Announcing Our Brand New Website and Blog

BIG NEWS!! Ashley Brooke Designs has a new website! You are all going to flip over it. Be sure to hop on over grab a cup of tea, sit back and browse away!
Everything is new right down to our blog! If you subscribe to this blog via RSS feed or google friend connect make sure you subscribe to our NEW blog!
We will be posting there from now on! Here are a few things about our new blog that will make your blog reading experience better:



1. It is just down right pretty!
2. Our new blog header icon on the top right is just too cute for words! And I will be updating it each season, so get excited for that!!
3. The archives and search abilities are incredible! You can search everything!!
4. The blog feeds straight into our shiny new website! (Can you tell that I am so in love with the new site?)
5. Our new online shop is filled with pretty new things!

I don't want to lose a single reader so make sure you adjust your Ashley Brooke settings!!

Looking forward to all of the fun and exciting things to come!

xoxo- Ashley Brooke




Content and Illustrations ©2010 Ashley Brooke Designs. All Rights Reserved.

Ashley Brooke Designs: Memory Trick

If you have trouble remembering people's names or their relationships to others in your circle of friend's or family, try this trick:

Whenever you get an invitation or announcement, add people to your address book.  Whether it's the old-fashioned kind or an electronic one, you can add people's information and make a note as to their connection to others.  For instance, "Goes by Bill, is Grandma's sister's son."




Content and Illustrations ©2010 Ashley Brooke Designs. All Rights Reserved.

Ashley Brooke Designs: Wedding Stationery

I'm so-so excited about this design! This super lovely bride contacted me wanting an illustration of her and her hubby-to-be in their wedding attire along with their precious pup! She sent me an image of herself at one of her dress fittings (by the way she was glowing!!)so that I knew what her dress looked like. She also sent images of her fiance & what he is going to wear as well! I just love, love, love the way the image came out! Wouldn't you just die if you received something SO cute in the mail?!??!

Content and Illustrations ©2010 Ashley Brooke Designs. All Rights Reserved.

Ashley Brooke Designs: Walking The Dog

We've been having some extraordinarily beautiful weather lately.  After a cold winter by Florida standards, everyone is excited to be out and about (I totally stay inside due to the allergies but that's neither here nor there...).

Since everyone is so eager to be out in this nice weather I thought today we'd review a couple of tips for walking your dog outside.

Obviously, everyone knows to clean up after their dog uses the bathroom.  But some other points to remember:  Always have your dog on a leash.  As convenient as retractable leashes may be, consider that with their super thin lines, retractable leashes can appear almost invisible to oncoming joggers and cyclists.  Also keep your leash to 6 feet or under so that your dog can't get too far!

Content and Illustrations ©2010 Ashley Brooke Designs. All Rights Reserved.

Ashley Brooke Designs: National Letter Writing and Card Month

Now that we are well into April, it's high time to acknowledge that it is National Letter Writing and Card Month!  You know how we love a celebration around Ashley Brooke Designs :)

While we are emailing and twittering fiends around here. You can't run a stationery company unless you have a deep, deep love for paper and the art of a handwritten note.  Years from now, your inbox will be empty but letters you've written and received will live on.  That's the great thing about letters and notes. Not only are the infinitely more personal than other forms of communication but you can keep them forever and they serve as a sort of compact history of events.

So I encourage you to put pen to paper this month and send someone a real, honest to goodness letter.  I guarantee they'll love it and cherish it for years to come.  And  if you need some paper, you know who to call...;)






Content and Illustrations ©2010 Ashley Brooke Designs. All Rights Reserved.

Ashley Brooke Designs: Our New Stationery!!

Last week, late one night, I needed to write a thank you note and to my surprise I was out of personal stationery. I know what you are thinking, how can that be Ashley, you design stationery?!? Well, that was my thought exactly! I whipped this little illustration up really quick and I'm just loving it! I already send out LOTS and LOTS of mail, but with this extra cute illustration of my family it is making me want to write even more!





Content and Illustrations ©2010 Ashley Brooke Designs. All Rights Reserved.

Ashley Brooke Designs: Opportunities

Hi there!

Happy Monday!  I hope you all had a wonderful Easter.  The Mr. and I thoroughly enjoyed our first Easter as a married couple and had a great time going to church and having brunch with both of our families.

