Create My Event

Quick Tip! Party Buying Guide

A simple party buying guide from Sugar & Charm.

Quick Tip! Tips For Tipping At Your Wedding

Heres a few quick little tips on how much to tip!

Source: Wedding Party

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Wine Pairing Guides for All

Having an end of summer soiree? Or maybe you just like to drink wine, with everything. Here are a few wine pairing guides that might help you with planning your event or spice up your daily routine. Personally, the second one is my favorite...who wouldn't want to eat a box of Girl Scout cookies and drink a bottle of wine.

Source: Whole Foods' Dark Rye Magazine

Source: The Juice. Club W

Source: Indian Wine List

Source: The Juice. Club W

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Quick Tip! How to Properly Set a Table

Here is a quick tip from Brunch At Saks on How to Properly Set a Table. This should come in handy for all the upcoming holidays.

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Visit us at Sendo to create custom online invitations, announcements or Ecards

 

Hip Hostess Gifts in a Hurry

Need a gift in a hurry for the hippest of hostesses?  Last week, I blogged about the amazing poolside baby shower my friends threw for me.  For their hostess gifts, I wanted something that perfectly complemented my friends' gourmet cooking talents while tipping a hat to the theme of the shower. 

The end result?  Dainty (but oversized, mugs filled with a lemon thyme plant, and accessorized with a cute little cocktail umbrella.  The final product was delightful, and reminded me of a tiny little patio, perfect for fairies and teeny sun-seekers.

I failed to take a picture of the mugs in their final form, but the following is montage of the supplies I used.  This is a great summer hostess gift, and the lemon thyme is an unusual but very versatile herb that can happily grow in its mug, while sitting on the windowsill of the recipient's kitchen.  Practical and pretty!

Lovely mugs from www.anthropologie.com.

Cocktail umbrella + Mug + Herb = Easy and unusual hostess gift!

Parasols and party planners,

Baby Sprinkle

We’re throwing a Baby Sprinkle for my sister-in-law on Saturday and I am psyched!

Yep, you read that right. A baby sprinkle, NOT a baby shower.

And what is a baby sprinkle?

A baby sprinkle is a smaller version of a baby shower.  Traditionally, we celebrate the upcoming birth of the mommy-to-be’s first child with a baby shower.  The shower is a chance to help the first time mom properly prepare for her baby.  Guests “shower” the mommy with everything from clothes and pacifiers to a high chair and crib. 

What about the second, third, fourth, etc., baby?  All babies are gifts and deserve their own celebration.  A baby sprinkle allows guests to “sprinkle” the veteran mom with items for her newest little sunshine.  Gifts include items that aren’t usually saved from baby to baby like diapers, formula and clothes in the right size for the right season.

Should you throw a baby sprinkle for a mom who already had a baby shower for her first baby?

I’ll admit, when I first read about the baby sprinkle, I was skeptical.  I had an amazing baby shower for my first baby with so many awesome gifts, so would I want to ask those same family members and friends to give me more gifts when I have my second baby?  When my sister gets pregnant and I have a shower for her that includes all the same family members, would I really have the nerve to ask for more for her during baby two or three?

In a nutshell: No.

If you’re talking the same family and friends for each shower/sprinkle, I think one is enough.  If they chose to send you gifts for each child, on their own terms, that’s up to them.  However, to have more than one gift-giving event involving the same guests is, in my opinion, greedy.

That being said, if the guests are going to be an entirely new crowd, go for it.  A baby sprinkle is perfect for family and/or friends that were not a part of the baby shower.

Long story short, my family was not a part of my sister’s-in-law life when she had her first child, so, obviously, we were not present at her baby shower.  We’re a part of her life now and we want to celebrate the newest member of our family.  A baby sprinkle is the perfect way to do so.

Stay tuned and next Thursday I’ll share with you pictures and ideas from our Baby Sprinkle!

Does the Bride Have To Open Gifts At the Shower?

