“Wedding Wednesday” – Questions to ask your caterer
As a wedding coordinator, I am often asked to accompany my clients to meetings with their vendors. It is usually the meetings with the caterer that gets the comment “I never would have though to ask that!” So, here are my suggestions on what you should ask. I hope it helps. 
1. Does your quote include tax and gratuity?
2. Do you provide all serving pieces and utensils?
3. Do you provide napkins, glasses, plates, etc.? If so, are they an extra cost?
4. Can you create a custom menu (if there is something not on the menu that you want)?
5. What are your hours of service included in the total cost? Is set-up and clean-up included?
6 Do you offer servers, bartendars, etc.? If so, what is the cost?
7. Can you prepare a “to-go” basket?
8 What time do you normally arrive for set-up?
9. Do you provide the tablecloths for the food tables?
10. Can you provide alcohol and bartendars? Cost?
11. Do you need or prefer a certain set-up?
12. Are any plug-ins needed?
13. Will you be preparing food on-site?
14. Can you provide an attendant to cut the cakes? If so, what is the extra cost?
These are most of the questions you will need for your wedding day or special occasion. If you think I’ve left something out, please let me know! I am always open to suggestions and thoughts!
Erin Sharplin Love
“Terrible Tuesday” – What happened to The Golden Rule?
I feel like ranting just a bit about the way my assistant is treated sometimes when she approaches potential ad sales clients for Panache Magazine. I just received a phone call from her and she is having a tough time because some of the businesses I send her to are very rude. And the thing that upsets me about this the most is that most of the places I send her have people that I know and run in to quite often. I hope some of you are reading this blog right now. I really don’t understand what would make anyone be rude to my assistant. I have NEVER been rude or disrespectful to any of you and would never even consider being rude. Here are a few tips for all business owners and their employees:
1. Pretend like every person that walks into your business can be a potential client or friend. You would never be ugly to any of them.
2. Follow the golden rule with EVERYONE! “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
3. A smile goes a long way. You never know who will walk in the door and how you can make their day by simply smiling.
4. It’s ok to turn a sales person down. The difference is in HOW you turn them down.
Please be considerate and kind. There is absolutely no reason to be ugly.
Erin Sharplin Love
“Manic Monday” – Recent Closet Organization
I recently helped a family with their closets, so I wanted to show you the before and after pictures. Hopefully, you will get some motivation and/or some tips for organizing your own closets. 
MALE’S CLOSET – BEFORE
MALE’S CLOSET – AFTER
FEMALE’S CLOSET – BEFORE
FEMALE’S CLOSET – AFTER
I love organizng closets! It’s my favorite thing to organize. I like to make distinctive areas for long hanging clothes and short hanging clothes The hanging “sweater” organizer serves this purpose perfectly. Notice that I didn’t use the sweater organizer for sweaters. Think outside of the box. I also moved the shoe organizers to the end of the closet instead of the middle of the closet floor. Rearranging a few things can gain you tons of extra space.
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them!
Erin Sharplin Love
“Topsy-Turvy Thursday” – A few of my favorite websites…
I have a whole list of websites and blogs that I visit daily so I thought I would share them with you:
www.panachebyerin.com – of course I have to visit my website everyday! Gah!
www.thenewsstar.com – gotta check out the local news!
www.bettsdesign.com – this is a friend who is a great photographer. I keep up with her blog daily. However, Lisa, if you are reading this, I’d love for you to post more often!
www.amazon.com – I check out my “recommendations” daily. I love to read and gain new knowledge!
www.petfinder.com – I love trying to help find homes for doggies and kitties, etc.
www.fabsugar.com – this is a great blog about fashion!
www.thesmartplanner.com – this is really a blog for wedding planners, but I guess anyone can read it!
www.theanimalrescuesite.com- I click on an icon on this website everyday! Every time you click the link you are donating to animals!
www.thesquirrelboard.com – since I have raised six squirrels and released four of them, this site is great!
www.groovyvegetarian.com – I love reading about vegetarian news!
www.944.com- This is a blog that talks about fashion, celebrities, and lifestyle. Great!
www.facebook.com – Gotta keep up with my peeps!
www.twitter.com – I’m still trying to figure this out! Follow me! My screen name is panachebyerin.
www.pattystewartphotography.com – another great friend who helps me so much with my magazine! I always look at her proofs when I can!!
