We’re all about real mail here– the kind that’s delivered by a mailman right to your mailbox. But we also like technology so when the two combine we get a little giddy. Millions of people use their cell phones to snap photos. Now you can turn those photos into postcards with just a few clicks thanks to the Postagram app. It’s a free app that let’s you upload photos from your phone’s photo album or from your Instagram account. Type a message, click send and your postcard will be printed and delivered in two to five days. Each postcard costs just $.99 to send and that includes the stamp! We have some pretty embarrassing photos we could turn into postcards that might have the mailman blushing. How about you?

Relocating can be costly– and not just because you have to rent a moving van or purchase yards and yards of bubble wrap. It also takes a heavy emotional toll on pretty much all of us. I came across an interesting article by Shasta Nelson that looks at what we lose when we move away from our friends. Shasta admits that there are great people in every community, but moving away from those who you are already close to can be shocking and traumatic.

Shasta says an estimated 40 million Americans will move this summer. And that means many people will leave behind their closest friends. Shasta quotes a statement from the book “Who’s Your City” that might startle a few: “If you relocate from a city where you regularly see your family and friends to one where you would not, you would need to earn $133,000 just to make up for the lack of happiness you feel from being far from those people.” Wow. We all know that our friends are valuable, but maybe we don’t realize just how valuable until we lose them.

Photo Credit

According to BBC News, only about 1900 people were invited to the Royal Wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William. But millions more will feel like they were because they’ll be watching every detail of the fairytale event on TV. None of us here at The Traveling Journal got our invites to Kate and Wills big day. (Maybe they got lost in the mail?) But no matter what time zone we are in we can all experience the April 29 event together.

Here on the east coast where I live the festivities start at 5am and out in California where Tonya is the fun starts at 2am. YouTube announced that the Royal Wedding will be streamed live at YouTube.com. Events like this are fun because not only can we share them with those we see on a regular basis, but we can share them with our long distance friends, too. We’ll all see Kate in her wedding gown at the same time. And hopefully we’ll all be talking about how in love the happy couple seems to be.

Most people don’t think of letter writing as an art form, but putting words on paper can truly be creative and very inspirational.  Elizabeth Cottrell has put together a group on Facebook  to “revive the art of letter writing”.  I wanted to know how she got started writing and why she decided to put this group together.

Why did you start the Facebook group to revive letter writing?

Elizabeth: She started to re-evaluate her life and ask herself what was important.  One theme kept coming to the surface: the importance of connection with self, others, God and nature.  She asked people what they thought her strengths were. One strength kept coming up…she wrote wonderful notes.  She realized that a note/letter can be a powerful connection tool. So she created the Facebook Group “revive the art of personal note writing” and later expanded that theme to her blog: Heartspoken.com.

Why do you think that letter writing is a great way to communicate?

Elizabeth: She explains that there is an intimacy about a letter that trumps other kinds of communication.  Sending a letter to someone shows them that you took the time and went to the trouble to write just to them.  This lets them know that you care and that they are special to you.

Creating a traveling journal can also be a creative way to  share your thoughts and ideas with your friends.  The idea is the same as writing a letter, but instead of writing to one person you may be writing to a group of people at once.  These entries (letters) are kept in the journal and can be read each time you receive the journal.  The journal entries can be just as personal and show your friends that you took the time to write about your feelings/experiences to share with them.

Our Traveling Journals become snapshots of our collective lives, despite the fact that we don’t live anywhere near each other. But inevitably you have to send the Traveling Journal on to its next destination so you don’t get to hold on to those photos for very long. Here is a cool idea for making a more permanent display of friend photos in your home. It’s a creative DIY idea from Papernstitch.

Just head to your local thrift store and pick up some beautiful, but possibly damaged an unwanted books. Choose a photo that you love– maybe even a copy of one that is in your Traveling Journal– and use this repurposed book as a way to display it proudly. Papernstitch offers a step-by-step tutorial so you can have this frugal frame decorating your walls in no time.

Photo courtesy of Lauren

Out of the five us, I’m the only one who lives in the same town as my mom.  But if my mom did live out-of-town or out-of-state, I definitely would try to do something even more special across the miles.

