The Bride Cuts the Cake and Other Last-Minute Details

Hope you're all enjoying your weekend. It's another chilly day in the 20s here. I didn't do much today--went to the gym, ate, tackled the NY Times and Newsday puzzles, and created another Oscar Night game for the shop.

Today, we conclude our series on weddings. It's down to the wire as the couple prepares for the big day. There are many last-minute details that need attending. These include, but are not limited to:

• Mailing your invitations and getting head counts. Calling and e-mailing guests who haven't sent a response
• Buying gifts for the attendants
• Booking a hairstylist and testing out styles. Also booking a make-up artist if you intend to use one and going for a trial run
• Applying for the marriage license 
• Final gown and dress fittings
• Last-minute adjustment with all vendors
• Creating a seating chart and making place cards
• Determining the ceremony and what the processional order will be 
• Planning the rehearsal dinner
• If you're having out-of-town guests, delivering "welcome baskets" to the hotel
• Bringing ceremonial accessories (yarmulkes, unity candles, etc.) to the site
• Confirming travel plans for the honeymoon

I've gone through this week without discussing another fun detail: the cake! Truthfully, I am not a fan of wedding cake as I don't care for buttercream frosting. I didn't even have a piece at my own wedding, which was the standard cake from the temple caterer. I found some refreshing alternatives to the traditional three-tiered cake.

1. How about some donuts to go with your coffee? Courtesy of Dough. I've had their donuts and can attest that they are absolutely delicious!

2. Try homemade pies instead of cakes! The retro-themed topper is classic!

3. I am in heaven with this stacked Oreo cake! I probably would've eaten the entire thing, lol. Created by Viewpoint Catering

4. If you're having a daytime wedding, this is a perfect brunch food. This pancake wedding cake is decorated with syrup, courtesy of Sarah Tucker Events.

5. I like this cake pop stand because I can have one without feeling guilty. lol. Courtesy of Sweet Lauren Cakes.

There are so many different types of cakes tailored for all budgets. Happy tasting!  Also wishing all couples who plan to tie the knot this year a long and happy marriage! I couldn't conclude our discussion of weddings without showing one more game from the shop. This is another matching game featuring famous couples from history and literature. We will also customize it for Valentine's Day, of course!

We're now gearing up for tomorrow's final playoff game before Super Sunday.

Party Idea of the Day: Keep your tables clean with these printable football coasters from Design Sponge. Downloading instructions included!

Super Bowl Fun Fact of the Day: Who was the oldest quarterback to start a Super Bowl? The answer is John Elway, who was 38 when he played his final game (Super Bowl XXXIII), and was named MVP.

Today's Birthdays: Caitlin Sanches (19), Connor Cruise (20), Max Adler (29), Chloe Rose Lattanzi (29), Ray J (33), Dwayne Wade (33), Zooey Deschanel (35), Maksim Chmerkovskiy (35), Lil' Jon (44), Kid Rock (44), Shabba Ranks (49), Naveen Andrews (46), Chili Davis (55), Susanna Hoffs (56), Michelle Obama (51), Jim Carrey (53), Steve Harvey (58), Steve Earle (60), Muhammed Ali (73), Maury Povich (76), James Earl Jones (84), and Betty White (93!).

Holidaze: National Hot Buttered Rum Day! It's the perfect drink for a day like this! This drink typically contains rum (of course), butter, cider or hot water, sweetener, and spices (such as cinnamon or nutmeg). Hot buttered rum dates back to Colonial times, Jamaica imported molasses to our shores, with taverns in New England adding distilled rum to the mix.

On another personal note, I think it's very sad that they shut down the fast-food placed in Penn Station. Although I would never eat a full meal there, I like to grab some ice cream, pretzels, or popcorn occasionally. They are going to try and make it "upscale" like Grand Central Station, but I don't know if that would work with the LIRR crowd.

That's all for this evening. Stay warm, and for those in the metropolitan area, get out your umbrellas for tomorrow.

Have a PRINTASTIC night!

Kathy

Freebie Friday, Formal Wear Gone Wrong, and Shower Madness

Good afternoon on another nice day in NYC. We introduced our first Freebie Friday this morning, a Super Bowl Sudoku/Alphadoku game. Please feel free to print as many copies for your personal use. Solution will be published Monday. Just right-click on the picture and print to access the game!

