CustomizedGirl Blog - Fashion, Celebrity, and Customized Girl News

What Exactly Are Supply Chain Issues and How Do They Affect You?

September 22, 2021September 22, 2021 CustomizedGirl Leave a comment

It’s no surprise that the ongoing global pandemic has put a strain on our global supply chain. Across all industries, we have seen businesses struggle to stay afloat with the increasing amount of labor shortages, lack of shipping containers, delays in shipping routes, and historic weather occurrences, which can all attribute to major price increases, unavailability of certain products, and delivery delays for ordered products.

Because we care for our customers and believe in maintaining full transparency, we want to provide a little insight into what this means at Customized Girl and how it affects you.

Price Increases

In an effort to combat elevated shipping costs, increased cost of materials, and other supply chain issues, price increases have been implemented on select items on Customized Girl, which became effective as of September 22, 2021. While the idea of price increases might seem unpleasant, we want to assure you of how exactly these changes will benefit our customers. For instance, higher prices mean better quality products. A price adjustment helps to keep up with the demand for the products that you love. We are also focused on providing you with increased product options, hiring more production associates to help with getting your orders out in time, and a better customer experience all around.

Inventory Availablity

While shopping on our site, you may notice that only certain sizes are available for certain products. Because of the global shipping backlog, it is increasingly difficult to get inventory on our shelves in a timely manner. We are doing everything in our power to keep all sizes available for all of our products, but the ongoing labor shortage and shipping delays make this a challenge. If you don’t see a size or color in a certain style that you want, we encourage you to check back daily as we are constantly updating our available inventory as we are updated on its availability.

Tracking Delays

We’d also like to address order tracking. With the holiday season coming up, carriers are becoming increasingly busy which can lead to delayed updates for tracking numbers. There is no need to worry, just be aware that there are various causes for a delay in your tracking information updating, including increased holiday purchasing, worsening weather conditions, and carrier delays across all carrier companies. If you have any concerns about your tracking information, our Customer Experience team is here to help answer any and all of your questions.

Shipping Delays

As with most businesses right now, shipping delays are the most common concern for customers. We’d love to guarantee that your order will be delivered to you by the estimated time of delivery, but unfortunately, it is oftentimes out of our control. All major carriers are experiencing shipping delays which in turn, could delay your package from getting from our facility to your home. With that said, we strongly recommend planning ahead, ordering early, and allowing for extra lead time for your orders to be shipped to you.

Takeaways

If there’s one thing we hope you will take away from this post, it’s to order your holiday gifts early and expect delays! We will always do everything in our power to provide our customers the products and experience they deserve in a timely manner. Our website is built to keep you updated on what is in stock and how long it should take for your package to arrive. We will always update you with any new arrivals on the site, as well as any other important updates that may affect your purchase or delivery. If you haven’t already, we encourage you to follow us on social media and sign up via email and text to receive exclusive offers, early access, and more.

We sincerely want to thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate through these unprecedented logistical challenges. It’s because of you all that we are able to continue doing what we love and provide you with the best in custom apparel and accessories. Thank you!

How To Throw A Wicked Halloween Party

September 16, 2021September 16, 2021 CustomizedGirl Leave a comment

When it comes to throwing wicked awesome holiday parties is there any better holiday than Halloween? I don’t think there’s anything more fun than dressing up in a ridiculous costume, putting on your favorite spooky songs, eating sweets, and having some deliciously themed drinks. If you’re looking to throw a wicked Halloween party this year too then just follow our recommendations below and you’re sure to have a scary good time.

Setup & Environment

As is the case with any party, the hardest, but probably most important, part is the setup. There are a few things you need to make sure are ready before your Halloween party gets started.

