A Better Way to Give Graduation Announcements

Graduation announcement website GoEnnounce.com was recently invited on to Fox News’ America’s Nightly Scoreboard to discuss their entrepreneurial venture. Check out the segment below! (There was even a guest appearance from Flavor Flav!)

Green Your Mom

It’s almost Mother’s Day. Here’s your chance to make your mom a bit greener this year, with plenty of more eco-conscious options than the usual bouquet of flowers. Try these top five picks!

1. For the on-the-go Mom

These re-usable lunch bags from JBWorld on Etsy are adorable, eco-friendly and come in a variety of prints. And for just $11.99, you’ll have cash left over to take Mom out for brunch. See all styles and get yours here.

2. For the Gourmand Mom

If your Mom is a wiz at wine and cheese pairings, get her these wine bottle platters. They are made from recycled glass and are handmade in India and Italy. Choose the chardonnay or bordeaux version for $18 each. Check it out on Uncommon Goods.

3. For the Techy Mom

Mom can’t part with her iPad? Get her this recycled cork iPad sleeve from Matt & Nat. It’s made of cork and recycled bottles, and goes for $59.99 at Urban Outfitters. Buy yours here.

4. For the DIY Mom

Does your mom make the best marinara in town? Get her this Make Your Own Marinara Kit so she can DIY down to the ingredients. It’s $28 for the kit, which provides growing instructions for oregano, tomato, and basil. Get it at Uncommon Goods.

5. For Every Mom

No matter who your mom is or what you buy her, you’re going to need to pair your gift with a card. Get this funky, recycled card from Andy Pratt Design on Supermarket HQ. Each card is $3.50.

College Flash Mob: Your School Could be Next!

Have you always wanted to be a part of a flash mob? Here’s your chance! Online graduation announcement company GoEnnounce.com sponsored a surprise Flashmob on the University of Michigan campus, and is giving other schools the chance to do the same! At U. Michigan, about 70 students stopped in their tracks in caps and gowns dancing to Rusted Roots’ “Send me on my way.” Students filed out of the graduate library, and then other groups of students poured out of the surrounding buildings. The march ended in front of the Chemistry building, with about 300 students watching the performance with cameras and cell phones in hand. The performance was choreographed by Erik Heitz, a musical theatre major.

GoEnnounce.com is a free graduation announcement service. Students can log on, create a Facebook-like profile, pick out their gifts on a gift registry, and announce their achievement to as many email addresses as they wish. The newly launched website was started by Meghan and Melissa Davis, two sisters from Naples, Florida. The older of the two, Melissa, was also a graduate of the University of Michigan.

Please visit http://www.goennounce.com/ for more information about GoEnnounce.com and about college flash mob– your school could be next!

Spend Easter at Callaway Gardens!

Don’t spend Easter in a sweltering hot kitchen, stressing about entertaining your friends and family while creating the perfect glazed ham. Spend the holiday at Callaway Gardens, “Renewal in the Gardens” weekend on April 23^rd and 24^th, with Easter egg hunts, a Sunrise Service, and an Easter Brunch filled with all of your favorites.

Saturday, April 23^rd from 2 to 5pm, bring your children to the Easter Eggstravaganza Egg Hunts — with six Easter Egg hunts broken down by age group. Families can race, searching for candy eggs and the special “prize eggs,” which can be redeemed for a gift at the prize table. Egg hunts are free with admission to the garden, but this event is BYOB (bring your own basket!). The Easter Bunny will visit for photos from Noon to 5 p.m.

Then, start off Easter Sunday with a Sunrise Service with the natural backdrop of Callaway’s gorgeous gardens and lakeside views.  This year’s service will be led by Martha Dye, senior minister of the First United Methodist Church of Pine Mountain, GA. Get up early; admission is free prior to 8 a.m.

“There’s nothing like a sunrise service overlooking the lake. It’s something that families will remember forever,” Rachel Crumbley, PR Manager at Callaway Gardens said.

