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18 Nov |
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8:10 pm Posted by Nicola |
When that holiday party invitation for your annual office get-together comes along, do you cringe or look forward to a festive evening with your work colleagues? Your reaction is probably a reflection of past office party experiences – whether it’s the image of tipsy and obnoxious Dan from Accounting or an unexpectedly fun evening with your colleagues.
The office holiday party is a strange mix of work and fun and we’ve all heard the horror stories. Here are some do’s and don’ts from career and etiquette experts on the matter:
DO attend. Believe it or not, attendance at the office holiday party is not optional. Executive coach Marjorie Brody says “even if you hate these things, it’s a good idea to put in an appearance. It shows you’re part of the team.”
DO think of it as work not play. Brody sates that “people should understand [the office holiday party] is a business event”. Act accordingly.
DO dress appropriately. Nothing tacky. Women should keep bare skin to a minimum and men should keep their shirts buttoned. If it’s your first holiday party at a particular job, ask colleagues about the dress code before going.
DO come prepared to mingle. Take the opportunity to socialize with co-workers that you don’t work with on a regular basis, as well as your boss. It’s a party, so don’t just talk business. If small talk isn’t your strong point, read up on the news and entertainment headlines for an easy discussion intro, or engage someone by commenting on his reindeer sweater! Holiday plans are good discussion topics. Politics and religion are not.
DO prep your significant other. If spouses and partners are invited to the party, be sure to remind them of important names to remember.
DO exit graciously. The rule of thumb is to stay for at least 1 ½ hours, even if the party is a total bore. Before leaving, it’s good practice to thank the person who organized the party and the person who approved its expense.
And finally the DON’T list…and this single DON’T but could be more important than all the DO’s put together.
DON’T drink too much alcohol. Combine a festive time of year with a potentially uncomfortable social setting, and it may just be too easy to reach for another glass of egg nog. Not surprisingly, drinking too much is the biggest source of office party problems, employee embarrassment, and bad memories that’ll flash back when next year’s holiday party invitation arrives.
Despite ending on such a cautionary note, the office holiday party can be a great chance to deepen professional relationships while celebrating the season. Now is a good time to send those early to mid December holiday party invitations. Checkout the selection available at LookLoveSend.com. All are printed on superior quality paper and satisfaction is guaranteed.
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17 Nov |
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11:09 am Posted by Kristy |
Next time you receive a baby shower invitation, checkout the associated baby registry and you may see evidence of a new trend towards gender-neutral baby colors. And that doesn’t necessarily mean the green and/or yellow of years past.
If you happened to catch the unveiling of Mariah Carey’s twin babies on Friday’s 20/20 episode, you would’ve seen their ‘caramel and white’ designer nursery and matching baby duds. The caramel and white plaid design of the nursery walls was unexpected, refreshing, and sure to be copied by other expecting parents in our celebrity-driven culture.
Mariah Carey and twins with 20/20's Barbara Walters pose in neutrally-themed nursery
We researched nursery bedding designs across multiple sources and price points, and confirmed this trend towards neutral tones for baby. Here are some of our favorites…
Gender-neutral and elegant. Among the most exclusive options, the Marlo collection by Serena and Lily truly embraces a neutral color palate and restrained pattern:
Gender-neutral and bold. In a more moderate price point, the Safari pattern by Wendy Bellissimo adopts a crisp brown and white palate with a bold and fun design:
Gender-neutral and playful. Baby megastore Babies R’ Us has come a long way since the Winnie the Pooh bedding available when I registered years ago! This Doodle Doo design is one of their newest options for baby (boy or girl):
And if you are sending rather than receiving a baby shower invitation, consult the diverse collection available at LookLoveSend.com – many classified under the gender neutral category and embracing the trend of brown and beige. Join our mailing list to receive 20% off your first order with us.
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16 Nov |
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2:22 pm Posted by Kristy |
Expecting at least one holiday party invitation this season? Don’t be caught empty-handed if more party invitations come your way. A bottle of wine or poinsettia are standard gifts, but if you want to be different, seek unique items with wide appeal as you do your regular while out Christmas shopping. Stock up on a few simple gifts for unexpected gatherings as well.
After all, bringing even a small gift to someone who opens their home and treats you to the comforts of food and friends is the ultimate gesture of gratitude. You can go several different ways, depending on how well you know your party hostess and your own time and budget limitations. Homemade gifts can sometimes be more economical when you need quantity, and carry the mark of authenticity and personal effort that everyone appreciates. On the other hand, if time or patience is not on your side, you come across some easy finds by doing a little online searching, or relying on the ever-reliable purveyors of party trends with mass appeal, such as Williams Sonoma (yes, a pricier proposition).