Here’s the scenario: You rented a perfectly gorgeous venue for the bridal shower you’re throwing.  It wasn’t over the top expensive, but you shelled out a pretty penny for it.  That doesn’t matter though because the bride will L-O-V-E it!  You now have three hours to host the shower of the century.

Here’s the problem: You now have THREE hours to host the shower of the century.  Three hours to set up, greet guests, mingle, eat, play a few games, open gifts, serve the cake and tear down.  Oh, and by the way, did the manager of the venue mention that any time over the three hours will cost you an extra couple hundred dollars?

Sound familiar to anyone?

We ran into this situation with my sister’s Chocolat(e) Bridal Shower.  We had three hours to make it all happen.  Luckily, we were able to beg an extra half hour for set up, but that still didn’t leave us much time.  How many times have you gone to a shower that began at noon and next thing you know, it’s almost 4:00?

Exactly.  Time flies when you’re having fun.

So, as the host, how do you fit everything into your time limit and NOT get stuck having to pay for an extra hour or more?

My budget friendly tip: skip the gift opening.

“GASP! The horror!” cry the Emily Post’s and Martha Stewart’s of party planning.

I realize that the purpose of a bridal shower is to “shower” the bride with gifts.  However, how many of us have attended a shower and groaned silently through the entire gift opening process?  Be honest. No one can see you nod your head as you sit on your couch reading this.

 Even without the gift opening at the shower, the bride is still being “showered” with gifts.  The only difference is now she gets to spend more time mingling with her family and friends.  Plus, no one has to feel like they went the inexpensive (read: cheap) route by being compared to the gift that would have cost an entire month’s paycheck. 

Another plus, the bride isn’t faced with this situation, “A crock pot! I love it! Just what I’ve always wanted…even though it’s the third one I opened today…”  Being the duplicate gift giver (even if you did buy your gift three months ago) always feels awkward.

Here’s the way I see it: It’s now considered okay to send out evites rather than handwritten invitations.  Showers were once for women only, but now it’s commonplace to have a “Jack and Jill.”  Mothers and sisters of the bride were NOT to host the shower, but very rarely do I attend a shower that is NOT hosted by a mother or sister. Why do we have to stick to the rule of opening gifts at the shower?

My sister did not open her gifts at her shower and we were able to get everything done within the three hour time limit.  We did let the guests know that gifts were not going be opened during the shower with a note on the menu card that read,

“So that we have more time to enjoy the pleasure of each other’s company, win fantastic prizes, and eat more chocolate, Megan will not be opening gifts during the Choco-Soiree.  She wants to thank you in advance and she wants you to know that she appreciates every item that you so thoughtfully picked out for her and Dru to begin their life together as husband and wife.”

That evening her and her husband-to-be took turns opening gifts.  No one knows if they were a duplicate.  None of the guests had to feel as if their gift wasn’t as expensive as someone else’s gift.  Megan and Dru loved every gift they received and each guest received a Thank You note.

To open gifts or to not open gifts?  It’s a personal choice.  However, I don’t think you need to feel as if you’re breaking a cardinal etiquette rule if you chose to save the gift opening until after the shower.

Posted by A Yummy Mummy On A Pink Park Bench

Party Confidential

 

Party Confidential: New Etiquette For Fabulous Entertaining is a party planner's modern day alternative to Ms. Post's timeless rules and social graces. Authors Lara Shriftman and Elizabeth Harrison host publicity garnering events for celebrities, Hollywood and Madison Ave. Party Confidential is these party planning pros' follow up publication to Fete Accompli!: The Ultimate Guide To Creative Entertaining.

Chapters include the Starter Course (making a good impression), Party Planning 101 (so, you wanna throw a party? here's how), The Power Host (the hostess with the mostes'), You're Invited (repondez, s'il vous plait!), Mind Your P's & Q's (an fyi for all you pyts) and Guestly Manners (good graces to get you on the a-list).

Lara and Elizabeth share with readers their 10 No-Fail Steps To A Fab Fete. The book also includes celebrities sounding off on all things party, recipes and theme party outlines. The book promises to be the go-to guide for becoming "a consummate host and well-manner guest at every party."

