PeaPod

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays!   I can’t believe that Thanksgiving is in just 12 days away and my personal favorite day “Black Friday” is almost here.    I along with two of my best girl friends will be in full retail mode for all the madness that is associated with this great day starting at 4am!

 

First off, many thanks to our wonderful customers who participated in our baby pool as well as sent us well wishes on the birth of our daughter, Reagan.  It feels like it was just yesterday that she came in to our lives.  She is now three months old and truly the joy of our lives.

 

I wanted to take the time today to provide customers some “holiday etiquette” when it comes to addressing holiday cards and sending out those oh so cute holiday party invitations.  There is one common mistake that a lot of people make when addressing their holiday cards or holiday party invitations:  the spelling of the family’s last name.  For example, when signing your family’s name on your holiday card, or addressing your envelopes it is important to NOT use an apostrophe.

INCORRECT:  The Hedgepeth’s

CORRECT:  The Hedgepeths

 

Another appropriate way to address your family or the family you are sending a card or invitation to would be:

The Hedgepeth Family

 

The Holidays often bring families and friends together for holiday celebrations and there are some really cute holiday invitations out there.  Keep in mind when sending a holiday party invitation; it is crucial to send these out 3-4 weeks in advance.  I know that our family is always so busy during the holiday season as are most families so advance notice is a must.

 

I hope this information has been helpful and puts you in holiday card/party mode.   Have you ordered your holiday cards yet?  Only 27 more days to get those orders in!   Any of our holiday designs can be transformed into a super trendy holiday party invitation.  FACT:  Our busiest day is the day before Thanksgiving, so beat the rush and order EARLY!  Please note, turnaround times can be slightly extended during this time.

 

Blog posts will be few and far between until after the holiday season!  We may do a post here and there but look for us on a more regular basis in 2010!  We have some new and exciting things in store and can’t wait to share them with our fabulous customers!

 

Happy Holidays!

Susan

Holiday Birth Announcements

Our holiday season is in full swing! As we get closer to the holidays, more and more people will be asking 'Can we combine our birth announcements and holidays cards?'....the answer, of course, is yes! And it is oh-so easy too.

First, we have several designs already in our holiday birth announcement gallery. We hope to add a few more designs to the gallery over the next few weeks too! But, if you have your heart set on a holiday card, it is super-duper easy to make a few modifications and turn it into a combination holiday card and birth announcement!

In the holiday card gallery, fill out the custom design order telling us the name of the design you would like to modify and all of the birth details + desired holiday message. 

Easy-Peasy!

--heather

Charity, Cards + Coffee

      

So, Wednesday October 14th is my birthday! LOVE birthdays!! And, October is also a special month because it is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month {October 15th is the official day!}. This is a very special cause near + dear to my heart...
In years past, PeaPod has donated portions of profits to a truly wonderful organization
SHARE. This is also my family's personal charity of choice.

This year, we will ask you on facebook what your family's charity of choice is and random generator will pick ONE charity of which PeaPod will donate $100 to in your honor.

It only seems fitting that we pick the winning charity on October 15th. You, or your family members + friends can post your charity as many times as you would like...there is no limit! {the more times you post, the better your chances are of winning after all!}
However, you or your family members + friends MUST be fans AND, this is important!, it must be a REAL charity! You must be able to provide information about your charity {such as where to send the check to} if your charity wins.

I am firm believer that giving is important, and good for your soul!!

*remember, you or your family members MUST be a fan on PeaPod's facebook page to enter and win. There is no additional prize, just the good feeling that you helped contribute $100 to a very worthy cause! And, it must be a true charity! All 'fake' charities will be disqualified! $100 will be sent to winning charity in November and you will be notified when it is sent.

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 We launched our 2009 Holiday designs just a few weeks ago. Have you browsed thru and chosen a favorite design yet? I know, it's hard! I'm having trouble narrowing down my choices too!

If I had to pin them down right now, I would say Toy Solider, Candy Cane or Blitzen.
I have a thing for polka dots you could say! {and coffee, heart me some coffee!}

Susan fancies Tinker, Candy Dreams and Dazzle...all lovely choices!!

On our PeaPod Facebook Page, we will ask what your favorite holiday design is. Let us know by commenting, and you could win 25 FREE holiday cards AND a $10 starbucks coffee card!
Next Sunday night {October 18th}, we will tally up the responses and plug them into random generator to choose a winner.
ONE winner will be chosen and will be notified on facebook. HUZZAH!

Cards + Coffee...is there a better combo during the holiday season?!

*you MUST be a facebook fan to enter and win! Cardstock or photo paper may be ordered. You may combine your winning cards with your order but do NOT have to order additional cards to enjoy the free cards!
Starbucks cards will be sent WITH your cards, not before! 

Theme Thursday: Halloween Bash

We started this monster bash with a ghoulishly gorgeous invitation. Big, fun polka dots are scattered on the webby light black background. A friendly spider hangs down the middle with an inviting smile for your guests-to-be.

Our boo-tiful invitation sets the haunted stage for the entire bash::

First, look at that cake! I have a soft spot for cake...I LOVE to watch Cake Boss, Ace of Cakes so of course I would be drawn to well decorated theme cakes. I imagine the flavor to be a rich red velvet with decadent cream cheese vanilla frosting.

Your guests will smile with every bite they take using these festive utensils.

Spending the day before the party decorating will set the perfect spooky tone for your bash. It's all in the details! Look at those candy-filled candycorn holders with stuffed black crows adorning them...lovely! 

Place bowls of pumpkin seeds around your party area for guests to munch on throughout the party. And, at the end of the night, favor bags with stamped spider webs {playing off of the friendly spider from the invitation of course!} filled with my favorite treat, candycorn, will be no trick for your guests. Hand each guest one as they walk out.

Enjoy!

-heather

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invitation: custom for peapod  cake: flickr   party supplies: birthdayinabox.com  favors: paper-source and country living   decorations: country living

What sets PeaPod apart :: Photo Editing

Happy Monday! Is it raining where you are? Because it has rained for a week straight here!

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We know that there are MANY different companies you could go with for your announcements and cards, and we are so honored you choose us time and time again! We'd like to think that one of the reasons we stand out is our attention to detail. This includes photo editing. Now, I have said before how important fonts are, but even more important than the fonts {and design} are YOUR photos. Of course when sending in your photos, it's important that you use the best photos you can...in focus, no flash, proper lighting, etc.
But, it is my job to make the photos that you do send in look their absolute very best.
I literally spend hours EVERYDAY editing photos for customers. It's just what we do because if your photos don't shine, then we haven't fulfilled our end of the deal. And, we do this at no extra charge - it's all included in the superb customer service we offer.
We know that 'other places' simply crop-n-drop customer photos into their design templates, maybe reducing red eye and sharpening. But there is so much more to photo editing than that. And, yes, it is very time consuming, but oh so worth it and one of my favorite parts of the job!

Here are several examples of our photo editing skills :

The first several are of Miss Reagan, Susan's brand new baby girl {who turned a month old just a few days ago!} Isn't she just adorable?!

Did you know there is also a special technique to turning your photos black + white/sepia?
First, while your camera may have the option to snap your photos in black + white or sepia, it is not ideal to do this. You will lose so much of the detail!
Also, many photo editing programs have the option to 'desaturate' your photos. As you can see from the example above, there is a difference in doing it that way and doing it the proper way.

Even home snapshots can be edited to really show your baby off. The angle of the cropping is important too. It's good to get a nice, tight crop to bring focus to your subject.

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Even my own pictures need editing before I will show them off!
{yep, those are my kidlets, Lindsay + Cameron}

You really do not have to be a perfect photographer to have perfect pictures on your announcements or holiday cards! These pictures are the ones I used last year on my own holiday card, and they were far from perfect originally.

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I usually lay out a design BEFORE I edit the pictures for it. Let's take a sneak peek at a before layout and an after layout ::

See what a difference just a few simple edits to your photos can make!

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Now, let's take a look at a design with the photos just 'cropped-n-dropped' into the design::

Those are my original photos, and, while the subjects are quite lovely, the photos obviously have not been touched. The design really overpowers the focus here, and the subjects are not the main focus.

Now, here is the same design and photos, but this time, the photos have been edited ::

The subjects are still just as lovely but now they absolutely shine and really make this design pop. The focus is 100% on them, which is exactly how it should be with PeaPod's design taking backseat.

