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To Blog or Not to Blog...

mondaymorningflowers — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:27:27 +0000

My Life is a Blog!!

I laugh at myself as I write that title but it’s funny how every time I have a “grand” revelation (and I use that term loosely) I think – “Wow! I have to write a blog about that”! I’m sitting here wondering when did my life turn into a blog? And the bigger question is, does anyone care what I think? I’m not so sure but boy, I really do love putting down my thoughts knowing that someone just might read it.

Last week, one of my employees commented on my writing because she really loves my blogs. She innocently asked me if I got good grades in school for my writing skills. I nearly laughed out loud but, of course, that would not be very Presidential of me. I very nicely told her no, I was never good at English or writing. I was completely honest and told her that I had to take Junior English twice, as I failed with a big fat F! I don’t know the difference between a verb and a noun and thank goodness for spell check! I’m a florist for heaven sake, not a book editor!! But back to the employee, I’m thinking she just might be looking for a raise!

Many years ago, a cousin of my mother-in-law’s did a tarot card reading for me. She is a professional concert pianist and does not by any means make a living reading cards for the likes of me! I’m opened minded to just about everything but to me, the proof is in how accurate the readings are. Right off the bat, absolutely nothing she told me would happen in my future made sense to me. I was not convinced as I drove home that night.

The very next day, one of the predictions she gave me actually happened. Holy cow, how weird that was! As time went on and I’m talking years, little by little each and everything she said would happen in my life, has happened except for one thing. Her very last prediction would be that I would become a writer. She specifically said that it would not really be a book but more stories about my experiences. I’ve thought of that last prediction over the years and it suddenly occurred to me that she was right!! I am a writer and it certainly is not a book and it is about my experiences!

Now, considering that this reading took place over 23 years ago that is remarkable! She could not have known the twists and turns my life would take, let alone the concept of an online “Blog”. I use the term loosely but I am a writer. I’ll probably never make money doing it but I sure do enjoy it. And if you are by some strange chance reading this, I thank you from the bottom of my heart!!

Wedding Designing, the facts, just the facts!

mondaymorningflowers — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 18:00:10 +0000

Inside the Design Bench! Part 1

I guess most people would think that all the flowers for a wedding come in on Friday and get delivered on Saturday. There could be nothing further from the truth. Luckily for us, flowers take time to hydrate and open but also the process of designing is a much longer and labor intense one than most people would realize. The flowers above have just arrived for our bride Erin, who gets married this Saturday. Stock, delphinium, roses, hypericum berries and hydrangea will all be masterfully arranged into her bouquets and centerpieces! A team effort is definitely necessary and most weddings take about 2 or 3 days to create from start to finish! With three or four weddings each weekend, it’s necessary to plan our time efficiently!

Designer Rocio is doing the next step to the centerpieces which is adding the lovely assortment of greens such as seeded euc, geranium, ruscus and mint. These centerpieces are already gorgeous before even on single flower gets added!

Working in assembly line fashion, Designer David artfully adds the flowers. In this case the centerpieces are getting deep blue hydrangea, lavender roses, deep purple stock, green hypericum berries, queen Anne’s lace and deep blue delphinium. After a designing they get a deep spritz of Finishing Touch hydrating spray and then go into the cooler to continue their processing.

Melissa is creating the two babies breath wreaths that will grace the front doors to the reception site. This is a slow and painstaking task as full coverage is necessary to give the desired effect.

When the flowers arrive for a wedding, they are hydrated and left to open at room temperature before being designed and then placed into the cooler. With 3 or 4 weddings each weekend, the prep area and coolers are a revolving door of flowers in all different shapes, sizes and colors. Coordination is necessary to do whatever items can be done ahead and leave more delicate items for later designing. By the time Friday night rolls around all Saturday weddings are complete and in the cooler until it’s time to load and go! Each wedding is grouped together making for a beautiful display of colors!

Designer Sheryl painstakingly creates all the boutonnieres and corsages by hand. It’s not unusual for her to work for 6 or 8 hours straight! Attention to detail is vital in this process as each wedding has particular requests for these pieces. Each piece is individually boxed and tagged. Assistant Yarrow makes tags in advance for Sheryl, as per the brides instructions. Sheryl also has to make sure they are correctly bagged together for easy routing on the wedding day. Brides usually need some of these pieces to go to her location and others to go to the church or ceremony site. Sheryl carefully reads each wedding proposal and bridal questionnaire to insure each order is correct.

By the time Erin’s wedding flowers are done and ready to go, the flowers and details of her wedding will have run through at least 9 or 10 people here at the shop. Each of us have a responsibility from helping Erin make flower choices and typing proposals, creating tags, setting up containers, assisting her with payments, and not least of all the prepping, arranging and delivering of her flowers. Whew!! Who knew that weddings were so time consuming and detail oriented but they are.

Look for Part 2 – the finishing touches, delivery and set up of Erin’s gorgeous wedding!!

