Lucky for me, Ticketmaster has been in this business for a long time. See this picture? That's what the tickets look like when you look into the envelope (both sides). They know that more often than not, the intended gift recipient will open the envelope and take a look (even with the best of intentions =). As far as I can tell, the surprise was preserved.
A word to the wise: If you're gonna be sneaky this Christmas, you may need to get the mail before the surprisee.
Don't worry Marie - we're going to have a fabulous time at ____ ______ __ ______. Merry Christmas!
As you may or may not have heard, I have started a web-based software business for language learning and one of the biggest issues we are working through is the design of the product. Certainly these types of product design only come with time, but I am fascinated with well designed products - even when it is just how a ticket is printed, folded, stuffed, and mailed.
(Yes, this will be the only positive Ticketmaster blog post on the blogosphere today)
Friday, December 14, 2007
Ticketmaster envelope
If you get one of these in the mail... don't open it unless it has your name on it. =)
See next post.
See next post.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Let it Snow!
Admittedly, metric estimations are not my strong point, but I would say that I just swept a good 3-4 inches off our car, and it is still coming down (albeit more gradually than earlier today)! It was a glorious surprise to wake up to a white world this morning. I found a bit of time to peruse the blogs of some VA friends, and many are commenting on this wet, white phenomenon. Time to join the crowd!
Just after lunch, when there was a respectable amount of snow, I got the kids all gussied up in their winter weather gear, and we headed outside to take a few runs down the hill in the backyard. It took about half an hour to get ready (had to make sure Spencer had used the facilities and Emma had a dry diaper before putting on all those layers) and then we had a good 15 minutes of fun before the mittens were falling off and it was getting cold. I didn't fight it; we headed inside because I want to have LOTs of sledding parties this winter, so I didn't want any negative impressions of the first to ruin those in the future. We made a track down the hill and were careful not to walk on it as we trekked back up for more runs. We even made a few snowballs before heading back inside for hot cocoa. Spencer loves the snow - but he didn't appreciate the snowflakes falling in his eyes. Emma didn't seem to mind that at all. She was a happy little snow bunny. Spencer was a good big brother and held onto her - and then I onto him - during our sledding runs. It is nothing to compare with the sledding we used to do at my parent's place when I was young - or those down suicide hill before they leveled it out and built houses. But still, it was an appropriate celebration of the first snowfall of the year. Tonight, post shoveling, I plan to snuggle down with some hot cocoa by the lit Christmas tree. Adam's in Utah for a biz trip or else I'd be snuggling with him. Hot cocoa it is for tonight.
p.s. I know, I know...my kids look like that one character on the movie "The Christmas Story". At least they were protected against the elements.
Just after lunch, when there was a respectable amount of snow, I got the kids all gussied up in their winter weather gear, and we headed outside to take a few runs down the hill in the backyard. It took about half an hour to get ready (had to make sure Spencer had used the facilities and Emma had a dry diaper before putting on all those layers) and then we had a good 15 minutes of fun before the mittens were falling off and it was getting cold. I didn't fight it; we headed inside because I want to have LOTs of sledding parties this winter, so I didn't want any negative impressions of the first to ruin those in the future. We made a track down the hill and were careful not to walk on it as we trekked back up for more runs. We even made a few snowballs before heading back inside for hot cocoa. Spencer loves the snow - but he didn't appreciate the snowflakes falling in his eyes. Emma didn't seem to mind that at all. She was a happy little snow bunny. Spencer was a good big brother and held onto her - and then I onto him - during our sledding runs. It is nothing to compare with the sledding we used to do at my parent's place when I was young - or those down suicide hill before they leveled it out and built houses. But still, it was an appropriate celebration of the first snowfall of the year. Tonight, post shoveling, I plan to snuggle down with some hot cocoa by the lit Christmas tree. Adam's in Utah for a biz trip or else I'd be snuggling with him. Hot cocoa it is for tonight.
p.s. I know, I know...my kids look like that one character on the movie "The Christmas Story". At least they were protected against the elements.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Milan, Italy - Buon Natale
I have a new favorite flickr group: http://www.flickr.com/groups/daybeforechristmas/pool/page8/
Here in the Wride household, the day after Halloween means not only the start of November and gear-up time for Thanksgiving (we do not forget that wonderful holiday by any means), but it also means that it is time to start playing CHRISTMAS MUSIC! I know that is probably taboo for many until after Thanksgiving's close, but it gets me in the Christmas spirit early...and who can complain about that?
I found this GORGEOUS photo of a home in Milan on the "Days Before Christmas" flickr group. Looking at it, don't you just feel warm, like you have the most delicious hot cocoa in your hand and are snuggling up to someone you love while watching the snow fall outside? I just have to say I love Christmas!!!
Here in the Wride household, the day after Halloween means not only the start of November and gear-up time for Thanksgiving (we do not forget that wonderful holiday by any means), but it also means that it is time to start playing CHRISTMAS MUSIC! I know that is probably taboo for many until after Thanksgiving's close, but it gets me in the Christmas spirit early...and who can complain about that?
I found this GORGEOUS photo of a home in Milan on the "Days Before Christmas" flickr group. Looking at it, don't you just feel warm, like you have the most delicious hot cocoa in your hand and are snuggling up to someone you love while watching the snow fall outside? I just have to say I love Christmas!!!
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Happy Halloween!
Like many of you readers, we carved pumpkins on Monday night for Family Home Evening. Finished products are pictured above. Emma and Spencer had some fabulous fun with the pumpkins. Emma was all smiles about the process; Spencer loved helping to punch holes to create a pattern for our creations but wasn't too keen on the whole gooey seed stuff. He takes after his Aunt Laura with that one.
Spencer's job was to put the candles in each pumpkin, and he is very good to tell Emma all about what he is doing to keep her informed and involved.
This year, we had a ladybug and a puppy dog at our house. These two cuties were hits at the trick-or-treating houses. Spencer had some practice at a trunk or treat party a few weeks ago, so he was pretty excited when we told him we were going trick or treating again. There were lots of exclamations of "Happy Halloween!!" throughout the day. Uncle Dan came over for dinner, which only added to Spencer's excitement. (Spence had very specific instruction at the dinner table about how Dan needed to sit right next to him). We started off in the Wride neighborhood and visited a few houses before knocking on Grandma's door. Spencer said "Trick or treat" and held out his bag expectantly. However, Grandma had gone to get her camera and Laura was turned around to get the candy and play-doh treats; our poor little puppy dog was so disappointed, thinking he wasn't getting candy when he had done everything so well, that he had a few tears. Thankfully, Gma W and Laura were quick to respond - crisis averted.
We finished off the night by driving to the Cummings neighborhood, where Adam, Dan, Spencer, Emma and I met up with Joel, Trina, Gma, and Gpa C. We posed for the classic Cummings costume lineup, pictured below, and headed home after some delicious hot cocoa and pumpkin bars. Yum!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)