from our house to yours...

'Tis the Season!

2011-11-04T14:24:00.015-05:00

Halloween has come and gone which means two things: it's almost turkey time and it's time to start your Holiday shopping! At HH Design House, we LOVE LOVE LOVE the holidays! It's our busiest and most fun time of the year! We'd love for you to schedule an appointment to get your custom family holiday cards. We don't want to spoil any suprises for this year, but here are a few of our favorites from last year.

Happy Holidays!

Our store, Happenings, is located at the corner of 23rd & Church 532 Tremont Street in Galveston, Texas. Feel free to call us at 409.974.4122 or email hayley@hhdesignhouse.com to schedule an appointment or place an order!

'Tis the Season!

Wedding Wednesday: My Best Friend's Wedding

2011-09-28T14:07:00.054-05:00

We're back and bringing you a wedding from the Big Easy this Wedding Wednesday. Happy one year anniversary to Meghan and Ken! This October wedding is especially dear to HH Design House because the bride, Meghan Zimmer Lutschg is one of Hayley's life-long best friends!

HH Design house created so many details with this beautiful New Orleans wedding. Meghan chose pumpkin orange and moss green for her colors. Meghan and Ken wanted a special logo that incorporated the spirit of New Orleans in their wedding festivities. They chose a fleur-de-lis, which is symbolic of NOLA's french-creole culture, with an M and K on either side. They were married at the Plimsoll Club at the Westin Hotel in the heart of New Orleans.

Meghan's wedding gown.

Meghan's mom, Maggie, handmade her wedding garter and toss garter in her colors, and wish a nod to the groom's prior first love -- fishing!

These are the beautiful green shoes worn by the bride that also matched her fall motif.

Every last detail was about Meghan and Ken. These photo stamps were stuck on the wedding invitations, and the photographer had it hand-canceled in New Orleans with the Wedding Date! What a neat keepsake.

This locket holds the photographs of Meghan's grandparents who passed away, and the Rehearsal dinner invitation on Crocodile Paper can be seen as the background.

The inviations were designed by Hayley with her beautiful "signature calligraphy". Meghan and Hayley had long been designing their dream weddings together, but Ken takes credit for having the ideas that eventually evoloved into the Wedding Invitation: A beautiful two-color letterpress invitation presented in a green pocket folder that has the orange foil impression of their Custom Monogram embellished on the front.

Meghan's mom, who is quite the seamstress, helped her out with Something blue....a piece of monogrammed silk with their monogram and wedding date sewn inside her gown.

Finishing up the last details before "I do".

Meghan and Ken walking hand-in-hand to the ceremony. They are so happy!

Meghan held on to the locket of her grandparents during the ceremony.

One last kiss before it's made official!

Best friend hug! Hayleywas honored to serve as Meghan's Matron of Honor.

Here is Meghan with her bridesmaids and junior bridesmaids before the ceremony.

Meghan and her mother.

A guest is looking at the programs designed by Hayley with the special monogram. This special guest is actually Hayley's grandmother, who got to be honorary grandparent for the day as well!

Meghan with her parents walking her down the aisle.

What is New Orleans without jazz? And they got the party started in a BIG way with the Second Line.

The bride and groom with special feathered umbrellas ready to walk.

Dr. and Mrs. Lutschg doing the traditional New Orleans "Second Line" to the reception. Lead by the marching band through the streets, wedding goers wave handkerchiefs and even passer-bys stop and join in the fun and dance to the music. It's a traffic stopper for sure!

The reception was held at the Foundry, which is where the Second Line wraps up.

The centerpieces represented the color scheme well using beautiful shades of oranges and greens.

The table numbers, created by HH Design House using pictures the Bride and Groom had taken of their favorite spots in the favorite town gave a unique New Orleans touch!

What a lot of work went into the shells! Meghan had the fabulous idea of the placecards being written on actual oyster sheels and arranged on antique oyster plates. After weeks of antique shopping, shell gathering, shell cleaning, shell bleaching, carpal tunnel flare-ups from the weird writing angles and pondering another route.... the final product was unique and fantastic. Most guests still have theirs as a momento.

...and those hard to find oyster plates? They are beautifully hung on Meghan and Ken's dining room wall.

Framed Menu Cards for the Food Stations serving New Orlean's specialties. The Koozies for the Second Line were a hot commodity!

The four-tiered Wedding Cake incorporated elements from the invitation.

Another closeup of the Oyster placecards!

The Logo Gobo on the Dance floor!

First Dance.

The groom's cake could not have been anything but fishing themed, and this one made him proud!

The guest book was also done through HH Design House and matched the colors and feel of the day.

Another New Orleans tradtion: The cake pulls that tell each lady's fortune.

Last picture together before the dress change to really get the party started!

A private moment in the photo booth.

Father and daughter dance.

Another special New Orleans element was the Mardi Gras Indians -- they made a surprise appearance to perform blessings over the couple and invite everyone out ont he dance floor to rev it up!

Cocktail napkins had different fun facts about the couple, also done by HH Design House.

After as much dancing and fun as can be had, the happy couple left the reception under a tunnel of sparklers and left everyone to explore the Crescent City they love so dearly.

As they say... Laissez les bon temps rouler! Or, let the good times roll.... and a Happy anniversary to Meghan and Ken!

Thanks you to Sandra O'Claire for the awesome photography at www.eauphoto.com

T.G.I.Fabulous: It's Fall Y'all!

2011-09-23T16:41:00.008-05:00

Have you missed us? We've been so busy recently that it's been hard for us to blog but we are back--and so is FALL! Football, school, cooler weather, turning leaves, and harvest are all things we think about this time of year. We only thought it appropriate since today is the first day of fall to say: "It's Fall Y'all!"

It's time to start planning your Halloween and Fall Parties! Stop in or schedule an appointment with Hayley to design your invitations. You can also beat the holiday cards to the chase and send out a fall card instead of a Christmas card!

Pottery Barn has the most beautiful (and spooky) decorations for Halloween! We love the skeleton beverage despenser.

What a fabulous gift! These wine stoppers from Pottery Barn are festive and fun! I especially love the owl. ;) Hoot! Hoot!

Fall is such a great time of the year! We are so excited at HH Design House! Come by and see us M-F, 11-5! Also visit our website and Facebook page. Happy Fall!

T.G.I.Fabulous: From Casual to Black Tie--The Wedding and Party Attire Dresscode Mystery Revealed!

2011-08-12T17:02:00.013-05:00

Happy Friday, bloggers! As school time approaches, wedding season comes to a close. I bet you are thinking, “Why are you giving me advice on wedding attire now instead of in May when I needed it?” I apologize. I really should have thought about this earlier! The good news is this blog post isn’t just applicable for weddings. You can use these guidelines for parties and other social events throughout the year. Now, when you receive an invitation, you know exactly what (and what not) to wear!

Casual attire: Casual attire is usually reserved for day-time and outdoor weddings. As you all know, it gets very hot during the summer--especially in Texas! The bride and groom want you to be comfortable during the wedding festivities. However, this doesn’t give you permission to wear flip flops and shorts. A cute sundress or blouse with a skirt or linen pants will do. Keep in mind, the word “casual” on an invitation translates to “Sunday best” and go from there. Below are some examples of casual wedding attire.

Here I am with my best friend in perfect casual wedding attire! Don't we look fabulous?

Courtesy of Komorov

Courtesy of Maggie London

Courtesy of Laundry by Shelli Segal

Beach Casual: Beach casual is a bit dressier than casual. If you are going to a wedding on the beach, don’t forget about the sand, ocean, and other outdoor elements that you will encounter. Heels are not a good idea so settle for a nice strappy sandal. A pretty, resort style sundress is an excellent choice. You will want to wear a light weight fabric such as chiffon. Linen may be too casual. Long dresses are acceptable for this type of attire.

Courtesy of BCBGMAXAZIRA

Courtesy of Xscape

Semi-formal: This is the dreaded category of attire. It’s hard to define semi-formal. You’re in luck! We’re here to help. Basically, you should wear a cocktail dress or a beautiful blouse matched with a skirt. Remember, this is a wedding. It’s important not to look like you are going to a club or night out with the girls. But please, look fabulous!

Courtesy of Jay Godfrey

Courtesy of Donna Morgan

Courtesy of Max and Cleo

Formal/black-tie: Chances are a black tie wedding will be in the evening. This means you can wear a stunning evening gown! Sequins and beaded embellishments are allowed, just don’t get too crazy. An elegant cocktail dress is also perfect! Don’t forget to spend some extra time on your ‘do and make-up!

Courtesy of Adrianna Pappell

Courtesy of JS Collections.

Here are a few other tips:

· Ivory and white are an absolute NO. These two colors are reserved for the bride. It’s her special day, not yours.

· Black can be worn at night and night only.

· Err on the conservative side when attending a wedding. Many weddings are in churches. It’s important to be respectful. Although you may look fabulous, plunging necklines, tight and/or short dresses, and sometimes even strapless can be inappropriate.

· NO JEANS. Don’t even think about it.

All looks were found on Nordstrom.com. Nordstrom has an amazing selection of wedding attire from casual to black tie! Feel free to check all the styles out.

We hope you feel fabulous this Friday!!! Feel free to browse our blog, check out our Facebook page, and visit our website. We also have our store Happenings in Galveston located on the corner of Tremont and Church. Come see us! Don't forget about our blog follower prize give away. We need 100 followers to begin the contest! Have a fabulous Friday and an amazing weekend!

Wedding Wednesday: Megan and Jesse

2011-08-10T16:26:00.009-05:00

It's Wedding Wednesday! This week we are featuring another Texas wedding. Megan and Jesse were married March 7, 2009 in Sugar Land. The ceremony took place in the First Colony Church of Christ courtyard. The reception was held at the Sugar Creek Country Club. Megan chose elegant black and red for her colors.

Hayley designed the 7"x7" pearl and charcoal invitations for Megan and Jesse's wedding. They included Hayley's signature calligraphy that we all love. She also designed the "G" monogram at the header of the invitation.

Here is the "G" custom monogram for the happy couple.

Invitations were sealed in hand-written calligraphy envelopes.

Roses are a symbol of true love. These kissing-ball roses were beautiful decorations for the courtyard wedding.

The wedding guests stand for a prayer during the ceremony.

Make a wish!

The couple exchanged personalized vows.

The bride and her bridesmaids are so happy.

We hope you are having a great week so far! Summer is coming to an end but we think you should still come see us at our store, Happenings, in Galveston. Look us up on Facebook and visit our websites too! Tell your fellow blogger friends about us and make sure they become a follower. We are still waiting on our 100th follower so we can begin our fabulous giveaway contest!!! Have a great day! See you on Friday with our T.G.I.Fabulous post.

Wedding Wednesday: Megan and Garrett in Galveston

2011-08-04T11:41:00.049-05:00

Happy Friday! We were encountering some computer problems on Wednesday so we are bringing our Weekly Wedding Post to you today. This week, we are featuring a Galveston wedding in light of the Boutique Bridal Show we will participating in this Sunday. Megan and Garret were married here in Galveston on May 21, 2011 at the Hotel Galvez. From the engagement pictures to the honeymoon sendoff, this wedding had Galveston all over it. We love the stunning photographs taken of this wedding by Brooke Oglilvie, a fellow alumni of Abilene Christian University where Hayley went to college. Hayley designed the invitations for both the rehearsal dinner and wedding. Her calligraphy and designs were also used at the wedding and reception. This engagement and wedding were captured perfectly.

A sweet moment, the newly engaged couple are standing on a dock in the Galveston harbor.

This place looks familiar! This is actually the alley behind Happenings!
Just a block away from our store.

Here is another photo taken behind our store....Love seeing how such 'ordinary' places to us Brooke made look picturesque!The perfect backdrop for a Galveston Wedding.

What a great day in Galveston! Sometimes overcast days have such great lighting because the shadows don't overwhlem anything.

Outside the Ashton Villa is such a pretty place!

CUTE!

Megan's bridal portraits are absolutely stunning. They reminded us of an ad in a fashion magazine....which is fitting since Megan has worked in New York both in fashion and for a Magazine! How beautiful!

Taken on a ranch outside of Richmond, Texas, Megan's bridal portraits displayed classic rustic elegance.

A one of a kind dress.

The perfect shoes for the perfect day!

Like mother, like daughter. Megan is so excited about her big day!

We are such a sucker for detail shots! Rings for the future Mr. and Mrs. Winder.

The bridesmaids are happy for Megan.

The ecru and champagne, Royalty Size invitations for the wedding featured hand calligraphy beautifully designed by Hayley. The envelopes were also done by hand with the couple's "MG" monogram above the return address. A custom champagne and ecru paisley backer was placed in each envelope to add an elegant touch.
Galveston nostalgic postcards were used for the rehearsal dinner invitations, also designed by Hayley. The rehearsal dinner was held at The Original Mexican Cafe. Yay Galveston!

One of the bridesmaids in holding the program with the MG monogram designed by Hayley.

Megan and her bridesmaids are posing outside of the Hotel Galvez, where the wedding was held.

The decorations for the ceremony were so simple and pretty, letting the backdrop truly be the seawall and ocean.

The mother of the bride looks back at her daughter walking down the aisle.

What a beautiful ceremony!

The bride's bouquet.

The bridesmaid's bouquet.

Megan and Garrett pose with their "flower dog" Hallie after the ceremony.

The wedding party looks fabulous!

The reception featured several different centerpieces, all designed with simple elegance.

These hand written place cards were designed by Hayley.

The cake is one of my favorites at a wedding reception, and this four-tiered confection with lace flowered decorations and edible pearl centers did not disappoint!

We love the vintage cake topper!

Yummy cookies were baked for the wedding guests. The menu item cards were hand written by Hayley. They chose vintage suitcases with London images since the newlyweds will be moving to England for studies for a year! Look out, William and Catherine...there is another set of newlyweds hitting the London scene!

A magical moment: the couple shares their first dance as Mr. and Mrs. Winder.

Father and daughter share their dance and some laughs.

Garrett's fraternity brothers carry out a tradition singing a song to Megan

The well -wishing wedding guests hold sparklers as Megan and Garrett leave for their honeymoon.

A perfect ending for a perfect day! Bon voyage!

