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16 May |
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9:00 pm Posted by Kristy |
Would you judge someone who sends a party invitation for their own big birthday bash? Would you think that it’s selfish or desperate? This would be hasty and misplaced judgement. In today’s world, more and more of us are tossing out old fashioned notions and phony humility. Instead, throwing your own party is really doing those we love a favor by taking the burden off of them. Besides, if you’re reaching a milestone birthday, wouldn’t you want to celebrate with your friends and family?
Contrary to the saying, you can have your cake and eat it, too. There’s a lot to like about throwing yourself a milestone birthday party. You aren’t being selfish when you are in fact the one funding the expense and planning a good time for your friends. Here are three good reasons to create your own invitations and plan a party for yourself:
- No waiting and wondering if you’re having a surprise party
- Take the pressure off of a loved one who may feel overwhelmed by the responsibility
- Plan the party exactly the way you want–guests, menu, music, everything!
Create Your Own Invitations with Confidence
Why sit around and wait for someone else to plan your party, when it might not really be exactly what you had in mind? Why put the pressure on someone you love to make it perfect? It’s an easy choice for more controlling types. But the decision to throw a party for yourself comes more slowly to many.
So here are 3 guidelines for throwing your own party in the spirit of gracious host, not greedy guest of honor!
Budget accordingly.
If you’re taking the bold step of playing host, this isn’t the party to ask people to pitch in. So be realistic about where to spend. Cut back in one area to spend in another. Host at home to pay for catering, or hire entertainment but provide your own food and beverages.
No presents.
Be explicit about this in your birthday invites. Suggest a charitable cause you care about for guests to donate to in place of gifts, at their option.
Hire out.
Doing double-duty as host and guest of honor means you’ll have to be fully present with your guests, so outsource the preparation and serving of food and drinks.
You can find fabulous, fun party invitations online at www.LookLoveSend.com. Invitations are designed by professional artists and created as original designs that you can personalize with your own information and images. If you order more than 50 invitations, enjoy receive free domestic ground shipping.
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15 May |
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9:17 pm Posted by Nicola |
Peak wedding season is almost here. After months of checklists, samples, tastings and fittings, the final week before the wedding is when planning should be complete and the bride can relax before her big day. But between the final manicures and finalizing the song lists, there are a few crucial details that shouldn’t be forgotten in that final week. Read on for a list of 6 easy-to-forget-just-before-the-wedding details.
Tell family members about reserved seating
Tell family members about reserved seating during the wedding rehearsal. If groomsmen will be escorting guests to their seats, make sure they are aware of who goes where.
Bring your cell phone charger
Your cell phone may be busy between good luck wishes and last minute questions on your special day. Be sure your phone is fully charged and bring a charger – especially if you’ll be leaving for your honeymoon immediately afterwards.
Order wedding thank you cards ahead of time
Etiquette guidelines recommend sending wedding thank you cards 2 weeks after your nuptials which doesn’t leave much time to buy stationery after your honeymoon return. Having cards on-hand will make it much easier to write a note of thanks as you put your new gifts away.
Designate someone to collect your gifts
Ask a relative or friend to gather all gifts and envelopes and keep them in a designated place until your honeymoon return.
Pack an emergency kit
Have a small bag on-hand that contains a sewing kit, safety pins, clear nail polish, asprin, tissues, bobby pins, and anything else you think you may need. This is something you can pack well ahead of time – just don’t forget to bring it on the day!
Create an itinerary
Print out several copies of your wedding day schedule for key members of your wedding party. This will ensure that nobody misses photographs, gets lost, or has any questions about the day’s events. It’s also a good idea to leave someone with your honeymoon itinerary, especially if you are heading oversees with limited or no cell phone access.
Shop the fresh collection of wedding thank you cards at LookLoveSend to check off this item from your pre-wedding to do list. From traditional romantic to modern chic, our stationery will complement all wedding styles and all cards are printed on superior quality paper. Orders ship the next business day and we offer free domestic ground shipping on all card quantities over 50!
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14 May |
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3:52 pm Posted by Kristy |
Books make great gifts as sources of inspiration for the upcoming graduation season. If you anticipate receiving a few graduation invitations this month and next, consider giving the grad a meaningful book. Such a gift helps keep reading central to a graduate’s new independent life.
Choose from among perennial favorites or recent bestsellers. We’ve compiled a brief list of some of the classics, one newcomer from the world of sports, as well as popular business bios.
Classic Reads
You could go with a fun allegorical classic, like Oh The Places You’ll Go, by Dr. Seuss. This book’s message about staying the course and staying true to yourself works well for students of all ages, but is especially appealing to teens bridging adolescence and adulthood.
