Catching up on my shows

I need to catch up on my TV. Well, I guess I don’t need to, but I’d like to catch up. It gets tricky when you have a one year old running around and your TV tastes don’t always coincide with your significant other’s. We have the technical capabality to watch TV in two different rooms, but we only watch TV at night (and sometimes during nap time on the weekends), and with Lazy Baby still sleeping in our bedroom, the TV in there isn’t much of an option. With all that said, here’s what I’m trying to watch when I can these days.

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Jessica Jones - Season 2

Started this when it came out, but Mr. LL lost interest (read fell asleep) in watching it. So, it’s taken a back burner until he gets deep into his online gaming and I can have the TV to myself.

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Santa Clarita Diet - Season 2

Almost done with this one, actually. Mr. LL will watch it, fall asleep and I just keep watching. He doesn’t seem to mind…too much. ¬.¬

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Handmaid's Tale - Season 2

I haven't even started this new season yet and I keep forgetting about it! Then someone at work will start talking about and I have to run from the room with my fingers in my ears, screaming to avoid spoilers.

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Westworld - Season 2

Ok, this one we ARE watching as it comes out on the HBO Go app. So, at least there’s that (though, I’m a big fan of the binge watch and now loath waiting for new episodes).

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Altered Carbon - Season 1

I talked about this show in a previous post, but I haven’t finished it. I need to do that and soon, please.

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Aggretsuko  - Season 1

I also want to give this new show on Netflix a shot. Have you seen it yet?

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That’s all that is on my list right now. What are you watching? Do you have any recommendations for me?

5th Wedding Anniversary Gift Ideas: Wood

This post contains affiliate links.

Today is mine and Mr. LL's 5th wedding anniversary. It's hard to believe that it's only been five years, but it's also hard to believe that five years have gone by since that day! Traditionally, the 5th wedding anniversary gift is made of wood, so here are some ideas if you are celebrating the big 5 like me!

Wood Gifts for your 5th Anniversary (all from etsy):

1. Kraken Real Wood phone case – Keyway Designs
2. Personalized cutting board – Circle City Design Co.
3. Original work of art – Dusty Square Designs
4. Handmade whiskey dispenser (because sometimes, being married is tough) – Don Pettine (in Poland, just FYI)
5. Personalized photo on wood – Family Foto Fun
6. Remember special dates (literally) with this gift – Wood & Paper Printz

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Graduate With Class: Etiquette for Announcements + Invites

This is a sponsored post, but all views and opinions are my own.

PHOTO COURTESY BASIC INVITE

I have a good long while before Lazy Baby is graduating from high school, but I definitely think about it from time to time. Also, as a graphic designer, I'm a sucker for a while designed piece of print and when I saw Basic Invite's products, I wish I would have discovered them before her first birthday! Two things I love about this company are: #1 you can get a printed sample – while this was once standard in the industry, you will be hard pressed to find another company that will do this for you these days and trust me, you want this to make sure that the paper you chose works with the design and images you want; and #2 you can get foil cards in ROSE GOLD – and gold and silver, but come on! Rose gold! I don't care that it's trendy right now, I want rose gold everything.

Moving on, it is graduation season and I thought I would take a moment to help all the soon-to-be grads out there with some basic etiquette when it comes to graduation invitations and announcements.

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PHOTO COURTESY BASIC INVITE

WHY SHOULD I SEND AN ANNOUNCEMENT?

I get it. You are busy with finals and preparing for college (or if you are graduating from college, you are probably freaking out about finding a job), but you probably did not get to where you are today alone. You need to think about the people in your life who have helped you along the way and share this proud moment with them! Your friends and family want to share this moment with you, even if they can't make it to your actual graduation. An announcement is also a keepsake of this big moment in your life and one that many people will want to have – plus you'll want to have one, too! Finally, think of it as a thank you to all those people who helped get you to this major achievement.

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EVERY LAST DETAIL:
Basic Invite is one of the few websites that allows customers almost unlimited color options with instant previews online. Once you select a design you can change the color of each element on the card to over 180 different color options so you can make sure the card is exactly how you want it down to the littlest detail. This is what we feel sets us apart from almost any other online stationery company and is what we feel is our biggest draw.

WHAT SHOULD IT SAY?

I'm going to break this down for you into two lists:

MUST HAVE:
• Full name
• Graduation year
• Name of the school you are graduating from
• Date of your graduation

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EXTRA CREDIT:
• Inspirational quotes
• Where you are going next
• Achievements from your school days
• Graduation wishes

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I love this one. photo courtesy basic invite.

HELPFUL TIP:
Basic Invite offers an address capturing service that allows customers to simply share a link on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or any other form of social media to request their friends and family’s addresses which will be stored in the customer’s account and can then be selected during the design process.

WHO GETS ONE?

SHORT ANSWER: Everyone your family sends holiday cards to. More specifically:

• Your parents/guardians – let's be honest, they are probably paying for them anyway, so save them one. They really want it, I promise.
• Family + extended family – some of these folks are who you will be inviting to attend your ceremony and/or party, and others are a bit more scattered geographically. Even if you know they aren't going to make it for your graduation, you should still send them an announcement at the very least.
• Friends – sure, most of your friends are probably graduating with you, but I'm sure there are few that have moved away that you keep in touch with via some kind of social media platform and they want to see that you made it! Also, not just your friends, but family friends as well (like that neighbor who helped you with your school fundraiser or something).
• Teachers (and tutors) – let them know that all that hard work and time invested in your education did not go to waste! This one is definitely a "thank you" situation.
• Yourself – keep one for yourself! You can have it to look back on one day (and realize that you were actually not as fat/dorky/awkward/etc. as you thought were at the moment).

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photo courtesy basic invite.

WHEN TO SEND IT

There are two different timelines to consider. If your announcement is also an invitation you need to consider that folks will need to set up arrangements for scheduling, travel, booking lodgings, etc., so you'll want to get these out 2 to 3 weeks before the graduation. 

However, if you are just sending out announcements that aren't invites, you have a bit more wiggle room with you time frame. 2 weeks before graduation to 4 weeks after your graduation is acceptable.

Basic Invite is just as colorful with their envelopes as they are with their invitations. Customers can choose from over 40 different colors when it comes to their envelopes so that they can make their invitation stand out even before it is opened. All of their envelopes are peel and seal so the envelopes can be quickly and securely closed.

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photo courtesy basic invite.

DON'T FORGET TO SAY "THANKS!"

First, you need to remember this: NO ONE IS OBLIGED TO GIVE YOU A GIFT. So now that you no longer feel entitled to one, you should feel especially grateful when you do receive one (also, someone taking time out of their own hectic schedules and traveling to share this day with you is a gift, just remember that) and the best way to show some thoughtful gratitude is with the tried and true method of sending a thank you card. So, when you order invitations and announcements, you should order your thank you cards at the same time.

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So, there's my tips on some basic etiquette when it comes to graduation announcements and such. I hope you find it helpful. What you will find helpful is Basic Invite's selection of high school graduation party invitations, graduation invitation cards and personalized graduation thank you cards. I could go on about their other offerings, but let's stay focused on graduation right now. And don't forget, right now Basic Invite is offering 15% off with coupon code: 15FF51!