And no Easter is complete without traditional brunch —so sit back and relax while Callaway does all the cooking. You have your choice of three restaurants—so you know there’s something for everyone (even for your family’s pickiest eater!). The Plant Room and the Mountain Creek Inn Ballroom will serve a mega-buffet, and the Gardens Restaurant offers a plated-meal. For Reservations: call 706-663-2281 for Gardens Restaurant and 706-663-6832 for Mountain Creek Inn Ballroom.

For more information about Callaway Gardens’ Easter celebration visit http://www.callawaygardens.com/easter.

Savor Spring All Year Long: Start with “Colors of the Gardens”

Here is your chance to witness 33 artists capturing the beauty of Spring on canvas.  Spend this weekend, April 16^th and 17^th, at Callaway Gardens’ “Colors of the Gardens” events, combining art with the beauty of the season!

For the second year in a row, Callaway Gardens will host the “Plein Air Paint Out, Art Show, and Sale.” Never heard of “plein air?” It’s a French term for painting outdoors by natural light. This week, those 33 selected artists will set up shop, paint what they see, and then give you the opportunity to buy the pieces you desire throughout the weekend at the Virginia Callaway Discovery Center.

“The Plein Air Art Sale allows us to enjoy this moment of Spring all year long,” said Rachel Crumbley, Public Relations Manager at Callaway Gardens.  “The transformation to canvas is inspiring, and it makes you want to pick up a paintbrush!”

In fact, you CAN pick up a paintbrush at the “Plein Art Quick Draw.” Amateur artists have the opportunity to paint what they see in downtown Pine Mountain, GA, for exactly two hours. The art will be judged, and then put up for sale! Winning pieces will be displayed in the Callaway Discovery Center with the Art Show and Sale for all to enjoy and purchase.

For more details, visit http://www.callawaygardens.com/info/calendar/calendar.pleinair.event.aspx.

Got kids? They can enjoy the “Colors of the Gardens” too with events like kite making, flower making, and other games and activities. For more details about what’s in store visit the Celebrate Spring! Events page—with all of the upcoming Spring events you’ll want to know about! http://www.callawaygardens.com/specials/specials.celebrate-spring.specials.aspx

Book your trip to Callaway Gardens, and learn more at http://www.callawaygardens.com/.

 

Skip the Produce Section. Taste the Flavors of the Gardens!

How does a steamy bowl of lobster bisque, pan-seared Savannah shrimp with Southern fingerling potatoes, and white chocolate strawberry bread pudding sound to you?

Even better: the ingredients are fresh, fair trade, and locally grown.

Enjoy the comforting tastes of the South at Callaway Gardens’ “Flavors of the Gardens” event this weekend, April 9th and 10th.  On top of the Spring menu at The Gardens Restaurant, Callaway will station food tents across the expansive 13,000 acre resort. The tents will be filled with the perfect Southern staple—BARBECUE!

“We’ve improved our food and implemented a locally grown initiative. We’re using Southern vegetables, and by the end of May we’ll defer to our own gardens for ingredients. The seeds are in the ground!” Joe Malone, Callaway Gardens’ Food & Beverage Director and Executive Chef said.

You’ll love the butternut squash ravioli, watermelon salad, and lemon pie so much that you want to make them at home… and you can! The recipes are featured in the Flavors of the Gardens cookbook, available at Callaway Gardens.

There is a reason for this special celebration. It’s one of Callaway Gardens’ annual “Celebrate Spring!” weekend events! Here’s what else is in store:

• Flavors of the Gardens – April 9-10, 2011- Tasting and cooking the freshest way!

• Colors of the Gardens April 16-17 – The artistic side of the garden.

• Renewal in the Gardens, April 23-24 – A time for renewal with Easter activities and events.

