{"id":2189,"date":"2013-08-02T08:22:26","date_gmt":"2013-08-02T12:22:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nicolevanputten.com\/?p=2189"},"modified":"2013-08-05T11:36:06","modified_gmt":"2013-08-05T15:36:06","slug":"mug-swap-2013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nicolevanputten.com\/2013\/08\/02\/mug-swap-2013\/","title":{"rendered":"Mug Swap 2013"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Instagram yesterday a friend from high school posted an odd photograph that looked like this:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I visited the website<\/a>, which sucked me in and before I knew it, I had joined up as well.\u00a0Kim Reyes, the writer at A Cuppa Kim, operates a genius social experiment from her blog every year by hosting a mug swap. Not only is this mug swap inventive, but it’s really pretty fun. The swap also comes with the opportunity to win additional prizes and gifts from various Etsy sellers and Starbucks gift cards.<\/p>\n

\"Christy's<\/a>

Christy’s Mug – Done.<\/p><\/div>\n

Now, I’m a sucker for mail. I love getting it and I love sending it. The problem is, email is faster and less expensive and most people don’t really appreciate opening the mail box and seeing their name on an envelope. When I was younger, throughout my elementary and middle school years, my Aunt Sara would send me letters and coins from her trips from places around the world. I never knew when the next letter was going to arrive, only that it would and that it would be amazing. I still have those letters and postcards and all those interesting coins and trinkets.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

In the next five days or so I’ll get an email with a name on it and I’ll be in charge of sending this person a mug, but in all actuality I’m in charge of sending mail. This stranger on the other end of my name will open their mailbox and think about something else for a few minutes. This mug might just be vessel for their morning coffee, but it could also be an opening for a slow friendship built through the mail.<\/p>\n

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