* A blog dedicated to our non-profit client, Thompson Education Foundation COVID-19 has forced schools to do what’s being referred to “remote” or “distance” learning this year, and some say it could continue into 2021 as well. This has been a difficult process for parents, students and teachers to adjust to. Just know, you are not alone! Many parents and teachers have been experimenting with what works best for their students during this time. I have gathered the top 5 most helpful tips on how to be successful with remote learning! 1. Make a schedule. Having a consistent daily schedule can allow everyone to feel prepared and ready for their day. Organizing their schedule around your schedule as a parent can ease some stress of working at home and having your kids schooling at home. Consistency is key! For example, if you have math first one day, math should be first every day. Visualize your schedule by printing it out, writing it on a dry erase or chalk board, or making a clickable schedule on their laptop. Set alarms for zoom classes to keep everyone on schedule without having to have it all memorized. 2. Take a typing class. Younger kids who have not had a lot of school experience are feeling overwhelmed. Not only do they have to sit in front of a computer all day, they also must know how to use one! Getting your student typing classes can help teach kids the basics of typing properly with exercises on what all of the keys mean and how to use them. Typing Club offers free classes and exercises to help get your child prepped for remote learning! https://www.typingclub.com 3. Give lots of Breaks. Breaking up the schedule can help your student focus better and be ready to learn. Everyone need breaks throughout their day, whether it’s for snacks, exercise or just to rest their eyes from the screen breaks can help kids feel more independent in remote learning as long as there is consistency. Students thrive on consistency! One tip from a parent was to have activity kits ready for when your child is in between classes and you do not have the time to get them started on something. If the child has activities at their workspace it can help keep them focused and entertained until you can get around to helping them. 4. Give kids an outlet to discuss emotions. One of things to not lose sight on is that you are still their parent, not just their new teacher, or helper with school assignments. By having kids write in a journal they can process their feelings in this uncertain time. A nice addition to your daily schedule is to set aside time to talk as a family about how everyone is feeling and coping with everything. 4. Optimizing the Learning Space. Having a learning space free of distractions, noise, tv and other forms of entertainment can optimize the student’s learning process. Having access to all supplies at their space, within reach that is well organized can also help kids with becoming distracted from needing to leave their learning space to go elsewhere in the home. For even more tips and ideas on how to deal with remote learning visit our Pinterest board. https://www.pinterest.com/MyBigDayEvents/education-k-12/
In response to COVID-19 and Thompson School District’s decision to continue remote learning in schools, Thompson Education Foundation (TEF) and the Literacy Committee of Loveland Rotary Club each committed $10,000 ($20,000 total) to support remote learning for students in 2020. The first purchase was for 5,000 books for students who are participating in TSD’s emergency food distribution program. The books were purchased for all grade levels, PreK-12. In addition, Thompson Education Foundation supplied 500 school supply kits to supplement at-home learning for elementary and secondary students without access to supply resources at home. Donate to TEF and their efforts to help families during these times here. https://www.thompsontef.org/donate Christmas isn’t just for gathering with friends and family to celebrate the season - it’s also a beautiful time to plan a winter wedding! A December/Christmas inspired wedding is the perfect opportunity to not only celebrate your love, but to also throw the best holiday party ever! We’ve curated a list of some holiday inspired wedding tips and ideas that will surely get you and your guests into the seasonal spirit, and elevate your event beyond the typical holiday celebration!