Flower Power!!

mondaymorningflowers — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:07:05 +0000

Calling All Waitresses!!

Ok, I want to start off by saying that I have the utmost respect for anyone who waits tables for a living. The closest I ever got to doing that kind of work was my 6 month stint at a Dunkin Donuts my summer before College. Thank goodness I found my calling in Entrepreneurship and being a Floral Designer because I was not good at it!

Why am I calling all Waitresses (and not waiters for that matter)? It’s because yesterday while reading an issue of Floral Management I read about a study that was done back in the 80′s that showed that waitresses that wore a flower in their hair earned 17% more in tips than those who did not. So, that explains why I did not include the men in this blog but that really got me to thinking about the true power of flowers.

Our very own Shop Coordinator Sheryl often tucks a flower behind her ear while working and darn if it doesn’t just make me want to hug her. There’s something about a girl who feels care-free enough to risk looking silly by tucking a big old Gerber daisy behind their ear. Whenever Sheryl does it, I notice that I can’t talk to her without smiling. The power of flowers really hits home, even to someone like me who is surrounded with them daily.

I’ve also noticed more girl asking for flowers for their hair for Prom and even Weddings. What a wonderful trend. Since the beginning of time flowers have been a natural adornment for special occasions but aren’t they nice for everyday too. Just think, if you are a waitress, it just might mean a little extra spending money and who could ask for more!

Wedding Flowers? Yes, you should budget for them!

mondaymorningflowers — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:44:24 +0000

To Budget or Not To Budget

There is one question that I get all the time from brides. Want to guess what that is? It’s “how much are my wedding flowers are going to cost”, of course!

That is such a difficult question to answer, and not because we florists don’t want to answer it. The truth is that some brides want lots of flowers and others want the bare minimum. I find that most fall somewhere in between. Taking the time to find out what the bride envisions for her day along with any budget she has set, is priority #1 during first consultations with me. The issue that have is that most families have not set an overall budget for their weddings. This is not good!!!

Not setting a budget allows for overspending. You wouldn’t ask your realtor to show you houses without telling them how much your mortgage was approved for, would you? You don’t go car shopping with an open checkbook? Planning a wedding will be one of the most expensive “purchases” you will even make and I can not imagine planning one without it.

How does this relate to the flowers? If you look on most wedding planning websites such as http://www.theknot.com/ you’ll notice that they have guidelines for each area of spending. For example, the general rule of thumb is that your wedding flowers should be about 8% of your budget. Is this always true? Of course not. I’ve had brides that have planned very small weddings with an overall budget of $20,000 and flowers played such a big part that they budgeted 20% to achieve the look they wanted. I’ve had others spend less than 3% on flowers and decor. It truly is up to the bride and groom to determine what’s important and what is not.

Where it gets difficult for me as a florist is answering that dang question – “how much are my flowers going to cost me”. I usually start off answering this question by explaining that their budget is personal and something that I take seriously. I tell them that if they have a budget, they should share it with me so that I can come up with flower choices and designs that keep them to that budget. I explain that a benchmark that most people follow is the “8% of overall wedding expenses” rule. The trouble is that most brides and grooms have not set that ultimate budget. They are free-wheeling all the way! Holy cow!! Not a good thing. They don’t know that large number in order to give me that lower 8% number.

Right then and there without further investigation and fact-finding, I can not give a overall price. I have no idea how many brides maids or centerpieces. I have no idea if the wedding is to be a large formal affair or a small, private one. I have no idea if their flower tastes are for lots of high end blooms or small amounts of casual flowers. And so my job begins by asking lots of questions and looking at inspiration pictures.

The lesson to be learned? Set a budget, both for your overall wedding and each component. Once you have your floral budget, share it. Let the florist come back to you with ideas that give you the look you want without breaking the bank!!

For help with budgeting, check out this budgeter at http://www.theweddingcolony.com/Tools/Budgeter/WeddingBudgeter.aspx and for inspiration for your wedding flowers don’t forget to look at our own picture gallery at http://www.perfectweddingflowers.com/

Lily Power!!

mondaymorningflowers — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 22:40:48 +0000

The Power of a Lily

“When you have only two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a lily with the other.” Chinese Proverb

Lovely Lilies: I would not want to do event designs or wedding creations without them in my bag of “floral tricks”. Large blooms that come in many colors, some fragrant and others not. People often confuse Asiatic Lilies with Oriental Hybrids and so below is a bit of an explanation regarding what makes them different!

Asiatic Hybrids: The Asiatic hybrids are among the earliest to bloom, and also the easiest of lilies to grow! They have the broadest color range of any division, including whites, pinks, plums, yellows, oranges, and reds. Their flowers can be up facing, outfacing, or pendant, and generally are not scented. This variety general has a low cost than Hybrid lilies! They are also easy to use in hand tied bouquets and smaller sized centerpieces. Floating in a bloom or two in a small bowl makes an easy, elegant floral centerpiece.

