HeAvenLY MaNOR...

I’ve been hired for venue selection!!! This is the single most service that is requested of me.  I enjoy searching for a nice space to host your loved ones. People assume because it isn’t a full service that I somehow dread doing it…I don’t mind at all….it doesn’t pay the mortgage, but it’ll pay a bill (maybe two if they can’t reach a decision).

Event: Baby Shower

When: October 26, 2013

Location:  Raleigh (only)

Guest Count: 30

Minimum rental time: 2 hours

Budget: Cheapest available (don’t judge my client)

The cheapest places to host an event are community centers, club houses, and multipurpose rooms (church, park etc.) located randomly around your city or town. Due to the budget, I began there. I found a few places in the greater Raleigh area for the cheap. Places ranged from $35-$150 an hour.  I always express to my clients that essentially, “you get what you pay for”. You can’t expect Heavenly Manor on Hell’s budget (I don’t say that part now)! You’ll find with these cheaper locations there are additional fees, refundable/nonrefundable deposits, and a minimum to meet to rent the space. Luckily, hiring an event planner can sometimes waive said fees!

 

We began at the $35-$40 spaces! In some community centers these cheaper spaces are considered medium size rooms and can fit between 16-39 people. With the original guest count of 30 people, we should be fine!

 

I prefer to go slow when passing on my research. A few venues at a time when first relaying information, is normally the best approach. I need to gauge how my client processes information.  You never want to overwhelm a client that’s hired YOU to do the hard work.

Durant Park Training Lodge

49 ppl
$40-$60
2 hour minimum
 

Pullen Park Multipurpose Room

49 ppl
$35
2 hour minimum

Barwell Rd Community Center

16-39 ppl (2 rooms available)
$35
2 hour minimum

John Chavis Community Center

16-39 ppl (3 rooms available)
$35
2 hour minimum

Biltmore Hills Community Center

16-39 ppl
$35
2 hour minimum

 

I’ll keep ya updated!!!!

Xoxoxoxoxoxo

Mommy's Birthday Breakfast....

It’s been a MONTH…I was reminded that I haven’t blogged in a whole month…ummm

In my defense, my full time position has been in complete disarray. If you could understand what I’m going through, you’d understand my absence…but you’re allowed to view that as an excuse!

On September 8, 2013 I emotionally celebrated my 1 yr wedding anniversary. I know!!!! Time flies right? I simply looked at a pic of my dream ring (saved on my phone), wondered WHY it wasn’t on my hand, and thanked God because He knows best in the end. I do wonder what type of wife I’d make…ahh let’s be honest, I know I’d be the BEST! What kind of person would I be now, what would be my priorities, what would be my routine a whole year into marital bliss? It was both funny and scary to think about to say the least.

I digress….

Sooooo let’s chat about my last event, Mommy’s birthday breakfast! She turned 63! She looks a-freaking-mazing for 63, although I could be a bit bias since she is my mom. I had some surprises up my sleeve…of course. I decided to eat at Brigs. Brigs is pretty well known for huge portions and southern style breakfast! They offer free breakfast on your birthday, so it’s pretty much my tradition that I pass on to everyone else! I was able to reserve the room for NO FEE <-----Look at GOD! My mom travels locally and eats out pretty regularly with a small group of women (some her nieces), and because their jobs allow them to be off in the morning, I invited them to the shindig.

I decorated mom’s place setting with a birthday crown and red beads that just so happen to have shot glasses at the end of them! LOL!!!! I’d purchased one birthday centerpiece, 2 bath and body works prizes, and individually boxed cupcake favors (these WERE A COMPLETE HIT and the most expensive considering lavish cupcakes run you about $4 a piece). Mom’s favorite flavor is coconut, so she got the special coconut cupcake! The games were extremely simple…I didn’t do too much, but just enough to show mom she’s pretty special. I passed out birthday candles to all guests; they were then told the person with the most candles at the end of breakfast would receive a prize. To obtain other guest’s candles, they must not say and attempt to catch others saying “Phyllis, Alston, happy, and birthday”. Of course 6 minutes into the game, mom sees the centerpiece and starts dancing and singing, “it’s MY BIRTHDAY, it’s MY BIRTHDAY”. She did not WANT to give up her candle…she said “but it’s meeeeee, it’s meeeee”, her niece wanted those bath and body works bags so she said “AND???, give it UP!!!”  Approximately 3 minutes after mom’s candle was taken, I began to imitate her and guess what, YELP, my candle was gone too! The next game was a timed game….3 minutes (because she’s 63, get it?). I had 10 questions pertaining to mom that I thought were pretty interesting questions. Some of my faves were “how long have I been blonde?”, “what do I believe I can cook the best?”, and “what is my favorite soap opera?" Mom’s niece Pam won! That was a shocker because the questions were pretty hard, she got 6 out of 10 random questions right! The food was amazeballs as usual…everyone told me they enjoyed themselves. Mom seemed to be having the best time….we laughed so hard and that’s always a great time to me. Intimate events go a long way…and as you can see, they can be done for a modest budget! $5 for decorations, $30 for cupcake favors, $12 prizes, $0 venue, $1 games, and $10 for food.

Mom and I then ventured to the movies to see “Lee Daniel’s the Butler” as a surprise.  I made her think we were getting massages (she HATES) or pedicures (she’ll tolerate). When we pulled up at Raleigh Grand, she was as giddy as a school girl! Lol! We enjoyed the movie; Oprah did great, but the history…THE LEGACY…that STORY was awesome! I left with an overwhelming sense of gratefulness! It was really great to see a movie like that with mom….she was apart of the first desegregating school wave! We discussed the movie and some of her experiences. You know, I walk into a restaurant and expect the same service as everyone else…I drive down the road and I feel just as important as all the other people driving…it’s easy to forget  that it wasn’t always like that! Like….I don’t know what it feels like to sit in a colored only section. I’ve experienced racism a dozen times over, but it’s never been blatantly accepted during my time like it was for my mom then! Our parents had to do so much restructuring and retraining of their minds to feel an inkling of what I’ve always known.  Pretty profound…because how do you sit at the colored only section one day and then sit amongst the masses the next…of course you always knew you should sit amongst the masses but to actually do it? Clearly I could go on and on….

I digress….

As if I hadn’t spent the ENTIRE day with mom….when I chauffeured her back home, she then wanted to have a cookout. I had convinced her that I wanted to leave and that I was tired…BUT ugh….she goes “I don’t want you to go”….yeah I stayed. The food (hotdogs, sausage dogs, chicken, steak, hamburgers) wasn’t done until 8:30pm and I didn’t leave until 11:30pm. What a long day it was! Mom said it was the BEST birthday she’s had in a long time….. I succeeded!!

We stopped by Tanger outlets (where I bought mom’s birthday shoes) and we then visited her sister and brother-in-law for the weekend. They are 86 and 87 so it was FUN! Old people have no filter! Sunday, we came back from Greensboro and went straight downtown Raleigh to a festival. Mom did the wobble for at least 12 minutes straight. All in all it was a great birthday!!!!