TresSugar

Hallmark Rolls Out Gay Wedding Greetings: Tasteful or Tacky?

CitizenSugar — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 07:51:12 -0700

Though just a scootch late for the famous nuptials of Ellen and Portia, Hallmark has rolled out a new line of greetings, created for just such an occasion. In response to California ruling gay marriage legal, Hallmark saw a fancy card niche to be filled - one that doesn't involve shiny embossed images of a traditional bride and groom. Despite the fact that most states don't recognize gay marriage (CA and MA are the only two) several others recognize civil commitments, and when there's a ceremony, there's a cause for card.

Hallmarks says the decision to offer the greetings was not politically motivated, but rather a response to consumer demand. Their spokeswoman says, "it's our goal to be as relevant as possible to as many people as we can." Indeed they started offering "coming out" cards last year (an event that strikes me as more interesting? I did not know one gave a card for such an occasion!) The new cards contain neutral language, speaking to love rather than a specific event so they're useful for weddings or commitments. Four designs in all will be released this summer.

As 85,000 same-sex couples have become legal in one way or another since 1997 and estimates peg nearly 120,000 more will join Ellen, spelling millions in new business for wedding industries. Is this just smart marketing? Hallmark has already expanded to include cards for "sorry you can't get pregnant," and "good luck in rehab," as well as interfaith marriages - because in greetings, it's the specificity that counts?

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Rejected Valentine's Day Cards

GiggleSugar — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 08:00:00 -0800

Preprinted holiday cards - why can't they be honest for a change?

Hallmark Introduces Gay Marriage Cards

DearSugar — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:00:00 -0700

Hallmark just announced that it will be adding three gay marriage cards to its assortment. It will be featuring two tuxedos, overlapping hearts, or intertwined flowers with either "Best wishes" or "Two hearts. One promise" written inside in order to keep the greeting neutral and appropriate for commitment ceremonies as well. Since California joined Massachusetts in legalizing gay marriage, Hallmark had to fulfill the consumer demand. Hallmark spokeswoman Sarah Gronberg Kolell said Hallmark wants to "be as relevant as possible to as many people as we can," although its stores can choose whether or not they want to add these latest offerings.

It seems only right that gay-marriage cards exist in the market place, but with so many people against this new law, it's not surprising that not everyone will be as excited as I am. What are your thoughts? Do you think selling gay marriage is a genius idea or do you not feel comfortable with these cards on the shelf at your local Hallmark store?

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A Do or a Don't: Proposing on Valentine's Day

DearSugar — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:00:00 -0800

Since Valentine's Day has forever been associated with love and romance, it's become a popular day for couples to take their relationship to the next level. But since this day has become such a Hallmark holiday, popping the question on Feb. 14 just seems a wee bit cliche if you ask me. I could be alone on this one so tell me, is proposing on Valentine's Day a do or a don't?

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Ask a Bad Boy: How Much Should I Spend on My Significant Other?

DearSugar — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 06:00:00 -0800

Steve Santagati, of BadBoysFinishFirst.com and author of the best-selling book The Manual, answers your burning questions when it comes to dating, love, and how men think. He's a veteran at giving street-smart, straight-to-the-point advice, so ladies, tell me, what do you want to ask Steve about men? This is your chance to get answers so don't hold back! Submit your questions here.

Since Christmas is here, Steve has some advice when it comes to holiday shopping for your significant other. Check out what he has to say below:

It's here, Christmas. After Christmas it will be his/her birthday or any number of "events" that require us to contemplate; "How much do I spend?" You don't want to seem cheap, but you don't want to make someone feel uncomfortable with your extravagance - like they will be expected to be equally generous. You want to show them you care - at least a little, but you want to be smart with your money, especially now. So here's your simple rule of thumb, broken down by economic status.

To see Steve's tips, read more

If you're broke, spend $10 for every month you've been monogamously dating, or cook them something wonderful.
If you're sort of middle of the road (they killed the middle class but you get my point) you can jack that to $15-$20 for each month you've been dating.
If you're rich, then you can spend what ever you want. However, don't go crazy with the cash because it can make someone feel really uncomfortable (you know, like you think the relationship is further along than it really is). However, if you buy him/her a car and they don't flinch, you might have a gold digger on your hands.
If you're married or have been in a long relationship, have a solid discussion on a dollar figure you can both live with.

The most important thing a person can do is to buy their lover something that shows you've been listening and shows you understand what they like. It doesn't have to be expensive. In the end, we all want to think someone adores us and is paying attention. Guys really need to get a grip on this because most are clueless as to what to get their woman. It would help if they started paying attention the day they met you because that information will prove invaluable later on.

Now, here's my personal philosophy. I don't feel pressured to buy anyone anything just because Hallmark is slapping me in the face while I'm drinking a Budweiser and trying to get through A Charlie Brown Christmas special. What I do is simple; all year long I'm open to buying something for friends or paramours, regardless of the date. If I'm in a music store and I see an album I know she'll like, I get it. If I'm getting my oil changed and I see a gift certificate, I get it for her. I try to think of things that will make someone's life easier or bring a smile to her face.

Steve will be back next Monday to offer up some New Year's Eve advice so be sure not to miss it!

Check out his Bad Girls Finish First tee shirts and, for individual attention, visit Steve at BadBoysFinishFirst.com or email him at askstevesantagati@gmail.com

Greeting Card Industry Tones Down Cheer, Not Price

CitizenSugar — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:00:28 -0800

Have you sent your holiday cards yet? Neither have I! I would leave your hot-pink conceptual snowflake cards from Jonathan Adler in the attic this year, though. The greeting card industry is sending more somber notes to match the country's mood.

