Flowy Robes, Funny Hats and a touch of Hawaii. Congratulations Class of 2011!

Dum dum da dum. We normally hum the Wedding March in June. But there are some youths in flowy robes and funny hats, and parents of those youths, humming a different little ditty. It’s more like Duuum dum da da duuum.duuuum. Get it? Pomp and Circumstance, people! AKA “the graduation song”  And don’t even try to say that you don’t get a little chill when it starts to play and smiling kids in caps and gowns start filling up bleachers. It’s an emotional moment, even when they aren’t your progeny.
Florally, we’ve been celebrating the Class of 2011 for a few months.  There have been beautiful presentation bouquets at senior recitals, and final track meets, and then of course the corsages and boutonnieres of Prom. Now it’s time for graduation leis, often made of bright flowers such as dendrobium orchids.  Use of these beautiful accents to a graduation outfit began at schools in Hawaii as an honor for the graduate given by his or her family.  These days you can find them at schools all over the country, in school colors, themed around extracurricular activities, or designed with the favorite blooms of that particular graduate.  Regardless of style, they are beautiful and add as splash of color to any graduation ceremony.  The added bonus? You can tell which kid is yours at a distance!  Helps for knowing when to run up for that close-up of the big diploma hand-off.  Congratulations to everyone graduating this Spring – and to all the proud parents. Smile for the camera, and show off your gorgeous lei!
We’re doing a “deal of the [Graduation] day” special on leis for the duration of graduation season. Give us a call, or click through to get in touch. (760)778 7111  or (855)500-7111

Could it Really be that simple? ‘Tis a gift!

An Issue of Real Simple
Image via Wikipedia

OK, so that’s a bad hymn joke.  But seriously – we love Simple Gifts – and the hymn too. (looking for something for the congregation to sing at your wedding that’s spiritual without having the Lord directly involved? Simple Gifts.  Perfect).

We also love Real Simple magazine and they make life so – well- simple with their gift guides.  We look for wedding gifts, but also handy for “dads & grads.”  Good to help avoid ties and the fly-attracting fruit centerpieces that shall go nameless.  Avoid those at your spring celebrations – for the love of honeydew! Let the fruit keep some dignity.

Shop nice everybody – lots of sales for the holiday start early!  Get a move on!

Summer Gift Guide | Real Simple.

White roses, black ribbon and why our soft spot for Da Bears is a whole lot squishier

From Yahoo Sports – possibly the sweetest Prom story ever.  We couldn’t have come up with a better way to wrap up the season than an eighth grade Cinderella swept off her feet by a brand new Bear with a big heart.  Much respect to Mr. Thomas for being a mensch and for, as he was quoted on the decision to follow through all the details including the corsage,  “keeping it traditional.”

Bears rookie J.T. Thomas takes young lady to eighth-grade dance

By MJD

J.T. Thomas(notes) was drafted in the sixth round by the Chicago Bears, but the lockout leaves him without much to do right now. The athletic, hard-hitting linebacker out of West Virginia University is still in Morgantown, keeping in shape and spending time with his family.

Every day, Thomas helps his 7-year-old brother Jared get home from school. Riding the same bus as Jared is an eighth-grade girl named Joslyn Levell, who happened to grow up in Chicago as a Bears fan and now lives in Morgantown. Joslyn has spina bifida and uses a wheelchair.

With assists from the bus driver and J.T.’s stepmother, Thomas got on the bus one day to say hello to Joslyn. They hit it off immediately. From NFL.com:

As J.T. met a Bears fan in his hometown, Joslyn explained to him that she’d had a rough week because all of the boys she asked to the dance declined. Thomas melted.

“I hugged her and signed a few things and we talked for awhile and she cried a bit,” Thomas recounted. “I gave her a hug and told her everything would work itself out.”

It did. J.T. asked her to the dance himself.

“I was nervous that by the time I reached out, she might have had a date and would have to turn me down,” he said.

Joslyn gladly accepted the invitation.

“After so many people turned me down, this was so big especially, because he asked me instead of me asking him,” she said.

How’d the evening go? Check out some of Thomas’ tweets from that evening:

Can’t wait to hit the prom tonite at Suncrest Middle School

I wonder who’s gonna DJ tonite at Suncrest Middle

Why am I getting nervous for an 8th grade prom??

At Suncrest Middle 8th grade dance…it’s jumpin in here!!!

The DJ is slowin it down…couples only!!

Joslyn later said it was the best night of her life.

Thomas intends for his new friendship to continue, too. If things work out for him in Chicago, he said he’d love to bring Joslyn and his family back to Chicago to see him play for the Bears.

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