I thought I'd share a quick story this morning concerning customer service. Business owners big and small are constantly presented with opportunities to take negative experiences and turn them into positive ones.  Sometimes they pass the test with flying colors and other times they fail miserably.  

I experienced one of these failures this weekend.  My sweet mom wanted to put a gift certificate for 3 haircuts in the Mr.'s Easter basket, so she asked me to run by his usual place and pick them up.  I arrived right as the ladies were closing down for the day, but all I wanted was a gift certificate.  I knock on the door and the lady shakes her head at me! I shake my head and keep knocking.

She answers the door to tell me they're closed and that she can't help me.  I explain that I know they are closed/closing and I apologize for being there so late but tell her this is for an Easter basket and I just need the gift card, etc.  She says the register and computer are shut down.  I offer to let her write down my credit card number, essentially saying, "hey! here's some money!" and she is completely uninterested.  She proceeds to shut the door in my face.

Now listen.  I realize that is was late and their equipment is shut down.  But she had a prime opportunity to turn a negative experience into a positive one.  They could have simply taken my information and given me a gift card or even a business card and said, "We can't activate the card today but put this in the basket and come in on Monday and we'll get you a gift card."  Any number of things would have been better than a door in the face.  As a result, I'll be advising the Mr. to get his haircuts elsewhere...






Content and Illustrations ©2010 Ashley Brooke Designs. All Rights Reserved.

Ashley Brooke Designs: Stress-Free Gifting

HI there!

Happy Thursday!  I am so excited to visit my cousin's new baby today--sweet, sweet Anna!  Then I get to have dinner with Miss Monogram and LAS--should be a fun-filled day!

Today I thought I'd share a favorite blurb from Emily Post's Etiquette with tips for stress-free gift giving.

-Ask recipients for hints or a wish-list.  Be on the lookout for items throughout the year.

-Trust your own judgment.   Don't be afraid that the gift isn't perfect, if you think they'll like it, they probably will.

-Stay on budget.  If you spend outside your budget, the fun of gifting will be overshadowed by the stress of extending your budget.

-Have nice, thoughtful gifts stashed away in a gift closet for when the gifting occasion presents itself.

Content and Illustrations ©2010 Ashley Brooke Designs. All Rights Reserved.

Ashley Brooke Designs: Dancing Queen

So sorry, our etiquette post was absent yesterday, blogger was being a pill and we never got back to it.  But today I thought we'd talk about dancing, since I spent a good bit of the weekend dancing at all the various wedding activities.

Here are some points of etiquette on the dance floor:

Don't come to the party or dance floor wearing too much cologne.

If the dance floor is packed, keep your steps and your arms contained

If you bump into somebody, apologize and say "So sorry"

Don't correct your dance partner

Content and Illustrations ©2010 Ashley Brooke Designs. All Rights Reserved.

Ashley Brooke Designs: Drive-Thru Windows

Good Morning!  It is POURING this morning, hopefully it will clear out later today or we'll start floating away :)

This past weekend one of my very best friends got married and she and her groom looked amazing and the evening was just perfect.  Maybe I'll share a few photos later this week ;)

On rainy, yucky days like today I'm super thankful for drive-thrus.  Sometimes I wish every place had one so I could zip up in my car and not have to get out and go inside.  But even at a drive-thru window, there are things to keep in mind regarding etiquette.

Remember to be patient.  Although this is a convenience, service is not instantaneous. Don't crowd a car in front of you or honk.  Always speak clearly into the intercom if there is one.  Have items like prescription slips or money, deposits, etc. ready to go.  And lastly, if you take something away from the drive-thru, check your receipt, bag, etc, before you pull away.

Just like everyone else, drive-thru attendants appreciate a please, thank you and a smile too!

Happy Monday!!




Content and Illustrations ©2010 Ashley Brooke Designs. All Rights Reserved.

Ashley Brooke Designs: A Situation

Everyone is put on the spot at some point or another.  Here is what Ms. Emily Post herself says about invitations over the phone:

If you are extending an invitation by phone be direct.  Something like "Hi Suzie, we are having a few people over Friday night for a game night, can you and Steve make it?"  

Suzie can either accept or say "I'm sorry, sounds fun, but we already have plans Friday night."  

