Think Spring!

Tomorrow is going to be 50 degrees. That seems like summer right about now. But as I look forward to soaking up some rays I'm struck by the flower bug. I often tell folks that I should never have been named Daisy. I don't know a thing about flowers nor do I like to garden. I do love flowers, though. My favorites are Peonies. Pink to be exact... but I'm not picky... I'll take what I can get. pink-peony.JPG

So I got to thinking what a great idea a flower bar would make at a wedding or special event. Just put a few of these - and others that are your favorite out on display and let everyone make their own bouquet. How cool would that be? I know for a fact that women LOVE these bars. I did one for a bridal shower and I've also done one for a woman that was retiring that loved gardening. The picture below was of the later.

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Gimme whatcha got!

I promise, this will only take a minute of your time! If you wouldn’t mind, please click on the link below and answer 9 quick, easy questions about different design aspects of wedding vendor’s websites. Wedding Vendor Website Survey

We won’t record anything about you other than what state or country you are from - we don’t even ask for your email address so no spam or anything like that.

You will likely see this link on lots of other blogs and sites - this survey is being shared all over the blog-o-sphere so please take the survey only once.

If you have additional comments on the subject, please feel free to email me with those and I will share them with the other wedding vendors who are participating! We can’t wait to hear what you have to say!

(If you are a wedding vendor and would like to participate, just copy this post to your blog and email the link to emilie {@} emilieduncan {.} com - I will send you the results once we have closed the survey in March)

A Chair is just a Chair

wine-glass-pictures-03.jpg IS a chair just a chair? Before I answer that... can I tell you how awful I felt when I told a glass manufacturer in my town: "a wine glass is just a wine glass" This came on the heels of planning our grand opening and I was in need of 150 wine glasses. DH was furious that I would insult such a professional but truly I was just ignorant about it. I just wanted to buy wine glasses - I wasn't well versed in the aspects of wine glasses... so back to the Chair. I think it goes hand in hand with what I dealt with at the glass factory. If you don't know the industry you're left in the dark. I have potential clients that come in to the facility and say things like: "are these all the chairs that you offer?" or "do you have chair covers?" or - the worse yet "they look very tiki like".... on the flip side I can say that I get a lot of praise by offering the Chiavaris too. But I want to tell you why the Chiavari is the "Wedding Chair" - simply stated... they're gorgeous. According to Vision Furniture (a major supplier of Chiavaris): Chiavaris have become one of the world’s most popular seats for special events and occasions ranging from weddings, to high profile entertainment events such as the Grammy’s and seating for popular TV Shows like Dancing with the Stars.

Essentially, the beautiful Chiavari Chair is a sophisticated chair that is not only elegant, but also affordable and a practical solution for managing seating for a small wedding of 30 to a large gala of 3,000.

Heck... there were chiavaris at the Inauguration Ball, Receptions and after parties. And if you go on ANY of Martha's Sites there are chiavari's peppered throughout.

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In closing a chair isn't just a chair... just like a house isn't a home - ask Luther! - there really is no comparison as far as I'm concerned. Chairs can make a world of difference. If your event colors are chocolate and lime green (which btw is my next wedding) and have purple chairs to contend with... I'd be asking for chair covers. Side note: Chair covers for Chiavaris rent for $12 each... custom chair covers for chivaris rent for ~$18 ea. To rent chiavaris for a special event (from a rental company) they rent for $8 per chair plus the chair pad which is another $1. Renting the facility at Perfect Settings is getting more than your bargaining for! perfect-settings-venue.jpg

Budgets, oh my!