To view all weekend details, visit: http://www.callawaygardens.com/gardens/events/spring.aspx

Want a bite? Book your trip to Callaway Gardens, and learn more at http://www.callawaygardens.com/ . If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at 718-360-0949, or cheikkila@mnandp.com.

Give Your Senses a Break at “Sounds of the Gardens!”

(picture via Fine Art America)

The Average American spends 8.5 hours per day staring into screens, whether that’s a computer, TV, or mobile device (Council for Research Excellence). We all need a break for our senses, and we have the perfect solution—Sounds of the Gardens Weekend at Callaway Gardens on April 2^nd and 3^rd,  with an additional performance on April 9^th.

The resort is packed full of musical performances in the vibrant azalea gardens, relaxing your mind, eyes, and ears.  Take a look at this lineup!

April 2^nd and 3^rd, 2011, 11am-3pm – Energize with the beats of the steel drum trio at the Butterfly Center.

April 3, 2011, 11am-3pm – Soothe your head with a harpist performance from Jordan Bilak of the CSU Schwob School of Music at the Azalea Bowl.

April 9^th, 2011, 11am–3pm – Uplift your spirits with a jazz performance from the “Simply Brass Quintet” of the local CSU Schwob School of Music at the Callaway Brothers Azalea Bowl.

The schedule will also include ongoing organ performances at the chapel, and of course, the sounds of nature.

“Live music always adds to the atmosphere,” Joan Sykora, Callaway Gardens’ Director of Membership said. “It makes you feel good and takes you away from your cell phone, iPad and iPod!”

So what’s the occasion for the musical celebration? It’s one of Callaway Gardens’ annual “Celebrate Spring!” weekend events! Here’s what else is in store:

• Sounds of the Gardens, April 2-3, 2011- Appreciate the sounds of the gardens with bird watching and demonstrations.
• Flavors of the Gardens – April 9-10, 2011- Tasting and cooking the freshest way!
• Colors of the Gardens April 16-17 – The artistic side of the garden.
• Renewal in the Gardens, April 23-24 – A time for renewal with Easter activities and events.

To view all weekend details, visit: http://www.callawaygardens.com/gardens/events/spring.aspx

Sound like music to your ears? Book your trip to Callaway Gardens, and learn more at http://www.callawaygardens.com/ .

 

The beautiful azaleas at Callaway Gardens

Garden Pro Shares Top Tips on How to Get Your Garden Started!

The azaleas at Callaway Gardens (picture via eHow)

Say your goodbyes to your winter coat; warmer weather is on the way, and it’s time to start thinking Spring thoughts— that means flowers! Don’t know where to start? Patricia Collins, the Director of Gardens at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, GA, one of the largest and most spectacular gardens in the world, comes to your rescue with her professional planting advice! Try these tips to get your garden started the right way:

1. It’s all about the soil.

“Soil preparation is number one! In the Southeast especially, where we have heavy clay soils, adding mulch and compost for nutrients is very important.” Patricia said. Organics like mulch and compost not only add nutrients, but control the temperature and water loss. How do you know if your soil has the correct amount of nutrients? “Most of us don’t do this, but do a soil test. It’s a $3 to $5 nominal charge. Contact your local county Extension Agent for details. You can find out what you need to add to the soil, depending on what you want to grow.” Patricia said.

2. Go back to your roots.

“Plants like azaleas are very shallow rooted, and many of us make the mistake of planting them too deeply. Don’t add mounds of mulch to them every year, or the roots will become too deep or every five years or so remove the old mulch and replace with new .”  Patricia said.  She also notes that it’s important not to plant other plants too closely after they are established because it will damage the roots.

3. Location, Location, Location

Make sure you’re planting the right plants in the right places. “There are sun  lovers, and there are shade lovers. Herbs are usually sun lovers,” Patricia noted. She suggests starting with easier plants, ones that are common and don’t need a lot of maintenance, then moving on to the more difficult plants that need more attention.

