Diwali: Lights, Color, Action!

Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is the best known holiday on the Hindu calendar (and it’s observed by Sikhs, Jains, and some Buddhists, too). A five day celebration of light’s victory over darkness, the festival is bright and colorful,  popular with children and adults, and filled with fireworks, sweets, gifts, and other treats. This year (2012) Diwali begins on November 13.

“Regardless of the mythological explanation one prefers, what the festival of lights really stands for today is a reaffirmation of hope, a renewed commitment to friendship and goodwill, and a religiously sanctioned celebration of the simple – and some not so simple – joys of life.”
Time s of India, 2010

Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity, is honored by many Indians during Diwali, as well as Ganesha, the elephant headed god of wisdom and success.

Sending Diwali greeting cards to friends and family, as well as customers, employees, and business associates, has become a popular way to wish joy and prosperity to others. Greeting Card Universe offers more than 400 traditional and nontraditional designs including Photo Cards to help you spread the love and  make your holiday as colorful as Indian spices!

SPECIAL: Save an extra 20% on all orders – use code 2012OCT20 at checkout!

What Are People Saying About Greeting Card Universe?
“I just love these cards, everyone who see’s them alway ask where they came from. The shipping is fast to. Thank you so much fro making my life a little bit easier.” – Kathy, October 25, 2012

Halloween: Tails of Terror

Halloween (October 31) costumes are usually associated with children and adults, but these days, family pets are getting in on the action too. In fact, almost 15% of Americans will buy their pet a costume this year, and the figures are on the rise as more and more people transform their dog or cat into a pumpkin pooch or a pirate kitty for the Halloween festivities.

This year’s most popular pet costumes? Superheroes and chefs.

When choosing a costume for your cat or dog, it’s best to follow a few simple safety rules that will ensure everybody enjoys a fun – not frightening – Halloween. Check here for more pet safety tips.

  • Costume should not limit a pet’s ability to move, restrict vision or hearing, or interfere with breathing, meowing, barking, panting, or any other natural function.
  • Choose costumes that are safe, made of non-flammable materials, and comfortable. Costumes should fit well and have no small or dangling bits that could be chewed off and become a choking hazard.
  • If your pet becomes stressed, don’t make them to wear the costume.  Many pets, particularly cats, prefer to go au natural on Halloween.
  • If your pet shows signs of allergic reaction or begins to act abnormally, remove the costume at once.

Greeting Card Universe wishes everyone – including Fluffy and Rover – a monstrously happy Halloween!

SAVE an extra 20% on all orders – use code 2012OCT20 at checkout!

What Are People Saying About Greeting Card Universe?
“I just love the card I ordered. It customized it with wording that I wanted and I even inserted a picture with no extra charge. The card was delivered in just a couple of days. I had trouble finding an anniversary card which read OUR 40th anniversary but greeting card universe had it. I will definitely be buying Many more cards.” – Carol, October 19, 2012

Follow-Up: NWM

(Note: Last week, I talked about running and the Nike San Francisco Women’s Marathon & Half Marathon, the largest women’s marathon in the world. This is my post-race follow-up)

Race Day was fabulous!  My injury decided miraculously not to complain too much although I did take some breaks to stretch along the way.  It slowed me down but didn’t stop me – Hooray!

It was a bit foggy along the coast so the Golden Gate Bridge was hidden from view, but the weather was nice and cool for the long trek.  With so many runners I felt like I was swept along in the current of a strong river winding its way along the course.

Here is the 2012 Finisher’s Necklace, always a delight to reveal from its little blue box at the finish line:

My daughter Sophia also participated and we had some great mother & daughter time in the city.  She found herself very fortunate to call a pair of the limited edition Tiffany & Co. LunarGlides her very own.

Here is a story about my training team, Team Harmony, and a group photo at the 7:00 am starting line in San Francisco’s Union Square:

Congratulations to all the participants and I’m already looking forward to next year … October 20, 2013!

SAVE an extra 20% on all orders – use code 2012OCT20 at checkout!

What Are People Saying About Greeting Card Universe?
“All the cards I wanted for friends and family in one pace, wow, that makes it easy and fun. I like funny cards and I was able to find the perfect hilarious card for everyone and have myself a fun time too :)” – Mary, October 16, 2012

Run To Be

Celebrate the Joy of Running

We all run or exercise for a variety of reasons.  I run to be fit and strong – physically and mentally.  This Sunday (Oct 14) I’ll be running for fun and hope that all of my training will serve me well and has made me strong despite my unexpected and untimely injury, popliteus muscle strain.

My online self diagnosis uncovered that this small but problematic muscle is apparently key in bending your knee.  Hmm, sounds important.  I bend my knee, a lot.  I was not encouraged by an article titled “Popletius – Small Muscle, Big Trouble”.  Ok, enough about my injury, I want to run!  I’ll pay the price later.

