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31 Aug |
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3:33 am Posted by Nicola |
Once you’ve found that perfect veil to complement your dream wedding gown, here are some hints for wearing the ultimate wedding accessory (source: You & Your Wedding, Jul/Aug 2011).
Veils can be worn at any wedding venue, which includes the town hall registrar’s office, the Las Vegas chapel, the backyard, and anywhere in between.- Place your veil where it suits you best. Hairstylist Russell Stevens suggests “brides with a rounder face may want to elongate it by positioning their veil at the top of the head to add a bit of height at the crown.”
- Other accessories such as a tiara or headband can absolutely be worn with a veil, as beautifully demonstrated by Duchesse Kate. Attach the back of the tiara to your veil with small stitches or tiny hooks.
- Make sure that your veil is securely attached, up-do’s or half up-do’s are usually easiest for this purpose. If you have decided to wear your hair down, consider incorporating a small hidden braid that the veil comb can hook onto for a firmer fit.
- Before the wedding, hang your veil to ensure that it stays wrinkle-free. Under no circumstances should you iron it – an iron could ruin a veil beyond repair.
And finally, my favorite…
- There are no rules about when you can and cannot keep wearing your veil. Whether you whip it off right after the ceremony or wear it until the end of your last dance, it’s your choice alone. Many veils come with a detachable train if you want to keep the look but lose the yardage before you hit the dance floor. Nothing defines a bride like her veil - it’s your wedding so wear it as you wish!
Finding the perfect veil truly is the icing on the cake. Allow your veil to complement your wedding style, and if you have yet to select a wedding invitation design, checkout the broad selectionat LookLoveSend. Join our mailing list to receive 20% off your first order.
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30 Aug |
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12:28 am Posted by Nicola |
Has school already started for your grade schooler, or are you prepping backpacks and counting days like I am? The first few weeks back to school are always bittersweet, marking the end of a fun summer but also promising new energy and excitement for the year ahead. On the plus side – the first few weeks back usually offer a quiet lull before the storm of sport practices, after school activities, and birthday party invitations.
But in the bustle of planning and preparation, it is important not to neglect the back-to-school jitters that affect many grade school-age kids. Even if your child wasn’t apprehensive about entering 1st grade, it’s possible that he has more misgivings about 2nd grade now that he’s more aware of teachers, friends and other aspects of elementary school life.
If you suspect that your child is worried about starting school, try some of these tips from Nadine Kaslow, PhD, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Emory University(as told to Working Mother magazine, Aug/Sep 2011).
- Take a trial run. Try to visit your child’s classroom before the first day of school. For cases of extreme worry, ask your child’s teacher if she can meet your child in the classroom for a short while (many teachers will already be in the school preparing their classrooms in the days before school). Ask the school administration office for a list of students in your child’s class so she will be reassured by seeing some familiar names.
- Pack a memento. Add a photo or note in your child’s backpack or lunchbox to make her feel safe and remind her of family during the day.
- Be a good listener. Don’t just tell your child that everything will be OK. Instead, listen to her specific concerns so you can reassuringly address them one at a time and put her at ease.
Good luck as your child transitions back to school. A smooth first week is a great starting point before soccer, piano and parties get added to the mix. And if your child will be celebrating a birthday during those early weeks of school, consult our recent blog for additional advice about back-to-school birthday parties.
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29 Aug |
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3:00 am Posted by Nicola |
A great band will add energy and excitement to your wedding reception. Choose a less-than-great band and you risk having the cliched corny wedding singer serenading your guests. Here are some do’s and don’ts for choosing and working with your band, courtesy of David Tutera, star of WEtv’ “My Fair Wedding“:
- DO get references from other couples. Would they choose this band again?
- DO hear the band live. Simply hearing a demo CD or watching a YouTube snippet is not enough.
- DO provide a playlist (to include a list of “don’t play”songs if you have any!)
- DO know that a band will have a rider which is a list of requirements, including time needed to setup, meal and break requirements, etc.
- DO make sure that the lead singer can pronounce the names of all wedding party members he/she will announce.
- DO setup the band right in front of the dance floor for maximum energy in the room.
- DON’T have one style of music throughout your reception. Mix it up for your audience enjoyment.
- DON’T hire a band you saw a bar or outdoor event. Instead, hire a professional band so you will be protected by contract and have less risk.
Music selection is key for the vibe of your wedding, so book your DJ or band early in your wedding planning process. If your wedding is scheduled for 2012, enter the LookLoveSend sweepstakes for the chance to win a complete wedding invitation suite valued up to $1500.
