A Little Something About Me...

I’ve always wanted to be a photographer but the time never seemed right until my son was born.  Like any respectable new mom I was taking daily pictures of our son and before I knew it, a photographer had emerged.  Eventually I found myself taking pictures of scenic views when we went on walks through the parks and botanical gardens in Denver, Colorado, or on drives through the Rocky Mountains.  As Christmas approached we found a way to offer personalized gifts by making greeting cards with the pictures I took.  Everyone in my family received their own box of cards as a gift and that is how V’s Cardbox began. 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Today, V’s Cardbox offers greeting cards for “name days” and various sacramental occasions including baptisms, weddings, funerals and ordinations.  Printed on heavy cardstock in a local shop, our cards are 4.25” x 5.5” and include an envelope.  Most cards are blank inside so you can personalize them to your needs.  We also offer seasonal cards for Christmas and Pascha and are looking to grow our product line in the coming years. 

 

 

As a way to offer thanksgiving to God for His many blessings we also offer at least 10% to national Orthodox charities including IOCC, OCMC, OCN and more.  Each month we feature a different ministry to support.  

 

You can find our cards in over 30 church bookstores, including the St. Photios Shrine Gift Shop and Image and Likeness.  Our online store can be reached through our website: www.vscarbox.com and you can “like” us on facebook. 

 

I am happy to see how V's Cardbox just kind of came about, that it wasn't forced.  I've recently had the same experience with blogging.  But rest assured, family and friends aren't getting posts written in their honor this Christmas.  They should probably expect another box of cards.  (not really.)

 

 

V's Cardbox

Don't Let the Celebration of the Saints Get Lost in Lazy Summer Days

It's summer!  Can you feel it?  Are you on vacation? Are you on a schedule?  Do you even know what day it is?  It's easy to get off schedule and let the ease (chaos) of summer take over, especially if you have kids.  Finding a balance to get work done and kids entertained is a juggle.  Just knowing the day of the week is an accomplishment.

Well, get it together because summer is a great time to teach our kids about the church calendar.  During the month of July we celebrate some awesome saints and in the month of August we participate in a fourteen day fast and two of the twelve great feasts: Transfiguration and Assumption of the Virgin Mary. 

Here are a few links to find the daily celebrations and learn more about the lives of the saints. 


The Prologue from Ochrid

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America CALENDAR

MYSTAGOGY The Weblog of John Sanidopoulos 

I encourage you to keep up with the celebrations.  Teach your kids the saint of the day over breakfast.  Ask for the intercessions of the daily saint during evening prayers.  Attend weekday liturgies or treat your church staff to homemade treats like muffins or cookies in honor of the saints.  Don't let the celebration of the saints get lost in lazy summer days. 

Visit Our Online Store

Visit our online store

www.vscardbox.com

 

 

Under the Cover... Can a Good Book Make a Better Reader?

 

 

 

Wish I were a reader.   I hear stories of how people get lost in books, reading hours at a time.  I envy them.   I see a book with a cool cover illustration or a schnazzy title and begin to read but then... Blah.  Blah. Blah. 

I want to be a reader but I rarely find an author with worth reading or a story worth entering.  I think my interests are too narrow. I might already know it all.  (not really)

I want to be a reader so I buy books with really impressive titles on very important things: parenting, spirituality, finances, cooking.  But I only read a few pages of each one because the information is overwhelming.  Some days I wonder how I made it through college...  Oh wait, I barely read then as well. I listened attentive during lectures, took detailed notes and graduated from a design school where homework was tangible and grades were based on mastering God-given talent.   Talent and ambition compensated for my lack of literature. 

I want to be a reader so I sign up for a library card every time I move to a new city. And this time I am determined for my son's sake.  I want him to be a reader so he can learn and think for himself.  I want him to learn that the world is bigger than his 4'10" frame and that there are ideas outside of his buzz clipped head.  

I take my son to the public library regularly to make him familiar with the location and interior hoping that he will be a reader. Although he has a bookshelf full of beautiful books, I let him pick out a book.  He only likes one series, Magic Tree House, and he's read them all.  I'm afraid he is going to be like me.

Today at the library I picked up a few non-fictions: Jump Start to Skinny and Bloggers Boot Camp.  And then, while searching the aisles I found three of the most useful books I could ever read!  Books that tell you what books to read... from actual "readers"!  
 

 

 

 

 

They all looked so promising.  I checked them out (literally) to see how it goes.  Who knows?   I don't want to be overly optimistic because, after all, I am a sucker for a well written and illustrated cover.