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30 Apr |
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11:14 pm Posted by Kristy |
Expecting moms will need their own personalized thank you note cards before baby makes his or her debut. So much focus is given to gifts for the baby, that sometimes the mom-to-be overlooks having her own set of thank you note cards on hand. It’s helpful to have thank you notes in her name before baby is born so that she can get those cards out to gift givers promptly.
Many moms want to choose their baby’s own thank you notes themselves. You can coordinate your baby’s thank you notes with the same design as the birth announcement cards if you so choose.
Shopping for Personalized Thank You Note Cards
Monkey Do
Another ideas is to give an expecting mom her own set of personalized thank you note cards as a great gift. Coordinate the design of those cards with her baby shower invitations. That way she’s ready to write her notes as soon as the shower is over!
Of course there is no rule that says a mother’s stationery should match her baby shower invitation designs. And if you’re the expecting mom, and you are shopping for thank you notes for yourself, you may prefer a different design anyway. You are likely not even in charge of planning your own baby shower, and therefore, probably don’t have much say (if any) in choosing your baby shower invitations.
If you want to personalize your own thank you note cards, consider whether it’s just your name you want printed or whether your partner’s name should also appear. This may be the case if your baby shower was a couples shower and you will be using the set of thank you note cards primarily in response to the baby gifts you receive.
Another consideration is a matter or formality. Do you prefer the casualness of having just your first name printed? Or do you prefer that your entire name appear on the card? Using just your first name conveys a level of intimacy that presumes the people who receive first-name-only note cards know who you are.
The last thing to decide is whether you intend to use your thank you note cards for things other than thanks for baby gifts. You can order a larger quantity if you intend to broaden your use of your note cards. When you order more than 50 personalized thank you note cards from www.LookLoveSend.com, you enjoy free shipping too. Be sure to browse all LookLoveSend.com’s thank you note categories–baby, wedding, special occasion–to find the design you love and personalize it quickly and easily just for you!
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29 Apr |
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10:34 pm Posted by Nicola |
One year after Prince William and Kate Middleton’s nuptials, and it’s clear that royal wedding details have influenced the choices of non-royal couples throughout the U.S. From formal wedding invitations to sleeved lace dresses and traditional church ceremonies – the stamp of Kate and Will is still everywhere.
Formal Wedding Invitations
Send a formal wedding invitation to set the tone for a sophisticated and elegant celebration. Black, white and silver are the traditional colors for formal events, but adding a single accent color is a great way to add a modern elegant touch, as seen in ‘Lace and Ribbon’ by stationery designer Suling Wang.
Sleeved lace Wedding Gowns
Kate-inspired wedding gowns have been showing up in wedding magazines and in chain bridal stores everywhere, but wedding gown legend Carolina Herrera also gave a nod to Kate’s look in her Spring 2013 bridal show earlier this month. The elegance of sleeved lace is here for a while.
Carolina Herrera Spring 2013
Traditional Church Ceremonies
Other than the dress, one of the most magnificent images of the royal wedding has to be the elegance of the Westminster Abbey aisle adorned with those 20 foot maple trees. According to wedding market research company Splendid Insights, one in five couples today are choosing a church wedding, which is a 5% increase from last year and the first increase in 10 years.
As William and Kate celebrate their first anniversary today, the influence of their royal celebration continues to be strong. To bring a hint of royal elegance to your own wedding, shop the collection of formal wedding invitations at LookLoveSend.com. Enjoy free shipping when you order 50 or more. You can also enter the monthly wedding sweepstakes for a chance to win $500 towards your wedding stationery.
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27 Apr |
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8:08 pm Posted by Kristy |
Flutter Buzz by Sneha Sheth
When you find a baby shower invitation in your mailbox, do you:
(A) Jump online to check out the registry
(B) Head off to your local baby boutique
(C) Know exactly what must-haves this expecting mom needs!
