ECARD – Page 28 – This blog is about free ecards and holidays

Get Well—Letting People Down

I’m one of those people who hates to admit being sick, even more than I hate actually getting sick. If I wake up feeling nauseous and light-headed with clogged sinuses, I’m much more likely to groan my way to the shower, and then grin-and-bear-it through another day at work, than I am to pick up the phone, call in sick and go back to sleep.

And so on those rare occasions when I actually do decide that I’m too sick to actually leave the house, my friends, family and co-workers know I must be feeling really, really crummy.

If you’re like me, you really feel like a failure on those days: you feel like you’ve let your coworkers down, forcing them to take a larger burden at work; you feel like you’ve let your friends down, having to give up on whatever obligations you may have had to them; and you feel like you’ve let everyone who lives with you down, potentially exposing them to whatever it was that got you sick in the first place.

Times like those, when feeling bad physically combines with feeling down in the dumps emotionally, nothing brings a smile to your face quite like a little reminder that the people you care about are thinking about you, and aren’t angry with you at all.

So how can you show that you care? Chicken soup’s a good standby, as if just picking up the phone, calling your sick friend or loved, and making sure they’re okay. Now, you can add to that list free e-cards from GotFreeCards.com. Our animated e-cards are quick, completely free, and a funny way to put a smile on an ailing friend’s face. Give it a try!

Free Ecards

There comes a time in the calendar year when we start to think about the people who have slipped our minds for one reason or another. All year long there may have been small reminders of them, and we think to ourselves, “Oh, I’ll call them next week.” But next week, and then next month, comes and goes and alas, we have forgotten again. And then – wham! November is here and thus the holiday domino effect: Thanksgiving leads to Christmas leads to New Year’s Eve leads to January and time to put everyone off once again.

We certainly don’t mean to do it, but the hustle and bustle of our to-do-lists can be to blame. So what can we do? Well, since it’s November, it is a time to be thankful for the relationships we are lucky to have, so we can send some “Thank You” ecards to make up for lost time. Or we can send an “I’m sorry” card for all those times we thought about picking up the phone but didn’t. Here at Got Free-eCards there are cards waiting to be sent for these very reasons. And remember, there is someone out there who needs to send you a card too…

Ecards and etiquette

Informal offices and casual dressing may be in, but is etiquette on its way out?

Today’s office cubes mix fun with work seamlessly. You are on first name basis with your CEO. You wear shorts to work, surf the internet, watch TV and work out. At work. With today’s unrestricted casual settings, the mantra is – get the work done on time and have fun along the way. But are we getting carried away with casualness?

Take ecards for example. Sending and receiving ecards on special occasions is common practice. Most people check their emails at work. So ecards also get opened at work.

Ecards cheer you up, make you feel better. But, they could also be distracting. Especially to coworkers. Most offices have an open floor plan. What goes on in one cube is visible and audible in nearby cubes. So, while you are chuckling at a great ‘Knock Knock’ joke ecard or smiling at a funny musical birthday ecard, your colleague in the next cube is probably cringing as he tries to concentrate amidst the racket. The same goes for people talking loudly, using cell phones or playing loud music or video games. Yes, it’s your free time to spend as you please, but, we also need to be considerate of those around us.

We enjoy many perks at work that previous generations did not. But it is our responsibility to use those perks carefully. Why not use headphones, as you open the free ecard? Or use your lunch break to play music or games.

Work place restrictions may be ancient history, but etiquette is timeless. Do you agree?

Election Day—Finally!

No matter what happens on November 4th, the entire nation will be breathing a big sigh of relief, because it will finally, finally, finally all be over. After two years, thirty debates, hundreds of millions of dollars spent on advertisements, and just as many hours of television, print and radio media coverage, we will have a new president heading these United States.

I’ll be looking at November 4th as a holiday, regardless of who wins. Just as holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas are times for us to reflect and be thankful, so, too, is election day a time to reflect and be thankful: reflect on the crazy campaign season it has been, and be thankful that it’s over and done with (at least until next time).

