Garlic-themed holiday cards from Todd English

In his holiday cards sent in 2007, I’m sure that celebrity chef Todd English was so adamant about using phrase “Seasoned Greetings” that he didn’t put much thought into the image. Garlic? Really Todd?!? If I owned restaurants named Olives and Figs, I think I would put olives and/or figs on the front of my holiday cards accompanied by the greeting “Have a Fruitful Holiday” or “Merry Christmas!” Todd is so good looking though, he should have put his own picture on the front! He could have kept the “Seasoned Greetings” part but I doubt anyone would have looked at the sentiment when they had him to gaze upon. He was named one of People Magazines 50 Most Beautiful people, you know!

Some of Todd’s television credits include his public television series, Cooking In with Todd English produced by Connecticut Public Television, Iron Chef USA on UPN, the Food Network’s Chef du Jour, The Main Ingredient, Bobby Flay’s Food Nation, and NBC’s The Today Show. Todd has also authored the critically acclaimed cookbooks, The Olives Table and The Figs Table, both published by Simon & Schuster.

Since Todd English is a very busy guy, I will give him a break and imagine that someone else ordered his Christmas cards for him. In addition to owning several restaurants, writing books, and appearing on television, Todd is very involved with several charities including: Big Brother, Community Servings, Share Our Strength, and the Boys and Girls Clubs.

Funny gal Jenna Fisher, sender of personalized holiday cards

Wouldn’t you like to receive holiday cards that have that extra special personal touch?  That is exactly what you would have received if you were fortunate enough to be on Jenna Fischer’s holiday cards list.  In a time where people often feel they have no time to send cards at all, it is nice to see such effort being placed by an Emmy Award-nominated actress.  Enclosed in her actual holiday cards were small insert cards containing a personal message to each recipient. The two cards were complimented by a hand tied ribbon and the envelopes were adorned with a Christmas stamp and holiday return address label. She added colorful flair by addressing the envelopes with both red and green ink.

Jenna’s friends and family should feel lucky that they received such elaborate personalized holiday cards considering how busy Jenna has been!  Jenna, a Truman State University graduate is best known for her role as Pam Beesly in the U.S. adaptation of “The Office.”  In addition to guest starring on several television programs prior to joining cast of the “The Office,” Jenna has lent her comedic talent to several films including “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story” and “Blades of Glory.”

Fischer was also awarded a Screen Actors Guild Emerging Actor Award for the role she played in the mockumentary, “Lollilove,” which she also wrote and directed.  Certainly a feat even more impressive than the personal touch Jenna adds to her holiday cards.

Holiday cards design from Aretha Franklin in 2008

I love Aretha Franklin. Do you know anyone who doesn’t?  She is probably best known for her hit song R-E-S-P-E-C-T, which happens to also be my favorite one as well. Speaking of respect, I have a lot of respect for the holiday cards she sent out this past year. It was a beautiful midnight blue card with a city scene with some pretty gold sparkle. It was one of the most tasteful Christmas cards I’ve seen over the holiday season. But it doesn’t surprise me a bit. This is simply just a reflection of the “Queen of Soul” herself.

A friend of mine claims that she too spied an Aretha holiday card hanging up at some office in NYC that was a beautiful white card with blue and silver foil snow flakes on it. I wasn’t so sure at first if she was telling me the truth or not because she couldn’t seem to remember where she saw it hanging but she said she it stood out against all of the other holiday cards that were hanging up. The idea that Aretha’s card would stand out from the pack does stand to reason so I will have to take her word on that.

I thought the Christmas card that I saw went perfectly with her recent holiday benefit concert for members of the military that she performed in New York City just this past December. She sang “New York, New York” and, of course, “Respect”.

Though Aretha is typically known to belt out the tunes she also can render a heartfelt Christmas tune when has the mind to. She was a natural to make Oprah’s playlist on her website. Among a few other favorites of mine was Aretha’s “Silent Night” from the album This Christmas.  No one does justice to the Christmas season the way Aretha can.

Word just came through that the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation placed an order of holiday cards. The card is on striking black matte stock, and the design is of an embossed Christmas tree composed of gleaming silver and blue foil starbursts.  A gold foiled “Season’s Greetings” type finishes off this vivid and dazzling holiday card.

2008 Holiday card from the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation

The Walter and Connie Payton Foundation, named for and founded by the late legendary Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton and his family, helps abused, neglected, and underprivileged children in Illinois through a variety of activities. Around the holidays, the foundation runs an annual toy and fundraising drive to provide financial assistance and gifts to over 20,000 children. It also hosts an annual “Sweetness Run” (“Sweetness” was Payton’s nickname as a player, both for his on-field ability and off-field demeanor) to raise funds for the cause. In the Fall, the foundation gathers and donates school supplies; this year they provided over 500 filled backpacks to needy students.

Payton retired from the NFL in 1987 as the all-time leading rusher and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1993. He had only missed one game during his 13-year career with the Bears, and he helped lead the Bears to their only Super Bowl victory in 1985. Payton succumbed to cancer in 1999.  During his life, he exhibited a generous and altruistic spirit, and it is in his name and spirit that his family continues his charity work through the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation.