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Tips & Tricks

Tips & Tricks

5 Tips to Get Ready to Go Back to School!

August 9, 2018

It’s crazy to think that August is here – the summer went by so quickly! With school right around the corner, we are here to help you prepare with these 5 easy tips and tricks to help transition back into school mode!

1. Organization is Key 

Sometimes it can be hard to get back on track after a summer of relaxation.  With this Life is a Beautiful Ride Personalized Notebook you can easily manage your daily to-do lists and objectives in style. It has also been proven that writing things down actually gives you a better chance of remembering these tasks when you have to Be sure to check out other custom notebooks to find the one that fits your style. 

2. Go Back to School in Style

Be the talk of the hallway this year! With all the things you carry back and forth to school – from textbooks to folders and notebooks – keep all your school supplies organized with a Personalized Backpack 

3. Be Happier With Your Lunch

Lunch is the best part of the school day, it is the time to relax and hang with friends in between classes. For those of you who have kids, you know how important this time of the day is, so a Personalized Lunch Box is a back to school necessity! Your child will be the most stylish and happiest kid in the cafeteria with a bag personalized to them. 

4. Stock Up on School Supplies

Make sure to keep your house and backpack stocked with custom school supplies to avoid last minute shopping! Add some flare to your supplies for a unique and creative look. You will be writing in style with these Personalized Blue School Pencils.  You can even pair this with personalized stationary or a personalized pencil case.  

5. Clear the Clutter off Your Desk

Having a neat work space is always important, especially when keeping track of all the tasks you have from different classes. This Engraved Phone Stand & Pad Tray is the perfect way to organize your desk. This is perfect for college students as well – now when you are on Facetime you can simply place your phone down on your desk and use both hands to complete whatever tasks you need to! 

With these five easy tips you are sure to rock it going back to school! Check out our Back To School Collection for more fun personalized ideas! From all of us at Personalization Universe, we wish you a great school year! 

 

Gifts Ideas, Occasions & Holidays, Tips & Tricks

How to Make Father’s Day Extra Special

June 17, 2018

Grandfathers, uncles, and dads all do their best year-round to keep a smile on your face. Father’s Day is the day to celebrate them and show them that you care about them just as much as they do for you. To make this Father’s Day one that your dad will surely remember, take a look at these fun and helpful tips!

1. Make it a Low-Maintenance Day

Try not to focus on making Father’s Day an absolutely perfect day because that could put too much pressure on your dad! While you’re doing nice things throughout the day for him, if something doesn’t go according to plan just remember to go with the flow. Take care of his usual chores too as an extra-special touch. This way, you’ll make it a hassle-free day for your dad!

2. Do His Favorite Thing Together!

Whether it’s playing golf in the morning or watching his favorite game in the living room, make sure to spend time with your dad or husband. He’ll appreciate you taking out the time to explore his hobby with him!

3. Gift Him Something Personalized

What other way to make your dad feel special than with a personalized gift? It’s a present just for him! Get him something that will make him think about his loving family and friends every time he uses the gift. We suggest a sleek, personalized leather business card case or a personalized leather watch box to help simplify his life!

4. Surprise Him with Appreciation

What’ll make your personalized gifts even better is a thoughtful card or even a token of appreciation. Gather the family to write all the things you’re thankful for your dad or husband! Have him wake up to it so he’ll start his day already feeling loved and praised. As a small token of appreciation, have him also wake up to his favorite breakfast in bed!

5. Frame the Memory!

As you carry on a fun-filled, relaxing Father’s Day, take a picture with the dad in your life. As you capture the memory, don’t forget to frame it too! Make it personalized with one of our special “Dad” frames like this one. Whether it’s for your dad, husband, or an uncle, they would love to look back to the photo and remember the great Father’s Day they spent with everyone!

Tips & Tricks

5 Ways to Welcome in the Summer with Wine

June 7, 2018

Summer is finally here! This means juicy fruits in season, refreshing drinks, and most of all, beautiful, sunny weather! A great way to celebrate and welcome in the wonderful season is by opening up some rich wine. Here are some ways you can do just that:

1. Make Yourself a Relaxing Wine Cocktail!

Celebrate in the evening alongside a beautiful sunset with some fresh sangria or a delicious cocktail. Enjoy it in a cute, personalized wine glass  or a personalized mason jar! Here’s a delicious recipe from Organic Authority:

Watermelon Red Wine Sangria 

Serves 4-6

  • 1 bottle of organic or Fair Trade red wine
  • 1 cup of 4 Copas tequila
  • 1/2 cup of fresh squeezed orange juice
  • 1/4 cup of fresh squeezed organic lime juice
  • 1/2 cup of brown organic sugar
  • Sliced watermelon to taste

For a cute touch, they recommend serving the sangria in a hollowed-out watermelon! Don’t forget to include some yummy finger foods like cheese and crackers, and what better way to serve it then on a personalized rustic cutting board

For some healthy and fresh snacking for you and your guests, enjoy a fun fruit arrangement from our sister company, FruitBouquets!

