Pinterest Dream!!!!

OMG! To be loved...No hunnie, to be LOVED THIS MUCH!!!! Granted, I'm probably toooo type A to relenquish all control but then again if he executed my ideas from my own Pinterest maybe I could roll with it! Awwe, I love LOVE! Congrats to them, she got her a keeper!!!!!!

credit: Joy M. Johnson

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/engaged-married-day-bride-surprise-pinterest-wedding-dreams-20455906

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqgRaZIRHRI

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!!!!

 

 

FuNNy RSVP cArD!!!!

Funny RSVP Card Shows Off Couple's Sense Of Humor 
^^^^^^ LINK

I saw this and completely fell in LOVE! It showcases the couple’s personalities and adds a very different twist to the boring, traditional RSVP card. What do you normally get on a RSVP…Absolutely Yes or Regrettably No? Where is the FUN in that? I would love to do a wedding for a couple that believed this was okay…I can only imagine what other exciting turns they took to get to holy matrimony!!! 

YES! I will be attending...

HECK YES...I’ll be there with bells on and an extra kidney cause I plan to get DOWN!

HONEY…I wouldn’t miss this Beyonce set you are about to play for NOBODY!

I’ll BE THERE…You can’t have a real party without ME!

Ahhh YES…I need to witness this union to believe it! (That’s rude! If your friends check that one, are they really your friends???)

TURN UP…TURN UP…in my Kevin Heart voice

Ahh Yeah... so I can post pics on social media like we are closer than we really are!

 

So I heard Dave Hollister was performing...even if he doesn't I'm coming to be nosey!

 

Yes...I heard you had a overwhelmingly single bridal party, I'll be there looking CUTEEEEE!

 

NO!! I won't be attending...

Umm…I’m SO OVER THIS!

I’ll pass, you be doing way toooo much wit yo’ extra self!

I’d rather play in traffic than attend...

You know what, I’m jealous, so I’d rather just talk ish at home

I don’t have a thing to wear to your royal affair

Girl, how did you even get my address? I’m good!!!

Because I know you’ll talk about me if I don’t bring you a gift and I don’t plan to bring you a gift…I’ll pass

 

See the way my relationship is set up...considering we use to...Never mind you understand tho right?

~XOXOXOXOXOXOXO

A PrincESS Bridal SHOWER

A good planner ALWAYS has some ideas rolling around; after all, I have to be prepared when people corner me for the knowledge. You tell anybody you plan events in your spare time and watch they hit you with “what can I do for this...for that?” I enjoy the random and various conversations. I mean, I don’t put in the research nor do I brainstorm for hours for an answer to their questions (time and money), but anything off the dome is free!!!  Your people ALWAYS like free!

A girlfriend (never thought I’d refer to my franns as girlfriend but I see that I’m getting old) hit me with “but seriously any help you can provide with this bridal shower would be amazingggggg but here is the catch tho”

Ain’t it ALWAYS a catch?

The catch was that budget BAAABBEEEEE! It was $100 that could be stretched to $150! The shower was scheduled 2 weeks from the time of the conversation. Wheeeew right? Don’t fret my pet…after needing a seat on this budget…a good ole lazy boy reclining seat…I started to ask the appropriate questions to access how I could best assist! I suggested having it at an attendee’s home, campus room (need a campus hook up), or an apartment club house. Most of the time the venue and food cost the most so scaling back on those big ticket items makes all the difference. Luckily the venue wasn’t hard…my client had access to a NICE club house! FREE! Yelp! Off to a great start!

My next suggestion was food…Ahh COOK, accept donations by a few select cooks, and pick up some party trays at the local Walmart or neighborhood grocery. I find that buying fruits and veggies is cheaper than having a tray prepared and you have plenty left over to keep refilling the trays through the end of the event.  A lot of people LOVE grapes, when I’m on a budget I buy bundles of grapes, even if that’s my only fruit because they are fairly cheap and always a HIT. I might even hit you with red and GREEN grapes! Watch out now! Lol One fruit isn’t ratchett, after all they make grape and cheese trays so go to town! Walmart, your local Wing spot, or actually Chinese eateries have pretty good wings! Looking for slightly more upscale, your local deli may even have a decent chicken salad or finger sandwich tray.

The client had the idea to create favors with pearls… bracelets or necklaces and add some candy, creating a cute baggie! Then on second thought the client wanted to use plastic slippers filled with candy for favors and save the pearl jewelry as prizes for the games. I suggested the client bake premiere delectable treats for favors…flour is fairly cheap and I knew my client loved to bake! It’s always a win-win. Remember candy and baked good favors if a person doesn’t mind the hassle. Putting baked goods in a pink and white box would be cute. I found a princess cookie cutter and my client ordered it right away. It came together nicely.