Gift idea for the holiday party hostess: handmade votive candles by Martha Stewart
Homemade Gifts
- Gifts in a jar are easy, economical, and authentically homemade. We’ve got some specific recipes for this popular concept you can find in previous blogs, Christmas in a Jar with summer and fall recipes. Add a ribbon tied with a mini whisk, spoon or spatula, and attach the recipe.
- Hand-painted pot housing a seasonal herb plant, such as basil or thyme
- Handmade votive candles are easy to do if you can get your hands on blocks of beeswax. They also lend themselves to very creative presentation ideas, such as pouring the wax into mini terracotta pots (as shown by Martha Stewart) but can also be customized for the season inside of an orange rind or holiday-themed container.
- Hand-stamped thank you note cards tied together in with a simple holiday ribbon. Add a child’s touch with some thumbprint art if your recipient would value it.
Unique Finds
The number one go-to online shopping resource here has got to be etsy.com. Their constantly changing line-up of artisan, handmade quality products presents the easiest way to find unique and authentic gifts, if not always economical. Just out today, check out the Huffington Post’s highlight of 10 marvelous hostess ideas, from holiday spiced caramels to hand stamped wine glass tags.
Purveyors of Party Paraphernalia
Pottery Barn and Williams Sonoma have a website page dedicated to delight your party hostess and helps filter your search by price, recipient and/or recipient’s interests. For less pricier options with spot-on trend appeal, try Pier One. Their lineup of reed diffusers have wide appeal and liven up the tired candle gift trend.
If you find yourself hosting a party this holiday season, look no further than the wide selection of lively holiday party invitations at www.looklovesend.com. You can personalize your invitations with text and photos, all printed on premium paper. When you order 50 or more invitations, domestic ground shipping is free.
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14 Nov |
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9:52 pm Posted by Kristy |
This is another foray into the world of organizing for the holidays. Our first hint at dusting off your Christmas card list came before Halloween. But now, before you get too wrapped up planning this year’s Thanksgiving Day menu, take a moment to locate your list for sending out your Christmas cards. 
Are you one with an impeccable spreadsheet file formatted to fire onto labels? Or have you cobbled a paper list together year after year, never really sure where you put it the year before but always sure it’s outdated? If you are Type A with a ship-shape list, this blog isn’t for you. The rest of us should read on.
Starting up or starting over is not so difficult a task if you break it into steps and tackle a little each day you can find time. Here’s one example of a printable Christmas card list guide you can use directly. Or, use it for inspiration for how to organize your list, whether on paper or electronically. Then, follow these basic steps:
STEP 1: Write down names
It sounds simple enough. Getting names down on paper is really a process of thinking through all aspects of your life. Identify the people and acquaintances in all areas of your life that you think might like to hear from you, or with whom you feel it’s important to stay connected. Think about the following:
- Family (immediate and extended)
- Neighbors
- Friends (current, childhood, college, post college, newly forming, etc.)
- Clubs and organizations (e.g., Book Club, moms group, sports rec team, church, civic organization, etc.)
- Co-workers
- Special categories (favorite old teachers, special service providers, kids’ teachers and other leaders, etc.)
STEP 2: Alphabetize and Address Research
An alphabetized list is just easier to manage in the long term. You can do this the old fashioned way in your head, or, start loading names into the first column of an Excel spreadsheet and use their sorting tool to alphabetize afterwards.
Address research can sometimes be the most time consuming part, especially if your updating requires time on the phone, on email or on Facebook. Break it up by tackling a few alphabetical letters a day.
STEP 3: Print and Review
There’s really no need to debate the merits of having a paper Christmas card list or a digital one, because you should really have both. One backs up the other, and certainly personal preference can play a role when it comes time to actually sit down and address your Christmas cards. You may be inclined to print of labels, or you may like the personal feel of a handwritten address in which case having your paper list handy is the way to go. It’s entirely up to you, but just be sure that the lists are in sync. Whenever you update one, update the other.
STEP 4: Go card shopping!
This is the best part! Think about what kind of Christmas card message and design you want this year. You’ll find an extensive collection of cards in all styles and formats that you can personalize easily and order online at www.looklovesend.com. Cards come in multiple color options and can be flat or folded and personalized with your message and photos. When you order 50 or more cards you’ll get free domestic ground shipping.
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12 Nov |
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11:59 am Posted by Kristy |
Have a baby shower invitation in hand and want to give something extra special and useful for a first-time mom? The baby blog universe is overstuffed with the latest must-have baby shower gifts. From fancy, overpriced diaper bags to the latest homemade food prep gadgets, there are a lot of products to be had for the money. But in addition to expense, many of these gifts may not appeal to every first-time mom and may not even ever get used.
