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7 Jul |
From Oysters to Candy, Wedding “Bars” Showcase Favorite Treats |
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4:00 am Posted by Kristy |
These days, open bar isn’t just about the libations. Brides and grooms are having more fun than ever with free-standing stations, or “bars,” to showcase and share their unique fixations and favorite treats. From candy to specialty seafood, couples want to treat their guests to a memorable experience for the palate that extends beyond the planned dinner.
Here’s a look at some of the more popular and original “open bar” concepts:
The Seafood Bar(s)
Seafood bars aren’t exactly new, but cost can be a factor. So instead of offering the entire bounty of the sea, seafood bars may feature one or two specialty items, accompanied by creative sauces and dips. Another strategy to manage costs is to limit the time the bar is open, such as during the cocktail hour only. A few seafood bar concepts are:
- A shellfish bar excites many when well stocked with a bountiful supply of shrimp, mussels and steamers. Add king crab legs or lobster tail and you’ll be adding to the budget as well. Visual arrangement is important to keep the bar sorted and appealing.
- A specialty seafood bar includes very specific items like oysters, smoked salmon, or crab cakes. Some additional preparation of sauces might also be required, so while the straight-up seafood costs might not be as high, your caterer’s prep time might even things out.
The Sushi Bar
Sushi bars are a favorite for those who indulge and can range from the more broadly appealing California rolls (salmon, cucumber, cream cheese) to adventurous presentations of eel and tuna. Sushi is in a category by itself because of this diversity and for its artistry in presentation. It’s important to choose a quality sushi chef who knows how to keep it fresh for some duration. On-the-spot preparation provides some entertainment value and can be an event.
The Candy Bar
A rainbow of candy jars at a wedding in Seattle introduced me to the pleasures of this idea. The trend has continued to gain momentum, being featured in wedding magazines and recently on WeddingWire, a well-regarded inspirational wedding blog. Their broad appeal to the sweet-tooth in all of us, as well as the creative and fun use of color to coordinate with the wedding day style keep candy bars at the forefront of this category.
The Ice Cream Sundae Bar
Ice cream is the ultimate crowd pleaser, and while it works at any time of year, it is especially appropriate for summertime. Not intended to take the place of cake, staple flavors like chocolate, vanilla and strawberry and classic sauces, sprinkles, nuts and cherries are a good start. Brides and grooms with reputations for more off-beat flavors, say pistachio or coconut, enjoy putting their mark on the flavors and introduce guests to something they may not have tried otherwise.
Go for appeal and creative presentation.
Open bars can really be about anything that adds to your wedding’s uniqueness. If you have a thing for donuts, why not? If you want to appeal to everyone, try a bread an cheese bar. From showy to whimsical, the open bar concept gets guests involved sampling and tasting. With creative presentation and quality execution, open bars can also be a great topic of conversation.
For creative presentation and quality execution in wedding invitations, visit LookLoveSend.com and browse our expanding collection. Our wedding invitation suites offer all the components needed, from the invitation card through the thank you note, and everything in between, including menus and programs. Join our email list and receive 20% off your first order with us.
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5 Jul |
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11:59 pm Posted by Kristy |
Blueberry buckle. Blueberry strudel. Blueberry cobbler. Blueberry muffins. Blueberry pancakes. Blueberry and walnut salad. Do I sound like any relation to Bubba’s shrimpin’ family, of Forrest Gump fame? I wouldn’t qualify, because blueberry preserves (or any berry preserves) is the still a staple I haven’t yet attempted.
But it’s time to turn over a new leaf. My mom’s got pickles perfected, and has a storied past with strawberry preserves, so I will take it up with her. Blueberries and strawberries are a great canning starting point, and for once, I’m actually thinking ahead. As in Christmas.
Christmas? Not Christmas cards, just Christmas gifts. Summertime is a great time to get a jumpstart on budget-friendly, original and useful gift giving ideas. That’s one theory, anyway. I’ve done homemade chocolate fudge sauce to death in years past. (This is a GREAT candidate if you haven’t tried it before, and a winning one for last minute procrastinators.)
You can preserve the best of summer’s fruits and berries now to give as gifts later this year, and they will keep for up to a year. By learning how to “can” the berries I can’t seem to stop eating in the form of baked goods, the benefits are twofold:
- I will stop fooling myself about getting antioxidants by eating the muffin/cobbler/pancake-cloaked berry goodies, AND
- I can create mouth-watering recipes that my kids’ teachers, scout leaders, babysitters, the mail carrier, my stylist (kidding! just want to see if you are paying attention)–all the important service providers I am thankful for will actually be able to use and enjoy.
So I’ve done some preparation online to get an idea of who is an authority on the subject. A great starting point for beginners like me is with the makers of famous Ball jars.
In their easy to follow Getting Started Guide, it’s clear I want to start with the process called Waterbath Canning, which is appropriate for preserving the fruits of summer we are talking about here, and best for beginners. Waterbath canning also doesn’t require too big an investment in equipment. Probably the three most basic things I will need are:
- Jars
- Stock pot with rack
- Pectin
Plus, the recipes seem short and simple, such as:
Balsamic Vinegar Strawberry Jam
To put a finishing touch on your gifts, tie a hand-printed tag onto your Summer in a Jar naming the item and sharing the recipe.
If you really want to get ahead, start perusing the growing collection of Christmas cards and other holiday invitations available on LookLoveSend.com. We are always adding to our professional designs and print exclusively on high quality papers. Share with us your get-ahead holiday ideas! Join our email list and receive 20% off your first order.