As much as you might love your own baby sling, cloth diapers, or BPA-free pacifiers, these are all fairly personal items that tend to please certain tastes, lifestyles and opinions. You may have good intentions to surprise an expecting mom with the greatest gift she never thought of herself, but be wary of straying too far from the baby shower registry.
Shop the Baby Shower Invitation Registry…or Else!
If you’re determined to ignore the registry that’s listed on the baby shower invitation, keep your notions of must-haves, healthy habits and ingenious ideas in check. They may not be the same as someone else’s. It’s always better to ask first. Check with another close friend or family member, or if your already a close friend of the expecting mom, just ask her yourself! Here’s a run-down of some common gift ideas that seem great on the surface, but might not work for everyone.
Baby Food Processors.
Whether high-end Beaba Babycook or the simpler (and cheaper) KidCo Baby Food Mill, not everyone has the time or inclination to make their own baby’s food. A better choice would be a baby-food recipe book so mom can consider her options when the time comes.
Sleep Sacks.
There are parents who still rely on the old-fashioned tummy sleeping to help some babies sleep better (GASP!). Sleep sacks don’t work for the tummy sleepers. While back sleeping has dramatically reduced the incidents of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), fussy babies with digestion issues or tense babies benefit from napping on their tummies. No matter how beautiful a sleep sack you find, no over-exhausted new parent will choose it over sleep.
Diaper Bags.
Like buying a purse, diaper bags are pretty personal because function over form is no longer standard. Thankfully, style has taken over in recent years, benefiting fashion-conscious moms everywhere. If you wouldn’t buy your friend a purse, don’t bet on a diaper bag either.
Reliable Off-Registry Baby Shower Gifts
The best off-registry gifts continue to be adorable clothes and gift cards so the new mom can decide for herself what baby needs. Buy from a high-quality line of clothing in a series of sizes, like 3, 6 and 9 months. Give her a gift card to one of the big box stores like Target and BabiesRUs. There she can choose her own baby food processor, sleep sack, diaper bag or maybe something else you haven’t even thought of!
If you’re still shopping for a unique baby shower invitation, check out adorable, fresh designs on www.LookLoveSend.com. You can personalize many designs with a photo, choose from different color options, even select coordinating baby thank you notes! It’s easy and takes only a few minutes.
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26 Apr |
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10:21 pm Posted by Kristy |
As I approach my fortieth birthday, I find I’m paying an inordinate amount of attention to strange things…
- Why can’t I come up with anything really good for my “bucket list?” (I didn’t need such a list when I thought I was going to live forever).
- Why do I find “15 Recipes to Make Before You Die” such a boring list? (Bread, steak and chocolate pudding? Snore.)
- Hey, why shouldn’t I throw MYSELF a party?
Celebrating a milestone birthday like forty, fifty or ninety is tricky business. Some of us don’t want a birthday celebration that’s different than any other year. Others of us might be counting on a big surprise party or gift, in the form of a trip somewhere on that bucket list. The most courageous of us will throw ourselves a party.
If gathering with friends and family is really all you want, it makes all the sense in the world to take matters into your own hands. What better way to mark your entrance into a more sage age? Take full control and plan something exactly the way you want. You probably haven’t had so much input into your own party since your wedding, and you’ll probably have way more say then you did then. Just don’t tell your mom about it.
You choose your own stylish party invitations online; you select your “15 Dishes to Eat Before You Die” menu; hire that band you love so much, and definitely go with some other color theme besides black! Much will depend on what you can spend. If your partner feels the least bit slighted in being overlooked as a capable host, just explain that throwing a great party for yourself is actually on your bucket list!
Planning your own milestone birthday party is a milestone itself. It’s your vote of confidence yourself and a celebration of all the people in your life. Don’t be afraid–get inspired by the fun, original party invitations online available at www.looklovesend.com. You’ll find a wide range of styles and color selections, and you can personalize your party invitations online with a photo. For that large bash, ordering more than 50 birthday party invitations gives you free shipping!