We are so excited about this weekend! Happenings and HH Design House will have a booth at the Boutique Bridal Show at the Tremont House this Sunday from 12-3. The show will be featuring area businesses, photographers, caterers, and boutiques perfect for your wedding. Admission is complimentary. We'd love to see you!

Don't forget to visit out website, Facebook page, and our store, Happenings, in Galveston. Also, we are having a contest for our first 100 blogger followers and will be giving a way a fabulous prize! Tell your friends about us!

T.G.I.Fabulous: Gearing up for Fall

2011-07-29T15:48:00.010-05:00

It's almost that time of year again---back to school! No matter where you are in life, the rush to get ready for school and fall is exciting. Getting the kids ready for the first day of school or preparing for yourself for a new semester can be a month long ordeal. With a new school year, one thing is for certain, expect the unexpected. But one thing for sure to expect--football. Since I moved to Texas, I have realized that this state certainly has pride in their football teams! Every man, woman, and child has team spirit! Chances are, if you are a Texan, you will be attending at least one football game this season. Even if you're not interested in the actual game, you might as well look cute in the stands. We've surfed the internet for some game day outfits that will get you geared up for the game!

Who says you have to wear a gameday tee? These Longhorns dresses are fabulous! Dress them up with a cute pair of boots and jewelry. The crowd will be looking at you instead of the game!

We found this dress on LivyLu.com. Even if you aren't an Aggie fan, there are plenty of other schools represented on this sight with so many styles to choose from.

Houston, we have football! This Vinyard Vines tote is great to carry to Reliant Stadium, especially if you are bringing the whole family.

We couldn't leave him out. This Vinyard Vines tie is a great gift for the Texan's man in your life! GO TEXANS!

This football season is sure to be fabulous! We will post a great ladies tailgating blog the closer we get to football season. Who doesn't love a good tailgate?

We'd love to hear your comments on our blog. Please leave us one! Also, check out our website, visit our Facebook page, and visit at Happenings in Galveston! Don't forget about our followers contest. We're only 19 followers away from our give-away! We hope you have a fabulous Friday and a wonderful weekend!

Wedding Wednesday: Melinda and Todd

2011-07-28T14:51:00.017-05:00

Hey, bloggers! I am back from Arkansas and excited to bring you some new blog posts! I hope you haven't missed me too much!

Destination weddings are my favorite. Combining a wedding and vacation is such a great idea for both the bride and groom and the wedding guests. Why not have the perfect scenery for your special day? Today, we are blogging about another destination wedding. Melinda and Todd were married in February 2009 in the tropical resort town of Del Ray Beach, Florida on the Atlantic Coast. Del Ray's beach was the perfect back drop for the beautiful ceremony. Melinda and Todd used white, raspberry, tangerine, and navy for their colors.

Hayley customized these elegant, yet playful save-the-date cards. She created a map of Del Ray with whimsical drawings and calligraphy.

Here is the beautiful bride, Melinda with her gorgeous, tropical bouquet

Here is the happy groom, Todd. We love the tropical boutonnieres!

The bridal party is looking fabulous in the bright Florida sun!

The wedding party looks so happy for the lucky couple! It's great to be in Florida!

Hayley also designed the invitations.

Custom monogrammed cards and napkins were used at the reception. A special logo was created for the couple. A friend of the couple suggested that their ring logo should be unique to Melinda and Todd. If you look closely, you can see that one ring is a golf tee, representing Todd, who is a golf course designer, and the other is a peach, representing Melinda, who is from Georgia. We love this idea!

Happily married, the couple leaves for their honeymoon!

It's a storybook ending in Florida!

Thank you so much for reading our blog! We are so excited to share not only our custom creations with you, but also our ideas and favorite things. We are having a contest with a fabulous prize once we reach 100 followers on blogger in which YOU can participate. All you have to do is FOLLOW us! We will reveal the prize when we reach 100 followers, so tell your friends! Also, don't forget to like us on Facebook, check out our website, and come see us at Happenings in Galveston! We would love to see you!

Wednesday Weekly Wedding: Betsy and Parker

2011-07-20T16:16:00.005-05:00

Hey Blog World! Happy Wedding Wednesday! It's your "guest blogger" Hayley, as Paige is traveling back to see her Arkansas Friends for a long weekend! Today, I am so excited to get to showcase some of an amazing photographer's work -- seriously you will all want to rush over to her website and check it out...I have been admiring it for years, and am thrilled when clients have sent me images from Skylar to use for their Holiday Cards, etc! They are always so unique and interesting. She has also pioneered this awesome concept of "Fame Parties" in homes across the coutnry where she captures magical moments in mere minutes against a white sheet. I was so excited to see that she shot the Wedding of one of our clients this past April!

Betsy got married in beautiful Austin and is the sister of wonderful client of ours, whose wedding we worked on a few years ago. She wanted the ever popular and Traditional style we love to LOVE. This classic calligraphy setup on ivory card is how I began my business, and it will never go out. We get orders for this style year-round, for any size of event, and any locale! You do not need a color scheme, a theme, or a certain type of venue to make this work. This is the invitation everyone knows is a beautiful wedding before they've even opened the inner envelope.
Now, to Skylar's awesome photos! This first may be my favorite of the bunch. I am ga-ga for the deep blue saturated tones and the juxtaposition of styles; a Gorgeous Bride in a lacy gown, casual pose and boots. Perfection.

Skylar employs the same idea with the "Fame Parties" I was talking about at Weddings too, letting guests capture photo-booth style moments, with better picture quality!

Swoon.

What a cool boutenier! A peacock feather...so cool.

The girls....Mother of the Bride and Lexie, sister of the Bride, and a fabulous client! I can't wait for her little one to get here so we can have even more fun celebrating her life's event on paper!

Also a few from her Bridals....

Does this not look like she stuck a gorgeous bride in a Lilly Pulitzer fabric? So awesome.

And then of course this one melted my heart as a Dog lover...or at least a Kashmir lover!!! I wish I could go back in time and have had her at our Wedding, but she wasn't even born yet. Silly, I know...I just am totally jealous of this picture! Skylar, if you're reading....Come to Galveston and take one of me and Kashy! haha.

Thanks for reading! Hope you are enjoying glimpses into the events we get to work on...I have loved getting the pictures. That's the hardest part of being in the "events business" and not being at the events...I never get to see the finished products! Leave us a comment....We SQUEALED this morning to see Aspen Bay had commented on yesterday's post!!! Love it.

So....without further adieu....VISIT Skylar Reeves' WEBSITE .... You will NOT be dissappointed.

Love, Hayley

T.G.I.Fabulous (Tuesday Edition): Aspen Bay Candles

2011-07-19T12:01:00.006-05:00

Since I will be on vaction starting Thursday, I am writing this T.G.I.Fabulous blog post today. When you walk in to Happenings, our store in Galveston, you will notice the amazing aroma. We owe it all to Aspen Bay Candles. We light our favorite fragrance, Volcano, every morning to make our customers feel welcome. Each candle comes in a distinct beautifully hand-blown, recycled glass jar in lucious deep colors and jewel-toned metallics.

We sell our signature fragrance, Volcano, from the Capri Blue collection, at Happenings. Volcano comes in a sapphire blue jar. The large jars are $25 and the chub cups are $18.

Although we do not sell the Pagoda candles at the store, Aspen Bay sells them on their website for $35. We love the metallic handblown glass.

We think the jars that these tantalizing candles are set in are just as beautiful as the fragrance. Even after your candles are burned out, we discovered a way to preserve the jars and use them as containers in your home.

1. Run hot water in your kitchen sink about 4 inches deep.

2. Place burned out candles top up in the water for several minutes, until soft.

3. Scoop out melted wax with a spoon and place in a plastic bag.

4. Use warm soapy water to remove excess wax and oxidation.

5. To remove lables, use Goo Gone. Goo Gone can be purchased at Target or Wal-Mart.

6. Don't forget to save the lid!

**DO NOT MICROWAVE CANDLES. The wick contains metal. We wouldn't want you to break your microwave!

We placed bathroom essentials like Q-tips and cotton balls in the old Aspen Bay Candle jars. You can place anything in them that you would like!

We hope you stop by Happenings to check out our Aspen Bay Candles and other goodies! Don't forget to add us on Facebook and visit our website. Have a wonderful week!

-Paige

T.G.I.Fabulous: 60 Summer Songs We Love!

2011-07-15T14:01:00.006-05:00

There's no doubt about it, life would not be the same without our favorite songs. At every party, a great playlist is an absolute must. We have composed a list of summer songs perfect for your pool party, back yard BBQ, or just for your listening pleasure when you're driving to work in the summer heat.

1. "California Girls"-The Beach Boys
2. "Summer of 69"-Bryan Adams
3. "Boys of Summer"-Don Henley
4. "Jammin'"-Bob Marley
5. "On the Floor"-Jennifer Lopez
6. "Give Me Everything"-Pitbull
7. "Edge of Glory"-Lady Gaga
8. "By the Way"-Red Hot Chili Peppers
9. "Sitting, Waiting, Wishing"-Jack Johnson
10. "Your Love"-The Outfield
11. "Don't Stop Believin'"-Journey
12. "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)"-Katy Perry
13. "Super Bass"-Niki Minaj
14. "The Lazy Song"-Bruno Marz
15. "Honey Bee"-Blake Shelton
16. "Son of a Sailor"-Jimmy Buffett
17. "Sounds So Good"-Ashton Sheppard
18. "Summertime"-Sublime
19. "Amber"-311
20. "Ventura Highway"-America
21. "High Tides/Low Tides"-Ben Harper and Jack Johnson
22. "Hard to Handle"-The Black Crowes
23. "No Rain"-Blind Melon
24. "What's My Age Again?"-Blink 182
25. "The Hook"-Blues Traveler
26. "Soak up the Sun"-Sheryl Crowe
27. "Sun Gonna Rise"-Citizen Cope
28. "Down on the Corner"-Creedence Clearwater Revival
29. "Satellite"-Dave Matthews Band
30. "All Right Now"-Free
31. "Here it From You"-Gin Blossoms
32. "Sugar Magnolia"-Grateful Dead
33. "Paradise City"-Guns N Roses
34. "Hold My Hand"- Hootie and the Blowfish
35. "Wish You Were Here"-Incubus
36. "Carolina on my Mind"-James Taylor
37. "Remedy"-Jason Mraz
38. "Fire"-Jimi Hendrix
39. "With a Little Help from My Friends"-Joe Cocker
40. "Jack and Diane"- John Cougar Mellencamp
41. "83"-John Mayer
42. "Touch the Sky"-Kanye West
43. "Summer Girls"-LFO
44. "D'yer M'ker"-Led Zeppelin
45. "Sweet Home Alabama"-Lynrd Skynrd
46. "Walking in Memphis"-Marc Cohn
47. "Electric Feel"-MGMT
48. "That Was a Crazy Game of Poker"-O.A.R (of a revolution)
49. "Rent"-Pepper
50. "Message in a Bottle"-The Police
51. "The Joker"-Steve Miller Band
52. "Mary Jane's Last Dance"-Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
53. "Red Red Wine"-UB40
54. "Panama"-Van Halen
55. "Summer Lovin"- Olivia Newton John and John Travolta "Grease"
56. "School's Out"-Alice Cooper
57. "Summertime Blues"-Eddie Cochran
58. "Cruel Summer"-Bananarama
59. "Take it Easy"-The Eagles
60. "Wipe Out" -The Sufaris

Are you headed to iTunes yet? We hope you enjoy our playlist and download all of these songs for your summer parties. Leave a comment about your favorite summer song or add one to the list we forgot! Don't forget to visit our website, like us on Facebook, and come by and see us at Happenings in Galveston! Please suggest us to your blog friends. When we reach 100 followers, we will have a great give-away! We hope you have a fabulous Friday and a wonderful weekend!

Happy Hardcastles

2011-07-14T13:13:00.008-05:00

It's a very special day here at HH Design House! It's July 14--Hayley and Jason's anniversary!!! They have been happily married four years today. Today, we'd like to take some time and remember their very special, beautiful wedding.

Hayley and Jason outside of the Tremont House in downtown Galveston where their wedding took place.

Hayley's family: Greg and Peggy, her parents; Kathryn and Hilary, her sisters; and Matt, her brother-in-law.

Jason's welcoming a new Hardcastle to the family: Keith and Dianne, Jason's parents, and Paige (me!)

The whole wedding party.

Hayley and Jason are standing under the platform on Mechanic Street in downtown Galveston used during the annual Mardi Gras celebration. This is my favorite picture!

What a great day! We've blogged about Hayley and Jason's wedding previously. The Hardcastle wedding was featured in The Knot wedding magazine. Hayley designed every detail from the bridesmaid's dresses to the invitations.

Feel free to leave a comment wishing Hayley and Jason a "Happy Anniversary". Don't forget to visit our website, like us on Facebook, and visit Happenings in Galveston. We'd love to see you!

-Paige

Wedding Wednesday: Houston, We Have a Party!

2011-07-13T13:31:00.026-05:00

It's Wednesday and you know what that means--it's time to spotlight another wedding we have had the privilege to work on! This week we're featuring Nan and Zade Pollack of Nashville, Tennessee. They were married this past March in Houston, Texas. HH Design House created the beautiful invitations and programs used in the wedding.

The invitations were ecru cotton with a bevelled edge and slate grey thermography. The reception card was separate from the invitation, and the suit was completed with hand calligraphy -addressed envelopes by Hayley.

Simple and beautiful!

The bride wore classic silver heels with bows to add a sweet touch.

This belt was worn by the bride as an accessory to her bridal gown.

The bridesmaid's dresses were a corally-orange, a very popular color this year.

Here is Nan's embroidered wedding bag so she could keep up with all of her essentials for the wedding.

Adding the veil to complete the dress.

The programs were a 6x6 accordion fold with a custom monogrammed seal of the bride and groom's first initials.

Here are the programs and invitations together.

The beautiful bride, Nan.

Her bouquet mixed pink and white roses, with tropical flowers.

The exchanging of rings.

I do!

"N" for Nan and "Z" for Zade, these letters hung on the church door.

Here is the bride with her mother, Claire, one of our favorite customers!

Engagement photos were arranged around the bride's bouquet at the reception which took place at the Houston Racquet Club.

