Wrap it up!

One of the things Sweet Nothings does is make tables beautiful. Designing color palettes and table decor is a favorite! To add to any table always include favors. It can be any favor, but when you wrap it...think creatively! Due to the fact that sometimes people forget the importance of a favor, Sweet Nothings is giving some love to favors. We have created a design line for packaging. All Wrapped Up--couture coverings! We know it's what's on the inside that counts, but we are suckers for pretty things. The process goes, you choose what you want as your favor. We (sweet nothings and you) decide the color palette, type of box, whatever would look good in your design scheme. Then, we either wrap it up for you OR we send you the do-it-yourself kit!

So did you remember your favors???

Erin G.

Party Song of the Day!!!!

"Got To Give It Up" - Marvin Gaye

Love this song!! In fact I am listening to it right now!!!!

What Am I Forgetting????

Lists. Lists for Lists. Where is my list? I didn't save it in my inbox? Why would I do that?

An important part of any planning process is staying organized. Easier said than done. Perhaps many of you have experienced the horrible feeling of the above instance. It's easy to lose important things like contracts, product numbers, swatches. To avoid this, here are a few tidbits of information.

Most importantly, from the beginning of any event, buy an expandable file folder or an event specific binder.

Once you have one of these, USE IT! Fill it with everything and keep it with you at all times. Put magazine clippings in one compartment--label it "design." Make a "music" compartment--keep songs you like, songs you dislike, contracts, etc. This will make everything centralized.

Then always keep a notebook with you. You will remember things. You will be on the phone other locations than your own home and need to write down a phone number. You will wake up in the middle of the night and remember something. Just keep a notebook with you. (keep a pen with it too.)

Also, make lists or better yet find one of those handy dandy planners that tell you everything you need to remember to do. There are a lot out there on the internet. For weddings--theknot.com has the most comprehensive one I've ever seen, overwhelming. Look around and see what is best for you.

If you need some help, comment below! I'd happily help you out!!

I hope you are enjoying a thoroughly organized day after this,

Erin G.

love these colors!!!

I love the Wedding Chicks! It is a blog for the sassy bride ;) They posted this wedding, and i LOVE it! I had to tell people! Turquoise, pink, yellow!

Party Song of the Day!!!

"BUST A MOVE"--Young MC

Youtube the video...it will make your day and have you moving in your seat!!!!

Website Launch Party!!

Who loves the Office? I do, and one of my favorite episodes is the Launch Party. Read a synopsis of the episode =) However, I can't seem to get the party out of my head. It's a satellite party basically. I think this is a pretty good idea, but I have no idea how to do it. I'm going to look into it. Of course, I will have my own real party, but everyone should be able to come!! I'm thinking on themes and design colors right now. The website should be up very soon--like this week!! AAAHHH!

Every event should have an ice sculpture.

Planning away,

Erin G.

Graduation Bashes! Themes and invites!

Well, you've done it! You've completed some level of schooling--and it is truly worth celebrating. A major accomplishment! For your party or open house--the theme is you, but adding a little flair will make your party worth remembering. I encourage everyone to think about a cool design for the invitations or thank you's. It's what all invitees are getting, so make them awesome! Above you see that there are quite a few options for style and design. Sweet nothings does all of these. For a classic brunch for family and friends--a handmade invite would add class and loveliness! For a sweet soiree or a slammin party, a print is perfect. Either way include your personal style and taste into the invite. You have to have an invite or thank you, so put some thought into it. (Just because you've graduated doesn't mean you don't think anymore!)

Depending on the graduate, the party can be a swanky event, a pretty party, a big bash. I say let the grad give you an idea of their personal tastes. If they are an artist, decoration of colors, paint brushes, their personal art would be a great look. A brunch could be fun for a family--a high tea feel. Themes could center around a favorite food--sundaes, pizza. The party could be about a college graduate's major. Whatever you choose, it should reflect that individual and be fun! Have fun planning and congratulations!

To beginnings,

Erin G.

DIY Tip of the day and a green one at that!

