Planning the Party

Our last post was trying to reassure you that the task set before you is not completely overwhelming.  

By now you've likely taken care of the first steps to planning Bridey-poo's shower.

Let's recap what those steps are:

1: You are not alone!

2: Contact other bridesmaids and introduce yourself  (Here's some advice on that intro)

3: Ask what kind of responsibility level they are willing to take on

4: Plan a meeting 

Have you done this?

Give yourself a pat on the back!

Now let's go ahead and prepare for this meeting! Let's do this by asking yourself about Bridey-poo. Are we dealing with a woman who is:

Proud to be high maintenance because, this is MY SPECIAL DAY!

In denial about how important this is to her-she's REALLY trying to rain in the bridezilla

Super lax and chill about the whole thing and MEANS it!

*Do NOT share this evaluation with anyone, especially the bride. This is only for your planning and should never be written or communicated in anyway that she could find out what you think about her “Bridal Disposition”

Your next step is to think about Bridey-poo and her personal likes/dislikes. Is she “totally obsessed” with something?

What's the theme of the wedding?

Should you match the theme of the wedding with the shower? If you do so, are you going to also match the Bachelorette party to the wedding theme? Theme weddings are more and more common and increasingly eccentric. With so many brides “nerding out” about a favorite show or book or even a hobby, it's easy to see why these are taking over our weddings.

Once upon a time people had Civil War or sport team themed weddings and were made fun of because of it. Today we are letting our Fan Flags Fly! Here are some of our Favorite Themes for weddings.

Harry Potter:

From boarding the Hogwarts Express form Platform 9 ¾ to Dining under the “enchanted to look like the night sky” in the Great Hall we've found a slew of elegant wedding ideas for the Pott-head Bride.

Wild and Free:

Who doesn't love a good mash up? Our favorite mashup is burlap and old lace; the coming together of elegance and down to earth hard work. Some of these are so fun, we wish we could get married again! These weddings usually include elements of the sport the couple love. Hiking, cycling, canoeing, rock climbing... the list goes on.

Downton Abbey:

The show that made us wish Maggie Smith was our grandmother is now inspiring weddings. If you can make a Bride feel like she's the future Countess.

The Disney Wedding;

Ladies, we grow up watching Cinderella, Snow White, Elsa and Belle. Even if you didn't want their prince, you wanted that dress! Relive your make believe moments with a Disney Princess wedding!

Should you match the theme of the wedding with the shower? If you do so, are you going to also match the Bachelorette party to the wedding theme? Theme weddings are more and more common and increasingly eccentric. With so many brides “nerding out” about a favorite show or book or even a hobby, it's easy to see why these are taking over our weddings.

We've got a big decision to make; Do we follow the theme OR strike out on our own.

Think about it for a few days and we'll get back to you!

Part 1 of choosing the Bridal Shower Theme.   

Lessons from Kristin Wiig; OR How to host the perfect Bridal Shower

We’ve seen enough Wedding based entertainment to recognise the significance of the day.  Remember every-single-time someone got married on Friend’s?  J. Lo was our favorite wedding planner and after that movie, we all wanted her job because she got to wear the cutest shoes and eat candy in a tree with Matthew McConeghey.  If those Wedding movies weren’t enough to convince you that every moment and person involved in the day were enough, our TV’s were infiltrated with a slew of reality programming dedicated to every element of Weddings.  Even the guests are important, as we learned from our friends Vince Vaugn and Owen Wilson, those Maple-Syrup-Venture-Capitalists!

Chances are, if you’ve stumbled upon this blog, you likely find yourself in a situation more akin to Kristen Wiig’s character in Bridesmaid’s, Annie.  Bridesmaids are important! Some people believe they are just as important as the bride herself because they act as her enterage.  Bridesmaids must….

* Run interference with the future inlaws
* They suffer through extensive diet and routines to support the bride
* Help mail invitations
* Tack down ellusive band/DJ for the reception
* Bridesmaid Dress (‘nuff said)
* Basically become a Botanist to help with floral arangements
* Learn Calligraphy to address invitations
* Pour the Wine when the Bride has a breakdown
* Grab a second glass for the Mother of the Bride
* Understand the important difference between Tea Rose Pink and Medium Pink

But most importantly Bridesmaids host the Bridal Shower! 

The Bridal Shower is the more fun and low key element of the Wedding when the Bride gets all her beautiful vases, and gourmet calliber pots.  This is the day when we play games that are ALLABOUTTHEBRIDE.  It’s also the day that you, the Bridesmaid, really gets to shine!  Let’s face it, she didn’t ask you to be a bridesmaid because of your height or ability to crochet; she asked you because she knows how much you love her and knows she can depend on you. 

It’s a big compliment and honor. 

Let’s learn a few lessons from Annie, the hillariously, always wrong, good hearted bridesmaid.

1)It doesn’t have to cost a lot to work

          a.Rockwood Mill Opera House can be rented for your event, catered and arranged for a really reasonable price.  We’ve done it before, we can do it for you!  We’ve got the connections to get you a good price.  Promise!
          b.Decorations can be your biggest expense BUT if you are giving your shower a theme, this can seriously narrow the price.  There are a couple ways to take care of this innexpensive decorating, and we’ll show you how.

