Simply Whimsical Winter Wedding Inspiration....

As one of the sponsers of the Love Me Love My Wedding Blog http://www.lovemelovemywedding.com/ our Lancashire office was asked to dress this photoshoot with a theme of winter wonderland in simple colours of silver, blue, which matched the weather on the day perfectly!

We thought we would share some of the beautiful images with you taken by Mcavoy Weddings...

Photographers: http://www.mcavoyweddings.co.uk/

Venue: http://www.heatonhousefarm.co.uk/

Hair Accessories: http://www.juliadavidjewelleryblackpool.co.uk/costumejewellerypreston.html

Make up & Hair: http://www.onebeautifulday.info/

Dresses: http://www.ericastacey.co.uk/

Stationary: http://www.idodesigns.org.uk/

Crystal Bouquets: http://www.lovebouquets.co.uk/

Veils: http://www.dream-veils.co.uk/

Fur trimmed shrug: http://www.wraporshrug.co.uk/

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas! Hope you're having a wonderful week. I wanted to say thank you so much, truly, for reading Cup of Jo. It means a lot to me that you take the time to come here. This week we're hanging out in Palm Springs and L.A., and I'm sure you're busy, too, so I figured I'd take a break from posting, but looking forward to coming back on January 2nd! Have a good one. xoxo

P.S. Toby's first Christmas, what a flashback.

(Photos from the Ace Palm Springs yesterday, where Toby officially fell in love with hotel pools)

Miracles

"It is a miracle if you can find true friends, and it is a miracle if you have enough food to eat, and it is a miracle if you get to spend your days and evenings doing whatever it is you like to do, and the holiday season—like all the other seasons—is a good time not only to tell stories of miracles, but to think about the miracles in your own life, and to be grateful for them." —Lemony Snicket, The Lump of Coal

(Photo by Amy Merrick)

Our five holiday traditions

After writing about our new holiday ritual for Toby, I was really inspired by everyone else's holiday traditions. So we decided to steal four...Read More >

Have a good weekend.

Where are you heading for the holidays? We're flying out this afternoon to Palm Springs and LA, where we'll be visiting Alex's family. And this year, my dad, brother and sister are also joining, so it will be a fun, noisy group! Please wish us luck on the flight (gulp), and have a wonderful weekend. Here are a few great links from around the web...

A song for your weekend.

For people who love words.

Two appetizers for the holidays: Crispy goat cheese and brussel sprouts crostini.

Beautiful state necklaces.

Now that's a brave woman!

What a cool treehouse wedding.

Is this banana slicer for real?

Origami for beginners.

Seven pretty outfits.

A dad's pancake upgrade.

Chris Rock's hilarious stand-up is actually right on.

The Polar Bear Club is insane.

In case you've forgotten: how to eat dinner & how to drink wine.

Pete Souza has taken thousands of powerful photos of Obama, but here are some sweet and funny ones: one, two, three, four, five.

A reader also emailed me this etiquette question: "For the past two years, my boss has handed me an envelope (with a generous gift card inside). Not sure what to do, I've waited until afterward to open it. Is this appropriate or sketchy? I felt so awkward last year!" Thoughts?

Simply a wonderful year!

We have had the most amazing year at Simply Bows and Chair Covers and none of it would be possible without the continued support from our clients past and present who we would like to thank and wish a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Our reasons to celebrate 2012.....

Won North East Business Awards 2012 Newcomer of the Year

 

 

Opened our 10th Office

Susan Boyle and her daughter, Vicki Cairney, opened our Dundee office of Simply Bows and Chair Covers in Summer 2012. Susan joined Simply Bows and Chair Covers following 12 years in the leisure industry in Scotland having worked for David Lloyd Leisure and was previously working as a bridal consultant. Susan’s daughter, Vicki, works alongside her and brings with her a variety of experience from the fashion industry. Also, having recently planned her own wedding, Vicki is passionate about the creative aspects and importance of organisation in wedding planning.