The bride made quick change after the ceremony into a short dress and dancing shoes!

The first dance as Mr. and Mrs. Pollack.

The cake had the married monogram.

Bridesmaid's bouquets were multicolored and perfect for spring!

Here is the Bride tossing the bouquet. Who's next? Maybe HH Design House can design your invitations?

The bride with her bridesmaids.

Foam fingers in Tennessee Orange were given to guests as a favor. Nan and Zade truly are #1!

We hope you enjoyed our Wedding Wednesday post! Don't forget to add HH Design House on Facebook, check out our website, and visit our store, Happenings, in Galveston. We'd love to see you! Leave us a comment and tell us what you think of our blog.

AND...If you're reading us, FOLLOW US! We are going to have a fabulous giveaway when we reach 100 followers -- tell your friends!

-Hayley, Paige, and Kashmir

Wedding Wednesday: The "Marry" Month of May

2011-07-06T12:10:00.030-05:00

It's no surprise to us Texans that May is a wonderful month to get hitched. The flowers are blooming, spring has sprung, and it's not too hot yet. It's just right! In May 2010, Kristen and James were married in Wimberley, Texas in the heart of Hill Country at Old Glory Ranch. Instead of using lots of colors, Kristen decided to use neutrals and textures to create a rustic elegance we love.

HH Design House created these beautiful save-the-date cards with a magnet reminder enclosed so guests could be reminded of the wedding every day.

These simple, yet elegant invitations, set the tone for the beautiful day with taupe letterpress and blind debossing on a Pearl White Crane's Card. The names and scripture were hand calligraphed by Hayley and then typeset for the details.

A closeup of the debossed scripture.

Here are Kristen and James infront of the chapel where they were married.

No, this wasn't their ring-bearer!

The bride's Christian Louboutins were something we had to add to this post. We love them!

The ring-bearer and flower girl were given Build-a-Bears dressed as a bride and groom for their wedding party favors.

Flowers added beauty to rustic furniture. What a neat idea to do tons of clusters of smaller arrangements than one larger one.

Candles were placed everywhere during the ceremony for soft, elegant lighting.

HH Design House designed the programs used in the ceremony.

We love the use of flowers and candles the bride chose!

The happy newlyweds leaving the church.

Reserved signs for the family tables.

The first dance as man and wife.

Monogrammed napkins and koozies were used by the guests at the reception with the logo we created to carry throughout.

Boxes with Kettle Corn inside were given as favors to the wedding guests.

Cigars were rolled to celebrate!

An old timey photo both was set up for the guests to have their own photos of the reception. How fun!

Here are some photos from the photo booth of the bride with her flower girl and ring bearer. Hayley designed the template that all the photos were printed on.

This cake is almost too pretty to eat!

I'm sure the kids loved the donkeys at the reception.

What's Texas without cowboy boots?

Happily married, the bride and groom leave the reception. The well-wishers hold sparklers and cheer as the couple say good-bye and head to their honeymoon. Thanks to Kristen and James for letting us be a part of their Big Day, and to Kristen White at Frills Consulting in Austin for coordintating such a beautiful event! What a fun, beautiful wedding!

Be sure to add us on Facebook, check out the website, visit our store in Galveston, and tell your friends about us! Have a great day!

T.G.I.Fabulous (part 2): Red, White, and Beautiful

2011-07-01T11:39:00.023-05:00

As promised, we are back for part two of our Fabulous Friday blog post. In light of the holiday, we want to share all things red, white, and beautiful. This Independence Day should be celebrated in style. As Americans, it is our right to be fabulous!

In this issue of W Magazine, Blake Lively sports a patriotic look clutching the American flag. I'm a huge fan of her style. From Gossip Girl to the Green Lantern, she never fails to look amazing.

Courtesy of MarthaStewart.com, these American Flag cupcakes are a tasty patriotic treat at any Fourth of July picnic.

Speaking of parties, we have a few place settings we fell in love with. This one from Anthropologie is rustic and shabby chic.

These paper fireworks from Martha Stewart add a nice nostalgic touch.

More traditional, these patriotic buckets from Southern Living maximize table space for all of your yummy BBQ dishes.

This plate from Anthropologie is fabulous. I'm all about the nautical animals this summer!

We sell Capri Blue candles like this one at our store in Galveston. Come by and see us!

Pretty pretty! Blue accessories are very "in" this summer.

Paired with white jeans or shorts, this top from Anthropologie is a fashionable expression of patriotism at your Independence Day celebration.

These clogs from Anthropologie cute and stylish

The Daily Mail featured these accessories for summer.

We found this clutch on Vogue.com. It's cute and affordable from Asos.com.

Just in case you haven't read our TGIF part one post, we featured Kendra Scott jewelry. She is having a sale through July 4th. We suggest you take full advantage of this great deal!

We designed this patriotic earring on the Kendra Scott website. We can't get enough of the Color Bar! We think this earring looks like a firework!

Parties, BBQ's and picnics are great ways to celebrate our nation's independence, but we must remember the real reason we are celebrating. Many, many soldiers have fought and died for our freedoms. HH Design House would like to take a moment to say heart felt thank you to our troops and veterans, especially our dear friend Chuck DeLongchamp, returning from Air Force depolyment on Tuesday!!! We are so proud of you and are proud to be Americans! We will be thinking of you this July 4th! You are always in our hearts.

Happy Independence Day to all of our readers! We hope you have a safe, fun-filled, patriotic holiday! Happenings will be closed July 4th but will be opened Tuesday, July 5th. Don't forget to "like" HH Design House on Facebook and to check out our website. See you next week!

-Paige

T.G.I.Fabulous (part 1): Kendra Scott Jewelry

2011-06-30T17:21:00.013-05:00

We know it's not Friday, but we couldn't wait to share something we came across that is absolutely fabulous with our bloggers! Kendra Scott Jewelry is an Austin-based company specializing in semi-precious stone jewelry. From earrings to cuff links, Kendra Scott has beautiful jewelry to go with any outfit for any occasion. Hayley owns several pieces from the line. She showed me the Kendra Scott website and I am now hooked! I can't wait to order a new pair of custom earrings! Here are some of our favorite items we found.

Hayley loves these blue agate chandeliers.

Green and gold are my favorites

Hayley loves the "Danielle" style shown above!

This necklace is beautiful!

What a unique cuff! We love it!

Perfect for summer!

This cuff is fabulous!

The perfect cocktail ring for July!

Something even more fabulous about the Kendra Scott website is the Color Bar where you can customize certain pieces to match anything in your wardrobe! Hayley and I designed two pieces that we are dying to have.

Hayley can't get enough of the "Danielle" style.

Green is my favorite color!

Go ahead and visit the Kendra Scott website! I'm sure you will be as obsessed with it as we are at HH Design House. And you can thank us later.... Thru July 4th get $20 off any $100 purchase at Kendra Scott with the code HAPPY20. Check into the blog tomorrow for T.G.I.Fabulous part 2. We're sure you'll love it. Post a comment telling us your favorite style and if you love the website as much as we do. Don't forget to "like" us on Facebook, visit our website, and if you're in Galveston, come see us! Until tomorrow, stay fabulous!

-Paige

Wedding of the Week: Double-Meant to be Together

2011-06-29T12:14:00.019-05:00

No, you don't need to get your eyes checked, but you are seeing double-- a double wedding that is! As the end of June approaches, we were reminded of a wedding that we did four years ago that was twice the fun! Nicholas and Erich and Gaylen and Ginna are two sets of identical twins that fell in love with eachother and had the ultimate double wedding in 2007. I guess when you have shared your whole lives together, your Big Day wouldn't be any different!

Here we have the happy couples. Gaylen wanted a yellow wedding and Ginna wanted a hot pink wedding. The compromised by having two ceremonies in their respective shades.

Double-Meant to be Together! Gaylen and Ginna's father called Hayley immediately after dreaming up this creative "Double-Meant to be Together" idea for save-the-dates. It was such a different idea we were immediately up to the task!

The ultimate Wedding folder invitation. The outer envelopes we 9x12" large to enclose it all. The invitations for the wedding were done in yellow and hot pink.

Each guest received not one, but two invitations in the folder, and then a shared map and response card!

Gaylen's invitations, programs, and napkins were yellow.

And Ginna's set were hot pink!

The floral arrangement at the welcome table combined beautiful hot pink and yellow flowers, along with their Bridal Portrait that literally looked like a mirror-image.

Each bride participated in the other's wedding. They even had all of the same bridesmaids and groomsmen!

The two wedding ceremonies were separated with a cocktail hour so the wedding party could change colors, and flower arrnagements were swapped out on the aisle and altar as well.

Here are the bridesmaids for Ginna's wedding in their hot pink!

The reception at was divided down the middle with yellow on one side...

...and hot pink on the other side, of course!

The double "S" monogrammed cups and napkins added a nice touch.

Even two cakes were cut at the wedding.

I'm sure they were double delicious!

The beautiful Brides at the Sweetheart table, set for four!

Perhaps because it was truly "Double the Fun", this was one of our favorite weddings at HH Design House, and we're glad we got to share it all these years later! Happy anniversary, Ginna & Erich and Gaylen & Nicholas! Don't forget to post your comments on our blog, check out our website, and "like" us on facebook! We hope your week is doubly wonderful!

T.G.I.Fabulous--OPI Texas Collection

2011-06-24T11:38:00.005-05:00

Thank goodness it's Friday but more importantly, T.G.I.Fabulous! We are crazy about the OPI Spring/Summer 2011 nail lacquer collection for two reasons: 1. The colors are amazing 2. It's all about Texas, y'all! We certainly are proud of our state and heritage. Now we can show our Texas spirit on our finger tips and two steppin' toes. The line features six jewel toned colors: Don't Mess with OPI, Suzi Loves Cowboys, San Tan-tonio, Austin-tacious Turquoise, It's Totally Fort Worth It!, and I Vant to be A-Lone Star. There also six sorbet-like colors: Do You Think I'm Tex-y?, Houston We Have a Purple, Too Hot Pink to Hold'em, Y'all Come Back Now, Ya Here?, Big Hair...Big Nails. Shown below is our favorite shade in the Texas line called Guy Meets Gal-veston--but we may be a little biased. Tell us which color is your favorite with a comment!

The OPI website is also fabulous! The "Try on This Color" tab allows you to see which OPI color will look best on you. It's fun, interactive way to see all that OPI has to offer.

We hope you enjoyed our Friday blog post! Every Friday, we plan to feature something we think is "fabulous". Don't forget to check out our website and to "like" HHDesignHouse on Facebook. Have a fabulous Friday and a wonderful weekend! Y'all come back now, ya hear?

All the Way from Arkansas: It's Paige!

2011-06-22T11:44:00.004-05:00

Hello blog world! I am so excited and proud to become the new member to the HH Design House team! I am Hayley's sister-in-law, Paige. I just moved to Texas from Jonesboro, Arkansas. I majored in biology and Spanish at Arkansas State University and have come to hopefully contiune my education in nursing in Galveston. I love to paint, swim, travel, and hang out with friends and family. I absolutely LOVE Texas. I've only been here a few weeks and it already feels like home. There is so much opportunity here and so much to do! I am never bored. Hayley is not only the best sister-in-law, she is the best boss. Seeing Hayley and Kashmir every day is such a blessing! Working at HH Design House is so fun! Come by and see us!

Wedding of the Week: Across the Pond in Pink

2011-06-21T16:54:00.019-05:00

We are starting something new and exciting on the HH Design House blog. Each week, we will feature a wedding (or party) that we've worked on in a post. We hope you will check back weekly to see our featured events!

With all of the excitement about the Royal Wedding, we were reminded of a wedding we did from across the pond. Claire and Adam were married in England in 2009. Hot pink and white were the colors selected by the bride. The couple used invitations, programs, place cards, and other paper goods the Bride custom designed with Hayley.

The Beautiful Couple "signing the registry."

Claire and Adam are using the programs designed by HH Design House.

The groomsmen's ties had the wedding date embroidered on the tag of their ties. How cute!

Even the guests got in to the spirit of the color scheme, including this one who rocked a hot pink hat! Why can't we bring this fashion to the states?

The placecards for the reception were placed on a board.

Instead of using numbers for table identifiers, the couple used names of the mountains they have climbed together on cards tied to the centerpieces.

Here are the bride and groom standing in a meadow in the beautiful English countryside.

The elegant place settings featured menu cards designed by Hayley.

Dancing was a must at the reception. The bride and groom provided flip flops for the guests' tired feet, so they won't ever miss a beat.

What a beautiful and charming wedding!

We hope you liked what you saw from our "Wedding of the Week" post. There are many more to come! Please visit our website for more wedding ideas. Don't forget to "like" us on Facebook and suggest us to your friends.

We Have a Winner!

2011-06-15T17:29:00.002-05:00

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner! Congratulations, Kristin Brokhaw! You have won our summer give away! Thank you to all who commented on our blog and "liked" us on Facebook. We are so excited about the turn-out! Check back with us for a new blog post coming soon. Happy summer!

Sweet Summertime

2011-06-07T13:44:00.022-05:00

Hello bloggers! The "most wonderful time of the year" is usually associated with Christmas. Here at HH Design House, we love them all! Summertime is here and we couldn't be more excited! We welcome summer's warm weather, bright colors, cold drinks, and most importantly SUMMER PARTIES! We have everything you need for this sunny season.

"Under the Sea" is perfect for the pool or a beach party

We will make you the perfect invitation!

Be ready to "Splash into Summer"

Sea animals have inspired so many trends this summer!

Independence Day will be here before you know it! These patriotic items are sure to make your get-together sparkle!

Red, White, and Blue can be tradtional and fun!

Nautical colors are perfect for any occasion this summer!

Preppy and classic Summertime...

Beautiful corals and turquoise are perfect for a tropical day.

What summer isn't complete without a picnic?

HH Design House Summer Giveaway!!!!

To kick off the summer, we have decided to give our customers a chance to win a super summer gift. All you have to do is leave us a comment on our blog telling us which summer style you love. If you "like" us on facebook, come back and let us know for an additional chance to win!