Oriental Hybrids: Lilies of this exotic group are not among the easiest to grow! These lilies have huge flowers with wonderful fragrance… in shades of white, pink, salmon, and crimson. These large blooms are ideal for larger arrangements such as those that grace an altar of a church or decorate a large fireplace mantle. Large overhead floral centerpieces also benefit from these lush, full blooms!

The next time you are thinking about what flowers to use in your wedding give the elegant lily a try. Looking for something special to send for an anniversary? Why not send a vase of giant Stargazer or Cascablaca lilies? Want to express your sympathy without sending something that looks like a funeral display from years ago? A tall, clear glass cylinder accented with river stones and filled with curly willow branches and elegant Yelloween lilies make a lasting impression.

Sunny, Mello Yellow

mondaymorningflowers — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:37:36 +0000

Yellow It Is!!

Recently I wrote a blog singing the praises of the color

Pink for wedding flowers.

Now it’s time talk about yellow. In the past 2 months alone, we have done 6 weddings (including one that we are doing this coming weekend) with yellow as the predominant color theme. For our bride Jihan we mixed lavenders, creams and buttery yellows using a mixture of hydrangea, tulips and roses for an elegant spring mixture and an accent of lime green foliage softened the look.

Another dramatic combination has been yellow and steel grey. Our bride Jen used a mixture of forsythia branches, roses and orchids in shades of yellow to create her beach themed wedding. Accents of platinum along with soft yellows were an unexpected but gorgeous combination. Even her bouquet carried the theme using fragrant yellow freesia.

A very convenient aspect of using this color theme is that there are so many gorgeous flowers that come in various shades of yellow. Orchids, roses, freesia, tulips, dahlias, mum, carnations, alstroemeria, asters and lilies are all wonderful choices for wedding flower designs. Red looks wonderful with so many different colors such as rich reds, deep purples, creamy whites, peaches and shades of orange, deep and pale blues and lime green.

There’s no question: choosing wedding colors is one of the earliest, trickiest tasks a bride has to cross off the list. Choose well and you’ll probably love anything your florist designs for you and yellow is always a wonderful choice!

mondaymorningflowers — Sun, 17 May 2009 18:29:18 +0000

My Favorite Place Ah, Mother’s Day is over. I love the holiday because it’s not only good for business but it’s good for the soul. Delivering lots of gorgeous flowers to deserving mothers, what could be better? Today was a day for me to catch up in the office. I’m totally beat and so far behind on doing all my wedding flowers proposals, answering emails and order flowers for June and July wedding. It felt good to sit at my desk and plow through folder after folder. For the fun of it I went onto my Facebook page being I had not been there in over three days. I love connecting with friends, family and old high school buddies. It’s fun to see pictures of their kids and even (dare I admit) grandkids! At the top of the page it always asks what you wants on your mind. I notice I usually am saying the same thing over and over – I’m in the office, I’m at work or I’m at home having a glass of wine. How boring – huh!

Today when I looked at that Facebook Status block asking me what was on my mind, I said the usual. I’m digging out my desk. A few minutes later, as I stared at those words, “What’s on Your Mind” the first thing that I thought of was that I wish I was in Tuscany. I’m only 1/4 Italian but Italy is really my heart. I’ve been to there three times and I could go back over and over. Just the other day my husband asked me if I had any particular wants or wishes for a summer vacation and I almost blurted “I want to go to Italy” but I know that’s not going to happen, so I gave him a very demure “Can I think about it for a while?”. The truth is I want to go to Italy. I want to stay in a villa up in the mountains, next to olive groves and grape vines and drink wine in St. Marks Square as I listen to the orchestras play. Even now, I’m feeling homesick. How funny is that?

Well, a girl can dream right? So for now, I’ll look longingly at my pictures and hope that someday soon, I can go back to my favorite place. Bella Italia, it’s good for my soul.

Give a bit, get much more.

mondaymorningflowers — Sat, 02 May 2009 15:52:39 +0000

The World is a Mirror

Early this morning while I was stopping into my favorite bagel shop for my first cup of morning java I made an observation. Every morning when I go into this place of business, either by myself or with my husband, I always give a very enthusiastic “Morning” greeting to the wonderful staff behind the counter. I do it every day and I’d have to be having a really bad morning to not be bright and cheery about it.

This morning I did my usual “Good Morning” and I received a very happy “Moooorrrning….. how are you today?”. A little idle chit chat went back and forth “don’t you love the weather, thank goodness the rain stopped”, you know, the usual. Well, as I stirred my coffee and finished up my purchase another customer walked in and gave a very grumpy sounding “morning” to the staff and they gave her a half hearted “morning” back.

Hm, I thought, what a difference in how they responded to me and to this other woman. That’s when it occurred to me you really do get what you give. The world is a mirror, smile at it and it will smile back at you. Frown and that’s what you’ll get back. Hm, can it be that easy? I believe so.

