Sending Smiles ~

It's fascinating being in business. It's amazing how fast the world is changing and how hard it can be to keep up. Have you seen that Staples ad on TV with "Dave" the business owner? As the commercial progresses, it's clear that poor "Dave" pretty much does everything at his company, from fixing the copier, to making coffee, opening the mail... There might be 19 other employees working here with me but sometimes I feel like Dave, trying to keep up with it all. My job is to be the creative compass here at the shops. I set the tone for how we will be seen in the market place and I do this in many ways, with many goals in mind. It's been important to me to make ordering easy for our customers. People live fast, stressful lives. They are working hard with much on their professional plate. Add a hectic home life and the stress can be overwhelming. Although I work long days too, part of my job is to take the stress out of how customers place their o

I was totally thrilled to see that InStyle Magazine suggests surrounding yourself with flowers to feel better. I could not agree more!!

 We love last minute corporate gigs like this one for Choose NJ, which is located here in the Princeton Forrestal Village. A bit more about Choose NJ later. Anyway, looking to brighten up their offices for a office grand opening tonight, they contacted us yesterday to see if we might be able to provide them with fresh floral decor. Can we do that??? Is the sky blue!! We live to do that! As you can see, Design Manager Holly went to town making festive arrangements to decorate the event.  This will greet guests as they arrive! The coffee table piece below just adds a touch of color and freshness to the entrance sitting area.  How cool is this, our amazing state and touting all the wonderful reasons to have a business in New Jersey!  The piece below was a colorful addition to the board room. A touch of fresh spring flowers really livened up an otherwise, colorless room. They just might love it so much that may want flower every week - a flower girl like me can only hope.  Y

Don't ask me to tell you when we did this wedding, but needless to say it was quite a few years ago. Although, I believe the brides name was Grace (I could be wrong but it's one of my favorite names and so it was memorable to me) I remember these bouquets like it was yesterday. This photo was taken at Mountain Lakes House, right here in pretty Princeton. The bridal bouquet was created in a gold handled bouquet holder using all green cymbidium orchids and stephanotis flowers. I especially loved the brides maids flowers which were hand tied bouquets of Black Bacarra roses, green cymbidium orchids, deep burgundy mini callas and accents of green hypericum berries. Back on my radar again because when meeting with Bride Jackie the other night, these bouquets just might be perfect for her brides maids to carry. What's old is new again I guess! To see these and more of our wedding designs visit our website at www.sendingsmiles.com and www.perfectweddingflowers.com

 I'm certainly not single but it's been fun providing flowers for the Kari Adams show which recently went prime time on Princeton's TV30.  Tune in to see our flowers and  to hear all the hot topics about dating, relationships, social living, singlehood and lifestyle in the Princeton, NJ and surrounding areas. Kari isn't just the host of the show, she also  owns her own singles and matchmaking company, "Princeton Elite Club," where she's heard it all when it comes to dating and relationships! Have  any burning questions about dating, h ... ow to meet that someone special, or  relationships? Kari addresses myraid social topics asked by viewers in the "Ask Kari" segment of the show. Be sure to tune in to get up to speed  on all things dating! Thanks for the great photos Kari and so happy to be bringing a floral touch to your TV set!! To learn more about Kari and her matchmaking company, visit her website at <><> <>&

One of the best parts of our job is when we get to create pretty floral centerpieces for special events. Take these centerpieces created for a Golden Anniversary party at Salt Creek Grille. No, you don't have to splurge on floral arrangements but we think it's well worth the investment. It's not everyday your parents celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary, right?

 I don't know what it is about the color purple but it's been showing up everywhere I Turn. This week past bride Suzan sent these photos our way and I'm so glad she did. I love the brides maids gowns, don't you? The flowers were just a sweet addition.  What fun seeing how the couple arrived in style!  Suzan's bouquet was gorgeous with ivory roses, brown cymbidium orchids, purple mini callas and purple roses. Her gown was so elegant and had lots of detail. What a lovely color palate for a late fall wedding, don't you think? To see this and more or our floral design check out our website at www.sendingsmiles.com or our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/localflorist

