Ready or not for my list of stuff that makes me happy this month, here we go:

Letters

Yep: snail mail.

A while back, Jenna Sauber and I conducted a campaign to honor our love for the good ol’ USPS. (You can read the reasons via this post. The offer to send a card to anyone willing to receive one still stands!)

What I didn’t expect: People wrote me back.

Regularly receiving letters and having the opportunity to write them has added excitement to my end-of-day mail run. And given the recent hecticness in my life, I’ve needed the little surprises.

Inprint Margaret Root Brown Reading Series

For the first time this year, I became a season subscriber for Inprint’s Margaret Root Brown Reading Series.

I’d attended the series as much as I could in the past. I knew I’d go more often if I signed up—and I wanted to support such an amazing effort. For nine months, this Houston organization brings in world-famous writers to read from and discuss their work.

Even if I haven’t read an author’s work, I learn so much from the reading and the discussion—and I’ve discovered some great books. Also, the size of the crowd at these events—filling large downtown theaters—thrills me with proof that readers still exist.

Athleta Bettona Classic Pants

I read a news item this week that we return half the items bought on-line. Frankly, I thought the percentage of returns would come in higher.

Yet I first encountered Athleta’s Bettona Classic Pants in a catalog. After looking them up on-line and buying a pair, I went back for more.

Why? These pants fit like athletic wear—yet look like slacks. And you know how much I love comfy clothes. Any wonder why these pants rank highly in my wardrobe’s best-of list?

What do you love this month?