This beautiful summer prize pack includes:

8 pack Paper Kraft absorbent coasters

Jeweled Emery board

Beaded/sequinned fish coin purse

2 seashell notepads

Reef thermal tote from Two's Company

50 Pack of personalized styrofoam cups...with whatever you want!

This gift is valued at over $100!

Deadline is Monday, June 13, at midnight

*We will ship to you if you are from out of town FREE.

We hope you are having a fabulous summer!

Don't forget to visit our website to see more.

Wedding Monograms

2010-11-03T19:40:00.010-05:00

More and more Brides are coming to us, and even beginning the process, with getting their monogram or "wedding logo" designed!

It's even where I started four years ago planning my own Wedding!

Once I had the logo and colors done, it was an easy way to make sure everything in our Wedding flowed and followed in the 'feel' of our summery island fete.

{Click to See Knot Details}

Designing a couples' logo can be as easy as liking a certain font, or a difficult as trying to define two distinct personalities into one little piece of art...but that's really symbolic of the whole deal, right?

For a special couple we're working with right now, we put together the following options to choose from to blend her traditional and elegant style and his preference for a crisp and clean aesthetic.

Which one would you choose? I know which one they LOVED....turns out it's a blend of two!

Holiday Card Madness!

2010-11-02T13:53:00.005-05:00

It's time to cast your vote....for your Holiday Card!

We are gearing back up around here and are offering TWO great specials for today!

Click the above image to visit our newly expanded colection of pre-designed cards ready to order! They are all printed on luxe cardstocks and have accent-printed coordinated backs and complementary envelopes pre-chosen. Take the guesswork and hassle OUT of Holiday cards!
Today only, Receive 10% off your total order with the code
IVOTED

If you didn't find one that perfectly suits your needs, don't fret! We specialize in Custom Designs!
Our wait list is filling up FAST and will close November 19th so don't delay, reserve your spot today!

Today only.... Get $10 off your design fee with code
10off10

Click any of the pictures to be taken to our online store, or to browse previous Custom Work, please visit http://www.hayleyhardcastle.com/ , under the 'Haute Holiday' Gallery.

Questions or photos can be emailed to info@hhdesignhouse.com

Happy Holiday Card Shopping!!!!

Jason Update 10

2010-10-29T11:05:00.003-05:00

Hello everyone!

Sorry I have not been better at updating since we have been home! It's been a bit of a whirlwind since we have returned, which I am sure is no surprise!

Jason is doing better everyday with his mobility, and we got a great report yesterday at the Neuro Followup. He gave Jason a machine that stimulates his bones to grow and removed his staples.

The Ortho Followup did not go quite as well, and he is actually having surgery this afternoon on his wrist/arm to screw the broken bone there into place. I have been pretty blase about it after all we've been through, but it is a four hour procedure and he will be put under general. Please pray that once again his body will respond well and that the surgeon will be able to steady the bone easily. They also did some new rounds of Xrays on his shoulder that they will go over today with him.

We have been well taken care of this week! Jason's mom has been here taking care of him and making dinners, plus my mom and some firends have offered both meals and a helping hand around the store trying to get back on track!

On that note, many of you have asked if we are able to complete your orders or take on new ones, and the answer is absolutely YES! This weeek we mainly focused on trying to get things people were waiting on "out the door!" Next week, I will focus on proofs and getting back in the swing. We are absolutely still doing Christmas Cards, and my working is more important than ever with Jason out for 4-6 weeks. I have moved one of my computers home and found a great online service to file-share and sync my files so I can work from home in the mornings and evenings, and be at the store during the day. My customers have been so wonderful and supportive, and I wouldn't have expected any different!

Jason and his mom went yesterday to try and locate his car and see if anything of his personal belongings could be salvaged. Apparently is was a sobering experience. Jason said of the 1000+ cars on the yard, his car was the worst. It was unrecognizable. They could not even check for any items becuase there was inches of glass on every surface, and they couldn't reach in for fear of further injury. He promised to take me back and show me "what a miracle looks like." I already knew.

I promise I will keep up-to-date on any more happenings and the results of the Ortho today. Thank you for your sweet comments and support....and of course prayers!

xoxo hh

Jason Update 9

2010-10-24T22:59:00.002-05:00

Alas...We are settled in at home! Sorry it has taken me a while to update...we have been very busy trying to settle in, catch up, and get a routine somewhat figured out.

Thank you all so much for the encouragement, support, and outpouring of love.

Jason is doing well today but is still in a lot of pain, and increasingly stiff. He can barely even move his left shoulder now, so we are anxious to see an Ortho doctor this week!

I got to give Jason a REAL shower today and changed his dressings, so I got to see for the first time the incision and staples in his neck! It is so crazy to see -- it is all of five inches and 20 staples. And literally, they look like classic Swingline Staples from my desk.

Jason's mom and dad arrived this evening and his mother is going to stay for the week and help us out. I am so excited to have an extra set of hands! Jason has been very sweet today, but there is just so much he cannot do for himself; it's pretty tiring....plus, I need to get back to work and make sure we can catch-up on and complete a bunch of projects on the horizon.

Thanks to all...We truly are so grateful for every call, hug, text and prayer sent our way.

xoxo hh

Jason Update 8

2010-10-22T10:42:00.004-05:00

Thought you all might enjoy seeing our smiling faces last Thanksgiving. I know I think blogs with pictures are always more interesting!!! :)

I am very sorry I did not get to update yesterday; I know many of you texted me with bated breath making sure everything was fine. Fine we are.....exhausted, too.

Wednesday night and Thursday morning/early afternoon were very tiring and tedious. Jason could NOT get comfortable and was in so much pain, plus pretty incoherent with the meds. He would be out-like-a-light and then suddenly wake up with some complaint, sometimes even phantom complaints wanting to know what was running down his back {nothing!} or something along those lines. We hardly slept a wink and I was up-and-down constantly. Needless to say, I didn't make it home yesterday, but Lynsey came and brought me clothes and toiletry items, and it looks like we'll be going home soon!

So, to fill you in on how we got there, here's some re-caps I can think of!

He has much more mobility today and we have already walked him around, done stair exercises, got his drain out, got his push release medicine out, taken him off the oxygen, brushed his teeth, and we just got our shower chair delivered so he can bathe soon! Eating his breakfast a little bit ago, he told me he was pretty certain this was the most productive two hours we had experienced here.

The Neuro doctor spent a good deal of time with us this morning explaining the drill and where to go from here. He will have a followup in roughly two weeks to remove his staples and check everyting, and then they will probably only see him one time after that.

As for Jason's hand, the orthopedic Doctors said they'd like a follow-up next week, but we got permission to see an Ortho back in Galveston if we'd like, so BP if you're reading, expect a call! The only doc who has seen his wrist is the ER doc who set it, so we are unsure of the treatment course needed, if any, for this.

Jason's dad has headed back to Arkansas and is returning over the weekend with Jason's mom in tow, so hopefully next week we can really care for him downstairs and get over his stiffness and pain some, and the maybe by the following week move back up into our 'real' house.

His strength and balance are pretty off still, but it is still such a joy to watch him up and walking around! We think he looks like Kosmo Kramer walking around with the crazy hair and tall & skinny frame next to these itty bitty nurses and PTs. Seriously, we are giants here....his feet hang off his bed and his gown is a bit of a miniskirt. ha! I seriously hope my brother-in-law never has to endure this! He is 6"9 and seriously would be miserable! :(

I have been so encouraged in the last 18 hours....I really feel like things are getting better every hour. The Neuro Doc did warn us that some days may be awesome to the point where you feel like you've "crossed the bridge" and then the next will be awful, so there is just a natural ebb and flow associated with any recovery.

On another note....How did I not know about "The Chocolate Bar???!!!" Apparently this slice of Heaven that resides here in Houston has been mysterously off my radar. I mean, I am baffled! Yesterday I was brought two different kinds of icecreams from there, and then also an 8" high piece of chocolate cake covered in bricklebits, and I am HOOKED!!! Seeing as both sets of friends that brought me these delicacies have known me for about 15 years, I am just horrified they've kept this from me. After dessert, late night, and BREAKFAST this morning, I still have about two layers of the cake left, and it's off limits! I seriously have not even offered it to my patient.

Soooo, anyhoo....We have a few more things to check off our list, but it looks like we will be released either late tonight, or possibly tomorrow morning. This is amazing to me as yesterday morning I thought I should start forwarding my mail here. Once you round a corner, things seem to snowball and really improve. Many people have asked me about our 'plan' once we're home, and the main plan is to get Jason better! They told me the worst thing he can do is stay in bed all day, so anyone who would like to come over and visit, watch a game, share a meal, or just hang out...PLEASE know you are welcome to! I don't really want to put my phone number on here, but am pretty good at checking texts and okay on emails if you want to check... hayley{at}hhdesignhouse.com (Use the real "@" sign, but for some reason I think you're not just supposed to write your address for phishing!) Jason will most likely be unable to head into work for a few weeks, but I will have to start asap, so lunchtime or daytime visitors would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you all so very much for your kindness, love, prayers and support! We have felt so lifted up and are eternally grateful.

Love, hayley

Jason Update 7

2010-10-20T20:30:00.006-05:00

Although I of course am not too fond of being in the hospital, I love looking around our room. It's obviously much better this evening with Jason's "ruggedly" handsome face in here, but it's also life a little life story wrapped up in 100 sq ft.

My sweet and lovely friends have filled our room with flowers, food, cookie bouquets, toiletries, at least 50 magazines, photos of Jason, me and Kashmir, and even a beautiful framed picture of our "Theme Hymn" that very well may be my favorite gift we've received.

Jason's friends have filled the room with obnoxious stuffed animals, including but not limited to an "It's a Girl" fluffy pink elephant, Buzz lightyear balloons, toddlers, brand new babies (we loved meeting you Liam!!!) and most importantly laughter... and some Fantasy Football banter.

It's so awesome to look around the room and see exactly what roles we play. I am such the nester and nuturer, and Jason is hands-down the fan favorite. I always said (even in our Vows Ronnie scripted) that Jason has always made me cooler. He has always said I've made him a better person. In such a trivial, and yet symbolic way I think you can look around this tiny room and see the merging of our two distinct personalities into the life we share. Thank you all for the parts you all play in our life.

Okay, enough of my "alone with my thoughts" drabble...I know you want an update!

We both did get a bit of rest and Jason is snoozing now, waiting for his "push release" pain medicine. He returned from his ct scan and we struggled for a while trying to get him as comfortable as possible. Even in the ER, he never indicated his pain as more than a "6" on the 1-10 spectrum, and this afternoon he was grumpily insisting over and over again he was a 10. Seeing him so agitated has been one of the hardest parts so far. He wasn't believing us that he was up higher, or straight, or in the 'right' position, or that it had only been five minutes since we asked for his medicine. I can tell he is in great pain just by how much his disposition suffered this afternoon. His doctors came in around 3:30 and explained once they got him open they realized it was a little more unstable than they thought and that's what took some additional time, but he responded well and it went smoothly. They also brought us print outs of before/after/during XRays of the Rod insertion, and then a great image (i was a little fuzzy on really interpreting the aforementioned images) that clearly shows the rod placement and his incision, with exactly twenty sutures. They were able to do it posterially (through the back of the neck) and both rods go through all three vertebrae (C4, C5, C6). Things Jason did not know until they came in were that he will suffer a 10-15% reduction in range of motion when healed, and that they had to cut his hair in the back.

After they left, we both were left alone for a few hours and got some good rest. This evening a couple of Jason's best friends came by to see him, including Sarah and Dave again. I feel like they are my personal 'Google.' With Sarah's medical knowledge and Dave in Spine Device Sales I feel so at peace with them explaining things to me! They both thought he looked good, and we all reiterated how pleased we were with the decision to operate especially knowing it was a little worse than they thought.

So, now that the big fish have been fried, we seem to be thinking more about other issues. His broken nose seems to be really brusing and irritating his left eye, and right now he has started running a fever. They gave him some antibiotics and fever reducer and may run some cultures, possibly even around of xrays or something. We don't want his body weakening! We also may try to get a follow-up with a hand Doctor tomorrow to just evaulate his broken wrist again. He is definitely already getting restless in one position, and has begun to cough up a lot of junk probably settling from laying down in one position as well. All things to just keep an eye on and pray don't materialize into anything bigger.

I have not been out of Memorial Hermann since 11:31pm on Sunday evening and am hoping to be able to get home tomorrow and bathe, grab some fresh clothes, and tidy up our down stairs living quarters for when we come home. Many of you know our home is stilted, so our main house and bedroom is on the second floor, with only exterior stairs going up to the decking where you would enter our front door. Though we will work on climbing stairs immediately, we are thinking it will be best to live for a while downstairs where there is no stairs and oddly enough, a handicap accessible bathroom courtesy of the previous owner's elderly parents they took care of. The area is definitely not as comfy as upstairs, but we are so glad to have it as an option and take up residence there...again. We actually lived there for a month and half in the wake of Hurricane Ike after our downstairs repairs were complete in month five and they had just begun our upstairs. Yes, for those of you in the blog-world who don't know us well....suffice it to say we've had a lot of obstacles in our three and a half year marriage. Sometimes you just have to laugh and wonder what made God think we were so strong??? When Jason and I were getting married, I decided to learn a little more about our last name, 'Hardcastle', and actually it is a reference to Proverbs 18:10 The Name of the LORD is a Strong Tower, the Righteous run in to it and they are safe. In my head somehow that transitioned really well, but now I've been sitting here staring at the keyboard trying to eloquently tie this all back in, and I am afraid I'm fresh out of eloquence. I do know the Lord is our shelter and has been through the literal and metaphoric storms we've weathered and that we are in His safekeeping.

Thank you all for your love, encouragement and concern. I wish I could hug every single one of you! Someday soon.... xoxo hh

Jason Update 6

2010-10-20T14:17:00.002-05:00

He's ba-ack!!!!

We have Jason back in his room, albeit temporarily at this point...he is going to be taken for another cat scan shortly to verify everything is put back together correctly.

Upon wheeling him back in, he was still pretty unresponsive, when mom (the Peg-stir to some) called out, "You're home!" He opened his eyes and said "I'm home?!?" Then, of course we just explained back in his room-home.

