Bar Carts and Serving Trays Get the Party Rolling

While the pollen may have us sweeping our decks and walkways, it’s the seasonal nudge that signals warm weather ahead. We’ve been greeting family, and hosting outdoors for some time, now that the weather is on our side. It’s time to dust off the summer barware, unpack the colorful chair pillows, and get set for summer. Bring the merriment and music, treat yourself, and serve your guests in this new season of patio parties.

Set the scene with serving trays - An easy way to upgrade the party presentation and enhance your theme is with serving trays that create the look of a collection and pull your elements together. Trays can be used for glassware, beverages, or dessert toppings, as an example. With a myriad of tin, wood, ceramic, and pewter options, they’re functional and part of the decor. A festive design on a metal tray is a fun pairing with cold beer, chips, and salsa. A silver tray may be fitting for formal evenings and a pour of bourbon. Perhaps a white ceramic tray is a choice for sparkling water, lemonade, or a glass of champagne served with chocolates and fresh fruit.

Keep the party rolling – We’ve seen some unique ideas for bar carts, including two wooden boxes stacked on top of each other with a cutting board on top. To spice up your version of a bar cart, look for colorful barware and textured bowls that complement the occasion—blend glassware with ceramic tumblers and unique bowls in a variety of shapes and sizes. Include a beverage selection from the local distillery and quality tonics for mixing. Finish with whimsical napkins, paper or reusable straws, handwoven towels, and colorful coasters. Be sure to leave room for a bloom of color.

Accents for the appetizers – Minimize the need for silverware and use cocktail picks in bamboo or forged metal to keep it simple and stylish. A small wooden vessel or mini artisan cup holder offers easy access to the mozzarella, shrimp, or meatballs (and is a welcome upgrade from a plastic cup holder). Remember picks for your olives and the beverage garnish. A decorative dish is a stylish spot for the garnish too.

Move to the music – Background music makes a big difference in setting the mood. One handy option is a small, portable Bluetooth speaker like the Bose Soundlink micro-speaker. It’s waterproof and has a flexible strap that stretches across the back to accommodate the variety of places to attach your tunes – a railing, your bar cart, or the inside beam of a beach umbrella, to name just a few.

It’s been a long wait, and we’re optimistic that the time has arrived for us to step out, relax and enjoy entertaining. We intend to keep our gatherings easy, colorful, and merry, with plenty of music to boot, and we encourage you to consider the same.

Magazine Picks for a Pop of Inspiration

I’ve been cutting out pictures and pages from magazines since grade school, long before vision boards and journaling were a thing. There’s nothing like an inspiring magazine in your hands to spark creativity. The texture of the paper, the eye-catching photographs, and the content expand our thinking. Beyond the beauty of destinations and lifestyle, we look at content for a fresh take on color combinations, unique locations, outdoor scenes, trends and entertainment settings. It’s like buying a new home; every time you drive by a house, you look at something different. In magazines, every time you flip through the pages, you see something new.

In addition to social media and your industry publications, pick up a magazine that’s beyond the scope of your immediate business to explore a different perspective on what clients are doing, where they are going, and how they’re living. For us, travel, outdoor, cooking and entertainment are all slices of life that our customers enjoy. Unique artisan cups, whiskey tumblers, handwoven linens, and hand-crafted cutting boards are preferred entertainment elements for those who host lively celebrations and give distinct gifts; both are meant to be memorable. Reading the stories and profiles of people and places where your clients and colleagues live, rest, vacation, and work can enhance your content, especially now that our work and personal lives have become so intertwined.

Here are six of our go-to magazine choices to help inspire creative thinking:

Sweet Paul – While the recipe-lovers will surely enjoy this, so will the artists and creatives. The photographs are spectacular; everything from floral designs, custom crafts, upscale flea markets, outdoor chef barbeques and beautiful artisan elements appear on the pages. It’s is a unique publication offering far more than dinner and dessert options.

Afar – A global travel publication written to guide you to your best journeys. These storytellers make you feel like you’re experiencing the flavors and local culture right along with them. Articles range from the backroads of tribal lands in remote territories to the glitz of big-city destinations.

Where Women Create – Advice, lessons-learned, and tips, these pages are chock full of ideas and inspiration from women business owners in their glorious and colorful maker spaces.

Outside – The adventure seekers and explorers will enjoy the trails, tips, and dispatches from the wild. Find stories of those who love to roll up their sleeves for a weekend road trip, aren’t afraid of a little cold weather or rain to reach uncharted waters, or prefer a long mountain trek to the comfort of a beach towel.

