Archives

Gifts Ideas, Occasions & Holidays

4 DIY Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

May 3, 2018

What better way to celebrate Mother’s Day than with a gift made by her (favorite) child? Today we will be sharing 4 DIY Mother’s Day gifts & gestures that may just have your mother shedding happy tears.

  1. DIY Cookbook

A DIY cookbook is the perfect gift for any family that loves to be in the kitchen. One easy way to do this is by using a photo album! Alternate the placement of photo and recipe to create an aesthetically pleasing layout. Pair her cookbook with a personalized cutting board and apron to really bring everything together. As an added bonus, this cookbook can be passed down from generation to generation.

  1. Host Mother’s Day Brunch

It’s time to put those family recipes (or Pinterest) to good use with Mother’s Day brunch! Whether you are having brunch inside or on the patio, paying attention to details will turn it into a special event! Set the table with flowers, a table runner, accent plates, and personalized mason jars. From French toast to frittata your mom’s day will be off to a great start.

Tip: Pick a set of colors such as pink, purple, and green and stick to them for a look that is bright yet simple and put together.

  1. Make her a Gift Basket

The best part about making a gift basket yourself is that you’ll be able to fill it with mom’s favorites. Set the mood for a relaxing evening at home by filling a basket with her favorite bottle of wine, a  wine glass with her name on it, and of course, chocolate! Use a personalized tote as a basket for a fun twist and fill it up with anything and everything she loves. Remember, you can never go wrong with a gift basket!

  1. Plant her Favorite Flowers

Whether you decide to plant potted flowers or seeds, taking the time to plant your mother’s favorite flowers in her garden is a beautiful gesture. Why send flowers when you can give a gift that keeps on giving – plant perennial flowers such as Shasta daisies that will bloom year after year. Be sure to add a garden flag or stone for a decorative touch. Your mother will think about you every time she lays her eyes on the flowers that you planted for her.

Occasions & Holidays

Easter Symbols & Traditions Explained

March 22, 2018

Have you ever wondered about the origin of the Easter Bunny and why he delivers decorated eggs? Today we’ll be taking a look at how some Easter symbols and traditions came to be.

It all started with celebrations that took place during the spring equinox. Eostre, the goddess of spring, was honored during these events with symbols such as the egg, rabbit, and chick. We see these three being eaten by the handful during Easter in the form of chocolate eggs, chocolate bunnies, and everyone’s favorite, Peeps!

Why the Easter egg? The egg is known as one of the most iconic symbols of Easter. It has represented life, rebirth, and even the resurrection of Jesus in the Christian Faith. Due to its significance, eggs were decorated and given to children on Easter. It became traditional in some cultures to mimic the stone being rolled from Jesus’ tomb by rolling the decorated eggs down a hill during Easter. The White House’s annual Easter Egg Roll comes from this tradition.

What many people do not know is that before cacao beans were used to make the chocolate we all know and love today, it was first used in a drink by the Aztecs and Mayans. Following the egg trend, it was customary during Victorian times to gift cardboard eggs covered in satin and filled with goodies such as chocolates during Easter. Lucky for us, chocolate eggs were finally created in Europe by the French and Germans during the 19th century.

Many of us grew up hearing about the legend of the Easter Bunny. What began as stories of rabbits laying eggs in nests and hiding them in gardens spiraled into one of the most popular traditions of today, Easter egg filled baskets. Nowadays people fill up these baskets with Easter eggs, chocolate eggs, and small gifts for children.

During the weeks leading up to Easter, many people decorate their homes with Easter symbols. Personalized Easter and spring gifts such as chocolates, storybooks for children, and home decor are all special ways to show your loved ones that you’re thinking of them. So the next time that you’re gifted a chocolate bunny or eating a chocolate egg, you will know the origin of this holiday’s traditions.

Occasions & Holidays

How the Whole Family Can Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

March 10, 2018

Want to step up your game and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a bang? Whether you are out with your family enjoying the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade or spending time with loved ones at a backyard party, you can enjoy Irish festivities in many fun ways. You’ll be effortlessly welcoming the spring season and hopefully starting new family traditions too!

1. Welcome your guests with Irish flair!

The best way to set the mood for a great St. Patrick’s Day celebration is to welcome your guests warmly. You can do just this with a cool Irish wall sign or a slate plaque! Once your family and friends step up to your door, the party will start as everyone is greeted by this cheery sign.

2. Decorate the house together!

Before any guests show up, the family can additionally work together to adorn the whole house with St. Patrick’s Day decor. If you’re hosting a party at your house, have a cute, holiday-themed doormat greet your guests. Everyone can enjoy a nice barbecue in your backyard while your kids play a nice board game with their friends.

3. Clink to celebrate and drink

Cheer for St. Patrick’s Day along with friends with your very own mug with cold, frosty beer. You can even take the party on the go with a engraved shamrock flask. If you’re staying in and watching the parade from home, prepare some snacks to pair with your drinks and stay cozy on the couch!

4. Save the fun-filled memories forever!

The fun won’t have to end for St. Patrick’s Day. You can frame all the wonderful pictures you took with friends and family and have the memories saved! It’ll definitely be fun and heartwarming to look back on the festivities in the coming years.

