Where will you be 5 years from today?  This could be one of the most important questions you could ask yourself.  I recently had a very eye-opening experience in which I was asked to estimate my life expectancy, which I “guesstimated” based on my family history to be 80 years.  Since I am nearly 45 years old, this puts my projected year of death at 2044.  When faced with that end date staring me in the face, I felt my heart starting to race and my mind swirling with the reality that this date does not seem all that far away.  This experience solidified for me my “Live Your Life On Purpose” philosophy ~ that you cannot simply allow life to happen to you, but that you must determine what you want out of life and go after it.

I was thrilled to find this book that is so much more than just another “how-to” book ~ it provides a playbook for your life ~ an interactive, kick-in-the-pants tool.  It features thought-provoking quotations and real-life examples to serve as both a spark and a road map for what’s exciting in your life. Take a look at this fantastic video that gives you a sneak peek at the power of this book.  Then, stop in or shop online to pick up a copy for yourself and for anyone on your Christmas list who may benefit from a jump start in their lives.

This month, this season, this year . . . it seems especially important to stop and take stock of all the good things we have in our lives and to try to share something that will give hope to those who may be in need in some way.  I love to be inspired ~ and I’m learning that when you really open your eyes, there is inspiration everywhere.  So this month, I’d like to feature on the Inspirations blog those ideas, events, companies and products for which I am thankful, that have inspired me, and that give hope and inspiration to others.

I’d like to begin the series by highlighting the Hope is in the Cards movement, started by Russ Haan ~ a small business owner who had an idea one day that has caught on like wildfire.  Here is the essence of the movement:

What if every American sent just one letter or card of support to another American. What would happen? What would it do to our collective national spirit if the word HOPE was written on the back of every envelope?

You’d go to your mailbox and it would be filled with something besides bills and collections notices. It would contain HOPE.  And better yet, you might even have a personal card or letter from someone saying THANK YOU or I BELIEVE IN YOU.

Those kinds of messages can do more than just make someone’s day brighter for a moment - they can change people’s lives.

So, if you’d like to help spread a little hope this season, join in Hope Fridays ~ think of the end of the week as a good time to mail something positive.  It would mean that, early in the next week, someone is gong to receive an unexpected card or letter of support.

So today, please take 1 minute, send 1 card, to 1 person. That’s all it takes to help invigorate the spirit of possibility.  If that’s not possible for you, then just write the word HOPE on the back of anything you mail. Fast, free, easy, and it puts HOPE back out there.

I just saw this fabulous article from The New York Times about fine stationery and the importance of having your own signature stationery wardrobe.  Here’s a snippet from the article:

“It’s a little flash of character and extra care,” said Celerie Kemble, a Manhattan designer who created a line of limited-edition stationery for Dempsey & Carroll last fall. “Using a card says, ‘You stopped me in my tracks and this comes from my heart.’ ” When you pair that idea with the choice of paper, font and ink — what Ms. Kemble called “a reinforcement of a decorative identity or a kind of personality stamp” — you have a memorable object, a keepsake.

You can read the full article here.  The friendly associates at Salutations stand eager to help when you are ready to create your personal stationery wardrobe.  Just give us a call, stop by, or visit us online!

Photo courtesy of Béatrice de Géa for The New York Times

For any of you brides or soon-to-be brides . . .  Your wedding invitation is (usually) something you create once in a lifetime and you want to get it right. But, where to start? Once you know the rules of etiquette and the major details of your day, the wording comes fairly easily. This article will help you to write a wedding invitation from start to finish in a way that properly meets etiquette guidelines.

As the saying goes, “You only get one shot at a first impression.” Your wedding invitation is often your guests’ first impression of the event that awaits them and you want to get it right.  Since ordering wedding invitations is not something you do everyday, the process can feel daunting.  Here are some tips that should help make it a pleasant experience and not an ordeal to be endured.

1.       Start the process early

“The early bird gets the worm” . . . and the most beautiful wedding invitations.  Allow yourself enough time to define your tastes, learn about proper etiquette, and design the perfect invitation that will set the tone for your special day.  By ordering early, you will also avoid being forced to settle for an invitation just because it can be delivered in a short amount of time.  You will also save on rush fees and expedited shipping rates.

2.       Find a good stationer

The importance of this cannot be stressed enough.  A quality stationer will play an important role in creating your perfect wedding stationery.  Such a stationer will educate you, save you from errors, help you to create a truly unique invitation that is reflective of your personality, show you ways to save time and money, and become one of your biggest allies throughout the wedding planning process.

3.       Define your style

Review wedding magazines and wedding blogs to get a feel for the huge array of invitation styles available.  {Style Me Pretty is one of our favorite resources!}  Pay attention to the designs you are repeatedly drawn to and tear out those magazine pages.  Decide whether your tastes tend more toward classic and traditional or more contemporary or design-oriented.  Decide the tone you’d like to set for your day ~ is it one of classic elegance or one of fun and whimsy?  Bring this information with you to give your stationer a feel for your tastes.

4.       Have a good idea of your guest list

While you by no means need to have a final guest list before ordering your wedding invitations, you should have a very good idea of the number of guests you would like to invite and the number of invitations you will need to order.  {Remember that 200 guests does not equal 200 invitations, as most of these guests will not be single individuals.}  Be sure to get input from all parents as to the guests they would like invited.  Always order more than you think you’ll need so you’ll be prepared for the inevitable guest list creep.  The cost to order 25 or so additional invitations at the outset will be far less than the expense of ordering a small number of invitations later, plus the shipping and rush fees that would be required.  {Trust us on this ~ we’ve seen it happen far more than you’d think.}

5.       Be realistic about your budget

The bridal magazines are filled with multi-page layouts featuring the most incredibly gorgeous wedding invitations, usually in multiple colors that are engraved or letterpressed on high-quality card stock.  Brides fall in love with these invitations and then flip to the wedding budget worksheet in the back of the magazine, which all too often suggests ridiculously low amounts for wedding stationery that would not even cover the reply cards for those featured wedding ensembles.  Remember that you get what you pay for.  A good stationer will help identify ways that you can save money and still achieve a look and feel that you are going for, but they cannot create “a champagne invitation on a beer budget.”

6.     Understand printing methods

Your stationer should be able to explain to you the differences between flat or offset printing, thermography, engraving, and letterpress printing ~ and show you samples of each.  {If they cannot, run the other way and reread #2 above!}  The method of printing can dramatically change the look, feel and color of an invitation, not to mention the cost.

7.     Understand wedding wording etiquette

Etiquette guidelines often dictate the way that a wedding invitation should be worded ~ and the way that it should not be worded.  {Believe it or not,  whether you request the honor of someone’s presence or the pleasure of their company is not based on your personal preference as to which sounds better.}  Again, your stationer should be able to help you compose the wording of your invitation, based on your individual circumstances.  While it may seem like you’re sharing a lot of personal information, you should be prepared to share with your stationer the details of who is paying for the wedding and whether there are any sticky family issues that may need special handling.

8.     Decide how envelopes will be addressed

It is best to know before ordering whether you will be hand-addressing the envelopes, having them addressed by a calligrapher, or having them printed by your stationer.  Calligraphers may charge more for certain envelope papers or ink colors, or a stationer who is printing your addresses may need to request heat-resistant thermography inks, for example.  In any event, always order at least 15%  extra envelopes to allow for the inevitable mistakes in addressing.

9.       Understand the etiquette of addressing

Rules of etiquette dictate the way in which wedding invitations are addressed.  For example, did you know that an invitation to an unmarried couple who is living together should feature each of their names stacked without being separated by the word “and”?  Again, your stationer should be able to advise you as to the proper way to address your invitations.