This basic observation is truly nothing new. After the tough two weeks I’ve had, the fact that I still feel like being my normal, bubbly self with acquaintances comforts me in a strange way. It makes me realize that it starts with me and that I do have some control over things that happen to me. If I want people to be grumpy or even mean to me, I can start off by being mean to them. Of course, that’s not what I want so the knowledge that with a little kindness on my part, 9 times out of 10, I will get kindness and respect back. If that’s not controlling what happens to me, then I don’t know what is.

The world is a mirror and I’m determined to smile at it, no matter what. Why? Because I need it to smile back at me, it really is that simple.

A Spring Day in the Park with the Easter Bunny

mondaymorningflowers — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 18:56:51 +0000

Easter Egg-Stravaganza! Last Sunday, in the sunshine (but with heavy winds) our staff participated in the PST Radio Easter Egg-Stravaganza at Mercer County Park and what fun it was. Our staff decorated the Bunny Lair for the big man himself and had a craft table set up for the children to spend time coloring. We also sold lots of mini plants to help people bring a little spring into their homes.

The children were absolutely adorable as they concentrated hard on their coloring and proudly displayed their artwork. Over 2,500 people attended the event and a wonderful day was had by all! Thanks to our staff (Sheryl, David, Dianne, Heena and Kevin) for making is a huge success!

Best of the Knot

mondaymorningflowers — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 14:19:56 +0000

The Knot: Best of Weddings 2009 We are happy to announce that we have again been chosen as “Best of Weddings Florist” for The Knot 2009. We were chosen as an Editors Pick!

Monday Morning Flowers – Princeton is 1 of only 19 florists chosen for their “Best Of” publication for the whole state of New Jersey. We are both honored and humbled to be so considered among the other very talented florists around the country.

Getting married? We just might be a good florist to choose!!! )

Rose by any other name....

mondaymorningflowers — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:25:51 +0000

Our Cooler Filled with Roses of All Colors

My Favorite Flower – Roses Roses, roses and more roses. People often ask me, as a florist, what is my favorite flower. Hands down my favorite are roses. I love them! They come in so many wonderful colors, can be used in so many different ways. If kept in fresh water and a quick daily cut they can last a long time, and I love they way they burst open.

Eufloria Roses Used in a Brides Bouquet

Recently a customer asked me what they should expect the vase life to be. This is a tricky question being some roses last longer than others. Certain varieties last longer than other. Just as there are differences in grades of meat, there are different grades of roses. Some roses are bred to be very fragrant but have a shorter vase life while others with little or no fragrance have a longer vase life. There are many farms located all over the world that grow roses. Some grow hydroponically, some grow out in a field and other inside green houses. After years of ordering roses for the shop for both everyday orders and roses, you get a feel for what each farm produces.

Simple Blue Bird Rose

For wedding work I love the pristine petals and color selection of a premium grower such as Eufloria Farms located in California. Check out their website at http://www.eufloriaflowers.com/ Their roses cost a bit more but for wedding work, it’s worth the extra cost. I’m always thrilled when I see a close up picture of their roses, they are always perfect!! The other reason I love roses is because of their high perceived value. When you send someone a vase of all roses, they may think you spent a fortune but truth be told, even from your local florist, roses are a modest priced flower. People are often surprised to find that a gerber can often cost much more and that a carnation can cost almost as much. The next time you think “roses are too common or cost too much!” think again.

Roses are always a classic choice for both sending as gifts or to decorate for special occasions. The next time you are tempted to pick up that bouquet from the supermarket, give a local florist a chance. There is a difference. Let us show you. They sell the chop meat and we sell the prime rib!!

It's So Hard To Pick a Favorite...

mondaymorningflowers — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 22:11:22 +0000

Some of My Favorite Bouquets

When you do as many weddings as we do sometimes the bouquets, centerpieces and miscellaneous items become a blur of colors and textures that come into the shop and quickly leave! It’s so much fun and I rarely do a wedding that I don’t absolutely love the outcome.

I thought it might be fun to post some in my blog. It truly becomes a matter of finding just the right colors and flowers to translate their dreams into a reality for their special day! I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed creating them!

Give Them What They Want - What a novel idea

mondaymorningflowers — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 18:46:47 +0000

I’m a Little Bit Country, I’m a Little Bit Rock and Roll

I laugh as I write the title to this blog, because I’m really dating my self!! Donnie and Marie Osmond. Ah, the good old days. I just got off the phone with a customer who is trying to plan an event and needs decor. As I ask the usual questions “Are we going for something fun, funky or elegant?” it reminds me of that song that Donnie and Marie used to sing. Marie loved Country music and Donnie loved Rock. It showed how they were different and it was always a catchy song.

