|
20 Aug |
|
|
3:10 am Posted by Nicola |
We’ve all seen those photos of the bride, groom and their cutely-dressed ringbearer pooch. For the dog-loving couple choosing to include their four-legged friend on their special day; wouldn’t it be a fun choice to extend that love to the reception? Instead of tables 1-15, direct guests to the Labrador, Poodle, Spaniel, Corgi table….you get the idea.
If using an Escort card (or seating card) to direct guests to a specific table, a fun and meaningful option can be to reference thoughtfully-chosen table names instead of traditional numbers.
- Ski trails - to demonstrate a shared hobby of the outdoorsy, active couple.
- Countries - places that the couple have visited together.
- Legendary musicians – favorites of the music lovers.
- Sports teams – but beware of those Red Sox/Yankee table food fights!
- Home town street names – especially fun for the couple who grew up together, and for guests familiar with that town.
- Constellations, flower names, theme-based items pick a group of items that go along with your wedding theme or style.
There are endless options for reception table naming. Why not give those tired numbers a rest and start brainstorming? Creating unexpected table names will add character to your wedding and provide a good conversation starter for your guests.
Checkout the beautifully designed wedding invitation stationery designs available at LookLoveSend.com. Most designs offer a broad range of wedding stationery elements, including escort cards, save the date cards, directions and response cards.
|
19 Aug |
|
|
1:40 am Posted by Kristy |
School is getting back in session. Those of us with school-aged kids are re-adjusting to set bedtimes, homework supervision, and healthier eating patterns. From home packed school lunches, after-school snacks, to class parties, we struggle to creatively re-introduce healthy foods back into our kids’ diets.
It can be a challenge to get kids to eat healthy after splurging at ice cream stands, poolside hotdogs and hamburgers, and fried seafood. But more options exist today than ever before to transform healthy food into fun and pretty. Here’s a few favorite tricks, plus some great recipe ideas:
Pirate Platters My sis gets credit for the name. It’s nothing more than turning big vitamins into small bites. Why is a turkey and cheese so much more appealing when it’s rolled up and cut up into bite-sized pieces and skewered with toothpicks? I don’t know, but it’s even more fun when everyone eats off the same platter, like a bunch of pirates. When she breaks out the giant platter arranged with bite-sized fruits, veggies, and whole grains stabbed with toothpicks, the platter gets licked pretty clean. This one is a great option for after-school playdates and birthday parties.
Laptop Lunch Trays (laptoplunches.com)
My kids like the allure of buying the school lunch, I just don’t care for it’s nutritional value (or lack thereof). So this new product comes out mimicking the compartments of a school lunch tray in a colorful and portable fashion. Called Laptop Lunches, Parents.com came up with easy, healthy assortments to fill them that I plan to copy when school begins. Stylish laptop lunch containers are available for adults, too!
Reinvent Classic Sandwiches It seems as though all the recipe sites and family magazines are reinventing classic sandwiches. They either upgrade the ingredients or go for creative presentation. Here’s a few examples:
|
CLASSIC SANDWICH |
REINVENTED |
PREDICTION |
|
PB&J |
Almond Butter & Dried Cranberries | Not sure the kids would do the cranberries, but sugarfree jam maybe. |
|
Tunafish |
Replace mayo with Greek yogurt and cut into fish shape. Add sliced tomato. | The fun fish shape alone would get mine to take a bite! |
|
Ham & Cheese |
OPTION 1:Spread bread with Laughing Cow Light Creamy Swiss.OPTION 2: Drop the bread. Roll them up together and stick a toothpick in it. | Alternating both options creates two entirely different lunches! |
These are a tiny fraction of ideas to get kids back to eating healthy. But school shouldn’t be the only reason to keep kids on track. Don’t let a pending birthday party invitation limit you to pizza and cake; try new ideas to present healthy food creatively, or upgrade the nutritional value of classic ingredients. Please share with us what your kids’ foodie favorites are.
If you are looking for fun, fresh birthday party invitations to go with your fun, fresh party menu, check out the collection at LookLoveSend.com. Our invitations are printed on a high quality paper to go with your high quality ingredients. Join our email list and receive 20% off your first order with us.
|
18 Aug |
|
|
12:12 am Posted by Kristy |
Planning for baby isn’t just about registering for your baby shower. Financial planning should also play a central role in planning. After all, bringing a new member on board is going to mean an expansion in your expenditures. Find out how you can make it work.
