Don't Panic Design

Can you believe it is already the end of January! First, 2018 and now January is almost over. Seriously! The weather isn't much better around here - still gray and cold - but with February on the way, so comes the hope of spring. Groundhog's Day is coming, and may give us a hint at what we can expect in the coming months, out west here. But, it's not just the weather to think about. Valentine's Day is coming too. Whether you celebrate it with your friends and family, or your kids have parties at school, fun Valentine's are a must. And easy, DIY Valentine's make it more fun too. When I was a kid, everything gave me anxiety. (That might still be true...) So, all the designs I have in my Etsy Shop this year are designed in easy to print and cut layouts, with fun colors and sayings that are easy to share with close friends or acquaintances alike. Below are several of the listings up in the shop this year. You just purchase, download, print and cut, a...

Whether planning a simple wedding, or an elaborate one, one thing remains the same: it's not easy.  There are tons of things you won't consider until you are in the middle of it, and as many are frustrating as they are fun. If you are going the DIY route, you want to have a hand in the design and execution of your wedding.  Choosing or designing your invitation is a fun way to exercise creativity in your planning, and set the stage for your reception decor.  It is also one of the first ways you share your style with your guests. While it can be very fun, it can also be overwhelming: where to start? A couple weeks ago, Andrea reached out about a design in my shop . She loved elements already included in the design, and even the colors were close. But she had designed a wedding logo, and wanted to know if I could, or would, include it on the design. I never mind adjusted designs to make it work - whether it's color, wording, or adding a special touch, so I ...

The anatomy of any invitation is usually the same, and this will hold true for your Rehearsal Dinner invitations. The main difference is that you may include 2 sets of times and locations. Remember that you can have a theme for your dinner, and it doesn't need to match the wedding. It can formal or casual - see Rehearsal Dinner Basics for some tips and easy theme ideas to throw a great party. When drafting the wording for your invitation, be sure to include: • THE HOSTS' NAMES A wedding rehearsal dinner is usually hosted by the groom’s parents, but it doesn’t have to be. • THE COUPLE'S NAMES Of course! Use first and last names for more formal invitations, use first names only for a very small, intimate party, or us the phrase “the soon to be INSERT NAME HERE” if the happy couple are sharing a name after their marriage. • THE DATE It is customary to spell out the day, month and year for formal dinners, but for more casual parties, using the numerals is fi...

Whether you are having a small intimate wedding, an elegant soiree, a large raucous party, or a destination wedding, the wedding rehearsal dinner is a wonderful time to connect with the people closest to you - family and friends who have given their support and are likely to be involved in planning and the events of the day itself. This pre-celebration is a time to mingle, chat, say thank you, and spend a little real time together, as the wedding day is likely to be busy, and the reception a whirlwind.  Rehearsal dinners are often hosted by the parents of the groom, but whether it is the groom's parents, the bride's parents, the couple themselves, or some combination,  it is up to the hosts to choose what kind of dinner to have and who to invite. The hosts and the couple can discuss before planning to decide how involved each wants to be, and work together to create the right event.  Both the host and the couple should try to stay flexible - it's meant to be fun!...

What is I.C.E.?  I.C.E. stands for In Case of Emergency.  Hopefully you already know this, and you may already have I.C.E. contacts marked in your phone. As a back up, you should also have a physical card with names and phone numbers.  Carry one in your wallet, and keep one with your car registration, if you drive. For kids, consider pinning on in their backpack. Emergencies are by definition unpredictable. By taking a few minutes today, you can prepare yourself, or those caring for you to be able to identify you and contact family members or friends in a time of trouble of need. My mom has been a nurse for 40 years.  She loves her job, but she has seen a lot of things - and had a lot of bad days as witness and caregiver to terrible disease and destructive accidents.  Her job doesn't stop when the patient has been admitted. As a professional care giver, she is also responsible for contacting emergency contacts or relatives. Not only does it mak...

When I was in college, I was lucky enough to live with the best cook I know, my best friend Christina.  I would walk home from class, crossing my fingers that she was home, because if she was, the most magical thing would happen.  While I would look around the kitchen and see nothing to eat, Christina would open the fridge and say things like, I think I am going to make a quiche, would you like some? The answer, of course, was always, "yes, please." She has an intuitive sense for flavors I've always admired, and I finally smartened up enough a few years ago to start asking questions. After watching her cook, and getting her to tell me some of her secrets, I slowly started experimenting.  This is a fritatta I made last year, and that comment is from Christina - which is high praise! I knew that part of what I was lacking was an understanding spices and how they work together.  I started testing recipes with random spices I had to see how they tasted.  I ...