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11 May |
Formalize Your Baby’s Name in a Beautiful Birth Announcement |
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5:01 am Posted by Kristy |
Jacob or Jayden. Sophia or Isabella. William or Michael. Naming a new baby can a pressure cooker for new parents. But naming a baby can also be one of the more enjoyable decisions expecting parents make together. So how do some parents decide on a name, and, when it comes down to it, what’s in a name?
Some couples play the name game easily. They may have a name ready because tradition dictates a family name be carried into the next generation. Or, some quickly settle on a name based on a special place, a family member or friend, or some other mutually meaningful symbol they want to honor.
For other couples, the process is more laborious. After brainstorming separately at first, they then share their lists later to find commonality. This approach works great to narrow down long lists, or to identify attributes you both agree on.
Most couples at least start with a discussion about a name’s traditional appeal, popularity, unusualness or associations, such as with a celebrity (whose fortunes can and often do change!) That’s a lot to think about!
Whichever way you find a baby name, here are two robust websites to help you search and track your baby name ideas:
Baby Name Finder on thebump.com This very easy-to-use name tracking tool has:
- A ratings feature that allows you to “favorite” a name
- A tab for you to save names you like and build a personalized list
- The option to share your list with others
- Search criteria for names by origin, meaning, overall popularity, and ratings by thebump.com community
- A display of additional name results similar to your search result
- Top baby names of the decade
Nickelodeon’s parentsconnect.com This site’s super-powerful search tool is especially useful for finding unique names. The Advanced Search tool lets you:
- Combine highly detailed criteria to narrow your search. It allows you to specify a name length by the number of syllables and/or characters.
- Eliminate names from your search that:
- Begin or end with certain letters
- Have no origin or meaning
One final consideration for choosing a name is in the beauty of the name when written. As discussed previously, among the merits of sending out birth announcements is as a way to formalize your baby’s chosen name on paper, beautifully printed.
At LookLoveSend.com, our fresh, exciting collection of birth announcements may inspire even greater love of a name you have in mind. Try one out by previewing it on one of our beautifully designed baby announcements. Subscribe today and receive 20% off your first order with us when you are ready.
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10 May |
Introducing Charla Weaver, Designer of Fabulous Birthday Party Invitations |
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5:01 am Posted by Nicola |
We are thrilled to introduce Charla Weaver as one of the talented designers sharing her creative skills with us at LookLoveSend.com. Charla has created sophisticated wedding invitation collections and fun birthday party invitations that show her broad creative range and ability to capture the many moods of life’s special moments.
Charla’s interest in graphic design started at an early age when she collected business cards and loved to scrutinize their fonts, images and layouts. Her parents further nurtured her love of quality handmade designs as they too were artists and created items such as quilts, picture frames and furniture as Charla was growing up.
After graduating from high school, Charla traveled in Europe and Asia for two years gathering experiences and inspiration to be incorporated in her own designs. A central theme of Charla’s work is the understanding that everyone appreciates something that is unique, well-made and beautiful. And her work surely is that.
This princess castle birthday party invitation is one of Charla’s great designs and is likely to be a favorite of little girls everywhere.
Visit LookLoveSend.com soon to seemore of Charla’s designs. Join our mailing list now and receive 20% off your first order with us.
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9 May |
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5:01 am Posted by Nicola |
A newly engaged woman can find wedding planning inspiration anywhere. After becoming engaged, her first steps may be to buy 20 lbs of wedding magazines, to call reception sites for availability, andto calculate an estimated guest headcount. Usually after the basics of wedding location, size and date have been determined; the bride can relax and start to enjoythe fun wedding planning details.