Aspire Design and Home – The bright, eye-catching color combinations and distinct design concepts, along with unique editor picks, are as aspirational as the name implies.

Departures – This one is all about luxury travel destinations around the world. The magazine itself is a member benefit of American Express; however, it includes extensive articles on beautiful European getaways, domestic mountain and ski resorts, secluded properties, and upscale lifestyle tips and trends. Despite the obvious commercial connection, it is worth reading.

If you were here to look around my office, you would find pages from these magazines torn out and saved for years in our filing cabinet. You’d also see a metal bucket full of magazines and calendars of all shapes and sizes, along with pages of scenery, design, and inspirational pictures tacked to the corkboard or posted behind magnets. Online may be informative, easy, and even beautiful; however, print speaks to us and stays with us in ways that digital cannot.

Entertain in Your Outdoor Oasis

We’ve learned to appreciate ‘quietude,’ it’s a silver lining that many of us have come to cherish. While spring's arrival offers more sunshine and warm weather, it also stirs anticipation for the chance to mix and mingle. How we create a living area to accommodate both is on our minds. The quest for flexible space to entertain and serve as a relaxing escape is on the rise. The answer may lie just beyond our patio doors as we expand our living space into the gardens. It’s the best of both worlds.

The Sounds of Solitude
The crunch of a gravel path under our feet conveys the message that we’re headed to a more peaceful place. A comfy chair and a colorful blanket placed along a path, near the flower gardens, a fountain, or by the water’s edge creates a full sensory experience that celebrates nature's sights and sounds.

Soften the Edges
Soften the edges of the steps, fence, or railing with the appeal of blooms and greenery. Arrange wildlife-friendly plants like lavender around your space to attract the bees and butterflies.

The Front Yard is for More Than the Welcome Mat
What was once the purview of the backyard has now extended out the front door. A wild garden with a mix of perennials and organic grasses draws visitors in and invites them to savor the experience.

Texture and Touch
Rustic flower pots, metal containers, wood stands, and ceramic tableware blend together to add depth and texture to your surroundings.

Garden Bar
Think outside the bar with how and where you make room for your refreshments. Everything from old sheds, rolling carts, and potting benches are being repurposed for a unique happy hour adventure.

Mood Lighting
The addition of tiki torches, lanterns, and twinkle lights heighten the mood of a festive gathering and brighten any occasion.

How to Design a Message that Moves

When your print piece moves organically, you see it clipped behind a magnet, repurposed as a bookmark, or tacked to a bulletin board; you know it captured someone's attention with a message that meant something. We recently designed a card with the dual purpose of sharing a positive message and with a mission toward movement. Based on the fun calls and texts we received, we're sharing a few key details that went into the card design to inspire your next piece.

The Big Picture. The first consideration for any custom piece is understanding the ultimate goal. How do you want people to feel when they see it, open it? Is there an overarching message you want to communicate? In our case, we wanted to share the word “Joy” intentionally. It was a specific choice, one we felt was better suited to us than the words, Cheer or Celebrate, as an example.

Pass It On - Having the card move and be shared between people was a central theme. In social we see it happen with reposts, tagging, and shares, but we forget this can occur with a physical piece too. Creating a voluntary hand-off, a reason to share, was the most challenging part; encouraging movement without making it too complicated. Our choice was a perforated card that included a postcard mailer, something our recipients would tear off and want to mail to their person of choice. (Access to a talented print team comes in handy. We work with Schmitz Press.).

Engaging and Interactive – When people think of interactive, they often go right to a digital or online platform; however, you can accomplish this in print. How can you get people to interact and do something fun with your mailer? We created three different checkboxes with whimsical fill-in-the-blank lines for people to complete.

Pick your Postage - We affixed the postcard stamp as part of the mailing to encourage people to address and mail the tear-off postcard. It was an added expense, however, worth it when our recipients sent their postcards, which was the whole point. On a funny note, the Post Office only had fish postcard stamps; they told us no holiday postcard stamps were coming. Not exactly a traditional choice, but we didn't get hung up on it. The envelope stamps for the entire card were holiday-themed, and that was more important.

Creating unique elements that make an impact with clients is a priority in our business. Yes, we do all the online things; however, creative, non-digital communication is a welcome reinforcement and bonus to email and online outreach. Let's face it, this is a process that anyone can do, but few people will. That’s why it’s a smart move.