Here’s a handy checklist for 6 major financial considerations for your baby planning:
- Can I afford to stay home? This is one of the most basic questions parents ask. Often the answer is clearly yes or no. But if it’s a question for you and your partner, Parents.com’s StayAtHomeCalculator walks you through basic calculations to hang some numbers on.
- Does my employer have Maternity Leave? Especially if you plan to continue working, find out how your pay may be reduced and for what period of time. Companies with fewer than 50 employees are not beholden to the Family Medical Leave Act, which really only protects the security of your job, not your income. So your employer’s Short Term Disability plan may be a secondary option.
- Do I have the necessary insurance coverage? Whether you purchase your own private plans or go through your employer, or some combination, you will need to make sure you have enough coverage for health, life and disability. Add baby as a dependent to be covered under your health care plan. Don’t forget to increase your life insurance benefit amount, and make sure you have some kind of long-term disability coverage in case of an accident, illness or injury that prevents you from working.
- What childcare options are available and what will they cost? Budget for child care expenses if you will be returning to work. Find out if your employer offers a Dependent Care Spending Account, which allows you to set aside a portion of your pay pre-tax to cover eligible childcare expenses. Quality childcare costs vary greatly from region to region. Hiring a nanny typically costs more than a licensed childcare facility. Private in-home care, if available, is another option.
- Does my will specify exactly what I want for my child?
Set up a will if you don’t already have one. Also consider executing a living will in case you or your partner become incapacitated and unable to make important decisions. Estate laws vary widely from state to state, so specify exactly what you want to happen to your financial and other assets. Don’t assume your child will be the primary beneficiary–specify who you want to have fiduciary responsibility. That person could be different than the person with whom you want your child to live. - How can I save for college? Open a 529 college savings plan. Nearly all states now offer some tax benefits to their state residents who contribute to the state plan. But there can be income limits to those benefits, and if the plan fees and underlying investments in another state’s plan are more appealing, don’t hesitate to consider opening a 529 College Savings Plan elsewhere.
If you follow up on each of these items, you’ll be well prepared. Now get on with the fun stuff…register for those baby items and start browsing baby birth announcements. LookLoveSend.com has a fresh, exciting collection of adorable birth announcements with coordinating thank you notes. Join the email list and receive 20% off your first order.
|
16 Aug |
|
|
5:49 pm Posted by Kristy |
Today’s couples are completely changing who and how they identify their wedding hosts on their wedding invitations. A recent myth-busting article from WeddingChannel.com (Top 10 Wedding Myths) revealed that many couples these days ARE their own hosts, and they aren’t afraid to say so on the wedding invitation.
The tradition that is now being called a “myth” was that the bride’s parents’ names appeared on the top of the wedding invitation. This was to give them top billing as the event’s hosts, both because of tradition as well as to recognize that the bride’s parents were footing the bill.
But both tradition and financing have changed this for many reasons, not the least of which is Modern Day Family Realities we’ve blogged about before. So we scoured our own samples at LookLoveSend.com for some ideas about how today’s couples can modernize the wording on their invitations:
Groom’s parents also hosting, either financially or involved in wedding planning:
Together with our parents
[Bride's father's & mother's names]
and
[Groom's father's & mother's names]
We,
[Bride's name]
and
[Groom's name]
invite you to share in the joy
of beginning our new life together.
Couple is paying for their own wedding:
With joyous hearts
we invite you to attend
the wedding of
[Bride's name]
and
[Groom's name]
Couple is paying for their wedding but wants to acknowledge a more traditional hosting role for their parents:
It is our moment to celebrate
the love that unites us
[Bride's name]
and
[Groom's name]
Together with our parents
we invite you to share with us . . .
For trickier situations such as divorce and remarriage, guidelines from our previous blog (Modern Day Family Realities) can help simplify things. Mainly just remember that when recognizing either set of parents by name on the wedding invitation, it is still proper etiquette to use the bride’s natural mother’s name first, whether or not you include a second spouse on the same line. The same goes for putting the bride’s name first if the couple is hosting their own wedding…ladies first still stands!