It’s a big weekend and one of my favorite events.  It’s the popular Nike San Francisco Women’s Marathon & Half Marathon, the largest women’s marathon in the world hosting 25,000 runners (and walkers) of whom fight tooth and nail to get a coveted entry which is by raffle.   It’s all women (and some lucky men) – strong women, determined women, women of all shapes, sizes and ages come together in one of the most beautiful cities to do the same thing … cross the finish line.


As expected Nike puts on a great event.  Every detail of this event is planned with women in mind.  From the event colors and merchandising, inspirational mottos (like “run like a girl”, “for everyone who said I couldn’t”, “prepare to unleash your potential”, “you determine what defines you”), breathtaking course, Ghirardelli chocolate mile, bra bar, pre-race expotique and probably the most talked about feature, the Tiffany & Co. finisher’s necklace served upon silver platters at the finish line by handsome tuxedo clad local firefighters, Nike does not disappoint.  It’s like a GNO on steroids!

Sometimes the only thought that gets you to the finish line is … What will this year’s finisher’s necklace look like?

New this year is the limited edition Tiffany & Co. blue Nike LunarGlide:

Here is a course description that takes SF natives and first time visitors on an ideal and scenic tour of San Francisco – on foot of course:

The Nike Women’s Marathon and half marathon courses will remain the same as the courses have been since 2005. The race will kick off in Downtown San Francisco at Union Square and head through the financial district past the famous TransAmerica building. It will then proceed along the San Francisco Bay past Fisherman’s Wharf, Aquatic Park, Ghirardelli Square, Fort Mason and Marina Green while revealing breathtaking views of Alcatraz and The Golden Gate Bridge. The course then weaves through the Presidio and Sea Cliff districts, out to the Great Highway, through Golden Gate Park and south around Lake Merced, finishing just north of the Great Highway along the Pacific Ocean.

Whether your running takes you across the country or confined to your local gym, whether it’s a fun run, 10K or full marathon, enjoy and reflect on why you Run to Be … and as I like to say enjoy the journey.

Find miles of running inspired cards for all occasions at Greeting Card Universe.

All Occasions Good Luck Congratulations

SAVE an extra 20% on all orders – use code 2012OCT20 at checkout!

What Are People Saying About Greeting Card Universe?
“Excellent selection of military cards! Most we have ever seen! We actually bought two – the one shown below and another one that said Congratulations Grandson! We have used your site a few times now and continue to find exactly what we need — that we can’t find any where else!” – Marilyn, October 12, 2012

Smiles in the Making!

ALL ABOARD THE SMILE TRAIN!
World Smile Day® and National Orthodontic Health Month

Getting braces is a symbolic rite of passage for many preteens and teens.  It’s an exciting time, albeit an uncomfortable and expensive one.  There is something so cute about a big tin grin although never having had braces myself I have to imagine the novelty wears off pretty quickly.  But such a great payoff when the big day arrives, time for the reveal – a perfect, pearly white smile – tah dah!

We love to send cards to our kids’ friends to celebrate their big event!  It’s a big deal for them.

Achieving a perfect and healthy smile is very important to many Americans.  You’ll notice if you travel the world that it is not as important, available, or affordable in other countries.  And in developing countries where even the most basic of healthcare is not available or affordable there are millions of children who cannot smile – cleft lips and palates are some of the most common birth defects.

Smile Train is an amazing charity that helps children born with cleft lip and palate achieve better health and gives them back the precious gift of their smile, and with it another chance at life.  Their vision:  Every child born with a cleft anywhere in the world has the opportunity to live a full, productive life.

According to Smile Train, over 170,000 children are born each year with a cleft lip or palate.  Most cannot eat or speak properly.  They aren’t allowed to attend school or hold a job.  And face very difficult lives filled with shame and isolation, pain and heartache. Their clefts usually go untreated because they are poor – too poor to pay for a simple surgery that has been around for decades – a surgery that costs $250 and takes as little as 45 minutes.

We ask our own children when they are little, “what do you want to be when you grow up?”.  Might some of these children’s wishes simply be “when I grow up I want to be able to smile?”

For the month of October, in celebration of National Orthodontic Health Month and as a World Smile Day® Ambassador, Greeting Card Universe will be donating 100% of profits from the sales of cards in these select collections to Smile Train –

Congratulations on Losing a Tooth

Congratulations on Getting your Braces On / Off

So let’s celebrate the joy of a healthy smile today and all month long!


What Are People Saying About Greeting Card Universe?
“I buy all my cards here. Fast delivery and a wide selection of cards. Was delighted to find cards in different languages and for every occasion. Definately recommended !” – Maureen, October 3, 2012