Do you have leprechauns in the house? It always seems to happen around this time of year. Your kids turn into the little green people, looking for the pot 'o gold. Here’s a list of great ways to celebrate St. Patty’s Day with your kids!
1) Sing Irish Songs
Irish songs are fun and easy to sing. Find some videos by the Shannon Rovers or the Clancy Brothers on YouTube. Google up the lyrics and sing along.
2) Irish Dancing
Get your kids matching personalized T-Shirts bring out the video camera, play some Irish music and stage your own version of Lord of the Dance. The whole family will be watching and enjoying the videos for years to come.
3) Draw a Picture
Have your kids draw what St. Patrick’s Day means to them and let their imagination run wild. You can try crayons, paints or any other fun way they might like. Pictures of leprechauns, rainbows and shamrocks will soon be coming to life.
4) Green Beverages
Pick up a little green food coloring and use it in milk for the kids. What a special treat! It also works in mashed potatoes, eggs, water and, for Mom and Dad, when it’s time to relax later on – beer from your very own personalized beer stein!
Even though snow is still on the ground, there is an end in sight. Spring will be here eventually, and after that, summer. The season of shorts and swimsuits. Better hit that gym sooner than later, and here are a few pointers to keep in mind:
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* Make a list of all the benefits regular exercise provides you. Everything from feeling healthier, sleeping better, preventing depression, feeling stronger, etc. Post this list somewhere that you will easily see it everyday so that it can serve as a reminder why you should workout.
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* Don’t waste your calories on drinks. Drink low-calorie or no calorie drinks instead (preferably water).
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* Try to take at least 20 minutes to complete a meal. This is how long it takes for your brain to recognize that your stomach is full.
… and last, but not least, make your work out fun! Find a work out buddy to go with you. Buy some new exercise clothes. Add our personalized water bottle and work out towel for extra inspiration!
Win their heart this Valentine’s Day by creating a romantic mood! Whether it’s playful or sexy, here are just a few ideas to help you create the perfect setting for love:
1. Light votive or tea light candles and place them everywhere! Use them instead of normal lighting.
2. Buy red roses or your favorite flowers and fill the room with a wonderful sight and scent! Or pull off the rose petals to sprinkle in the bed or bath!
3. Use satin or silk sheets.
4. Play your favorite romantic music.
5. Lay a rose on your love’s pillow.
6. Have robes ready for each of you – just right for cuddling!
7. Have scented massage oil, or be daring, and enjoy our award-winning, personalized Chocolate Body Paint – sure to be your favorite dessert!
Here’s to love and laughter this Valentine’s Day!
Valentine’s Day is only a few weeks away, but don’t panic! There are many clever ways to show how much you care, whether it’s your first love or your forever love. Here are some of my favorites:
1. Choose a dinner from a cookbook together, and then shop for all the ingredients together. Have fun preparing it (and eating it) together! (If you saved room for dessert, we have a fun personalized fondue set, for dipping strawberries.)
2. Make your Valentine a treasure map that they have to follow around the house. Guide them to the dining room table for a special meal, or to the master suite for a bubble bath!
3. Have a picnic at night with lots of candles and a bottle of wine.
4. Go ice skating and then enjoy hot chocolate afterwards!
5. Get a couple’s massage at your favorite spa.
6. Blindfold your Valentine and surprise them with a trip to a restaurant, the movies or even a hotel.
It happens every year about this time. All of us reevaluate our current state, and vow to make improvements – whether it’s our weight, our finances, or even our clutter – we resolve to make a fresh beginning. It sounds like a great idea, but how to stick to the plan – that’s the difficult part. After all. old habits are hard to break!
Perhaps we shouldn’t be so hard on ourselves! Baby steps are much easier to handle than giant leaps. If we keep our resolutions small and simple, they may actually be attainable! And here’s one easy resolution to get you started…
In 2010, let’s resolve to be better organized… and here’s a product to help – our personalized Calendar Mouse Pad serves double duty, as resting place for your computer mouse, but also as a quick and easy calendar reference for the entire year. And you can even add an inspiring quote of your choice at the top! This mouse pad is great when you’re on the phone, and need to check a date. Keep one at every computer – at home and the office! Ta-da! You’re more organized! Now that was simple! Congrats!
Happy 2010 everyone!
