Find Space for a Fresh Take

Each season is a new opportunity to spark the imagination and defend against the doldrums. 

Most of us love being energized by new ideas and experiences not yet discovered by the masses. Uncovering hidden gems is exciting, especially if it’s you doing the unveiling. 

When you’re passionate about the art, entertainment, and joy of your skills, you learn to envision new scenes and settings for people to enjoy them. The ability to photograph your work in distinct and delightful surroundings reveals a host of ideas for those looking for a fresh take.

The challenge is where to find charming nooks and spaces —with minimal travel and expense.

Your answer may be just around the corner — friends and family who are avid supporters of your creative talents and whose homes offer an easy alternative. 

Those who champion your skills often enjoy sharing their gardens and green spaces to help you create unique photos.  For example, we’ve found properties with wildflower gardens, benches, old wood chairs, window seats, wrought iron, and stone paths that add great character to photographs. 

A note of caution: If this is your first time going off-site to take photographs yourself, it can be a tricky experience. Be patient; this effort takes multiple tries to get it right. 

Having your photo shoot at someone’s beautiful home is an inviting opportunity. In your mind, you see the finished pictures—your creative products in the midst of gorgeous greens, florals, or sweeping scenery. Once you clear those dreamy thoughts, you realize the planning and preparation required to make it happen. 

We’ve had artisan chocolate cookies melt in the hot sun, and apples turn brown while racing to locate items. If you’re a perfectionist, rearranging a shot for the millionth time is problematic. That fizz in the drink only lasts a few seconds. These can be frustrating, character-building hours when you’re unsure of what to do and how to prepare. 

• Preplanning ensures that everything is selected and packed in advance, leaving no room for last-minute surprises. There’s no going back tomorrow to take more photos if something is forgotten. And, it’s a bummer when you leave one of a pair behind (been there!). 

• Show respect and consideration for their space. 

• Don’t expect your generous host to think of scenes like you do. Their lives don’t revolve around clear, unobstructed photos with beautiful backgrounds on the patio. Sometimes, you’ll need to prepare an area for the scene you have in mind. 

• Take every accessory you need. If you want food items or accent pieces, natural greens, florals, or tape to hold things in place, that’s your job. Need side bowls, napkins, or silverware? Bring it along. 

• Find an assistant for the day. Another set of hands allows you time to focus. Timing is harder if you’re taking photos and retrieving the products, too. 

• If you’re going to take pictures alone, keep it simple. Plan on it taking longer than you expect, don’t pack the truck full and trim your shot list. 

• Take your most important photos first.

It sounds exciting to shoot all day, but you may run out of steam —the prep, ideas, arranging, shooting, and clean-up take valuable space and energy in your brain. And the weather matters. Mother Nature isn’t always on board with your plans. 

Pack your sense of humor. 

Lastly, create surprise postcards for your gracious host. 

• Look at your photos and see if a handful would make fun postcards. We realized that some of our photos make festive invitations, like a cozy chair looking out over a beautiful view or scenes of an inviting backyard pool. 

• Wrap the postcards in ribbon and add a playful note of inspiration (Ex. “Sip and splash with us”) – be sure to include the stamps. 

Colorful postcards show your appreciation of their home - and just maybe secure you an invitation to come again. 

Tunes for Your Travels

Growing up, we’d reach for the radio to spice up the vibe at home or pull albums and stack them in the order we planned to listen. Today, music is a click away; it’s still a daily ritual, but with better access. We love good tunes for traveling, even if the “journey” is down the steps. Here, we’re sharing 10 of our favorite seasonal songs to add a jingle to your journey.

In this festive music collection, you’ll find songs of all kinds; for the “Swifties” to symphony lovers, there’s something for everyone. You’ll find music to get your body moving and tunes to help calm the chaos. We think there’s a least one new version for everyone, maybe a long-forgotten favorite or one you’ve never heard.

You can search these titles, as shown in italics, to find them on your favorite music platform. You’ll find the artist first, followed by the music title. We’ve also included a related (YouTube) video link.

