Rosh Hashanah

The Jewish Holiday of Rosh Hashanah is widely known and celebrated as the New Years Day of the Jewish calendar, but actually Rosh Hashanah has a fourfold meaning - It is the Jewish New Year, the Day of Judgment, the Day of Remembrance, and the Day of Shofar Blowing.

* It is the Day of Judgment
As Jews worldwide examine their past deeds and asks for forgiveness for their sins

* It is the Day of Shofar Blowing
As the Shofar (the rams horn) is blown in temple to herald the beginning of the 10 day period known as the High Holy Days

* It is the Day of Remembrance
As Jews review the history of their people and pray for Israel

* And of course it is New Year's Day
Celebrated with its holiday greeting cards, special prayers, and festive and sweet foods (to ensure sweetness in the New Year)

Rosh Hashanah is observed the first and second day of the seventh month of the Jewish calendar, Tishri. Coming in the Fall season of the western calendar, usually in September.

In Israel Rosh Hashanah is the only holiday kept for 2 days as it is considered too important to be observed for only 24 hours. Both days are considered one long day of 48 hours.

The traditions of Rosh Hashanah are simple as the only commandment specified for the holiday is the blowing of the shofar. In temple the shofar is blown on Rosh Hashanah to herald the beginning of the period known as the High Holy Days.

It is believed that on Rosh Hashanah the destiny of all mankind is recorded by God in the Book of Life. After Rosh Hashanah services, as the congregants leave the synagogue they say to each other...

"May you be inscribed in the Book of Life"

On the first day of Rosh Hashanah, after the afternoon services, Jews visit a body of water or pond, containing live fish*, to symbolically "cast away" their sins into the river.

*The fish's dependence on water symbolizes the Jews dependence on G-d, as a fish's eyes never close, God's watchful eyes never cease.

On Rosh Hashanah it is customary for families to gather together for the holiday meal. Traditional foods sweetened with honey, apples and carrots are served, symbolizing sweetness, blessings, abundance and the hope for a sweet year ahead.

The first night's meal begins with apple dipped in honey. Challah, the bread usually eaten on the Sabbath (not braided as at regular meals but instead baked in a circle -a wish that the coming year will roll around smoothly without unhappiness or sorrow) is also dipped in honey before eating.

Over the recent Fourth of July weekend, I had the pleasure of spending some time with one of my bride’s Katy (Argo) Gruner and her husband Bobby. I had the pleasure of meeeting to their newest addition, Gage Gruner, who is 5 months old and cute as can be! The Argo-Gruner was such a wonderful and memorable event and was even featured in Modern Luxury Dallas Bride’s summer 2009 issue! Here are some pictures of the beautiful Gruner family, their wedding and some of the details of the event…






THE VENUE: Prestonwood Baptist Church and Gleneagles Country Club.

THE DETAILS: The couple infused a marriage of fresh and modern to their festive fête, complete with signature lighting by Lite Dallas, cotton candy and a not-so-old-fashioned photo booth. The bride wore a strapless Amsale gown paired with a stunning long stem bouquet of orchids, calla lilies and roses. Hair and make-up was done by Haute Façade. The groom custom-designed their wedding bands. Adding to the décor were linens from BBJ and Tacie Johnson.

THE PARTY: Grilled cheese paired with tomato soup and smoked brisket along with sweet potato fries was just a sampling of the newlyweds’ hearty comfort food menu. The meal ended on a sweet note with a delectable wedding cake done by Dallas Affairs. The gorgeous cake was displayed on tables that were custom made to showcase beautiful florals and candles from underneath. The cake tables are available for rent through Something Blue. After dancing the night away to music provided by Marcus Rollins, guests left with memorable photo favors care of boothBOOTH while the bride and groom were whisked away to their romantic honeymoom in transportation provided by Blue Diamond.

Bastille Day in Dallas

On July 14, 1789, French citizens stormed the Bastille, setting France on the path to modern nationhood. In France, they celebrate with parades and fireworks, but in Dallas, we limit ourselves to fine wine, fine food, and fine art. "Viva la France"!




Dallas Bastille Day Dallas Events


Bastille on Bishop

Wednesday, July 14 6:00p
Bishop Arts District, Dallas
The Bishop Arts District is holding a street festival in celebration of Bastille Day! Head out for the evening to enjoy a mussels competition with top area chefs, wine walk, Pentanque demonstations

Bastille Day-French Cheese & Wine Tasting

Wednesday, July 14 6:00p
Cru Wine Bar, Dallas
Cru Celebrates Bastille Day with a Complimentary French Cheese & Wine Pairing Tasting. Cheeses include: -Saint Nectaire -Langres AOC -Chaource Lincet -Bleu des Basque -Comte Gruyere
WEBSITE: cruawinebar.com

Bastille Day Gourmer Dinner

Wednesday, July 14 7:00p
Lavendou Bistro Provençal, Dallas
Local Francophiles will share a little joie-de-vivre when the French-American Chamber of Commerce - Dallas/Fort Worth celebrates Bastille Day 2010.