When you create your invitation suite, make sure you include the following: Invitation for event, directions, response cards & envelopes, inner envelope, mailing envelope, and plenty of postage. You might also consider adding a special reception card, local highlights information, and suggestions for accommodations for out of town guests. Ceremony & Reception Decor Greenery and red poinsettias are natural choices for Christmas wedding decor (hello, every Hallmark Christmas movie!). You can certainly get creative with how you use these elements. Use greenery garlands to outline reception areas, set up vignettes around white-lighted Christmas trees, include layers of red and white poinsettias as a backdrop for your ceremony. The possibilities are endless. You don’t have to settle for a red and green color palette, either. How about deep navy and silver? White twinkle lights and gold? All of these options are holiday inspired! Bouquets & Boutonnieres There are so many extra touches that you can add to a holiday bridal bouquet and boutonniere! Pinecones are a fun and wintry addition to any Christmas-inspired bouquet. Berries and pine sprigs are also easy festive elements to incorporate. Did you know, according to ancient folklore, the Druids regarded holly as a sacred plant and believed it had magical powers of protection? Definitely consider adding some holly to your floral arrangements for good luck! Jingle Bells! With a holiday wedding you can capitalize on both Jingle Bells and Wedding Bells! Hand out small bells for guests to ring after the ceremony instead of birdseed or bubbles. Guests can also ring their bells when they want a kiss from the bride and groom during the reception, instead of using their silverware on china to call for this tradition. Serve festive cocktails. You can expand the typical bar with holiday flavors including eggnog, peppermint, and cranberry. Holiday drinks often look fancy with extra flourishes and flair - perfect for a fancy wedding reception! Incorporate holiday inspired guest favors. Guests will be excited to receive a memento that they will actually want to keep! Engraved holiday ornaments with your wedding date, or their names carved or written on a themed ornament will remind your guests of your special day for years to come! You can also send your guests home with tasty treats too! Holiday cookies, gold wrapped chocolates, or even packaged homemade eggnog will surely be hits! Hot Cocoa and Cookies - Santa’s favorite! Why not consider offering a hot cocoa bar in addition to the spirits you serve? Perhaps include a wide offering of Christmas and Holiday cookies for dessert instead of the traditional wedding cake or cupcakes? You’re guests will enjoy making their own hot cocoa concoctions and dunking their favorite holiday cookies in them for fun! Think Texture. There are so many different textures that you can incorporate into your clothing, decor, and venue to inspire holiday magic. Velvet dresses and accessories for brides and bridesmaids, plaids and cording for grooms and groomsmen, gold and silver accents, wood and greenery, snow and ice…...all special holiday touches. Create a cozy atmosphere. Cozy fires, twinkle lights, candles, and scents of the season, will be an inviting touch for your guests. Create intimacy by utilizing non traditional seating arrangements for dinner - family style serving, seating in groups, long tables, couches and overstuffed chairs by fireplaces. Contact MBD Marketing & Events Small Business. Big Impact. Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 Email Us We serve the entire Front Range; Denver, Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken You may have friends or family members – dubbed “COVID Couples’ – who have had to postpone or cancel their weddings because of the pandemic. For most couples, this is a difficult decision to make, and may bring up feelings of sadness, anger, or even loss. Here are some ways to support the special people in your life whose weddings have been affected by COVID – and some things to avoid. DO: 1. Send a surprise gift on their original wedding day. This is likely to be the most difficult day for the couple. Consider sending flowers, sweets, or a gift card for a takeout date night with a note saying you are thinking of them. If you’re on a budget, stick with a handwritten note dropped at their doorstep or surprise them with FaceTime or a phone call. Don’t forget about the groom! 2. Listen. Be a shoulder to cry on for your friends and family. Venting can be a therapeutic way to deal with negative emotions from having to postpone or cancel their wedding. Be open and understanding, but not dismissive or overly positive. 3. Contact vendors. A lot goes in to planning a wedding. If your couple has hired a wedding planner, they can help with reaching out to the vendors the couple has chosen. If not, consider the numerous contracts with the florist, photographer, caterer, cake decorator, venue, DJ, furniture rentals, day-of coordinator, and many more that may exist. Depending on the vendor and the wording of each contract, meetings with vendors may involve renegotiating the contract, maintaining it but postponing the date, or asking for a partial refund. 