Life Should Be Celebrated by Carlson Craft

Happy Easter!

2013-03-29T11:07:00.000-07:00

I remember a few of these Easters as a child. The tulips, sadly, are absent, green grass is pretty hard to come by, and the kids would be better served receiving snow shovels in their Easter baskets rather than sand castle shovels and buckets. Come Sunday morning, plastic Easter eggs might just be hidden in lingering piles of melting snow and the kids will probably be slipping on rubber boots to tiptoe through mud and standing water.

But even this wintery weather can't cast a shadow on the hope and promise Easter brings! I keep telling myself that flowers and butterflies are on their way, and that I just need to have a bit of patience.

Phone calls from my mother reveal she's all set to go with the no-holds-barred ham dinner for Sunday, complete with everyone's favorite side dishes and salads (a MN mom's way of expressing her love, you know). The kids are anticipating dying Easter eggs on Saturday and introducing their Uncle Matt's girlfriend, a sweet-natured young lady from India, to this tradition steeping in color experimentation and stained clothing. "She's really never dyed Easter eggs before, Mom?" Jack asks. "Can you believe that?" This should be fun and interesting. (I wonder if she knows that she'll be expected to eat egg salad sandwiches for the next week...)

For me, Easter always heralds the return of life and color to the outside world. As a child, it was almost palpable, sitting in my grandparents' church for sunrise service on Easter Sunday morning, the sunshine streaming through the brightly colored stained glass windows, bathing the light stonework in bold hues. The jubilant trumpets joining the choir's triumphant strains made it rather difficult to focus on chilly weather and muddy lawns. Even if we had to return home to don windbreakers and black buckle rubber boots, it was impossible not to feel uplifted and hopeful as we scampered to the barn to play with spring's arrival of new life - baby pigs, calves, kittens and chicks.

Whether you've planned a big day of family celebrations, or are spending some quiet time on a Sunday afternoon, warm wishes for a relaxing and blessed Easter!

Divine Hues for 2013

2013-03-21T09:58:00.001-07:00

Tucked into the back of my closet in a garment bag are nine bridesmaid dresses I had the honor of wearing for friends' and relatives' weddings more than a few years ago. Five are various shades of dark green and four take their names from the wine cellar - merlot, burgundy, bordeaux and claret. Back in my bridesmaid heyday, rich dark tones were the hue du jour: dark greens, rich reds, and blues so dark they nearly looked black. To deepen the heavy effect, velvet was a popular fabric choice. You would have been hard-pressed to find pastels, and bright, vibrant colors were just not to be found on the bride's color wheel. My mother would wax poetic about her days of light blue, mint and peach bridesmaid dresses complete with veiled pillbox hats and gloves. She prophesied that someday lighter colors would make a strong comeback. I eyed her skeptically and tried to imagine such a world.

And here we are!

Pantone's fashion color report for 2013 heralds a return of lively colors. "Lemon Zest," "Nectarine," and "Poppy Red" are just a few of the Pantone shades that are hot topics this year. Brides looking for a punch of color can try "African Violet," a happy lilac tone, or "Tender Shoots," a nod to a bubbly spring green color. Those looking for something a bit more subdued might choose "Monaco Blue," a darker shade which calls to mind an officer's uniform, or the pretty and feminine "Linen," a close relative to a champagne tone.

But what's the one color everyone is talking about this year? The honor goes to "Emerald." It seems to me that if teal and jade were to pool together, Emerald would be the subtly bold color they would create. It's a lively, jaunty hue that has endless possibilities for color pairings and accents. Summer's riot of colorful flowers will certainly complement Emerald well, and will offer up a festive décor ensemble.

For brides looking to run with these snappy colors, Carlson Craft has a full lineup of invitations and stationery that incorporate these very last vivacious hues. Notice these fun colors in the pictures? Heavy, rich an deep have made way for light, cheerful and vibrant! These colors create a playground of bright and buoyant design options, and infuse a winsome mirth back into wedding themes. Look for coordinating Carlson Craft ink colors in Peacock, Canary, Monarch, Watermelon, Lavender, Granny Apple and Admiral to capture this season's hot hues.

Styles and trends come and go, cycling back around to return to favor with a newer and younger generation. The brides of 2013 are enjoying a return to a colorful palette loaded with vitality and verve. Who would have thought? One more thing my mother was right about!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2013-02-14T10:21:00.002-08:00

Firstly, a great big congratulations to the 230,000 couples that are projected to get engaged today! Best wishes for many years of happiness, health, fun and laughter. Be sure to enjoy planning and preparing for your big day - believe me, it goes by so fast. Oh, and if you need any suggestions for a fabulous provider of all things wedding stationery, I know of a stellar company with a collection of the very best!

The Holiday
My mom called me on Monday. "So, are you two planning something fancy for Valentine's Day?" she asked. If by fancy she meant ordering a pizza instead of cookies, and then homework with the kiddos, followed up by dishes and laundry, why then, yes! We're planning the fanciest-schmanciest Valentine's Day ever! This is when she inserted one of her reminders that I need to stop and smell the roses and carve out time for special things even when we're in the midst of busy lives. Very true.

Now, in all fairness, Ryan and I have celebrated about 17 or so Valentine's Days so far. We've done the super fancy dinners in downtown Minneapolis, the quaint little Italian restaurant followed by a movie, an evening at the Guthrie, a weekend getaway to a resort up north, and even a nice dinner at home with wine and fancy desserts. I've received flowers, bouquets of red roses, jewelry, teddy bears, and a fountain pen. So I certainly have no reason to complain about a low-key year.

As I pondered Valentine's Day with a couple busy school-aged kids, I wondered, how does one shoehorn a celebration into an otherwise busy work week?

The Plan
The kids are jazzed. They scurried off to school this morning with Valentines and little bags of candy treats to exchange with their friends. "Can we make pizza tonight, mommy?" Maggie wanted to know. "What if we made heart-shaped pizza?" I offered. This was a hit. "Are you going to stop at the bakery, mommy?" Jack hopefully inquired, those little freckles looking all adorable as he smiled shyly. They each have their favorites that they get once in a blue moon. Raspberry and chocolate mascarpone tarts melt Maggie's heart, and Jack's weakness is German chocolate cupcakes. Yes, I'll stop and grab their favorites, including a "Death by Chocolate" for Ryan. I promised them pizza and a movie tonight (once homework is done, of course!). A viewing of the animated tale Brave is on the docket tonight!

Nope, not the wine and roses that life once was before kids. But that's okay. The important thing is making it special, even if it's with the little things.

Oh, and there's nothing wrong with postponing celebrating for a day or two. Saturday? Just mom and dad, Les Misérables, and a glass or two of wine at our favorite restaurant afterwards.

Whether your love is brand new or has stood the test of time, remember that even on Valentine's Day, love doesn't have to be an expensive or elaborate endeavor. Just make it thoughtful.

Happy Valentine's Day!

It's January. And Cold.

2013-01-30T06:01:00.000-08:00

After the festivities and frivolities of the December holidays pass, we're left with... well, still winter. And I like winter, truly I do. But the below zero temps and wind chills, cars that are grouchy about starting, and perpetually chapped hands have a way of turning my thoughts toward greener seasons.

Ah, well. It's the circle of the seasons, and I need to remind myself that days when exposed skin can freeze in less than ten minutes just make me appreciate summer all the more! But the kids have been a bit grumpy as of late. Ice skating at the pond was cancelled due to -17 degree wind chills. Sledding isn't possible without winter gear that would tolerate an arctic trek. And so we bundle up, stay indoors and wait it out.

If you've been feeling the cabin fever lately, it's time to think outside the (ice)box. When television gets a bit boring and you've had all the video games and reading you can handle, muster some creativity and make the most of the indoors!

Cold weather days were made for family game night. Monopoly, checkers, Candyland, Battleship, or any other favorite board game is just waiting to be taken out and played with! Whip up some hot cocoa or Irish coffee and have at it! Surprise the kids and come home with a new family favorite. Most board games can be purchased for $15-20, and that's far cheaper than a night at the movie theater! Or, make it a theme night. Start out by figuring out whodunit as you make your way around the Clue board game, and follow it up with a big bowl of popcorn and a viewing of the spectacularly witty and comedic '80s movie based on the game and brought to life by Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Martin Mull and crew.