To commemorate this election day, the very first thing you should do is vote. The second thing you should do is browse through the free e-cards at GotFreeCards.com, and check out our collection of election-related animated e-cards. Whether you support John McCain, Barack Obama, or none of the above, you’re sure to find election themed ecards that you like, and that you can send to a friend, who’s just as happy as you that it’s finally over.

Free Halloween Ecards or Bags of Candies

In the official Top 10 list most expensive holidays, Halloween should really be somewhere near the bottom. But one year for me, it was more like #1. I had just had my first child the week before and was feeling pretty depressed. Not only was I no longer getting comments on my lovely pregnancy glow, I wasn’t getting any sleep either. So the day before Halloween, my husband gave me a $100 bill to purchase some Halloween candy for the trick-or-treaters, in the hopes that it would cheer me up.

It was my first venture out of the house since my son was born, so I was feeling overwhelmed. But I was certain that purchasing Halloween candy was going to pull me out of my funk! Once I was in the store, I was in awe of all the choices, so I started piling up my cart with every candy I saw. The lady at the check out line said “Wow! Having a party?” and embarrassed, I lied and said “Yep! All the neighborhood kids are coming!”

When I got home and brought in all of the bags of candy, my husband was speechless. I had spent all $100. I then was brought to tears, as I discovered that Halloween candy purchases are final and can’t be returned. To make matters worse, we had less than 30 trick-or-treaters that year, and what looked like thousands of pieces of candy. In the end, I was not cheered up at all, but rather even more depressed due to my frivolous Halloween spending.

If only I had GotFreeCards.com back then, to pull me out of my funk, my Halloween would have been so much better. I would have been able to shop for ecards all day if I wanted to, and sent them to all of my friends, without spending a penny! I would have been able to enjoy funny and scary animated Halloween ecards at no expense to my now poor husband. THAT would have made my Halloween. So this year, yes I will buy a few cheap bags of candy for the trick-or-treaters. But to really get into the spirit of Halloween, I am going to send free ecards to all of my friends, and a special Halloween ecard to my husband

Tips to make Halloween Trick-or-Treating a fun trip!

Halloween is almost here. As you get ready to take your kids trick or treating, here are some tips to make the evening more enjoyable for everyone.

* Plan to be home from work early. Start for work earlier than usual if you have to or get the day’s work done in advance. Leave enough time to make dinner, get dressed, get your kids dressed, handle last-minute costume emergencies and leave on time for trick-or-treating.

* Make sure your kids eat a healthy, filling meal before leaving. You don’t need an expert to tell you – hungry kids get cranky soon. This way, even if you get delayed on the way or are held up in traffic (in case you are driving them to trick-or-treat), they won’t be hungry for a few hours.

* Set some candy rules before leaving. It’s tough for kids to resist temptation when they have dozens of candies readily available in their pumpkin baskets. To avoid them from filling up on candies, set a reasonable limit before leaving. Teach them to practice self-control by allowing them to save up the treats for later in the week when they finish homework early or do well in a test.

* Check your city’s weather forecast and plan accordingly. Take along raincoats or an umbrella. If it’s windy or cold, kids could put on the Halloween costumes over their warm clothes or sweaters. Make sure little ones are properly clothed in warm outfits.

* Try to go trick-or-treating in a group with friends. Not only is it more fun, it’s also safer, especially if you are new to the neighborhood.

* Plan your route before leaving home. Regardless of whether you are going to walk or drive, follow a route and plan the number of stops you will make. This way, you will save time, energy and fuel. Even if you lose your group midway, you will know exactly where to find them.

Have a safe, spooky and happy Halloween!

Halloween— Relax!

It’s almost here: Halloween!

Hands down, Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. Don’t get me wrong: I love getting together with relatives who live far away on Thanksgiving, and seeing the looks of joy on family members’ faces as they open the perfect gift on Christmas warms my heart, but Halloween still stands above the rest, in my book. The reason: it’s just about having fun.

