one hundred letters down…

…two hundred and sixty five to go!

I wanted to pause and say thanks to you for reading. I never expected to make so many lovely friends or to connect with like minds near and far as a result of this wee-little project. Thank you for joining me on my journey. I am so grateful and honored. And to all of you who have written someone a letter in the last 100 days, I could hug you! I am quite sure you put pep in someone’s step. Isn’t that the best feeling ever?

Spill it. What’s your favorite letter thus far?

Virtual hugs,

Lauren

P.S. I think we’ve reached that stage in our relationship where its time to take things to the next level. Letters from Lauren has a facebook page. I would be just delighted if you liked it!

ninety-eight: a letter for Netflix

Adam generously gifted me an apple tv earlier this year. I was hooked at first click of that sleek remote. A Netflix subscription followed, and now apple tv and I are having a steamy affair. Netflix recommends movies I might like, remembers all my favorites and sends me mail—what’s not to love?!

I got to thinking about the people who pack up the DVD’s and send all those rom coms my way. I’m an advocate of little surprises, so I tucked a postcard in with my The Royal Tennenbaums return. I wish I could see the face of the un-packer.

April 9, 2011

A friendly hello to the somebody who makes movies happen for me! Thanks for packing (and unpacking) DVD’s so that I may pair my popcorn cravings and rainy days with a little cinematic sweetness! I hope this bit of yellow cheer brightened your day!

Yours truly,

Lauren

enormous champion for Chronicle Books postcard

ninety-seven: a love letter to Naturally Fresh

It’s probably evident by now, but I live to eat.

Carrot sticks dunked in ranch dressing is one of my most favorite snacks, dating back to my childhood. Up until now, I’ve had to use standby dips and dressings. But at last, I’m back to my original Naturally Fresh Lite Ranch. It’s a nostalgia thing I’m certain, but I am one happy snacker!

April 8, 2011

Dear Naturally Fresh,

Ah! You make the best ranch dressing ever. EVER.

I’ve been searching grocery stores high and low in New York, with no luck. And then I discovered your handy-dandy shipping service. Six mason jars of dressing are a little indulgent for a girl with a mini-fridge, but I will make room for your Lite Ranch any day. I also ordered a couple of your vinaigrettes—here’s hoping they are as good as my tried and true!

Thanks for making my carrot sticks sing. And for shipping home-style ranch all the way to New York City. Any chance, you can convince my local grocer to start stocking your zesty goodness? I would be so grateful!

Yours truly,

Lauren

Paper Source

ninety-two: a letter to the pony express

On this day, in 1860, the Pony Express debuted. Traveling by horse, the first mail carriers left Missouri and California, simultaneously. Ten days later the westbound letters arrived in Sacramento (two days before the eastbound pony), setting a new standard of mail delivery. Sadly, this system of letter swapping was short-lived. William “Buffalo Bill” Cody was one of the famous riders. Oh, how I wish he was still delivering my mail on horseback!

April 3, 2o11

To The Pony Express Company:

(William H. Russell, William Bradford Waddell and Alexander Majors)

I am delighted you gentlemen came up with this ingenious idea of delivering letters. It’s hard for me to imagine a time before radios and telephones, but I can bet your services were much appreciated. I’m guessing people were thrilled to see your riders (maybe mini-celebrities), galloping into town with news from afar. And hats off to them—I can’t imagine carrying twenty pounds of letters, or navigating the treacherous wild west!

I’m sorry the telegraph pushed you out of business after only a year. I really wish the postal office would have kept the name “Pony Express”—it has such a nice ring to it. And the logo is so nifty…

Thanks for your contribution to letters!

Fondly,

Lauren

eighty-four: thanks for Chocolove

I’ve spent the better part of the last three weeks working on a deceivingly large freelance project. When the going got really tough (oh, at about 1:30 AM nightly) I decided rewards were in order, even for the smallest victories—an edited paragraph, completed research, a clever sentence. Naturally, I chose something dee-licious!

Meet Chocolove, the chocolate bar I was destined to love. For starters, the packaging mimicks a letter (couldn’t you just die?) and there’s a charming poem tucked inside the wrapper for extra feel-good. But the best part is the chocolate. I am partial to the Almonds & Sea Salt in Dark Chocolate variety, but all 14 flavors are tasty. Indulge my dears–you will not be disappointed!

March 26, 2011

Timothy,

I was destined to love your chocolate. And boy, do I ever.

I am a letter-lover, so anything resembling hand-written correspondence gets top marks in my book. I’m also a hopeless romantic and lover of literature—those enchanting poems make my heart swoon.

And the chocolate, oh the chocolate. I am especially partial to your Almonds & Sea Salt in Dark Chocolate variety (I buy them in threes!). That dark chocolate is perfection, not too bitter, just right. And I love the surprise of whole almonds, adding an extra pleasurable crunch to every couple of nibbles. The hints of sea salt dusted throughout awaken my taste buds and leave me longing for the next bite .

Thank you for creating such a delectable treat and for your continued commitment to all natural chocolate. I am forever indebted.

Fondly,

Lauren

Sugar Paper

dish from Fishs Eddy

eighty-three: a thank you note for Tayler

There are friends with whom you can always pick up where you left off—Tayler is one of those gals. She has a perma-positive attitude, is a hoot to hang with and to my complete envy, she can function on little-to-no sleep. Even though she lives in Chicago, we make a point to visit each other as often as possible.