 

However you get to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, we’re sure you’ll have an incredible time if it’s with friends and family! Of course, fun activities like the ones we suggested will make for even happier memories when looking back. Our personalized gifts and keepsakes will have everyone feeling special, with a little Irish spring to their step!

Tips & Tricks

5 Tips on Giving a Wedding Toast

September 1, 2017

It’s that time of the year again—Wedding Season! Too often, we focus all our attention on the bride and groom, but we should also give credit where it’s due. A wedding could only go off without a hitch (pun intended) with the help of a best man and a maid of honor. Who else would organize the bachelor party for the groom or diet with the bride before her big day for moral support? Most of their duties go unnoticed by the wedding guests but unfortunately, the task that everyone is sure to notice is probably the most daunting of all—the wedding toast! One of the best ways to celebrate the happy couple is with the best man speech or maid of honor speech, and in preparation for the big day, we’ve put together a few tips so that you can master the dreaded wedding toast…

  1. Introduce Yourself.

This is a great way to start your toast because it allows the audience to get to know your relationship with the bride and/or groom. Take this opportunity to share special memories that you’ve created with the happy couple.

  1. Know Your Audience.

While we’re sure that you’ve seen the bride and groom in not only the best of times, but also the worst of times, it’s probably not a good idea to mention any memories that aren’t wedding friendly. Remember that the audience includes the other bridesmaids, groomsmen, children and the elderly so keep your speech G-rated.

  1. Be Yourself.

Even though the majority of the audience probably won’t know who you are, this isn’t the time to reinvent yourself. If you’re a sentimental person, make the speech touching. If you’re a jokester, keep the speech light hearted yet meaningful. Either way, being authentic will help you feel comfortable in front of a large crowd and will help you shine brightest.

Image result for toast wedding

  1. Wish The Happy Couple Well.

This is the part where you can express a sentiment that everyone in the room is feeling. After watching a beautiful ceremony, thank the couple for putting together such a lovely event and wish them well by raising your glass to the new newlyweds.

Image result for writing

  1. Practice, Practice, Practice.

This is the final and arguably most important step to mastering your toast. Writing out your toast on paper and practicing it will familiarize yourself with your speech. It’s also a great way to time how long your speech will be; we recommend a three to five minute speech. This will ultimately make your delivery more natural and hearing yourself read your toast out loud will help you organize your thoughts.

 

With these five steps you will be sure to get a standing ovation for your toast on the big day. If nerves get to you during your speech, just remember to be yourself and end on a high note. Want to wish the bride and groom even more well wishes? Get them something personalized that will help them cherish the memory of this wonderful day for many years to come. Good luck!

 

Fun Facts

5 Benefits of Reading to Your Children

September 1, 2017

Parents have the power to boost their children’s thinking, speech, and their imagination by reading to them every day. For this reason, selecting personalized storybooks which can be personalized by name, gender, hair color, skin tone and more are an excellent choice to help jumpstart your child’s desire to read. Everyone knows that reading to children is beneficial, but do you know how reading aloud actually impacts your child’s development? Below are 5 benefits of reading to children.

1. Builds a strong relationship

Toddlers often spend their time running around and playing so it is important to set aside time to read together. Reading aloud builds a relationship between child and parent and allows for valuable bonding time. Personalized storybooks are the perfect way to keep your child not only engaged but excited for story time. This leads to a higher chance of children forming positive associations with reading. 

2. Develops strong foundations for academic excellence

Higher learning aptitudes have been linked to reading at an early age. Since books have high sentence structure and are grammatically sound, reading allows children to develop a vocabulary that they are not exposed to in their everyday lives. Children will also develop logical thinking skills by grasping concepts presented in storybooks. Listening, concentration, and discipline are also practiced during story time since children settle down and listen to what is being read to them. This may not be the case at first, so it can be helpful to read personalized storybooks to your child because knowing that they are a part of the story raises their anticipation level to see when their name will show up next. Another helpful tip is to set a regularly scheduled reading session which will eventually become routine to your child.

3. Helps acquire language & speech skills

Reading aloud helps children develop and understand language. Through listening to books, children learn how words sound and how they are put together. It is also important to your child’s development to allow them to point at pictures and look at the text that is being read to them.

4. Familiarizes children with situations they may encounter

When encountering new situations, children may become nervous, shy, or reserved. Reading personalized storybooks helps children become familiarized with situations they may face such as attending preschool or even becoming a big brother or sister as they will be exposed to the events that may occur. They will also be able to see how they, as the character in the storybook, can overcome and even enjoy the occasion.

5. Encourages Creativity

Children will explore new places and meet many characters through the different personalized storybooks they have read to them. This allows them to actively use their imagination and contributes to building memory and curiosity. Your child may even grow a special connection with certain books and will want them to be read over and over again. This is normal since they are the character in the story.

Books are essential in the early development of comprehension skills in children. It is important to select storybooks that are age appropriate and strike an interest in your child.  Selecting personalized storybooks will not only ensure that your child is engaged, but they will love when they are made the stars of their very own book!