Bastille on Bishop!

Wednesday, July 14
Bishop Arts District, Oak Cliff
Head out to the Bishop Arts District from 6PM to 10PM for a Mussels Competition with top area chefs including:

Marc Cassel – Park
Graham Dodds – Bolsa
Randal Copeland – AVA
David Uygur – Lucia
Tim Byers – Smoke
Kelly Hightower – Nova
Chad Kelley – Meddlesome Moth

Website: Gooakcliff.org

Bastille Day Dinner at The Mansion on Turtle Creek

Wednesday, July 14, through Sunday, July 18
In honor of his home country, Executive Chef Bruno Davaillon has developed a culinary fête with wine pairings by Wine and Beverage Director Michael Flynn. Also, be sure to stop by the Mansion Bar for a festive cocktail. Created in celebration of Bastille Day, the Marie Antoinette is a classic French 75 with chopped mint and a revolutionary red wine swirl on the neck.
Special menu available Wednesday, July 14, through Sunday, July 18, during dinner hours.
Call 214-443-4747. $178.90 per person, including wine pairings.

Sip 'n See

Here are some pictures of a Sip 'n See that we hosted for our friend, Angie Thompson, and her new baby, Skylar Grace. The theme for the event was "Sugar 'n Spice & Everything Nice"...enjoy!




We thought it would be fun to use quotes about women for our drink tags. Each tag had a different quote making it easy for guest to keep up with their glass. The favorite quote of the day was "Well-behaved women seldom make history."
~ Laurel Thatcher Ulrich


This stunning foyer was the perfect spot for the favors. Each guest took away a white ceramic pot with a pink gerbera daisy.


Florals are such an important detail in setting the tone of any event. For this occassion we chose to do large, overflowing bouquets of baby's breath in celebration of our little guest of honor.


We loved creating this “Sugar 'n Spice” dessert table filled with cake balls, pink candy, pink chocolate covered Rice Krispie treats & more!






This vintage tablecloth added the perfect touch of dusty pink to the table setting and the perfect amount of feminine detail with the fringe trim.

Outdoor Summer Wedding "Survival Guide"

It’s summer time in Texas! Yes friends, this week is officially the first week of summer! The birds are chirping, the flowers have bloomed and the skies are blue….and the heat index is 105! We hope that our “Summer Wedding Survival Guide” will help you solve the challenges of being a Texas summer bride.

OUTDOOR SUMMER WEDDING
SURVIVAL GUIDE

FLORAL

DO carry seasonal blooms…they will be the most resistant to the weather.
DO try to carry and all green bouquet…grasses, leaves ferns, etc.
DO make sure that your florist does all garden stems and has all the bouquets delivered in water. This will ensure that you have fresh flowers.
DON’T use fragrant flowers that will attract bees and bugs.
DON’T carry flowers that are heat sensitive. Gardenia, hydrangea, poppies, stephanotis, and casablanca lilies are all examples of heat sensitive flowers.
DON’T be afraid NOT to use color in your bouquet. An all white bouquet can look just as summery as a colored one.

MAKE-UP

DO use an oil-free moisturizer before applying your make-up. Oil based moisturizers can cause skin to look less “glowing” and more greasy.
DO use an anti-shine product before applying foundation. We recommend...

DO apply a light powder over your foundation to give yourself a more matte look and absorb some of your natural oils.
DO apply concealer on your eyelids before applying eye shadow. This will help it stay longer and prevent greasy eyelids that can make your shadow fall into the creases.
DO use liquid eyeliner. It will always outlast a pencil liner.
DO wear waterproof mascara. Let’s face it….this is going to be an emotional day – but you don’t want your eye make-up running down your face. Be safe and use waterproof!
DO layer your lips! You will be kissing your groom and drinking champagne all night so you need extra protection for your lips. Especially since there will be a photographer by your side every step of the way. Start by moisturizing your lips. Then, apply concealer all over. After that apply lip liner ALL OVER your lips to give your lipstick some staying power. Lastly, apply your perfect shade of lipstick followed by a light brush of gloss.
DON’T use creamy blushes. Use a powder blush that will give you a softer look and absorb oil.
DON’T take wedding day pictures without bringing an emergency make-up kit for touch ups.

CAKE

DO choose flavors that are fitting for summertime. Fruit and vanilla flavors are perfect and light. Anything to heavy might turn guests off.
DO decorate the cake the cake with seasonal flowers if they are fresh. Same rules that apply to the bouquet….apply to the cake.
DON’T use buttercream icing.

