Let’s get CRAFTY!

Posted on March 14, 2016 by admin

Happy National Craft Month!

We’re celebrating our crafty community all month long with a fun limited edition bundle & dedicated social posts that are all about DIY.

But enough about me, let’s talk about you….

From getting creative with your compliment cards to using washi tape to create stunning envelopes, turning our gift wrap into wine and gift bags and so much more…we’re LOVING to see what you’ve been doing.

Make sure to continue to tag us on social so we can pin you to our Pinterest board dedicated to DIYers like you!

Be happy & get crafty!

How to throw a hopping Easter party!

Posted on March 11, 2016 by admin

Easter has always been one of my favorite holidays and my family has so many traditions. While I’ll delve into our celebrations in an upcoming post, today is all about the decorations!

Easter always feels like the official start of spring and I love infusing the day with color and fresh blooms. Last year’s table (you’ll note my longer hair – or dare i say hare!) was all decked out with pastels, florals and sweet treats!

To make these “eggcellenf” centerpieces, I purchased styrofoam balls from the craft store and miniature lollipops from the market then enlisted my kids to help me craft by pushing the sticks into the styrofoam and completely covering the white foam.

Make sure to push firmly- the styrofoam is thick!

Our tablecloth was printed at our workshop in Los Angeles, but any floral or bright colored tablecloth will do! I never opt for linen when there’s this much chocolate around 😉 Another option is to use a simple tablecloth and make the placemat the star! I didn’t use any here since the pattern was already very busy, but placemats make an adorable personalized touch!

Instead of a traditional runner, I purchased a strip of astroturf to bring the springy vibe inside! Glass vases of fresh tulips were in theme for the day with pretty gum balls serving as the replacement for water!

Place settings for my favorite peeps had to be…you guessed it, actual Peeps! I simply placed the card in between the ears of these sugary Easter classics for a look that was right on the bunny! I mean money!

A fun activity that kept the kids entertained was decorating sugar cookies with edible “markers” that were as sweet to look at as they were to eat! Mess-free and absolutely delicious. Coloring or doodling on placemat pads is another favorite activity that works well if you opt to use them at your table!

The best way to clear up the table when you’re finished eating? Scoop gumballs right from the centerpiece into goodie bags that can be sealed with personalized gift labels as an extra touch. I tend to use gift labels for treats for the kids & wine for the adults! You may note that we don’t currently offer these designs (these were an oldie, but goodie), but customize your own for your celebration!

I don’t know how I’m going to top this look from last year! If you have Easter faves or ideas to share email blog@erincondren.com!

Everything Coming up ROSES: #ECootd

Posted on March 8, 2016 by admin

Everything’s coming up ROSES around here! My obsession with Rose Gold started more than a year ago, but I still haven’t tired of this precious metal trend. I scored these Rose Gold sneakers at Old Navy this season and I’m loving the look of mixing & matching with Silver and Platinum.

PS: I didn’t don the floral headpiece at work, but I couldn’t resist pulling it from our prop room for the photo

(snake print sweater: Equipment, grey denim: Mossimo for Target, rose gold sneakers: Old Navy, rose gold bracelets: Stella & Dot)

Blogger Takeover: Shay Shull aka Mix & Match Mama

Posted on March 3, 2016 by admin

Hi everyone! My name is Shay…but most people know me as the Mix and Match Mama. I’m a cookbook author, foodie and lifestyle blogger, wife, mom of three, world traveler, baseball lover, coffee addict and Erin Condren obsessed gal. I love being home with my kiddos and making every day a little bit special.

On my blog, most days you’ll find me talking about my adoption and infertility journey, things I wear, things I love on TV, faith, friends, and lots about my kiddos. One constant thing I talk about daily is food. I’m a busy mama like many of you, but I love being in the kitchen. Years ago, I decided to take some of my tried and true recipes and just tweak them a bit to create a refreshed version of my staples. These small tweaks result in hundreds of variations on the same simple dish, that family and friends alike can enjoy! Whenever I deliver meals to friends and family, I place one of my “made for you by Mix and Match Mama” EC gift labels on their dinner and this way, they know it’s made from my kitchen with my love.

I pride myself on showing my readers simple recipes that can be on the table in no time. I don’t like lengthy ingredients lists or overly complicated recipes. I like meals that the whole family will love and won’t stress out busy mamas. My recipes include everything from breakfast to lunch, dinner and dessert and of course, lots of seasonal and holiday treats too. I use a different EC notebook for each season’s recipes so I can easily locate and reference favorites from the past. These notebooks keep my recipes so organized and makes blogging and cookbook writing simple!

Speaking of cookbook writing…I have two new cookbooks out right now! Cakes shows you one simple little bundt cake recipe that can be mixed and matched into 101 different versions. They’re all seasonal, simple and so festive! Meal Planner breaks down the calendar and helps get easy and delicious meals on your table each day of the week while also providing you with pantry and grocery shopping lists.

I love meeting new ladies, so please stop by and say hi! You can also find me on Instagram, Face Book, Pinterest and Twitter too.

EC in NYC: Press Pop Up!

Posted on March 2, 2016 by admin

With this year being the 10th Anniversary of my company, there has been a lot of exciting buzz in the press. We decided the best approach to all the inquiries was to create a “pop up” store in a swanky NYC studio for a day and invite the press to stop by to see what’s to come in the next decade of EC. With the price of NY apartments, we only rented the location for 24 hours but it was amazing what we pulled off in a day!

Other than showcasing all of the exciting upcoming products, many that have yet to debut on the website, as well as our revamped collection for Staples, we wanted to infuse the space with the feel and personality of the EC Brand.

Metallic EC balloons, confetti, pops of color and gorgeous wallpaper helped add to the decor. We found an amazing new paper stock to print the wallpaper on, easily applied simply by spraying water on a wall. The best part was its easy removal: no residue, which is so critical in a rented space!

When given the chance, we tend to turn any event into a PARTY! Guests sipped champagne from polka dot straws and took polaroid pictures in front of our canvas stretched “screen” that we had custom-made in our printshop for the event. Paper cut turquoise glasses were the perfect prop for this fun day with the press. We got it done…and we definitely had some fun!