Well, this photos is quite alarming isn't it. The roses on the right were delivered by a local florist. The one on the left, however was shipped in a box. Below is the wording posted, along with this photo, on the Facebook Page of my floral wholesaler. And I quote them: "TowersFlowers vs "Online Flowers" - this is a picture everyone should post on their personal pages so friends and family can understand why they need to purchase flowers from a retail shop this Valentine's Day.   The "arrangement" on the left, purchased from a well known online order gatherer, ended up costing $82.95...$28 UPS charge, $10 "long stem" upgrade, and $4.99 vase upgrade. Don't let your customers, friends, and family be disappointed this Valentine's Day…they deserve better!" Obviously, someone who works there did a test order. One from a local florist who hand delivered the roses on the right and the second one from a well known online webs

Oh my goodness, the line of brides in and out of our shop has been constant (and a bit overwhelming if I'm truly honest)! I predict that our wedding calendar is going to book up faster than any other year since I started doing weddings 20 years ago. On one hand, I'm flattered because it means the word out on the street is that we do a great job with our wedding designs - offer beautiful flowers, fair pricing and excellent service. Wow, I patted myself so hard on the back and knocked myself off my chair! Just kidding. On to the topic listed above - A Real Beach Wedding. The other night I met with past bride Jodi and her friend Jackie to talk about her October wedding. I admit, I was a bit more snippy than usual and I'm going to admit that I probably had put in too long a day, with too little food and water and the tail end of a horrible cold dragging me down. Sorry Jodi and Jackie!! But how sweet was it to come in the next morning to see in my email, sent that night at 10:

Are you “Saying it with Flowers?”   Hey there! I’m J and they call me the “Flower Expert”! On ABC Television I’m known as the “Flower Guru” and I host the world’s first internet weekly web TV show about flower apply named “ Fun with Flowers with J ”.   My industry refers to me as “the Most Trusted Voice in the Flower Industry”.   :o) Monday Morning Flower’s Georgianne and I became fast friends at a seminar I was giving in Heightstown, NJ.   I love her energy and enthusiasm for helping her fans “say it with flowers” whether it’s for Valentine’s day, prom, happy weekend or BOY do I LOVE YOU!!! No matter how you break it down, I love everything about flowers.   Nothing (and I do mean NOTHING!!!) allows us to share our emotions better than flowers. It’s impossible to “RUIN” someone’s day with flowers although it is possible to select the wrong flower.   Consider the gentleman who sent his wife a cactus to repair their “prickly” relations…well, you get the idea. :o) The Societ

Novo Nordisk Inc. is working in partnership with an organization called Cinderella's Closet and we are happy to assisting them. Cinderella's Closet is a not for profit organization that is dedicated to promoting self-esteem among young adults by providing less fortunate high school students in our community the opportunity to attend their prom in style. They seek to raise awareness of the socio-economic differences that exist in the local area, while advocating inclusiveness and diversity. The goal is to ensure that no high school student has to forfeit the lifelong memories associated with attending their prom due to financial hardship. In February, Novo Nordisk and Monday Morning Flowers will begin a collection of prom dresses, boys suits, ties, accessories, shoes, makeup, handbags, scarves, shawls & costume jewelry (see attached flyer). Once the collection period ends, they plan to host a "prom boutique" in their facility in Princeton on Saturd

It's always fun to share real weddings with our blog readers and this one is especially rewarding being we will be doing her sister Sarah's wedding next. Working on Adele and Chris's wedding flowers last year was both fun and exciting. We especially loved Adele's wedding bouquet of mini callas, protea, mokara and cymbidium orchids, berzillia berries, orange roses and fiddle ferns. Don't you just love the texture?  Adele and her sister Sarah have a bit of fun. Sarah's wedding is up next and very different than her sisters. But in this photo, the day belonged to Adele.  Adele and Chris seemed amazed by those cute fiddleheads in her bouquet. We're thinking the bouquet would not have been the same without them.  How sweet to have a carriage ride and to take pictures with this beautiful horse right in the heart of Lambertville, NJ.  Lambertville was the perfect back drop. The brown and orange color theme really popped against the fresh green field

Decisions, decisions... planning a wedding is not an easy task not to mention expensive. With many weddings ceremonies today happening at the same place as the reception, many couples forget to include (or leave) money in their budget for flowers and ceremony decor.  Although it's nice to decorate a church or synagogue, I find they need a bit less done to them to transform them into a wedding location. In the case of Jackie and Donovan's wedding this past Septmeber, we concentrated the decorations to the pews and did not try to add anything to an already beautiful altar. I think the hydrangea and ribbon accents on the pews showed that something special was about to happen. The brides color palate of simple creams and ivory helped tone down the colors already present in the church and not compete with them. We also chose not to put the flowers on every pew. Every third one was decorated and helped draw your eye down to the altar without costing a fortune. Simply tied