a free treat!

The Christmas card I sent out last year was a little cheeky, and I was worried that certain people (think Grandma) on my list wouldn't quite understand it. If only I'd known then about Treat, Shutterfly's new custom greeting card site, I could have whipped up something personal and special. 

Treat is perfect this Christmas if you don't have the budget to bulk order a ton of photo cards, but still want to send your nearest and dearest a greeting. Or, if you want be sensitive to certain friends on your card list, a Treat card would be special alternative. Maybe your friend who is in the middle of a divorce shouldn't get your card with your wedding photo displayed. Instead, create something personal and festive just for her. 

Not just for holidays, Treat will come in especially handy when you're searching for a birthday card or a  note of congratulations for friends and family that require a little something more than a grocery store greeting card. As a super card nerd, I'm pretty excited about this new site where you can make and send one-a-kind cards without even having to lick a stamp!

To celebrate the launch of Treat, I Do Declare readers will receive a FREE card today (11.19) and tomorrow (11.20). Create and send a greeting to someone you're thankful for this week...just because you can. (enter the code TREATBLOGR at checkout)

Who will get the Treat card you make today? 

Good Christian Brunching

There's a new TV show called GCB. It's a bit like Hope Floats meets Desperate Housewives.  "GCB" stands for Good Christian B-tches. Now, if you're a person who gets offended when someone says "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas" I can tell you right now - you will HATE this show. I believe God happens to have a clever sense of humor, so I am wildly amused by the fun poked at the stereotyping of many things that I am/have been at times: Southern, blond, hypocritical and closed-minded about religion. The show is hysterical, and as my friends gathered yesterday to celebrate Easter together, it was referenced a few times. 

If like me, you're a Christian without a church home you know that Easter can be a bit of a challenge (especially if you don't live near your family and/or your spouse has tickets to the O's game). You feel like it's wrong to pop into a church just because it's Easter (and if you watch GCB you know the Don't-Miss-a-Sunday types will accuse you of just coming to show off your Easter outfit anyway).

At the same time, you still want to mark the holiday. So, what's a girl to do? 

Well, first you make a brunch reservation....

then you find a church nearby and become so sweetly surprised when the strangers there greet you so warmly.  That's how I spent Easter yesterday - with really good friends, at a beautiful church in Washington, where a very life-applicable message on Second Chances was offered. While there I was reminded of just how much I appreciate the rituals of church, and the sense of renewal that returns instantly, even inside a sanctuary you have never been in before...and may never be in again.

After the service, our group settled in for a little GCB-ing of our own...

Good Christian Brunching! While there, I was reminded of just how much I appreciate the fun and loyal friends that bless my life.  


And the people said...amen.

Paperless Post - Valentines + Give-away

My favorite online stationer, Paperless Post, has some of the most cute and clever Valentines cards available if you are a last-minute card shopper....which I am!

For less than than what you'd pay for one paper greeting card, you can send a card to your Valentine, your friends, your family - pretty much everyone you love, with enough left over to design a girls' night invitation around a movie! And, to prove that love don't cost a thing, Paperless Post is introducing a line of FREE designs, too! 

What I love about Paperless Post, as opposed to other sites that offer e-greetings, is that the designs are as original and elegant as paper products you'd find in a boutique stationery store.  

To Carrie. Love, Big

The designer gets to really put her special touch on an invitation, birthday or holiday card. I sent this one, from the new free line, to Dan (or as I usually call him, Z) who's been out of town with work while I've been home going to boot camp. Cute, no?

There are even options for photo cards (think grandparents if you have kiddos!).  I used this engagement pap shot of Dan and me to for a magazine cover card....

with this funny message...because I've been known, on occassion, to read the tabloids.

If you want playful or pretty, you'll find all styles of cards at Paperless Post! I love that Paperless Post cards arrive in the recipients inbox in a cute envelope that opens up to reveal a pretty liner, which the designer can select. Because it really isn't like JUST sending an email, your intended will surely feel special (not like you just forgot...and sent a quick message!).

I'm SO excited that Paperless Post is offering one I Do Declare reader a chance to win 50 Coins for creating and sending clever cards and invitations - for a birthday, for a party....OR, just in time for Valentines Day!

To enter, be a follower of I Do Declare and then leave a comment telling me how you'd use the Paperless Post coins! Will you create invites for an upcoming St Patricks Day party? Will you play Cupid sending Valentines to everyone you know? Are you like me, who likes to just send Paperless Post when setting up dinner plans because designing one  is so, so fun??

I'll announce a winner on Monday, February 13!

I was compensated only with a reader give-away for this post. I am a longtime customer of Paperless Post and feature often the designs I create on my blog.  

While The Year is Stll New...

Happy 2012 Friends, real and imaginary!! I've been a bit AWOL from the webs since Christmas, and when that happens to me, it's hard to get back in the groove. While the year is still new, I thought I'd capatlize on (the very few - tisk, tisk!) holiday photos I took.



It isn't just for blogging that I'm not back to normal, though. While typically January 1 for me brings all kinds of dramatic reflection and fresh start resoluting, this year, I haven't felt that one bit. I don't know why....

Maybe it's the lazy, but very relaxing way in which I welcomed in this new year with just a little flannel and fondue at home. And...a boot-legged copy, fresh from the streets of Manhattan, of New Year's Eve, the movie. (It is not an Oscar contender, but it was kind of perfect to watch on 12.31!)

When the clock struck 12, I had Chloe on my lap and Dan by my side. It was very sweet, but hardly the swining celebrations of yesteryears. During the day on New Year's Eve, though, we did meet up with my blog bestie, Dee, for an early (and very fun!) dinner in Baltimore and the intruduction of the Hokie husbands. Still, we were home by 7, and asleep by 12:30.  Hold your confetti...


