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Archive for the ‘Special Events’ Category

Shopping Online For The Holidays

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011

Shopping online is the easiest way to prepare for the holidays. The internet makes it possible to shop from the comfort of your house.  You can research gifts and comparison shop saving time and effort.  As you prepare to start shopping online, here are some tips to keep in mind:

  • Start early to avoid rush shipping fees, especially with personalized or custom items
  • Make a list of everything you need to buy and try to combine orders to avoid increased shipping costs
  • Comparison shop on several websites before making a decision
  • Check the company’s return/exchange policy
  • Check the shipping and handling time frame
  • Ship gifts directly to the recipient if time or distance is an issue
  • If you have never ordered from a site before, look for customer testimonials, reviews, and privacy policy
  • Sign up for a website’s newsletter and facebook group to receive coupons and sale notifications
  • Choose a site that has a payment option you are comfortable with
  • Double check the order before confirming
  • Save all e-mail receipts until after you know the item does not need to be returned or exchanged
  • Keep track of how much you have  spent on your original list

Shopping can be overwhelming, but being organized and starting early can make it much easier!

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Posted in Holidays, Puddles Colection, Special Events | No Comments »

Styling Tiffany Espensen for the Kids Choice Awards

Friday, April 8th, 2011

Last week I received an intriguing phone call from Melinda at Womentorz.  A young actress named Tiffany Espensen (now appearing in the movie Hop) needed a dress for the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards.  Is this something I could help with?  Of course!  That evening I met with Tiffany and her mom, Robin (and her grandma!)  on the set of her new Nickelodeon show “Bucket and Skinner’s Epic Adventures”.  She tried on six dresses and looked fabulous in all of them.  We spent an hour being girly and looking through dresses and getting ideas of which would fit her style the best.  This family is so nice and they were very easy to work with.

The next day I came back to the set during rehearsal with the final selections: the April Dress and the Trinity Dress.  The only decision left was which dress to wear to the Friday pre awards party and which she would wear down the Orange carpet to the Awards show.  Tiffany invited me to have lunch with her family (which I tell you was much better than the Lean Cuisine I was planning on eating back at the office) and a tour of the stage.  How fun is that!  This looks like it will be another great Nickelodeon show for kids with some laughs for parents as well.

Here is Tiffany trying on the dresses.

The Pre Party Dress

The Awards Show Dress

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here is Tiffany on the Orange carpet with the cast.

Cast of Bucket and Skinner's Epic Adventures at the 24th Annual Nickalodeon Kids Choice Awards

Tiffany at the 24th Annual Kids Choice Awards

This was truly a fun experience and I look forward to working with Tiffany again in the future.  You can catch up with all her tweets or find her on facebook.  I suspect we will see a lot more of this talented young actress in the near future!

And one last picture, me and Tiffany!

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Posted in Fashion, Pictures, Puddles Colection, Special Events | 1 Comment »

Fall and Winter Outerwear

Friday, November 5th, 2010

This time of year wearing that special occasion dress can get a little chilly!  Choosing a nice coat or sweater to go with a dress makes all the difference.  The first thing you need to determine is how much coverage you need.  This varies by region based on climate and fashion.  Try to avoid anything to bulky looking.  If it’s really cold you can opt for a long, thick coat, but nothing too puffy for a formal dress.  In warmer conditions a nice knit sweater will do the trick.  Another consideration is how long you will need to wear the coat.  If the event is held completely indoors and the coat is just to get you from door to door, the look becomes less important.  But if you will be outside for part of the event then the coat becomes just as important as the dress itself.

In addition to style, color is a key factor.  Black, white, and brown provide nice compliments to dresses with a lot of color or patterns while dresses of those colors can be really jazzed up with a fun color piece of outerwear.  For example, these two go together nicely:

If the dress has a pattern or is very busy a solid color neutral piece of outerwear is the way to go.  So with dress I would go with a simple coat:

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Posted in Fashion, Puddles Colection, Special Events | 1 Comment »

How To Measure For Size in Children’s Clothing

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

Finding the right size for your child can save everyone time and money when ordering on line.  The measurements given in a size chart are usually the measurements of the piece of clothing, not the child.  The best way to get accurate measurements is to measure a piece of clothing that fits the child well.   Use a measuring tape, not a ruler! .  If you measure the child (and not a piece of clothing), you will need to add extra inches for the child to fit into the piece of clothing.  For example, a child with a 25 inch chest will not be able to fit into a dress with a 25 inch chest.

Children are often in between sizes.  In this case, it is always best to go with the larger size.  It is much easier to have clothing altered if it is too big rather than too small.  When ordering special occasion wear, it is very common to need to have a dress or suit altered.