Looking for a bit more activity? Leave the kids a note after school challenging them to an evening of XBOX games. Who's better at dancing a bit of B-52's choreography, your husband or your kids?? I suggest having the video camera at the ready.

Cold weather is also a prime time to kick it old school. Puzzles, anyone? They're not just for the grandparents! Cards, Bingo and a host of other oldies but goodies can lead to 'round the table conversation and laughter.

However you beat the winter blues, rest assured that spring is on the way. Consider this a time to slow down a bit and savor time spent in closer quarters with loved ones!

Happy New Year!

2013-01-09T06:34:00.000-08:00

Welcome to 2013, people!

Yes, it's soooo cliché, but the older I get, the faster time flies. Can we really be turning the calendar page, leaving behind 2012 and setting out to see what 2013 has in store? I still vividly remember sitting in my desk the morning we came back to school after Christmas break when I was in 4th grade and thinking how neat it was that it was 1988. Eights were my favorite number to write at that point in my life. That was a good year. It was also a quarter of a century ago now. Yikes!

I don't know about you, but for me, this past year was a doozie! Superstorm Sandy has us all aghast and worrying about our East Coast neighbors. The presidential election certainly had the country vocal about a handful of issues. The 2012 London Olympics has us cheering on favorites to gold, silver or bronze. And we all held our breath, wondering if we would teeter over the fiscal cliff or not. But that was yesteryear, and I'm excited to see what 2013 holds in store!

The dawning of the New Year is always a fresh start full of new opportunities and provides us with a chance to do things a little better this trip around the sun. And while I can't personally do much about natural disasters or the national debt, I can focus on the things I do have a bit of control over. Finances? We'll make some changes this year to save more. Eating habits? Yep, those will improve. Carving out more time for friends? Absolutely. I'll write and mail more letters, remember everyone's birthday, and finally get the kids' photos organized. I'm telling myself this year will see less clutter, less pizza, less dipping into savings. I'll read every night with the kids (and hug them more and listen when they have little stories to tell). I'll finally tackle an overhaul of the den and make good on my promise to teach my 8-year-old how to embroider. Family game night won't get cancelled when there's too much to do - it'll be a priority. Here's hoping!

I realize it's easy to get caught up in the renewed mindset of resolutions when January comes calling and we find a bit more time on our hands after the mad dash of the holidays is behind us. And while that excitement might be strong the first few weeks of the year, for many, it begins to wane after a month or two. But consider this your encouragement for the day - keep it up! You're doing great! And pass it on, folks! Offer some support to a friend, coworker, spouse, or neighbor. Changing old habits is a hard thing to do, but far easier with some enthusiastic cheerleaders behind you!

Whatever your New Year's resolution may be, bear in mind that time does drift by faster than we realize. Remember that the most important things in life aren't things, and that time spent with loved ones and friends is precious. 2012 is behind us. Make this year a stellar one!

We'll revisit this post in April to see if I'm on track with my plans. In the meantime, I wish you all good health, peace, and a good fortune in 2013.

Send Some Holiday Love and Good Cheer!

2012-12-19T08:51:00.000-08:00

Amid baths and homework last night I whipped up a few batches of Christmas cookies. No, the caramels aren't done yet and the rosettes might not happen this year, but I had bigger fish to fry. The yearly Christmas card and letter had to get finished, printed, stuffed, licked, stamped, and dropped in the mail today!

I'm a paper fan, and even more so, I'm a huge advocate for receiving items in the mailbox that don't require payments or any other sort of action other than opening and enjoying. So I love the holiday season and making the daily trek to the mailbox to see what tidings of joy and good cheer have been sent to us by friends, family, co-workers, old college roommates and the like. It's a time to catch up, reminisce, share news of your family, and reconnect with everyone - those you see on a daily basis and those you might not, but who still hold a special place in your heart.

Sending Christmas cards has been a tradition since the 1840s when a Londoner designed the first cards, which sold for a shilling each. These early cards wished recipients a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, but depicted warm weather images, such as fairies and flowers. Since then, Christmas cards have become a collection of everything from elaborate and lovely to simple and to the point. One thing hasn't changed, though: holiday cards still serve the purpose of wishing loved ones a festive holiday season and good cheer for the New Year.

Yes, modern technology has evolved. The handwritten letter is on the Endangered Species List and emails, text messages and e-cards have increase in popularity. But despite the cost savings and ease of sending merry wishes through cyberspace, in my humble opinion, it doesn't compare to the anticipation of visiting the mailbox, running one's finger along the envelope flap, and pulling free a cardstock missive conveying merry sentiments for a happy holiday. If it's only once a year, I believe we all should take the time to do things the old fashioned way. It will be appreciated.

Don't believe me? Just imagine if Grandma sent a virtual box of cyber cookies instead of lovingly baking and wrapping up a tin of your favorite Christmas cookies.

Yes, your days are numbered! But if you're worried you missed the boat on sending out Christmas cards, fear not! You still have plenty of time to send out wishes of peace and good fortune for the New Year. I know of a fabulous printing company that offers a jolly-quick turn-around this time of year! Give Carlson Craft a jingle and get your New Year's cards printed and in the mail before the ball drops on 2013.

Happy Holidays!

The Smell of Christmas

2012-12-17T07:47:00.000-08:00

Growing up, my mother baked at Christmastime. Not that she didn't bake throughout the rest of the year, but Christmas was a frenzy of flour and powdered sugar and mad dashes on my father's part to the grocery store for more maraschino cherries, Hershey Kisses, or Baker's chocolate. In the end, there was enough cookies to keep us kids on a sugar high until President's Day.

It's a funny thing when you grow up and realize that some of the things you took for granted were all-out hard work and sacrifice for your parents. I can barely keep up with my full-time job, writing, running the kids to and fro, dashing off to piano lessons or choir practice, and keeping the family in clean socks and dry mittens. Then I resort to a little help from a refrigerated tube depicting a Pillsbury Doughboy. I try my best at Christmastime to whip up some memories with the kids, but it pales in comparison to my childhood memories of kitchen activities.

My mom, on the other hand, rallies during the holidays and produces a merry assortment of baked goods. Armed with mixing bowls, spatulas, cookie cutters and a shocking amount of butter (no judging - when you grow up on a dairy farm that's just how you roll!), she mixes, rolls, drops, spritzes, cuts, and bakes pan after pan. Peanut butter blossoms (with Hershey Kisses, not Brach's stars, mind you!), cut-outs, chocolate bon-bons, peppermint meringues, thumbprints, spritz, rosettes, fig pinwheels, almond crescents, fudge, divinity... there's seemingly no end.

Where some people may have made a single or double batch, my mom would make 4, 5, or 6 times batches. Sometimes more. Did we need these many cookies? Yes. We did. There were eleven of us. There were a dozen daycare kids. There were cookie platters to send to neighbors and shut-ins. There were holiday parties and potlucks. There were milkmen who would happily grab a cookie or two for the road and mailmen who were tickled to take a gingerbread man or slab of fudge.

When we were little, the smell of cut-outs or thumbprints baking to a gentle golden brown just around the edges had us running to the kitchen. We clambered to help with frosting and decorating. We sat in little groups, dutifully unwrapping Kisses and popping a few in our mouths as we worked through bag after bag. Those of us with stronger throwing arms got the job of chopping nuts in the old hand crank nut chopper.

I was in middle school the December my mom's Sunbeam mixer went kaputt halfway through a three times batch of peanut butter cookies. Horrors! This was a tragedy, to be sure! And so, my father, a hater of shopping and congested retail spaces, made his way to the mall, battling crowds and Minnesota parking lots in December to buy her a new KitchenAid mixer. She was back in business and we breathed a sigh of relief. Yes, there would be peppermint meringue cookies for Christmas Eve!

Tomorrow's plan? Mixing up some spritz and cut-outs with the kids. The colored sugars and cinnamon redhots are at the ready. Bottles of food coloring stand at attention. The butter and flour are good to go. Soon the house will be filled with the heavenly smell of Christmas cookies plumping to a light golden brown. Mmmm.

