Greeting Cards

Lately I have been met with a challenge, whenever I go to purchase a greeting card they never have what I need.  All of the Hallmark stores around me closed down so the only places I can go to buy greeting cards are the big box stores and this has caused me endless frustration.  The big box stores only carry so many cards, and that is logical for spacial reasons but this can be difficult at times.  

Here are the problems that I have had with purchasing greeting cards:

1) Little Kids - I have a sister (who I love with all my heart) and she is still very young, so when her birthday rolled around I went to the local box store to purchase a card for her.  I first went to the Sister Birthday section, (because obviously!) but all of the cards were: "you've been there for me my whole life" and "we grew up together", so I moved on to children's birthday cards.  All of the cards were very specific, they had the ages on them and were either Princesses or Action Heroes.  All of the little kids that I know don't fall in a set category, the little girls I know would rather play video games.  I was the same way as a child, which I am sure you are figuring out by this blog.  I had the same problem when shopping for my God-children.  If they can't make cards for all situations, such as much younger siblings, god-children, why can't they make the "age cards" neutral or do away with the ages on them all together.  If they had just a Mine Craft or just an Elsa card that would be fantastic, but all of those cards have ages on them.  I can't give kids who are into Mine Craft those cards if they aren't that age.  

I guess I could do what my husband does and just cross out the wrong information.  The first card I received from him said "Happy Birthday Mother" he crossed out Birthday and put Valentines Day, and crossed out Mother and put Girlfriend, that is when I knew he was right for me. 

2) Milestone Anniversary Cards - I had party that I went to recently for my grandparents 61st anniversary, and of course they didn't have a Happy 61st anniversary card!  But I also couldn't find an appropriate anniversary card.  They have "from him to her and her to him", "from the children", but no "from the grandchildren, unless it is very little kid like".  What do they think people do between the 60th anniversary and 75th anniversary, not give cards.  These are big milestones.  I have seen the card with the rotating year but I didn't find one that said 61.   

I am going to stop listing now because I could go forever on this topic. 

I used to find the best cards at Hallmark, heck I even bought a "Welcome to the Priest Hood" card once, just because I loved the randomness of it.  How many people purchase that card?  or if they need it, do they know it's available?  

I know we are moving into a world of E-Cards and Text messaging but there is nothing better than getting mail and that extra little reminder that people love you on your special day.  In this day and age we need cards for the more modern situations (my complaints are small) but I am sure there are lots of people who are having these problems.

I will leave you with a money saving tip:  If you can't find the card that you want, go to the Dollar Stores.  Today, you can't find the perfect card but the dollar store has lots of great generic cards for only $1.  If you can't get perfection with your greeting cards, you might as well save money.  

Happy Halloween!!

(a webcard for your Holiday!)