Kathy Andujo, the owner of Madre Flores, is a talented florist in the Santa Clarita Valley. She started making florals as a hobby when she took a class with her mom. She got such great feedback about her creations and loved the art form so much, she started doing bigger events. Now, her florals are in hot demand from people across So Cal. We went live with Kathy this week on Instagram Live to get her tips on how to create a small holiday arrangement for your desk, mantel, dinner table, or another favorite spot. In this blog, we’ll break down her tips. But even better, we thought we’d recreate her creation! The day after the IG Live, Kathy dropped off the arrangement at Patty’s house. It was so pretty! But of course, a few days later, the flowers looked like they had seen better days. Why not use Kathy’s tips to try to revive the arrangement, and try out Kathy’s tips? Keep reading to see if we were able to save Kathy’s creation and help it shine again! How to Make this Floral Arrangement First, we took the arrangement apart to see all that was inside. Supplies Check out the grid that Kathy recommends you create on any vessel or vase. The grid is made out of floral tape in any color. She says to make a grid across the top and a lip around the vase. For greenery, Kathy chose Christmas tree trimmings, seeded eucalyptus, silver dollar eucalyptus, and dried greenery that’s been painted. Multiple types of greenery gives it a fresh look. For bigger florals, you can have some fun. You can use flowers from your garden, a few blooms from the grocery store, or a few nice specialty blooms from a local florist. For this arrangement, she used a rose and a Peony. For Intermediate and filler flowers, she likes to use garden roses and spray roses (mini roses). They are a nice filler and make a good bridge between colors. Add white between flowers to create nice transitions and separation. Delphiniums are nice to add as well and gives a pop of color. Steps to Create your Arrangement Wa-la! What do you think about our recreation? Not bad! What’s so surprising is that these flowers looked like they were ready for the trash. With Kathy’s tips, we were able to give the arrangement new life. Her instructions were really helpful and we are so much more confident in creating a small arrangement. But for the big stuff, we’re still calling Kathy! More Great Tips from Kathy: We can’t wait to see all of your floral creations! Let us know if you give this a try, we’d love to see how they turn out.
Author: webdeveloperswj
FATHER’S DAY GIFT IDEAS ALL DADS CAN BRAG ABOUT
We have Father’s Day gift ideas for the sweet tooth dads, and the dads with swagger. Step up your game with a Father’s Day with gift idea to give every dad bragging rights. We all must step up our game and brainstorm a great Father’s Day gift idea to give dad bragging rights this year. We know, Father’s Day does not always get the same recognition as Mother’s Day. Let’s admit it, dads are out there holding things down and you want to take things up a notch this year to show dad just how special he is. Let’s get personal this year and pull together some special items and placed them in a decorative gift basket. Be sure to include all of his favorite things. What do dad’s like to eat on Father’s Day? It’s true what they say, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. And we have found the some delicious Father’s Day stacks for the guys with a sweet tooth and some that will give any dad bragging Don’t leave out dads who like to receive gear as Father’s Day gifts. Yep, they’ve gotta look fly on their special day. Hook dad up with a proud papa shirt is a gift he can wear all year long. We’ve gotta admit it, dads look so cute when they wear their dad shirts or proud papa gear. We’ve seen quite a few and the great thing see offered by some vendors is the ability to customize them with phrases or images of the kiddos. This year, celebrate dad on Father’s Day in the way that they want to be celebrated. Whether dad likes to go big, or day likes to keep it simple, give dad something to brag about. We appreciate the father’s out there, especially our supportive husbands and our dads. From Festively to the fathers, you are loved, respected and celebrated this Father’s Day and every day! We hope the Father’s Day gift ideas we shared will help give others some inspiration for a gift that will give dad bragging rights. Be sure to find out more about Festively.