Sure, there’s an important, and in some cultures sacred, history behind the origins of Halloween, but for most of us, it’s turned in to a big, light-hearted celebration. For at least one day out of the year, we don’t have to be solemn in our thanks; we don’t have to empty the bank account to buy gifts; we don’t have to juggle our celebrating with the stresses of cooking a big meal for the extended family. On at least one holiday, all we have to do is enjoy ourselves. And I don’t know about you, but I feel like I deserve that kind of a break, if only once a year.

So in celebrating Halloween this year, you don’t have to get your friends a free e-card from GotFreeCards.com to show them how thankful you are. You don’t have to pick out the perfect animated e-card to show how deeply you care. No, on Halloween, you can send someone a free halloween ecard just because it’s a fun, funny thing to do.

Enjoy the holiday!

Halloween costumes don’t have to cost a fortune

Are you tired of spending money on ridiculously expensive Halloween costumes that your child will wear only for a couple of hours? No worries! There are ways to make Halloween, and almost any other occasion, fun for your kids and family even if you are on a tight budget. Here are two thrifty saving tips to get cool Halloween costumes without blowing your budget.

Make your own costumes. Get creative.

Used gift wraps, old night gowns or bath robes, bed sheets, old curtains, table cloths, chart paper, cardboard can all be used to make a unique Halloween costume that can’t be found in stores. With your imagination and a little creativity, you can make this ‘annual Halloween costume making’ a fun, family project. What a great way to save money and spend quality time! Besides, you can come up with your own themes. One family I know dressed up as a garden salad bowl once. The parents were celery and spinach, the kids were carrots, broccoli, peas and beans! What a wonderful way to get kids to like vegetables! Can you think of a theme that will engage your family?

Buy costumes a year in advance. If you are sure you will be purchasing a costume for your kids next year, then why not buy them now, at a bargain price? Plan ahead. Stores put up Halloween costumes on sale the day after Halloween. You will find great deals on some very good costumes. This is the perfect time to buy next year’s Halloween costumes at a steal. Remember to buy children’s costumes a size or two larger.

Remember, having fun does not necessarily mean having to spend a lot of money. Spending more time doing what you like is more important. So, don’t let the economy, job cuts, fuel prices or anything come in the way of your celebration. By being creative, you can still celebrate in style. And while you are at it send out free ecards to your loved ones.

Flying Pumpkins – Halloween Ecard

There are many things about Halloween that are frightful: scary costumes, spooky music, and haunted houses. But those things are to be expected, and therefore are not quite as scary in the long run. But what about the unexpected things of Halloween? As a child, and yes even as an adult, I tend to let my imagination go a little too far and found myself more scared about things I had yet to see but imagined to be truths.

For instance, we always hear about Witches flying on broomsticks. The idea of a little old lady with an eerie laugh and a tall pointy hat being able to elevate into the air on a broomstick just gives me the chills. If I were ever to see this, I would surely pass out from sheer fear. And then I take one step further and ask myself, “What do jack-o-lanterns do at night when everyone is sleeping?” While it may not sound scary right now, wait until nightfall and think of it then. Do they sprout arms and legs and walk around? Or do they grow magic wings and fly around, annoying Witches on their broomsticks?

To me, this is the essence of all things scary on Halloween, the possibility of the unknown. This is why I love the animated Halloween ecard, Flying Pumpkins; it gives me the chills every time! So share this ecard with someone you care about or maybe just someone you want to scare! Happy Halloween!

Halloween Ecards to the Rescue

When the Holidays start creeping up on the calendar, our loved ones that are out of town become prominent in our minds. We want to be near them during the gatherings and celebrations, so we call them and email them, closing the gap on the miles that separate us. But imagine living in another time when phone calls were not always reasonable to make and email was non-existent.

It seems hard to picture; your loved one is in another state or country and being in touch with them is close to impossible. Even if your loved one was just one town over, being able to communicate with them was only conceivable via the reliable postman. Writing a letter, putting it in the mailbox, and not knowing if it got there until you received a letter in return was a typical scenario not that long ago.

Today, technology has taken us so far that with the touch of a few keys on our computers we can send our out of town loved ones an animated greeting card through the “air” from our computer to theirs, at no cost to anyone. So take advantage of the technology of today, and send those you miss a holiday ecard, starting with Halloween!