Card designs and social times have always coincided. In World War II and after 9/11, cards of patriotism and peace (think Frosty with a flag) lined Hallmarks. Santa slimmed down during the thin-obsessed '80s, and the down-on-its-luck '70s brought "nostalgia, home, and hearth."

This year cards are getting hearthy again. Greeting card companies, who test consumer attitudes with focus groups, are looking through drawers of saved and dated cards to see what sold during the Depression and World War II.

So what's in when it's down? To find out, read more.

Iconic and familiar images like trees, snowmen, and Santa
Rich, subdued reds and greens
Santa is a true red (apparently he's been cherry in recent years)
Shiny, embossed Santa suits are being replaced with a velvet touch
Holding hands and other you're-not-alone themes
Colors like light blue, pink, and pretty much anything nontraditional is out, as is expecting too much from Santa (i.e. lots of presents under a tree)

Text is deliberately long and sentimental unlike the short, pithy copy of years past. "During difficult times," the American Greetings creative director said, "we see people wanting to connect on a deeper, emotional level that goes above and beyond." Right, because nothing goes beyond like a mass-produced card with a focus group-tested message!

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What Would You Wish For? Saudi Arabia Debates Birthdays

CitizenSugar — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:30:00 -0700

Though it's a lightning rod in its own right, My Super Sweet Sixteen pales in comparison to the birthday controversy blowing its way through Saudi Arabia. The country's most senior Muslim cleric has recently denounced birthday parties as an unwanted foreign influence, going head-to-head with another cleric who's said pony rides and cake are just dandy.

Under the strict interpretation, even modest birthday celebrations are "haram," or banned. The Saudi ban on birthdays is observed by the conservative Wahhabi sect that is dominant in the kingdom. Their belief is that all Christian celebrations, plus most Muslim feasts celebrated elsewhere in the Islamic world, are nixed as alien customs.

The cupcake controversy started when the more lenient cleric announced on TV that it's OK to celebrate milestones like birthdays as long as the word "eid" (feast) isn't used to describe them. The blowback was swift and pointed (especially if you've been to a Hallmark store lately) from the cleric: "Christians have Mother's Day, an eid for trees, and an eid for every occasion. And on every birthday, candles are lit and food is given out." Between no birthdays for Muslims and no voting for Jehovah's Witnesses, what would you give up for religion?

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Meet a Celebrity Lobbyist Committed to Star-Powered Activism

CitizenSugar — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:45:08 -0700

Parked in the intersection of politics and pop culture is the celebrity activist. There all kinds of ways celebrities get involved in causes from serving on boards to inspiring laws on Capitol Hill, and Tom Sheridan knows how to harness that fame and make the issue the real star. A lobbyist based in DC, he represents Bono and his work on the ONE campaign against global poverty. We sat down with him this week ahead of the big ONE event Kanye is headlining to benefit the organization here at the convention, and we couldn't have been more impressed. Tom Sheridan is using the intersection of fame and charity to inspire real change and a legion of committed issue advocates.

Can celebrities distract from an issue or a message? What are the hallmarks of a happy marriage between celebrity and activism?

It really comes down to two Cs. One is commitment and the other is credibility. I think if we go with alliteration and add in celebrity, I think that is where people will discern the difference between a celebrity using an issue to distract and/or promote themselves. There may be a fair trade in that but it doesn't always sustain a cause, and it doesn't get to the level of a policy change that we look for celebrities to engage in.

Well, we see celebrities speaking out on issues all the time. Is that enough to motivate change?

To see his answer, read more.

We're not interested in a 15-minute hearing on Capitol Hill with some press, that's not that difficult to achieve frankly, and you don't actually need any talent from people like me to achieve that. The question then becomes, "what for?" And that's where commitment and credibility become really important factors. Are they willing to sustain their interest in this, and what does that sustaining interest mean, and how much time does that take?

How much time does it take, and how does that help a cause?

Celebrities work, and like Bono, he's got a rather significant day job. Bono was at the convention four years ago [for ONE] and he's not here this year because he's recording an album, you know that's the day job, but the fact remains four years later he's still involved. It's very much taking the cult of ONE and not doing the predictable stuff with it that gives him both long-term commitment because he has great motivation to stay in this for a long time, and has been in it for a long time. I've been working with him for almost eight years. He's been at this for a long time and there's no one out there that doesn't believe that he's not only committed to it but that he's incredibly credible on the topic.

To see who else Tom Sheridan works with and how committed celebs inspire real change, check out part two of our interview with him later this week!

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Wanna See Whose Vote Really Counts? Hello, Delegates!

CitizenSugar — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:45:00 -0700

It could be the hallmark sighting of the convention: not a motorcade or a famous face, but the snappy festivity of the couldn't-be-prouder delegates. Every single one of these folks was happy to have their picture taken in their convention finery - after all, they are about to be called upon to have a direct hand in the nomination of their party's candidate.

From this local Denver trio to the lady in pink who proudly told me she's a superdelegate, every single one was happy to share the experience. And from the excitement of each delegation sounding off on the convention floor, the wacky hats are just scratching the surface of their spirit. One of the sassy-clothed gals I met is ready to cast her vote for Hillary tomorrow and is ready to hear her speak tonight. We're anxiously awaiting her speech, too!

To get a peek at other delegates we met read more.

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Headline of the Day

GiggleSugar — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:00:00 -0700

Bridegroom Jailed Over Wedding Day Brawl

Now here's a wedding to remember. (That headline doesn't do it justice.) Eff those perfect weddings by Hallmark where everyone gets along and the bride and groom recite vows to one another that don't leave a dry eye in the house. I wanna go to a Jerry Springer-style wedding like this one recently in Scotland, where the bride headbutts a woman who disses her dress and the groom jumps in on the ensuing brawl - landing them both in jail. Click here to read about the most romantic wedding ever.