Fab * Blog by InvitationConsultants.com

Unleash your inner child!

After learning (via Dawn’s posting) that June is candy month a few things came to mind (mostly chocolaty things). 

One: it is fun to do child activities as an adult. It can remind us of how silly we still are.

Two: it is important to sit down and enjoy a nice sweet treat from time to time.

Here at IC we had a team building exercise last week that featured a hula-hoop contest. If you only know one thing about hula-hooping, know this: hula-hooping cannot be done without a smile on your face! You can try to hula with a frown, but that hoop will go no where but down, down, down. While it might have seemed easy as a child, we all had to relearn our hooping skills...and some found that it is like "riding a bike."

The contest gave our ICer's a great chance to laugh and act like a kid, and to munch on some sweet treats for breakfast. The hula winner was Keri, a Client Relations Coordinator (featured in the bottom photo dualing with fellow CRC Sabrina).

In honor of candy month, and our team building activities, I have come up with some invitations that remind me of my inner child. I embrace my inner child, because she is the most carefree version of me. I highly recommend taking some time this weekend to visit your inner child and play in the sun and cool down by having a nice sweet treat…even if you are 8 or 85!

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Orange is more than just Home Depot's Mantra

Orange is the hottest color of the season. Previously, when someone said 'orange' you would say 'Home Depot.' However, times have changed and now orange is paired with everything from mocha to red. It can be in any hue, more spicey for the fall, brighter for the summer and anywhere in between. There are so many shades of orange that we use for invitations, that are also evident in: clothing, handbags, candles, curtains, rugs, dishes and so much more. (On a side note, Orange is so wonderfully represented this season in West Elm's catalog. The combinations of orange and mocha almost inspired me to change the complete color palate of my home.) With so many organges to choose from there is so little time: mango, tangerine, spice, terra cotta, peach, and on and on....

Mango Matrimony

Brides and grooms are incorporating orange more into their wedding colors than ever before. Here are a few ideas: centerpieces with orange flowers (such as gerber daisies) mixed with other white or fuchsia flowers. Candles to further illuminate the table can suuround the centerpieces; use tealights for a subtle approach. Spruce up chair covers with orange sashes or ribbons to hang place cards. Have your bridesmaids where orange dresses and then match up orange boutonierres for the groomsmen. Further add splashes of orange with place cards, menu cards, wedding programs and party favors.

Spice Up Your Giftgiving

With summer upon us, invitations to summer soirees are piling up. Hostess gifts can be tricky, because what do you get for the hostess that has everything? Well an orange gift of course. Soaps, candles, stationery, and journals are some ideas, and make sure they are orange or have a splash of orange this season.

Clementine Clothing

Orange is a huge color for fashion this season, and no shade is too bright or bold. Complete the look with an orange purse and flat orange shoes. Add an accent color to your dresses with a yellow flower, a lime green ribbon tied to your purse or an orange and red hair accessory. Be bold, Sarah Jessica Parker of SATC would be proud!

Enjoy your summer and don't forget to sport that orange!

Go Team GO!

School may be out for summer, but that doesn't mean it's not the perfect time to show some collegiate spirit! The team captains of comfort at Victoria's Secret have just released their new line of PINK collegiate loungewear. The line features the mascots and colors of 33 teams in the fluffy fabulousness we've come to expect from PINK. We have our own line of rah rah sis boom bah in our collegiate stationery, and I am excited to announce we will be adding over 200 designs of collegiate custom stampers in just a short time. So keep your eyes peeled, your pom poms raised, and look out for some awesome A+ action.

Comment below and let me know your favorite collegiate team, so I can tell if we are bitter rivals or friendly competition!

Images from left to right: collegiate stationery, UGA PINK bag, Georgetown custom stamper- COMING SOON!, LSU PINK tee, and Michigan sweats.

Do me a favor.....

This past year has definitely been a busy one for me. Not only did I plan my own wedding, I also attended 5 other weddings for various friends and family members. Looking back at the planning process, certain aspects just seemed to fall into place. The location, the dress, the caterer...surprisingly it was the littlest details, such as wedding favors, that seemed to be the toughest. Now I know what you're thinking. How could something so small turn into such a dilemma? However, with many of my guests traveling from more than a thousand miles away, I was looking for the perfect gift to express my gratitude. Since I doubt I'm the only one who's been stuck in this situation, I've compiled a short list of tips on how to choose the perfect wedding favor:

1. Use your theme- Having a tropical beach wedding? Give your guests a bit of the ocean with a glass bottle brimming with sand and seashells. Garden wedding? Purchase mini galvanized pails and fill them with your favorite treats.

2. Choose something practical- What better way to say thank you than to offer a gift that can be used for days, months, or even years to come. Miniature sewing kits, bookmarks, and picture frames are great items that will bring a smile to your guest's face long after the event has passed.

3. Stay within your budget- Show your appreciation without breaking the bank. Cookie cutters, match books, and personalized note pads are all favors that are sure to delight your guests and delight your wallet even more.

Shown above are a few of my favorite favors found here on the Invitation Consultants website. Clockwise, from top,  Personalized Matches & Notepads, Sewing Kits with Design Choice, Jean M™ Daisy Cookie Cutter Favors, Jean M™ Sand & Shell Favor Bottles, and Jean M™ Galvanized Favor Pails

All I wanna do is grow old with you...

Warning: objects in post may be slighty sappier than they appear.

One year ago today, my hubby and I took the plunge. We got married in front of our closest family and friends knowing that our lives would never be the same. For the past year, we've had ups and downs and thousands of things have changed. The one thing that hasn't changed is the promise. The promise to share the remote control, the promise to always call to say hi when apart, the promise to take care of eachother- these have all remained. I can only imagine what it may be like to celebrate a 50th wedding anniversary. I admire those couples who make it to that milestone, and offer them my congratulations. And I leave you this mushy post with a diddy from a little movie called The Wedding Singer.