How Good Times Turn Into Great Wedding Gifts

With the average age of couples getting married on the rise and the increase in blended families, selecting a wedding gift that’s personalized and practical can be tricky. Many couples already have traditional elements for their home. That’s where you come in.

What couples don’t have are your tried-and-true experiences, the traditions, and spontaneous celebrations you’ve enjoyed. Whether you’re married or single, you’ve had fun times with a spouse, partner, or friends that can translate into future laughs and memories worth keeping.

Give a gift that connects to your best memories. Think about times that have sparked happy moments for you. Pick a few details surrounding that activity, bundle them together, and pen a personal note with your quick story. (Keep it short: “Some of our best times together were sprinkled over many years and many flavors of chocolate ice cream. We hope this gift is a treat for you two.”) Your handwritten note is the cherry on top!

Here are a few unique examples to get you thinking:

• Sprinkle some joy. Family memories over date night or desserts? Match an ice cream scoop with two artisan mugs along with delicious homemade chocolates and toppings. Sauces and syrups from a local artisan add a nice touch.

• Garden and green – Do you love working in the garden, planting, and blooms? Pick a ceramic pot or watering jug, and plant the idea for what’s to come. Add a variety of seed packs, a forged metal veggie chopper, and include a sample taste of the healthy snacks soon to sprout.

• Spice things up. If either cooking or traveling is on your list, add the flavor of a specific region or go-to recipe. Combine a ceramic bowl with a jar of fresh local salsa and baked chips. If you make a great dish at home, add a recipe card with all of the items tucked inside the bowl, ready to go. If you love to stir things up, clay tumblers with bright color accents make a stylish addition to the bar.

No matter what your special memory, you can create a personalized package of surprises for the newlyweds. Nudge them to enjoy breakfast in bed, cracking crabs on a picnic table, or a crazy road trip; there are no limits because it’s your story to share. If you prefer the traditional route, you can tuck money inside any combination described. Be creative as you celebrate their new life together and honor your magic moments as well.

The Scoop on Gifts for Mixing and Making

Our cozy kitchen with its enticing smells and frosted mugs is the setting for passionate topics at the dinner table and big news over breakfast. No wonder it’s the central hub for households. (It’s where my husband proposed, so I’m no stranger to tears of joy by the refrigerator!) Gifts for mixing, making, and munching are the backdrop for sharing stories. Whether it’s for the head chef or the snack specialist, keep it simple and pick a pairing they’ll be nuts about.

As you weigh the options of what to give to friends, family, or clients, look for clues on the pace and pattern of their lives. Are they early risers who enjoy slow and steady? Or do they have kids and commitments so quick and easy rule the day? Do they prefer bright and cheerful or natural and calm? Simple and clean or elegant and elaborate? (A quick look at their kitchen or desk accessories may offer some tips.) Keep these hints in mind to create thoughtful combinations:

• The kitchen scoop is a welcome companion for breaks and the morning brew. Pair it with a specialty bag of the daily grind to perk up someone’s day. If you’re passing a gift to a sports nut, add a wooden scoop to a bag of roasted cashews to get your best fan cheering. Is natural the way to nurture the relationship? Invite zen as their day begins, give a ceramic scoop tied with ribbon, or twine to a batch of baked granola.

• Reusable bags hold their own in the kitchen and on the go. Natural materials are styled in neutral tones and vivid shades, made of cotton or linen to match any occasion. Bags make the picnic, party, or trip to the market merrier!

Imagine your gifts as part of the jokes and gestures shared between families and friends. The best choices blend fresh and fun while folding into traditions.

Enhance the Everyday

Look at all the talent blinking back at us in the mirror. We’re a one-stop-shop, a full-service operation for domestic fulfillment, business inspiration, designer trends, and family entertainment. It’s no wonder we’re embracing this concept of upgrading the everyday. We’re resetting expectations and spicing up the ordinary. Yes, we’ve decided to use the good stuff on ourselves - without calling it a splurge.

This idea of elevating essentials is what professionals are talking about across industries, from accessories to automobiles. It’s what we see on Zoom and social media as we forge a path into 2021. Words like personalized, authentic, handcrafted, and long-lasting are used to describe what we look for in our gifts and for ourselves. Experts like Jessica Richards of JMR Design suggest the “fantasy of everyday” has arrived. Luxury automakers claim to “make every drive thrilling.” I say bring it on. We’re dealing with difficult situations in unprecedented times (“FFT’s” as Brene Brown calls them on her recent podcast.). Whether the day is a shining success or a spectacular failure, we should acknowledge our effort.

