Thursday, January 31, 2013

Thank you for simple gifts

I wanted to write to thank fellow Missoula residents who generously gave of their time and means to help thousands of hurting kids this Christmas. Together we were able to pack more than 5,000 shoe boxes – filled with toys, school supplies and basic necessities – for Operation Christmas Child. Our packed shoe box gifts, joined by millions of others, are now on their way to needy children in 100 countries.

During the 2012 collection season, Operation Christmas Child reached a milestone – more than 100 million children have been impacted by the power of a simple gift since 1993.I would like to thank the volunteers at our local collection sites and all those who packed an Operation Christmas Child shoe box gift. For many of the children who receive these gifts, this shoe box will be the first gift they have ever received.

Although our local drop-off locations here in Missoula are closed, gifts are received year-round at Samaritan’s Purse by mailing them to 801 Bamboo Road, Boone, N.C. 28607.There are also year-round volunteer opportunities available to serve with Operation Christmas Child. Thank you again to everyone who participated in this project. A simple gift, packed with love, can communicate hope and transform the lives of children worldwide.

Monday, January 28, 2013

The Worst Retirement Gifts That You Can Offer

In most cases a company owner will offer very good retirement gifts because of the fact that he will talk with professionals. The owner goes to a company that knows a lot about how to offer a good gift and will hire third parties in order to take care of this situation. When referring to people that offer gifts as a tribute or just as a friendly acknowledgement, a lot of problems can appear. This is where the worst gifts can appear and you should be careful.

The worst of all gifts is a book that is re-gifted. This also happens when referring to anniversary gifts. So many people just re-gift items but a retirement is not a situation when you should do that. It is just as offering a cheap wine as a wedding gift. One of the tackiest of all the ideas that you might have is the re-gifted book. Make sure that you never offer such a gift, especially if there is an indicator that the gifted is re-gifted. You would be surprised how many people just leave such indicators without realizing it.

It is possible that you will want to offer piggy banks as retirement gifts. It might not seem logical but so many choose this as a friendly and gag-like gift. The truth is that this is a great choice for a kid but never after someone that is over 60. Throwing loose change in a piggy back will make people feel older than they truly are although you might think otherwise.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Kids Should Be Forced to Write Thank You Notes Whether They Like It or Not

Sometimes it takes me a lot longer than it should to get them sent out, but ever since I was a little kid, writing thank you notes after receiving gifts hasn't ever been an option -- it's been a must.I mean, if someone was kind enough to think of you and took the time to buy you a gift, the least you can do is thank them for it, right?But sadly, it seems like the practice of sending handwritten thank you notes seems to be dying out, especially among kids. (Think about it for a second. How many have you received from the countless birthday parties your children have attended?)

Yes, it can be hard to find the time to do it. And yes, it can be pretty repetitive and tedious, particularly if you've received a ton of gifts. But forcing kids to write thank you notes is something that every parent should do.Because kids who aren't taught to send thank you notes will grow into ungrateful adults who don't send thank you notes, and then they won't teach their kids to send thank you notes, and then we'll wind up with a society of people who don't give a rat's ass about showing appreciation to others. (And that will really stink.)

A few days ago, I finally got around to writing thank you cards for the gifts my son received for Christmas. (Yes, I know it's been almost a month, but things have been nuts around here.)As I was writing them, it suddenly dawned on me that he's almost 7 years old, and he's known how to read and write for quite some time, and in that moment I wondered why in the hell I was writing them for him when he's perfectly capable of doing it himself. (Old habits die hard, I guess.)

Monday, January 21, 2013

Thank You from Operation Christmas Child!

I wanted to write to thank fellow Waterloo residents who generously gave of their time and means to help impact thousands of hurting kids this Christmas.Together we were able to pack 13,438 of shoe boxes — filled with toys, school supplies and basic necessities — for Operation Christmas Child. Our packed shoe box gifts, joined by millions of others, are now on their way to needy children in 100 countries.

During the 2012 collection season, Operation Christmas Child reached a milestone: more than 100 million children have been impacted by the power of a simple gift since 1993.I would like to thank the volunteers at our local collection sites and all those who packed an Operation Christmas Child shoe box gift. For many of the children who receive these gifts, this shoe box will be the first gift they have ever received.

Although our local drop-off locations here in Waterloo are closed, gifts are received year-round at Samaritan's Purse by mailing them to 801 Bamboo Road, Boone, N.C., 28607.Thank you again to everyone who participated in this project. A simple gift, packed with love, can communicate hope and transform the lives of children worldwide.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

thank you gift idea a gift to express your gratitude

Do you have a friend that is always there for you when you need help? Do you wish to express your thanks ? Is there a special person in your life that you want to say "thank you", to for all the times they have been there for you? A creative and meaningful gift of appreciation.A gift of gratitude is a wonderful way to express your appreciation.