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We really do pride ourselves on our skilled photo editing ability! Each and every photo we use of yours will be put through an extensive round of editing. And, as you can see, it really does make a difference in the overall outcome of your chosen design.
We are asked often why there is a proofing turnaround time, which is usually 2-3 business days; why you as the customer are not able to view an instant proof when you place your order. Well, in short, this is why. Your photos are just too important to create an instant proof with little to no editing. Sure, it would be faster and you would probably be able to see a proof the same day, if not within hours, after placing an order. But we don't think it is worth it because in doing that, you would lose our white glove touch to your photos.
And, this is also the reason why you will never see an ordering system on our site that allows you to 'preview' your proof instantly by dropping your own photos into our template. This is our skill, and we want to WOW not only you but also your family and friends with it. We want to hold on to that personal connection with each and every one of our customers. It's just that important to us.

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As you prepare for the holiday season, and start to take pictures for your holiday card, remember, you do not have to take perfect pictures to have a perfect picture on your holiday card!

--heather

Facebook

Did you know PeaPod Announcements is on facebook? Become a fan today!

We have been previewing our 2009 Holiday Card Collection on our Facebook Page, and will continue to show sneak peeks of this years designs until we debut them.

We will also post special offers for fans only!

Happy Wednesday!

--heather

Announcing Reagan...

Personally, I could just eat her up...so lovely!! Susan is adjusting to motherhood and enjoying her perfect little girl. What a blessing she is!

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Blog posts will be light over the next few weeks as we gear up for our holiday release...

Happy Monday!

--h

It's a Girl!

Miss Reagan was born late last night after a very easy labor for Susan!
Reagan was 8lbs, 12oz and 22" {Susan was all belly, I have no idea where she was hiding that big of a baby!!}
Both Susan and baby are doing wonderfully and should be home some time tomorrow. The hospital internet is spotty, so no pictures yet! But, as soon I get some, I will share with you all.

Many happy thoughts for Susan and her family!!! :)

--heather

Reagan's 4D Ultrasound

Hello everyone!  As my pregnancy comes to an end and I await the arrival of our daughter, I thought I would share my wonderful ultrasound pictures that I had done at Triangle 4D Imaging Center .  We had the most wonderful experience and I highly recommend that all expectant parents have a 4D Ultrasound done if possible.  The clarity of the pictures were amazing and it was so neat to be able to look at her and tell who she favored.  I can't wait to meet her and kiss on those chubby cheeks (just like mine)!  I am including some of my other favorite images as well for everyone to see.  Ask your Obstetrician if they offer the 4D Ultrasound in your office.  I promise you will not be disappointed.  Thanks again to Kim at Triangle 4D Imaging Center for such an amazing job!  We have received so many praises on how wonderful our pictures turned out.  I know that years down the road, these will be precious keepsakes we can share with Reagan.

If you haven't entered the baby pool yet, it is not to late!  The pool is open until I deliver which should be any day now.  The winner will win a $75 gift certificate to use on any PeaPod product!  Good luck to all! 

 

Lovely Fonts

Font \Font\, n. [F. fonte, fr. fondre to melt or cast. See
 Found to cast, and cf. Fount a font.] (Print.)
 A complete assortment of printing type of one size, including
 a due proportion of all the letters in the alphabet, large
 and small, points, accents, and whatever else is necessary
 for printing with that variety of types; a fount.

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I love fonts. I spend hours upon hours looking through thousands of different fonts every year in search of the perfect one for my designs. And, much like your clothing and shoes become 'un-stylish', so do fonts. They have a good run and then it is time to find a new 'style'. Of course, you will always have your 'little black dress' of a font. A classic font that never goes out of style.
I deeply believe that a font sets the stage for your entire design. Next to your photos, they are the main characters of the design {no pun intended!}. As I am creating new designs, first in my head I lay out the theme I am going for and then I go on a search for the perfect font. I always decide on my fonts before I finalize the patterns or graphics- that's how important the fonts are!

Recently, we added the 'some of our favorite colors + fonts' page. That has been a huge hit and help to our customers! Almost every order references this page. I love the involvement it gives our customers in creating their design. Admittedly, I have even discovered new font combinations based on what customers have requested; combinations I otherwise never would have paired together but in the end adored how the fonts looked together.
As a rule of thumb, it is never a good idea to have more than 3 different fonts on one design. It's too much for the eye and makes the design look cluttered. I follow that rule to a tee. In fact, I only *usually* pair together two different fonts: a print and a script. I just don't feel like there is a need to combine three fonts. It takes so much away from the design.

I sat down and narrowed my absolute favorite fonts to three. It was not an easy feat! And, ask me again in a few months + they will probably have changed...again! I collect fonts like some women collect shoes!




Font 1: This is such a dainty font. I do think this font lends itself to being more feminine but it still works very well on a boy design. This font does not show up well as a background nickname font; it needs to be in the front with the full name using a print font to showcase the nickname. However, it can definitely be used for a nickname not directly behind the full name. It is best paired with both a serif and sans-serif font...it's a multi-tasking font!  I particularly adore the &/Ampersand in this font...so pretty!

Font 2: This has been my go-to font lately for site graphics and advertising! It's a strong, dominant font. I wish it worked better on birth announcements, but because it is not a 'sweeter' font, it doesn't. However, you will see it on many holiday designs this year and I use it regularly for birthday designs! This font has no title case.

Font 3: Gorgeous. Just gorgeous. This is a classic and almost timeless font. The capitals on this font are the reason I reach for it every time I need something for a traditional design. This font sets a very upscale feel to a design. I would not recommend it for a fun + whimsical card. This font deserves to be the showcase, so few patterns or graphics are needed to compliment it. If I need a script monogram, this will be my go-to font.

Never underestimate the power of a really good font and the effect it will have on your design!

If you ever have a question about fonts, please email us. There is nothing I would like more than to talk fonts with someone!

--heather

Hello Monday!

What a hot, hot day! Is it as hot where you are as it is here today? {in both TN + NC}

We started off the week with a fabulous newsletter. If you're not already signed up to receive our newsletters, we hope you will take a moment and do so! It's our way of staying connected with you and recapping all of the important happenings going on in PeaPod land.

In our newsletter, we debuted our frightful new Halloween Designs. They are perfect for sending out cards of your ghosts + goblins or for inviting guests to your monster bash!

We also announced the return of our design only service. When we first opened for business 4 years ago, this service was available. But as we grew, we had to discontinue it. Now, more than ever, it is time to bring it back. This design only service is easy on your pocketbook and still delivers the high quality designs you have come to expect from PeaPod.
This service will only be around until the end of December and then it is gone for good.

We hope you have a lovely week...we are on 'baby-watch' as Susan is due to deliver her baby girl any day now. Keep a look out for our big announcement because I will post it as soon as I hear, and I will share pictures as soon as I get them!

--heather

Coordinate your birth announcements with your nursery!

Happy Friday! This first week of school has been downright exhausting! It is so hard to get back into a routine, especially that of getting up super early. I am very thankful it is almost the weekend!

Yesterday, Susan shared with you her nursery. It is absolutely darling, and filled with my favorite brand: Pottery Barn! I will admit that PB is not a cheap brand, but the quality is worth every penny. And they are always so trendy that it is hard to resist.

I thought it would be fun to create a birth announcement that coordinates with her nursery bedding, The Katie Collection. It is such a popular and adorable set!
I love the modern, geometrical shapes used on the bedding. And, of course the splash of polka dots!

and the boy version...

The bright colors and sweet fonts are a delightful mix!

Wouldn't it be neat to send out and receive birth announcements that coordinate with the baby's nursery? I think it adds a very personal touch and really makes your announcement smart and unique!

If you would like to coordinate your announcement with your baby's nursery, send us snapshots of your nursery and a description of what you would like coordinated. We will make it happen!
And, if you would like to order any of the announcements above, we will be happy to oblige!

They will be listed on the site soon, but until then, just contact us!

Hope you have a very relaxing weekend...and hopefully soon we will be able to post some very exciting news about a certain birth!

--heather

Susan's Nursery: Pottery Barn Style

It is so hard for me to believe that August is FINALLY here and it is time to welcome our daughter Reagan into this world!  Our actual due date is August 14th and we are just so excited about her arrival!  I feel like it was just yesterday that after 4 digital pregnancy tests we found out we were expecting!  Time sure does fly! 

I did a blog on my personal blog in the beginning when we were trying to decide what to decorate her nursery in and after lots of discussion we chose the Katie Collection from Pottery Barn Baby!  We were so happy in the end that we chose this collection because it is so perfect and looks adorable in her nursery.  I just love her crib and how cute it looks with her bedding!!!!!!!

Her nursery is still a work in progress but I did want to share with you some pictures of what we have completed thus far.  We are still waiting to hang in her letters behind her crib along with some special homemade canvas artwork done by a friend of ours to coordinate with her bedding.  

Thanks to Reagan’s Nana and Papa we have this AMAZING dream rocker from Pottery Barn Baby as well.  We are so excited about how beautiful it turned out with her other white furniture.  Her daddy even bought her this very LARGE piggy bank that will take FOREVER to fill! 

