Holiday Hints

I am a parent in the unconventional sense. My child is a feisty and fun white and dark gray (almost black) rat terrier fittingly named Oreo. And like most pet owners I know, I can’t imagine life without him. Neither can my parents…who take care of him when I’m traveling for work or just because they want their only “grandchild” to visit. So in my search for some last-minute stocking stuffer ideas, I decided to create them a small Oreo-themed 2010 calendar so they could see his smiling snout even when Oreo’s home with me! ...read more

With only one week until Christmas Eve, I know I need to buckle down and find meaningful gifts that won’t break my budget. I’ve always found it best to give a few trinkets that are useful and unique, along with a special note to remind friends and family how much I care.

Christmas is sneaking up on me this year, and I was just about to decide I wasn't doing cards. Between e-mail and Facebook, I keep my family and friends up to speed, so who needs printed cards, right? But let's face it: nothing beats getting real mail. And how hard is it really to mail something once a year?

Fellow procrastinators, take heart! It's not too late to order your holiday cards or photo calendars. You can place an order at fedex.com/gifts all the way up until December 20 to get free rush shipping of your items in time for Christmas. Whew!

So I snapped some pictures of my son, and I dropped them in the template and ordered my cards today. FedEx Office has a new online ordering system, and I was really happy with how easy it was. With the free rush shipping, I will have them in time to get them out before Christmas. No need to do “Happy New Year” cards because I waited too long again this year! ...read more

Guest blogger Renee Lauriano – a Pack and Ship expert from the FedEx Office center in Manhattan – shares some of her advice for getting through the busiest shopping and shipping time of the year. Don’t miss her colorful and creative shipping tip at the bottom!

The holidays are an incredibly busy time of year for everyone. From family get-togethers and office Christmas parties to marathon shopping expeditions, there’s always something going on. Things at my center are round-the-clock busy too. ...read more

I’ve always found beautifully framed photos of kids to be tried and true winners when it comes to giving holiday gifts to the grandparents each year. I’m sure you’ve found the same – even when it’s something you came up with last minute for Christmas or Hanukah. If you want to put a spin on it this year, think about putting together a family photo calendar. Some options to consider: ...read more

Every year my girlfriends and I get together for a holiday cookie swap a few weeks before Christmas.  We all love how the swap gives us an excuse to get together – plus we’re guaranteed to leave with several tins filled to the brim of different treats to munch throughout the holidays. But this year everyone is just too busy to bake in time for our usual party date. So for this go-round, I had a great idea – swapping festive jars of holiday cookie mixes and recipes instead of the baked-up goodies!  While we won’t get the variety of years past, we will still get to try out few new recipes, and I can bake them when my schedule quiets down.

I put together the cute mix jars in the photo a few days ago. The cookie cutters and holiday ribbon are from my local craft store. I designed the recipe cards using a common word processing software, and printed them out on card stock at FedEx Office. ...read more

Throwing a holiday party this year? Well I wish I had the time, as I love hosting parties with a personal touch. One idea I’ve loved since I first saw it comes from my friend Robyn. I was at her wedding in Seattle earlier this year, where she had the place cards in the photo above. I loved how elegant the dark metallic frames were, coupled with the detailed scrollwork around the names. I wanted to share with you all in case Robyn’s creativity sparks some ideas for your upcoming events!

If you want to make them or something similar, here are some pointers. You can pick up the frames (2”x3”) at a local party store. The name cards can be easily designed using word processing software and free clip art, and printed out on standard card stock. And if you wanted to carry this design across other event stationery – like invitations, menu cards, buffet cards, hostess gifts, and more – it’s as simple as using the matching graphic, font and color scheme in all the materials. ...read more