Giving someone a unique thank you gift expresses how much they mean to you, better than just simple greeting card can. The though that you put into finding the perfect gift will acknowledge and appreciated.A special appreciation gift doesn't have to be expensive. A small action, a warm greeting and a sincere mind are enough to change your life, or even change the others, change the world.

A gift of good luck such as a four leaf clover would be a perfect thank you gift idea . What can better express your gratitude than wishing someone good luck for the future? A wonderful little thank you gift that is able to express your appreciation, love and thoughtfulness.  Be it a birthday, anniversary, a wedding or a retirement-  a gift of good luck will be the right gift for every occasion.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Thank You So Much

"Show appreciation to those who make your business possible: your employees." This is the lead-off slogan for a 2013 campaign entitled A Thankful Life being spearheaded by the Seattle-based gift and stationery vendor Compendium. The company's goal is to inspire the writing of 1 million thank you notes, and they suggest that you start by writing one to each of your employees.

Be Specific. Mention a contribution that your employee made to the store. Did they handle orders quickly? Did they address each customer with a smile? Personal details show that you notice and appreciate their efforts.Choose Strong, Positive Phrases. Go beyond a simple "thanks" with statements such as "Time is precious. Thank you for sharing yours." and "You inspire those around you."

Consider Adding a Quote. A thankful quotation can bring a touch of inspiration to your note. Examples include "A good person is a gift to the whole world." and "Some pursue happiness. Others create it."Most of their products are printed on recycled paper, which our customers consider a plus. Compendium was recently recognized as the Outstanding Philanthropic Small Business, and you can learn about their efforts to help the environment and their community in this short video.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Different ways for children to say thank you

The holidays are about a lot of things: family, big dinners, religious services, decorating, making cookies and presents. Receiving gifts gives you the opportunity to say "thank you.""The nicest 'thank-you' of all is the one you give in person," says Cindy Post Senning, an expert on manners for kids. Ms. Senning says you should make eye contact with the gift-giver and say something nice, such as "Thank you! What a great gift!" If you don't love the present, you don't have to lie, she says. But you can find something to say that makes the gift-giver feel appreciated. Try: "It was so nice of you to think of me."

Maybe you had relatives whom you didn't see over the holidays, but they sent you presents. It's time to write a thank-you note. Thank-you notes are a "nice way to connect" with people and to make your relationships stronger, Ms. Senning says.Writing them is easy, too. "A thank-you note is just two, three sentences," Ms. Senning says. "That's all it takes. It's just, 'Dear Grandma, Thank you so much for thinking of me. I always enjoy the gifts you send.

See you soon!'" It doesn't take a lot of time for you to write a thank-you note, but it will mean a lot to the person getting it in the mail.Ms. Senning recommends having a family thank-you-note party where everyone sits around the dining room table after the holidays and writes their notes together. As a treat afterward, everyone can have popcorn or ice cream!

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Getting those thank-you notes right


If you haven't already sent thank-you notes for any holiday gifts you received, the peace and quiet of New Year's Day is the perfect time to begin the year on the right foot.When is it appropriate to send a thank-you note? The short answer is any time someone gives you a gift. A thank-you note is always appreciated, even if you've said thanks in person. It's a personal way to tell the person you truly value the effort they made.

The biggest obstacle to thank-you note writing is often writer's block. You just don't know what to say, so you put it off. You don't want to send a generic letter, but you don't know how to make the message special. It's true no one wants to receive a form letter, but don't worry about penning a Pulitzer Prize-worthy note in order to have it be appreciated by the recipient. A few tips:

The sooner you write, the easier it will be. The gift will be fresh in your mind, so you can focus on that instead of on how to express, "I'm so sorry this note is late!"Write the note as though you were speaking directly with the person you are thanking. This often helps conquer the stiff tone that can creep into the most well-meant notes of thanks.

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Holiday Thank You Note Etiquette

The holidays can be a whirlwind of attending office parties; hosting cocktail parties; shopping for your whole family, your three best friends, and your new dog (your kids are really gung-ho on this one), not to mention planning large, festive meals. When it's all over, it's understandable to want to take a deep breath and curl up under the blankets with a movie and a box of Jujubes. But first thing's first: Write your "thank yous." Which brings me to our first question.

Handwritten thank you notes are bar none the best way to show appreciation. In this day and age many of us don't have the time, stationery, or stamps to post individual cards in the mail. Luckily there are some fabulous alternatives that allow you to send cards by pressing a button rather than licking an envelope. E-cards are the thank-you writer's new best friend. They offer the feeling of a beautiful thank you note arriving in the mail without any of the fuss.

You never have to go to the store to pick out psychical cards, there are a vast number of options to choose from,Using Thank You Flowers to Show That You Care,and it's super simple to tailor each card with its own message if you'd like, or save yourself the trouble and skip that step just as easily. There are whole slew of sites offering wide selections of "thank you" cards that you can send with the click of a mouse.