But EVERY first-time mom can benefit from some veteran mom gift ideas they have either given to themselves or received as first-timers. Here are our top 3 suggestions for highly practical first-time mom baby shower gifts:
- Get Ready for Baby binder
This is an instruction binder to prepare the first time mom and organize her (and her partner) for the trip to the hospital. It can be as simple as a home-compiled collection of pre-printed tabs, laminate sleeves (to hold paperwork) and three-hold punch paper (for making notes). Dress it up with a personalized cover slipped into a 3-ring binder, and you’ll have a unique gift that will appeal to either a perfect Type A mom, or better yet, the disorganized, last-minute, haven’t-got-a-clue mom (trust me). Score extra points if she goes into early labor and has hubby grab the binder for the pack list when they find themselves scrambling to get to the hospital! Include pre-printed pages with lists and tabs for things like:
- Packing Checklist (check out this Parents.com video on what to pack)
- Medical Insurance Information
- Contact Phone Numbers
- Visitor & Gift Log
- Baby’s Feeding Journal
- Medications List
- Emergency car kit
Keep the new mom (and dad) ultra-prepared beyond the trip to the hospital with a portable car travel bag filled with essential supplies. A wipeable, vinyl tote or duffel stuffed with travel essentials is another thoughtful, unique gift you can pull together on your own. The costs can add up, so ask other baby shower guests to contribute items, and you supply and organize the bag.Essential car travel gear should include:
- Disposable diapers (multiple sizes) and diaper changing pad
- Baby diaper wipes
- Scented disposable diaper baggies
- Hand sanitizer and wipes
- Washcloth and small bottle of baby body wash
- Tissues and bulb syringe
- Single-serve powdered formula packets and fluoridated water bottles
- Bottle, pacifier & teething ring
- Change of baby’s outfit and top for mom (spit happens)
- Feeding/breast care supplies
First time moms, unless they’ve taken the time to attend a breastfeeding class or really done some homework, are overwhelmed and underprepared when it comes to breastfeeding. Nothing in life prepares us for this encounter. So help her out by stocking her up ahead of time with breastfeeding basics, including:
- Breastfeeding tent (to provide modesty during breastfeeding)
- Lanisoh nipple cream
- Breast pad inserts
- A new eco-friendly water container to stay hydrated (such as Klean Kanteen brand)
- Gift card for a quality nursing bra (such as Bravada brand)
When it comes time to organize the baby shower, browse the adorable collection of baby shower invitations available through www.looklovesend.com. All shower invitations also have coordinating baby thank you notes, which make another very useful gift for the first-time mom. Invitations and cards can be personalized and are printed on premium quality papers. Order 50 or more and receive free shipping!
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10 Nov |
Keeping It Real Part II: Express the Meaning in Your Relationship |
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5:13 pm Posted by Kristy |
How do you keep your wedding from becoming theatre? Some drama is a natural part of wedding planning, and for most couples, the wedding is the first public event to express themselves as a couple, not just individuals. Furthermore, money is involved, as is family and the dysfunction that comes with it. Add to that a myriad of details that seem to emphasize appearances, how can wedding planning not be akin to a stage production?
Wedding planning pros advise couples to keep their eye on the ball by consciously seeking ways to weave special, meaningful pieces of their relationship into the planning details. Here are some thoughtful ways this can be done:
Engagement
- Choose a special photo for your save the date cards. The photo could be a favorite shot taken at a special time or in a special place.
- Incorporate a diamond or other piece of jewelry, however small, into the engagement ring handed down through family. This creates an immediate, tangible connection, as was so poignantly conveyed by Prince William with giving Kate Middleton his late mother’s engagement ring. (it’s the meaning not the money!)
Attire
- Incorporate some family history from either side into either the dress itself or in an accessory such as a purse, hairpiece, shrug, or jewelry. Lace or other material from an ancestor’s vintage gown is a good start.
- For the groom, a monogrammed kerchief or cuff links for his tuxedo can be a meaningful gift from the bride or her family.
Venue
- Create a photo collage to displays pictures of each of you separately during your childhood. Guests enjoy seeing these, especially old friends and family of either side, and it’s a great way to introduce them to the individual that your “better half” truly is.
- Include some fun photos of the two of you as a couple to tie together you as individuals.
- Have a thumbprint tree to remember your guests by in sharing the sanctioning of your relationship.
