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I went to Big Lots the other day and came across a whole craft aisle and everything was so cheap! I really don't like going to Big Lots but this time I found so much great stuff that I had to resist spending the money I don't have at the moment. However I couldn't pass up a huge button grab bag! My mother and I have become obsessed with buttons and we love sitting in the dinning room table and sorting buttons. We could do it all day long!
All these buttons just for $2.00! I will definitely be going back for more soon!

I also bought a booklet of 72 sheets of 6.5" x 4.5" cardstock which is perfect for making postcards! I already made one the other day (instead of studying for my math final)

So as I mentioned before, I am starting to do the whole coupon thing and my latest find was for a free moisturizing body wash from CVS. I came across the coupon on facebook, the offer has now expired. My first $0.00 purchase was exciting!

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I participated in a mail art kit swap on swap-bot and this is what i received,


I was so surprised about how big the package was. I wasn't expecting so much stuff, especially real postage stamps! This one was by far one of the best swaps yet. I didn't take pictures of what I sent but in my package I included lots of ephemera, stamps and ink pad, di-cuts, envelopes, old postage stamps, colored pencils, deco tape, scissors and other random stuff and it was all in a big make-up/travel bag.

Free stuff I have received lately:
Nail foil stickers

I forgot what website it was from but I got the link from http://www.freestufftimes.com which included a coupon code for free purchase and free shipping. I probably won't ever wear them but they were free. 

I have been doing a lot of coupon shopping with my mother and she finds the best deals ever at CVS. On one of her most recent purchases she bought all this:

Total break-down:

Purchase #1

Nivea Lip Sticks:

$4.45 and $3.39 but they were 2 for $5.00 dollars + $3.00 off coupon!

total of $2.00

Purchase #2

Nivea Lip Sticks:

$4.45 and $3.39 but they were 2 for $5.00 dollars + $3.00 off coupon!

sub total of $2.00

Gillete Fusion Razor:

$12.99 but they were on sale for $9.99 + $4.00 off coupon

sub total of $5.99

so that's $7.99 - $6.00 CVS Reward Dollars 

total: $1.99

Everything in that picture came down to $3.99! (not including tax)

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Picked up a few postcards a few weekends ago in San Luis Obispo. I should have bought more but they're up for trade if anyone would like one.


So I came across a blog on tumblr a few weeks ago about couponing and getting free things. This lady documents all her amazing deals. On her blog she share this website: http://www.freestufftimes.com/
which is one of her many gateways to free things. Who doesn't love free stuff?! I know I do! So I have been signing up for free samples (and my grandmother because she loves getting mail too). Since it's only been a couple of weeks since I started I havent received anything besides a free sample of Vanilla Extract from http://www.pure-vanilla.com/, which I'll probably use for my soap making once I start. I am expecting the free stuff to start flowing in in about a month.

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The amount of mail that has been coming in and going out recently has inspired me to update my blog!

July was spent catching up on my mail, getting organized and finding new pen pals. I think I will create a log to keep track of how much mail I receive and send out.

Outgoing mail: August 1st


A closer look to a postcard I made for a member in IUOMA. I really love doing collages!


Now on to some of the goodies I have received recently..

Dollar tree swap from swap-bot. I love the whole color theme of everything, so soft  and relaxing and yay for glue sticks! I go through glue sticks soo fast!


What the mail man left for me today. My family jokes around that I need to invest in a larger mail box.


Christmas in July swap! I was so excited to unwrap the gifts. But i do have to admit it was a little strange opening Christmas presents while it's 100 degrees outside

The package included christmas cards, food markers, sounds of nature cd, a christmas bag with tissue paper and a home made apron!


a close up of the "Feliz Navidad" apron she sent. I can't wait to start baking!



I will leave you all with a shot of my super messy work station. I wish I had a whole entire room dedicated to my snail mail adventures!

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Freshly developed fisheye photos:

Calico Ghost Town on the way to Vegas, taken New Years Eve.

Griffith Observatory

Los Angeles view from the Hollywood Bowl Observation point (I pretended to be a tourist for a day)

Dusk at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery...I go there a lot.

More photos could be found on my flick:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/apeachylife/

Slowly getting back on track with my snail mail adventures. I want more penpals!

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I am officially a college graduate!

Now that school is over I have so much time on my hands...time to catch up with this blog! After taking a semester of JUST art classes, I have become very inspired to create some mail art, especially some collage mail art. I created this one in class for a project they had us do (the art department was interviewing a new professor and we were her "practice" class..she made us do collages!)

I have received some very interesting pieces these last few months. Such as, 

Is there any good snail mail coupon communities out there? My mother recently become obsessed with coupons thanks to the TLC show "Extreme Couponing" and she has me searching for coupons EVERYWHERE. I've already joined a few groups and swaps on swap-bot. Would anyone be interested in trading?

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Time to catch up..again.

I have under estimated my ability to properly keep up with this blog but a month ago I received a postcard from a reader and I was so excited that people actually look at this. I have been meaning to update since then but it took a month to actually do so.

Thank you Monica! I will be replying to it shortly :)


Snail mail has taken a back seat for a while as I concentrate on school and my Etsy shops. However, it has not stopped me from thrift shopping...
I gave in and paid $2.50 for this alphabet and number stamp set. It came new in the box and only 3 of the letters have been used. It was missing the ink pad but thats okay.

A little wood mail box to hold my incoming letters :) 

Also, I am offering my readers a 20% off discount on an entire order when you shop at A Peachy Life, just use coupon code: APL20 when checking out!