Want more of Patricia’s tips to get your garden blooming beautifully? You’re in luck! Callaway Gardens invites you to talk with her and other Gardening Gurus, amongst 20,000 azalea plants. On March 25, pick the brains of garden greats like Erica Glasener, a horticulturist and author who has hosted HGTV’s, “A Gardener’s Diary.”

Glasener will be joined by horticultural experts on an in-depth question and answer panel including David Chambers, manager of Mr. Cason’s Vegetable Garden at Callaway Gardens; Helen Phillips, manager of Garden Solutions Garden Center of LaGrange, GA,; and Ernest Koone III of Lazy K Nursery and Garden Delights Garden Center.

So what’s the occasion? It’s the kick-off of Callaway Gardens’ annual “Celebrate Spring!” weekend events! Here’s what else is in store:

• Gardening in the Gardens, March 26-27, 2011 Enjoy a weekend of gardening activities, including the Annual Plant Fair & Sale.
• Sounds of the Gardens, April 2-3, 2011- Appreciate the sounds of the gardens with bird watching and demonstrations.
• Flavors of the Gardens – April 9-10, 2011- Tasting and cooking the freshest way!
• Colors of the Gardens April 16-17 – The artistic side of the garden.
• Renewal in the Gardens, April 23-24 – A time for renewal with Easter activities and events.

To view all weekend details, visit: http://www.callawaygardens.com/gardens/events/spring.aspx

Ready to impress your neighbors with your plant proficiency? Book your trip to Callaway Gardens, and learn more at http://www.callawaygardens.com/ .

Happy Gardening!

 

Three Ways to be Green This Spring

We’re in denial about the snow in New York this morning. Instead– we’re thinking Spring, and nothing goes better with Spring than being green. How can you live greener as we move into a greener season? Try these three tips.

1. Green Spring Cleaning

It’s not the most fun or exciting tradition, but Spring cleaning is one of those have-to rituals. Don’t fill your home with chemical-laden cleaning products. Many household cleaners contain ingredients that can be linked to asthma, cancer, reproductive toxicity, hormone disruption, and other effects. Buy certified green products (yes, you have to look for the little label), or try natural alternatives like vinegar or baking soda!

2. Greener Gardening

Plant a garden this Spring! Not only is it nice to look at, but you could potentially not have to buy tomatoes, peas, and other veggies this spring. But make sure to go a little greener– try gardening organically. That means no pesticides or other chemicals. Want to it but don’t know where to start? There’s a TON of info about it out there. Try this website: http://www.organicgardening.com/ for extra help.

3. Ride Greener

Dust off that bicycle (or here’s your excuse to buy a new one!). Of course you know that biking saves fuel, since it doesn’t use any, BUT did you know that it also saves money too? A commuter who switches two days a week saves 40 percent of her commuting fuel bill. Your wallet will be heavier and you will be lighter with all of that extra exercise.

Ready to start the season off on a greener foot? Now all we have to wait for is the weather.

Start your energy diet.

Here’s a diet that doesn’t require giving up hot fudge sundaes and cheeseburgers– it’s an energy diet. Fine, energy dieting is not going to help you lose weight, but it will help save money and the planet. This means cutting back on your energy use, and with the aid of these two websites, you won’t even need to cheat!

1. Earth Aid

Get paid to reduce your home energy usage?! Where do we sign up? With Earth Aid, you sign up to automatically track your home energy use, then each time you save energy or water, you earn Earth Aid Rewards Points, redeemable for discounts and offers. Plus, the website offers comprehensive reports about your energy use and what it means. Earth Aid is always growing, adding new rewards every day!

2. OPOWER

OPOWER is also helping consumers cut down on energy consumption. Perhaps the Jenny Craig of energy dieting, this site motivates millions to become more energy efficient, helps customers make smarter energy choices, and aims to save you money on your energy bills. They analyze your home energy use, and pick out your trouble spots to reach your goals.