5 BIG REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD SHOP SMALL THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
This year, you may be thinking about the holidays a bit differently. Like many, you may be wondering what plans you’ll commit to and who you’ll spend the big days with. And you may be thinking about how you’ll approach gift-giving. For many folks, the pandemic situation has hit home, which means gifts may be less extravagant in 2020. For others, gifts may be more important because we won’t get to see family and friends in person. When you are ready to buy, we want you to think about the power your purchase has to make a difference for a small business owner this holiday season. We are sharing over 100 small businesses you can shop from with our Festively Holiday Events and Gift Guide! And we want to give you 5 big reasons why you should shop small this holiday season. 5. Because the Macys pajama gift set isn’t very personal. When you buy from big-box retailers, they’ve conveniently packaged boxed gift sets that they want you to buy every year. I mean, how many pajamas does your sister really need? But these gift sets are strategically placed in tall piles along the aisles because they know you’ll grab a pair for someone, and since you’re buying one thing, you may as well get a few more things. You’re not going to stand in line for just one item! No, you’re going to buy all your gifts there…like those slippers for dad…and wallet for your niece. But what do they really want? Especially after a year like we’ve had, we think people more than ever want to know that you’ve thought of them. We care less about the quantity and more about the quality. According to our informal poll, dads, moms and sisters alike love custom gifts. Something that is in their favorite color, a fun saying they’d love, their favorite scent, something unique with their name on it. Something that says, I saw this and I really thought of you. Small businesses can bring that personal touch to all your gifts. 4. Because you want to be a more conscious buyer In the past, we were way too busy to research who we were buying from. We were all about convenience! In fact nearly 50 percent of U.S. online transactions take place on Amazon. And even when we go to Amazon, 70 percent of Amazon customers never click past the first page of search results. But that was the old us! COVID taught us a few things…once Amazon stopped being ridiculously convenient, we had to get creative to source our items. And we learned, it’s not horrible to wait a couple more days for something to arrive. It’s going to sit in a box by the door for a while anyway! Now that you’ve decided not to put all your cash in Jeff Bezo’s pockets and spread the wealth a bit, you’re able to discover wonderful new small businesses who would never make it to the top search in Amazon. And they do have well-made, hand crafted, quality gifts and items that you can feel good about buying. 3. Because last year, your nephew got 3 Call of Duty games for Christmas This happened to me one year! My nephew put only a few things on his Christmas list and several of us ended up getting him the same thing. Electronics are notoriously hard to return so he was stuck having to find a way to get rid of two of them. Let’s face it, it’s hard to find gifts for friends and family that are hard to shop for. But when you shop small, there’s a story behind the purchase. There’s a cool hat that someone designed that matches his style. Some unique jewelry that you can’t find anywhere else. Or some delicious homemade treats from a local baker that are irresistible and gorgeous. You won’t find anyone trying to return these thoughtful gifts. 2. Because small businesses have way better customer service Big businesses and small businesses alike are stocking up now on supplies and inventory to fulfill holiday orders. But once they’re sold out, that’s it! In both cases this year, supplies are much more limited than they have been in the past and there’s no easy way to restock. Small businesses are ready and willing to help you find what you need. Right now, stores have all the colors, all the sizes, and all the options you want. The longer you wait, the less likely you’ll have what you’re looking for. Small businesses can often help you find an alternate product, may be able to place a special order, or help you find something else for your special someone. They often add special touches like gift wrapping, stickers, and hand written notes. But don’t wait too long or you’ll be stuck shopping the gift card aisle at Vons 1. Because every dollar you spend on small business goes back into your own community When you support a local business, you’re also supporting your town, city, and neighborhood. That’s because businesses pay sales taxes to the city and county the business is located in. For every $100 spent at a small businesses, $68 stays in the community. That’s more than twice the amount chains reinvest. Also, the Small Business Administration reports that local businesses added 8 million jobs to the American economy since 1990 while the expansion of large chains reduced jobs by 4 million. And on an even smaller level, when you buy from a small business, a real person, a real family, a real community celebrates because someone believed in their dream. And that encouragement does wonders to fuel a vibrant local economy. Check out over 100 small businesses to buy and book from in Festively’s Holiday Events and Gift Guide!