I wanna make you smile whenever you're sad
Carry you around when your arthritis is bad
All I wanna do is grow old with you.
I'll get your medicine when your tummy aches
build you a fire if the furnace breaks
Oh it could be so nice, growin old with you.
I'll miss you, kiss you, give you my coat when you are cold.
Need you, feed you, I'll even let you hold the remote control.
So let me do the dishes in the kitchen sink
Put you to bed when you've had too much to drink.
Oh I could be the man to grow old with you.
I wanna grow old with you.

Images from left to right: Cherished Years Together, Anniversary Elegance, Beautiful Burgandy, My husband smashing cake in my face after I specifically asked him not to, and Old Fashioned Love.

How sweet it is...

So apparently June is National Candy Month, and I truly wish I would've known this sooner.  When I was a kid, candy was a highly regulated substance in my household.  My sister and I rationed our Halloween candy like American families rationed meat during WWII.  This was a main contributing factor to candy becoming one of my favorite things.  A forbidden non-fruit that I still get a little thrill from eating because inherently I know I shouldn't.  With this new discovery I can at now have one whole glorious month a year where my weekly Twizzlers habit can be considered a celebratory tribute instead of a tooth rotting calorie fest. 

I find it quite fitting that this celebration of all things sugary would fall during the summertime.  In this fascinatingly relaxed time of year, I find myself getting that awesome giddy feeling of getting out of school free.  It's a time when even our office park isn't immune to the bouncing melody of the ice cream truck that acts as a Pavlovian device making us salivate for choco tacos, firecracker popsicles and other cold sweet treats.  In honor of this very special month, I have selected songs and invitations inspired by what I consider the 6th food group.  Please make Willy Wonka proud by posting a response with your favorite type of candy.

                  

Candy Coated Rainbow      Sherbert Cone               Easter Eggs                               Sarape             

       

          Cherry Dots                              Gold Admit One            Chocolate Malt Diecut

       Sweet Pink                              Sweet Souffle

Bowling!

In an attempt to exercise our creative minds, a group of ICers (the creative dept) decided to head out for a wholesome game of bowling. Bowling is really something quite special - from the people, the food, to the shoes and just the general atmosphere - all of it makes the game just so much fun. None of us are super professional bowlers by any means but we have hands and we know how to throw a ball and that's all we really needed to have an excellent time. Now Invitation Consultants does in fact offer a selection bowling themed invitations. Through our website you can find bowling invitations like these. These are just some of the ones that I happened to like the best.

Bowling Ball and Pin

Strike

Lucky Pins

Bowlapalooza

And now for a few pics!..

One of our designers looking to a higher power for assistance..


..and he received it! just look at that motion blur


apparently the air force uses these same shoes as visuals to help land aircraft on small runways


As you can tell, I take everything very seriously


Guess which blogger that is! (on the left)

Dinner Party Dilemma

So it's summertime and you want to throw a dinner party on your back patio, deck or by the pool. You're thinking casual but with a flair. Afterall, you want to show your friends that you did not spend your winter in vain. You spent it reading Cooking Light and trying new dishes! You ask yourself, 'what are the ingredients for a summer soiree for approximately 10 people?'

Here are my recommended ingredients for a smashing summer soiree:

1. The Lighting - Have you ever gone into a room full of candles that was really not that nice, but the candles gave you a new perspective on the room? *Side Tip: turn a small area into a quaint one with candles. It's all about perception!* I recommend candles on the table (not the overly smelly kind), floating candles in the pool, paper lanterns, and tiki torches in the grassy areas.

2. The Center of the Universe - The center of the party (besides the host and the food) are the centerpieces. I have two words that will change your life: lemons and limes. Add a lemon or lime to any centerpiece and you have added color and trend. Simplify and place one single flower in a low drinking glass. Or even combine the flower and the lime. Your invitation to the event can even reflect the lemon and lime theme.

3. Feed Them and Quench Their Thirst: You don't have to be Paula Dean to whip up a sepctacular event. If you want to go outside the box, don't take the barbecue route and go for dishes that are cool and airy (and I don't mean Cool Whip). Spend some time planning your menu. Great tips can be taken from watching shows like the Next Food Network Star. I also recommend such dishes as Orzo and Snap Pea Salad and Crispy Mustard Chicken.

Guests are always looking for new types of drinks. Try using the fruit of the year, the pomegranate. This fruit has gainined more popularity in one year than any pear or tangerine I have ever met! This site has many pomegranate ideas, and if you are still stumped just mix it with vodka.

4. Easy on the Ears: Music always sets the tone. Would you want show up at a summer soiree and the first thing you hear is elevator music or cheesy 90's music? Get your guests in the mood for the soiree by having easy on the ears music like Meditteranean, Jazz, or singers like Joss Stone, the new James Morrison, or any Pottery Barn compilation CD.

There you have it: decor, food and drink and music are the key ingredients to a great summer party for any number of guests.

Awesome 80's is for Everyone!

Last week I went to see the Cure in concert. I have been listening to new wave music quite a bit over the past year. So, I have become really inspired to plan an 80's themed party.

My point is: you don't have to be a 30-something to have an 80's party, you just need an appreciation for innovative music, bright colors and bad fashion. So invite your friends to an 80's party: serve cheetos and doritos as a snack, and be casual, because it's all about the music. Encourage your guests to dig their jean jackets and cut off jeans out of the closet and come on over as you reminisce about junior high and high school or recite lines from Sixteen Candles and the Breakfast Club. I think I will take my advice and throw one of these parties, at least before the new decade of the 2010's.

Tip: At 80's parties you must speak the language, which includes, like, ya know and for sure.