Red Letter Words

Words can be truly beautiful.  As a calligrapher, it is no surprise that I am drawn to artfully displayed typography.  However, when I stumbled upon Red Letter Words, I was blown away by the beauty of simplicity.  Check it out:

These would make great gifts for any occasion; weddings, a housewarming gift, anniversaries, or even Christmas, which is just around the corner!

{Found via Nesting Place}

Custom Writings, Great Gifts

Often I am asked to calligraphy verses for clients.  This framed pieces of art make wonderful wedding gifts.    Capturing a verse or poem used in someone's wedding is a fantastic way to help cherish their big day for years to come.  In addition, these gifts make excellent anniversary gifts for the special couple in your life.  Here is one of my most recent projects:

For more information about ordering your own custom writing, please refer to my rates.

Towel Wraps: Personalized Bridesmaid Gifts

Why not give your bridesmaids adorable terry towels as a gift they will wear for primping on the big day as well as continue to wear post nuptials?  These adorable hot pick terry towels, complete with monogram are perfect for your bridesmaids. 

Find a similar look for your bridesmaids:

Initially Yours on Etsy

Sears

So Cute and Cozy

Paperless Wedding + Bridal Shower

My friends Jerrod and Meredith, often called "Jeredith" by dear friends, are in the midst of planning a paperless wedding. The idea makes me cringe...no paper? That means no calligraphy, no pretty invitation suites, no programs, not even a menu or little labels to mark food at their buffet! {gasp}

The are economists who care deeply about living practically and responsibly. So what did they do? They set up an incredible wedding website and an e-mail account specifically for their big day. They tactfully sent their Save the Dates, Wedding Invitations, and even Rehearsal Dinner invites, all via the web.

So you can imagine my alarm when planning Meredith's bridal shower. How do we make it paperless?

1. I sent my very first evite!
2. We use real china, silverware, and napkins for the shower luncheon
3. We provided guest an alternative to wrapped presents - the ability to contribute to a couch fund for the couple's new apartment.

All in all, it went well. It challenged me to think outside the box and even involved an unconventional game. You see, this practical couple doesn't like to spend money, so their dates often included puzzles. Snapfish came to the rescue with the perfect shower activity. Guest put together a puzzle of the couple:

Personalize Your Style: Gadabout

Hannah of Gadabout is incredibly talented and captures the essence of personalization like no other designer I have ever seen. Here is a sneak peek of a few of her fabulous notecards.

What better way for a Bride to begin her correspondence than with notecards like these?

Buy them for everyone you know: maid-of-honor, best friend, boss, secretary, teacher. Keep them on hand for hostess gifts and spur of the moment birthday parties.

Absolutely fabulous!

www.agadabout.com

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day!

Can you believe it? Are you prepared? If not, here are a few quick ideas to keep your loved ones happy (and unaware).

Image: Christen's Kitchen

Oreo Truffles - with only a few ingredients that any convenient store will likely carry: Oreos, Cream Cheese, and Chocolate, this should be a cinch to pull together. But if Oreos aren't your love language, be sure to see the rest of Christen's Truffle Recipes including everything from raspberries to Bailey's Irish Creme.

Image: Decor8

Candles and Candlesticks - Candle light will set the mood for an evening at home...dinner and a movie anyone? But they also bring the promise of romance in the future. Attach bows to indicate that the candlesticks are a gift, and add in a few love coupons (Hint: you can make these yourself!) with promises of activities by candle light.

Image: Kitchen Creations

Breakfast in Bed - Pick up a heart shaped cookie cutter to make pancakes, french toast, or even fried eggs that much more special!

A Picture Frame and a Bottle of Wine - Present the frame with a note declaring your intentions to capture the moment and frame the bottle of wine you are yet to enjoy this holiday. Be sure to save the bottle. Once it is empty put it in the oven at 250 for 5-10 minutes. As the bottle heats up, the glue adhering the label with loosen. Have a piece of paper ready to stick the label to and be sure to use caution!

Image: Design*Sponge

Decorate - It is unexpected and can be a lot of fun. Just be sure to take pictures to capture your hard work! For fabulous decorating ideas, check out Design*Sponge.

Have a Lovely Valentine's Day!

Jane Marvel: Eco-Friendly Bags

Are you looking for the perfect bag to bring on your honeymoon? Do you need a tote to store all of your wedding related details? Are you always on the hunt for the next big thing?

If so, then you need to check out Jane Marvel:

These laminated canvas bags are made in a variety of colors and sizes. Plus, they are eco-friendly, vegan, and waterproof! What more could a girl ever ask for?

Plus: Daily Candy is offering a discount code! Enter DAILYCANDY to receive 30% off all orders! But hurry, these discount codes never last for long!

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New Name :: New Stationary

To truly embrace your new married self, indulge in new stationary sporting your new monogram, new last name, or even both of your names together! Check out Sarah & Abraham. Their line of Grown-Up cards are too cute to pass up. Here are just a few of their cheeky designs:

I personally love the Jill & Todd...hmmm...maybe I will just have to get some myself!

Also, check out the Sarah & Abraham Blog!

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6th Day of Christmas: Gifts

Gift Giving in Recession (oh the ugly "R" word - I know we don't want to think about it, but budgets dictate that we must!)

Here are a slew of clever ideas that may help you finish strong during these last few days of holiday shopping without busting your budget or looking like you went cheap this year:


For the Eco-Chic:

Buy them David Bach's book, "Go Green, Live Rich" and supply them with their very first Smart Strip, a power strip that helps save energy/money by limiting circuit flow when items are not in use. (The Smart Strip was mentioned in the book and one of the 50 ways to save money while saving the planet.)


