The Edge of Motherhood

Recently, Hallmark launched a line of greeting cards called The Edge of Motherhood. The line is designed to help moms connect with other moms to show them support, give them a good laugh, and let them know "hey, I've been there." The line is hilarious (and I'm not even a mom!) and has been getting great reviews, like this one from our new blog-friend Angela:

"These cards were so much fun! They have wonderful messages for moms and the children that they love. So many times we as moms need encouragement while we are doing the day to day task of raising our families. We need to hear that it’s okay that the laundry is piled up sometimes and that others know and care the hard work we are putting into the most important job in the world! These cards do just that: They are perfect for that mom that you talked to on the phone today that is feeling like a failure or just needs some encouragement. They will bring a smile to someones face who wasn’t expecting a card just because."

You can read Angela's full review and see which card she picked as her favorite by clicking here.

Here are a few that I have sent to my friends who are moms -- so much fun!

Inside: "Welcome to the 'do as I say and not as I did' years."
Inside: "Hope your birthday is free of bad-mommy moments."
Inside: "Also, I'm excited about your baby. But c'mon, those boobs! Dang, girl!" -- Note that this card's cover is editable, so you can put in the name of your friend and mom-to-be!

New on "Hallmarkers Who Blog" List

We just added another fabulous person to the "Hallmarkers Who Blog" list: Teresa L.!

Teresa, from the East Coast, is a senior greetings editor and has been with Hallmark for four years.

Her blog is www.poetprocastinator.blogspot.com. Wait. Procrastinator is misspelled! Teresa says, “that's right. I'm a writer who can't spell, and it's been immortalized in my URL.”

Teresa started her blog in the summer of 2005. The blog is about mostly stuff and also things. “Truthfully, it's just my musings on any given topic. Lately, I've tried to start labeling posts to see if I seem to address certain topics more than others,” Teresa says.

Teresa says she started a blog because all of her friends were doing it. “Seriously, my awareness of blogging (technically as in "web + log" or online journal) coincided with my relocating to a new city for a job opportunity, so I thought it would be a great way to keep my family and friends informed about the goings-on in my life. As irony would have it, my family doesn't read my blog, to my knowledge - they're phone/text people, by and large.”

There is no blog schedule for Teresa. She blogs when she wants and hopes that if a person stumbles across her blog they will enjoy it. “I want people to get from my blog what I get from the blogs I read: the occasional inspiration, something to laugh at, a break from the task at hand, a slice of a life that isn't their own.”

HOOPS & YOYO DAY AT THE K

Last Sunday was hoops&yoyo day at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals played (and lost) but everyone had fun. How can you not enjoy yourself when this cat and bunny are on the loose!?

You can read more about the fun on the official hoops&yoyo blog. Check it out!

Build Kansas City

In these hard economic times feel great about your local purchases because you are giving back to Kansas City.

Build Kansas City from Standard Social on Vimeo.

~ by buildkansas city.org

week 6: Hallmark Employee Card Challenge

THIS IS THE LAST CHALLENGE!

For this week’s challenge (8/24), the challenge is to “Encourage a kid going back to school.”

Going back to school can be challenging, exciting or even nerve-racking time for kids, whether they’re riding the bus, finding their way around a new school or walking from the dorm. There’s no better time than now to tell the kids in your life how wonderful they are. It may just be the boost of confidence they need.



Send a card. It’s the biggest little thing you can do for kids going back to school!

Even though that the challenge is over... please, keep sending cards!

Breakaway Brands from 2009: Hallmark!

The Hallmark brand is something we talk about a lot around here. I know in recruiting, the Hallmark brand is my friend. People aren't always excited to receive and unsolicited phone call or speak to a random person at a conference, but once you drop the Hallmark name people tend to perk up. It's nice. Really nice, actually.

Hallmark has been recognized as one of the Top 10 Breakaway Brands of 2009. Click here to read the article. Here's what AOL Daily Finance and Landor Associates had to say about Hallmark:

The greeting card company earned a spot on our list by going non-traditional, rolling out a customizable digital e-card studio, a line of earth-friendly greeting cards, and a card series called “Journeys” (a line of encouragement cards focused on fighting cancer, coming out, and battling depression). On the screen, the Hallmark Channel reached out to a younger audience by casting more youthful actors and updating music and advertising to appeal to the under-30 set. The company also dramatically expanded its retail presence in grocery stores, drugstores, and even into Walmart.

week 5: Hallmark Employee Card Challenge

For this week’s challenge (8/17), the challenge is to “Reconnect with a friend.”

Remember, you don't have to mail a physical card. Send an e-card! It's the biggest little thing you can do.

Kansas City designer on "PROJECT RUNWAY"

Ari (say it AIR-ee) Fish, 26-year-old graduate of the Kansas City Art Institute, is one of the 16 designers sixth season of “Project Runway.”

Watch Ari Fish's casting session.


Season 6 of "Project Runway" (filmed in L.A.) premieres at 9pm, Aug. 20 it's new network, Lifetime.

More on Ari.
• Kansas City Star
• Lifetime

week 4: Hallmark Employee Card Challenge

This is the fourth week of the Hallmark Employee Card Challenge.

For this week’s challenge (8/10), the challenge is to “Brighten someone's day through humor.”

Send a card! It's the biggest little thing you can do.

Twilight + Hallmark (*insert my 13 year-old girly shriek here*)

People Magazine gave Hallmark's Twilight Greeting Cards front page space this morning online. YAY! I don't know if I'm more excited about Hallmark, Twilight, or People. It's the ultimate trifecta for me. We even have Twilight ecards at hallmark.com! Seriously, could this day get any better?

Check out the article on People.com. I'm off to reread the Twilight series...

ARTIST TRADING CARDS

July's theme for the Artist Trading Card (ATC) trade at Hallmark was "summer fun." Check out the fun!





You can see more at my ATC blog.

week 3: Hallmark Employee Card Challenge

This is the third week of the Hallmark Employee Card Challenge.

For this week’s challenge (8/3), the challenge is to “Support someone who is going a rough time.”

Send a card! It's the biggest little thing you can do.