4. Give them resources. There are many couples in the same boat, and many community and support groups online. The Zola Facebook Community has almost 12,000 members in the throes of pandemic wedding planning. For more local advice, check out Colorado COVID-19 Wedding Support. 5. Deal with guests. Offer to help contact guests to notify them of changes to the event. This could involve a formal, mailed update, or an email or text if the wedding was scheduled for just a few weeks away. Be sure to introduce yourself to the couple’s family and friends if making calls or sending texts on their behalf. You can also help answer guests’ follow-up questions about reservations they had for the wedding or the timing of the rescheduled event (if there is one). DON’T: 1. Give opinions or advice unless it is solicited by the couple. It is complicated and confusing trying to reschedule a large event with many moving parts, never mind with unwarranted opinions thrown into the mix. Give advice only if you are asked to by the couple. 2. Be overly positive or dismissive. Saying, “It’s going to be fine,” may not go over well. Things may not be okay for your friends or family members, and they don’t have to be. Try saying, “I’m sorry. I wish things were different,” or “I can’t imagine what you’re going through, but I’m here for you.” 3. Expect to be able to fix it. As a friend or family member, the best you can do is listen and offer help or advice if it’s requested. Do not try to fix their feelings or the situation. Contact My Big Day Marketing & Events
Small Business. Big Impact. Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 Email Us We serve the entire Front Range; Denver, Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken Keep it small. Obviously, large gatherings are off the table right now. But birthdays can be just as special with immediate family members. Research shows kids find these birthdays just as meaningful and memorable as a big, expensive party. Create anticipation. Build up to the big day - present your child with seven envelopes, each containing a small privilege (15 minutes of extra screen time, 30 min. later bedtime, etc.) He can open one each day in the week leading up to his birthday. Celebrate the night before, too. This is a great way to help your child reflect on and feel proud of another year of life, minus the distraction of presents. Take this time to give them some special attention instead of material things. Surprise decorating. Decorate with balloons, streamers, and signs while your little one is sleeping. It will be a fun surprise and a great photo op in the morning! Entertainment via Zoom. Parents can book a virtual professional magic show or a video chat with Elsa. Check out Send In the Clowns . Go for a birthday cruise. Deck out your family car with decorations and special messages written on the windows and drive around town! Your child is sure to get lots of honks and happy birthdays from passerby. Go on an outdoor scavenger hunt. Divide into teams with one adult and one or more kids each, and set out with a list of items and some phones or digital cameras. Have each team snap photos of a purple flower, someone with a stroller, a house number with the birthday child’s age. Give them a “Yes Day.” Let the birthday child choose all the day’s meals and activities (within reason of course). Let them create their own cake. The birthday child chooses the cake flavor, fillings or frosting, and decorations. It will be all the more special because it was their creation. Big-kid smash cake. If you don’t mind some clean-up, put a twist on the traditional toddler smash cake and let the entire family eat cake sans utensils. Laughs guaranteed! Contact My Big Day
Marketing & Events Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 Email Us As event planners, we serve the entire Front Range; Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken ![]() By Carrie Stadtmueller, My Big Day Lead Event Planner & Marketing Manager Does the idea of accepting one more virtual happy hour invite with your co-workers and socially distanced friends fill you with a sense of loathing and dread? You might be suffering from the Zoom Blues! It’s been hard to watch the hopeful Summer of 2020 turn into the Summer that Wasn’t. People all over the world, country, and internet have been looking for ways to stay engaged and entertained - all while socially distancing and looking towards the slow process of reopening. We’ve pulled together an extensive list of activities for your summer at home - some just as fun and special as your traditional summer plans - check it out: Water Day Even though your public pool might not be open, that doesn’t mean you have to forego any water fun! Why not bust out your swimsuits and set up a sprinkler or slip-n-slide in the backyard? Cool off with some time in a refreshing kiddie pool - with a cocktail of course! If you have a small group of friends who you feel safe socializing distantly with, invite them over for a backyard game of Water Balloon Volleyball. You can spread out across the court - although we recommend that you find a facemask that matches your bathing suit ensemble.