Another classic choice is What Color is Your Parachute, now in it’s fortieth edition, but has been almost wholly rewritten. Touted as “the world’s most popular job-hunting book,” this books is a practical career guide for anyone trying to figure out how to earn a living from their talents and passions.
Sporting Heroes
You could look into the world of sports, brimming with poignant stories of individuals overcoming obstacles in order to achieve some goal. The best ones also provide some philosophy for living life well in the face of adversity. Once such book is A Life Without Limits: A World Champion’s Journey, by Chrissie Wellington, who came out of nowhere to win the Ironman Triathalon in 2007.
Business Bios
Finally, for the college grad whose path is business, a biography on a modern-day business hero like Warren Buffett or Steve Jobs would be an inspiring choice in the midst of so much scandal elsewhere. Their stories on life and leadership are ultra-American and highly optimistic. Either Roger Lowensteins Buffet: The Making of an American Capitalist or the more recent tome by Alice Shroeder written with Buffett’s exclusive cooperation, The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life, and Walter Isaacson’s Steve Jobs biography are all good choices.
If you’re looking for distinguished graduation invitations online, look no further than the growing collection at www.LookLoveSend.com. You’ll find a variety of styles with multiple color options that can be easily personalized with a photo, and you’ll enjoy free domestic ground shipping when you order 50 cards or more.
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11 May |
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10:25 pm Posted by Kristy |
Going with a themed baby shower lends guidance to gift shopping and gives guests a chance to be creative. By prescribing a theme right inside the baby shower invitations, rather than just follow the gift registry, people will use their imaginations. Popular baby shower theme ideas include nursery colors, baby books, gift baskets, diaper showers or baby animals, to name just a few. But if these theme ideas feel too narrow to you, try a broader theme like an alphabet shower.
Use the Baby Shower Invitations to Assign Alphabet Letters
The premise of an alphabet baby shower is quite simple: each guest will receive a letter assigned to them inside their baby shower invitations. Depending on the number of guests invited, you can choose letters in any of the following ways:
- Use the letters in the expecting mom’s full name, or if known, the baby’s full name
- Use the entire alphabet (you need 26 guests though)
- Use letters to spell a mystery word or phrase that guests must to figure out once gifts have been open
Flower Shower by Linda Facci
However you decide to choose and assign your letters, the key idea is that guests will shop for a gift that starts with the letter they receive in their baby shower invitations. Take the alphabet, for example. A good start for letters A,B,C could be Aromatherapy candles (more mom than baby), Boppy, and Crib sheets. A fun mystery phrase could be to assign the letters that spell S-U-G-A-R-A-N-D-S-P-I-C-E if it’s a girl or S-N-A-I-L-S-A-N-D-T-A-I-L-S if it’s a boy.
Make baby shower invitations with space to include an assigned letter in order to organize an alphabet shower successfully. Your invitations do not, however, have to be designed in any particular way. In fact, choose an invitation design that will appeal to the expecting mom’s tastes or that reflects a favorite color or baby them.
You’ll find an extensive selection of fresh, fun and stylish baby shower invitations at www.LookLoveSend.com. you can personalize many of the designs, including incorporating a message about the theme of the shower. All invitations are printed on premium quality papers, and ground shipping is free when you order more than 50!
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10 May |
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9:21 pm Posted by Kristy |
You don’t have to run with the Do-It-Yourself crowd to know there are times when you can save on certain things by making them yourself. If you’re a bridesmaid or maid of honor hosting a wedding shower, you might be in need of money-saving, DIY ideas.
A good place to save is wedding shower favors. Favors are not a must-have, but they do make the occasion more memorable for everyone, including the bride. We like these three DIY favor ideas as much for their craftiness as for the money they save if you make them yourself. They are also good examples of thoughtful keepsakes for a couple embarking on the lifelong journey of creating a home together.
Cork Coasters
These are not coasters made out of wine corks, but rather coasters made from sheets of cork! (You can find cork squares at any craft store or in the office supply aisle of big box stores. The Summer 2012 issue of Do It Yourself magazine suggests using a woodburning pen to make an imprint on coasters you cut out yourself. First draw the image you want, such as a monogram or a simple pattern,then engrave it using the woodburning pen. It works because cork burns quickly.
Card Tents
You can pretty up a packet of just about anything with some card stock, ribbon and a small flower. Just fold the card stock in half with one half a little longer to fold a third flap to create a base to stand on. Staple your packet to the inside, wrap a ribbon around the whole thing and attach a personalized note. Perfect for packets of flower seeds, birdseed, chocolate kisses, beans, sea glass or whatever else you think of that is appropriate for the time, location and sentiment of the shower.
