Baker's Dozen: New Years Resolutions 2012

Here are 13 things I am going to do in 2012. Some will be harder to accomplish than others, but I am looking forward to the challange!

13. Take a spinning class.

12. Organize an intervention for my hoarding.

11. Learn how to play the guitar.

10. Forget how to play the accordion.

9. Make more friends via social networking.

8. Find my stamp collection.

7. Stop smoking cigarettes.

6. Start smoking Electronic Cigarettes.

5. Ask for more hugs.

4. Maybe think about being less passively aggressive toward the people around me?

3. Choose between my Match.com and Eharmony accounts.

2. Write that Self Help Guide to Self Help Books.

1. Find out why people like Dubstep.

-Michael

Great Project Idea!

Saline Brownie Troop 380 needed to earn their Art to Wear badge. CreateMyTee.com suggested printing the Troop number and a design with white ink on a white t-shirt (say what?!). The 3rd graders then tie dyed the shirts. The white screen print ink naturally resists the tie dye ink and then the imprinted design stays white and shows through the tie dye colors, creating a sort of magical experience for young artists.  

Why not try one for your group?  Contact us and one of our professional artist will create a design that will work really well for tie dye OR your group may design their own with black marker (we will convert to screen print art).  Choose any 100% cotton white t-shirt, we will print the ink in white (other colors will work as well, but white on white is our favorite!).

Get an instant quote on Gildan youth white t-shirts >

The shirts turned out great! The artist was very easy to work with and got the design we wanted exactly right. All of the kids loved the shirts and the ones who didn't order them want to have a second order. CreateMyTee is a well organized and very impressive company. We were very impressed with the customer service and how quickly the shirts arrived.

The Holiday season always brings unique challenges to orders and shipments.  Click the link below to view the complete Holiday schedule information for CreateMyTee.com custom apparel orders!

» CreateMyTee.com Holiday Information

Are you in charge of ordering custom t-shirts or custom apparel for a group or team? 

CreateMyTee.com Group Ordering makes your job incredibly easy by allowing group members to enter their own selections and, optionally, pay for their own portion of the order.

All you have to do is work 1-on-1 with a CreateMyTee.com professional artist to create your t-shirt or apparel design, invite friends, teammates or co-workers to join your order, then let us know when it's ready to be printed!

Your order will be ready to ship in 3-5 business days after your completed order is finalized!

No more sorting out order forms, collecting money, sorting sizes, let CreateMyTee.com do ALL of the heavy lifting!

Visit the Group Ordering information page for more details!

Top 5 Things You Shouldn’t Do On the 4th of July

Tomorrow is the 4th of July.  Go ahead and celebrate America's birthday. Just try not to incorporate the following five things into your celebration.

5. Point that bottle rocket at me.

GIVE ME THE LIGHTER!

4. Go into that makeshift fireworks tent in front of Denny’s

It’s hard to trust the safety of a product when the man selling it to you is missing both his ring fingers and his right eyebrow.  If you’re going to buy illegal fireworks, do it the right way.  Drive two and a half hours to the border of your respective state, get off at the exit with the giant Uncle Sam statue, ask for Greg, put the box the man hands you in your trunk, and hope for the best.

3. Mistake rudeness for patriotism

Yes sir, I know you’re an American.  Sir, sir…SIR!  Put the bottle down and stop chasing those kids.  I don’t care what they said about your American Flag bowtie.  What?  Yes I think you would win in a fight against them.  Sir, just put the bottle down and go back to your picnic table.  Are you here with anyone?  Okay, let’s go find your wife and, what?  Your wife is the woman over there screaming at that drinking fountain (sighhhhhh)?

2. Stand next to an explosion

There are going to be a lot of them come the night of the 4th.  If you see an assortment of large tubes in the middle of a field or lake, ignore whatever curiosity you have towards them.  Odds are there will be flaming balls of gun powder shooting out of those tubes soon.  RUN!

1. Rob a bank with roman candles

You’re probably thinking the same things I am.

• It sounds like a lot of fun. 

• It puts a much needed spin on the armed robbery game by providing a spectacle for the hostages. 

• It adds a strategic level of unpredictability via the inaccuracy associated with firing roman candles.

• It’s easier (and relatively safer) to buy Roman candles from the tent in front of Denny’s than getting your hands on a gun.

• You’ll become famous regardless of whether or not you pull it off.

Believe me, the more you think about it, the less sane this all sounds.

-The Baker

Top 5 Gifts to Give at Graduation Parties

It's that time of year of year again: graduation party season!  High schoolers are moving on into the collegiate world in an effort to discover what they really want to do with their lives.  Before they can move on, they need to invite all of their friends and relatives to their homes to celebrate!  Why do these parties exist?  One word: GIFTS!  You undoubtedly have a slew of parties you're obligated to attend this year.  Here are the five best gifts you can possibly give the lucky graduate.