The truth is I am Donnie and Marie rolled into one when it comes to flowers, balloons and decor. It really is all about the client and finding out what their goals are. I often hear about florists who tell brides that they can’t do daisies for their wedding because it’s too casual of a flower. I’ve always been of the mind set that my job is to please the customer and interpret what they want. I love that part about my job. Nothing gets me more excited when I see a brides face light up when I start making suggestions that are to her liking.

A bride that I met with recently told me that I was in her “zone” and I got a huge kick out of that. That’s my goal, I want to get into the zone of my customer. I’ve always thought that any mixture of fresh, gorgeous flowers arranged artfully will always be in good taste. So, in the end, does it really matter what I like? I really like having happy customers and so some days I’m a little bit Country and others I’m a little bit Rock and Roll!!

A Trip to Italy - By Way of the Philadelphia Flower Show!

mondaymorningflowers — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 20:23:53 +0000

I’m back from the Philadelphia Flower Show and I have to say that I

was not disappointed. The theme this year is Bella Italia and anyone that knows me knows that Italy is my favorite destination!

This year I was lucky enough to have been asked to be a judge! I represented an award given out by the Society of American Florists, of which I am a member. Our judging began at 8:30 am sharp on the morning of the preview day and it was great fun to be able to see everything up close and with no crowds. My wonderful husband was kind enough to drive me in to the city and then keep himself busy for a few hours during the judging.

Afterwards, he and I were able to spend about 1/2 hour walking the show. The final judging was happening but the show was not yet open for the preview afforded the members of the Horticultural Society. It was wonderful to try to take it all in before the crowds streamed in.

One of my favorite displays was the one that represented Milan and was created by AIFD members. Each of the regions of Italy had their own area and Milan is known for their fashion, of course! Dresses, jewelry, hats and even shoes were all created using flowers. This display was judged to be the best of the show and I’m not surprised!

I also really enjoyed the “Day at the Spa” and “Atlantic” displays. Each were done by very talented floral shops that transported you from the show to their glorious worlds!!

I especially enjoyed all the warm, rich Tuscan colors used at the show. Deep reds, sunflower yellows and burnt oranges have become some of my favorite tones. Luckily for me my brides choose these colors often allowing me to “play” with not only my favorite flowers but colors as well!

Well, if you are anywhere near Philadelphia this week, I highly recommend the show this year. It’s a wonderful tribute to the floral and horticultural industry and is a wonderful way to pass the day.

The Cycle of Life

mondaymorningflowers — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 14:39:46 +0000

The Cycle of Life

One of the challenges of any business is having people know what your business is about. For me, it becomes especially hard because we do the normal flower shop stuff, which in itself has so many facets, but then add balloon decor, candy and funeral flowers into the mix and it becomes many run on sentences instead of one clear concise description!! One minute you are getting balloons out the door for a festive affair and then next you are creating a funeral spray that includes a symbol meaningful to the family.

Anyway, that’s pretty much what I love about my business, even if it does make it hard to describe. My husband is fond of telling people the flower business is about everything from the craddle to the grave and it really is true. New Baby, Birthdays, Proms, Graduation, Congratulations, Weddings, Get Well, Sympathy and Funerals. Our product touches people, makes them happy, and even comforts them.

From joy to sorrow and back to joy again. The cycle of life…is also the cycle of my business and I love it.

Business Was Blooming!! Even if I Was Fainting.....

mondaymorningflowers — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 17:40:53 +0000

We Survived and Business Was Blooming!

Well, the holiday is over and it was an eventful week. First, I scared the heck out of my staff by fainting at the shop on Monday. After a scary ride in an ambulance and a less than perfect nights stay in the hospital (I would have been more rested sleeping on the floor of the flower shop) I was released back into the watchful eyes of my husband and staff on Wednesday.

I’m also proud to announce that we did over 720 deliveries in about 3 days!! Not as many as last year (just over 800 last year) but considering that the holiday fell on a Saturday this year, we were tickled pink! All our hard work on marketing the business and attention to customer service really has paid off.

We also designed, delivered and set up two gorgeous weddings on Valentine’s Day. Mary Beth and Leah were the most adorable brides and absolutely loved everything (much to my delight). Leah’s wedding was fun, earthy and funky using all blue hydrangea, green hypericum berries and brown gerbers! Natural river stones and curly willow accent the flowers in both the tall and low centerpieces.

Mary Beth’s wedding flowers were more soft and romantic. We created beautiful bouquets of Cool Water, Vendella and Candy Bianca roses. The centerpieces were absolutely amazing and looks so elegant at Knowlton Mansion in Philly. Ceramic urns filled with mint, sweet geranium foliage, open cut roses, seeded euc, hydrangea and other billowing flowers in pale pink, lavender, greens and ivory might just be my favorite combination so far this year.

