Sticks and stones

After a few days out of town and now a busy week with several parties and a wedding, I am stealing time away to post this week's blog.

I am sure you wondered what my "sticks and stones" blog would be about. That old playground song of "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me" couldn't be farther from the truth. Words do hurt and last longer than any bruise that comes from the sticks and stones. In my industry I tell my clients that what I do is the fluff stuff of any event. People will notice if there is no decor, but few could tell you five details about a room setup. What makes an event great are the guests. Here's where the hard part comes in. How do you narrow a guest list down when you have limited space or budget to accomodate eveyone you would like to have attend? And then there is that problem of : if you invite so and so then you HAVE to invite another 6 - 10 more people in that circle. And people do get their feelings hurt if they are left out of a great event. If I have an event that has a real issue with the number of guests, I try to imagine that I am asking guests to Thanksgiving Dinner. If it would be weird if I asked them, they are marked off the list. If they would invite me to Thanksgiving Dinner, then they are a definite invitee. And the thinning process continues. Writing their name on a "deleted" list is painful, to you and them.

And what if you invite them, but not their children? When my daughter was young, I looked forward to being invited to parties and hiring a sitter. When else could I have a great time at someone else's expense and all it cost me was a sitter? I am continually amazed when people get their feelings hurt because their children weren't invited. It should be no reflection on how the hosts feel about the children. The hosts usually love the children. But, for example, if alcohol is being served, I don't feel like this is a party atmosphere that parents would want their children to be exposed to. Still, it causes many hurt feelings to create an "adult only" party or reception.

THEN, there is the seating chart! Another opportunity to mess with people's emotions. "How come Susie got to sit by the honored table and I got put back in the back of the room?" I am always amazed that people somehow think they have to "live" at the table where they are seated. They only have to eat there. Then the room is open for mingling. I wish more guests would embrace this concept. Good luck with this one. As a single female, my personal preference is NOT to be seated with all of the other single females. I enjoy the conversation of men and couples and love to intermingled with them at a table. Again, writing a name to sit at a certain table can hurt some people's feelings.

NANCY'S CUTTING GARDEN:Back on track with alphabetical flower list -

Achillea, commonly known as yarrow, is named for the mythological Greek god Achilles, who is said to have used some of this plant's more than 100 species for medicinal purposes. Today, yarrow's blooms populate garden walks and floral designs alike, while herbalists continue to use the plant for its fever-reducing, skin-cleansing and wound-healing properties.
Availability and Vase Life
February through September. 4-7 days.
Design Uses
An interesting addition to mixed summer arrangements. Yarrow dries easily and is long lasting for use in dried designs.

Next week: More tunes!

Hope

I had pre-written today's blog because I knew I would be very busy with a wedding I have this weekend. But when I got ready to post it, I realized that today, my friend, Jill, is on her way to Kansas to meet her new niece who is coming to her new home from an orphanage in China. Jill's sister and brother in law adopted a little girl who is deaf and I think , 5 years old . I can't imagine the obstacles they face communicating with this little girl. I mean, do you sign in Chinese? or English? or both? And how do you let her know that you are now her parents and not just someone taking her to another country? It is truly mind boggling!

Hope Laune

The whole process of Hope's adoption has been a series of unforeseen events. I am sure Lee Ann and Paul could not imagine the feelings associated with all the preparing they did that led up to the day they first met Hope.

So I dedicate this blog to Lee Ann and Paul! You are brave beyond words. I personally have a special place for those who adopt children.

The Gift of Life

I didn't give you the gift of life,

but in my heart I know.

The love I feel is deep and real,

As if it had been so.

For us to have each other

Is like a dream come true!

No, I didn't give you

The gift of life,

Life gave me the gift of you.

--- Unknown

Welcome to America, Hope! We have needed you here for some time now!

Nancy's Cutting Garden

I am going to go out of order with my alphabetical flower definitions in honor of Hope, today.

Today's flower is the Iris. There are meanings assigned to different flowers and the meaning of the flower, iris, is hope.

