Jul
10
Keeping in touch is as easier as ever these days. Most of us walk around with a mini computer in our pockets every day. It can text, video chat, and send email. But, think about it, are you really communicating? Are you engaging in conversation? Letting someone know how you feel? Thanking them for a gift they sent or are you simply sharing jokes, and checking in? This is why, now more than ever it is so very important to send a handwritten note. Many would say why wait for it to travel through the mail when we can contact someone across the globe within minutes? Well, formality for one. Formality is one of the main reasons handwritten items are still very important. Sure, telling people you are having a last minute BBQ via text message is perfectly acceptable. But, the Labor Day BBQ and pool party that you host every year, certainly needs a mail delivered invitation. The great aunt who lives half-way across the country always sends you a birthday card with a gift card to your favorite mall store, deserves a handwritten note. Tell her how much it’s appreciated that she always remembers you, and remembers your...Read More
Jul
8
Once you’ve worked out most of the items above you should start planning how you will spread the word to your guests about the upcoming reunion you have been hard at work organizing. Be sure you share your enthusiasm and communicate how much fun and energy you’ve but in to ensuring the success of the reunion….all you need is their participation for everything to be perfect! Don’t worry! Anyone who has ever planned a party will appreciate how much time and effort it took to successfully bring the family together. Have fun selecting your invitations, there are a lot to choose from in all types of themes and colors. Be sure you keep your wording clean and simple, and ask for an rsvp in the form of a phone call or text message so that you can manage the amount of family that will be attending. Try to send your invitations out as early as possible, 3 or 4 weeks ahead of time, so that everyone will have plenty of notice, and no one will miss out. You should even consider sending a Save the Date early in your planning process that states details to follow, so that everyone has...Read More
Jul
5
Okay, now you have a date, location and guest list; it is time to start planning a menu. You should start out with a budget in mind, or have a plan for raising some money to subsidize your party. It isn’t uncommon to ask everyone to bring a favorite dish, and you only will need to provide the main course and drinks. Whatever you decide, plan a menu that is easy to execute and will appeal to adults and children of all ages. Be sure you have help with the food preparation, serving and clean up. It will be important to have worked out the logistically how you will get everyone served, seated and grouped together. Once you have a tentative menu you can close in on your food costs, and formulate your shopping list. Again, ask for help, it will eliminate a lot of stress and worry. Once the food has been decided you need to plan a variety of activities that will keep everyone entertained, laughing and open up discussions. It will also help bring the family members close together, especially if they are team oriented activities. When thinking of the activities, keep in mind that it is...Read More
Jul
3
Back to your planning, be sure you pick a date and time that will allow others to travel easily and enjoy one another. Selecting what time of year is best, and how long your reunion should last are critical but, depending on what part of the country your reside in the summer months are usually the best choice. Kids are out of school, the weather is usually nice, and travel won’t be scattered with ice and snow! So go ahead, pick the best weekend or holiday you can find, select your location and let the rest of your clan know. Remember, you can’t please everyone so expect a little rumbling from those that can’t fit your timeframe in to their schedule. Perhaps in the years to follow you will have initiated a family tradition and everyone will set this time aside to reunite with loved ones. Be sure when you send out your invitations that you, and your committee, allow enough time for everyone to respond and plan accordingly. Keep in mind that not everyone you invite is going to come, but invite them all so not one person is forgotten or left out. You can’t have a family reunion...Read More
Jul
1
Are you a family oriented type of person? Do you want to reconnect with distant relatives that you’ve fallen out of touch with? If so, then you really should consider initiating a Family Reunion!!! As with everything, make your first step organization! If you are planning a small reunion of 20 people or less, then you can probably pull the event off without a lot of outside assistance. However, if it is going to be larger than 20 you are certain to need help, and asking other relatives to assist will ease in your planning and preparation. So, begin by selecting others to form your family reunion group, this group can be very similar in duties and assignments to any other type of committee. Your main responsibility as the leader will be to make sure that everything remains smooth and orderly. A dysfunctional committee can ruin your reunion and create a lot of discord within the family. So avoid confrontation, and make sure that everyone is participating equally. Once the committee is selected and gathered their first exercise should be to create a master planning sheet that contains the guest list, location, menu, activities, necessary funds, and anything else that...Read More
Jun
28
