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5 Mar |
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11:34 pm Posted by Kristy |
For some party planners, baking a homemade cake falls along the same lines as hand stamping the party invitations. They would no more dream of buying a cake as ordering the invitations from a stationary shoppe. For others, the thought of making a cake is clear-cut cause for insomnia.
Giant S'mores Cake
Not once in the nine years since I started planning my children’s birthday parties have I dared attempt to bake a cake. But recently, in a bid to fulfill my son’s scouting duty to bring a creative cake to his troop’s awards banquet, I resigned myself to see what would happen if we chose a cake idea from the Web and tried to make it. The surprising outcome of this experiment was that our first cake–his first and mine–won Cubmaster’s Choice Award.
The Easy Bake Cake
Here’s what I would suggest to any other nervous, novice cake baker like myself.
- Simple. Pick a concept that everyone can relate to and doesn’t require any guessing. S’mores are a favorite and everyone know what they are.
- Frosting. You can’t have too much, and you can’t mess it up. In fact, frosting hides the parts you do mess up and makes it look better.
- Construction. Choose a shape you can create by cutting and shaping basic layers. Sort of like Color Forms. This was actually five cakes, cut and stacked into the shapes of a cracker, chocolate piece, marshmallow and another cracker for top.
Once you’ve mastered a cake, give yourself a pass on the invitations. Go ahead and shop for great, custom party invitations at www.looklovesend.com. You’ll still be able to add your own touch using online personalization tools to upload a photo and write your own text. Choose from a wide variety of styles in unique designs, all printed on premium quality paper. It’s fast too–your order ships the next business day!
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4 Mar |
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7:19 pm Posted by Nicola |
You’ve received a wedding invitation but don’t know what to wear…take cues from the event time and place to solve your wardrobe dilemma.
Country-Club Wedding
Stick to a conservative dress in pastel hues for a country club event. A dark edgy couture outfit would be strikingly out-of-place for this setting. Add a sunhat and preppy accessories. If cocktail hour is outside, stick to wedge sandals or flats so you don’t poke stiletto holes in the greens.
Amberly by Lily Pulitzer
Black Tie Bash
Opt for an elegant full-length gown, black or black-and-white are always classic choices (of course, pure white for a wedding guest is always a no-no!) Add gloves if your date is also going all out in a tux at this night-time event. Heels, jewels, clutch – this is an opportunity go all out.
Justice of the Peace Witness
Wear a simple tailored suit or classic sheath dress in a muted color if you have been invited to a minimalist Justice of the Peace occasion.
Hair Calf Belted Cap Sleeve Draped Dress by Donna Karan
Las Vegas Party Nuptials
This is the time to wear that bright and fun cocktail dress and sky-high heels. Just be sure that your outfit is comfortable enough to last you from the ceremony to reception to nightclub to casino…
Beach I Do’s
Be comfortable in a long floral print maxi dress and simple shawl or wrap if the forecast calls for a cool evening. Skip expensive shoes and instead choose decorative flip-flops or gladiator sandals.
Floral Maxi Dress by ABS
While the where and when on the wedding invitation should easily guide your outfit choice, the wedding invitation style may also provide a hint about the wedding’s vibe. If a wedding may be in your future, checkout the diverse selection of invitations at LookLoveSend.com – from country club chic to Black Tie elegance – we cover all styles and order quantities over 50 ship for free!
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3 Mar |
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8:30 pm Posted by Nicola |
You’ve splurged on some fabulous rhinestone encrusted, four inch heel Louboutin’s for your special day, but you plan on hitting the dance floor hard at your wedding reception. Our advice? Have a backup pair of flats so you don’t need to be sidelined with discomfort, blisters or worse yet, a twisted ankle. The staff of Brides magazine tested dozens of flats and share their favorites in their March edition. With all favorites in the $20-35 price range, it’s a safe insurance policy to buy – plus you’ll have a cute extra pair of flats to slip into your honeymoon luggage after the fact!
Best overall flats: Of the dozen brands tested, the Tash Limited waterproof flats with sturdy rubber soles came out on top. Favorite styles were the faux alligator and faux leather designs. [www.tashlimited.com]
Double Dare in cream by Tash Limited
Best for comfort: Traditional white slip-ons from Fit in Clouds are light and have pinch-free elastic bands – it’s like wearing slippers! Also available in hot pink, black, silver or gold sequins for the more adventurous but still comfort-loving bride. [www.fitinclouds.com]
Snakeskin design by Fit In Clouds
Best for evening style: The selection by Konvine offers bling, shimmer and sparkle with a lot of decorative accents added to their flats. The insoles are padded for comfort and the sole is texture for maximum traction – both must haves for a late night of dancing. [www.konvine.com]
Shimmery Bronze with Crown by Konvine
As your wedding planning gets down to the smaller details of dancing flats, be sure that you have covered all those other extras on the list – including ceremony programs. Shop LookLoveSend.com for a diverse array of ceremony programs, you are sure to find a great design that will complement your chosen color and style. All designs are printed on superior quality paper stock and order quantities over 50 ship for free.
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1 Mar |
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9:57 pm Posted by Kristy |
Expecting birthday party invitations this month? Friday, March 2nd is Read Across America Day, not just coincidentally timed around Dr. Suess’ birthday (March 1st). But the Seuss celebration may cast its own shadow on the intended reading emphasis with a movie–this weekend’s release of The Lorax.
In keeping with the spirit of Read Across America (not, Head to Your Local Theaters America), here’s a look at some of the 100 Greatest Books for Kids, as recommended in the current issue of Scholastic’s Parent & Child magazine. Ironically, Dr. Seuss appears only one time in the the top 20, and it’s at number seven with Green Eggs and Ham.
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
The Top 3
- Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White for ages 8-10 (but a great read aloud choice for children as young as 5)
- Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown for ages 0-3
- A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle for ages 11 and up
Some Surprises
Somewhat surprising are appearances of the coming of age Judy Blume classic, Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret, and the raucous, potty-humor hero from The Adventures of Captain Underpants. These two couldn’t appear to a more polar opposite reading audience!
Non-Fiction Picks
Lincoln: A Photobiography by Russell Freedman
While most of the list consists of stories of fiction, a few selections highlight the universal appeal of biography, even for children. Anne Frank, Abraham Lincoln, and African-American singer Marian Anderson appear in the list and make excellent choices for a unique birthday gift.
If you’re looking for gift ideas for birthday party invitations, stock up on some of the books on this list. If you want to narrow down your search, visit the Scholastic list to search by age and genre. If you’re shopping for birthday party invitations, visit www.LookLoveSend.com for an exciting selection of high quality invitations you can customize online. Orders ship the next business day.