I di a wedding a few years back that all of the flowers were white iris.

It might rank up there as one of my favorite weddings! Many of the iris that are available on the cut flower market are Japanese Iris and have little fragrance.

Although traditionally considered a spring bloom, many iris varieties are available year-round from growers. Irises are delicate, however, and have one of the shortest cut flower vase lives at just 3-6 days. They are not an expensive flower to buy and can be purchased by the stem for about $2 each. Irises are thirsty flowers, so process them immediately upon receipt to guard against dehydration and water stress. Remove foliage that will fall below the water line and recut iris stems under water. The advantage of cutting them under water is that the stems then take water up their stems instead of air. It is when the air that is in the "tube" of the stem reaches the bloom of the flower that the bloom wilts. Keep irises in a cool location away from drafts and excessive heat to maximize their longevity.

Next week I will get back on track. Thank you for endulging me while I recognize a very special day in a very special friend's life!

Next week: stick and stones....

Pitcher Drinks for summer parties

Pull out a pitcher! It’s summertime!
Many people know Limelight for our extravagant Galas and weddings. But we design just as many at-home parties and celebrations! This week’s fresh produce explores the world of casual entertaining.
Pitcher drinks provide the best option for serving fun drinks and having the time to enjoy your company.

Clementine Cooler ( serves 12)
6 cups orange juice
2 cups mandarin vodka
1 cup fresh lemon juice
7 – up
12 clementine slices
12 mint sprigs

Combine orange juice, vodka and lemon juice in a large container. Cover and refrigerate until chilled. Pour into chilled glasses about ¾ full. Top with 7 – up. Garnish with a Clementine slice and mint sprig.

You can also freeze orange juice in ice cube trays to add to the drinks to keep cold. This will help prevent diluting the drink with water ice cubes.


Lemoncello Fizzy Sangria ( serves 12)
1 bottle dry white wine
2 cups lemonade
½ cup limencello liqueur
2 lemons, cut into wheels
2 oranges, cut into wheels
1 bottle sparking semisweet wine ( eg. Spumante)
20 mint sprigs
Lemon peel twists, for garnish

Combine the wine, lemonade, lemoncello, lemons and oranges in a large ceramic or glass container and stir well. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight. Serve over ice ( or frozen lemonade ice cubes). Fill glass halfway with sangria mixture; then top with Sparkling wine or Spumante. Garnish with mint sprig and lemon twists.

Frozen Peach Sangria ( serves about 7)
1 bottle Moscato d’Asti
1 cup peach nectar
¾ cup Peach liqueur
½ cup lemon juice
2 peaches, pitted and sliced
Combine all ingredients except the peach slices in a blender with 2 cups of ice. Blend until smooth. Garnish with peach wedges.


Nancy’s Cutting Garden

Anemones (pronounced uh – nem’ –uh-nees) Greek “anemos” meaning “wind” are sometimes mistaken for poppies. They are available in peak quantities from May until October. However they are available on the international market year round. These colorful but fragile flowers are also called Wind Flowers, because it was believed that the wind made them bloom. There are about 120 species of Anemones. The most common species on the cut flower market is the Anemone Coronoria. This flower is available in red, pink, blue, yellow and white. The most common color is red.

The white Japanese Anemone is beautiful for wedding flowers, but a little pricier than the Coronoria because of limited availability. You can buy them in bunches of ten stems and they are generally pretty reasonable, about $15 to $20 a bunch. This is not something your florist would generally have in their standard inventory but with a little notice they could order some in for you.
For my gardening friends: They are a tuber and grown in zones 4 – 7.

Have a safe and fabulous Independence Day!!! Nancy

"Fresh Flowers are too expensive!"

Fresh Produce for June 25th

I had a wedding on my calendar for September 22, 2001. (Note that this day is 11 days after the infamous 9/11). My bride had just moved to Southern Indiana from Boston. Her family still lived there and was traveling here for her wedding. Needless to say a few days after 9/11, we were in "re-grouping" mode. No one was flying in airplanes and her family was trying to figure how to get here from Boston without a really long drive for some of the older relatives. Behind the scenes I was frantically trying to figure out how her flowers were going to get into the United States. Many of the things she had chosen were coming from South America and Holland.

