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29 Dec |
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11:10 am Posted by Kristy |
By now maybe you’ve seen every kind of wedding planner checklist and timeline out there. While everything from ordering save the date cards to delivering guest goodie bags gets covered, not as much attention gets paid to your personal preparation details the day of. So we’re calling attention to some things to help you keep calm and organized for the walk down the aisle. If you are planning a photo session or a pre-wedding reveal moment with your spouse, you’ll need to build in that extra time.
Wedding Day Personal Preparation
Wake-up: 6-8 hours to go
Whether you’ve slept much at all or rise refreshed, the first and most important thing you need to accomplish is to eat a high protein meal and drink a full glass of water. Protein will provide you the energy you need, avoiding a later sugar crave-and-crash. Water will hydrate your skin and hair and keep away headache.
Shower: 3-5 hours
Know whether your hairstylist wants your hair washed first and locate your head-piece. Make sure the rest of you is clean too, and plan to dress in something that doesn’t pull over your head, like a button-up top or waist-wrap sweater. If you are doing your own hair, leave extra time in case something goes wrong, whether by your own hand or an enlisted friend or family stylist.
Make-up: 1-2 hours
Don’t wait to long, but don’t be in a rush either. You’ll want as fresh a look as possible for photos and your walk down the aisle to your fiance. Place key cosmetic items in your purse at the end of your make-up session so you don’t forget. You’ll want to be able to apply blush, powder and lipstick, and take along tissues too.
Dress & Veil: 30 minutes
Secure your veil in place and apply any perfume you want to wear and then step into your dress–you don’t want to spill any liquid on the fabric!
Bouquet: 15 minutes
Make sure you have your bouquet in hand. With everyone rushing around and transportation details coming together, it’s an easy item to accidentally leave behind.
Now it’s time to reveal to everyone what they’ve been waiting for since first receiving those save the date cards. Refreshed, energized, calm and beautiful is your goal. If you haven’t yet found save the date cards, shop the collection at www.looklovesend.com. Coordinating designs for all wedding invitations and other stationery components will make your wedding day as memorable as it deserves to be.
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26 Dec |
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10:13 pm Posted by Kristy |
'A Big Thank You' by Linda Facci
There are two kinds of New Year’s resolutions we all make. There are the inward, self-focused kinds of resolutions (lose weight, be better organized, exercise more) that have to do with improving ourselves. And then there are the outward, more social resolutions, like calling home more often or keeping in better touch with old friends.
Here is one resolution that works on both counts: getting better organizing with thank you note cards. This resolution works well because writing thank you notes immediately after the holidays end is something we all need to do. Thank you notes for the gifts, parties, and thoughtfulness of friends and neighbors is an admirable goal to set for the new year. Being prompt with your notes is even better. Here are three kinds of thank you note cards to order and have on hand throughout the year, beginning now, as the holidays draw to a close:
Separate Thank You Note Cards
Always start with your own set of thank you note cards, something that reflects your taste or at least your own personal monogram. Use these cards for notes to friends, family, neighbors whom you want to send grateful sentiments just from you.
Family
Find a set of family thank you cards with a simple design, one that you can personalize with a surname monogram or the full spelling if you prefer.
Kids
The kids should have their own personal sets of thank you note cards, done in designs appropriate for their age and gender, with either monogram or even personalized with a photo.
When it comes to actually jotting your note down and getting it off into the mail, remember to keep it short and direct. Just three sentences is all that’s needed: (1) start with thanks and name what you are thankful for, (2) make a brief statement about why or how you’re thankful, and (3) close wishing them well or note future plans to reconvene.
For a variety of thank you note cards for each category–personal, family, kids–browse the collections at www.looklovesend.com. Many designs can be personalized with a monogram, photo or something else you choose, and all print on premium, heavy weight papers.
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21 Dec |
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12:15 pm Posted by Kristy |
As seen on www.obsuessed.com
Winter blew in today at 50 mph. It’s got me thinking about good DIY wintertime crafts to do with the kids. Fresh new ideas are not only handy for weekends at home, but if you’re sending out wintertime birthday party invitations, they can do double duty as birthday party craft and favors. Here are some ideas to keep things interesting this winter, along with matching birthday party theme ideas:
LEGO PARTY
Craft & Favor: Lego baby food jar
Set up a giant table covered with Lego bricks and play a Lego version of Pictionary. Or have kids draw suggestions for a hat or let them loose with their own ideas. There are so many ways to do this party. Yellow paint and black sharpie is all that’s required for the cute favor. Paint them ahead of time for drying, and let the kids create their own Lego face. It’s breakable, so stick with kids ages 7 and up. Toss in a Lego mini-figure inside each one if you’ve got the budget for it.