Why not buy mom “The Traveling Journal”?  It’s a gift that will definitely:    

a. keep on giving

b. not put a huge dent in your pocketbook

c. make mom cry

You could journal to mom about how you’d love to stay in touch in a more personal way.  Write down all the things you remember her doing for you over the years, or perhaps just think of one time you were really proud to call her ‘mom’.  Tell her you’d like to keep this new tradition going with a journal response back from her.  And wha-la… The Traveling Journal between you and your mom have begun. 

We have beautiful homemade Traveling Journals to pick from, but the one I would get my mom is The Edwina Journal in Berry.  http://www.thetravelingjournal.com/shop/journals/the-edwina-journal-berry/

My mom and I look a lot alike and we act a lot alike.  I’m very proud to call her ‘mom’.  She’s a friend I can share anything with. 

This is my brother Zack and I with our mom, Julie on her birthday last year. I ended up getting her a Snuggie and some lipstick from Francis Canteen. I wish I would have done better with something like 'The Traveling Journal'

So this Mother’s Day, show mom you really care by getting her The Traveling Journal.

I’m sure you’ve seen some of the horrific images coming out of Japan after the devastating earthquake and tsunami that killed thousands, destroyed homes and literally shifted our earth’s axis. It’s times like these that remind us so vividly of what’s important in life.
Stuff can so easily be destroyed, but it’s the people in our lives that matter most. So even if you can’t physically hold your friends and family tighter today, send them a message, give them a call or start a traveling journal to show them how much you care.

Remember the promise of Revelation 21:4 which says, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

A new day is coming, but until then we need to be here for each other. We all have different tsunamis in our own lives and getting through that storm can be far easier when we make the journey together.

(Image one credit, image two credit, image three credit.)

I admit it. I can be a bad friend at times. It’s especially easy to be a bad friend when you don’t live in the same town or even the same state. Life gets busy, time goes by and being there for each other requires extra work. But like anything in life, you can be successful at long distance friendship if you truly want to.

According to leadership experts being more successful at anything requires changing your habits. Often people say they were born a certain way or they are who they are and that’s not going to change. But the truth is, anyone can change if they really want to. According to research it takes 21 to 30 days and works best when you take the following steps:

1)     Decide what new habit or behavior you intend to practice.

2)     Write it down on paper. List how, when, and why you’re going to do it.

3)     Share your new habit with someone else.

4)     Reward yourself. Psychological affirmations before, during, and after you practice a behavior can be particularly helpful.

5)     Practice, practice, practice. You need to repeat the behavior, preferably every day, to create the new habit.

The biggest difference between success and failure is your commitment. So if you’re committed to being a better friend (or whatever your goal is) you will no longer be “too busy” to make it happen.

 Super Bowl Sunday is a day to get together with family and friends to eat, drink and watch the big game.  It’s days like this that bring people together, or maybe give them an “excuse” to have a party.

I am a huge sports fan so any major sporting event makes me happy! Super Bowl 2011 Packers vs. Steelers… should be a good game. But, I am a little torn! I am from the midwest and have close friends who are huge Packer fans. On the other hand, I have family members who are major Steeler fans. Who do I cheer for? What is a girl to do? Is it wrong to cheer for both teams?

Alison: Packers

Dawn: Packers

Melissa: Packers

Tonya: Packers

Well, it looks like my group of friends is all about the Packers this year. No matter who you are cheering for on game day, try to remember that getting together with friends and family is what it is really about! Go Pack… Go Steelers

Can’t be with your honey this Valentine’s Day? You’re not alone– lots of us have long distance relationships. And just for those soul mates who share interests, passions and jokes, but not a zip code, we created this Valentine’s Day gift guide for long distance loves.

Couples Pillow

Even if you can’t sleep in the same bed, at least you can share the same pillow. The couples pillow from BoldLoft.com shows that even though you’re far in distance you can be close at heart. $36

Perfectly Matched Set

This is such a sweet way to stay connected even when miles are between you. The key chain is stamped with the words “I carry your heart” and the circle that’s missing from it is made into a ring engraved with the words “with me.” This handmade set from Etsy seller Silver Made Studio is simple and beautiful. $32

Custom State Card

This custom greeting card from Etsy shop Indie and Chic highlights the different states that you and your long distance love are currently in. Even though you can’t be together, at least you can send each other the cutest cards available. $4

The Jessica Journal Will Chronicle Your Long Distance Love

The Jessica Journal is the perfect gift for long distance loves. It may be blank now, but soon it will be a priceless record of your love. Someday you’ll look back on this time with fond memories and The Jessica Journal will help keep those memories alive. $29.99