Afterthoughts of Christmas ~ I'm sitting here in my living room and it's in the early morning two days after Christmas, while everyone is in bed after the holiday. The days following Christmas are incredibly satisfying and just as important as the hustle and bustle of the lead-up. It's important to look back now at the accomplishments large … [Read more...]
Kelly and David’s Garden Wedding at Brotherhood Winery
I think the backdrop to any garden wedding is crucial and the Brotherhood Winery, America's oldest winery located in the heart of the Hudson Valley, is such a beautiful old stone vineyard and the perfect location for brides planning for a garden wedding. If you haven't been and you're in the Hudson Valley be sure to stop by for a wine tasting or a … [Read more...]
How The Blue Carrot Inspired Me
The journey to The Blue Carrot This inspired journey was a chance of a lifetime, a flower pilgrimage if you will. I arrived in Bristol, England, rented a little fiat and drove down the narrowest little streets on the left-hand side until I reached Cornwall, England. All for the sake of meeting Susanne Hatwood from The Blue Carrot. My … [Read more...]
Kris Burns and Festoon on Hudson in Nyack, New York
Kris Burns and Festoon on Hudson is 100% dedicated to slow flowers. If you are taking a drive towards the lower Hudson Valley you can now visit Festoon on Hudson, a little flower shop situated on the main street in Nyack NY. Today was opening day, and it's owner Kris Burns is beaming. Festoon on Hudson is a field-to-vase flower shop … [Read more...]
How to Plant and Grow Dahlias
How to plant and grow Dahlias is not as difficult as you may think. When I began my floral business, my first focal flowers of choice to grow in my cutting garden were Dahlias. These big bushy plants, that cost little for an initial investment, consistently bloom during the summer and fall and produce beautiful flowers that are ideal for cutting. … [Read more...]
How the psychology of color connects us with our customer
What a wonderful day I had learning about the psychology of color with Fiona Humberstone (aka The Brand Stylist) a few weeks ago. If you are not familiar with her or her work, she is a branding specialist “dedicated to empowering you to create an incredible brand.” Fiona came all the way from England to teach her first class in NYC. We gathered to … [Read more...]
Meet Brian of H J Hautau & Sons, a Third Generation Flower Farmer
Meet Brian of HJ Hautau and Sons. I met Brian from HJ Hautau and Sons (or as he put it, Hautau and Grandsons) one morning shopping for flowers. It turns out he is the third generation still growing flowers in our area of the Hudson Valley. All his Ranunculus are beautiful. They are the perfect blousy flowers to use during the winter and early … [Read more...]
Tips for Selecting a Florist
I want to share with you tips for selecting a florist. Why? Well, at some point, you will be celebrating a significant event in your life and considering using floral arrangements from a professional florist to add a decorative touch. I know so many of you love flowers, especially those freshly picked from the garden and I also understand how scary … [Read more...]
How Fear is Keeping us From Our Goals
Getting past fear to reach your goals. After taking Seth Godin's AltMBA program, an important takeaway I had was that pushing is hard work, it is exhausting, stressful and creates significant discomfort. Most of us tend to be creatures of habit. Fear is our co-conspirator and keeps us managed. This defense mechanism is built in from the early days … [Read more...]
My experience with Seth Godin’s altMBA workshop
If you have ever had a feeling that you needed clarification on how you could improve your life, then Seth Godin's altMBA workshop is for you! Are you currently working hard on your business and family while not quite reaching your full potential? Well, that was me. My business was growing, I had established a name for myself, and I appeared to … [Read more...]