Resolutions, or should I say Goals!

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You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream

 

 

 

 

Its a New Year… that means Resolutions!!

I like to think of them more as goals. Somehow it seems easier to reach, easier to start….  and hopefully actually achieve.  That achieving part… that seems to be the sticky point. All those good intentions when you start, sometimes just seem to end up in the ‘well that was a good idea while it lasted’ bin and then you never quite get the ‘umph’ up to resume them.

I found one way to keep the momentum going on some of my goal setting; One of the things I’ve learned NOT to do, is bite off more than I can chew. Though to be honest there are times where I just whine like a child  and mutter about how not happy I am that things aren’t happening fast enough.

Goals are a good thing. Goals that are way out past what may be achievable may not be so good.

I would like to grow our business this year. Thats a goal. How much? Well, I think a reasonable goal is double. How will I do that? The 1st step, make a list, check off each step, and hold myself accountable.

How much weight would I like to lose? 20 lbs. A reasonable goal? No!! 5 lbs? 10 lbs? I think that is a more reasonable goal.

I would like to give more charity… it makes me feel good to do that. Brides N Blooms Wholesale gives flowers away on a regular basis to a local adult facility and to the company “Random Acts of Flowers”, but I would like to give more personally too!

Are there other goals/resolutions I would like to make? Sure!! But lets take things one step at a time and not to fly out of the gate so fast. I think those three goals are a good enough start for me! Now lets get crackin!

Random Acts of Flowers Thank You to Brides N Blooms, Wholesale Division

Don't forget you are what you eat...

 

 

 

 

Now go out and have yourself a flower filled, goal oriented day!

New Year Traditions

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In Florida, and pretty much the whole USA, New Years Eve is celebrated with friends and family, food and drink, a toast to ring in the new year, A kiss to commemorate what will be and watching the countdown at Times Square.

I thought it might be fun to see how the rest of the world celebrates New Years!

  • In China, firecrackers were believed to rout the forces of darkness and so they continue the tradition.
  • Italians let their church bells peal.
  • The Swiss beat drums and drop dollops of whipped cream on the floor (and allowed to remain there), symbolizing the richness of the year to come.
  • The tradition of eating 12 grapes at midnight comes from Spain.
  • The Dutch eat fritters called olie bollen, or any ring-shaped treat (such as a donut) to symbolize “coming full circle” and leads to good fortune.
  • In England a mulled cider type drink, called Wassail is a holiday tradition. It usually contains fruit juices, cinnamon, cloves and other spices
  • The spiced “hot pot” is the Scottish version of Wassail. It’s customary to drink a glass or two at home before sharing with neighbors. They also follow the custom of first-footing which is an important part of the celebration of Hogmanay, or New Year’s Eve Day.

These traditions still carry on:

  • Christian churches hold “watch-night” services, a custom that began in 1770 at Old St. Georges Methodist Church in Philadelphia.
  • The practice of making New Year’s resolutions, is said to have begun with the Babylonians as early as 2600 B.C. It is another way to reflect on the past and plan ahead.

And what would a blog like this be without uncovering a few rather odd New Years Traditions:

  • In downtown Johannesburg, South Africa, locals throw old appliances out the window.
  • Columbia, South America, hoping for a travel-filled year, residents tote empty suitcases around the block.
  • In Japan the faithful wear a costume of the next year’s zodiac animal to the local temple, where bells chime a sacred 108 times
  • In Denmark locals ring in the New Year by hurling old plates and glasses against the doors of friends’ and relatives’ houses. They also stand on chairs and then jump off them together at midnight. Leaping into January is supposed to banish bad spirits and bring good luck.
  • In the south american countries of Brazil Ecuador, Bolivia and Venezuala it is considered lucky to wear special underwear on New Year’s Eve; in some large city markets, vendors start displaying brightly colored underpants a few days before the holiday. The most popular colors are red and yellow: red is supposed to bring love in the coming year, and yellow is supposed to bring money.