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25 Apr |
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9:45 pm Posted by Kristy |
If you’re a bride about to mail wedding invitations, or a mom with a new baby, you may be ready to lose it…weight that is. Finding time and energy to exercise and count calories can cause brides and moms to lose their minds rather than the weight. Try getting some extra help from LoseIt, an eating and exercise tracking iPhone app.
The key to LoseIt is… to Use It! When you do, it works like a little bird on your shoulder, keeping track of your progress, and of course, setbacks. LoseIt depends mostly on your own honesty–every day, every meal, every time you walk or stretch, you record the details of these activities. Here’s how the app works:
Set Your Goals
Decide on a goal weight and when you want to reach it. After you enter your current weight, LoseIt figures out how much weight you need to lose per week in order to reach your goal. LoseIt gives you a daily calorie budget against which you’ll track your eating. You of course earn calories back by exercising. You can adjust your goal weight or timeframe if you think you need a bigger daily calorie budget. But if you want to reach your goal weight faster, you may run up against a minimum daily recommended calorie count.
Log Your Eating & Exercise
When you first start, you’ll spend time with the ‘search food’ tool. It’s impressive how many foods the app contains, including brand names, popular restaurant items, and the option to create new food. You entry will show not just calories, but other key nutritional information including fat, protein and carbs.
You’ll want to set up exercises that fit your lifestyle too. It’s great how LoseIt gives you calorie-burning average for everyday activities like housecleaning and sexual activity, so look carefully through the entire list. It’s great for those of us who aren’t runners or kayakers! And of course you can add your own exercise if it’s not listed.
Once you’ve set your goal, just get started building up your ‘foods’ and ‘exercise’ day by day. You can check how you’re doing day to day and over the course of a week. You’ll want to record a daily weight so LoseIt can track your progress, and you’ll start to see patterns with your eating.
Don’t weight any longer! Mailing out your wedding invitations usually means you’re within at least six weeks of your wedding day. If you haven’t yet found a wedding invitation design you like, shop the extensive selection of unique, stylish designs you can personalize at www.LookLoveSend.com. Enter our monthly sweepstakes for the chance to win $500 towards the wedding stationery components you want.
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24 Apr |
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7:01 am Posted by Kristy |
Spring Blossoms by Suling Wang
Today your engagement photo will likely be used for things besides publication in your local paper. The traditional black and white newspaper engagement announcement photo can appear everywhere you choose–from save the date cards, a personalized website, wedding programs, and other creative event PR you decide to have.
Not long ago, pulling a favorite photo from your personal collection would suffice. Many couples today stick to this approach, confident in the high pixel count of their personal digital cameras. Why spend money on professional services when you can get a crisp, clear, smiling photo from any location you choose whenever you might be there?
It’s true that spontaneity and flexibility remain good reasons to keep your camera handy. But you may consider other reasons for going pro to get an engagement photo. There is an obvious benefit to have a selection of polished, stylish photos available to use in your wedding day communications. Here are some other reasons to think about allocating some of your wedding budget to a professional photographer to conduct a professional engagement photo shoot:
Test Drive Your Wedding Photographer
What better way is there to find out about a potential wedding photographer? If you admit that the engagement photos won’t be nearly as important as your wedding photo, then find out first about the personality, creativity, photo quality, and final results you get from your photographer in the engagement photo shoot first. You’ll either get a boost in confidence or decide to go elsewhere.
Rehearse for Your Wedding Day
Having a professional photo shoot gets you together as a couple in front of a camera before your wedding day. You get to practice the same challenges you’ll face on your wedding day when your nerves are bound to be wound. Balancing posed smiles with natural expressions is no easy feat. Get comfortable doing it together first to learn which works better for you as a couple.
Experience
Besides professional-grade equipment to capture crisp, clear images under any conditions, a pro brings experience with other things that enhance the quality of your photo. A professional photographer has experience with backgrounds, perspective, poses, props, and even clothes that can transform a standard head shot into a lovely, interesting image you can use many times over.