For a closer look at wedding invitation designs and their sample wording suggestions, visit LookLoveSend.com. If your wedding date is set for 2012, be sure to enter the Wedding Invitation Sweepstakes for the chance to win a complete wedding invitation set, up to a $1500 value.
|
15 Aug |
|
|
10:18 pm Posted by Kristy |
These days, the trend in co-ed baby showers means mixing up traditions in gifts and games to keep guests of mixed company from getting too glassy-eyed over bibs and booties. Whether you are involved planning a couples’ baby shower, co-worker shower, or just a regular baby shower where the Dad-to-be plans to appear, we’ve hunted down some of the best gift and game ideas to engage guests of both genders.
Baby Shower Theme Ideas:
- Build baby’s library of books and music We’ve blogged about some great books for baby before, but you can encourage guests to mix in some music too. Dan Zanes, Steve Songs, Laurie Berkner are great kids songwriters and performers to check out.
- Safety shower Tools and gadgets are usually a hit for most guys. Think beyond baby gates and cabinet latches to cool fire escape ladders and the latest in hi-tech baby monitors.
- Nursery Set-up Get your guest crew together for a work party to move, assemble, hang, fold, etc. Choose pizza or subs instead of pastries and finger-sandwiches for food. Document everyone who pitched in either by getting a signature or handprint to create an art piece for baby’s room later.
- Home Entertainment Emergency Kit A bit of organization ahead of time might help, but the idea is to supply the expecting parents with a stash of home entertainment items, given their change in lifestyle. With ample opportunity for humor and fun, one way to organize gift giving is by assigning categories ahead of time (such as Movies, Drinks, Games, Recipes, Miscellaneous, etc.)
Baby Shower Games: At traditional showers, games really are just an ice-breaker and a way to engage guests while presents get opened. But in mixed company, put some skin in the game. Be ready with prizes that appeal to both genders, such as gas cards, bottles of wine, massage tools or whatever you can think of.
- The Price is Right So fun to get the guys in particular getting to know the real costs of baby items! Choose enough baby items (but not the ones on the registry) and hand-out charts for guests to fill out while gifts are opened. The guest(s) with the most closely correct guesses wins.
- Baby Pictionary Break guests into two to four teams, depending on the size of the group. Hand out cards with either a name or the picture of a baby item. Allow teams to draw their clues associated with the item, and allow teammates to ask simple yes/no questions. As with the original pictionary, this is a pretty intense game and a fun centerpoint of the shower. It’s best done either before or after the guest(s) of honor have opened their gifts.
- Guess Whose Baby Picture Have every guest bring in a baby picture, then quickly but simply assemble them, label with a number for display during the shower. Give every guest a sheet of paper to write down the name of the guest whose baby picture they think it is with the corresponding number. No winners necessary here because no one person knows all the answers!
We’d love to hear about your off-the-beaten path baby shower ideas, especially those that the gentlemen enjoy. If you are looking for fresh, exciting baby shower invitations, check the collections at LookLoveSend.com. Join the email list and receive 20% off your first order.
|
14 Aug |
|
|
7:21 pm Posted by Nicola |
Are you interested in adding an element of vintage style to your wedding? Considering the word vintage implies old-fashioned, hand-picked and one-of-a-kind, it is easy to see how a vintage styled wedding can be highly personalized and unique. Here are some tips for creating a vintage feel for your special day [source: You & Your Wedding, Sept/Oct 2011 edition].
[photo credit: Jacobus Photographyjacobusphoto.com]
- Select a reception site with character. An intimate and original venue is preferable to a traditional hotel ballroom or reception hall.
Use bunting to set a vintage mood. “Bunting” refers to decorative garlands made of fabric, plastic, paper or cardboard. The garlands are usually crafted as strings of colorful triangular flags that are draped into swags and can instantly establish a vintage mood.- Find unique props. Scour thrift shops and antique stores for those one-of-a-kind conversation pieces that can become eclectic table centerpieces.
- Mix it up. The vintage place setting doesn’t have to be matchy matchy and having different china styles at a table is absolutely allowed.
- Use flowers, and lots of them. Select seasonal flowers and find interesting ways to display them. Roses in china teacups, sweet peas in an antique milk bottle, peonies in a sugar bowl. You get the idea.
- Opt for personalized wedding favors. Homemade is best, such as homemade preserves in a jar topped with tulle and lace.