Well, there you have it! Those are the websites I check out daily. I am ALWAYS looking for cool blogs and websites so if you recommend any please comment them to me!!!
Erin Sharplin Love
“Wedding Wednesday” – Ways to SAVE MONEY on your wedding!
Planning a wedding can end up being an extremely costly experience if the prospective bride and groom do not prepare and follow a reasonable budget. To do so, the couple must first agree on what their priorities will be. For instance, they must decide whether it is more important to spend the most money on catering and less on the decorations, or if they prefer to splurge on a band and drinks. In order to have a dream wedding but still stick to a prepared budget, you must “cut corners” in every way possible. Below are some great ideas on how to save money during the wedding planning process as well as on the wedding day.
Choose a small wedding party – Think about it…you will to buy more gifts if you have a large number of bridesmaids, groomsmen, ushers, flower girls, and ring bearers. You will also have to spend more on catering, bouquets, and boutonnieres for the ceremony.
Do some things yourself – For instance, you can save yourself the extra cost of having your invitations professionally addressed if you do it yourself. Have your bridesmaids help you and turn it into a girl’s night. You can also create your own party favors or purchase all the alcohol ahead of time. Another thing that you can handle yourself would be to print the ceremony programs.
Choose typography instead of engraving – The most formal as well as expensive invitation printing process is engraving, but there is another process that looks almost like engraving but costs a lot less – typography. The only way to tell if an invitation is engraved is by the raised letters on the back of the invitation. Many people will not take the time to examine the invitation so closely.
Choose a naturally beautiful place for your ceremony or reception, or both - This will save you immensely on the cost of decorations and flowers. For example, choose a beautiful park, flower garden, or ornately designed church for your ceremony or reception.
Talk to your florist about which flowers are “in season” - If you have your heart set on hydrangeas, but you are getting married in a winter month, you will have to have the hydrangeas shipped from another state or even country. As you can imagine, the cost of shipping special flowers can get exorbitant, so stick with flowers that are readily available in your area.
Budgeting is a natural, and necessary part of planning a wedding. With a little “nipping and tucking” of details you can plan the wedding of your dreams on that budget.
If you have any neat ideas on how to save money on a wedding please leave me a comment!
Erin Sharplin Love
www.panachebyerin.com
“Terrible Tuesday” – Do you watch Real Houswives of New York City?
Do you watch the Real Houswives of New York City? If so, then you are familiar with the Countess DeLesseps. I don’t usually like to talk negatively about someone or something, but something has been bugging me, as an etiquette instructor, and I really wanted to vent about it today.
Apparently the Countess has published an advice book on manners and etiquette. In my opinion, the actions of the Countess on Real Housewives makes her look less than equipped to write a book on manners. For instance, in one of the episodes the Countess is at a party and a nice girl brings her a beer. The Countess says, and I quote, “The Countess does not drink beer from a bottle” and she turns around and refuses to take the beer. On another episode the Countess is visiting a non-profit organization that focuses on helping young women and she asked each one of them what they wanted to be when they grow up. One little girl stood up and said she wanted to be a model. The Countess then proceeded to imply that the little girl was too fat to be a model. In my opinion, these are not the actions of an etiquette book writer. 
I definitely feel better since I got that off of my shoulders, but I do want to point out that if any of you know of an instance that I should be called out on, please don’t hesitate to do so! I want to always make sure I uphold the fundamentals of etiquette so if I have done less than so feel free to let me know.