My heart went out to her. Do you have a wedding without your family here? Do you postpone the wedding until who knows when. And how do you stop all the wedding wheels that are already in progress. She asked me for my opinion and I told her that in my opinion a wedding is about the gathering of a community of family and friends to help you celebrate a joyous occassion. Anybody can legally be married by a County Clerk or Judge. But the ceremony should include those you love. She decided to postpone the wedding and have her family and friends share the day with her.

So back to the flower issue. Huge refrigerated planes from all over the world with flowers coming into the United States were diverted to Mexico and wholesalers were scrambling trying to get trucks down there to salvage the orders. Millions of dollars of flowers were spoiled in cargo planes waiting for trucks that couldn't get there in time. And millions of florists were frantically trying to figure out how to get flowers. We live in a world that has gone global with many industries and the cut flower market is no exception.

I can remember a day when people used to get flowers that were in season to save money. I still have clients that will ask me what is in season in order to save some dollars in their budget. That day is long gone. I mean, really.. do you see gardeners with cutting gardens that can supply all the orders for a town or city? Most flowers are grown in countries that have longer growing seasons than many of the States in America. It may seem like this would add to the cost of the flowers having to ship them in, but it actually evens out, because they can produce more flowers.

The only time to be aware of inflated prices for flowers is around holidays where the demand is high. For example; Valentine's Day and Mother's Day. If you plan an event around either of these holidays, you WILL pay more for flowers. It's that old economic truth of supply and demand. Many of the rose growers take a loss all year to be able to have enough plants to supply the rose demand at Valentine's Day. Which is why you see so many cash and carry Rose specials. Growers are pratically giving them away to keep healthy plants for cutting in February.

There are some flowers that simply are not grown during certain months, but if you wanted tulips in November you can get them without paying an arm and a leg for them because of the global cut flower market.

If you are ever in Holland, make sure you visit the Dutch cut flower market. Football fields with flatbeds of flowers are bought and sold by the millions daily.

A new feature of my blog will include a flower of the week. I am calling it "Nancy's Cutting Garden". I will attempt to educate you about some of the flowers that are available for you and some of their traits. I will give you their common name as well as their botanical name. Maybe I should go alphabetically......

"Nancy's Cutting Garden" flower of the week: Agapanthus - Lily of the Nile

Cut agapanthus are available in peak quantities from May through August, with limited quantities the rest of the year. They are a bulb and for you gardeners, will grow in Zones 7 - 11.

They come in white, blue and lavendar.

The name agapanthus is derived from the Greek 'agape', meaning love, and 'anthos', flower.
The plants are native to South Africa and were brought back to Europe in the seventeenth century by the first European settlers when they stopped in the cape to replenish their supplies.
Agapanthus africanus was first introduced to Europe in 1679.

On the cut flower market, they are kind of pricey: $6.00 - $10.00 per stem. But you don't need very many to be a beautiful display, so they become cost effective in that manner. These are my daughter, Cassie's favorite flower.

Let me know what you think about the addition of "Nancy's Cutting Garden"! Hope you are enjoying the blog!

Next "Fresh Produce" Beverages for summer parties

When I was in New York last summer we heard about a jazz club and decided to check it out after an already wonderful nght seeing "Wicked".

