I've had the HUGE honor to coordinate the link to the e-mag for The Little Black Book. Abby Larson from Style Me Pretty has put together this book of wedding vendors that you just have to check out. I will be one among the elite vendors of Lancaster. How cool is that? I'm so honored to run next to these spectacular vendors. To quote Abby: The Little Black Book is a one stop source for the best wedding vendors in your city.Look for Lancaster's link on TLBB on March 15. The creme-de-la-creme has risen to the top... glad I wasn't just cafe-au lait! http://abbyjean.typepad.com/littleblackbook/
Love...
I bet you wonder where I’ve been… I’ve searched to find the love within… I came back to let you know… gotta thing for you and I can’t let it go… my friends wonder what is wrong with me… Oh, sorry, that’s the song that’s been stuck in my head from the Sweetheart Banquet music. I really just wanted to say the first part… I bet you’re wondering where I’ve been. Well, if you look back at Feb. 2007 you’ll see that I’m doing now what I was doing then… taxes. I’m not the nicest person to be around during tax season. I have no idea how my accountant does it. I know that she cringes when she hears the words Perfect Settings and The Pagans. She can’t possibly cringe more than me.I did, however, have the Sweetheart Banquet. We actually had two times the amount of people as we did last year. It was awesome. Great times to be had… in addition I finally received my chivari shipment… how you like me now? We are the only venue in our area with beautiful chivaris. They bring me such joy. I could tell you about the fiasco I had with the shipment company but that wouldn’t do it justice. Just know this… Perfect Settings does not have a loading dock, we’re in the downtown, it poured down rain that day, I’m letting my hair grow, I’m the ONLY employee at Perfect Settings and I once owned a beautiful winter white sweater that I got a lot of compliments on. *sigh* Anyway, this is what I started with:
Midway through… my favorite part; decorating! – isn’t he just the cutest?
Aaahhh…. the beauty of it all. I had interactive materials on all of the tables. They spurred some conversations – and heavy debates that weren’t intended! We also had love quotes between each of the lovers and the game with the famous couples on your shoulder was a huge success. The cupcake huggers that I learned from a wonderful colleague of mine in California was also a hit. The food was definitely FABU! And the service was impeccable. I will tell you who catered if you ask… We ended the evening with a Sweet Dreams bar and I even threw in some green M&Ms to make life interesting! I said it last year and I’ll say it again… if you missed this year’s Sweetheart Banquet you’re missing out on a great treat of food, laughs and precious time spent with your Sweetheart. We really did have a blast. Mark your 2009 calendar. This event is sure to sell out next year!
The Secret really does work!!
I recently read The Secret and as fate would have it Oprah (good ol’ Oprey, gotta love her) had a show on just last week about people who have lived The Secret and their success stories. Jim Carey was on telling the world that when he first got into show biz he wrote himself a one million dollar check. Shortly after that – well… you know the story... *sigh* he received a one million dollar check. So I say to my hubby; Hubby, I want a million dollars!! Then I tell like three people the story and I say “I’m going to have a million dollars – no kidding” … ok… fast forward 2 days. We are taking a neighborhood stroll last Saturday and we are coming up on some sort of dollar bill. Tony says, “Dase, pick that up!” I actually thought it was $100.00 of course I pick it up – or Tony would tell you I turned into a hawk and swooped down on it – either way, I got the bill. I take a look outside and my 40 year old eyes are playing tricks on me. It’s a million dollar bill. Tony and I look at each other…. *sigh*… long story short? The Secret works. Let’s clarify one thing to the Universe…. I WOULD LIKE A MILLION DOLLARS THAT I COULD ACTUALLY SPEND!!!