Start a Virtual Book Club Use the encouragement of your friends to get excited about reading again! Take turns suggesting books, pick a regular date and time, and chat up your favorite characters and chapters! Bonus - have the person who suggests the book also come up with a special cocktail, beer, or wine for the evening, too!
Online Workouts If you’re like us, you may have noticed that quarantine hasn’t been your waistline’s best friend. How about gathering an online bestie for some Zoom/FaceTime at home workouts? There are thousands of fitness gurus who are offering exercise routines and advice on Instagram and Pinterest. Find your favorite and start sweating! Encourage your quarantine workout partner, and check in each week to keep each other accountable!
These are just a few fun ideas to pass your days away. While this time of social distancing is often boring, and thinking about how long it might last can be depressing, we hope you take the time to enjoy the little things. Adjusting to this time at home and social separations involves adjusting expectations. You can still feel like you have had a fun, productive and entertaining day with the right expectations. And at the end of the day, you can rest easy knowing that you have done your part to keep yourself, your family, and your community safe. Contact My Big Day Marketing & Events Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 Email Us As event planners, we serve the entire Front Range; Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken ![]() Many of our favorite summertime activities have been sidelined due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but there are still multiple ways to safely entertain in the great outdoors. Planning ahead, preparing for time with your personal small social networks, and adjusting plans to fit recommended guidelines will ensure a fun and safe time for all! Getting outside can be a great cure for the quarantine blues. With that in mind, we have come up with a list of socially safe, outdoor entertaining tips to help you enjoy this summer with your family and close friends. Use this list as a checklist in your planning, to help pull off a seamless gathering for fun. (As always, when planning, please follow all local and state Covid-19 guidelines.) Carefully craft your guest list Current guidelines allow for groups of up to 10 with plenty of extra space. Make sure you invite guests who have been following guidelines and are comfortable wearing a mask when not eating or drinking. Plan to have plenty of extra masks and hand sanitizer on site for extra safety precautions. Mobb Mountain Distillers have locally crafted hand sanitizer available for pick up on Wednesdays from 3-8PM and Saturdays 2-8PM. They also have cocktails for pick up too! https://www.mobbmountain.com/
We hope that this list helps to inspire your planning. And if there is a certain theme you’re looking for, our Pinterest board has a ton of fun and creative ideas for you to consider! https://www.pinterest.com/MyBigDayEvents/summer-theme-parties/ Contact My Big Day "Dream Big, Live Big. For Life's Events!" Original Ideas, superior strategies, your own private party planner. ~Event Planning, Coordination & Management~ My Big Day llc Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 Email Us Located in Loveland, CO As event planners, we serve the entire Front Range; Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken Your wedding day is likely something you have looked forward to most of your life. You’ve been dreaming of it for years, and now that you are engaged, you cannot wait for the big day to get here. Be sure to prepare yourself for the road between your engagement and the main event. Wedding planning can be extremely stressful and exhausting, not to mention the strain it can put on relationships. With these tips, you can help alleviate some of that stress so you can focus on the fun. 1. Know yourself, know what you want. Of course, you want to take your parents, your grandparents, and your friends’ opinions into account, but remember this is your wedding (meaning yours and your partners). Be sure to gauge your emotions and how those weigh on what is important to you in planning your day. Take care to nurture your feelings while also taking others’ into account and handling any disagreements with them tactfully and gracefully. This will prevent conflict and controversy and keep everyone on the same page. 2. Choose your wedding party carefully. Number 1 brings us to Number 2. Be selective in who you choose to surround yourself with while planning and carrying out your wedding. Your bridal party should be comprised of family and friends who know you well, have seen you at your best and worst, and can handle all those ups and downs right along with you. Having people whose opinions you value and you know you can lean on can help you manage tough decisions and the emotional roller-coaster that can accompany planning a wedding 3. Plan ahead. Most wedding planners will recommend starting the planning process 12-16 months ahead of time and to create an all-encompassing checklist. This allows you plenty of time to secure your venue, book your service vendors (think florist, caterer, DJ or band, photographer, etc., etc.), find the perfect dress for you and your bridesmaids and have them altered, order your invitations, and still allow time to make changes or rectify any mistakes that pop up along the way. Waiting until the last minute to plan can lead to difficulty finding availability for everything from a pastor to flights for the honeymoon. You want your big day to go off without a hitch and be magical, not a chaotic hodgepodge, so plan far in advance. 