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21 May |
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5:01 am Posted by Nicola |
Have you ever hosted a birthday party for your child and felt overwhelmed by the small mountain of gifts unwrapped in 2 minutes flat – leaving you with a pile of wrapping paper and a stack of thank you notes to coordinate? For households (like mine) with too much clutter already, a simple and meaningful solution could be asking guests to make a donation in lieu of a gift. We did this for my son’s 6th birthday party, adding a note on the birthday party invitation requesting guests to donate $5 towards Toys for Tots. My son had such a blast inviting all his classmates to his party that he truly didn’t miss the 20 or so gifts that day. We pooled the money, made a trip to Toys ‘R Us and then dropped off the toys together at a collection station.
If you hadn’t guessed, my son’s birthday is in the late fall - just when the Toys for Tots drives begin. Helping other kids is a very real and understandable charity for children, but there are many other great kid-friendly causes that could benefit from this idea of donated birthday gifts/money. Below are a couple of ideas, taken from the June 2011 edition of Parents magazine.
To help animals: Request a small donation, to be pooled so the birthday child can adopt an endangered animal (defenders.org). Show the party guests a picture of that animal and send them home with a small stuffed version of that chosen animal as a party favor.
To help kids from other countries: Request one or two specific school supply items from each guest, put this together in a backpack to support a child in a developing nation (projectknapsack.org). This organization also provides the opportunity to establish the birthday child and recipient as pen pals.
My kids have each attended several birthday parties requesting charitable donations instead of gifts, this seems to be a growing trend. It does require some follow-up work and you will still need to coordinate those dreaded thank you cards, but it’s a great opportunity to teach your child about helping others and could be a great annual tradition for your family.
Visit LookLoveSend.com to see our growing collection of customizable birthday party invitations.
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20 May |
Introducing Bethany Hagans, Designer of Elegant Wedding Invitations |
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5:01 am Posted by Kristy |
We are delighted to introduce Bethany Hagans and her beautiful wedding invitations, now available at LookLoveSend.com. Bethany’s sophisticated Elegant Acorn wedding invitation is featured on our website Wedding Invitations page. It is a beautiful example of the originality and quality our talented designers bring to their designs. Bethany’s style is crisp and serene, and evokes a feeling of quiet elegance.
Bethany grew up in Seattle, Washington, and acquired her appreciation of nature from this beautiful scenic backdrop of her childhood. As a young adult she moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where she began to study graphic design.
Bethany’s work is influenced by a strong attention to the details found nature, as evidenced by her Elegant Acorn wedding invitation. Bethany’s philosophy is to strive to learn continuously, both from others and through experiences to new things that develop her individual design aesthetic and help her creative style evolve.
To see more Bethany’s wonderful work, including other Elegant Acorn wedding stationery pieces such as the reception card and response card, please browse looklovesend.com. You will find a gorgeous collection of wedding invitations, baby announcements, party invitations, and other stationery perfect for celebrating your life’s special moments.
Be sure to check looklovesend.com soon for Christmas card designs from Bethany and our other talented designers. Click on the button below to join our mailing list and save 20% off your first order!
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19 May |
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5:01 am Posted by Kristy |
Will you include a written letter in your Christmas cards this year?
Receiving annual Christmas letters is a tradition my whole family anticipates. But there are those annual letters (and you know the ones) from certain friends and family members which can produce a range of negative reaction, ranging from mild eye rolling to downright side-splitting laughter.
Most of us remember getting at least one or two letters that crossed the line from sharing interesting news to hyperbolic, self-congratulatory lists of kids’ over-scheduled lives. These letters can be off-putting if not outrageous.
Have you heard about the second grader who placed first in the state spelling bee, is an accomplished violinist, will be dancing the lead in the Nutcracker, and explores oils on canvas in her room in her spare time?
There is no trick to writing a good Christmas letter if you follow three simple rules:
Be Natural, Humble and Short!
- Be Natural. Put another way, be yourself. Write in the same voice that you speak in. Avoid long-syllable words and adverbs and read your letter out loud to hear how it sounds.
- Be Humble. Avoid “Mission Accomplished” statements. Share your good news, but include your desire to hear from others. After all, isn’t your interest in sharing your news all for the sake of continuing friendships?
- Be Short. One page is ideal. If you dedicate sections to each family member, including your pets (if you must), it can go longer. Just keep it reader-friendly with a larger font and lots of white space.
Other tips from experts suggest using photos if you have that capability. Include a note at the end of your letter, directly addressed to the recipient. Sign each letter by hand for a personal touch that shows some thoughtfulness.