1. Boston Pops - Boston Pops Christmas Playlist (from Kathleen Hermann)

   Video of a fun live symphony performance of Sleigh Ride.

2. Run-D.M.C - Christmas in Hollis (Grinch)

   Video to the soundtrack.

3. Taylor Swift - Christmas Tree Farm

   Video with scenes from her childhood holiday home.

4. Magnolia Jazz Band - Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

   Video to the soundtrack.

5. John Berry - O Holy Night

   Video of the artist singing.

6. Pentatonix - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

   Video of the group performing.

7. Peanuts - Charlie Brown Piano (Instrumental Music Factory)

   Video to the soundtrack.

8. Kenny Chesney with Randy Owens - Christmas in Dixie

   Video to the soundtrack.

9. Sam Smith - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

   Video of the artist performing.

10. Florida Georgia Line - Lit this Year

    Video of the duo’s CMA Country Christmas performance (Facebook); if you can’t view this, try this video to the soundtrack.

We hope these make your journey merry and bright. After you’ve picked your favorites, please give us a jingle; we’d love to know your selections. Email us at greetings@redandrugged.net. (Or DM us on social.)

Notes from a Napkin: Peaks Island & Portland

The crew member opened the gate, and our morning ferry crowd began to shuffle across the dock, past the indoor seating, and up the steps to the top deck where we could take in the view. The buzz amongst the locals was the heat wave with temps climbing into the 90s, documenting the hottest day on record in Maine, or so they said. Looking at the view from the upper deck, the Portland dock scene was spread out before us with its bright red tug boats, ocean vessels, and sailboats navigating the channel between the city, the islands, and the Atlantic ocean. The call of the seagulls, blustery ocean winds, and busy boat traffic were all part of the 18-minute ride to Peaks Island. If your travel plans take you to the coast of Maine, here are some of our highlights from Peaks Island and Portland to consider for your adventure.

Before the ferry departure, just across the street from the terminal, we ordered freshly baked chocolate croissants and blueberry oatmeal scones at The Standard Baking Company. Much to our surprise, we came upon a long line there Saturday morning (yes, we went every day), waiting for 45 minutes to reach the counter. We adjusted our arrival time for the next two days and stood for 15-minutes before ordering. Well worth the wait! Standard Baking on Fore Street is a must-visit for anyone who appreciates fresh bread and delicious baked goods.

Most of our weekend was spent with friends and family on Peaks Island, which is mainly residential. Beautiful homes of all sizes are perched on the waterfront. The annual Peaks Island Road Race kicked off the first day. Each participant in the kids’ run wore the #1 pinned to their shorts and tops as they sprinted around the block, panting, cheering, and yelling at siblings. The more serious 5-mile runners came next. We offered a brief respite from the heat by spraying water across the road at the three-mile marker. The rest of us who didn’t run cheered the racers with another discovery in hand, Rally and Patina beer from the local Austin Street Brewery.

Golf carts are the mode of transportation on Peaks as you wind around the weathered island roads to the Back Bay. Without the mainland and other islands to block the wind, this area feels the full force of the ocean crashing onto the rocks and the wind blowing in from the Atlantic. The raw beauty of mother nature is on display.

Those who venture here from bigger cities are used to scheduling around train times; however, on Peaks Island, residents follow the low and high tides (and the shark sightings). As beach-goers, we set our folding chairs on the rocky sands at low tide, where a few brave souls ventured into the 62-degree water. (I waded up to my ankles and decided that was far enough.) We witnessed a stunning sunset later that evening from the same beach. The sand and rocks we traversed earlier had disappeared under the ocean waves.

On Sundays in the summer, the live jam of reggae music can be heard from the Jones Landing bar and restaurant. It’s a convenient venue immediately off the Peaks Island ferry, with an amazing waterfront lawn. Be sure to put this casual party on your calendar.