Halloween photo featuring pumpkins, spider webs, and lanterns

Playlist

No party is complete without a bangin’ playlist. Halloween presents an even more unique situation in that you get to play songs that maybe you normally wouldn’t listen to. Our recommendation is to add songs that have any kind of element that could be scary. For example, Heads Will Roll by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Not necessarily about Halloween, but who doesn’t love a dismembered head? Another good example is Dark Lady by Cher. Again, not directly related to Halloween, but Halloween is definitely the time for dark ladies to come out. Follow this theme and your playlist is sure to satisfy. You also can’t go wrong with mixing in some classics like Thriller by Michael Jackson, Ghostbusters by Ray Parker Jr., Monster Mash by Bobby “Boris” Pickett … well, you get the idea.

Decorations

This one almost goes without saying but you have to have the best Halloween decorations to set the mood. You can find these almost anywhere in the weeks leading up to Halloween. No longer are you required to visit your local Spirit Halloween to find scary home decor. Even home improvement stores like Home Depot now stock some pretty awesome decorations for the scariest holiday of the year. We believe there’s no such thing as “going overboard” when it comes to Halloween decorations, so really go crazy with this one.

Lighting

This is a newer consideration as smart homes become more and more common. In the bygone days of the early ’90s and early 2000s, this may have been as simple as a couple of black lights or strobe lights in the house. Now with smart bulbs and lights being commonplace in most homes, it adds an entirely new level to the party atmosphere. Before your big Halloween bash, spend some time setting up some fun lighting profiles and effects for your smart lights. You may even consider creating custom commands to wow your friends. Create a voice command like “Let’s get spooky” that dims the lights and starts to play scary sound effects. Anything to surprise and delight your party-goers.

Food & Drink

You can’t have a party without holiday-themed food and drink. That goes without saying. Halloween makes this even more fun. Let your creativity shine with your food and drink offerings this year.

Flat lay of various Halloween treats including cookies, juice, and mummy hot dogs

Food

The most important thing to remember with food at your Halloween party is the ease of consumption. Most of your partygoers will probably have on masks or makeup which may make eating complicated foods a challenge. Consider offering smaller finger foods or hors d’oeuvres that can easily be picked up and eaten in one bite. Don’t forget to look up some creative spooky foods. Pinterest is a great place to research ideas for these. Our favorites include Monster Mash Halloween Brownies, Skeleton Pudding Cups, and a Halloween Charcuterie Board.

Drinks

Don’t overlook the drinks at your Halloween party. You want a good mix for your friends and family to choose from. We recommend getting a few types of soda pop, flavored seltzer, and juice to cover all your bases. It’s also a good idea to have some alcohol for your adult partiers. Beer is the obvious choice here but consider making some super fun spooky punch too. Check out this article which features a bunch of fun Halloween-inspired punch recipes.

Entertainment

Once the party is hopping and people are having a good time, you want to make sure you have some entertainment to keep that vibe going through the night! Here are some recommendations to keep your party guests entertained.

Halloween photo featuring people dressed up in costumes at a party

Party Games

These party games with a twist are always fun and are super simple to implement – not to mention cheap and some even free!

Halloween Feel Box
Find any old box in your house, decorate it any way you’d like, create a small opening (big enough to fit a hand), and fill it with items of your choosing. The intent of this game is for your guests to reach inside the box and guess what the item is. You can make it as spooky or gross as you want. Honestly, the grosser the better!

Halloween Jinx
At the beginning of the party. choose certain words or phrases (for example: Halloween, spooky, etc.) that are most likely to be said throughout the night. If someone says that word, another person has to call them out and yell “Jinx!” The punishment could be to take a drink, do a dance, or some other activity that you come up with.

Murder Mystery
Who doesn’t love a good Murder Mystery?! This site allows you to choose from a list of different kinds of games based on difficulty, party-size, price, and more.

Costume Contest

Dressing up in costumes is the best part of a Halloween party. For the costume contest, it’s best to set your standards ahead of time. Make sure your guests know how serious or laid-back you are about costumes so they can plan accordingly. In the invite, give your guests some suggestions if they’re stuck on what to be. Here are some simple recommendations that are very easy to create, and they can make it their own kind of wicked. Custom face masks are also a great addition to compliment your Halloween look and makes attending parties a lot less frightening.