5. Money

It’s the easiest gift you can give that will not disappoint.  Now, the key is not to get hung up on what type of card you put the money in.  I suggest buying the cheapest one you find, because the last thing he or she is going to be concerned with is the vessel in which the money is delivered.  You could put the $40 in a Happy Grandparents Day card and no one would notice.

4. Affection

Once the day of fun is over, he’s not going to remember who won the volleyball game or who gave him the mini fridge.  He’s going to remember the awkwardly long hug his grandma gave him and the strange wink he got from that uncle he only sees three times a year.

3. A gift card to Old Country Buffett

This is just as good as money.  You give someone an Old Country Buffett gift card and the sky is pretty much the limit as far as his or her next meal is concerned.  I don’t know if you’ve ever been to an Old Country Buffett, but the selection is breathtaking.  If you want Italian and Chinese on the same plate, go right ahead!  Not in the mood for baked fish?  Well they’ve got deep fried fish, so…you’re good there too.  Want to cover your salad in soft serve ice cream!!!!?  I would actually advise against doing that.  I’ve been asked to leave on numerous occasions for abusing the soft serve machines.

2. Advice

They might not appreciate it at first, but advice is a gift that keeps on giving.  I’ll never forget what my uncle said to me at my graduation party.  He sat me down on his knee and said, “Michael, if a man in a yellow hat asks you to follow him into an alley, please don’t.  Sure he’s got nice shoes and he smells nice, but nothing good ever happens in alleys.  And furthermore, no one wearing a yellow hat can be up to any good.  When’s the last time you were in a store that sold yellow hats?  Think about it.  Do you know how hard it is to find a yellow hat?  Really, really hard.  And the places that do sell them…don’t even get me started on them.  Basically what I’m telling you is, avoid alleyways, and if you’re ever near one, don’t go in it if you’re near someone wearing a yellow hat.  Take it from me.  You will regret it. (Then he let out a big sigh).”

1. A box of custom shirts from CreateMyTee.

One thing all college kids need is clothes.  That is unless they’re going to one of those weird art schools where clothing is optional.  Send them off to school with 20 custom shirts that say, “Remember, I’m here to learn!”  Then on the back, they say, “And I also need to remember to call my mom at least once a day for the first two weeks. She worries about me being on my own and doesn’t necessarily think I’ll make the best life decisions.  My dad keeps telling her I’ll be fine, but she’d still like to hear from me to see how I’m adjusting.”

-The Baker

LOCAL COMPANY SEES EXPONENTIAL GROWTH

CreateMyTee.com surpasses 2010 sales in first four months of 2011

ANN ARBOR, MICH. — After the first four months of 2011, CreateMyTee.com had already broken its sales record for the entire 2010 year. In fact, the custom apparel site has grown more than 350% every year since 2009, making it one of the fastest growing small businesses in the country.

CreateMyTee.com is a website that specializes in custom screen printed apparel. The site allows customers to design their own t-shirts, tank tops, sweats, jerseys and other garments. Customers choose from a variety of brands, garments and colors and upload their own images and fonts or work one-on-one with a designer to create a customized graphic design.

CreateMyTee was officially started by Josh Fales in 2008. Fales got his start selling t-shirts on the campus of Albion College in 2006, when he was just an undergrad in need of “adult beverage money.” As a member of Sigma Nu fraternity, he had access to a large social network and group of friends that helped him sell tees. His perseverance and focus paid off. After graduation, one of his fraternity brothers, Nick Shelton, took over selling tees on campus—a job that eventually turned into CreateMyTee’s Campus Rep positions.

CreateMyTee has received a lot of positive feedback, mainly due to the efficiency of their creation process. The site advertises fast turnarounds of three to five business days, but the crew has produced and shipped t-shirts in as little as two days. The entire crew works together from start to finish to “make shirt happen”—which is one of the company’s slogans that doubles as their office motto. CreateMyTee’s easy process, affordable garments and high quality workmanship has earned them repeat customers, such as the Good Shepherd Episcopal School in Florida, who had this to say about their most recent order:

“I can’t tell you how many compliments we’ve gotten on the adult tech shirts. We’ll definitely be using CreateMyTee for next year’s race and [will be] recommending your services. Thanks again for all your help.”

Fales couldn’t be happier with CreateMyTee’s growth and credits its success to his outstanding crew, adding, “We have worked so hard for so long. It’s hard to believe it’s finally started to happen!”

Fales said that the company’s success is a balancing act, adding, “You have to be open to changes but stay true to your vision.”
Regarding future goals for the company, Fales said that he wants to create a team that everyone wants to be a part of, then make CreateMyTee a household name, adding, “If you think custom t-shirts, you’ll think CreateMyTee.”

***CreateMyTee.com was founded in 2006 by Josh Fales and specializes in custom screen-printed apparel for groups, organizations, teams, clubs, and events. For more information, please visit www.CreateMyTee.com. Make Shirt Happen!

