Friendship Archives - American Greetings Blog

How to make Hygge happen in spring

(And share it with those you love)

Maybe you’ve heard of it. Or maybe you’re thinking, “hy-what?” Either way, there’s a good chance you’ve experienced hygge.

It’s pronounced HOO-ga. (Not quite what you were expecting, right?) Hygge is the Scandinavian philosophy of comfort and coziness. It’s not just a word; it’s a way of life, a sense of togetherness and connectedness – known all too well by the people of Denmark who are considered the happiest people in the world despite the region’s long, dark winters.

So, is it only a cold weather thing? Heck, no. “Hygge is about an atmosphere and an experience, rather than about things,” writes Meik Wiking, author of “The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living.” “It is about being with the people we love.” It can be the smell of spring, a mug of hot cocoa by the fireside, reading a great book, the feeling you get from connecting to something meaningful, and especially spending time with your favorite people.

As spring brings new blooms and warmth from the sun we can all appreciate – what better time to create and connect with your happy place and share some hygge with those you love? We’ll get you started with some ideas you can do with a friend, your child, your partner, or even just for yourself.

Hygge with your friend

Share a pot of ‘thank you’ tea.
Pick an afternoon or early evening, simmer some relaxing tea, and show a friend your gratitude by giving them your undivided attention and sharing good conversation (sans cell phones).
Hike and a fire.
The smell of the earth as spring begins and the scent of wood smoke curling in the air are two of our favorite smells of all time. Experience the best of both by heading off for a hike then unwinding fireside afterwards. #awesomeday
From cyberspace to your space.
Get those pics off of your phone and up on your wall. (They can’t make you smile hiding in a cloud.) Choose your faves and frame them up so you’re reminded every day of those priceless moments and the friends that made them happen.
Brunch via video.
Let’s face it, sometimes you just don’t want to get out of bed on the weekend to meet your wolfpack for brunch. So change it up – leave the pj’s on and have everyone brunch via video chat. This is especially cool if you’ve got friendly faces in faraway places – coffee talk with friends is the ultimate, especially when you can stay in your bunny slippers.
Share a friendship plant.
Next time you’re together, head to the local garden center and pick out a plant for each other or buy the same one. Now you’ll have a super springtime reminder of your friend as you watch your plant thrive and flourish. (Just like friendship. ‘wink’)

Hygge with your child

Decorate their room with this cheerful homemade yarn craft.
The design of hygge is all about clean shapes and earthy color palettes, but it’s the together time in creating this piece that counts the most. This yarn craft is the perfect thing to make to hang in your child’s room, so grab some yarn and craft a memory.
Plant garden seeds and watch them grow.
Have the kids create the space where they play. Purchase some seeds of their choice and help plant them in the yard so they can watch their handiwork bloom through the spring.
Press flowers.
Take a walk with your child to gather nature’s gems and jewels then press them in pages to frame, or string them up. It’s a great way to bring spring indoors to decorate your space, as well as create a priceless memory.
Create a hyggekrog (or nook) in a sunny window spot.
Gather your child’s favorite cozy blankets and pillows for the perfect togetherness space where you can get lost in your favorite books.
Bring the inside out.
Lay down a blanket in the yard and keep your eyes to the skies – what shapes do you see in the clouds? At night, point out constellations and keep a lookout for shooting stars. Since the air may still be a bit chilly at night, be sure to layer up before you look up.

Hygge with your partner

Massage and a movie.
Get those sheets off the bed and onto the floor for you and your partner to have a good old fashioned slumber party in the comfort of your home. Get your lineup of movies going and take turns giving back massages for the ultimate in entertainment relaxation.
Build something together.
What would be spring without a little cleaning and a small (or big) renovation project?
Roll up your sleeves and dig into that ‘room re-do’ or list of repairs that you both keep saying you’ll get around to. This stuff is always more fun with two.
Print those pics – and frame them!
Nothing says home like your own memories right in front of your eyes. What an awesome reminder of all the special moments and people you have in your life.
Toast to togetherness.
Uncork a bottle of wine and every time you ‘cheers,’ say out loud two things you’re grateful for. Not only are those grapes giving you a little health kick, but expressing gratitude boosts your heart and mental health as well. (Clink, clink!)
Make a nursery date – to refresh your home.
Spend an afternoon together picking out fragrant flowers and eye-catching plants to give your home a fresh, spring feeling. Not only can plants totally bring out the personality of a space, but they also help clean the air in your home, so your lungs also get a good dusting with every breath. Ahh…

Hygge yourself

Click here or on the image above for the free printable phrase.

Set up your writing space.
Create a space where you keep cards, notes, stamps, etc. and designate that area for your card and letter writing to connect with friends and family. When you have a specific place set aside to do this, you’ll see how easy and natural it is to make sure your best intentions make it to the mailbox…and straight to their hearts. If you need some inspiration on what to write inside a card, we have a whole lot of that for you here.
Let the light in.
With spring arriving, the daylight is deliciously lingering longer and longer, so head to your favorite feel-good store and pick out some fresh new curtains that filter more light into your space, creating a cheery, warm atmosphere.
Frame your favorite phrase (or this printable).
What phrase or quote inspires you every time you read it? Print it out in a cool font, frame it, and hang in your home for that daily dose of inspiration. Or go ahead and download this one we created to remind yourself to connect with others in a meaningful way.
Meditate, rotate, repeat.
Rotate your relaxation or meditation practice from indoors to outdoors to maximize your connection to nature and refresh your body and spirit. Namaste.
Splurge on what makes you smile.
Every now and then you just gotta have that thing that brings you joy. Allow yourself that special purchase. New couch? Pretty bedspread? That metal chicken holding a daisy that makes you think of your mom? Get it. Having something in your surroundings that makes you smile and feel good will make your space even more enjoyable to be in, and better yet – those good vibes will stick to you when you head out the door, too.