Another one of my favorite pieces in Reagan’s nursery is her changing table.  Thanks to our good friend, Stacey, for giving us this really nice piece of furniture along with our crib.  Her changing table has lots of storage and I love that I can keep all of the necessities within arms reach in her basket on top.

Above her changing table, we purchased this shelf to house pictures and her silver keepsakes that she has received thus far.  My lovely co-worker Cathy made her these super cute picture frames and even used one of her 4D ultrasound pictures.  

For my favorite part of her entire nursery!  HER CLOSET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Thanks to so many friends and family and a few purchases from her mommy and daddy, she will be a well dressed little girl!  In case you are wondering, there are a variety of sizes in her closet up to 12 months old so they are not all newborn and 0-3 months!  How much fun are we going to have putting her in all of these cute outfits!!!! 

Another essential part of any nursery, DIAPERS AND WIPES!  As you can see, thanks again to many friends and family, we are so fortunate to have so many diapers and wipes (at least it seems like a lot)! 

We are so grateful to be bringing Reagan into a world full of wonderful friends and family who already love her so very much!  I look forward to updating this blog as well as my personal blog of products that I just can’t live without and many pictures of Reagan.  Etiquette Wednesday  will return after her arrival.  Don’t forget, it’s not too late to enter our baby pool!  The pool is open until I deliver and the winner receives a $75 gift certificate to PeaPod!  The gift certificate sure would come in handy for Holiday cards.  Thanks again to everyone who has emailed me well wishes and provided me with words of advice for the upcoming arrival of our daughter!  I am so grateful and can’t wait for everyone to meet her!  Stay tuned to the PeaPod home page for updates on Reagan’s arrival!

-Susan

Customize: a new baby shower invitation

Hello! With school finally back in session here in TN {yes, they start early. We are on a 'year round' schedule}, we can finally resume the blog. We have missed it!

Susan is due* ANY DAY now with her daughter. We are all on watch and she is super excited/anxious to meet her.
A few weeks ago, she had her 2nd 4D ultrasound. My youngest is 7, and can I just say how amazed I am by the advances in ultrasounds? They did not have these when I was pregnant 8 years ago, and certainly not at a facility where you could just walk in and have an elective ultrasound for fun! Insurance was very particular about scans and they cost a fortune. Not anymore!
Susan had hers done at Triangle Imaging Center and was super pleased with the service and final images. I was in awe over the clarity of the pictures of Miss Reagan.
So much so, that we decided to create a few baby shower invitations using a few of the images.
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Plush Girl

Plush Boy

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These aren't on the site ...yet. But look for them, in addition to a few others, in the coming weeks.

Using ultrasound pictures on your baby shower invitations, or just an announcement with the ultrasound pictures on it, is a great way to keep your family + friends informed during your pregnancy and get a sneak peek of your little one or ones. When a baby is on the way, everyone is curious and as the weeks dwindle down, it gets more and more exciting! What a treasured keepsake you will be sending to your loved ones!

Another option is to include a maternity photo on your baby shower invitation. Susan also had these taken and they were gorgeous! We will be using a few of those images for our new invitations as well, and I am sure Susan will adore having these pictures to remind her of this very special time in her life.

If you would like to order these invitations, or a custom one, for your baby shower before they are listed on the website,email us and we will be happy to create one just for you!

A special thanks to Triangle Imaging!

--heather

*It's not too late to enter our 'baby pool' for Susan! You could win a $75.00 gift certificate to be used at PeaPod Announcements
Enter here

Contest ends when she has her baby which is any day now!

Etiquette Wednesday: Baptisms and Christenings

Happy Wednesday!  I hope this post finds everyone doing well and staying cool in this July heat. I am in the home stretch  of my pregnancy (less than a month) and soon my husband and I will be meeting our daughter.  I thought for the next few weeks I would focus on different religious ceremonies for infants and children.  Today's focus is on Baptisms and Christenings and hopefully will provide families with a few guidelines and tips to keep in mind when preparing for such special occassions.

Source:  Emily Post’s 17^th Edition Etiquette

Baptisms and Christenings are terms that are often used interchangeably, and while there are similarities, there are differences. A baptism actually admits the individual into the Christian life and a christening is a baptism in which the child is named.   Both services involve using water to sprinkle on the child's forehead, however, Baptist and Eastern Orthodox churches actually practice total immersion in water.  Baptisms are always free of charge since it is a church sacrament, but often times families will give money or a check to the officiant who performs a christening as a personal thank you. 

It is important to make sure that new parents check with their local worship center in order to find out what needs to be taken care of in advance of the ceremony.  Often times, churches only allow baptisms on certain dates and require that parents take a class in preparation of the upcoming ceremony before the baby even arrives. 

Christening gowns are generally the choice attire for both males and females and are often white in color.  In keeping with tradition, it is very common for the child to wear a gown that was a family heirloom.  If there is no family heirloom, then any plain white dress or outfit will suffice.  Older children who are baptized later in life generally do not wear white unless custom calls for white attire. 

Receptions following a baptism or christening are often held for close friends and family to show appreciation for their attendance.  While not necessary, it does provide friends and family the opportunity to gather and fellowship in celebration.  Generally, receptions will have champagne or punch and toasts will be made to the child's overall health and prosperity.  The reception can be as elaborate or as informal as a family desires. 

While not obligatory, gifts are often given that reflect a religious theme such as a special picture frame with the date of the service, a keepsake Bible or a porcelain figurine reflective of the special day.

While not shown on our website, we would love to create a custom Baptism or Christening announcement and/or invitation just for your families special occasion.  Please feel free to email us at hello@peapodannouncements.com with any questions you may have.  We will be more than happy to assist you!

I hope this post has been helpful and if you have any questions and/or comments please email me at susan@peapodannouncements.com.  Remember to send me an email with topics and/or questions you would like to see discussed on this blog.  See you next Wednesday!

Stay cool

-Susan

Susan's Baby Pool

As most of you know, Susan is pregnant and due very soon! {August 14th to be exact!}
And what fun would we be if we didn't set up a 'Baby Pool' for her!

Throw your guess in here ::

Susan's Baby Pool

The game name is 'peapodbaby'

And we already know she is expecting a girl - multiple ultrasounds have confirmed this but if you feel strongly otherwise, go ahead and put 'boy' for the gender. But don't tell Susan because she will have A LOT of returns to makes!

The winner of the pool will receive a $75.00 gift certificate for PeaPod Announcements.

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*winner will be generated by ExpectNet.com and announced after Reagan's birth
when guessing, you will be required to supply your email address so we may notify you if your guess is correct.

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I put my guess in already {just for fun of course!} and now it's YOUR turn!

--heather

Theme Thursday: Patriotic Birth Announcement

A festive design for your little firecracker

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A confession: the color palate for this design was inspired by my current guest bathroom makeover. But isn't it lovely?
Rich coffee brown used as a backdrop and the anchor color for the design. A dark cherry red and royal blue are perfect accent colors that add a splash of color.
And, of course, in addition to the bursts of star design elements, there are polkas scattered in the background.
Using Susan's monogram tips from yesterday, a simple 'H' initial for baby's first name is centered in the main focal star.
Centering the only picture between two cherry red bars takes a play on 'Stars and Stripes'.

A polished design created just for your sparkling firecracker!

--heather

Etiquette Wednesday: Monogramming

Happy Wednesday!  I hope everyone had a safe and fun filled 4th of July.  With Reagan's birth quickly approaching, I have been receiving numerous gifts with her monogram and I think they are all just adorable and what a great gift idea!   I have lots of items myself that have my monogram on them and they are some of my very favorite items.  So what better topic to disucss today than monogramming!

Source: Emily Post’s 17^th Edition Etiquette

 

Monogrammed gifts generally include a wide array of items such as stationery, linens, flatware, jewelry,barware, and clothing.  The following guidelines should be followed when monogramming. 

 

We will use my name and my husband Kent's name as examples for the following scenarios: 

Susan Gupton Hedgepeth and Kent

 

Single, not married:   SGH (If all initials are the same size)  OR  SHG (if the center initial is larger)  OR  H

    *the following monograms are traditionally used for stationery or jewelry, but certainly can be expanded to include other items as well. 

 

Married couple:    SHK (the wife's first initial goes first followed by the joint last name and the husband's first initial)

    *keep in mind, when purchasing a gift for a married couple, you can always opt to use just the single initial; ie:  H

 

Married woman with hyphenated married/last name:  SGH-A  or  SH-A

     *this can be done either with the full name and the hyphenated last name or you can use just the first initial followed by the hyphenated last name.

 

Married couple, when wife keeps her madien name:  G * H 

      *the maiden name and the husband's last name initials are often separated by a dot or some form of a design. 