2)Very few people open invitations with live butterflies, so don’t think your bride expects this.
          a.Seriously.  Simplicity is a kind of elegance so roll with it. 
          b.Remember the goal of this shin-dig; get the bride lots of gifts.  If you send out invitations that imply an over-the-top, pretentious party, people are going to feel like it’s out of their league and not come.  It’s better to Keep It Simple, Sister, than to put people off.

3)You are NOT alone!  BridesmaidSSSSS, remember?
          a.Splitting the responsibilites is the smartest thing you can do. 
          b.Split the Cost, but do so graciously.  Asking everyone involved for a fairly conservative amount of money         allows the girls who can give more to do so, rather than making someone else feel bad. 
          c.Ask for ideas and share the glory.  Unless you are a certified professional, you aren’t the only one with good           ideas. 

4)A good Song makes everything better! 
          a.Just do it!  It looks like fun

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Seeing Things In A Different Light

Have you ever walked past something a million times and didn't take notice to its details, beauty, or the item in general?   Have you ever said something everyday of your life and one day after you say it you realize that it has significant meaning beyond what you use it for?   Well this week has been full of those moment.

On Monday a lovely group of bikers came through from Canada.  They didn't have thick accents so it wasn't obvious where there origin was.   That is until after I gave them a tour of the Opera House and returned to the Mill Shoppe Cafe.   Patty, Alex, and me ( all employees of Rockwood Mill Shoppes as well as locals) were talking to the group of three females and one male from Canada.   The subject of breakfast came up.   I thought the male asked "Do you know what a butter turd is?".  I laughed and responded with a somewhat sassy, "You are kidding me right!?  My father-in-law asks me questions like this all of the time!"   His wife grinned from ear to ear realizing what I assumed he said.   Then the man said "A butter tart."

Oh the embarrassment!  I could have crawled into the nearest hole.    Lucky for me the man's wife laughed and said that she did indeed hear "butter turd" too.   The conversation quickly moved to other words that we Pennsylvanians have made up and use everyday.    Gob - That was our next bakery word.  The Canadian tourist had never heard of it nor seen one.   When Patty held one up and asked if they had seen one or if they had,  what do they call it, the wife replied "TOO MUCH!!!"  We all laughed.   I guess in an American way we all have super sized everything in a ridiculous way.   Probably to the point of unhealthy proportion or wastefulness.   After that our travelers decided that it was time to head over to set up their tents for the evening.   We do hope to see them again.   They were a delightful bunch.

As far as seeing an item over and over and not noticing details, well during one of my Opera House tours just that happened.    I can say with complete sincerity that I give at least 6 tours a week.  One would assume that after 50 some tours I could draw a picture to detail, of the Opera House with my eyes closed.   I know I would assume that I could.

As I was giving a tour one of the tourists points to the beams above me and asked if the beams held wooden pegs.   If I wouldn't have looked up before opening my mouth I would have replied with a NO.   But something in me made me look up.  Good thing because there were wooden pegs.  To you the reader this may not be a big deal unless you are either a history buff or an architec, but to me someone who takes pride in my job, the building that I work in, that employs me, it is a huge deal.   If I had said no I would have misinformed them.   Knowing this and seeing the pegs now brings out more beauty and questions to me.   How long did it take to put up and erect this beautiful building?   Who's hands made that one peg?   How many shows and what shows have that peg seen?

Instead of speeding through life slow down and take it in.   Notice the difference in you and your neighbor.   See everything for what it is.   Not for what you assume it is.   You just may learn something or change your life.

Sitting On A Gold Mine

After working here, at Rockwood Mill Shoppes, since April one would think that I have acquainted myself with the building quiet well.   One would think.....  Yesterday, Judy and I had a meeting like we do most weeks.   At this meeting we were asked if we ever thought about actually advertising the antique architure of the building.   Our answer, after stuttering, "No".

So, today once I arrived at work I started to look around the building.  You know the one I have worked in for almost 3 months!  I started to recognize things that I never did before, pocket doors that look amazing, beams that look brand new, wood floors with stories I can only imagine and brick walls that probably have heard more than their fare share of train whistles.    It is a gold mine of history.  


Once I pulled out the pocket doors it hit me, these doors that once separated the lumber showroom from the lumber mill have probably met many of my ancestors and heard stories upon stories of our town.   What, when, who are the scratches from?  Are there pictures of these doors from way back when?   All these answered interest me.   Seriously imagine if you could go back in time when this door was installed?  Life would be so different.


The beams for the ceilings are even interesting.   They look brand new considering they are as old as the building.   I would expect quality wood here, because it was a lumber mill, but in this excellent of shape is a surprise.  Penrose Wolf did keep some of the best lumber for his business and his home.  But seeing the wood work today and knowing it is over 100 years old is unbelievable.  