4. Use referrals. Piggybacking off of number 3, use referrals when booking your vendors and service providers. Ask your friends who they used, research local resource guides, and ask for references. Don’t be afraid to ask questions to make sure you know exactly what you are paying for, and they have no question as to what your expectations are. Done in conjunction with plenty of time and planning, this will allow time for any wrinkles to be ironed out. 5. Sweat it out. Be sure to exercise regularly during your wedding planning. Not only will this keep you in shape and prevent stress eating from packing on pounds, exercising will help you work out the stress, clear your mind, and keep you focused. Whether you prefer yoga, hitting the trails, or cross training, maintaining a regular exercise routine is key in counterbalancing stress. Not only will you look fabulous in your dress, you will be relaxed and on top of your game for your big day. 6. Eat healthy. As mentioned above, this can be a very stressful time. Eating a healthy diet packed with all your essential vitamins and minerals will help your body combat stress and stay healthy. You don’t want to be run down or have a weakened immune system and end up sick. Balance this with plenty of water and enough sleep so you will be looking and feeling your best on the big day. 7. Remember to have fun. So often brides get so caught up in the planning that they forget to actually enjoy the experience of planning their wedding and walking down the aisle. This is likely the biggest decision you have ever made and the beginning of a new life together. Embrace all that comes with it and know that even if things don’t go exactly perfect, the most important aspect of it all is enjoying this time with your partner. Take it all in and make the day yours to remember together for a lifetime. Planning a wedding is a huge task, but with planning and care, it can be an exciting, enjoyable journey. Using the tips above can help you manage the stress and keep your focus on sharing this experience and starting your life together on a happy note. ***And don't forget -- Hiring a Wedding Planner will give you peace of mind and can even help SAVE you money!
- by Christine Forster, My Big Day Last night I was so looking forward to a nice, relaxing evening at my nail salon... ahhh.... one hour in a massage chair, getting a pedicure, reading wedding magazines. But that's not how the night played out. The salon was hopping - nearly every chair was taken. I was sat next to a loud, abrasive brunette and her friend who were having a little bit of a girls night. The brunette clearly didn't notice the soothing whimsical music in the background and chairs lined with ladies reclined with their eyes closed. Her voice carried across the entire salon. She spoke as if her words of wisdom were meant for everyone there.
For a full hour I sat and listened to opinion after opinion and bad advice after bad advice. The poor bride was exhausted by the brunette, I could tell. Never once did her friend/bridesmaid ask her how she was feeling or what she would like. She just gave advice as if she were a seasoned pro. Things to leave up to the Pros:
So... did I step in and call the Bad Bridesmaid out?
No. I could have passed the bride my card and offered to help, but some situations aren't worth jumping in the middle of. Let's hope the bride comes to her senses and decides to hire a pro!
Informal -Place a large dinner plate in the middle of a place mat. -If soup is being served, a soup bowl is placed on top of the dinner plate. -The fork is placed to the left of the plate. -The knife and spoon are on the right. The knife is positioned directly next to the plate with the blade facing in. The spoon is right of the knife. -Soup spoons can be found to the right of the beverage spoon. -If salad is being served, include a smaller salad fork to the left of the dinner fork. -And what’s dinner without bread? The bread plate is placed above the forks with a butter knife on top. -Place the water glass directly above the knife. -As for the napkin, placement is at the discretion of the host. Under the forks or between the dinner plate and bowl are two popular choices. Formal A formal place setting is very similar to the informal, just with a few more add-ons. -Begin with the informal setting. -Include a wine glass next to the water glass above the knife. -A dessert spoon can be added to the right of the beverage spoon, a fork can be placed to the right of the dinner fork, both placed above the plate, or simply brought out with the course. -To dress your table up a bit, add a charger beneath the dinner plate for extra flare. As with any event, make it your own! The above instructions are simply guidelines and are not absolute rules. Feel free to create your own table setting that will make your table unforgettable. My Big Day is an Event Planning company based in Northern Colorado.