MEASURING INSTRUCTIONS

Find a piece of clothing that fits your child well.  Lay it flat and always use the seams.

CHEST:  Measure armpit to armpit from the seams.  Double the measurement.
SLEEVE LENGTH:  Measure from the seam on top of the shoulder to the end of the sleeve.
SHOULDER WIDTH:  Measure from seam to seam at the tops of the shoulders.

WAIST:  Measure from end to end and double.  The pants should be flat with the fly facing towards you with the button closed.
INSEAM:  Measure from the seam at the crotch to the end of the pant leg.

DRESS LENGTH: Measure from the top of the shoulder to the bottom of the dress.

When in doubt, it is a good idea to contact the store you are ordering from for clarification

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Posted in Fashion, Puddles Colection, Special Events | No Comments »

The Play List – Songs For All Ages Gatherings

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009

I love music.  I have all kinds of playlists on my IPod, but have a special mix for occasions where I know the attendees will span the generations (my family has four living generations).  When you get the entire family together the ages can range from infant to seniors and let’s face it, some of the music we like isn’t necessarily appropriate for this type of occasion. Try for a nice mix of oldies, classic rock, contemporary rock, and pop.  Get some great stripped down acoustic versions of those harder rock songs you like.  If there are children, remember to leave out anything with explicit lyrics or even adult themes.  You probably don’t want to explain to little Susy what a Golddigger is at your next family party!

Music for a party should be in the background so make sure the volume it set so your guests do not need to shout at each other to hear, at this includes grandma! There will always be time to rock out later. If you have a portable speaker, this can be a great way to shift the music if the party will move to another area.

Here is a list of a few songs that work for family parties, holidays, or any occasion with a wide variety of ages:

Jame s Taylor – Sweet Baby James
ColdPlay – Clocks
Billy Joel – New York State of Mind
Simon & Garfunkel – America
Time Of Your Life – Green Day
Van Morrison – Someone Like You
I Can See Clearly Now – Jimmy Cliff
Fly Me To The Moon – Frank Sinatra
Alanis Morissette – Head Over Feet
Better Than Ezra – Good
Eagles – Take It Easy
Elton John – Tiny Dancer
Sarah McLachlan – I Will Remember You
The Rolling Stones – Ruby Tuesday
Sting – When We Dance
Fleetwood Mac – Dreams
Eric Clapton – Wonderful Tonight
Elvis Presley – Don’t Be Cruel
The Righteous Brothers – Unchained Melody
Norah Jones – Don’t Know Why
The Beach Boys – Surfin USA
The Beatles – Twist and Shout
Dave Matthews Bank – Crush
Crosby, Still, Nash, and Young – Southern Cross
REM – End Of The World
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – American Girl
The Who – My Generation
38 Special – Caught Up In You
Ben E King – Stand By Me
Big Bad Vodoo Daddy – Go Daddy O
Blues Traveler – Run Around
Bobby Day -  Rockin Robin
Boston – Amanda
Chuck Berry – Johnny B Good
Louis Armstrong – What A Wonderful World
Kelly Clarkson – Breakaway
Joe Cocker – You Are So Beautiful
Jack Johnson – Flake
Goo Goo Dolls – Slide
Four Season – December 1963 (oh what a night)
Enya – Only Time
Drifters – Under the Boardwalk
Counting Crows – Mr. Jones
America – Sister Golden Hair

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Posted in Entertaining, Special Events | 1 Comment »

Special Occasion Wear – What Does It Mean?

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

Deciding what to wear to a special event can be a daunting task.  Whether it’s picking out something from your closet or heading out shopping for a new outfit, understanding what style of dress is appropriate is the first place to start.   If you are unsure of the dress code, you can ask your host or the event planner.

Black Tie. Evening gowns or cocktail dresses should be worn ranging in length from tea length to full length.  Dresses should be classic in style.  Men should wear a black tuxedo.

Black Tie Optional/Formal. For women this means the same style dress as Black Tie.  Men should still wear a tuxedo if one is available, but have the option to wear a dark suit, preferably black, navy, or dark gray.  This is still a very formal event so dress accordingly (no short skirts!)

Semi-Formal. Cocktail dresses are the perfect choice here, landing anywhere from an inch above the knee to the floor.  Stay away from ball gowns and business suits in this dress code.  Dressy skirt suits of high quality material are also acceptable.  Men must wear suits, including a neck tie.