Well, here we are… the week of Christmas, and the holiday celebrations are in full gear! While it’s a very busy time of year, be sure to savor the simple pleasures of the season – the beauty of snowfall, the innocence of children, and the warm greetings that we share with everyone we meet!
Holiday gatherings are the perfect time to take photos of family and friends, so be sure to bring your camera everywhere you go. Here are a few tips to help make the most of this special time of year:
1. Be Candid. Some of the best images are those captured when no one is looking, like that surprised face when opening a present or a group singing and dancing. Digital cameras make it easy to edit later, so snap away!
2. Get Down On Their Level. If you’re shooting snapshots of children or pets, move to their eye level, so you capture the real energy and feelings of the moment.
3. Use Plain Backgrounds. Reducing the distractions will make your subjects stand out more.
4. Move In Close. Get as close to your subjects as you can. But sometimes, people don’t like to be photographed, so that’s when your zoom feature comes in handy!
5. Take Vertical Photos. Often, people forget to turn their camera, but vertical shots can be more appropriate (and more interesting) with certain subjects.
Today’s photos will become tomorrow’s keepsakes, especially with the great collection of photo gifts that we offer… one of our most popular photo gifts is our Photo Sentiments Personalized Ornament, with any 2-line message appearing under your favorite snapshot. From photo mugs to photo golf balls, we have something for everyone! And photo gifts always bring the brightest smiles!
Happy Holidays & Happy Photo Shooting!
Over the next few weeks, there will be a plethora of holiday parties – from work parties, to cookie exchanges, to cocktails with friends. Many gifts will be changing hands, so how do you make yours stand out in the crowd? We have a few ideas:
* Bring the party host or hostess a bottle of wine, presented with our new Personalized Wine Bottle Tag. They will appreciate it later, when several new bottles are all standing next to each other!
* Package your homemade cookies in our Personalized Cookie Tins. Choose from designs with or without a photo. They are perfect for neighborhood cookies exchanges or shipping cookies, candies, or other treats to long-distance loved ones!
* Simplify your gift-wrapping with our Personalized Gift Tags. Already printed with your name, so you only have to add the name of the gift recipient! Add your photo to these too, for a fun finishing touch!
Have Yourself a Personalized Holiday!
Personalized for everyone on your list! We’ve gathered some of our top picks to give you a head start on your holiday shopping! All with free personalization and shipping in 1-2 days!
Top Gift for Grandparent
Our Loving Hearts Personalized Frame – Present your grandparents with this adorable engraved frame, featuring each family member’s name. Add a special photo of the grandchildren for a wonderful finishing touch.
Top Teacher Gift 
Inspiring Dreams Personalized Teacher Mug –Fill it with their favorite candy, nuts, coffee or even a gift card! Remember one for each teacher!
Top Gift for Kids
Junior Chef Personalized Kid’s Apron -- Boys and girls alike love to help out in the kitchen. Our personalized aprons keep the mess to a minimum, while they have fun. Add our Junior Cookbook, too, to get them started!
Top Gift for Ladies
Embroidered Pink Robe & Cosmetic Bag -- Who doesn’t like a little pampering? Our comfy waffle spa robe does just that, especially with her first name embroidered across the front. Complete the gift with the matching cosmetic bag or slippers.
Top Guy Gift
Herrington Engraved Silver Pocket Watch – Add your own personal message inside! Perfect for dad, grandpa, or any special fellow.
This Thursday, we celebrate the holiday of Thanksgiving! It’s the perfect opportunity to reflect on how truly blessed we are – as a country, as a family, and as friends. Times are tough for many folks this year, but we have to remain positive and be hopeful for a better tomorrow. Recently, a friend shared the following reflection with me, and it touched my heart:
'May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.'
What a wonderful thought to share around the dinner table this Thanksgiving! I wish all of you a happy and blessed holiday! (Enjoy a moment of peace before the Christmas countdown starts!)
Before you know it, you’ll be making your holiday list, wondering what to give Mom, Dad, Grandpa Joe, and everyone else this year! Here’s my helpful hint for a gift that’s easy to create and sure to please – personalized photo gifts, starring your favorite faces! A gift personalized with a special snapshot means so much more than another sweater… and it will bring lasting memories for years to come. They make fun gifts for family and friends of all ages!
Here are the Top 10 Photo Gifts that we offer. We make each one easy to order, and you even get to see a preview of your photo gift before you buy it! Get out your camera, start snapping, and let the shopping begin!