2. Pair it with a Summery Wine-Infused Meal!

Now that you have your drink in hand, have fun and make a casual summer meal with some leftover wine!  Not only will you use up all your wine in a creative way, but you’ll enjoy a delicious meal using it. Here’s a scrumptious summer pasta dish from Dishing Up the Dirt that uses some white wine!:

White Wine & Burst Tomato Summer Pasta 

Prep time: 15 minutes      Cook time: 20 minutes     Serves: 4

  •  1 (8oz) package spaghetti
  • 1 medium-sized zucchini, julienned
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • 1 cup basil, coarsely chopped
  • salt + pepper to taste
  • freshly grated parmesan cheese for serving (optional)

Preparation 

  1. Cook pasta according to package directions.
  2. While the pasta cooks use a julienne peeler, or (regular peeler) to peel the zucchini into thin strips (think pasta size strips!)
  3. Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and crushed red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring often until the garlic is fragrant and slightly soft, about 3 minutes. Stir in the cherry tomatoes and add the 1/2 cup of wine. Bring to a simmer, cover the pan and cook for about 5-8 minutes, or until the tomatoes burst open and release some of their juices. Season with plenty of salt and pepper.
  4. In a large serving bowl toss the cooked spaghetti with the zucchini, tomatoes, basil and top with a few healthy pinches of parmesan cheese and a drizzle of olive oil. Serve warm.

Enjoy!

3. Indulge in some Dessert!

Don’t just stop at using wine for your meal, but include it in your dessert! Instead of just an ordinary popsicle-make wine infused ones to cool off during a hot summer day! Here’s an easy recipe from Endless Simmer for the adults to enjoy:

Blueberry Cabernet Cheesecake Popsicles

Makes eight 2 ¼ oz oz. popsicle

  • 1 pint of blueberries (about 2 cups)
  • ½ cup Cabernet (https://www.personalizationuniverse.com/personalized-wine-bottles)
  • 1/4 cup simple syrup (recipe follows)
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup cream cheese, softened
  • 4 tablespoons of sugar
  • ¼ cup graham cracker crumbs

Instructions:

  1. Place blueberries, wine and simple syrup in a blender or food processor and puree. Set aside.
  2. Place softened cream cheese into a bowl and beat until light and fluffy; set aside. Place heavy cream into a cold bowl with sugar and, using a hand beater or whisk, beat until soft peaks form. Fold in beaten cream cheese. Portion out ¼ cup of cream cheese mixture into a separate bowl, add in graham cracker crumbs and whisk to combine.  Place each mixture into separate plastic bags and cut off a corner to create a small opening.
  3. Assembly: Pour 2 tablespoons of blueberry and wine mixture into each well. Squeeze a tablespoon of cheesecake mixture on top of blueberry layer. Squeeze a small dollop, about a teaspoon, of graham cracker mixture on top of cheesecake mixture. Continue layering and repeating until top of each well is reached.
  4. Cover top of popsicle form with foil and cut a tiny hole in the center of each well. Place popsicle stick through the hole.
  5. Place in freezer until frozen. To release popsicles, run hot water over outside of mold for 2-3 seconds

Simple Syrup Recipe

  • ½ cup water
  • ½ cup sugar

Place water and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Heat and stir until sugar dissolves. Cool before using.

4. Don’t Forget the Corks!

Here’s a fun summer DIY project that will help you use your wine corks that gather up! It’ll result into something very low-maintenance and additionally give you that nice green thumb that everyone is chasing! It also will make for a cozy and cute design for your kitchen space. Here are easy directions from Crafts By Amanda on how to create your very own wine cork succulent magnets:

What You’ll Need:

  • wine corks
  • drill with size 5/16 bit
  • wrench
  • craft paint (optional)
  • paint brushes (optional)
  • blue painters tape (optional)
  • hot glue gun
  • magnets
  • soil
  • small succulent pieces
  1. Drill cavities in the wine corks first. Choose whichever size drill bit works best with your wine corks. That is the bit that is big enough to drill a cavity, but not so large to crumble the edges of the cork. I used a size 5/16-inch. Hold the wine cork with the wrench and drill a hole in the center of the cork. (Use a wrench so you don’t accidentally drill your fingers. No injuries, please!) You may need to drill two or three times to get a good size cavity. Be sure to only drill about three-quarters of the way down the cork. Shake out any of the cork dust.
  2. Next, paint your corks and let the paint dry completely. I blocked off the top of the cork with blue tape to give a dipped-paint look. If you’d like a more natural look, skip this step and don’t paint the corks at all.
  3. Use the hot glue gun to glue two to three magnets on the side of the cork. Let set well.
  4. Add your soil and succulent and adhere to a magnetic surface.

Take a picture and share your cute, personalized wine cork succulents with your friends and family!