ART PARTY
Craft & Favor: Multi-color crayon cakes
Make use of all your kids’ broken crayons. Ask kids to gather up bits and pieces of broken crayons in colors they like. Have them place their collection into a non-stick muffin tin. Melt them on a low temperature (200 degrees) for 10-15 minutes until they liquefy, cool, then move to a freezer for another 10-15 minutes. Voila–homemade rainbow crayon cakes, perfect especially for kindergarteners or even toddlers to hold and use. Toss in a little notebook personalized with each child’s name and place inside gift bags, and you’ve given them the perfect party favor to take home and actually use!
ICE CREAM PARTY
Craft & Favor: Fudge sauce
Making this fudge sauce is really the hardest part because it requires about 30 minutes of constant stirring. Best to make it ahead, and have the decorate their take-home fudge jars, with paint, stickers or glitter. Something the size of a small jam jar or large baby food jar is ideal. Depending on the number of kids, you can double or triple the following recipe, which makes enough for 4 small size jars:
- 1 stick of butter, melted on the stove
- 1 c semi-sweet chocolate chip morsels
- 1 can evaporated milk
- 2 cups confectioners sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
To find the perfect birthday party invitations to go with your winter birthday party, browse the collection of kids party invites at www.looklovesend.com. You can easily and quickly personalize your favorite design, and orders ship the next business day.
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19 Dec |
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9:12 am Posted by Kristy |
I still remember the first time I was allowed to stay up late with the grown-ups for New Year’s. I was ten years old and thrilled to join my parents, aunt and uncle, grandparents, and older cousins. We made newspaper hats and snacked on adult foods like olives and herring, and I listened to their frequent comments about the “racy” entertainment on the major TV networks.
Then I vaguely recall my mother shaking me to wake up so I could see the ball drop and count down with everyone. There was kissing, hugging, dancing and more eating, and I remember being so grateful to get into my bed to finally fall asleep while listening to it all from beneath my covers.
New Year’s Eve can be made more fun for kids who are ready to stay up long enough to celebrate. With a mix of ages and abilities to make it to midnight, as in my own home, it can be a challenge to adjust New Year’s party planning accordingly. While I’m not sure I’ll be sending out my own New Year’s holiday party invitations, I am likely responding to some. So I’d like to be ready with my own ideas for making our New Year’s celebration with the kids extra special this year.
Kid-friendly New Year’s Party Strategies
There are lots of ideas floating around about how to make New Year’s a special occasion for the kids (sorry, Herring!). We loved some of the ideas from this guide by GrowingAJeweledRose.com. Here are our favorites:
- DIY Balloon Drop – Fill a drawstring garbage back with blown-up balloons and then release them on the kids at midnight. Easy, inexpensive, way fun.
- Dress Up Dance Party – Glitter, boas, capes and hats. Let them interpret formal dress and see what happens. Or, get extra mileage out of little Timmy’s ring bearer suit or little Cindy’s holiday dress.
- Time Capsules – Make it meaningful by filling a coffee can with photos and notes about special things from the year. Start a tradition by marking the can with a future New Year’s Eve date to open and enjoy.
How do you plan to celebrate with your kids? For fabulous holiday party invitations for all ages, shop the collection at www.LookLoveSend.com and personalize your favorite design. It’s easy, fast, and you can always count on flawless printing on premium quality papers.
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17 Dec |
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11:40 pm Posted by Nicola |
For wintertime I Do’s, there’s nothing quite as pure and elegant as a white winter wedding theme. From crisp wedding invitations to bridal party attire, sparkling decorations and lights – creating a winter wonderland is surprisingly simple. Some tips below.
Wedding invitations: set the tone with an elegant wedding invitation in a crisp white which will beautifully offset the calligraphy of your invitation message. ‘Lace and Ribbon’ (below) by designer Suling Wang is one of our favorites.
