Blogging

2018 Blog Planner + A Well Crafted Blog

January 7, 2018 No Comments Blogging

For the past several years I have been releasing a blog planner update to my Free Printable Build Your Own Blog Planner. This year I’ve added more updates, but I have also decided to move my blogging-related content to a new space.

Introducing: A Well Crafted Blog

It has been important for me to be able to reach my blog readers with information about topics they love. Many of my readers came to my blog for the free printable blog planner, and are therefore not interested in some of the other content I offer on the blog. Most of this blog is devoted to DIY, entertaining, recipes and similar lifestyle topics. In trying to share blog knowledge I’ve sort of muddied the waters here on the blog.

I do hope that you’ll continue to follow this blog. However, for those of you who came to this blog for blogging resources, I introduce my newest website: www.awellcraftedblog.com. This site will regularly share blogging resources, tips, and inspiration. It is also the host for my blog planner for 2018!

Blog Planner for 2018

This year’s edition of the blog planner has a few new pages including new cover sheets, social media planning sheets, and a post promotion planner. It coordinates with previous editions of the planner. Everyone who was previously on my subscriber list has already received the 2018 blog planner link. To those of you who are just now visiting the site, please visit the new blogging website to sign up for your free download!

Happy planning!

A Well Crafted Party

Host a Cider Tasting Party – VIDEO

August 5, 2017 No Comments A Well Crafted Party

Tasting parties are so fun to do as they give guests a bunch of different choices and allows everyone to really find something to their own liking. We’ve done a variety of tasting parties in the past including a whiskey tasting, wine tasting, ice cream tasting, and beer tasting. Yesterday I had the opportunity to visit KGW’s Portland Today to share tips on how to create a great cider tasting party featuring Julian Hard Cider. See the segment here:

Host a Cider Tasting Party

There are a variety of ways you can host a cider tasting party. I tend to start by picking out my ciders at the store. This cider tasting is tasting different varieties of the same brand, but you could also choose to taste different ciders across a variety of brands. Below are some tips for hosting your next cider party:

Do a blind tasting. Want to see which company makes the BEST cider? Try getting the same style of cider from around 5 different breweries. Wrap each one in a paper bag or with paper. Mark each bag with a different number. Put out tasting sheets so guests can write down what they like and disliked about each cider. At the very end, have everyone say their favorite number and find out which cider was the overall winner, and on.
Taste food too. Try pairing the ciders with foods that should go well with them. Look for foods with similar flavors that may be enhanced when trying the cider with it. Food is important for more than just pairing flavors, it will help keep your guests from becoming too inebriated.
Keep your samples small. This is also a safety thing… but, it also serves to allow guests to really get a good taste of each of the samples and then move on to drinking their favorite of the samples.

Free Cider Tasting Printables

Get your free Cider Tasting Printables below. Print and cut out per the directions on the printables.

I’ll be sharing the recipes for some of the pairings featured in the video above soon! Check back next week!

Have you ever been to a tasting party? What made the party fun? Comment below!

A Well Crafted Party

Free Fourth of July Printables

July 1, 2017 No Comments A Well Crafted Party

I tend to like a nice laid back event for summer parties because it is typically too hot to do much. However, I still want my laid back events to look intentional and put together. Printables are the easiest and most cost effective way to do that in my opinion. Over the years I’ve created some fun “Red White and Blue” printables in honor of Independence Day. My favorite Fourth of July printables are below.

Get your favorite printables for free and prep them this weekend for a fantastic 4th of July holiday party!