LilSugar

Merci, Baby! 10 Cute Shower Thank-You Notes

Kate Stahl — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:44:55 PDT

Want to show your appreciation for your baby shower largesse? Check out these 10 thank-you notes, all unique enough to show your gratefulness. From adorable floral postcards (believe us, less space to write is a good thing) to baby stationery that will take your lil one through his first birthday thank-you notes, these thank-yous will inspire some serious appreciation.

The Best Stationery For Kids to Express Their Appreciation

LilSugar — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 03:17:14 PST

In teaching your children the importance of gratitude, writing personal notes to friends and family is a great hands-on activity to put the lesson into action. After the next holiday or birthday in your house, skip the preprinted or fill-in-the-blank notes and instead invest in a special set of stationery. If he is too young to write, let him dictate what he'd like his message to say. And even if he's just getting started with a pen and paper, thank you notes are a great way to practice. Here are 10 of our favorite options for kids stationery that's uniquely their own.

How to Teach Your Kids Gratitude

LilSugar — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 05:56:25 PST

In this age of instant gratification, encourage your kids to learn and practice simple acts of gratitude. Not only will it help build and improve their value systems, but it's also a great way to help them find more happiness in the everyday. Follow these five easy tips to inspire more thank-yous.

Volunteer as a family. Sign up for a local food drive or a 5K dedicated to a cause. Make it a family affair so that your kids are aware of those who are less fortunate. Participating in philanthropic activities will teach them the importance of giving back and the joy in helping others.
Give them a gratitude journal. Buy your children a gratitude journal and encourage them to write down what they're thankful for at the end of each day. Sitting down and thinking about what matters most to them will help to boost their mood and strengthen their appreciation.
Be a stickler for thank-you notes. Invest in some cute personalized thank-you cards for your kids to help them get in the stationery-sending habit. Don't restrict it to birthday or holiday gifts, either. Prod them to send cards throughout the year for smaller, less obvious things, too - for instance, to a babysitter who takes them on a special excursion.
Point out the little things. Encourage your kids to appreciate life's smallest pleasures by drawing attention to them throughout the day. Mention how nice it is to walk in the sun or sip freshly squeezed orange juice. By regularly identifying what you're personally thankful for, you welcome them to do the same.
Serve as an example. Be the person who brings the hostess a gift and sends flowers to those who go above and beyond. Tell your children why you're doing it so that they learn about common niceties and understand the practice of showing gratitude.

Source: Flickr User Vistamommy

Savvy Tip: Follow Up After a Job Interview

Emily Co — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 12:52:39 PDT

It's very important to follow up after a job interview, because even if you think the interview went badly, keeping in touch may improve the interviewer's perception of you. It reflects persistence, and it's also polite to thank the hiring manager after the interview. Remember to also send the note within two days of the interview; although, if you've passed the two-day mark, a late response is better than no response.

There is such a thing as being too pushy, so keep it light, cheery, and professional. Here is a sample of the kind of email you should send:

Dear Interviewer,

It was great meeting you today, and I appreciate you taking the time to interview me. I'm excited to be considered for the (name the position) as well as all of the opportunities the company presents. I had a good time discussing my passion of (insert what you're passionate about) and really enjoyed learning more about (insert what new tidbit you learned about the company).

Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to following up with you.

Best,

Interviewee

Remember, you should have asked them when you'll hear about their decision at the end of the interview. If you've forgotten to do that, you can politely add the question to your follow-up email.

11 Designs to Make Thank You Even Better

Lizzie Fuhr — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 06:00:00 PDT

I'm a big believer that nothing says thank you more than a heartfelt, hand-written note. While a short and sweet email would certainly suffice, there's something that feels natural about sending, or receiving, a note via snail mail. If you're going to go the extra mile to show your appreciation, you might as well do it right with a card that makes a statement on its own.

I've gotten a million compliments on my Kate Spade Thank-You Notes ($25.) Not only are they super sleek and understated, but I love their cursive matter-of-fact message: "Small card. Big thank you." It's a great option if you're sending a thank-you note after an interview or to give thanks to an end-of-Summer hostess. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I'm also partial to those crazy cartooned Beans & Rice Notecards ($17). The quirky message, "Beans and Rice, you're so nice," surprisingly does the trick.

Whether you're into cards that are silly and sweet, or you prefer thank-you stationery bursting at the edges with a bold print, I've pulled a selection sure to inspire those who recall the lost days of snail mail. Do you normally send a thank-you card to say thanks? Or are these "tangible" cards reserved for birthday celebrations or big gifts?