Susan and Vicki now work around the Dundee and Perth region providing a bespoke service and top-of-the-range products made to measure for a variety of locations such as hotels, country houses and private homes.

    

Our MD Sarah Pittendrigh Won Female Entrepreneur, Best Small Business 2012 (WIN Awards)

 

 

We Won Theo Paphitis SBS

 

Each Sunday between 5pm and 7.30pm Theo, best known for appearing on the BBC’s Dragon’s Den series and being Chairman of Ryman Stationary, asks his quarter of a million followers on Twitter to send him details of their small businesses and why they deserve to be named as one of his top six of the week.

Using the hash-tag #SBS (Small Business Sunday) thousands of businesses contact Theo each week which he then reviews and chooses who he deems to be the best. Winners are then named via his Twitter account on Monday evening and added to his successful website, http://theopaphitissbs.com/ . Week commencing 22.10.12 Simply Bows and Chair Covers was one of the six chosen businesses.

 

 

 

We Won Jacqueline Gold WOW 

 

Every Wednesday, Jacqueline Gold (Chief Executive of Knickerbox and Ann Summers) invites female business owners to tweet her their business and she chooses her favourite three to become #WOW (Women on Wednesday) winners. I'm so pleased to share with you that today, she chose Simply Bows and Chair Covers!

We were a finalist in British Franchise Marketing Awards for Best Website 

 

For the second year running we were thrilled to be runner up in the Franchise Marketing Awards for Best Website. The winner of the this award was McDonalds!

Received fantastic National and Local PR, to include features in Tesco Magazine, Easy Living, Daily Mirror, Radio 4 Womans Hour to name but a few.

 

 

The most fantastic news of all and great close to the year was being Awarded Most Promising UK Business in the British Chamber of Commerce Business Awards November 2012! 

Simply Bows and Chair Covers Managing Director, Sarah Pittendrigh recently attended the finals of the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) Chamber Awards 2012 and was delighted to pick up the Winner's award for Most Promising UK Business!

 

As we close on a fabulous year of success and growth for Simply Bows and Chair Covers we would like to thank you all for your friendship and support and look forward to seeing you all in 2013!   
Have a Simply wonderful Christmas from all of the Team at Simply Bows and Chair Covers.

Little black dresses

This fall, I went to the ballet with my friend Jason and his girlfriend, who was wearing a little black dress with a sleek ponytail and red lipstick. She looked so incredibly chic that ever since then I've been on the hunt for the perfect little black dress. Here are the six pretty ones...
1. Bardot dress.
2. Lace dress.
3. Bow dress.
4. Beaded dress.
5. Pleated dress. (The leopard heels are a fantastic touch.)
6. Lace dress.

Which would you choose? I think I'd go for #1 or #5...

P.S. Hot pink would be fun, too:)

(Top photo of Tamu from All the Pretty Birds)

Who do you look like?

For his series I'm Not a Look-Alike, Canadian photographer François Brunelle took 200 photos of people who look like identical twins—but actually aren't even related. How crazy is that?!

Do you look like anyone? Throughout the years, people have said I look like Amanda Peet, Hilary Swank and (back in the day) figure skater Nancy Kerrigan. Alex has ranged from Seth Rogan to a young Warren Beatty. And Toby has gotten Agyness Deyn!

See more jaw-dropping "twin" photos below...Read More >

Your hometown

Are you heading home for the holidays? I grew up in the Michigan suburbs, and this Saturday Night Live tourism ad for "your hometown" made me laugh out loud. (It's worth waiting through the annoying NBC ad:)

(Via The Daily Muse)

Simply American Retro! Fab New Wedding Service...