About three to six month before the wedding, the calligrapher should be addressing the envelopes if you are employing the services of one. Around this time, the groom, best man and ushers should be ordering formalwear. Like ugly bridesmaids dresses, I have found so many bad wedding suits that no man should be caught dead wearing: 

A. This is the ugliest combination of a wedding suit I've ever seen.

B. St. Patrick's Day wedding or not, nobody should be subjected to look like the Jolly Green Giant.

C. Bacon is meant to be eaten, not worn.

D. Camouflage should be for hunting or casual wear only.

E. Pastels. The Miami Vice craze has been over for 30 years.

This is also the time when the bride (and more recently, grooms) are honored with a shower or two. Couple showers are becoming popular, and so are activity bridal showers. Some examples of the latter are an artist leading a painting party, or a chef teaching the guests how to prepare a quick dessert. Other themes can include a day of beauty, wine-tasting, going retro, a spa weekend, At the shop, we will customize your games to coordinate with your shower theme. Once again, most of the games are located in the "Bridal/Wedding" section of the shop.

1. Here is the popular "What's in Your Purse Game." This sample is a 1970s daisy retro pattern.

2. This is one of our most-viewed wine-tasting games. If you decide to hold a wine-tasting themed shower, will customize it with the font and colors of your choice, along with any wording you wish. You can find this game and others in the "Food and Drink" section of the shop.

3. "The Great Wedding Scramble" is a JUMBLE-style game in which the guests unscramble the words, then unscramble the circled letters for a hidden message.

I will continue posting shower favor ideas and more on Pinterest.

Now onto Listmania for the day:

Party Idea of the Day: Party City has official Super Bowl party supplies, with plates, cups, tablecloths, napkins, etc. starting as low as $1.99. You can also get party supplies featuring the Final Four teams, as well as official NFL-logo goodies.

Super Bowl Fun Fact of the Day: College marching bands provided halftime entertainment for the first five years. The first entertainer to perform was Carol Channing (Super Bowl IV).

Today's Birthdays: Renee Felice Smith (30), James Young (35), Kate Moss (41), David Chokachi (47), Maxine Jones (49), Paul Webb (53), Sade (56), Debbie Allen (65), Jim Stafford (71), Ronnie Milsap (72), and Barbara Lynn (73).

Holidaze: It's National Nothing Day! That's right, a day where you can sit around and do absolutely nothing. I'm sure the "Seinfeld" gang would love this day! Each year is also National Religious Freedom Day per presidential proclamation. Finally, we celebrate one of my favorite cookies, the Fig Newton! This yummy treat was invented iu 1891 and baked by the Kennedy Steam Bakery in Newton, MA.. This baking company merged with the National Biscuit Company (now Nabisco) and Nabisco trademarked the cookie.

That's it for today. On a personal note, I would like to take this time to remember my father-in-law, Bernie, who left us 18 years ago today. He did so much for us, even when he wasn't always feeling 100%. We think about you every day.

Have a PRINTASTIC day!

Kathy

Say "Yes" to the Dress!

Good afternoon! The month of January is flying by so fast! I've hooked up with a new group on Facebook called Etsy Sellers United. There are over 7,000 members and they seem to all support one another. After lurking for a few days, I finally had the courage to post my Facebook page for the group. I've also been working on our first Freebie Friday puzzle.

At least eight to ten months before the wedding, the bride should think about ordering her gown. Brides has several hundred pictures of trends for 2015. Here are some of the most interesting ones:

1. Crop Top

1. Crop tops were a big trend on the runway last summer and this past fall, and they are being incorporated in bridal gowns as well. Check out this trend-setting dress by Theia. I would actually wear this if I was a bit younger.

2. Pastel Hues

2. Pastel hues continue to be popular, especially for the warm-weather months. They are a nice alternative to the traditional white gown.

3. Grecian-Inspired Off-the-Shoulder. I like this gown by Marchesa because it has an A-line skirt. This type of skirt is more flattering form for many bodies (like mine) than the puffy skirt or mermaid style.

4. For those who are shopping for Fall 2015 weddings, the plunging neckline was big on the runway. Gown by Rivini.

5. How about a little bling? I love the neckline on this dress by Temperley.

5. Bling Bling

3. Plunging Necklines

6. Also for fall 2015, short dresses are another trend-making statement. I would actually wear this dress by Naeem Khan as a regular dress.