Things that make you say "hmmm"
As with Martha (we're on first name basis), I've been hearing lots of things that make me say "Hmmm" Last night - yes, night - I was working and I heard a lady calling in to the Dahlia show requesting a song. She said she had Diabetes and her little girl asked her if she was going to "Die from her betes" her mom told her "no, honey I will be here for a very long time" and the little girl responded "well, then why don't they call it "Alive-a-betes"" Touched my heart.Then I was reading my Martha book and Mark Burnett (the creator and producer of Survivor, The apprentice and many more) said that a calculated business risk is just that; calculated. You go into it surveying the land and path. A stupid business person would take the risk and keep along the same path not caring where that path leads. Hmmmmm.......
Then my friend, Jeff, from First Financial Group - he's more than just a financing guru, folks - said "to change something, you need to change something". Hmmmm..... doesn't sound like a financing guy now does it? Sounds like he's more like a life coach - which he is.
Lastly, my friend Martha's book ends with this last line: "Make it beautiful!" Hmmm.... now that is something that resonates very well with me and my line of work. I love anything that is absolutely beautiful. This is what separates the amateurs from the professionals. The amateurs will compromise their standards and integrity just to get the job done. I'm not going to do it unless it is absolutely beautiful. That's why I love Martha.... we're two peas in that comfy little pod and that's a very Good Thing.
Martha said...
I'm reading "Martha Rules" by Martha Stewart. I've had the book for probably 2 years but am only getting to it now. It's a very easy read and very thought provoking. So here's my thought of the day that Martha said:
When you are through changing, you're through!!
How you like them apples?
Poor B
How hilarious is that?
Will that be Paper or Plastic, Ma'am? - how about CHINA!!
I can't believe in this day and age that we are even going to discuss this. BUT I've been asked quite a bit for the last couple of months about the pricing. I should also add that this may be because I own a reception venue.*sigh*
Ok.... the difference between having paper products at your special event and having china is actually a world of difference. Notice I didn't say wedding. There really should be no reason at all that you should be entertaining with paper on one of the most crucial and important days of your life. You've invested thousands of dollars on invitations, your wedding gown, flowers, band, photographer and a slew of other vendors to turn around at your reception and greet your guests with Dixie plates. I totally understand that budget may be a concern. Hire a coordinator! - a professional one who's had at least 10 weddings under their belt. A coordinator knows how to steal from Peter to pay Paul - always. The first thing they (should) say is: Well, why do you have 200 people coming to your wedding if you can't afford china? Anyhoooooo, I got off topic... back to China... last season I did a price comparison from china to paper. To entertain 100 people (and this is assuming you are renting this) renting china would cost approximately between $585 - $608.00 (I rent my china and linens for a little less than that but to be fair the numbers here are very accurate) to buy paper products of the same pieces it would be approximately $292.00 Basically you are saving 1/2. In the grand scheme of things, in 10 years are you going to remember that $300 that you saved?? Probably not. When is paper appropriate: Paper products are appropriate when you're having the most casual of casual affairs.... say a BBQ. I recently had a client that did a Texas style BBQ for a rehearsal dinner and they used paper products and it looked very good. But the whole event was very informal down to her favors. It was really very charming. I should add that the groom was from Texas. At any rate, don't run to the local Giant and buy Dixie.... if you ABSOLUTELY must, must, must, must, must have paper at an event could you please at least hire Party Plum??
Do it for me.... at least have all of the products match and could you (while you're at it) upgrade to plastic??
Be My Valentine!
Valentine's Day is my favorite holiday for a multitude of reasons. - that may explain the line of work I'm in.
Every year Perfect Settings hosts a Sweetheart Banquet. This year is no exception. We had a fabulous time last year and we're going to have a fabulous time this year, again! Come again with all of those "firsts" stories... some of you were hysterical and this year we aren't telling any secrets.
Smooches!!
My Christmas List
To borrow Amy Grant's list.... So here's my lifelong wish, My grown-up Christmas list. Not for myself, But for a world in need.
No more lives torn apart, That wars would never start, And time would heal all hearts. And everyone would have a friend, And right would always win, And love would never end. This is my grown-up Christmas list.