These “middle months” of engagement are the perfect time for a bride to find inspiration and ideas before she has to start worrying about RSVP counts and seating charts. Consider this beautiful and whimsical butterfly bouquet as an example. For a summertime outdoor wedding, this bouquet could truly set the tone of the entire event (not to mention the clear cost savings of butterflies over flowers!) I recently saw wired butterflies such as these ata local craft store and, even with my limited craft expertise, I’m fairly certain that I could follow Martha Stewart’s simple instructions to create thiswhimsical bouquet (it takes just 4 materials and 4 steps!)
This quirky butterfly bouquet alone sets the tone for anatural and airy wedding theme of butterflies, flowers and birds. With this inspiration firmly in mind, other ‘middle month’ decisions should immediately become easier – see the floral cupcake display, bird-themed save the date card, and butterfly-accented boutonniere below.
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Visit LookLoveSend.com soon and we hope you’ll be inspired by our fantastic collection of beautiful wedding invitation collections. Subscribe to our mailing list to receive 20% off your first order.
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8 May |
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3:45 am Posted by Nicola |
Happy Mother’s Day to all moms from the team at LookLoveSend. Whether you were surprised with breakfast in bed, treated to a restaurant brunch, or just given precious time to sleep in and relax, we hope your day is truly great.
68% of people will call their mother today, totaling 122.5 million phone calls. Similarly, 50% of households give Mother’s Day cards, which is approximately 152 million cards and a considerable volume spike for the U.S. Postal Service this past week.
But when I was buying a card for my own mother last week (as yes, I confess picking up a “from your son” card for my mother-in-law too!) I noticed a significant number of “like a mother” cards and cards wishing friends and sisters a special day. Is this a growing trend to recognize other women today who are special but not necessarily your own mother? I’d like to think so.
So for mothers with young children who still like to color and make crafts, why not take some time today to recognize a friendly neighbor who may not have any children of her own, or a friend whose children are fully grown? Below are two kids’ craft ideas courtesy of www.kaboose.com that are quick, inexpensive and simple to make.
Required: recycled glass jar, paint, kid fingerprints
Optional: hand-picked flowers (or see flower craft below)
Required: tissue paper, pipecleaners
Optional: recycled jar (or see flower vase craft above)
Each craft should take minutes to complete but will bring immeasurable delight to its unexpecting recipient. Did you celebrate a special woman who is not your mother today? Please comment to let us know if you did, we’d love to hear from you.
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7 May |
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5:01 am Posted by Kristy |
Weddings can be notorious for drama, but can also shine brilliantly in bringing together people from many different parts of life. Your job is to demonstrate your appreciation to your guests on your special day. In other words, be a host(ess)!
For the reception, unless you are having a smaller-sized wedding with a buffet, most wedding guests prefer an assigned seat to a free-for-all. As discussed at length on theknot.com, “People like to know where they’re sitting — and that you took the time to choose where and who they should sit with.”
- Your wedding venue. What will be the optimal configuration of tables. Will they surround a dance floor or line up in rows?
- The head table. There are several ways to do a head table:
- Wedding Party Table. All your bridesmaids, groomsmen, and their partners.
- Exclusive Wedding Party Table. Just the wedding party without their partners.
- Limited Wedding Party Table. Includes just your Maid of Honor, Best Man, and their partners.
- Sweetheart Table. This is just you and your betrothed!
From there, group your guests according to categories such as:
- Elderly guests. Seat some distance from the music, but with easy restroom and/or buffet line access. Elderly relatives (e.g. grandparents) sitting at a family table are an exception.
- Singles. Don’t cast your single friends as a reality show! Mix them in with familiar faces and couples.
- Couples. Keep couples together that know one another.
- Children. Seat them with their parents.
- College friends. How close you seat them to the bar is up to you. At least keep them together.
- Co-workers. Again, group together or mix strategically with either single friends and couples.
- Distant relatives. It’s best to seat them with other relatives.
These are just some typical groups you can consider to help you organize your tables. They key is to label every guest with one of your group categories. This makes it easy to start putting together tables.