Grecian-Inspired

6. Short dresses

Six to eight months before the big day is also the time to begin looking for bridesmaid dresses. You should have an idea regarding what colors you would like. Finding dresses that will flatter everyone in the wedding party certainly isn't easy. I've seen some truly hideous dresses. Here are some examples:

1. Hello, 1975 called. They want your dress back!



2. Poufy skirts gone bad.



3. Is this a wedding or a Vegas nightclub act?



4. This must have been a July 4th wedding, but I think the bride took things a little too literally.



5. Renaissance nightmare.



Well, I've seen enough. Besides ordering bridesmaids' dresses, it is also a good time to start planning the honeymoon. If you're undecided about where to go, this game available from our shop might inspire you.

From budgets to booking that hard to get dinner reservation to clothes shopping, look to Real Simple for a honeymoon checklist. For ideas and destinations, check out Honeymoons.com.

Today's Listmania:

Party Idea of the Day: The next round of NFL playoffs is just four days away. It's time to seriously think about that Super Bowl party! How about a snack basket for your chicken wings? Party printable courtesy of Hostess with the Mostess.

Super Bowl Fun Fact of the Day: When the Green Bay Packers won the first Super Bowl, each player received a bonus of $15,000. Kansas City players only received $7,000. Compare these figures to Super Bowl XLVIII, where each player on the Seattle Seahawks received $92,000. The Broncos raked in $46,000 per player.

Today's birthdays: Caleb Followill (33), Kevin Durand (41), Dave Grohl (46), Jason Bateman (46), LL Cool J (47), Emily Watson (48), Dan Schneider (49), Slick Rick (50), Geoff Tate (56), Carl Weathers (67), Holland Taylor (72), Faye Dunaway (74), Jack Jones (77), Alen Toussaint (77), and Clarence Carter (79).

Holidaze: Foodies unite! It's National Hot Pastrami Day! What better place is there to get hot pastrami than at Katz's Deli?? This LES institution has been serving this delicious meat for over 100 years. It's also National Dress Up Your Pet day (awww!). I am partial to dogs, so here is a seriously cute pup dressed as a Chia Pet.

Finally, it's Ratification Day. This day commemorates the ratification of the Treaty of Paris in 1784, which officially ended the American Revolution and established the U.S. as a sovereign entity.

They announced nominations for the Golden Raspberry awards, also known as the Razzies. No surprises here. That means it's almost time to start making and posting our Oscar night games.

Have a PRINTASTIC day!

Kathy

Bridesmaids and Vendors and Food, Oh My!

Good afternoon on another bone-chilling day in the city.

Today, we continue our series on weddings. I've posted a few more wedding ideas on Pinterest.

So you have the date, place for the ceremony, and place for reception booked? Have you drawn up the guest list? Have you hired a wedding consultant? That wasn't so hard!! Now comes the nitty-gritty of planning:

1. Choosing friends and relatives to be in the wedding party. This can range from very small (just the best man and maid/matron of honor) to very large (several bridesmaids and ushers, flower girls, ring bearers, etc.). Once again, this can be a sticky situation, and feelings are bound to get hurt. This task requires a lot of soul searching and thinking things through. However, rule #1 is to always include immediate family members. The best man and maid/maid matron of honor should be responsible people you can trust. Remember, the more attendants you have, the more coordinating you will have to do. Also, if you don't want children at your wedding but parents insist on bringing them, you can set up a room where they will be occupied by a babysitter or two. There are many creative ways to ask someone to be a bridesmaid. Consider this Mad Libs-style card from Drippy Ink on Etsy.

2. Setting up a wedding registry, especially if you are having an engagement party. When I was getting married, wedding registries in my area were mainly at department stores such as Macy's and Fortunoff's (a store which is, sadly, no longer around). There are so many other options now: Bed Bath & Beyond, Target, Walmart, Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, Williams Sonoma, etc. Everything depends on what your need and where your tastes run.

3. Choosing vendors wisely. Decide what kind of entertainment your want. Do you want a DJ or band? Do you want a piano player at the cocktail hour? What type of food would you like to serve? Check out Weddingmania for some great food ideas! I like the potato bar in the photo below. Eight to twelve months before the wedding is the time to be interviewing vendors and making deposits. It is also recommended that you take out insurance to protect the deposits in case of cancellation or unforseen events. Catering can be expensive, but Moneycrashers offers some budget-saving ideas.

