CasaSugar

Open House: Would You Register For a Housewarming?

CasaSugar — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 08:30:18 -0800

In Philip Galanes's latest Social Q's column, a 32-year-old woman wrote in saying that she'd decided that marriage wasn't for her. However, since she'd been in eight weddings and had to contribute oodles of presents over the past decade, she wanted to register for gifts for her housewarming party.

Galanes advises,

But the difference between their weddings and baby showers and your housewarming scheme is that their sole intent was not to rack up gifts. Don’t get me wrong: a housewarming is a great idea, and you may nab some nice loot. No gift registry, though. The party should be for celebrating your new place with friends, not for telling them how to outfit your kitchen.

This situation reminds me of an episode of Sex and the City. Can you guess which one? Find out when you read more.

In season six, episode 83, "A Woman's Right to Shoes," Carrie's Manolos are stolen at a baby shower. To recoup her losses, Carrie decides to register at Manolo Blahnik, in celebration of her marriage to herself. In the end, her beloved shoes are replaced, and all ends well for our heroine. While I admire Carrie's nontraditional registering, I don't think I'd have the audacity to do something similar. Would you?

By the same token, do you agree or disagree with Galanes's advice for the woman interested in registering for home items? I know that in the past I've felt annoyed by the many, many baby presents, bridal shower gifts, and wedding presents I've purchased in my lifetime, but since I'm now married, I have absolutely no right to complain about these things anymore. However, I know that my attitude might be different if I were still single. What are your thoughts?

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How-To: Register For Your Wedding

CasaSugar — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 07:00:15 -0700

Planning your wedding can be stressful, but the fun part is registering for gifts! Unfortunately, some people get carried away at the thought of all the presents coming their way and register spontaneously, not methodically. You have to remember that you're going to live with these gifts, and your friends and family are spending real money on them, so you better like them! Beyond that, you should think about what you need, not what you want, so you can really "set up house" - that's kind of the point. I have a few tips that will make it all easy for you. To hear them, read more.

Consider your timeline. If you're having any sort of engagement party, try to register by the time the invitations for that party go out, making sure you've covered all the price points. Many of your friends and family will want to buy your engagement and wedding gifts as soon as they hear about the engagement and get it out of the way. Don't feel rushed; you can always go back and add more items later on. If you're not having an engagement party, about nine months before your wedding day is a good time to register; it doesn't make you seem as if you're either rushing or procrastinating.
Do your Spring cleaning, and take note of what you already have and what you need for your home.
Then, get together and make a list of things you both want for your home.
Before you start checking boxes, cruise around to a bunch of stores and decide which one or which few suit your tastes the most. Stick to three stores or fewer to keep things uncomplicated, and make sure one of them is a national department store like Bloomingdale's or Macy's.
Most major stores have some sort of registry system, if not an online one. However, if you love a certain boutique or specialty store, they may not. But most will be more than willing to work something out with you, so just ask!
Go through all the questions. Figure out what kind of return policy each store has, how shipping works, whether they take phone orders, whether they have an online database to track orders, etc. Your older generation of friends and family may only want to shop by phone or in store, so there should be something available for them. And it's ideal to be able to track the orders as they come in, so you can add more items at different price points, or remove items if need be.
Use our downloadable registry guide to make sure you've covered all the bases for your housewares, and go ahead and register with each store, giving as much detail as possible to make it easy on guests. Choose size, color, brand, etc.
You can also use MyRegistry to register online from a variety of sources, giving your friends and family a central place to shop for you.
OK, so let's say you already have all the table runners and Le Creuset pans you could ever want. What then? Nowadays it's not uncommon to have an alternative registry. If you'd like, you can register with a charity or even to pay for your honeymoon. Although it's not the most proper of moves, if you really need help with your finances, you can even register for stocks or cash for big ticket items you may need.
Once you're registered, there's some etiquette you should follow for getting the word out. It's a bit taboo to send your registry information out with your invitation. If you have a website for your wedding, you can post it discreetly there. It's also common to have your maid of honor send out the details with the invitations for your bridal shower, and the same for the bachelor party. You can ask your family members to pass the word along to the guests as well. And, if your guests ask you up front where you are registered, go ahead! If you are sending out a package to your guests with other details about the wedding (maps, hotel information, etc.) apart from the invitation, you can slip in a printed card with the registry information.
Most registries remain active for at least a year after the big day so guests can make purchases after the fact. And many stores will give you a discount on the items that weren't purchased, so that you can buy them for yourself.

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How-To: Registering Online From a Variety of Sources

CasaSugar — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 05:15:19 -0700

If you want to register with Macy's for your espresso machine, but also want to register at Etsy for some original art then I have good news for you. You can fit a variety of items on your registry, pulled from a variety of stores, boutiques, and individual artists or craftspeople, or services on the site MyRegisty.
I'm actually registered at this service, and it's very easy to navigate. Simply install the "Add to MyRegistry" button on your toolbar, much as you would the "Save to TeamSugar" button, and whenever you find an item you'd like to add to your registry, click on the button in your toolbar, add the name, quantity, and price of that item, and the item is saved to your registry. Guests can search for registered couples by name, just as they would on any other online registry. Easy, convenient, and flexible - what's not to love?
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How-To: Be a Groupie

CasaSugar — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:00:01 -0700

To Jonas Brothers fans, being a "groupie" comes naturally. But there's another kind of group love I'm rooting for, and it concerns our new CasaSugar Decor Community. Hopefully, you got the lowdown on it from my introduction on Tuesday and are ready and rarin' to join a group!