Hello all,

I've been on a fruit kick recently. As I've been conjuring up different table decor ideas for you, I realized your produce section may be a good place to start. In the event of a outdoor or simple event, look into decorating your tables with fruits and vegetables. Check out the pictures to get some fun ideas. Flowers can sometimes be a little pricey, but when you pair them with something that can be given out to everyone later--worth the cost. Just encourage people to wash them before they eat them =)

I also LOVE the idea of carving names into fruit instead of printing placecards. While this may not work for a large event--unless you have some willing workhorses who enjoy carving--using it for a luncheon would be adorable.

Or you can do this fun lemonade bowl surrounded by flowers or fruits...it adds something to your table and has some utility! Hooray! I'm usually a "if it looks good, I don't care the purpose" type of person, but this is super cute!

Still thinking...let me know if you have ideas too!

Be lovely,

Erin G.

Patriotic beverages...part 2 of Memorial Day party planning

Cranberry Punch (Red)

4 1/2 lbs whole cranberries
2 cups water
1 quart club soda
1/2 tbs whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick (2-inch)
3 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups orange juice
1/2 cup lemon juice

In a large pot, mix water, cranberries, cloves and cinnamon together and bring to a boil. Then reduce heat down to a simmer. Let simmer for about 20 minutes. Strain out the berry pulp and stir in sugar. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Take pot from heat. Pour in orange juice and lemon juice. Chill mixture in the fridge. Add club soda right before serving.

White Grape Juice Punch (White)
2 quarts white grape juice
1 quart ginger ale

Right before serving, pour together both ingredients (already chilled). Because this punch is colorless and a bit dull to look at, it's often served with fruit frozen into ice cubes.

Blue Hawaiian Punch (Blue)
2 pkgs Berry Blue Kool-Aid drink mix powder
1 quart club soda
2 cans frozen Pina Colada drink mixer
2 cups sugar
Mix Kool-Aid powder and sugar (according to the directions), and add frozen Pina Colada mixer. Stir until blended and then pour in club soda right before serving.

Or just make lemonade.

Enjoy experimenting with these fun recipes!

Erin G.

Memorial Day--a day to remember

I'm finally back to using all of my fingers to post, so I've got a lot to tell you all. Memorial Day is just around the corner, and I wanted to give you some ideas for event decor and ideas for the day. Although the Red, white, and blue backyard barbeque is more than appropriate, there are other colors you can use and other ideas worth trying.

Shades of army green--very neutral but outdoor ready. These colors can add even more patriotism to a party. They are appropriate and subtle. Search for neutral colored linens, adding green colored lanterns...

Blue and gold--navy colors. If you have a family member who has served in the navy--this is a bold color choice. Add bursts of yellow, summer flowers and include lamour ribbon...

Or if you want to do red, white and blue, I suggest choosing one of the colors and then accenting that with the other colors. Red and white linens with small hints of blue in florals or your beverages could be blue. These colors together are lovely--but use them in moderation.

As for themes, think outside of the general. Big band, swing dancing, welcome home, in honor of, flower power, etc. Think of a specific, patriotic song and build off of that. I like to think of the people and the eras. It makes for an interesting theme and one that is not run of the mill.

For creating a wonderful Memorial Day party--Remember the time, remember the people, and give thanks. All of this is something worth celebrating and definitely goes beyond the realm of "backyard barbeque."

I hope to hear some of your ideas as well! Please comment below!!

Sincerely,

Erin G.

the importance of a mindless day

Guilt. Lots of guilt. Today after doing nothing except watching tv I felt guilty. I'm on vacation so I shouldn't mind, but my personality tends to shy away from indifference. Then I realized I was breaking a cardinal rule when it comes to any "off" day...let it go.

This post should really be directed towards those who are planning an event especially a wedding. A mindless day must be budgeted in to your schedule. Some call it a "me" day. It is good to have a day of mental rest, a day without thoughts of your budget or seating charts or deadlines. Instead watch hours of tv. Have a glass of wine. Take a walk. Then, most importantly, don't feel guilty. I guarantee you have earned it.

And, if you feel like there is absolutely no way you can have a mindless day, then maybe you should give sweet nothings a call. An event should be fun and should not be so demanding that it dominates your life. So enjoy a mindless day. Rejuvenate and relax. Be refreshed for tomorrow.

Enjoying a desperate housewives marathon,

Erin G.

mother's day wish!