On to DÉCOR! A nice room makes all the difference! There were 6 high pub/bistro tables and the clubhouse was pretty nice soo a few splashes of pink would be all she needed for décor. I thought it may be a good idea to purchase pomander balls and lantern balls to decorate the space.  Hanging decorations have the potential to be tacky so one must be careful!! Party City came to mind ( of course) and depending on the vison of the bride we could go juvenile with Disney princesses or a bit more mature and only focus on tiaras! The client agreed she’d plan to get her a tiara! Centerpieces are always my favorite…my suggestion???? Bud vases with pink and white carnations!! Carnations are pretty cheap. Often purchasing from Walmart or Harris teeter instead of your local florist is inexpensive and worth it!

http://www.partycity.com/search.do?query=princess&category=Birthday+Tableware&pp=60&sortby=bestMatchesDescend&sortType=1

http://www.partycity.com/product/princess+cutter+set+3ct.do?sortby=ourPicks&size=all&from=Search&navSet=princess+cookie

 Peace lovies…

Engagement Ring Gallery

Here...

Play around and have a look see!!!

It's never TOO early to decide on your design! After all, if more people know your wishes...guiding your fiancee' will be a breeze!

Wellll, there has been an increase in the independent man picking his own engagement ring to his girl! We celebrate that! They've been doing REALLY well!!! High Five men!!!!

http://wedding.theknot.com/engagement-rings.aspx

M@rri@ge on the Mind!?!?!

Greetings!!!!!

In a conversation with a dear old gal, she’d asked that I write a blog. She was throwing shade because she didn’t have much to read during her lunch hour due to my neglect. That’s neither here nor there, more importantly, she’d asked that I write a blog on proposals!!!! Perhaps she’s dropping hints to the Mister…lol just kidding girl J

At some point in your life you WILL find that special someone that makes you think about planning a future together! Look at me speaking life over you… YOU WILL okay? Proposals are pretty special; heck ladies have been waiting for one the better part of their lives. You don’t want to be “that guy” that messed it all up due to a mix of anxiety and adrenaline! Women tell the story of their proposals over and over again!!! If I were a man, I wouldn’t want my girl to be fabricating the truth because I did soooo poorly. I believe the best route is first deciding whether this proposal will be intimate or grand! Next, customizing the proposal to your relationship ensures pure success. Having a plan is the most commonly overlooked stage of a marriage proposal but it is the MOST IMPORTANT!

If you’re looking for a more intimate situation, of course you can replace her every day ring with her engagement ring, write a love letter or poem, create a trail of roses and candles around the ring, slip the ring on while she sleeps, or take her to a fancy dinner while popping the bottles of bubbly. Buttttttttt……

Do you have a Flare for the dramatic?

Picture New York, a critically acclaimed Broadway show, you and the stage manager arranging for a proposal during the production or after the cast’s curtain call…

Rent a billboard where everyone in the city can witness your proposal…how freaking public!

Got money to waste? Renting out a night club equipped with a photographer, caterer, florist, lighting and designer is real over the top! So much over the top it may be hard to top it for your actual wedding…

DANGER ALERT: Pay the divers at an aquarium to put on a lil show inside the biggest shark tank available…Have them use “Will you marry me?” signs…

Choreograph a flash mob <----- they say it’s so 2012 but I still love them!

Create your own sappy proposal podcast if she’s an iPod addict…

Rent a hot air balloon and propose mid air! Stir clear of the power lines tho!!

DANGER ALERT: Seclude a place atop a skyscraper…wine and dine…dance and kiss…but don’t go close to the ledge now! Wow, imagining that backdrop makes me happy *thumbs up*

(One of my favorites) Orchestrate a treasure hunt…have clues at home, work, and close relatives or friend’s houses. Send her on tours and memorable spots all over town.

Hide her ring in a significant size treasure chest and have her “find” it while snorkeling…snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef? WINNING!

YouTube fanatic? Upload a sentimental yet funny video! She’ll be forwarding all year long…

A classic…jumbotron proposal at a sporting event!

Beach trip coming up? Hire a skywriter to spell out your proposal. I’ve actually seen that and it’s pretty cute!

DANGER ALERT: Propose while jumping out of a plane! Memorable indeed! (This reminds me of that episode of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air where Hillary’s boyfriend tried this and DIED…Dang Trevor)

Go away for a one day excursion…long morning drive…travel to an adventurous theme park or romantic resort…and propose!

Make your own message in a bottle…you’d have to purposely put it where it can be found but the thought is too cute…X marks the spot!

Create a webpage declaring your love and intentions…but remember once it’s on the internet there is NO LIVING IT DOWN! She may refer to it often and tell you about yourself lol

(I use to be in LOVE with this one) Buy a pet she’s always wanted and loosely tie the ring around his neck.

Gather your friends and family together and have them wear t shirts bearing one letter of the phrase “will you marry me?” or have them give your lady cards or puzzle pieces bearing the letters…she’ll put them together at the end…

Actually, take almost any of these options and make them a grand slam by adding a vacation to the mix…

Ta ta for now….