He did well in surgery and has been stablized and cleaned up a little but is in a lot of pain and very very tired. He has a great new team of nurses that seem to be much more thorough and aware of his special needs at this point in the recovery. He said he was having crazy dreams coming out of the anesthesia and was relieved to know he was back in his room and hadn't broken all the rules "going under" or in post-op. He also seems to think there actually was someone in a bed next to him trying to escape! I am a little skeptical if that happened or not, but you know Jason...he loves to tell a good story!

We are letting him rest right now and waiting on the CT, but everyone seems in good spirits about his operation. I'll update again once the doctor visits or we get anymore news. I am gonna take a little breather as well now that I have him back by my side. My guess would be if you are wanting to come visit, that between 4-7 would be good hours tonight.

Thanks for all the prayers, texts, edible bouquets, flowers and food! I haven't had to leave here once to get a thing -- everyone has been taking such good care of us and we so appreciate it.

Love all around, and praise to our almighty God for having his hands over Jason during this time!

Jason update 5

2010-10-20T12:01:00.002-05:00

Dr. Schmidtt just called me and he is complete with the surgery. He will go to recovery for a while before we hear anything else! A weight has been lifted just to know he is closed up. Thank you for your prayers!

Jason Update 4

2010-10-20T11:22:00.002-05:00

Jason is still in surgery. There seems to have been a lot of mis-information. We were under the impression it was a two hour surgery that would begin at 7am. The took him back at 6:25am for prep, but my first update was at 10am, and they said they had just begun, he was doing well, and it was a six hour procedure. Thanks for all the texts and emails. I am pretty worn thin right now so I so appreciate all of the texts, but please forgive me if i haven't responded right away! I will update again when I know anything new.

Jason Update 3

2010-10-20T08:14:00.002-05:00

Jason is in surgery right now. His anethesiologisy resident and afternoon nurse came by and said he is in surgery and they'll be back in our normal room this afternoon. Thank you for your prayers.

Jason Update 2

2010-10-19T23:20:00.004-05:00

Thank you all so much for the love you are showing to Jason and me! We are humbled by the outpouring of messages, calls, and of course visits! Of course I always knew Jason was pretty special, but I told him tonight I tought he might be the most loved guy EVER. We are for sure the rockstars of the "Neuro" floor. :)

Jason is sleeping peacefully next to me and they should start prepping him for surgery in about six hours. I am pretty awake for the first time today thanks to Codi and Omar's chocolate delivery, and Leah and Erin's late night antics and "Everything-Kroger-Sold-we-thought-you-may-like delivery!" I feel so blessed in such a stressful time to say that our hospital room has been filled with much laughter and few tears. Jason's spirit is so strong, and even laying flat back keeping his neck straight in intense pain, he is making all kinds of hysterical comments. I know the surgery will be the hardest part for me (besides the drive up having no clue what i was driving up to) because he wont be right here next to me. If you know us well, you know we are usually pretty laid back and fun people but I am so in awe that even in his dark hour, his personality still shines through and is so endearing. The man I married may be a bad driver, but he's a great friend and it has been so sweet to see the number of friends that have come up to see him. We have his Andre Johnson (the Texans player that won Sunday's game for them to you non-Houstonians...or non-male readers) jersey they had to cut off of him in the ambulance hung on his wall AND his doctor's name is also "Johnson" so all his buddies seem to think that is an excellent 'sign.'

I realize I may be rambling a bit but I just can't even express the gratitude for the way we have been lifted up. I just feel certain Jason will be back to his lively and strong self soon and thank you so much for joining me and our families in prayer tomorrow at 7am over his operation and team. The attending physician is Dr. Schmidt, and I have been praying for him all night that his hands will truly be the instruments for healing from the Lord.

I always think the Lord gives you a scripture or a song to relate things to and calm your spirit, and for the past few hours I have literally been playing "Great is thy Faithfulness" in my head. Jason and I both LOVE old hymns and I just wanted to close with the lyrics that are bringing me such peace. There IS a bright hope for tomorrow, and new mercies there WILL be in the morning. Great is his faithfulness to us!

Love, Hayley

Great is Thy faithfulness, oh God my Father;There is no shadow of turning with Thee;Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!Morning by morning new mercies I see.All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth. Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!Morning by morning new mercies I see.All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Jason Update 1

2010-10-19T15:55:00.006-05:00

Hello, all! Some of you know already, and as I do not have a personal blog and facebook is blocked at the Hospital, I wanted to put up some updates on Jason.

Sunday evening I was at home tidying the house after Jason's friends from Oklahoma had visited, and was waiting on their return from the Texans/Chiefs game when I got a call from Kacey (the wife of one of the said friends) that they had been in an accident. Luckily they had left with them and were traveling only a few cars behind and were able to help and contact me literally as it happenend. Jason was driving on 59N and realized his lane was ending and needed to get over last minute. He saw a small window of opportunity before a bus traveling alongside him, and thought he could merge and then gun-it and be in sync. He slid in and the car did not respond, and the bus tried to stop and miss him but could not and clipped his car and pushed him sideways into the barricade. When he hit it, it sent his car spinning and it flipped two to three times before landing facing oncoming traffic. Miraculously, Grant (front passenger) and Zach (back passenger) both we able to crawl out as soon as they landed. They were all wearing seatbelts, and the driver side of the car definitely took the brunt of the impact. Kacey and Tyler were able to run over as soon as they could pull their car over and Tyler kept Jason talking and still until the first responders could arrive. I left my house and headed north the second Kacey called. I phoned my family and tried Jason's dad as well, who was already in Houston at another hospital with Jason's cousin who was having an emergency appenedctomy. Jason was conscious but obviously injured and very bloody. They had to cut open his door, and then finally also the roof to extract him. Me, the ambulances, and Meghan & Ken who came right over to park my car and handle that so I could run in with paramedics, all miraculously arrived at the same time to Memorial Hermann. Praise GOD that no one else was injured, that Jason's organs and vitals were "Rock Solid" the entire time according to our overnight ER doc, that Kacey was right behind and able to call me instantly, and that he is in such great care here. The parademics on the scene that had to use the 'jaws of life' to even dislodge Jason could not believe Grant and Zach crawled out and were even in that car!

We spent the next thirteen hours in the Trauma Center and are eternally grateful to the staff there, but also our dear friend Sarah, who after working a whole shift as an ER doctor at another hospital, came straight over and was Jason's personal advocate and physician. Grant and Zach were checked out and cleared by 2am and my dad delivered them to their beds for the night. So, after three CT scans, Xrays, lots of tests and stabilizing, here's the run-down. Lots of scrapes and bruises, only a couple needing special care or stitches, a broken nose, a broken wrist, and a broken neck. We;ve discussed backwards and forwards if its better to start with the biggie, or work up to it? I don't know!

Well, as Cara and I decided, he's the "winner of the losers!" Yes, he has a broken neck, but it is a pretty "good break."... as far as a broken neck goes. It broke outwards away from the spinal cord and body, so he does not have any paralysis or brain damage or vessel pinching. Praise God! His only physical limitation right now is his whole left shoulder and arm, which are very beaten up and then casted from his elbow to hand.

Yesterday was a brutal waiting game. A few of our very sweet friends all came by, some bearing 'essentials' bags for me, treats, stuffed animals or even the BEST Pappasitos ever, but we knew very little until we could get the MRI, which took nearly 24 hours to get in to once it had been ordered. We just found out at 3 today that he will have to have surgery to stabilize the vertebra. He broke the C5 if you are one of our Medical-dork friends (you know who you are!)and wanting specifics I may-or-may not be able to provide. They will operate in the morning and will be here a few more days in recovery after that. The surgery is at 7am tomorrow, and will rod and fuse the C5 to the C4 above and the C6 beneath. Please pray for Jason's body to be responsive and for the doctors hands and minds to be steady and clear. Any surgery has its risks, but obviously neck/spine surgery has special concern.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. Jason is in good spirits and is constantly cracking me up with his dry wit. He loves visitors and is at Memorial Hermann Med Center, but tomorrow am will be in the OR. If you would like to come tomorrow, check back and I'll update when he can accept visitors post op.

Love, Hayley

Finally a Fall Chill in the Air....

2010-10-05T18:49:00.003-05:00

..And we are in the Halloween Spirit!

Here are a few of our favorite fun images from Halloweens present and past! Enjoy!

Why not beat the rush and send a Halloween Greeting?

A fun, not frigtening, children's Halloween!

In the pink version, or the classic orange, this design delights!

A classic pullout, punkin' cute!

Sophisticated and clean, it falls perfectly in suit.

Let us know if we can help you with any Halloween Greetings, Parties, or Treat Stickers/Tags!

No Tricks, it would be a treat!

Back to School Specials!

2010-08-27T13:34:00.005-05:00

Haute New Luggage Tags!

"Couture"

It's that time of year again and we've created the perfect addition for your childs' back to school backpack! These cute luggage tags are all uploaded to our *NEWEST* website that is about to be fully up and running. We currently have over 20 different designs to choose from for both boys and girls, and youngsters to young at heart!

These trendy personalized luggage tags are great for diaper bags, suit cases, gym bags, back packs or where ever you feel works best.

On sale now for 1 for $10, 3 for $25, for 10 for $50. Feel free to check out our new site and all our luggage tags at http://www.hhdesignhouse.com/.

Thanks for stopping by!

"Flower Flip Flops"

"Surf the Waves!"

Announcements!

2010-08-15T18:17:00.003-05:00

Hello, everyone...if there is still anyone checking!

Recently, our friend and fabulous blogger-mom-fashionista-friend Meredith posted about her birth announcements that we did for her sweet second son, Slade!

Everything Meredith does is with style and panache, and so we were trilled to get to take all her ideas and put them into one special card.

Check out her blog and her super cool announcements....

Announcing Slade...

http://sweettfamily.blogspot.com/2010/08/announcing-slade.html

August Galveston Monthly

2010-08-13T14:43:00.003-05:00

Hello, Blog World!

A lot has changed at HH Design House since we last posted a few months back! It's been a whirlwind, but we will try and get back into the swing of things!

We have a great article and feature in the August Issue of Galveston Monthly and thought those of you beyond the circulation area might also enjoy reading what we had to share! Enjoy...and we'll be back soon!

Personalization 101

I have heard it blamed on the fact we’re Southern. Perhaps it goes back to having a name that is spelled a bit differently than people always attempt to spell it, and thus never sold prefabricated at the souvenir shops boasting everything from keychains to shotglasses with more consistently-spelled names emblazed across on each one. Or even more, maybe it stemmed from the great affinity I have for the letter “h”. At any rate and however it was arrived upon, the love of things personalized and a deep need to slap a name or monogram on everything has been a long standing fixation, and no time more-so than at present, when personalization is all the rage!

Although I was the rare breed that always loved and anticipated “Back-to-School” each August, I think much of that was driven by having all new school supplies; The perfect excuse to stamp my moniker on new bags, notebooks, and writing instruments. As the personalization craze has heated up over the last few years, nothing is safe! Seeing people personalize their dishes, towels, sheets, flip flops, tumblers, bags, clothing, phones, laptops and cars has become so commonplace, that I rarely even take a second-glance when I see monogrammed and personalized gear for our four-legged friends. Yes indeed, even my dog has a custom drinking bowl with her name, and a bed with her monogram!

In the last five years in the social correspondence industry, I have been asked many questions in regards to personalization and the etiquette involved. There are times a certain monogram style is more appropriate than others and times when a name or surname might be best. Is your head spinning from the name-game? I’ll try and briefly answer a few common questions we field.

1. I want to personalize something… “Name or Monogram?”
The answer is BOTH! If you are going to spend the time and money to get an item personalized, go all the way. It is truly so special to have something with your full name – it’s one-of-a-kind! We do a lot of stationery that has a monogram on the face or top center, and then the name beneath. This format works well for both men and women, and nearly any age. Monograms are a prerequisite on Birth Announcements, a huge trend in Weddings, and a staple in any seasoned writer’s paper trousseau.

2. What is the composition of a three initial (traditional) monogram?
There are two times you would use a three-initial monogram: for an individual or married couple sharing a last name. First off, the individual monogram is anchored in center by the Family surname (or ‘lastname’) flanked by the first-name initial to the left and the middle initial to the right. For example, “Mary Jo Schroeder” would read “M S J” often with the middle initial larger or more detailed. Secondly, for a married couple sharing a last name, it is once again anchored with the surname initial in the center, and the initials of the husband and wife flanking either side. For Wedding Receptions, often the wife’s initial is to the left and the husbands is to the right (think of standing at the altar), while later in life it tends to be the husband’s initial first on the left with the wife on the right. This is a matter of personal preference though, and if the three letters spell something one way, by all means try it the other!

3. I want to use a monogram on my Wedding Invitation. What is proper?
This is one of the most common questions I receive planning Brides’ Wedding Stationery. Most traditionally, the Bride’s family always hosted a Wedding, so it was her family’s crest or her own monogram at the top of the formal invitation. This has waned in popularity as it has been more commonly acceptable to use a single initial, a duogram, or even a three initial monogram for the more progressive bride.

4. Initial…Monogram…Duogram…WHAT?!?
A single initial is the perfect choice when something is symbolic of an entire family (like glassware or a Christmas Card) and using a three initial monogram would only symbolize an individual or married couple. A Traditional Monogram is three initials – the surname in the center and two names on the side. You may only use this style if you are an individual who has a middle name or a married couple sharing a last name. So what on earth to do if you have no middle name, are not yet married, or are married but have different last names??? Enter, the “duogram.” Duo meaning two, this is a monogram comprised of only two initials; for individuals usually the first and last name and for couples with different last names (whether married or engaged) it is generally the two initials of the first names. This was the perfect design solution for both my wedding ensemble, not wanting to use our married monogram before we were, and also my business logo.

5. How do I write out names?
Believe it or not, this is something that I coach on a lot for invitation addressing and also personalization. For married couples, the wife’s name goes first followed by the husband’s full name. With our Southern manners many women often question listing their own name first, but the reasoning is entirely out of respect to a man and his name. Simply, one does not separate the man’s name, and the wife is added to the beginning to honor that. (ie: Hayley and Jason Hardcastle) If that makes you uncomfortable, consider the more formal approach, “Mr. and Mrs. Jason Hardcastle” or the more casual approach, “Jason and Hayley,” sans surname. For a family name, it can be listed as plural, but leave out that apostrophe! That makes it possessive. For instance, on a notepad or Holiday card, “The Hardcastle’s” is incorrect, it should simply be “The Hardcastles.”

