karren, Author at Oh My Heartsie Girl

May 15, 2018

The Ultimate Wedding Stationery Timeline

The wedding planning process needs an ultimate timeline of its own! Between cake tastings, dress fittings, and everything else on the never-ending to-do list that is planning a wedding, having a planning guide and timeline is seriously helpful! With wedding season about to kick off now is the perfect time to talk all things wedding plans, but rather than a full on wedding planning guide I am going to bring all of you something of a smaller scale!

I’ve recently been asked to team up with online stationery design company, Basic Invite, and as promised, I’m going to bring you a shorter, but no less important timeline… a timeline to wedding stationery! Elegant wedding invitations and stationery play a pretty large role throughout the entirety of the wedding planning process and because of the role they play, it’s important that you’re planning ahead, sticking to the schedule, and following up promptly and with proper etiquette.

If you’re wedding is in the early summer – say late June or any of the remaining spring days you’re probably already be a pro when it comes to elegant wedding invitations since they’ve hopefully been sealed and sent by now. But for all you brides getting hitched later in the year or next year this is perfect timing… So, get comfy and get ready for some serious note taking!

Let’s start with the basics… what makes up a wedding invitation suite? Well, that depends. Each wedding is different and there are always going to be exceptions to the rule. Brides should keep in mind things like the number of guests, budget, and any other important factors that make their wedding different while making these choices and planning their special day.

Traditionally, a wedding suite is made up of 6 pieces.

A single wedding invitation, and five enclosure cards.
Enclosure cards are; rsvp’s, registry, accommodations, directions, and reception cards

If you’re used to seeing box store wedding invitations you may only be familiar with seeing a save the date followed by a single wedding invitation that contains all the info a guest needs along with an rsvp card. But if you’ve ever received a wedding invitation in the mail that comes along with more than just an rsvp, those are your enclosure cards and it probably means that the couple hopped online to create a custom suite or paid the big bucks to have something custom made by a local boutique shop.

When it comes to how many enclosure cards you choose for your day, there is no right or wrong answer. Just be sure the info you send out is clear and correct so you’re guest’s have everything they need at their finger tips. The most important part is lining up the timing!

The pros over at Basic Invite suggest starting your wedding stationery journey 8+ months out. No matter how long you’ve been engaged or how short, having your color palette set and your style in mind going into the wedding invitation process – 8+ months will have you on the right track!

Next up, save the dates. Once you’ve decided on a style and colors it’s time to officially kick off your walk down the aisle with custom save the dates. 6+ months out be sure to order your save the dates so they are ready to be sent out a month prior to your wedding invitations. You will want to send out your save the dates about 4+ months before the wedding followed by your wedding invitations so be sure to order your wedding invites as soon as your save the dates are in the mail!

3+ months prior to your wedding is the best time to send out your wedding invitations. It gives guests plenty of time to plan ahead, mark their calendars, and rsvp’s with enough time to spare. Once your invites are all squared away remember to order any of your wedding day stationery like your menus, programs, and place cards.

Pro Tip: If you’re having a destination wedding make sure guests are aware of that prior to sending invitations – so, be sure to make that detail apparent on your save the date cards. Sending out your invitations a couple of weeks early is one option or giving guests a bit longer to respond back is another alternative. Doing this can help give you the best turn out for your romantic weekend getaway or destination wedding!

Once you break the timeline down it really isn’t that much to keep track of. At this point, you’re married and all you have to worry about after the honeymoon is sending out your announcements and thank you notes! And then it’s truly time to enjoy being newlyweds!

Don’t forget to order your wedding announcements and write and send out your thank you notes about 2 weeks after the wedding. The guests who couldn’t make it will want to feel like they we’re a part of your big day and receiving a photo-wedding announcement with the happy couple will be a great and unexpected surprise! When it comes to thank you notes, couples often times post-pone writing out their thank you notes because the honeymoon phase has taken over, but try taking your thank you notes with you for the plane ride to your honeymoon destination and get them sealed and sent ASAP! Its details like this that your guests will appreciate and remember for years to come.

Stationery Timeline Recap:

8+ months: pick your colors and order samples
6+ months: order your save the date cards
4+ months: send your save the dates and order your wedding invitations
3+ months: send out your wedding invitations and order your wedding day stationery & thank you notes
2 weeks post wedding: order wedding announcements and send your thank you notes!

Now that you have a better ideas of what all goes into wedding stationery and the skills to stay organized and on top of things, head over to Basic Invite and use coupon code 15FF51 for 15% off everything site wide! Basic Invite makes it easy to shop online because of their endless customization options and 180 custom color choices. Just click on any design you like and scroll to see the matching suite. Play with customization options and colors until you’ve familiarized yourself with the website and have a solid idea of the style you’re going for. Then, get to customizing and check those mini-milestones off your list!