What is company name? 
Valley Retro Hire 
 
What is your line of business? 
American Wedding Hire 
 

 
How and why the company begin? 
Short answer we needed an excuse to buy this amazing car. Long answer… I was looking for a wedding car for my own wedding, but I didn’t want something traditional. I wanted something really special that fitted my partner’s style and mine. All my web searches and wedding fair visits didn’t inspire my choice until one day, my husband to be found a Buick Special for sale. One crazy thought led to another, and before we knew it we were traveling 300 miles down the country to view the car-both believing the car wouldn’t be as good as the photos we had seen. We viewed the car and it was just immaculate so we put the deposit down. The next week we made the same journey with a trailer to tow the car back with a Chuck Berry CD playing and planning the company name and website. 

 
Are you married? If so tell us a little about your wedding…
 
I’m getting Married in May 2013, we are obviously using the Buick as the wedding car and a lot of the styling is inspired by the car, I don’t want to tell you too much in case any of my guest are reading… 
 
Why do brides come to you? 
Brides that come to Valley Retro are fun loving, want the alternative wedding car and love retro styling. I’ve found a lot of brides thought the only alternative available to them was the VW campervan, I want to Make the Buick the new alternative.  
 
The Buick Special is very popular as the Brides Car. I have stolen a few Brides away from other suppliers when they have viewed the car. 

 
Where do you get your inspiration from? 
I love watching old movies and going to vintage fair’s. My husband to be and I watch a lot of programs such as American picker and American Restorations-usually while drooling at the items. I do raid my Grandma’s loft quite a lot-its amazing what you can find, vintage cameras, suitcase and typewriters. If you want vintage items, always try your grandparents first.

What is in store for you in 2013?
We are starting the year with the UK wedding show on January 26th and 27th at the Metro Radio Arena, where we will be introducing our new item to hire. It's something for the Brides, imported from the States which we have been restoring ourselves over the past year and a half. Its something I don’t think anyone else is offering at the minute, so we’re quite excited for its launch in January. 

 
 
Who would be your dream client, and what sort of design would you envisage for them? 
I think my Dream Client would be someone that really appreciates the car for what it Is, how good of condition its in and loves the styling of it as much as I do. We love the 50’s where all the designs were all hand drawn and above everything the styling was the most important thing. Mutual love always go’s down well too :)

 
 
What would be your top tips for brides when searching for a supplier in your industry?  
Do your research and always view before deciding. Pictures on websites don’t always show the full story, some supplies don’t have very good photos and others hide a lot with good photography. If you're not sure, always have another viewing. 
 
Tell us something super interesting about you or your business that we wouldn’t already know…? 
The Chauffer (and my husband to be) won a tarmac rally car championship in 2007 in his trusty 1983 Vauxhall Nova. Chris is a very good driver-but don’t worry he won’t be driving fast on your big day! Chris recently took an advanced driving course and passed first time so your in good hands. 
 
Where are you based and where can you supply? 
We are based between Newcastle and Hexham so we can service most of the northeast, with Newcastle, Northumberland, Gateshead and County Durham the main targets. 

 
How can I get in touch to discuss my requirements or place an order? 
Email is the best option annmarie@valleyretro.co.uk if you let me know the address’s for the pick up and venue, times and dates then I will be in contact straight away with all the correct information to talk about the car and our new item. 
 
Why do you like to work with Simply Bows and Chair Covers? 
Simply Bows and Chair Cover’s are all about personal theme and styling, which are also values Valley Retro like to have. With it winning an award for most promising new business you know you’re getting quality for your big day. 

 

10 ways to entertain a toddler on a plane

Will you be traveling with a little dude over the holidays? Last year, I wrote 10 tips for traveling with a baby, but now that Toby is an energetic toddler, he also needs to be entertained en route. Here are a few tips we've figured out...Read More >

The Best Bloody Mary You'll Ever Have

Bloody Marys are a famous hangover drink, so we figured we'd share a recipe before you head off to holiday parties and New Year shenanigans. There's something so debaucherous about showing up bleary eyed at brunch (or the breakfast table) and requesting a Bloody Mary. It hurts so good. (Fun fact: according to the original formula, the celery stick must be chewed after each sip.) Here, Nicole Franzen shares her perfect bracing recipe, along with a secret ingredient...Read More >

Do you sign emails xoxo?

