My mom’s insistence upon hand writing thank-you cards after holidays and birthdays has served me supremely well. As a child, I recall gripping my pen with my whole hand, and struggling to spell more than one sentence correctly. I thought it was a complete hassle, and as a leftie, a smudgy mess. (This is a real leftie struggle! Next time you spot one in the wild, check out the side of their left hand.) I certainly recall throwing a tantrum or two. Why did I, unlike all my friends, have to write so many notes, so many times throughout the year?

In hindsight, I am gloriously happy that my mom never succumbed to my incessant whining. Thank you cards, and hand written correspondence of any type, is such a great form of communication. Steeped in tradition, writing thank you cards is not only polite, and much appreciated, but can also be exceptionally fun. (Think about the cross-country love affair John Adams was able to cultivate with Abigail! Just through letter-writing alone.)

For a stationery-lover like myself, a passion my mom totally cultivated, there are so many cool new cards to choose from. Belle & Union is my current favorite American-brand. Punny, creative and bright, Belle & Union has a wonderful collection of Southern-themed paper goods. Although there aren’t stationery packs, these greeting cards may inspire even the most begrudging of writers to send a quick note to a loved one or friend.

Here are some of my favorite cards: