InvitingSmiles Blog

Valentine’s Day 2011 is on a Monday, so there will probably not be as many Valentine marriages this year. However, many marriage proposals are still going to be made on this day of love. Proposing on Valentine’s Day has always been a memorable and romantic gesture. Hiding the ring in a box of chocolates, at the bottom of a glass of champagne, under her napkin at dinner, or in her favorite bouquet of flowers is an idea used by many.

If you would like to make your Valentine proposal more memorable, here are a few ideas:

• Poems are always romantic especially when written by your loved one. If you have a poetic talent, or a songwriter down deep inside then use your talents to express your love. Your poem/song will be more personal and thoughtful than something copied.

• A message in a bottle - Living close to a beach offers many advantages for romance. Set up an area for a picnic and evening at the beach to watch the sunset. When she is not looking, bury, or hide a bottle close by. Then nonchalantly find this bottle with a message inside.

The message will mean just as much as the effort of the proposal, so prepare a sweet and personal note to your loved one.

• Proposals are meant to be memorable. If you eat out all the time, then a romantic Valentine dinner at home may be more memorable. The private setting can be perfect for an intimate wedding proposal. The opposite is true if you eat in all the time. Choose an upscale restaurant for a special dinner out. Plan ahead so reservations can be made and your timing can be set.

• Pets are sometimes very much a part of your loved one’s life. If she has a dog, or cat, that she cherishes than use their services to help deliver your Valentine proposal. Attach a sweet note to their collar. When she goes to pet them, she will find your note.

Planning ahead is very important. What you are going to say, or write in a proposal should be heartfelt. Planning may also help calm any nerves that you have. A Valentine Day proposal will be a lasting memory that you can talk about over your many years of marriage.

Bonne Annee is French for Happy New Year, and the French certainly do know how to celebrate a Bonne Annee. As we know, in America we celebrate New Year’s Eve, recuperate New Year’s Day and then move on. However, in France the greeting card industry is happy to say that French mailboxes are filled throughout the month of January with gifts and cards wishing loved ones the very best for the New Year.

During this festive celebration, champagne and special chocolate treats* are shared among party goers. As you would expect, there is always something to do in Paris. Fine dining, cruises, shows, whatever your taste desires, you can find it in Paris. Simply walking among the streets of Paris offers entertainment. Since it is legal to purchase and discharge fireworks, you may see them being set off in the streets amongst celebratory cheers.

*Papillottes are special chocolate treats wrapped in a festive wrapper. These adorable little treats offer a fun pop when the wrapper is pulled at both ends. There is also a joke written inside to tickle your funny bone.

France begins their celebration as we do at midnight January 1st. They traditionally celebrate throughout the week ending January 6. On the last day families celebrate with a la galette des rois (a special cake). Baked inside this cake is a trinket of some sort. Whoever gets the slice of cake with the trinket is crowned King/Queen of the day.

This year we will add a little Paris to our celebration. We are sending New Year cards to our family and friends. I also intend to bake a cake with a goody inside for my family to enjoy. Bon Appetit and Bonne Annee!

If you want to keep a close eye on your teen during New Year’s Eve, then be the hangout house where the party is. Being the hangout house has its advantages for a parent, but there are some disadvantages as well. You may have less time to enjoy a quiet house, but it allows you more time with your teens and you will get to know their friends. So, if you don’t mind the constant flow of teens in and out of your home, then you are set.

Many of the houses that kids like to consider their ‘hangout’ are those that have very few rules. That doesn’t have to be the case. If you set the rules from the start and discuss with your children what kind of kids are going to be allowed in your home, then there should be little need for concern. Little need for concern, does not indicate no need for supervision.

A basement or loft is a great area to set up a TV, games, etc. Post a note on the door:

No Smoking, No Drinking, No Profanity

Discuss with your children the number of guests allowed at the New Year party and the time at which the party will end. Let your kids decorate and prep the food. Your teens should be able to do all of the leg work. You will need to make sure your presence is known, then sit back and try to relax!

If you ran out of time and did not get your Christmas cards out this year, you can send out Happy New Year cards. Your friends will be excited to receive such unexpected wishes in their mail.

Inviting Smiles offers a variety of New Year cards. Your family photo, or photos, will adorn the card along with your custom wording, such as: The Bradley’s wish you a FUN and FUNKY New Year!

You may choose photos from your Holiday gatherings, summer vacation, or maybe your newborn baby. We have double sided 5×7, or square portrait cards for the more unique tastes. Black and white, sepia, or color cards are your choice. Simply place your order, attach your photo(s) and we will send you a proof in your email. Upon approval, we will create your custom cards and send them to your doorstep.

Don’t let the New Year pass you by without sending your best wishes to friends and family. Check out our website www.invitingsmiles.com, and choose your custom card today!

For some, 2011 will bring a new year, new baby and a fresh start. Have you heard stories of how a man or woman on the wrong path in life has a baby and then seems to suddenly straighten their life out? It happens all the time. There is something about being completely responsible for another life, that triggers people to reach down deep inside to be a good example for their baby.

If you find yourself in this position, there are many great organizations to help you get to where you want to be. You will need to find these groups in your local community. Check your public library for references. Ask at your city hall about assistant programs. Once you get your foot in the door of these programs, you will find a wealth of knowledge to help you along your path.

If you are a fortunate new parent with great family support, then this may be your chance to give back to your community. Check into your local assistance programs and see how you and your family can help. You know firsthand how tough it can be to raise a child in today’s society, even with a family to help you. Can you imagine trying to do this with no family, or spousal support?

Making a fresh new start in 2011 has several different meanings depending on who you are. Rather than the same old resolutions; lose weight, make more money, and exercise more, why not come up with something new, something fresh. Help someone in need, positively influence a child’s life, or help a teen in trouble. Now these are resolutions that will really make a difference!

New Years Eve is a wonderful time for a wedding. It is significant of a fresh new start. If you are able to find a venue that will allow you to view New Year’s celebrations, such as fireworks, then this will be the perfect place for your reception. You may choose to have your ceremony earlier in the day, especially if you have children attending, or in your wedding party. Then your reception can be later to bring in the New Year with all your family and friends.

• Make arrangements early for your Officiant, as one may be hard to find for New Year’s Eve.

• Book your reservations for your reception early. This should be done at least a year in advance.

• Send out a Save the Date card, so your guests can make their plans accordingly.

• The cake and flower arrangements need to be ordered early to make sure they can deliver on New Year’s Eve.

The New Year is the start of new beginnings. Beginning your life together with your loved one on this very special day will be meaningful and unforgettable. It will be a fun time with family and friends every year celebrating your anniversary.

Let’s celebrate our happy New Year Japanese style. Friends of ours are having a New Year party this year. They currently have a foreign exchange student living with them, and she is from Japan. Therefore, they have decided to help her feel at home with some Japanese New Year traditions.

Oshogatsu is celebrated starting on January 1st. Stores and offices are closed from January 1 through the 3rd so families can celebrate together. This is a very important celebration in Japan because each New Year is considered separate from the last. They try to complete any unfinished business, and extensive cleaning of houses, businesses and schools take place so the New Year can begin with a fresh start.

A tradition that is religious based is to hang straw around the front of the house. This is meant to keep evil spirits away thereby providing happiness and good luck for the New Year. You may hear the bells of the local Buddhist temples ringing 108 times to ward off evil for the New Year. Shrines and temples are usually packed with people praying for health and prosperity.

Here are a few more traditional and modern ways the Japanese celebrate the New Year:

• Paper lobsters can be found in many Japanese households. They feel that the lobster with its bent back is symbolic of a senior citizen. This is representative to their yearly wish for a long and healthy life. More modern decorations are lights and artificial flowers.

• Osechi-ryori dishes are prepared early to last through the holiday. These traditional dishes are packed in boxes called jubako. The meals are made with symbolic ingredients to bring all of the good wishes for the New Year.

• The children of Japan enjoy the holiday because it is customary for guests to give children money in small envelopes when visiting.

• Watching the sunrise on New Year’s Day is customary. Many people go outside or watch their television broadcast the rising sun.

Whether you celebrate a traditional American New Year, or decide to help someone feel at home by bringing in some of their traditions, Inviting Smiles hopes you have a happy and safe New Year!

Is it your turn to volunteer at your child’s school? When my children were in elementary school I had the opportunity to volunteer at their school. I helped in the office, in the art room, during “Spirit Days”, etc. The reason I was able to do this is because I worked a part time job. Yet, my volunteer hours were nothing compared to some of the other moms. They were there from the start to the finish of the day, every day. They were the Volunteer Coordinators.

The Volunteer Coordinators were the people that some of the parents tried to avoid. This is because they knew they were going to be asked to help somewhere, sometime, somehow. However, these coordinators need to be given credit. Many of them are well educated moms who have chosen to stay home with their children (at least while they’re young) and they spend that time helping the school, rather than the old cliché ‘sitting on the couch and eating Bons Bons.’ Of course, if you are a stay at home mom with young children, you know that sitting on the couch all day is only a dream.