As I sit at my desk, recapping the holiday, clearing off my desk and catching up on the “non” floral side of the business, I’m very pleased indeed. We survived the holiday and business was blooming. What more can a girl ask for!! Thanks to each and everyone of my employees and husband. I could not do it without you and you make it truly fun. Oh and a special thanks to Plainsboro Rescue Squad who came to me when I needed them. See? You did earn those complimentary floral centerpieces that we did for you on January 31st for your Volunteer dinner. Last, but not least, a sincere thank you to my nurses Melissa, Ria and Sue who undoubtedly know more than the doctors. I don’t know how you do what you do, day in and day out. I don’t think I’ve ever met 3 more caring and knowledgeable women in one day in my whole life. You ladies rock!!

Beautiful Sunrise...did you notice?

mondaymorningflowers — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 13:21:43 +0000

A Beautiful Day – did you notice? In my bridal consultation area I have a picture of my niece. This picture is special to me because my niece was taken from us just before her 21st birthday and I miss her like crazy. As a matter of fact, her birthday just passed and even though I think of her every single day, I always feel sad on both her birthday and the anniversary of her death. I think of the “what if’s” and the “why her” on those days more than usual. Getting back to this picture, it’s of my niece and she’s about 11 years old when the photo was taken. She’s sitting in a neighbors back yard, holding her hand out towards a dandelion and from her side profile, you can tell she is smiling. The reason I display this in my bridal area is because it reminds me that what one person may see as a weed, another may see as something beautiful. It’s really all about your perspective. I love reminding brides that anything can be nice for their wedding, it’s all how they look at it. Especially when their wants and desires exceed their budget. I was reminded of this picture as I was driving into work this morning. The sun was just coming up as I drove past this field and it was unusually gorgeous in shades of bright pink. As I slowed down to look, I noticed that there were tall power lines in my field of vision and at first I thought “Oh, those power lines kind of ruin the view” but then I thought of my dandelion picture. I decided to take another look, a look that had no preconceived notions on what is supposed to be pretty or ugly and it hit me. The power tower was actually very graceful and elegant. Tall vertical towers with graceful horizontal lines extending towards the sunset. I thought that in their own way, they are beautiful. I realized that I enjoy the power they bring to my house. I would not want to live without the electricity they bring to me allowing me to watch TV, vacuum my carpet, dry my clothes and power up my computer. Instead of hating those power lines, I became grateful to them and noticed that in their own way they made the sunset more beautiful, not less. So, I end this blog – It’s a beautiful day, did you notice?

It's Time for Valentine's Day Again - so soon??

mondaymorningflowers — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:23:15 +0000

You know how they say the older you get, the faster time seems so go? That is certainly true for me. I can’t believe it’s February already and it’s another Valentine’s Day holiday around the corner. As a florist, I have a love, hate relationship with this holiday but truthfully, it’s more of a love these days, than a hate. Why you ask? It’s because after so many years of coordinating the business during busy times, it seems like each year it gets a bit easier and easier. Remember that line from “You’ve Got Mail” where David Chapell’s character tells Tom Hanks – “It’s a well oiled machine my friend”. That’s the way I feel about my business. Each of us have become so good at what we do that each detail is carefully orchestrated and executed. A well oiled machine indeed!!

David arranges the cooler

I remember in years past going to bed at 3 or 4 am only to have to get up again at 5 or 6 to drive back to the shop. It’s been years since we’ve even had to work as late as 10 pm on the night before a holiday. Most of that has to do with the way we organize ourselves after years of learning the hard way. It’s also takes years of building up a network of friends, family and past employees who come in to lend a hand during busy times. And so, I can really appreciate the fun aspects of this holiday. We deliver extremely fresh product, hand crafted and hand delivered at a reasonable cost, in a timely fashion, sold by a team of fun loving, caring and customer service oriented staff. So, it might get stressful and maybe the sales won’t be as strong as we might like with this silly recession going on, but to me, all will be right with the world. Our motto is “Let us help you send someone a smile” and by golly, we’re doing just that! What more can a business owner ask for?

Fresh Eyes, It's a Part of "Good Business"

mondaymorningflowers — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 22:27:16 +0000

The Shop….It’s Cute!!

About a month ago I was doing my usual buzzing around the shop and noticed a few people browsing. I greeted each with a “Hello” and a “Is anyone helping you yet?”. Each told me they were being helped and I did not doubt it as all my employees were hard at work wrapping bouquets and bagging gift items. It’s what I love about retail! That whole, I’m here, I need help and I need it now. I find it so stimulating!

One woman, as I greeted her said “This place is amazing”. She had this look on her face, her head was moving up and down, left and right and her eyes almost looked wild. I became alarmed!! What did she mean? Amazing good or amazing bad? I was almost afraid to ask but I said “Is that a good thing?” and she was like – “oh yes, this place is amazing”. I had to ask further, “In what way” and she went on to tell me that she couldn’t believe the selection of product we carried, how many employees were flitting here and there and also the level of customer service we had. I was so happy! What a wonderful thing to say. I told her thank you for the compliment, wished her a Merry Christmas and asked her to remember us again the next time she needed flowers or a gift. As I left the retail area to go back into the flower production room she said “I will be back”.

