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5 Steps To An Instagram-Worthy Backyard Party

5 Steps To An Instagram-Worthy Backyard Party

Summer is in full swing, which means we're planning cookouts, barbecues and backyard hangouts galore. You know we're all about the aesthetics, so we've compiled the ultimate list of party essentials to really transform your outdoor space. Your guests won't be able to resist the urge to post your event on Instagram. 

Step 1: Fairy lights, obviously.

When the sun sets, you'll need something to really bring your party from day to night. Nothing sets the mood more than some twinkly string lights.




Step 2: An epic drink station.

We all know this usually ends up being the focal point of the party, create something inviting and exciting for your guests (young and old) to indulge in.




Step 3: Grub

It's all about the presentation. You don't need anything fancy, finger foods and barbecue eats are the best backyard treats.





Step 4: Games!

Your guests will only want to mingle amongst themselves for so long, games will keep them entertained for hours.




Step 5: Party decor.

Now for the piece de'reistance, these items will add a personal touch and really make your event special.




Where did we get these ideas? Pinterest of course! You can find them all (and more) on our Cookouts & Barbecues board here. Be sure to follow us, as we're posting inspiration everyday!

8 Ways to Use The My Cinema Lightbox in Your Dorm Room

8 Ways to Use The My Cinema Lightbox in Your Dorm Room

It’s that time of the year again - back-to-school season! Little kids everywhere are loading up their backpacks with fresh school supplies and ripe red apples for their new teachers, while college students are packing up their lives and moving to a different city altogether.

For college students, this means lots of new challenges - meeting new people, taking new classes, and living on their own for the first time - but that also means being able to decorate their dorms however they want! (No parental approval required!)

And what better way to decorate than with a My Cinema Lightbox? It’s 100% customizable to fit whatever mood you’re in (and we can promise you’ll definitely experience a wide range of feelings throughout the school year), or alternatively, can be used as signage for whatever crazy party you’re hosting. Your new college friends are going to be oh-so impressed!

Here are some of our favorite ways that our creative customers have used their My Cinema Lightbox, and hopefully will give you inspiration for using yours to decorate your new dorm room!

1. To proclaim your love for coffee -- because caffeine is necessary fuel to get you through late night cram sessions.

how to decorate dorm room with cinema lightbox

2. To count down the days until the weekend! 

how to decorate dorm room with cinema lightbox

3. To motivate yourself -- because college classes are a lot tougher than high school!

how to decorate dorm room with cinema lightbox

4. To quote your favorite T-Swift lyrics and…

how to decorate dorm room with cinema lightbox

5. To host geeky parties in your room. (Don’t be ashamed!)

how to decorate dorm room with cinema lightbox

6. … And to motivate you to get up the next morning.

how to decorate dorm room with cinema lightbox

7. To celebrate your first love. (Do you know how many couples meet in college?)

how to decorate dorm room with cinema lightbox

8. And to remind yourself to have fun! Don't let the stress of college get you down.

how to decorate dorm room with cinema lightbox


Now you can confidently step out onto your new college campus and leave all those fears of dorm living behind! You'll have the coolest room on your floor and everyone's going to love you. Let your [My Cinema Lightbox] light shine bright while you create words to live by and memories that last will last a lifetime!

9 Ways To Use Your My Cinema Lightbox At Your Wedding

9 Ways To Use Your My Cinema Lightbox At Your Wedding

Ahhhh weddings! A time for confetti, cake and, of course, true love. 

Once you've said YES to the man you're going to marry, the fun has only just begun, because girl, now you've got a wedding to plan! This is your big day and so you're going to want to pull out all the stops to make it one to remember. You need to pick a perfect venue, a menu that will make everyone happy, and you can't forget the dress that makes you feel like a million dollars. You want it all to be beautiful, magical and romantic and--you want it to be unique! (You can't have it falling short to your sister-in-laws nuptials from the year before.) 

Here are 9 fun ways to use your My Cinema Lightbox on or leading up to your big day that will surprise and delight all your guests! 

In Your Invitations

Customize your invitations by inserting a photo of your own, and use your My Cinema Lightbox to create this memorable imagery. We suggest posing your lightbox with a few key items, or a fitting backdrop of your choice and trying messages like YOU'RE INVITED or BE THERE OR BE SQUARE. 