Tayler lives within strolling distance of Greer Chicago, one of my most favorite stationery shops. Ever. And yesterday she sent me a wonderful package. A thank you note needed to be penned immediately!

**Friends, a lot of you have asked about my favorite stationery shops—I promise a full list is coming soon!**

March 25, 2011

Tayler,

I am unspeakably delighted over my little parcel from Greer—you are so sweet to send me such gorgeous paper love. I don’t think anything better could have been packed between splendid sheets of turquoise tissue. You sure know the way to my heart Tay! And I am so lucky to have you in my life friend.

I’m looking forward to shacking up together in May. I am going to have the hottest date at the wedding, wink. Our little reunion couldn’t come soon enough. Thanks again!

Love,

Lauren

Martha Stewart

seventy-one: a letter for the post office

Today the U.S. Post Service celebrates its establishment and 222 years of service. Every year those guys + gals see to it that more than 212 billion pieces of mail are delivered. That’s a lot of letters friends. And while I loathe waiting in line at my local post office (there is always a forever-long line), and the ever-rising cost of stamps, I very much appreciate the service provided. Did you know the USPS receives no government funding? In honor of letter carriers everywhere, I’m writing to the postal staff at my local office. Without them, this project wouldn’t be possible.

March 12, 2011

Dear Post Office Staff,

I wanted to extend a proper thank you for your services. I took on a little project this year—I’m writing a letter a day in 2011. This of course means, lots of trips to your offices and scattered blue mailboxes.

Your clerks are always courteous and patient with my endless stamp requests. Thank you for sorting all my letters and making sure they get to their intended destinations, near and far. And thanks to the letter carriers that leave the busy hive to deliver our precious parcels, in sweltering heat and icy cold conditions.

I’m sure many take what you do for granted. But I sincerely appreciate all your efforts. Without all of you, my project wouldn’t be possible.

Many thanks,

Lauren

P.S. I’m so excited for new stamps in 2011!

heavy cardstock + Airmail envelopes

 

ardent thanks

Ah! You guys, I’m blushing.

Thank you for all your thoughtful comments and emails–I’m “chuffed to bits” I tell you! If you wrote to me, I promise to reply. Just as soon as I land. And your letter requests were bar none! I am honored to write to your loved ones and friends and even a few of you. Please be patient as I received lots of requests. I promise to get to them all, scouts honor.

In the meantime, a virtual billboard of sincere gratitude. If I could mail you all a proper thank-you-for-reading card, you know I would.

map envelopes in honor of my new friends across the globe, i heart letters pin from Greenwich Letterpress

sixty-nine: a letter for Mr. Alexander Graham Bell

"Alexander Graham Bell at the opening of the long-distance line from New York to Chicago," 1892. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress.

On March 10th, 135 years ago, Mr. Bell placed the first telephone call. He rang his assistant and said: “Mr. Watson—come here—I want to see you.” Not quite “One small step for man one giant leap for mankind,” but completely practical. What would you have said? I wonder what Mr. Bell would think of our iPhones and Blackberries, amazing or complete excess?

March 10, 2011

Dear Mr. Bell

If I had to list my most favorite inventions, the telephone would definitely be in the top ten. If my thirteen-year-old self was making the list, your genius would be number one.

I was a big phone talker as a teen, so much so that my parents gifted me my very own phone line. Phone lines have come a long way Mr. Bell. The line came with a snazzy portable phone (no cord!) with an accompanying answering machine in case I missed an important call. When you’re thirteen, every call is important. But, I had to wait for a phone number to free up. Turns out, when my Mom phoned the folks at AT&T they advised her the only number available was 876-6969. I’m not sure if that number had any significance back in your day, but lets just say my Dad was having none of that.

Your fantastic invention has come a long way. I no longer have a ‘land line’ but make all my calls on a mobile phone which fits in my pocket—can you believe it?! It does all sorts of other neat tricks too, like keeps an address book of numbers I can’t seem to remember. And it surfs the internet—but that’s a long story and another letter I’m afraid.

Thank you for inventing the telephone. And thanks for your other contributions to the vault. You had quite a lot of interests—you were granted 18 patents in your name alone. And I had no idea you tutored Helen Keller (I think they forgot to mention that in school). Hats off to you good sir! And many thanks!

Forever indebted,

Lauren

sixty-seven: a letter for Women For Women

International Women’s Day has been observed for years and years (it dates back to the 1900’s). But I love that it’s gotten more and more attention in recent years. It’s even an official holiday in twenty-six countries; men honor their mother’s, wives, girlfriends, etc. with token gifts. How neat is that?!

Women for Women is an organization that champions this effort year round. They give hope to women survivors of war, aiding them financially and providing skills to help them establish self-sufficient businesses. So in honor of IWD, I made a donation to the organization and sent along thanks to the people who make it all possible.

March 8, 2011

To the Brains + Muscle Behind Women For Women,

A sincere thank you to the dedicated employees and volunteers of your organization. I am honored to support such a worthy cause, and proud to see all the good work you are doing in war-torn countries. You are changing thousands of lives and impacting entire nations. Thank you for raising awareness and for giving those women a voice that can be heard.

Best,

Lauren

kate spade (who partners with this organization: check it out!)