To say that I was giddy from seeing someone love my shop so much would be an understatement. As soon as the floral designer that had been helping her was finished, I asked what she had bought. I was so proud to hear that why this woman was so impressed with our shop was, she was in a bind, she had a gift and was going to party but needed it wrapped quickly. “I told her that I would wrap it for her, no charge, just remember us the next time you need flowers” is what my designer had told her. In the meantime, she had picked out a card to buy. My chest filled with pride!! My employees get it!! It’s not about making a profit on every potential customer. It’s about helping them out and making them life long customer. I mean, we sell wrapping paper but we also have large rolls of wrap kept handy. What was easier for this customer? Sell her the wrap, make her go out to her car to wrap it without a scissor or tape or just wrap it for her?

Fast forward to early January. Christmas is all put away, Valentine’s day displays are up. The shop has once again been completely changed over and Sheryl, my retail coordinator, asks me to walk the shop and check it out. She wants to make sure I like the way everything looks. I walk around, using the eyes of someone who may be seeing the shop for the first time and I’m impressed. Sometimes I think I take for granted what a cute shop I have or how nice my employees display our products. I notice that it’s completely clean, all the mirrors are sparkling, the shelving dust free. The coolers are filled with a huge selection of flower arrangements in lots of sizes, shapes and price ranges. It’s just adorable!!

I’m reminded how important it is too look at your business with a fresh pair of eyes and thank goodness, for mine it all looks good! And so, for those who have never seen my shop, a little scrap book of our displays and product for your viewing pleasure! Lastly, thank you to my wonderful employees who love their job enough to treat the shop as if it were their very own.

Shop us online at http://www.sendingsmiles.com

Plan Ahead and Save on Wedding Flowers

mondaymorningflowers — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 14:15:40 +0000

For anyone that has ever met with me regarding their wedding flowers, I have a battle cry that I state over and over. Pick a theme and stick to it.

How does this save you money on your wedding flowers? Honestly, it’s not about having tons of flowers everywhere, it’s more about creating a lasting impression. Impressions are more easily made when a distinctive color theme or flowers are used over and over. How often have we seen flowers for a wedding where there are 5 or 6 bright colors all mixed together and after the event is done it’s hard to recall what flowers were used or even what the exact color theme was. The eye finds many colors and too many texture to be confusing, leaving more of a confused impression instead of a favorable one.

Don’t forget that you should be looking for your wedding flowers and decor to represent you as a couple. No one would ever disagree, throwing a wedding takes lots of work, planning and money. Picking a striking but simple color combination for your flowers and decor will not only it make it easier for you as you plan your details, it will also keep you from doing over the top decor that will break your budget.

Happy Wedding Planning!!

Anyone for a March Wedding?

mondaymorningflowers — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 22:07:28 +0000

So, what is up with this new trend of weddings in March? Back in the day (well, a few years back, at least) we might have one wedding during the whole month of March and this year we have 5 already I am expecting more!

I’m not complaining, I love it but what gives? For that matter, I have quite a few in January and also in February as well. This new trend is wonderful. My designers are doing little floral happy dances because apparently there will not be the usual void of “No Weddings” from January to March again this year. I suspect it’s the economy and reception sites giving nice deals.

To be truthful, I think these winter weddings turn out nicely. The weather where we are in New Jersey and Pennsylvania rarely has a glut of snowfall so having a nice winter wedding is a wonderful idea. Brides and grooms that pick locations that can easily accommodate their ceremony and reception along with overnight rooms for guests seems to be a great choice! Some of our January locations are sites such as the Cranbury Inn, which is full of charm. The old historic town of Cranbury, NJ with snow has been a favorite of mine since I got married back in 1985. When my husband and I lived in Plainsboro we used to drive into Cranbury to walk the snow covered streets. The experience was always something straight from a Norman Rockwell painting!!

Two other locations are the Yardley Country Club and the Hopewell Valley Country Club. I think our brides have chosen well with these. Both would look amazing in snow fall and offer lovely rooms with pastoral views. A few of our winter weddings are also being held at the Nassau Inn and what a fabulous location! Cozy hotel rooms within walking distance to tons of shopping and fantastic restaurants, right in the heart of downtown Princeton, NJ.

So, I guess if you put together the fact that locations maybe more reasonable, people less likely to be invited to 10 weddings in one weekend and the ability of brides and grooms to see their wedding anniversary as anytime during the year, January, February and March may just be the new “in” time to get married. Want to see some pictures of our past weddings? Check out our gallery of photos at www.perfectweddingflowers.com

Holiday Spirit Alive and Well at Monday Morning Flowers!

mondaymorningflowers — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 23:07:40 +0000

Well, the big event at Forrestal Village is happening as I write this.!! There’s nothing like Florists dressed up like little Elfs. Our very own Sheryl and Yarrow pose with some small guests who stopped by for some free balloons.