Valentine's Day Party Idea of the Day: How about some Love Potion #9? Look for printables on The Dating Diva.

Super Bowl Fun Fact of the Day: Super Bowl Sunday, of course, is one of the biggest pizza delivery days of the year. Drivers expect to log in over 4 million miles and can expect larger tips than usual.

Today's birthdays: Liam Hemsworth (25), Orlando Bloom (38), Nicole Eggert (43), Shonda Rimes (45), Traci Bingham (47), Patrick Dempsey (49), Penelope Ann Miller (51), Trace Adkins (53), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (54), Kevin Anderson (55), Trevor Rabin (61), Richard Moll (72), Billy Gray (77), and Frances Sternhagen (85).

Holidaze: Yay!! It's National Rubber Ducky Day! Over the last several years, there have been numerous novelty variations of the cute yellow duck, such as holiday-themed ducks, and ducks resembling celebrities. Here's one of the most popular videos from Sesame Street, sung by Ernie. It's called, of course, "Rubber Ducky":

In addition to honoring the duck, it's also National Peach Melba Day and Stephen Foster Memorial Day. Stephen Foster (1826-1864) was a composer who wrote many American folk classics such as "Oh! Susanna,” “Camptown Races,” “Old Folks at Home,” “My Old Kentucky Home,” “Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair,” “Old Black Joe,” and “Beautiful Dreamer.” Here's Ed Norton (Art Carney) playing the first few notes "Old Folks at Home."

Advice to Etsy Customers: Before purchasing any of our products (or those in any shop on Etsy), please read all shipping policies carefully. They vary for each shop. For example, we offer downloadable PDF files but do not offer printing services at this time. If the customer doesn't have a home printer, he/she can take the file to any local print ship or a chain such as Staples, Office Depot, or FedEx Office. We spell this out in both our shipping policies and in the description for each item. This will save time, money, and headaches for both the seller and the customer.

Have a PRINTASTIC Day!

Kathy

Location, Location, Location!

Hi there! It has thawed out a bit in NYC and I enjoyed a nice day outside. More on that later. The road to Super Bowl XLIX heats up with all four games complete. Next week's line up will be:

Colts vs. Patriots

Packers vs. Seahawks

I've started posting wedding ideas on Pinterest, which will include everything from dresses to locations to favors. Once the wedding timetable has been set, the most important thing is to figure out the type of wedding your would like to have and the venue where you want it to take place. There are many things to consider. Do you want a big wedding or an intimate gathering with family and a few close friends? Your wedding should be compatible with your style, whether it be classic, modern, vintage, funky, offbeat, or romantic. There are so many choices of venues from botanical gardens to the beach to exotic destinations. My wedding was the typical "temple package," but if I had a larger budget, I would have liked to been married at either a historical landmark or a museum. For inspiration, check out bridal magazines and websites, but there may be unusual places, too. Do you have an absolute favorite color, movie, era in history, or style of music? You may like typography and monograms--I'm a sucker for them! Check out home decor magazines for pattern trends, too. The possibilities are endless! This picture of some offbeat weddings made me laugh (well, except for the gun). I love the couple getting married under the Golden Arches (source: onewed.com).

When choosing a location, you also have to consider the number of people and your budget. One of the biggest headaches is drafting a guest list, but it must be done. You will probably be limited to the number of people you can invite, and nobody wants to be left out. This is where your gift for tact and charm comes in!

Now it's time to unveil another party game from our shop. This is a simple matching game featuring famous celebrity couples, which would be great for a movie-themed wedding. For this design, a white gel pen or white pencil is recommended.

This is another design variation on a star-studded background. Once again, you have the flexibility to customize it for bridal showers, engagement parties, weddings, and Valentine's Day (which I will also begin discussing this week).

Listmania (new lists coming soon):

Party Idea of the Day: At the Super Bowl party, it's very important to get the kids involved and keep them occupied. I like these treat favors by Live Laugh Rowe.


Super Bowl Fun Fact of the Day: The cost of a commercial for Super Bowl XLVIII was $4 million. For Super Bowl I, the average cost of an ad was $42,000.