Whichever way you celebrate and whatever your traditions, We girls at Brides N Blooms, Wholesale & Designs will raise a glass and toast to the New Year, wishing everyone a year of joy, happiness, peace, prosperity, good health and good cheer.

Listen to Auld Lang Syne – a beautiful version by Mairi Campbell

 http://designlap.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/happy-new-year-6-rose-candle-night3.jpg

 Now go out and have yourself a flower-filled New Year!

Christmas in Florida

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You know… Both of us girls at Brides N Blooms Wholesale & Designs have been living here in the Tampa Bay Area for many years. We both are originally from New York, though one of us is from the ‘city’ and the other is from farther northwest into the state.  I have to say that spending a winter in Florida is a culture shock. It’s one that even after all these long years, still makes us shake our heads in wonder.

Here are a few things that will always amuse us:

  • Palm trees with christmas lights (this will always make me giggle)
  • Big blow up Santa’s on a front lawn that is still green
  • Lights that are supposed to resemble ice crystals (Thank goodness they are not real!!)
  • Fake snow (We live in Florida to escape the scourge of snow) and then we pay for the opportunity to play in it.
  • Boat flotillas all decorated for the holiday (A party in 70 degree weather on a boat is fun, a party on a boat in 20 degree weather is not)
  • Christmas ornaments that look like flamingos or gators, or Santa in swim trunks (They are incredibly cute, but still make me raise an eyebrow)

I think we here in the Sunshine State know just how silly we appear to those who are experiencing that traditional “White Christmas”, but the truth is… we don’t care! We love our flip flops and darn it, no Christmas day cold snap is going to make us take them off!

I say, lets revel in our warm air while those up in the northern climates are bundling up! let’s decorate that lawn flamingo with all the lights it can hold! Let’s plant those poinsettias we’ve bought because, yes, they will grow here!

And last but not least, lets leave Santa a little bit of orange juice and a pair of sunglasses when he stops by on Christmas Eve!

Wishing you all, our dear readers, a very happy Holiday Season and a Wonderful New Year!

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

 

Boat with christmas lights, palm trees & dolphins too!

Poinsettias and Christmas

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So… how exactly did the Poinsettia become associated with the Christmas holiday?  I wondered, so I did a little research! Here’s what I found…

Poinsettia plants are native to Central America… mostly in the area of southern Mexico known as ‘Taxco del Alarcon’ is where they grow and flower in winter. The ancient Aztecs called them ‘cuetlaxochitl’ and they had many uses for them. Two important ones were the use of the flowers (actually it is not so much as a flower as the special types of leaves known as bracts). One was to make purple dye for clothes and cosmetics and the other is the milky white sap was made into a medicine to treat fevers. (Today the sap is called latex!)

Poinsettias didn’t arrive in the United States until 1828 when the plants namesake, the first U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett brought them here. After discovering it in the wilderness in southern Mexico, Dr. Poinsett, who dabbled in botony, sent cuttings of the plant back to his home in South Carolina.  While it didn’t gain much attention at first, its popularity caught on over the years, and by the 20th century it became a holiday mainstay. So much so, that there is now a National Poinsettia Day which is celebrated on Dec. 12, to honor both the plant and the man who brought it to America.

Okay…  But what does any of this have to do with Poinsettia being associated with Christmas? Well… I’ll tell you!

According to one interpretation, the plant is as a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem, the heavenly body that led the three magi, (wise men), to the place where Christ was born. There is also a Mexican legend which tells of a small girl named Pepita, who could only afford to offer weeds as a gift to Jesus on Christmas Eve. When she brought the weeds into a church, they blossomed into the beautiful red plants we know as poinsettias, ( also known as Flores de Noche Buena in Mexico, which is Spanish for “flowers of the holy night”).

Whether the Poinsettia has a special connection for you with the season or if you believe the story or not,  it makes no matter. I say, lets just choose to admire the vibrant colors this plant shows off at this special time of the year and enjoy!