5. Recycle and Refashion Wine Bottles

Don’t just toss away your emptied wine bottles – have fun and rework them into beautiful DIY centerpieces for your home! You can start the DIY process with our wine bottles because they can easily be personalized on our website! Once you get them and finish the wine, just add some extra personal touches with some paint or ribbon and they can easily be turned into vases and candleholders, turning your home from simple to stylish. As suggested by Inspired By This, for a quick transformation, all you need are:

  • Empty Wine Bottles
  • Spray Paint
  • Adhesive Remover
  • Chalk

Of course, you can add your own personalization touches like twine for a country-inspired look, or some glitter for a more party vibe! Here are the steps you should follow:

  1. First you have to rid the wine bottles of labels by soaking them in water for approximately 30 minutes. This can be the most frustrating part, but with a little adhesive remover and some nails the label should come off easier. Make sure all the gooey-ness is gone from the bottle. Rinse and let dry.
  2. Next, you get to spray paint the bottles! With your chosen spray paint, coat the bottle in three even layers of paint, or until the color is solid, letting the bottle dry for a few minutes in between each coat to avoid dripping.
  3. Once the bottles are dry you can chalk a table number onto your chalkboard bottle (we actually ended up using a chalkboard marker instead of traditional chalk).
  4. Then you have two options: 1. fill your bottles with flowers or 2. fill them with candles.

Now you have gorgeous, homemade centerpieces to spruce up your home for the summer!

With all these ways to welcome in the summer with wine, you’ll surely enjoy whatever the season has to offer this year!

Occasions & Holidays, Tips & Tricks

How to Make This Mother’s Day Unforgettable

May 12, 2018

An easy guide to make this Mother’s Day perfect

  1. Let her sleep in

Whether it’s letting her sleep in, take a nap, or rest, your mom will appreciate the time to herself. Create the perfect sleeping environment by taking away any distractions and loud noises. If there are little kids running around the house have them play in a different area of your home or take them to the park.

  1. Leave the House Spotless

What mom doesn’t love a clean house? While she’s resting take the opportunity to help tidy up the house. Take on some everyday chores like washing the dishes, doing the laundry, and picking up around the house. Imagine her joy at waking up to a clean home!

  1. Make her a Meal

Breakfast in bed is always a good idea, unless of course your mom is a clean nut and doesn’t like food in the bedrooms! Don’t worry though, that’s what tables are for. Make her a quick breakfast with some fresh coffee before you head out to do any fun activities or cook her favorites for dinner.

  1. Take her Out

There are many things that you can do with your mom on Mother’s Day! If you can’t cook, take her out for a nice dinner. After all, who doesn’t love being wined and dined? Another activity that you can do together is going to the spa. She’ll love getting pampered on her special day!

  1. Give her a Personalized Gift

You can never go wrong with making your mother a sentimental gift. Personalized keepsake boxes are an excellent way to commemorate memories that you both cherish. Fill them up with photos of you two throughout the years and you are guaranteed to make this Mother’s Day unforgettable.

Now you know just what to give your mom for Mother’s Day to make it unforgettable! Have a happy day from all of us at Personalization Universe.

Occasions & Holidays, Tips & Tricks

Hosting the Perfect Spring Party

April 20, 2018

Whether it’s a dinner party or a cocktail party, you have to impress your guests so that they can have an unforgettable time welcoming in the Spring. Have a wide array of snacks and drinks ready and don’t forget entertainment! With our helpful tips and tricks, your guests will feel so welcome that they won’t want to leave anytime soon!

As soon as they arrive, welcome your guests with glasses of wine in their very own, personalized wine glasses! Not only will this make them feel special but everyone will feel free to party with ease since there won’t be any mix-ups of wondering whose wine glass is whose!

If you want a fun alternative, serve a cool cocktail in cute, personalized mason jars! They’ll bring a nice country look to your party and will make a great, little gift for your guests to take home! Try this yummy recipe from Town & Country to clink your way into the Spring:

  • 1.75 oz BLOOM gin
  • 0.75 oz rose liqueur
  • 0.33 oz strawberry liqueur
  • 0.33 oz agave nectar (optional)
  • Cucumber

Put the ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Shake and strain into a rocks glass or tumbler over ice. Garnish with a cucumber slice.

Don’t forget to layout some snacks for the guests too in order to complement their wine! A great way to display an assortment of snacks is on a beautiful, stylish cutting board. You can provide a beautiful arrangement of cheese, crackers, olives, and cornichons on it!

While everyone is sipping on their drinks, introduce some classic games into the mix. Have a good variety- everything from mancala to chess – to have something for everyone! Play some ping pong while you’re at it with some personalized paddles too.

Whatever the party theme is, with fun, personalized items like wine glasses and games, you and your guests will surely celebrate Spring memorably. Spending time with one another to welcome in the new season will be done right this year with many memories being made at your party!