Anyone else??
I'm it again...
Not IT... just it. I've been tagged (yet again) by Isis of Posh Events - who by the way is the coolest wedding planner in Jersey (for the record) and Lynette Richardson Hall who's the wedding diva (in her own right) from "Whose Wedding is it Anyway?" So here are the rules for the tagging.1. Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog. 2. Share 7 random and/or weird things about yourself. 3. Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs. I've done 8 because there's always a party pooper. 4. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog. I emailed everyone so that people aren't waiting for their random quirks.
Weird or random thing #: 1. I fought a monkey who was in a dress… yes, the monkey won. 2. I send out more than 100 Christmas cards every year… and no, I don’t sign “love the Pagan’s” – that would be too easy. It usually takes me about 3 or 4 days to get them out the door. And BTW… I only send cards every other year for that reason – I even try getting a lot of them done in July at a Christmas card signing party that my BF does. 3. I make lots of noises with my mouth and it makes most people crazy. I scare them or they think my head just fell off. I can’t tell you that the car went racing down the street I have to say “the car went vvvrrroooommmm the whole way down the street!” I’m a great story teller. 4. I used to run 2.5 miles everyday at 5 am. When my dog died I stopped running. In May 2007 I decided I needed to run just to prove that I could still do it. I did but was sore for 2 wks. 5. I’ve had 3 dangerous stalkers in my life. Thanks, but 3 is enough. 6. In 2001 I had a life defining period of 18 months. It has made me who I am today – not all of it is better but it’s still good. 7. My mother raised all of us to be painfully humble. All of my sisters are beautiful but only one would tell you that she is. I have a hard time accepting a compliment gracefully and am uncomfortable telling you about my life’s accomplishments – if there are any… see what I mean? I always have to add one more – I’m not good at doing mediocre. 8. Lastly, I belong to a book group that has been together for 11 years. We often joke that we’ve been together longer than most marriages. We meet every 6 weeks and for the last 11 years I think I may have missed 6-8 mtgs. We talk about the book for a good 10 minutes…. the other 2 hours and 50 minutes we talk about life. At least 2 times a year I have to tell the monkey story so that (at least) one of them can pee their pants. What’s so funny? Remember I make noises with my mouth…!
Time to tag 7 others… My good friend Leslie Weeks of Leslie Manning Events http://lesliemanningevents.blogspot.com/ Jennifer from OC’s Finest http://ocsfinestweddings.blogspot.com/ Emilie from Emilie Duncan Event Planning: http://www.emilieduncan.com/pblog/ Christina from Simply Modern Weddings: http://simplymodernweddings.wordpress.com/about/ Kim from Parisian Events (yes from Paris!) http://www.parisianevents.com/parisianparty/index.php?paged=2 Amber from Amber Events: http://www.amberevents.blogspot.com/ Liene from Blue Orchid Events: http://blueorchiddesigns.blogspot.com/ Barbara from Barbara’s Brides: http://austinweddingcoordinators.com/
The Tour
The Candlelight tour was a huge success. I met a lot of great people and got at chance to talk to many of them. I even made a friend!If you've never been to any of the tours from Columbia, you really need to look into going to the next one. I have no vested interest other than promoting this awesome little town of 10,000 people. I can't get enough of it.
My Son The Chemist
On Monday I had the extreme pleasure of going to hear Anthony's dissertation for graduation. He did his talk on "Photochemical Process of Biphenyl and Ortho Derivatives" The talk lasted for more than 30 minutes and it's a good thing there wasn't a pop quiz because I can guarantee that neither Tony or me understood one word of his dissertation. We were proud parents nonetheless. At one point I got the giggles because it just seemed like Anthony was talking another language... I mean that. I had no idea what he was talking about!Anthony asked me to make cookies and brownies. No problem. For how many? I asked. About 100, he replied. Problem. Thank God for Pillsbury! This all came in the wake of decorating for the tour (see below). Even with the help of the Dough-Boy it still took a few hours to make all these cookies and brownies.
