Her name is not only beautiful, she’s called Aimee (beloved) Valentine; she looks beautiful, and makes other women look beautiful with organic makeup. Read more about organic makeup in her article Vow to love your makeup in this month’s feature.

Her own cute cartoon blog, Brushes with Madness, the comic blog of a makeup, artist changes almost daily. You can find it right here when you click on the picture.

Get inspired,  with a brush stroke of happiness,
Johanna

Forget the roses for your mother this year, have her send a chocolate safari bag from Elegant Cheesecakes instead. If this is too bold for you, pick the daisy cake with the butterfly or another of the company’s delicacies.

Read the article: Happy Mother’s Day
It is written for the mothers of brides and grooms.
Have a great celebration with your Mom!

Johanna

to all the happy couples who are planning their weddings.

It is an exiting time for you but, please, don’t forget mother Earth during the process. You are the ones who want to live happily in this world for many years. Your responsibility is to leave it for your children so they can enjoy it, too!

Think green,
Johanna

Recently I read an article in the San Francisco Chronicle about a new literary online magazine: narrativemagazine.com. I checked it out and what do you know? There is a love story contest on right now with $5,750 in prizes. Entries of fiction or non-fiction are accepted. Entry deadline: 31/08.

Ten more days to go! Take advantage of this fantastic offer!

Good luck,

Johanna

It’s time once again for Bouquets to Art, the annual floral exhibit at the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park. This event is one of the most prestigious in our country and supports the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.  A number of BRO wedding floral designers have participated for many years. It will be Laurel Ann Winzler’s 15th time; her work will be located in Gallery 1, Space B, right in front of the Mayan stela. Pat Gibbons, another long-time participant, shows her creation in Gallery 5, in front of a hand-blown blue art glass piece. Find Leighsa Smyser of Branch Out and other BRO wedding florists who will exhibit at this show. 

Go to www.bouquetstoart.org for information on hours and costs.

Advice from Fritzie: “Happy Wednesday. Congratulations again on your engagement! My advice to you and your fiance is to truly enjoy every minute of this time. It’s true what everyone says…….the big day goes by so fast it will be over before you know it. And same goes for the engagement period.”

Claire Hatch, our relationship specialist, who is behind the column Relationship Rescue, has a late Valentine’s gift for you. Her article: “Love Is Not Enough” is right on the button. After 36 years of marriage I should be able to judge.

This weekend are two great events:

Unique Bride of Burlingame invites to a Trunk Show of Head Pieces by Toni at the salon at 1209 Howard Avenue

and

The Bridal Showcase invites to a Bridal Fair to the Hotel Los Gatos. Win a honeymoon for you!

Please look for more details at News & Events.

Three more nights to Valentine’s Day!

There is still time to bake Carolyn Wong’s Short Bread Cookie Hearts for your sweetheart. You’ll find it in bRo’s Cooking for Couples section. I saw nice heart-shaped plates at Target, they are perfect to enhance your gift.

Are you strapped for time? Than you can order a delicious chocolate dessert in the shape of a handbag from Elegant Cheese Cakes. Rush orders available!

Bon Appetit!

Johanna

Do you know what wedding professionals do when they don’t work on your wedding?
For starters: they often attend continuous education events such as given by our own Bay Area’s BAWN (Bay Area Wedding Network), in order to learn more tips, tricks, and trends to use for your wedding.

In early February, Gwen Helbush and Marie Rios of BAWN in cooperation with Linda Hylen, Director of Events at the Julia Morgan Ballroom, and other creative professionals contributed their talents to celebrate the 25th BAWN event: A Gala Masque Ball.

It started with champagne, appetizers, and masque making, in the downstairs foyer. Phenomenally decorated tables waited upstairs in the fabulously renovated Julia Morgan Ballroom. Besides incredible food created by the best caterers in our area, dancing was the great hit this evening. Bay. Four couples were trained by Cynthia Glinka to show off their dancing skills a la “dancing with the stars.” This encouraged us all to join in and celebrate until late that night.

Photography: Misti Layne

Question:
What does a wedding florist do, when there is a rain storm with power outage and she has to deliver wedding flowers for three events the next day?
Answer: She lights 54 candles, puts on warm clothes, and starts working.

Susan of In Full Bloom got really hit by the first storm of 2008. It started when she got drenched by heavy rain while loading her car at the flower market. Then power went out as she was about to leave. She made it back all right, however the power outage followed her home and was there to stay for the next eight hours. Her workspace in the garage was pitch dark since she had to close the door because of the rain storm. Yet “the show must go on,” and Susan and her two helpers worked in candle light on the centerpieces, personal flowers, boutonnières, and bouquets. If it had not been so cold, it would have been romantic!