That slow, easy tone is trickling through January's first week for me, and that's ok. December was wild and busy and fun!

We spent a week in TN with {all} my parents and I also got to see my high school friends for our annual holiday hang.

We had big plans for a night on the town, but it poured rain, so we defaulted to take-out and couch gossiping instead - pretty much like when we were in high school, only with wine instead of wine coolers.

But now, as January's cold blows in Merry Merry has been replaced, welcomed even,  with the minutia. And I'm taking the start of the new year at a turtle's pace, if I'm being honest. I'm ready to hibernate a little, and I'm ready for a big snow. 

What are you ready for in 2012?

It's Christmas: Cue Joni Mitchell

The movie Love Actually - I've surely seen it a hundred times! You too, right?

It doesn't have to be Christmas-time for me to get sucked into a British rom-com, but it has become a holiday tradition that my friends and I gather for a little girls' night in to watch Hugh Grant dance to the Pointer Sisters and to hear Joni Mitchell sing against Emma Thompson's breaking marriage. 

In our younger days we would get dressed up and hit the town, but now that we can't burn our yule log at both ends, we all look forward to a girls' night in, in our Jingle Jammies, with wine and a cozy fire. That's happening tonight!

Here's the invite I designed for us on PaperlessPost to look like the movie poster:

My friend Mary and I did not let slumber parties die with junior high. When I was single and still living in the city, I would leave the District on a Friday and hunker down at Mary's Winter Home where we'd hide from the world, facing no one but the pizza delivery man for days. Those retreats came to be known as Estro Fests because, clearly...hormones were the driving force behind our seclusion. Now, nearly every fete at the WH takes on some kind of "estro" theme. Tonight shall be no different, and I can't wait!

Do you have holiday traditions with your girlfriends?

Occupy Thanksgiving

Occupy Macy's Parade.
Occupy turkey smoker.
Occupy oven.
Occupy centerpiece.

Occupy wine fridge.
Occupy crystal.

Occupy family.
Occupy neighbors.
Occupy plate.

Occupy stretchy pants.
Occupy pie. (Occu-pie?)
Occupy nap.

Occupy Black Friday? I will be among the 1-percent who do not. You?

I hope your Thanksgiving was happy.

Halloween is Ruff...

...when you take to costuming as your dog.

Do you know what the funniest thing about this picture is? Not that for Halloween I dressed as Chloe. But, in this photo, I'm wearing one of Dan's undershirts. And, as you might see, it's on backwards. Here's why: there was a stack of clean laundry in a basket downstairs, and we were just about to eat dinner. Chili. I didn't want to spill on my the beige sweater I was wearing, so I grabbed one of Dan's {white - oops} t-shirts. I did spill on it. Shocker. BUT...because, by chance, I was sporting the shirt backwards, even if there's a slight stain, he may never know. See, it's been so long since I've posted I've taken to writing about shirt stains. Sigh.

Hi again, blog friends. It's been a while. I'm back, and I'll be barking at you later this week. I hope you had a fun, stain-free HowloHalloween!

Sailing Takes Me Away

For years, my friend Mary has celebrated her birthday, by land, out at a Virginia winery.  This year, the party turned to sea. We went sailing in Annapolis! How Maryland of us, no?
Here's the birthday girl steering the boat...

You can see here, as Mary's dad, Fred T., helps raise the sails where Mary gets her nautical nature....

Ann played captain for a while, too....

Since I haven't truly gained my sea legs.....

I just took in the views!

The day was really amazing - perfect weather and perfect friends!

After our 2-hour cruise, we had dinner at The Rockfish....

where the seafood is really yummy.....

...as are the desserts!

Happy Birthday, Mary!

If you live near or are visiting Annapolis, you should totally make like Christopher Cross and go sailing, too! The company we used, Schooner Woodwind, provided the boat for the saililng scene from The Wedding Crashers.  It's so fun, reasonably priced and the crew is fantastic!

14 Carrots

 Is this not the CUTEST Easter centerpiece you've ever seen???

I found it on Hostess with the Mostest, one of my favorite entertaining blogs, in an egg-cellent {couldn't help self!} feature on Easter party decor. So clever, so afforadable!!!  Makes me want to host an Easter party or a bunny-themed baby shower!

Old Friends, New Year!

Why are these people so happy????

Is it A/because they're ringing in a new year surrounded by their closest friends??

Or, is it B/because two of their friends took care of EVERY detail to make certain that 2010 ended -and 2011 began- with perfect flair?

Since I was there, I will tell you: A would not have happened with out B.

Kim and Dave = B.

"Give us $50," they asked of each couple (FAR less than any one would have spent had they taken NYE out on the town), "and we'll take care of the rest!"

And, take care they did!

Delicious food, flowing drinks, sweet desserts, overnight accomodations, clever decor and favors galore - right down to good-night bags with Advil and breakfast the next morning! I might have butted in and demanded to print some napkins, but like a gracious host, Kim accomdated such an outlandish request.

While waiting on the new year we ate, talked, reminisced 2010 and made plans to make 2011 just as{or even more!} fun! Then, in an idea far more dumb than amusing, Mr. W brought along some bootlegged fireworks (illegal in Maryland) he'd purchased a while back in Tennessee that he'd hoped would be spectacular after-midnight entertainment. Unlike our $50 NYE investment, the fireworks show was not exactly bang for our bucks...

Here are some fun photos of the party -

Happy New Year!