Whether you live for Christmas cut-outs, anticipate krumkake, look forward to fudge, or celebrate the yearly gingerbread man decorating, I hope you all are able to carve out time this busy holiday season to enjoy the smells and tastes of the season!

Christmas in the City

2012-12-10T13:47:00.001-08:00

For a long time, I've dreamed of visiting New York City in early December. I've never been there, but I long to ice skate at the Rockefeller Center's outdoor rink in front of the grand Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. To glide and twirl on the ice set among the surrounding tall buildings of Rockefeller Center while the Christmas lights cast a holiday glow upon the smooth surface of the rink - for some reason that scenario just calls to me.

There's something magical about Christmas in the city, whichever city that just so happens to be. Over the years, I've found myself in downtown Minneapolis or St. Paul for various and sundry holiday events. The coldness and heavy air of the Minnesota winter descend upon the city in a different way, giving it an altogether different feel than being out in the openness of the winter countryside. But I like it. The holiday decorations, lights, red velvet bows, greenery and spruce tops nestled into pots and planters with lights and birch branches... it all serves as a festive show of solidarity to both celebrate the holiday season AND make the best of our cold Midwest winters.

Bundled up shoppers make their way, bags in hand, around downtown in a brisk hustle. Christmas music streams from shops and outdoor speakers. Cozy restaurant patrons can be seen through windows, warming up as they clutch mugs of hot coffee in their chilled hands.

Each year my brother Dave and I take our kids and spouses into downtown for some holiday event or other. Typically, it's the Holidazzle Parade, a nighttime spectacle of floats and characters aglow with strands and strands of holiday lights. Hearty Minnesota children bundle up in snow gear to sit on curbs in downtown Minneapolis, braving the cold to watch the merry glowing floats pass by. Mittens? Check. Tissues? Check. Hot cocoa in a Thermos? Check.

This year, the kids asked to change things up a bit. Rice Park in downtown St. Paul (with the help of some corporate sponsors) hosts a free outdoor skating rink. Aha! Situated right in front of the historic Landmark Center, this venue is nestled in a beautiful little piece of St. Paul. I was secretly excited about this outing. While it wasn't gliding and twirling under the looming heights of skyscrapers in New York City, it was amid a backdrop of historic Eurpoean-inspired architecture. I still love ice skating at an indoor rink or on a makeshift city party rink, but there's something magical about donning skates and gliding on ice set among beautiful, old, majestic buildings on downtown streets. Even the kids felt a little awe-struck gazing up at the stone buildings. Spectators stopped, shopping bags in hand, to smile at the children (and adults) taking advantage of the experience of downtown skating. Park trees twinkled with white lights. Holiday music streamed through the air. The smell of cocoa wafted from the warming house.

It wasn't quite how I imagined New York will be someday. But it'll certainly do for now!

Getting Geared Up for the Holidays!

2012-12-04T09:55:00.000-08:00

Yes, it's been a while since my last post. I have no excuse except for the old cliche that I've been soooo busy! Halloween and Thanksgiving came out of nowhere, catching me totally off guard. Luckily, this year the kids wanted simple costumes that could be purchased rather inexpensively. This meant that I did not spend several hours sewing elaborate costumes, such as last year's Renaissance dress my daughter asked for. A black cape, black sweats and some fangs were certainly easier, if a bit less rewarding in the creative arts department. Ah well. Next year might provide me the opportunity to try my sewing hand at a Southern Belle number or perhaps some fairy attire and wings. We'll see!

Thanksgiving came and brought with it two sumptuous feasts and enough pie to warrant an early New Year's diet plan. My mom is the quintessential Midwest farm gal, showing her love through food favorites when the holidays roll around. Where one or two different homemade pies might suffice for some families, she is sure to cover all bases when it comes to everyone's favorite: pumpkin pie for Dave and Tom, lemon meringue for Julie, blueberry for Jane, tripleberry for Mark, apple for my dad, and banana cream for... well, I don't quite remember. I've forgotten which is supposed to be my favorite, so I try a few bites of them all.

Now that we've put the great turkey feast behind us for another year, on to Christmas!

The Friday after Thanksgiving is reserved for the family Christmas tree cutting ceremony. This exercise in family fun involves my husband Ryan and me forcing the kids to trudge through snow and endure cold, blustery winds the find the perfect Tannenbaum. I'm finicky (again, I take after my mother who has blasphemously thrown out a Christmas tree or two after giving up on trying to hide the bald spots and unforgiving shapes before instructing my dad to "give it another try, and this time, do please try to get the Fraser Fir I requested and please leave the crooked, barren-spotted conifers alone!"). And so we walk. And walk. And walk some more. The entire time my husband and children suggesting a Blue Spruce or Scotch Pine. "What about this one?" my son will ask. My daughter just gives up, asking me to hurry up so she can get some free hot cider. My husband is a good sport. He knows that all the careful scrutiny will result in that one glorious moment when we round a bend or crest the top of an evergreen covered knoll and discover a perfectly-shaped, full, lush specimen of Christmas tree grandeur. I proclaim, "That's that one!" and the kids clamber underneath with Dad, asking to take a turn at sawing for a spell to help fell the family Christmas tree.

Our tree is now up. The decorations were placed lovingly on the boughs (if a bit towards the lower half of the tree) by the kids while I handed them each ornament, recalling stories from Christmases past as Perry Como and Bing Crosby crooned in the background. I love these Normal Rockwell moments and hope they make an indelible mark on my kids' Christmas memories.

The wreath is up thanks to my husband's handy knot-tying skills. The porcelain nativity scene is arranged carefully, Mary's superglued hand raised in exclamatory wonder (thanks to a certain curious 2-year-old munchkin a number of Christmases ago who brought me the "pretty lady" and her hand). Greenery and pine cones have been arranged, the embroidered stockings hung, and the outside lights resurrected and put up. Fa la la la la, la la la la!

The Christmas shopping list is nearing completion and I await a few afternoons of freedom to brave the crowds. Grandma's Christmas recipes have been found. The kids can't wait to help mom perch Hershey Kisses atop peanut butter blossoms and employ the cookie cutters and red hots. Ryan has reminded me that the chocolate bon-bon cookies are his favorite, and my mom has hinted at scheduling some rosette making time.

This weekend's lineup includes: gingerbread house decorating, ice skating and a visit to see Jolly Old St. Nick.

I'm making every effort to get it all done: shopping, baking, drafting the Christmas letter, pulling together a Christmas pictures... 'Tis a busy season. But as time is so fleeting, I'm trying to embrace the holiday month. Like our children's baby years, it'll be gone before we know it!

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or New Year, good luck with preparing and enjoying your holidays!

Take a seat!

2012-10-22T06:06:00.002-07:00

The decision whether or not to have assigned seating at your wedding reception will surely provide you with a few opportunities for some pondering. What to do with your cousins from Europe who speak minimal English? And which table would make for a good fit for your college roommate, the only single gal at the wedding? And where, oh where, should you seat Great Aunt Agnes, who has a penchant for discussing her medical ailments with anyone within earshot?

While mulling things over and mapping out a plan for seating the medley of personalities that make up your friends and relatives, don’t forget to think about a seating schematic that represents you and your sweetheart. Anyone can number tables sequentially. But throw in a dash of creativity and treat your guests to some interesting tidbits about yourselves.

Important Numbers

If it just makes sense to you to use numbers to designate the tables, shake things up a bit and use numbers that have special meaning to you and your soon-to-be spouse. Be sure to include on the table number a brief description of the significance of the number. For example, if you each have one sibling, note that on table #1's card. Table #10 might explain that your birthdays are only ten days apart. Table #9¾? Perhaps you met waiting in line at the theater for tickets to the latest Harry Potter film!

Destinations

Consider naming tables after cities, parks, restaurants or other destinations that have special meaning for you both. Did you two meet waiting in line at the coffee shop on the corner? Seat your grandparents at the Common Grounds Café table. Maybe he proposed while on your summer trip to Colorado. Have your college buds gather at the Pike’s Peak table. Were you childhood classmates who both attended summer camp together? Your friends will get a kick out of sitting at the Camp Tamakwa table. Again, be sure to offer a printed explanation on each table number card.