The first few pictures are of his peers descending upon the cookies. The other pictures are of Anth talking. I couldn't take a ton of pictures b/c Anthony was getting embarrassed. Shucks. It didn't help that my camera makes that electronic snapshot noise. It was pretty funny.
There's one picture of Dr. Iannoe who was Anthony's mentor. Dr. Iannoe worked with Anthony for over a year doing research and theories with Anth. I know Anthony appreciates him - we do too since Anthony's finally ready to graduate after 4 1/2 years of hard work. Dr. Iannoe told us after the dissertation that Anthony had come to him for a topic and he gave him one. After a few days Anthony came back to him and said that he didn't think the topic was challenging enough... imagine that. This topic must have been challenging enough for Anthony to tackle because if it weren't I think I would have been able to decipher at least one paragraph of Anthony's moving lips...
Christmas Candlelight Tour
The Columbia by Candlelight tour is set for Saturday from 3-9 pm. The tour is also known as the Ghosts of Christmas Past Tour - but you know me... I don't do ghosts. There are 9 sites on the tour... including the Odd Fellows Hall - that's us people. There are really cool sites on as well. Tom Hermansader is on the tour this year. If you aren't from Lancaster County you probably aren't familiar with Hermansader art - unfortunately. However, Tom is a very gifted artist and for years Tony has been buying me art work from Tom. He's famous for doing all of the art at the Lancaster Square. At any rate, Tom lives in a beautiful Victorian Mansion here in Columbia ... I'm dieing to see the inside. It's simply a beautiful structure and I'm really wanting to get there - that is if I can get out of here for a few minutes.Others on the tour have Historical relevance as well and there will be more than 100 costumed hosts from the 1840's through the 1950's. (This won't include me.) BUT what's really cool is that there will be a lot of "living window" displays downtown as well as having a chance to have a carriage ride. My place will have a remake of a Victorian ball down in the ballroom. There will be actors in costume redoing all of the dancing and all of the things they did at balls back then. My house is open for the tour and for crying out loud please come and make me feel like all of my Christmas tree decorating wasn't in vain. We have 4 trees up - yes, the 2 footer does count! and if I have to string another set of lights I'm going to scream. Ticket information: Tickets can be purchased at the Market House the day of the tour for $15. but if you buy them in advance they're $13. Call Christine Horn at 717.442.1702 to purchase tickets. I guarantee that if you come you will be pleasantly surprised of all of the history here in Columbia. I didn't get a chance to blog about the Lantern Tour in October - aka: Ghost tour... again.... anyway it was one of the most awesome experiences seeing your town through the eyes of all of those who've walked before us. The acting and the choreography was spectacular.
Parson Brown?
Last year this was bugging the heck out of me... as most trivial things do. So I ask Anthony - my son the chemist who is the smartest man in the world - well, second to his dad. "Ok... so who is Parson Brown and why are we pretending that he's our snowman? That's what the lyrics to Winter Wonderland say!"
He says "how am I supposed to know?" I say "because you want to be a chemistry and physics teacher and someone will eventually ask you during your career so you better get an answer" so he googles it and tells me. That put that to rest. So here I am minding my business in my office and on the radio they start singing; In the meadow we can build a snowman Then pretend that he is Parson Brown.... I completely forget what Anth told me last year so I google it myself...
"Parson Brown" is the term used to talk about a typical angelican priest of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. "Parson Brown" is not an actual person (though he might have been at some time), but a figure of speech, like "John Doe" is an unidentified male and "Charley" is a watchman. "Parson" by itself means minister.
