MOB DRESS

So, this is the dress that I may end up wearing to Angie's wedding. My good friend Debbie loves to shop and loves especially to shop for other people, not herself. She saw this dress and thought I might like it. She called and asked if she should get it and bring it to me and I said "YES, PLEASE!" I have not been in the mood to shop for a dress. Perhaps it is this weight issue I have going on. Debbie bought this dress at Von Maur, a store that I love because they don't charge interest on their credit cards. They gift wrap anything you buy for free and also have free shipping from their website. You don't even have to ship it back if you don't like it. You can just take it to the store and get your money back.
I really like the dress, though it is a lot more than I wanted to pay for one. It looks a lot better in this picture because there is actually a waist in it. When I put it on, there doesn't seem to be that inward dent in the middle that should be there, like in the picture. I am going to keep it though and try to whittle myself a waist. I am not even going to ask your opinions on this because I don't want to be disappointed when no one gives one. HA! If I find something I like better, I can always return this one to Von Maur, because they are the best! Check out these shoes they have. Should I wear silver shoes? Oh shoot, I just asked your opinion. I think I may want some sparklier ones.

Angie's Surprise

How sad is it that I go to the trouble of throwing Angie a surprise birthday party and these are the only pictures I have of it. My future son-in-law and his trusty camera forgot to go to work and I was too busy to think of it too. I did get a couple more but they are stuck on my camera until I find the cords to it to get them off. I didn't realize that I didn't have the memory card in the camera. Angie had been working long hours and had been away from home working in Dallas and San Diego for almost two weeks so I decided kind of at the last minute to throw her a party. When she came home from the airport she was a bit shocked to find her friends and family here yelling surprise when she walked in the door. Then we broke into a chorus of Happy Birthday. Click the pictures bigger to get the look on her face. At least I got these pictures. The first one she saw was Erik and she wasn't expecting him to come into town for a few more hours. These cupcakes I made were on a sweet table that I set up. As soon as I find that camera cord I will show it to you I haven't been in the mood to post anything lately and have been a bit busy. The wedding is creeping up on us so I am sure I will be getting busier and busier too. I think I have found my Mother of the Bride dress thanks to my good friend Debbie who really should be a professional personal shopper. More on that later. American Idol is getting ready to come on so I have to go.
click 'em for a better look

Irony & Art of the Tables Past

I've always been a fan of ironic humor. I even studied it in a humor class in high-school.(I always took the easiest classes I could so I'd get good grades) Ironically, that fooled me into thinking I was smart when in reality if I had taken some challenging classes maybe my brain would work better today and maybe I would be doing something a little more financially rewarding than babysitting. I didn't even take a full year of typing in high-school because I never wanted to sit on my butt all day in front of a computer. Ironically, that's what I love to do now and I'm regretting not taking a typing course. I'm no longer such a fan of irony. It seems to follows me around, day in, day out. Sure, it's funny if it's on a sit-com about a can't win loser that you're watching on television but it's not so funny when you'd swear you were playing the lead role in that sit-com. Not a day goes by that at some point in the day I'm not looking over my shoulder expecting Ashton Kutcher to jump out and yell "You've been punked!" I had another of those ironic moments yesterday when I was looking through a bag of papers I found tucked away in my abyss of a closet. I was searching for some financial statements that my youngest daughter needed when low and behold I came across last year's Art of the Table brochure. I had looked and looked for that thing over and over so that I could try to figure out who to give credit to for the tables I had posted pictures of. Ironically, as soon as I delete the posts because I didn't know who to give credit to, I find the damned pamphlet from the show. So since I feel bad for posting pictures that I obviously shouldn't have I am going to go through this pamphlet and name everyone who had a table at last year's show and try to link to their website if possible. If I can figure out by reading the description of the table who is responsible then I will repost the pictures for it. If not, I won't but rest assured every table there last year was awesome and anybody in this list of people would be great to hire as a designer for your event. This is going to take a lot of time which ironically I am always running short on. Hopefully, I will get it done before next year's show. And here we go..... This first table is A Day in Paris by Pam Monahan again from Entertaining with a Flair www.entertainingwithaflair.com
Floral Designer Rebecca Valentine- Rebecca Vaentine Floral Design 317-385-9206-www.rebeccavalentine.blogspot.com Stationary by Jen Swathwood-Card INc.317-733-9301 www.cardink.net
Next table is Library Love - Tablescape Designer Susan Jackson Learned & Amie Drose from Where Can I Put This? -312-209-3466 Floral Designer Jim Holland- Freelance Floral Designer 317-902-3138
Wreath made from book pages

Library Card or Menu card?
Next we have WOW with Warhol! Tablescape Designer Kim King Smith-Kim King SmithEvents,LLC 317-512-0172- www.kimkingsmithevents.com
Floral designer Bokay Floral, Broadripple 317-253-2323
Stationary Designer Jen Swathwood- CardInk 317-733-9301- www.cardink.net