We found the building and took the elevator to the top floor and followed the signs to Dizzy's . It seemed like a small intimate club and everyone knew everyone...except us. Some young people were there with t-shirts that said " Event Staff" and we wondered if they had come up after working at one of the theaters. The evening began with an unbelievable jazz trio. They added a couple more pieces and some of the audience stepped in to play piano, or bass, or clarinet. What a find! Some of the best jazz I have ever heard! And I loved that they all seemed to be connected. Perhaps by their love of the art of music. If I lived in New York, I surely would try to become a "regular" there and know many of them by name. We had a couple more drinks and aroun 2am decided to head back to our hotel. In the elevator, posted on the side we were NOT standing on as we went up to the club was a flier. This flier was an advertisement for the 13th annual "Essentially Ellington" celebration. It continued to say that the Juliard Jazz Orchestra and the winners of the "Essentially Ellington" High school jazz band competition would be having a private reception with food, drinks and jazz. And it would be held by invitation only on...............yep you guessed it. That night. In Dizzy's. Seems like we crashed a private party. No wonder everyone knew everyone but us. So for those of you who think jazz is a dying art among the young people, I am here to tell you that they have conquered the world of Dizzy Gillespie and Duke Ellington. If you are ever in New York, looking for some great jazz check out Dizzy's Club Coca Cola.

Fresh Produce for Thursday, June 18th, 2009

I found this great Irish band upon recommendation from a friend!

The Guggenheim Grotto

I love their harmony! One of my favorite songs they sing is "Philosophia". Go to their website www.guggenheim grotto.com and listen to some of their stuff.

Here are the lyrics ( compliments of Lyricsmania)

When we’re young we set our hearts upon some beautiful idea

Maybe something from a holy book or French philosophia

Upon the thoughts of better men than us we swear by and decree a

Perfect way to end the war of ways the only way to be a…

Work of art, oh to be a work of art

But in time a thought comes tugging on the sleeve edge of our minds

Perhaps no perfect way exists at all, just many different kinds

Oh but if it’s just a thing of taste then everything unwinds

For without an absolute how can the absolute define…

A work of art, oh to be a work of art

[ Philosophia Lyrics on http://www.lyricsmania.com/ ]

Enjoy! Nancy

Well, here I am! I have finally arrived in the world of cyber technology. It didn't happen without alot of whining. In fact, I haven't actually applied for a passport to this new world yet.... just in case I don't really care for the scenery.

I am hoping to keep you, my clients and friends ( and competitors) up on all the latest, greatest things in the world of event design....with just a little twist. If you are searching for normal "Martha" things, I can refer you to her website. But if you are looking for something a little different and a little unique, keep this blog on your favorites and I promise not to disappoint you.

Since my company is called Limelight, I have decided to name the "new ideas" section: "Fresh Produce". Feel free to browse, sniff and take of few of the things home with you.

June 10th: "Fresh Produce"
I have recently decided to train for a triathlon. Please don't laugh and spit out whatever you are drinking. I am serious! One of the hardest things for me to put my arms around is the Nutrition thing. I am pretty sure I have searched all the training books and websites and none of them include Hostess cupcakes and Pepsi. This obsession we have with food, brings me to the Fresh Produce for today.

There is a significant amount of time spent deciding on menus for the events that I design. And rightfully so! Most guests won't remember what the tablecloths looked like, but will always remember whether the food was too salty, too cold, etc., etc. Which is why I do tablecloths and flowers and refer the cooking to some of the fabulous chefs in the event business. I have had clients who need to work around special diets. Caterers really need to get creative for diets based on religious, ethics or health concerns. I present to you the case of "Dueling Diets". The bride couldn't eat gluton; the groom didn't eat meat or eggs. They didn't want separate meals prepared for themselves and wanted to please all of their guests. The result:

The Wedding Menu

Gazpacho Shots with Fresh cream

Butter lettuce with shaved parmesan cheese, fresh pears and balsamic Vinaigrette

Summer Squash Bisque

Roasted Vegetables with Cheddar mashed potatoes and Roasted Corn in a Phyllo cup. ( The Bride had hers served in a crystal ramekin)

Asparagus and Red Pepper Bundles

Tiered wedding cake

(Two tiers were eggless, and the third tier contained eggs but was gluton-free)

So the cake was nowhere close to a Hostess cupcake, but definitely met the needs of the bride.

Hope you have enjoyed my first blog! It wasn't as difficult as I expected....

Next week: Fresh Produce explores music