Red, White & Pink Poinsettias

Brides N Blooms Wholesale & Design is offering some of these beautiful poinsettias at a great price. If you are local to the Tampa Bay Area, call today and find out how to get yours! 813.852.2052

Now go and have yourself a wholesale holiday poinsettia and fresh flower filled day!

Thanks & Giving

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Since next week is Thankgiving, instead of blogging we’ll be stuffing ourselves silly with all the lovely treats we’re all so fond of for this holiday’s dinner. I would like to give a shout out and some thanks to all of our friends, colleagues, clients and family who honor us with their love and support.

So… to “give” first! Dorelle & I give our highest praise to all the wonderful people that have helped us get to where we are today. Our families (who have sacrificed much for our crazy business), our collegues who continue to refer and support us. Our friends… because where would we be without them!!

Now… the ‘thanks!” In particular Corey Miller of Corey’s Bakery, Melissa Marolla Brown with Calligraphia, Lindy Long (Lindt Chocolates), Jennifer Fuller Cummins with Melt Away Message,  Beth with Honeymoons & Beyond Travel, Eric Abril & Jill Manthey from Yacht Starship, Jennifer Sanschagrin at 1930 Grande Room, Deb Kelley with The write one Creative Services, Jacob Smeaton with Music on the Move DJs, Yvette Rouse from Sarjade Jewelry, Barb Nelson-Fuqua from Barb Nelson stationary,  and too many others, to list here, that we consider friends through networking groups, professional organizations and everyday business dealings. We cannot thank you enough for being there when we need support or help, for a generous heart and listening ear and most of all for being the kind of people we know we can count on.

We are truly blessed with all that we have, the friends we share and the family we hold dear and most of all for each other!

Now go and have yourself a wholesale flower filled, fabulous Thanksgiving Day!

Small Budget? No Problem!

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So! You’re planning an event. Most people pick a budget based on what they’d be comfortable spending as a whole for their event and try to work everything into that number. Usually, after the venue is chosen and the caterer is picked you look at the costs of those and see what you have left to work with. Most of the time what things cost is an eye opener, and sometimes makes it necessary to pare down what you originally intended to do, simply because most of us cannot afford a David Tutera type of event.

Now its time to look at flowers. You go on pinterest, you look on facebook, you do all kinds of searches to build a look or theme. The beauty of today’s technology is that it is easy do so, the downside is that more often than not you have absolutely no clue as to the cost of what you are looking at. When you find out through consultation and quotes, it can be a daunting task to choose which items in your floral designs are the most important to you and which you might have to let go of.

One of the things we always ask during a consultation is what is your budget. If you don’t have one, we try to determine what your pricing comfort level is. Many times we are working with clients whose budget is very small. But, if you are careful, creative and willing to compromise, your flowers can be done inexpensively and still give you a lovely look. Especially using Brides N Blooms, Wholesale & Designs, because we are a fresh flower wholesale company working directly with the farms, and we get your flowers in bulk at a lower cost.

Below are pictures from a recent wedding where the bride decided in order to keep her costs low, to forgo the bridal party flowers and just had her bouquet done. She chose her table decorations as the most important items in her floral budget. She went to craft stores and thrift stores to find interesting and inexpensive table decor.  (We encourage our price conscious clients to do that… the more YOU find and buy, the better for your budget.)  In the end her decor was very personal and unique, she was able to get a good amount of flowers for her money and she was willing to compromise in certain areas.

Wedding flowers do not have to break the budget, with a little bit of ingenuity these wedding flowers and designs were done for a party of 50-60 people and included table decor & centerpieces, cocktail tables, escort table & bridal bouquet all for $500.00.