The beauty of a vintage-themed wedding is that it’ll be unique and pretty and different all at once, consult online wedding inspiration boards to draw ideas for your own planning. And continue the theme in your wedding invitations, such as Vintage Lilacs available at LookLoveSend.com by designer Linda Facci.
|
14 Aug |
|
|
3:00 am Posted by Nicola |
Get a baby shower invitation….lookup mom-to-be’s registry online. Visit mom and newborn in the hospital…stop by the flower shop to pickup a bouquet on the way over. This is probably what most of us do and – don’t get me wrong; there is absolutely nothing wrong with this tradition of generosity. But after having my firstborn I remember my mom bringing me the most unexpected and welcome gift…a selection of comfort items JUST FOR ME.
I think it’s a truly great idea to put together a small gift bag of relatively inexpensive but highly appreciated items for any new mother. Just think of yourself sitting in that hospital bed and imagine what you would like. Some ideas:
Comfy stretchy pants to pull on and wear-to-death for the next few weeks. Let’s face it, no new mother leaves the hospital wearing her pre-pregnancy jeans, but it really is a bummer to have to pull out those maternity pants again. Those maternity waistbands are something best left far behind and many pregnant women choose to invest in a minimal maternity wardrobe and may have worn the same two pairs of pants for the past 5 months!- A good deep conditioner. Pregnancy and post-pregnancy hormones can wreak havoc on hair, yet grabbing bath and body items from the supermarket aisle may be the best that a new mother can hope for. Buy her a good conditioner and she should be able to find 5 minutes to lather and enjoy.
Unscented body lotion to pamper mom. Doctors advise against new parents wearing strongly-scented soaps and lotions, especially during those initial days that a baby bonds and learns the scent of mom and dad. Many natural and unscented body lotions are available at a reasonable price at your local drugstore.- A gourmet food treat for mom (and dad). Food treats are especially appreciated during the first days of limited hospital food options and no refrigerator to raid.
It’s guaranteed that a new mother will receive numerous cute baby outfits and beautiful flowers in those first joyful days. But bring a gift of comfort and it’s sure to be the gesture she remembers most.
|
13 Aug |
|
|
3:16 am Posted by Kristy |
“Congratulations on your engagement!” That’s what they’re saying, but is that what they’re thinking? We’re not talking about whether or not they like your fiance. We are talking about whether some friends get nervous about the expense of being asked to be in the wedding party.
While the wedding costs grew in the 1990′s and up to 2007, in a more tenuous 2011 economic environment, spending is noticeably down to 1999 levels, according to the latest U.S. Wedding Cost Update, available on TheWeddingReport.com.
This means today’s engaged couples need to consider more carefully than ever the expenses that their wedding party attendants will bear. This is especially true for the bridesmaids, whose attire is not usually rented, and whose beauty regimens tend to be more involved than those of the groomsmen.
The costs of being in a wedding vary of course. But the general rundown of bridemaids’ responsibilities typically incur the following costs:
- Attire Dress and shoes are obvious, but don’t discount the need for special undergarments some dress styles will require, alterations, and even accessories. Many brides choose to give accessories they want their bridesmaids to wear as gifts.
- Salon/spa appointments There is a strong tradition of bridal spa parties before the ceremony for hair, make-up and even mani-pedis, but unless you are requiring up-do’s, let your bridesmaids choose which services they want (and can afford).
- Travel & meals Travel expenses vary in range depending on air, train or car, but with gas prices so high, be considerate of your long-distance bridesmaids. And because a wedding is not typically just a 24-hour affair for the wedding party, with pre-wedding parties, the rehearsal dinner, and a bridal luncheon, there will be meal expenses as well.
- Accommodations According to Emily Post, the bride and groom should cover accommodations for their wedding party attendants. This may not be feasible for all couples’ budgets, so consider arranging roommates, find the best deal, and most importantly, discuss this cost specifically with each individual so you can at least chip in if needed.
- Pre-wedding Parties Depending on what various parties are planned, bridesmaids can find themselves chipping in on everything from wedding shower invitations to luncheon tabs to group activities for the bachelorette party.
- Gifts At a minimum, a bridesmaid will need to purchase a wedding gift for the couple, as well as a wedding or bridal shower gift. One way to reduce costs for each of these gifts is to go in on a group gift with other bridesmaids. Or, consider putting your talents to a heartfelt homemade gift or pledging to give your time to help with something relevant, such as moving, home renovations, or even writing wedding thank you notes!