Today's Birthdays: Cody Simpson (18), Aja Naomi King (30), Amanda Peet (43), Tom Rowlands (44), Mary J. Bilge (44), Tom Dumont (47), Kim Coles (53), Vicki Peterson (57), Phyllis Logan (59), Naomi Judd (69), Joel Zwick (74), Felix Silla (78), and Rod Taylor (85).

Holidaze: Got Milk? We are celebrating the most popular beverage in the U.S. today. On a more serious note, it's also National Human Trafficking Awareness Day Finally, the last one is rather silly: National Step in the Puddle and Splash Your Friends Day. In the middle of January? C'mon!

RIP to comedian and character actor Taylor Negron (57), as well as actress Anita Ekberg ("La Dolce Vita"), who was 83.

I went to to the monthly meeting of the Metropolitan Postcard Club this morning. This is an organization to which I belong. A number of dealers sell and talk about vintage postcards. I found an old postcard of my high school and had to buy it. I also bought three ham radio cards with dogs. Then I took a stroll to the Upper West Side.

Mepham High School in Bellmore, NY. My alma mater.

The Golden Globes are on soon, so I will be signing off for the night.

Have a PRINTASTIC evening!

Kathy

You're Engaged! Let the Fun Begin!

Good afternoon from bone-chilling NYC! I went to the gym this morning and went straight home. It was too cold to walk. We're watching the first game of the NFL playoffs. As predicted, the Ravens are winning,

January is the big month for bridal magazines. When I was planning my wedding, I bought every issue of the major magazines for wedding gown ideas and other tips. Over the next few weeks, I will be posting ideas for weddings and showers, as well as for Valentine's Day, on my Pinterest board.

The organized couple will set a game plan and create a checklist. There are several free online tools to assist couples with timelines and budgets. This 12-month timeline from Marry This is clean, simple, and modern.

There are even printable schedules for the day of the nuptials. I like this chart that appeared on Wedding Wire.

Weddings are expensive, but there are many ways to save costs. Plan a budget and stick to it! Although I did not have one, many couples hire wedding coordinators to help with the planning. The best way to find one is to get referrals from family and friends.

One of the most-requested items in the shop has been my custom wedding crossword puzzles. For $50, I will create a printable puzzle based on questions you answer on my clue sheet. The couple gets to choose the color, font, and wording for the puzzle. Here is an example of a "save the date" reminder puzzle. This puzzle can be customized as a table favor or goody-bag item for out-of-town guests.

Another "save the date" reminder I've created is a word search called "Love in Other Languages." This game features the word "Love" in several languages. The invited guests will search for them in a heart-shaped grid. The game can also be customizable for weddings, bridal showers, and Valentine's Day.

See these and more games in the "Wedding/Bridal" section of the shop.

Arrrrgh! Our cable service just went down in the middle of the game. Thanks for nothing, Time-Warner! Also, the Pats just tied. Boo!

Now on to the usual lists:

Party Idea of the Day: I didn't realize that each team had a favorite beer. You can offer a selection of beers representing the opposing teams. See Real Simple for a list. Many of beers on the list make sense!

Super Bowl Fun Fact of the Day: How many chicken wings will Americans consume on Super Sunday? Would you believe 1.25 billion wings??? Someone's going to have to clean up all those bones!

Today's birthdays: Cash Warren (36), Brent Smith (37), Butch Hartman (50), Pat Benatar (62), George Foreman (66), Donald Fagen (67), Rod Stewart (70), Frank Sinatra, Jr. (71), and Willie McCovey (77).

Holidaze: Chocolate lovers unite! It's National Bittersweet Chocolate Day! I'm not a big fan of bittersweet chocolate, but everyone has their own tastes. It's also National Cut Your Energy Costs Day. This day gives you a the chance to make a conscious effort to conserve energy (turning down thermostats, using energy-efficient windows, taking shorter showers, etc.) Finally, it's National Save the Eagle Day. Self-Explanatory.

Finally, I want to give a shout-out to my Etsy customer Diane, who is celebrating her baby shower today. I created a newspaper-style crossword puzzle for the big event. The hidden message reveals the names of the twins she's expecting.

That's all for now. I hear it's supposed to "thaw" tomorrow. We'll see.

Have a PRINTASTIC day!

Kathy