Mother Always Said….
…Do onto others, play nice, respect people, never call someone an ugly name and treat people with common courtesy. Doesn’t seem too difficult does it? Why then does it seem we are accosted by a barrage of people treating others poorly? On any number of given days in the last few years I heard someone somewhere saying something offensive or behaving badly.
When did we become so rude?
As business professionals we work to make sure that we treat our clients with the respect they deserve and the care that is due them. After all, they called us to provide a service! And we are grateful for their trust. I wish that I could say that is the case with every service personnel I have come across, or with every client for that matter. Usually if someone does something rude or says something hurtful, I have to tell myself not to get upset. Maybe that person is having a bad day? Maybe they’re not in a good place internally and that will reflect in their attitude and manner. Though I think that could be the case some of the time…. I have come to the conclusion it is not the majority of the time. Our society in general seems to have become just a little less thoughtful and a lot more impolite.
There has been a number of times either at work or during leisure time (whatever small amount of it we might have!!), that someone was exceptionally uncivil and for no apparent reason except that it seems there is no ‘common courtesy” filter anymore.
Why do drivers never let you in to change lanes anymore? Why when you are in a fast food place, or a store checking out, some service personnel behave like they are put out to even be talking to you, much less helping you! When did we become the society that doesn’t hold the door for the next person? (and I’m not talking about chivalry, which I think died a violent death a while ago), I’m speaking of the simple act of caring that someone is coming in behind you, so don’t let the door close in their face!
When did we forget how to say please and thank you?
You know.. I really believe that we should re-learn how to Just Play Nice! Exactly the way our parents and teachers told us to on the playground. I think a little more courtesy and politeness would make our everyday interactions a lot more pleasant!
Thank you and go out and have yourself a polite & respectful, flower-filled day!
2014 Color Trends
So… here we are! It’s 2014 and with the new year comes new color trends and styles!
Here is the color palette for this year!
I do like the Celosia Orange and Radiant Orchid color combination, as well as the Dazzling Blue & Cayenne. Creating florals for these colors can be challenging, but if you’re creative with color blocking and flower choices it can really be spectacular.
Here are some flowers that I would suggest to a client with the purple and orange color scheme: Alstroemeria , Mini Callas, Roses or Spray Roses
Purple and Orange Alstromeria, Mini Calla & Roses
For that Dazzling blue & Cayenne color combo, flowers like these would work well: Gerbera Daisy, Orchids and Roses
Gerbera Daisy, Orchid & Rose
Flowers go beyond just words as a way of expressing your feelings with those you love. Floral designs are like art, and speak to each of us in a deeply personal fashion. No matter which palette fits your taste, whether its a ‘hot’ color trend or a traditional tried and true color scheme, there are flowers that will coordinate, enhance and make your event blossom.
Now go out and have yourself a colorful, wholesale fresh flower filled day!
Resolutions, or should I say Goals!
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
Now go out and have yourself a flower filled, goal oriented day!
New Year Traditions
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
Now go out and have yourself a flower-filled New Year!
Christmas in Florida
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!