11.16.2011

GIVEAWAYS - Holiday 2011

We are having a BALL in our POP UP shoppe! We have a fabulous storefront full of great tabletops and we've decided to give them away to our Facebook Fans this holiday season! For each tabletop, we've partnered with Creative Candles for fabulous accents to the tabletops. You'll have to head over to our Facebook Page and leave a comment for each giveaway.

Rules of the giveaway, you can sign up for each tabletop once. Kansas City peeps want an extra chance to win? Stop by our POP UP, 8227 Corinth Mall, Monday - Saturday, 10am-3pm until December 3rd, 2011 & fill out an entry form. All winners will be selected by random.org on date listed via Facebook. Winners will be alerted via Facebook and all tabletops will be delivered/shipped to winners by Christmas. Good luck!




10.05.2011

Poppin' Up a POP UP!

We had SO much fun the last few years, traveling throughout the country for fabulous holiday trunk shows. However, this year we've decided to do something a little different - we're building a Pop Up in our hometown, Kansas City, for the holiday season!

We will be located in Corinth Square Shopping Center #8227. We will be open 11.7.11 - 12.3.11, Monday - Saturday, 10am-3pm and available for private shopping parties in the evenings. Our grand opening will be Monday, November 7th at 10:00 am.

We hope you'll follow along on our Facebook Page as we post photos of our progress in the space. As you can see below, we have a long way to go!


8.14.2011

Get healthy!

With the first day of school around the corner, we decided this is the perfect time to share our new La Plates Healthy Set. It includes a personalized placemat (with proper place setting) and a small plate (details healthy options for each category). La Plates is a Community Partner of the USDA. Checkout their My Plate program, they have great resources and ideas to choose a healthy lifestyle.

If you'd like a chance to win a La Plates Healthy Set, head over to our Facebook Page and "like" us. Then leave a comment on our Facebook Page, telling us who needs a FREE Healthy Set in your life! Giveaway ends Friday, 8.19.11 @ midnight CST - we'll use Random.org to pick our winner.

8.09.2011

Nana's Pie Crust - you pick the filling

I've been meaning to blog about Nana's pies - somehow I always forget. Or maybe, it's just that I don't want to share my secrets. For correct preparation, she had me purchase a "sock" for my rolling pin and a proper mat to roll out the dough - both can be purchased at Pryde's Old Westport - Williams Sonoma hadn't heard of either.

Nana's Apple Pie:

CRUST-
1 1/2 cup of flour
1/2 cup of Crisco
pinch of salt
work together - both should be COLD, as in store in refrigerator before you prepare
1/4 cup ice cold water

FILLING-
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons flour
pinch of cinnamon
2 cups+ of apples (or whatever fruit you prefer)

Bake 10 minutes @ 425 degrees. Then turn down to 350 degrees and bake for 45 minutes.

7.27.2011

Back to School - 2011

School supplies - check, figure out teacher for the year - check, educational inspired meals for 2011 - La Plates has you covered! This weekend only, order a Handwriting Plate and we'll include a matching placemat for FREE!

I'm a retired teacher and I love seeing kids get excited about learning. Why not serve breakfast, lunch and dinner on a plate + placemat to encourage great handwriting? Order a plate online and we'll automatically include a matching placemat - no coupon code needed. Offer expires 7.31.11 @ midnight CST.

7.22.2011

HOT SALE - get them fast!

In order to make room for a few new colors this Fall, these 3 colors of Sunday Catchalls just went on sale - 50% off {LEMON & DENIM available until sold out}. You may wonder why you should check Facebook...well all the Apple Green totes went to La Plates Facebook Fans before I could even post the sale on this blog! I guess that's one point for social media...

Get them while they last! We love a good deal - and love it even more if we can share it with friends. Come on, don't you deserve a Summer treat?

7.06.2011

How can we serve you?

We love entertaining with a monogram. After MANY requests, we have added 20 ounce styrofoam cups to our La Plates Collection. We hope you have many fun festivities ahead with these custom cups.
While we love styrofoam for it's party purpose, it is not cool in the dishwasher. If you'd prefer to reuse your cups, year after year, our 16 ounce frost cups are dishwasher safe.

