Peacock Plumes and Beautiful Blues

My daughter’s eighth birthday is coming up, and she has only one theme request: a peacock party. This doesn’t surprise me. Peacocks and peacock colors seem to be the décor de jour as of late. This exotic bird has flown right into the hearts of brides, birthday girls and celebrants far and wide and doesn't seem to be bidding adieu any time soon!

During my college days, burgundies and dark greens were the hot colors for weddings (as eight of the ten bridesmaid dresses stuffed into garment bags in the back of my closet attest!). But as with all things, tastes change. Colors make a bold impact and then quietly drift into the background to make way for the next big color schemes. Currently, teals, blues, and greens are making a splash with brides, all colors found on the peacock color spectrum. For an added punch of contrast, orange is a hopping hue as well.

Creative brides are putting peacock plumes and colors to use in everything from dresses, boutonnieres, floral arrangements, hair adornments, cakes, invites, and programs to anything else that can be embellished with the iridescent blue-green plumes of the proud peacock. The regal splendor of the peacock color combination evokes a rich, elegant air, while offering a cooler alternative to the fall favorites of mochas, browns and plums. And the fanciful feathers themselves, with their stunning blue and gold eyes and long graceful lines, pull together a natural element that is dramatic and, well, pretty!

The blue-green palette coordinates well with ivory or white, purple, gold, lavender, aqua, and black. Browsing the internet, I even came across peacock bouquets that included such accent colors as copper, orange, lime green, pink or fuchsia. It's a fun theme to liven up and make playful.
If you haven't browsed Carlson Craft's albums lately, there are some stunning peacock themed stationery designs that will not only capture the attention of brides, but those looking for some trendy anniversary or birthday invites. Sweet 16'ers will take note, as well! These are designs that aren't pigeon-holed (forgive the bird reference) into being just wedding invites!

My daughter, endeavoring to find just the right decorations for her birthday, sits perched on the couch, mom's laptop plunked down on her lap. "Look at the cakes, mommy!" she gushes as she clicks through pictures online. Her surfing brings her to multi-tiered white, teal and blue wedding cakes with divine silk ribbons and plumes, vintage hair clips, bouquets vibrant with blues, greens, chartreuse, and gold, and the loveliest teal satin pumps with peacock feather clips I've ever seen.
While she asks if dad and I might spring for teal satin chair covers and vases overflowing with long peacock feathers, I gently explain that some fun teal and purple cupcakes might be in order as well as pin the feather on the peacock. For the moment, she's appeased.
{However, deep down, I'm left thinking that if only my sister would hurry up and meet Mr. Right, I could really make this peacock theme soar and reach new heights!}

St. Patrick's Day Family Festivities

At the tender age of 21, along with my future husband Ryan and best friend, I had the opportunity to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Savannah, Georgia, home to one of the nation's largest celebrations. With nearly 750,000 people in attendance, and complete with green-dyed fountains in the city's historic district, this celebration includes a parade as well as festivities along River Street. A large mass of party-goers moves along the historic River Street, as individuals make their way to beverage stations, reveling in free entertainment, games, and booths.

The standout memory of this trip for me was the man who brought his pet to the celebration. No, not an Irish Setter. Rather, a six-foot long yellow ball python that was wrapped around his neck and torso. While I've never been one to claim a great fear of snakes, I'm much happier with a furry kitten than these scaly creatures. But, waiting in line at the port-a-potties, he turned to me and asked if I could take the animal while he used the facilities. "Will it bite?" I fretted. "Nope! You've got the luck of the Irish with you today, lass!" he replied with a wink. And so Ryan emerged from his port-a-potty to find me in line with a large snake draped over my shoulders and a green beer in my hand. Sometimes you just never know what will happen at a St. Paddy's bash.

St. Patrick's Day seems to have an uncanny way of bringing people together in merry-making, song, and general togetherness. Perhaps it's the Irish disposition of easygoing jocularity and mirth, or perhaps it’s the spring fever in the March air, but heralding in the fast-approaching vernal equinox by partaking in this shamrock-bedecked holiday is a truly fun time.

Apart from a few parades in St. Paul, Minnesota, we haven't ventured into the world of big St. Paddy's celebrations since. Before the kids were born, we made our way, dressed in green, to our favorite Irish pub in Minneapolis. There, Siobhan, our usual waitress, would take short pauses from her serving duties to join the traditional Irish folk music band onstage, lending her lilting Irish accent to jubilant renditions of time-honored songs from her homeland. Tipping back a pint of Guinness and dining on corned beef and cabbage with a lively crowd was our idea of a perfect St. Paddy's Day.

"Mommy, St. Patrick's Day is this weekend," my daughter informed me just the other day, as if I need a reminder of the perfect reason to blare The Chieftains and Van Morrison and eat shepherd's pie. I know she's excited because not only is our town hosting a small parade, but they are also crowning Miss Shamrock. To add to the celebration of St. Patrick himself, the Catholic church in town is having noon mass complete with bagpipers. My husband doesn't "get" bagpipers, but I find their melodic wailing to be divine.

"Do we get Lucky Charms for breakfast?" my daughter excitedly inquires. Now, I know full well that Lucky Charms doesn't constitute a traditional Irish breakfast, but she's seven, so I'll cut her some slack. My husband and I'll have the Ulster Fry. "Do we get corned beef and cabbage for supper?" my husband wants to know. My son, a little less concerned about the menu, wonders, "Will there be leprechauns at the parade?"