ATTIRE

DO choose a bridal gown that is made from lighter fabric and will breathe well…such as silk, cotton eyelet, chiffon.
DO consider big straw hats for a garden wedding, for you and or your bridesmaids. The hats along with brightly colored dresses or floral cocktail dresses for the bridesmaids will play up the season. The men in the wedding party can sport the classic navy blazer with khaki slacks, or seersucker suits.
DO dare to opt for the trendy shorter wedding dress. This will take 10 degrees off of your day.
DO wear open toed shoes. Keeping your feet and hands cool automatically cools down the rest of your body.
DON’T wear stilettos if you wedding is outside in a place where you could “sink” into the ground. Opt for flats if this is the case. You should keep your shoe choice in mind when picking out your dress and getting any alterations made.
DON’T forget the hair. Remember, straight hair will get straighter and limper, and wavy hair will get wavier and frizzier. You are safer going with a professional stylist who will give you a long-lasting updo or the trendy messy side bun.

GUEST COMFORT

DO make sure that there are areas where your guest can escape the heat. Providing an air conditioned tent will give your guests a place to cool off and enjoy refreshments.
DO provide you guest with fans at the ceremony. No, not the handheld electronic fans…make it pretty. You can get beautiful handheld fans that go with the colors of your wedding and you can even put the ceremony program on them! If you would like to give your guest the option to keep the sun off their face you can also provide parasols.
DO have cold water readily available for your guest throughout the event. You don’t want any emergency situations to arise….so please keep your guest hydrated. You should also have water available to all of your vendors as well.
DO have a Plan B. Even if you have your heart set on an outdoor wedding, if conditions are going to be unbearable for your guests there should be an alternative plan in place.
DO plan your wedding for late in the afternoon when the heat has died down some.
DO provide bug protection for your guests. If your guests start getting eaten by mosquitoes during your first dance chances are they will not be there by the time you cut the cake.
DO provide cold hand towels for your guests to freshen themselves.
DON’T use candles. Not only will they melt in the Texas heat, but they also put off unnecessary extra heat.
DON’T be unwilling to go to Plan B.
DON’T forgo save the dates. Summer is a popular time for family vacations. Give your guests enough notice so they can plan their vacations accordingly.

CUISINE & COCKTAILS

DO serve lighter fare at your outdoor wedding. In the Texas heat it will be hard to motivate your guest to eat heavy food and enjoy a glass of cabernet. Light food, such as gazpacho, shrimp or fresh fruit, will be perfect for your guests. We love chili-lime rubbed chicken skewers or grilled mahi-mahi topped with pineapple mango salsa.
DO include granitas and sorbets in between courses as a refreshing treat.
DO serve a refreshing and creative cocktail to impress your guests such as New Age Wine:



New Age White (an effervescent blend of citrus-y Sauvignon Blanc and fruity Malvasia) and New Age Rose (also effervescent, with Argentina's signature Malbec red grape and Merlot) add a distinctive Argentine touch when combined with various fruit juices for a South American Mimosa, Cosmopolitan or even New Age Sangria.

Yet, the most common way to enjoy New Age is on the rocks with a slice of lime or lemon. This highly refreshing drink is called "Tincho" after the cocktail's creator. In Argentina, New Age is usually ordered by the bottle for a group of friends to enjoy. The well-chilled New Age White or Red is brought to the table in an ice bucket, along with traditional "rocks" glasses filled with ice and sliced limes or lemons. The friends share the bottle and camaraderie together at the table. Common practice at traditional "happy hour watering holes" and night clubs in Argentina, this tradition is starting to catch on here in the United States.

New Age comes from Bodega Valentin Bianchi, one of Argentina's oldest wineries, founded in 1928 by Italian immigrant Valentin Bianchi. It is one of the oldest family-owned wineries in Argentina, helmed today by Valentin's grandson, Valentin Eduardo Bianchi.

This third-generation winery owner was given the nickname "Tincho" as a boy, a term of affection that, loosely translated, means "young Valentin" (as his grandfather was "older Valentin"). It is "Tincho" that fist added the lime to the New Age White. "Tincho", the drink, quickly became one of the most popular, refreshing cocktails served in the restaurants, bars and nightclubs in trend-setting Buenos Aires.



And of course....always carry SOMETHING BLUE!

