The official description with all the details of the contest is below. Two winners are going to receive the complete collection of my books, wrapped in my signature style. Tell me your stories and enter today. If you're going to be in New York City, don't forget to check out my book discussion tonight with Nina Garcia. Feel free to bring your cameras--you know how much I love to take pictures. We'll be at the Barnes & Noble on 86th and Lexington at 7pm!
CELEBRATIONS CONTEST DESCRIPTION
Tell Us All About Your Favorite Celebration For A Chance To Win!
Preston Bailey’s newest book, Celebrations, showcases some of Preston’s favorite celebrations over the course of his 30-year career. Barnes and Noble stores in New York City will be celebrating the launch of Preston’s new book by decorating several different store windows in Preston Bailey’s signature style.
You can check out the windows in the Barnes and Noble Union Square (33 East 17th Street, New York, NY 10003) and Fifth Avenue (555 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10017) locations. Preston will also be conducting a book signing today, December 8th, hosted by Nina Garcia, at the Upper East Side Barnes & Noble (150 East 86th Street, New York, NY 10028). Come out and get your book signed!
Now, we want to hear from you about your favorite celebration, and what made it so special. Was it your 21st birthday when a stranger popped out of your birthday cake? Or, maybe it was the time you turned 40 and were serenaded with your favorite song? Perhaps it was the time you celebrated your one-year wedding anniversary by staying inside and eating take-out with your lovely spouse....
Tell us all about your favorite celebration, and you will be eligible to win the entire collection of Preston Bailey’s books (Celebrations, Inspirations, Fantasy Weddings and Design for Entertaining), signed and wrapped in Preston's signature style. The approximate retail value of this prize is Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250). We will be responsible for sending the prize to you by a shipping (or other delivery) method determined by us in our sole discretion.
To Enter The Contest: In order to enter this contest, you will need to write a description of your favorite celebration, telling us what the celebration was and what made it so special to you (your “Entry”). Your Entry must be in English, and must consist of not more than five hundred (500) words. Then, you will need to submit your Entry to us in one of the following three different ways:
(1) Through Twitter: You may submit your Entry to us through your Twitter account. When you post your tweet with your Entry, you must address your tweet to @prestonrbailey and include the hashtag #PBContest. Your Entry must clearly and prominently be captioned with the words “Celebrations Contest Entry”. Your Entry should include your first name.
(2) Through Our Blog: You may submit your Entry to us through our blog, located at http://prestonbailey.blogspot.com (the “Preston Bailey Blog”). When submitting your Entry through the Preston Bailey Blog, you may do so by either:
a. posting your Entry directly onto the Preston Bailey Blog, in the comments section corresponding to, and located below, this Celebrations Contest Description. Your Entry as posted on the Preston Bailey Blog must clearly and prominently be captioned with the words “Celebrations Contest Entry”. Your Entry should include your first name;
or
b. posting your Entry on your own personal blog, then leaving a comment on the Preston Bailey Blog, in the comments section corresponding to, and located below, this Celebrations Contest Description, with a link back to your Entry as posted on your own personal blog. Your comment on the Preston Bailey Blog must clearly and prominently be captioned with the words “Celebrations Contest Entry”. Your Entry should include your first name. All links, and URLs contained therein, must be fully accurate, unbroken, and must lead directly to the specific, correct page on which the Entry actually is posted, and the Entry must be posted in full on such page.
(3) On Our Facebook Page: You may submit your Entry to us through our Facebook page. In order to submit your Entry through our Facebook page, you must be an existing fan of Preston Bailey on Facebook, and you must post your Entry directly on the wall of our Facebook page. The Entry that you post on the wall of our Facebook page must clearly and prominently be captioned with the words “Celebrations Contest Entry”. Your Entry should include your first name.
IMPORTANT: Your Entry must be a truthful and fully accurate story and account.
IMPORTANT: Other than your own name, your Entry may not contain personal information of any person, including yourself or any other person. For example, you may not include in your Entry any name, street address, telephone number, date of birth or email address, or any other personal information, for yourself or any other person. Further, your Entry may not contain any private information of, or about, any other person.
Please see the Official Rules for this contest for more terms, conditions and requirements regarding Entries.
Contest Dates: This contest will begin at 12:01AM Eastern Standard Time on December 8, 2009 and will end at 12:01AM Eastern Standard Time on February 1, 2010.