Moving can be an overwhelming and stressful time. Make it a little easier for yourself by getting ahead and ordering the following stationery for your big move: Moving announcements to let family and friends know that you’re moving… and where they can reach you from now on! Clever yet simple moving cards are an easy way to keep your loved ones in the loop! Shipping labels to ship everything from your old house to your new! Shop for custom shipping labels here. Luggage tags engraved with your new address. Try classic brass and leather tags with engraved name and address. Looking for something a little more colorful? Bright, colorful luggage tags and gold stamped luggage tags in a variety of colors are fun options. New stationery printed with your new return address and a new “feel” for your new life. Shop personalized stationery here. New return address labels with your new address. Choose from a variety of colors and styles to express your new life in the your location. Shop all return address labels here. Thank you notes for all those who will help you with the move. If you’re lucky, you’ll get lots of help and you’ll want to...Read More
Jun
26
Teaching your child to enjoy writing can seem like a daunting task. Most children would prefer something more active than sitting at a desk typing or worse to them, handwriting a letter. All the possibilities of what to say can seem very daunting. Especially to the hyper child and or young child. However, there are several tips to help you help them enjoy this sometimes seemingly lost art. First of all teach your child how to brainstorm what they want to write about. Sometimes the most difficult part of composing a letter is deciding what you’re going to say. One of the best kinds of letters for kids to write are the update letters. Children love to tell people what their latest favorite activity is. And often, in great detail! Give them idea starters. There are several for you to choose from such as: A long time ago, Yesterday, At soccer practice, Last Christmas, This summer. Express the need for the letter to have a beginning, a middle and an end. Providing a clear outline will enable the child to see there will be a finishing point. Which helps ease their mind. Although, once they get started they will likely...Read More
Jun
24
When I was a child, my mother instilled in me the importance of writing a thank you note. It is important to teach your children at a young age that a gift is just that, a gift. It is not a requirement, it is someone taking their time (and typically money also), and spending them on you. When you receive a gift, it is important to thank the person for taking that opportunity to do something for you. Now depending on the age of the child, it’s not likely you are to get a real long heartfelt paragraph on how much that skateboard means to them. However, a quick: “Aunt Mary, Thank you so much for the awesome skateboard! I’ve always wanted one and can’t wait to use it! Love, Mikey” should suffice. Keep in mind your child’s age and writing abilities before settling them down for a pile of thank you notes. Also, make sure they have some input on what they write. The recipient wants the note to sound like it came from the child. Otherwise you might as well have written it yourself. This is fine if they’re still a toddler. But, a kindergartner is capable of...Read More
Jun
21
Dressy Casual… what does that mean??? Should you wear your little black dress or slacks and rhinestone encrusted flip flops?!? Ever received an invitation to a party with confusing suggestions on what to wear? Most etiquette books cover traditional dress such as white tie, black tie, etc What happens when the terminology isn’t in the etiquette books. We have compiled a list of dress suggestions that might appear on modern invitations, beginning with the traditional and moving to the “what are they talking about” selections. White Tie White tie is ultra formal and used primarily for diplomatic occasions or debutante balls. Men wear a black coat with tails, black evening pants, black patent leather shoes, stiff white wing collared shirt, studs, white pique vest and white tie. Ladies wear formal evening gowns. Black Tie This is also formal attire. Men should wear a black tuxedo jacket (white dinner jackets are fine in the summer or in the tropics) and matching trousers, formal white shirt (plain or pleated front), studs and cufflinks, black bowtie, black cummerbund, black patent shoes (highly shined black leather lace shoes are acceptable). If you choose to wear a vest, it should be a subtle pattern or...Read More
Jun
19
Letter sheets, followed by correspondence sheets and monarch sheets are among the most formal stationery you can use. Sheets may be used blank, or personalized from American Stationery to display your initial or monogram, address, name and address, or a design that fits your style. Because of their simple elegance, personalized stationery helps you make even more of an impression among business clients and associates. Personalized Stationery: Personalized note cards are the perfect choice when the occasion calls for a quick note, response, or thank you. Considered more formal than correspondence cards, messages sent on folded notes can start on the front of the note unless there is an image centered on the front panel. Or more commonly, your handwritten note begins on the inside lower panel, a reflection of how personal your note is, inside the fold. Sentiments may also continue on the back of the note.Correspondence: Correspondence cards are the perfect way to send professional-looking communications to your business partners and associates. These cards are one-panel (not fold over) and allow you to jot down a quick hand-written message — much like sending an email. However, unlike an email a correspondence card that is personalized with you name your choice in cards and style...Read More