You know we love handwritten notes here at The Traveling Journal so when we saw this incredible story of a teacher who remembers each of his students with a handwritten letter on their birthday, we were seriously impressed! Watch this story and you’ll see why Dan Stroup, an eighth grade teacher from Indianapolis, is our hero!

Are you thankful for your long distance friends? Then prove it this holiday season by starting a new tradition– the tradition of The Traveling Journal! To encourage long distance friends to get going with their journal journies we’ve slashed the price on our most popular product just in time for Cyber Monday! The Traveling Journal Starter Kit is now just $17.99! Get everything you need to start this fun friendship tradition in one cute package! Give a gift that really means something this holiday season– give your long distance friends a Traveling Journal!

We are once again participating in Free Shipping Day! This year it is held on Friday, December 16. Shipping is free with every order over $25, no coupon code required. Please keep in mind that we can’t gaurantee delivery by Christmas on our Jessica or Edwina journal lines. However, all other products are ready to ship. Please let us know if you have any questions and Merry Christmas!

More than a decade ago the Kappa Delta Sorority created National Women’s Friendship Day. It became so popular that two years ago the day-long celebration was stretched to fill an entire 30 days and Women’s Friendship Month was born. Moms, dads, and grandparents all only get one day a year, but friends get an entire month so that must mean they are important. If you’re wondering how to celebrate this September we’ve got a great idea– why not launch a Traveling Journal? You can share it with those special friends who may not live on the same street or even across town. Let them know that you cherish their friendship, despite the distance.

For the month of September use code FRIENDSHIPMONTH to get The Traveling Journal Starter Kit for just $19.99. That’s a 20% discount and a great deal on everything you need to launch your journal journey. The Traveling Journal Starter Kit comes with a Fernanda Journal, four-pack of pens, a Buddy Bookmark and Preview Postcard four-pack. Happy Women’s Friendship Month!

As a writer I love telling stories. I look forward to interviewing interesting people and sharing their stories with others. I don’t always like writing about myself though, unless it has to do with a topic I’m passionate about. And one of those topics I love writing about is The Traveling Journal. One of the positions I hold is features editor for a South Carolina women’s magazine called Belle. Every month I coordinate articles and write a few as well. For our August issue I was excited to have the opportunity to share the story of The Traveling Journal with our readers.

In “The Traveling Journal takes Manhattan” I give readers an inside look at how we ended up on the Today Show, what the experience was like and how Steve Carrell gave us encouragement. I wrote about the incredible day when I got the exciting job of calling each of my friends to tell them that The Today Show wanted to fly us to NYC– a day I will never forget! I even shared about the sixth link in our circle of friends, Jessica. I wrote about her black curly hair, wrinkly hands and the gift she gave us– the gift of learning just how precious friendships are. Since you can’t get your own copy of Belle unless you’re lucky enough to live in the Upstate, here’s a sample, my last paragraph:

And just before our four minute segment was over we handed Hoda and Kathie Lee gift bags with their own traveling journals tucked inside, which got a great endorsement from Hoda. We all agree that it really couldn’t have gone better. And wh en we started this long distance friendship tradition ten years ago, we never imagined the journey it would take us on.

And that’s the honest truth. But we’re excited to see where all of this is headed.

Do you have a friend that is always running late? She takes forever to do her hair or figure out what to wear and meanwhile you’re perpetually left waiting? I do too and her name is Tonya. As a somewhat impatient person this quality usually annoys me terribly, but it actually came in handy a couple of weeks ago. I’ve met a lot of celebrities over the years. I’ve attended the Oscars and movie premiers and red carpet events. But one of my all-time favorite celebrity encounters happened during our recent trip to New York City to appear on The Today Show– and it wouldn’t have happened if Tonya hadn’t taken forever to get ready. We were running late to dinner and I was leading the pack down 51st street to catch a cab to the Meatpacking District. Dawn, Melly, Morgenne and Tonya were a few steps behind me, looking down at someone’s phone. As we approached a corner I almost literally ran into Steve Carell. “Steve!” I exclaimed as though I was bumping into an old friend. “Would you mind taking a quick picture with us. This is a special weekend for us. We’re in town to be on The Today Show.” I stuck my arm out and kindly ushered him to the edge of the sidewalk. At this point my friends looked up. Dawn screamed and Steve giggled and shooshed her at the same time. He knew that if we freaked out, surely other people who freak out and soon he’d have a mob surrounding him.

So we quickly posed for pictures and Steve offered us some words of encouragement for our upcoming interview. “You’ll do great,” he said. “They’re so nice over there.” Morgenne told him she was looking forward to his new movie and he said that’s why he was in town. I also told him we were actually just talking about him because earlier in the day we laughed about the scene in Date Night where they end up at the boat house– the quietest place in New York City.

A few minutes later he was gone, leaving behind a pool of giggly, starstruck girls in his wake. We spent the rest of the evening gushing over how kind he was, wondering what other celebrities we might randomly meet and agreeing that anybody else would surely be a let down after sharing such a special moment with our pal Steve.