Winner Selection: All eligible and properly submitted Entries will be judged, based on the criteria described in the Official Rules, by judges selected by Sponsor (as defined in the Official Rules) in its sole discretion. Two (2) winners will be chosen by the judges from among all eligible Entries, on or about February 12, 2010.
At our sole discretion, Winners’ names (first and/or last) may be announced in a posting on our website, at http://www.prestonbailey.com, and/or on the Preston Bailey blog at http://prestonbailey.blogspot.com. At our sole discretion, Winners’ names (first and/or last) also may be posted or published on Preston Bailey’s Twitter page, in Preston Bailey’s Twitter postings and/or in other Preston Bailey-related Twitter communications, and/or on any Preston Bailey-related Facebook page(s).
Official Rules: Please see the Official Rules for this contest for further details and requirements. The Official Rules can be found on our website at http://www.prestonbailey.com/official-rules-for-the-celebrations-contest/. By entering this contest, you agree to be bound by all of the terms and conditions set forth in the Official Rules and in this Celebrations Contest Description.
© 2009. All rights reserved. All trademarks and logos are the property of their respective owners.
You could win the entire collection of Preston Bailey books signed and wrapped in Preston Bailey's signature style. All you need to do is tell us about your favorite celebration via 
Posts
Preston,
ReplyDeleteHow fabulous is this...truly unbelievable. It will be wonderful! Can't wait to see all the entries and sharing life stories. Season's Greetings!
Bette
“Celebrations Contest Entry”
ReplyDeleteHELLO PRESTON,
MY NAME IS STEPHANIE,
MY FAVORITE CELEBRATION WAS MY 31ST BIRTHDAY. (FOR MY 30TH BIRTHDAY I WANTED TO HAVE A BIG BASH WITH A 70'S THEME BUT I COULD NOT MAKE IT HAPPEN ON THE GRAND SCALE I WANTED SO I DID NOT DO IT AT ALL!)
I AM(4'11) SOME WHAT CONSERVATIVE AND LOW KEY WHO DOES NOT LIKE SURPRISES.
SO IMAGINE HOW SURPRISED I WAS TO BE BLIND FOLDED AND DRIVEN ACROSS TOWN. ONLY TO GET OUT THE CAR ONCE I GOT UP TO WHAT SEEM TO BE A DOORWAY IT WAS REMOVED. I OPEN MY EYES AND SCREAM TO THE TOP OF MY LUNGS. IN FRONT OF ME STOOD THE HAIREST, SCARIEST 6'5 350LB MAN WITH PIERCING IN HIS FACE, EARS AND TATOOS ALL OVER THE PLACE SAYING "I HAVE NEVER MADE A WOMEN SCREAM LIKE THAT"! I DID NOT KNOW IT AT THE TIME BUT HE WAS MY BEST BIRTHDAY GIFT.....
FOR YEARS I AM ALWAYS THE ONE IN THE FAMILY THAT PLANS AND DOES ALL THE PARTIES/BABYSHOWERS/WEDDINGS. THIS TIME THEY TRICKED ME. AGAIN I WAS BLIND FOLDED DRIVEN AROUND TOWN FOR WHAT SEEM LIKE ALL NIGHT(ABOUT 30 MINUTES IN) I WAS GETTING MAD BECAUSE I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO A NIGHT CLUB AND I HATE TO GO LATE. I LIKE TO GET IN EARLY AND NOT STAND IN LONG LINES. SO BY NOW IT'S LATE, I'M FUSTRATED. I GOT THIS STUPID BLIND FOLD ON MESSING UP MY HAIR, I AM DRESSED UP AND I'M THINKING "ANOTHER BIRTHDAY I'M NOT GONNA HAVE FUN!" SO WE FINALLY GET TO A LOCATION WERE I WAS USHERED DOWN A HILL BETWEEN CARS AND GRASS IN MY CUTE BLACK DRESS, 4IN HEELS AND STILL BLIND FOLDED. SO NOW IM REALLY MAD BECAUSE THIS IS NOT THE FABULOUS TRENDY NEW NIGHT CLUB, I WANTED TO GO TO. IT MUST BE SOMEONE HOUSE! I GET IN THIS ROOM WERE IM STOOD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FLOOR STILL REALLY MAD AND CLUELESS! THEY TAKE OFF THE BLIND FOLD AND YELL SURPRISE! WELL I SCREAMED AGAIN. THIS TIME IN FRONT OF ME STOOD OLD CHILDHOOD FRIENDS AND FRIENDS FROM HIGH SCHOOL IT WAS A BASEMENT PARTY SET IN THE 70'S. THEY HAD REAL ALBUMS HANGING ON THE WALLS,A DISCO BALL AND A DJ. ALL WERE DRESSED IN AFROS OR BELL BOTTOMS OR SOME CRAZY 70'S STYLE OUTFITS. IT WAS THE BEST BIRTHDAY BECAUSE I'M ALWAYS THE ONE WHO "PLANS" EVERY DETAIL AND I HAD NO CONTROL(AND DID I MENTION I DON'T LIKE SURPRISES). SO THE BIG SCARY MAN WAS A PRESENT AFTER ALL MY COUSINS AND FRIENDS CHIPPED IN ON A TATOO. SO WHAT MADE THE PARTY SO SPECIAL IS ALL OF THE THOUGHT AND EFFORT THEY TRIED TO PUT INTO IT JUST FOR ME. I HAD NOT HAD A PARTY SINCE I WAS A CHILD.
MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY KNOW I NEVER WOULD HAVE GOTTEN A TATTO ON MY OWN AND (MOM DOES NOT KNOW TO THIS DAY AND IT'S BEEN 4 YRS).
BIRTHDAY'S ARE A BLESSING NO MATTER WHAT AGE YOU SHOULD CELEBRATE WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY!
Aww.. only open to US citizens.. oh well.. : ) Wish I could join..
ReplyDeleteHello my name is Henry
ReplyDeleteMy favorite celebration that I planned was my appreciation/award dinner. This is when I first decided that I wanted to become and event planner. On the weekend of my birthday I put on this award/appreciation dinner. This event was to celebrate my 18th birthday. For this event I honored 18 people who helped me out and felt who was important in my life. This was a celebration I have always wanted to do. Because on people Birthdays people always expect to get presents and gifts. But I wanted to do something different. I want to be the one who gave and honored others on my birthday. The location I chose was at one of my parent’s friend’s house in upper Scottsdale, Arizona. The theme of the event will be “A Walk Down Memory Lane.” I wanted to take people back to past to show them how important they were to me. It was a memorable event because people really didn’t expect to get any award, so when I presented each person with there award it was just a special moment. It was a celebration to remember, I had all my friends and family in a special location celebrating my special day.
"CELEBRATIONS CONTEST ENTRY"
ReplyDeletehttp://applemackenzie.wordpress.com/2009/12/12/%E2%80%9Ccelebrations-contest-entry%E2%80%9D/
Even though I'm from Canada, I wanted to share my story
"Celebrations contest entry"
ReplyDeleteHi Preston, its me marg...
At the age of 23 i havent have a personal celebration that i consider special. Im known for my artistry and resourcefulness as a hobby so, I was the one who always plan and decorate an event for my friends or family but not for my own. Nonetheless, i wanted to share a very memorable celebration we made for my mom and dad...
It was a valentines day, im 15, my siblings next to me is 13 and the other 2 are still in elementary grade. We appreciate our mom and dad so much for their hardwork for us to get into school and we saw that they sometimes forgot to give themselves a time and pleasure because life in our country is difficult. Their priority is to give us a better future compared to what they experience. As young as we are, we save a portion of our allowance for us to buy an ingredients to cook for their favorite food. That day, while they we're busy in our small business, we their kids is also busy preparing a simple dinner for them. It was set up in the balcony of our house. A very stary night and the sounds of the sea and the birds in the province made perfect for a romantic night. Tea lights are everywhere with the touch of wild flower we got out of nowhere. We also landscape the place using the flowery plants in our garden. At the center, there you find a small dinner table covered with improvise red and white skirted table cloth with a single candle, a rose and their dinner we cook specially for them. As soon as they arive we pretend as if nothing is going on, like a regular night busy doing our school assignment and household choirs, the curtain we're close so that they wont have clue whats going on...few moments after, we asked them to go outside for we just wanted to chat with them and there the 'SURPRISE'...
Seconds after my sister started to strum her guitar and we started singing the song we made for them.. a song of gratitude, appreciation, praises and love for everything they have done to us..that no matter what, we know we can never repay their love and sacrifices to all of us. Our parents are wonderful and loving...a simple appreciation of celebration like this made them smile and thankful....
The effort and sucrifice for this event is worth for the goal to make them feel special and love, is shown in a simple way like this..
