Perfect Gift for the Person Who Has Everything

With Mother's Day, Father's Day, and the wedding season fast approaching, we're all finding ourselves searching the net for the perfect gift for many different occasions. So to save you all some time, I'm going to share with you one of my best kept secrets and what I truly believe to be the very best gift for anyone on your gift-giving list! (At least all the grown-ups!)

Crystal Imagery is a glass sand-carving company that has been providing high quality sand-carved glasses to such esteemed clients as The House of Representatives, The Senate, The CIA, ATT, Wells Fargo and many branches of the military - for over a decade. They have recently created a complete line of glassware and barware products that will thrill gift-recipients with the most discriminating taste! Not only are their products beautiful, but they will endure hundreds of rounds in the dishwasher. Unlike the hand painted wine glasses, screen printed whiskey glasses and lightly etched beer mugs you might find elsewhere, Crystal Imagery's products are hand-made by highly skilled artisans who deeply carve your monogram, logo or one of their stock designs - right into the glass. The beautiful designs will never wash off or fade.

  
In the images, the "white" area is actually where the background is carved away from the glass. The lettering and scrolling are untouched glass that is then left raised above the carved background, providing a 3D design that will never wash off or fade away.

Check out the site at Crystal Imagery and be sure to click on the various links to see the entire collection. They have humorous gifts for women such as the Diva Set, Goddess Set, Not Tonight...Collection, Mommy's Sippy Cup Set and more. These designs, deeply carved into wine glass sets are a really fun way to keep tabs on your own wine glass at a party and much classier than those cheap wine glass dangles!

Searching for the perfect gift for a man in your life? Crystal Imagery has a Name Your Poison Set, Skull and Crossbones Set, Pick Up Lines Set, and more which can be carved onto whiskey glasses, wine glasses, beer mugs, coffee mugs and just about anything glass or ceramic of your choosing.

Do you want to give the wedding gift that will be the favorite and most talked about? Then check out the Monogrammed Glass page or consider giving a Bridal Party Wine Glass Set for use on the actual wedding day.

I know that many of my readers are designers. Why not give a set of monogrammed glasses to your best clients as a gift? Or better yet, encourage clients to stock their home bar with these unique and beautiful products.

I'll let you in on another little secret. This wonderful company is owned by my husband's family. Since marrying him, I give Crystal Imagery glasses for just about every occasion now. With their vast selection, it's easy to find something for any gift recipient. And I can personally vouch for their attention to detail and fantastic customer service!
Now I've just saved you hours of running from department store to department store. Not to mention the additional time you would have spent scouring the internet for that perfect gift! What on earth are you going to do now with all that spare time on your hands?! Maybe you should buy yourself a set of glasses and kick up your feet to enjoy your favorite wine or bourbon, eh?
So tell me, which set is your favorite? Do you have suggestions for additional designs?

Outdoor Wedding Blunders

Since Eric and I are hosting an outdoor wedding reception on May 22, I have spent a few moments this morning trying to gather ideas online. I plan on posting more about the topic of outdoor wedding ideas in the next few days, however I must share this video right away!
I was already feeling badly about the lack of time to plan the event, but now I'm getting worried on top of it! God, I sure hope I don't end up with a situation like this poor bride!

I'll be sharing a few details shortly, but in the meanwhile, when you're done gasping, crying or laughing for the bride shown in this video- please feel free to write with any suggestions or ideas you have seen. I can use all the help I can get!

The Wedding

I pride myself in being a stickler for the details, but since meeting my dear sweet husband, I seem to be more easily distracted and miss a few at times. Now, mind you- his charming personality and rugged good looks are a pleasant and welcome distraction, but a distraction nonetheless! Therefore, the fact that I'm just getting around to posting our wedding photos three months after the fact, will be blamed on him!
Our wedding took place on October 1, 2009 and the location was our own home. I couldn't think of a better place to marry Eric, since he himself built our home and it is a beautiful log home with great atmosphere, to boot! Present for the ceremony were our parents and our four children. We wanted this ceremony to be intimate and magical and to be focused on our new family and the bond we were promising them. The day was MAGICAL  to say the least. It was relaxed, intimate, beautiful and full of tears of joy and laughter. I couldn't have asked for more.
We will be having an outdoor reception this May to include our extended family and friends and to celebrate our marriage with all of them. I will be posting soon about that, and will be recruiting your input on the decor, etc...
Since we hired the photographer for the May reception and really wanted to keep the October wedding as private as possible, we simply gave the camera to the kids (hence the reason many of the photos seem to be taken from a shorter perspective!) and the kids did a wonderful job of capturing the wedding.
As you look around our home, you'll notice that some doors are not yet hung and the kitchen is still being built. Eric is building the center island and kitchen cabinetry himself and as we all know, these things take time. I would actually be surprised if we are able to complete the kitchen within the next year, as raising four active children and running two companies tends to leave us with a lack of time for construction! So please keep in mind that this beautiful home he built for us, is still under construction.