6. What are your favorite personalized items?
I am a HUGE sucker for personalized stationery and notepads! Most everything on my desk has either my name or the store’s name on it. I also love the initial charms by Stella & Dot so you can make your own necklace and tell a unique story by the letters, birthstones, and sentiment charms you select. I am also loving our newest offering right now, our custom luggage and bag tags! We have tons of cute patterns and designs and they are so simple to pop on a backpapck, gym tote or lunchbox! Our Styrofoam cups and napkins are always some of our best-sellers as well!

Happy Hump Day: Bringing it Back!

2010-02-17T14:25:00.007-06:00

Hello Blog World!

If we still have any loyal followers checking in...we apologize for our long absence. However, once you hear (read) what we've been up to, I think you'll pardon us.

When we last blogged we were in the midst of preparing for our busiest time of the year...Holiday Card season! Are ready for this??? We did 9,650 Holiday Cards for 2009!! We were very proud of that accomplishment and at knowing we helped spread Christmas cheer and goodwill to many, many people.

So, you're probably now thinking, that's impressive but it's February...well we didn't kick up our heels and rest after the trees and twinkling lights came down. Oh no, we launched full force into preparing for Galveston's Mardi Gras season. For which, we did 2,700 invitations for various Mardi Gras events. WHEW! Yesterday marked the end of the Mardi Gras celebrations, the last parade wound it's way through the historic streets of Galveston Island. Fun as it was, we collectively breathed a sigh of relief. Today is a gorgeous day on the Island...sunny and bright, rewarding us with its beauty for a few months of being crazy-no sleep-BUSY. We'll take regular old busy for awhile. So we gaze out the windows of the store at the beautiful day, reflecting on how best to update (and not bore) you with a "catch up/we're back" blog.

That's right, I said store...did we forget to mention in between all that we opened a STORE? Hayley is now the proud owner of "Happenings by HH Design House". We squeezed in an official opening and Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting mid January. Happenings, Hayley's latest endeavor is located at 523 Tremont, the corner of 23rd and Church Streets. Stop by and check it out!

Scroll down to view pictures from our grand opening! Come on inside.....

Shop Dog, Kashmir, on Guard!!!

H A P P E N I N G S

532 tremont street

downtown galveston island

409.974.4122

www.Hhappenings.com

Happy...Thursday!

2009-11-12T10:44:00.007-06:00

WOW! Our apologies to any loyal hump day readers!!! We have been so busy around here we just flat out forgot about our "Hump Day Post"!

We were delighted to receive an email from a recent Bride with wedding pictures. Rebecca and Ryan were married in Luckenbach, Texas in what looks like such a FUN wedding! Check out their photographers website for more detail and amazing pictures...

http://www.smsphotographyblog.com/

Thanks for sharing the site Rebecca! We really enjoyed working with you and appreciated your patience and sweet spirit!

Scroll down to take a peek at the invitations and other products HH Design House created for the occasion. Including, invitations, koozies, cups, matches, sign in cards, maps, programs, save the dates, menu cards, and thank you notes.

Happy Hump Day: Feels Like Fall...

2009-10-28T11:05:00.018-05:00

Happy Hump Day Friends!

Well, it finally feels like fall...some days, but we'll take what we can get.

We were delighted to discover that HH's friend Meredith had written a blog post about her little boy's birthday party and had pictures of several items we did for the occasion. The invitations, stickers on the treat bags, and thank you notes are all HH Design House creations. The logo we created was also used on the t-shirts she had made. How cute!! Check out the rest of the party details!
http://kevinmeredithandcarson.blogspot.com/2009/10/carsons-2nd-birthday-party.html

Here are some more fall inspired creations! Scroll down to check out how fall lent it's style to couples shower, bridal shower, and wedding invitations. Plus, birthday party, other fun invites, and stationery! WOW!! who knew there were so many ways to capture the season??

Don't forget, you can still get the online 10% discount on your Holiday Cards if you place your order now through October 31st. Visit our website, http://www.hayleyhardcastle.com/ for more details or scroll down and reread the past few blog posts! The PSA stamper order special is also going on through October 31st. You can place your order by emailing info@hhdesignhouse.com.

Happy Hump Day: No Scrooges Here!

2009-10-21T15:59:00.014-05:00

And the spirit of giving just continues...if our online discount on Holiday Cards wasn't enough to send you rushing for you list of addresses, we have another enticing offer to get you in the mood for sending holiday wishes!

We are offering a great discount on our Holiday PSA Essential Stampers! From now until October 31st, you can order them for just $35.00!! Wow, what a deal!!!

Scroll down to check out a few different styles of address stampers and other holiday stamps, such as gift tags. Visit our website, http://www.hayleyhardcastle.com/ for the complete collection. To order, email us at info@hhdesignhouse.com .

Hurry and pick your favorite, October 31st will be here before you know it!

Don't forget, from now until October 31st we are offering 10% off all online orders of Holiday Cards. You can choose from our "hassle free holiday" line or opt for custom design...all online! Simply enter the code "earlyorder" when you place your order.

Happy Hump Day: Someone had a Birthday!

2009-10-14T16:27:00.007-05:00

Happy Hump Day blog readers aaaaand happy birthday to my furry co-worker - Kashmir!

For anyone really perplexed right now, Kashmir is HH's dog, although we don't use that word around here...Kashmir is just one of "the gang". She "helps" us in the Studio and is quite the guard dog...if someone could be loved-to-death. Yesterday was her birthday and I'm not sure any pup has every been celebrated as much (except perhaps my Clara).

So how did Kashmir spend her big day? Aside from the usual...sleeping...wandering over for a little pat or bite of our snack...sleeping...getting a pat....and sleeping, she got a new toy and some bacon! What more could a girl ask for???

Don't forget, now until October 31st receive 10% off all Holiday Card orders!

Happy Hump Day: Tis the Season...almost!

2009-10-07T10:58:00.014-05:00

Happy Hump Day!

In keeping with the theme of last week's post we are still in Christmas mode around here!

If the cards we featured last week, along with the rest shown on the shopping cart page on the website, weren't exactly what you had in mind...don't forget, we also offer a Custom Design option! If a one-of-a-kind creation is what makes you merry just let us know! We love working with new ideas!! Scroll down to see some past custom creations. More custom examples can be viewed on our website under the "Haute Holiday" gallery.

For more information regarding ordering your Custom Designed Holiday Card, go to "Order Holiday Cards Online" on our website (hayleyhardcastle.com) and click "product". The very first sample gives more info on placing a custom order.

Remember, place your order now through October 31st and receive 10% off!!!!

Happy Hump Day: 12 Designs of Christmas

2009-09-29T18:35:00.021-05:00

A few months ago, in the dead of summer, I walked into Hobby Lobby and was astounded to see aisles and aisles of CHRISTMAS decorations! I shook my head, blinked my eyes, and pinched my arm...was I dreaming? Nope, in the middle of July Hobby Lobby had their Christmas products out and it was all 1/2 off...getting a jump start I suppose...

Not to be outdone by Hobby Lobby, I am happy to announce HH Design House is also ready for Holiday Season!!

Are you ready for some Christmas Specials??

I know what you're thinking..."Christmas already??? Fall has barely blown in!" However, it is time to start thinking about what you want appearing in the mailboxes of friends and family come December. HH Design House is ready to start taking your orders for Christmas Cards!!

Get ready, because have we got some santa sized news for you...

We are super excited to reveal the new "shopping cart" feature on our website. Plus, over 20 new designs just in time for the 2009 Holiday Season. You now have the convenience of ordering your Christmas Cards online! What else does this new feature offer? Just keep reading...

* Influenced by our favorite Christmas songs, over 35 Christmas Card designs (20 are BRAND NEW!)

*Many paper & envelope options!

* Opportunity to proof and make changes if needed!

* Easy checkout with paypal!

Don't see one that ignites your holiday spirit? Remember we offer one-of-a-kind custom designs too...you can find information regarding custom orders on the new shopping cart feature as well.

As if that's not enough to make you yearn to haul the Christmas decorations out of the attic and pop on some carols, here's the best news yet...

ORDER NOW THROUGH OCTOBER 31 AND RECEIVE 10% OFF!!!

To take advantage of this offer, click on "Order Holiday Cards Online" on our website. Or go to www.hayleyhardcastle.com/cart. Remember to enter the code "earlyorder" to receive your discount.

So grab a cup of hot chocolate (and perhaps turn on a fan), nibble on a candy cane, and scroll down as we serenade you with "12 Designs of Christmas!!!"

Happy Hump Day: Fall Kick Off

2009-09-23T11:00:00.009-05:00

Happy Hump Day!

As of Tuesday, September 22nd we have officially welcomed Fall! Although it is a little cooler here on the Gulf Coast (and for that we are grateful), we still wouldn't mind a bit more of a brisk breeze!

Aside from being the month that ushers in fall, September also brings us FOOTBALL SEASON! Football season means different things to different people it seems...for HH's husband and my husband it means their weekends for the next several months are booked! While I am not a huge fan of watching any sport on tv (I can pay attention when it's the Aggies, but even that's stretching it) I do not mind at all having the time to catch up on my reading.

I am a big reader, my husband is not. When we first got married I had high hopes for football season. Visions of long days spent engrossed in a book while my usually reading intolerant husband watched game after game after game danced in my head. However, I soon found that he likes me to interact with him during the game! As in, "whoa, check out that play"..."No thanks, I have no idea whats going on or what a play consists of"..."just look"! This is seriously a conversation that plays over and over at our house on game days. So while I don't get uninterrupted reading time, I do get some nice quality time in with whatever I'm currently reading.

Another good thing about football season is the opportunity for game day (or evening) parties!

Scroll down for different football related invitations! We have a little something for every occasion!!

Happy Hump Day: What a Difference a Year Makes

2009-09-16T18:15:00.008-05:00

So sorry to any loyal blog fans who just can't wait to read the hump day post...if you have been faithfully checking in all day, we apologize for the posting delay. :) hahaha!

Actually, being late is kind of the theme of this blog post as it is about the anniversary of last year's Hurricane Ike, which was this past Sunday. However, since we didn't think to blog Sunday, here you go...

We are of course not celebrating Ike, but celebrating and remembering to be thankful for how far we have come in a year. This time last year HH and I were not even able to get back to our neighborhood to see the damages to our homes. This year we sit working in the newly remodeled HH Design House Studio and are both so grateful for the roof over our heads.

Oh the stories we've heard and things we've seen, even personally experienced...but when we stop to look around we see so much beauty and growth. The resilience is amazing...inspiring. Throughout this year we watched businesses in Galveston re-open one by one...we eagerly anticipated patroning our favorite restaurants and shops. Excitedly watched new ones open up...not daunted to be launching a business in a recently hurricane ravaged location. We watched as our neighborhoods came back to life and all the "pieces put back together again".

So today, even if Ike did not affect you personally at all...take a minute to pause and reflect.

Remember to be thankful!!

Happy Hump Day: On the Move...

2009-09-09T10:55:00.014-05:00

Here we are again...goodness that Holiday weekend just FLEW by, didn't it? Hopefully everyone had a fun-filled, safe Labor Day weekend and came back refreshed and ready for a short work week.

We have some "movers and shakers" in our midst!

In an economy where we hear so much negativity about the real estate market, we are pleased as punch for these happy new homeowners! As a former Realtor, I know the hunt for the perfect house can be a long, stressful, and tedious process, so congratulations!! While I personally hate moving, I love the decorating and rearranging part...getting new stuff or seeing how your old is suddenly revitalized by a "new look" in a new home.

HH recently created several "just moved" cards for different clients. Scroll on down to take a peek. One of them is actually an invitation to a going away party, but it still relates to moving and was just too cute not to include!

This is a great, not to mention cute, way to get the word out to friends and family that you have moved. I personally love receiving them because it is also an excellent reminder to update my Christmas Card List!

Enjoy!!

Nothing quite as exciting as your first home!

HH hand drew this gorgeous house from pictures the owners sent. These cards can be used for the announcement, as a momento, or just plain correspondence...and what a great gift!

What an exciting announcment -- a move and a new house...and just in time with a new baby on the way! And check out that PSA essential stamp from HH Design House! We love our stampers!

And for those that are moving, their friends are honoring them with a special farewell. We did the coordinating cards for friends to share a blessing for the leaving couple.

Happy Hump Day: Recipes, Reading, & Relaxation

2009-09-02T15:23:00.008-05:00

Last week I blogged about the beginning of school...this week we're talking about the "three R's" again, but they don't have a thing to do with reading, writing or arithmetic! That's right, we already have a little breather in the form of a favorite holiday...Labor Day!

Labor Day became a national holiday in 1894, although it dates back to 1882 in New York. Always on the first Monday of September, it provides one last "hoorah" for the summer.

This holiday is celebrated many different ways. For some it's out on the lake or lying on the beach...others it's a picnic or barbeque... still others it's floating in a pool or hanging out at the house. In any scenario, Labor Day for most involves good food and an extra day of relaxation.

At last count I (LG) have 11 magazines subscriptions...I know, I know - this seems like quite a topic jump, but bare with me for just a minute. While many months they pile up beside my bed, I love to steal some quiet time with a magazine (or good book for that matter). They never get tossed without reading, although some do wait awhile for their turn. I was roaming the recipes on the site for my Better Homes and Garden magazine when I noticed all their "Labor Day Recipes" and decided to share.

This Labor Day weekend I plan on making a dent in my bedside magazine stack, catching some last rays of summer (with SPF of course!), and enjoying something yummy from the grill.

What are your Labor Day plans? What's your favorite magazine?

This weekend remember to Read something fun, enjoy a good Recipe, and spend some time Relaxing.

Scroll on down to view these tasty sounding recipes from Better Homes and Gardens.
Enjoy!