Indeed its one of my unforgetable event for their eyes speak more than what i've heard!
Hello Preston, My name is Rebecca,
ReplyDeleteThe celebration that I will always treasure clost to my heart is the surprise birthday party we arranged for my grandmother's 80th birthday. She has 6 children, 17 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren and we are al living all across the country so you can imagine that it is fairly dificult to get us all together at once. We arranged for her surviving brothers and sisters to come up to Pennsylvania and we had her daughter from Georgia, son from California, and other son from Virginia fly in to Pennsylvania and join us at our cousins home where my grandmother was going to arrive. We all gathered on the back porch and when she came around the corner she saw all of her family and close friends shouting together HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! She immediately began to tear up (along with everyone there) and was completely stunned to see all of ther children together for the first time in what must have been 12 years. I only wish my grandfather was alive to have seen all of his loving and devoted family together to celebrate. In between family pictures and amazing homemade food, we shared stories and memories that will forever remain in my memory. My cousin just started decorating cakes as a hobby so my grandmother blew out her candles on a delicious homemade cake made special by her granddaughter.
What made this celebration so special wasn't just the homemade food and decor (courtesy of my cousins and I) or the delicious cake and carefully wrapped gifs, but was the fact that for the first time in over a decade we were able to all come together to celebrate with this very special woman in all of our lives. We all cried at the site of this tiny little woman surrounded by the love and embrace of her six children. The look of shock and pure joy on her face as she came around that corner will forever bring a smile to my face. It just goes to show (as you I'm sure know) that you don't need amazing floral decorations and lighting to have a special party, it's the love and effort that goes into the celebration that makes it special. Thank you Preston for having this contest! I hope you enjoy my celebration!
A Valentine celebration I did for my family, everything was made with love, the table decor, the special brunch, the small notes used as place cards. I made them feel very special that day, sometimes we forget the most important people in our lives, that day I rembember how blessed I am to have them in my life ;)
ReplyDeleteCelebrations Contest Entry ~ Nadine
ReplyDeleteWithout a doubt, my favorite celebration to date was my little brother’s wedding in October 2007. For the six months of planning leading up to the big day, I was most assuredly excited and so looking forward to the first wedding of our four siblings. And although I could have been a bit melancholy that the youngest was ahead of the rest of us – go figure, he must have learned from our mistakes! – I just couldn’t be happier to be involved.
A modest celebration was planned in a new way for us all – a cruise ship wedding. I had never attended one, much less been on one, so this was seriously exciting. But then to have them invite 30 of their closest family and friends to take the cruise with them – well that just put the whole experience over the top.
The day finally came, my own fiancé and I drove the long 11 hours from Georgia to South Florida with cruise ready bags packed, passports stamped and island fever in full affect. Festivities started the night before at our parents’ house for the most fun rehearsal dinner party and makeshift rehearsal ever. With the event being on the ship all the details were a package deal, but the sweet couple wanted me (still a newbie wedding planner) to walk the bridal party through some standard rituals - honored was me!
The next day, the sibling and family filled bridal party headed to the ship without any real understanding of what to expect. We were ushered to a prep area just outside the ceremony room to await what would be the sweetest ceremony on earth. The bride to be was escorted down the aisle by her two younger brothers – a mere 20-something and 14 respectively. Raised by their grandmother who passed a few years prior, this moment is etched in my memory forever. When the music began as she entered with a brother on each arm, I couldn’t hold back and tears streamed down my face. It suddenly occurred to me that my little brother was getting married – like…for…real! As we awaited photos in another room after the ceremony, her 14 y/o brother broke down as well, embracing his sister with such a love that I tear up just reliving the moment!
From then it was the longest party in history – I think we even beat traditional Hindu weddings with our high seas cocktail reception, then 4 days of Caribbean cruising, ending with a larger dinner reception in beautiful Miami Beach overlooking the pier. There are so many incredible moments from that week (snorkeling, ATV’s through rain forests, karaoke contests, newlywed game), I couldn’t possibly list them...all! But each and every one brings a smile of warmth and love when I think about it. The joy of family and friends was so great that we decided to make it a regular thing – bi-annual cruise trips for all. It was truly the best wedding ever!!
