Staying Sane With Birthday Cards

Know what stinks?
Forgetting a birthday.
Or ... knowing that the birthday card you are sending will defintely not make it to the recipient in time.

I was getting so tired of doing the last-minute scramble to the drugstore to pick out a card and then pray to the US Postal Service gods that it would miraculously get dropped in a box meant for overnight airmail.

This year, I took the bull by the horns and developed a pretty darn fool-proof way to ensure that I never miss a birthday.

Step 1: I write down birthdays of family members and friends by month.  For example, under October, it will say: Ashley - 4, Ian - 15. 

This list comes with me to the store.  For the record, I am a big fan of the dolla-dolla (my pet name for Dollar Tree) for cards.  They have really amped up their card selection, and they are only $0.50 each.  And I'm a firm believer in the fact that it's moreso about what is written IN the card than how much it cost.  Boom.

So yes, I go ahead and buy all of the cards that I will need for the entire year, and I always throw in a few generic cards too that I keep in my desk drawer at work.  I end up with about 20 cards for $10 -- not bad considering I'd typically been spending $4-5 for each card previously.

Step 2: Grab your handy dandy day planner.  Yes, mine is slightly busting at the seams, and I'm okay with that.  It's organized chaos.

Step 3: Using your list of birthdays by month, paperclip each recipient's intended birthday card on the page of the week when you need to mail the card (I usually pick a day about 5-6 days prior to the birthday, keeping in mind national holidays when the P.O. might be closed).

Step 4: Each week that you flip the page, if there is a card clipped there, immediately write a thoughtful note to the birthday guy or gal, address it, stamp it, and slip it in the mail.  I also keep stamps in my day planner, making it that much easier to get the card in the mail in a timely fashion.

This trick has saved me so much time and panic!

I also like to go ahead and purchase a few other types of cards: engagement congratulations (because I remember how much fun it is to receive a card right after you say YES!), sympathy, and baby cards -- some gender-specific, some gender-generic.  I also like having anniversary cards to send for a couple's first wedding anniversary.

*****

P.S.
While we are on the topic of birthdays --
The other night for the Bachelorette finale, I wanted to whip up a quick sweet treat for Ian and myself.  I just placed some softened vanilla ice cream in a small smoothie-sized blender with some dry yellow cake mix.  Topped with sprinkles, it tasted just like Coldstone's cake batter ice cream!