The classic line from Winter Wonderland: "In the meadow we can build a snowman Then pretend that he is Parson Brown He'll say 'Are you married ?', We'll say 'No man, For you can do the job when you're in town.'" Sure, it sounds like some kind of sexual reference, but its not. It's just a priest asking a couple if they are married. They reply that they are not and that they will wait for him to "do the job" of marrying them when he comes to their town.
Got it.... not to forget it anytime soon either.
Ringtones
This has become a pet peeve of mine. Anyone else? I hate being somewhere that has posted "please turn off your cell phone" and then hear an obnoxious ringtone. I really hate when this happens during a wedding or at an event if someone is giving a speech.Whit's ringtone is a gospel choir and it sings: Someone's calling you, You've got a phone call baby So you better pick it up You've got a phone call bay-bay Please speak up!
I hate to say it but I actually like this one. Puts you right in church behind the pew. However, this is the only exception to the rule. I accompanied her to a photo-shoot and her cell went off and I could have killed her. So the time has to be right. I hate those tones that are really out there... like the other day Tony and me are at lunch and this little old lady - very conservative - is eating lunch with (what looked like) her son and daughter-in-law. Out from the Coach bag comes ringing a very loud salsa. It did make me chuckle but she couldn't hear it and so it went on until her son said "mom is that your phone?" She whipped out the blue tooth and said (really loud) "HELLO?" *sigh* I recently heard a ring tone that was that song "If I could change the world" but it really carried the "change" so it was; if I could ch-a-a-a-a-nge the world" - for heaven's sake.. you could change your ringtone!
Dr. Suess and some others
Remember that post about mottoes? Well I received an email blast about the mottoes being updated. I found some that were very cool - these are the ones I LOVE! "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." Dr. Seuss
Happy are those who dream dreams...and are willing to pay the price to make them happen".
"once you breathe in and out, everything else is extra. So go ahead live, love and laugh."
"You get what you give...so kill them with kindness and reap the rewards"
"The flower that follows the sun does so even on cloudy days."-Robert Leighton
"remember- Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astair did but she did it backwards and in high heels"
An A
Whitney managed to get an A for this picture of my great-nephew (I can't believe I'm old enough to say that) from one of her toughest professors. I had to wait for my niece to do an OK of the model release before posting it. I just love this behind.... it's the only time in life that dimples on your butt and rolls on your thighs are ok.
The assignment was "liberty" - he looks like he's been liberated! Great job, Whit!
Shelley
One of my best girlfriends is a travel specialist. I say this to remind you all of when you're booking your honeymoons you could call Shelley. She has a lot of different honeymoon packages. Not only will she help with your travel plans, I'm sure she'll end up being one of your best girlfriends too! I want you to peruse her website and make sure you look at the different options she has that you can take advantage of. If you don't find anything that interests you, please call Shelley. She'd be more than happy to help you pick out options that will work for you and your budget. And of course, tell her I sent you - no, I don't get a kick back I just get a pat on the back and she tells me "Dase, you're awesome"http://www.ytbtravel.com/mboykin
Catching up
On the roll today... making up for lost time. It's been nuts around here.I'm really digging this picture today. It's a picture of the inside of the boy's restroom.
The sewing machine was one that was left inside the warehouse. (The warehouse was last a sewing factory.) My mother was a seamstress but I couldn't tell you the first thing about this tiny thing other than 1. it's cute and 2. it's made by Singer. We got rid of a lot of sewing machines but I couldn't part with this one... or about 5 other ones. I took this picture right after we finished the decorating of the ladies room. I'd show you some of those pics but the picture doesn't do it any justice - if I say so myself. You're going to have to come down and see for yourself!
Spam...
I get more spam on my blog than I have clients. What I found was there were key words that I must avoid... anywhere in the text. Those words are: the word that means you coming out on the top of a game.... (I just said I had to avoid them!) the medication that men sometimes take *ahem* .. and the word speedy gonzales says (in English) when he yells "Andale!" - I guess they all have something in common to the mating thing. *sigh*Brian, (my webmaster) how do I avoid this?