WHY YOUR LITTLE ONES DESERVE A KID’S FRIENDSGIVING THIS YEAR
We all know that kids have had a tough time this year. With limited contact with friends since March, they’ve had as tough a time as we have missing friends and longing for the normal social contact we took for granted. In recent years, Friendsgiving became super popular with adults. It meant a day that included lots of wine, adult conversations, and a relaxed atmosphere, which is a nice contrast from the pressure of a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Why not give the kiddos something special to look forward to this year too? Whether it’s with just a couple of friends that you feel comfortable having over, some close cousins, or their own siblings, planning a special day just for them can be just the thing that makes them feel normal again. Here are four fun tips from event planners to host a memorable kid’s Friendsgiving, as shared by event planners Anaise and Lupe of DACAL events, who created this scene for Festively’s Holiday events and gift guide styled shoot. 4. Set the scene So they can feel special and all grown up, make sure to set up a special table just for them. Find a vendor to make a balloon arch or balloon wall, or make one of your own. Balloons can make the space feel fun and kid-friendly. Cute extras like balloon animals are fun for the kids to play with. Whether indoors or outdoors, Teepees definitely say Thanksgiving! Kids love playing inside their teepees and lets their imaginations run wild. You can rent teepees or have the kids make their own tents (forts) with some sheets, add some string lights, and let them loose. This is also a great way to create a space just for them to talk, play games, and just enjoy each other’s company. 3. Cutest turkeys at the table A great way to make kids feel connected with each other is with matching outfits. If they aren’t already, they will become instant besties! You can buy matching t-shirts, or order custom aprons so they all look like little chefs. Even matching bows or hats can make them feel extra special. 2. Keep them entertained When we plan an event with kids in mind, it’s all about keeping them off their phones! Set up activities like a coloring station and DIY cookie decorating station that they can do on their own or together. You can even have a mini competition to see who decorates them best. Rent fun extras like giant jenga and giant connect 4 to keep them playing outdoors. If you don’t have a big space or yard, head to the park or other outdoor space for the event. 1. Let them eat cake! Or whatever they want! Eating picnic style is a great option. Set up low tables, put pillows down, and let them sit on the ground instead of on chairs. This makes it feel like a picnic, plus since it’s hard to keep them still, they can get up whenever they want. A charcuterie board on top of the table is a great option because kids love grabbing what’s in front of them. For the main food station, have a lot of finger food already put into individual plates and cups. They don’t really eat full plates of food, so small snacks here and there, like mini hot dogs, fries, etc. are just the right size. A dessert table with Thanksgiving-themed desserts is a must! Customize the treats with fun sayings, shapes, and even their names. Create a fun interactive dessert, like a smores station. Let them (safely) make their own smores and watch them get excited about adding their favorite topics. Whether you do it big or keep it simple, hosting their very own kid’s Friendsgiving is something they will never forget! Find all the vendors to create your own Kid’s Friendsgiving in our Holiday Events & Gift Guide.Find all the vendors to create your own Kid’s Friendsgiving in our Holiday Events & Gift Guide.
5 UNIQUE WAYS TO SHOW GRATITUDE TO EMPLOYEES, BUSINESS PARTNERS, AND CLIENTS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
Last year at this time, we were all ramping up for the biggest and best year ever. 2020 was supposed to be OUR YEAR. Nearly all industries were projecting increased volume, phenomenal growth, and record-breaking sales. But we all know how this story ends. Nothing about 2020 has been easy, and while there have been some wonderful bright spots and successes, the strain on parents, the elderly, small businesses, and more has been exhausting. And your employees and clients are feeling it. Employee morale is down during COVID According to the Harvard Business Review, 67% of employees report higher stress levels and 53% of employees report being emotionally exhausted since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. You may be an amazing boss and partner, but there’s no denying the world around us has changed. But you can be a wonderful bright spot on these chaotic times by showing heartfelt appreciation. The Holidays are an excellent time to remind employees and clients that they are amazing and are more important to the success of your company now than ever. Help them get into a festive spirit and truly enjoy the holidays! Here are five great ways to show appreciation to employees and clients this holiday. 