After all the food and fun, you may want to hit the Joseph E. Gray Jr. trail just beyond the bustle of Commercial Street in Portland. (The Ocean Gateway visitors building is right before the trail; a good stop for clean, public restrooms.) The paved Gray trail hugs the coastline for miles offering a beautiful view of the water. It’s a place walkers, cyclists, skateboarders, and runners (and dogs) enjoy. Looking out across the ocean one can’t help but dream of the next excursion by the sea.

Photos top row: Sunset from Peaks Island look across at Portland, Ferry arrival at Peaks, festive golf cart, Peaks Island beach. Bottom row: Peaks Island road racers enjoying a cool water spray, Standard Baking, a marina view from the Joseph E. Gray Jr. trail.

Hats Off to Traveling with Ease

When you’re on the go, it’s nice to have a few travel hacks and accessories that are functional and look good while you’re at it. You’ll appreciate this accessory if you’re not a fan of carrying your hats or digging for gloves. It’s an easy addition that’s portable, offers mix and match options, and is hearty enough to trust with your favorite wearables.

This two-piece magnetic leather clip can safely secure your hats or gloves onto your bag for a trip to the ball game, beach, or out for a walk. It makes one less thing to carry, and you can easily access your items. We use it to clip on a sun hat, ballcap, or leather gloves so they’re available without rummaging through bags (or putting them into pockets where one invariably falls out.). The detachable ring clips to backpacks, beach bags, your market tote, or an oversized purse. With different colored metal clips that slide into the leather magnet, you can dress up this accessory by selecting the gold or silver clip for a night out or keep the look subtle with all black. The magnet is available in various shapes, materials, and colors (although it seems the white option is always sold out when we look). Because of its smooth interior, the clip is gentle on delicate materials.

We made a quick video to share how the clip works. Enjoy this simple accessory by Lindsay Albanese to keep your hands free from carrying and available for tasting, sipping, or cheering on your favorite team. If you pick up this “toptote,” let us know what you think, or if you have your own favorite travel accessory, please share at greetings@redandrugged.net. (Note: this is not sponsored content.)

Pop-Up Pizza Oven Party

Updated February 9, 2023

Pop-up pizza parties and ice-cold refreshments are two ways we make the most of the outdoor cooking season. We welcome any opportunity to fire up our portable wood pellet pizza oven. If you’re looking for an excuse to kick off your deck or patio party season, this may be the one.

Two questions to get started, are you adventurous in your culinary skills, and are you a pizza lover? If so, this behind-the-scenes look into cooking pizza in a portable oven is for you. As a result of our periodic Instagram videos (@red.rugged) of Rugged making his pizzas, we get a lot of questions about his homemade pizzas and the Ooni oven. We thought we’d have some fun today answering those questions and share how to fire up the oven and create a delicious experience. Try pepperoni, margarita, or our favorite, homemade pesto sauce topped with thinly sliced Yukon Gold potatoes and fontina cheese finished with a sprinkle of cracked pepper; it’s a tough choice but tasty to sample and select the winner.

You may be curious about this process if you’re already cooking pizzas in the kitchen oven or perhaps on the grill. Rugged graduated to cooking our pizzas in the Ooni portable wood pellet oven, thanks to a friend and fellow pizza maker (Hat tip to Jeff Markham). Here are our tips and tricks to get your mouth watering.

A Heads Up: Clear off some space on your deck or patio to make room for all your new friends. Your pizza-loving buddies will be excited to taste this piping-hot pie.

In preparation:
The process we describe below starts once you’ve made your pizza. Rugged makes his own dough, and each dough ball is ready to roll between pies.

The cooking happens fast, so make sure you have your serving area set up before you begin.

The pizza size matters as your kitchen oven or outside grill is much larger than this oven. The Ooni oven we have (seen here in photos) is for a 12” pizza. (They also have a 16”.) Tip: Because the 12” is small, if you plan to serve a bunch of people, you’ll be making a lot of pizzas. Even when it’s just the two of us, we never make just one pizza :)

You might need a smaller pizza peel because the opening of the pizza oven is not as wide as your kitchen stove or the grill. (The “peel” is the piece with the handle that slides the pizza inside.). We use a 12” peel. Tip: Sprinkle flour onto the wood peel to make the pizza slide on and off easily (this is true for anywhere you use the peel - kitchen oven or grill too).