 

 

Keep in mind when having linens monogrammed, most people prefer the single last-name initial or hyphenated initials for couples who have a hyphenated last name. 

 

If you choose to monogram a piece of flatware, it is common to just use the last initial. 

 

When purchasing stationery, keep in mind, that any of the above forms are appropriate and it is simply a personal preference. 

 

 

I hope this post has been helpful and if you have any questions and/or comments please email me at susan@peapodannouncements.com.  Remember to send me an email with topics and/or questions you would like to see discussed on this blog.  See you next Wednesday!

 

-Susan

 

 

Hello Monday!

We hope you had a very relaxing and safe holiday weekend! It was a very wet weekend in Tennessee!

The 4th of July marks the official start of holiday card designing here at PeaPod. I know, it seems surreal to be thinking of the holiday season already...but we are!

But before the holiday season comes, we will have another fun and much anticipated event happen...Susan's baby is due in about one month! We thought it would be interesting to start a Baby Pool for Susan. Look for details on that later in the week!

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I'm also looking forward to discussing some of my favorite fonts with you and how they can be used to set the tone for your announcement or card. And, I have a lovely 'Americana' themeboard in the works for Thursday...quite fitting for those firecracker babies!

We hope you continue to enjoy the long, lazy days of summer!

--heather

Etiquette Wednesday!

Happy Wednesday!   I wanted to do something different for today's post.  Since the 4th of July is this weekend and a lot of families attend parties where there is food involved, I thought I would share two great recipes that I always prepare when I attend a party.  It is customary for guests to bring a dish of some sorts to show their appreciation for the invitation.  The recipes below are just a sampling of a few of my favorite party dishes and I love them so much because they are so easy to prepare.  Until next Wednesday, I hope everyone has a safe 4th of July.  Enjoy!

Appetizer:  Susan's Con Queso Dip

**I often double this recipe when attending a party because it is such a crowd pleaser**

1 lb hamburger

1 lb sausage (hot)

1 lb Velveeta Cheese (cut into cubes, for easier melting)

2 cans Rotel Tomatoes (Hot)  DO NOT DRAIN

1 onion

1 can green chilis DO NOT DRAIN

Brown hamburger, onion and sausage.  Drain grease and return to pan.  Add the can of green chilis, Rotel  and the cubes of Velveeta.  Once the cheese is melted and mixture is semi-boiling, transfer to a crock pot and cook on low or warm.  Serve with your favorite tortilla chips.  YUMMY!

Dessert:   Susan's Strawberry Pudding

**Don't count on having any of this left at the end of the party**

1 qt. strawberries, sliced

1/2 cup sugar

1 small pkg of strawberry JELLO

2 small pkgs. of instant vanilla pudding

3 cups cold milk (for pudding)

1 cup sour cream

1 large cool whip (thawed for easier spreading)

1 box vanilla waefers

Heat strawberries, sugar and JELLO  just enough to dissolve JELLO, stirring constantly.  Cool.  Mix pudding and milk by directions on the box.  Add sour cream.  Fold in 3/4 of  cool whip.  In large dish, layer waefers, pudding mix and strawberries.  Repeat until all are used.  Chill slightly and cover with remaining cool whip.  Garnish with sliced strawberries.  Refrigerate.   WOW! 

**Try adding fresh blueberries as a garnish with the strawberries for a 4th of July look.  The dessert will look so festive with the red, white and blue!  Guests will think you spent hours preparing this simple dish**

-Susan

Customize Tuesday: Our Favorite Colors + Fonts

Happy {late!} Tuesday!
Before our vacation 2 weeks ago, we added a new section to the website: Our Favorite Colors + Fonts.
We're often asked for our opinions about colors and fonts, so we thought this would be a good starting point for our customers to refer to. And it has really taken off! So much so, that originally, we only had through the letter 'L' for fonts and have since added through the letter 'Z'.
The colors used are the colors I find myself designing with time and time again. They are classic and lovely, and each of them has the ability to be lightened or darkened for complimented accent colors.
Of course, there are so many options for colors and fonts, you are not just stuck with these. These are just our personal favorites.

Since adding this feature to the site, almost every order we have received has referred to a color from this chart or a font from the list. We are so happy this has aided you in making your announcement truly unique!

Today, I am going to customize one of our new designs using colors + fonts from this section. The design is our Dusk design found in both girls and boys for birth announcements + adoption announcements. We just added this design last month and already it is quite popular!

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Dusk Girl

The original design uses a pale, dusky pink and a slate gray. The side boasts a classic hounds tooth pattern.

Using Colors 3 and 17 + Fonts M and Y

3:   bubblegum pink {accent color 3 shades lighter for hounds tooth pattern and faded nickname + text on bar}
17: oak brown

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Dusk Boy

The original design uses a pale, dusky blue and a slate gray. The side boasts a classic hounds tooth pattern.

Using Colors 8 and 10 {4 shades darker} + Fonts I and R

8:   dark peapod green { 2 shades lighter for faded nickname}
10: 4 shades darker for contrast against the darker green, bright, sky blue

Text is a pure white.

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With just a few simple color and font changes, this design takes on 2 completely different looks.

If you have any color or font suggestions, we are happy to hear them as we will continue to add to our list of favorites!

--heather

Happy Monday!

Happy Monday!  We can’t believe it is almost July and the 4th is this upcoming weekend!  We would like to take this time to wish each and every one of you a Happy 4th of July weekend!  Please take a moment to remember why we celebrate the 4th each year and all of the freedoms we enjoy thanks to each of our service men and women past and present.  Without each of them, we surely would not have the freedoms we enjoy each and every day.

This month has been a very productive month and a month full of new changes throughout PeaPod.  We sent out a newsletter this morning to our customers and encourage each of you to sign up for our newsletter if you are not currently a subscriber. We generally send out a monthly newsletter with all the wonderful happenings in PeaPod land as well as upcoming specials or upcoming events we may be offering to customers.

We are very fortunate and excited to have found 3 very talented designers who all bring so much creativity to PeaPod.   Each of them has a keen sense of style and offers our customers a great selection of designs.  Each of their designs can be found on our website along with our lovely designs.  We are always updating our product line so please check in frequently for new designs.

Another major change, one that we are quite proud of, is our new ordering system.  In the past customers would submit their order form which was separate from the design they were wishing to order.  This method often left customers confused and asking questions.  Now, our customers can choose the design they wish to order and order directly from the same page.  Once an order is placed, customers are directed to our Paypal page for payment.   Uploading pictures is also much easier than before.  Pictures can be uploaded directly from the design page or from our home page.   We have been using this system for a little over a week now and we have had positive feedback about the convenience of our new system.  It is always our goal to place our customers first and we hope that by implementing our new order system, we will continue to maintain quality customer service with the ease of ordering your lovely keepsakes.

We continue to be impressed with our growing fan base on Facebook and would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has become a fan of ours!  It is hard to believe that in such a short period of time we are already at 189 fans!  How exciting!  As an incentive to reach new fans, we are offering our 200th fan a free set of KIT cards in the design of their choice.  Simply send us an email to hello@peapodannouncements.com when you see that you are our 200th fan and we will give you a special code to use at checkout.  Our goal is to continue to provide updates on our Facebook page as well as keep customers informed when we have new designs and changes in PeaPod land.

Last but certainly not least, a huge thanks to ALL of our loyal customers out there!  You guys are the reason behind our success and we look forward to continuing to serve you with all of your stationery needs.  Remember to sign up for the newsletter on our home page.  You will receive exclusive information from time to time and even discounts!

-Heather and Susan

Etiquette Wednesday: Baby Showers

Happy Wednesday!   I hope everyone is doing well and staying cool in this heat especially all the pregnant women out there.  Today, I want to discuss baby shower etiquette.  I have had two baby showers so far and am having one on Sunday and I must say they are so much fun.  It is great to open gifts that are just so cute!  It really is amazing all the great products on the market for newborns.  With that being said, I would like to give all expectant moms and the hostesses of the event some etiquette guidelines to keep in mind.  

 

Source: Emily Post’s 17^th Edition Etiquette

 

·         Baby shower invitations should be sent out anywhere from three to six weeks before the event.  Make sure to always include on the invitation where the new mom and dad are registered and any important information guests should know when shopping for the baby.  For example, “It’s a GIRL/BOY!”, the theme of the nursery and any particular colors you may wish for guests to keep in mind when shopping for the upcoming addition.  On my recent invitations, we included her name for those oh so important monogrammed gifts. 

 

·         In past times, the mother was generally the honoree, but today many hosts are throwing couple showers to include both parents to be.  It is also becoming more common for men to be the honoree at the shower.  For example, often a man will be honored with a baby shower from his co-workers in anticipation of the new arrival. 

