I need to vent.
I love LOVE getting Christmas cards in the mail. Actually, I love getting anything in the mail that isn’t a flyer or catalog but I especially love Christmas cards. Who can resist their cuteness and you know they were packed and sent with love with you in mind. How do you know they were sent with love? Let’s consider this: say your lovely little Christmas card came only with a signature on the inside. Does this person love you any less than the person who wrote a personal note? Absolutely not.
- Picking Out Cards: 1 hour
- Signing Cards: 1 hour
- Stuffing Envelopes: 1/2 hour
- Addressing Envelopes: 1 hour
- Travel Time and Length of Stay at your local Post Office: 1/2 hour
The total time invested in your little mailed piece of Christmas cheer is approximately 4 hours! This leads me to my main point.
I dislike sending them out. I love the idea of sending them out but actually following through…yeah…
Jerry and I have been living together for four Christmases now (have you seen that movie? I heard it wasn’t really good but I still want to, I love me some Reese Witherspoon). Annnyway, the first Christmas we lived together hardly anyone knew our address so we maybe got 6 Christmas cards and sent out just as many (few, whatever). The following year we went Christmas card crazy and sent one to everyone. I mean everyone. Like, closer to 100 than 0 were sent out. Year 3, last year, rolled around and I am embarrassed to say we sent out no cards. Zero, zilch, nada. (That was also the year we received the most, so we felt kinda really bad).
This year we are sending out the bare minimum. Immediate family (I would like to apologize now to my aunts and uncles who are sending cards our way), and a few locals that would have every right to be totally miffed if we didn’t send one their way. Is it kinda wrong that I’m using this blog to apologize to the cardless this Christmas? Jer and I love all of you but for the sake of my sanity (what little I have left) we are limiting the amount of Christmas cards exiting our house this year.
PP So what do you guys do? Do you go all out and send a card to everyone you can think of and their little sister? Do you go with technology and mail out e-cards? Are e-cards too impersonal? Please let me know, I’m dying to know what everyone else thinks about this!
according to boyle 
Hi Girl – Thanks for your comment – and I hear ya on the Christmas card debate. In the Bower household, we do send them out. But sometimes they are more personal than others…I don’t think you must send them to everyone you can think of…but a note from a close friend or family member is always appreciated :)
XO – kb
p.s. your dog is tooooo cute!
I have never personally given out christmas cards myself but I have always wanted to. I have never gotten a christmas card before until I met you Emily :) You gave me my first christmas card ever :) That was very exciting and this year I have gotten two. I agree with you on sending actual cards because they are very personable and it cheers everyone up to get a card. I think it says hey merry christmas and thinking about you, and how could anyone not like that :)
Thanks for your input, guys! It means a lot…and I really think I’m going to be making more than originally planned.
And by making I mean printing and sending. ;)
-E
I mean to send out cards every year but never get to it in time. And it always bums me out a little. I love getting cards so I’m sure my friends and family do too. I’ll try again next year. My rule of thumb for who to send to is all family, your closet friends and those who send you a card every year but might not otherwise be on your list. And ALWAYS to your big sister in California.
Saw 4 xmases last night. Cute movie, but more of a romantic comedy than an Xmas movie. Def watch it though cause Reese is adorable and Vince is hilarious.
I think you need to do whatever gets you in the spirit. I want my friends and family to do what makes them happy. It’s better to get/give 3 cards without stressing out and be more fun at the holiday party!
I love Xmas cards sent by real mail.