dry mouth.
it is 12:19 am and my tongue tastes like glue! I have been licking envelopes and stamps (you would think the $.80 cent ones would at least be chocolate flavored) all night and may not even be half way done with my cards yet. I feel this need to write things on the back of each card. And now I am wondering why we didn't do a letter! We have never really written a letter as we are so worried about sounding like this. But now am thinking if there has ever been a year to share so many fun things about our family - trip to Europe, our wonderful mission downtown and hello our marathon! What were we thinking? I am seriously finding myself writing all of these things over and over on the back of each card. So now instead of worried about sounding like we are bragging I will have to be worried about carpel tunnel syndrome.
What are some feelings about Christmas letters? And will Alph W. or Spencer G. write mine next year - yours are always the best!
oh and one more thing...
tonight i ran out of tin foil and have now come up with the best way to ship my ribbon sticks. Yes i will be sticking a label on this box and it will go as is! I am so excited about this. Recycle, Recycle, recycle!
35 comments:
I know what you mean about not wanting to write a letter. I feel the same way. But at the same time, I always like reading others and catching up with them.
It's not too late to stick a little printed card in the other half to save your wrists!
Oh, that letter was funny. Makes me a little worried that ours sound like that. Not that I am trying to brag but I am not witty, funny or creative with my writing. I want to do something fun every year but never do. Oh well.
I love to read peoples letters as long as they aren't too braggy or long. I have one friend who always sends at least a 2 page, single space, small font discourse on how smart all her kids are and how successful her husband is and what amazing leadership positions they have at church and what new car they bought (make, model and cost) along with buying a brand new 3000+ sf house, etc. You get my point. Those are the annoying letters. (although I'd prefer to get one like that than none at all) I do think letters to keep friends informed are so great. I love getting them and feel like I've caught up a bit- even if we don't get to talk very often. Can you write a short note and stick it in the rest? I think it is very noteworthy to tell everyone you're sending cards to about your amazing trip to Europe, your Marathon and your church experiences. I think people like to hear those positive and interesting things. Good luck!
I love reading my friend's letters about what has been going on...I include a letter in mine but try to make it really low key, basic, this is what's up! I kinda chuckle when I get the travel logs and the "see what I bought and how much we spent" cards. But usually that goes along with their personality and that is one of the things I love about them...:) or not. I used to hand write the same thing on all the cards until I figured out that I was saying the same thing over and over. Now I sometimes write a little "hi" on some of the letters...you need to make a little note to put in the rest of them...
Maybe it'd be easier to just include your blog address- than everyone can catch up on all of your amazing experiences at their leisure. :) I don't even know you(although I feel like I do)and I love reading about your life!
Oh, your poor hands and shriveled up tongue! Stretch em out and gulp up some water--whew!
That letter was too funny! I think that's one of the reasons we've never done one, I'd worry too much about how it was interpreted or if it was annoying. You know.
How cool about the foil!! Perfect.
The Christmas letter. I love them and hate them at the same time. I love how convenient it is to catch people up on your happenings through the year, but I hate how impersonal they are.
I've only sent a letter a few times and when I do, I will mail-merge the letter so I can at least start off with Dear So & So. So much better than Dear Friends & Family.
I would totally put in a little business card size note that says something like... We've had a busy and wonderful year in the nation's capitol. Read all about it on our blog at ....
I am very interested in seeing what these Christmas cards of yours look like.
I just included my blog address on my cards for anyone who didn't already have it. Doesn't writing a blog mean you never need to do a Christmas letter again?
The glimpse I got of your cards took my breath away. They are beautiful with the red flowers.
oh you would fit in great here in the NW with all your recycling!
we write a christmas letter.. I never worry about sounding braggy, simply cause we have nothing to brag about.. I think it is so fun to get letters and re-connect with people from our missions, old roommates.. family.. etc.
curt's aunt once wrote a letter something about her "manison, retiring, traveling".. all really elaborate,, and then at the end- said just kidding.. it was pretty funny, cause her sister writes serious ones like that every year.. that are so grandious!
good luck finishing those up!
I hate to write the dreaded Christmas letter. Now I just put five bullet points about each of us, some great some funny. I think it is more fun to read.
I love the ribbon stick in foil!!
The foil ribbon box is genius!
I finally started writing a Christmas letter and must say I love to get them as well. Some people are braggy and lame, but most people are sincere and funny. I've always wished you'd write a Christmas letter!
I agree-- send a cute little card with your blog address. People can get so much from frequent updates than from one hindsight letter!
You are so good at finding alternative uses for things. Way to be recycling!
And I blogged about my Christmas cards today: www.creolewisdom.typepad.com : )
on the latter:
I say go for it! you have had a year to be proud of, so if not this year then when?
we usually do more of a "consise summary!" one or two things about each of the 4 of us and a few tidbits about our year.
the year(s) when we have been too busy to do one or when we thought we would do them every other year, we heard about it from a lot of people so we always include one.