Once your RSVPs start arriving, start building your tables! If it gets confusing or if you get stuck, just remember one golden rule: seat at least one familiar face for each guest. For a tool that lets you visualize and change around your tables, check out theknot.com’s Seating Chart Organizer.
Browse the inspiring wedding invitations and wedding place cards available at looklovesend.com. Subscribe today and receive 20% off your first order with us!
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6 May |
Wedding Planning Insight: Creative Ways to Cut Catering Costs |
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5:01 am Posted by Kristy |
The average American wedding reception typically consumes about half of a bride and groom’s wedding budget. The largest portion comes from the cost of the food itself. This is true regardless of whether you choose to host a formal sit-down dinner or go buffet-style.
Choosing between the two formats depends on several things, including the capabilities of your venue (e.g. number of servers available or space for buffet tables), the number of guests you invite, and your general style preferences.
Either way, here are some clever ways to help manage those costs:
- Choose a venue that allows you to bring in a caterer of your choosing.
- Tap young, local talent eager to build a reputation. Students from a nearby culinary institute or restaurant management school might just be your best resource for the money.
- Consider a cash bar after either the cocktail hour or dinner.
- Choose menu items with fewer prep steps in kitchen. Time is money!
- Serve seasonal. Ask your caterer what fresh foods will be in season during your wedding and fill your menu selections with them.
- Leave the meat out of hors d’oevres. Ask your caterer to consider items using pastries, cheeses, legumes and fruits.
- Befriend bread. Bread stations with dipping sauces are an inexpensive crowd pleaser.
- Pass up passed hors d’oevres, or at least limit them. Instead, set up stationary appetizers for people to help themselves.
- Beef doesn’t have to mean Filet. Sirloin is as tasty a cut of beef when prepared well.
- Dress up pasta. Look for unexpected ways to prepare pasta, again using seasonal vegetables.
- Borrow. If your venue is not all-inclusive, there may be items (servingware, linens, etc.) you can borrow. Check with your caterer first to find out what they supply.
- Know which menu items are standard and which items will cost extra. If your heart is set on something, many caterers will serve upgraded items just for the wedding party.
- Think outside the cake…stacked strawberry pies for summer, or lemony-iced cupcake towers in winter. Or, have a small wedding cake and serve guests from an identical, behind-the-scenes sheet cake.
- Go formal if you plan on 150+ guests. Served sit-down dinners control portions and number of servings, not to mention eliminate long lines at a buffet. Just make sure you will have enough servers to accommodate the number of tables.
- Set the menu rather than offering menu options. Provide a single alternative only for guests who request it. This eliminates the need to include menu selection cards in your wedding invitations.
Whatever kind of dinner you serve at your wedding reception, invite your guests to dine with you in style by choosing from our exquisite selection of wedding invitations, wedding reception cards and save the date cards at looklovesend.com. Subscribe today and receive 20% off your first order with us!
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5 May |
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5:01 am Posted by Nicola |
Can you recall the wedding favor you took home from the last 3 weddings you attended? I have to admit that I can’t. Tradition plays a huge role in many wedding ceremonies and reception celebrations, and similarly, photo frames, candles and boxed Jordan almonds are highly traditional and appropriate favor choices. But in the spirit of finding something new, I decided to checkout some less traditional but fully functional and fun wedding favor choices. Here are some favors in various wedding style categories that you would likely not forget.
Romantic: The love-themed chrome bottle stopper is in the $3-$4 per unit range** packaged in a clear plastic box with elegant ribbon accents. This elegant keepsake is something that your guests will keep in a kitchen drawer and use on special occasions, hopefully with fond memories of your wedding day.
Modern / Fun-loving: The “Swept off our Feet” keyboard dusters are sure to bring a chuckle to your wedding guests. At $3.75 per unit, these cute 4″ dusters have retractable “hair” and are available in sets of 12 brides or 12 grooms. Additional personalization cards are available for an additional charge. Who wouldn’t love to have one of these sitting near their computer station? A perfect marriage of function and fun!