For the past eight or so years, I've signed almost every email with an xoxo—to female and male friends, to strangers, to colleagues, to accountants, to lawyers, to people who are more or less my bosses. I can't even help myself anymore; it has become totally automatic.

"I’m always afraid that I’m being unprofessional, yet I continue to sign all my e-mails 'xoxo,' " Lena Dunham joked to the New York Times Magazine earlier this year.

A recent Atlantic article examined the phenomenon, which they say is feminizing the workplace: "'I feel like xo has taken on its own kind of life,' says Karli Kasonik, a Washington-based consultant. 'I do it, most women I know do it,' says Asie Mohtarez, a writer and social-media editor, noting that she prefers a single x to the full xo. 'In my field, you almost have to use it,' says Kristin Esposito, a yoga instructor in New York."

Funnily enough, xoxo-ing has become such a habit that I feel kind of mean when I don't include it. "There’s the matter of women’s tonal antennae, which pick up on even the smallest shifts," continues the Atlantic article. "'In e‑mail, ending a command with a period can feel brusque,' says Anne Trubek, a professor of rhetoric at Oberlin College...In Diane Sawyer’s newsroom, staffers say, the anchor uses xo so frequently that its omission can spark panic."

And it's not just for women. My deep-voiced, bearded husband has started picking it up, and my dad's classic sign-off is now a bold "xxOOO." (I think those are bear hugs.)

After all, xoxo doesn't actually mean "kiss" anymore (at least, I'm not planning to kiss my accountant, sweet as he is). It's similar to "how the epistolary greeting Dear changed over time, originally just for addressing loved ones but eventually becoming neutral," says Ben Zimmer, a linguist and lexicologist, in the article.

So, is xoxo unprofessional or a new industry standard? "I refuse to feel any shame for this widespread woman-trait,” Caitlin Moran, the British feminist and author of How to Be a Woman, told the Atlantic. “Statistics show we’re slowly taking over the world, and I’m happy for us to do it one xxx e‑mail at a time.”

What do you think? I'd love to hear... xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
(Thanks, Courtney)

Cocktails in a bottle

Here's a rad last-minute gift idea for cocktail lovers: Pourable Manhattans. A Utah-based distillery mixes rye whiskey, vermouth and bitters, then ages the mixture for 90 days, to make a fantastic Manhattan cocktail, which you just pour right out of the bottle. How cool is that?

P.S. Another boozy gift: The Corksicle now comes in bright colors. Your mom won't have to put ice in her white wine anymore!
(Via Momfilter. Comic by Gemma Correll)

A moment of silence

Honestly, I don't know how to write about the Newtown tragedy. The devastating news coverage is extensive, and I have nothing enlightening to add to the conversation. But my thoughts have been consumed by those sweet children, teachers and families, as I'm sure yours have been.

Each night this weekend, as I put Toby to bed, he felt very real and tactile to me, almost like I couldn't believe he was actually there. As I stroked his warm forehead and soft wispy hair, I felt anxious and lucky at the same time; those quiet moments were a gift.

Here are a few ways to help support the families of Newtown, and you can also write a letter of love and support to the school and parents.

Sandy Hook Elementary School
12 Dickenson Drive
Newtown, CT 06482

Today let's have a moment of silence. I'll be turning off the comments on this post, and sending love to everyone. xoxo

(Photos from the Associated Press)

Simply Feeling Festive! Images of some of our favourite winter weddings of the season!

Deck the hall's with beautiful linen, fa la la la la, la la la la!

'Tis the season to get married, fa la la la la, la la la la!

Here is just a small selection of some of the beautiful winter and festive weddings we have dressed in the last month across the UK....

 

Merry Christmas Folks!