Designer Dianne makes some last minute floral arrangements for delivery tomorrow. Doesn’t the hat look fabulous? Thank goodness I’m on this side of the camera!

The weather is really cooperating, it cold but clear and the horse-hayride has throngs of people lining up outside our shop. Hot cider and hot chocolate along with visits with Santa and an excerpt from the Nutcracker Ballet make for a fun filled day for the kids. Free wine at our flower shop, make for fun for adults!!

Before I sign off, let me just remind everyone to stop and smell the flowers and don’t forget to be kind. The holidays can be stressful but remember to slow down, enjoy the moment and be respectful of those around you. Happy Shopping and Happy Holidays!! http://www.sendingsmiles.com

http://www.sendingsmiles.com

Stressful Holidays...Family Time

mondaymorningflowers — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 21:49:10 +0000

Family Time. What is that exactly? I know most people think in terms of mothers spending time with daughters, fathers with sons, brothers and sisters getting together, the whole shebang but to me Family Time means spending time with people who are important to me. You hear a lot about Family Time during the holidays and those of us with shrinking or small families, it can make us feel a bit like an orphan.

Anyone who has read my past blogs knows that I find most holidays to be stressful and sad. I’ve tried to figure out why that is and I guess it comes down to the fact that a lot of the people in my life that were important to me are no longer living but it’s more than that. With down time so hard to come by combined with proximity being an issue, it seems like it gets harder and harder to spend time with the people that I care about. Then comes the pressure of trying to find time to see all these important people during the holidays, it’s enough to make any florist weep.

Lucky for me, my co-workers at work have become my substitute family and all kidding aside, I love each of them just as if they were my family. I guess that is a benefit of being the boss, I can fire an employee who does not have a good heart but a less than “loving” family member….. Not so much.

So, this holiday – this very Thanksgiving, I’m not going to stop sweating the small stuff. I’m going to gulp down the sad feelings and appreciate those people I have around me. I’ll make time for the friends that I’ve known for years even if it’s just to meet up for coffee or a quick dinner. I’ll take joy in the little caring acts of my co-workers (did you eat George? have you had anything to drink today?) and I’ll be sure to do the same for them. I’ll be a motherly substitute for those with less than perfect mothers. I’ll be a shoulder to cry on when bad news arrives and I’ll do thoughtful things for my husband.

So the point? Holidays, Shmalidays, I’m going to plow through them. Look out Thanksgiving, I’m coming through. Watch out Christmas, I’m stronger than ever. New Years, no more tears! Valentine’s Day, you just may beat me down (as this holiday does for every florist on the face of the planet) but by the time Easter rolls around, I’ll be stronger than ever!

And so my final, shameless floral plug – if you can’t be with them for the holiday, send them flowers. If you don’t want to be with them for the holiday and you don’t want them to know that, send flowers. Going to be with them and eating their food? I’d suggest sending them what? You guessed it – Send them flowers! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

Holiday Harvest

http://sendingsmiles.com

Monday Morning Celebrates 20 Years with a Customer Appreciation Event

mondaymorningflowers — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:00:57 +0000

Thanks to those of you who ventured out on one of the coldest days of the year so far! A great time was had by all. Special thanks go out to Dave Hoeffel of Sound Choice DJ’s who graciously supplied the music and MC duties. Another special thanks go out to all my employees who each made a wonderful dish to be enjoyed by the attendees. Dena’s Buffalo Chicken Dip and Heena’s Kati rolls were so popular that they spent much time giving away their recipes. I must say that my chocolate fountain and fantastic dipping items were also a bit hit with the attendees.

It was wonderful to be able to show our customers around, introduce them to the staff whom they speak to often on the phone but have never met. I’m just sorry that it took 20 years in business to make an event like this a reality. Another special thank you go out to Valentino’s Italian Restaurant, Teriaki Boy and Tre Piani Restaurant for helping to cater the event. These wonderful food establishments are also located inside the Forrestal Village. Additionally, Cando Fitness Center and Salt Creek Grille were extremely generous in providing door prizes, which made for fun music trivia. Here’s to another 20 years!

What's it Like at Monday Morning Flowers on a Monday?

mondaymorningflowers — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 18:12:00 +0000

“I’ve always wanted to work at a flower shop!!” We hear that so often we’ve probably lost count!

But working at a flower shop can be a lot of fun so we could not agree more. How many jobs allow you to work with your hands, creating little objects of beauty that will bring smiles to the person who receive it? There are not many jobs like that! I thought it would be fun to whip out the camera and take a few shots of the staff in the midst of their day. As you can tell, it took a lot of coaxing to get them to pose – NOT!!

Pictured above are Reina, Rocio, Dianne, Kristie, Tina, Heena and Yarrow.