Ginger Jar Stationary c/o / Gold Pens / Pencil Cup
As a kid, my mom taught me to write thank you notes when I received gifts. After my birthday and Christmas, I remember the feeling of my wrist cramping up from the process. Today, I still try to write thank you notes for every gift I receive, but I’ve also learned that saying a formal thank you for other occasions is a gesture that can go a long way.
A reader recently sent me these cute ginger jar note cards that she designed so I’ve been using them as thank you notes and think they’re just so cute. Dying for the matching acrylic tray too!
Here are a some examples of when I write thank you notes. I suggest you try it as well. It makes people so happy to receive them and seeing my friends happy makes me happy. And I’m pretty sure no one has ever been upset to receive a pretty piece of mail thanking them for something they did.
Dinner Parties
Throwing a dinner party is a lot of work. You have to not only shop and cook for a group of people, but make sure your house is clean, set a nice table, and then clean up at the end of the night which is usually the worst part! Having done it myself, I know it is pretty much a full day process. I always send thank you notes to the hosts of a dinner party and I often get a text later saying how much the note meant to them.
In the note: Comment on a dish that you loved in particular.
House Guests
Now that we live in the ‘burbs and have a guest suite (aka a bedroom and bathroom but suite sounds fancier!), we get a lot of overnight guests. I love waking up to a full house but it does take effort and I always appreciate when someone makes that effort for me.
In the note: Mention something that you liked about their home or why you felt comfortable there.
A Thoughtful Gesture
People do nice things all the time… especially in the suburbs. My neighbors often hide my packages in my backyard when I travel or walk the dog if I’m out all day. Although it’s not hard work, it took them time to do it. For this type of situation, I’ll send a thank you note the first time they do the task and then say it over text or in person going forward.
In the note: Write how you’re happy to return the favor whenever they need it.
Being a Good Friend
Have you ever had a friend who listened to you vent about a problem for hours on end? Maybe she brought you chicken soup when you were sick or spent her Friday night at home mending your broken heart. Or perhaps she didn’t do anything in particular but she’s just a great friend who is always there for you. Why not tell that person how you feel and thank her for being in your life?
In the note: Tell her how much you genuinely love her.