I received an email today that said something along the lines... "we want to get married this year and our budget is $10K" She wanted to know a) how much coordinating costs + b) did I think $10K was a healthy budget.There are sooooo many variables just looking at the surface here. I coordinated a wedding last year for $15K and they had 36 people in attendance. That's a very healthy budget. I've also coordinated a wedding for $15K and they had 125 people in attendance. Were the weddings the same? Maybe some of the same elements were used but the weddings were stark in contrast. My coordinating fee doesn't run on a sliding scale. Both of the above weddings hired me as a full service coordinator and they paid the same amount. That said... I've had people come to my office and ask if a $10K budget was doable and after some prodding I find out they have 20 attendants and 200 guests on the list. Is it doable? Sure but it would be more cost effective for you to plan everything. You could, perhaps, hire a coordinator on an hourly rate to just brainstorm ideas. That would help you immensely!

What IS love?

I've read these so many times and yet never tire of them. I hope you enjoy the true innocence of love and prayerfully you will find this in your life as well....

'When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love.'

Rebecca- age 8

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'When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.'

Billy - age 4

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'Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.'

Karl - age 5

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'Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.'

Chrissy - age 6

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'Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.'

Terri - age 4

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'Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.'

Danny - age 7

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'Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss'

Emily - age 8

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'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.'

Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)

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'If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,'

Nikka - age 6 (we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)

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'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.'

Noelle - age 7

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'Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.'

Tommy - age 6

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'During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling.

He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore.'

Cindy - age 8

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'My mommy loves me more than anybody You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.'

Clare - age 6

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'Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.'

Elaine-age 5

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'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.'

Chris - age 7

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'Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.'

Mary Ann - age 4

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'I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.'

Lauren - age 4

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'When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.' (what an image)

Karen - age 7

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'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross.'

Mark - age 6

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'You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.'

Jessica - age 8

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And the final one

The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife.

Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.

When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said,

'Nothing, I just helped him cry'

Is a Taser a great gift? .. you be the judge.

I read this story in 2005 and forwarded to everyone I knew. Can I tell you how much this made me laugh? So I researched it and found it again. Enjoy!! Last weekend I saw something at Larry's Pistol & Pawn Shop that sparked my interest. The occasion was our 15th anniversary and I was looking for a little something extra for my wife Julie. What I came across was a 100,000-volt, pocket/purse-sized taser. The effects of the taser were supposed to be short lived, with no long-term adverse affect on your assailant, allowing her adequate time to retreat to safety....

'WAY TOO COOL! Long story short, I bought the device and brought it home.

I loaded two AAA batteries in the darn thing and pushed the button. Nothing! I was disappointed. I learned, however, that if I pushed the button AND pressed it against a metal surface at the same time; I'd get the blue arc of electricity darting back and forth between the prongs.

AWESOME!!!

Unfortunately, I have yet to explain to Julie what that burn spot is on the face of her microwave.

Okay, so I was home alone with this new toy, thinking to myself that it couldn't be all that bad with only two triple-A batteries, right?

There I sat in my recliner, my cat Gracie looking on intently (trusting little soul) while I was reading the directions and thinking that I really needed to try this thing out on a flesh & blood moving target.

I must admit I thought about zapping Gracie (for a fraction of a second) and thought better of it. She is such a sweet cat. But, if I was going to give this thing to my wife to protect herself against a mugger, I did want some assurance that it would work as advertised. Am I wrong?

So, there I sat in a pair of shorts and a tank top with my reading glasses perched delicately on the bridge of my nose, directions in one hand, and taser in another.

The directions said that a one-second burst would shock and disorient your assailant; a two-second burst was supposed to cause muscle spasms and a major loss of bodily control; a three-second burst would purportedly make your assailant flop on the ground like a fish out of water. Any burst longer than three seconds would be wasting the batteries. All the while I'm looking at this little device measuring about 5" long, less than 3/4 inch in circumference; pretty cute really and (loaded with two itsy, bitsy triple-A batteries) thinking to myself, "no possible way!"

What happened next is almost beyond description, but I'll do my best... I'm sitting there alone, Gracie looking on with her head cocked to one side as to say, "don't do it master," reasoning that a one- second burst from such a tiny little ole thing couldn't hurt all that bad. I decided to give myself a one-second burst just for heck of it. I touched the prongs to my naked thigh, pushed the button, and ..

