Fab * Blog by InvitationConsultants.com

No Gifts Please

Amidst all of the natural events in the world and the declining economy more and more couples are saying to their guests, "forget the gifts." We are planning our ten year anniversary party and not only do we not need any more chotchkies, we certainly would rather the money guests would have spent be used for a better cause. We are seeing more brides and grooms, birthday men and women, and others planning parties include on their invitation "No gifts, please." Many are going a step further and including an additional card saying "In lieu of gifts, we request that if you can, please donate to one of these causes close to our hearts." They then provide the name of the charity, website and often mailing address. I find giving gifts is more fun than receiving them and I think often this happens when you just have accumulated enough stuff in your life and/or you reach your mid-to late twenties - but that's just my opinion. Below find the top 5 charities that couples and party throwers are requesting their guests donate to - you may find they are close to your heart as well:

March of Dimes, Doctors Without Borders, U.S.A. Harvest, American Red Cross, and Unicef.

My Christmas Wish List

My Christmas wish list is very simple this year. Through the years you accumulate so many things and this year I just wish for simple things, so here are my 6 top picks:

1. Rob Thomas - Live at Red Rock DVD - I cannot wait to see this music DVD by my favorite singer! I have seen him in concert 9 times and would love to see him perform at the famous Red Rock.

2. Don't most girls love jewelry? I can't help it, I love earrings and I am really wishing and hoping for hoop earrings with very small diamonds.

3. The North Face is an awesome brand and makes incredible winter gear that lasts. This lightweight jacket is my pick! I would wear my North Face hat everyday if the weather wasn't so warm.

4. Tickets to see Michael Buble' is what I have been hinting for. I love this Canadian crooner. He is constantly playing on my iPod and hope that someone gets me really good seats for this concert!

5. I am pretty sure I have a purse fetish. I love handbags, big handbags, and this one is gorgeous from Banana Republic.

6. The Mira Vase from Crate and Barrel is gorgeous and would fit perfect in my purple home office. It is sleek and simple and doesn't even need flowers in it!

Hope you find what you want this holiday season, be it Peace, chocolate or a pair of new shoes! Happy Holidays!

Invitation Consultants' Design on Upscale Baby

Recently Upscale Baby reviewed our signature brand Red Leaf Papers new baby boy birth announcement Lullaby Baby. See the review. Also check out the Upscale Baby Blog for great baby product reviews and my favorite, the Steals and Deals.

Less Than 100 Days till the Winter Olympics: Vancouver

I am the first to admit that I do not enjoy cold weather. Eight winters up north was enough windchill and snow to last me many years. However, I do like vacationing in the cold. Since I live in lovely weather, I do not always like vacationing in utter warmth. For one of our vacations we decided that our kids should see snow for the first time, so we headed not to Vermont or Michigan, but rather to Vancouver, BC.

We went to Vancouver less than two years ago and right outside of our hotel they were already building the building for the Olympic's press. Sadly, we did not get to make it to Whistler because we did not have snowchains on the car that we rented in Seattle. However, we got to go to Cypress and Grouse Mountains. My first trip on a gondola was on Grouse Mountain! A little nerveracking. Next time I would like to be braver and head to Whistler to ride the peak to peak gondola Whistler-Blackcomb. Sea to Sky Highway is supposed to be amazing (the road to Whistler).

What winter sport are you going to be watching? My favorite is figure skating. But I know we will also be watching, cross country and the luge. When the spectators get tired of watching sports, they can head to Robson Street for great shopping and sushi or to Stanley Park to just relax. Other great sidetrips for the day involve taking a BC Ferry to one of the beautiful islands or to Victoria, the capital of BC (an island as large as Ireland).

I guess it's in my blood, being part Canadian that I am excited about the Olympics being there! Have fun watching. Check out the Winter Olypic Countdown clock.

Peak2Peak, Snowy photos thanks to me!, Whimsical Wintry Flurries, Snowflake Skates

My Favorite Tablescapes

I took these photos of events I have had. The tablescapes are simple and really focus on the food. From birthday parties to holiday parties to baby showers. 

For my dad's party I selected navy and silver as the table colors to signify wisdom, maturity and a classy combination.

My friend's chose pink and brown for my baby shower because they are a trendy color combination that is both chic and sweet.

For our holiday parties I always incorporate red into the tablecloths and very often into the partyware. Mixing red with green or gold or silver is a festive choice. 

Choosing two inks for a tablescape is just perfect.

Martini Party: Stir One Up Quickly

Martini Parties are hot especially at this time of year. So stir something up. Here are a few tips for having a stellar martini party on the fly with not much time to plan, it's really just about getting friends together. First send the martini party invitations!

Be creative

Create a martini menu with everything but the kitchen sink. But here's the trick, find items you have in your home to use, in order to keep down the cost. Hopefully you have cranberry juice, other juices, fruits, olives and maybe pumpkin at this time of year. Research seasonal martinis for that fall and holiday feel.

Be thoughtful

If you have non-drinkers and pregnant friends coming, be prepared. Consider dessert martinis, like milk in a martini glass with a chocolate cookie as a garnish. And get creative with juices by simply placing pineapple juice in a martini glass with several small fruits as garnish on a toothpick.

Feed them too

Serving only alcohol may not be the healthiest thing, so use more martini glasses and serve small hors d'oeuvres and mini desserts in these chic glasses. For example, mini chocolates and marshmallows fit in perfectly. A spoonful of hors d'oeuvres fit in these glasses well, like salmon mousse on a small toast point, tomato salsa, and mini arugula salad with walnuts also fit in well and are light bites.

Pretty simple! Now all you have to do is practice saying, "Would you like that shaken or stirred?"

Martini Season, Martini Pop Art, Pumpkin Martini, Vesper Martini made famous by James Bond, dessert in martini, Virgin martinis, Cheap and Dirty Martini.

Halloween at Invitation Consultants

 

 

We take Halloween very seriously at Invitation Consultants. We had a delicious breakfast, performances, costume contest and our annual Parade around the office park, so everyone could enjoy our Halloween costumes. We had Lady Gaga, Kanye West and Flight of the Conchords present! Happy Halloween!

Proposing to Your Girlfriend Recessionmista Style

I loved the movie The Proposal and not just because I am a super big Ryan Reynolds fan, but because it was a solid movie. It may have not been the most common way to become engaged, but I do think that not every engagement involves a fancy restaurant with a dozen roses. Some engagements are more practical, while others are more whimsy and some are just plain sweet.

Here are a few ideas for a simple, and recession proof proposal. Some are fictional and ideas to share and others are tried and true:

Propose at a drive-in movie during a chic flick.

Propose on the steps of your high school (if you were high school sweethearts).

Bring a boom box and dress like John Cusack in Say Anything and stand outside her window. Play your "couple" song on the boom box and have her come out and propose.

Put "Will you marry me?" in a fortune cookie. 

Make her dinner and prepare soup, place alphabet pasta in the bowl and spell out, "Marry me."

Put the proposal in baked goods. Inspired by Bakerella.

My fave: sweet and never fails: Propose at a picnic on the beach at sunset.

These are cheap proposal ideas, the ring is another story!

Simply Save the Date, Letter Burst, The Proposal movie stars, Picnic stuff, Say Anything

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We're in PINK to Support the Fight Against Breast Cancer

We are wearing PINK today to raise money for Pink Initiative. We support awareness and finding a cure for breast cancer. Also check out the invitations we created for Pink Initiative, 100% of proceeds go to the organization.