Hey there, I'm Tammie Reed. My most favorite celebration was when I had my 41st birthday/pajama jam with all my girlfriends! It was held at a french bistro and I had a step n repeat outside with huge teddy bears, throw pillows and hot pink shaggy rugs for the pink carpet entrance. It looked like it was a huge slumber party! I had Designs by Lolita wine glasses for everyone and the glasses had bunny slippers on them! That was also their favors and pink goody bags filled with all sorts of beauty products!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite color is pink and so ofcourse we had pink roses on tables, and Pink Nuvo liquor. It was quite pinkalicious! All the ladies came in their fab pajamas and we danced and played fun games and did door prizes and give aways through out the night. The food was catered by the bistro that hosted my party.I had a huge princess strawberry cake that taste so yummy!
I also had a guest speaker that spoke to the ladies about entrepreneurship and the ladies were very impressed with her speech. The Dj also played all 80's music, they loved it and we did all the old line dances. We took plenty of pictures and videotaped the event,everyone looked Pinktabulous... great times!
Celebrations Contest Entry from Tracy
ReplyDeleteWhen we are 80, my girlfriend and I will sit by the fire and reminisce over eggnog about all the fun we had at my 40th birthday celebration and we will argue about whether we dressed up in the 20s era or the 60s era and I will insist it was the Roaring 20s and she will say oh yeah that’s it and I will say don’t you remember how we were draped down and looking fabulous— feathers in our hair, long strings of pearls, cigarette holders, fringe dresses, and fur and how we could have sworn that that every cat in the spot was wearing their finest zoot suit and tipped their fedora as we pranced by and she will laugh and get up to try to demonstrate the flapper strut, then grab her back before sitting right back down and then she will say- wasn’t the party in Eatonville, Florida and I will say nah girl it was at a restaurant called Eatonville in Washington, DC-don’t you remember that my favorite author Zora Neale Hurston was everywhere in those huge colorful murals and she will say no I don’t remember that but I do remember those glamorous chandeliers on the really high ceiling because I noticed them when I reached the top of the staircase and stood there mesmerized by their sparkle and I will say-no chile, I don’t remember that but Oh how I remember that delicious southern cuisine-fried green tomatoes, catfish, jalapeno cheese grits, collard greens, corn bread, and oatmeal pecan pie and she will say my goodness-you have such a good memory because I don’t remember any of that but I do remember having a few too many martinis and I will laugh and she will say how the live jazz band added to the ambience as we told stories and laughed and then I will suddenly remember something and tell her that I will be right back and minutes later I will return with the black feather boa I wore that night draped around my shoulders and I will do a little dance and she will laugh and say girl, I can’t believe you still have that old ratted thing and I will run my fingers through the feathers and say I remember how soft the feathers felt on my neck that night and I will tell her how when I was getting dressed I sprayed my favorite cologne on the boa and she will say I remember asking you what perfume you were wearing and I will ask her if she remembers what I told her and she will say you told me that a lady never reveals her fragrance, the fragrance reveals the lady and I will say that is correct and that my mama always told me that and we will both smile and start making things up like Michelle Obama was at the party as two generations below beg us to tell them more stories about the good old days.
Celebrations Contest Entry - Hanna
ReplyDeleteI never had a Sweet 16, but did have a Sweet 22 that more than made up for it! My 22nd birthday was unforgettable in every way.
My closest friends and I flew to Vegas for a weekend, and I basically just showed up. I don't remember planning anything, which is very strange. One of my friends arranged for us to stay in a lavish suite at Bellagio. Beautiful flowers and balloons welcomed us to our room. I got a tiara for fun as a gift, so of course I wore it to dinner and dancing that night! (Only in Vegas..)
We had sushi for dinner and the most divine green tea creme brulee for dessert, so yummy. Also had a large pink cake covered in flowers; it was beautiful.
We all dressed up and danced the night away, and people were constantly congratulating me; they thought I was a bachelorette because of the tiara! We created a lot of stories with that tiara: I was a bachelorette, beauty pageant contestant, and birthday girl all in one night.
The dancing continued when we had an after-party in our suite. Some people even did the russian dance!
I did not deserve such an extravagant princess themed birthday, but I will always cherish those memories!
My best friend is the ultimate friend. When I turned 21 I celebrated a birthday month! We started in Tijuana because we were still underage (this was years ago when it was safer) Upon returning from that adventure (all kinds of craziness) we immediately departed for Vegas! On my actual birthday she ordered my favorite cake-chocolate with banana cream filling and we had a fabulous time. It ended rather strangely with the guy I was dating...we went to his house and a famous actress/singer/etc ws there with him...Very awkward, but my best friend is still there for me- from age 12 through now (we're 38!) Now she spoils my daughter!!!
