Showing posts with label happy new year

I’m updating this post from a 2012 edition to include texts and private message options. Even back then, I could see the trend toward online greetings growing, but never did I think these two options would become "normal" to some. 


a few of my 2014 greeting cards I'm mailing out


I have always enjoyed the giving and receiving of Holiday Greeting cards. I am a classic; less is more kind of card sender, preferring to send a festive card with a short hand written note inside, just like my Mom did. I’m a true southern, manners matter type of lady, so please don’t think I mean this post to be a rude call out, it’s actually quite the opposite.


As I sat down to start on my cards this week, I realized I needed to re-vamp my list completely since my master list was riddled with notes beside almost every name. This person got divorced so I can’t address their card to Mr. & Mrs., this person moved to I don’t know where, so send an e-card, this dear soul just had a nasty break up, so send something happy, this person’s card was returned last year, so send an e-card. You get the idea.   


It was time for the Greeting Card cut list.


I don’t enter into this area lightly, because I know how I would feel if I were off the list. But wait a minute, I think that shipped has sailed if my notes are any indication!
Over the course of the last 3 years, we have received more e-cards from friends and family who once sent out mailed cards. Is this just a product of our societies need for all things “online”? Is it the downed economy? Have we Kinsman’s somehow fallen off the short list of worthy stamped greetings? Maybe, probably and I hope not!

The point is,  I feel obliged to follow the path in front of me and do my own form of cutting.


Here's my method:

  • If we haven’t heard from you in any form or fashion, like you have fallen off the face of the earth in 4 years: you are cut completely.
  • If you always thank me for my Christmas card in your e-card on my birthday in May:  you are cut from my mailed list and bumped to e-card status.
  • If you have never us sent a mailed card, preferring e-cards, but haven’t sent me one in 2 yrs.: you are cut from my mailed card list, put on my e-card list, but only for this year.
  • If you send us your annual newsletter, complete with a call to donate to your charity: e-card!
  • If you sent us an e-card last year: e-card.




And now I give you the 2014 additions to greetings:



If you text me a Merry Christmas! You are off my mailed greeting card list and my e-card list. We are all busy, but that is no excuse! Be a dear and think ahead next year. 


But my truly least favorite holiday greeting so far this year- a private message on Facebook.  
Ugh.  

Listen, I'm really not trying to be the "holiday greeting police" and this list is all rather tongue in cheek- but can't we just agree not to do this one unless we are just “online” friends? Then I can see you preferring to send an online greeting. May I suggest an e-card? There are several freebies available. 

But to just copy and paste a generic Hello, Happy Holidays, type of greeting to everyone you know on Facebook? It’s just bad form in my humble opinion and I would prefer to receive no greeting at all from you because this form of greeting puts me in a pickle. How does one respond to someone who doesn't even address them by their first name? My answer is, I don't. 

Did making these cuts make me feel Grinchy? Nope, it was liberating! In fact, my to be mailed greeting card list actually grew this year, which makes this old school is cool ladies heart happy!


My new Greeting card list is clean and tidy and shows me that I have a nice balance of mailed cards at 60% and e-cards at 40%. Zero texts and private message greetings!


Please share in comments:

How does your Greeting Card list look? Did you update it? Have you had to make cuts as well?

Tuesday and My Plan

in , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Tuesday, January 03, 2012
Happy New Year!

I had a wonderful time ringing in the New Year at home with my sweet husband and kids. We played Uno, snacked, laughed and before we knew it, midnight was here.   

How did you ring in the New Year? Did you make any resolutions? I used to make resolutions, but found I respond better and reach my goals more often when I make weekly & monthly action plans.

I’ve got big plans for My WAHM Plan, which is now officially a dot.com!
 I’ll keep the focus on home, sharing some of my DIY projects both inside and out.  I’ll share books and recipes, home office tips, the trials and triumphs of raising daughters and of course Reviews!

Here’s what I’m working on this week:

Home:
Finish boxing up holiday decorations. It’s a balmy 32 degrees here today, so the outside stuff can wait.
Clip coupons for the week and plan lunches for the girls returning to school on Thursday.
Change shower liners, wash shower curtains TODAY! (I have been putting this one off for a week).
Vacuum once all boxes are outta here.

Business:
His:
Finish closing out year on Quick books.
Order hubby’s business cards after getting final approval for re-designed cards.  
Look into Google business listing.
Organize files on desktop, print out any drawings and file with correct job.
Upload new pictures for website.

Business:
Mine:
De-clutter side bar.
Make a list of sites I love and review business affiliations & share with my readers.
Visit and comment on at least 5 new blogs.
Visit my blog buddies and comment.
Post at least once more this week.

Kids:
Read one more chapter of Harry Potter book and discuss with Ms. T.
Read one more chapter of Edison’s Gold and discuss with Ms. M.
Take girls to the Dollar store for calendars. (The ones’ they got for Christmas are too small).
Play Uno, Sorry, or Spider wick Chronicles this afternoon.
Make loomed Potholders with Ms. M & Ms. T.
Make sure their backpacks are truly cleaned out before they go back to school.
Get them to bed early tonight to ease them back on school schedule.

So, that's my plan for this week. What's on your agenda?





Life's Pieces

in , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Friday, December 30, 2011

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately as this year comes to a close and a new one nips at my heels. I do some of my best thinking when my hands are busy and my brain is free to wander and creep into corners I don’t visit in my busy times.
So as the stress of the Holidays was bearing down, I pulled out this jigsaw puzzle and got to work.



 I had this analogy forming about how my life was like this puzzle and how each piece is necessary. I was going to run with that (and I think it would have been a fitting end of the year post); but then I watched the news last night and learned of a tragedy here in our little world and my whole mood and tone has changed.
You see, a little 10 year old girl died yesterday in a freak car accident. She attended my daughter’s elementary school. Her younger sister is in my daughter’s class. While we don’t know this family personally, it has ripped at my heart all day. I am finding it difficult to type this, just thinking about the steps all involved are having to take instead of blissfully ringing in the new year. 
I can’t forget to mention that the man driving the other car; the one that slammed into the girls died too.
 What must his family feel right now? Not only did they lose him, but they must reconcile that he accidently took a child’s life when his ended.
Sometimes life’s pieces are tragic and sad and unimaginable. I for one know I would lose a part of my soul if something like this were to happen to my family.
I’m sure each and every one of us wouldn’t have to look too far to find a family hurting and in need.  Maybe we should look around more. Reach out more. Care about our fellow man more.
I will do whatever I can to help these neighbors in need and then I will do my absolute best to remember how lucky I’ve got it and how you never know what tomorrow might bring. I will do my best to live like I’m supposed to be anyway, leading with kindness, friendliness and faith and stop taking my life for granted.  
Life’s pieces are sometimes thinly veiled wake up calls.
I sincerely hope you and yours have a Happy and Safe New Year! Please do me a favor.  Make sure every single person you care about knows you do. Please don’t assume they know. Tell them today.

2011 in one word

in , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Friday, December 31, 2010
My word?

Simplify!

That's it. That's my one word plan for today and next year. I started here on my blog by getting rid of those pesky pages I could never get to work the way I wanted them to.

Next up? My email contacts, talk about a mixed bag! Time to clean up.

How about you? What are you planning for 2011?

What ever it is, I wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous :

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