Erin Sharplin Love
“Manic Monday” – Kitchen Organizing
Tips to Remember When Organizing Your Kitchen
- Arrange items according to the layout of your kitchen
- Utilize all vertical space
- Think outside the box when using organizational products
- Don’t forget about the refrigerator and pantry
- Don’t use the kitchen as the catch-all
Tricks for Getting Your Kitchen Organized:
v Use shelf extenders to utilize all of the vertical space in your cabinets.
v Lazy Susans are great for every area of your kitchen! (refrigerator, pantry, medicine cabinet, etc.).
v Everyone has a junk drawer, but that doesn’t mean it has to be a disorganized mess!
v Transfer all boxed items into airtight containers.
v A label maker is your friend! Label absolutely everything even if you think you will remember!
v Create a small area for incoming and outgoing mail.
v To make an “under the sink” organizer fit around the plumbing you should assemble the organizer in the cabinet itself.
v Take individually wrapped items out of their boxes and put them in a basket on a shelf or on the door of your pantry.
Do you have a tip? Let me know!!
Erin Sharplin Love
www.panachebyerin.com
“Fashionable Friday” – Shop Like a Pro
Dressing well doesn’t mean that you have to suffer through long hours of shopping only to return home with nothing to wear. Nor does it mean that you have to spend loads and loads of money. If the thought of shopping overwhelms you, relax, and let me give you a few of my secrets to shopping like a pro.
First things first – Make a plan! Always know what you need to purchase before going shopping. Keep an ongoing list in or near your closet so when you come across something that you need but don’t have, you’ll be able to jot it down. Clothing shopping without a list is like going grocery shopping when you are hungry. You will always end up with something you don’t need!
Think about what you should wear to go shopping – It’s best to wear something that is comfortable and easy to get in and out of because it is never a good idea o buy a piece of clothing without trying it on first. You never know if it looks best on the hanger or on you. And, when choosing the outfit you will wear to go shopping, don’t forget about shoes! After all, you will be doing a lot of walking. It is also a good idea to steer clear of a lot of distracting jewelry.
Now that we have discussed the two most important tips that will prepare you for shopping, let’s move on to the shopping experience itself. Below you will find tips from everything from the best times of the day to shop to what to splurge on and what to save on.
- The best times of the day to go shopping is when the mall or boutique is at its slowest – such as weekday mornings. If you must go on a weekend, try to get to the store when it opens.
- Get to know the salespeople at your favorite boutiques. They will call you when your size or style of clothing comes in. You may get first “dibs” on the most popular items.
- Invest in classic pieces. Don’t feel guilty for investing in a timeless purse, shoes, LBD (little black dress), or a versatile suit.
- Steer clear of sales racks if you are a sucker! You will more than likely be swayed by the discounted price and end up buying something you don’t need and possibly will never wear. Many stores have a “No Return” policy on reduced items. So, play it safe.
- Believe in fate…if you spot something that you absolutely love and can’t stop thinking about it for days afterwards, it may be a sign that you need to go back to the store and try it on!
- Don’t be afraid to try new things! This is one rule I stress to all of my clients. Try something on before you rule it out completely.
- Look for well-made clothing. In many instances, you can buy clothes that are both well made and reasonably priced. But be careful – look for unfinished hems, loose threads, and mismatched patterns. If you spot any of these things…move along.
- Look for the latest trends in accessories such as purses, necklaces, and shoes. You will be able to incorporate the lastest trend into your existing wardrobe without looking like a fashion victim.
Shopping like a pro doesn’t have to be difficult or overwhelming. It’s fun and rewarding! Just think of all of the great purchases you will make if you incorporate good shopping practices into every trip to the mall or your favorite boutique.
Erin Sharplin Love
“Topsy-Turvy Thursday” – Tight rolling??????????
Just when I thought I was going to make it another season without the 80’s trend of “tight-rolling” coming back in style…I see this picture of Kristen Bell! I’m sorry but you will not catch me dead in another pair of tight-rolled jeans ever again! That trend has come and gone and will never be stylish in my eyes.
What is your opinion?