Here is a sample of items from the event. If you’d like to see everything, check out our facebook page at:  http://www.facebook.com/bridesnbloomsdesigns

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Now go out and have yourself a wholesale flower filled day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Marriage doesn’t make you happy…”

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Have you ever asked yourself what being married means? (Or, for the more modern and less traditional couples,  being in a committed relationship).

I always find people’s comments to a bride and groom very interesting. We always wish happiness, joy, and love. But really… they are all completely different ideas, and come from within, more than from marriage itself.  Happiness, as we all know, is fleeting. Usually a momentary event that comes and goes in between the daily grind. Joy is something that comes from within. Something that grows from contentment and peace in your life. Love… now love is a totally separate entity from those other feelings and emotions. Love is something you feel for someone else. Yes, its important to love oneself. But love in a marriage or relationship is all about giving, sharing, and doing for someone else.

Awhile back I remember reading a quote a friend gave me. It said “Marriage doesn’t make you happy. Marriage makes you married.” Marriage is a partnership, a team effort and just like with any team you have to practice. So for those of you who might be getting married soon remember a few things:

1. The more you give, the more you get back. That goes for love itself, acts of kindness, compassion and forgiveness.

2. Communication is key. Hiding or holding something back is like a little black worm in your relationship. Learn to say what you need to…even if its scary, even if its something you know your partner may not want to know or hear.

3. Learn about yourself and give your spouse space to do the same. You may grow together, but you are also separate human beings that need to realize you’re own potential and then you can value each other.

4. Patience… be patient with each other. People grow and change at different rates. People do the things they need to when they are ready. Pushing and trying to change someone will only frustrate you. Your spouse is a whole package. You cannot pick and choose the pieces you like and try to change the rest. Love who they are fully and compassionately.

5. Stay best friends. Always….

Marriage creates an environment in which you can choose happiness and you can create a wonderful home and friendship that will bring you happiness. But the institution itself—like everything, it’s what you do with it.” – See more at: http://www.uscatholic.org/life/2012/06/25-year-itch-empty-nesters-and-second-half-marriage#sthash.rX1jnhC7.dpuf
Marriage creates an environment in which you can choose happiness and you can create a wonderful home and friendship that will bring you happiness. But the institution itself—like everything, it’s what you do with it.” – See more at: http://www.uscatholic.org/life/2012/06/25-year-itch-empty-nesters-and-second-half-marriage#sthash.rX1jnhC7.dpuf

Being married should create the space for you to choose to be happy. It should create a place for you to have a wonderful home and friendship, both of which can bring you happiness. The institution of Marriage itself does not do that… You do.

silhouette

Remember when you are choosing the right spouse, Don’t choose the one you think you can live with, choose the one that you can’t live without!

Now, work together and have yourself a wholesale flower filled life.

Marriage creates an environment in which you can choose happiness and you can create a wonderful home and friendship that will bring you happiness. But the institution itself—like everything, it’s what you do with it.” – See more at: http://www.uscatholic.org/life/2012/06/25-year-itch-empty-nesters-and-second-half-marriage#sthash.rX1jnhC7.dpuf

A Great Team

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What does it take to make a great team? Who do you look for when putting together a great team? When you were in school, teams were usually chosen by who was the most popular, the strongest, the biggest, the scariest kids. Unless you were creating a Math team, then, those qualities didn’t matter quite so much.

Fast forward, you’re no longer in school. You are choosing a team. A team to work with, and a team to grow your success. Now who do you choose? The requirements have now changed, but, who changed the rules? We are still going to look for strong people (strong personalities, strong interpersonal skills, strong convictions) We are still looking for Big people, (big names, big followings) We are still looking for Popular people (those who have lots of friends, lots of connections, lots of personality) I do think that we have put aside the scary people, for the most part, but, we will always need an “enforcer”, someone who gets the “dirty stuff” done. When you are planning an event, you want a strong team working together to help you make your event the very best it can be, with the least amount of stress.

Below are some of our team mates, these are the folks that we know can do a great job, and play nice with others. (After all, isn’t that what life is all about anyway?)