ReplyDeleteCELEBRATIONS CONTEST ENTRY
ReplyDeleteNever having had a birthday party of my own, I have been throwing my baby boy themed birthday parties every year since the day he was born. At one point they’d become so outrageous that folks were actually calling to try and finagle an invite for their kids. Folks we didn’t know.
By far, the Dinosaur Safari was my absolute favorite and I have done everything from pirates to cowboys to spacemen. I did a Dinosaur Safari for birthday number seven. There was a guest list of some thirty-two children - everyone in my son-shine’s first grade class because I couldn’t fathom leaving any child out. This was the first birthday party where I had to rent a hall to handle the event. The previous years I had just moved all of my living and dining room furniture to the garage to create the fantasy atmosphere I had wanted my son and his little friends to experience.
The invitation was a four-page, color newsletter, inviting kids and family to come in costume. Each Birthday Gazette was rolled into a tube and tied with a ribbon and rubber dinosaur figure.
In the parking lot of the event site a costumed dinosaur character greeted each guest and pointed them in the direction of the door. Passers-by actually caused a traffic jam as they slowed down to try and figure out what was going on! The interior of the church hall had been transformed into a forest and cave extravaganza complete with wall murals, live trees, branches, boulders and of course, an assortment of larger-than-life dinosaurs. I loved seeing their little faces light up with awe and wonder as each child stepped inside.
Inside, each guest had a special photo op with a second dinosaur character before they were shuttled to the arts and craft table to create their own unique, keepsake picture frame. After a half-hour dino-character performance by a puppeteer, our little gathering of potential anthropologists, cavemen, and dinosaur-lovers dined on stegosaurus burgers, brontosaurus pizza, and T-rex fries. The safari ended with each child taking home a dinosaur goodie egg that had involved two months of balloon blowing and enough paper mache to last a lifetime.
Other parents called me crazy. When the ex-hubby saw the bills he called me names that couldn’t be repeated in mixed company. But my baby boy is all grown up now and it absolutely tickles my heart with joy when he reminisces about his special birthdays and the elaborate fantasy creations that had been created especially for him.
My name is Debby and I appreciate the opportunity to reminisce and share my story.
Celebrations Contest Entry
ReplyDeleteHi, Preston, this is AB.
One of my most memorable celebrations was my 25th birthday bash. I was born in the 80s, therefore what better way to celebrate than to have an 80s roller skating party! My friends were such good sports and agreed to dress up in 80s duds! They're truly the best friends a gal can have:) For my birthday outfit, I did a bit of DIY with a large oversized tee and of course tied it to the side with a large knot. I even found a pair of vibrant hot pink leg warmers for just $2 to complete my look. My friends wore the most hilarious 80s outfits. The looks ranged from guys wearing short, shorts and neon socks to girls with big hair and side pony tails! lol
I didn't have enough funds to rent out the entire skating rink, so instead we were able to snag a group rate:) We arrived at the skating rink in our 80s outfits and received stares from the sea of high school students hanging out at the rink haha! Just imagine about twenty or so grad students in their mid-twenties roller skating in crazy outfits!! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, these are the future young professionals of America:D Many of us slipped and fell except for two guys who were quite graceful on the rink. In fact, they were so light on their skates that they caught the attention of a few teenage girls. These girls even approached them and asked for a picture (I'm not making this up! True story LOL). To this day, we still give these guys a hard time;) To complete the evening, we went back to my apartment for a wonderful fondue spread. I had such a wonderful time regressing back to the old days and sharing the memories with those I love. It was one of the best birthday parties I have had thus far:)
P.S. Thank you for the opportunity to share our stories, Preston:) Love the concept of this contest!
TheOwlsCloset.blogspot.com
Celebrations Contest Entry
ReplyDelete"A Reel Roth Production" by Sharon Roth
Hello Preston, I love your work and I am so delighted to tell you and others about one my Favorite Celebrations.
I have always enjoyed doing crafts and decorating for Holidays and my childrens' birthday parties. I always make my own invitations and come up with different themes for events and then putting it all together from "soup to nuts" which was the name of my business.
I did mostly volunteer work for the PTA, I was head of School Events.
People would love the work I did and I too felt so fulfilled to see the Event come to life.
My proudest moment was when I made my son's Bar Mitzvah.