We here at sweet nothings hope that every mother had a wonderful mother's day! Thank you for all you do...we couldn't have done anything without you. Both figuratively and literally!

Lots of love and hugs,

Sweet Nothings

as i was digging in the sand...

Sillily I didn't bring a beach chair on vacation as I couldn't fit it in my suitcase. The beach chairs at the store were a little pricey considering I intended on leaving the chair for another lucky family.I instead decided to dig a lawn chair in the sand. It was very simple and I am not out 30 bucks! This made me think of some green ideas. And some ideas for savvy spenders who may be planning an event. Instead of renting chairs at 4 dollars a pop for your on the beach affair, why not buy eco friendly towels that match and can be incorporated into your design scheme. Once the event is over, your guests can take the towel as a favor from you. Your thank you to them!! Or you can donate the towels to a homeless shelter to be used again--tax deductible. The cost of eco friendly towels are about the same as your average towel, just a little more. In the end though--No big delivery trucks, no set up fee, and a smaller carbon footprint. This is my go green event tip for the day. I'll blog more about beach events when I can use all ten of my fingers to type.

Sincerely sandy,
E

shells, sand, and sun

Just arrived in south carolina to enjoy a week of creativity and relaxation. I'm spending the week with my mother and my sister. I've got pen and paper, my ipod, and some books. I'm already brewing up some fun ideas, and I can't wait to tell you about them. This typing with only your thumbs can be a little cumbersome. Either way, I will be getting back to you all soon with some fun ideas for green events and destination style creativity. Oh what you can do with a little vitamin A.

Until next time!

Stay fabulous,

E

bloggin on a blackberry...

I will be out of town for the next week with only a blackberry for posting. I'm learning still as I only got the blackberry today. If you enjoy cryptic messages and typos...this may be your week!

Have a lovely day,
Erin G.

these are a few of my favorite things!

Yes, I just sang some Sound of Music for you all! So, two of my favorite things in the whole world are color palettes and print materials. I love them. I love the wide range of design, the different genres, everything. Print materials are perhaps the most important part of any event. If you don't have them, no one will come AND no one will know why they are there. Dilemma. A print material or a cleverly, crafted email blitz (for the super green folks) is essential. Sweet Nothings specializes in this, so I wanted to give you a sample of what we do to prepare to design print materials and events in general. First, you have to choose a color palette. What does that mean? What I do--I go outside and look at natural colors...how nature has put them together. It's pretty impressive what you can find. Today, I see a lot of gray (it's pretty overcast) and green (the trees are a bloomin'). To me, that is a very cool modern look. Gray, shiny linens with a green, brocade accent--spring time!

Once we choose a few colors, then it's time to go to either a paper store or a fabric store and pick some swatches out. After that...well we should chat =). So this is all part of what Sweet Nothings does. I know that you can literally go crazy just trying to decide on colors for an event--for my wedding, I was borderline. Ask my husband. If you need some help, please email us!!! We would loooovvveee to talk to you!!

keep being simply fabulous,

erin

erin@bluelinestyle.com

The site...

Hello All,

While we have a blog up--we are still working on our website. We want it to be...well, perfect! When it goes live, we will let you know. It will be a fantastically big deal--accompanied with some sort of hoopla. Divine Hoopla. Hope you all had a wonderful Saturday!

By Blue...a blog.

Our first post! Hello, I'm Erin G., designer and lover of all things events. I can't wait for this blog to blossom!!! It's May 1st, and I have to tell you about a wonderful idea I was given while at the dentist office today. It is a sweet gesture and one that should be used more than just on May Day! While sitting in my dentist chair, I was asked, do you know it's may day? I didn't. Her response--when I was little, I used to get a bouquet of flowers on May Day, take it to someone's door, knock, and run away. Now, I am sure that this is a well-known custom, but I had never heard of it before. Then I thought--a great way to start our Sweet Nothings blog should be a way we can brighten someone's day. An event does just that, but why wait for that? I challenge everyone to take a little time out of your day and do something sweet. Nothing much. A sweet nothing.

I would love to hear about other "sweet nothings" that can be given to people! I plan on a weekly "sweet nothing" post!

To Beginnings!!

Erin G.