For an early look at some fresh, exciting Christmas card designs in which to enclose your letter, browse our growing collection at looklovesend.com. We’d love to hear from you, so let us know if you plan to include a letter with your Christmas card this year!
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18 May |
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5:01 am Posted by Kristy |
Graduation season is in full swing at many college campuses around the country. This year’s grads enter a precarious job market, and the jury is still out as to which direction the economy, and therefore job hiring, will go for them.
If you have a graduation announcement or graduation party invitation in hand, think a bit beforehand about constructive things you might ask of a 2011 graduate’s future. Avoid questions that put a graduate in a defensive position, or worse, sew doubt at a time when they deserve to enjoy their achievement.
In an article published in the May issue of Real Simple, “5 Things You Shouldn’t Say To a Recent College Graduate,” real-life experts weigh in on the doubt, insecurity and defensiveness certain commonly asked questions create in a grad’s mind. They offer some alternatives instead:
What can you do with THAT degree? A classic! Often asked of the liberal arts graduate, a better question would be: “What have you learned that will help you do what you enjoy?” Also noted should be the fact that today’s ever-evolving job market provides opportunities for progressive thinking, entrepreneurial, adaptable grads who are willing to think critically and creatively.
You should go to Law School. Pretty presumptuous. The thing is, a lot of law schools can’t be sure just how many of their first-year students are there simply because they haven’t figured out what else to do. It’s an expensive way to go. Unless you yourself are a lawyer basking in the passion of your work, better not suggest something you didn’t do either.
Do you have a job lined up? Only a small percentage of college seniors, historically mostly finance majors, find themselves employed at matriculation. A better question might be what kind of networking they are doing to see if you can be of help.
The economy has been bad before. You’ll get through it. Such sugar-coating doesn’t help an eager grad anxious to launch a career. The article suggests focusing on what they can control, such as their professional image on social media networking sites like LinkedIn.
My [fill-in-the-blank] relative just got out of college and she’s doing great! The next part of the question would be: “so what are YOU doing wrong?” Listening to someone else’s fabulous story really only serves to make a grad feel a bit like a loser. Balance well-meaning success stories with stories of struggle to acknowledge reality.
With thoughtfulness and consideration for the changing world and uncertain job market, your recognition of a college graduate’s achievement and support of their future endeavors, whatever they may be, is really all that’s needed!
If you need to order your grad’s college graduation announcements, browse our selection at LookLoveSend.com.
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17 May |
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5:01 am Posted by Nicola |
When you next receive a baby shower invitation or want to acknowledge a newly-pregnant friend, consider buying her one of these two funny and fresh reads for the soon-to-be mom. 
I Don’t Know How She Does It: The Life of Kate Reddy, Working Mother by Allison Pearson is particularly appropriate for someone who plans to work outside the home after having her baby. The opening scene of this book features its main character, a hedge-fund manager and mother of two, sabotaging store-bought treats so they will pass as home-made when her daughter takes them to school the next day! I sometimes think of this scene with a smile when I purchase cupcakes for my own kids to take into school for classroom celebrations!
Pearson’s book is witty and entertaining and strikes a chord with working moms everywhere. Another incentive to buy this book: it’s currently being made into a movie starring Sarah Jessica Parker – and it’s always better to read the book before seeing the movie!
A second fun paperback book for an expectant mother is It Gets Easier!..And Other Lies We Tell New Mothers: A Fun, Practical Guide to Becoming a Mom by Claudine Wolk. Wolk is a columnist, blogger and mother of three, and this how-to guide for new mothers is honest and helpful and witty all at once. This book provides personal anecdotes of the author and many other mothers whom she interviewed during a 12-year research period before writing the book. While the book is an entertaining read, it includes tips that can clearly help any new mom, such as “Well-rested babies sleep better than poorly rested ones. Don’t skip naps in order to help your baby sleep better at night. It will backfire!” Where was this book when I had my first child?
First-time mothers usually read hundreds of pages while expecting, so why not add some fun reads to the pile? If you have any other suggestions for new mom must-reads, please comment below. We’d love to hear from you!
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16 May |
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5:01 am Posted by Nicola |
After Memorial Day the calendar months always seem to pass in a blur; summer vacations give way to back-to-school, Halloween leads to Thanksgiving, and then the countdown for Christmas shopping is in full swing. And even without the added holiday get-togethers and events, the weeks leading up to Christmas can be quite stressful, especially if you are busy with career or family (or both)!