 

Exchanging rings (Ethan was "ring bearer")

One of the kids turned on the TV trying to find a "crackling fire" screen saver, during our first dance.  Leave it to kids to interrupt the romance!

Time for a toast!

 

Dancing with our kids was so much fun!

 

We had to laugh at our wedding cake! The "lacey" frosting on the sides of the cake started to droop! 

 

Funnier yet...the Judge dated our marriage certificate for October 1, 2010 and we didn't even realize it until the following week when I took it to attempt to change my name on my driver's license and social security card. The certificate wasn't valid and so I had to run to the JP's office to get one with the correct date and start all over again!

Enjoy and thanks for visiting!

Mirror, Mirror, On the Wall...

Yes, I've got Disney on the brain...we leave tomorrow, in fact!  But no, I'm not the self-absorbed wicked step-mother who is obsessing over her beauty (or lack thereof) in the mirror, and scheming against her beautiful step-daughter! I do have two beautiful step-daughters, but I celebrate their beauty. I will, however, use this opportunity to brag a bit and show off my pretty little step-daughters- with a pic of us wearing our tiaras!

(This was taken last year on our way to a Medieval Times event...I highly recommend taking the family. We loved it!)

This post is actually about MIRRORS!
I love to add mirror to home decor, but in less expected ways. Most of us have mirrors on our walls, and if you do, take a moment now (yes, right now...I'll wait for you) to ensure that your mirrors are hung in an area where they reflect something attractive. If they don't, then you might want to consider finding a better location. If you've got something really special and beautiful in your room, wouldn't it be nice to see it twice? (In the reflection of your mirror, silly!)

While I like a few mirrors on the wall, I actually prefer to hang precious artwork on the walls and to use mirrors in more unique ways. (I am an artist, afterall and do need to support my trade!) So let's look at a few other ways in which to use mirrors, shall we?

 

Mirrored Backsplash (I love the pretty little accent rosettes at each point!)

 

Another beautiful mirrored kitchen backsplash from Canadian House and Home

 

Mirrored Chargers will add class and elegance to any dinner table!

 

Look at this beautiful wedding reception and notice how the mirrored chargers reflect the candlelight on the tables!

 

I go crazy over mirrored side tables like this one...I don't own one yet, though!

 

If you don't want a whole table, why not just a cute table topper like this one from Front Gate!

 

If you must hang more mirrors on the wall, consider these precious little shell mirrors in large doses to make a huge impact.

 

And this one is a surprise for my mother-in-law...she spotted similar hand mirrors  used in a showroom display and has been talking about them and trying to find them, ever since. Boy, and I going to score big ol' brownie points for finding them for her at Z Gallerie! When she reads this post, I'm sure she will share a comment about this great find! Wouldn't these be ADORABLE on a wall in a little girl's room? (I'm determined to use them in a future design plan!)

Last, but not least...this princess does enjoy being swept off her feet by the prince once in a while. In my fairytale, my prince would be riding a large white steed (I did grow up on a horse farm, afterall) but realistically, I'm better off hoping he at least picks me up in a super cool limo. And since pink is my favorite color, I'd like it to be in this cool pink limo with, of course, lots of fun mirrors inside to reflect the big smile on my face! Just hoping my dear princely hubby finds that reflection to be one of beauty! Afterall, it's HIS opinion that matters most.

Wedding Plans!

Well the time has finally arrived...my wedding date is October 1 and only three days away! Eric and I will exchange vows infront of the beautiful stone fireplace he stacked, in the warm and lovely home he built for us. Our parents and our four children will stand with us as we make our promises to one another. I couldn't think of a better place to marry than in this home.

After we exchange vows, we plan on spending a couple of days in a stunning resort that is near and dear to my heart. I'll be writing about it upon our return and will provide some great photos, too!

So....the next time you hear from me, I'll be Sherri Blum Schuchart (pronounced "Shoe-heart".) I know it's a mouth full, but I'll wear it proudly!