Virginia Sherwood/BravoIt sounds like Teresa Giudice is already getting a lot of well wishes behind bars.
The Real Housewives of New Jersey star, who began her 15-month federal prison sentence earlier this week, has started receiving fan mail just days after surrendering herself to the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Conn.
"She's just been inundated with letters and cards from her fans," a source tells E! News exclusively. "She's so overwhelmed by the support and very grateful to everyone. It's really lifted her spirits."
On Monday, Giudice's lawyer James L. Leonard told E! News that the 42-year-old mother of four "was very upbeat and positive" upon entering prison, as well as "talkative and lively." "There was some nervous energy there, but not because she was scared. She was just anxious about getting started," Leonard said.
"Teresa's last words to me [were], 'Tell everyone I'm going to be fine,'" he added.
As for life inside prison, Leonard revealed that Giudice hopes to put her culinary skills to good use. "She indicated that if she had her choice to work she would like to work in the kitchen facility because she's obviously a good cook," he told us.
Meal options in a prison like Danbury include fruit, bran cereal, bread, juice and coffee for breakfast, beans and franks, potatoes, meatloaf, vegetables and chips for lunch and spaghetti, Salisbury steak, peas potatoes, chicken and more for dinner.
So how are her husband Joe Giudice and their four daughters doing while the reality star is behind bars? "This is a very strong family and they're going to be fine," Leonard said.
—Reporting by Beth Sobol