Responding -The Best Time is Any Time

How often do we say we are going to write a note to someone to see how they are doing, or to just send a note to send a picture

of a new grandchild, a vacations spot we enjoyed over the summer or just to say hello.  We find ourselves heading

for the computer and writing email.  It is an easy thing to do, especially if you are on the go. 

Writing notes is a personal thing and it is true not many people like to do it, but when you receive a note in the

mailbox from someone you haven't seen in a while, it makes you happy to hear from them.   The notes don't have

to be elaborate,  or long in content, but just a few words to express your thoughts and send wishes to someone you know.

Pick up those pens and make someone happy today.......

Invitation Etiquette

We all love to get an invitation to a special event or occasion, whether it be one that is professionally made or perhaps printed

off your computer. Invitations that are engraved are lovely and very impressive and costly.

Not every situation calls for the formality of a professionally engraved invite.  Truthfully, an invite handwritten

to each guest is very formal and personal.  You can write your own thoughts or words of expression, instead of

sending a generic invite to your guests.  Personal notes or invitations are definitely the way to go.  You might say,

“I haven’t the time to write each card out”.   Although this may be true,  the person that receives the invite or note

will appreciate it more and could only say “yes” to your invitation.  Customized notes or invitations can be designed for the event

you are having.   Whether it be a birthday party, pool party,  tea party, anniversary, wedding shower, baby shower or wedding

sending your personal  note will make a hit.    The style of your card depends upon you and sometimes you are unable to find

the right theme or subject matter in  your average card shop. Special custom designed cards are hard to find.   A hand painted

and signed by the artist card are great invitations to send.   The front of these cards can be matted and framed and kept as a

keepsake.  A set make great table favors for your guest.    Just a thought….Nothing Leaves An Impression Like A Lasting One…

Respond to an Invitation ASAP

When receiving an invitation do you let it hang around on your kitchen counter until you make up your mind to respond yes or no. 

How many of us do just that.  If eel if you know you are going when you receive it, just respond...if you are not going even better,

let your host know right away in a timely fashion.  There is nothing more irritating to a host of a party to wait to hear from their

invited guests beyond the respond date.  It was thoughtful of them to send you an invite and it would be more thoughtful to respond ASAP.

Formal or Informal Invitations

There's an event coming up and now you are planning a party.  You are confused as to what you should do first.  What type of food to prepare,

what time, what place, but most of all who to invite and who not to invite.  Is it going to be a fancy affair, that is formal or laid back and relaxed and

being an informal event.  Now you have decided on your date, the time, your guests, the food and what type of decorations.  Fine - you are all set,

but now you have to prepare invitations.  There are so many styles and types to send you could really get confused.  Preprinted store purchased

cards or engraved are lovely and elegant, but not always the way to go.  The other choice are plain blank note invitations that you write out yourself. 

True they take a little more time and effort, but such a warm gesture on your part when you write a hand written note to each of your guests. 

This is informal, but very formal when you send each of your guests a personal message on your invitation.

Who Returned This Invitation Response?

You sent out your wedding invitations with response cards and prepaid envelopes.  GREAT! – that’s over with….but what happens when you

receive a response card wherein the persons name is not on it, just “will attend” or “will not attend” checked off.  No forwarding address on the

envelope, no name – YIKES! –what now?……Or maybe you get a response card “Mr. & Mrs. Jones”, but no mention if they will or will not attend.

O.K., so now you are really going to lose it – who are these mystery people – No name, no address, no “will attend ” and no “will not attend”. 

Well, here is something that you can do to prevent that.  When making your guest list, prepare a list by assigning a number to each guest,

i.e. 001, 002, along with their name, a column for the reply section Yes or No.  Now put the number you assigned to each guest on the back

of the response card, then when a return comes back with missing information, just check the back of the card and that’s your mystery guest. 

Don’t sweat the small stuff – Weddings are stressful enough!

Make It Easy On Yourself When Sending Invitations

When addressing your wedding or party invitation envelopes, address your thank you note envelopes at the same time.

When your party is over or after you return from your honeymoon you will be one step ahead by having them ready to go. 

This can also be done if you are preparing a bridal or baby shower for someone, address the envelopes of the invitations

you are sending and then prepare thank you notes with the envelopes for the bride or mother- to- be, this way they too will be ready to

send after the event.   A thank you note should be sent out in a timely manner.  Easy does it!

Hostess Gifts – A Great Way To Say Thank You

Are you invited to someone’s house for dinner, or a party……you could bring a bottle of wine, a box of candy, flowers or

you could give your hostess personalized notes to show your appreciation. 

Party Favors – Add That Personal Touch

Your table is set in all its finery.  The linens, crystal and china look great.  Perhaps you have a beautiful bouquet of flowers in the center of the table.

Candles are nestled in their holders ready to be lit upon the arrival of your guests.  To complete your table and theme of your dinner party a set of

hand painted cards personalized with each guests name resting by their place setting will elegantly complete the table you have set.