Now that you’ve warned them about the contest, you get to plan how you want it to go. You can have just one winner overall or a few winners based on different categories (most creative, scariest, funniest, etc.) It’s always fun to award the winner with some sort of prize such as a trophy or a basket full of Halloween goodies.

Now that you have all these recommendations, we are confident that you are going to throw the most epic, most wicked, most awesome Halloween party ever.

10 Ways To Practice Self-Care

September 2, 2021September 16, 2021 CustomizedGirl Leave a comment

Self-Care Awareness Month is a time to remind us all just how important it is to take care of ourselves. We live busy lives and often times forget that it’s essential to take some time for our well-being. It’s important to recognize that self-care looks different for everyone. It can look like taking a day off work to get a mani-pedi, a massage, and ice cream or it can look like spending the evening finally getting around to the endless list of chores you’ve been putting off. For some, self-care means pampering and for others, it can mean being productive. No matter how you choose to practice self-care, do it with intention. Set aside time to really understand your needs and what will benefit you most.

Here are 10 ways to practice self-care.

Eat A Healthy Meal

Good nutrition is good self-care. Eating clean is about nurturing your body by providing it with the materials it needs to stay healthy both physically and mentally. Round up your favorite healthy recipes and start incorporating healthy meals into your routine.

Exercise or Get Out In Nature

There are countless mental health benefits of exercise but did you know it also relieves stress, improves memory, helps you sleep better, and boosts your overall mood? Being in nature also has both cognitive benefits and improvements in mood, mental health, and emotional well-being. So whenever you are feeling down or in need of a boost, take a walk in nature, exercise at the gym, go paddleboarding, or do some other activity that gets you moving.

Spend Time With Loved Ones

There’s nothing better than being surrounded by people you love and who love you too. Loved ones can encourage positive behaviors and help you to make great choices. Not to mention they know you and know how to put a smile on your face. Carve time out in your schedule to spend quality time with family and friends.

Try Something New

How often do we get so caught up in our routines and daily lives that we forget to enjoy life? Have you been considering trying a new hobby or crossing something off your bucket list? Go for it! Life is about exploring and learning new things. You never know, it could change your whole life.

Do Your Favorite Activities Guilt-Free

Have you ever felt guilty for binge-watching a new show instead of doing something “productive?” Or reading all day instead of crossing off things on your endless to-do list? Part of self-care is recognizing what you need at the moment. It’s ok to change your definition of “productive.” If you need a day off to binge-watch the latest season of a reality show, then that’s productive in and of itself.

Unplug For A Day

Take a break from technology for a day. Leave your phone at home (or on silent so you don’t get tempted) while you spend time in nature or out with friends. Replace watching TV before bed with a book you’ve been wanting to read. Set boundaries for your work schedule and turn off your computer and emails when work is done for the day. Unplug and live in the moment.

Practice Gratitude

Oftentimes, we get too caught up in our daily lives that we forget to take a step back and be grateful for how far we’ve gotten. Gratitude practice can also reshape the brain. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stressed out, or have any sort of negative feelings, write out what you are grateful for. It can be as simple as being thankful for your car getting you places or for your kids putting a smile on your face. Practicing gratitude helps you to shift your feelings in a positive direction and improve your attitude.

Meditate

Meditation provides you with quality “me time” and mental clarity. Despite what you may have heard, you don’t have to meditate in silence. You can still enter a flow state by doing other activities like walking, running, singing, and more. The whole idea of meditating is to focus on our breath and a quiet mind.

Tackle The To-Do List

Sometimes self-care doesn’t look like the “treat yo’self” type. Sometimes caring for yourself means tackling some of the things on that haunting to-do list so you can enjoy the rest of your week. Schedule that doctor’s appointment. Clean the messy kitchen. Sign up for the gym.