So light that wonderful candle, take notes in your leather journal, sip drinks from a handcrafted tumbler. We’re tackling days that are a crazy mix of laundry, coffee, pets in our laps, podcasts, music playlists, checking in on Mom, online customer meetings, and digital events. Not to mention, kids all day. Holy smokes! Yes, we deserve to kick things up a notch and treat ourselves.

It’s up to us to spark some magic in our everyday moments. Pull out the colorful towels, rock the socks, and wear the beaded jewelry. Slide that leather jacket on for the Zoom call, and grab your most amazing hat. Allow your personal style to shine, even if it’s through the lens of a laptop camera. Now, where did I put my sparkly green pen…?

Gift a Celebration of Quiet and Calm

Self-care and celebrations aren’t just on the list of nice things to do; they’re part of our style, mood, productivity, and creative spirit. As the virtual office solidifies its place in workforce manuals, the art of intention is central to when and how we connect and celebrate important moments with our customers and employees.

The old days of birthday cakes in the office kitchen are a thing of the past. Milestone events, birthdays, and industry recognition offer the chance to be proactive and send thoughtful surprises that arrive with a sense of excitement, warmth, and caring.

Two elements to think about when selecting your gifts are feel and fragrance. We’re gravitating toward textiles that invite the touch; materials like soft cotton, velvet, mohair, or fleece to accent a gift. Glitzy, shiny materials have been replaced with a kinder, gentler feel in everything from the bags, blankets, and handwoven pieces that surround our daily routine. For example, top a plush towel with an artisan soap, place the soft fold of a woven napkin inside a porcelain cup or go for a creative wrap using a fleece bag to package a rich walnut cutting board.

Aromas are a work-of-art too. Blown glass smudge bowls and beautiful bundles of incense invite a fragrant reprieve. Scents of palo santo and cedarwood mixed with the sound of crackling wood wicks have elevated natural soy candles to a gift of luxurious relaxation.

Take a moment to pull out your calendar and note the occasions to recognize employees and customers. Find unique ways to send comfort to others and to bring it into your space. Not only is it a visual cue, but the day will feel better.

Inspire Comfort with Color

Colors reflecting calm and comfort invite us to eye our surroundings with renewed interest. It’s not surprising that we’re on a mission to thread relaxation throughout our lives. Now that our workspace blends into our home life, we look for ways to close the office door and move easily into our personal routine. The shift to rich deep colors offers us the chance to freshen up our space, inspire more comfort, even mellow our mood.

The world of design will tempt us with the arrival of deep jewel tones. Emerald green and dark blue are expected to replace the appeal of the white modern farmhouse look. If warm and cozy is the desired atmosphere, the new hues of dark gray may bring a welcome sense of calm. And for those who love a mix of textures, walnut is a favorite choice, known for its rich wood grain.

Even Pantone, who claims to have revolutionized color standards in the early sixties, couldn’t narrow their color selection to just one this year. For only the second time in twenty-two years, they selected two colors to represent 2021; “ultimate” gray (think granite) and “illuminating” yellow (think sunshine, not electric) share the top spot. “It’s a message of positivity and fortitude, practical and rock solid,” as they describe it. It seems even the color experts want to shine a light on the months ahead.

Sparkle Bags and Sausage Pie

By the time our caravan pulls up on Christmas Eve, our scene is one of festive celebration laced with a bit of panic. We're down to the dwindling hours when the time to wrap every candle, napkin pack, and tin of cashews is upon us; procrastination is no longer an option. Our crew is big on stockings. It’s a concept that has expanded to include anything we can stuff inside a stretchy hanging sock, plus reindeer sparkle bags and hand-sewn recycled heirlooms filled with treats and treasures. Lucky for us, it’s also the land of eggnog and a tradition of sausage pie. With a refresh of Grandma's lessons in gift-wrapping, this is our corner of the world.

What kind of scene will you make? Whether you're in the warm sunshine or heading for holiday hibernation, we hope you pause for a few days of your own comfort and joy. Time to get cozy, create more calm, catch up, hang around the table, or heat things up by the fire (You can always mention the family’s football rivalry, that should get the sparks flying.).

By the time we tie the last bow, we’ll be ready to open my brother-in-law’s famous homemade chocolate-covered Oreo tin (with mint sprinkles) and pour a glass of wine. As you enjoy your traditions from the seat of your favorite oversized chair or a conversation on a sofa that’s hosted a lifetime of them, raise your glass—cheers to precious time with our small, crazy group of family and loved ones.