You probably all know (and love) my decorating group Su Casa, where you share photos of your home and latest design projects, because it's sticking around. From tiny nooks to entire bedrooms, if I dig your designs, your photos and projects could be featured on CasaSugar! Are you a Su Casa member yet? If not, join! Before you join, you should make sure you register though, if you don't already have an account.

Don't get me wrong, I love Su Casa, but I've got two brand spankin' new groups I'm super excited about. To "meet" them, read more.

Lovely Little Vignettes is the place to share photos of the small vignettes you create in your home, or those you see online or a friend's home. Be it a vase and a picture frame on your bedside table, a painting and a souvenir on your fireplace mantel, or a paperweight on a stack of letters, we want to see how you make the small beautiful! And again, I may feature your very own lovely little vignettes on Casa if I like them! Join the group here!

So Fresh and So Clean is dedicated to cleaning! From small tasks like drying glasses to tedious ones like powerwashing your deck, I want to hear your tips, trials, and tribulations on getting your house. Unforutnately, cleaning is one part of home living that's never going out of style, so let's help each other through it! Join here.

Introducing the CasaSugar Community!

CasaSugar — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 06:15:54 -0700

We are so excited to unveil our new CasaSugar Home Decor Community, which is centered around all of your favorite topics from decorating to organizing, gardening to green living. Our new community will allow you to start your very own groups, participate in other member's groups, meet new friends that share your interests, and maybe even be featured on CasaSugar. We have made it easier than ever before to create and share content with your CasaSugar friends, so check it out and start having fun.

The CasaSugar Community features all the groups that so many of you have already made incredibly popular like Su Casa, Organization Tips, Design Finds, and Everything's coming up flowers! Plus, we'll be featuring more of your amazing content and starting all new groups centered around our favorite topics - for example check out our So Fresh and So Clean and Lovely Little Vignettes groups!

For those of you that already have an account, you can get started right away. For those who don't, you can browse the CasaSugar Home Decor Community without an account, but to really dive in, register here. Not sure how to create a post in a group? It's easy; learn the steps here.

Looking for your unreads? They have gotten an upgrade too and can be found here. Your new profile features all of your content as well as a link to your very own OnSugar blog. If you have any questions or problems you can ask me, check out our Community Help group, or send a private message to our community manager.

We're so excited to share our new community with you - check it out now!

How-To: Save Money on a Vacation House This Summer

CasaSugar — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 07:00:20 -0700

While most of us have been tightening our belts when it comes to Summer vacations, there are still ways to fit in a getaway before Labor Day arrives. Even if it's just an overnight trip, you'll still reap the benefits of getting away from it all, falling asleep to the sound of crickets or waves, and lounging on the beach for a day. Think it's out of reach? See my tips for saving money on a vacation house when you read more.

Get a little help from your friends. If you've got a crew of friends or family who you wouldn't mind spending a weekend with, turn your romantic getaway for two into an all-out friends frenzy. Look for a large house through Vacation Rentals by Owner and then split the cost with your friends. The final price tag can be surprisingly small when it's split among several parties.
Try Home Exchange. Do you own your home? Then register it with Home Exchange. Essentially, the service allows you to trade your home with that of another party. For instance, if you lived in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, you could trade your hip home with that of someone living beachside in Capitola. No money required! It's simply a home switch-a-roo.
Be flexible. Do you have a flexible work schedule, or do you work on weekends? You're much more likely to get a cheaper rate on a cottage or bed and breakfast if you travel mid-week. Make sure to ask about mid-week specials when calling to inquire about a particular vacation cottage.
Try roughing it. If all else fails, why not try camping? Many of our country's state and national campgrounds are located on gorgeous beaches or lakes - perfect spots for beating the heat on a hot July day. If you can't stand the thought of a tent, you could borrow a friend's pop-up camper or charming vintage trailer, and park it at an RV-approved camping site.

Anyone else have other ideas for cheap vacation homes? Share them in the comments!

Registry Roundup: Furniture

CasaSugar — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:00:40 -0700

Though it may be a bit untraditional, for young couples living on their own for the first time or for recent grad student couples, registering for furniture is a good way to get the basics for your home, without running up credit card debt. In rare cases, a generous relative may pony up and buy you an entire sofa. For everyone else, there are retailers that will allow you to register for items at a range of price points, and then essentially exchange the sum for a credit to spend on a high-priced item you actually want, such as furniture. You can also register for cash gifts on MyRegistry, which can be combined to get you the dining table you're hankering for. If you do decide to register for furniture, choose the basics: bed, dresser, sofa, coffee table, dining table, and ottoman, along with four to six dining chairs. Following those guidelines, I've rounded up several furnishings that I myself would register for. My choices, I think, are a good combination of a masculine color scheme, some feminine curves, and classic designs that should last at least as long as a good marriage. We also have a downloadable wedding registry you can use, and be sure to check out all of the Sugar network’s wedding coverage here!