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28 Aug |
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2:01 am Posted by Nicola |
Move aside hotel ballroom, a growing trend is for couples to get married in more unique and unusual spaces. The public library is one such space; imagine the intrigue of your guests seeing a library venue on your wedding invitation.
[photo credit: Newlyweds in Bates Hall at the Boston Public Library. (Hitched Studios)]
A library locale can offer splendid architecture, magnificent interiors, and many also have great gardens or courtyards (think photo op!)
One bride who got married in the Boston Public Library courtyard last fall commented “It feels like you’re being married in a fairy tale, [a] dream location, an oasis in the middle of a bustling city.” The courtyard backdrop for this bride’s wedding featured a luscious garden walkway, a fountain and a bronze cast statue. Pretty spectacular stuff.
During peak wedding season, the Boston public library often hosts two or more weddings per weekend, and the 24 weddings held in fiscal year 2010 more than doubled to 54 booked in fiscal 2011.
Governed by a board of trustees, the public library does not allow weddings without restrictions. So if you have your heart set on balloons, candles or fog machines, don’t bother calling the Boston public library. But if you want a distinctive setting for your elegant wedding celebration, it’s a guaranteed beautiful and memorable choice.
If you’re thinking of an elegant wedding location, visit LookLoveSend.com online and browse our selection of elegant and chic wedding invitations. If your wedding is scheduled for 2012, enter our sweepstakes for the chance to win a complete wedding invitation suite valued up to $1500.
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26 Aug |
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10:08 am Posted by Kristy |
When a bride considers breaking out her mother or grandmother’s wedding gown, she should be prepared to think about several things:
- Emotional issues.
Make sure you aren’t wearing a family gown to please someone else. What if alterations are needed? How does mom really feel about a pair of scissors touching her dress? The truth is, she may not really know how she will feel, so keep an open mind and talk about it.
- Best for Budget Brides?
Not necessarily. If alterations for fit are likely, especially to expand size (requiring additional matching fabric), know you could be in for some unanticipated costs. If the dress fits, but you want to modernize certain aspects, such as the neckline, train or adornment, check your budget. Redesign and materials can add to your original vision of a budget family heirloom!
- Preservation
Not all preserved gowns are equal. Feel the fabric and check the seams. If the dress is too fragile, consider wearing it only for the ceremony. You can then change into a second wedding gown for the reception. If it won’t withstand any wearing, look into having a copy made or use favorite features in a new dress. Finally, incorporate actual pieces of the gown directly into your new dress or one of your accessories, such as a purse or headpiece. This covers the something “Old” you will want to have!
In the end, if you feel very strongly about wearing a family gown despite the hurdles, be persistent! For inspiration, check out this success story on the theBudgetSavvyBride.com. The bride’s strong desire to wear her mother’s 1980s gown was so mired in doubt from all sides that her mother obtained a backup gown before they even opened the box!
For easy wedding inspiration with less legwork, visit LookLoveSend.com online and browse our wedding invitations. All components in our wedding invitation suites are designed to coordinate with one another. If your wedding is scheduled for 2012, enter our sweepstakes for the chance to win a complete wedding invitation suite valued up to $1500.
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25 Aug |
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9:57 am Posted by Kristy |
As the saying goes, it’s NEVER too early to start thinking about the holiday season. Planning parents everywhere with school-age kids can turn easy crafts done either at home or at school into unique ways to dress up holiday gifts and Christmas card collections.
from Parents.com
Some suggestions in a recent post by Parents.com caught our eye. Here are a few of our favorite picks, plus one or two of our own additions:
Dress Up Gift Wrap with…
- Button Jewelry We like the idea of stringing felt flowers (or sparkly buttons) into jewelry, but what about turning it into into gift wrap ribbon for tying up packages or adorning Christmas gifts?
- Friendship Bracelets These still-popular braided strands of colored string also make terrific ribbons for wrapping or tying on gift tags.
Dress up Gift Jars with…
- Lacy Doilies Cut and dyed to cover tissue-paper wrapped votive candle jars on Parent.com, we suggest using them also to dress up other jarred gifts, such as homemade fudge sauce, cookie mix kits, or the jams and pickled fruits featured in our Summer in a Jar blog.
- Jolly Java Jackets These are too cute just for coffee cups! Originally designed as heat protector sleeves for to-go coffee on Parents.com, these repurpased knit and cloth fabrics adorned with buttons can dress up any jar, canister or cup.
