Christmas Card Failure

I have a confession to make: this was the first year I dropped the ball on sending out Christmas cards in nine years. Nine years!

It started my freshman year of college. During my free time between classes, I'd often meander through the UCSB Bookstore looking at books and tchotkes and sweat pants. It was a relaxing and enjoyable ritual, and I always got a bit excited when the week after Thanksgiving rolled around. Why? The arrival of the holiday cards, of course! It would take a few days to weed through my favorites and eventually select "the one," but I truly looked forward to it and loved sending them out to my family and friends.

Once Kyle and I got married in 2009, I figured it was acceptable to start sending out photo cards. He cried and moaned and bellyached the entire time (although you couldn't tell from the finished product):

It was such an intolerable experience the year before (what with all the arm twisting and pathetic pleading on my part), I decided to make Moe the star of 2010's Christmas card. He's much more photogenic than either of us anyhow and he thoroughly enjoyed his photo shoot at the beach.

Really, just a great looking dog, am I right?!

And finally we come to 2011. I thought my holiday season was already crazy and stressful, so why not put myself through mild hell and try to get Kyle to take another "family" photo? Why not?

A friend agreed to suffer with us, and after hundreds of shots of Kyle complaining and making the faces you'd think only a preschooler could come up with, we had a winner! I even went so far as to design the card... all I had to do was print it on cardstock and seal it in envelopes. That's all I had to do.

If you haven't caught on (and I am a little worried for you if that's the case), no printing or sealing or mailing happened this year. I even gave myself some wiggle room by making it a "New Year's" card. Alas, the farther we plod into 2012, the more ridiculous it seems to send this out. I think my holiday card ship has sailed.

It doesn't mean I can't share it here though, right? I figure enough of the people who would have received it via the US Postal Service read this blog, and I'll allow those who don't to just believe they didn't make the list this year. Serves them right, the unsupportive bastards!

I kid. I kid! We all know I excommunicate all from my life who don't read Running Into Screen Doors... because there is some Pulitzer Prize-worthy writing going on up in here. Pulitzer Prize-worthy.

Happy weekend, everyone, and of course, happy 2012!

Reflections on December 1st

First off, I've been thrilled at how many people have posted the video of Zach Wahls on Facebook in the last two days. If you believe in love and you believe in equality, what more is there to say, really? I'm happy I know many people who think this to be true.

Second, December 1st marks World AIDS Day. For the first nine years of my life, I was lucky to have a godfather, Chuck; we always called him our "fairy godfather". He'd send me and Ginny stickers in the mail just for the hell of it and would always call to ask about 'his girls.' I really, really loved him (and still do). He died of AIDS in 1993, and my sister and I talk about it now, how when you're a kid and you think you'll live forever, you can't empathize with your parent when she loses her best friend, which is what happened to my mom. It must have been awful for her.

In the early 90's, a lot of people were dying from this disease, and since huge advances in antiretroviral medication treating HIV have lowered death rates in our country significantly, it doesn't get talked about as much. To me, this day is always a good reminder that there are people throughout the world, men, women, children and babies, who do not have access to proper medical care, and die from it all the time. ALL THE TIME.

Finally, it has been an anxiety riddled week, which has bummed me out slightly because to me, this really is the most wonderful time of the year. December 1st (which is today, if you haven't had a chance to look at a calendar) is typically the day Kyle and I get our Christmas tree. I bake cookies, we listen to Sufjan Stevens' Songs for Christmas and decorate like chipper little elves (I may be the only one who resembles a chipper elf during this process, not gonna lie).

However, we're still only done unpacking half our stuff, and until we clear it out, we have to wait to get our magical tree. And start merrymaking festivities, of course.

So at this point I feel I should mention Kyle's mom, Cyndi. I have to say, I really hit the jackpot when it comes to mother-in-laws. She's a very thoughtful person and could tell how stressed I was, as well as bummed to not be enjoying the holidays in my usual style.

Lo and behold, she turned my frown upside down with a little gift yesterday:

Santa Gift Tags from Rifle Paper Co.

Red and white baker's twine (you can get it here).