When you’re ready with your photo, turn to the gorgeous save the date card designs at www.LookLoveSend.com. The majority of designs can be personalized with your photo. You can zoom in or out on the image and apply a different color treatment to the photo, such as black and white or sepia tones. Save the date cards can be coordinated with a complete wedding invitation suite, which includes components you choose, such as your ceremony program and thank you note cards.
Don’t forget to enter LookLoveSend’s monthly Wedding Invitation Sweepstakes too. You could win $500 towards your choice of an entire wedding invitation suite!
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23 Apr |
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10:18 pm Posted by Nicola |
After getting engaged, many brides have an immediate idea about the colors they’d like to include in their special day and will gravitate towards that color for bridesmaid dresses, wedding invitation design, and flower selection. But for the bride who doesn’t have an immediate color palette in mind, she may look into the psychology of color to pick a shade that will evoke the feelings she wants for her celebration. See below for a summary of color meaning from a company with expertise in this field; multi-media ad agency Precision Intermedia.
 Lela Rose Bridesmaid |
 'Foliole' by designer Suzanne Cahil |
Black: A somber color that is associated with intelligence. Black is a serious color that evokes strong emotions.
White: Associates an air of purity, cleanliness and neutrality in the absence of color.
Blue: A color associated with dependability, wisdom and loyalty. It is a safe color and most people will say it’s their favorite when asked.
Green: The traditional color associated with peace, harmony and nature.
Red: The color of energy and excitement, use red to draw attention and make a bold statement. Red is the symbol of life and is worn by brides in China.
Pink: The color of love, and romance, it is also considered to be the most calming of all colors.
Yellow: The color of happiness and laughter that is associated with sunny optimism.
Purple: A royal color associated with wealth and rich sophistication.
Brown: A natural color that is associated with reliability and sincerity, also an organic color that represents the earth.
Decided to go with purple to evoke a rich and sophisticated wedding vibe? Checkout the great selection of sophisticated purple-shaded wedding invitations at LookLoveSend.com. Enjoy free shipping when you order 50 or more. You can also enter the monthly wedding sweepstakes for a chance to win $500 towards your wedding stationery.
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22 Apr |
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10:08 pm Posted by Nicola |
Happy Earth Day from the team at LookLoveSend. If you’d like to incorporate an eco-friendly element to your upcoming wedding, consider a plantable favor that can double as a reception place card or wedding favor. Giving herbs, either as small potted plants or seed, is a great way to send guests home with something they will appreciate and reuse many times over.
DIY Potted Herbs as Table Decor
Incorporating potted herbs into your reception décor is a natural fit for a country wedding setting, but adding textured greenery can also provide a stunning natural element to a modern and sleek reception style. Visit a farmer’s market to buy high quality potted herbs then divide and replant them into small containers. For the country wedding, choose burlap pots tied with a strand of lace or ribbon to match the reception colors. For the modern wedding, buy sleek pots in bulk such as these cool chalkboard pots from etsy.com. Cluster the potted herbs on guest tables or create a display with a sign inviting guests to ‘please pick one’ as a parting favor.
mini chalkboard herb pots from etsy.com
DIY Herb Seeds as Place Cards
If you choose to use tented place cards to guide your guests to their reception tables, consider packaging seeds in small decorative bags then punch two small holes in the corner of each place card and use twine to attach a package of seeds to each place card. Your guests are sure to appreciate popular culinary herbs such as basil, rosemary, parsley, dill, oregano and chives.
So capture the spirit of Earth Day and incorporate the beauty, aroma and great texture of herbs in your wedding celebration. Shop LookLoveSend.com for a fantastic selection of wedding place cards for every wedding style. Choose a wedding invitation design from hundreds of styles, personalize your unique wedding invitation with a photo, text and additional options. Enjoy free shipping when you order 50 or more. You can also enter the monthly wedding sweepstakes for a chance to win $500 towards your wedding stationery.