Sports Nuts

For fellas who are lucky enough to catch themselves a girl who loves cheering on her favorite football, basketball or hockey team, going the sports theme route is a fun way to go. Pick your sport. Consider using team logos in lieu of numbers. Your guests will have a ball!

Authors or Favorite Books

For the well-read couple, utilizing the names of famous authors or books is a fancy way to designate tables. Looking for a fun way to help your guests pass a little time before the reception starts? Stand the books up on their tables to serve as table markers. Leave cards designed like old library book pocket inserts printed with a short quiz about the book at each place setting on each corresponding table. Who can name Captain Ahab's ship? To which island country did Gulliver travel?

Nature

Trees, national parks, world famous lakes, mountain ranges, regional wild animals, flowers… whatever elements of Mother Nature call to you will make for a down-to-Earth seating plan.

Movies

Are you and your betrothed movie aficionados? His buddies will appreciate being seated at the Rocky or Godfather tables while the bride’s galpals can chat about scenes from movies such as When Harry Met Sally and Pretty Woman. Your parents and grandparents can reminisce about scenes from old gems like Casablanca and Gone with the Wind. Where to seat the groomsmen? They can gather ‘round The Hangover table to rehash the bachelor party!

Hobbies and Interests

Is the groom a car fanatic? Consider naming tables after his favorite autos. Are the bride and groom both teachers? Seat guests at tables named after subjects and classes. Are you real board game lovers? Incorporate your favorites – who wouldn't want to be seated at the "Miss Scarlet" Clue-themed table? (We advise not leaving a lead pipe or revolver on the table, however!)

Whether you opt to go the creative route and have fun with your table names and numbers, or simply rely upon sequential numbers, use your table cards to jazz things up a bit. Photos, clip art, mini chalkboards, festive vases… the possibilities are endless. The day is all about the two of you. Why not make it personal and fun?

Fall Hayrides – A Rambling Ride Through the Colors

2012-10-11T07:42:00.000-07:00

What better way to revel in fall's wondrous display of colors and brisk weather than to wend your way through the woods perched atop a hay bale on the back of a wagon? Now that's fall!

Having spent a good number of my childhood afternoons amid the wooded acres of my grandparents' farm, it simply doesn't feel like fall for me until I partake in a seasonal hayride. Of course, those rambling rides of my youth usually entailed chugging past the cornfields, over the hills and down into a valley adjacent to the wooded fence line to forage for hickory nuts underneath a canopy of brilliant yellows and rusty reds. Once my grandmother and I had filled our pails, buckets and bushel barrels with those meaty little nuts, we'd climb back into the wagon, sit atop our wobbly bales and enjoy the autumn afternoon as my grandpa pulled us back home behind the tractor.

My introduction to fall hayrides may have been simple transportation to and from one of nature's generous little food supplies, but the beauty and simplicity of those rides wasn't lost on me. When my kids were younger, I decided it simply wouldn't do to find the winter winds descending upon us without having taken time out for a fall hayride. As luck would have it, a large regional park/nature reserve in the area was not only home to acres upon acres of wooded splendor, but was also open for business for those looking to hire a hay wagon. This would be a perfect family activity, I decided!

We gathered the extended family one Saturday afternoon in late October and clambered atop bales stacked on a large flatbed wagon. Imagine the kids' delight when they discovered that this ride would not be powered by a pickup or a tractor, but two gentle giant draft horses! Some coaxing was needed to convince the kids to leave the horses be and climb up on the wagon.

A two-hour ride through woodlands and fields was just enough time for children of all ages to jump and play in the loose hay before snuggling down into their parents' straw- and hay-covered laps as the day grew cooler. The afternoon sun illuminated the hues of the season, setting the leaves ablaze in autumn tones of reds, oranges, coppers, yellows and golds. I sat back, my three-year-old daughter in my lap, thinking that fall drives are heavenly, but you miss out on the fresh, cool air in your face and the squirmy, giggling straw-covered urchin in your lap.

When the horses finally pulled the wagon to a gentle, swaying stop, kids and adults jumped down, brushed themselves free of straw and chaff, and ambled toward the picnic area where a bonfire and hotdog roasting sticks were at the ready. The hot mulled apple cider that awaited us helped ward off the chill in the air as my husband and I helped the kids hold their hotdogs over the flames. Later, after a potluck supper, the marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers were brought out – a perfect ending to a perfect day. Ooey-gooey s'mores and hot chocolate as the sun set on a lovely fall day.

Don't let this fall escape without finding an apple orchard, park or farm to partake in a fall hayride.

Fall Comes Calling

2012-09-28T09:31:00.001-07:00

Perhaps it has something to do with my hair color, but every year when fall settles upon us, my soul is happy and I find genuine contentment with the world around me. The colors! Oh, the colors! Brilliant reds, decadent oranges, deep russets, glowing coppers… the hues that create the palette of fall feel like home to me, and I am at peace.

I’ll admit, there are moments of summer that I adore – the smell of freshly mown hay, the feel of thick green grass below bare feet, an ice cold root beer on a hot day, my mom’s colorful riot of blooming flowers filling the yard of my childhood home. But summer can hold only so much sway over a redhead with pale skin, devoid of any and all ability to tan, who has an ironic allergy to sunscreen. I simply wither when the mercury climbs into the 90s and beyond, and I’ve known my fair share of sunburns. No thank you!

Fall, on the other hand, is another matter entirely. The crisp, cool mornings and late evenings are invigorating. And who can resist the season’s smells? My grandmother’s apple crisp – heavenly. Cinnamon and nutmeg simmering together with apple cider – divine. But the inviting aroma of the crackling wood from a fall bonfire, now that’s the smell of the season I look forward to all year long!

There are those perfect days that come along every once in a while – the ones that you look back on and smile about for years to come. I couldn’t have been older than six or seven. I spent the day raking leaves into big piles with my grandparents in their expansive backyard on their farm. We raked and raked, and then my brothers and I jumped into piles of crunchy red and brown leaves. Later that day, we sat atop straw bales stacked in the wagon as my Grandpa’s red Farmall H chugged us back towards the woods. There, amid yellowing birch leaves and under golden orange hickory tree canopies, my dad and grandpa built a fire. Supper that night consisted of hotdogs cooked on sticks over the flames, golden brown marshmallows and apple cider.

The evening was chilly, but wrapped up in red woolen blankets and gathered around that delicious-smelling fall fire, sitting amid the fallen leaves, listening to my grandparents and parents talk and laugh, life was perfect.

Welcome, Autumn. I’ve missed you.

Baby Shower Thoughts

2012-09-14T13:50:00.002-07:00

This past weekend, my good friend Angie and I hosted a baby shower for my oldest friend Anne. She and her husband are expecting their baby girl in late October. Now that my youngest is turning seven, I’m excited for her, and excited to hold this brand new little bundle of warmth and promise. I miss the smell of babies and the contented coos and yawns I could look upon for hours.

I still remember my first baby shower. I attended with my grandmother and I was probably no more than four or five years old. I recall not quite understanding what it was all about, and I fretted over such things as whether or not we needed to bring our own towel and shampoo to this shower situation, or if those would be provided. The thought of a “shower” had me just as confused as the time my father announced that my mother had sent us on a “wild goose chase” to the store one Saturday morning. Just how were we going to catch this goose, I wondered, and what would we do with it when we had captured it?

Ah, but I digress.

Baby showers as we know them today are rather modern. However, preparing a mommy-to-be and celebrating the arrival of the newborn dates back to ancient Egypt and Greece. Hey – a new mom needs baby gear, right? Whether that baby gear includes a basket woven from reeds or a Pack-N-Play, there are gifts aplenty to bestow upon an expectant mother.

During the Middle Ages, godparents gifted baby with such items as silver spoons. Throughout the Renaissance, new mothers received sculptures, clothing linens and food to commemorate baby. Painted wooden trays with inscriptions wishing good health and successful childbirth were also popular.

The Victorian era ushered in baby showers as we now know them. Since expectant mothers were not to appear in public while pregnant, according to Victorian rules of society, tea parties were held for the new mother after the child was born. These turned into the modern-day shower by the beginning of the 1900s. Gifts were often handmade, save for the silver items typically given by the grandmother.

