Technology How to: Mail Merge

Mail Merge - More than just letters

A mail merge can become a very handy tool to master. I will be showing you how to do it in Microsoft Word and Excel, but it could be completed with other software as well. The process can seem very overwhelming and daunting at first, but once you start practicing and using the process you will see the endless possibilities. I use mail merges for Christmas cards, recipe cards, and even at work, to create forms for staff to complete. These are just printed examples of a mail merge! You are also able to setup and create a merge to send email through your Outlook. This is great for party invites or announcements.

Setting up the List

The first set to the list of Names or recipes is the first step. I have included a video blow showing how to set up both styles of lists. The address list is very straight forward and would include the expected items such as Name, Address, City, State, Zip, but you can also include spouse and family members names. The recipes list will include ingredients, and directions. Depending on the size of the directions, it might take two cards and two directions.

Setting up the Document

Setting up the document can be the funnest part. You are able to write and setup up what you want each item to look like. This includes text, images to make your final product amazing. In the video below shows how to set up both a letter and recipe cards, as well as how to merge the data from your Lists.

Final Products

There are several outputs for your finished merge. There is a the PDF Letter attached, or as show above the email that is received. Each is customized and personalized with the needed information. I hope this helps you in your mail merge adventures!

If you can think it, there is usually a way to make it happen. Never give up, and always try to allow technology to make your life a little easier.

Self Help: Organizing you schedual

Organizing your schedule

Organizing your schedule can be a very difficult thing. Balancing working, housework, family activities, it can become overwhelming very fast. Then when you start to add other family members into attending and tracking these items the water will become muddy very fast. 

How to organize

As a a working professional, mother, and wife, the demand on my time stretched thin. My spouse tries to assist, as well as my father and father-in-law. This causes our largest hurdle to be keeping everyone on the same page.

To solve this issue, we created everyone a Gmail account, and set it up on their smart phones. With all of us using Gmail, we are able to "invite" the others to events, such as doctor appointments, or celebrations. Then it will show on your calendars on.

Above is a short video that shows how to create a calendar event and invite someone. When you invite them, you will need to send it (when you save, it will prompt you to send). The event will be shown on their calendars.

My household and family use Gmail and Google Calendar not only for doctor appointments, but for recurring bills, special events, shopping trips, pay days. Anything we want to make sure to remember, we put on our calendars, and invite those who we want to attend with us.

Electronic and Hard Copies

Being that everyone in the family has smartphones and/or tablets, we usually keep everything electronic, but on extremely busy weeks, we will print out the our Google Calendar and post it on the fridge or push-pin board.

DIY: Dremel Plaque

Dremel Plaque for VMC Friends

I have made a few plaques for some friends of ours in the Veterans Motorcycle Club. I have really come to enjoy my dremel and all the items I have been able to make with it.

I started all the plaques with wood base I purchased from Hobby Lobby. I have found they seem to have the best selection in sizes and the wood is nice quality, and the dremel has no issues cutting it. They have a lot of designs to choose from - check them out!

Larger - 7x9

Smaller - 5x7

I used Word to create my design for the plaque. Even if it is not completely what I am wanting to put on the plaque, This will at least give me the sizes of the items I want to put on the plaques. After I have the design, I print int out, and then take it to the right size of Trace-It Transfer Paper. 

I place all the printed designs on the transfer paper on the plaque, and move them around to where they look best. Once that position has been found, I tape the transfer paper down. I use the embossing styles to trace the design on the the plaque.

<-- Design on the transfer paper

Transferred Design -->

Once I have the design on the plaque, I use the my dremel to cut out the design. Once I have cut the design into the wood, I stain it, and paint the design in.

I used a ash grey wood stain. I put it on thick, they whipped it off, to give more of a distressed look. I painted around the outside of the goose black, to allow it to pop a little more on the stained background. All the paint used was basic art paint, I believe acrylic from Hobby Lobby. To finish off everything off, I sprayed a couple coats of clear coat.

Final Products:

On the back of the plaques I screw on a Saw tooth hanger. So that they are able to hang the plaques. I hope that everyone enjoys. Please let me know if there is any projects like this that you would like to see. Or if there is any more details you would like on how I completed these. The next dremel project I will video record so that everyone can see how I dremel.

As always, please check out my Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest,  Tumblr, Youtube, and Google+, or Email me!! I always look forward to feedback!!

First of Many posts to come

I am going to be giving this a hard time this time.

I am really wanting to try to start blogging about things that matter to me. I am going to start off with a minimum of one post a week, and each week of the month with be on a different topic.



My first post will be about the DIY projects I have been working on, or want to work on. I have a very crafty side, and want to be able to share with everyone the projects I find on Pinterst and how they turn out when I try my hand. I hope to be able to also share on my social media links and topics to go with this through out the week.



My second week will be a bit of a self help/pet peeve type of post. I wanted to post about things that have helped me along the way and things that are really just bugging the crap out of me! I will share different images on my Tumbler and Facebook pages, through out the week as the relate to the blog post. I have been diagnosed with Bi-Polar, and it has become a daily struggle. I feel like there are others like me out there, and they need to know it is possible to be a success  in life.



The third week, I want to try to do a post on something technology related. Might be a walk through on how to do a process (mail merge or something) or how to setup a router, or a review of a new techy item I have acquired. I hope to be able to use some screen shots and video captures to make the walk throughs easier to follow, and will post them on YouTube. I have 3 college degrees: Associates in Applied Business, Associates in Web Development, and Bachelors in Technology Management. I really want to be able to share my knowledge with others and hope to be a help to them. I hope to be able to share some great info on Twitter with everyone as well.



The 4th week of the month I want to do a spiritual post. Share with everyone a bit about my beliefs and how I am working to further my knowledge of my systems. I am a Wiccan Witch, and it is always a process to keep learning and knowing more about everything. I think it would amazing to share that with others who are thinking about this path. I hope to share Facebook pages, and other Websites that might interest others as well as photos through out the week on Tumbler.

On the occasion that there is a 5th week in the month, I will do a "By Request" post. I will let the reads pick the topic for the week.

Please give me your ideas and feedback

As many can guess, Annabelle is not my real name, but I am hoping that by using my Wiccan name, I might be able to share some very honest facts and experiences without to much blow back in my normal life. 

Contact me!!

Please feel free to contact me on any of my social networks (listed in the about me section as well). I am on:

Facebook - Annabell Moonbeam

YouTube - Annabell Moonbeam

Twitter - @AnnabelMoonbeam

Pintrest - Annabelle Moonbeam

Tumbler - Annabelle Moonbeam

Google+ - Annabelle Moonbeam

You can also email me too!! annabellel.moonbeam@gmail.com

I will do my best to respond to all inquires and questions.