 

·         Generally speaking, baby showers are held approximately four to six weeks before the due date.  This helps new parents prepare the nursery, purchase items that are still needed post shower and simply relax.  I have had many people ask me if it was ok to have a baby shower once the baby was born and the answer is ABSOLUTLEY!  What a great way to show off your new addition.  If one wants to wait until after the baby is born to give a baby shower, it is important to try and have it within a few weeks of the birth. 

 

·         Another question that is often asked about baby showers today is who can and cannot host or help host a baby shower.  In the past, generally immediate family did not host or help host a shower for their daughter or daughter in law.  However, times have changed and thank goodness they have!  It is acceptable for anyone to host a shower or help host a shower. 

 

·         For those of you who have adopted recently, it is also acceptable to have a shower for your new addition as well.  Often, depending on the age of the child, showers are given after the adoption is finalized.  Invitations often include the age of the child as well as the size clothing that is desired. 

 

·         As always, thank you notes for gifts received at the baby shower should always be personalized with the name of the gift that was received as well as what uses you may have for the gift.  A personalized thank you note will really please the gift giver and let them know how much you appreciated them taking the time to put so much thought into your gift.  It is also appropriate to have the expectant dad assist in writing the notes to help get the notes out in a timely fashion. 

 

·         Most parents to be these days typically register for gifts they feel are necessities; therefore,  making shopping for the honoree quite easy.  Gifts vary from shower to shower and often include personalized gifts that the new family will be able to cherish for many years to come.  The most common shower gifts often include clothing and linens.  Trust me, they are both welcome and appreciated by new parents. 

 

I hope this information has proven to be helpful.  Please feel free to email topics for discussion or any questions to susan@peapodannouncements.com.  I am always looking for ideas for the blog and love hearing personal customer feedback.

 

See you next Wednesday!

- Susan

Etiquette Wednesday: Housewarmings

Happy Wednesday!  Hope everyone is having a lovely week!  With the economy like it is today, the government is trying everything in its power to offer potenital home owners incentives to buy a house.  I know that a lot of my friends are building or buying houses by the end of 2009 so they can receive the $8000 tax credit that is being offered.  With a new house often comes a house warming or an open house get-together and I thought that some proper etiquette on the subject might help our customers.  Outlined below are just a few suggestions to keep in mind when thinking of throwing a housewarming party.

Source:  Emily Post's Etiquette Guide 17th Edition

DO invite your neighbors over to meet your family and friends who live outside of the neighborhood.  This is a good opportunity to have everyone meet and mingle over cocktails and appetizers. 

DO plan on showing everyone your new home.  The purpose of a housewarming is to show off your new purchase.  Be proud of the work you have done on your new home and offer the opportunity to either walk around openly and explore your new home or either offer tours to guests. 

DON'T forget to make sure that someone is available to mingle with guests and greet them as they arrive if you are giving guided tours.  You want to make sure that everyone feels welcome and mingles with fellow guests. 

DO anticipate guests bringing gifts to the housewarming party.  Some new home owners create a registry at a home store such as Lowes or Bed Bath and Beyond to help make it easier on guests to select an appropriate gift.  However, most guests will bring a gift of their liking to the party. 

DON'T forget to write a thank you note for each gift received.  It is important to verbally thank each guest as they give you their gift, but a handwritten thank you note is most appreciated. 

DO have fun planning your party and DON'T stress over the small stuff.  Most new homeowners typically wait until they have their house decorated and "home like" before throwing a party.  There is no set time frame to have the party.  Often, people wait until the weather is nice so they utilize the outside space for guests to meet and mingle in addition to the space inside their home.

We would be delighted to create a lovely housewarming invitation or moving announcement to send to all of your friends and relatives.  Moving announcements are very popular ways to make friends and family aware of your new location and will come in handy during the holiday card rush!

I hope this information has proven to be helpful.  Please feel free to email topics for discussion or any questions to susan@peapodannouncements.com.  I am always looking for ideas for the blog and love hearing personal customer feedback.  We will be closed next week so look for a new blog post on June 24th! 

-Susan

Happy Monday {albeit a tad late!}

We hope you all had a lovely weekend! Ours got started out fabulously with the PeaPod Birthday party we hosted on Friday night. A HUGE thank you to everyone who stopped by and mingled + played some games. We are so delighted the party was such a HUGE success! {we've even heard ONE-OF-A-KIND thrown around...}

We've announced the winners on facebook, but here they are again ::

MEET AND GREET
25% off an order=Kimberly Young, Dana Martinez
Address Labels= Katie Wright, Bridget Allen
Fill in Thank You Cards=Wendi Sheehan, Lauren Wood

PEAPOD TRIVIA
K.I.T Cards + 30% off an order = Dora Bankester, Marcy Trott, Katie Wright, Miriam Close

NAME OUR CURRENT DESIGNS
Birthday Invitations {35} + matching thank you cards: Angela Crossland, Holly Cart

NAME NEW DESIGNS
50 Free Holiday Cards=
Girl: Mocha Latte à Mindy Fonseca
Holiday: Brightly Shining à Julie Norris
Bonus Holiday:  Midnight Sleigh Ride à Kathryn Walley

CAKEWALK WINNERS
one set of K.I.T. cards = Dana Martinez and Miriam Clouse

GRAND PRIZE WINNER
#16:  Kelly Humble
$150 gift certificate to use on ANY of PeaPod’s products! 

Originally, we thought we would be able to email all the winners by Monday, but give us just one extra day. Small glitch! You will hear from us on Tuesday with your special code to be used to redeem your prizes!

And EVERYONE who signed in will receive a special thank you from us...watch your mailbox soon!

Yipee!!

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In other news, PeaPod will be on a early summer break next week. There are a few things we want to reorganize behind the scenes and it's just easier when we're closed. Oh, and, your main designer is going on a family vacation, so perfect timing! {anyone familiar with Branson, MO? We've never been!}
All current orders need to be approved by Wednesday, June 10th in order to ship before we leave on Saturday, June 13th. And, we will stop proofing on Wednesday morning, of course. But, we are still accepting orders after Wednesday and will handle the orders in the order in which they were received.
As a special thank you for any delays caused by our break, we will extend a very generous offer to be posted on our home page after Wednesday.

We have a few new things in store for when we open back up on Tuesday, June 23rd.

During our break, we will also periodically update our blog.
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And, while we think they deserve a proper welcome and will certainly receive one upon our return, please take a moment and explore our new designs created by our 3 new talented designers. We are so excited! They will bring so much to PeaPod. Hello Dorie, Krysta and Sara!

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--heather

Name Those Designs!

Happy Friday!! And, HAPPY BIRTHDAY PEAPOD!!!! Tonight is the big night, we do hope you will be coming!
At the party tonight, one of our games will be to name these 2 new designs. These designs will be listed in our photo galleries for customers to order after they are named.

Without further ado...the designs!
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a dainty floral damask background in cocoa brown with a sweet scallop border in pale pink and cream.
an oversized script initial balances out the 3 pictures.

This design will be listed in our girl gallery and will have a boy counterpart on display as well.

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merry + bright, this design speaks for it's self! splashes of cheerful holiday green + red, poppy orange, aqua and lemongrass green are sprinkled around this hip holiday card. faded whimsical stars and polkas are scattered in the background on a bark brown canvas. we love that  this holiday card includes the family pet!

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So, get your creative juices flowing and your thinking cap on...we can't wait to hear what names you come up with for these 2 delightful designs!

See you tonight at 8:00 p.m. CST on our facebook page!

--heather

Theme Thursday: PeaPod's Party: Hot Pink + Lime Green

Friday {TOMORROW!}, PeaPod will be celebrating our 4th birthday. Of course I wanted to plan an entire party around our hot pink and lime green invitation:

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The polkadot party hat is lovely to hand out to guests as they arrive; the colors are so fresh and they really pop with our theme. The hot pink and lime green party supplies are great for serving all of our party treats on. With a few balloons scattered around the room, our party will become very festive.
And speaking of treats, how incredibly awesome is the cake. It's a perfect blend of whimsy and modern with polkadots, stripes and argyle print. The colors scream delish. We imagine this cake is a rich chocolate flavor with buttercream frosting.
Dainty roses and daises in a mixture of hot pink, pale pink, spring green and white adorn each table as the centerpiece. Our guests will delight in the fragrance.
At the end of the party, colored pistachios fit snugly in these hot pink & lime green takeout boxes; the new trend in party favor boxes.
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Remember, tomorrow night is our big birthday party and we hope to see you there! It's from 8 - 10 pm {CST!} at our facebook page. You must be a fan to attend and be eligible to win a prize.

We are SO excited!!

