Thanksgiving in Other Ways

happy thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is one of those holidays that just screams tradition: one of our friends always has chocolate Thanksgiving turkeys at her table, while some make sure the same people always prepare the same item of food (I mean, how can you assign mashed potatoes to Uncle Bob when Cousin Barb has already perfected the art of perfectly smooth, buttery mash?). The DoozyCards family was curious about other traditions people may celebrate, and little did we know what we fell into when we looked up a few lists!

One thing we love in our home is candied yams, those delectable fluffy potatoes glazed with butter and brown sugar and cooked until the marshmallow topping is just satisfyingly golden brown. Dare I say, candied yams may even be a Southern specialty—why, you ask? Because we call our sweet potatoes yams, even though they’re not really yams…

Did you just do a double-take? No worries, everyone does when I start discussing how yams and sweet potatoes are really synonymous to each other, especially in North America. The yam we know and love is actually a soft sweet potato with copper skin and deep orange flesh, whereas sweet potatoes are really firm with golden skin and lighter flesh. Traditional yams are native to Africa and Asia, and while still brown, the skin is actually bark-like and the flesh can be white, purple, or reddish in color!

So, what’s the takeaway in my yamming on about yams? We’re partaking in the tradition of celebrating a certain food, just like Ghana does with its Yam Festival known as Homowo. But Homowo is more than just about the yams—it also celebrates the bountiful harvest and being together with family and friends—sounds a lot like Thanksgiving, doesn’t it?

And for the family members that can’t be with us as we enjoy our Thanksgiving bounty, we make sure to send them a Thanksgiving eCard. Whether it is a rapping Turkey or a flashdance Turkey, our greeting  cards are always fun to send—the autumn colors always get me in the mood for the season—but post offices are closed on Thanksgiving, and we’re always grateful for a Thanksgiving surprise, especially if it’s in the form of an eCard. We added quite a few new ones to spread your Thanksgiving wishes around, so you can find something for everyone! Have a wonderful, happy Thanksgiving feast—and don’t forget the candied yams!

How is there a National Holiday for Everything?

How is there a National Holiday for Everything?

How is there a National Holiday for Everything?

We absolutely adore holidays at Doozy Cards–celebrating, days off school and work, great food–but these days it seems like there’s a holiday everywhere you turn! We’re not talking about just your classic ones like 4th of July or St. Patrick’s Day. We’ve noticed more holidays for seemingly everyday things like National Pizza Day (Feb. 9th), National Chip and Dip Day (Mar. 23rd), and even National Gummi Worm Day (Jul. 15th)! There are even tons of non-food holidays like National Friendship Day (Aug. 2nd) and National Dance Like a Chicken Day (May 14th)!

Don’t get us wrong; we love eating pizza and dancing like a chicken, but where did all of these holidays come from and who decides when and what we celebrate? Is there some magical Wizard of Oz-type person that decides? If so, he or she must really love food and hugs! And let’s say you wanted to start your own special holiday, how would you do that? Well, it turns out there are a few different answers regarding where we get all of these holidays: Continue reading

11 Surprising Facts about St. Patrick’s Day

Green Beer St Pats bennett 2You may be familiar with the old tradition of donning some green apparel on St. Patrick’s Day or you’ll get a pinch from your friends! But there’s a lot you probably don’t know about this fun Irish holiday. Sure, you’ve heard plenty about shamrocks, mischievous little leprechauns and beautiful rainbows with pots of gold at the end, but this March 17th you can impress your friends with these 11 surprising facts about St. Patrick’s Day.

1.     We should actually wear blue!

The color long associated with Saint Patrick is actually a shade of blue. So, I guess Saint Patrick himself would have received lots of pinches! The color green didn’t become a part of his holiday until the late 18th century when it was linked to the Irish independence movement at the time. Continue reading

Original, Creative Valentine Gift Ideas that Avoid Clichés

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and chances are you’re already feeling like you have to do something wildly romantic and memorable for your special someone. The trouble is, with all of the red, candy-shaped hype surrounding the holiday; it’s hard to avoid the predictable corny clichés of red roses and fancy dinner reservations. But that’s not for you and your sweetheart, right? You want to do something unique and fun that you both will enjoy, whether you’ve been lovebirds for years or only recently started dating.

This Valentine’s Day, you want to feel more like Cupid and less like a cheeseball. So, to help you find plan a romantic day that doesn’t involve the typical box of chocolates that everyone gets, here are some of our favorite, original, creative Valentine gift ideas that avoid clichés.

The cliché: A heart-shaped box of chocolates

The alternative: Chocolate making class

making chocolate

So many people grab a boring box of chocolates from CVS at the last minute, but you’ll have way more fun together by signing up for a chocolate making class. There will be plenty of amazing quality chocolate for you both to sample throughout class and afterward you can take your newfound skill home and let your imaginations run wild. If you can’t find a class where you live, you could also order some fancy chocolate bars from a craft maker like Mast Brother Chocolates.

The cliché: A dozen roses

The alternative: Create a mini-garden

Couple Planting Plant In Garden

Skip the overpriced roses and head to your local nursery where they can help you put together an adorable mini-garden in a planter box full of fragrant, living flowers or culinary herbs if you two like to cook. If you don’t have the space or time for a garden, find your sweetheart’s favorite flowers or some colorful, exotic ones.

The cliché: Jewelry

The alternative: An adventure

Young tourist couple looking at the views in the city.

Don’t get us wrong, jewelry can be a beautiful gift, but on Valentine’s Day it always feels forced. Instead, plan a fun adventure to someplace you and your loved one have always wanted to go. It doesn’t have to be a far off, expensive location; you could explore somewhere in your own town or neighborhood, or get tickets to see a band or show you both like, just choose something fun and you’ll create lasting memories together.

The cliché: A generic store-bought card

The alternative: A personalized and clever eCard

Okay, you got us, we’re a little biased here at Doozy Cards, but receiving a hilarious, romantic Valentine’s Day eCard that your sweetheart personalized with a special message is way more fun than any store-bought sentiment in a card. An added benefit: Sending your sweetheart a series of fun, romantic ecards all day long at no extra cost.

What are some of your favorite original Valentine’s Day ideas? Let us know in the comment section.

Hilarious and Naughty eCards to Give Your Significant Other

There are some nights when you’re in the mood for candlelit dinners, Barry White on the stereo and hours spent staring lovingly into each other’s eyes. While we know you love that romantic goodness, we also know there some nights when you’re feeling more frisky and funny than lovey and dovey. For those special nights, there’s nothing better than letting your special someone know how you feel by treating them to a blush and a laugh. That’s why we’ve got plenty of hilarious and naughty eCards to give your significant other for those times when you’re feeling a bit mischievous.

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, now is the perfect time to check out some of our favorite adult eCards, (for mature eyes only, of course!) and get ready to get a bit saucy tonight.

Love and Dating Stripping Bon Bons

Hilarious and Naughty eCards to Give Your Significant Other

Hilarious and Naughty eCards to Give Your Significant Other

We all know that chocolate is one way to your loved one’s heart, so heat things up with these sexy chocolate treats, that are sure to make them melt. Get ready to turn things on with these hilarious chocolate lovers. Continue reading