"I'll let you know," by itself is not an appropriate response.  This makes it sound like you are waiting for a better invitation to come along.  The only time it's acceptable is if it is followed up with an explanation like, "I'll let you know after I check with Steve to be sure he is free Friday night," or "We have tickets for a play Friday night, I'll let you know if I can exchange them for another night."

Content and Illustrations ©2010 Ashley Brooke Designs. All Rights Reserved.

Ashley Brooke Designs: Cell Phone Etiquette

Goodness knows I would be LOST without my trusty iPhone but there are certain cell phone courtesies everyone should be aware of and definitely some "Never-ever, can't ever happen" things too!  Here are four Don't s, no matter what.

Leaving your ringer on in quiet places: Whether you're at the movies, church or a performance venue like a concert hall or theater, nothing is more disruptive than having your cell phone ringing loudly for everyone to hear.  Don't be that person.  Vibrate is far less disturbing if you need to be aware of in coming calls, your fellow patrons will thank you!

Ignoring Present Company:  If you are with friends and family, nothing says "I'd rather be somewhere else," than endlessly checking your cell phone and/or having conversations on it.

Making Repeated Calls in Public Places:  If you're in an airport, on the subway or in a bank making call after call can easily annoy everyone around you.  If you are making calls simply to pass the time, think about bringing a book or magazine to read.

Using Offensive Language: This one is a no-brainer.  Foul language in public is absolutely NEVER OK.




Content and Illustrations ©2010 Ashley Brooke Designs. All Rights Reserved.

Ashley Brooke Designs: Voicemail Messages

Here are some things to remember when leaving a message for someone or when someone leaves you a message:

Leaving voice mail:

Always state your name and number first thing.  This will alleviate your name and number from getting cut off when you've exceeded the allotted time for the message.  Keep your message brief.  People don't like long messages and you should save the majority of your conversation for when you do get in touch with the person you're trying to reach.  Particularly if you are leaving a message of complaint.  Keeping it brief will prevent you from feeling like you can say whatever you feel, instead of constructively offering criticism and looking for a solution.

Returning calls:

A good rule of thumb for returning messages is to do it within 24 hours, unless you are out of town or there are other extenuating circumstances.  If you are forced to leave a message, tell the person when exactly you'll be available to chat.  Hopefully this will help you to avoid playing phone tag.

Content and Illustrations ©2010 Ashley Brooke Designs. All Rights Reserved.

Ashley Brooke Designs: Respecting Other's Time

When I sit down to write these etiquette posts, I often consult my giant Etiquette volume which I love!  Sometimes I am spurred on by client or reader questions and other times, there is divine inspiration or downright annoyance in my own life or that of a friend, that prompts a topic.  Today may just be a combination of the latter two.  Etiquette is really the act of responding to specific situations in gracious ways and many times it is much more subtle than figuring out which side of the plate the shrimp fork goes on or how to address an invitation to a recently divorced woman (although both can be important and should be understood).  

Respect is the cornerstone of etiquette and nothing is less gracious than having no respect for someone's time.  We see this happen all the time and even I don't always take offense or notice it right away.  But anytime we are late, reschedule at the last minute or make someone wait unnecessarily for information, we are saying "We don't think your time is as important as ours," or " I don't respect your schedule or what you have going on." Money and time are in high demand and short supply.  For most people, time is money and it is precious.  So next time someone disrespects your time or you wait until the last minute and it affects someone else, think about how valuable time is to them and to you and make a point to be gracious and respectful. 


Content and Illustrations ©2010 Ashley Brooke Designs. All Rights Reserved.

Ashley Brooke Designs: Road Rage

Let's face it.  We've all had times on the road where our own road rage rears its ugly head.  Sometimes other drivers can be so incredibly frustrating and they can really push your buttons.  As irritated as you can get, some people can take road rage to a criminal level.  Here are some things you should never do in order to avoid getting into a dangerous situation.

• Never tailgate another driver, particularly if either party is driving fast
• Don't make eye contact with an aggressive driver
• Never make obscene gestures
• Don't lay on the horn without letting up
• Do not block the passing lane

Content and Illustrations ©2010 Ashley Brooke Designs. All Rights Reserved.