--heather

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invitation: custom for peapod  party hat: pink frosting  party supplies: buy costumes  cake: pinkcakebox.com  centerpiece: amazon   takeout boxes:  a perfect favor  pistachios: the nibble.com

Etiquette Wednesday: RSVP

Happy Wednesday everyone!  I hope everyone is having a GREAT week and looking forward to the weekend.  It is also my hope that you all will be attending PeaPod's 4th Birthday Party on Friday evening!  Lots of fun is sure to be had by all and there will be great prizes! 

Today's blog post is short; however, it is a question that I am often asked;  Do I have to RSVP?  The answer is YES, YES, AND ALWAYS YES!   An RSVP serves many purposes and it is common courtsey to always let the host know if you will be attending a particular event.  Often, response cards are sent for weddings and formal events in order to have a proper head count for the caterer, reception venue, etc.  However, it is also common to ask for an RSVP on an informal invitation such as a child's birthday party, graduation party, and/or cocktail parties. 

Keep in mind, that when you send out an invitation asking for an RSVP, make sure to ALWAYS include either an address to mail the response card (generally weddings and formal events) OR a telephone number where guests can reply.  It is also important to always make sure to assign a date for an RSVP a couple of days before the actual event for informal events or approximately two weeks or more for formal events.  This will allow you time to contact ones who may not have sent in an RSVP before the date requested. 

I hope that this blog post has been helpful and we look forward to seeing you all at the big bash on Friday night at 8pm CST.  Remember, if you have a particular topic you would like me to post information on or questions you would like to ask, please email me at susan@peapodannouncements.com .  I love hearing feedback from customers and I try to cover topics that are important to our customers.  See you all Friday night and back here on Wednesday! 

-Susan

Customize Tuesday: Turning PeaPod's Invitation into a Real Design

Happy Tuesday! Hopefully, many of you are making plans to attend our big bash on Friday night!

Yesterday, I invited you all to our birthday party with this invitation:

Hot pink and lime green is a very trendy color combination right now, and we think it is just so fresh and modern. Of course I had to throw in some oversized polkas...I like to think of them as our signature as I started using them 2 1/2 yrs ago, before everyone else, when small, petite polkas were still the 'in' thing. {I was still designing with those too; I mean come on, polkas are fun!}
The number four used as a candle finished off this simple yet playful design. It definitely sent an upbeat message to all of our guests!

Using this invitation as a base, I created 2 new designs for a special birthday child.

Keeping the same colors and fonts, I added a picture of the birthday child. I also positioned the wording to play off the number four.

A boy version:

I wanted to keep the same lime green because it really is so fresh right now, perfect for all your early summer parties. I used bright baby blue as the main color, + I LOVE the pop of orange in the candle, and kept the same fonts and position of text.

With just a few simple changes, we turned an invitation into something completely customized for you.

This design isn't added to our galleries, but if you would like to order it for your next invitation, I will be happy to customize it for you!

--heather

Monday News: A Birthday Bash!

Happy Monday!

Guess what? PeaPod is turning FOUR this week! I am so amazed by the last four years...and humbled, very humbled that so many people love my designs and this business that I started four years ago with no idea where it would lead.
So, to celebrate, we're having a party!!!

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To attend, first become a peapod fan on our facebook page. Only facebook fans will be eligible for the prizes we plan to give out. And boy do we have some snazzy prizes planned!! Seriously, it will be oodles of fun and we hope an enjoyable way to spend your friday night.
On party night, come to the facebook page and we will have a sign in and then the fun will begin! Susan & I will be hosting it under our facebook names, not peapod's name.
And please note the time, it starts at 8:00 pm CENTRAL TIME. If you are on the east coast, this is 9:00 pm your time. The party will last until 10:00 pm CST and while we hope everyone will join us for the entire party, we understand sometimes you just can't. We promise not to call anyone party poopers! :)

This week, all of our blog posts will be centered around the big day. And on Friday, I will debut 2 new designs that will be part of a fun party game.

We so look forward to seeing you all there!!
Please email us at hello@peapodannouncements.com with any questions!

--heather

Theme Thursday: First Birthday Boy Party

This week, we have customized a current birthday invitation + planned an entire party around the new invitation design.

Using the Sparkle Girl invitation design, we created a boy version and added a cherry on the cupcake instead of two candles. We changed the colors to a bright baby blue, and contrasting light and dark sea green. On the cupcake, we also added some lime green, sunshine yellow and a ruby red cherry.

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Our theme board ::

In addition to the new invitation design, we also created a custom thank you card that is printed with your child's name and folds over. The inside is left blank so you may write a special message to each of your guests.

A baby blue, bright blue, + sea green polka dot cake with a bow on top is utterly adorable and really carries our theme on to the next level. We were in love at first sight with this cake!  Adorned with birthday boy candles + a number one candle, this cake will be the centerpiece of your party, second only to the birthday boy of course!

Matching plates + napkins with a birthday boy mylar balloon adds a nice touch as well.
The cupcake pinata is a fun activity for your little guests, and we especially like the pull string idea for this young age group. Because this is a one year old's birthday party, only one activity is suggested. Little kids get over stimulated very easily, and we don't want any frazzled guests {or mamas!}.

Your birthday boy will look snazzy in a special birthday t-shirt that reflects the theme of your first birthday party. We love the colors and of course the polka dots!

Wonderful party favor suggestions for this age group include: Bubbles to blow outside, Little Golden Books to the guest from your child, play-doh {for guests ages 3+}, plastic sandbox bucket + shovel, a gift card for an ice cream sundae. It's not expected to overload your guests with party favors, and these are just small gestures to thank them for coming to your party. I always like to hand out something that will be remembered rather than several small junkie trinkets that will be lost and forgotten.

Remember, first birthday parties are so special! You only get one, so relax and enjoy the special day with your child. We hope the ideas in this post will help make your planning a little easier. And we also remind you that any of our designs can be modified to match your exact birthday theme. We know how important it is to get every detail in order for this big day and we want to make it extremely special and as stress free as possible for you!!

--heather

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invitation: custom sparkle girl   thank you card: custom   polkadot cake: cakebox   all party supplies, including plates, napkins, balloon + pinata: birthday express   birthday boy t-shirt: emtannerdesigns

Etiquette Wednesday: Adoption Annoucements

Happy Wednesday! I hope everyone had a safe and fun filled Memorial Day weekend with friends and family. This post is about Adoption Announcements and one that was requested for discussion by a very loyal customer to PeaPod. Thanks for the topic and I hope this is helpful to others.

Adoptions are becoming more popular each year and many new parents want to proudly announce the new addition to their family. However, there are still a lot of new parents who are not aware that adoption announcements can be sent to family and friends just as a regular birth announcement is sent. Here are a few guidelines to keep in mind when creating and sending these lovely announcements.

In general, most announcements are sent out after the legal side of the adoption is complete. Some families choose to wait until their new bundle of joy actually comes to live with the family. Both are acceptable and families should choose the one that best fits their family.

A lot of new parents wonder what information should be included on the announcement. The answer is quite simple and very similar to what would be included on a general birth announcement. Most families include the child's full name along with the parents' and siblings, the child's birthdate, the date the adoption took place OR the date when the child came to live with the family. If the child was adopted in another country, feel free to include the country where the child was born. There are many creative ways to include the information on your announcement and we would be delighted to assist you in creating the perfect wording for your special keepsake!

Most importantly, when it comes to announcing your special addition, HAVE FUN! You will often find that when you make it a fun family project, you will be much more pleased with the outcome. If there are siblings involved, include them and make them feel they are an important part of announcing their new brother or sister.

Finally, PeaPod has many options to help you announce your new addition. All announcements on our site can be customized and modified to fit individual needs. We would be delighted to create a special announcement just for you and if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at susan@peapodannouncements.com. See you all next Wednesday!

-Susan

Customize Tuesday: Turning a Birth Announcement into a Birthday Invitation

Happy Tuesday!

You know what I love best about our designs? How easily they can be customized and changed up to fit your needs. Have you ever browsed our birth announcement galleries and thought 'wow, that would make the perfect birthday invitation for my child; I wonder if they can do that?'
The answer is 'Yes, absolutely!'.

I would love to show you how easy it is to do just that.

Using our Dainty Girl design, I will make just a few modifications and voilà, the perfect little girl birthday invitation made just for you!

Original :: A background of strawberry pink in contrasting shades & a playful curve of kelly green with faded polkadots add whimsy to this design. This square preppy design is finished off with a cute focal font and simple accent fonts.

Modified Version :: Using the same preppy colors & fonts, we changed the size from a square 5x5 to a more postal friendly 5x7. Then, we added a light faded pink number '2' at the tip of the curve.
Birthday Girl's name remained under the picture with a birthday sentiment at the top. The party information was kept on one side of the bottom bar with the rsvp information on the other.
This custom invitation is easy to plan your entire birthday theme around!