Next up is I Love Paris in the Springtime Tablescape Designer Kay Krober Invitaion and Celebrations 317-733-9570
www.kaykrober.com Floral Designer Ken Meyers- Freelance Floral Designer-317-926-5695- myerskena@yahoo.com
This next table I am guessing by the description is called It Had Better Be Tonight www.detailanddesign.com"> Table Designers
L. Gene Huddleson II - Detail + Design 317-423-3590 gene@detailanddesign.com Monica Richare Detail + Design 317-423-3590 www.detailanddesign.com


The table behind this one with the peacock feathers belongs to Circle City Planners 317-490-8738 www.circlecityplanners.com Floral Designer www.byroyalcreations.com">Royal Creations 317-257-5540 www.byroyalcreations.com
From the description of the table I am guessing that the Gone With the Wind table below belongs to Jim Holland, Freelance Floral designer 317-902-3138 Stationary designer is www.eventsbygloria.com">Gloria Boyden, Events by Design. 317-566-8233 www.eventsbygloria.com

My guess from reading this pamphlet is that the Bridal Bliss table must be this gorgeous table below. If I am wrong I apologize. Tablescape Designer>www.eventsbygloria.com">Gloria Boyden, Events by Design 317-566-8233 www.eventsbygloria.com Floral Designer /www.WeddingFlowersDesignStudio.com">Jan Johnson, Wedding Flowers Design Studio 317-813-8699 www.WeddingFlowersDesignStudio.com


Again. I'm making a guess by what is written that this cool table below is the Crystal Ball Bliss table by /elitebridalconsultingandevents.com">Elite Bridal Consulting & Events,LLC.
317-592-9592 www.elitebridalconsultingandevents.com
Floral Designer Kathy's Kloset 317-291-7767


Any other pictures I had posted I can't seem to figure out by the descriptions in this brochure who is responsible for them. I will list everyone though that I see had a table there besides these tables. Tablescape Designers Vanessa Chaves & Megan Gates IMA/Wolfgang Puck catering 317-923-1331 -vchabez@imamuseum.orghad a table named Art of Seduction
This next picture I have a feeling probably belongs to
Tablescape Designer www.HeavenlySweetsCakes.com">Tanya S. Marshall Heavenly Sweets Cakes 317-770-9399 www.HeavenlySweetCakes.com
Tablescape Designer and Floral Designer Ken A. Meyers Freelance 317-96-5695
myerskena@yahoo.com Was there with a table named New Traditions
Tablescape Designer www.memorymakersindy.com">Lisa Gorman from Memory Makers Wedding and Event Planning was there with a table named Dawn. kathysklosetofflowers.com">Kathy Hinderlit from Kathy's Kloset was the floral designer.
The Moulon Rouge Table was by Amanda Coffey from the Indianapolis.Conradmeetings.com/">Conrad Hotel
317-524-2558 with floral designer Enflora 317-0913-9300
Julie's Ever After Table was by Becky Ruby - Lilly Lane 317-435-8806There was a table called A Toast to the Bride and Groom by www.abutlerspantry.com">Sandy Rogers from Butler's Pantry 317-733-8003
Jim Holland Freelance Floral Designer 317-902-3138

I have a lot more to list but have no time right now so I will come back and list the others here as soon as I can with an edit to this post. Thanks!

Art of the Table 2010

Table design by Entertaining with a Flair-317-576-9547 floral design by Bella's Blooms 317-362-7841

So, last year we all went to the Art of the Table and I posted some pictures of tables on my blog quite awhile after the fact because I had found some pictures of it on my daughter's camera. I didn't know who to give the credit to for doing any of the tables since it was so long after the fact and I didn't even think about having a blog when we were at Art of the Table. I did however say on my blog for anyone responsible for any of the tables that I posted to please let me know so that I could give them their due credit for it. Of course no one did because very few people even look at my blog, let alone read it. I never tried to make it sound like I did the tables myself. Well, evidently I must have upset some of the planners or someone else did because this year we weren't allowed to take pictures.
I started this blog without a clue as to what I was doing and have learned much in the process and am trying not to make the same mistakes that I did at first. Please forgive me if you feel that I took something of yours and didn't give you the credit. From now on there will only be things on here that I know whom to give the credit to and if you are actually reading this please leave me a comment and prove me wrong that nobody actually reads it.

With that being said, this year was not only disappointing because we weren't allowed to take pictures but they didn't serve hors d'oeurves as stated on the ticket and we actually had to shell out money for a glass of wine after shelling out money to get in. (actually, let me give the credit and thanks for my ticket to get in to planner Katasha from K Sherrie+Company Planning Atelier) Along with the lack of food and lack of free champagne there was also what seemed to be a lack of tables this year. We had so looked forward to this event and were really disappointed. It was nothing like last year. Perhaps we drank too much last year and had too good of a time. Maybe we ate more than our share of Wolfgang's crab cakes. By the way, they did away with Wolfgang too. At least we knew about Puck in advance and were trying our best to deal with it. To be fair there was a small candy buffet there put out by Sweetest Candy Buffets. A few of the ladies welcomed picture taking so I did get a few to show you.