Reggae Baby Back Ribs
Ingredients
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons finely shredded lime peel
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 pounds pork loin back ribs, cut into 6- to 8-rib portions
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup dark rum
3 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon cooking oil or olive oil
1 small fresh habanero chile pepper, finely chopped*
Mango-Guava BBQ Sauce

Directions
1. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, ginger, salt, lime peel, cumin, and cinnamon. Sprinkle mixture evenly over ribs; rub in with your fingers. Place ribs in a resealable plastic bag; seal bag. Marinate in the refrigerator for 8 to 24 hours.
2. For mop sauce: In a medium bowl, combine broth, rum, lime juice, oil, and habanero pepper. Cover and chill for 8 to 24 hours.
3. For a charcoal grill, arrange medium-hot coals around a drip pan in a grill with a cover. Test for medium heat above pan. Place ribs, bone sides down, on the grill rack over pan. (Or place ribs in a rib rack; place on grill rack). Cover and grill for 1-1/2 to 1 3/4 hours or until ribs are tender, brushing with mop sauce every 15 to 20 minutes. (For a gas grill, preheat grill. Reduce heat to medium. Adjust for indirect cooking. Cover and grill as above, except place ribs in a roasting pan.)
4. While ribs are cooking, prepare Mango-Guava BBQ Sauce. About 15 minutes before ribs are done, brush some of the mango sauce over ribs. Pass the remaining sauce. Makes 4 large servings.

Mango-Guava BBQ Sauce: In a small saucepan, combine 1 1/3 cups chopped mangoes; 2/3 cup packed brown sugar; 2/3 cup chopped onion; 1/3 cup lime juice; 1/4 cup olive oil; 1/4 cup guava paste; 3 tablespoons honey; 2 tablespoons tomato paste; 2 cloves garlic, minced; and 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Cool slightly. Transfer to a food processor or blender. Cover and process or blend until slightly chunky.

Margarita Grilled Corn
Ingredients
8 ears fresh corn in husks
4 tsp. finely shredded lime peel (peel from 2 to 3 limes)
2 tsp. kosher salt or sea salt
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 tsp. chili powder
Small Limes (optional)

Directions
1. Carefully peel back corn husks, but do not remove. Scrub ears with stiff brush to remove silks. Rinse ears. Pull husks back up around corn. Place in large pot; cover with water. Soak 2 to 4 hours; drain well. Peel back husks and pat corn dry with paper towels.
2. For lime salt, in small bowl stir together lime peel and salt. Brush some of the butter on corn. Sprinkle lightly with lime salt and chili powder. Fold husks back around ears. Tie husk tops with strips of corn husk or 100% cotton kitchen string.
3. For charcoal grill, grill corn on rack of uncovered grill directly over medium coals for 25 to 30 minutes or until tender, turning and rearranging occasionally. (For gas grill, preheat grill. Reduce heat to medium. Place corn on grill rack over heat. Cover; grill as above.)
4. To serve, remove ties from corn; peel back husks. Pass remaining butter, lime salt, chili powder, and limes for squeezing.

Creamy Cherry Cobbler with Pound Cake Topper
Ingredients
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
6 cups fresh or frozen unsweetened pitted tart red cherries
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 of an 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 of a 10.75-ounce loaf frozen pound cake, thawed and coarsely crumbled
2 tablespoons butter, melted

Directions
1. In a large saucepan combine granulated sugar and cornstarch; stir in cherries. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Remove from heat and stir in almond extract.
2. In a small bowl beat together cream cheese, brown sugar, and lemon juice with an electric mixer on low to medium speed until smooth.
3. Spoon about half of the fruit mixture into a 2-quart disposable foil pan. Dollop cream cheese mixture over fruit mixture in the foil pan. Spoon remaining fruit mixture over the cream cheese mixture. Cover pan tightly with foil.
4. For a charcoal grill, arrange medium-hot coals around edge of grill. Test for medium heat over center of grill. Place foil pan on rack in the center of grill. Cover; grill for 15 minutes. Uncover pan. Sprinkle top of fruit mixture with cake pieces and drizzle with butter. Keep pan uncovered. Cover grill; grill for 10 minutes more.
(For a gas grill, preheat grill. Reduce heat to medium. Adjust for indirect cooking. Place foil pan on grill rack over burner that is off. Grill as above.)
Cool on wire rack for 30 minutes. Serve warm. Makes 6 servings.

*All recipes are taken from Better Homes & Garden Magazine

P is for Party Feature!

2009-09-01T11:10:00.002-05:00

We over here are big fans of Party-Mama and Blogger Extraordinairre Christi of P is for Party! We have been working with Christi for a few years on the FAB events she hosts, and are excited to mention that today she has a fantastic post from her latest fanciful fete!

Being surrounded by a house of ALL boys, Christi jumped at the opportunity to host a girly event and we settled on a color-scheme of pink and purple, inspired by her too-cute ottomans pictured below!

Christi does not overlook a detail, and we helped her create the invitations, number cards, drink sign, Rice Krispy Flags, Shopping Bag Decals, and Drink Flags!

Thanks, Christi, for allowing us to party with you and for always just being plain fabulous!

Click Photo to visit the Entire Post.
Photos thanks to Ellen Johnson.

Happy Hump Day: Back to School

2009-08-26T12:52:00.022-05:00

Happy Hump Day and happy back to school week for many people!

That's right, summer has flown by and there are many in some form of back to school mode this week...parents of school age kiddos, teachers, other school administration etc. Where did our summer go???

As I mulled over the blog post topic for today, I was reminded of a conversation that took place between my husband and I just this past Sunday.

We had run a quick errand and passed a group of young boys playing basketball in our neighborhood...various bikes and scooters lay in a haphazard pile where their owners eagerly let them drop as they hopped off in anticipation of shooting some hoops. On our way back home a short time later, there were no boys or a single bike in sight. Sheldon (my husband) wondered out loud why they had all gone home when it was still fairly early in the evening. Knowing school started the following Monday for a lot of districts I replied "They probably had to go home to get ready for the first day of school."

Silence.

Sheldon: "I really hated this Sunday night growing up".

LG: "Really?? I loved the first day of school!!!"

That's the truth. I loved, loved, loved the first day of school...more accurately I suppose, preparing for the first day. New Clothes. New Supplies...notebooks, paper, pencils, pens, markers, map pencils, and more! Finding out what your new teacher was like, who was in the same class, who had your same lunch period...these were all things I looked forward to. I still love to wander up and down the aisles when stores put out their back to school merchandise. Which brings me to this question, HH and I LOVED back to school, did you?

In true HH Design House fashion we have much available for this occasion:
Stampers & Labels

Enclosure Cards

Water proof labels for sippy cups

Family stationery for notes to the teacher

Teacher notepads for notes to the parent

Cute napkins to spice up your kiddos lunchbox

Scroll down to enjoy our "back to school supplies"!

Also, with school back in session, don't forget about your child's fall birthday party! HH Design House is here to help with those party invites too!

So, get out your "to-do" list you neglected all summer and send us your projects...consider it your first Homework Assignment of the Year!

Happy Hump Day: It's a Happy Hump Day Birthday!

2009-08-19T12:33:00.021-05:00

Happy Hump Day Friends, and a VERY Happy Birthday to Alyson!

Alyson is one of HH's BFFs and a frequent customer of HH Design House.

As you can see below she leaves quite a paper trail! We started with her wedding invitation and have since done Baby Shower invites, Birth Announcements, Birthday Parties, Christmas Cards, Going Away Party invites, and invitations for various parties Alyson has given! As a former wedding planner, Alyson's parties are FAB...her attention to detail is extraordinary!

Alyson's Wedding Invitation...the FIRST one HH designed in hand calligraphy!

Alyson's Baby Shower Invitations...yellow because they didn't find out with their first! I have total respect for people with that much will power. I'm pretty sure I speak for HH and myself when I say "I will go crazy waiting the few months it takes to find out boy/girl during pregnancy, much less wait nine months!" That's right...no self restraint here...

We have done the birth announcements for both of her precious daughters. They are expecting another little girl soon! We can't wait!!

Every year this party planning diva comes up with such FUN themes for parties! We can't wait to hear what's next!!

We have done her Christmas Cards for the past four years...how cute are these kiddos??!!

Alyson came up with this one two years ago, and after using it in a promotional email last year, it was the big seller in '08! Such a trend-setter, that Alyson!

A party lover herself, Alyson has hosted many parties and we have loved being able to create exciting invitations for the occasions!

So long, farewell...when Alyson and her family moved to Denver we designed the "Going Away Party" invitation with a "Sex in the City" theme in conjunction with the Movie Release.

Happy Birthday Alyson...hope you have a WONDERFUL day! Thanks for letting us celebrate your life with you!

Happy Hump Day: Ready for the Weekend

2009-08-12T12:03:00.031-05:00

Happy, Happy Hump Day!

Is it just me, or has this week felt reeaally long? I have been ready to cross this hump all week long! Maybe we're just ready for the weekend...

"What's that you say, what do we have up our sleeve for the weekend?"

Well, since you asked, HH and I will be participating in The Boutique Bridal Show of Galveston Island at the Hotel Galvez this weekend. Come by and visit...check out the website...http://www.bridalshowgalveston.com/

Perhaps this will seem a little "out of order" since we did just do a baby shower post. However, in honor of the upcoming Bridal Show, we are featuring past wedding invitations, save the dates, programs, party & shower invitations, paper products, and everything else wedding related. So scroll on down and get sample what we'll have to offer if you browse past our booth this weekend!

Need to get out this weekend? Join us at The Boutique Bridal Show of Galveston Island!! Already married? Come by anyway...There will be tons of vendors and so much to see!

Details:

Sunday, August 16th

12-4

Hotel Galvez, Galveston Island

See you then!

Happy Hump Day: Showered With Love

2009-08-05T10:59:00.018-05:00

Happy Hump Day Friends!

HH Design House has recently had the opportunity to jump on the seemingly baby boom bandwagon (between the two of us alone we have 7 pregnant friends!) designing baby shower invitations. Which is so fun for us because we also get to "ooh & awe" over all different kinds of bedding, nursery decor etc. After all, who doesn't love sharing in baby excitement??

Scroll down to check out several of our most recent shower invitations inviting guests to shower these mommies-to-be with LOVE!

Earlier this summer HH went to Dallas Market. She whipped up some new versions of an old favorite for our imprintable line...one for each - boy, girl, and those that wait to be surprised!

Special Delivery! How's that for sharing a bundle of joy!!

Check out these options for a stylish shower invite...in pink and blue of course!

Look what the tide washed in...this little guy will be welcomed into the world in style! This preppy invitation was just the beggining! We also created matching thank you notes and the shower hostesses had a wall plaque and cookies made to match the general theme of the nursery. HH and I attended the shower and can attest, Baby Davis' mommy received lots of love and gifts for her impending arrival at this shower recently held at the Sugar Bean in Evia on Galveston Island.

YUM, YUM - these adorable cookies were made by the amazingly talented Stephanie Conti, to complement the above invitation! Local Readers....Stephanie makes AMAZING Cookies, and Cakes, too! Contact her at sconti6655{at}sbcglobal.net or 409.744.3868!

Oh baby, baby...quite literally actually, as this future mommy is expecting boy/girl TWINS!

Lots of Love to all our Mommies or Mommies-to-be and their precious babies!!! Leave us a comment and let us know which is your favorite, or give us a new idea of a theme or design you'd like to see!

I just can't quit you, Pottery Barn.

2009-08-03T16:13:00.003-05:00

Ever since having our Registry at Pottery Barn in the Spring of 2007, I get their emails all the time! You have to hand it to their e-marketers...they are relentless!

For a while, I thought I already had everything I needed from there and would delete the emails as they came in, but today's caught my eye!

You can now go to Pottery Barn and they will help you plan your party...PB style! I loved browsing for a while, looking at suggested decor, menus, entertainment, etc....though I DO have to say their downloadable invitations are no substitue for HH creations!

Check out the link here and Happy Planning!

Happy Hump Day: "Vacation All I Ever Wanted"

2009-07-28T21:46:00.007-05:00

Today's Happy Hump Day post is going to be a bit brief compared to most of our posts...neither HH or myself are in the Studio! HH is out, belatedly celebrating her anniversary (which I previously blogged about...scroll down to view), and I am helping my husband catch up on projects around the house.

Never fear though, we will both be back and busy, busy, busy on Thursday!

How's that for short and sweet??

Happy Hump Day!!

Happy Hump Day:Sharing the Love!

2009-07-22T10:59:00.012-05:00

If you are a Abbey Hanson Photography Blog Stalker (and we ALL should be!) You might have realized a bunch of posts lately that are featuring HH Design House! We LOVE our loyal fans, and wanted to in-turn, post some of Abbey's work, and introduce you to our Studio! Abbey does far more amazing work than photographing papers, but hey, we LOVE our papers! Scroll down and enjoy a little behind-the-scenes look "from our house to yours!"

Where the Magic happens...our meeting and display area
Samples and Customer Letters! We just can't do all the shapes, colors and textures justice online...come in to see them all!

And oh, how we love Stella & Dot! The jewels are inspiring!
Samples Everywhere....Sensory Overload!!!!

AND, of course!!!! Our favorite thing down here -- Our very own Paper Pup!!! This is our sweet Kashmir. Yes, she's soft like Cashmere, but her Daddy named her after a Led Zeppelin song.

Thanks for stopping in to our house...To stop by in person, just give us a ring at 409.908.0189 or a click at info@hhdesignhouse.com!

Thanks, Abbey for the photo shoot and all the props! xoxo

Don't Tease Me Stella!

2009-07-21T15:55:00.012-05:00

As promised, below are a few "teasers" from the new Stella and Dot Fall Line. Be sure to check out the entire collection on our website, www.hayleyhardcastle.com . From our site select the "jewelry tab" and then click "What's New".

With so many new styles to choose from, you're sure to "fall" in love!!

Happy Hump Day:Oh, Stella!

2009-07-14T15:23:00.021-05:00

Anyone else out there with an anniversary, birthday, or other gift worthy occasion? Perhaps you just want to treat yourself...We have just the suggestion for you!

In keeping with our "Love" theme this week we wanted to share our favorite pieces of Stella & Dot, the jewelry line HH is a stylist for.

We also have a little tidbit to share for something to look forward to..This week is also "Hoopla", the Stella & Dot convention in San Fransisco where the new fall line will be unveiled. We'll be sure to share when the new products are available! We can't wait!!

