Please be advised that there will NOT be a jazz night in May. Columbia will hold its Fabulous Fourth Friday as normal but Perfect Settings will not participate with a Jazz Night in May. Please put us on your schedule for June!

*Fourth Friday in Columbia* will be held TONIGHT, Friday April 23rd, Hours are 5 pm to 9 pm. With after hour entertainment available. Please check out the Fourth Friday website for all the details:
www.fourthfriday.hitart.com
Experience Columbia’s art galleries, participating antique shops, specialty shops, and local eateries. This at your own pace event provides the opportunity to view exhibits from local and visiting artists, enjoy refreshments, and discover the uniqueness of Columbia.

You’ve asked, we listened. Tonight is a encore jazz night that will be featured each fourth Friday - along side of the Fourth Friday Celebrations/Tours in Columbia. There’s still time to get tickets… or buy at the door.

Perfect Settings will be hosting a series of Jazz Nights in conjunction with Columbia’s Fourth Friday’s Events. Our last Jazz event was a huge success. Be sure to reserve your ticket today and don’t forget you may bring your own bottle of your favorite wine to enjoy.
When: March 26th then every Fourth Friday after that!
Where: Perfect Settings
Price: $10 in advance, $12 at the door

I’m in the wedding industry. I love the feeling of love. I love that people look into each other’s eyes and fall in love. I love when the groom looks at his bride for the first time and she melts. I love dating and the anticipation that you’ll spend the rest of your life with the one you love. So, it’s no surprise that Valentine’s Day is my all time favorite Holiday of the year. Too bad it’s not yet a Federal Holiday.
When you think of Valentine’s Day you probably think of hearts, flowers, candy, people you love, cherubs and other symbols related to the holiday. But have you ever wondered who Valentine really was? According to About.com Emperor Claudius II, born c. 214 A.D., was emperor of Rome from 268-270. He believed that young men made better soldiers if they were unattached, he outlawed marriage for them. Father Valentine, believing the law was unjust and cruel, continued to secretly perform marriages. When Claudius learned of Valentine’s defiance, he had him jailed and threatened him with death. But Valentine would not be dissuaded. To add to the lore and drama – which makes the love story better, legend says that during his incarceration Valentine himself fell in love with a young girl who visited him daily. The girl was believed to be the jailer’s daughter. This enraged the warden who urged Claudius to have Valentine killed. But Valentine was even more determined that love should win out and refused. Claudius ordered him to be put to death. It is said the priest himself sent the first Valentine’s letter when he wrote a farewell note to the jailer’s daughter and signed it, “From Your Valentine,” this signature is still popular today. Over time the holiday evolved. The commercialization of February 14th came hundreds of years later – to much of the dismay of many men.
I’m often asked, what is a clever way to say “I love you” and I will always answer “the way you said it just now.” Valentine’s Day is the one time of the year when you don’t need an excuse to say “I love you!” You don’t have to buy a box of chocolates and a dozen roses – although it does make it extra special. The most important aspect of celebrating Valentine’s Day is actually saying “I love you” to that person that means the world to you.
You would be surprised by all the thought that goes into making Valentine’s Day special for many guys. Sometimes they get so hung up on trying to out-do last year that they loose focus on what is important. I was recently told that Michael Buble, the song writer, wrapped a pair of old, dirty sneakers in a box. Around the sneakers he filled the empty space with Hershey’s Kisses. The note inside read; “I will walk a thousand miles for one of your kisses.” Cute, but from my vantage point, girls don’t necessarily care about all of that thought process. They want someone to simply love them. If this were not true, we wouldn’t have so many match-making websites making millions of dollars per year. It’s a huge money making industry.
So men, take heed. It’s not necessary to spend the farm on this Valentine’s day. Revisit the first grade memory of construction paper, doilies, paste and crayons. Hand-make your valentine and simply sign it “From Your Valentine” and your girl will know that translation all too well. It will conjure up some more brownie points if you sign it “I love you… and only you”.
Here is something fun to do with your Valentine. Ask your Valentine these questions and see how much you really know about them.

• If you could relive one day of your relationship, what day would it be?
• Where would you travel if you could go anywhere in the world?
• Who is more romantic, you or him?
• What is the best relationship advice that you have ever gotten?
• Can a couple be too much in love? Why or why not?
• What is her favorite song? His?
• Where and when was your first kiss?
• How did you meet?
• Where was your first date?
• Guess where your partner would like to go if you could leave right now for a weekend vacation.
• Finish this poem: Roses are red, violets are blue…

Recently I did a gig at the Lancaster Science Factory - I helped plan their 2nd Birthday (Anniversary) Party. We were prepared to feed 200+ children and parents with birthday treats. During the planning stages it was suggested that we buy birthday sheet cakes. Because we were limited with volunteers and given the fact that the event was for children I suggested cupcakes. All kids love cupcakes. In addition, we didn’t have to fool with cutting and serving… kids could just help themselves. They did and all was wonderful. The display was beautiful, simple and impressive with no fuss. Which is the segue here… when planning an event be sure that you think this process through. Some spaces will charge you to cut the cake - up to $2 per person, sometimes! If you’re in love with the venue but not the cake cutting fee… cupcakes are a great alternative. Most cake bakers can make absolutely beautiful cupcakes. You could get mini wedding cakes too. The options are pretty limitless.