Today, friends, sisters, aunts, coworkers and even mothers host baby showers that can run the spectrum from small, simple and intimate to rather large and elaborate. Expectant parents register for items they choose themselves at one or multiple stores. Food, games, prizes, decorations – all part of your average baby shower. Clearly, things have evolved since moms of ancient Egypt were giving birth!

So how much work, money and time should hostesses put into planning a shower? I’ve asked myself this very question for the twelve or thirteen showers I’ve hosted. It usually shakes out that they’re a good deal of work, take a healthy amount of time, and you can spend as much or as little as you’d like. So, I’d like to throw out a few tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way.

Divide and Conquer. While too many cooks can spoil the broth, so to speak, seeking help with shower planning and execution is a good way to reduce the work, stress and expense of shower planning. Coming together and establishing some plans and shopping lists will have you and your co-planners well on your way to a stress-free shower. Divvying up food preparation is also a must if your sanity is to be salvaged!

Know Your Limits. Budget and space can be limiting factors on the guest list. If you offer to host a shower for a galpal, sister, coworker, etc., make things easier for her by presenting her with some parameters. Only have the funds to host a small event? Let her know. Does the dining room in the Victorian house-turned-restaurant where you wish to throw the shower only seat twenty? Tell her from the get-go. Imagining a shower for ten and receiving her guest list of fifty will make for an awkward conversation.

Remember: It’s all about the Guest of Honor! Just because you might like a certain food/theme/game/venue doesn’t mean your guest of honor will. Be sure to consult the mom-to-be on important decisions like where to hold the shower, the general vibe of the event, and very importantly for pregnant women who might have a temporary aversion to certain smells or tastes, the menu!

Prepare! We live in a very hectic, busy, overscheduled society. Don’t put off plans and prep work until the last minute! Game choices might very well require props or other items. Have those collected and ready to go before the last minute.

Plan for the Inevitable! If you’re counting on receiving RSVPs from 100% of your guest list, think again. Any bride will tell you that there are a healthy number of invitees who won’t get around to responding. You’ll need to plan extra games, food and favors for guests who show up without RSVPing.

Have a Clear Game Plan. While my co-hostess Angie is Miss Planner through and through, I’m more of a just wing it kind of gal. But, when you’re trying to lead a group of women through games, a meal and gift opening, it’s best to have a clear sense of what your agenda is and ensure each hostess knows what her duties are. As I ran the games, Angie got to work setting out the food and prepped the beverages. As soon as the games were completed, the meal was ready and waiting. No down time is a winning idea!

Whether you’re hosting an event for a few close friends or making plans for 50-60 of mom-to-be’s extended family members, remember that planning and preparation are imperative. Don’t bite off more than you can chew! Any type of shower should be a joyful event, not a nightmare to execute! Endeavor to have just as much fun as the guest of honor.

Oh, and always bring extra pens and tape.

Vintage Charm

2012-08-16T12:49:00.002-07:00

Inevitably, we women find ourselves sifting through our mothers' and grandmothers' closets for a bit of fashion inspiration from time to time. Whether it's rediscovering mom's Jackie O inspired pencil dress with a slimming belt or digging out grandma's long-abandoned but oh-so-graceful cameo ring, fashion statements have a way of wearing out their welcome only to make a resurgence at a later date.

Wedding fashions and trends are no exception. What once was considered passé eventually works its way back into our hearts and breathes fresh air into styles, palettes, and ideas. We call these trappings of yesteryear "vintage." They are timeless and classic, chic and sophisticated, and they are offering some refreshing options for today's bridal couples.

If you've noticed a return to the vintage couture of the '20s, '30s and '40s, you're not alone. Brides have been finding inspiration in the earlier decades of last century for everything from gowns and hairstyles to stationery and jewelry. Period themes are experiencing a resurgence as well, as couples are turning to eras such as the Prohibition and World War II for some creative fun. Think everything from flappers and pearls to seamed stockings and slimmer wartime cuts and hems. There's no end to the creativity that can be employed to bring in some period style.

The brooch is back. Although Great-Gran may have worn it pinned to a modestly high neckline, modern brides are putting these little adornments to creative uses. Brooches have found their way into updo's, clasping waist sashes onto gowns, and even adding some bedazzlement to bridal bouquets. Running the gamut from dainty and demure to grand and glitzy, these little charmers from a bygone era offer some wonderful ways to honor the older generations of women in the bride's family. Have a host of them from which to choose? Bejewel your bridesmaids with a unique piece to add a bit of pizzazz to their dresses.

A warm welcome back to lace is in order as well, as brides are flocking to gowns with beautiful overlays and delicate backs in a host of lacy patterns. Gone for now are the billowing layers of crinoline, cathedral length trains and Cinderella-esque creampuff sleeves as form-flattering sheaths are the style du jour. I love this look. Feminine. Graceful. Elegant. Where were these simple and lovely styles when I was walking down the aisle?

Lace veils are enjoying a renewed popularity as well, and can be found in varying lengths and a wide selection of styles. For brides looking for just a touch of lacy embellishment, luck is on your side. No need to worry about covering your wedding day 'do with heavy lace. Simple veils with delicate lace borders are easy to find and coordinate wonderfully with all manner of gowns.

Brides are incorporating romantic flowers into their bouquets to achieve a vintage feel. The addition of peonies and carnations infuses a bit of shabby chic into standby arrangements of roses, lilies, hydrangeas and other favorites. Popular bouquets of late are a bit more fuss-free, yet are still breathtakingly lovely.

Flattering hairstyles for vintage-inspired weddings are as easy as a softly swept-up 'do or loosely flowing curls. Looking to kick a bit of '20s fun into your big day? Pin curls, finger waves and fun bobs can make for smashing wedding day 'dos. Or, drawing a bit of inspiration from the glamorous golden days of Hollywood might be the ticket. Rita Hayworth, Lana Turner and Ava Gardner are all sources of divine 'do inspiration for retro-looking locks.

As for decorations and favors, everything emanating a nostalgic air is up for grabs. Bird nests, feathers, antique vases and bottles, silver serving sets, candies from yesteryear, stylish cars from the '30s and '40s, and anything else that sets the vintage tone bridal couples are looking for are perfect for setting the scene.

Looking for just the right invite to tie together a vintage theme? Carlson Craft has a wonderful selection of wedding stationery options for vintage-inspired weddings. These lovely styles offer soft and subtle designs, some embossed with lace embellishments. They're utterly sublime and perfect for inviting guests to indulge in a day of antique charm and timeless elegance.

Summertime Splendor

2012-06-29T05:48:00.001-07:00

“It was June, and the world smelled of roses. The sunshine was like powdered gold over the grassy hillside”

~Maud Hart Lovelace

I love this quote by Lovelace. She was a children's book author who grew up in my home town nearly a century before I was born and wrote of young girls finding adventure and mischief in Deep Valley, a fictional name for our home town of Mankato. I would imagine, despite a century of change, the advent of summer for her was just as lovely and promising as it was for me as a girl in that river city of verdant hills and valleys.

Poets and authors have long praised summer's splendor, the long days of warmth, flowers in full bloom, the busy-ness of Earth as crops grow, animals move about in a productive scurry, and humankind springs to life with an ardent need to enjoy the outdoors before winter returns with its cold temperatures and abbreviated daylight.

We live in a part of the world where, even if you don't long for hot weather and sunshine, a moderate dose of the stuff can rejuvenate and lift the spirits. And for summer lovers, these short months are reason to celebrate and grasp every opportunity to revel in the outdoors.

Summer always stirs up memories of my childhood. Picking bowls full of delectable red and blue berries whose colors invoke a particularly patriotic tug on my heartstrings. The gentle sways and rolls of the lake's motion while sitting in my dad's fishing boat. Nighttime at the farm when the crickets would chirp in a full chorus at bedtime.

