Work and Play – Getting the Balance Right!

As a WAHM (Work At Home Mother) to a tornado-whirlwind 17th month old boy I think it’s really important to get the balance right of work and “Mammy” time.
So, After breakfast and until naptime, It’s Roo and myself, dishes, playtime, usually baking some bread or scones to bring for various lunches with friends, and housework (yuck!)
While the baby naps, that’s when I catch up on all emails to clients, do some site work and any research that needs to be done.
Thankfully i’m blessed with very helpful inlaws who take full charge of babysitting duties when we need to spend the day preparing for a wedding.
Working from home means that while we normally meet prospective clients or brides at their venue or ceremony location, we can also invite clients into our home for a consultation that is relaxed and informal.
Evening time after dinner and babs in bed, Emails are always caught up on and replied to!

Today on the baking agenda – brown bread and scones for lunch with good friends/toddler group.

Recipes below:

Scones

1lb Self Raising flour
pinch baking powder
2oz caster sugar
4oz butter, diced
1 egg lightly beaten
8fl. oz milk
1 egg beaten with a tblsp. water to glaze
1 tsp cinnamon

sift flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt and stir in sugar.
rub in butter until resembling dry breadcrumbs (or cheat and blitz in processor for a few seconds)
add egg and about 3/4 of the milk and mix well until soft dough, not too moist, add a bit more milk if needed
I threw in a handful of raisins at this point
gather dough into a ball and turn out on floured counter
roll to 1inch thick and cut out with round cutter (I got 12 nice size scones from this mix)
glaze with beaten egg and bake at 180/gas 4 for about 20 mins until golden

Brown Bread:

6oz plain flour
2 oz wholemeal flour
1oz pinhead oatmeal (I just use porridge oats and blitz in coffee grinder!)
1 oz wheatgerm
1oz bran
1 tsp bread soda
pinch salt
1 tsp sugar
1 medium egg
2 tsp bextartar
1/2 pint milk

mix all dry ingredients
add egg and milk and mix well
pour into tin and bake 18 for about 45 mins
should sound hollow when tapped on bottom.

Filed under: Just for Fun,Uncategorized — Tags: brown bread, scones — Sinead @ 11:11 am on October 9, 2009

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Mount Argus Wedding

We were busy yesterday setting up for a wedding in the awesome Mount Argus in Terenure.

Featured here are our Spectacular Grand Wrought Iron Candelabra, standing at over 8ft tall with candles, these really do add something special to the alter display! Shown here with a floral centrepiece (and without the central candle, my mistake!!) these can also be provided simply with candles and dressed with trailing natural ivy.

Also shown are the matching wrought iron aisle stands, shown in here with artificial ivy but generally provided dressed with natural ivy and again, with or without floral arrangement beneath the candle.

Leading the way when it comes to innovative new ideas – we have come up with a solution to a problem we are encountering lately – sometimes churches will not allow open flame, however we have available LED Pillar Candles with flickering LED flame – looks just like the real thing and 100% safe!

Click here to see our video montage Mount Argus

Filed under: aislestands,candelabra,candelabra hire,candelight,mount argus,pew end decoration,wedding flowers — Tags: candelabra, candelabra hire, candleabra, LED candles, LED pillar candles, mount argus, wrought iron, wrought iron aisle stands, wrought iron candelabra — Sinead @ 12:19 pm on October 6, 2009

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Brooklodge Wedding

10th July 2009

It is often said that business and pleasure should never be combined, well I beg to differ!! One of my best friends – Rachel married Andrew on 10th July 2009 in The Most Sacred Heart Church, Aughrim, Co. Wicklow. I was honoured as a guest and charged with the floral duties !

The day before the wedding, armed with a carload of flowers and tools, I made my way down to the wonderful Brooklodge. After checking in I went down to the church, introduced myself to Joe the ever-friendly sacristan and got to work! Later that evening I prepped the bouquets and alter arrangements and first thing on the morning of the wedding after the best irish breakfast i’ve ever had – finished the bouquets with navy velvet ribbon and diamonte pins, made up and detailed the buttonholes, brought all florals to the various hotel rooms, checked all was 100% in the church and then I was free to be a guest!

The brief – ivory avalanche roses, simple, no fuss and that’s what was provided ! Candelabra and aisle stands kindly provided by Aisling at Elegance & Grace as the RosieDays stands were being used at another wedding that day!

A simple unity arrangement and vases of flowers for the alter, Bay trees for the front door, romantic candles with trailing ivy and flower detail for the window sills, outside stair rails draped with tulle and ivy and simple organza pew bows with navy ribbon finished the decoration of the church.

A video montage here:

Rachel\’s Wedding at Brooklodge

Filed under: avalanche rose,brooklodge,candelight,candles,pew end decoration,wedding flowers,wrough iron candelabra — Tags: aisle stands, aughrim, avalanche rose, brooklodge, white rose bouquet — Sinead @ 12:55 pm on October 5, 2009

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Magic Mum Ball 2009

More Images from the MagicMum Ball 2009 held in the Radisson Hotel Athlone, with thanks to TaraJane Fennelly for the wonderful photography !

Filed under: aislestands,Uncategorized,wedding flowers,wrought iron — Tags: aisle stands, candelabra, event floristry, MagicMum — Sinead @ 7:48 pm on October 4, 2009

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Magic Mum Ball 2009

Magic Mum Ball 2009 was held in the Radisson SAS in Athlone.
I was charged with the floral design for the room and had a great time!

Tall vases were filled with hydrangea and avalanche roses with draping amaranthus, surrounded by tea lights, glass votives held single avalanche roses, opened beautifully and placed around candelabra. I also decorated individual wrought iron stands with floral rings mirroring the flowers used in the ball room to create a break between the dining area and the bar, the candles were lit for extra effect!