7.03.2011

Happy 4th!

Every year, we kick off our 4th of July weekend with a BBQ + Fireworks gathering. (2009, 2010) For a brief moment in time, all that matters is family, friends and good old-fashioned fun. We make the set up simple for all - including the hosts. We provide the BBQ, chips + bevies...our guests bring the sides + a seat for the fireworks show.

Over the years, we've added to our 4th La Plates collection:
We do load up on games for the kiddos at Target + Walmart:It's tough to stop and take photos when I'm having so much fun! Here's the start to dinner:
We did pause for a quick family photo...I love seeing all the red, white & blue outfits - especially the monogrammed ones.
While some eat BBQ, others spill out on the fairway for some fun...These two hitched a ride on a golf cart stopping by, love it!As a mother of boys, I love looking out & seeing a whole evening of games & running...I knew they'd sleep well...After the parashooters landed and before the fireworks began, these two discovered the dessert stash. They found a quiet seat, where no one could stop them...

We wish you a 4th of family, friends and fun! God Bless America!

6.23.2011

National PINK Day - June 23rd

There's not a lot of history on "National PINK Day", but we love any excuse to wear pink & offer a discount! Today only, we're offering 20% off PLATES, PLATTERS + PLACEMATS at La Plates. Enter code: PINK20 at checkout and your discount will be applied. Now get on your best pink sundress and share the pink love today!
discount code expires tonight, 6.23.11 @ midnight

6.03.2011

Martha Stewart Living - June 2011

If you've received your recent issue, I'm sure you've seen the brilliant plate wall that Martha Stewart Living created with La Plates! If you haven't picked up the issue, head to your news stand asap. You MUST get a copy...for the recipes on the cover alone:
We're a little partial to this story - nothing like making your home fit for a fab Summer:
The photos of this home are amazing. Leave it to the MSL team to figure out an exterior plate wall:



The photos above are all from Martha Stewart Living, June 2011.

5.27.2011

Memorial Day Cocktails?

Memorial Day is the kick off to Summer! We want to get you ready with a set of dishwasher safe, shatterproof FROST CUPS to take to the pool, lake, anyplace you're headed this summer. This weekend only, buy a set of 100 La Plates Frost Cups and we'll create a set of 100 matching cocktail napkins for FREE!

Offer expires 5.30.11 @ midnight. Cocktail napkin design will match the cups. If you have a napkin color preference, just add it to the Order Comments.

5.10.2011

Design on a Dime - NYC

Housing Works hosted the 7th Annual Design on a Dime opening reception on May 5, a three-day charitable interior design event, silent auction and public sale that raises funds for Housing Works’ lifesaving services for homeless and low-income New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS.

This year’s event showcased the largest-ever roster of designers and celebrities who created 56 gorgeous room vignettes using new, donated merchandise, which was then sold for 50 to 70% off. All five of this year’s co-chairs, Iman, Nate Berkus, James Huniford, Charlotte Moss, and Lara Spencer, were in attendance.

Elizabeth Bauer Design of NYC and a retailer of La Plates, created a fabulous vignette, using our IKAT 10" plates and oval platters. We donated the melamine, but Elizabeth worked the decor magic! Checkout her space below...we only wish we could have attended!


5.01.2011

Happy Birthday La Plates!

I can't believe our little plate biz is turning 3! It seems like just yesterday I was dreaming up the La Plates website, brainstorming with friends and diving into this entrepreneurial adventure. Since our launch, we've had quite a ride. None of our success would have been possible without the amazing support from family, friends and our fabulous clients. Not to mention, all the new friends we've met along the way. Editors, bloggers, writers and social media peeps have shared our products with their following - making La Plates bigger than we ever dreamed could happen!