As kids, summertime was the season when we could check our inhibitions at the screen door and dart outside in bare feet, not stopping to tug on rubber boots or unending layers of snow gear. Dripping popsicles didn't matter on the front lawn and the sprinkler offered a full afternoon of fun with very little cost. When Grandpa was feeling mischievous, nighttime would mean the celebratory glow of sparklers shooting their light in swirls and swoops as we chased around the lawn in a jubilant ruckus.

Summer's most blessed events for me now include my mom's fresh-squeezed lemonade, a trusty porch swing surrounded by vibrant and heavenly-smelling flower gardens, and a real page-turner of a book. As I relax and take in the pleasant peacefulness, the kids are learning and experiencing the fun and freedom that summer holds. Watching a 5-year-old excitedly chase fireflies in the darkening evening while his older sister races to the house for a Mason jar calls to mind my own memories of summer nights and the magic of the world. What childhood would be complete without sailing out across cool lake water on a tire swing? And my husband and I have now passed on the early entrepreneurial torch of setting up lemonade stands to our kids. I'm sure my mom is chuckling inside, now that "what goes around comes around" has found me with the sticky floors and spilled sugar on my countertops. But, alas, this is summer, kids will be kids, and floors and counters are washable.

Picnics, bike rides, watermelon on the front steps – whatever your summer favorites might be, enjoy them! Summer is short and should be savored and experienced to the utmost!

And should the kids ask you to join them running through the sprinkler, do accept. That kid way down deep inside will still appreciate the thrill of racing through that cold swaying spray on a hot summer day.

Destination Weddings: It’s all about Location, Location, Location!

2012-06-14T12:00:00.000-07:00

Pinned on the wall above my computer is a calendar with colorful and bewitching photos of castles, beaches, lavender fields, cobblestone streets, and a host of other lovely and exotic destinations. I delight in packing my suitcase, digging out my passport and setting out for new locations. It’s that travel bug that bit me when I was young and just hasn’t let go.

Friends and relatives have been reporting that they’re receiving invites to destination weddings for such hotspots as Cancun, Paris, Hawaii, Jamaica and even Australia. My, oh, my! An excuse to dig out one’s luggage and travel gear in the name of a matrimonial celebration? I like this idea!

More and more couples are forgoing large local weddings for smaller, more intimate nuptials that combine the ceremony and honeymoon all into one upscale travel adventure. This year is projected to be a record-breaking year for destination weddings, with an estimated 60 percent increase in the number of American couples opting for weddings abroad, resulting in nearly one in five couples exchanging vows away from home. Some of the more popular choices include Mexico, the Caribbean, the Greek Islands, Thailand, and Cyprus. Across the pond, British brides and grooms are also packing their suitcases for their big day, with one in ten couples choosing destination weddings. Why are so many soon-to-be newlyweds so eager to say “I Do” on foreign soil? Well, there’s not one simple answer.

Budget has a lot to do with it. Clearly, it would be extremely rare for a couple to foot the bill for a reception of 300 guests if the wedding was in the Greek Isles. Destination weddings typically include a small, intimate gathering of closest family and friends. Colleagues of the bride’s parents surely won’t be in attendance, nor will the groom’s long lost second and third cousins. Not only does a small gathering allow the couple to cut costs, it also allows them to restrict their guest list to only their closest loved ones and friends. Many couples are finding this smaller circle of invitees to be more meaningful.

Furthermore, couples are realizing that combining the wedding and the honeymoon can make for one celebratory trip that includes amazing and exotic pictures of the ceremony plus one extended celebration with close friends and family. If an overseas honeymoon is already being planned, why not extend it a few days and make your dream destination also the locale for your vows?

Many all-inclusive resorts are really ramping up their wedding planning help and options. All-inclusives also make things easier on guests who may not be travel savvy – no worries about logistics or entertainment before and after the wedding. If a resort isn’t in a couple’s plans, there are wedding consultants who specialize in helping brides plan destination weddings, wherever they may be.

Couples need to bear in mind that planning a destination wedding will usually prohibit some family members and friends from attending. As much as we’d all love to travel to the Caribbean to see a loved one marry, sometimes travel expenses just aren’t in the budget. Additionally, couples might want to consider giving guests ample time to plan for an overseas journey. The expense alone calls for a lengthy heads up, and some of the attendees might need to apply for their very first passport, which can take several weeks to receive.

Whether a couple’s dream includes exchanging vows on a white sandy beach, atop a mountain, nestled in a vineyard, or in a centuries-old European church, there is ample help out there to assist with wedding arrangements.

Be sure to check out Carlson Craft’s innovative wedding invitations designed for destination weddings. Remember – there’s quite a bit more information that needs to be conveyed to guests regarding a destination wedding. Carlson Craft has some fabulous options that will captivate invitees, provide them with a clear picture of the wedding plans, and have them scrambling for their passports, flip-flops and sunscreen!

And to my close friends and family, if any of you are anticipating an engagement soon, I’ve always wanted to see the beautiful waters and islands of the Mediterranean!

Peacock Plumes and Beautiful Blues

2012-05-18T14:21:00.002-07:00

My daughter’s eighth birthday is coming up, and she has only one theme request: a peacock party. This doesn’t surprise me. Peacocks and peacock colors seem to be the décor de jour as of late. This exotic bird has flown right into the hearts of brides, birthday girls and celebrants far and wide and doesn't seem to be bidding adieu any time soon!

During my college days, burgundies and dark greens were the hot colors for weddings (as eight of the ten bridesmaid dresses stuffed into garment bags in the back of my closet attest!). But as with all things, tastes change. Colors make a bold impact and then quietly drift into the background to make way for the next big color schemes. Currently, teals, blues, and greens are making a splash with brides, all colors found on the peacock color spectrum. For an added punch of contrast, orange is a hopping hue as well.

Creative brides are putting peacock plumes and colors to use in everything from dresses, boutonnieres, floral arrangements, hair adornments, cakes, invites, and programs to anything else that can be embellished with the iridescent blue-green plumes of the proud peacock. The regal splendor of the peacock color combination evokes a rich, elegant air, while offering a cooler alternative to the fall favorites of mochas, browns and plums. And the fanciful feathers themselves, with their stunning blue and gold eyes and long graceful lines, pull together a natural element that is dramatic and, well, pretty!

The blue-green palette coordinates well with ivory or white, purple, gold, lavender, aqua, and black. Browsing the internet, I even came across peacock bouquets that included such accent colors as copper, orange, lime green, pink or fuchsia. It's a fun theme to liven up and make playful.
If you haven't browsed Carlson Craft's albums lately, there are some stunning peacock themed stationery designs that will not only capture the attention of brides, but those looking for some trendy anniversary or birthday invites. Sweet 16'ers will take note, as well! These are designs that aren't pigeon-holed (forgive the bird reference) into being just wedding invites!

My daughter, endeavoring to find just the right decorations for her birthday, sits perched on the couch, mom's laptop plunked down on her lap. "Look at the cakes, mommy!" she gushes as she clicks through pictures online. Her surfing brings her to multi-tiered white, teal and blue wedding cakes with divine silk ribbons and plumes, vintage hair clips, bouquets vibrant with blues, greens, chartreuse, and gold, and the loveliest teal satin pumps with peacock feather clips I've ever seen.
While she asks if dad and I might spring for teal satin chair covers and vases overflowing with long peacock feathers, I gently explain that some fun teal and purple cupcakes might be in order as well as pin the feather on the peacock. For the moment, she's appeased.
{However, deep down, I'm left thinking that if only my sister would hurry up and meet Mr. Right, I could really make this peacock theme soar and reach new heights!}

Save the Dates

2012-05-07T09:43:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day hasn’t yet arrived, but our summer calendar is filling up faster than dirty dishes find their way into my sink. Between birthdays, graduations, Father’s Day, neighborhood get-togethers, summer camp, and sundry other events and occasions, we remain busy throughout the summer months. I hesitate to complain; it all means we’re loved and have good friends, relatives and neighbors who desire our fun-loving company at their parties and shin-digs, right? I hope so!

The truth is, we’re your typical family of four with two active kids, full-time jobs, and extended families who enjoy our presence at family functions. And although I’m loath to resort to clichés, times seem to have changed since we were kids. Twenty-first century families just seem to be busier than we were when I was growing up. Maybe that’s just my perspective, but I will say I don’t remember quite so many camps, traveling summer sports teams, etc., when I was young.