Quite the opposite of the Volunteer Coordinators are the “I work!” people. No matter what was asked, their response was, “I can’t. I work!”, as if this was a legitimate excuse. This used to make me mad, until I started working full time hours. Then I understood how hard it is to work full time, come home exhausted, and then go volunteer at the school carnival all night. However from what I have witnessed, the moms that volunteer all day and then have the responsibility of watching over their children and usually a few more children are equally as exhausted in the evening.

Either way, schools are dependent on volunteers. We should all have great respect for these people who are so giving of their time to help our children. If you work, then let them know that you work, however there may be some things that you can do to help out from home; computer work, cutting things out, calling a few others for help, etc. Also, depending on what type of business you are in, your company may be able to help support your school monetarily, or with the donation of supplies.

It is very important to let your child know that you are interested in his education and in what he is doing at school all day. Volunteering is a great way to do this. You will get to know his teachers, his classmates and their parents. You will be helping to create your ‘village’ of extra eyes and ears that will help to watch over your child when you are not around. This will create a security for him, as well as help keep him in check. When he sees that you know and talk to his teachers and his friend’s parents, he knows that he better behave around them as well.

So you have bought all the latest on-line games and video games to help your toddler learn, but what about board games for your toddler? These games offer fun family time and sneak learning in as well. Board games are a wonderful tool to help your child learn life skills. Here are two children’s classic board games:

Candyland – A game full of imagination and fun. Your toddler can count the spaces, follow the arrows and match colors to help find King Kandy. Four simple rules apply.

1. Stack the cards in a pile face down so no one can see what they are picking. (anticipation)

2. Draw a card. Move your gingerbread man to the corresponding color. A blank card means you

3. have to go back to the first blank space and answer a question. (disappointment)

4. Obstacles: Some squares make you stay there until you draw a red card. (patience)

5. Continue until the end. (completing a task and winning or losing with dignity)

Be sure to have healthy snacks available during the game to reinforce making proper food choices.

Chutes and Ladders – Another wonderful game that provokes a child’s imagination. This game is for 3+ years of age. Here your child will learn the virtue of patience.

1. Your child will set her goal to reach #100, the winning spot.

2. Along the way good deeds will be rewarded by climbing the ladder to your reward. This will also advance your piece several spaces. Naughty deeds will cause you to slide down a chute and move back some spaces to your consequence (too many cookies, may cause a tummy ache).

The ups and downs of this game teaches patience and offers a good opportunity for you to teach proper reactions to frustration. Along the way your child can learn a little about rewards and consequences.

Board games will be what you as the parent make them out to be. If you show enthusiasm and inspiration through the game the child will love this fun family time. As your babies grow up, playing board games with them will offer opportunities of conversations that may have nothing to do with the game itself. It is simple fun family time that provokes openness, trust and a security that all of our growing children need to know they can find at home.

As a continuation of our Pregnancy Pointers blog from last week, “Holiday Shopping for your Pregnant Friend”, this will be our gift idea #2:

A Personalized Gift

More and more parents are choosing names for their children that are ‘out of the norm’, or are spelled differently than usual. For example: Peyton, Paityn, etc. Therefore, finding generic items with their baby’s name, or at least the correct spelling of it, is next to impossible. This is why a personalized gift has so much meaning.

Burp cloths, blankets, diaper bags, clothes, and the list goes on. You can embroider just about anything. Choose from a cute curly font, to a standard block font. Pick your thread color, or appliqué design. There are many choices that will allow your gift to be truly personal.

Let us not forget the other proud family members:

For the daddy that likes to hunt: Put the baby’s name on a camo onesie. These come in pink as well for daddy’s little girl.

Is daddy is an avid golfer: Buy a baby golf shirt and embroider a golf emblem with the baby’s name under it.

Luggage can be personalized as well. Get a cute little suitcase for future grandma visits:

DEZEREIGH

What happens at Grandma’s
Stays at grandma’s!

Be creative in your choices. Bakers, especially grandmas, would like matching aprons for when the baby is big enough to help bake her goodies.

YAYA
Is baking cookies with her grandbaby

KAMERON
Is baking cookies with his Yaya

Grandpas get left out sometimes, so don’t forget them: If grandpa likes to fish, personalize a little shirt with Grandpa’s Fishing Buddy.

Make the whole family feel special by personalizing items that cater to their special interests. Your gifts will be the ‘talk of the baby shower’, and the baby’s family will be touched by your personal interest in their proud and happy moment.