Average highs and lows for Texas in the summer:
June 92 / 73
July 96 / 77
August 96 / 76

Special thanks to:

Stacey Murdoch from the Wildflower for her expert advice on florals.
http://www.thewildflower.com/index.php

Lauren Kitchens from Fancy Cakes by Lauren for her “sweet” advice.
http://www.fancycakesbylauren.com/

Father's Day at Lone Star Park | Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie | Grand Prairie, TX | Events | D Magazine

Father's Day at Lone Star Park | Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie | Grand Prairie, TX | Events | D Magazine

Fine Paper & Stationery at Something Blue

Whether you need wedding and shower invitations, thank-you notes or programs, Something Blue features the finest wedding and social stationery. With hundreds of designs to choose from, you can find something to fit any style and any budget.

A free consultation for the selection of your invitation and stationery is available when purchased from one of our vendors. Addressing of envelopes and the assembly of invitations are available for additional fees.

Something Blue Bride's Review

Cindy was amazing all throughout the process of planning my wedding. She knew just what to do each time a new "crisis" came up - and there were several! She also had great ideas and always went the extra mile. Having already gone through her own wedding planning experience, she is very familiar with the time, effort and energy that it takes to plan all the details of the big day. Cindy was helpful, friendly, organized and always on top of things. She even maintained her composure in the midst of a lot of crazy, loud relatives!

I had so many people compliment me on how smoothly the day went but I never could have done it without Cindy. I have recommended her to all my friends and am so glad I found Something Blue!

Thanks for all your hard work and enduring my endless emails!

Stacy Tompkins

Something Blue Wedding Services

Hourly Planner

For the bride who has only one or two concerns and would like minimal assistance. One of our consultants is available for attending appointments, providing advice on etiquette, vendor recommendations, itinerary preparation, rehearsals, showers and more. A 2 hour minimum is required.

Day of Planner

For the bride who can oversee details herself but would like someone available to make sure the details of the day run smoothly.

Service Includes:

• 1-hour consultation at ceremony site to discuss final details
• Develop wedding party responsibilities checklist
• Confirmation of all vendor responsibilities two weeks before the wedding
• Reconfirmation of all vendor responsibilities one day before the wedding
• Prepare detailed ceremony itinerary for vendors and wedding party
• On-site consultant for rehearsal and wedding ceremony
• Meet vendors at ceremony for deliveries and set ups
• Distribute all attendant flowers and bouquets
• Available up to 1 hours for rehearsal and 5 hours on wedding day
  

Day of Planner Plus

For the bride who can oversee details herself but would like someone available to make sure the details of the day run smoothly.

Service Includes:

• 1-hour consultation at ceremony site and 1-hour consultation at reception site to discuss details Vendor recommendations
• Review vendor contracts
• Provide monthly/weekly email reminders of “To do wedding tasks”
• Develop wedding party responsibilities checklist
• Confirmation of all vendor responsibilities two weeks before the wedding
• Reconfirmation of all vendor responsibilities one day before the wedding
• Prepare detailed ceremony itinerary for vendors and wedding party
• Prepare detailed reception itinerary for vendors and wedding party
• On-site consultant for rehearsal and wedding ceremony
• On-site consultant for reception
• Meet vendors at ceremony for deliveries and set ups
• Distribute all attendant flowers and bouquets
• Distribute final payments to vendors
• Distribute tossing items to guest for bride and groom exit
• Supervise loading of wedding gifts into designated vehicle
• Available up to 1 hour for rehearsal and 8 hours on wedding day

Full Service Coordinator

For the bride who wants to take and active role in the planning but would also like assistance along the way.

Service Includes:

• 2-hour planning session to discuss ideas, expectations, budget, determine formality/theme Preparation of budget
• Assist with the design concept of wedding
• Assist with preparation of seating charts
• Organize selection process of all vendors
• Schedule appointments with vendors (consultant will attend 1 meeting per vendor when necessary)
• Review vendor contracts
• Assist with selecting invitations/stationary and addressing etiquette
• Assemble and mail up to 300 invitations (bride is responsible for postage) $1 for each additional invitation
• Assist with bridal and attendant gown selection (2 appointments)
• Attend Bridal registry appointments (1 appointment)
• Provide monthly/weekly email reminders of “To do wedding tasks”
• Assist with selection of favors Announce wedding to local newspapers
• Assist with rehearsal dinner arrangements
• Develop wedding party responsibilities checklist
• Confirmation of all vendor responsibilities two weeks before the wedding
• Reconfirmation of all vendor responsibilities one day before the wedding
• Prepare detailed ceremony itinerary for vendors and wedding party
• Prepare detailed reception itinerary for vendors and wedding party
• On-site consultant for rehearsal and wedding ceremony
• On-site consultant for reception
• Meet vendors at ceremony for deliveries and set ups
• Distribute all attendant flowers and bouquets
• Distribute final payments to vendors
• Distribute tossing items to guest for bride and groom exit
• Supervise loading of wedding gifts into designated vehicle
• Available up to 1 hour for rehearsal and 8 hours on wedding day