Homemade Gourmet in a Jar
We’re big fans of DIY gifts in a jar, so why not consider the possibility for a wedding shower? Choose something the bride or couple adores, or go seasonal with a jam or holiday favorite. Cookie or muffin mix, or something more eclectic like pickles or salsa are also good options.
For unique, quality wedding shower invitations, look no further than the extensive collection at www.LookLoveSend.com. You’ll find a wide range of styles to suit different tastes, from tradition, floral to modern chic, with multiple color options to choose from. All invitations are printed on premium quality papers with coordinating envelopes, and orders of more than 50 ship free (domestic ground).
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10 May |
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5:37 am Posted by Nicola |
These days, about one in 32 births are twin births; this is a 65% increase since 1980 largely due to fertility treatments. The team at LookLoveSend has shared baby shower planning and menu ideas, but this blog is dedicated to those 1 in 32. Read on for twin baby shower planning tips.
Timing
If mom-to-be is having twins, try to schedule her shower before her 36th week of pregnancy before she feels too uncomfortable and runs the risk of not making it to her event due to early labor. If the babies arrive early or the mom is experiencing a tough pregnancy, there’s nothing wrong with having a baby shower after they’re born.One Gift or Two?
Shower guests usually adhere to a budget guideline and shouldn’t feel obligated to double that budget for a twin shower. If you usually buy 3 baby outfits, consider getting 2 outfits (to match or not to match?) and a multi-pack of socks – I’m sure a mom of twins can never have too many baby socks. Alternately, a group of guests can chip in to buy a larger ticket item such as a double stroller or nursery furniture.
Diapers
Need I say more? According to a kidsgrowth.com estimate, a baby needs an average of 2,788 diapers per year for total cost of $558. Multiply by two for twins. Coordinate a ‘diaper drive’ within your shower by designating some guests to bring diapers in a specific size. It’ll be a lot for mom-to-be to take home and store but she’ll certainly appreciate a closet-full of diapers when the babies arrive.
Twin Baby Shower Invitations
Be sure to remind all guests that mom-to-be is expecting twins. We love the baby shower invitation ‘Fishies’ by Sarah Trainor for its simple whimsy and clean design.
Visit LookLoveSend.com for a fresh selection of online baby shower invitations for boys, girls, gender neutral or multiples. Online personalization is quick and easy, and order quantities over 50 ship for free.
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9 May |
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8:59 am Posted by Kristy |
A central part of wedding planning typically includes sampling certain things before making decisions about them. The most common elements brides and couples sample include:
- Trying wedding gowns and scheduling multiple fittings to know exactly how your dress will fit
- Tasting a caterer’s menu selections and sometimes also cake samples
- Listening to music played by DJs, bands and other entertainers
Circles of Love by Linda Facci
Another often overlooked opportunity to sample is wedding invitation samples. Not all wedding invitation websites provide samples, but with so much variation in choices and quality, it’s a good idea to touch and feel just like your guests will before you order.
What to Look For in Wedding Invitation Samples
Because so much of the wedding invitation marketplace has moved out of boutique stationery shops and onto the Web, brides today have a wider selection of wedding designs and more personalization choices than ever before. But as is true for any online shopping, not everything is as it appears onscreen!
High quality wedding invitation suppliers use high resolution images, and typically offer some number of free wedding invitation samples. Here are the main things to look for when ordering wedding invitation samples:
COLOR
Is the color the same or different from what you saw online? Your computer screen can convey a color in a hue very different from the actual printed color, so this is one of the most important elements to see up close.
TEXTURE
Paper texture can’t really be understood unless you touch it. A well-written description and high resolution photo just won’t show you what your fingers will tell you. This is especially important for personalizing certain components with a photo; you want to choose the right paper texture.
WEIGHT
This is how you’ll know whether your invitations are coming from a quality source. Paper weight is actually measured based on an industry-standard volume weight, so it doesn’t tell you much about the stand-alone piece. You want to know how substantial it will feel in your hands.
DESIGN
Like color, does the design looks the way it did online? You’ll see details that don’t always come through on the onscreen image, especially if your design has hand-illustration, subtle background patterns, or other fine details.
Right now, you can order up to 6 free wedding invitation samples from www.LookLoveSend.com. There are hundreds of designs and most come in more than one color option. Coordinating envelopes are included. While you can choose your samples by design, color, paper texture and backside option, you cannot personalize the sample with your text or photo. Samples are printed with the same sample text and photo you see on screen.
