Kellie's blog

Giving a photo of your child as a gift is a great idea for friends, family, and even teachers as the school year comes to a close. However, you do run into one dilemma – how to give it to them.  You can either just give them a bare photo or put it into a picture frame that will cost at least five to ten dollars and usually lack personality. A third option is to create your own custom picture that you and your kids can decorate and make personal. Plus it's pretty easy. You can print your photos off at home or using the Sony Picture Station available at many FedEx Office centers. And while there, ask one of the FedEx Office team members for a small easel back, which will cost less than a dollar. 

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We hope all of our readers are enjoying this day with the special “moms” in their lives!  Happy Mother’s Day!

-          The Out of Office team

With summer coming up there is a lot for kids to write about – and they’ll certainly be in need of projects to keep them busy. So why not get your teens and tweens a head-start by whipping up an easy-to-make journal that shows off your kid’s unique style and taste? It’s a fun springtime project to do together – but also makes a great gift. 

My 15-year-old niece, Brooke, is taking a two-week trip to Europe this summer, and I wanted to make her a cute and special journal to take with her.  I’m hopeful that she’ll jot down a few lines about what she did each day to look back on it later and share with friends and family. She can even paste in ticket stubs, photos and other mementos.  I studied abroad in college and really wish I’d taken better notes on where I went and what I did - it’s all a blur now!  

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Reports about the economy seem to be taking a bit of a turn for the better lately, and it appears that companies are even beginning to hire again in some sectors. Many Out of Office readers may be on the job hunt now, or kick-starting time with a new organization or position. No doubt, starting a new job can often feel exciting and a little nerve-wracking too, because it takes time to learn the ropes with your team and organization. I can definitely relate to this having just started my current role with FedEx Office a few months ago. Being the new kid on the block, I wanted to share some tips and advice I’ve come across online that could be helpful for those of you starting a new job soon.

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• Learn how your team communicates – Workplace columnist Anita Bruzzese, points out in her blog 45 Things, that some teams may prefer face-to-face communication over receiving numerous e-mails, or vice versa. Figure out what’s working on your team and make it work for you.

I want to share one last idea before my wedding. For my ceremony, I decided to give little bells as our wedding favor, partly to pay homage to my last name one last time and also because I love the sweet, cheerful sound they make.  

I put them in baskets for my nephew to hand out to our guests just before my new husband and I get ready to say goodbye and hop in the vintage car we’ve rented. They’re small silver bells and I’ve made little tags to tie on each of them that say “Ring this bell for a fond farewell” on one side and “thank you for being part of our special day” on the other side.” After our guests send us off, they can keep the bell as a reminder of the day. 

Here’s how I made the tags: ...read more

Now that the major details of my fast-approaching wedding are nailed down, I’ve been looking for ways to make the event unique and special for our families and guests. One way that I’m honoring our parents and families is by putting both sets of our parents’ wedding pictures on the guest book table beside our engagement picture. Another way is by putting a modern spin on the guest book…a wedding tree.

I have a lovely satin guest book, replete with beads and a bow, but this “guest book” is different. Basically, it’s a sketch of a tree without leaves that I’ll frame for our guests to “sign” using their thumbprints to make the leaves.

Yes, our guests will sign the fancy traditional book on the day of the wedding, but at the rehearsal dinner - where our immediate family and wedding party will be in attendance - we’ll ask them to complete our tree.  ...read more

I’m just going to put this out there -- I love Valentine’s Day! I love the candy, the pink and red decorations, the hearts, the mushiness…all of it. In fact, this day holds special meaning for me because my parents got engaged on Valentine’s Day exactly 31 years ago!

Some people aren’t fans of the holiday, but I think it’s fantastic.  What better opportunity do you have to tell the people in your life that you care about them? Last year, I found these adorable cards that said, “A Valentine to show you just how nice it is to know you.” It’s that spirit that makes me love Valentine’s Day so much. So when Cupid aims his arrow today, don’t duck! 
 

When you’re thinking about what to give for Valentine’s Day, you may be tired of the same old gift ideas — chocolates, roses, jewelry, etc. This year, consider a handmade gift for the people you love, because they always seem to be the ones that are treasured long after the holiday has passed.

An easy-to-make gift is a booklet of love coupons. The coupons themselves can be for anything – cooking a meal, doing a chore or errand for your loved one, or just a fun activity. And because it’s totally customizable you can do this for absolutely anyone – a significant other or friend, kids, parents, and more. Think of it as giving the gift of time. ...read more

My refrigerator is littered with sticky fingerprints, photos, sporting tickets that I don’t want to lose, emergency numbers, and yes, magnets. Every time the appliance repair company pays us a visit, they leave with us a magnet with their number. They’re quite handy and I’m sure they are a great business builder – we see them every time we reach for the ice cream. 

Businesses of all sizes can keep their name and number visible with these magnets. You can even pick a shape that fits your business – our realtor has a house-shaped magnet, and our emergency vet has a magnet that is shaped like a heart, but that’s a number I hope I don’t have to call! 

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Ah, 2010. You got here faster than I expected. And after ringing in the New Year, there’s always a renewed commitment to fitness or health or dieting or something too hard to stick with. Last year, my resolution was to take more pictures since I gave myself the gift of a new digital camera. I succeeded, mostly.

This year, I ‘m resolving to stay in touch with friends. Since I recently moved away, I’m even more determined to make sure this resolution sticks. And so I had personalized stationery printed to help me keep with it.

I believe letter-writing is a lost art. It doesn’t take that much time to jot down a quick note, and it can be for any occasion – birthdays, celebrations, graduation, sympathy, thank you, or just because you were thinking about someone.

As I started checking into stationery, I learned that there are several types of personal stationery: ...read more