Here is where I point out the importance of Save the Dates. I don’t recall these when I was young (but who knows – I was probably far more interested in my Easy Bake Oven to take much notice of impending social engagements), but I feel our family would be lost without them now. My good friend Anna’s Save the Date magnet took up residence front and center on our fridge door for a good number of months before the wedding rolled around. It was penned onto the calendar page well before we had time to commit to a T-ball tournament, assisting friends with a garage sale, or reserving the weekend to go to the cabin. In the lives of hustling and bustling families, Saturdays are high demand calendar real estate, so the sooner we can reserve the spot, the better! And who wants to miss out on a good friend or relative's wedding because reservations are already made for the yearly summer family vacation??

Save the dates typically go out six to twelve months prior to the event and are followed by a formal invitation about eight weeks before the event. Invitees are afforded the opportunity to literally "save the date" well in advance and make any necessary plans to attend the wedding. These become invaluable to guests who must travel lengthy distances, make arrangements for small children, or who simply (like us) have a lot going on.

Save the dates started with weddings, but these little heads-up cards and magnets have found a new calling by announcing up and coming corporate events, anniversary parties, and other fanciful celebrations. Some proud parents-to-be have even employed save the dates to announce they’re expecting and share their due date with family and friends. Carlson Craft even has options to allow parents to kick-start their picture sharing of baby by including an ultrasound image!

Some might argue that save the dates can easily be replaced by an email or Facebook posting, or other such techno-savvy option. Here's where I'm not in complete agreement. A family member of mine recently sent out text message invitations for a party. Imagine my discomfort when, in simple conversation, I asked my brother if he would be attending the following day. His furrowed brow and look of general confusion led me to believe he had no clue what I was talking about. "Didn't you get the text message?" I asked. "I'm horrible at checking my messages," he replied. "I check them about as often as I check my Facebook account." Yikes. I rest my case. Emails get overlooked and text messages can be lost or deleted. But we all seem to look thoroughly through our mail, and who doesn't love getting some happiness among the bills?

I spent a good deal of time perusing Carlson Craft's latest selection of save the dates. They are wonderfully fun and could they be any more creative? What's your style? Traditional and elegant? Modern with a colorful twist? Playful and picture-filled? Story-telling and info-packed? Crisp, clean and to the point? Believe me, you'll find it. Whether brides and grooms are looking to make a statement, set the tone for their nuptials, or simply become the lovely faces adorning the front of large kitchen appliances, Carlson Craft save the dates offer such a wide variety of styles and designs, the only problem couples face will be choosing just one!

Spring Fever

2012-04-18T07:09:00.000-07:00

This year has been a doozy! I can't remember the last time March was that beautiful.

Weather-wise, we've run the gamut from putting our air conditioners to use in early March to digging out hats and mittens this past week. The lawn mower has already been employed more than once, and now here I am, wondering if the snowbrush is still in the back seat of the car. The kids are just plain lost, not sure whether they should forage in their dressers for shorts or dig out cardigans and flannel. Ah, well. It's par for the course this time of year in Minnesota.

Although I adore the cozy feeling of winter, when early spring rolls around, I’m usually ready for the cold and snow to be done, and look forward to the green of nature as things spring back to life. To celebrate the impending arrival of warm days, bird chatter, and burgeoning blossoms, we made a family visit to the yearly Macy’s Flower Show in downtown Minneapolis. There, one can take in the sights and smells of beautifully designed flower garden displays and kick start the bug to want to plant and grow lovely things.

Each year boasts a new theme (Brasil, Spring is in the Air, Towers of Flowers, etc.), and the kids and I never fail to be mesmerized. Perhaps it’s that first sensory experience of the year of seeing delicate blooms and smelling the fragrant blossoms, but it’s simply magical. Small carpets of lush flowers in every hue stretch out below wondrous displays. Flowers, plants and small trees are carefully placed to create such wonders as the Leaning Tower of Pisa, a colorfully enchanting toucan, a floral Eiffel Tower, and many other blossoming architectural creations that spark the imagination and spur on the drive to plant the very moment the weather cooperates.

Whether you make regular trips to an arboretum or greenhouse during the cold months, or simply make do with enjoying your very own house plants, there’s nothing that quite compares to seeing the season’s first tulips popping through the thawing ground. Flowers seem to have their very own little place in our world. They play a vital role in creating an air of celebration at weddings and festivities, they cheer us up when we’re sick, and they remind the special people in our lives that we love them. Perhaps for those of us living in snowy climates, we become especially excited when spring’s first flowers push through the soil toward the sun. Our limited season of flower gardens and window box displays is rather short, so we embrace it fully when it finally arrives.

As May slips closer, I can’t wait for planting season to start. Dark pink petunias, fuchsia and purple vincas, little white bacopas, orange and pink lantanas, verbena in a host of hues, the adorable painted faces of the pansies… oh, late May can’t come fast enough!

As we endure the rainy, windy, and oh-so-unpredictable weather that comes with April, I wish you a verdant spring, heralding a riot of colorful blossoms, and invite you to enjoy some snapshots from the past few Macy’s Flower Shows.

What do you do in early spring to remedy the itch for warmer weather?

Thoughts on Anniversaries

2012-04-03T10:31:00.000-07:00

Weddings are festive occasions that celebrate a new union of two people who are in love and eager to begin a new life together. But after the sun has set on this day of silk, taffeta, flowers, buttercream icing, speeches, toasts and first dances, and has arisen on the first day of happily ever after, a union of two people becomes about teamwork to both enjoy and weather the ups and downs that make up marriage. And while life holds precious moments to be shared and celebrated as a couple, it also holds plenty of challenges.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 83% of couples will make it to their fifth wedding anniversary and 55% will celebrate their fifteenth anniversary. By 25 years, only 35% couples will still be together, and only 6% will ring in their golden anniversary (50 years) as a couple.

But enough with the disheartening statistics. My point? With the rise in divorce rates in the past number of decades, celebrating wedding anniversaries is important. They signify another year of a successful partnership and herald a continuation of the happily ever after a couple set out for on their wedding day. Whether it's year number one or twenty-one, an anniversary is worthy of honoring. So, be it your own special day, or that of loved ones or friends, be sure to commemorate an anniversary with a celebration, even if it's a small one.

My first foray into anniversary parties was planning my parents' 25^th anniversary with the help of an older brother. We were in our teens and had the budget to prove it. The celebration consisted of a family dinner at a nice restaurant, a small vase of red carnations, a cake and a gift of an engraved silver tray we picked out from a local jeweler. It wasn't quite renting a hall and hiring a band to entertain droves of my parents' friends and relatives, but it was special nonetheless. After twenty-five years of marriage and eleven kids, I would surmise my parents just wanted a quiet, peaceful evening anyway, without having to talk over the strains of Peter, Paul and Mary covers emanating from a band. Or so I hope!

My first anniversary found my husband and me sharing a rather frostbitten top tier from our wedding cake we had fished out from the back of the freezer and playing Scrabble. We had recently discovered baby number one was on the way and thought going out to dinner would be frivolous spending that could be put to better use on a crib or stroller. Since then, we've spent anniversaries at parent/teacher conferences, coaching, attending meetings, and running kids to piano lessons. That's the thing about marriage and life – it keeps you busy!

We agreed we'd go to Napa Valley for our 5^th anniversary. And then an unexpected tonsillectomy popped up for our son. We told ourselves the following year would work. Until we were paying for more hospital bills following a broken elbow and surgery after a playground fall. Our anniversaries have thus far been signified by movie nights or dinners, with or without the kids, depending on how our schedules shake out. However, I'm not disappointed or upset. I know that my parents didn't make it 45 years by traveling the globe. Someday we'll celebrate our anniversary in a vineyard. Until then, we'll continue with the everyday journey that will get us through the years of little ones, busy schedules, reallocated finances, and the like. And yes, I know we'll look back on all of this and miss it.

Until then, whether celebrating anniversaries means a whirlwind tour of Europe, a holiday in the surf and sun, or just a quiet dinner amid the hustle and bustle of life, remember that each anniversary translates into successfully continuing a dream. Acknowledging another year of togetherness is reason to celebrate.