It may seem premature to be thinking about Christmas before the Memorial Day barbeques have even been lit. But if you recall having a stressful December last year, checkout somehints below from a site dedicated to Christmas planning, christmas.organizedhome.com. This site has a “Rudolph Club” which recommends planning for Christmas on the 25th of each month and posts “assignments” to help guide this out-of-season holiday planning. While it takes a lot of discipline to think Christmas cards while you’re on the beach in July, any preparations before November will surely make December a little more organized and stress-free. Here are just a few ideas to get started.
- If you include a family newsletter in your Christmas card, keep a file on your computer and jot down family events and stories as they happen. It’s much easier to remember what happened in the past month than waiting until December to write it all down!
- Get a family photo taken early for your photo Christmas card.
Start a gift closet and add items as you see them on sale or if you see the perfect gift for someone before holiday music gets piped through the store loudspeakers. Just don’t forget the location of your gift closet!- Begin preparations for any homemade crafts or food items as gifts. Start sewing that quilt or buy those canning jars for your homemade jams now.
Every little bit helps. Pick just one of the ideas above, get it done, and then shift back to your Memorial Day cookout plans. In December you’ll be glad you did. Within the upcoming summer months, LookLoveSend will be adding Christmas card designs to its growing collection. Subscribe to our mailing list and receive 20% off your first order.
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15 May |
From Berry Blah to Beautiful for your Summertime Special Occasions |
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6:00 pm Posted by Nicola |
Party invitations often arrive fast and furious from mid-May until the end of June, as party hosts plan for those great summer weekends in July and August. Whether the summertime event is a child’s birthday party, an anniversary party, or a family cookout, a fruit salad is always a great option to easily prepare and bring along.
However, not all fruit salads are created equal. Yesterday I hosted a small family gathering after my son’s first communion and the fruit salad in my mind ended up as a bowl of blueberries and somewhat tasteless strawberries on the table after cutting into unripe and unusable melons and kiwis. With summer fruit season not yet in full swing in the Northeast, the simple solution would have been buying my fruit at a local farm stand rather than adding it to my cart of other party staples from the grocery store party run.
An extra stop at the farm stand is well worth the time and few extra dollars. As more local farm stands seem to pop up each season, try to find one that is conveniently on your way home from work or near your child’s karate or dance studio. A local favorite in my area that truly sets the standard is Verrill Farm. Verrill Farm is far from a simple farm stand with its bakery and deli, catering services, cooking lessons, events (such as its upcoming Asparagus Festival) and strong partnership with local restaurants and specialty food providers. While the focus of all farm stands is locally grown produce, many larger farms also bring in fresh out-of-season fruits from quality suppliers within their network.
With quality fruit and a little creativity on my cutting board yesterday, I could have truly elevated my sad bowl of berries to something bright and colorful – and something that would be warmly welcomed at any party or picnic this summer. For your summer parties and potlucks, consider buying farm stand fruits for a high quality salad that could be the centerpiece of any dessert table.
Hosting your own summer celebration? LookLoveSend is adding bright new designs each week for summer birthday and anniversary parties, bridal shower and baby shower celebrations.
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14 May |
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5:01 am Posted by Kristy |
Birthday party season runs all year, but it does seem that spring and summer bring on an extra dose of kids birthday party fun. Whether birth statistics can shed light on a ramping up of the season, or whether better weather simply inspires more parties is up for debate.
If one of your children has a birthday on the horizon, no doubt you are figuring out how to juggle end of year activities and celebrations with a long stretch of summer camps and vacation plans. What are the unique challenges of throwing a summertime birthday for your kid?
Start With a Fabulous and Fun Party Invitation. There is nothing better to break up the doldrums of summer boredom for some than an cheerful, colorful party invitation. A quality printed invitation lends much greater prominance and personalization to your party event than an evite sent through email. Start by checking out the growing selection of birthday party invitations at LookLoveSend.com, where fresh and exciting designs can inspire your next event.
Summertime can dampen attendance. Once school is out, those summertime birthday kids can get the short end of the stick. Not only do they miss out on recognition at school by their teacher and classmates, but summer brings family vacations and camps into conflict with your child’s special day. Solution: Hang onto those class lists so you can keep in touch with special classmates your child will want to invite. If the party is within a few weeks from the last day of school, make a point to get your invitation out before school ends. This gives parents something to look forward to for their kids.
Heat and safety are concerns at outdoor parties. Hydration and extra adult supervision are really the only solutions here. Prepare with extra bottles of water and recruit friends or family to actively keep watch over the fun.
