Get your thank-you notes out

Girls' Life, Dec, 2004 by Kasey Simcoe

Mad gifts will (hopefully!) be rolling your way this holiday season. It's important to show a little gratitude. It takes no time at all to kick out a few short and sweet thank-you's on pretty note paper or stationery. Use colorful pens to write each gift-giver a fun, specific and personal note spelling out your appreciation for the gift you got hooked up with.

Need an example? OK, how about, "Dear Aunt Bertha: My feet are feeling fantastic, thanks to the fabulous pedicure set you gave me. Thank you so much! Love, Jessica." That's it! Then, decorate your thank-you with fun stamps, glitter or suckers, address it, drop it in the mailbox with a stamp, and consider yourself one gracious girl. Need more help? The folks at Lily Chantilly have created The Thank You Card Kit ($12.95, workman.com), with pointers on writing lab thank-you notes, complete with cards, envelopes, stickers and a mini address book. And you'll be thanking us because we have 10 to toss out for free. Send your name and address to Thanks, GL, 4517 Harford Road, Baltimore, MD 21214 by Jan. 30.