May 15, 2018February 20, 2021

The Top Five Dutch Ovens you should have in 2018

The Dutch oven is certainly a delight of traditional culture fused with modern day ingenuity. In fact, for many, the Dutch oven is considered the workhorse of the kitchen. One can use it to make almost any dish! From oven-baked casseroles to stovetop soups; it is only limited to one’s imagination.

Certainly, these large, hefty pots are worth every penny! So today, we’ll be taking a closer look at them.

Describing a Dutch oven

So what is a Dutch oven? For starters, it’s not an oven at all. In fact, a Dutch oven is any large, heavy pot that is designed for oven use as well as stovetop cooking. Hmm, so maybe that deep 7-quart stockpot could be a Dutch oven! That is, as long as it comes with an oven-safe lid. Plus it’s got to be resilient enough to go into the oven even after coming from the stove.

Today, however, the talk about Dutch ovens has been centralized around dense enameled cast iron pots; with a majority being typified as either the Staub or the Le Creuset. Such pots are a match-made in heaven when it comes to preparing braises, as well as slow-simmering soups. Though other hearty meals are indeed not out of the question!

That being said, here are the top 5 Dutch Ovens that should be in every household while prepping for any scrumptious meal.

Le Creuset-3.5 Quart Wide Oval French Oven

Coming in at a modest size compared to a plethora of ovens out there, the Le Creuset has a deep extra-wide base to allow one to brown the meat right in the middle. Moreover, one can add a hearty serving of tomatoes to create a rich, thick stew.

Lodge 6-Quart- The Lodge Color Enamel Dutch Oven

If ever there was a massive pot at an affordable price, then this right here is the epitome. Moreover, the Enamel Dutch Oven is ideal for preparing dishes such as breads, soups, braises, stews, plus so much more.

Staub 4 ¼ – Quart Dutch Oven-The Quart Oval is one of the most enjoyable ovens out there. Firstly, because it shape demonstrates an elegant design; plus it also happens to cradle a roast chicken seamlessly! Though Staub Dutch ovens prices are by far on the steep-end of the price spectrum, they are honestly worth the dough. Not only do they clean up beautifully, but also get the job done in the kitchen!

Emily Henry Round 7-Quart Dutch Oven- Looking for a massive Dutch oven? Then this particular oven is definitely worth the buy. A product of Emile Henry, one is guaranteed that the product will be top-notch.

With these Dutch ovens as part of one’s cooking arsenal, there are numerous recipes online that can be made fast and easy at home!

5.5 Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven-A Food Network product, the 5.5 Quart Dutch oven is pretty affordable, despite its strong affiliation with one of the most successful Recipe networks in the world.

May 14, 2018

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May 14, 2018

Celebrating Your New Home

Moving into a new home is demanding work. One of the best ways to reward yourself for working hard is to throw a housewarming party. It does not have to be too elaborate, since you do not have a ton of energy left at this point. Something about inviting friends and family over to your place for drinks and snacks has a way of making you feel like you’re home now. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you send out invitations and make a list of party supplies. While you’re at it, don’t forget to give your guests directions to your new place.

Is the House Ready?

This may seem like an obvious question. Who would throw a party if there was an issue with the house? Well, small issues have a way of rearing their ugly heads at the worst possible time. Let’s say you move in and notice that the flush handle on the back of the toilet gets stuck. That may not seem important, but parties often mean there is a great deal of traffic to and from the bathroom. Nothing ruins the party quite like a toilet that refuses to flush. Do not feel like you must be a psychic to predict the future, since that is not a common skill. However, if something pops up and you can attend to it before the party, do so. Did your roof spring a leak after the last rainstorm? Call roofing services in the Greater NJ area. Otherwise, you may have to stick a gigantic bucket in your living room to catch water in the middle of the party.

Some people decide they want to build their own home rather than buy one prebuilt. Calling home builders in Hanover, PA makes sense if you’re the type of person who doesn’t mind waiting longer for your dream house to come to fruition. However, don’t plan any housewarming parties until the construction is one hundred percent finished, because the typical home takes anywhere from four to 12 months to build. In the worst-case scenario, you must retract those invitations for the party you planned in May, because now the builders tell you that harsh weather is going to push back the projection’s completion to at least July.

Themes and Party Favors

Don’t feel like you must have any other theme besides, “Look at my new house, guys!” That is a very good theme all on its own. If you do want to go beyond that, then play it up as much as you can. Shooting fireworks can be dangerous but there’s no risk in firing off a confetti cannon for you and your guests to enjoy. A theme may also make more sense if your party falls near a major holiday and that would be an added incentive for your guests to come by and check out your new house.

Are any of your friends in a band? If so, then by all means you should invite them to play a show in your backyard, but don’t go overboard. You want to be a courteous neighbor. So, if you haven’t yet, go around the block and introduce yourself. Mention that you are having a party and would love to see them stop by for a beer or two. Say something like “I’m having some friends come over and play a few songs, but we’ll be done by 9 p.m.’ Because there is no need for the music to go on all night. You bought a house, not a concert venue.