Oh gosh, this is a little embarrassing... I accidentally sent out this week’s edition of Downtime a day early. (Thanksgiving excitement? Too much pie? Who can say! 🫠)
While Christmas cards are, of course, de rigueur, I've taken to sending what I playfully call 'New Year's Tea Notes' in the quieter days between Christmas and New Year's Day. You see, this is when most people are rather fatigued by the excessive merriment and endless stream of mince pies, making it the perfect moment for a more intimate connection. I pen these brief, handwritten notes on cream-colored correspondence cards (never white, heavens no), accompanying them with a carefully selected sachet of tea that I feel particularly suits each recipient's personality. For my more adventurous friends, perhaps a striking oolong; for traditionalists, a properly robust English Breakfast. The note typically includes a specific memory we shared during the year and my wishes for their coming year – all composed while sipping from my grandmother's Royal Worcester teacup, naturally. It's frightfully well-received, particularly as it arrives when the initial deluge of holiday cards has subsided, and people are beginning to contemplate their resolutions. One must never underestimate the power of thoughtful timing in matters of social grace. Happy Thanksgiving!
I consider holiday cards gendered work-one more thing women are expected to do by society. I also think for the most part they represent mainstream relationship expectations-partnered with kids. Every year I think I should start sending cards with me on all of the cool trips I take in response to the staged family photos, but every year I decide I don’t want to do the work haha.
I’m single and last year I sent a postcard with 6-7 pics of me on adventures throughout the year with a line about each photo (used minted) and I’m still hearing a year later how much everyone loved my card. Even have had several friends who didn’t get one request to be added to the list this year so I’ll be ordering more this year 😂
I went on a solo trip to Paris this year for my bday and hired a photographer - so this year everyone’s getting pics of me bouncing around in Monmarte hehe.
I haven’t mailed out cards in who knows how long, but I keep the ones that my more organized pals do send with my Christmas decorations. It is fun to go through the stack & see how little the kids were (& how young we were)
Far more than the staged photos of kids or families, and a printed out letter of the year’s highlights, I look forward to receiving traditional pictorial Christmas cards with handwritten, individualized messages. I get that people send the photo cards to keep people abreast of how their kids have grown or what not, but with Instagram and Facebook I feel like I see plenty of that.
we send out cards every year and it's a family effort, where even my 8 year old does the stamping and sealing and my husband folds the letter. they are certainly a bit of work, but i feel like the connections you can make are worth it. we never take a professional photo and always include real real updates that aren't a laundry list of successes, but instead highlight silly or tough moments. my favorite cards i receive include a letter or life update, and i especially treasure the ones from single friends who make the effort!
I send out holiday cards every year and enjoy doing so. However, I don’t love how it feels like you *have* to send one that features a staged photo of one’s family from a professional photo shoot. The last two years, I’ve done a collage of my daughter from the year.
There are so many things to spend money on during the holiday season, and I don’t feel like spending another $400-$500 for a photo shoot every year just to get one for my Christmas card (when did this become such a common thing?!)
For as long as I can remember, I’ve done New Years cards. Sometimes they go out at the end of January 🤷🏼♀️. The extra time takes the pressure off, plus I can spend a little extra time writing a personal note! Usually include 3 things that we loved about the past year - a book, a trip, a big life event, favorite meal, new hobby etc!
Every Christmas when we sent out cards it was my dreaded activity!
And my husband always asked if I had sent a card to so and so? Which meant possibly buying more cards and stamps and more time spent on an activity I did not enjoy.
So fast forward now a days, we send texts with pics and lights and reminders of good times we had together. Sooo much easier and fun and best of all I don’t dread it!
I'm on the fence this year on sending cards. I do them every year and although I love receiving them, I'm just getting tired of the chore of it. So I think I'm passing this year.
My parents were sent hundreds of Christmas cards every year despite the fact that they never ever sent them themselves. I saw this as a very good tradition to carry on, I’m not at all sentimental about Christmas cards except for my kids ones. The Merry Gentlemen was absolutely terrible. Sometimes Christmas movies are so bad they end up being good but definitely not this one!!
I always do a little handwritten note on the back of my holiday cards so it’s less impersonal! My real estate agent does enclose a full letter with what her whole family has been up to, I kind of love it and do look forward to reading it every year.
Also, I try to use receiving holiday cards as a moment of connection - every time I get one in the mail, I text the recipient hi / happy holidays!
But same same that I wanted to do cards this year and didn’t get photos scheduled so figuring out wtf to do this week 😅
Hi readers,
Oh gosh, this is a little embarrassing... I accidentally sent out this week’s edition of Downtime a day early. (Thanksgiving excitement? Too much pie? Who can say! 🫠)
Thanks for your understanding and for being here.
Wishing you a happy Thanksgiving!