10. Consider ordering accessories at the same time

The best wedding stationery ensembles are those that carry the same look and feel, color scheme, and theme throughout.  While your menu cards do not need to exactly match the typestyle and ink color of your wedding invitations, it is best to have a cohesive set of paper accessories that help create the tone you intend for your day.  For instance, if you have a custom monogram or duogram, or a seashell motif, these elements should be carried through your accessories such as the wedding programs, menu cards, escort cards, table cards, place cards, welcome booklets, and favor tags.  For this reason, you may want to at least identify your choices for these wedding accessories when ordering your invitations.  Often, stationery manufacturers will offer a discount for coordinating items ordered at the same time as the invitations.

{Tip: While you will likely not be prepared to order your wedding programs at the same time as your invitations, you can order a coordinating program cover and then have the inserts printed by your stationer as you get closer to your wedding when more details are finalized.}

The Christmas tree is out at the curb. The menorrah is packed neatly away.  Now, ’tis the season for expressing your gratitude for all of those wonderful and/or heartfelt gifts you received.  While the thought of writing thank-you notes can be daunting in this age of email, it is much easier than you think and so much more appreciated than an email.  Without further ado, sit down with some beautiful stationery and show your gratitude.  Here’s a quick how-to to get you started. . . .

1.  Greet the Giver - although an obvious one, the “Dear Aunt Jane” line is often overlooked.

2.  Express your Gratitude - without any unnecessary lead-ins, simply say “Thank you so much for the fill in the blank.”  If the gift was money, thank them for their generosity but do not directly mention money.

3.  Discuss Use -  say something nice about the gift and how you will use it.

4.  Mention the Past, Allude to the Future - let the giver know how they fit into your life.  {”It was great to see you at Jenny’s birthday party, and I hope to see you soon.”}

5.  Grace - express your thanks one more time.

6.  Regards - Simply wrap up the note using whatever sign-off feels right to you (love, yours truly, etc.).

7.  Get it in the mail - address the envelope, stick a great stamp on it, and post it.  Think of the sense of accomplishment you will feel, the way your giver will feel appreciated, and the continued stream of gifts you will receive from a happy giver!

For a little more help and inspiration, check out our selection of books on writing notes.  And, of course, if you’re in need of stationery, we have a fabulous assortment of great items!

If you’re like me, that increasingly familiar orange RSS logo stands for Really Super Scary!  But I have conquered my fear and you can too.  {For you younger 20-somethings ~ OK, 30-somethings ~ who already know Web 2.0 like you know how to breathe, please just skip this post instead of mocking the rest of us and subscribe to the Salutations RSS feed!}

Now, I have always considered myself fairly technologically advanced.  I taught myself every software application I know (including Adobe InDesign, and that’s saying something!).  I am a firm believer in using technology to make my business more efficient.  I recently launched my online store, worked with my web designers to redesign my website, I’m blogging, I joined Facebook (yes, I was forced to create a personal account when I wanted to publish a Salutations Facebook page and now I’m hooked), and I joined LinkedIn.  But, when I found out that my mother had a Facebook account before I did, I decided it was time to broaden my horizons even further.

Here is what you need to know to get started. RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication and is basically a standardized format for delivering regularly changing web content from news-related sites and blogs.  {You can read a more in-depth explanation here on Wikipedia.}  By subscribing to an RSS feed, you are able to stay current on the latest information from your favorite sites without having to visit each site separately.  And, you reduce the clutter in your inbox by not having to subscribe to email newsletters.

You can subscribe to your favorite news feeds or blogs in several ways.  You can add the feeds to your web browser’s start page (I use iGoogle and I love it) or you can download a free RSS reader (like Google Reader).  Click here for an article on the best RSS newsreaders to choose one that you like.

So, give it a try and start your first subscription with Salutations’ blog!  See that little orange, no longer scary, button on the right side of this page?  Go ahead and click on it . . . you can do it!