Most of all, I LOVE To read them. Annoying or bragging, or simple and sweet. As long as they are not filled with gloom and doom for the entire letter, (and we have gotten those in the past) I love to get caught up!
I absolutely swore I would never write Christmas letters to go with Christmas Cards, however, after writing some of the very same details 160+ times 10-15 years ago, I decided to write a short general ONE PAGE family letter with one resolve.... I ALWAYS hand write something personal to each person that is different than the general information in the letter.
We always send a card with our photo on it, also.
We now send out 200+ cards, all over the US and Canada so this has made the Card-sending tradition manageable.
This year, I gave my blog address in the letter. It is a great way to keep up all year and to renew friendships with long-distance friends.
I cannot stand to receive a card from someone who I don't see or talk with all year and they just sign their name... no updates, maybe a photo, etc.
I have the same worries about Christmas letters. This year, I don't even have a card in the works! uh-oh. But I agree that yours looks breathtaking! I can't wait to see the whole thing.
The last couple years I have stuck with bullet points on each person. I love hearing what's up with everyone but I always keep it simple. The long braggy letters make me laugh ( a couple cousins do them every year) and it wouldn't be the same without them.
I'm almost done with mine and I'm so happy about it. Even though I went the easy route this year, I did it!
I am going to agree with everyone else and say you should slip a little printed paper in with the rest. Handwriting is so much more personal, but at only halfway I say good job, print a note!!
We send a letter every year. We love writing it and we love getting them from others. I like them so much more than whatever the card says with "Love, so and so."
i did 30 envelopes yesterday, yucky yuck!
I agree that .80 cent stamps should taste like chocolate. :)
I love that you recycle. What a clever way to send ribbon.
I started writing on the first few cards and gave up due to pain in my wrist. I also got a bit light headed from licking. I ended up waiting until our destination (since i was doing this in the car) and used a wet wash cloth. Worlds better!
Your card is always a treat to get--they are always so unique!!
We haven't written a letter in a while due to that very reason and now that we have a blog I feel repetitive.
Great idea with the ribbon sticks. You have me wrapping presents in eggo boxes--it rocks!
I think my worries about what others might think will keep me from ever writing a letter. Hopefully that will change, but at this point I feel way too insecure to attempt it. I love to get them though...even the braggy ones because I love to laugh!
Love the ribbon foil box! Great idea!
I used a baby wipe to seal my envelopes this year! That is my least favorite part of cards. We didn't do a letter this year. I usually try to make it short and sweet, but our printer is acting funny, so no letter.
I didn't write on very many cards either, so if you got writing you were extra good this year! :)
Last year I did a multiple choice quiz for my card - photo collage on the front - quiz on the back. It was great fun. This year - just a one liner highlight or so. You will see if I can even get them back from the printers!
I do enjoy receiving the letters - even the bad and scary ones that give too many details of their life!
Chocolate covered .80 cent stamps is a must for that many cards!
Love the foil shipping box idea, you have the greatest box ideas!!
I have only done a Christmas letter a few times - when we were living in Texas and didn't have much contact with family and friends.
I get one long braggy letter every year from a friend and I always wonder if she realizes how it comes across?! I like the letters that are sincere though, so I can just catch up on what everyone is doing.
Chocolate-flavored stamps!!! Why hasn't anyone marketed that yet?! And you seriously have the best packaging EVER.
I did the same thing with my Christmas cards, writing all these lengthy personalized notes. I have got to get a letter put together next year!
We go back and forth each year it seems. We usually write a letter with highlights of the year. Since we live away from most of our family it's a nice update for everyone, plus I love, love to get Christmas cards with photos, letters, and all. I don't think I have come across a too braggy one yet, so I say write away!
I love your idea for packaging your ribbon sticks! Great idea!
You are too funny. I can't wait to see those cards. . . ours should be coming to you soon. Please let me know if it doesn't show up! :) No more news on the baby. . . have you heard an official name yet?
You're a ribbon genius!
One of my dad's friends sends a brag letter that makes the one you linked seem like nothing. We laugh so hard. I can't imagine Christmas without it. :-)
that form letter is hilarious! TOo funny I think I may just send out that letter!
oh kristi that picture looks sooo glorious, I just love flowers. I am in the same situation as you...I didnot do a letter, and wrote many christmas cards with thoguhtful thoughts, and then had the pictures finding out, that i hate to just send a picture...by itself. Oh what a dilema, having run out of pictures and then writing a ton of letters in between ordering more photos...the perplexities...I agree with the whole post. maybe next year.
oh by the way...if you did not send me one, do one more liking because I do think I would love that red flower soo beautiful.
i love getting and receiving Christmas cards! i sent out 70 this year and have sadly only gotten a handful back so far.
letters are great...seriously, who cares if people brag a little (i mean i try to keep our pretty simple), but it's Christmas and your proud of your kids and hubby and dog, so who cares!
we did a pic postcard thing this year and had a special Christmas blog address on it, so it people want a longer recap of 2007 they can visit the blog or just have the pic we sent in the mail
buckeyechristmas.blogspot.com
merry Christmas!
lisa h.
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