September Is National Courtesy Month, So What Exactly Is The Meaning Of Courtesy?

I find ‘courtesy’ to be an interesting word, probably because we unfortunately don’t hear it too often. I assumed I understood the meaning of courtesy, but I looked it up, just in case.

The meaning of courtesy

Dictionary.com kindly informs me that ‘courtesy’ has a number of definitions; those most closely applying to our discussion include:

• 1. Excellence of manners or social conduct; polite behavior.
• 2. A courteous, respectful, or considerate act or expression.
• 3. Indulgence, consent, or acquiescence
• 4. Favor, help or generosity

I like it!

Striving for proper etiquette and the core meaning of courtesy

One of my career aspirations in younger years was to be an etiquette consultant – can you imagine the pressure of constantly trying to be perfect – and teaching others to strive to do the same? I’m glad I let that one go. I do still value and appreciate manners, and I think courtesy is a core value of good manners, as reflected in definition #1. Continue reading ‘September is National Courtesy Month’ »

Write a thank you message that captures the power of Thank You

One of my most important goals in life is to teach my children that the simple act of saying ‘thank you’ is among the most important things they can do. Of course, saying ‘please’ ranks right up there, but ‘thank you’ takes the cake for me.

Teach children to say thank you

Two simple words – thank you – hold so much power. Saying thank you not only expresses gratitude but also respect, courtesy and often love. For a child, saying thank you is short and sweet. For us grown-ups, it can become a more intricate task, especially when we are putting our thoughts into writing.

I would certainly say there is an art to good thank you note wording.

My mom writes me thank you messages for just about everything. I save all of them, not only because it makes me feel good to read them, but also because they are treasure troves of memories, helping me recall how we celebrated special occasions and how I expressed my love to her in gifts.

How to Write Thank You Notes

For me, the number one rule in how to write thank you cards is to try not to make it read like a thank you note. Confused? How boring is it to read “Thank you for the blender. It blends really well. We will get a lot of use out of our blender. Thanks again.” Blah. Instead, try something like… Continue reading ‘Thank You Card Wording And How To Write Thank You Notes’ »

Busy Summer? Don’t Forget Summer Thank You Cards For All of Your Events

From summer thank you letters to wedding thank you cards, make sure you remember to say thank you

I love receiving handwritten summer thank you cards in the mail. There’s something very special about reading messages from loved ones when you know they put time and thought into writing. With that in mind, I always try to write my thank you notes promptly.  Summer thank you notes are often more challenging, with all of summer’s distractions, but they’re just as important as any other time of year.

What better time to order summer thank you notes

Now is the perfect time to order personalized thank you notes for summer’s special occasions.  Summer thank you notes are nice because the design appears on the fold-over front, leaving you more room on the inside of the stationery for a lengthy message expressing your gratitude.  One of my favorite notes here at Giftsin24.com is the new Classic Monogram Note with border.  I think it looks great on white paper with a pink border.  We’ve also brought back the quirky Duet Monogram, with two letters instead of the traditional three.  Both notes, and all of Giftsin24.com’s other personalized notes, offer plenty of room for heartfelt, handwritten sentiments.

Classic Monogram Note with Border

Try summer thank you cards to remember the ones who made your summer events memorable

Summer thank you cards are another good option. Contrary to the note, the thank you card is a flat piece of paper with the printed or embossed design on the front of the card; the thank you letter is written on that same surface, rather than opening a flap to find the message inside like fold-over notes. Continue reading ‘Summer Thank You Cards & Summer Thank You Notes from Giftsin24.Com’ »

Calling Card Stationery History Brings Us Back to Customs That Have Stood the Test of Time

The history of calling card stationery spans back to an era when personal calling cards were left after finding that no one was home upon making a house visit.   Life without cell phones and computers was a different life, unimaginable to many of us today.  Yet we can still appreciate the charm of personalized calling card stationery and handwritten letters.

Personal Calling Cards of the 18th and 19th Century

In 18th and 19th century society, what we now refer to as “visiting” was known then as “calling.”  Personal visiting cards, as they were termed, actually postulated their own delivery etiquette.   As Belight Software points out, the history of business cards harkens back to a time when society embraced certain social conventions and rules of etiquette.

Personalized calling card Victorian era

Calling Cards in the Little House on the Prairie

In Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House on the Prairie series, there is a lovely chapter in Continue reading ‘Personalized Calling Card Stationery History & Etiquette’ »

On June 15, we received the following email from a customer:

“In this tough economy jobs for college grads are hard to come by. My son applied for a position and was one of over a hundred applicants. Only 3 of the 100 wrote a personal thank you note for the interview. His was the only one on personalized stationery. His boss recently told him that the personalized stationery was the deciding factor…the difference that set him apart from the other applicants.  Thank you “Gifts in 24″ for turning out a quality product at an affordable price for your customers such as my son.”

Wow. Does it get any more convincing than that? Out of 100 applicants, this college grad distinguishes himself with a hand-written note on personalized stationery.

I got to talk with Tyler Stricklin and his mom, Pauline, who originally shared his story with us.

Giftsin24.com: Why did you choose to write a note on personalized stationery instead of sending an email?
Tyler Stricklin: Well since I was young I was always taught to write thank you notes. They started when I was young on construction paper and over the years they have developed in to your general cards with blank space to write comments. As I graduated college I wanted to be sure that my thank you notes to employers got the point across, made a bold statement, and stuck out from the other applicants’ notes. My personalized stationery accomplished everything and more. Continue reading ‘New Grad Lands Job with Help from Personalized Stationery’ »

5/15/2009 Update:

Giftsin24.com and Samara O’Shea are pleased to announce the winner of their National Card and Letter Writing Month Essay Contest. We are pleased to share with you Don Blankenship’s winning essay and his grandmother’s letter.

From April 1st to May 1st 2009

Win a $150 Gift Certificate and 2 Books on Letter Writing & Keeping a Journal

Hi this is Samara O’Shea. I’ve written two books proclaiming my love of writing. If I told you that you had the power to make someone’s day, would you do it? I’m telling you: You have that power. There is a very simple act that takes a little bit of time and the best of intentions, and it’s guaranteed to put a smile on the recipient’s face. Write a letter! I kid you not. Even in today’s world of fast food and faster communication, a letter is still worth its weight in gold. It is proof positive that someone cares about you enough to sit down (rather than text on the go) and thoughtfully say thank you, I miss you, I love you, get well, or let’s get together. Imagine receiving a handwritten letter amidst all the junk mail and bills that usually clutter your mailbox. It’s a breath of fresh air. I count it among life’s greatest pleasures-right next to an afternoon at the spa.    Continue reading ‘National Card and Letter Writing Month Essay Writing Contest at the Giftsin24 Blog’ »