We LOVE Stella & Dot so much! Looking for that perfect bracelet that completes your ensemble...necklace to make a bold statement...a fabulous pair of earrings combined with your necklace for a matched set, or earrings for everyday wear that will quickly become a favorite...With so many different pieces to choose from, there's a little something for everyone! You can browse through the entire collection on our website, under the jewelry tab!

http://www.hayleyhardcastle.com/

L O V E: Happy Anniversary Hardcastle's!

2009-07-14T14:52:00.016-05:00

L is for the way you look at me...

Something's in the air...and it's not just the heat! It's love!! On this day in history, July 14th , 2007, two people in love tied "the knot".

Happy Anniversary to HH Design House's HH and her sweet hubby!

HH's wedding was featured in the article "18 Stunning Texas Weddings", The Knot Magazine's Texas Fall/Winter 2008 edition. If anyone wants to take a walk down the proverbial memory lane, or in the case the memory aisle...scroll on down.

Lisa & Luke: A Navy and Chartreuse Wedding in Downtown Dallas

2009-07-09T15:31:00.009-05:00

Lisa and Luke recently pledged "till death do us part" and HH Design House was elated to have played a role in their special day.

The vows were exchanged in a morning ceremony at Old Red Courthouse in Downtown Dallas. A merry reception followed at the same site. This venue, which obviously no longer funtions as courthouse, offers a breathtaking location for functions such as the lovely wedding of Lisa & Luke!

The wedding colors of navy and chartreuse were used throughout, from the invitations to the co-ordinating postage stamps, to the table linens and chair covers. These eye catching hues contributed to the fun and modern vibe of the celebration. The damask pattern used on the products by HH Design House was also replicated on the wedding cake, which was a stunning 5 tiered confection.

The gorgeous flower arrangements of cymbidium orchids varied in heights and were draped with crystals. Also adorning the tables were favors every guest could use and enjoy! Playing cards in the navy & chartreuse wedding colors and damask pattern for everyone to take home...go ahead and bet on this couple...They're the real deal!!!

Best Wishes to this special couple...may your marriage be blessed with much happiness!

Items Created by HH Design House:

Save the Dates, Wedding Invitation Ensemble, Postage, Programs, Napkins, Playing Cards, and Thank You Notes

Happy Hump Day: Here's the Scoop!

2009-07-08T10:49:00.011-05:00

"There's nothing wrong with me a little ice cream won't fix" - Author Unknown

Or in this case frozen yogurt...As sort of a follow up to the "sweet" post I wrote last week, I wanted to share a new (or new to me) spot I tried recently. Am I the only one who bemoans the seemingly rapid decline of the T.C.B.Y. chain??? I love T.C.B.Y. and the only one I know of around the Bay Area is one in Friendswood. Every so often I can convince Sheldon to make the trek there in hopes that they may have my favorite, raspberry sorbet. I like it side by side with the white chocolate. To this day we have yet to make it on the week they have the raspberry!

With that in mind imagine my delight when after grocery shopping the other day, we decided to pop in this new place we had been noticing in the shopping center strip.

The Yogurt Bear. http://www.theyogurtbear.com/

In what seems to be a new trend, it is a self-serve, soft-serve set-up. You can select from a number of palette pleasing flavors and top them yourself from a variety of toppings. Whatever you want, your payment is based on the weight. What a treat!

So if you're looking for a way to beat the heat, try out The Yogurt Bear! And if you decide your party plans should include this frozen concoction of deliciousness, consider our signature pull-out invitation design shown up top, "Here's the Scoop!"

I Scream, You Scream, we all Scream for....fabulous Paper Goods!

xoxo Happy Hump-Day!

Happy Hump Day: This Takes the Cake!

2009-07-01T12:04:00.045-05:00

Happy Hump Day all you candy girls and honey bunnies! Have we got something sweet for you to drool over...

It is such a great compliment to us when people like our paper creations so much they decide to have a confectionery creation made to match! Scroll down for a sweet trip to the candy shop and see what we have cooked up for today's Happy Hump Day post.

"Patty Cake, Patty Cake bakers man, bake me a cake as fast as you can..."

These shower invitations for new bouncing babies were turned into sweet treats, perfectly transforming the paper diaper bag and bassinet into sugary replications of our invites.

Ah, Sugar Sugar...These kiddos celebrated their birthday in style! Check out how their party invites were converted into saccharine goodies.

This little cowboy celebrated western style with a cake reflecting his invitation right down to the rope initials and star emblem also used on the water bottles, napkins, and thank you notes! But would you expect anything less from this party-planning mama...the mastermind behind "P is for Party?!?" I'm sure this provided tasty tidbits for the tots attending this barbeque bash!

Creepy crawlies suddenly aren't so scary anymore! I bet Little Miss Muffet would gladly throw down the "curds and whey" and stick around to snack with this sugary spider!

"Sugar and spice and everything nice, that's what little girls are made of!" These little sweeties had a butterfly garden party that was the "Icing on the Cake"...literally.

These next two cakes were both created by Nadine Moon of http://www.whomadethecake.com/ , whose delicious confections we can personally vouch for as she made HH's wedding cake!

"If I knew you were coming I'd have baked a cake"...This 40th birthday party may have been a surprise for the honoree, but the party planners made sure cake was on the menu. The invitation and cake displayed a few of his favorite things.

If your sweet tooth hasn't been sending you an SOS just keep reading! This Texas themed party produced by Swift +Co also had a cake by Nadine Moon, which mirrored our invitation.

It's a Piece of Cake...The petit fours at this wedding shower in Sugar Land, TX gave a new meaning to "Everything's sweeter in Sugar Land"! These dainty little delights were not only scrumptious, but also matched the logo from the invitation perfectly!

"How Sweet it is..."This elegantly decorated cake was a delectable version of the lovely bridal brunch invitation. Doesn't it just look like a recipe for love!

We don't even have to sugar coat it...any way you slice it, with delightful invitations and sugary sweet replicas, you can have your cake and eat it too!

Happy Hump Day: Today Show Goes Coastal!

2009-06-24T17:29:00.003-05:00

What a great day for Galveston! Talk about a happy hump day for these folks!!

Our fellow Galveston County Junior Leaguer, Erin Toberman, started an organization after Hurricane Ike called Help4Galveston. (http://www.help4galveston.org/) Below is an excerpt from their site.

"Help4Galveston is collective group of local, regional, state and national government, agencies, organizations, communities and individuals working together to help Galveston, TX repair, restore and rebuild. This site offers a single, unified destination for local, regional and national individuals and organizations to get information, volunteer, donate and obtain assistance regarding the repairing, restoring and rebuilding of Galveston County homes, communities, businesses, organizations and churches. Please help Galveston County repair, restore and rebuild!"

On the Today Show this morning, Al Roker's "Lend a Hand" program donated over half a million dollars to the Help4Galveston organization to aid in the continuation of their good deeds. If you missed the Today Show this morning, here's a clip!

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/31523928#31523928

Way to go Erin and Help4Galveston!

Sunday Funday: New Life for an Old Bed

2009-06-21T23:19:00.008-05:00

Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there! (Not that I really think there are very many fathers checking out my blog!) I am sure many of you had a wonderfully exciting day with your fathers, but around our parts, fathers were scarce. We celebrated early with my own dear father before they left on vacation, and will celebrate late with Jason's father when we see him in a couple of weeks, but, alas! What do we do on Father's Day itself when everyone else seems to be busy with their own family?

{ring, ring}

{See caller ID from Abbey, also not in proximity of her own father}

{Hey, Abbey!}

{What are you doing today?}

{Um, thinking I might paint our guest bed. It was my husband's father's father's, so it seems paternal enough for today.}

{Have you ever done that before?}

{Nope.}

{Do you have a power sander?}

{Nope.}

{I'll be there in a few.}

So...Meet my old bed.

We inherit many things from our fathers. On top of all the wonderful, fantastic, gushy things, we inherited this bed. It served Jason well through his bachelor pad days and even made it out unscathed after Hurricane Ike claimed all its 1970's Solid Oak Bedroom Set Companions, but has seemed a little sad in our newly completed home.

I went to Home Depot and loaded up on all the things I thought I would need. If there are any DIY'ers out there who might actually use this guide, two things -- you will NOT need the jumbo tub of KILZ, and you will not need the $21.97 pack of 100 Grit sandpaper. I think we used two sheets on the whole headboard & footboard. Also, don't skimp on your brush.

Turns out what I REALLY needed was Abbey's good friend, Mr. Dewalt! He made the sanding process a whole lot easier, and bought me a couple more months I can delay my carpul tunnel surgery.
Our fabulous sanding job....well, it worked well enough! We got all the shine off, and it had a nice chalky texture.

We wiped all the dust down with paper towels wetted by neighbor's sprinkler which was on. It was convenient, and we didn't think he'd mind. He actualy loved it and came out and gave us ten minutes of some pointers! Maybe we'll try some of his advice next time.

Next, we primered the whole thing with Kilz Oil Based Primer. Apparently using an oil-based primer is very important to block the stain from coming through and so the real wood won't drink up all the paint. It's also very important to have some turpentine (or substitute) to clean up with as it wont wash up with soap and water!
Finally we are putting my Rustoleum "Heirloom White" paint on! Using nice neat brushstrokes and avoiding drips are apparently very important to getting the finish you want! We ended up needing two coats, but the sheen was really great -- almost pearly!

After all of our hard work, we loaded up and went to dinner and let our masterpiece dry! Just a little bit ago we carried up our restored & revived bed and tucked it in to its new home!

I really feel like this is how it was made to look!

Getting gussied up...

Ta-da!!!! Our "Brand New" Bed....

So, to all the dads in our life...Thank you for all the gifts you've given us, big & small. May we always be good stewards of them.

Sweet Dreams!

Monkey Business: A Second Birthday in Dallas, Texas

2009-06-20T01:56:00.004-05:00

No monkeying around...Even if this ultra-stylish-party-planning-guru-momma wasn't my best friend, I'd still want to be her! Parties and her children have to be her favorite things in the world, so you can imagine the excitement around their own big days!

The week after her monkey's first birthday, we started talking about the second! Here's what she had to say....

The Monkey idea came from my CRAZY daughter who climbs on everything! A few months before her 2nd birthday she was introduced to the "5 Little Monkey's Jumping on the Bed" song and book. She absolutely loved it and a party theme was born! As I started brainstorming I saw SO many monkey parties. I loved the invitation I designed with Hayley that incorporated my color scheme of pink and brown, with the hanging "girly" monkey, and also polka dots, which are special to us since that was the theme of our daughter's first! Martha Stewart has an entire line of "ready to make" things for a monkey, and at the time Target had everything we needed to tie the theme together. From plates, to the kids cups, a cute pitcher, monkey stickers to put on the walls, we were overwhelmed by all the stuff that was monkey related! And of course there has to be jumping around at a monkey party, so although I think they are used in overabundance, it was very appropriate and the kids' favorite part! Also, I didn't think of this for my own party, but my friend Kristen threw a monkey party for her daughter, too, and gave away bananas and a recipe to go with them! She is an amazing baker and I have to think those favors were coveted by all the monkey mamas!

Thanks for sharing your party with us! We loved getting to be a part of it and hope you are still cranking out the ideas for the kiddos when I am in need someday!

xoxo hh

Shannon and Patrick: A Polynesian Wedding on Cedar Creek Lake

2009-06-18T14:38:00.012-05:00

as always, click any image to enlarge

Shannon and Patrick were recently joined together in marriage during an intimate ceremony at the chapel located on the grounds of a gorgeous Cedar Creek Lake Estate. These college sweethearts are such a FUN couple and we were thrilled to have been a part of their big day!

The occasion was a spectacular display of rustic elegance with a Polynesian flair. Tropical flowers in hues of pink, greens, and soft champagnes accented the affair and the towering white cake was sensational. Guests were treated to incredible views and lively dancing. The couple left in a vintage car to the sights of a brilliant fireworks display!

A Hibiscus flower adorned the Save the Date, Wedding Invitation, Programs, Note cards, and Direction Cards all created by HH Design House. Each item was designed to capture the spirit of their celebration. A favorite piece of ours was their direction cards which were customized entry passes/hangers for car rear view mirrors. These were mailed a week and a half ahead and helped to both generate excitement for the event, and facilitate directions and gate entry.

We were so captivated by Shannon's pictures we immediately had to find out who did them, and were please to make acquaintance with them and beg for the images! Thanks to Neal and Jennifer at Vim Studios in Dallas, Texas for being kind enough to share. Be sure and check their site for more fabulous photos!

To the happy new couple we say "Aloha" from HH Design House...a word that has as many meanings as colors in their perfect sunset, and we send it as our best wishes! May you have a lifetime of happiness.

Items Created by HH Design House:

Save the Date, Invitation, Note cards, Programs, Direction Cards

Happy Hump Day: Make Your Mark!

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Catching up on thank you notes, packing the kiddos off for summer camp, resurrecting an old pen pal or just seeking to spice up your everyday correspondence? Look no further, we at HH Design House have just the solution!

We LOVE personalization...and let's face it, who doesn't get a thrill from seeing their name in print???

This week for "Happy Hump Day" to give you a mid week boost, we are offering a discount on our Stampers by PSA Essentials. Regularly $44, this week only you can order them for $35/each! WOW!!

We offer many styles and variations of the address stamp, name/initial only, and other personalized options such as "From the Desk of" etc.

Scroll down to check out a few options and view all style selections on our website, http://www.hayleyhardcastle.com/ . To place an order email us at info@hhdesignhouse.com.

Remember this awesome opportunity is for this week only!

And the winner is.....

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Thank you for all the comments and entries we received!!!

It was so fun to watch them come in and we are so glad to be getting some readership! We will try and not disappoint!

And the winner of our drawing for the inaugural giveway is....

Congratulation, Red Leopard! Email us back the style you'd like and the names and we'll get them ordered asap so you'll have them by next week!

A little birdie told us that the "Red Leopard" is actually the Fabulous and Fun Abbey Hanson of Abbey Hanson Photography! We are so glad you're reading our blog and we love you bunches!!!

Thanks everyone! We loved kicking off our happy hump-day posts, and remember to catch up with us every Wednesday!

xoxo,

hh + lg