Food Trucks!!



2011 is here and I am so excited for the weddings this year! We have our first wedding today, 1/11/11!

One of the upcoming trends to have at weddings in 2011 is a Food Truck. This is one of those things that I can't believe that I hadn't thought of. It's great. Basically the food truck is a mobile kitchen that sets up oustide your venue for your guest to nosh on during the reception. This is an alternative to having a midnight snack bar or buffet.
The great thing about this is that you are able to help out local vendors, and there won't be any waste or left overs that have to get cleaned up. In fact, you can lable this as "going green." :-)

One might think there are not a lot of Food Trucks here in Milwaukee...but if you start to look around you will notice them everywhere (espeically at 2a.m. outside of any street with bars on it).
Here are two popular ones in Milwaukee (click on picture to go to their weibsite)

Street-Za Pizza

Pita Brothers

 I have eaten from both of these places...and I can testify that they are fantastic!

Enjoy!

Engagement Season is here!

First off, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Love and Blessings to you and yours! I feel so blessed to be able to spend this holiday season with my wonderful family and friends and hope the same for you as well.

It isn't hard for people to become extra emotional and humbled over the Holiday seasons....in fact if I think about Christmas and it's meaning and my family..I start tearing up (although, my family and friends would say that is normal...as I cry so much they just ignore the tears now).  Anyways, because of the extra hype of love and emotion in the air, many people tend to become engaged. It is even knows as the engagement season. There is a reason why the most popular wedding fairs are held in January....it's because a lot of people were just proposed to.

Thinking about the different ways my friends and family got engaged is quite fun. I have had friends get rose petals paths to the bedroom with a nice ring on the bed, to my sister...who actually, now that I think of it..not sure how exactly it happened...I think my brother-in-law just sorda asked her...hmm...should probably get that straight. Anyways I LOVE to hear how people get engaged (and funny how I remember how everyone else did than my own sister...). I love the surprise elements and the creativity that is done. I also LOVE modern technology and how people You Tubes their engagements! Check out this one:

Pretty sure that is one of the cutest proposals ever!

I stole this from a different blog as an unusual way to propose..

In December of 2007, Oliver Thompson wanted to surprise his girlfriend with an extraordinarily impressive plea for her hand in marriage. Instead of a traditional hot air balloon ride or average billboard proposal, Oliver took his girlfriend, Emma, to the Blackpool Zoo where the two had met many years before. While many boyfriends may choose to propose during a romantic sunset near a favorite exhibit, Oliver took matters into his own hands by making an unusual request.

Prior to the zoo visit, Mr. Thompson convinced the zookeepers to allow a six-ton elephant to aid in the marriage proposal. He had purchased a beautiful engagement ring, but chose to use a simple band in case the elephant decided to swallow the ring. The couple arrived at the zoo and spent a day inside the elephant exhibit – a treat that Emma was told was for her birthday. However, she was pleasantly surprised when the large elephant came towards her with an engagement ring, after which Oliver proposed
{source}


One thing I do suggest if anyone is planning a marriage proposal  out there...is to possibly search on You Tube for failed proposal ideas....no one wants this to happen:

Again, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all! Also, if you just got engaged and are in the Milwaukee area...CALL ME to set-up a tour  :-) 414-273-5533!  (what...a little self promoting never hurt anyone! )

Merry Christmas!

Birdie's Cafe

So, maybe it is the effects of the Holiday's and all of the sugar that is around the office, but I can't stop thinking about sweets.

I am more personally, someone who likes "savory" over "sweet" but definitely will enjoy a piece of chocolate or cake. Okay, let's just be honest...I just love food, not matter what it is...I now take back my above statement of liking one type of food over the other.

One of my other loves is supporting local businesses in the Milwaukee area. There are so many hidden gems and I have found another one that definitely needs recognition. 

Birdie's Cafe

4110 W. Martin Dr., Milwaukee, WI 53208 

Hours: Monday-Friday 6:30am-5:00pm, Saturday 8:00am-5:00pm.

I was first introduced to Birdies last year when a wedding decided to go sans cake and instead let their guest feast on some amazing homemade pie.
Then my mom told me about this amazing cafe that she went to that I needed to check out. This amazing cafe happened to be the same place where the amazing pie came from: Birdies.



Delicious Heart Pie

So FINALLY  I was able to check it out. Like so many things....my mind goes straight to weddings. Not only for their amazing pastries and cakes but the space itself is absolutely adorable! I love the fact that when you walk into Birdies, you get an overwhelming feeling of being home...which you should as it is located in what once was a house. The decorations and atmosphere make it a great place to have lunch (which they serve all day, along with breakfast) or to study, or to have coffee with a friend.

  Anyways, back to the wedding mindset....many bride and grooms have their wedding here in Milwaukee because it is a neutral location. Their families may or may not be from here. Therefore, with the homey and calming atmosphere that Birdie's presents, I thought it would be such a good place for a rehearsal dinner or a bridal shower. They do their own catering and have event space for up to 75 people. 

Comfortable Living Room Style Cafe

 So, while you are in the Miller Brewery area, please check out Birdie's Cafe and I hope you fall in love with it just like I did!

Getting Those Darn Wedding Addresses

My wonderful cousin just gave me the classic email for those brides-to-be, “What is your address and do you have your brothers address as well.” One of the more frustrating parts of planning a wedding is the details of where people are living.
My family moves around a lot…a lot a lot (we have been accused of being in the witness protection program:-) So there are times I don’t know where some of my family members even are! When someone wants and address it’s usually a headache to find. These are my suggestions on how to get and keep these addresses:

1. Make a spreadsheet once you have them to keep yourself organized. Make a column that you can check off for when you have sent the save the dates, bridal shower thank you note, actual wedding invitation, and gift thank you.
   
2. To get your addresses contact your friends/family on facebook or myspace. A lot of people have those hooked up to their phone or check their personal pages more than they check their email.
   
3. Ask your parents or in-laws to assume this task with their side of the family.
   
4. Everyone who has planned a wedding knows of this fiascal…so feel free to ask certain people for help (i.e. have your maid of honor get the address for all of your friends or cousins).
   
5. Start buying stamps right away! They can get expensive and if you start buying them now, it will help in the long run. Just remember that you need a different stamp for your actual wedding invitation because they tend to weigh more.
   

The key is to be organized. I have a spreadsheet made up already for anyone who would like me to email them the shell of it! (abink@warmemorialcenter.org)
Take care!