Treat Yo’Self – You Deserve It!

As Tom Haverford from ‘Parks And Recreation’ says, “Treat Yo’Self!” Treat yourself to something that you’ve been wanting for a while now. Is it a massage because your body’s been overworked? Is it going out to your favorite ice cream place? Is it retail therapy? Whatever that may look like for you, you deserve it!

**Shop now to design something unique and custom-made at Customized Girl.**

Self-Care Awareness Month is a great reminder to slow down and focus on your well-being, but don’t let the practice of self-care go away after September ends. We are all deserving of self-care.

How To Choose Your Team Fan Wear

August 24, 2021August 24, 2021 CustomizedGirl Leave a comment

It’s no surprise that wearing your team’s colors or logo on a t-shirt is a common thing to do when attending a sporting event. But do you ever wonder about the psychology behind why we do that?

According to an article from Live Enhanced, wearing team sports apparel such as jerseys, t-shirts, and hats to games “brought about positive feelings” giving fans a sense of belonging, camaraderie, and a common purpose. Not to mention team spirit is contagious! It’s no wonder why sports fanatics all over the world wear their team’s apparel for big game days.

With fall sports starting up, here’s your opportunity to create custom fan gear for you and your fellow fans! With our custom products, you can add your own text such as names and numbers, add art, and even upload photos. Take a look and get some ideas on how to choose your team fan wear.

Custom Varsity Jackets

One of our all-time best sellers! If you’re looking for a cool and classy feel, keep it old-school with vintage-style varsity jackets. Perfect for layering on top of T-shirts and hoodies for those chilly nights. It’s definitely a sideline winning look!

Custom T-shirts and Jerseys

Proud moms and dads can create custom jerseys and tees to wear at games to show their love and support! Yep, be THAT mom or dad that stands out from the rest.

Custom Stadium Blankets

For those chilly fall nights, custom stadium blankets are a must-have! Stay warm in style by adding your own custom text, art, and photos to this super soft fleece blanket. Its DryBlend, sweatshirt-style material will keep you warm and comfy while you root for your team.

Custom Hoodies

Let’s be honest, even though we love summer, we can’t wait for it to be cool enough to jump in some cozy hoodies. We have lots of hoodie styles to choose from where you can design with your own text, art and upload cool photos. Design the front and the back with your child’s name and number to wear at all the games!

Custom Travel Mugs

Running late to practice? Attending a game in cold weather? These are all good reasons to customize your own travel mug. Personalize it with your child’s name, number, and even upload their photo for a unique on-the-go beverage.

Custom Bags

There’s no better way to hold all your game-day snacks than this custom backpack! Wherever you go, represent your team or favorite player with a custom design. From totes and drawstrings to duffels and backpacks, there’s definitely no shortage of bag options to find the perfect one for you.

With fall sports in full swing, this is your sign to start customizing your sports apparel before it’s too late! For more creative ideas, check out our popular designs for each fall sport.

Last-Minute Summer Bucket List Ideas

August 19, 2021August 19, 2021 CustomizedGirl Leave a comment

Looking for a few ideas on how you can spend your last precious hours of summer? Need to check a few things off your summer bucket list before the leaves start to change color? We love making the most out of our summer season and it sounds like you do too! So we at Customized Girl have come up with a few ideas on how you can get the most out of your remaining summer weeks before the air gets chilly! Read below to see a few of our last-minute summer bucket list ideas.