Rustic: Flower seed packets are a wonderfully simple and modern choice, particularly for an outdoor wedding venue. This favor could be easily and economically made using basic supplies and embellishments from a garden center and craft store. Many sites offer flower seed packets, such as this one in the $1.90 range which does require assembly but includes ribbon in a choice of 22 colors imprinted with the bride and groom’s names and wedding date (or other text as desired).
Beach / Casual: The key-lime “Mix & Mingle” margarita mix is another favor that requires some package assembly but results in a very beautifully presented gift in the $2-$3 per unit range. Available in other flavors, this gift is the perfect giveaway for a beach style wedding – especially if margaritas are on the menu for your festivities!
** All referenced products and prices are from http://www.myweddingfavors.com. Another great site dedicated towedding favors is http://www.projectweddingfavors.com/.
Just as your wedding invitations and wedding cake reflect the feel of your nuptials, match your wedding favors to the style of your special day. And if you have a particular style in mind, checkout our selection of unique wedding invitations available at LookLoveSend.com.
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4 May |
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5:01 am Posted by Kristy |
Each first weekend in May, in time for Mother’s Day, a dogwood tree blossomed outside of my mother’s kitchen window. My birthday, often coinciding with Mother’s Day, was also marked by the bloom of that tree. My mother and I, together celebrating birth and motherhood, both saw the beauty of rebirth and newness in the blooming pink regalia. We always remarked about that tree.
Mother’s Day approaches again this weekend, and new moms everywhere expect to celebrate beauty and birth. If you know a new mom in need of a special gift, or if you are planning a baby shower for a new mom-to-be, we have some especially unique ideas to mark these occasions. For some of the more expensive ideas, consider collaborating with your family (in the case of Mother’s Day) or other baby shower guests.
- Maid Service For a new mom who is fastidious and depends on a home well kept (and who doesn’t), purchase one to three months of a local, reputable cleaning service. Angie’s List is a smart resource for reviews.
- Personal Chef Hire an expert to cook two weeks worth of meals. Find a professional chef in your area through the American Personal & Private Chef Association. Or, check locally for a cooking franchise where friends or family can gather to put together easy-to-assemble, tasty gourmet meals in a fun atmosphere. SuperSuppers and DreamDinners are two such franchises.
- Casserole Party As a baby shower invitation add-on, ask each guest to bring a dish for the new mom. It doesn’t have to be a casserole, just something that can be frozen. If freezer space is limited, consider www.mealtrain.com, featured in a previous blog.
- Personal Trainer or Spa Gift Certificate These generous gift ideas really are two sides of the same coin. What better way to remind a new mom who has dedicated herself wholly to the well-being of another that she, too, needs some pampering?
- A Flowering Tree Can anyone keep the quiver out of their voice when reading aloud Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree? This classic story beautifully illustrates in words and pictures the wholly selfless, self-consuming role of mothers through the ages. The aching sadness of the little-boy-turned-lonely-old man who still wants his mother is unforgettable. Pair this classic with a small sapling for an extra special gift for a new mom or mom-to-be.
For fresh, new baby shower invitations inspired by the beauty of spring blooms, visit looklovesend.com. Subscribe today and receive 20% off your first order!
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3 May |
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5:01 am Posted by Kristy |
Ever found yourself giddy from a great chat with a mom you’ve never met before? You were most certainly feeling a direct effect of the health benefits of a face-to-face social connection.
One study recently conducted in Australia found that those who had a large network of friends outlived those with the fewest friends by 22%. Friendships have been found to ward off depression, boost self esteem, and provide support during stress. Family relationships, on the other hand, had almost no effect on longevity. Researchers who conducted the study emphasized that while family ties are important, they just seem to have little effect on survival.
What does all that mean? It means make friends and work on keeping them! Your social priorities should be on equal footing with other priorities in your life, as challenging as this is at times.