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5 Jul |
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3:36 am Posted by Nicola |
Happy 4th from the team at LookLoveSend. Perhaps you received a party invitation for a cookout today, maybe you watched a parade, saw fireworks, or tasted American classics such as hot dogs, apple pie and lemonade.
Today my 8-year old son made $5 working his first lemonade stand with four friends – talk about a stereotypical American childhood tradition for July 4th! The afternoon was successful all around. Cash earnings aside, it kept the boys busy for almost four hours, and a lemonade stand actually has some valuable (but hidden) lessons to offer. For parents needing a summertime activity with true benefits, I highly recommend a lemonade stand. Read on.
Interacting with adults: talking with adult customers and making eye contact does not come easy for all kids. Practicing in the fun and stress-free environment of the summertime neighborhood is perfect place to work on these important skills.
Math skills: totaling sales, making change, dividing profits at the end. Who knew that 2nd grade math would be so handy?
Organization and Teamwork: I watched as the boys coordinated and divided tasks so that one boy made lemonade, another provided a cooler and ice, and another made their sign. Impressive project management and their stand was open for business in less than 10 minutes!
Creative Thinking: during a lull in business, the boys discussed moving to a busier location, spreading the word about their lemonade stand, and offering a cheaper smaller size option!
The lemonade sellers did a little bit of everything today – customer service, math, project management and marketing. The excited boys are already discussing their next sale – this time looking to add baked goods as an extra draw. Guess who’s baking brownies tomorrow?
Do you know any other kids’ activities that provide summer fun while teaching at the same time? If you have recommendations, please comment below. We’d love to hear from you.
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4 Jul |
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1:48 am Posted by Nicola |
Is it wrong to cringe each time I receive a piece of mail addressed to “Mrs. John Barry”? Somehow the reference to my husband’s first name makes me roll my eyes each time. But maybe I won’t be seeing this too much more now that etiquette expert Peggy Post (great-grand-daughter-in-law of Emily Post at emilypost.com) has weighed in with the newly-updated “rules” for envelope etiquette.
Read on for the old and the new guidelines for your wedding invitation wording [source: Brides magazine, July 2011].
Married Couple
Traditional: Mr. and Mrs. Steven Gould
Acceptable Update: Melissa and Steven Gould
Married Couple with Different Last Names
Traditional: Mr. and Mrs. Steven Gould
Acceptable Update: Mr. Steven Gould and Mrs. (or Ms.) Melissa Brown
Children Under 18 Invited with their Parents
Traditional: Mr. and Mrs. Steven Gould
Miss Jennifer Gould
Master Justin Gould
Acceptable Update: Eliminate the kids’ titles. Post recommends not to write “and Family” as you don’t always know if a relative lives with them and you need to be clear about who is and who is not invited.
Same-Sex Couple
Traditional: Separate invitations, even if the couple is living together.
Acceptable Update: If unmarried but living together, send a single invite with their names on separate lines. If married, write their names on one line, such as “Robert and James Jones”.
Widow
Traditional: Mrs. William Smith
Acceptable Update: Mrs. Elizabeth Smith
Some women continue to use their husband’s first name. If possible, find out which name she prefers to be called.
Friend and her Date
Traditional: Send separate invites (downside is that this involves tracking down the date’s address).
Acceptable Update: Send a single update addressed to “Ms. Sarah Willow” and “Mr. Alex Williams” on separate lines. This applies to a couple in a serious relationship whether they live together or not. If the friend isn’t specific about who she’ll invite, address to “Ms. Sarah Willow and Guest”.
These new rules of addressing may welcomed by your peers but do consider your guest and opt for the traditional if you think that would be more appreciated by the specific individual. And if you are planning a weddingbut haven’t yet selected your wedding invitations, check out the collection of unique designs available at LookLoveSend.com. Join our mailing list to receive 20% off your first order.
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3 Jul |
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1:30 am Posted by Nicola |
Has that baby shower invitation been sitting on your counter for weeks? Do you apologetically RSVP, then log onto the online baby shower registry only to find that all the good items have been bought? Time to get creative.
Along with the obvious baby essentials for carrying, sleeping, bathing and clothing, there is a huge category of needs for feeding the baby. But the most common registry items in this category are the bottles and accessories, sterilizers and nursing pillows – all focusing on those initial months of baby’s liquid diet.
But that liquid diet soon gives way to solids which opens up a whole new area of needs. The baby solids industry is rapidly evolving with development in the areas of organic food offerings and safe plastic ware for baby. A company that is leading this charge is BEABA(the BEst for A BAby).
Two BEABA items featured on their site would make a perfect impromptu baby shower gift. The first is this BPA-free snack dispenser that is versatile and stylish. Say no more to plastic baggies of goldfish crackers that get crushed in your diaper bag. This attractive stackable container will hold multiple snacks, clip onto your stroller, and allow easy, quick access to snacks!
The second featured BEABA item is more pricey, but would be a great baby shower gift bought with another friend of thefuture mom. The babycook is a genius product for organic food preparation. Whereas numerous products are on the market for either steaming or grinding baby food, this small machine can be programmed to do both in a single hands-free step. In fact, this product is a countertop steamer, blender, warmer and defroster all in one. 
This nifty dishwasher-safe timesaver has received rave reviews and would likely be an unexpected and welcomed gift for any new mom.
We recommend browsing the BEABA site to become informed about their products, available for retail on amazon.com. And if you are really in a pinch for your baby shower gift and don’t have time for shipping, consider giving the gift of baby shower thank you cards. Ask the mom-to-be to select a design from LookLoveSend’s growing collection and then subscribe to our mailing list to receive 20% off your first order with us!