Ashley Brooke Designs: Hostess Gifts

Houseguests should think about giving a hostess gift when staying overnight.  Here are some great ideas (besides Ashley Brooke Designs, of course!) for hostess gifts.

-A best-selling book

-Hand towels for the bathroom

-Cocktail napkins

-Wine or liqueur

-Candles

-A houseplant in a permanent, simple pot

What do you take as a hostess gift??

Content and Illustrations ©2010 Ashley Brooke Designs. All Rights Reserved.

Ashley Brooke Designs: How a Thank You Note Can Build a Brand

Good Morning!!  I have to admit, although they're crazy, I kind of like Mondays.  It's my catch-up/get organized day most of the time.  Returning emails, working on invoices, and always a little designing!

I wanted to share a story with you that really reinforces for me just how important a hand written thank you note can be.  Not only personally but professionally.  

I recently sent my friend EHK to get the new OPI gel manicure as a thank you to her.  She had a great time and her nails look FANTASTIC!  Seriously, I need to get one of these, like today.  But anyway, about two days later she got something in the mail:  A hand-written, thank you note from the nail technician!  Karen (the nail tech) thanked EHK for letting her take care of hands and assured her that she would always be there to answer any questions, etc.  It was a super nice note and an important professional gesture as well.

See even if EHK was unsure about whether or not she would go back to Karen, you can bet your bottom dollar that such a thoughtful, sweet note sealed the deal!  I'm sure Karen thanked her when she left the salon, but by going to extra mile, she made EHK feel special and truly appreciated as a client.  And that is what thank you notes are all about: conveying just how much you care and appreciate the recipient.  A lesson we should all take to heart.

Content and Illustrations ©2010 Ashley Brooke Designs. All Rights Reserved.

Ashley Brooke Designs:Nosy Questions

Inevitably, you will enter into conversation with someone who is nosy and has no qualms about asking the most inappropriate questions.  Before I was engaged/married I was constantly asked "When are you getting married?" or "Why aren't you engaged yet?"  It was such an odd question!  So here are some responses per Miss Emily Post herself, that can stop nosy conversationalists in their tracks.

When are you going to have children?

-"Who Knows?"

-"That's a pretty big decision, I'd rather not talk about right now"

How old are you?

-"34 and holding"

-"Old enough to know better"

Have you been sick?

-"Actually I feel great"

-"Why do you ask, do I look tired?"

How much did you pay for that?

-"Only what it's worth"

-"Wouldn't you like to know!"

Here are a few stock answers that will work for a variety of nosy questions:

" Why do you ask", "What does that have to do with anything?", "Sorry, I just prefer not to discuss such things"

Content and Illustrations ©2010 Ashley Brooke Designs. All Rights Reserved.

Ashley Brooke Designs: Saying No in Conversation

Saying no.  I think everyone can relate to the challenges of turning down an offer, invitation or opportunity.  But it's never as easy as it seems is it?  Sometimes saying no take real fortitude and I know for me, it's something I continue to have to work on.

Part of etiquette and manners is honesty, so if you really want to say no, no is the answer you should give.  But there are some ways to use the word no, in a positive way.

Try accompanying it with a positive comment, like, "No, but thanks for asking me" or "No, but I appreciate you thinking of me."  Don't hem and haw, saying things like, "Well I really shouldn't," when you mean no, because this leaves the door open to further discussion.  If there is an opportunity that you aren't wanting to do now, but may be open to later, make that known.  But don't throw out a "But do call me next year," if you aren't really up for it.

{sourced Emily Post's Etiquette}
Content and Illustrations ©2010 Ashley Brooke Designs. All Rights Reserved.

Ashley Brooke Designs: What a Good Conversationalist Knows

A good conversationalist knows many things.  Including...

Know when to stop talking: People who talk too much can also be the ones who speak without thinking.  And we all know that this can lead to embarrassing moments.

Keep up with world events: Reading a newspaper or magazine will help you come up with subject matter to discuss with others and you'll be able to relate to other people's discussions.

Avoid Repetitions: Stories told multiple times can be boring.  If you aren't sure about whether or not you've told the story before, ask "Did I tell you about Lucy's latest escapade?"

Don't Whisper: Whispering or talking low to one person, can denote something being kept in secret.

{sourced from Emily Post}
Content and Illustrations ©2010 Ashley Brooke Designs. All Rights Reserved.