So what if you are a new mom? How can you make other new mom friends? What if you’ve moved and need to find new friends altogether? Parents magazine (April 2011) recently highlights some key strategies, including:
- Leverage existing acquaintances, from your real estate agent to friends of friends.
- Get off of Facebook and seek face time.
- Find local groups and clubs who share your interests. Don’t be afraid to go alone!
- Start with commonality, but seek out friends who offer something different.
- Make friendship time a regular part of your schedule.
So back to striking up a fun conversation on the playground or in the checkout line…what can you do to go after that new friend?
The “calling card” of yesteryear has a modern twist as a “playdate card” for busy moms. Caitlin McCready, designer of exciting birth announcements and invitations at LookLoveSend.com, came up with the idea one day when she met a new mom friend. They were unable to write information down, and neither really wanted to volunteer to enter the other’s contact information just yet.
McCready decided she could put her contact information onto a cute card and use it for such occasions. “It’s a lot less scary to hand someone a card and say, ‘Here’s my info. Email me if you want to set up a playdate sometime!’” says McCready.
Play date calling cards, available through www.etsy.com, convey an inviting, cheerful call for friendship without the pressure of a commitment. Handing a new acquaintance a playdate card keeps open the possibility that she can reconnect with you, as she chooses, at her convenience.
Given the evidence of the long-lasting health benefits of friendships, it is especially important for women as the key to staying healthy and living longer. Whether you are just starting out as a new mother, or whether you have moved to a new town, make the playdate calling card a central part of your new friends strategy.
To see other inspiring designs of LookLoveSend’s special occasion stationery, including birth announcements and party invitations, visit looklovesend.com. Subscribe today and receive 20% off your first order.
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2 May |
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5:01 am Posted by Nicola |
For parents bravely hosting a home birthday party for their child, it is always best to plan a full agenda – not getting to all the games is certainly preferable to sugar-fueled kids either running wild or sitting bored! In addition to the traditional pin the tail on the donkey and pinata, here are three other kid-tested birthday party games.
Pass the Parcel: wrap a small gift in numerous layers of newspaper or wrapping paper (aim to have 2 wrapping layers per child at the party). Kids sit in a circle and slowly pass the parcel around the circle while a parent plays music. When the music is stopped, the child holding the parcel unwraps the top layer. Continue until a child wins the center prize. For older children insert small “to-dos” in some or all wrapping layers (for example: jump up and down 10 times, or quack like a duck 3 times) for extra giggles as wrappers are shed.
Flour cake: tightly pack flour into small mixing bowl then invert the bowl onto a large plate and remove the bowl. Place a gummy bear or other small candy on the top of the “flour cake” mound and ask the children to take turns cutting a small slice off the cake using a (non-sharp) cake slicer. The flour cake will become smaller and smaller until one child’s cut will eventually make the candy topple. That child needs to put his hands behind his back and retrieve the candy using only his mouth. Children will be delighted as their friend “wins” a faceful of flour!
The chocolate game: This game requires a bar of chocolate on a plate, a knife and fork, a hat, scarf and mittens, and two dice. Children sit in a circle and take turns rolling both dice. Whenever a child rolls a double, she will run to the chocolate setup nearby and put on the hat, scarf and mittens. When these are on, she can cut chocolate segments – one at a time – using the knife and fork and eat them. Meanwhile, the other children are still passing around the dice trying to roll a double. As soon as someone rolls a double the other child must stop eating, remove the hat, scarf and mittens, and return to the dice-rolling group. This fast and exciting game is over when the chocolate is gone.
While these three games do require advance planning and preparation, they are certainly crowd-pleasers for children age 5-10. As some involve food, it is highly recommended to add a request to the birthday party invitation to be informed of any food allergies at the time of RSVP (and also double-check with parents as they dropoff guests at the party).
Check LookLoveSend.com for our fun collection of birthday party invitations.
