5 Tips For Writing The Perfect Thank You Note!

The holidays are over!  It's time to get back to our normal routines, but first we have to thank everyone for the lovely gifts we received or do we? Emily Post says if you opened the gifts in front of the giver and offered an in person thank you at the time of the exchange, it isn't necessary to send a thank you note, however the older generation may beg to differ.  Do you write a note and send snail mail or do you send an email?  Either way in todays times, either is acceptable.  The southern girl in me prefers to write thank you notes and drop in the mail.   Do you enjoy writing thank you notes or do you look at it as another chore to check off the list?   I like to make a little ritual out of note writing.  It gives me time to reflect on the gift and the giver.  

5 Tips For Writing The Perfect Thank You Note

1. Invest in custom notecards.   I promise note writing will be more fun if you have pretty notes to to write your notes on.  I'm crazy about my notecards from Emily McCarthy.  I believe in buying the heaviest weight card stock you can afford.  

2. Pick a favorite writing instrument.  Choose what feels best in your hand.  I am left handed so I avoid pens that smear.  Old school of thought was the ink had to be black but today anything goes.  Choosing a pen color that co-ordinates with your notecards is always a good idea.  

3. Think about what to say.  Don't write a generic note.  Think about the giver and how you want to acknowledge the gift.  Make it personal by referring to the giver as well as the gift.  If the gift was monetary, make sure to express how you plan to use the gift. 

4.  Send your note timely.  Emily Post suggest sending a note as soon as you can, however, it is never too late to send a gift.  

5.  Provide a return address on the envelope.  Mail can get lost so to insure your thank you note arrives please include a return address on the envelope.  If you have the wrong the note will be returned giving you the opportunity to find the correct address and resend. 

Take advantage of Smart Bargins 48hr blowout sale and get one of these Invicta pens, regularly 1275.00  on SALE for $149.00  as well as other beautiful options for note writing!
Scroll through the options below by clicking the arrow on the right to see if something strikes your fancy. 

Pearls of Wisdom - New Year's Thoughts for 2015

VIA

When a new year arrives, I feel like a snake molting out of it's skin.  I subscribe whole-heartedly to the "out with the old and in with the new" as they say!  Do you?  

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I've Been Shopping....Shopping Saturday!

                                                                               

What did you get for Christmas?  

Here are some of my favorite gifts I gave and received!

Have you Spent Your Christmas Money, yet?  If not, allow me to Help You!

Gifts I  I L-O-V-E-D!!!....

  I got a new pair of Sorel Boots for Christmas!  I can't wait to wear them!

Santa gifted me with Maison Francis Kurkdjian "Pluriel" -  So feminine and sexy.

Jo Malone  !  I got several different types of Jo Malone products for Christmas and love them all.

Especially love the Lime Basil & Mandarin scent and the Grapefruit. So clean and fresh!

I also adore the Pomegranite Noir diffusers too.  Would make great Valentine's Day gifts!

Favorite Gifts I gave...

  I gave my hubby Tom Ford Oud Wood - My fave new scent for men!

" Ombre Flokati" throw from Nordstrom - to keep you warm while, also

 maintaining a chic factor.

  Whale-Tail Measuring cups from Anthro to make cooking more fun!  I also gave

 these monogram mugs to my neighbors and these homespun initial mugs to friends.

Sleepyhead  Nightshirt From Nordstrom - on sale 33%off so I bought myself a nightshirt!  

Food52 Ceremonial Grade Macha Tea set - sorry this is currently out of stock,

 but sign up to be notified when it is returns, until then try this selection of green teas. 

Charbonnel et Walker Marc de Champagne Pink Chocolate Truffles -   Give them for

 Valentines Day instead of the typical chocolates!

Geo Gem Bib Necklace and Vivifera Necklace from Anthropologie - My fav necklaces

 du jour!  I took Vivifera to my Girls Night Out christmas Party!  It was a hit!

Jonathan Adler Mr and Mrs Muse Napkin Rings - How fun are these?

Gifts I gave myself...

Did I just admit I buy gifts for myself?  Well, it's true.  When I am out shopping

 for others, I often find things I can't live without!  I'll let you in on my secret finds...

 Revive - My new top secret beauty tip!  It's Botox in a bottle

 Amore Pacific - My fav new foundation with green tea complex, which offers

 anti-inflammatory and brightening benefits to your skin! Great for travel! 