Stay organized–even if your school calendar is in the drawer. For starters, get organized. One of the best companies out there organizing busy moms is momagenda.com, and even if midyear isn’t a good time to splurge on one of their thoughtfully laid out desktop organizers, their free printables such as this birthday party checklist are a sure way to stay on top of your birthday party planning details.
So if your child was a June, July or August baby, start planning now so you don’t get left out in the sun! LookLoveSend is continuously adding new party invitation designs. Subscribeto our mailing list to receive 20% off your first order.
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13 May |
Upgrade This Year’s Christmas Card with a Professional Photographer |
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5:01 pm Posted by Kristy |
Summer is an ideal time to plan ahead by shopping summertime sales, and thinking about your Christmas cards. Summertime, between the weather and family vacations, provides lots of opportunities to capture family fun and spontaneity “on film” for a Christmas card photo. Consider hiring a professional to do the work.
If you’ve never considered paying for a professional to capture your family’s image for the annual Christmas Card, there are some good reasons to do so.
Christmas Cards are often a Do-It-Yourself effort for most people. After all, we send them to family and friends so there is not so much pressure to have a professional shoot for a non-event. On the other hand, as the quality and choice of Christmas cards continues to grow, we often find ourselves wanting our family images to be on equal footing. And if you’re like me, summer is an optimal opportunity to get that annual family portrait done, if not just for our tans and relaxed smiles, but also because no one wants to go through THAT again!
So here’s some of the main reasons why you should consider hiring a professional photographer to capture your next Christmas card images:
- Creativity and artistic vision. With a trained eye for arrangement, balance, and ideas about using color, clothes and even accessories, a professional knows how to transform an ordinary setting into the perfect scenic backdrop.
- Training and expertise. Professionals have been trained to understand and maximize lighting, angles, arrangement of subject matter. They can make adjustments to meet challenging conditions that the rest of us can only just pray about.
- Equipment. Professionals keep current and invest in rapidly-changing technology. More importantly, they know how to use their cameras to their maximum potential. How many of us are still trying to figure out just what some of the buttons do on our cameras? Their sophisticated lenses, filters and shutter speeds can capture the most nuanced of moments, often resulting in more truthful and profound images caught in the blink of a moment between poses.
- Professionalism. Control and confidence is the essence of a good professional photographer. His or her years of experience working with a variety people and settings are nothing a DIYer can offer. After all, when is the last time you kept your cool and composure when photographing your own children for the Christmas card?
Professional photographers typically charge a fee for the time required for your shoot (the “sitting” fee, whether or not you’re actually sitting). Additional costs for developed photographs depend on what you choose to order. Most can also provide you with a digital file to upload on a Christmas card website.
LookLoveSend.com is adding new photo Christmas Card designs every day to a growing collection of beautiful special occasion stationery. Browse our designs this year once you have a digital photo in hand. Our fresh, exciting designs are printed on the highest quality premium papers and make an excellent choice for a professional-grade photo image of your family.
Subscribe today and receive 20% off your first order with us!
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12 May |
Graduation Party Invitations to Celebrate a Milestone Achievement |
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5:01 am Posted by Kristy |
No matter how active your high school or college senior may be on Facebook or Twitter, the achievement of graduation deserves greater recognition than the chatter of social media can provide! College graduations are right around the corner, with high school graduations soon to follow. If you’ve been thinking about honoring your grad with a special celebration, start by sending out printed graduation party invitations to memorialize this special milestone for years to come.
Consider what type of party your graduate would enjoy most, as well as the type of party you would feel most comfortable hosting, such as:
- Informal Open House
- Formal sit-down dinner
- Surprise Party
- Backyard cookout
- Favorite restaurant
If you have a graduating high school senior, find out if his or her senior class has a Grad Night planned so that your party doesn’t conflict with the event. Grad Nights are a growing trend, providing a safe alternative for all-night, substance-free fun for high school seniors and their friends. These parties are usually sponsored and hosted by senior class parents who believe in the concept of keeping kids safe on what can be a high-risk evening.
If you have a college graduate, find out if extra guests may be invited to attend Commencement exercises. That way you can decide whether or not to include commencement details on the graduation party invitations, along with information about the party afterwards.
For some fun party planning ideas, check out the Graduation Party Planning Guide available on graduationparty.com. In it you’ll find ideas on decorations, party favors, food and accessories, even personalized accessories such as your graduate’s name or alma mater printed on water bottles, candy bars, party banners, napkins and much more.
For top-of-the-class graduation announcements and invitations, visit looklovesend.com for a growing selection of designs and superior quality paper and printing. Join us today and receive 20% on your first order!