1. Last Minute Trip To The Pool

Now’s your chance to go to the pool or beach if you haven’t had the chance this summer! If you’re reading this in mid to late August, chances are that all the kids have finally gone back to school, which means that all your local pools should be pretty empty for the most part. Indulge in a little time by the water now before it’s too cool to wear that bikini.

woman in white bikini lying on white and blue stripe towel on swimming pool during daytime

2. Check Out Your Local Amusement Parks

You’ll notice a theme with this blog, that being that all the kids are back in classes leaving all the fun stuff for us adults to enjoy! If you haven’t had a chance to hop on a roller coaster or eat some greasy food, now would be a great time to check out your local theme and amusement parks. This late in the season we would imagine lines are going to be pretty short for all the best rides. You may even be lucky enough to get some discounted pricing on tickets!

woman in red and white stripe shirt and black shorts standing near blue and red metal

3. Take A Quick Trip

This late in the summer season it may not be feasible to take a whole week off for vacation, but why not take a Friday and Monday off and give yourself a nice 4-day vacation? Plan a trip somewhere nearby that you can easily drive to and explore some of the lesser-known features of your state or neighboring states. Most people will have already gotten their travel out of their system leaving all the best sights for you to enjoy without the big crowds!

woman riding on vehicle putting her head and right arm outside the window while travelling the road

4. Have That Last Cookout Of The Summer

Not that you can’t cook out in the fall too, it may even be preferable with the cooler weather, but you might as well have a few more ‘summer’ cookouts while it still counts! Grab the burgers, corn, and watermelon and your red checkered table cloth for your last round of summer cookouts before we start throwing pumpkins on the grill!

5. Set Off The Last Of Your Fireworks

This one is really just a house cleaning suggestion, but no one wants to hear fireworks after September 1st. So, pull the rest of your bottle rockets and roman candles out of that trunk you keep them in, and set them off while it’s still seasonally appropriate. We won’t be mad if it’s done before we get our first pumpkin spice latte.

6. Attend A Summer Sporting Event

Football season will be here in no time and that is sure to take up all of our attention. So, while summer is still here, make sure to go to any sports games you’ve missed out on. Go to a local baseball game and have yourself a hotdog, or hit up the golf course while the weather is still nice enough to be on the green. If you’re a big tennis fan, now’s the time to check out a game! Regardless, we’re still pumped for the football games to start up!

7. Buy Custom Sweatshirts For Your Fall Wardrobe

Now is probably the best time to start planning your fall wardrobe. You don’t want to be stuck out in the cold in your t-shirts and tank tops having to wait for some nice comfy and warm apparel to arrive at your house. Why not spend some time now customizing some comfy sweatshirts or soft stylish hoodies on Customized Girl? That way, you’ll already be bundled up when the cooler weather finally hits!

Fall Trends | Custom Must-Haves

August 13, 2021August 13, 2021 CustomizedGirl Leave a comment

With summer coming to an end and fall just right around the corner, it’s time to fill your wardrobe with some fall staples. You know the kind. That light flannel that you can dress up in when you’re out with friends and dress down when apple picking. Or that cozy crew that is perfect to wear to bonfires and for layering when tailgating at a football game. Everyone needs a few fashionable fall staples in their closet.

Transition from cool summer nights to crisp fall days with these custom pieces at Customized Girl.

Cozy Crewnecks

Keep cozy with a custom crew that you can design any way you wish. Our super soft crews are one of our most popular items during this time of year. Shop now and start customizing!

Cropped Fleece Sweaters

Our cropped fleece sweaters are truly one-of-a-kind. The raw edge and matching drawstrings make it fashion forward while the super soft material keeps it casual and comfortable. Perfect for working out, lounging around the house, or going out on the town. View more designs and shop now!

Cool Flannels

Is it really fall if you don’t wear a flannel even once? Wear it big and baggy, tied around the waist or half tucked with denim cut-offs and a band tee. So many ways to wear it and perfect for those chilly fall nights. View more designs and shop now!

Casual Jackets

Our letterman jackets are one for the ages! Personalize your jacket with names, numbers, custom text and art. View more designs and shop now!

Classic Raglan Tees

You can never go wrong with a classic raglan tee. These two-tone raglan sleeve tees with a form flattering fit are perfect for the whole family. And what’s better than a matching family moment? Customize it with names, art, or upload fun photos! View more designs and shop now!