Be sure to check out Perfect Settings in the Lancaster County Magazine’s Bridal Issue this month!

Courtesy of the Association of Wedding Professionals.

“Twas The Bride”

‘Twas the night before New Year’s
And all through the house,
The girlfriend was angry
She wasn’t a spouse!

She hoped for the joy
That Christmas would bring.
But Christmas had passed,
And she still had no ring!

They’d been together
For over two years.
Long-term commitment-
That must be his fear.

She thought, “That’s the reason
That I’m still single.
I’m breaking it off!
Then the phone gave a jingle.

“Come outside,” said the voice,
And then went away.
She opened the door,
And there was a sleigh!

He wisked her away,
Grinned like a fox
Got down on one knee
And opened the box.

T’was the first day of New Year
Her eyes opened wide.
“Yesterday, I’m a girlfriend.
Today, I’m a bride!”

She started to panic
“There’s so much to do!
To plan a whole wedding.
What do I do?”

Reception hall! Caterer!
Florist and tux!
Save money, save time,
And no acid reflux!

Video! DJ! Photo!
Limousine & Gown!
I won’t have to be running
All over the town!”

So she called her attendants
To the shows they all flew.
Ate catering samples
And wedding cake, too!

And I heard her exclaim
the planning’s just begun,
“What I need is a Planner
So my headache is done!”

At Perfect Settings we are just one call away 717.684.4455!!

My Wish for all my family and friends in 2010
May peace break into your home and may thieves come to steal your debts.
May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet for $100 bills.
May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips!
May happiness slap you across the face and may your tears…… be that of joy.
May the problems you had, forget your home address!

Wanda’s party has been postponed until next Saturday the 26th.
Have a Jesus, Joseph and Mary Christmas!!

When I was in the eighth grade my Civics Teacher, Mr. Resh, told us there were some things in life that were mandatory. He would write phrases on the blackboard that has stayed with me all of these years. Things like; Procrastination is the thief of time. Or; What you do today may affect the rest of your life. Or: Know your rights! Deep words for that of a 14 year old. So it was no surprise when he handed out clippings from the Dear Abby columns that were life lessons. The Dear Abby column that I was handed that day had to do with a woman that could not believe the adults that her children became. One of the writer’s daughters had attended a party and received a gift. However, she showed up without a hostess gift and she never wrote a thank you card to the giver. Dear Abby stated (and I’m paraphrasing) “By the time a child is 12 years old they should know that it is proper and common knowledge to send thank you cards and bring along a hostess gift to any party.“ I was 14 and this was news to me. So much so that I never forgot it.
With the hustle and bustle of the Season in full swing I want to explore the giving of hostess gifts. I think people don’t bring along a hostess gift not because they didn’t think about it but because they just have no clue of what to bring.
As an event coordinator I can tell you that although a bottle of wine feels like a safe gift to give anyone, it isn’t. In my experience, there are lots of people that would consider this gift as a bit presumptuous and inappropriate. If you know the hostess and you know that that person loves a good Merlot by all means do buy the bottle of wine. If, though, you’ve only ever met the hostess once or twice or let’s say the hostess is your spouse’s boss, don’t buy a bottle of good Merlot. You don’t know that person well enough to make an assumption. Give instead a nice poinsettia. A Christmas plant brings a smile on the face of the Grinch himself.
Never give a personal gift to an associate or coworker. This includes shirts (of any kind), bottles of perfume, pajamas or socks. A candle with a Christmas scent would be a better match for someone like that.
The in-laws are always hard to guess. If you’re going to a family function you are not excused from a hostess gift. In-laws are hostesses too. A poinsettia or a candle would do great as well as a bottle of wine (if you know your in-laws well enough) but you could always bring a party platter of cookies, nuts or chocolates. Know that your hostess is not obligated to share or serve anything that you bring to a party. If you choose to bring a party platter of cheese and nuts don’t ask the hostess to serve it. The hostess is under the stress of entertaining. The last thing they want is for you to put yet another item on their plate – no pun intended. It may not even cross their mind because their mind is on the party itself. If the hostess asks “would it be ok for me to put this out for all of us to enjoy?” of course that’s a nice gesture and your answer should be “sure!”
Whatever your gift is put some thought into it so that it makes sense for the person you’re gifting to. Don’t give golf balls to your granny that has never stepped foot onto a green. It will be awkward and you will leave her baffled.
No matter what you decide on a hostess gift go into the party with a spirit of giving and sharing. Even the smallest of trinkets are always appreciated when it is given with the warmth of giving that only Christmas can bring.
My hostess gift to you is from my favorite Christmas song, sung by Amy Grant :

“…Well heaven surely knows
That packages and bows
Can never heal
A hurting human soul.
No more lives torn apart,
That wars would never start,
And time would heal all hearts.
And everyone would have a friend,
And right would always win,
And love would never end.
This is my grown-up Christmas list.”