The Fabulous Baker Girls!

(embossed names on thank you note that doesn't show up in above photo,
and embossed monogram on invitation in photo below)

One of the things I love most about our store is getting to know our customers and sharing their life experiences with them, through invitations. It is a wonderful feeling to see the progression of helping customers first with wedding invitations, then birth announcements, and ultimately birthday invites! Jackie Baker, a current customer of ours has been shopping at our store for the entire 8 years we have been in business, and during that time we have been privileged enough to provide 4 of her daughters with wedding invitations! I love that! These are photos of their invitations and engagement photos.

M.

*We deleted the date on the most recent invitation. (we didn't forget to put it on!)

Monday, Monday

This weekend flew by. Busy, busy, busy. Thankfully, it was all a good busy. One of my best friends was in town for Easter and we were able to spend some great time together! Then there is work, house cleaning, and neighbors to attend to. (I love my neighborhood. I call it my Betty Crocker neighborhood. All of the neighbors know each other and get together regularly, there are weddings and parties held in front yards, and all of the houses were built in the 50’s! How grand!)

My husband and I decided on Saturday night, that since we didn’t have to meet with family until the late afternoon on Sunday, we wanted to have our own Easter brunch at home! It was so much fun! Our menu was scrambled eggs with roasted asparagus, baked French toast, sour cream coffee cake and mimosas. We ate outside since the weather was so nice. The music was perfect… flowers blooming… soft breeze blowing… the only thing missing was a hammock to luxuriate the day away!

Have a great Monday.

*My husband and I are planning a dinner party at our house in April. I am so excited! We are always good on the cooking end, but not so much with the table décor end, so it will be a challenge. I will be showing you pictures of the whole thing, from invitation to fruition!

Good Friday to you!

It looks like it’s going to be a beautiful weekend! We really couldn’t ask for better weather right now. It really gets me in the mood for all the cooking and baking this Easter weekend requires… glazed ham, asparagus gruyere tart (from Martha Stewart), scrambled eggs, muffins, and all things yummy for a great brunch! It’s a great time to spend with family and friends.

I wish you all a very Happy Easter.

*Photos from Daisy Cottage and Martha Stewart

Going Postal!

So I went to the Post Office yesterday to mail off some packages and found out some interesting bit of information. By the way, am I the only one who likes going to the post office? As a business owner, I am always impressed to see our Government working as a finely oiled machine, it always gives me a sense of pride. (patriotism at its finest)

And, just so you know, the term “going postal” certainly does not apply at the Mesa Main location. Every employee is happy, smiling and joking with customers every time I go in there! Go USPS! Anyhow, upon requesting 100 stamps, my very friendly postal worker asked if I knew about the postage price increase coming in May of this year. “No, I did not” I replied. He then informed me of something that I really must share with all of you. I can’t believe it!

Apparently if you purchase the ‘Forever’ stamp with the liberty bell on it, you can literally use it forever!!!! Regardless of the increases in postage cost! That means you can purchase a large quantity of stamps now for .41 cents and still use them 5 years from now, even if the cost of a first class stamp is $2.00 by then! (only pertains to first class stamp cost) Have you ever heard of such a crazy deal!? So, as an FYI to all future brides, you might want to make a run on the post office and save yourself the price increase!

*My sister just informed me that the Forever stamp was released months ago and it was all over the news! I am wondering how I did not know about it when I watch the news every morning! Oh well, to all of the rest of you not in 'the know' enjoy this bit of information!

Beautiful Monday

Life is beautiful... and sometimes we need to be reminded of that! Today a customer came into our store to purchase invitations. We got to talking about the fact that she had been in the store previously, and Stacie, who remembers everyone, could not remember her. She proceeded to say that she thought it might have been because the last time she was in, her hair was down to her knees! Obviously she had just had it cut, so I asked her if she had donated it to Locks of Love (it was quite a lot cut off). She then went on to tell us the most amazing story…..

She sells products for at home parties and had booked a party for a client she had never met. She pulled up to the house and started unloading the car when the hostess started backing out of the garage. “I have to leave to drop my daughter off at the sitter. I will be right back.” As the hostess was explaining this, the daughter, who was in the car turned to see our customer. Suddenly the child jumped out of her car and ran over to our customer. “You’re the Angel! You came here to give me your hair! I knew you’d come! I had a dream last night and an angel told me that someone would come to give me their hair!” (Okay, I was freaking out at this point! It gave me goose bumps to hear it told) As it turns out, the little girl has Alopecia and cannot grow hair on her own. Of course our customer could not turn down the little girl and proceeded to have 32” of hair cut off! That ended up being enough for two wigs! This was not something easily done for our customer. She had had that length of hair her whole life and she said she cried as they sheared it off. WHAT AN INCREDIBLE STORY!!! LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL!! Thank you to everyone who gives of themselves to help others.

Happy Monday!

40 and Fabulous!

My sister, Dorie, recently turned 40. Last week as a matter of fact! Of course we had to make it a glamorous affair. We started by creating invitations perfectly designed to fit her style and the occasion. Green is one of her favorite colors so we carried that theme throughout. From the table linens, birthday banner, party favors, flower arrangements, to the drinks! We served appletinis (although we are all more partial to wine as you can see)! Dorie found black candelabras for the tables which mimicked the chandelier design on the invitations! It was great! We served the food and drinks buffet style so unfortunately you can’t see her grand Match dishes that completed the table décor. Yes, they’re my favorite and of course we carry them in the store!

It’s always great to whip out old photos for milestone birthdays. Check out the coffee table that we covered with photos of Dorie. It was so fun to laugh at old memories and especially the 80’s hair! Wow! I don’t remember my hair getting that high off my head! Anyway, her party was a blast! We sang karaoke and partied down with family and close friends.

*You can see samples of the banner, invitation, and gift tags in the store!

Have a great weekend!

Bob's Sangria

My husband, Bob, LOVES to cook (am I the luckiest girl alive or what!?) and this weekend we did plenty of it! We started by celebrating one of our best friend Deena's birthday on Friday night. The weather was gorgeous so we dined alfresco. Our first course was mixed greens with a truffle balsamic vinaigrette served with caramelized onion and nicoise olive toast. The main course was filet mignon with a mushroom port wine reduction, white chocolate mashed potatoes and roasted asparagus in a Gorgonzola butter sauce. For dessert we served marbled chocolate risotto. (Our friends are lucky too!)

My sister celebrated her 40th birthday on Saturday (which thankfully was catered). I will be posting pictures of everything we did to make her party fabulous as soon as I can get them together. (I promise soon, Kristin)

Our incredible weekend continued on Sunday by spending the entire day, and I'm talking from breakfast to past dinner, with family and friends. Bob did the cooking and we all did the eating. One of his favorite drinks to make for happy hour is Sangria. We usually whip out this drink as a reprieve from the summer heat, but it was perfect on Sunday. I am providing all of you with the recipe. You really must try it. Your friends will love it!

Bob's Sangria:
1 Bottle of White Zinfandel
1 Bottle of White Merlot
1/3 Cup of Brandy
1/8 Cup Cointreau
1/2 Cup lemon juice
1 1/2 Cup orange juice
1/2 Cup sugar
1 1/2 Cup club soda
2 Blood oranges thinly sliced
1 Lime thinly sliced
2 Peaches thinly sliced

Mix first 6 ingredients. Whisk in sugar. Add fruit slices and allow to macerate for at least 2 hours. Add club soda just before serving.