhile ago, from a gracious friend and talented writer, Shannon (you can find more about her here). I finished the book I was currently reading (The Escapist, by Gabriel Filippe and it was SO GOOD) when she sent this one . I like to read every night before I go to bed. I usually only manage to read a couple pages before I get too sleepy, so it takes me a really long time to finish a book. I’ve never read this author before and I’m looking forward to it.

I made a couple cards while I was on vacation as well. I like the minimalist aspect of them. I only added sequins to the one because I got some ink smudges on it, otherwise I would have left it as is. I don’t care for the pink ink as much as I prefer the dark ink, for the Thank You sentiment.

As for my vacation, I went to a cottage on Lake Huron. It was on an island and the water was so clear and beautiful. One of the highlights of my vacation was snorkling. I saw lots of little bottom fish they told me were called gobis. They were really cute, but apparently invasive. They reminded me of mud skippers, but the lake bed was all rock. I saw lots of little shells, I think they were zebra mussels (also invasive). The company was lovely and the water was beautiful. I made it up to visit my folks as well. I’m always a little nervous to visit them during these difficult times, COVID is still a big threat here in Canada. There has been rain the last few days, so I’ve had some time to play with my newest craft supplies.

As for OMAD, I’ll be restarting that tomorrow. I had lost three pounds, but I’ve since gained it all back. I ate like a fiend during this vacation.

Lobster Shorts lifestyle

Amazon and Antiques

This weekend my Amazon order came in and I went to an antique mall. One of the things I love is stationery. Amazon has some really pretty paper and for good prices.

I bought this set and I love the paper. I don’t feel like the envelope matched that well, but it’s still a really cool set. I really love the paper. I have trouble writing straight and the lines will help a lot.

This was my favourite one from the first set. I love the colours. Each set came with a matching envelope.

I’ve been looking for an antique pie lifter forever. It’s not silver, but I like it and I won’t have to polish it. I found it at the Freelton Antique Mall, outside of Hamilton. I have been looking for an antique letter opener for years. They had them there, but they weren’t quite the one. They were plain, and I want a more elaborate one. I’m also looking for an unusual and really old coin, for good luck :). If I find one or not, walking through an antique mall can be a wonderful adventure.

Lobster Shorts card making, crafting, happy mail

August 16/2020

I made another card today.

Sorry my photos are blurry. I used this embossing folder and mermaid stamp and die set I got on Aliexpress. I also used parts of the sea themed Hero Arts kit I got awhile back.

I used a water brush and ink pads to colour the mermaid, then embossed the sparkly paper with the fish scale embossing folder. I adhered it to a plain craft card base and glued on the mermaid and sea floor. I added a sentiment and stuck on a couple embellishments.

Lobster Shorts card making, crafting

Long Weekend Outgoing Mail

This rainy long weekend day was a great day to get some outgoing mail made. The firefly card is for my in laws and the heart card for my parents. The grey card is currently in my mini library with a gift card to the local bakery.

I tried using the July 2020 Hero Arts kit to make this under the sea card, but I need to fix the dolphins. I stamped them lopsided.

Lobster Shorts card making, crafting, happy mail

I Got Mail!

Today was a one of those days that make me happy. I had an extra day off work, I received a letter from a friend, my Hero Arts package arrived, and my sweetie surprised me with a gift.

He sent me a bottle of my favourite wine, just because. How did I get so lucky?? This wine isn’t available locally, he had to order it directly from the winery.

My June 2020 Hero Arts kit arrived today. This is one of my monthly card making subscriptions, and I love it.

Today was just peachy. It rained and I relaxed with a book, went for a walk (when the sun came out), was spoiled by my fiancee, and received some pretty cool mail. Yes, it was a good day.