We specialize in weddings, private parties, corporate events, non-profit fundraisers, and our own signature events. As event planners, we serve the entire front range; Northern Colorado, Southern Wyoming and mountain venues. My Big Day llc Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 Email Us Located in Loveland, CO www.MyBigDayCompany.com ![]() -by Jessica Weimer, My Big Day Keeping your wedding memento’s or selling them is a tough decision. If you’re sentimental you will most likely keep most or your décor, but is it worth the space it takes up in your home/garage? If you sell everything most likely you will regret it when that special occasion comes up and you are missing the cake knives you didn’t think you’d need. Here is a list of must keep items and some items you need to sell. Toasting Glasses: While this might not have been the item you spent days deciding on, it is still something that could come in handy in the future! If you are fond of traditions this could be something worth saving for future anniversaries. They are a great conversation piece when people admire your glass cabinet; it could remind you of that great toast your brother gave. These are also something that may be hard to sell, especially if they are engraved or have a personal touch. Cake Knives: Cake knives are something that can be sold or kept. If you are an entertainer then they may be a must to keep, since you will probably need something to cut a cake in the future. In that case they are also a great conversation piece, every time you pull them out you can reminisce of the cake at your wedding. Or maybe you really want to store them in a shadow box and show off the amazing detail or engraving you chose. They can be used as a tradition you hand down to your child when they get married. If you aren’t attached to them they could be sold or even give them to another friend who is getting married soon! Wedding Gown: This is definitely a personal choice by the bride, some brides really don’t put much sentimental value into their bridal gown but to others it is the most important dress you will ever wear. There are some businesses who will preserve it in a box for you, or even a more unique idea is to get it preserved in a shadow box and hang it in your closet one day, depending if your closet is big enough! If you don’t mind changing up your dress, you could alter it into a different dress you could wear for a vow renewal or a significant anniversary! These are great ways to keep the dress looking good and the sentimental value intact. If you don’t mind selling your wedding gown, there are always re-sale shops you can go to. (My Big Day recommends Wed Wisely in Loveland, CO.) Or even donating your dress to be given to a woman less fortunate who needs the help and would love her dream wedding! Décor: When your wedding is over you are left with great memories and tons of the décor you spent many hours perusing and then purchasing! If like most people, you don’t have use for 50 cylinder vases, there is hope to still sell some of it. Recycle Your Wedding is a great website that lets you list your wedding goods and the suggested price and people can look through and buy. It also has a wanted section in which people describe what they’re looking for and the amount they would like to pay. This will at least let you hopefully sell the majority of your things. There is no good or bad time to sell your wedding goods, as brides look year round for the perfect find! Though if your wedding was trendy it is best to try to sell as soon as possible, because chevron may have been the cutest thing ever this year but next year it may be out. Craigslist is also a good site that can help you unload your wedding decor, but don't expect to get even half of what you paid. The site is best for re-homing your goods, but not making money.
Some décor is worth keeping such as the gorgeous arch you may have constructed to get married under. If you and your new husband are moving into a home and have a backyard, it would be the perfect garden accent and be a really good conversation piece. My Big Day offers affordable rentals for clients looking to have the latest trends with decorations, but who don't want to purchase 25 centerpieces that will never see the light of day again. When it comes to selling things from your wedding, it can be a tough decision to part with things that have so many memories, but also it could save you the headache of having to store it and then just throwing it out eventually. |
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January 2021
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