News By Jackie

Also view Jacqueline Coote's Articles at www.ezinearticles.com (Search Jacqueline Coote)

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Teaching The Young Etiquette

The word "ettiquette" sounds old fashioned and it is one you do not hear very often.  We learn very early what is right or wrong, how to properly

treat and respect others, even the proper way to use utencils at the table.  Ettiquette also teaches us how to be appreciate others and be thankful

if someone does something for us.  Etiquette says we should thank them for their efforts.  Children learn early in life what's proper and it's hoped

they follow through all their adult lives.  

Survival Kit When Planning A Party

When you go camping, hiking or taking long excursions, you usually prepare a bag with food, water, medical supplies, rain and cold protective gear,

emergency flares, etc.   It’s a chore getting things organized for a long trip.   There are different types of survival kits.. the one I am speaking of

is the survival of our well being.  There are so many problems that cross our paths on a daily basis and we take it to heart when trying to solve them. 

We get ourselves all tied up in knots and worry ourselves and sometimes the people around us that we don’t realize the consequences of it all.

We need to do things that make our life simpler and not worry about a lot of the fanfare that is necessary to complete a project.  We worry about

what people will think if we do or say something that is not to their liking.   Everything has to be perfect – yes to some extent.  To survive the hassles

of planning a function or event we have to look at what makes it easier on ourselves.  People feel that they have to keep up with others to make

it a complete success.  Do what you feel is right and comfortable and everything will fall into place. 

HOLIDAYS ARE STRESSFUL

Holidays are definitely stressful, but they don't need to be. I think we bring it upon ourselves.

There is so much do to, that we feel it all has to be done in  the month of December. 

The stores are open all year so why can't we start shopping in October for the Holiday.

If you purchased wrapping paper at the end of the holiday season last year, you are ready to start wrapping.

Make a list of what you bought for each person, put them in a large plastic bag and hide them in the attic.

What about those holiday cards. Is there a law that says they have to be written out in December.

Some people write them out two days before the holiday. Why not start just after Thanksgiving, by sitting in front of the

TV (there is nothing good on anyway) and start writing out those holiday cards. You can take your time,

write a little note at the bottom of each card, address the envelopes and put stamps on them at your leisure.

What about those holiday cookies and goodies. Most of them can be prepared ahead of time, put in plastic wear and frozen.

Need to make hor's deuvres for the holidays, they can be made up ahead of time and frozen. Aren't they frozen

in the stores and all you have to do is pop them in the hot oven.

Decorating the house is another stressful event. Some people start decorating the 1st of December.....

.....it's up to the individual as to when they go up and when they come down.  Your table can be set a few days

before and decorated to your heart's content.

Life is stressful enough without getting "nutsy" for the holiday. After all, what is the holiday all about?

We somehow forget what we are celebrating and for whom we are decorating and preparing for.

t's all a big hype in the retail world , but we must remember what we are preparing for............and for what we should be thankful for.

Hope you all have a wonderful holiday......be stress free, be thankful, be happy! Enjoy your holiday, your friends and most of all your family.

SHAKE THOSE POST HOLIDAY SLUMPS - It can be a real let down after the hussle and bussle of getting prepared for the holiday.

First you decorate, then you take everything down in half the time it took you to put it up.  You are cookied out (do not know

if there is such a word), but you know what I mean.    You can't eat another thing and now you are thinking of going on a diet.

I know I am......boy those Magic Cookie Bars are a killer.  We need to de-stress ourselves.  It is too cold to walk, but believe me

f you just jump up and down or turn on your stereo and dance for at least 10 minutes a day, you will feel invigorated.  

Read a good book, knit something for a grandchild or perhaps if you like to paint like me, but haven't done it in a while,

take out that paintbrush and express yourself through your art.  Hopefully the winter will pass quickly for you and before you

know it you will be outside in your gardens, planting, mowing, weeding, catching poison ivy (again) and just taking in that

wonderful warm sun.  Good Luck to you.....I know I will need it too!

Comments?

Easter, Family & Friends

What a beautiful time of the year, thinking about all the wonderful and colorful flowers that will soon adorn our gardens.

We look forward to getting out there and working in the yard, getting our fingers into the soil to plant the seeds of flowers

and plants that we love.  It's a wonderful time to plant the seeds of love and friendship for our family and friends. 

To start things anew and give ourselves a chance to once again enjoy each others company.  Perhaps there is a family

member you haven't been in touch with for a while.  What a great time to call or write that person and extend to  them a

warm greeting.  There might be a friend you haven't seen in a while and have thought about over the years,

but there was always a reason not to pick up the phone or write.  This is it!!! - A Breath of Spring to renew all friendships.

Enjoy the Holiday!

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Email Vs. Writing

Sometimes I think writing a letter or card is a thing of the past and it saddens me to think so.

We have come a long way with email.   I will agree that if you want to write a quick note to someone

that's the way to go, but to send someone a greeting for a birthday,

anniversary, new baby, or sympathy, electronic mail is not the answer, nor is it appropriate. 

Over the years we have come away from picking up a pen and writing our thoughts on paper.

To me there is nothing more personal than receiving a card or letter in the mail from someone

you haven't seen in a while, or a greeting from a friend.  What's a stamp among family and friends.

Impressions By Jackie - ARTICLES & News By Jackie

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