Kraft paper

Cyndi surprised me with these goodies because (1) she knows how much I love Rifle Paper Co., (2) she also knows how much I love wrapping my Christmas gifts with kraft paper and beautiful twine and (3) she knew I needed cheering up and went out of her way to do so.

And truthfully, it kind of reminded me that at the core of the holiday season, it's not about decorating or music or elves or gifts...

It's about celebrating with the ones you love.

Return Address

I have an intense love of whimsical fonts. Not only that, I can't help myself when it comes to exquisite stationery and paper products.

Once we find a place, I intend on staying put for a few years. I hate moving more than I hate all the old depressing Disney films, like Dumbo or Pinocchio or Bambi (in reflecting on the common thread of all three movies, I'm beginning to think Old Walt had some major mommy issues)!

In the vein of staying put, I've been researching possible custom "return address" stamps on Etsy. Man oh man, are they delicious!

This little piece of fabulousness from AngeliqueInk. 

A somewhat more traditional, charming bit from Chicklet Designs.

I'm not much for modern, but sign me up for this little piece by La Happy!

However, I think this fabuleux stamp and font from Linea Carta is my favorite.

Sometimes I have a ball imagining what font I would outfit my life in if I had to choose... and thank goodness I don't. 

Distressing Letters from Kids

I feel like we need an uplifting breather after yesterday's post, yes?

Sometimes, I put up things I've discovered on other websites, blogs, peoples' Facebook shares, and this is one of those. Many of you have probably already seen this; occasionally, I am a little late arriving to the party (hello, starting a personal blog in 2011!), but who cares? If it makes you laugh, it makes you laugh!

These are "Nine Hilariously Distressing Letters From Kids" posted on Funny or Die. For those of you who don't know, I've spent a LOT of time working with children, and was lucky enough to be the subject of a hilariously distressing letter from a kid myself. The thing about the "under ten" set is they don't hold back with their emotions; what they're experiencing in the moment of their feeling is very real, passionate and intense, and they are unequipped to realize that not only will it pass, it will pass in a matter of minutes.

I hope you enjoy these as much as I did. I'm not sure which is my favorite, but I'm currently leaning toward the first one, clearly written by a future tree hugger of America.

This last one is another contender for first place. Who doesn't want to run away when wrongly accused of breaking wind? I hope this kid learned his lesson and has started blaming it on the family dog, just like the rest of us.

Merci En Papier

Thank you. I say it every day. You say it every day (the people who read this blog most assuredly possess manners). But friends… I have a bone to pick. 

Thank you notes… why are they going the way of the dinosaur and Kate Hudson’s credibility as a good actress? On the one hand, I get it. Email has definitely changed the uses and effectiveness of snail mail in our daily life and in many ways, I’m grateful for it. Less paper waste, online bill pay, faster communication… all progressive and positive things.

BUT (there’s always a but, isn’t there?) don’t you get excited when you come home, put your hand in the mailbox and find something other than the Albertson’s weekly specials mailer? I know I do! And isn’t it especially exciting when it turns out to be an invitation to a wedding or a baby announcement or a hand written note from a friend? Yes- yes, it is.

Let’s not forget the topic of gratitude. If someone gives me a gift or watches Moe while we’re on a weekend outing or helps me through a rough patch in my life, I like to express thanks on paper. A tangible, heart written piece of gratitude to the people I love and appreciate.

Is it that difficult to do?

Yes, it is time consuming and costs a little extra money, to which I say: so what? You can write a ‘thank you’ note while you watch TV or are waiting for your frozen pizza to be done baking in the oven. It is easy to find time if you try.

While looking at these photos, were you wondering to yourself, “Where did Elizabeth get this amazing stationery?” I have two words for you: Walnut Paperie. Brittany and Kimberly of WP fame are the only two I trust with all my paper needs, and they launched their new site last week. You should check it out. If you're gonna write a thank you note, you might as well do it in style, oui?

And for the record, Moe would write ‘thank you’ notes if he had an opposable thumb. Just sayin’ (but you know I use any excuse to post a picture of my dog, don't you?).

This is his "you should be writing instead of taking photos of me" face.

Happy weekend everyone!