Excellent Events

When I was planning my wedding a few years ago, I quickly realized how many different things there were to do and how quickly the seemingly basic projects could add up to be budget breakers. I also found that there were lots of things I could do myself, especially with a little planning and creativity.

…bridal showers that is! With wedding season right around the corner, the invitations are starting to pile in for spring and summer weddings, as well as the accompanying bridal showers and other pre-wedding celebrations.

One of my good friends just turned 30 and in the days leading up to his birthday we were working hard to find a creative and fun idea for his party. We finally came up with something that was a big hit: a personalized photo banner! 

Here at Out of Office, we’re kicking off the month of April with a month-long series of celebrations – anniversaries, retirement parties, baby showers, weddings and more. Spring has sprung and we feel like partying! I’m first up in the queue and today I’m sharing anniversary gift ideas.

It’s hard for me to believe that it’s almost been a full year, but I will be celebrating my first anniversary this April (you can read one of my wedding-related posts from last year here). I know the traditional gift for the first anniversary is paper – and because I’m a pretty traditional person it seemed natural that I’d find a special paper gift for my husband.

If you haven’t worn it in six months, get rid of it. You most likely will never wear it again.

This wardrobe rule sticks in my mind when deciding to keep clothes since I tend to wear the same outfits over and over again. Instead of tossing clothes you’ve gotten tired of, why not share them with friends? Recycle, freshen up your wardrobe and have fun by hosting a Spring Cleaning Clothing Swap Party. There is no better way to welcome in spring than cleaning out unused clothes and accessories from your closet and getting some fun new finds in return!

I’m excited to host my first Clothing Swap Party this month. I found a lot of useful tips online for hosting a swap – including things I may not have thought about in advance like:

While I’m not yet a parent myself, I do have two godsons (ages four and two). Over the past several years, I’ve seen how much effort goes into their birthday parties and how hard it can be to come up with unique ideas. The oldest, for instance, loves taking pictures and looking at photos that he’s in, but it’s been difficult to work pictures into some of his party themes. Luckily, I found a unique way to do it: by making a modern, pop art poster featuring pictures of the birthday boy!  ...read more

Ok, I’ll admit it.  I’m a sucker for awards show fashions and celebrity gossip. My husband teases me about it, but there’s just something about the whole notion of celebrity that is fascinating to me. At the end of the day, they’re just people; albeit with interesting jobs, private jets and seemingly a lot of extra time on their hands. Oh, and fabulous clothes. Like I said – fascinating.

Last Valentine’s Day I shared with you all a cute photo card idea for kids to give to friends and family. 

I was looking for something that my son could give to his classmates that was both age-appropriate and special. These cards were a big hit and they definitely stood out from the rest of the class!

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Love is in the air and Valentine’s Day parties are on the calendar. At least I hear they are. None for me this year, but I have fond memories of homeroom mothers hosting get-togethers in elementary school classrooms. There’s nothing quite like getting second graders hopped up on sugary treats at 3:00 in the afternoon before the buses come…

If you’re one of those homeroom mothers (or teachers) and need to give kids an outlet for their sugar-fueled energy, consider playing a Valentine-themed game with them. I have a few ideas below.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and I’m sure all of our Out of Office readers are getting ready for the big day. Whether you’re picking out a thoughtful gift for that special someone or helping kids assemble Valentines for their classmates, February 14th will be here before we know it.  

It seems like for every holiday, I have grand designs of creating elaborate, handmade cards for my family and friends. But the occasion always sneaks up on me and I don’t end up sending anything. This year, I have the same good intentions, but I came up with a solution to help me actually get the cards into the mailbox.

Instead of individually making cards, I decided to create a digital template. This way, I can focus on one design and quickly print all the cards at the same time. I’ve shared my template here, but you can also find lots of good ideas on the FedEx Office Design & Print Center website. ...read more