Bridal party attire: play up the wintry feel of your wedding with accessories fit for the season; a white fur wrap or beaded jacket, elbow-length gloves, or sparkling crystal jewels. If your bridesmaids are also wearing white, add a hint of silver, lavender or pastel blue in a wrap, shawl or bouquet for a soft warm touch.
Flowers: White calla lilies, white roses and orchids are beautiful options for a winter bridal bouquet. Bring fabric swatches to your florist to make sure that the white of your gown match your selected white blooms.
Ceremony decorations: tie white tulle bows on pews and decorate your ceremony location with inexpensive white poinsettias.
Reception decorations: Choose crisp white floor length tablecloths and napkins and decorate guest tables with votive candles set on mirrors. For a showstopper reception piece, order an ice sculpture to enhance your winter wonderland theme and server as a great conversation starter too.
Lighting: use as many white string lights as you can to create a warm and sparkly atmosphere. For a more formal wintery feel, incorporate blue light elements for added drama.
If you are considering a winter wonderland for your wedding, browse themed inspiration boards for more ideas to create this stunning theme. And for winter-inspired wedding invitations, shop the beautiful selection at LookLoveSend.com.
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14 Dec |
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10:55 am Posted by Kristy |
Doodle Floral by Eliza DeVogel
Bridal shower tradition is rooted in the material needs of starting a new home. The deepest roots in the tradition stem from the notion that a bride was property. Forget bridal shower invitations–the forerunner to throwing a bride a wedding shower was essentially her own family equipping her with a dowry. A dowry was a culturally prescribed amount of wealth she could bring to the arrangement that made her a more attractive asset to her future spouse and his family.
In the U.S., the more recent history of the bridal shower tradition came from a young couple’s need in starting a new household–acquiring everyday living supplies to build their new household from scratch. In post World War II America, the bridal shower has been a female-driven event. Bridal shower invitations were typically ultra feminine in style, encouraging guests to go out and purchase typical wife-as-homemaker items, from blenders to rolling pins to ironing boards and more.
Cue the Bridal, ahem, Wedding Shower Invitations
But what of the emotional aspect of the bridal shower tradition? What of the symbolism in a tradition to hold as much power for non-traditional couples? Be they older, second-timers, same-sex, live-in and others, who’ve already built a household together? Shouldn’t their name appear as guests of honor on a more modern kind of wedding shower invitation?
As more non-traditional couples head to the alter here, many have possession of a wedding registry, but often do not get the benefit of a wedding shower. This does them and their friends a disservice. They deserve and need the power of a shower as a special form of acknowledgement and endorsement of their commitment to one another. A wedding shower–traditional or not–is no less important for them. Their wedding registry items may not be the obvious set of kitchenware and dishes, but the need to celebrate remains.
If you know a newly engaged couple outside the stereotypical young, first-time-for-both, couple-dom, you can find fantastic wedding shower invitations to personalize in their style at www.looklovesend.com. From classic and feminine to modern and chic for couples of all tastes and preferences, you’ll see a variety of styles, color and themes. All invitations print on premium quality paper and turnaround is fast. Enjoy free shipping for order of 50 or more.
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12 Dec |
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5:40 am Posted by Kristy |
No other wedding season invites such contrasting possibilities for choosing flowers as winter does. From a spare and simple winter foliage, to a jewel-toned assemblage of blooms, winter weddings afford brides possibilities that are quite literally, polar opposites.
As you put together your winter wedding style, from choosing wedding invitations to selecting blooms for your centerpieces, think about key elements like use of color and fabrics. Here’s a look at some gorgeous winter wedding floral styles on polar opposite sides of the style spectrum:
Polar Opposites #1
- Orange & Tropical - Infuse some unexpected warmth into your winter wedding affair. One less conventional choice (below, left) shows tropical blooms topping a glass vase brimming with orange slices.
- Winter Greens & Roses - Take advantage of season bounty, using holiday greens to fill out and play up the gorgeous deep pinks and reds in your winter flowers, like the rose-dotted centerpiece below, right.
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Polar Opposites #2
- Winter Whites - Start with classic winter whites and add interest with different textures from non-floral elements, such as miniature pine cones and berries like this gorgeous bouquet from Bella Wedding Flowers.