Erin Sharplin Love
“Wedding Wednesday” – Packing for the Honeymoon!
Packing for a trip is a huge feat for men and women alike, but it is more often women who tend to pack almost all of their belongings into multiple suitcases with the idea that they will decide what to wear when they reach their destination. Having so many clothes to choose from only adds to confusion and indecision when it is time to dress for a meeting or a night out on the town. It is even more important to avoid stress on your honeymoon. This situation can be avoided, however, by following a few simple rules.
First things first – Check the weather and the itinerary at your destination, so you can plan your outfits ahead of time. Chances are that you already know most of your honeymoon plans, so take advantage of it, and save yourself some stress at the same time! When choosing your outfits try to mix and match as much as possible. You will be amazed at how easy it is to get dressed when you have it all planned out ahead of time!
The easiest pieces to mix and match with are “neutral” bottoms. A neutral color can be any of the following – black, tan, white, khaki, navy, gray, and denim. Whether it be in the form of accessories, shoes, or a top, adding color to neutrals will make you honeymoon ready. Choose a neutral color or two and pack several different bottoms in those neutrals, such as a skirt, shorts, and pants, and throw in some colorful tops, jackets, accessories, and shoes and you are set! You will be able to mix and match to create a new outfit every day from only a few basic pieces.
After you’ve checked your itinerary and have decided what you will pack to wear, it’s time to make sure all your laundry is done. Start laundering your clothing the week before you will be leaving so everything will be clean and ready for packing. This theory also applies to anything that needs to be dry cleaned. Go ahead and get all dry cleaning completed before starting the packing process.
There is a little trick to packing without wrinkling your clothing – it’s called “rolling.” Folding causes creases in your clothing, but rolling does not. The trick to getting the perfect “roll” is to start with a smooth, wrinkle-free garment. If you roll up a wrinkled shirt, it will, of course, remain wrinkled, thus defeating the whole purpose. Another advantage of rolling is that it saves more space than folding does. You will be able to fit more into your suitcase by rolling. Don’t be afraid to tightly pack rolled clothing.
Here are a few more packing tips to follow:
Pack your suitcase with the heavier items on the bottom.
Avoid taking clothing that you haven’t yet worn. You may not like the outfit as much as you thought you would
If you plan on doing some shopping while on your honeymoon, pack an extra carry on bag or leave a little extra room in your suitcase.
Stuff your underwear and socks into shoes and other empty spaces.
Wrap any belts you are bringing around the perimeter of the suitcase.
Find travel size items of your most used (and bulky) items, such as shampoo, conditioner, hairspray, shaving cream, and deodorant.
Tuck some safety pins and stain remover pads or pen into your bag for unexpected emergencies.
Take a small travel candle or room spray (or both) to make stuffy rooms more palatable and to keep the bathroom “fresh.” Don’t let odors ruin a romantic mood. Incidentally, a small cologne spray in a fragrance that you are not wearing can be a great room freshener. Just use it sparingly!
If possible, take only one pair of shoes for cocktails or dinner and coordinate outfits around the shoes.
Do the same for beach shoes and comfortable shoes for shopping or sightseeing trips. Footwear can take up too much space in the suitcase, so taking a pair for every possible outfit is unwise.
If plans include snow-skiing, consider shipping the bulky gear and clothing to the hotel or condo ahead of time and taking only essentials in easy- to -carry luggage when flying. Of course, you would need to cal lyour place of lodging and make arrangements with the concierge before you ship. Doing so will increase the chances that your belongings will remain secure until your arrival.
Having a successful trip really depends on how well you PLAN before you pack!!
Erin Sharplin Love
-
Archives
- November 2009 (4)
- October 2009 (9)
- September 2009 (8)
- August 2009 (17)
- July 2009 (9)
- June 2009 (7)
- May 2009 (17)
- April 2009 (20)
- March 2009 (22)
- February 2009 (4)
- January 2009 (7)
- December 2008 (5)
-
Categories
-
RSS
Entries RSS
Comments RSS