HOLY MOTHER OF GOD, WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION!

I'm pretty sure Jessie Ventura ran in through the side door, picked me up in the recliner, then body slammed us both on the carpet, over and over and over again.

I vaguely recall waking up on my side in the fetal position, with tears in my eyes, body soaking wet, both nipples on fire, testicles nowhere to be found, with my left arm tucked under my body in the oddest position, and tingling in my legs.

The cat was standing over me making meowing sounds I had never heard before, licking my face, undoubtedly thinking to herself, "Do it again, stupid, do it again!"

Note: If you ever feel compelled to "mug" yourself with a taser, one note of caution: there is no such thing as a one-second burst when you zap yourself!

You will not let go of that thing until it is dislodged from your hand by a violent thrashing about on the floor.

A three-second burst would be considered conservative.

SON-OF-A-... That hurt like **%!!! A minute or so later (I can't be sure, as time was a relative thing at that point), I collected my wits (what little I had left), sat up and surveyed the landscape. My bent reading glasses were on the mantel of the fireplace. How did they get up there??? My triceps, right thigh and both nipples were still twitching. My face felt like it had been shot up with Novocain, and my bottom lip weighed 88 lbs. I'm still looking for my testicles! I'm offering a significant reward for their safe return!! Still in shock!

P. S. My wife loved the gift, and now regularly threatens me with it!

Last minute gift

Here a little last minute gift idea for that special you know who. I saw this at one of the 50 stores I was at last night so I can't tell you where she came from. I do know it's a Hallmark Gift book.... and can you believe I can't find one dang link for it? It's a tiny little book with "stuck on you love notes" one side is called Sweet and Spicy and the other side is called Spicy and Sweet. The pink, sweet side are notes to your lovie that are just sweet... like, here's one: You were just the right person at just the right time. And you still are. Here's one of the red ones from the spicy side: You're a total knockout... let's have another round. ... I would add there... humana, humana. I bought the little book initially to give it to my beau then realized that I need to keep it and give him one of the notes every so often. Makes life interesting. Try it on for size!

Coupons

In time for the shopping on-line. Some of these coupons are for sales, percentages off and/or free shipping. Take advantage of them... I have! Couponcabin.com Ebates.com Couponchief.com Currentcodes.com Naughytcodes.com Couponheaven.com Retailmenot.com Shopping-bargains.com Couponcodes4u.com

Please let me know if you use these and how it works out.

I'm blessed!

dinner-party-web.jpg A colleague was complaining about being in a rut. Turns out the blogging rut-bug has hit the best of us. Here at Perfect Settings we are in the midst of event season. Between weddings, baby showers (cold summer?), birthday parties... you name it; we've been booked. It takes me until Tuesday to regroup and we're only halfway through... At any rate, it was suggested to blog about Thanksgiving so that's what I'll do since I have a ton to be thankful for. It used to be that when you asked a Christian; "how are you?" they would say "blessed!" but the saying has become cliche and now everyone is saying they're blessed. For crying out loud, Madonna said in this morning's paper that she's sad about her divorce but she's blessed - no, I'm not linking that one. I'm not suggesting people aren't blessed. I'm suggesting that you take stock in the word. I used to say it all of the time - actually I still do - so when my sister gifted me a ring for my 40th Birthday that says "Blessed" on it I realized how much it was that I said it. So now when people ask "how's business?" or "how are the kids" or "how's Columbia" or "how have you really been, Daisy?" I pause for a moment and consciously say "Well, when you work for yourself business can always be better but I'm truly blessed. My phone is still ringing" or "my kids have graduated and are out in the working world. They've been blessed" or "Columbia is coming along... we've been blessed with all of the special events going on" or "Daisy's good. Truly. I've been blessed... I'm in an industry where we celebrate love and life. We all have our health and I'm married to a fabulous guy." So as we all sit around the dinner table this Thursday and go around telling what we're thankful for - my kids are cringing right about now... - take stock in what way God has blessed you and be thankful. I mean really thankful. I encourage you to go into this Christmas Season without the commercial hustle and be mindful that life is full and abundant. I guarantee that Christmas will be more meaningful and you'll be better for it. Do I hear an amen?