5. Speak it! Say it out loud and every chance you get. Take over a regularly scheduled meeting and make it all about recognition. Use Powerpoint and create a slide for each team member or for your client to share why you think they are so great. Check out these templates that make it easy to find fun ways to say “I see you and appreciate you”. Encourage everyone to add their appreciation in the chat with kind words and fun memes. For an extra special touch, record a personal thank you video and send it to your team members or clients. Share a brief story of something great that happened that year. This will leave a long-lasting impression that will likely be saved and shared for years to come. 4. Cash/Bonuses/Gift Cards This timeless gift is always appreciated and leaves a positive impression right when it’s needed most. While not as personal as a gift, cash or equivalents allow you to make someone feel valued. However, in terms of being memorable, this gift isn’t likely to be at the top of the list, unless it’s a significant amount. 3. Time off &/or Flexible Schedule While this is a different year, the holidays are still a very busy time for everyone, especially moms. For team members, consider implementing 1/2 days on Fridays in December, or offer a paid day off when you normally would have had the holiday party this year. For clients, consider giving the gift of a service such as housecleaning, gift wrapping, or landscaping. The gift of time is always appreciated. 2. Host a Micro Celebration While we may not have the traditional holiday party this year, you can still take a client or small team out for dinner or lunch at a restaurant. If you chose to invite spouses, only take one couple out at a time. You don’t want to make anyone feel uncomfortable so consider the audience when choosing this option. But given our lack of social interaction this year, breaking bread together could provide some much-needed face time with a very important audience, which could help set up new deals and projects for success in 2021. Consider making reservations at a local (non-chain) restaurant with a female head chef, a diverse owner, or one that offers cultural food (like Guelagueza in Koreatown.) In addition to introducing your guest to a restaurant with unique delicious food, a great outdoor patio, and ambiance, you can showcase your support of local small businesses, which goes a long way. Alternatively, send dinner to their homes so they can have their own micro celebration to remember. Hire a local caterer like Food Joy catering that offers packaged meals for the whole family. If you want to make it extra memorable, work with Festively to arrange for extras to be delivered, such as a balloon bouquet, flowers, treats, a bottle of spirits, and dinner as a wonderful and memorable way to say “Thank you”, “I see you”, “I care about your safety”, and “I wish you well.” 1. Send a unique and thoughtful gift This year, it’s all about the home delivery. You likely won’t get to see these VIPs in person, but you still want them to feel how much you appreciate them. One sure-fire way to do that is by sending a personalized gift. One thing you don’t want to do is seem out of touch. With all that’s gone on in 2020, from COVID, to supply shortages, the Black Lives Matter movement, you ideally want to shop small, and shop locally. Find gifts that are meaningful, hand-crafted, and unique, and your investment will go a long way. Personalized gifts made by diverse local crafters are win-win in 2020, as you show your support for small businesses and make your client or employee say “wow!”. Check out 13 ideas for unique and thoughtful 2020 holiday gifts for employees and clients that you can buy and book now.
MAMA MIA! GET LAST-MINUTE 💐 & 💝 GIFTS FOR MOTHER’S DAY!
Mother’s day is this weekend and we are sooo ready to be treated like queens! Even if we have to drop subtle hints as to where the pancake mix is, and which pillow needs fluffing. We hope you get to enjoy to the fullest! Have you had a chance to pick up a gift from a special mom in your life? Maybe you won’t be able to see them this year, or want to surprise a hard-working mama you know. Check out these gifts you can order today! Wishing all of you all a beautiful Mother’s Day! Patty & Iris Mother’s Day Special – Plus Free Mini! A medium, designer’s choice bouquet designed using the freshest seasonal blooms Your custom order arrives with an adorable matching FREE mini arrangement. Includes FREE delivery to limited areas. Brownie Dessert Box Original & Turtle This delicious brownie box comes with 45 Brownie Bites that you can share or refrigerate or freeze some for later! This box is also great for adding a sweet treat to your dessert table. Candles”Golden Rose” Candle Essence of Orange Blossom & mandarins Coco-Soy Beeswax 11 oz 30-45 Burn Time “Turquoise Moon” Candle Essence of lavender and stimulating rosemary relaxes the mind Coco-Soy Beeswax 10 oz Burn time 30-40 Hrs “Plantita” Candle Cactus Floral Coco-soy Beeswax 11 oz burn time 40-50 hrs