Once the pizza’s ready, here’s what you need to know for a perfect wood pellet oven pie.

• Speed and agility are essential. This process is not for the slow and cautious chefs.

• Fire up the portable oven to about 900 degrees. It happens quickly (approximately 15 minutes) using a little basket of wood pellets that slides into the back of the oven.

• Use an infrared thermometer to confirm the temperature has reached a red hot 900 degrees. Make sure the thermometer points at the back of the pizza stone inside the oven. (Tip: Be sure you get a thermometer rated for 1000 degrees.) Be patient, don’t start before it hits 900 degrees.

• Stay alert around the back of the oven. When you pop open the front to slide the pizza inside, flames can appear out the back if there’s any breeze. Quite the surprise if you’re not expecting it.

• Once the pizza goes inside the oven, the timer starts. Get ready to pull the pizza out and rotate it a quarter turn every 12-15 seconds. (The back of the oven gets hotter than the front, so these quick turns are essential.) Pull the pizza out, turn it, and pop it back in three more times to ensure the pizza is cooked evenly. If you hear sizzling, it’s probably too late, and it’s burnt.

• Be sure to keep checking the temperature if you’re making multiple pizzas. The wood pellets burn quickly. (We add more pellets between the second and third pizza.)

• Tip: The oven weighs 20 lbs. You’re not likely to store it someplace high if there’s not enough space to keep it outside.

If pizza is the center of attention for most casual evening meals, get ready to enjoy this little slice of culinary heaven!

Carving Out Quiet Space at Home

We finally finished one of our own custom projects, which, like most of us, fall to the bottom of the list with other priorities. It seems we’re all busy carving out new outdoor spaces and creating more personal and private areas. It's a challenge we've been focused on; how to add unique pockets of space, bring variety to an existing spot, and spice up a small but charming outside area.

We started with simple things. On weekends, we switched to pulling the stools up to our bar, a quaint spot for happy hour, instead of the usual place at the table or kitchen counter. It sounds minor, but it made a big difference. Same house, different view. We also started a regular rotation of serving options; ceramic cups, glassware, cutting boards, and using a variety of bowls and plates. (If you're feeling stuck, visit our online Marketplace for ideas and options.) Unique textures help mix things up and make it easy to share your favorite pizza or the dips and treats that highlight happy hour in festive ways. Take a fresh look around and see what simple changes you can make to give yourself a new experience. This is how also we became inspired to make a bar cart, to enhance the look and feel of our outdoor area.

For this latest project, our goal was something different, a quiet getaway without leaving home. We built a window seat that spans the wall of our master bedroom. The base was built in a weekend, but finding someone to make custom cushions with our material took much longer. Now, it invites us to relax in the heat, curl up when the rain rolls in, or escape to finish reading books like Erin French's memoir, Finding Freedom and The Gifts of Imperfection, by Brene Brown.

Until the next happy hour, here's to catching up on some reading and sipping morning coffee from your favorite quiet space.

Magazine Picks for a Pop of Inspiration

I’ve been cutting out pictures and pages from magazines since grade school, long before vision boards and journaling were a thing. There’s nothing like an inspiring magazine in your hands to spark creativity. The texture of the paper, the eye-catching photographs, and the content expand our thinking. Beyond the beauty of destinations and lifestyle, we look at content for a fresh take on color combinations, unique locations, outdoor scenes, trends and entertainment settings. It’s like buying a new home; every time you drive by a house, you look at something different. In magazines, every time you flip through the pages, you see something new.

In addition to social media and your industry publications, pick up a magazine that’s beyond the scope of your immediate business to explore a different perspective on what clients are doing, where they are going, and how they’re living. For us, travel, outdoor, cooking and entertainment are all slices of life that our customers enjoy. Unique artisan cups, whiskey tumblers, handwoven linens, and hand-crafted cutting boards are preferred entertainment elements for those who host lively celebrations and give distinct gifts; both are meant to be memorable. Reading the stories and profiles of people and places where your clients and colleagues live, rest, vacation, and work can enhance your content, especially now that our work and personal lives have become so intertwined.