4 Reasons to Remember to Thank Your Party Hostess

Katie Sweeney — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 13:45:45 PDT

With the long weekend looming delightfully ahead of us, I wanted to remind you of the importance of the thank-you note! If you're spending the next few days at a friend's house or attending a barbecue or party hosted by a loved one, after the fact, take a quick minute to send them a thank-you. It doesn't have to be a handwritten note (although those are always greatly appreciated), a short, but sweet email or text is perfectly acceptable. Here are four reasons why you should make time to say thanks:

If the hostess is a good one, she probably put a lot of thought and planning into your visit or meal. Did she welcome you with your favorite bottle of bubbly? Was she sure to include plenty of vegetarian options on the menu? She took the time to think about what makes you happy, so let her know you're grateful for her effort.
Do you want to get invited back? Be sure to send a thank-you! The hostess who entertains a lot will make note of the guests who send a thank-you vs. those who do not send a thank-you. Don't say thanks and she may choose not to invite you to her next party.
The thank-you card is a dying art that should be brought back! I'm sure your parents made you write them when you were little, so why did you grow out of the habit? It's the polite and proper thing to do.
It will brighten your hostess's day. Did you look forward to her barbecue and have an awesome time? Then make the days after the fiesta a little happier for her and let her know it was a wonderful soiree.

Do you send a thank-you after attending a party? What's your reasoning for it?

Ask Savvy: How Many Thank-You Notes Should I Send After the Interview?

SavvySugar — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 03:05:10 PDT

This post is by reader hiptobesquare in our Ask Savvy group. Weigh in with your thoughts below.

I have a question re: thank-you notes after job interviews . . .

This is a multiround hiring process, and I really want the job, and I sent out thank-you notes after the first interview to the people I spoke with (phone interview) and have another phone interview. The question is, do I send a thank-you note to the same people again (since they may be on the call) or do I leave it at the one with a more informal email follow-up. Then if I do progress onto the third, it's an in-person interview where I have to travel, and it will likely be all of the same people again.

Any ideas are welcome!

To see my advice, and offer your own, read more.

The Thank-You Note After the Interview Actually Matters, Study Says

Emily Co — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 12:42:29 PDT

Even if you think you nailed the interview, you should still send a thank-you note, because according to a CareerBuilder.com study, this small gesture can affect hiring decisions. Poll results found that more than one in five employers say that a candidate has a lower chance of getting the job if they skip out on sending a thank-you note after the interview. Hiring managers feel it signifies that you don't follow through and that you're not taking the job opportunity seriously. Here are more things an employer wants to see:

Electronic Thank-You: 89 percent say that it's fine to send a thank-you by email, and half actually prefer the note in that form. However, it really depends on your industry as well. For example, those in the IT field prefer a thank-you email, while the financial industry hirers say an email is not their preference, but it's still acceptable.
Thank More Than One: If you were interviewed by more than one person, CareerBuilder.com advises to send each one of them a thank-you note. Make sure you get their emails so you know how to reach out to them. You can do this by asking for their business cards or the coordinator of these interviews.
Career Summary on the Top: 70 percent of employers say they prefer to see a career summary on the top of the résumé instead of an objective.
A Bullet List of Achievements and Relevant Keywords on Résumé: These are other items that will catch the hiring manager's eyes. "One-in-five hiring managers say they spend 30 seconds or less looking at a resume, so all your communications need to be professional and to the point," says Rosemary Haefner, the vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder.com.

Another thing you might find interesting is that it's common for companies to electronically scan résumés for keywords, which is why it's really important for you to pick relevant ones. It's also important to specifically state what value you've added to your company and the quantifiable results you had on your company's profits. The aim is to prove your claims to convince them that you'll make a worthy addition to their team!

iGiftThanks App: Kid Friendly or Are You Kidding?

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 04:30:33 PST

Thank-you notes are a necessary evil. No one actually enjoys writing them, but they need to be done. Most readers agree that a new mama deserves an extended time frame for sending hers out, what about an iPhone app that sends them out electronically?

iGiftThanks ($1) gives parents the option of thanking friends and family for a gift by taking a photo, dressing it up with pre-styled frames and "stickers," and then either sending it via email or posting it on their Facebook or Twitter page. The app allows users to classify gifts by occasion and keeps track of notes that have been sent. Should the electronic thank-you take the place of the traditional handwritten one?

The Power of the Handwritten Note: From Thank-You Notes to Condolences

LearnVest — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 06:00:59 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart Learnvest story here on Savvy!

Remember how exciting it was to get mail when you were a little kid? That feeling doesn’t change as you get older. If you want to make someone feel special, put it in writing. This holiday season, when you want to recognize someone-or need to thank someone who gave you a gift-remember that handwritten words are worth a thousand, well, you know.

Whether you want to show someone you care, want to thank someone who’s helped you out in the past, or want to be remembered by someone you met while networking at holiday parties, the receiver will appreciate the effort. And you? You’re all class.

Put The “Person” In “Personal.”
Sometimes an email or a text is totally appropriate, but in professional situations and those where you have something more substantial to express, we recommend going the handwritten route. Here are a few examples of when we suggest putting pen to paper:

* Thank those you spoke with during job interviews.

* Got a raise or promotion? Show your boss that you appreciate his or her effort on your behalf.

* A close friend’s grandmother passed away and you’re not sure what to say, but you can offer heartfelt sympathy in writing.

* You see that your favorite professor from college won a major award; handwritten congratulations are in order.

* You goofed, big time, and forgot your Aunt Wendy’s birthday – send her a letter.

Keep reading for more tips.