Dress up your Christmas Card Collection with…
- Lunch Bag Scrapbook Using a stack of folded-over brown paper lunch sacks bound with ribbon is great way for kids to compile and display special holiday cards. They will enjoy pasting their cards on each page and decorating the pages however they like.
- Bottle cap Magnets As long as you still have a magnetic refrigerator (sorry stainless steel), or at least a magnetic bulletin board, you can hang your favorite Christmas cards using these painted and bejeweled bottle caps.
For a look at equally unique and thoughtfully designed Christmas and holiday cards, check out the growing collection available on LookLoveSend.com. For a personalized card, customize your card with a photo. All cards are printed on premium weight card stock. Join the email list and receive 20% off your first order.
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24 Aug |
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8:03 am Posted by admin |
History of Baby Birth Announcements
Throughout time, proud parents have spread the news of a baby’s safe arrival into the world in many ways. In the United States, traditions announcing a new baby have evolved from very intimate gatherings to mass mailings of customized photo birth announcements.
In the 21st century, parents rely heavily on the Internet to get the news out. From a simple text to a social media broadcast, even baby’s very own website, nobody should be able to say, “I haven’t heard yet!”
Here’s a closer look at this history:
PRE-VICTORIAN ERA (1700s) Proud papa handed out cigars with either a blue or pink ribbon to indicate a boy or girl baby.
VICTORIAN ERA (1830S – 1900) The ladies received a pink or blue ribbon engraved with baby’s name and date of birth. This was their cue to visit the new baby, placed on decorous display in a basket or bassinet.
EARLY 1900s Parents began placing birth announcements in local newspapers, a practice that continues today in some smaller-towns.
1930s Parents wrote letters to out of town family and friends to spread the news. Some announcements even shared photographs when possible.
1940-1960 Hospitals gave parents a simple folder with a black and white photo of the baby where they could handwrite information.
1970-1980s Generic hospital-sponsored folder birth announcements continued, but with an upgrade to color photos.
1990s Computer technology heightened quality and made photo retouching and small print batches more affordable. Digital photography soon followed, and commercially available digital cameras transformed a specialized profession into a regular past-time, especially for new parents.
2010 Printed birth announcements continue to be in demand and are more customizable than ever.
The most popular birth announcement methods today are:
CALL 76%
TEXT 72%
SOCIAL MEDIA 72%
EMAIL 44%
Other Fun Ways to Announce Baby’s Arrival:
- Personalized Online Announcements
- Baby’s Own Blog or Website
- Edible Birth Announcements
Birth Statistics
BirthDAYS WEDNESDAY is the most popular day for births (15.4% more births occur on Wednesdays) SUNDAY is the slowest day (35.1% fewer births than average)
Birth RATES More than 4 million babies are born in the U.S. each year, but birth rates have been declining recently:
- 14.3 births per 1,000 people in 2007 to 13.5 births in 2009
- From 2008 to 2009, births declined by 111,000
State’s birth rates vary widely:
- VERMONT sees 10 births per 1,000 people
- UTAH sees 21 births per 1,000 people
Average AGE First-time moms are getting older on average, increasing from 21 years old in 1970 to 25.2 years old in 2005.
Birth MONTHS JULY, AUGUST & SEPTEMBER have the most births.
Newborn Vital Stats The average American newborn…
- Weighs 7-1/2 lbs
- Measures 14-20 inches long
- Has a head circumference measuring ¼ of the total baby’s body length
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23 Aug |
Whether Sending or Receiving Party Invitations, Line Up the Sitter |
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9:45 pm Posted by Kristy |
What do you pay YOUR babysitter? The going rate for a good babysitter is a common topic of discussion among parents these days. The funny money from the kitchen jar just doesn’t seem to cover it anymore.
Hourly rates are approaching those of full-time salaried nannies in some regions. This makes babysitting a serious budget item for many households, a trend affecting how you’ll respond to a party invitation, planning your own parties and the frequency of date nights.
So it’s best to know how to determine a competitive babysitting rate in your area. After all, you want to keep the good ones calling (or at least texting) you back!
Asking other parents is certainly a start. But their answers are specific to their situation and their sitters. If you want a more market-based approach, or are just starting out with a new baby, or are new to an area, try Care.com’s easy-to-use babysitter’s pay rate calculator to obtain a basic pay rate. This simple tool just asks for your zip code, the number of children and the years of experience you are looking for. Here’s why these factors matter:
- Location. Depending on what region in the country you live is as important as whether you dwell in or around a big city. Rates will be higher for major metropolitan areas and on the coasts.