This first awesome table is by Pam Monahan & Karen Abbott from Entertaining with a Flair. 317-576-9547 (For some reason I am having trouble getting their link to work) They called it Design with Oranges and Greens to reflect a bride's wish to design the reception room with her favorite colors. The gorgeous florals are by Bella's Blooms.317-362-7841


These green cylinder vases with candles in them had initials monogrammed on them. I loved the table wrap with the couples nuptials cut out and going around the table. This would be great for a candy buffet or cake table. Too bad they can't patent that idea. (Can they?) It looks like a lot of work. These ladies have some very creative ideas. Thank you ladies for letting me post your table on here.

I love the custom decorated flower girl basket and the chair tie embellishments! If you can't get their website to come up like I can't you can email Pam at pmonahan@entertainingwithaflair.com



This next table is inspired by the Show Twilight I believe. It was another of my favorites and for some reason didn't make into the brochure so I am glad I picked up the information for it. It is titled The Cullen Wedding and is put together by designer Rebecca Raymond from the Omni Severin Hotel (phone number 317-396-3643)
The floral designer is Brenda Williams, Rue de Fluers, 317-370-4376 and the stationary designer who put together this menu looking card that I am reading all the information from is Jackie Bilskie, TEN:THIRTEEN Design, 317-379-1699

I am in love with the idea of raising the centerpiece up on this mirror by using cylinder vases. Pretty awesome. I also love the mirrored chargers and the crystal candlesticks. Lots of sparkle, yet very classy.
The menu cards and custom wine labels added a subtle hint of (vampire blood) color.



This is the way to do a chair tie, is it not?

This table was a group favorite amongst the ladies I went with. It is inspired by Audrey Hepburn and named My Fair Lady. The Conrad Indianapolis' own Amanda Coffey (317-424-2558) designed this table along with floral designer David Strohmeyer from McNamara Florist.
It had quite an elegant feel to it. Very impressive and classy.


Another beautifully done chair tie with embellishment.

Each place setting had either a rolled cigar favor for the men or a cigarette holder for the women.


Loved the pearl chargers too!
Thanks to all of the ladies who let me post their tables on here. (Update: I went back and deleted any posts on any Art of the Tables pics. If you know yours were on here and want them reposted with credit or have any you would want me to post I would love to do that.)

The Reception - Please Be Seated

I found this article thanks to a tweet by a new follower (@RAEvents).
Is this not the coolest reception photo? click it bigger
Photo: Photograph Courtesy of Van Vliet & Trap

You’ve survived the perilous task of narrowing your guest list to 150 of your nearest and dearest. Now you must figure out where to seat them. Karen Bussen, wedding planner and author of five bridal guides, including Simple Stunning Wedding Etiquette, lays out the ideal floor plan that takes everyone’s needs—and idiosyncrasies—into consideration.

Read more of Katie Charles' article in New York Magazine here: New York Wedding Guide - Please Be Seated - Wedding Planner Karen Bussen Suggests a Seating Chart -- New York Magazine

Penny's 50TH Birthday

This is my friend Penny as she walked into her surprise party for her 50TH birthday.
Her sister (& my friend) Debbie is there beside her. Debbie and Danielle,Penny's daughter threw the party at Danielle'd house. Danielle said I could bring the centerpiece's for the tables.

I think we pulled it off and Penny was totally surprised.


I brought my trusting paper lanterns left over from the baby shower and hung them along with the swirly things that I had bought at the Dollar Tree. I only had an hour or so before the party so I didn't have time to get carried away with the decor. The flowers on the table were suppose to be in two different vases but I didn't have enough of the yellow to make the dome shape I was going for, so I added the roses to the top of it. I found a pink bottle in my party room that I had bought for about a dollar recently and stuck it in that and glued a 50 is Nifty button on it. The clear acrylic box I bought at the Flower Factory with the black liner in it for $1.00. I took three of the yellow flower heads and laid them in it and put the vase on top for added height. The yellow flowers (I'm not sure what they even are) I bought at Meijer for $5.99 and the roses I bought there for $9.99.

The candle holders are from The Christmas Tree Shop and they've been sitting in the wedding/party room for quite awhile waiting to be used somewhere. The candles I got at Hobby Lobby on clearance for .69 cents each. Their bling was falling of so I took them off and added my bracelets in their place.



I wish I had remembered to take photos of the food. Debbie made most of it and it was delicious. We used my tall glasses here for the chips and snack mix to make more room on the island for food.


The other centerpices were potted tulips that I bought for $5.99 each at Meijer. I just added some polka dot paper to go with the runners (really just folded fabric) I brought from home.