Place setting cards
You can tie your place setting cards directly to your wedding invitation design for a cohesive style statement, but you can also choose to personalize them
- Choose a theme that revolves around a shared interest, such as a hobby, sport, Alma mater or other interesting fact
- Make a donation to a cause in lieu of wedding favors and personalize your place setting cards with this information.
Vows
- Probably the most common way couples try to express the unique meaning for them of their bond in marriage is through writing their own vows. This is not an easy practice for many couples, so it’s good to work with your wedding officiant for guidance.
- Print the text of your vows in whole or in part directly in your wedding ceremony programs, or include a special note of thanks or other meaningful quote.
Get starting by finding the details that are meaningful to each of you by shopping the extensive collection of wedding invitations available at www.looklovesend.com. All wedding invitations can be personalized with your photos and wording, and are coordinated by design with other components for your entire and complete wedding invitation suite. If you are planning a 2012 wedding, enter the 2012 Wedding Invitation Sweepstakes to win a complete wedding invitation suite of your choice valued up to $1500.
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9 Nov |
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7:42 pm Posted by Kristy |
The last-minute birthday party cancellation is a challenge most parents face at some point. The causes of such cancellations are endless, including typical reasons such as:
- Lightening and thunder put down the pool party, miniature golf outing, or amusement park visit
- You or your child comes down with the flu
- The Health Department shuts down the venue (Chucky Cheese comes to mind)
- Power outage
Personally experienced with a last minute party cancellation resulting from that last reason, the main concern of any birthday party host is to get in touch with other parents quickly. This can be complicated by an equally urgent need to console a very disappointed child!
But making decisions about key party planning details needs to happen fast with a last-minute cancellation. Weeks of party planning can be reversed in minutes! The three main questions I had were:
- Cancel, postpone, or switch to a new party to plan?
Tackling Key Party Planning Details
The answer to this question determines what happens to everything else you’ve planned. The answer comes with some pressure if you don’t want to watch weeks of party planning dissipate entirely, not to mention your child’s acceptance of changing plans. In my case, I could not determine exactly what was going to happen, since a power outage with an uncertain resolution left me without answers. I took a chance knowing that a backup venue could likely accommodate us. I told parents we would reschedule. Here are the decisions I then made about key party planning details:
The Cake
It was made and paid, so we ate it. This was an especially helpful way for my child to cope with the disappointment, and I cut her a very big piece. We enjoyed it for several days.
Party Favors
Since I had a themed foodie snack, I had to throw this favor out and start again. I also decided to add something else, partly to make up for the disappointment the guests likely felt that day too!
Birthday Party Invitations
Instead of paying an additional cost to resend the invitations, I’m putting a simple flyer in everyone’s mailbox and sending out an email. While the original birthday party invitation is now worthless since both the date and venue have changed, I have small enough group to not resend.
You may want to consider resending new party invites, however, if any of the following things is true:
- you have a large group of guests (more than 10)
- the party theme changes dramatically
- more than a few weeks pass from the original party date and new party date (more than two weeks)
Whichever way you handle the details of your cancelled or postponed party, know that you can get a fast turnaround on birthday party invitations from www.looklovesend.com. The extensive selection of kids birthday party invitations includes many designs that can be personalized. Ordering and personalizing your party invites online is easy, and you can also specify “24-hour shipping” in the special instructions box at checkout.
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8 Nov |
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10:05 pm Posted by Kristy |
This holiday season, you may find yourself walking a fine line between enjoyment and stress when choosing your holiday cards. With so many sources to check out and even more designs to choose from, it helps to have the exact photos you would like to use in mind before you start shopping online holiday cards.
Holiday Card Design Options
Non-photo Holiday Card Design First you’ll need to decide whether or not you want to personalize a card design with one of your own photos. You may decide to use a non-photo holiday card and simply include a photo enclosed in the envelope. This strategy works especially well when you want to send different photos to different people on your list, or when you have multiple photos to send.
 Got Mistletoe by Susan Cahill |
 Holiday Picture Message by Lauren DiColli Hooke |
Multi-Photo Holiday Card Designs If you can’t decide on one photo in particular, many card designs allow for such “collages” as part of their design. You may choose to go this route if you have a large family and don’t have a single great photo of everyone together, if you don’t particularly love any one of your photos, or if you want to share an image along with a family photo (e.g. such as a new house, a new baby, a new pet or a recent vacation!)
 Poinsettia Christmas by Simon + Kabuki |
 Pine Cones Are Fun by Linda Facci |
Single Photo Holiday Card Designs When you have a high quality photo you want to share, a single image photo card can have a wonderful impact. In this case, you’ll need to choose between a design that gives either full-scale coverage to your photo, or a design that incorporates the photo into other design elements.