*post script: The picture above is from a dinner party way back in May. I was supposed to blog about that in May. Better late than never. We had a blast - actually, that's where I'm going for Thanksgiving!

Murder Mystery Dinner

Check out the FABULOUS Murder Mystery Dinner poster! Yolanda rocks - talk about talented!!Mark your calendar people... 12/31, 1/2 + 1/3... that's it. For all of you that have been looking, waiting and checking in... we're on! This play takes place on a dirigible... I had to look it up too... a blimp... anyway, it's a murder that takes place on New Year's Eve so this play will take you right into New Year's. Let's face it, you're not doing anything this year that you haven't done before (is the hang over worth it?... if so, BYOB!) so come join us... reserve a table of 8 if you want, for those people that you normally spend NY's with. It's going to be spectacular. It's being put on by the same production company that was commissioned last time... they are the same company that puts on the Haunted Lantern Tour here in Columbia - which by the way starts this Saturday. There's no expense spared for putting on these shows and I was very impressed last year - if you know me you know that it takes a lot for someone to rock my world (however, it's the smallest things in life that bring me real joy).... all I'm saying is that you're missing a good thing if you miss this!

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BTW... did you notice I put that baby in the margin without shutting down my whole site? Yeah, baby!

Happy Anniversary!!

I have a few anniversaries coming up. It's awesome to feel a sense of accomplishment of another year of marriage. We focus on weddings so much that we tend to forget the anniversaries and anniversary parties. It doesn't need to be lush or lavish... just appreciative.I found this really cool web site totally dedicated to wedding anniversaries. How you like them apples? This week their focus is on parties. What I didn't like (them apples!!) was that you can't find an anniversary gift pertaining to your particular year of anniversary. So I guess I don't get a 22nd anniversary gift. I did find this site that helps with anniversary gifts. - they dedicated a whole site to gifts... I'm in the wrong business. BUT still no 22nd anniversary gift - even there. *sigh* Off the hook again!! HOWEVER.... upon further investigating... Sue used to call me Colombo ... there's this really, really cool site called Memory Lane that does a personalized art print of your life (or lives) together. Awesome and encouraging... maybe I will get something for my anniversary this year. Ok... confession; my hubby is really GOOD about milestone dates. He's never forgotten our anniversary... except for last year. Here's a pic of an anniversary party done last year. 50 years... whew!... now that's a honkin' milestone. hartman-50th-6-blog.jpg

Being MIA

No one really has to tell me that I've been MIA... check!, got it. Truth be told... I've been struggling with one of my book club friends and her diagnosis for the last 6 weeks. She had palliative surgery on Monday trying to buy her time and all of my book club friends were banking on her having that time to spend with her boys - and selfishly, us. She passed last evening. It's God awful.I've had some very beautiful feed back from clients/friends (no matter how hard you try to stay professional, people grow on you.) and colleagues... had to share this because life really is short and your presence and legacy live with people that don't even know you and that to me is amazing...

From one of my officiant and blessed colleague: “Father God, grief is the atmosphere right now. Please fulfill the words of Jesus who said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted”. We asked for your kingdom to come and Your will to be done. We prayed believing and the result is different than that which we would have preferred. However, we trust today it was more important for Jill to be in heaven than here on earth. Our logic argues with a “faith statement” such as this because of the love ones and friends that are left to pick up the pieces. I am asking that today and the days to follow that you will release peace and comfort in tangible ways to everyone grieving this loss. I pray that wisdom will come in measures that make each new decision easy. I pray that the enemy will not be able to touch any family member or friend as they step into this new season without Jill. God, it is hard to trust when things go wrong and I am glad that you understand that. Please forgive us for any unbelief and strengthen us through the Holy Spirit. You are God and Your ways are always upright. Amen”

“Cast all your cares upon our Lord and He will care for you” I Peter 5:7

From my last client of the year:

In her heart there was no quit that 's something we all know. And though we would love to hold her tight we have to let her go.