At the end of the day, hygge is all about gratitude, sharing, and the pursuit of happiness. Now that’s an idea we can all get behind.

The five friends everyone needs to have

March 16 By American Greetings

In every person’s life, some good times will be had and some tears will fall—but who is always there to share the ups and downs with you? You may not realize it, but your friends shape and sustain you through both happy and sad times, altering forever our perspectives, our hearts and even the course of your life!

When hard times appear, you always turn to your friends for the right reaction and words. While the pressures of daily life may have gotten in the way of nurturing these relationships, a bump in the road is always a speedy reminder of what (and who) is important to you.

With this in mind, here is our list of the five friends that every woman needs to have:

A shared history: Whether you met playing junior high basketball or at your first job out of college, having a friend who knows your history helps you to remember who you are and where you come from. Even if you don’t get to see each other as often as you’d like, when you get together it’s like no time has passed at all.
Your own personal therapist: Having a friend who truly listens, helps you get to the root of problems, and come up with solutions is essential. She helps to keep you balanced and is always there when you’re not feeling sure about what to do or even how you feel. Best yet, you know that no matter what, she’ll keep your secrets in the utmost confidence.
Two peas in a pod: Having a friend who shares your interests–whether it’s a love for listening to local bands or spending the day quietly scrapbooking, helps keep you on track and active. Whenever one of you gets a hankering for your favorite things, you know you can always reach out and make solid plans with one another.
The work friend: Since we don’t get to make friends on the playground anymore, sometimes you need to be a little old school and make a friend in the office lunchroom. Having someone to share your daily gripes (and giggles) with definitely makes the work day go faster, and oftentimes these friendships can blossom even further after you’re coworkers.
Mommy madness: If you’re a parent, you need another mommy friend to talk to, vent, and share tips with. Whether you meet her through your child’s school or just around town, you’ll need someone who truly understands your daily struggles (and also your joy!) She can also be there in a pinch—whether you need someone to pick the kids up

While it can be more challenging to make friends as an adult, making it a focus to both create and nurture these relationships has great rewards. Always keep your “friend antenna” up and tuned in to see what new friends you can make. You never know if they may turn out to be just the type of person who could make meaningful contributions to your life.

Did we miss any types of friends that you think are must-haves?

Reconnecting with Long-Lost Friends

September 17 By American Greetings

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There may be many friends—from childhood classmates to work acquaintances—who (despite the best of intentions) we lost touch with over the years. We think of them often, recall warm memories and wonder what they’re up to today. Even in this age of social media, it can sometimes still be difficult to locate people after name changes and not everyone uses social networks to keep in touch. But when contact information is available, why is it so hard to take that first step to reach out?

Enter the heartfelt note.

Writing a personal, handwritten note is a great solution to reaching out to long-lost friends. Whether in a birthday or holiday greeting card or just an unprompted note to say, “I’m thinking about you,” receiving a special note makes us feel important and loved.

So why not give that great feeling to a friend or family member that you’re missing? It only takes a few minutes and costs next to nothing, but the impact to your relationship will be long-lasting.

To help you out in this process, we’ve consulted our greeting card writers and relationship experts for some helpful tips on how to write a meaningful message every time.

First off:

• Try playing some music that gets you in the mood for the type of note you’d like to write, whether it’s touching and heartfelt or upbeat and fun.
• Think back to experiences you’ve shared together—that outing you took, the time they gave you really great advice or even a shoulder to cry on. You should focus not only on the event, but how it made you feel and the impact it had on your life.
• If you need some help walking down memory lane, try revisiting old photos and looking through mementoes.

• Create a list of words that describe your friend, as well as notable personality quirks that make them unique. These words can help to create a handy reference guide if you encounter writer’s block.
• Start with a quick draft on scrap paper before penning the final note on your card or stationery. Try writing a few simple sentences that describe what your friendship means, how grateful you are, and what makes them so exceptional.
• Just remember, no masterpiece was written on the first try. So don’t get frustrated if your first version doesn’t turn out as perfect as you’d like it to be. As you write more notes to friends and family in each birthday and holiday card, it will steadily start to become more natural to you.

Finally:

• When you’re ready to write, select a nice pen and some beautiful stationery or a great card.
• Penmanship counts! Take your time to carefully write the note so that every letter is clear. Since this is something they’re likely to keep (and possibly even display), you’ll want your handwriting to look its very best!
• If, after all this effort, the words still don’t come, you can always head to the greeting card aisle and select a sentiment that best expresses what you would like to say. Then underline the words that stand out to you and jot a short note inside to let them know that you really mean what’s written on the card.

With a little practice, you can become known as the person who always writes sweet sentiments in notes and cards. Each time you write a personal message, it will become easier to get to the root of what makes your relationship unique so that you can express it most effectively. Happy writing!

Who is on your list of people to reconnect with? Share your stories of long-lost friends in our comments section!

True Friends Quote

August 6 By American Greetings

You’ve got a friend…

January 19 By American Greetings

Friendship moodboard with nostalgic photos of a child with a pet, some dogs, and nesting dolls

Henry David Thoreau once said, “The most I can do for my friend is simply be his friend.” Friends are so important to us – they help us through hard times, laugh with us during better times, and let us be ourselves all the time. Whether you live next door to your best friend, or across the country, it’s easier than ever to stay connected. American Greetings makes it simple with fun postcards and friendship ecards, or take a few minutes and send a personalized friendship greeting card!

In the mood board: “Known forever” friendship greeting card from American Greetings