Full-scale coverage photo card design:
 Merry Christmas Scrolls by Simon+Kabuki |
 Christmas Even by Vita Mechachonis |
Photo incorporated into photo card design:
 String Lights by Genevieve Gail |
 Ornate Holiday by Linda Facci |
To find some great choices for photo-friendly holiday card designs,browse the huge selection of designs at www.LookLoveSend.com. Their collection includes non-photo cards as well as a wide variety of options for photo cards, and personalization is easy to do online. You can customize your message as well as your photo, and when you order more than 50 cards, shipping is free!
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8 Nov |
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12:42 pm Posted by Kristy |
Do you know someone with the tendency to turn a very special day into an “event,” or worse, a theatrical spectacular? Know anyone who wished their wedding invitation could be made into a commercial or put on the cover of People magazine?
Certainly most people who bothered to blog or tweet about Kim Kardashian’s divorce felt this way about the October 9-10 aptly named E! network television show, “Kim’s Fairytale Wedding.” They chalked up the quick divorce as no surprise. Most felt it was an expected ending to the perceived money-chasing, ratings-driven, unscrupulous business opportunity that was hyped for Kingdom Kardashian.
Many of us probably privately felt that while we would never ourselves engage in this level of opulence and manship, we all probably knew someone personally who, if able, would.
Psychology experts seem to agree that a general cultural phenomenon is increasingly responsible for driving divorces like Kim’s and Kris’s: a narcissistic culture where individuals do not successfully make the transition from “me” to “we” when it comes time to marry. Covered in a recent CNN article Narcissists Want Weddings Not Marriage, experts and psychologists claim that America’s “cultural obsession” with weddings is on ample display with popular shows like Say Yes to the Dress and Bridezillas.
But not to diminish the importance and scope of planning that a wedding deserves, consulting psychologist Stephen Fabick acknowledges in the CNN article, “The wedding is, on the one hand, a healthy way of making a public commitment to each other and acknowledging that you’re part of a web of family and friends that helps to nourish the relationship.” On the other hand, he continues, “it preps like a cancer, where the focus is on the show and not the long-term or reality of the relationship.”
The more you can remember the ultimate meaning of the day the better. Work through your decisions for each and every element–from which photo to use in your save the date cards to the car you’ll drive away in–knowing that it’s not a show, but rather an celebration of “we.”
Stay tuned later this week for Part II of Keep It Real for specific ways to keep wedding planning focused on your relationship rather than the event. Get inspired today by some of the lovely wedding invitation messages available through www.looklovesend.com. You’ll find an extensive selection of wedding invitations complete with coordinating save the date cards and ceremony programs in variety of styles. If you are planning a wedding for 2012, enter the 2012 Wedding Invitation Sweepstakes for the chance to win a complete wedding invitation suite valued up to $1500.
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7 Nov |
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2:44 am Posted by Nicola |
Have you ever wondered why Hanukkah cards, lights, candles and other decorations are mostly blue and white, or blue and silver? We consulted a number of sources and were surprised to find several (sometimes conflicting) answers to this question, ranging from the literal to the symbolic to the cynical.
The most literal explanation for the blue and white is that these are the colors of the Israeli flag and these national colors are particularly meaningful during Hanukkah as the holiday commemorates the Jewish victory in reclaiming their Temple and overturning the ban on their religious practice. This is probably the most obvious and widely-held reasoning for the blue and white.
[Bright Hanukkah by designer Amanda Zoss]
A more symbolic explanation of the traditional Hanukkah colors is that blue is a symbol of faith and consistence and white is a symbol of purity. Combined, these colors represent the faith that Jews have in God and the Hanukkah miracle.
[Hanukkah Gift by designer Amanda Zoss]
Another explanation of Hanukkah colors has a highly cynical tone shared by numerous online postings and blogs. This opinion is that there are no traditional Hanukkah colors with religious significance; and while the blue and white may have evolved from the Israeli flag, the white was changed to silver in order to add a festive glittering effect. Folks holding this opinion believe that companies ‘branded’ the blue and white/silver Hanukkah colors as a commercialized response to the red and green color ‘brand’ of the Christmas market.
Considering the many revered symbols of the Jewish faith such as the menorah and the Star of David, these conflicting explanations of the Hanukkah blue and white should not be cause for concern. Visit LookLoveSend.com to see the beautiful Hanukkah cards featured above or to view an array of other card designs from the elegant to the playful. All our cards are printed on premium quality paper. Order before November 15th to receive 15% off your order.