At Your Bridal Shower

This event is all about the ladies and that usually means the prettiest details are not to be missed. So as you're serving up glasses of pink champagne with frozen raspberries and chocolate covered strawberries on a stick to guests with perfectly gift-wrapped bags of tissue paper and lingerie, put up your My Cinema Lightbox with a cute message like HAPPY GIRLS ARE THE PRETTIEST or BRIDE TO BE.

At The Ceremony

There are going to be oodles of photos of you two and your wedding party up at the alter, gazing lovingly into each other's eyes, reciting your vows. Why not position your My Cinema Lightbox in view just in front, behind or to the side with something to mark the moment like: AUGUST 9, 2016 or TILL DEATH DO US PART.

During Your Photo Session

Photographer's love these things because they easily add a little flair to their already spectacular pictures, and you get to personalize it any way you like to add some personality or romance or even humour to your shots. Try something like JUST MARRIED or MR & MRS. Toronto Photographer Roberto Lissia captured this perfect shot using "YOU & ME FOREVER".

how to cinema lightbox wedding idea

Photo: Roberto Lissia, Creative Wedding Options

At The Reception Entrance

We recommend getting the XL Cinema Lightbox for this one, and as your guests walk toward the reception hall, catch their eye and make them feel welcome with a message like:  or TIME TO GET THE PARTY STARTED. 

how to cinema lightbox wedding idea

Photo: The Daydream Diaries

At The Head Table

Much like the alter, this is going to be a hot spot for photos and having a favorite quote or customizable caption of some kind on the whole scene might be kind of unique. You could try YOU & ME, FOREVER PLEASE or ALL BECAUSE TWO PEOPLE FELL IN LOVE. 

At The Cake Table

The Mini Cinema Lightbox may be all you need here, but bring a little attention to the cake table with a cute message like IS IT TIME TO CUT THE CAKE YET? or I LOVE YOU LIKE A FAT KID LOVES CAKE.

In The Restroom

Okay wait--hear us out. You know how at some weddings people have started leaving little amenities baskets in the restrooms with extra bobby pins, stain remover, hairspray, breath freshener, etc. What if you added a little message in there too to up your restroom game like HELP YOURSELF or A FRIEND IN NEED IS A FRIEND INDEED?

At The Bar

Not that most people need help finding this corner of the room, but still, a bar is a bar is a bar... until you add some unique touches! And this is a great place to add humour with messages like IT'S GIN O'CLOCK or SHAKEN NOT STIRRED. 

Now that you've got some ideas, back to planning for you! You still need to decide on your guest favours and pick the flowers. Get to it! 

how to cinema lightbox wedding idea

 

10 Summer Cocktail Recipes For BBQ Season

10 Summer Cocktail Recipes For BBQ Season

'Tis the season to BBQ! The weekends are long, the sun is shining (most of the time anyway), and everyone is itching for a party. So why not throw one? 

Pick a date, mark your calendar and send out the invite to all of your friends and family. Then you've got to decide what's on the menu. Are you going to go with the classic homemade burgers and potato salad or are you going to go a little more outside the box? The choice is ultimately yours! 

And of course, no BBQ is complete without cocktails! Here are a few fabulous options for you to mix up before everyone arrives. (You may need to give yourself some time--some of these have a little prep work involved.) 

Watermelon-Tequila Cocktails

Mix a little Mexican flavor with some fresh summer fruit and you've got a masterpiece.

Rose Sorbet

This one is pretty, pink and wine-related. Who doesn't love that?

Ginger-Peach Soda

Pick up some fresh summer peaches for this one! 

White Sangria

Everyone knows and loves a classic red sangria, but white is more refreshing and doesn't stain your teeth for party photos!

Vodka-Thyme Lemonade

It'll cool your party guests off and the presentation is easy... and sort of fabulous.

Coconut Margaritas

Worlds collide with this one as you stir up island flavor and a little spice from down south. 

Mint & Raspberry Julep

This one's for the whiskey lovers out there.

Michelada

When beer and cocktails meet they call it a "beer-tail"!

Blueberry Cucumber Gimlet

Fresh berries, cucumber, mint and gin... muddled to perfection.

Green Tea and Orange Cooler

Unique and refreshing--and booze free (so great for kid-friendly events)!

Hot tip: Use your My Cinema Lightbox to welcome your guests to the event, or even snap a photo and share it in the invitation, just like our customers have done! 

summer cocktail recipes

summer cocktail recipes

Happy grilling everyone!