When we showed up to do our interview on The Today Show we told the producer about our amazing encounter. “You should mentioned that!” Angela said. So when Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb asked us on air about how our trip to New York City was we gladly said, “We bumped into Steve Carell and he said you guys were great!” But of course none of that would have happened if Tonya hadn’t taken her sweet time getting ready. So in the future Tonya, take all the time you need!

Not only have we received national media attention (thanks again to the Wall Street Journal and The Today Show!) but there’s been a lot of local interest as well. This morning our lovely co-founder Morgenne Basye got up super early so she’d look extra cute for her appearance on Good Morning Arizona. Here’s what the wrote about The Traveling Journal on their website:

“In this age of keeping in touch through technology, it’s refreshingly retro to stay up-to-date on your friends’ lives the old-fashioned way — by mail. We’re not talking about ordinary letters. This is much more personal, not to mention fun and longer lasting.

It’s something the women behind The Traveling Journal have been doing for years. They’re all from a small town in Iowa and have been friends since grade school. Once they graduated from college, they scattered across the country.

Morgenne Basye landed here in the Valley. She shared their journal — parts of it, any way — with Kaley O’Kelley and explained how you can start a Traveling Journal for yourself and your BFFs.”

Check out the video of Morgenne’s interview– didn’t she do great!?

Read the full article at AZFamily.com. Way to go Morgy!

Excitement filled my body as I got the news that my four best friends and I were going make an appearance on The Today Show.  My pure excitement soon turned to fear as I thought about all of the the things I needed to do before I took off for New York City. Nails, lay out in the sun, shop for the perfect outfit along with shoes and accessories. Getting just the right outfit was stressful enough, but having to do my own hair and make up would have be too much. Panic really set in as I realized that I would be seen on national television and I am not an expert, not by far, at applying make up or doing my hair. 

As the show approached we received more details about what would be happening  and I was so relieved to hear that the show would be doing our hair and make up. Thank goodness!!

After checking in at NBC Studios, we headed to the green room to begin our television transformation.  (We thought this might take a while!)  Minutes after setting foot in the green room we were all called over to the chairs.  Melissa, Alison and Dawn started with their hair while Tonya and I got or make up done first. Then… the switch. I was really impressed with how quickly they got the five of us ready for the show. I think I was in the chair for maybe 15 minutes.  They really can make miracles happen in a very short time! All of the hair and make up people were extremely friendly! Everyone involved at The Today Show really made our experience great!

Us with Sara, Hoda and Kathie Lee

Express, Anthropology, Miss Me and Tarina Tarintino.  These are just some of brands we sported during our debut on the Today Show with Hoda and Kathie Lee. 

You may have noticed the bright pink shirt I wore.    If you didn’t, you probably didn’t watch because it was hard to miss.  For me, dressing for the Today Show was stressful.  I still live in our hometown of Sioux City, Iowa.  Most of my clothes come from J.C.Penny, Target or Old Navy.  Needless to say, there aren’t a lot of ‘big city’ choices in Sioux City.  We’ve got a Gap, The Buckle and Kohls, but no Macy’s, Juicy Couture  or H & M. 

But lucky for me, there’s a little lady I use to work with at KTIV back in my days as a reporter. Her name is Peggy Higman.  She left the reporting gig years ago, got married and had three beautiful children.  She also opened a boutique, Ava Morgan in Vermillion, South Dakota. Now, I know what you’re thinking, what does South Dakota know about fashion?  True.  But trust me Peggy knows her stuff.  Here’s her bio:   http://www.shopavamorgan.com/meetus.aspx    

Outfit 1

So I called her and asked if she would be willing to lend me some clothes since I can’t afford to go out and buy.  She said, ‘Sure, we’ll take care of you.’  And take care of me, she did.  Check out some of the different outfits she picked out for me.  I absolutely love the black dress with floral print, but the Today show said, ‘No prints’.  I’ve

Outfit 2

always wanted a pair of skinny jeans because I think they’re so cute on everyone, but none ever looked great on me until I found a pair at Ava Morgan.  They were ‘Miss Me’ jeans.  My first pair skinny jeans for just $69!  And that was NOT a special ‘friend’ discount.  She has great stylish clothes at decent prices.  So I did end up buying the jeans I wore on the show.  I loved the jewelry.  It was all Tarina Tarintino.  I’m a sucker for fabulous jewelry.  And fabulous it was.  The girls didn’t like my jewelry but they said it was very “you”.  Meaning, I’m the oddball of the group.  But honestly, I just think I have great taste. 

Outfit 3

Thanks again Peggy Higman, Lori and Sam at  Ava Morgan for making me look so darn good on national television.  If you live in the area, make sure to visit her store, 6 West Main Street.  Vermillion, South Dakota.  Or give them a call.   (605) 624-2323

At the end of our segment on The Today Show we were able to give Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford their own Traveling Journals. We gave Hoda the Jessica Journal in grass and Kathie Lee the Jessica Journal in berry. Hoda thought it was a great gift idea for long distance friends!

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