Event planner: Brenna Taylor… www.an-elegant-affair.net
Photographer: Roger Slater… www.ccsphotography.net
Venue: 1930 Grande Room…http://www.granderoom.com  & The Yacht Starship (Channelside) www.yachtstarship.com
Caterer: Stone Chef Catering…www.stonechef.com
Bartending Services: Spunky Spirits…www.spunkyspirits.com‎
DJ…(We have a few that we love)… today we will only list one,  Jacob Smeaton… www.musiconthemovedj.com
Baker: Corey Miller… www. coreycooks.com
Linens: Custom Linens… www.customlinenrentals.com
Stationary: Barbara Nelson-Fuqua… www.nelsonfuquadesigns.com
And of course, Flowers…Brides N Blooms Wholesale & Designs, www.bridesnbloomsdesigns.com

Now, go, form your team, play the best game you can play, and have yourself a wholesale flower filled day!

keep calm and carry your team

Time and Design

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I think this week we’ll talk about time. I am intrigued by the ideas designers use to conjure up the ‘feel’ and ‘look’ of a time past.

We try to keep up with the newest trends and what they’re based upon. Lately, of course, vintage is very popular. Our last wedding show we created a beautiful table of what is considered ‘vintage’ looking items. But I wonder if I were able to ask my grandmother what her bouquets or table flowers looked like, would it even remotely look like what she had? I decided to see if I could figure that out.

So, here is the vintage table that we showcased at the latest Tampa Bay Wedding Show:

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Now here is a picture my grandmother at her wedding in 1934… which by today’s standards, would be considered vintage! Notice she is holding simple spray roses and greenery. There are silk orange blossom strands on her hat/veil and strands of pearls around her neck

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It’s easy to see why items like flowing pearls, broaches with crystals & gemstones using white gold and filigree style patterns invoke the stylistic ‘vintage’ look of today. I would also venture to guess that it was not the common masses that owned much of those items, but what was shown in movies of that time or in pictures of the wealthier families who were famous then.

The 50’s retro style also seems to be based in a somewhat accurate replication of what was worn back then. Such as the sweetheart necklines, the Peter Pan collar & tiny rows of buttons on dresses, as well as the shorter “tea length” style dress so one can show off their shoes! Flowers were very traditional roses or carnations and smaller bouquets also seemed to be the norm. (though I’m sure the same was true then as is today, how much money one had to spend on their wedding would be a determining factor for that)

Here is my mother’s wedding dress which has the sweetheart neckline (though not as revealing as what we see today, it is the base for that design) and the small Peter Pan collar.  She also carried the popular smaller bouquet, though the long ribbon cascade ribbon creates a ‘bigger’ effect.

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This style dress from the 50’s definitely shows the typical style of wide skirts, button rows, Peter Pan collar and shorter dress.

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I look at what was popular in the 70’s and 80’s and I’m so very glad that today’s fashions are much more elegant and sleek instead of the large poofy styles that were popular back then. I can only wonder what accent details and styles that are popular today will future designers pick and choose from when I comes time to label our present time as ‘vintage’.

Our last showcase for the year, 2013

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For those of you who long to see, smell and feel the beautiful flowers that Bridesnblooms Wholesale and Design bring in…You’re in luck. Sunday, 10/13/13 will be our last showcase of the year… We have some incredible designer flowers that we are bringing to our table, some and see what kind of designs we’ve come up with to tickle your fancy.
We encourage you to come on by, it’s a FANTASTIC show filled with AMAZING event professionals. The entrance fee is only $3.00.

Big Event Shows   ***This is a photo from the last Coliseum show we participated in***
http://tampabaybridalexpos.com/
The Coliseum
535 4th Ave North
St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Date:
Sunday, October 13, 2013

Hours:
Noon – 4 pm

Coliseum Show

We hope to see you on Sunday, now, go, and have yourself a wholesale flower filled day!!!