For your Global Warrior:

Visit Ten Thousand Villages. There is really no better way to explain this site than to send you there and have you browse! (hint: they do wedding registries too!)


For your Luxury-Lovers:

Check out Red Envelope's "Gifts under $50" or Pottery Barn's "Gifts Under $25" Two of my favorite picks from these lists are the Channel-Quilted Cosmetic Bags (PB) and Monogrammed Tumblers (RE)
(hint: they both do wedding registries!)


For the Coffee-Fiend:

Try Starbucks from Costco! Who knew right? But you can get loads of "designer" coffee for practically half the price.

You can also try a wide variety of Fair Trade Coffees from local shops near you. Click here to find who sells Fair Trade Coffee near you!


For the Musically Inclined:

Compile a great playlist and burn it to a CD. It could be themed (a holiday collection, perhaps) or it could reflect the personality of the person for whom it is intended (indie rock, boy bands, hard-to-find live performances). This doesn’t have to be boring. Check out this HP program to print creative labels and customized album cases to give this gift a real bit of flair!



For the Talented and Sentimental:

Nothing says personalized like a homemade gift. If you can knit, sew, crochet, decoupage, paint, frame, or woodwork, consider using that talent to produce a few gifts for your friends or family. A scarf might be a rather boring gift under normal circumstances, but that completely changes when you tell them that you made it specifically for them. This could also be a great opportunity for you to try something new, like a new stitch or artistic technique that you’ve always wanted to try.

If you aren't so crafty but are giving to someone who is, check out the growing handmade/homemade gifts movement at Buy Handmade. Another great resource for uniquely made gifts: Etsy. Or maybe even do a bit of browsing on Etsy to get your creative juices flowing!



For the Super Chef:

Check out Sur La Table's ultimate Gift Shops for every category of cook or kitchen. If you a buying a gift for me, I will accept anything and everything from here, in case you were wondering. (hint: they do wedding registries too!)


For the Practical:

It might seem like a holdover from your youth, but a stack of IOUs or "love coupons" is a wonderful gift idea. Guaranteeing that you will help someone tackle a distasteful task or one they don’t feel equipped to handle can be a real pick-me-up in the busy holiday season. Or it can be something more simple like a coffee date or back rub. For more creative love coupon ideas click: here!

1st Day of Christmas: Gifts for the Bride and Groom

Winter weddings present a unique opportunity for Christmas "themed" gifts. These work well for wedding gifts, engagement gifts, and even 1st anniversary gifts. Helping a new couple make their home cozy for the holidays can be a treat for you and a joy for them. With all the expenses associated with a new home, Christmas decor can be pretty sparse. So here are some ideas to help a young couple out:


1. Monogrammed and Embroidered Gifts:

Photos from Pottery Barn

Monogrammed Stockings, Tree Skirts, and don't forget the stocking holders all make wonderful and memorable gifts to a new couple. Pottery Barn has some wonderful ideas but make other stoes can meet your monogramming needs!

2. Greens:

Photo from RedEnvelope.com

Adorn their home with a beautiful wreath to welcome them back from their honeymoon! This idea only works really well if the timing is right. But another spin would be to host a wreath making party in their honor. This is a lot of fun and can serve as a terrific Jack and Jill shower to include all the family and friends in the holiday season!

3. A Box of Ornaments:

One of the best gifts my husband and I got was a big box of ornaments. Our tree would have certainly been channeling Charlie Brown if it wasn't for this wonderful gift. The best part is we get to remember our wedding and the special people who gave us our ornaments each year when we decorate our tree!


Enjoy your holiday wedding gift giving!

{ odette } Special Offer

It would be a crime to deprive you of this deal! Odette has been one of my go to jewelers for gifts throughout the year. Check out some of their incredible designs - and maybe even pick something up your yourself. How could you resist with $25 towards any purchase? From holiday gifts, to bridesmaid gifts, this fun and whimsical jeweler has just what you are looking for!




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Gifts

Who you give gifts to is really personal preference. I know that there are etiquette rules surrounding this issue, but I believe that it is very important to give based on your personal relationships. Similarly, no matter how many "Gift Guides" I read, the perfect gift often seems elusive. So I am not going to try to tell you what to buy who, but rather, I am going to try to point you to some of my favorite retailers and go-to spots for gifts in a pinch.

Room Service Home is an excellent spot for gifts. From housewarming to wedding gifts, baby shower items to gifts for the person you really don't know, Room Service Home has it all. The boutique has a bit of antique/shabby chic flair. If you are looking for parent or bridal party gifts I would highly recommend perusing this site. This boutique categorizes its items well which helps with navigation of their selection.





Red Envelope has always been a favorite of mine. It is classic. Items offered fall under a wide range of prices, many pieces can be customized and luxury items are available at reasonable prices. Red Envelope allows you search for gifts by category, occasion, or recipient helping you to find exactly what you are looking for.


Blue Tulip has a cheeky collection of goods that I always seem to find a reason to buy. Their online store is good, but there actual retail locations are much better. Currently they have stores up and down the North East Coast in CT, MA, NY, NJ, PA, and VA. They are regularly opening more stores. If you have one near you, I highly advise checking it out.


Hopefully these sites can get you started in the right direction. If you still aren't sure what to give, let me know. I often do gift consultation {for free!} and might just be able to offer some suggestions to point you in the right direction.