A perfect I-need-some-quiet-time-to-decompress Thanksgiving Day read 🧡
I’m thrilled to be reading today while everything cooks!
i did this this week too! tis the season. i did not even notice, if it's any consolation, i was so excited to jump right to the holiday card portion 🤍
While Christmas cards are, of course, de rigueur, I've taken to sending what I playfully call 'New Year's Tea Notes' in the quieter days between Christmas and New Year's Day. You see, this is when most people are rather fatigued by the excessive merriment and endless stream of mince pies, making it the perfect moment for a more intimate connection. I pen these brief, handwritten notes on cream-colored correspondence cards (never white, heavens no), accompanying them with a carefully selected sachet of tea that I feel particularly suits each recipient's personality. For my more adventurous friends, perhaps a striking oolong; for traditionalists, a properly robust English Breakfast. The note typically includes a specific memory we shared during the year and my wishes for their coming year – all composed while sipping from my grandmother's Royal Worcester teacup, naturally. It's frightfully well-received, particularly as it arrives when the initial deluge of holiday cards has subsided, and people are beginning to contemplate their resolutions. One must never underestimate the power of thoughtful timing in matters of social grace. Happy Thanksgiving!
I read this in a snarky Victorian voice. Not sure if it's meant to be funny, but I thought it was!
Also, I don't throw away the picture cards, they go on the fridge!
This sounds so thoughtful, thank you for sharing!
I consider holiday cards gendered work-one more thing women are expected to do by society. I also think for the most part they represent mainstream relationship expectations-partnered with kids. Every year I think I should start sending cards with me on all of the cool trips I take in response to the staged family photos, but every year I decide I don’t want to do the work haha.
I’m single and last year I sent a postcard with 6-7 pics of me on adventures throughout the year with a line about each photo (used minted) and I’m still hearing a year later how much everyone loved my card. Even have had several friends who didn’t get one request to be added to the list this year so I’ll be ordering more this year 😂
Omg I love this. And I want one like this from all my single friends!!
I went on a solo trip to Paris this year for my bday and hired a photographer - so this year everyone’s getting pics of me bouncing around in Monmarte hehe.
Ok that does sound really cute!! Maybe I’ll finally decide to do it this year!!
I haven’t mailed out cards in who knows how long, but I keep the ones that my more organized pals do send with my Christmas decorations. It is fun to go through the stack & see how little the kids were (& how young we were)
Far more than the staged photos of kids or families, and a printed out letter of the year’s highlights, I look forward to receiving traditional pictorial Christmas cards with handwritten, individualized messages. I get that people send the photo cards to keep people abreast of how their kids have grown or what not, but with Instagram and Facebook I feel like I see plenty of that.
that’s a good point! I do appreciate a personalized note.
I also found The Merry Gentlemen just okay. I didn't see chemistry between the MCs, but found the whole thing silly and fun, though.
absolutely zero chemistry!!
I felt this too! I also found the pacing of the plot so fast!
Agreed!
we send out cards every year and it's a family effort, where even my 8 year old does the stamping and sealing and my husband folds the letter. they are certainly a bit of work, but i feel like the connections you can make are worth it. we never take a professional photo and always include real real updates that aren't a laundry list of successes, but instead highlight silly or tough moments. my favorite cards i receive include a letter or life update, and i especially treasure the ones from single friends who make the effort!
I send out holiday cards every year and enjoy doing so. However, I don’t love how it feels like you *have* to send one that features a staged photo of one’s family from a professional photo shoot. The last two years, I’ve done a collage of my daughter from the year.
There are so many things to spend money on during the holiday season, and I don’t feel like spending another $400-$500 for a photo shoot every year just to get one for my Christmas card (when did this become such a common thing?!)
For as long as I can remember, I’ve done New Years cards. Sometimes they go out at the end of January 🤷🏼♀️. The extra time takes the pressure off, plus I can spend a little extra time writing a personal note! Usually include 3 things that we loved about the past year - a book, a trip, a big life event, favorite meal, new hobby etc!
Every Christmas when we sent out cards it was my dreaded activity!
And my husband always asked if I had sent a card to so and so? Which meant possibly buying more cards and stamps and more time spent on an activity I did not enjoy.
So fast forward now a days, we send texts with pics and lights and reminders of good times we had together. Sooo much easier and fun and best of all I don’t dread it!
I'm on the fence this year on sending cards. I do them every year and although I love receiving them, I'm just getting tired of the chore of it. So I think I'm passing this year.
My parents were sent hundreds of Christmas cards every year despite the fact that they never ever sent them themselves. I saw this as a very good tradition to carry on, I’m not at all sentimental about Christmas cards except for my kids ones. The Merry Gentlemen was absolutely terrible. Sometimes Christmas movies are so bad they end up being good but definitely not this one!!
I started Merry Gentlemen and loving it already!
haha oh you are in for a ride…!
I always do a little handwritten note on the back of my holiday cards so it’s less impersonal! My real estate agent does enclose a full letter with what her whole family has been up to, I kind of love it and do look forward to reading it every year.
Also, I try to use receiving holiday cards as a moment of connection - every time I get one in the mail, I text the recipient hi / happy holidays!
But same same that I wanted to do cards this year and didn’t get photos scheduled so figuring out wtf to do this week 😅
Happy thanksgiving, Alisha! 🫶🦃
I do the text thing too! And I love the full letter tradition.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Alisha! The Christmas Prince?! 😂 ❤️
A Christmas Prince! I will uphold that it's the best bad Christmas movie.
Ok, that’s fair when you classify it like that :)