For her life on earth with us was through her journey had to end. But her memory forever lives on that you can depend.

There are few things left here on earth as precious as was she. So bow your head, say your goodbyes for God's angels set her free.

KAF 10.09.2008

Thank you to all of you who have rallied around my mental well being. Dase

7 years

It's been 7 years since September 11th... let's give homage to those who have lost their lives.The following came from an email that my niece sent me. I have since received it a few more times but for those who haven't seen it: 'MEET ME IN THE STAIRWELL'

You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news On September 11, 2001. Neither will I.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room with a man who called his wife to say 'Good-Bye.' I held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the peace to say, 'Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is OK..I am ready to go.'

I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their children. I held her up as she tried to understand his words and as she realized he wasn't coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out to Me for help. 'I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!' I said. 'Of course I will show you the way home - only believe in Me now.'

I was at the base of the building with the Priest ministering to the injured and devastated souls. I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He heard my voice and answered.

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer. I was with the crew as they were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the believers there, comforting and assuring them that their faith has saved them.

I was in Texas , Virginia , California , Michigan , Afghanistan .. I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news. Did you sense Me?

I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew every name - though not all know Me. Some met Me for the first time on the 86th floor.

Some sought Me with their last breath. Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the smoke and flames; 'Come to Me... this way... take my hand.' Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me. But, I was there.

I did not place you in the Tower that day. You may not know why, but I do. However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time, would you have reached for Me?

Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey for you. But someday your journey will end. And I will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are 'ready to go.'

I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.

God

Oh-Bama, Mama!

So on a day that I have to run and get some vet meds for my dog... I miss Obama. As someone who is STILL undecided about decision 2008... what a shame!My girlfriend runs the Columbia Markethouse... She gave me the following account: The morning of market there were two guys in the market... trust me she would know. This is a town of 10,000 - she knows everyone. The two guys weren't together but they were suspicious to her nonetheless. She had never seen them before. Then she noticed a woman at the front of the markethouse and she had been standing there for quite a while. My girlfriend thought that maybe she was lost so she approached her to ask her if she could help her with anything. The woman noticed her and turned her back and pretended she was on the cell. My girlfriend made her way inside... then suddenly there was a screeching of tires and people were everywhere. She went outside and demanded to know what was going on... a gentleman jumps from the black vehicle and turns to her and says one word .... "OBAMA" ... to hear her tell it is HILARIOUS!! Well she starts to bawl. They locked down the joint and Obama finally made his entrance and gave her a kiss.

Picture of Obama at Columbia Markethouse.

Video of Obama in Columbia.

All that commotion and I missed it. Anyone that knows anything about me knows that Thursdays (and now Fridays!!, baby!) are for market. How I missed this was beyond me! Dumb dog. And so... I start working again on Monday morning back to the same old boring Columbia PA. Oh, the travesty.

You're beautiful.

You ARE beautiful and it begins with you believing that.I started this entry to talk about cosmetic surgery and how I'm no advocate of getting it done less than 6 months before your event. HOWEVER, when I went to research some of the pictures... ugh... they were awful and the people writing the blogs about them were so mean!! Sure surgery can go south quickly but that's not the norm. I simply wanted to say if you want a nose job either wait until after the wedding or push your date back so that you have a least 9 months of recovery. I do understand that you may have a complex about a particular of your body and you will be the center of attention on your wedding day... that's normal - however, you really need to think this through. Interestingly, I learned that plastic surgery dates back to 700 BC! Talk about a bustier in a peasant's dress... geez. Lastly, don't "suggest" that any of your bridesmaids have any sort of surgery. They will never forgive you for it no matter how caring you put it to them.

PS I think Janet Jackson is beautiful. People are just haters.

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