Women's Perspectives

Feb 13, 2012

5 Cards for Special Occasions

Cards of all types are a wonderful way to show appreciation to friends, families and clients. Printing services can provide visually appealing cards very easily. Designing cards for Christmas, New Year and Valentine’s Day is also enhanced by graphic design software. Although electronic greeting cards are popular, printing cards is a more personal way to convey a message.

There are many occasions on which to give a card.

Christmas
As a thank you
Valentine’s day
Birthdays
Anniversaries

Christmas

The most popular time of the year to distribute cards is Christmas. Mass produced cards are popular and many are recyclable. Charities also produce Christmas cards. These cards serve two purposes; they convey a Christmas greeting and provide funds for the charity. They are a convenient way to contribute towards good causes at Christmas.

Not everybody celebrates Christmas, so for some people, cards for other celebrations such as Hanukkah are more appropriate. However, Christmas cards are such a major tradition that few people are offended if they receive one.

Thank you
Thank you cards are appropriate for all occasions. They are a kind way to show appreciation to somebody for a good deed or favour. Many people are naturally generous and they are rarely thanked. A card says that the thoughtful deed was noticed and appreciated. It also encourages people to continue acting considerately.

Valentine’s Day
Many people spend a great deal of money on Valentine’s Day. However, it is not always necessary. A simple card can say ‘I love you’ as effectively as a present. A Valentine’s Day card is a thoughtful way to acknowledge a new relationship. A card does not pressure the recipient to reciprocate. It can be a simple acknowledgement of friendship or love.

Birthdays
Sometimes it is difficult to know whether a friendship merits a gift or whether this is inappropriate. A good way to acknowledge a friend’s birthday without embarrassing them is to send a card. An e-card is often chosen, however, printing one is more personal. A card is a considerate way to convey a message of warmth and good cheer for a birthday. The fact that the day was remembered is often worth more than any gift.

Anniversaries
There are many anniversaries in life. Most people celebrate milestones in relationships. Anniversaries of marriages, first dates, first kisses or first meetings are often commemorated by couples. Remembering an anniversary is important to many women in relationships. So a card that celebrates a milestone is always appreciated. It shows caring and thoughtfulness and a serious attitude towards the relationship.

Cards are a wonderful way to remember many milestones and anniversaries. They are a considerate method of showing appreciation and care. Cards can be homemade or mass produced and printing services can provide both types. Cards are available commercially for almost every occasion. However, making cards is also simple. Sometimes a homemade card will be more appreciated because of the time taken to produce it. Any card of any kind on any occasion is a generous gift.

Feb 10, 2012

5 Tips on Engagement Ring Etiquette

Thinking about asking your beloved to marry you? If it’s your first time, you might be wondering about engagement ring etiquette. Even though engagements can be pretty casual these days, there’s still a long tradition of engagement etiquette that some people might want to follow. Here are some tips on some proper behaviour related to engagements and engagement rings.

1. How much should the ring cost?

Not everyone has the same budget, of course. Etiquette says that an engagement ring should cost about 3 months’ worth of the man’s salary. However, it really is a matter of taste and budget: some partners may be happy with a smaller ring. After all, true love should not really have a price and we’ve seen women happy to receive a simple silver band as an engagement ring. As long as it expresses your love and shows a significant commitment (budgetary or otherwise), any ring will work!

2. Can you choose it together?

Of course. There’s no reason why the marriage proposal has to be accompanied by a ring. If you absolutely want to buy your beloved an engagement ring, it’s perfectly okay to visit the jeweller together and choose a ring that will fit your budget and that your partner will like. And it’s also okay to share the cost if your partner insists. It’s a bit frowned upon for the woman to buy all the rings, but if everyone pitches in, it’s more acceptable.

3. Does the man have to wear a ring?
Traditionally, only the woman wears an engagement ring, but again in these liberated times some men might also want to show their betrothal with a ring. Same-sex couples can also go the traditional way (the askee wears a ring and the asker doesn’t) or both can sport an engagement ring. It’s always good to discuss these things when considering an official engagement.

4. What if the engagement breaks off?
This is one of the trickiest points of etiquette related to engagement rings. It usually depends on who breaks off the engagement and where the ring comes from. For a heirloom ring, it should be given back to the owning family, no matter who breaks off the engagement. Heirlooms are important symbolic objects and should not be kept by a woman (or man) with no intention of joining the family. If the man breaks off the engagement, it is acceptable for the woman to keep the ring. If the woman breaks it off, the man can ask for its return and the woman should give it back. Making provisions about the ring (especially if it has high value) in the prenuptial agreement can prevent many problems.

5. Should she wear the ring after the wedding?
Congratulations! You are now married. Some women wear both rings during the entire length of the marriage, while others simply keep the engagement ring in their jewellery box and wear only the wedding band. It’s a matter of personal choice these days, and unless your family is very conservative, just do what feels right to you.

Thinking about flowers, venue, catering and wedding bands can be overwhelming, but getting the engagement ring right will definitely give a good start to your marital life.