Here are six of our go-to magazine choices to help inspire creative thinking:

Sweet Paul – While the recipe-lovers will surely enjoy this, so will the artists and creatives. The photographs are spectacular; everything from floral designs, custom crafts, upscale flea markets, outdoor chef barbeques and beautiful artisan elements appear on the pages. It’s is a unique publication offering far more than dinner and dessert options.

Afar – A global travel publication written to guide you to your best journeys. These storytellers make you feel like you’re experiencing the flavors and local culture right along with them. Articles range from the backroads of tribal lands in remote territories to the glitz of big-city destinations.

Where Women Create – Advice, lessons-learned, and tips, these pages are chock full of ideas and inspiration from women business owners in their glorious and colorful maker spaces.

Outside – The adventure seekers and explorers will enjoy the trails, tips, and dispatches from the wild. Find stories of those who love to roll up their sleeves for a weekend road trip, aren’t afraid of a little cold weather or rain to reach uncharted waters, or prefer a long mountain trek to the comfort of a beach towel.

Aspire Design and Home – The bright, eye-catching color combinations and distinct design concepts, along with unique editor picks, are as aspirational as the name implies.

Departures – This one is all about luxury travel destinations around the world. The magazine itself is a member benefit of American Express; however, it includes extensive articles on beautiful European getaways, domestic mountain and ski resorts, secluded properties, and upscale lifestyle tips and trends. Despite the obvious commercial connection, it is worth reading.

If you were here to look around my office, you would find pages from these magazines torn out and saved for years in our filing cabinet. You’d also see a metal bucket full of magazines and calendars of all shapes and sizes, along with pages of scenery, design, and inspirational pictures tacked to the corkboard or posted behind magnets. Online may be informative, easy, and even beautiful; however, print speaks to us and stays with us in ways that digital cannot.

How to Design a Message that Moves

When your print piece moves organically, you see it clipped behind a magnet, repurposed as a bookmark, or tacked to a bulletin board; you know it captured someone's attention with a message that meant something. We recently designed a card with the dual purpose of sharing a positive message and with a mission toward movement. Based on the fun calls and texts we received, we're sharing a few key details that went into the card design to inspire your next piece.

The Big Picture. The first consideration for any custom piece is understanding the ultimate goal. How do you want people to feel when they see it, open it? Is there an overarching message you want to communicate? In our case, we wanted to share the word “Joy” intentionally. It was a specific choice, one we felt was better suited to us than the words, Cheer or Celebrate, as an example.

Pass It On - Having the card move and be shared between people was a central theme. In social we see it happen with reposts, tagging, and shares, but we forget this can occur with a physical piece too. Creating a voluntary hand-off, a reason to share, was the most challenging part; encouraging movement without making it too complicated. Our choice was a perforated card that included a postcard mailer, something our recipients would tear off and want to mail to their person of choice. (Access to a talented print team comes in handy. We work with Schmitz Press.).

Engaging and Interactive – When people think of interactive, they often go right to a digital or online platform; however, you can accomplish this in print. How can you get people to interact and do something fun with your mailer? We created three different checkboxes with whimsical fill-in-the-blank lines for people to complete.

Pick your Postage - We affixed the postcard stamp as part of the mailing to encourage people to address and mail the tear-off postcard. It was an added expense, however, worth it when our recipients sent their postcards, which was the whole point. On a funny note, the Post Office only had fish postcard stamps; they told us no holiday postcard stamps were coming. Not exactly a traditional choice, but we didn't get hung up on it. The envelope stamps for the entire card were holiday-themed, and that was more important.

Creating unique elements that make an impact with clients is a priority in our business. Yes, we do all the online things; however, creative, non-digital communication is a welcome reinforcement and bonus to email and online outreach. Let's face it, this is a process that anyone can do, but few people will. That’s why it’s a smart move.