Matching fill-in-the-blank Thank You Card :: To round out the perfectly matched set, we created a matching fill-in-the-blank thank you card.

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By making just a few simple modifications, we were able to turn a delightfully preppy birth announcement design into an equally preppy & adorable birthday invitation.
Easy-Peasy!

--heather

Happy Monday!

Just popping on here real quick to wish everyone a very safe + happy holiday! We will be back tomorrow for a week chock full of snazzy posts.
Enjoy!
--heather

A Parade of Debuts!

Happy {late!} Friday! We hope everyone has a very relaxing & safe long weekend. I am really looking forward to not getting up too early on Monday.

In addition to our customer proofs, I have created a few new designs for this week. My love for designing is the whole reason behind starting PeaPod Announcements almost four years ago; so to have the time to actually sit down & create is so refreshing!

First up, Tulle Boy Design

 

This design is so simple yet so classic. I absolutely adore the ornate first initial used paired with a simple typeface print. The colors, robin egg blue and lemongrass green are fresh & modern. This design is perfect for the modern parents with strong, classic tastes. 

The girl version may be found here.

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Splendor Girl

 

What I love most about this design are the cheerful colors; light lavender and contrasting light & dark spring green. The first initial is meant to stand out using one of my favorite fonts. I also love the play on polka dots in a very subtle way complimenting the strong stripes.

The boy version may be found here.

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There are 2 more designs we added to the galleries this week, each in their respective categories

Bippity Boy       Bippity Girl

Dusk Boy          Dusk Girl

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When I sat down to create these new designs, I posed the questions on our facebook discussion board about the different colors we should use. Should we retire the pink/blue & brown color combination.

I am huge fan of brown, it is among one of my favorite colors if not my absolute favorite. I am drawn to it! But, has it been overused? Maybe the color combination has been, but it is still so lovely, isn't it? I am sure I will continue to design using pink/blue & brown, although maybe experimenting in different shades. And, as requested, pink & tangerine orange will be a color combination I explore more of. After all, I design for you so it's important that you LOVE what I design!

--heather

Theme Thursday: Ice Cream Social Birthday Party

This week, we've taken one of our adorable birthday invitations and planned an entire party around it.
Enjoy!!
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Ice Cream Social Girl

The invitation uses bright colors such as strawberry pink and tangerine orange with a pool teal blue.
It is a fun & fresh design suggesting that your guests will have a delightful time at your bash.
Your 'cake' can actually be delish cupcakes cooked in an ice cream cone with buttercream frosting as the 'ice cream'. Don't forget the sprinkles!
Adorn each of your tables with a festive tissue tabletop ice cream sundae & a cherry on top. At the birthday child's seat, tie the ice cream mylar balloon on the back with pretty ribbon {we suggest polka dot ribbon of course!} and make sure to take plenty of pictures for the occasion. Confetti could be scattered on each table to represent sprinkles...use fun colors instead of primary colors!
Festive party games can include 'Pin the cherry on the sundae' and 'Make your own ice cream sundae' to eat with your 'ice cream' cupcakes. Be sure to include several different toppings that you would find in a real ice cream parlor; such as sprinkles, cherries, pineapples, marshmallows, hot fudge and caramel. A few bananas could be yummy as well!

When the party is over, thank each guest for coming and surprise them with a delicious party favor to-go.
We found adorable waffle ice cream cone bowls with spoons, perfect for holding a thing of colorful sprinkles {make sure the sprinkle container is clear so everyone can admire the array of sprinkles} and a gift card for a free sundae from Maggie Moos {our personal favorite, but any local ice cream parlor will be perfect!}. If you wrap the party favor in cellophane, tie it with the same polka dot ribbon used to tie the mylar balloon at the birthday child's seat.

A few days after the party, have your child thank each guest using fill-in-thank-you cards that matched the original invitation. This will round out your perfectly polished theme and delight your guests!

Your Ice Cream Social Party will be the hit of all birthday parties and your guests will be so glad they spent an afternoon enjoying delicious sundaes and good company!

--heather

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invitation: ice cream social girl   fill-in-thank-you card: ice cream social girl, custom   ice cream cone cupcakes: cakespy   mylar balloon: windy city novelties   ice cream sundae tabletop: party cheap   ice cream bowls: oriental trading   sprinkles: flickr   maggie moos giftcard: maggie moos

Etiquette Wednesday: Thank You Notes

Happy Wednesday!  I hope this post finds everyone doing well.  My apologies for a late post, my mini vacation also got the best of me and I am now paying for it.  Oh well, such is life! 

Today, I want to focus on the subject of Thank You Notes. A lot of people often think that a verbal thank you is sufficed when receiving a gift.  However, this is incorrect.  It is ALWAYS best to acknowledge the giver if possible in person once you receive their gift and then follow up with a personal thank you in writing. Thank You notes should be written and delivered within three months of when the gift was received. 

Another important reminder to keep in mind when expressing your gratitude for your recent gift is to always make your note personal.  For example, name the actual gift that you received in your note and let the giver know how you will in turn use this gift.  Personalizing your thank you note will really show the giver how much you truly appreciated your gift.  It is one of my biggest pet peeves to receive a thank you note that simply says "thank you for the gift you gave me at my bridal shower".  When I receive a note like this it leads me to wonder, if the person even remembered what I gave them? 

Children should also send some form of a thank-you note when they receive a gift.  It is not important if the note is neat or lengthy, but rather the thought that counts in this case.  Try to make note writing fun by encouraging your child to include a drawing.  This will make the thank you note that much more personal and the giver will be so delighted to receive something in their note created especially for them.  Until your child can write his or her name, it is acceptable to have a parent write the note but if possible, have your child scribble their name at the bottom of the note. 

PeaPod has over 150 different thank-you notes to choose from including the fill in the blank notes for children.  We believe in always saying thank you and why not be stylish at the same time?  Our notes can even be personalized to fit your needs.  We would be delighted to include a precious photo on your note to make it even more personal. 

I hope this post has been helpful and if you have any questions and/or comments please email me at susan@peapodannouncements.com.  Remember to send me an email with topics and/or questions you would like to see discussed on this blog.

Until next Wednesday, have a safe and Happy Memorial Day weekend.  Remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for us to enjoy our daily freedoms. 

-Susan

Customize Tuesday: Animal Crackers Design

This post was planned for yesterday, Tuesday, but my mini vacation got the better of me and I was just too wiped out to post it. So, a day late but still incredibly useful information and a fun design!

PeaPod Announcements offers over 50 irresistible birthday invitation designs. In creating these designs, I looked at not only some of the popular themes and colors, but also what could be used to build your entire party around. Everyone knows the best parties often start with the invitation and go from there!

Each & every design on PeaPod Announcements can be customized to fit your specific needs and desires.

Today, I am working with our fun birthday invitation design Animal Crackers.

Original :: A cheerful design using the colors of khaki, tangerine and buff grey. The animals work in a few other complimenting colors of dark khaki brown, golden yellow & oak brown. These colors are all very neutral and can support many other main colors.
The fonts were carefully selected to come off as playful and juvenile.

*hint, as a party favor, those small boxes of animal crackers that every child adores flows with this theme perfectly.

Modified Version One ::  This was an actual customization for a lovely customer. She wanted to use different colors. We used a baby blue with sunshine yellow as the backdrop color. Accents of dark sunshine yellow, electric blue and different shades of baby blue adorn this design. The animal crackers remained the same colors because as stated above, they do compliment any color quite nicely.
With just a few simple color changes, this design takes on a whole new look.
We kept the size {5x7} and fonts the same.

This design was printed on our luxurious linen cardstock with the design carrying over to the backside {at no extra charge! We ALWAYS carry over the front design so there is no blank backside for cardstock orders only!}

Modified Version Two ::  In this 2nd modified design, we have kept the same new colors chosen by the customer but added one pop of poppy orange. We changed the animal crackers to a transportation motif, very popular with little boys' birthdays. As before, the size and fonts remained the same but could easily be changed if you preferred.

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With just a few simple changes, this invitation went from our design template to something truly original and created the perfect theme for your child's birthday.

We look forward to creating something just for you today!

--heather

Monday News!

Happy Monday!  We hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.  We both went out of town over the weekend, so we appologize for any delay in email responses.  Susan is back today and Heather will be back in full gear Wednesday morning. 

 

Just wanted to remind everyone that our current promotion which runs through the end of May is 10 percent off our fun and lovely birthday invitations.  Please keep in mind that all of our designs can be customized to fit your birthday party needs.  We are here to help you create your special invitation!  If you don't see a particular theme that corresponds with your party theme, please let us know.  We love creating custom designs! 