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20 Apr |
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9:01 pm Posted by Nicola |
Everyone needs a few go-to recipes when they are hosting guests after a special celebration. Most of us have a few good entrée recipes and maybe a dessert or appetizer standby to pull out when party invitations have been sent and the event planning starts. But to add a special twist to your special event menu, we like this super simple recipe for candied nuts from allrecipes.com – perfect to jazz up an elegant salad, to set out as snacks, or to bag as party favors.
Ingredients
- 1 egg white
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 pound pecan halves (or use cashews, walnuts pieces, or a combination of mixed nuts)
- 1 cup white sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Directions
- Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Grease one baking sheet.
- In a mixing bowl, whip together the egg white and water until frothy. In a separate bowl, mix together sugar, salt, and cinnamon.
- Add nuts to egg whites and stir to coat the nuts evenly. Remove the nuts, and toss them in the sugar mixture until coated. Spread the nuts out on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 1 hour. Stir every 15 minutes.
The candied nuts can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks, which makes this the perfect plan-ahead recipe for your next party. Purchase the nuts in bulk and this can be a relatively inexpensive snack that will make your guests nostalgic for those fairground and street vendor treats that we all love.
Package a large handful of candied nuts for an easy party favor for your guests. Decorative cellophane bags or boxes are available at most craft stores or online party supplier such as www.orientaltrading.com. For your upcoming special occasion celebrations, checkout the growing collection of party invitations available at LookLoveSend.com. From graduation party invitations to first communion invitations and birthday party invitations – find our diverse styles all printed on fine quality papers.
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20 Apr |
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8:54 am Posted by Kristy |
Does your child receive two or three birthday party invitations to the same kind of party within a few weeks of each other? If so, you aren’t imagining it–kids tend to cycle through the same birthday themes and activities popular within their peer group. The four year olds want bouncy houses, the kindergarteners love superheros, first graders flock to laser tag. But what if your kid wants to break out of the mold (or maybe you do)?
Try doing something unique for your next kid birthday party with food. Call it a kid-style foodie party. You can host a foodie party either at home or at a kid-friendly restaurant. Get creative with one of the suggested kid-style foodie themes here:
Hands-On Foodie
Making pizza is easy, cheap and fun for kids. Check with your local pizza joint or a larger chain like Uno Chicago Grill about hosting a hands-on birthday party. If you host at home, go with pre-prepared, personal sized crusts like Mama Mary’s, Boboli or Pillsbury. Offer both red and white sauces and popular kid toppings like pepperoni, tomatoes, shrimp, olives and cheese. Pick up kid-size aprons at a craft store (Michael’s, JoAnn Fabrics) and put a chef hat on your birthday kid.
A la Carte Foodie
Kids love to create their own food. The more choices, the better! It’s what my kids love about Subway. In fact, imitate a Subway-style sandwich shop at your next party. Or host a taco/burrito bar inspired by Moe’s or Chipotle Southwest Grill. Include filling choices like shredded chicken, beef, bean, different cheeses, toppings and salsas. Or, try a pasta bar with different colored pasta and shapes. And of course for dessert, go with a lavish ice cream sundae and toppings bar!
Spectator Foodie
Hibachi grill restaurants like Benny Hanna are always a hit with kids. A fondue restaurant is another idea if you have one nearby. Or set up a foodie bar at home. Make something kids have fun watching that also offers choices. Giant waffles with special toppings or chocolate chip pancakes are easy, and you can throw on whipped cream smiley faces or animal whiskers and ears, whatever your guest orders! Add a sidedish of fruit and veggies with a cream cheese-and-marshmellow fluff dip.
Distinguish your party even further with fabulous, fun birthday invitations online from LookLoveSend.com. You can personalize your party invitations online with a fun photo and write your own text in a style you choose. Ordering is fast and easy and your invitations will ship the next business day!