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Top 5 Things You Shouldn’t do on a Date

For Guys

5. Swear a lot

You're taking her to a fancy place, and I'm sure the parents of the seven year old behind you won't appreciate it either.

4. Be picky at the restaurant

You don’t like dressing on your salad?  You want the chef to cut the edges off your meat? You won’t eat fish?  Rice bothers you?  REALLY!!!!?

3. Tip poorly

18% minimum.  You know what they say about bad tippers…

2. Tell dirty jokes

There’s really no reason for you to be bringing up anything related to #1 or #2.  In fact, go to the bathroom before the date just to be safe.  Get it out of your system entirely.

1. Flirt with the waitress

You know who else has flirted with her?  Every other guy EVER!  This one is really just common sense.

For Girls

5. Talk about past relationships

Sure, the waiter might be your ex-boyfriend.  He knows things are cool between the two of you after you tried to run him over with your Jeep last week.  Just try not to mention it.

4. Order the most expensive thing on the menu

Do you really need the Ultimate Seafood plate?  You can either have Maine lobster or king crab.  Flip a coin.

3. Text

Nothing turns a guy on more than knowing with certainty that you're having a conversation with someone else about every five mintues.

2. Chew with your mouth open

If he wanted to see what your food looked like chewed up, he’d ask.  If he DOES ask you to show him your chewed up food, you should probably take your heels off and start running.

1. Order shirts from CreateMyTee.com

I know its easy, and the artwork process is amazing, and shipping is free, and the turn around times are lightning fast, and they have super competitve prices, but he's a really nice guy.  Wait till after.

Top 5 Movies that Everyone Secretly Loves

Deny it all you want.  We all know you secretly pine over these poorly produced programs.  They're some of the best worst entertainment out there!

5. Bill Nye movies

…maybe it’s just because they always provided you with a break from real class during school, but you suspect that’s not the real reason—let’s just admit it, we all love the Bill Nye movies, from the catchy, pop tune at the beginning, the chanting of “Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill!” and the weird sound effects and voices that answer Bill’s rhetorical questions. Was anyone else as mad as I was when they found out that Bill’s not a real scientist?  You should be.

4. Clueless

I’ll be the first to admit that I had no idea that this was a parody when I first saw it (I was 10 years old, give me a break). And I wanted Cher’s life. Badly. This year, I took a Jane Austen class and learned that it’s actually a spin-off of Austen’s book, Emma. I took that as an okay for me to skip reading Emma and just base my exam answers on the movie.

3. Disney channel original movies

…at least in my circle of friends, it’s now cool to admit to loving Disney channel original movies. Among the top favorites are Hocus Pocus, Brink!, all of the Zenon sequels, Johnny Tsunami, and Pixel Perfect.  That one where the house came alive and physically abused all those people in it.

2. The Mary Kate and Olsen movies

Don’t even get me started. I’m going to break out the VCR the moment that I get home and watch Passport to Paris. Among other favorites are It Takes Two, Billboard Dad, Switching Goals, Our Lips are Sealed, Holiday in the Sun, and When in Rome.  That one Full House movie they never released where you find out all those weird voices Uncle Joey does are actually his seven different personailites.

1. Anything Pauly Shore has ever been in...

Watching a handul of Mr. Shore's films makes you wonder what people were thinking during the first half of the 90s.  If you haven't seen any of the films on Pauly's IMDB page, please don't.

-Emily and The Baker

Hey CreateMyTee!

My friend showed this to me the other day, and I figured I would write in a question of my own.

So, my problem is much less colorful than last week's, but I still think you can help me.  I'm a college student home for summer.  I had a great junior year in Indiana, but that greatness has disappeared thanks to my overbearing and overprotective parents.  They want me to check in with them periodically when I go out for the night, they seem so angry with me when I leave home to visit my friends at other colleges, and I'm not even going to approach them about the trip to California I’m going on in a few weeks.

What do you suggest I do?  Move out?  Talk about it with them?  Look for new parents?

-Danny L

Dear Danny L,

It sounds like you need a new approach to talk to your parents about this issue. I suggest you pack your belongings, sneak out in the middle of the night, and take a month-long road trip around the U.S. At each place you stop, send your parents a postcard—make sure the postcard doesn’t give away your exact location though (just get those ones with like pictures of birds on them or something). On every postcard, write a clue as to where you are and why you’re mad at them—it’ll be like a huge game of Where in the World is Carmen San Diego, so it might help if you befriend a monkey.

Once they’ve spent hours worrying about you/calling you/flying to cities they think you’re in (but you’ll be too fast for them—make sure you’re always on the move), they’ll get sick and tired of being so overprotective and overbearing and probably apologize to you for their behavior. That, or they'll call the cops.  Be sure to pack some disguises.  Maybe a good pair of fence climbing shoes.

Best of luck,

CreateMyTee