In a small effort to say thanks to all of our loyal fans, we're taking the work week (5/2/11 - 5/6/11) to giveaway La Plates treats. Here's how it works:

You can enter three times a day:
* "Like" La Plates Facebook Page and leave a comment on Celebration Post = 1 entry
* Share La Plates Celebration on YOUR Facebook Page = 1 entry
* Post the Celebration link on your Twitter account, including the following text = 1 entry
(Happy 3rd Birthday @LaPlates! LOVE the #Giveaway! http://on.fb.me/ifmZFH)

What you'll win:
The winning gift certificate amount depends on YOUR participation!
For each entry, we'll add a dollar to the La Plates Gift Certificate.
50 entries = 50 Dollar La Plates Gift Certificate
This means the more peeps you tell to enter, the bigger the prize!
(maximum = $100 La Plates Gift Certificate, daily)

How we pick our winners:
* 5 winners, 1 each day - 5/2/11 - 5/6/11
* Daily winner picked at the end of each day...whenever we end our work day
(between 5pm & midnight CST).
* Winner is posted on La Plates Facebook Page
* Number of daily entries plugged into Random.org - they pick the winner each day


4.22.2011

Happy Earth Day!

How can you GREEN up your tabletop? We hope you REDUCE your paper plate needs and REUSE your La Plates for many years to come. No more paper plates, when you can bring fashionably hip La Plates to the table!

Another GREEN tip? Be sure to check out our monogrammed recycled plastic totes - you won't need any more plastic or paper grocery bags, when you can shop with these fab bags!

Let us know how you're making your world GREEN with La Plates - Happy Earth Day!

4.10.2011

Mother's Day is Coming

Have you thought about Mother's Day yet? La Plates is here to get you ready & offer you a fabulous deal! What mother doesn't love to have her family over for a yummy meal...on durable, colorful dinnerware...that she can toss in the dishwasher?! Order a set of 5 identical plates and we'll throw in a 6th for FREE? Want us to ship them straight to your mom or grandma? Just include a gift note on the order - pricing is never included in La Plates shipments.

How do you get this fabulous deal? Just order online by April 15th, 2011, midnight CST. Mother's Day is May 8th, 2011 - we need 10-15 business days for production of your fabulous La Plates items!

3.27.2011

Southern Living - April 2011

We were SO excited to see La Plates featured in the most recent Southern Living Magazine. We are big fans of the mag and the article we appeared in was right up our alley. From the ham buns on the cover - delish:
To the theme of the page, "porching" with our Monogrammed Silverware Caddy:
Personally, I've been a long-time porching fan. From counting cars with my Papaw as a 3 year old, to my Miami University (Ohio) days; you can't beat hanging on a porch swing with family and friends:

3.22.2011

Spring Break 2011

Somehow the stars aligned and brought 5 "old" friends together. I met two of these besties in pre-school...one at summer camp...the other in brown Nikes in the 4th grade. How we all found a weekend that worked to head to Florida is a minor miracle. Trying to get them to pose for a La Plates BASKET PLATE photo proved to be the weekend challenge.
I finally removed the "challenge" from the photos and simply let the plates, the shells and the vino be at peace - thanks for the laughs old friends!
Safe travels to those of you with upcoming trips - Spring Break 2011, wohoo!!

3.07.2011

Flip Flop in Style - Monogrammed Sandals

We are so excited to offer our customers amazing Monogrammed Sandals! Attendees of our holiday trunk shows went crazy over the bespoke sandals. Now we're adding them online for Women and Kids! The toughest part is deciding on your color combo...we've got something for every outfit! Due to the custom nature of these handmade in the USA sandals, all orders take 4-6 weeks for production. Color options are:

Below, you will see some popular combos:

















Sizing Info for Stephen Bonanno Sandals:
If you're not sure of your sizing and need a little guidance keep this in mind. We are a true B width - not narrow, not wide. Tho the following process to figuring out your size is helpful, it is by no means a guaranteed method to a perfect fit. The general rule is "APPROX" 1/8" between half sizes and 1/4" between full sizes. Due to the hand-crafted nature of our sandals, there can be slight variations in the length and width.