Bauble Bar Snake Chain Tassel Earrings - Tassel earrings are so much fun and these

 are only $26! I have seen them for much more!  I like the necklace too.

 Bought Myself After Christmas!

 Gigi New York Python 2015 journal - We all need a journal for the

 new year.  I consider indigo the color of the year for 2015, instead of marsala.

 Tory Burch Rollerball Eau de Parfum for my purse roll on cologne for your purse.

  I also want a set of The Bath Soaps for my powder room.  So pretty!

 J. Crew "Grid" Scarf - just because it's black and white therefore looks

 good with everything all the time.

 "How to Be Parisian Where ever You Are" - A little light reading!

New Balance Pink 631 in Pink from Kohl's - Because this girl is gonna get in

 shape in 2015! Kohl's has most of their Ladies New Balance on sale !!!

What I'm pondering....

Bill Skinner Elephant Necklace from Anthropologie - Just because it's fabulous.

Mystic Seer Pendant Necklace - now on sale at Anthropologie!  This is such a

 killer piece!  It was originally $798 and is now $449.95. 

Drybar Texas Tea Volumizing  Spray- For the "Big Hair, Don't Care" Look! If you

 really want to go all the way, try the gift set!

North Face Radium Hi-Loft Jacket - I have a pink Northface that is similar to this

 and needs replacing.  It is so warm and cozy! 

Valentino Micro Mini Shoulder Bag in Pink!  Ok, no reasons necessary...do I need a reason?

 It's pink & Valentino, end of story!

Global Views Gold Ceramic Urchins from The Zhush - These are so great in bookcases,

 or on bedside tables.  I like to have some of these on hand for clients.

Laura Mercier Honey Fig Bath -   

Laura Mercier has a 20%off post holiday sale.  I'm going to stock up

 on secret concealer and repair eye serum too!

Montblanc Meisterstuck Pen Anniversary Pen- because I left my last Montblanc

 at the Harris Teeter!   Ok, so I probably shouldn't buy

 myself a nice pen to giveaway again.   I'll mark that off my list, but perhaps I'll buy it

 for my guy for Valentine's Day.

So there you have it!  Whew!  Shopping is tough work, but somebody has to

 do it, right?  Haha!!  And my hubby thinks I'm watching the game!  

Enjoy your Saturday!  I'm dreaming of my fig bath after I workout!

What did you give and get for Christmas that was stellar?

Please share in the comment area.

I'm dying to know!

Tobi Fairley Mastermind Secrets Revealed...

 Happy New Year!  

2014 was a great year for Lisa Mende Design.  I want to take a few minutes and thank everyone who continues to believe in me as well as promote my work.  Thank you to each person who took time to read the blog daily!  I am always amazed at the number of people who take their precious time to visit me here.  I cannot thank you enough! 

Last year was a transition year for my firm.  I was entrusted with some amazing new projects, given many opportunities to speak at events, and visited many interesting places. 

Over the course of the past few days, I have been re-evaluating this past year, as I always do during this time and have discovered how truly lucky I am.  So many times during 2014  I felt like I was struggling to keep up with my crazy, busy schedule.  When I look back over the year, I am so grateful my schedule was so busy!   I am going to commit to taking time to appreciate being "busy" in 2015 rather than complaining about it. 

You know what they say about attitude...

As I have shared with you in other forums such as Dishing with Dana, I give Tobi Fairley credit with getting me back to work in 2012.   I made a comment on Tobi's blog one Friday night, that led to a series of email exchanges which eventually led to an online friendship with Tobi.   We chatted about life, family and our children.  It was over a year after meeting Tobi online before I decided to sign up for her Mastermind program.  

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Happy New Year From Lisa Mende Design!

Credit San Francisco Bay

This picture of my friend and fellow designer Courtney Lake featured in

 the San Francisco BayTimes pretty much sums up New Year's for me.

  Put on your best suit and party til the cows come home.  Courtney is

inspirational to me because he always makes the best of every situation.

He not only makes the best of it, he gives his best.  He inspires me daily

 to be a better person.  I met Courtney last year when we went to London

 for Blogtour with Modenus.  I don't think I have ever met a nicer guy.  

He is the epitome of a true gentleman in my book.  Our mutual friends are

 always telling him he should give up design and model full time but Courtney

 would never do that because he is too buy making lives beautiful for others

 to think of himself. Do you have friends like Courtney who inspire you?

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