 

Stay tuned each Monday for new and exciting news going on in PeaPod land!  We are working on lots of great things and can't wait to share them with you.  PeaPod Announcements will be celebrating its 4th birthday next month and we want you to help us celebrate!  Stay tuned for further details and promotions for this special occassion. 

 

Heather will have something creative on customization for tomorrow and I will be back on Wednesday with a new Etiquette topic.  Take care!

 

-Susan

Recent Designs Friday

TGIF!!! With both Susan & I taking a mini vacation this weekend, we hope you have a very relaxing and blissful weekend!

Here are just a few of our favorite designs from this week. A HUGE thank you to our outstanding customers who provide us with the most adorable baby photos to work with every week. Seriously, our job rocks!!
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Based off of our Peanut Boy design

A variation of our Baby Love Girl design

A birthday announcement based off our Bubbles Girl design

Based off of our Regal Girl design, and also the inspiration behind our Customize Tuesday post

Based off of our Polka Girl design

Based off of our Watermelon Girl invitation design

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We'll be back Monday with lots of exciting news & updates.

Toodles!

--heather

Baby Name of the Day : Reagan

It is such an honor to name another person. But oh my, the pressure! Some people believe that a baby's name will shape their future, their personality & even career.

In this business, I come across a lot of names. Over the years, I have developed a true passion for names & I love seeing new and upcoming names. I like to try and 'predict' what the next name trend will be {I was spot on with the Emma trend, and truth be told, it is a very lovely name!}

Susan, co-owner of PeaPod, is due with her first child, a daughter, in August. She and her husband have already picked out their name, and sent out announcements for the occasion!

{we think name announcements are a FABULOUS idea to start spreading the word & this will also take the pressure off to have those birth announcements sent out as soon as possible.}

I know that Susan and her husband had some compromising when choosing this name, but isn't it so sweet and timeless really?

Source: Baby Names World

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Gender: Both

Origin: Gaelic Meaning: Descendent of Riagán

Origin: English Meaning: Descendent of Riagán

Pronunciation: (RAY gun)   [Guide]

Form of:

Riagán

Categories:

Irish, Surnames, Celtic, American

Used in: English speaking countries

Additional info:

Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Ríagáin ("descendent of Riagán"). The meaning is uncertain. It is likely to be related to rí and thus means "like a king", or it may come from ríogach and mean "impulsive". Ronald Reagan was the 40th President of the United States.

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Of course, my mind wandered to Ronald Reagan and I was curious if this name became more popular during his Presidency.
I was quite surprised to learn that this name hit it's all time high in 2005 when it ranked #138 in Girls. {Highest in Boys was 2004 at #596...interesting note to point out is that President Reagan passed away in 2004}
During the Reagan 'era' {1980-1990}, it ranked #992 in Girls. Last year, 2008, it was #141 in Girls.

What I love most about Reagan though, is that while it is abundantly trendy, it is not overused. There won't be 5 other Miss Reagans in her class. She won't be known as 'Reagan H.'.

I think this name will be catching on & I'm sure we will be seeing more and more Reagans in our orders.

--heather

{a little history, my husband actually picked out both of my children's names: Lindsay & Cameron. Looking back, I have no idea how I let that happen but the names do fit them perfectly!}

Etiquette Wednesday!

Etiquette Wednesday!  Do vs  Don’t

        Happy Wednesday!  Each Wednesday, I will be posting some etiquette guidelines pertaining to birth announcements, birthday party invitations and whatever else PeaPod customers may have questions about.  I would love to post some of your questions each Wednesday to share with others.  If you have any questions, please email me at susan@peapodannouncements.com.  Remember, there is no question too small! 

   

    For this week, I want to focus on some very general guidelines for customers to keep in mind when working on birth announcements and birthday party invitations.

 

·        DO send out your birth announcements to family and friends.  The birth of a child is such a joyous occasion that you don’t want to limit yourself to just family.  Friends will be delighted that you took the time to include them in your special time.

 

·        DON’T feel that you have to have your birth announcements sent out the day you come home from the hospital.  Instead of stressing over getting your newborn’s precious announcements in the mail, spend time enjoying your precious bundle of joy.  Birth announcements can be sent any time within the first year. 

 

·        DO have fun with planning your child’s birthday party.  Children’s birthday parties are so much fun and you don’t want to get caught up in all the worrying that can often be associated with the planning process.  Decide on a theme for the party and then incorporate the theme with the invitation.  We have great new designs that can be customized in order to best fit the theme of your child’s party. 

 

·        DON’T send out your child’s birthday party invitations to early.  Parents of children often have busy calendars but you certainly don’t want to send out an invitation so early, that the party will be forgotten.  A good time line to send party invitations out for children is 2-3 weeks before the party.  If you send them out much sooner than that, they are often forgotten or overlooked.  It is always a good idea to make sure to include R.S.V.P. or Regrets Only on the invitation with a phone number to reply to in order to have an accurate head count of those who will be in attendance.   

 

 

If you don’t necessarily have a question, but just have a topic you would like more information on, please include that in an email and I would be more than happy to devote a specific blog to that topic. 

 

I look forward to another post on Wednesday!  Remember, send those questions and topics you would like further information on to susan@peapodannouncements.com

Customize Tuesday: Regal Girl Design

One of the most often asked questions is 'Can I change the color, design element or font & text on a design?'
The answer is ALWAYS Yes!! ALL of our designs may be modified to suit your needs. After all, we design for you!

Here is our first 'case study'. Taking the new Regal Girl design, we will alter it to show just a few of the ways we can customize designs just for you.

Original :: Beautiful Lavender with Oak Brown and a damask accent bar using a cocoa brown. The fonts are very upscale and remind us of 'regal' times, hence the name!

Modified Version One :: First, we have changed the size from the original 5x5 size to a popular 4x5 size. Then, we have changed the colors to a light apple green, strawberry pink with an accent of bubblegum pink. We removed the damask accent bar and added in a faded polka dot bar.
We changed the introduction line.

Modified Version Two :: We left all the above mentioned design changes in place but also changed the fonts to a more playful & cute font set. In changing the fonts, we also changed the order of the fonts from background to print and fore font to cursive. The cursive font would have been hard to see in the background {our expertise in design of course allows us to make these modifications and still know what will make your announcement rock!}

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See how just a few different changes really took an announcement from one look to another! And all the while, made it something that is uniquely yours.

We look forward to customizing your announcement today!

--h

New Structure for PeaPod Blog: Monday News

Happy Monday! I hope all of our fab readers had a blissful mother's day! Here in TN, it was one of the first days in over a week that it didn't rain.

Two weeks ago, we announced our REALLY big news of welcoming Susan. We made mention that some changes would be happening and, behind-the-scenes, we have been working on those changes slowly but surely.
They are all starting to fall in place and we will have many thrilling things to share with you all soon.

One of the small changes is how we will post on this PeaPod Blog. Up until this point, it has always been Judy, our fab shipping manager, posting designs we had created recently. Showing off our ORIGINAL & outstanding work!
But, we wanted you to know more about us, more about this company and our thoughts & ideas for various topics.

Our new posting schedule::

monday - news & updates for the week

tuesday - trends & customization abilities: this is where I will show you the options available to you for customizing each & every design. I hope this will help broaden the options you think are available at PeaPod!

wednesday - etiquette: Susan is the queen of etiquette! Here she will answer any questions you might have and also go over some of the most popular do's & don'ts.

thursday - Alternating between baby names: We will discuss some of the most popular & most unique baby names from actual customers. We will give meanings of the name & history. This will be fun!
and Theme Boards: We will take one design and plan an entire party, baby shower, nursery, kids room, etc around it. The possibilities are endless and I am really looking forward to this creative outlet!

friday - new designs & designs from the wk: We will post any new designs we debuted that week and also some of our most recent designs. We've been told by customers that they love viewing our past work for ideas on their cards!

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I'm already antsy for tomorrow's post...planning it out as we speak! See you tomorrow!

--h

FREE K.I.T. Cards TODAY ONLY {Mother's Day!}

Mama's are special at PeaPod Announcements!!
Today ONLY {Sunday, May 10th: Mother's Day!} between 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. CST ONLY, receive ONE free set of 50 K.I.T. Cards with shipping.
YIPEE!!!!

See site for details!

--h

Birth announcement for Cade.

You have got to love that smile! Blue with polka dots and stripes show off Cade.

Birth announcement for Quinn.

Big sisters look happy about their new baby sister. Pink with pale green polka dots makes a beautiful announcement.

Birth announcement for Carter.

How beautiful is this announcement! Blue stripes with green polka dots and a beautiful sleeping baby.

Birth announcement for Sadie.

Pink with brown polka dots with both color and black & white pictures show off this pretty little girl.

Birth announcement for Luci.

Pink with polka dots and a beautiful little girl make this a wonderful announcement.