St. Patrick's Day Family Festivities

2012-03-16T13:35:00.010-07:00

At the tender age of 21, along with my future husband Ryan and best friend, I had the opportunity to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Savannah, Georgia, home to one of the nation's largest celebrations. With nearly 750,000 people in attendance, and complete with green-dyed fountains in the city's historic district, this celebration includes a parade as well as festivities along River Street. A large mass of party-goers moves along the historic River Street, as individuals make their way to beverage stations, reveling in free entertainment, games, and booths.

The standout memory of this trip for me was the man who brought his pet to the celebration. No, not an Irish Setter. Rather, a six-foot long yellow ball python that was wrapped around his neck and torso. While I've never been one to claim a great fear of snakes, I'm much happier with a furry kitten than these scaly creatures. But, waiting in line at the port-a-potties, he turned to me and asked if I could take the animal while he used the facilities. "Will it bite?" I fretted. "Nope! You've got the luck of the Irish with you today, lass!" he replied with a wink. And so Ryan emerged from his port-a-potty to find me in line with a large snake draped over my shoulders and a green beer in my hand. Sometimes you just never know what will happen at a St. Paddy's bash.

St. Patrick's Day seems to have an uncanny way of bringing people together in merry-making, song, and general togetherness. Perhaps it's the Irish disposition of easygoing jocularity and mirth, or perhaps it’s the spring fever in the March air, but heralding in the fast-approaching vernal equinox by partaking in this shamrock-bedecked holiday is a truly fun time.

Apart from a few parades in St. Paul, Minnesota, we haven't ventured into the world of big St. Paddy's celebrations since. Before the kids were born, we made our way, dressed in green, to our favorite Irish pub in Minneapolis. There, Siobhan, our usual waitress, would take short pauses from her serving duties to join the traditional Irish folk music band onstage, lending her lilting Irish accent to jubilant renditions of time-honored songs from her homeland. Tipping back a pint of Guinness and dining on corned beef and cabbage with a lively crowd was our idea of a perfect St. Paddy's Day.

"Mommy, St. Patrick's Day is this weekend," my daughter informed me just the other day, as if I need a reminder of the perfect reason to blare The Chieftains and Van Morrison and eat shepherd's pie. I know she's excited because not only is our town hosting a small parade, but they are also crowning Miss Shamrock. To add to the celebration of St. Patrick himself, the Catholic church in town is having noon mass complete with bagpipers. My husband doesn't "get" bagpipers, but I find their melodic wailing to be divine.

"Do we get Lucky Charms for breakfast?" my daughter excitedly inquires. Now, I know full well that Lucky Charms doesn't constitute a traditional Irish breakfast, but she's seven, so I'll cut her some slack. My husband and I'll have the Ulster Fry. "Do we get corned beef and cabbage for supper?" my husband wants to know. My son, a little less concerned about the menu, wonders, "Will there be leprechauns at the parade?"

Our shopping list for this weekend is complete:
Traditional Irish breakfast
Corned beef and champ
Shepherd's Pie

Our music playlist is all set:
Liam Clancy, U2, the Cranberries, Van Morrison, Mary Black, the Corrs, the Chieftains, Clannad…

Our DVDs are ready to go for Saturday night:
The Secret of Roan Inish
Dancing at Lughnasa

I'm holding out hope that somewhere along our journey of watching the parade and participating in the celebration the kids will get to experience the catchy melodies of the fiddle, tin whistle, flute, bouzouki, bodhrán, Celtic guitar and concertina of a traditional live Irish band. Who doesn't smile when that type of music is playing?

A very happy St. Patrick's Day to you all!

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh!
(Blessings of St. Patrick's Day upon ye!)

St. Patrick's Day - Fun for Everyone!

2012-03-13T11:46:00.006-07:00

My parents insist that I have no Irish blood in me, despite my red hair, freckles, deep and enduring love for Irish music, and having taken a fancy years ago to the occasional Guinness with soda bread. Who can be unhappy at an Irish pub? Surrounded by cheerful music and hearty ale is just a good place to be, I say.

This week brings with it the celebration of St. Patrick's Day, and whether or not your forefathers or -mothers hailed from the Emerald Isle, this festivity proves to be a wee bit 'o fun for all revelers! Whether your weekend destination includes big city fun for St. Paddy's, or a glass or two of green beer at your local pub, there's something for everyone.

The celebration of St. Patrick's Day in the U.S. predates the American Revolution. Surprising to some, the first parade honoring the Feast of St. Patrick happened right here in the States in 1762. Irish soldiers serving in the British Army took it upon themselves to celebrate the patron saint of their native Ireland while serving in New York City. And since that time, with the healthy influx of Irish immigrants to the U.S., St. Patrick's Day revelries have only grown in size.

Celebrated in countries such as Ireland, Northern Ireland, Great Britain, Canada, the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Japan, South Korea, and others, St. Patrick's Day has become the most popular saint's day in the world. Celebrants dress in green, bedeck themselves with shamrocks, swill green-dyed beer, cheer on parades, and generally have a jolly Irish time.

In the U.S., cities with large Irish-American populations buzz with parades, celebrations, and revelry. New York City still boasts the biggest St. Patrick's Day Parade in the world, with over 150,000 marchers and 2 million spectators. Chicago parade-goers can enjoy a green dyed Chicago River, and Boston residents line up along the parade route to watch colorful floats and marching and pipe bands wind their way from the Broadway "T" Station to Andrew Square in South Boston.

If you're the athletic sort, several cities, including St. Louis, Seattle, Dallas and Minneapolis, are host to St. Patrick's Day marathons and runs. After getting your km's run, kick back and enjoy an emerald-hued draft.

From family fun parades to merry-making pub parties, St. Paddy's is a chance to welcome the cheerfulness of spring and socialize with your community, whatever their heritage might be.

Dust off your "Kiss Me, I'm Irish" t-shirt, polish your shoes for a jaunty Irish jig, and get ready for this year's St. Patrick's Day festivities. Remember the old saying - "Everyone's Irish on St. Patrick's Day!"

Welcome to the New Blog!

2012-02-29T12:18:00.007-08:00

Welcome to Carlson Craft’s Life Should Be Celebrated Blog!

Life is comprised of a medley of moments—both big and small—that are all noteworthy and deserving of special attention. Whether you’re planning your dream wedding, putting together a stellar baby shower for your best friend, or celebrating your child’s first visit from the Tooth Fairy, life should be celebrated!

My name is Sue and I’m delighted you stopped by. In this blog, I’ll endeavor to share ideas with you on how to liven up parties and celebrations, as well as create memorable moments from life’s little milestones. Together, we’ll battle the mundane and make a fun journey of everything from wedding festivities to sipping hot cocoa on an unexpected snow day. I believe that even the small things in life should be cherished.

This year marks ten years since my husband Ryan and I celebrated our lovely wedding on a cool and colorful October afternoon amid the fall foliage of the Minnesota River Valley. Since then, we’ve welcomed the birth of our daughter and son, added pets, moved into our house, hosted a medley of wedding and baby showers, planned and executed anniversary parties, retirement parties, birthday parties, and all manner of other family celebrations.

Having thought I had surpassed the pinnacle of my party-planning days when my wedding was over, I realized that although a wedding may be the singular biggest event in a person’s life (but not always!), there are reasons aplenty to celebrate! Since then, we’ve strived to make special memories with our kids, friends and family, whether it’s hosting Movie Night, a pumpkin carving birthday party, or partaking in our yearly holiday traditions, like Gingerbread House making day or Apple Picking afternoon.

I’m thrilled to be part of Carlson Craft’s Life Should Be Celebrated blog. Tucked safely in my baby book is a personalized pink napkin my mother ordered from Carlson Craft for my baptism when I was two weeks old, along with a beautiful autumn-themed Carlson Craft wedding invitation we sent out together decades later. Carlson Craft has been helping my family and me commemorate special moments for a very long time, but life is so much more than weddings, graduations, and baptisms.

Look forward to blog posts that touch upon planning, trends, seasons, holidays, family days, and everything else that makes life worth celebrating.