Our shopping list for this weekend is complete:
Traditional Irish breakfast
Corned beef and champ
Shepherd's Pie

Our music playlist is all set:
Liam Clancy, U2, the Cranberries, Van Morrison, Mary Black, the Corrs, the Chieftains, Clannad…

Our DVDs are ready to go for Saturday night:
The Secret of Roan Inish
Dancing at Lughnasa

I'm holding out hope that somewhere along our journey of watching the parade and participating in the celebration the kids will get to experience the catchy melodies of the fiddle, tin whistle, flute, bouzouki, bodhrán, Celtic guitar and concertina of a traditional live Irish band. Who doesn't smile when that type of music is playing?

A very happy St. Patrick's Day to you all!

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh!
(Blessings of St. Patrick's Day upon ye!)

St. Patrick's Day - Fun for Everyone!

My parents insist that I have no Irish blood in me, despite my red hair, freckles, deep and enduring love for Irish music, and having taken a fancy years ago to the occasional Guinness with soda bread. Who can be unhappy at an Irish pub? Surrounded by cheerful music and hearty ale is just a good place to be, I say.

This week brings with it the celebration of St. Patrick's Day, and whether or not your forefathers or -mothers hailed from the Emerald Isle, this festivity proves to be a wee bit 'o fun for all revelers! Whether your weekend destination includes big city fun for St. Paddy's, or a glass or two of green beer at your local pub, there's something for everyone.

The celebration of St. Patrick's Day in the U.S. predates the American Revolution.  Surprising to some, the first parade honoring the Feast of St. Patrick happened right here in the States in 1762. Irish soldiers serving in the British Army took it upon themselves to celebrate the patron saint of their native Ireland while serving in New York City. And since that time, with the healthy influx of Irish immigrants to the U.S., St. Patrick's Day revelries have only grown in size.

Celebrated in countries such as Ireland, Northern Ireland, Great Britain, Canada, the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Japan, South Korea, and others, St. Patrick's Day has become the most popular saint's day in the world. Celebrants dress in green, bedeck themselves with shamrocks, swill green-dyed beer, cheer on parades, and generally have a jolly Irish time.

In the U.S., cities with large Irish-American populations buzz with parades, celebrations, and revelry. New York City still boasts the biggest St. Patrick's Day Parade in the world, with over 150,000 marchers and 2 million spectators. Chicago parade-goers can enjoy a green dyed Chicago River, and Boston residents line up along the parade route to watch colorful floats and marching and pipe bands wind their way from the Broadway "T" Station to Andrew Square in South Boston.

If you're the athletic sort, several cities, including St. Louis, Seattle, Dallas and Minneapolis, are host to St. Patrick's Day marathons and runs. After getting your km's run, kick back and enjoy an emerald-hued draft.

From family fun parades to merry-making pub parties, St. Paddy's is a chance to welcome the cheerfulness of spring and socialize with your community, whatever their heritage might be.

Dust off your "Kiss Me, I'm Irish" t-shirt, polish your shoes for a jaunty Irish jig, and get ready for this year's St. Patrick's Day festivities. Remember the old saying - "Everyone's Irish on St. Patrick's Day!"

Welcome to the New Blog!

Welcome to Carlson Craft’s Life Should Be Celebrated Blog!

Life is comprised of a medley of moments—both big and small—that are all noteworthy and deserving of special attention. Whether you’re planning your dream wedding, putting together a stellar baby shower for your best friend, or celebrating your child’s first visit from the Tooth Fairy, life should be celebrated!

My name is Sue and I’m delighted you stopped by. In this blog, I’ll endeavor to share ideas with you on how to liven up parties and celebrations, as well as create memorable moments from life’s little milestones. Together, we’ll battle the mundane and make a fun journey of everything from wedding festivities to sipping hot cocoa on an unexpected snow day. I believe that even the small things in life should be cherished.

This year marks ten years since my husband Ryan and I celebrated our lovely wedding on a cool and colorful October afternoon amid the fall foliage of the Minnesota River Valley. Since then, we’ve welcomed the birth of our daughter and son, added pets, moved into our house, hosted a medley of wedding and baby showers, planned and executed anniversary parties, retirement parties, birthday parties, and all manner of other family celebrations.

Having thought I had surpassed the pinnacle of my party-planning days when my wedding was over, I realized that although a wedding may be the singular biggest event in a person’s life (but not always!), there are reasons aplenty to celebrate! Since then, we’ve strived to make special memories with our kids, friends and family, whether it’s hosting Movie Night, a pumpkin carving birthday party, or partaking in our yearly holiday traditions, like Gingerbread House making day or Apple Picking afternoon.

I’m thrilled to be part of Carlson Craft’s Life Should Be Celebrated blog. Tucked safely in my baby book is a personalized pink napkin my mother ordered from Carlson Craft for my baptism when I was two weeks old, along with a beautiful autumn-themed Carlson Craft wedding invitation we sent out together decades later. Carlson Craft has been helping my family and me commemorate special moments for a very long time, but life is so much more than weddings, graduations, and baptisms.

Look forward to blog posts that touch upon planning, trends, seasons, holidays, family days, and everything else that makes life worth celebrating.