To help keep your bridesmaids from feeling like receiving your wedding invitation is like receiving an invoice, keep a budget in mind as you plan the details, and encourage constant communication with them. Your maid of honor could be an excellent assistant to you in this area if you need a bit of a buffer for difficult conversations, or if you are simply to bogged down with other details.
You may find yourself in a similar position someday soon.
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.
|
12 Aug |
|
|
2:20 am Posted by Kristy |
August can feel a bit schizophrenic. It’s still summer; vacations and festivals are in full swing, but so are back-to-school sales and tax holidays. Kids in many regions are breaking in their new shoes and backpacks. Some have even walked to the bus-stop for a few days already. (Shout-out to you, Atlanta!)
So what if your child has a birthday in the first month or two of the school year? There are some definite pluses to putting on a birthday party in the late summer/early fall season. But beware of some pitfalls to manage as well.
Here’s a look at what some of us with fall babies should consider:
Fall Birthday Party Pluses
- Unbeatable weather This is true nearly everywhere, except for lingering heat in the south and southwest. Consider outdoor venues such as the beach, lake, pool or amusement parks. Recruit local high school players to help organize drills and mock play of a typical fall sport, like soccer, football or cheerleading. Create an obstacle course in your backyard or take kids on a scavenger hunt hike.
- Special rates As an add-on, many outdoor venues that are seasonal offer discounted rates after labor day.
- Seasonal change The transition from summer to fall means new forms of food and fun. As fall draws on, picking (or dunking for) apples, carving (or decorating) pumpkins, and hayrides are great party options for kids of all ages.
- Re-energized kids The long summer break and back-to-school excitement virtually guarantee excitement over the first birthday parties of the year. These kids are hungry to play!
Fall Birthday Pitfalls
- New school year While this can mean new friends, it depends how fast your child makes them. New faces and unfamiliar parents can make classmates tough to pick for the guest list, and you may not have parents’ contact information. Many schools restrict selective birthday invitations in the classroom, so you either have to invite everyone or get in touch with parents.
- New routines Kids are working through new schedules and could tire more easily than in the summer, when it seemed like they could go all day forever! Think carefully about planning a weekday party, but also be aware of fall sports on weekends.
Find the perfect birthday party invitation at looklovesend.com, where a growing selection includes party invitations suited from baby’s first birthday through kids up to teens. All invitations are printed on high quality paper and may be customized with text and a photo. Join the email list and receive 20% off your first order.
|
11 Aug |
|
|
12:39 am Posted by Kristy |
Hosting a baby shower in the next few months? Whether you are the expecting mom or her family member or friend, here’s a quick and easy planning checklist to help make sure you cover your bases:
- Find out what type of shower the mom-to-be wants…something intimate with family and close friends, or a bigger affair with an extensive guest list.
- Set a date that works for you as host, the mom-to-be, and key guests, such as family and close friends.
- Get a detailed guest list, complete with names, addresses and/or emails.
- Find and book a venue, whether someone’s private home or a more public area such as a restaurant or event space.
- Consider choosing a theme that appeals to the mom-to-be. Theme ideas could be inspired by the planned nursery decor, a favorite children’s book, a color scheme, or even a gift theme such as starting baby’s book collection.
- Order baby shower invitations and get them out in a timely manner. Try to allow for six weeks, but no fewer than four weeks before the shower date. Be sure to include an address and a single contact phone number and email for RSVPs.
- Suggest a menu and check with the mom-to-be about any food allergies she has or may be aware of with her guestlist. Don’t be afraid to ask other guests if they would like to contribute either monetarily or by bringing a dish. Everyone likes to be involved!
- Plan a few games and ice-breakers to engage and entertain everyone while the guest of honor opens her gifts. For great games ideas like Baby Bingo, Guest the Baby Photos, How Big is Her Tummy, and others, as well as details and links to pull them off, check out include www.babyshower101.com.
- Assign a reliable guest the duty of documenting the gifts opened and gift giver names for easier thank you note writing later.
To find the perfect baby shower invitations, check looklovesend.com for fresh, fun designs printed on quality paper. All shower invitations also have coordinating baby thank you notes, which make a great gift for the guest of honor! Subscribe to the email list and receive 20% off the first order.