The best part about it all is that you get to design your own fall wardrobe! At Customized Girl, we love to see the unique designs our customers create. With Halloween coming up soon, we can’t wait for all the festive tees you all make. Don’t forget to share your designs and tag us on Instagram! 😊

Back To School: Custom Looks For The New Year

August 5, 2021August 5, 2021 CustomizedGirl Leave a comment

It seems like just yesterday when the school bell rang for the final time last school year and summer was just beginning. While having fun in the sun seemed like it’d last forever, the time is now here to prepare for back to school.

We want to take the stress out of back to school shopping with looks that will have you excited to start the new year. Custom backpacks to hold your essentials? Check! Comfy jackets, sweats, & hoodies for game days? Yep! First-Day custom looks? You know it! You can customize our designs any way you’d like, creating a design that it totally unique.

We’ve broken down a few of the many ways you can incorporate custom apparel & accessories into your back to school shopping.

Custom Backpacks

Possibly the most important back-to-school item, custom backpacks allow you to be creative in your design while holding all your essentials. With various styles, fabric, and colors to choose from, there are so many options to make your backpack completely tailored to your needs. Explore our custom backpacks selection and start customizing!

First-Day Custom Looks

Say hello to the new school year with custom tees! Add your name, custom text, art or even upload your photo to make a one-of-a-kind tee. Custom-made shirts are also the perfect way to capture the moment with your kiddos for that first day of school photo!

Custom Masks

Slow the spread and stay stylish with custom face masks. Add your own custom text, art, or upload a photo for a unique take on this accessory.

Custom Varsity Jackets

This classic jacket can be styled in many ways and is perfect for the fall/winter sports season. Add your name, number, school name, and more for a customized jacket made just for you. Custom letterman jackets are the perfect way to celebrate you or your child’s athleticism, achievements, or to simply cheer on your #1 player.

Custom Spirit Wear & Fan Gear

Check out our custom spirit wear selection for the your favorite sports team, senior events, sports fans and more. Rally your group and get custom jerseys, hoodies, shirts, and hats for your next event!

Start the year off in style with custom back to school apparel & accessories. Head over to CustomizedGirl.com to start customizing today!

Staff Picks: Favorite Custom Gifts

July 28, 2021July 28, 2021 CustomizedGirl Leave a comment

With so many products offered on Customized Girl, it’s hard to choose just a few favorites. We went to our staff to ask them their personal favorites. Here’s what they had to say.

Meet Alyssa – Marketing & Design

“My favorite product is the Dog Bandana. I got it as a gift for my sister so her dog could wear it in their engagement photos and for the wedding day. She loved it! It was a big hit at the wedding!”

Meet Andy – Marketing & Design

“I’m a huge fan of our Unisex Fleece Full Zip Midweight Hoodie. The fabric is so comfy and soft and I always look forward to wearing this hoodie when the cold weather comes around. It’s my favorite hoodie by far.”

Meet Cindy – Human Resources

Cindy has two favorite products – the Ladies Racerback Cropped Premium Tank and the Flip Sequin Pencil & Makeup Case. “I love to wear the cropped tank over my sports bra for hot yoga. And the flip sequin pencil and makeup case is my go-to gift for my daughter’s friends. They can use it for art supplies, trinkets, and all the random things ten-year-old girls collect.”

Meet Sam – Customer Service

“I really like the fit and the length of the Ladies Slim Fit Super Soft Racerback Triblend Tank. It also has a ton of color options.”

Meet Hannah – Marketing & Design

“My favorite product is our Women’s Performance Leggings. They are seriously great quality and the fabric won’t pill up even after years of wear. I also love the fact that they are thick enough to not show skin or underwear when the fabric is stretched during wear.”

Shop here for more popular designs for your next creation.

7 Common Customer Questions