From the time he was a toddler he loved Film and Animation, so much so that he is currently in a college which specializes Film Making!
When it came time to come up with a theme is was quite evident.....
"A Reel Roth Production" was born, I designed and hand made the invitations, they were Black, Gold and White. I incorporated a gold embossed oscar as the closer to the card. I made the place cards using the same Oscar. The room was done in Black, White and Gold
tablecloth and napkins. I also hand-stamped cocktail napkins with a movie reel and the theme name "A Reel Roth Production"
I purchased large champagne and Brandy glasses and filled them with all different candy. The kid's table had a large film reel on one end of the table, the other end was a director's chair.
I found a variety of old movie cameras and movie reels at antique stores, these were also used in the decor.
At the end of the party my son handed out Popcorn and I had pens made up with the theme name, as I do Calligraphy.
The event was magnificent and my son was delighted.
It was quite rewarding to me to see the fruits of my labor, but then again I wouldn't have it any other way !
P.S. My son got a kick out of seeing all the kids in school using "his" pen :)
Thank you for letting me relive that glorious day
CELEBRATIONS CONTEST ENTRY
ReplyDeleteAs my 40th birthday approached, I was apprehensive about celebrating it. I felt that I’d arrived at this milestone birthday without achieving many of my goals. A few days before my birthday, after prodding from my son, I reluctantly asked several friends and family members to meet me at one of my favorite restaurants for a quiet birthday dinner. As I prepared to leave for the restaurant on my birthday, my son stated that he was running late and would ride with my sister.
When I arrived at the restaurant, none of my friends or family were there (not even my mother!). I waited 30 minutes, 60 minutes, then became angry. How dare they not show up! I called home to see (1) where my son was and (2) if anyone had called to say they couldn’t make it. I was fighting back angry tears while questioning my son when he told me that I should come home immediately. I asked what was going on and he apparently signaled everyone at my house to yell “Surprise” because all of a sudden it was shouted.
On the ride home, I had no idea what to expect. I still had reservations about celebrating this particular birthday with a lot of fanfare. When I arrived home and walked through my front door, the first thing that caught my eye was my favorite color, lime green. It was in the tablecloths and some of the balloons in the huge balloon pyramids my son had constructed. I was born in the ‘60’s so there were posters and magazine covers on the walls that depicted events and sayings from that time (“Far Out”, “Solid”, “Heavy”). As handouts, he created a timeline of significant events that occurred the year I was born (Berry Gordy’s first Motown Revue; John Glenn orbits Earth 3 times) and the last event on the timeline was my birth (which he called “Groovy”). There was also a display named “the signs of the ‘60’s” which listed everything from popular toys, fashion, hairstyles, trends, music, movies, and dances. On a table next to the display, he had a collection of retro toys and games. My child, who never cooks, prepared all of the food and baked the cake himself (he cooked at a friend’s house and the friend brought the food over after I left for the restaurant). We were entertained by my absolute favorite music in the world, the Motown Sound, which also fit the party theme.
During the party, I couldn’t help but realize that I had accomplished something wonderful during my lifetime. I had raised a child to be so compassionate, resourceful and creative. A child who felt that his mother’s 40th birthday deserved a tailor-made celebration (even when she didn’t). I have never felt so special and so appreciated. It’s hard for me not to well up when I think of the work and research that went into making that day the best celebration that I have experienced thus far.
Sharon
Celebrations Contest Entry
ReplyDelete"Sonya's Legends" by Sonya
My favorite celebration was my 40th birthday party. Inspired by Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball, I decided to celebrate my 40th by honoring the women in my life who helped to make me who am I today. The event was held on a beautiful Sunday afternoon in September at a country restaurant's private dining room and attached patio. The color scheme was chocolate brown and pink. All guests were asked to wear white; I wore a lovely white satin Vera Wang dress with a gorgeous pair of Stuart Weitzman clear sparkled strappy sandals.
