Every man has dreamed about having their own man cave, a place were they can relax, watch the game and feel like king of the castle. A man cave is a designated area of the house that is specialized to meet the individualized needs of a man. The relationship between a man and his own cave is an undeniably passionate one, more of a mental vacation, a chance to escape the rigors of everyday life without having to take more than a few steps. It’s a place you can make a mess, relax and yell at the TV. Along with its entertainment value, it is one of the easiest renovations you can make to your home. One of the most beautiful things about the man cave is that one can be made almost anywhere in your home. This could be a basement, a spare bedroom or any room where man-cave necessities, such as cable, can be hooked up. The great thing about a man cave is that you can include anything you want. The idea is to tailor it to your specific interests. Then budget for those things, giving room for other miscellaneous purchases along the way. First things first, you have...Read More

At this age, having your party at home is recommended for your child’s comfort as well as your own! It makes things a lot easier, especially if any of the little ones get tired. It will also be less stressful for you and your toddler just being in the comfort of home. If you do have your party at home, be sure you set out your large toys, toddler tents, ball pits or cars, and then add some colorful decorations to brighten the place up. Themes are not the most important part of a party, so just keep it simple and incorporate your child’s likes and dislikes. A favorite character, animal or activity should be a perfect addition to your party. Kids love bright colors so the food for the party will be more enjoyable if it is bright. Keep in mind that you should keep your food shaped in small bite sized pieces, the last thing you need is a choking toddler! Food is going to get spilled, dropped or even tossed, so having spill proof sippy cups is a great idea! Go all out with the cake, it should be the most exciting part (other than presents) for...Read More

First and most importantly you will need to decide who to invite. This decision should be based on whether or not your child is comfortable being around a semi-large group of people or if he/she prefers a smaller number… maybe your child has a lot of friends or cousins that they play with on a daily basis, in that case, you will be fine inviting each and every one of them, but be sure to ask their parents to stick around! If not, choose your closest relatives or playmates so your little one doesn’t get overwhelmed and will not be able to enjoy their own party! Before sending out your party invitations, be sure to consider what time is the best for your toddler’s party. Be sure you take into consideration their normal routines, such as the usual nap times, breakfast, lunch, & even dinner. Try to plan your party so that as little of your normal routine is disrupted as possible. Also, try to keep the birthday bash short and sweet; around 2 hours will be plenty of time for the children, and parent/supervisors to be worn out and all set to head home for a nap! Planning your...Read More

Throwing a birthday party for your 2 year old, and friends, can be a lot of fun. The easy part for you as the party giver is that the toddlers will not have any preconceived expectations about what the party should, or shouldn’t, be. They really won’t care if everything isn’t done to perfection. In all actuality, the party will probably be a success if there are helium balloons! Please keep in mind that even though toddlers have a reputation of being difficult, annoying, rotten, or whiny, not all two year olds are horrible, in fact they can be a lot of fun… The tantrums that they often seem to throw are all directed at their parents, and usually only a means of getting their way. It may be difficult understanding your child, or any child, at this age when one minute they may be very shy and clingy, and 2 minutes later they may be demanding their independence. Although, at this age, they may be happy playing with another child, or at least playing alongside another child, it is still extremely difficult to expect any 2 year old to actually be fully sociable. This is mostly because a 2...Read More

Having a theme is VERY helpful in planning a baby shower because makes it much easy to coordinate and plan your invitations, decorations, favors, and food. If you are having a tough time thinking of a theme, a great idea is to match the theme the mother has selected for the baby’s nursery. Once you have zeroed in on your theme it is a good idea to consult with mother on your selection. Once this is agreed on you can really get your creativity going! If you are planning on having the baby shower at a restaurant or other facility, give them a huge heads up and make a reservation as soon as possible! Also be sure to register the mother with at least 1 or 2 baby stores, some people may not live as close to one store as they would another. Baby shower invitations are vital to your shower and we have a huge assortment of baby shower invites to choose from! Your invitations should complement your theme and decorations…it is fun to carry a color and/or design from the invitation to the party. When doing the invitations, be sure to put the date, time, locations, as well...Read More

Planning a baby shower can become extremely overwhelming because you want it to be PERFECT, right? There are so many baby shower ideas, themes, and games floating around, that it is easy to get overwhelmed by it all! Does ANYONE have the time or energy to sort through the countless number of websites trying to piece together the perfect party for the special, soon to be mother?  The positive sides of planning a baby shower are that it can be very exciting and it brings you closer to the expectant mother. It also is a time to celebrate the arrival of a new life and honor the mother for her courage and sacrifice in bringing a special new person into this world. As cliché as they are, checklists work!  Especially when planning a baby shower.  We suggest you utilize a timeline and/or checklist when you complete the essential “to do’s” for your perfect baby shower. For example, there is no reason that you couldn’t do everything in 4 weeks instead of 8, but remember we are enjoying this! You may think that a couple months might seem a little too soon to start planning a baby shower, but trust us,...Read More

Use the right accessories to make your outdoor wedding charming. Accessories often make the wedding and are the items guests remember well.  The following are some ideas for accessories: garden lights and patio lanterns for evenings, seasonal flowers placed in pretty teapots. Also, floating flowers and candles in pools, are super eye catching and memorable. Wedding colored cameras for guests to take their own photos of the wedding, these capture beautiful moments of your wedding you might not have had a chance to see. Remember to think about where you will dress for the wedding, where the prep area will be for things like the tables and chairs such as will there be an area where vendors can work their set up magic, and where the wedding party can go if they need to change. Be certain you have ensured your guests are as comfortable as possible during your wedding ceremony. In fact, when sending out your invitations, it may be wise to let everyone know in advance that your ceremony will be outside, in a tent, etc. If you need help with the wording for this type of situation, be sure to ask Ms. Carey’s advice. In closing, remember...Read More

A wedding outdoors can be absolutely perfect for the outdoorsy nature lovers or scenic garden lovers. It’s important to plan well, however. If the weather goes against you and you have 150 guests standing in the blustering wind and pouring rain, it will not be the romantic, fairytale occasion of your dreams, but a nightmarish run to any available shelter with wet, irritable guests! Here are some ideas for you to consider when planning your outdoor wedding, to be sure that even if the weather is not on your side, good planning will be and the wedding will go ahead according to plan. Choose the best outdoor wedding location to meet your needs and expectations. The best locations are usually those that have a built in, no fail, indoor option. One great example would be wineries, which would be a very romantic location and usually include a tent, gazebo, and indoor dining option for the reception.  Another suggestion would be Inns and retreats; these, in almost any locale, provide stunning outdoor wedding areas as well as an indoor option. Also, large city owned gardens will often allow people to utilize their grounds for marriages. Be sure you check out the...Read More