Happy Easter!

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

 
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!

 
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.

 
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!

 
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!

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

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

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!

 
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!

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

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

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

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

 

 

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

“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.