Eaton Ottoman - $1,150.00	Sasha Side Chair - $429.00
Astor Upholstered Chair - $575.00	Portica 1.5" 50x36 35h Custom Table with Solid Walnut Top - $1,189.00
Bryce Coffee Table - $950.00	Brentwood Sofa - $1,299.00
Farmhouse Tallboy Dresser - $1,299.00	Bento Bed - $1,599.00

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Registry Roundup: Outdoor Living

CasaSugar — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 05:30:41 -0700

I love finding ways to make my outdoor space seem as welcoming and comfortable as my living room. After all, it's hard to beat the views and ambiance of a great outdoor space. Whether you have a small patio or a couple acres to stretch out on, you'll want to consider your outdoor needs when registering for wedding gifts. Do you barbecue a lot? Do you entertain guests with cocktails on the porch? Do you have a pool? How about a garden? Think about how you use the space before you register for an unnecessary item. If you're not sure where to even start when it comes to registering for your wedding, take a look at my downloadable registry PDF. Check out all of the Sugar network’s wedding coverage here.

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Registry Roundup: A Splendid Table

CasaSugar — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:00:55 -0700

If you've chosen the right kitchen registry thanks to YumSugar's tips, you're well on your way to having a beautifully dressed dining room for future dinner parties. But don't stop there - you must be sure to register for beautiful table linens, candlesticks, candles, and other essentials to have your table looking its best. If you're not sure where to even start when it comes to registering for your wedding, take a look at my downloadable registry PDF. Check out all of the Sugar network’s wedding coverage here.

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Registry Roundup: Bathroom

CasaSugar — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:00:12 -0700

As you continue contemplating your wedding registry, consider your bathroom. After all, the bathroom is the most public private room in your home: you can guarantee that every guest who steps into your home will use it, and they'll develop an impression of your style and habits through it. So, you want to keep your bathroom as organized, clean, stylish, and guest-friendly as possible. I've gathered a lot of different bath products and accessories that will dress up this space, many of which will add a lot of style at a small price point. Also, by registering for a number of smaller price-tag products, you're guaranteeing that your guests will be able to pick up a few gifts for you instead of just one. Take a look at my finds for some ideas. Check out all of the Sugar network’s wedding coverage here.

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5-Piece Coventry Dining Set - $1,095.00	Classic Garden Fire Pit - $249.00
8-Volt Impact Drill by Tomboy Tools - $79.00	Stainless Steel Infrared Tabletop Heater - $229.00
Great American Rain Barrel - $189.00	The PolyGreenhouse - $899.99
Veneto Adjustable Folding Chair Sunbrella® Cushion - $130.00	Bullet Planter Short - $159.99
Vintage Garden Tool Set - $39.99	Elemen'tary Design Screwdriver Set - $75.00
Tuuci Razor Shade Platform - $1,350.00	Fold-It Cart - $320.00
Wood-Handle Pruning Shears (Set of 2) - $70.00	The Ultimate Hammer Tool - $14.99
Teak Croquet Set - $498.00	Galvanized Drink Bucket by Charcoal Companion - $29.95

Marc Jacobs Jean Footed Flare Posy Vase - $125.00	Sferra - $27.00
Maxfield Napkin Ring, Set of 6 - $30.00	Did Someone Say Drama Candleholder - $89.00
Octagon Napkin Rings by Aman Imports - $10.50	"Gaby" 3 Branch Candelabra by William Yeoward - $368.00
kate spade "Camelia Avenue" Pink Posy Vase - $25.00	Lalique - $199.00
Linen Cocktail Napkin Set - $39.95	Dragon Vase - $240.00
Celadon with Platinum Handled Hostess Tray (10.5-in.) by Noritake - $74.95	Ballet Table Linens by Waterford - $10.00
Simrin Solid Linen Napkins - $36.00	Unison - Porter Tablecloth - $64.00
Blissliving Home Maren Candlesticks White - $50.00	Orrefors Regina Medium Candlestick Pair, 7.5" - $150.00
Monogrammed Hotel Runner, White - $35.00

Square Feathergrain Wastebasket - $19.99	Modern Glass Bath Accessories - $16.00
Mediterraneo Toothbrush Holder by Alessi - $42.00	Vetiver Folding Hamper - $59.00
Shower Curtain Roller Rings Set Of 12 - $9.95	Shower Curtain Liner - $14.95
Italian Hotel Satin Stitch Shower Curtain - Select Colors - $79.00	Hotel White Bath Rug - $59.95
Fez Bath Mat - $19.00	PB Organic 700-Gram Weight Bath Towels - Select Items - $8.00