I took the advice from the consultant at our meeting and started posting pictures online of the building.   You truly wouldn't believe the response that I have gotten to the pictures.   People are interested in everything old including the quarks of the building.  I love the building but to know that someone else shares the interest of secrets the walls keeps, is priceless.

Big announcement of the summer!!!

A couple new announcements to talk about.   First and probably the most exciting to the avid bikers, east of the Mississippi, Amtrak, announced late, last week that by 2015, they are going to have roll on cars for bicycles!  This is huge news for trail towns, trail supporters and of course trail patrons.

 Most people don't realize how much money it cost to ship your bike from wherever you live to your destination and then pick it up.   Some may say "Why don't you just rent a bike for the trip?".  The answer is that for the avid bike rider that does bike trails regularly, their bike is sometimes the only tool and method of survival they have for days at a time.   These "bikes" cost thousands of dollars and aren't something that you buy at your local Walmart.   So, renting one isn't normally in the cards.   Granted, car rental companies may loose a little business but "us" small towns, with Mom and Pop shops are going to hopefully thrive from this and the granting of future platform stops in our towns just may set the stage for the growth we have all been hoping for.

Next on our announcement agenda, Makenna Lape, one of our Mill Shoppe Pizza employees, received her permanent R.N. License.   We are all proud of her!  She has worked here since she was 16 years old, putting herself through nursing school.   She hasn't left us yet, although we all know a bitter sweet ending is coming. A new chapter in her life and the ending of a chapter in her employment here with us.   We all wish her well but will miss her extremely as well as hope for her to visit.

The Greenway Sojourn came through at the end of last week along with Scout Crew 228 from Dublin, Ohio.   It was exhaustingly busy.  We met many people and were provided with a free concert from Crew 228.  These young men were well mannered.  They requested a tour of the Mill Shoppe building.  When the tour reached the Opera House stage they requested to borrow it.   Judy abliged.   We were graced with heavenly hymnals from these young men.

  

Busy Week

Boy! It has been busy here, at Rockwood Mill Shoppes.   Last Friday, we hosted a Speak Easy.   For those of you that are not familiar with what a Speak Easy is, they were gathers during the 1920's and prohibition, in which people would drink and have a good time at.  Today we would just go out to a local bar.  Not then though because it was illegal.   Not to mention it was illegal to have, make or even consume alcohol so they began to distill moonshine.

Most of the patrons that came for the show donned great Gatsby Era garb, as well as most of us that were working the show.   There was a jazz band and actors to do a skit of a moon shining single mom and a run away bride.    Laurel Arts secured the grant and the funding to make the night possible as well as the alcohol.   Because let's be honest, What is a Speak Easy without alcohol?   EXACTLY!!

Then today we had the Greenway Sojourn come through and stop for lunch.   No big deal really.   I mean, what is 330 bikers stopping into a local Mom and Pop's to eat Lunch and hand dipped ice cream anyway?   IT WAS NUTS!!!   There were 7 of us ladies working and it wasn't a slow trot pace either,   Those bikers had us going at an up hill speed in every gear we had.   Sweat was pouring down our backs and our make up was running.   Pizza after pizza went into the oven keeping the Pizza shoppe girls busy.   A line of at least 9 people at any given moment for an hour straight were out front in the coffee shoppe ordering hand-dipped cone after hand-dipped cone. Plus we can't forget the occasional person bringing our merchandise to purchase up front.    Upstairs, we had a small continuous flow going for the Buffett.    Honestly though, the riders were so courteous that even when we were falling behind they didn't get upset once or try to be pushy.   It was continuous smiles. And we appreciate every rider that comes in.   They are our livelyhood.

Tomorrow, we all get to play catch up with our normal stuff before the scheduled reunion in the Opera House and Rockwood Rotary's 5k and half marathon at the trail heading Saturday, followed by a crazy holiday week I am sure.   I can smell the Bengay now. I have a feeling it will be my friend in about a week or so at this crazy pace. No complaints though.  We here at Rock Mill Shoppes live for the busy times like this.    We get to hear more tales as well as meet more people.  

What a show!

 Let me start by saying that I was not expecting such a .....well exciting show!   There were senior citizens stuffing dollar bills down the baby faced, silk shirt of college aged Ricky Howsare.   This young ,Voice Major, can hit the notes of Elvis, while shaken his hips the same.    It drove those women nuts!

I have been to many concerts of all genres.   So my level of "crazy" is a bit high.   After yesterday's brunch concert oh you better believe I have a whole new view of how the senior population can get down with it.    They can give my generation a run for their money.    But don't get me wrong there were all generations.

Not only was Ricky Howsare a singer with a magical voice, but a performer.   He interacted with the crowd the whole show.   In return the crowd was singing back lyrics to him.   If you would have closed your eyes, you could have felt taken back to the 60's to a field concert with lighters flaming, girls wearing cardigans and black and white shoes and the boys wearing button up shirts and slicked back hair.  

All and all it was an amazing show.   If you hear of Ricky Howsare playing at the Opera House again be sure to get your ticket quick.   We sold out this time.