"Throwing a bash is simple, easy and most of all, yes, fun!"
-Shriftman and Harrison

Holiday Teacher Gifts

Gifts during the holidays are tricky, especially if you are on a budget.  Yet, we inevitably try to please everyone and everyone includes your children's teachers (co-workers, the mailman, etc.).  You, as the giver, want to say an extra special thanks for all that the teacher does during the school year with your child.  Or, if it happens to be the school bus driver, the baby-sitter, your secretary or co-workers, it's always nice to give a "Thanks for doing a great job" or simply, "Have a safe and Happy Holiday!" gift that displays this gesture but is not over the top or inappropriate.

I thought of this post after talking with my sister, a middle-school teacher herself, about the types of gifts she gets from her students at Christmastime.  Do not misunderstand - teachers love getting gifts and the gesture is welcomed and appreciated!  Sometimes, though, there are items that provoke a few laughs or a quizzical look/thought. 

Some guidelines:

Chocolate - This is a universal theme enjoyed by everyone.  During the holidays there are always many boxes of chocolates and treats floating around and although a few are a sweet indulgence, too many are a stomach ache.  My sister once received 15 boxes of chocolates from the kids in her class and so the rest of our family got, you guessed it, boxes of chocolate on Christmas morning!  If you would like to give chocolate, pick 3 or four handmade truffles and package them in an ornamental box or create an assortment of single serving gourmet hot chocolates.  Small gestures with big taste!

Candles - Candles are pretty and very seasonal with all of the cozy nights people spend relaxing with family.  If you have found a wonderful, eco-friendly and naturally scented column candle that is in a neutral color and could go with almost any decor (or something along those lines), please give.  But be careful when you are tempted to buy candles in bulk or candles with very strong scents or colors or in odd shapes and figures. If you would not use it as a center piece at a family dinner or as part of your seasonal decor, then chances are the teacher would not either ;)

Christmas themed decorations/goodies - In general this seems like a good idea, because it's the Holiday Season!  But, as a caution, if you wouldn't use the Rudolph the Reindeer themed napkins or the Disney Christmas tree ornament, it's likely your child's teacher might just pack it away, or give it to their Great Aunt Mabel.

Wine and Spirits - My sister thinks getting a bottle of wine or a little assortment of liquors is wonderful.  She says that after long days with the kids, and sometimes long nights with parents at Parent-Teacher interviews, she NEEDS a glass or two.  You do not have to choose an expensive bottle of wine to make a generous gesture and many stores do carry half bottles that are also good gifts for those on a budget.  Also, attaching a recipe for Mulled Wine or Hot Buttered Rum to the bottle you are giving adds a personal and seasonal touch.

Other ideas - Homemade cookies (made by the children themselves so Mom gets a little break), muffins, granola, goodie bags of old fashioned Holiday candies, or even gift certificates for a spa service, a favorite music or movie store or a gourmet food shop.

If these ideas don't work for you, remember, there's nothing wrong with giving an elegant card with a heartfelt Holiday greeting and your child's signature.

Happy Holiday Gift Giving!

Recipes courtesy of the LCBO, pictures courtesy of Martha Stewart and The Wine Enthusiast

Moo

A very long time ago in a civilization far, far away ladies and gentlemen would exchange calling cards when they paid a visit or made a new acquaintance.   Much like handkerchiefs and watch fobs, we don't see the personal card much these days.  Instead, we exchange business cards and email addresses- even in a potential dating scenario.  But when meeting someone new or reconnecting, shouldn't we leave a more personal impression than that of our company's logo and fax number?  Enter the Moo card. 

Moo cards are:  half the size of regular business cards.  100% customizable and personal.  Easy to create and totally affordable at $19.99 for 100 cards.  They are super trendy among artists, bloggers, and now even the forward thinking corporate world is getting in on the action. As the world grows smaller, we need a little social grace and humor to keep us smiling.  Think My Space meets the baseball trading card.

Do they have moo cases?  Actually, yes. 

Check it out at www.moo.com.  by Kate Sinclair of Life In Style.