Cocktail Attire. Break out the little black dress!  Cocktail attire can be fun dresses that are trendier and shorter, but classic looks are always great too.  Length can be above the knee to tea length.  Dressy separates are also appropriate.  Men are still wearing suits at this level, but the tie is  optional with today’s trends.

Informal (aka Business Attire).  This is not the same as casual attire!  It is slightly less dressy than semi-formal.  Women can wear a skirt/pants suit or a conservative dress and jacket.  Men are required to wear suits with a tie.

Smart Casual. Ladies, put on a skirt or dress pants and coordinate a cute outfit.  A casual dress is also acceptable, usually above the knee or just below.  The term “smart” here means that you should look put together and not too casual.  Men can wear trousers or chinos with a button down or polo shirt.  Sweaters work for both men and women.  Jeans are not always acceptable, but in today’s trends jeans have become their own fashion statement.

Business Casual. Women can wear dress pants or skirts accompanied by blouses or sweaters.  Men do not wear suits, but opt for separates of trousers and shirts.

Festive Attire. Usually used around the holiday season, the attire can be anywhere from semi-formal to smart casual, but usually on the dressier side.  Try adding some sparkle or color to get in the “festive” mood!  No business look here, keep it dressy but fun.

Casual. Choose your style and go for it!  There are no rules for casual attire.  You can use this style of dress to express yourself or simply be comfortable.

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Posted in Special Events | 3 Comments »

10 Tips For Taking Children To Special Events

Wednesday, October 14th, 2009

Special events should be fun!  Here are some ideas to help the whole family enjoy your next memorable occasion.

1.  Let your child help pick out their outfit.  If you need to purchase a specific outfit for the event, involve your child in the process of chhoosing the outfit and they will be so excited to wear it come that special day.  If you are picking from the closet, offer choices between two shirts or dresses or even something as small as the hair clip!

2. Think ahead about your child’s sleep schedule. Plan bedtime the night before, wake up time, and the day’s nap time according to the event schedule.  If you need your child to nap early, try getting them to bed early, up early in the morning, and run them around as much as possible to wear them out for an early nap!  Enlist family and friends to help.

3.  Discuss expectations with your child about the event. Kids love to know the plan so spell it out in detail with them the night before including what is expected from them in regards to behavior.  Make sure to let them know if you will not be with them for any portion of the day.

4. Bring snacks. Always keep some of your child’s favorite snacks on hand, including something that is a very special treat.  Save the best one for the moment when you most need your child to be quiet and attentive.

5.  Bring quiet, age appropriate toys and activities. A toddler trying to play a DS game in the middle of a wedding has the potential for disaster if they get frustrated or accidentally turn up the volume.  Have your child help you pick out two or three toys or activities that can keep them occupied and only bring them out when appropriate.  With my kids we bring doodle pros, coloring books, hot wheels, action figures, books and baby dolls.

6. Pack a change of clothes. This can be either a casual outfit or another dressy outfit.  Children spill, have accidents, get dirty… you get the idea.  If their formal outfit is uncomfortable and they do not need to be in it during the entire event, then bring something a little more casual.  If the event is at night, bring jammies and change before the drive home.   Your child will most likely be exhausted and fall asleep in the car!

7.  Bring extra supplies. After you pack your bag, go back and add an extra diaper, pair of underwear, hair clip, pair of socks, sippy cup – whatever you think has the potential to get used up, dirty, or lost!  It is way better to have too much than to run out.

8.  Plan ahead. As much as we would love our children to sit quietly and patiently through every special event, it may not happen.  Plan your seat accordingly, know where the exits and the bathrooms are located, and have a relative or friend prepared to assist you if possible.  Locate a spot nearby before the event starts where you can take your child where you can calm them down or let them run around.

9.  Keep your cool. Flying off the handle will not help the situation.  If your child’s behavior is not meeting expectations, take them to a private area to sit them down and discuss matters.  Disciplining them publicly during a special occasion will only make everyone feel uncomfortable and may not get the desired results.  Let the child know specifically what behavior is not acceptable and explain what the appropriate behavior should be.

10.  Have fun! Try to keep the day fun for all members of the family.  You will get more out of the day if you stop and make sure your child is also having a good time.  Be aware of their needs so they can be met and everyone will have a good time.

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Posted in Special Events | 2 Comments »

Welcome To Our Special Events Blog!

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

PuddlesCollection.com is proud to announce our brand new blog where we will be discussing everything related to those special events in your life.  From weddings to parties to pageants and holidays, you will find the information you need here for planning and attending that special event!  We will keep you up on trends and help with advice, tips, and tricks.  We will also be doing giveaways and contests so make sure to check back frequently!

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Posted in Special Events | 1 Comment »