Punchbowl Blog

This post was written by Stephanie Fader, Sr. Marketing Manager

With Labor Day less than two weeks away, it’s time to get down to business and make a plan for the long weekend. We know what this holiday means for families — the end of summer, kids are back in school, and typically it’s the start of a busy fall season. But what is the origin of this holiday?

Labor Day was first celebrated on September 5, 1882 with a parade of 10,000 workers. The event was organized by Peter J. McGuire, a secretary for the Carpenters and Joiners Union. Over the next decade celebrations for Labor Day expanded to over half the states in the U.S. Then in 1894 Congress passed a bill that officially declared the first Monday in September to be Labor Day.

Here are some interesting Labor Day facts from the U.S. Census:

• 153.2 million people ages 16 or older make up the U.S. workforce as of July 2011
• The average commute is 25.1 minutes
• 3.2 million commuters travel 90 or more minutes to work each day
• 16.5 million commuters leave for work between midnight and 6am
• 5.9 million people work from home

If you are lucky enough to have Labor Day off, celebrate with family and friends. Have a picnic, head to the movies, organize a weekend getaway, or host a Labor Day cookout. Want more ideas for how to celebrate Labor Day? Explore additional Labor Day ideas now!

This post was written by Stephanie Fader, Sr. Marketing Manager

It’s mid-August, which can only mean one thing for parents across the nation — it’s time for the kids to head back to school! Depending on where you live, the first day of school may be a few weeks away or a few days away.

No matter what, one thing’s for sure — it’s time to gear up to go back to school. Literally. If you haven’t already done so, now is a great time to shop for back to school supplies. Whether this means stocking up on pencils for your child’s first day of kindergarten or pillows for your college student’s new dorm room, be sure to get your pick of supplies while they last.

Did you know that Americans spent $7.4 million at family clothing stores in August 2010 gearing up for back to school? It’s true! Here are a few other interesting back to school facts from the U.S. Census:

• 55.5 million students are projected to be enrolled in pre-K through Grade 12 this fall
• 19.7 million students are enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities for the coming term
• 11% of elementary and high school students in the U.S. will attend private school this year
• 89% of parents with students in grades K-12 attended a PTO/PTA meeting in 2006-2007

We know that back to school time brings excitement, but it can also bring anxiety. We have a few ways to help you beat the back to school blues this season.

• Get the kids excited to go back to school. Whether you plan a back to school party or work on a back to school craft project, check out these ideas for how to get the kids eager to head into the classroom.
• Keep yourself organized this school year. Stay organized right from the start. Our Reminders service will help you keep track of important dates like school holidays and kids’ birthdays.
• Find fun Reasons to Celebrate every day. Whether you’re a parent or a teacher, give the kids something fun to look forward to every day, like National Turtle Day or National Sandwich Day. Check out upcoming Reasons to Celebrate.

This post was written by Stephanie Fader, Sr. Marketing Manager

Maria from Greenbelt, Maryland, recently planned a pool party to celebrate her twin sons’ 8th birthday. She was aware of Punchbowl because she had received invitations from a friend and from a neighbor who had both used the site earlier in the year. However, she didn’t have a reason to try Punchbowl herself until her sons’ birthday party.

Maria is a self-proclaimed “paper crafter and invitation snob” so when she found herself short on time she was pleased to be able to quickly and easily create a beautiful, personalized invitation on Punchbowl. Once Maria began to design the boys’ birthday party invitation, she says, “I fell in love with the clean look of the invitations, the design options and of course the cool opening envelope!”

Additionally, Maria loved the message board functionality and special additions to the invitation such as the map and directions.

Maria’s guests also liked Punchbowl. She received feedback from guests that they “loved the creativity and the ease with which they could respond.” Several even remarked that they plan to use the site for their own events!

Maria says, “I think my mom put it best when she said the invitation was so me! It helped to put my mind at ease for not sending my usual handcrafted embellished invitations by snail mail!”

Thanks Maria! Glad we could help put your mind at ease so you could focus on the boys’ party!

Do you have a story to share about your Punchbowl experience? We’d love to hear it — maybe you’ll get featured in our Customer Spotlight! Simply email us or get in touch via our Facebook or Twitter pages.