- Number of children. The obvious difference in care of one child versus three changes pay rates.
- Experience. The more years of experience your babysitter has, the higher the rate. Actual years may not be as important as long a sitter whose passed a babysitting course and who interviews well.
Other factors can cause a savvy parent to adjust the basic pay rate accordingly:
- Transportation costs. If your babysitter has a longer commute, consider either a mileage stipend or paying for the extra time.
- Requesting additional duties. Beyond the childcare-related duties like preparing snacks or cleaning up afterwards, extra household chores like laundry should earn a sitter extra.
- Children’s ages. This is a bit of a grey area, but it’s important to acknowledge the difference in caring for a demanding infant and a self-sufficient 8 year old. Similarly, if you have a collection of kids who range in ages, you need to compensate a good sitter for being versatile, attentive and energetic.
Also communicate your needs and expectations clearly at the outset. Avoid misunderstanding that could lead to dissatisfaction on either side, or worse for you, a babysitter who won’t likely accept the job again!
Armed with this information, you can now get back to party planning. Find your style of party invitations on LookLoveSend.com, where you can also expect superior quality printing on premium papers.
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22 Aug |
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10:03 am Posted by Kristy |
When you receive a wedding invitation, you know it from the pretty writing, the heavy paper, and the fatness of the envelope. This is because you find a collection of components inside the envelope, not just the invitation itself. Each element is part of thewedding invitation suite with the specific purpose of providing important details about the event. The standard wedding invitation suite contains the Invitation, Reception card, Response card, Menu and Directions.
When it comes to planning your own wedding, make your mark with a dash of creativity to your wedding invitation suite.
Streamline
Simplify your invitation envelope with fewer pieces by combining elements. Don’t feel limited to print only the specifics as defined by the name of each component. For example, provided you have the space, or by utilizing the back side, include directions on the reception card, like this black-and-white reception card from LookLoveSend.com featured left. Similarly, add menu options to the response card, indicating that guests also mark their choice if they will be attending.
Personalize
Choose a photo or create a marriage monogram to upload onto one of your pieces. Typically the invitation provides the most space for this, but depending on the design, there may be other pieces that accommodate an image. A close-in head shot of yourselves together is one nice way to personalize the invitation, in either black and white or color, depending on the style and design of the invitation. Another less common idea is to use a beautiful photo image of the ceremony or reception location. This may be particularly appropriate for a destination wedding, or if you have chosen an especially beautiful or unusual location for your wedding.
Add Something Unexpected
On the response card or menu, add a line for guests to write in a song request. Or, if you are featuring a fun foodie experience, such as a candy bar or ice cream sundae bar, let guests mark their favorite candy or topping. This helps you plan better and hints at the fun to come for your guests.
To find your own unique inspiration for invitations, visit looklovesend.com. You will see a wide range of design styles and color options, and all components are printed on heavy weight, luxurious papers. If your wedding date is set for 2012, enter LookLoveSend.com’s sweepstakes for a chance to win a complete wedding invitation suite valued up to $1500.
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21 Aug |
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1:56 am Posted by Nicola |
Want to serve a great wine at your wedding that won’t break your budget? Even if you’re not a wine connoisseur yourself, chances are some of your guests will be more wine savvy. You want to pick a few good bottles, but wine selection can be overwhelming to say the least. Here are some hints from industry experts to get the best cork for your buck.
- Ask about your reception site’s bar policy. Some places will require that you get your wine through them while others will allow you to bring in your own. Try and negotiate out of a corkage fee (the per bottle fee that some sites will charge for you to serve wine supplied from elsewhere).
- Select a couple of red and white wine options then hold a tasting party to solicit feedback and pick a favorite (bride and groom get double-votes!)
- Select your menu and then pick your wine accordingly. Heavy foods = bold wines. Lighter fare = fruitier and crisper wines.
- Consider wines from local wineries (most states have them). This should bring down cost and add a nice local flavor for your guests.
- If bringing in wine from an outside supplier, make sure you get a by-the-case-discount. It is common for a wine store to offer a 10% discount for a full case anyway, for a large quantity special order they should be willing to offer an even better discount.
- If you’re not a wine drinker yourself, there are many websites out there to educate and guide buyers. Tap into the expertise at
- to start the process.
For help finding wedding invitations or other wedding-related party invitations, browse the beautiful collections available at LookLoveSend.com. If you or a bride you know has a wedding date set for 2012, check out LookLoveSend’s wedding invitation sweepstakes for the chance to win a wedding invitation suite up to a $1500 value.