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7 May |
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8:57 pm Posted by Kristy |
May is Mayhem–no getting around it. More large events occur during this month than any other time of year. More wedding invitations, baby shower invites, and graduation announcements are just the tip of the iceberg. Pile on end-of-year school and extra-curriculars, spring sports, confirmations, summer camp planning, and you have good reason to refer to the month as Mayhem!
Here are a few tools and tactics to try help cope with the Mayhem:
Upgrade Your Toolbox
- Whiteboard. If you like having a clean slate you can control completely, go ahead and draw up your own calendar. But if you’re missing that Type-A gene, then read on….
- MomAgenda Family Planner. This is a fill-in-the-blank calendar, but distinguishable by the way it separates kids’ stuff from your stuff. A great choice when you need something posted publicly for everyone to refer to.
- Go digital. You’re only as smart as your phone. Set up calendar alerts on your smart phone to remind yourself before you miss an event or task.
- Margarita Mix. Or M&Ms, or your yoga mat, or whatever delights you, keep that at arms-length for a complete set of tools!
The harmonious balance of Zen stones
Try New Scheduling Tactics
- YOU go first. Put yourself at the top of the to-do list. Schedule aside time (like you do for everything else) to do whatever keeps you sane–exercise, brunch, extra sleep, shopping, etc.
- Opt-OUT. Say no and mean it. Not only is it okay to cut something out, it’s essential. Take out just one thing from your weekly schedule and don’t waste time feeling guilty about it.
- Time BLOCK Do just the opposite of multi-tasking: focus on just the task at hand and block out the other stuff during that time. Take a cue from the scientists who fixed the Hubble telescope, working one screw at a time, screw by screw, until finished. If they can do it under life-risking conditions, certainly you can do it during the course of your week.
- LIST It Loyal list makers already get this. No matter how small, it helps enormously to check off the things that get done. It’s an exercise in accomplishment and a record of your time, even if the only boss you have to please is yourself.
These tools and tactics are especially helpful if you’re a bride planning your wedding. Once you’ve decided on a wedding date, go ahead and order your save the date cards. Wedding invitations can follow, coordinated in the same design. LookLoveSend.com makes it easy for you to find and personalize the right wedding invitation design that fits your style. Enter the monthly invitation sweepstakes for the chance to win $500 towards your order of personalized wedding invitations!
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5 May |
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9:32 pm Posted by Nicola |
The team at LookLoveSend likes quick and easy party planning. We’ve got stylish party invitations for all occasions covered, we like simple make-ahead refreshments, and we recommend creating a single signature food or decoration to fit your event. Better yet, create a signature decorative food centerpiece for your special celebration.
If you’re planning a graduation party in the upcoming weeks, we recommend these easy graduation cap dessert treats by online bake guru bakerella. The ingredient list is short and the treats can be customized to match school colors using different flavors of the Airheads Sour Belt candy (used for the tassel). Attach the candy caps to simple lollipop sticks stuck in a styrofoam block as a fun centerpiece for your buffet table or bag the sweet treats and offer them as party favors as your guests leave.
For stylish graduation party announcements, checkout the fresh selection at LookLoveSend.com. Each design can be easily customized online and many include a photo of the grad like ‘Graduation: The Big Day’ by designer Jennifer Pritchard shown above. All cards are printed on superior quality paper stock and orders ship the next business day for stress-free ordering and mailing to your party guests.
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4 May |
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8:26 pm Posted by Nicola |
photo credit: http://dancerconnection.com
Don’t skimp on event staff
Just as bad service in a restaurant can ruin even the best of meals, be sure that you provide great service for your guests. Ideally, you want your guests to receive their meal quickly, enjoy it immensely, then rush to the dance floor to enjoy the rest of the celebration. Whether you are providing a buffet or sit-down meal, there is a staff-to-guest formula to ensure a smooth guest experience:
- For a sit-down meal, hire for 1 server per 10 guests.
- For a buffet, setup 1 double-sided buffet table for every 100 guests. For 150 or more guests, go with 2 double-sided buffet tables to keep the line moving and your guests happy.
- Hire 1 bartender and 1 bar back for every 75 guests
Keep the party moving
- Make sure there is less than 1.5 hours between the end of the wedding ceremony and the reception.
- Make sure guests don’t have to drive more than 1 hour from ceremony to reception site.
- Keep to your planned schedule as much as possible – don’t try to cram in those extra sunset shots while your guests are waiting for the reception to start!
- Keep your toasts to a maximum of 15 minutes
Remember, however well planned and perfectly coordinated – your guests won’t remember the shade of napkins or the band playlist at your wedding. What they will remember is how they were treated, so be sure to make your guest experience a top priority. If you’re planning a wedding and want a chance to win $500 of exceptional wedding invitations, enter our monthly sweepstakes and happy planning!