Upon arrival, guests were escorted to the patio where they were offered specialty cocktails by servers wearing pink harlequin bow ties and matching cummerbunds (of course I purchased them for the servers). The guests mingled beneath the tented patio with pink and brown paper lanterns hanging above while they enjoyed the sounds of the classical guitarist hired for the festivities. Placed on cocktail tables covered in pink linens with sheer sparkly overlays were chocolate brown photo albums filled with photos of me along with each of the guests over the "40" years of life. After the cocktail hour, guests went indoors to the private room and dined at one large table covered in pink silk linens with glass and gold bead chargers, pink tinted water glasses and Godiva truffle boxes at each place setting. Atop the chargers were die-cut menu cards of a dress form wearing a halter chocolate brown dress. The gorgeous chocolate brown and pale pink invitations for the party were created using Envelopments and included a custom monogram "S" over ivy. The stationery suite was continued throughout the party with the place cards, the programs attached to each chair and the thank you cards sent which contained a photo of each guest taken with me by the party's professional photographer. During the luncheon, I read a speech detailing how each guest had impacted my life; there wasn't a dry eye in the room!
As parting gifts, each guest was given a pink wrapped box tied with an imprinted chocolate brown ribbon that read "Sonya's Legends." Inside the box was a custom made cake in a unique chocolate brown and pink geometric design created by none other than Chef Duff Goldman and his team at Charm City Caterers. No two cakes were alike. The guests were floored since they assumed the cake that had been on display for the event – stacked shoe boxes with a Manolo Blahnik gold shoe atop the boxes (also created by Chef Duff) – would be the only dessert for the party. In addition to the personalized cakes, each guest was given a chocolate brown tote bag containing a set of pink personalized stationery and a leather bound writing pad. That day will always be one of my fondest memories; I had the party of my lifetime and was able to share it with a group of women who meant the world to me!
CELEBRATIONS CONTEST ENTRY
ReplyDeleteNAME - RASHI BHATNAGAR
"It was my 10th birthday party in a small town . One week before the party, mom took me to a local fabric cloth merchant and got me got lovely chiffon flower print sea- green cloth and matched a pretty off- white lace and then we rushed to the local tailor for stitching, had bought white ballerinas too. Whole house was painted and what would be a celebration without flowers. So, my father hired a local 'phoolwala' ( florist) for the same. On my letter day, since afternoon, my cousins , friends, relatives gathered. Ladies were in the kitchen preparing the dinner, men were busy planning seating and decoration. And, we kids were blowing balloons in multi colours, got few balloon packets from a local stationary store. The florist came with marigolds and bags full of rose petals, he started setting marigold garlands across the roof and throwing rose petals on the floor , he also helped us to set our balloons . Dining table adorned a hand painted linen by my mom. Guests started pouring in and I was just staring at the gifts , bigger the better. A local magician was called for displaying some tricks. Here came the cake, simple white with Gems ( M&Ms) on it. I was treated like a queen. Photographs were clicked by my mariner uncle who bought his first SLR on one oh his overseas trip. Hand sewn pink brocade bags by my mom and grand mom contained my favourite candies, were presented as return gifts to the kids. I never knew my mother had kept that bag, and after 16 years she presented me that same beautiful bag filled with my favourite fresh candies on my wedding.”
Except ,the florist my whole family had done great event mangagement job for me. I know the description is not very classy but full of emotions for me. Thanks for reading Mr. Bailey
Celebrations Contest Entry
ReplyDeleteMy name is Wendy and my wedding was my most special celebration memory not just because I married my soulmate but also because of the pricless moments that were experienced that day that could never be repeated or replaced.
My mother had created hand-made hankies which were given to each lady to wipe her tears of joy. Then each guest had their picture taken which was then printed and placed in a small frame which was given to each guest as they left as a keepsake to remember this special day. People were very touched by this gesture and one guest was especially grateful because her husband was very ill and that would be one of the last events he was able to attend and so now she had this photo to treasure the memory.
My new husband was reunited with his birth mother shortly before the wedding and so it was a wonderful addition to our family and filling that missing piece in both their lives.
But the most memorable moment of all was when I gave my speech after dinner. I never planned ahead or wrote anything down because I thought it would be more meaningful to to express what I was feeling at the moment. I spoke of how each guest was special to us, loved ones lost, my parents unconditional support, and my love for my husband. I noticed that as i spoke from the heart and was sharingmy feeings I looked around and realized I was not the only one crying. I saw every person in the room had tears. My Event Planner later told me that she had never been to or done an event where every single person cried including the vendors. To this day people still talk about my speech and and when I show the ivdeo they still cry. This experience has made me realize that celebrations are not just the parties we plan or the events we attend. They are the moments in our lives where we share with someone and are able to touch their life the way they have ours. That is what a real celebration is...
Has a winner been selected? I've checked here and the new blog but can't seem to find out who won.
ReplyDelete