- Rich Color - If you prefer more color for your winter wedding, you cannot overdo it. Deep hues in a range of textures make this monochromatic style elegant and interesting, like the one photographed below by Jeff Turnball.
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Other winter floral elements include artfully arranged branches, candle displays, and luxurious fabrics, like velvet ribbon or glittery tulle. Using a touch of sparkle to even the simplest table arrangement or bouquet instantly adds glamour and elegance to your style.
Whichever side of the winter style spectrum you prefer, find the perfect wedding invitations for your look at www.looklovesend.com. With a wide range of styles in multiple color options, you will be sure to find a design that works for your winter wedding. Personalize your design with your photo and choose from a selection of premium weight, luxury papers, card backers and envelope liners. Enjoy free ground shipping when you order 50 or more invitations.
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6 Dec |
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10:51 pm Posted by Kristy |
Has the tidal wave of holiday cards begun to roll in at your house? My quick catch-all is a cute snowman basket, a white square with black buttons that holds a stack of cards six inches deep. Every year I think I’ll come up with something better. Every year the cards stay in the basket until about the end of January. It’s one of the last Christmas decorations I put away.
This year, in search of a more visual way to display my most unique holiday cards, I went hunting on Pinterest and found several clever ideas to share. Here are my favorites:
Old Shutters – Repainted and hung on the wall, these look great with cards tucked in the slats. Works beyond the holidays too.
Wreath – Attach paper clips around the perimeter of an existing wreath, or create a new one entirely made of clothespins. Either version holds cards in circular fashion.
Garland – Use string or ribbon to swag cards above your kitchen cabinets, along the mantel, or up your banister, wherever you can make good use of already hanging garland.
Ribbon Tree – Staple grosgrain ribbon to a bulletin board in the shape of a simple Christmas tree. You can either tuck flat cards underneath the ribbon branches or hand folded cards over them.
Door Hangar – Hang tails of ribbon vertically from an existing hook or hang a wooden sign painted Merry Christmas, again using clothes pins to hold your most unique holiday cards.
Bare branch tree – Arrange twisting branches you collect from your yard to recreate a tree inside a sturdy container with a wide enough opening–glass mason jar or stoneware add the perfect rustic touch. Tie loops of ribbon and hole-punch your selected cards to hang on branches with the ribbon.
Check us out on Pinterest for some of these ideas we’ve pinned and more. Don’t forget to get your own unique holiday cards mailed in time. Shop the collections at www.looklovesend.com, where you can quickly and easily create Christmas cards online. Personalize your favorite design with photos and write your own holiday sentiments. Orders ship within 24 hours of your approval, and your complete satisfaction is guaranteed!
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3 Dec |
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10:40 pm Posted by Nicola |
The high points of a successful party are good company, music, drinks and appetizers. Whether you’ve already sent out holiday party invitations for your annual event, or are planning an impromptu get together with a few friends, here are some tips to simplify your party hosting duties.
Plan to offer three or four different types of appetizers and approximately 10 pieces for each guest.- Prebake all appetizers before the party and then reheat them just before serving.
- If you’re buying pre-made hors d’oeuvres (and there are a number of excellent options out there) don’t use the microwave if the packaging lists a conventional oven as the preferred cooking method for crispiest results.
- Prepare a few simple cold appetizer options and set them out as guests arrive so they have something to snack on before hot appetizers are ready. Calorie-conscious guests may also appreciate a veggie platter or cheese tray option.
- Passing hot appetizers yourself offers a great opportunity to mingle with your guests. If you have guests offering to help, ask them to clear plates or keep cold appetizer trays stocked.
- For your passed appetizers, consider which really should be served hot (stuffed mushrooms, anything with melted cheese) and which are still good at room temperature (mini quiche, veggie spring rolls). Then plan your heating schedule accordingly so the hottest appetizers are ready when most guests have arrived.
Appetizers aside, simplify your other party planning duties by setting up a self-service bar and preparing a festive non-alcoholic punch, pre-loading your iPod, and emptying all garbage and recycling cans ahead of time. Then get ready, greet your guests, and enjoy! And for simplified holiday party invitations, checkout the fresh and festive designs from LookLoveSend.com. All orders ship the next business day so there’s still time to order for your 2012 holiday party!
